"Now listen here, mister, I've always had a monkey lamp in my house. When our first one broke, we bought another, but there was always a monkey represented in my house."

"Ace, I understand, but my mother would have a coronary. Your grandmother would have a coronary if we had an obscene monkey lamp gracing the foyer. Especially one that's wearing a dress. Plus, it just doesn't really fit the design aesthetic that I feel we're going after."

Rory and Logan were shopping for furniture for their house. Although they both had furniture that they brought separately, it wasn't enough to fill the house. They were in their fourth store of the day and had realized that they were raised in very different households. While Logan was raised on furniture he wasn't allowed to sit on, Rory was raised with comfy couches. They were just trying to find something in the middle that they both could agree upon.

"Ok, how about this," Logan said, trying to quell the rapidly escalating difference of opinion. "We'll buy the monkey lamp and put it in the library. That way it will be in your safe haven, and we just won't let your grandmother in that room."

"But think about how fun it would be to see the look on your mother's face when she walks in and sees it," Rory pointed out.

"Ok, it will live in the library and come out only when my mother comes by. That's my final answer, Ace. That lamp terrifies me."

Rory nodded her agreement and Logan motioned for the sales person to wrap up the insane lamp.

A buzzing from his pocket alerted Logan to an incoming phone call. He was happy to see Colin's face on the display.

"Hey man, how are you," he greeted his old friend. Rory wandered off to the dining room tables.

"I'm good, life is good. I banged this amazing blonde chick last night. Talk about firecracker. And the best part was, she was gone this morning when I woke up. No awkward conversations. It was amazing."

Logan laughed at his friend's story and could honestly say that he didn't miss those days. He would never tell Colin this, but there was something about knowing someone so intimately that you felt completely at ease, before, during and after the act that made it so much better. Or maybe it was just Rory that made him feel that way.

"That's a dream come true," Logan said, remembering the days pre-Rory when he would have killed for something like that.

"So, now that you have a house, Finn and I want to come visit," Colin told him.

"I had a house in California," Logan reminded him.

"Yes, but that was different."

Puzzled, Logan started to say "How?" but cut himself off when he realized that Colin and Finn just wanted to hang out with Rory again. He knew that they had become close during his nine months in London, and he also knew that with the exception of the few times they had hung out recently, they hadn't spoken to her since the failed engagement.

"You're welcome anytime, and come sooner rather than later, so you can help me with a project."

"What kind of project?" Colin asked.

"Top secret," Logan responded, grateful that Rory was out of earshot. "I'll call you on Monday with the details."

"OK, how is next weekend for you guys? Are you free?"

"We should be. I'll confirm with Ace and call you at work on Monday. Sound good?"

"Yes. I'm eager to hear about this top-secret project. Does it involve some special jewelry?"

"Perhaps. I'll call you Monday." Logan disconnected the call and hurried over to stop Rory before she signed the papers to buy a neon green dining room table.

Monday morning, Logan placed a three-way call to Colin at his office in Boston and Finn who had set up a commodities business in Miami.

"Gentlemen," Logan started. "You are confirmed to visit whenever you want, but I need you to help me out this time."

"Help you plan the perfect proposal, right mate," Finn asked.

"Proposal is planned. I need help with execution," Logan said, and then launched into his plan of attack.

That night, when Logan came home, Rory was already home and making dinner. She had a new Okkervil River album on the stereo and was jamming to the loud music as she stirred whatever was in her pot. He laughed upon seeing her. The music was so loud he knew she hadn't heard him come in, so he went up behind her and put his hands on her hips and started moving with her. She startled and turned around, but laughed when she saw it was him. He grabbed her hands and swung her around in time with the music. They danced around the kitchen, a mixture of Logan's formal ballroom training and some more jerky moves from Rory who was trying to insert some more modern moves into their routine. They both laughed when Rory realized she still had the wooden spoon in her hands and she turned back to continue with dinner while Logan moved to the stereo to turn it down slightly. Logan came up behind her again, and pressed his body against hers; his chest to her back.

"This smells delicious, Ace. What are you making?"

Rory frowned and looked back at him. "Rachel Ray says that I'm making Chicken Parmesan, but It doesn't look like normal Chicken Parmesan."

Logan looked in the pot and noticed that she had grabbed Alfredo sauce instead of red sauce. He held back his laughter and asked her to grab the tomatoes out of the fridge. When she stepped away from the stove, he rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the ingredients to make his grandmother's pasta sauce.

"So, I wanted to run something by you," he said as she brought him the tomatoes.

"Shoot," she replied.

"Colin and Finn want to come to visit us this weekend," Logan started.

"Really?" Rory excitedly responded.

"So I guess it's ok with you?" he answered.

"Of course it's ok. Logan, you don't have to ask to have your friends over. God. Please kill me if I become that kind of girlfriend who gets upset about stuff like that."

"Can I get that in writing?" Logan joked.

"Sure, I'll get it tattooed to my ass, how's that?" Rory joked back. "But seriously, I'd love to see Colin and Finn again. I know you haven't seen them since New Years."

They worked together in silence for a minute before Rory spoke up.

