It's just creeping past midnight here, but I still say this counts as 2 updates in one day. What? I don't know how it happened, but here it is. Maybe because you left me so many lovely reviews last time! Enjoy!

"I hope we get a few hours for dinner tonight," Rory said as she rested her head on Owen's shoulder. They had been in the bus since six this morning and she was growing tired.

Owen put his arm around Rory's shoulder. "Don't we always get a few hours for dinner, babes?"

"Yes," she sighed, looking up to meet his gaze, "but we usually end up having burgers and beers at the hotel bar…"

"..and my girl wants something a little more fancy tonight?"

"How does Mexican food sound?" Rory said as a smile formed on her face.

"Well," Owen shrugged, absentmindedly tracing abstract forms on Rory's arm, "I could certainly go for a Crunch Wrap Supreme or a Volcano Taco…"

"I didn't mean Taco Bell!"

"I thought you wanted Mexican food?" Owen raised his eyebrows in mock-surprise. "Don't you quiero Taco Bell? Don't you think outside the bun?"

"Baby, I'm so far out of the bun, I can't even see it!" Rory shot back through a giggle. "We are going to San Diego, we can't eat Taco Bell in San Diego. Casa Di Pico is in San Diego!"

"No…" Owen tried to come between Rory and her ranting, but she wasn't hearing it.

"Yes! Yes it is! You watched "America's Must-Eat Foods" with me on the Travel Channel; we made Terri and Grant take notes for the last press conference in Tennessee so you could get those baby-back ribs…"

"And they were fucking delicious," Owen said as he puffed out and patted his stomach for emphasis. "Best ribs of my young life." He pressed a delicate kiss on Rory's temple. "Thanks for making me watch that show, babes, but Pico is in San Diego…"

"So then what's the problem?"

"We aren't," Owen replied simply.

Rory lifted her head off Owen's shoulder and stared at him in complete confusion. "We're not?"

"No, babes. San Francisco is the next stop on this crazy tour."

"But that can't be," Rory mumbled to herself, before recapping the events of the last few days. "It's Wednesday today so yesterday was Tuesday and we did Nevada on Tuesday, so Wednesday is San Diego and Thursday would be San Francisco…"

"Well, well," Owen laughed, "I never thought I'd live to see the day Rory Gilmore messing up her schedule. Today is San Francisco, girlie and tomorrow is Oregon. They updated the schedule, remember?"

Rory frowned as she stared at Owen's soft gaze. "When?"

"Couple weeks ago," he shrugged and started to nibble softly on her bottom lip as she thought about what was going on two weeks ago. It didn't take long for her to remember Logan and their e-mail fight. "Oh."

"Hey, don't worry 'bout it, babes," Owen said as his arm found its way back to resting comfortably around her shoulder. "I'm here for you, questions about the schedule, just ask. I've got your back."

Rory didn't look up this time, but he knew a crooked smirk graced her face.

"Why don't you use that fancy internet phone your Dad got you to check out the San Fran dining?" Owen suggested. "I'm thinking we should go out tonight."

"Really?" Rory perked up instantly. Before he could nod affirmatively, she had fished her phone out of her pocket. As she googled, Owen continued talking. "Still, it's such a shame we aren't going to San Diego. I wanted to go the that Fisherman's Wharf. Sea lions are my favorites."

"Fisherman's Wharf is in San Francisco…"

"It is?" Owen frowned. "Well, I must have gotten my San's mixed up." He squeezed her closer in their side-ways hug. "Then we should make it a date. Fisherman's Wharf to see the sea lions and then go out to dinner…"

"Seriously?" Rory looked up from her phone.

"Hell yeah, baby sea lions are adorable. I've got to see them!"

She snorted at his childlike enthusiasm. "Babes, you said date."

His smile dropped for a split-second, before returning full-force, along with a brighter twinkle in his eyes. "I say a lot of things," he said, turning his head towards her.

"That you do," she whispered in return as his lips were mere inches away from hers. He waited a beat, shooting her a lazy smile, before closing the gap between them.

"So a date?" Rory asked as she pulled away from their kiss.

"You and me," Owen confirmed. "Sea lions and Mexican food. Wear something fun. I'll pick you up at seven."

"Pick me up?"

"It's a date, Gilmore, get with the program," he scolded playfully, but as he saw the confusion on her features he leaned in. "You are in press group A, I'm in group B. It's on the schedule…" he whispered.

"I knew that," Rory stated weakly as he pulled away. "I did!"

