A/N: Thanks for everyone's support and reviews. Here's what you've all been waiting for and I'm sorry for the delay, hope it's worth the wait. Don't expect things to move too quickly for them, I'm enjoying dragging it out and making you all suffer, but from here out they will be in each other's pockets.

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Rory bit her bottom lip, staring nervously at the screen. Am I in or out? She hesitated for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and answering. Looking up, she blinked at the sudden rush of disappointment that Logan wasn't there anymore, watching her with that cute little smirk, his melting chocolate eyes seeming to look right through her. Realizing where her thoughts were going, she shook her head and focused back on the computer, hoping Logan had seen her answer before taking off.

"Gilmore!" Doyle barked, Rory looking up and frowning. Just inside the newspaper room door, heading straight for her desk, were four females, two of whom were very familiar: the girl from the night before who could only be described as regal, even having traded in the ball-gown for jeans and a simple pink v-neck cashmere sweater, her long blonde curls piled messily on her head instead of the classic twist; a shorter girl with black hair in pig-tails wearing a black leather miniskirt, a My Little Ponies T-shirt with the sleeves torn off, pink slouch socks and black stiletto ankle boots; the brunette girl she'd seen with Logan a few times and someone who reminded Rory of her mother, in style and her accessory. Long blond-streaked red hair hung around her shoulders in waves, and she had on a knee-length olive-green tiered skirt, white tank top, brown leather circle belt, and green crocodile cowboy boots. It was her accessory that Rory focused on, a baby girl that appeared to be just under a year old.

"Let's go," the redhead nodded her head at the door and started back out, the others pausing to look at Rory expectantly. Feeling the eyes of the entire newsroom on her Rory stood and walked to the door, the other three girls falling behind her. She flinched when the newsroom door slammed shut, feeling like she was leaving behind a part of herself and going into a new stage of life.

"Where are we going?" Rory asked, unable to contain her curiosity as they reached the parking lot in complete silence.

"Rachel, Asia, Nicole, Morgan, Cat," the redhead pointed at the each of them in turn, ending with the baby and herself before looking over Rory's shoulder. "Now."

"Hey!" Rory cried when a blindfold was put over her eyes.

"Can't know where you're going Ace," Logan's voice sounded and Rory felt herself automatically relax, feeling safe with him there. She stiffened again almost instantly, not sure how she felt about Logan's presence effecting her that way.

"Ace? That won't work. She's more of a Bambi."

"Finn? Is Colin here too?" Rory asked, recognizing the voice.

"Give the girl a medal for the voice recognition. Where is Colin?"

"Class, not over for another half-hour."

"Oh, okay. Guess we should get this party started. See you boys later."

"Up you go Ace," Rory shivered as Logan wrapped his hands around her waist, lifting her easily into a vehicle. She could feel the warmth of his touch burning through her clothes and she couldn't help the faint pout when he released her.

"Interesting, Finn?"

"No worries love, I'm all over it. C'mon mate, let's go find Colin."

"Have fun Ace," Rory could have sworn she felt a feather-light kiss brush against her forehead before she heard the door slam shut.

"Where are we going?" Rory had to ask as the car's engine started and she felt them start to move.

"Geez, for a reporter, she's not too bright. Blindfold, can't know where we're going, did that not get through sugar?"

"Be nice Asia. As for where we're going, you'll find out soon enough. You wanted to do an expose on the Brigade, we're giving you the inside scoop, what else do you want?"

"And you told me to be nice? Might want to follow your own directions Cat."

"Please, that is nice for Cat, she's the bitch, no, wait, I'm the bitch. It is my theme song and you're not taking it!"

"Like I'd want a one-hit wonder as my theme song! Please!"

"Oh and here's the Queen coming out."

"Sure Rach, give Nic's title away, real fair!"

"Umm, I have classes," Rory finally broke through the play fighting between the other girls, starting to regret ever approaching Logan. It was one thing to interview him but to be dragged off blindfolded by total strangers was completely different.

"Relax, you've got nothing until tomorrow at one and you'll be safely back in your cozy little Branford bed by midnight tonight so nobody's turning into a pumpkin."

"How do you know my schedule?" Rory stiffened, suspicious.

