When Monday morning rolled around, Rory got up early and made sure that she was in her office long before anyone else was there. This was mainly because she didn't want to draw too much attention to herself as she wasn't sure she was ready to face Logan. It wasn't that she necessarily wanted to avoid him – the time they had spent together on Friday night was every bit as good as she had thought it would have been – but that was part of the problem. It had been so good Rory couldn't see how she was going to stop herself wanting more.

She closed the door and tried to keep her head down, busying herself with editing various news articles, avoiding everyone as much as was humanly possible without erring on the side of rude. Halfway through the morning, there was a light tap at her door and she looked up, slightly relieved to see that it was Kate leaning against the doorframe.

"So, what happened to you the other night?" Kate asked her friend.

Rory gestured at her to come in and shut the door. Kate closed the door and sat on the spare chair by Rory's desk.

"Well?"

"I think you probably know what happened the other night unless you really want me to spell it out," Rory said chewing her lip.

"Oh my God, really? You went home with him?" Kate gasped. She'd half-expected it but was still quite surprised to hear it from the horse's mouth. It was very un-Rory.

Rory nodded at her. "It's not my proudest moment, I'll admit"

"Hey, there's no judgement here honey," Kate said as she put her hands up in defense.

"Well, there should be! I'm judging you for not judging me. God, how could I be so stupid? I mean, fuck, I am married Kate and I slept with my ex-boyfriend" she groaned.

"He's also your boss" Kate added helpfully.

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder" Rory groaned.

"So what now? Have you spoken to him since?" Kate asked.

Rory shook her head "No, not yet, but I guess it's only a matter of time. There's nothing to say though really, it shouldn't have happened but Logan…he just seems to stop being able to form any rational thoughts. Poor James, he doesn't deserve to be treated like this – he's been suspicious and accusing me of stuff for ages and now I have just gone and proven him right. I don't know what to do. I've got to tell him, right?"

Kate shook her head "Actually Rory, I'm not so sure, I mean what would it achieve? He doesn't need to know, it's just going to hurt him."

Rory sighed. "Maybe you're right." She didn't like the idea of lying to James, again, but it if she told him about Logan it could be the end of her marriage and she didn't really want that, did she? This was just a blip.

"And it was just a one-time thing right?" Kate asked.

Rory nodded "Absolutely" but even as she said the words she knew she was convincing no one, least of all herself.

"Then, yes just keep it to yourself." Kate nodded. "Anyhow, enough of that, there are far more important things to be discussing right now - how was it?"

"How was what?" Rory asked.

"Don't play innocent with me missy. Sex with the boss. Please please please tell me it was good as I would imagine because he looks like he could show a girl a good time if you know what I mean." Kate begged for details.

"I most certainly do know what you mean and, oh, believe me, he definitely can. It was pretty incredible." Rory smiled.

Logan hadn't seen Rory all morning and he figured that she was probably avoiding him. He had tried to call her a few times over the weekend and she hadn't answered her phone. He knew that they had both got carried away and despite their vow to not regret anything, it was clear that at least one of them had some regrets in the light of day.

As it got to lunchtime, Rory decided to head out of the office and get a bit of fresh air but as she was leaving Logan stopped by her desk.

"Oh, hi," she said self-consciously.

"Do you want to go grab some lunch?" Logan asked her.

"Sure," she said picking up her bag. She inhaled deeply as she followed him out of the office to a restaurant just around the corner. They didn't say much on the way there and when they finally took their seats opposite each other, an awkward silence fell between them. Finally, Rory decided that someone needed to speak and that it might as well be her.

"Logan…I…" Rory stumbled over her words. "The other night…it was great, I mean it was really great but I…I think it was a huge mistake," she said looking down.

"What happened to no regrets?" Logan asked.

Rory bit her lip "I don't regret it, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't a mistake and that it shouldn't have happened."

Logan looked at her "You really feel like that?" he asked sadly.

"I have no choice other than to feel like that Logan. I'm married." She said as she pointed to her wedding ring.

"But you're not happy, you said so yourself," Logan said pointedly.

"That's not really any of your business," Rory said, a little blunter than she had intended for it come out.

Logan looked at her. "You kind of made it my business Rory."

"I really can't do this right now, my life is just one big hot mess. My head is a complete screw-up and I need to sort that out."

"Why," he asked her. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Logan asked as he reached over the put his hand on top of her.

Rory shook her head and looked away as she tried to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.

"You really want to know Logan? Because when I am with James, all I can think about is you. When my husband wants to have sex with me, I turn him down because I can't stop myself imagining that it's you who is making love to me and I'm scared that I'm going to call out your name instead of his. How screwed up is that? And now we, us - we've actually had sex, behind my husband's back, and that makes me the type of woman that I despise. That's not who I want to be Logan but God, you make me lose control of myself."

Logan inhaled deeply at her words. He was surprised at her raw honesty.

"I'm sorry" Logan said.

"It's not your fault" Rory smiled a little "You've always had that effect on me."

