AN: Again, you guys overwelmed me with your response to the last chapter. Have I told you how much you rock lately? Here's the next chapter aka the one you've all been waiting for. And because you guys are so awesome, I promise you the next one very soon (as in today). Please read and review!

He walked quickly, and she struggled to keep up with his long strides as they made their way towards the break room. She could feel eyes watching them, and she realized that everyone in the office, including Paul, probably knew about them by now. But at least they were finally going to talk, at least they were finally attempting to work it out. She was running everything she wanted to say through her mind, trying to sort it all out. She didn't want to forget anything, just incase this was the last chance she ever got.

They walked into the break room, which was strangely empty, and she closed and locked the door behind them. She took a seat, but he chose to stand. She followed him with her eyes as he paced back and forth, jaw clenched, brow furrowed. And then he stopped. He turned towards her with those gorgeous brown eyes that now held so much pain, and opened his mouth.

She waited, watching as he seemed to run through words in his mind, and then he spoke: one, simple word that held so much meaning.

"Why?"

She exhaled, letting the heaviness of the three letters pound down on her. Couldn't he come up with something a little more specific than that?

"I was hurt, Logan," she replied softly.

"Why?" he demanded again, placing his hands on the table infront of her, "Why didn't you say goodbye?"

"Because I knew you'd make me come back."

He paused, drinking in her words for a second, "And that would've been so horribly bad?"

"I thought it would've been back then..." she let her voice trail off.

"Then why the hell did you come back to me in the first place!"

"Because I didn't want to let you go! Logan, I--" she cut off, her voice breaking as tears slipped down her face.

"But you did, Rory, so obviously you found your nerve," he spat sacastically.

"I went to see Jess, after you left."

"Yes, I know."

"You know?"

"Paris," he explained shortly.

"Enough said."

"So you went to see Jess and suddenly you didn't care about us anymore?"

"No! That's not it at all. He made it seem like he needed me, like I needed him. He sounded like he could stop all the pain I was feeling, Logan, you have to understand how hurt I was."

Logan raised his eyebrows, "Oh, I think I have a slight idea."

She flinched, "Right."

"So, you loved him more than me."

"Never," she replied honestly, "Never."

"Then why hell did you--," he stopped short, "How the hell did you leave me? If you didn't love him more, how the hell did you leave?"

"Because what you did killed me inside!" she yelled, suddenly angry, "When we broke up the first time, I could've never moved on. In fact, I didn't even know we were broken up. And then you go off and find your sisters bridal party and sleep with every one of them. And then I find out you come running back to me, and I go back with you, and then I find out about that? How do you think that made me feel Logan? You, who claimed to love me, moved on so easily."

His face paled slightly, and his eyes softened. Slowly, he sank down in the chair across from her and stared deep into her eyes. In his chocolate brown gaze, she saw something she'd been waiting to see for so long: regret, remorse, and maybe even caring.

"I explained to you a long time ago. I thought we were broken up, and I was devestated. None of those girls could have ever compared to you. I was trying to forget about you."

"Did it work?" she asked bitterly.

"No! Of course not," he paused, "I'm sorry that I hurt you Rory, but damn, I never left you when you were on vacation."

"Logan, that's something I regret everyday."

"Really? You have a funny way of showing it."

"What do you mean?"

"You never called, wrote, smoke signaled, or sent a carrier pigeon my way."

"I was with Jess!"

She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. How could she be so stupid as to say something like that?

Logan glared at her, "I know."

"But I never loved him. Jess...Jess was a mistake."

"So why did you fight for him."

"What do you mean?"

"Will said you held on to that relationship long after it failed. Why could you hold on to him and not fight for me? Did you care about him that much more?"

"No! I cared about you that much more!"

"Pardon me if I'm slightly, no really, confused right now."

"I didn't want to leave him because he represented what I left you for. And God knows he wasn't you Logan, he could never compare. But I didn't want to let go because," she paused, fighting back a sob, "Because that would mean I left the best thing that ever happened to me for no reason."

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, and she was amazed that she actually left him speechless. He rose up from the table and began pacing back and forth, glancing over at her every once and awhile.

"Can I ask you a question?" he asked softly.

"I think that's why we're here."

As he returned the table, she saw tears building up in his eyes. She had never seen him look more hurt, more in completely pain than she did at that instant. He sat down again and pressed his palm to his face, as if urging the tears not to leak out. And then he lifted his head and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Why didn't you come?"

She titled her head to the side, "Come where?"

"Damn it, you know very well where."

"Actually, Logan. I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Come on, Rory! Are you really that dense?"

"No Logan, I'm not dense! You're being vague!" she snapped.

"Fine, Rory. Let me lay it all out for you. After I feel off the cliff on the LBD trip and was in critical condition in the hospital, why didn't you come back? Hmm? I know Colin called you, twice actually. I thought that even if you moved out, you might still care about me a little bit, but I guess I was wrong. You never showed up, you never came back. Do you have any idea how much that hurt? Can you even begin to comprehend?"