Owen's eyebrows shot up as he gave her a disbelieving once over. "I'll see you at seven."

The clock was pushing seven and Rory was almost ready. She knew Owen would be at least fifteen minutes late. Partly because he was familiar with the Gilmore rules, partly because he himself always ran more than a few minutes late.

Her afternoon of following Obama around San Francisco was unusual to say the least. It was bizarre to think that if she had followed Logan San Francisco would be 'her' place. The café she stopped at to get a latte might have been her usual place. The minimarket on the corner might have been the equivalent to Doose's back home. The quirky bag boutique is where she might have bought a quirky bag as a birthday or Christmas present for her Mom.

Rory thought walking around town would make her feel really uncomfortable, but truth was she felt as ease. She could imagine the café being her usual haunt, she saw herself buying milk and cereal at the minimarket and she envisioned herself spending hours shopping for cat totes with Logan.

Maybe it was fate's way of giving her a safe chance to check out the life she would never have.

Rory looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her wavy hair was tied together in a playful ponytail and her outfit consisted of a flirty cherry red summer dress, which she topped with a knitted white cardigan and plastic cherry-print flip-flops. She was definitely ready for a fun and flirty date.

She shot herself a wry smile. Yes, it was nice to go out on a date with Owen. It was just too bad Logan was in New York. Somewhere, deep inside, she kind of would have liked to see him. At least, she assumed he was in New York. She hadn't heard from him since their last email exchange. It was a tiny bit strange since she assumed he'd text her as soon as he got in…

A soft tap on her door pushed those thoughts of the boy from her mind. A very different, but equally nice boy stood before her now.

"You look stunning, darling," Owen said in an attempted British accent as he presented Rory with a latte.

"Thank-you," Rory laughed, gratefully taking the Styrofoam cup. "Too bad your Southern drawl affects your British accent."

Owen smiled and returned to his normal voice. "Always a critic."

After a short stroll through the Wharf, Rory lead Owen the restaurant she had found. "This is it," Rory said as she pointed to a big red building. "Taco Mundo."

"Taco World," Owen said, as he eyed the building suspiciously. "Somehow I think we'd been better off at Taco Bell…."

Rory swatted his chest playfully. "Always a critic! This might be some of the best Mexican food you've had in your young life!"

"Perhaps," Owen said with a shrug as he pointed to the flyer taped to the window. "Look; 2 dollar margaritas!"

"Yum!" Rory clapped her hands excitedly, totally neglecting the point Owen was trying to make. Taco Mundo World with its cheap drinks and greasy food did not seem like a good first date restaurant, but Rory seemed happy so he gracefully placed his hand on the small of her back and lead her inside.

"How many in your party?" the young hostess asked as she pulverized her gum in her mouth. Rory was just about to answer, but Owen replied instead.

"Two."

The sound of Owen's voice must have intrigued the hostess as he eyes flew to see whose face belonged to that shiver-inducing voice. Her eyes fixed on his and she almost choked on her gum.

"Just two?"

"Yes," Owen nodded and cast a glance to her nametag. "Do you happen to have a booth, Genevieve?"

Her eyes shifted from Owen to Rory and then back to Owen. "No."

It was stupid, the girl had to know that she didn't have a shot in hell with Owen and that he was determined not to let anything ruin their date, so withholding the booths were not going to make a difference.

Owen cracked a smile, he knew exactly what was going on. "Well, I see a group finishing up over there, so my date and I will just wait until that table opens up, if that's alright with you, G…"

The girl pursed her lips together as she tried her hardest not to focus on the perky brunette on his arm. "That's fine."

"Excellent." Owen led Rory away from the hostess and to a somewhat secluded corner of the waiting area. "Want a drink? I hear the margaritas are excellent…"

"Really now?" she asked through a teasing smile.

"Maybe not excellent, but it seems to be the drink of choice in this venue…"

"Well, then," Rory raised her hands, "if you can't beat them, join them!"

Owen pressed a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll be right back then!"

Rory folded her arms over her chest, as she watched her guy causally make his way to the bar. The looks the female patrons were giving him didn't go completely unnoticed by her and she shook her head in embarrassment for her gender. He was just a man – a mighty good man – but a man nonetheless.

"Love! Is it you? Love?" A thick Aussie accent cut through her thoughts. She whipped her head around and met a pair of familiar brown eyes.

"Finn!" she called out excitedly. "What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he grabbed hold of her hand and twirled her around. "You are looking stunning as always, though."

