The Legend - A Gilmore Girls Fan Fiction

Chapter 92

Finn's POV

Looking across the table at my little sister, my heart was breaking.  The past six months have really taken its toll on her.  She was still so beautiful, but her skin looked duller; paler.  Her beautiful, long, dark hair was now replaced by a vibrantly-colored silk scarf that was tied around her head.  Her already slender body was getting even skinnier, but the fire, and the fight, were still in her eyes.  Her spirit has not been broken.  No matter what this cancer throws at her, she's been tackling it head on, all the while staying cheerful, and cheeky, and absolutely stunning – inside and out.

She looked up at me, noticing me grading her appearance, and a look of sadness and embarrassment flashed across her face.  "You're staring again" she whispered.

I let myself break free from my gaze, and sighed.  "I'm sorry, Popcicle" I whispered, looking down, ashamed of myself.

"It's okay, I'm almost getting used to being this hideous" she whispered.

"You're anything but hideous, Darling.  You may be sick, but you're still gorgeous" I promised her.

She rolled her eyes and laughed.  "You have to say that, you're my big brother" she teased me.

"I have to do nothing of the sort.  I tell you, because you are.  You're the most amazing woman I've ever met" I told her.

She glanced up and her whole face illuminated with the brightest smile as she watched Charlie walk into view.  "Hey!  I was wondering if you were going to make it!" she teased.

"Sorry I'm late, honey, I got caught up in traffic, but I still beat your mum and dad here, so I feel like I'm doing pretty well" he said with a smile, kissing her as he sat down.

"So is your new girlfriend coming?" Poppy asked me in disgust.

I laughed lightly.  I knew she didn't like that I had met someone new, she was very vocal about her feelings on the topic.  She says I didn't try hard enough to win Rory back, but she doesn't know about that last night we had together, and the way my heart broke all over again when she was rushing to leave after.  It would be so easy if I could just tell her, but even after everything, I still can't betray Rory in that way.

"No.  No, she's away again" I told her.

"Perks of having a serious relationship with a flight attendant, I suppose.  You never have to introduce her to the family that already wants to rip her to shreds before even having the chance of getting to know her" Charlie teased of his wife.

"Don't tempt me, Charlie.  I have connections.  I could find her if I really wanted to, I just don't want to even meet the girl" Poppy insisted.

"And why are you so against me moving on?  I mean, you were so happy that I was finally settling down, I assumed you'd be happier that I didn't revert back to how I was before" I said.

"No, I'd have been much happier if you'd have reverted, because at least then I wouldn't have to worry about you getting too serious with someone who's all wrong for you" she snapped.

"Wrong for me!?  Poppy, you don't even know her, so how can you assume that she's wrong for me!?  You refuse to meet her, but you've already got this hatred for her.  She didn't do anything wrong here, it was me.  I'm the one who moved on.  It's me you should be mad at" I told her.

"Oh, don't you worry – I'm furious with you, too!  But now can we change the subject?  I really don't want to talk to you about your rebound girl anymore" she snapped again and I sighed, relenting.

"Okay, Poppy.  I give up.  I won't bring her up again for the rest of the night" I promised her.

"Thank you" she said as mum and dad walked in, greeting us all.

"Penelope, you look beautiful, sweetheart!" mum said, hugging her, and kissing her on the cheek.

"Thanks, mum" she said.

"So, what's new with all of you these days?" dad asked.

"Well, Finn already has a new girlfriend" Charlie offered.  Mum, dad and I all looked up in surprise, and Poppy was shooting daggers through her eyes at him and he just shrugged.  "What!?  That's new!" he said in amusement.

**                                **                                **

Rory's POV

"Hey, I really need a favor from you" Poppy said into the phone later on that night.

"Yeah, sure!  Of course!  What's up, Poppy?" I asked in concern.

"So you know how Finn's 40th birthday is coming up?  I want to throw him a surprise birthday party, and I want you to help me" she said.

"Me?  Why me?  Shouldn't his new girlfriend be the one to help you with that?" I asked her in surprise.

She sighed.  "Don't even get me started on that girl.  I don't even want her to come to the party, let alone be involved in it.  I don't like that girl one bit" she said.

I laughed slightly.  "Poppy, I've never heard you be so mean before.  Have you even met her yet?  What's she like?" I asked.

"I told Finn I don't want her to come anywhere near me.  I refuse to meet her.  She's just a rebound thing to help him get over you, which don't even get me started on that, by the way.  One day he'll wake up and realize he's made a huge mistake, and realize he should've fought for you better, but in the meantime, I don't want her anywhere near me" she said.

"Wow, Pop, I had no idea you felt so strongly about her" I said.

"It's you he should be with!  Not some jet-setting bimbo who probably has a boyfriend in every city.  I just don't understand why he gave up on you" she said.

I swallowed hard, getting ready to tell her one of the hardest things I've ever had to tell anyone.  "It's because of me, Poppy.  I told him he needed to move on.  Provided I didn't realize he would do it quite so quickly, but he gave up fighting for me, because I asked him to" I whispered.

"What?  But why!?" she demanded.

"Because, Poppy.  We tried.  We failed.  We both hurt each other, and I was scared.  I didn't want to get hurt again, so I asked him to stop trying" I whispered.

The line was silent, and I had to check my phone to see if she had disconnected the call.  "Oh, Rory.  You're as much of an idiot as he is, honey" she said softly, her words cutting through the dead air like a knife.