It was December 18th, one day before Rory and Logan were due to meet up in London to begin their winter vacation that was being planned since May. Rory had once again spent months researching in an attempt to maximize the amount of things they could see and do together on a continent neither had shared before. Books were bought, itineraries were made, maps were labeled, Rory made sure that nothing fell through the cracks, and that these next two weeks would be talked about between them for years to come. Both Rory and Logan had been looking forward to the trip, their phone messages and texts to each other supported that sentiment. Logan told her of all the sites in London, some he had gone to scout on his own and some he had waited to see it with her, so that they could share the experience. Rory had talked to him about the all the historical landmarks in Rome and how much she was anticipating spending two weeks in the three major cities of the world. When the conversation shifted to text messages, as was becoming regular, their focus went to one another, rather than any city in Europe.

Rory was now in Stars Hollow, her bags already packed and waiting by the door, she was spending the time before her trip with her Mother, seeing as though for the first time in her life she wouldn't be spending the holidays at home. Going over the second week of her trip, Rory's phone rang, she looked at the caller ID and answered it.

"Hey Logan."

"Hey Ace, how's it going?" Logan asked, with an odd voice.

"It's going well," Rory responded, picking up on the tone but barreling forward, "just quadruple checking the trip plan, making sure everything is perfect."

"Yeah Rory, about that," Logan trailed off at the end, sadness evident.

"No!"

"I'm sorry Rory, but something unexpected came up and I can't go, I actually don't know what my schedule is going to look like for a while. I'm really very sor."

Rory interrupted, her voice filled with anger and disappointment. "No! Don't say that, you promised me Logan. In May you promised me! You said you cleared things with your Father that this trip was going to happen, that I should bust out my books and start planning and I did. I got out my books, maps, articles, everything Logan; I planned this trip top to bottom and spent a lot of time on this. I can't believe you lied to me Logan, again! You lied to me again," Rory's eyes were beginning to well up.

"Ror-"

"No! My turn to talk now, you know I suppose I should have learned my lesson after the summer and Asia. You let me plan that as if it was still possible, and I moronically thought it was. I believed you, then you had to go London and it was over just like that. Then you tell me that my ticket is in the mail for Europe in December and I go ahead and plan that too, well I guess the joke's on me. You fooled me again. You sure found a gullible one in me didn't you Logan? You always get my hopes up with you, only to dash them at the last possible moment. Is it some kind of perverse pleasure you get out of breaking me? Congratulaions Logan, congratulations Logan on ruining Christmas for me. I must say, you're two for two this year in ruining things. First summer, now Christmas. That's got to set you up nicely for a spot in the Boyfriend Hall of Shame.

"Rory," Logan sighed, he sounded exasperated.

"That's to say nothing of your lame excuse. Something unexpected came up? What, or should I say who is it? Tanya, Kimberely, Danica? Who gets the trip that was meant for me, but since I guess you got bored or tired of me thought it would better spent on someone fresh."

"My grandfather died," Logan finally said, matter of factly.

Rory was stunned in to silence. Yes, she was disappointed with the cancellation of the trip, and her words about that were genuine. Her implication that Logan was seeing other women was not. It was just frustration on her part, and while she hoped Logan would understand that, she realized now was not the time to try and smooth things over on that front.

"I'm, I'm, I'm so sorry Logan."

"You know what, save it. I came all the way out here to Stars Hollow to see you and maybe talk to the one person who could help through this, but I guess I was wrong about you. Maybe you are just as cold as the rest of my family."

Rory rushed up from the couch and opened the front door, only to see Logan's back walking towards his Porsche. She rushed out to catch him before he reached his car, "Logan! Logan! Wait. Wait!" She caught up with him steps from his car, grabbed his hand and made him turn to face her. The look on his face was one she had never seen before. It was one of uncertainty. One of loss, for the first time Rory saw a Logan unsure of what to do next, so Rory took the first step. She quickly enveloped him in a warm embrace, and he wasted no time in returning it. Rory's mouth was close to Logan's ear when she whispered: "I'm sorry for, well, I'm sorry for everything, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Whatever you need from me, just name it.

Logan took a few breaths as he soaked Rory's words in. He knew that she was sorry for everything she said. He knew that if she would have known about the reason for the cancellation that her entire tirade would have been silenced. He didn't hold anything against her. Though the angry implication that he was simply trading her in through him for a loop, he remembered that in times of anger he was known to say things that he had never thought of before.

"Thank you," was all Logan could say, trying to choke back tears for the first time since hearing the news of Elias' passing.

Rory felt the dampness of Logan's freshly shed tears on her sweater while still locked in the embrace, they stayed still for a few seconds longer, "So, are you ready to go inside? I'll make some coffee and we can talk about this some more?"

Logan wasn't sure of what he wanted to next, but he knew he wasn't ready to leave the calm serenity of Rory's front yard in the crisp December weather. When he left the yard, and her embrace he would have to face reality. He was going to have to talk about his feelings and his fears. He was going to have to deal with the fact that things were going to change, and they would affect him and his relationship with Rory. "Maybe, we can stay out here for a little while longer."

Rory nodded her head, "Sure, anything you want," Rory started rubbing Logan's back in a dual effort to make him feel better and to warm him up.

They stayed together outside for a while, not affected by the cold, or by the occasional pedestrian who looked at them and wondered what was going on. Both lost in their own little worlds. Rory's inhabited by feeling of regret over what she had said and with that of sympathy for what her boyfriend must have been going through. Logan's was inhabited by uncertainty and doubt; uncertainty as to what Elias's death would bring to him both professionally and personally. And doubt as to whether or not Rory would stay with him through all of those changes. Logan felt Rory shiver as a strong gust of wind came through the air, "Hey, I think I'm ready for some of that coffee you promised me."

"You sure?" Rory asked, looking at Logan for the first time since they hugged.

"Yeah."

"Okay then," Rory wrapped an arm around Logan's waist and he snaked one of his over her shoulder, "follow me."

They walked towards the front door of Rory's childhood home, together, and for the first time in days, Logan felt that he would be able to get through this, as long as he had Rory with him.

Author's Note: I'm not sure if this is going to be a oneshot or not, if it isn't it won't be more than three chapters. It's meant to be a little respite for me from One Last Time (which will be updated sometime in the next two days) and has been something that was in my head for a while now. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are appreciated.