"Thank-you, Finn! You look…" She stopped mid-sentence to eye up her longtime friend. He was wearing bright blue board shorts and a yellow shirt covered in blue stars. Leather flip flops graced his feat and he had a pair of Raybans on his head. "…you look, you look, like you!" she gushed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I've missed you too, love," he said tenderly as he stroked her hair. "Finny never was discussed in the settlement! I fully expected to be with you during the week and with him on the weekends. Instead the two of you packed up and left, and I was left with Mr. Stick in the Mud."

"Oh..how is Colin?" Rory asked, hardly hiding the smile that spread on her face and carefully ignoring his other words.

"Fine. Busy with business…" Finn scrunched up his nose in disgust.

"Still the longest four letter word in history for you?" she joked and he laughed. "I'm warming up to it. I'm here scoping out a club."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised, love. I work at night, and my company pays me to spend time with beautiful women, to drink and be merry…"

"Oh, so it's not really work," Rory said with a wink as Finn crossed his arms over his chest. " I don't remember you having this pretty little mean streak, love!"

Rory roared with laughter and embraced Finn once more. She had missed him.

As he waited for their drinks to be made, Owen watched the scene unfold. Rory looking around the room, eyes narrowed to slits, to scare off the other girls. Good. The flirtatious smile she shot him. Better. The loudly dressed man coming up to her. Not good. Him hugging her. Bad. Her hugging him. Worse.

By the time he made it across the room with their drinks, he was all sorts of jealous. "Who's this, Rory?"

"Oh, Owen, hi," Rory said as she quickly released Finn from their embrace. "This is Finn."

"Hello mate," Finn said as he stuck out his hand. Owen waited a beat before shaking Finn's hand. "You are Finn from college?" Owen asked, a little wearily, as the pieces of the puzzle began to come together in his head.

"No, mate, Finn from Australia."

"Really!" Owen said, his trademark easy smile returning to its rightful place. He didn't know much about Finn, but he knew that the guy didn't pose much of a threat. "What's it like Down Under?"

"Come home with me and I'll let you find out…" Finn said, before pausing. "Actually, mate, best not. It's a line I use with the ladies, and it comes automatic to me…I'm sure you understand."

"Does that really work for you, Finn?" Rory asked, laughing and Owen joined before patting Finn on the shoulder.

"No problem, man. Before Rory, I did the same."

"Really?" Finn asked, "Where are you from?"

"Texas."

"So, is everything really bigger in Texas?" Finn asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Exactly," Owen nodded his head in laughter as Rory shot him a dirty look. "Tell me chicks didn't fall for that."

"Love! Girlie!" Finn and Owen exclaimed at the same time. "How could they not?"

"A room full of exotic men and yet the pickings are extremely slim," Rory muttered to herself.

"It worked for you, love," Finn said as he not-so-subtly cocked his head towards Owen.

"No, no, it didn't," Rory was quick to say, as she brushed a lock hair behind her ear.

"So you aren't together?" Finn questioned.

"We are having fun," Rory explained before Owen could say anything to the contrary.

"Gilmores and fun. Stringless fun…"

"Don't look at me like that, Finn," Rory warned playfully.

"I'm looking past you, love, at the ferociously good-looking creature," Finn said, his tone growing absent as he progressed. "Those legs, that dress… shame she's got that black bob." He tore his eyes off the women long enough to address Owen. "I'm partial to the red-headed variety of the fairer sex."

Owen nodded understandingly as he snaked his arm around Rory's waist. "Brunettes."

Rory rolled her eyes playfully at his cheesiness. Before conversation could pick up again, a shrill call interrupted them.

"Finn, is that you?" The Bob made her way over to the group of three, and obnoxiously embraced Finn in a hug.

"It's been eight months and ten days since I've seen you!" she exclaimed.

"Quite a memory you've got there, love," Finn said as he practically pushed the girl off him.

"You don't remember me, do you?" she asked, before running her tongue over her bottom lip. Luckily, she didn't force an uncomfortable moment upon Finn as she began to explain to the group exactly how they met.

"It was in this bar, silly," she laughed, "you were out here for a few months, scoping a club. And it was your last weekend before you had to leave. You were here with an incredibly gorgeous friend…"

"How drunk was I?" Finn asked, before turning to Rory. "I must have been really drunk, considering these margaritas are so cheap…"

"You should be ashamed for not remembering!" she mock-scolded, wagging her perfectly manicured finger. "You introduced me to my boyfriend!"

