A/N: Haven't you missed Finn, Colin and Steph? I have.

Chapter 10: Now That Was A Proposal

The next morning Logan woke up to the sound of his cell phone vibrating on his bedside table. It was adding to the already pounding headache he had. He reached out for it and flipped it open. "What?" he grunted.

"Hello to you too," Colin's all too cheery voice greeted him. "Finn and I are waiting outside for you to open the door. Can't you hear us?"

Logan listened for a second and immediately wished he hadn't, he could hear a distant pounding on his front door and it also added to the pounding in his head. "Ok tell Finn to stop pounding on the door it hurts my head," he groaned.

"Oh suffering from a hang over are we?" Colin asked with a laugh.

"Shut up, I'll be there in a minute." He flipped his phone shut and manoeuvred himself out of bed with out waking the brunette who had been lying with her head on his chest. He looked down at her and questions began spinning around in his head adding to his headache. He stumbled down stairs and unlocked his door, opening it to reveal Colin and Finn. They both walked in without being asked. "I got to use the loo mate, won't be a minute," Finn said waltzing away up the stairs. Logan just groaned in response and flopped down onto the couch. Colin on the other hand walked into the kitchen and started up the coffee maker. When the coffee was done he poured two cups and carried one of them and a glass of water into the lounge room, two aspirin in his hand. He put the cup on the coffee table and handed the glass and aspirin to Logan, returning to the kitchen for the other cup. Logan took a sip of the water and downed the aspirin then turned to his coffee. He had just finished his coffee and was feeling much better when Finn came down the stairs and stood in front of him. "Logan, reporter girl is asleep in your bed, did you know that?"

"Yes Finn I was aware of that," Logan answered without looking up.

"She's also fully clothed, well as far as I could see I didn't want to wake her to fully check..."

"Yes I am aware of what state of dress she is in seeing as she is in my bed," Logan replied.

"It also appears that you were in bed with her last night."

"I was."

"Wait," Colin said looking at them both, "I get her being in your bed but I don't get her being fully clothed in your bed. Did you guys get dressed again after or something?"

"No. Nothing happened to get dressed after," Logan said.

"So you two didn't sleep together?" Finn said.

"Well we slept together, but we didn't have sex, no."

"Whoa. So you've gone more than 4 months without sex and now that you have the woman you've been denying yourself for, in your bed of all places, you didn't do anything?" Colin asked in disbelief. "Huntz, you've lost your touch."

"Literally," Finn added with a grin.

"We just saw each other for the first time in months. Besides we're just friends."

"Sure. Just friends," Colin said, "So Logan how hard was it for you to, uh, control yourself last night? While you were lying next to her, your bodies almost touching or actually touching, her hair smelling of vanilla…"

Logan looked up at his friend, "How do you know what her hair smells like?"

"I went to your apartment many times and I'm guessing that it wasn't you that used the vanilla shampoo," Colin answered. "Now answer the question."

"Man you have no idea," Logan said hoarsely, his head lolling back against the seat as he remembered the events from the nights before.

"I think he does," Finn said, who had settled in an arm chair side ways, his legs hanging over the arm rest. He was admiring his fingernails, and the chipping black paint on them. "Time for a new coat," he said more to himself then anyone else. "Logan do you know if Rory has any black nail polish?"

"I'm not sure. Finn, what did you mean that Colin would know what it's like?" Logan asked curiously.

"Well I meant Stephanie of course," Finn answered ignoring the glare he received from Colin. "He's been in love with the girl since forever and I'm sure he's taken her home drunk countless times and shared a bed with her. Actually I know that for a fact seeing as I shared a dorm room with him at Yale."

"Yeah, no wonder he goes and gets totally smashed every time they break their 'thing' off," Logan smirked.

"If only he realised how much she meant to him and stopped denying it, he could get his A into G and go get her and keep her this time," Finn stated, holding his hand out the way girls did when admiring a wedding ring, still staring at his fingernails.

"Hello, he is sitting right here, and he doesn't need to realise anything because there is nothing to realise!" Colin yelled.

"And 'Da Nile ain't just a river in Egypt," Finn retorted.

"I am not in denial!" Colin shouted. He stood up and stormed out, they heard the fridge door opening and slamming shut and then the sound of Colin's feet thundering up the stairs.

"Should we go out and see if he's ok?" Logan asked.

Finn swung his legs off the arm rest and sat up straight. "I've got a better idea," he said, an evil glint in his eye. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket then threw it on the couch opposite him.

Logan stared at him, "That was your great idea?" he asked incredulously.

"No that was not my great idea. My phone is dead, I'm using yours. Hand it over." Logan handed him his cell phone warily. "What's Steph's number on speed dial?"