"Why don't you invite Robert and Jeremy over for poker night on Saturday? Get the LDB back together again? We can finish getting your man cave set up by then and you guys can have a boys night."

"But what will you do while we do that?" Logan asked.

"I don't know. I'll read. Or I'll go to Stars Hollow for a movie night with mom. If need be, I'll put out a personal ad for a friend so I can do something close to home," Rory joked.

Logan thought about it. "I think they're coming to see you more than me," he responded. "I'm sure they'd never forgive me if I kicked you out of the house on one of the two nights they'll be here.

"Oh now, you know that's not true," Rory said. "Maybe I'll invite mom here. It's not like we're lacking in space. Maybe Luke would want to join your poker game or would that cramp your style?"

Logan mentally kicked himself. He knew that he had gotten Lorelai's blessing, but he also knew that he should ask both Chris and Luke, who was like a father to Rory. He suddenly realized that he was planning to propose in less than a week and hadn't asked her father or her pseudo-father for their blessings. "Yes, of course Luke could join our game. The more the merrier. It will give me a chance to get to know him a little better."

"Great, then it's decided. This is going to be a great weekend," Rory said.

Logan chuckled. "You're easy to please."

"That's what my personal ad says."

Logan knew he needed to make a trip to Boston to speak with Christopher. He cleared all of his appointments on Wednesday. When he kissed Rory goodbye in the morning, he headed to the train rather than his office.

He arrived in Boston and headed to Christopher's office.

The receptionist asked Logan if he had an appointment, and when he said he didn't, she looked at him disapprovingly and called back to Christopher. She then instructed him to take a seat and wait.

It only took ten minutes before Logan saw Christopher coming towards him.

"Logan? This is a surprise," the elder man greeted him warmly.

"Forgive me for interrupting your workday," Logan said, standing up to greet him and shake his hand. "I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time."

"Of course. Come on back," Chris said, leading the way. "Sally, please hold my calls."

Logan followed Chris through a maze of desks until they got to an office at the end of the hall. Chris shut the door behind them and Logan took the seat across from his desk.

"So, Rory tells me you've moved in together," Chris said, taking his seat. "Should I ask you what your intentions are?"

"Well, I kind of want to discuss that with you."

"I figured," Chris said, cutting to the chase. "When are you going to ask her?"

"This weekend. Can I have your blessing?"

"Logan," Chris began. "I've always liked you. You remind me a lot of myself."

"I take that as a compliment, sir," Logan said.

"You'll make her happy, I assume?" Chris asked.

"Yes, I will try every day of my life."

"That's all I ask. Welcome to the family, kid."

Logan stood up and extended his hand. "Thank you, sir."

Taking his hand, Chris laughed. "You're going to be my son-in-law, kid. Please call me Chris."

"Ok, Chris," Logan responded.

"Do you have time for lunch or do you need to get back right away," Chris asked.

"My mother raised me to never turn down an offer from my in-laws."

Chris chuckled and grabbed his jacket. "Wise woman. Come on, kid."

The remainder of the week consisted of work and getting ready for their guests. Lorelai and Luke happily agreed to come over for the evening and Logan's old Life and Death Brigade friends agreed to come over for poker night. Colin and Finn arrived on Friday afternoon. The group spent Friday night and Saturday catching up. Saturday night came quickly, and before they knew it, the Danes' and LDB gang were knocking on the door.

The boys went upstairs to the fourth floor to the open space they had turned into the poker room for the night. Lorelai and Rory went down to the theater for their movie night. They were watching a Dolly Parton marathon: Nine to Five, Steel Magnolias, and Gnomeo and Juliet. They still had the copious amounts of junk food, but had added some fruit and Nutella, because Lorelai was craving fruit all the time now.

"I still can't believe you live here," Lorelai said after eating a strawberry.

"I still can't believe I live here," Rory responded. "It seems like a dream most days. I wake up every morning to Logan and come home here. Then I go to sleep in a beautiful bedroom with a beautiful man in my arms. It's surreal."

"Any more talk of getting engaged?"

"No, and it's so frustrating! He drops a bomb like that and then doesn't act on it?" Rory groaned in frustration and took a hard bite out of her red vine.

"Maybe he's waiting for the perfect moment," Lorelai offered.

"Or maybe he changed his mind," countered Rory.

"Have you talked to him?"

"No," Rory pouted.

"Right. Because that's worked so well for you in the past."

"I don't want to talk about it anymore. How's my little brother," Rory asked, leaning over and touching Lorelai's expanding belly.

"He's big and making me fat. Of course Luke insists that I look even more beautiful because of my glow."

"He's such a good husband."

"But I know he's lying. I'm as big as a whale," Lorelai cried.

"But you're such a cute whale."

"Just wait, you'll be here someday and I will make fun of you so bad…"

"Oh now, don't be bitter just because I can still wear cute heels," Rory replied with a smile.

Lorelai groaned again. "I haven't worn cute heels in months. It's only sensible flats for me. Luke is going to divorce me because I wear old lady shoes."