"Boyfriend?" Finn didn't try to hide his surprise as he openly wondered who would date – and bed – such a horrendous creature. "He's at the bar," the girl practically gushed, before turning and signaling him out. "The blonde!"

Owen, Finn and Rory's gazes followed the direction of the girl's finger straight to smack-dab in the middle of Logan Huntzberger's face.

It took Finn a moment to process what was happening, but Rory didn't need as much time. He was here. With The Bob!! Not on business. She was here with Owen. Not Logan. Not San Diego.

"Fuck," she mumbled under her breath. Owen shot her a confused look and squeezed her tight. Rory turned to him, ready to come up with an excuse to bolt, but it was too late.

"Denise, I got you a Fiji Springs, they didn't have Evian…" His eyes were cast down as he was busy putting his card in his wallet as he handed the bottle to her – if he had been looking up, he would have seen two bewildered faces, next to his gushing girlfriend.

Denise took the bottle, making sure to touch Logan's hand in the process. "Baby, look who I found?" she cooed.

"Who?" he asked, finally stowing his wallet in the back pocket of his khakis and looking up. He met Rory's fierce, piercing blue eyes head on.

His breath caught and he swallowed for air.

Finn shot a quick look at his friend, before looking at Rory and a confused looking Owen. It was obvious that whatever had happened that day at the college courtyard wasn't over yet.

"Mate!" Finn clapped his hands excitedly, "Don't look so blown-out. I told you I'd be in town for a visit!"

"Finn?" Logan forced his head to turn away from Rory and her piercing eyes. "Finn."

"Your oldest, dearest and drunkest friend," he reminded Logan gently, "I didn't realize you'd be in. I thought you didn't get back until tomorrow?"

"Oh, his flight got cancelled," Denise interrupted. Rory noticed that her hand rested on Logan's shoulder. "He wanted to drive to another airport, but I told him to relax. It's not like those investors will run away…"

"Your business degree tell you that, did it, Bobbi?" Rory asked. The bitchiness in her tone surprised her, but she couldn't help it.

"No," Denise said, as if having a degree was a preposterous idea. "I'm Denise. And, uh, I was in marketing, but now I'm a fitness instructor."

Rory's mouth opened to form a perfect O. "A fitness instructor? Like, yoga?" she asked in her valley-girl accent.

"Exactly, and Pilates and aerobics, too!" she nodded excitedly, completely oblivious to Rory's snarky comments. "Do you work-out?"

Owen, Finn and Rory chuckled at Denise's ignorant comment and she quickly turned to Logan. "Gilmore girls don't work out," Logan said.

This little statement caused Owen to stop laughing. For a second time that night, everything aligned as Owen realized who this man was, and this one was definitely threatening.

"You know her, Logan?" Denise demanded.

"Uh, from college," he treaded gently, as he had never told her about Rory and their complicated past before.

Denise exchanged a cautious glance between the pair and Rory's inner-bitch took over. "We dated," she said with a sly smile, "but don't worry, Bobbi, I'm taken." She cast a loving gaze at Owen, who instinctively pulled her closer.

"I thought you two were just having fun," Finn asked as he saw the flicker of pain in Logan's eyes.

"Fun as boyfriend and girlfriend," Rory answered as she locked eyes with Logan. She made sure to stress the labels she had given to her relationship. "You can't be out on the trail for eight months and not meet someone, you know."

"No," Logan muttered under his breath, but Denise was obviously relieved by the answer. "That's so sweet. You two make a sweet couple."

"Why thank-you," Owen spoke up for the first time. His warm tone seemed to edge Denise's smile even further.

"Sir," the hostess interrupted the tense moment. "Your table is ready. But I also have a round table available for five people, as it seems your party has grown considerably…"

"No, that's fine…" Owen started off, but was interrupted by Logan. "We'll take the round table."

Maybe it was his overly confident tone, or maybe it was the fact that the hostess knew Logan carried a black Amex card, but instead of jumping through hoops for Owen, she was listening to Logan now.

A cocky smile grew on his face, as he wrapped his arm around Denise and turned toward the group. "After all, we are old friends randomly running into each other, we should catch up…."

Denise smiled a dumb smile as Owen and Finn shrugged indifferently. Rory's eyes locked to Logan's and she spoke with her best society tone. "That would be lovely."

Please vent in reviews!

Every possible showdown will happen in the next chapter(s).