"Four," Logan said, "I don't think getting Steph here is a good idea.'

"What do you mean? It's a brilliant idea."

Logan snorted in response, "I guess we have different views on what is a good idea and what is not."

"That's 'cause I'm a genius and you're not. So how did Steph end up being number four on your speed dial?" Finn asked typing away furiously. He hit the send button and looked at Logan.

"She just did, it's you and Colin then Honour then her."

"Who's first, me or Colin?"

'What? Uh Colin I think."

Finn looked appalled, "How did he get above me, I think I've been a much better friend then he has."

"He's first because his names starts with C."

Finn sighed, "If only my father had named me Adrian…or Alan, or Abigail…"

"Well Abigail is a girl's name for starters," Logan began as his phone went off. Finn flipped it open reading the message before handing it back to its owner. "Steph'll be here in 10."

Logan nodded before reaching for the remote, "Stooges?" he asked rhetorically turning on the TV.

"No," Finn said. "I want you to explain what the hell Reporter girl is doing here. I know Colin know's and it's annoying. He has that 'I know something you don't know' look. If he wasn't so pissed at us he'd be down here doing the dance."

Logan grinned and obliged spending the next 10 minutes explaining his and Rory's current situation.

Finn and Logan were sprawled out on the floor when the door bell rang, it'd been more then 10 minutes and they hadn't heard a sound from either Colin or Rory.

They got up and went to the door, opening it to see Steph standing there. A small black leather bag on one shoulder. "Why am I here?" she asked stepping past them into the hall way. "Not that I don't enjoy spending time with you guys…"

"Colin," was all Finn said. "On the balcony."

Steph walked off down the hallway and up the stairs towards the balcony, she'd only taken a few steps when she turned back. She reached into her purse and pulled out a little black bottle. "Here's the nail polish by the way." She was on her way as soon as Finn grabbed the bottle. "Thanks love," he called after her before he settled down at the kitchen table to paint his nails.

"You're strange, you know that?" Logan said, walking past his friend to the kitchen. He poured another cup of coffee then grabbed a glass of water and two aspirin before he headed up the stairs to his room. "Don't get any of that nail polish on the kitchen table," Logan called over his shoulder.

He was sure that Colin storming up the stairs would have woken Rory, no matter how hung over she was but he was wrong, she was still fast asleep. He smiled as he placed the water, coffee and aspirin on the bedside table. He was sure the smell of coffee would wake her up soon enough. Again he pushed some of her brown hair behind her ear and off her face. She squirmed a little at his touch then snuggled down further underneath the blankets.

He pulled the blankets up tighter around her and walked out of his room shutting the door behind him with a sigh. She'd wake up when she woke up, and then they'd deal with what had happened between them last night. He had told Colin and Finn the truth, it had been torture for him last night, especially when she had asked him to stay with her, she'd curled up next to him just like she used to and for that moment, he had forgotten all that had happened. Just seeing her, being near her but not actually being with her, had hurt more then he could ever have imagined. And it had almost killed him stopping her and he still couldn't work out why he had in the first place. She was all he ever wanted and she basically threw herself at him. He paused mid step at the top of the stairs. That was it. She had never ever been the girl to drop at his feet with little work on his part. He had always had to work hard for her, and he had been glad to do it, she was always a challenge. Her throwing herself at him reminded him of all the other girls that could never measure up to her. Girls like Jamie and Tania, superficial, shallow and only after him for his name, money and looks. But Rory was different and that was why he loved her. But last night she hadn't been. He shook his head in amazement at what a little alcohol could do.

Steph stood in front of the balcony door, watching Colin through the glass. He was standing at the railing staring at the busy street below. A bottle of beer dangled in his hand. He put the bottle to his lips and took a long swig. Steph noticed, what she assumed was an empty bottle, on the ground at his feet. She took a deep breath and opened the door stepping through.

"For God's sake I'm not…" Colin trailed off as he turned around and saw that it was not Finn or Logan on the balcony with him.

"You're not what?" she asked soothingly noting how angry, frustrated and tired he looked.

"I'm not denying it anymore,' he all but whispered. "I know."

"You know what?" she asked, her shoulders slumping causing the strap of her bag to slip off into her hand.

"I know I'm in love with her." He took a last swig of beer and put the empty bottle on the ground.

"In love with who?"

He stepped towards her looking right into her eyes. "The most beautiful girl I've ever seen."

There was only a step or 2 separating them. "Who?" she asked again in a quiet, timid voice.

"You." And with that one simple word he closed the gap between them, his lips crashed down on hers and the strap of her bag slid out of her hand as she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. His lips fell from hers and he kissed up and down her neck.