"And the reporter has emerged from her shell ladies. Chill Mary, oh, crap!"

"Mary?" Rory froze at the old, hated nickname, and then winced when the other three girls all shouted at once.

"Rachel!"

"Oopsy? Not like she isn't going to find out eventually, hello!"

"So I should just start blathering on about the entire brigade structure and founding members because she'll find out eventually?"

"Cat's got a point Rach."

"I know, and I'm sorry. Hence the 'oh crap'. Yay! We're here!"

"Umm, hello?" Rory chewed her lip when she heard car doors slamming followed by dead silence. Unsure if she was allowed to remove her blindfold yet or not, she groped for the door handle, nearly doing a nose-dive onto the pavement when it flew open on her.

"Smooth one Gilmore. Oh, did we forget to tell her she could take the blindfold off? Sorry, come on," Catherine tugged the blindfold free and grinned at Rory, amused when she stared wide-eyed at the building in front of them.

"Where are we?"

"Our first stop of the day. Behold Brigade headquarters, AKA the Clubhouse as we like to call it. Come on inside, we have many things to discuss," Catherine linked arms with Rory and propelled her towards the mansion.

"Here," Asia handed Rory a steaming mug of coffee the second she stepped inside, grinning at her surprised look. "We are all-knowing sugar."

"Now Miss Gilmore, welcome to the first step towards entering that privileged circle of the Life and Death Brigade," Catherine made her voice dramatic and Rachel threw a balled up napkin at her head with a snort.

"Cue the organ music! Geez, and we made fun of Elias the other night," Nicole snickered, remembering.

"So Elias Huntzberger is a member still?" Rory asked.

"Yes and no," Asia smirked. "Can I tell her the deal, I wanna, please?"

"You just want to because you haven't before," Rachel rolled her eyes.

"So?"

"Fine, lay it out for Bambi here," Catherine sprawled back on a cream leather couch and eyed Rory with amusement, trying to merge the image she'd gotten from Lorelai with the rather shy, nervous looking girl standing here now.

"We want you," Asia stated bluntly.

"What?" Rory flinched, looking rapidly between the girls.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Gilmore," Catherine sighed. "LDB wants you, you've been granted permission to begin the induction process."

"Which is three-fold. All inductees must complete or be put through a series of tasks, specially designed to stretch them and prove that they are worthy of the Life and Death Brigade. Then with the help of at least two council members, male and female, your Brigade identity is chosen and the council takes a vote on whether you've completed the tasks appropriately. The final step is the inclusion ceremony, which is really dull and stupid," Asia finished with a shrug, reaching for a cookie off of the sideboard and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"I need more coffee," Rory mumbled, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Not to pressure you but you must decide today if you want to take that step, or you'll have to sign a confidentiality clause before you leave. And if we find anything about us in a paper we'll sue your ass off," Catherine smiled sweetly.

"Thanks for the tip," Rory said sarcastically.

"That's what we're here for," Rachel grinned, toasting her with a glass of champagne. "I'm off to the pool if anyone cares to join me," she stood and walked out of the room, Nicole following her.

"Feel free to wander around and explore. There's a huge library in the west wing, which may be enlightening for you. Whenever you've made your decision, come find us," Catherine stood and eyed Rory speculatively before turning to Asia. "Did Finn give you my Plato assignment? I may as well finish it while we're here."

"This?" Asia fished a brightly colored Ariel folder out of her book bag.

"Yep, though the folder is Finn's doing. Wanna help?" Catherine smiled hopefully, batting her eyes.

"I'm not Finn Cat, that's not going to work," Asia laughed as she followed Catherine out of the room, Rory still standing in the middle of it trying to figure out what on earth was going on. One minute she was doing an article on a secret society, next they're trying to get her to join them. She didn't know what to do, which meant one thing. She had her phone in her hand and was about to dial when Catherine reappeared and snatched it away with a disappointed shake of her head.

"See, I didn't think you'd try this. Apparently I've got too much faith in you Gilmore, that's disappointing. You can have it back at the end of the day," Catherine clicked it shut and vanished from the room, Rory gaping after her.

"That's not fair!" she pouted to the empty room. Huffing, she stomped over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup, figuring maybe after a few of them she'd be up to wandering around.