Logan offered a little smile back in return. "So what do you want Rory? Do you just want to walk away from each other and pretend that none of this happened?"

"I think we have to," Rory said quietly.

"You didn't answer the question" Logan shook his head.

Rory looked at him questioningly.

"I asked you what YOU want?"

Rory didn't answer.

"This is total crap Rory, there is something between us and I know that you feel it too," Logan said looking her straight in the eyes.

"I'm not denying that, Logan. I know there is and but I wish I didn't feel it or I wish it was five years ago or something. Ugh, I don't know what I wish. I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of this, but at the same time, I know it's inevitable that someone is going to."

"Do you wish we'd never found each other again?" Logan held his breath hoping that she would say no.

"I have to go, Logan," she said standing up without answering the question. "I'm really sorry," she said as she walked away.

Logan watched her walk out of the restaurant. He knew it didn't matter what she said, this wasn't going to be the end for them. The pull between them was too strong and he was pretty sure she would realize that soon enough.

Later that evening Rory sat with James eating the early dinner he had prepared for them before she had got home from work. He had to be on stage later that evening and the silence between them was so uncomfortable that Rory was relieved when he finally left for the theater. James barely looked her in the eye these days and she felt that like she might as well have had a big sign hanging around her neck saying "I slept with Logan". So many times she had wanted to just admit her guilt but she couldn't bring herself to do it, knowing that the fallout that would follow would be nothing short of catastrophic.

She had asked Jess to come around that evening as she really needed to talk to someone else about what was going on and she knew that he would listen to what she had to say regardless of whether he thought she was right or wrong. She still hadn't smoothed things over with Lorelai, they were talking but there was no way that she could admit anything like this to her. When Jess arrived they both took a seat on the sofa in Rory's living room.

"What's up Rory? You wanted to talk?" Jess said as he leaned back and put his feet up on the coffee table.

"Yeah…" Rory looked around the room nervously.

Jess looked around too, wondering what Rory was looking for. "Are you expecting someone to spring out of a cupboard or something, why are you so on edge Gilmore?"

"Oh you know, checking for hidden microphones and two-way mirrors," she said. She was only half-joking, she knew that James didn't trust her at the moment and she also knew he had good reason not to.

Jess raised an eyebrow at her.

Rory looked at him. "Okay, I really need to tell you something but before I do, I really need you to not judge me. Promise me."

"Pinky promise," he said wiggling his little finger at her.

"I slept with Logan," Rory said quickly and then covered her mouth with her hands as if she wanted to push the words right back in.

"Wow," Jess said as he sat up. "I want to say I am shocked, I mean, I am surprised but only really that it has taken you this long"

Rory sighed "You expected this of me? What does that say about the type of person I am."

"It doesn't say anything about you. It's just…you and Logan you know. Nobody was ever able to come between you guys"

"But I'm married Jess, to James, you like James remember," Rory said.

"Yeah I do, he's a decent guy, which is why you're going to need, to be honest with him" Jess looked at Rory who was staring back at him in horror.

"I can't tell him, it will destroy him" She shook her head firmly.

"And you think he's going to feel better when he eventually discovers that you've cheated on him?"

Rory winced.

Jess continued "What about you? Are you happy? What happened with Logan…did it mean nothing to you? Can you just walk away and carry on with your life without him?"

Rory sat and looked at Jess. "I don't know if I can, but I think I have to try."

"Rory you forget I remember just how miserable you were after you and Logan walked away from each other the last time. As much as I like James and I don't think he deserves this at all, if Logan is what you really want, then this is your chance. You know as well as I do Rory that it doesn't always pay to play by the rules. You wouldn't be the first person to leave a marriage for someone else and you won't be the last."

"I…I...don't even think that's an option? I mean we've not discussed that all. I don't a relationship with Logan is on the table at all." Rory said to Jess. Logan had never offered anything to her or even insinuated that it could be more than just sex.

Jess sighed and looked at Rory. "I may not like him but you and Logan, you have always been the end game. You two have a connection that is rare, everyone has seen it, that's why James has been acting up, he knows it too. If there ever was such a thing as a soul mate, and let me tell you, I'm not sure I believe in all that crap, but if it did exist, then you two would be the absolute definition of that"

Rory knew that Jess was right about Logan. The connection between Logan and Rory had been there from the start. Neither of them had ever been able to escape it.

"I just can't believe I am in this situation. If you'd have told me six months ago that this would be my reality, I would never have believed you." She shook her head.

"Whatever happens with Logan, whether you end up together or not, you're not happy Rory, I know you're not, or else this wouldn't have happened. If you truly loved James, you would not have been tempted by Logan. Get yourself happy Rory and if that means you have to leave James, then do it, because none of this is fair on him either. He's not going to thank you for lying to him and or even worse, sticking with him and resenting him for years because he's not really what you want. Life is too short to be playing these games. You need to decide what you want, who you want to be with and make it happen."

A/N: SURPRISE! Another chapter today. Received so many lovely comments I thought I'd reward you. Enjoy x