"Oh yes, I'm sure that's true. It's not like he isn't falling all over himself to make sure that you're comfortable," Rory said, remembering how attentive and adoring Luke had been since Lorelai told him she was pregnant. He had always been attentive, but now, Lorelai wouldn't need to lift a finger if she didn't want to.

"He is pretty amazing, isn't he?" Lorelai asked with a smile. "The other day, we were walking down the street and a stray cat walked our way. He knows how scared I am of cats, so he ran after it, shooing it away. It was hilarious to see Luke running down the street flailing his arms and clapping to scare the cat away, but also so sweet."

Meanwhile, upstairs, the men were losing lots of money.

"Ugh, Robert, you have to be cheating. There is no way you can have luck like that," Colin exclaimed after Robert won his third hand.

"I don't need to cheat with the terrible cards you're getting," Robert responded.

"I'm out, men. Can I grab anyone another drink?" Logan asked. Everyone grunted their response as Logan got up from the table.

"Luke, can you help me out?" he asked.

"Yeah. It's not like I'm doing anything but losing money," Luke responded.

"But you're contributing large amounts of money that are going into my pocket, so please stay," Robert answered with a smirk

"Don't be an ass, Robert," Logan, Colin and Finn said simultaneously. Even Colin and Finn knew that it was important for Luke to feel comfortable tonight, so they were doing everything possible to run interference between Robert's pompous remarks and Luke's laid back demeanor. So far, everyone was getting along, and they wanted to keep it that way.

Luke followed Logan downstairs to the kitchen.

"My apologies for Robert," Logan offered. "He's always been an asshole, and I guess we're just used to it at this point."

"He's fine," Luke responded. "Rory warned me about him before we came. I can't believe she went out on a date with him."

"Well, Ace always sees the best in people."

Luke grunted in agreement.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about her," Logan said.

"I figured," Luke responded. When Logan raised his eyebrow in question, Luke responded "it's not that difficult to manage three beers, kid."

Logan smiled. "No, I suppose it's not."

He paused a moment while he reached in the fridge, taking out three bottles. Turning around, he looked Luke in the eye and said "I'm going to ask Rory to marry me tomorrow. While I was making the plans, it dawned on me that I hadn't asked your permission."

Luke started to answer but Logan cut him off. "I know I don't really need your permission since I have Lorelai's, but where I come from, things are done in a certain way, and I did not do it the way it should have been done. So, Luke, do I have your blessing to ask Rory to be my wife?"

Luke was impressed with the courage that Logan was displaying. He had known that Logan and Lorelai had spoken about this topic, but he knew he didn't really have a say as her step-father. Regardless, he was touched.

"Are you going to do your damndest not to hurt her ever again?" Luke asked.

"Yes, sir. You can count on that."

"And will you take care of her and love her, even if she drives you insane?"

"I fell in love with her because she drove me insane," Logan answered quietly.

"Then you have my blessing," Luke said. The men tapped their beer bottles together in a silent toast and took a sip.

"Did you ask Chris?" Luke asked.

"Yes," Logan said with a sigh. "But it's more important that I get your permission. He calls Rory once a week, but he's not really in our lives like you and Lorelai are."

"But I have to tell you," Luke continued. "I have a gun, and I know how to use it."

"Noted," Logan said with a spark of fear in his eyes.

The house seemed empty after being so full the night before. Lorelai and Luke had gone back to Stars Hollow and Colin and Finn had departed for their respective cities as well. Rory was lying on the couch with her head in Logan's lap. She was watching TV and doing the crossword puzzle while he was reading the newspaper. Rory hated the stillness of the house. She missed her friends and mother already.

"Ugh, it's too quiet," she noted.

Logan chuckled. Just this morning, she had been complaining about how loud Finn's shower singing was.

"How about I take you out for Indian food. Those restaurants are never quiet," Logan suggested.

Rory's eyes lit up. "Can we go to Karahi?"

Logan had hoped that she would suggest that restaurant. He knew it was in her old neighborhood, and in order for his plan to work, they needed to go to the West Village. She was playing into his hand nicely.

"I wouldn't dream of taking you anywhere else."

After dinner, Logan suggested they take a walk by the water on the Hudson River Greenway. They were holding hands and joking with each other until they came to a certain spot with a beautiful view of lower Manhattan. Moving out of the path and against the railing, Logan swung her around and pulled her close. She returned his embrace without question.

"Rory," he started, looking deeply into her eyes. "I love you so much."

"You'd better, mister," she replied with a twinkle in her eye. "I love you too."

"I come out here to run a lot," he said. "I love this part of the city. It's so green, and you can see the water. It takes you down past Battery Park if I need a long run. It's the place I come when I need to think about things."

"What are you thinking about tonight?," Rory asked.

"You. That's all it's been lately, it's been you. When I wake up in the morning, when I go to sleep at night. When I'm in a boring meeting or I pass a taco stand in the street. You are always on my mind. You giving me a second chance has breathed a new life into me. You make me so happy, and I want to spend my life trying to make you happy too."

Still in his arms, Logan leaned down and whispered in her ear "Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, will you marry me?"

Dun dun dun...what will she say?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed the last chapter! Also, thanks to my awesome beta, xshynenstarx!