She lifted her neck, giving him better access. "Colin," she murmured.

"Mmm…" he muttered distractedly.

"Colin!"

He stopped his assault on her neck and looked up at her. She noticed the passion and desire in his eyes and knew it matched her own. "I love you too and I would like to show you just how much I really do love you but we're standing on a balcony," she said breathlessly.

He looked at their surroundings, "So we are," he stated.

"So do you think we could go somewhere? Logan's room maybe?" she asked as he turned back to kissing her neck.

"Can't. Rory's there. How long will it take us to get to your place?" he murmumered against her skin.

"Wait, Rory's there? In Logan's room? Oh my God are they finally back together?" she asked excitedly jumping and causing him to pull back from her with a slight groan.

"No they're apparently just friends. Steph can we please discuss this later? How far is it to your place?"

"I have roommates. And thin walls, where are you staying?" she said quickly, putting her arms back around his neck.

"Hotel. Adjoining room to Finn. I can get him to crash here though," he said as he ran his hands up and down her arms and she twirled his hair in her fingers.

"How long?"

"40 minutes."

She groaned, dropping her head onto his chest. "40 minutes is a long time, almost too long," she muttered into his shirt.

"Can we go and park somewhere?" he asked desperately.

"Colin!" she exclaimed stepping back from him, but not completely out of his arms. "I am not doing this in a car!"

"Why not it's not like we haven't done it before. Both in a car and out."

"But this, this is different, special, I want it to be somewhere special," she said quietly.

"You really are a girl you know Steph. OK we'll go to the hotel, come on hurry." He bent down and picked up her bag before handing it to her and leading her back inside and down the stairs. He grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen where they stopped in front of Logan and Finn. Finn had finished painting his nails and was blowing on them to get them to dry faster. Logan was staring moodily at the wooden table top. Both looked up as the couple rushed in.

"Ah so you finally did get you're A into G. I'm happy for you love,' Finn said grinning at them, "All thanks to me of course."

"Dude, don't ever call me 'love' again."

"Who ever said I was talking to you mate? I was talking to her," he said nodding at Steph.

"Why is it all thanks to you?" Steph asked, "I think it was actually us that did everything."

"I'm sure you did do everything," Finn said with a wink before turning serious, "But it's all thanks to me because I got Colin all riled up by saying he was in love with you since forever and then I got you here. It wouldn't have happened without me," he stated smugly.

"Well actually it wouldn't have happened without me," Logan said, his trademark smirk in place.

"How so?" Finn questioned his friend.

"Well you did use my phone to get Steph here as yours is flat."

"I could've found another phone," Finn said defensively.

"Ahem, gentleman this is beside the point, we have a lot of catching up to do and I think it may possibly take us the rest of our lives to do so and we should probably start as soon as possible." He turned to walk away but Steph stood rooted to the spot. He looked back at her eyebrows raised.

"Did you mean that?" she asked.

"What?"

"You said 'rest of our lives'."

"I did?"

"Did you mean it? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with me? Oh my God, did you just propose?"

"I did say that," he said to himself. He looked at her and made a split second decision, he loved this woman and he did indeed want to spend the rest of his life with her. He dropped down on one knee. "Stephanie Van der Bit, I'm kind of ring-less here at the moment as this wasn't planned but I love you, I always have and I always will. Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she cried, jumping into his arms and kissing him passionately.

"Now that was a proposal," Finn whispered approvingly screwing the lid back onto the nail polish a watery grin on his face.

"Now we really need to go, Logan if you wouldn't mind Finn crashing here tonight, I'd appreciate the privacy. Anyway we'd best be going. Bye," Colin said as he walked backwards towards the door, his arm around a smiling Steph.

"Say hi to Rory for me," Steph called over her shoulder as they rushed out the front door.

And they were gone. Silence settled over the room before Finn broke it, "Well it's about bloody time," he said simply. He looked up at Logan and noticed the lost-in-thought look on his face.

"What's up mate?"

"She said yes."

"Yeah she did," Finn said slowly trying to get to the same place as his best friend.

"They just made up 10 minutes ago and she agreed to marry him. Why did she say yes to him…and Rory said no to me?"

Finn sighed as he realised what was getting his friend down.

"Am I that different to Colin?" he continued staring at his hands.

"You are different to Colin and Rory is different to Steph, it wasn't the right time for you guys but you were made for each other, you two will get it back on track mate, trust me." He got up and walked to the fridge and pulled out a few bottles of beer. "Here," he said handing one to Logan.

"You always turn to alcohol to solve the problem don't you Finn?"

"Of course mate, what works better than alcohol?"