When he finished with his rant, he got up from the table and turned away from her quickly, trying to hide the tears that were now pouring down his cheeks.

She stared at him, open-mouthed, trying to figure out what he was talking about. She had never known about his accident, never had the slightest clue. If she'd known, she would've been at his side in an instant, no questions asked. She loved him. God, what had he been thinking all this time? Did he really think she was capable of something like that?

"Logan," she half whispered, "I never--"

She stopped short, remembering exactly why she didn't recieve Colin's first message.

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"Your phones ringing!" Jess called from the couch.

"Who is it?" Rory yelled back, poking her head out of the bedroom.

"I don't know. I can't reach it."

"So get up and check!"

"You're just as close."

"Oh, for the love of God," Rory muttered, walking into the living room.

She grabbed her phone of the counter and glanced at the screen. When she saw it was Colin, it nearly slipped out of her hand. What could he possibly want from her? Besides to yell at her, and possibly threaten her life.

She waited until it finished ringing, and her voicemail message came up, before she pressed it to her ear. She considered listening to the voicemail, but then changed her mind. Nothing Colin could say would make her feel better about her actions, but there was plenty he could say to make her feel hundreds of times worse.

"Rory, It's Col--"

She pressed the number seven button quickly, "Message deleted."

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Her hand flew to her mouth, "Oh my God."

He was silent.

"Logan, I am so sorry. Oh my God," she took a deep breath, "Logan, I never got that message."

"What do you mean?" he inquired, his voice shaky.

"When I saw it was Colin calling, I deleted his voicemail before I even listened to it. And all the next one said was something about how you needed me more than ever and that I never deserved you. That wasn't much to go on.

He paused, "I needed you."

"I know," she choked out, the tears falling faster.

"I never needed you more."

"I'm sorry, okay? I shouldn't have deleted the message, but I did. Logan, if I knew, I would've come. I would've been there in a second. Do you honestly believe I wasn't there on purpose?"

"I don't know what to believe!" he yelled, "You left me when I wasn't home, didn't leave so much as a note, and disappeared from my life for over a year. Where exactly does believing you come in here?"

"How about all the time we spent together? The laughs? The jokes? Do you remember any of that?"

He looked at her rather strangely, "Everyday of my life."

"I'm sorry for leaving you, Logan. You will never know how sorry I am. And now that I know about the accident, God Logan! Do you know how much it hurts me to know I wasn't there for you? It hurts me to know I caused you that much pain."

"You caused me pain as soon as you walked out the damn door!"

"Well, believe me, I was punished for it."

"Aw," Logan muttered sarcastically, "Poor baby."

"He was never anything compared to you," she whispered softly, "You're my best friend, Logan."

"Stop it," he warned, "Don't."

"Damn it! I'm sorry, Logan. Can't you see how sorry I am?"

He stared at her, "I wish that was good enough."

"Let it be good enough! At least, be my friend, Logan. Don't you miss us?"

"Of course I do! God Rory, why do you think I've suffered for all this time?"

"Then let's try and make this work!"

"It can't work! Nothing can ever work. Not with us, not anymore."

"And why the hell not?"

"Because you'll leave!" he yelled back.

She stopped, stunned, at the harsh words that came from his mouth.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah," he spat, "That's what I thought before."

"Logan..."

"I think this has been a great chat, don't you? And not that we've talked, people can stop bugging us. Let's go, shall we?"

"Now hold on!" she demanded, "We're not done talking yet."

"Really? Because I think this is running overtime."

"We didn't solve anything!"

"Sure we did," he paused, "We solved the mystery about why you never showed up at the hospital, and I now know why you walked out the door. I know why, but that doesn't make it hurt any less and it sure as hell doesn't mean I understand. Good? Are we clear now? Let's go."

He started walking towards the door, but she stood up and grabbed his arm. He turned around slightly, staring at her with nothing but coldness in his eyes.

"Wait," she murmered, "Please wait."

"Why?"

"Because I love you, you moron!" she nearly screamed, tears falling from her eyes like a waterfall.

His look softened for a second, and she was almost hopeful, but then his stare grew icy again.

"And I love you too, but that doesn't solve anything," he hissed.

"Yes, it does! Be with me Logan!"

"I can't trust you anymore!" he explained, his voice breaking, before turning around and storming out of the door.

She sank down against the wall, sobbing, as she listened to his footsteps grow more and more distant. It was too much. Too much, too soon. Why hadn't she listened to Colin? He told her not to build his hopes up again, and yet that was exactly what she'd tried to do. She'd wanted so badly for him to forgive her, to at least be her friend, but now he'd just walked out of her life again. He would never be able to forgive her. She was slowly realizing that now. The man she loved with all her heart, the man who knew everything about her, was gone for good. And it was a horrible feeling.

She had thought they were actually getting somewhere, thought that maybe he was beginning to understand. But she was wrong. And suddenly, it was all very clear. He would never be able to be friends with her because he loved her too much, and he would never be able to be her boyfriend again because she had screwed up too much.

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She wasn't sure how long she sat in the breakroom, crying, before she heard footsteps walk inside. She didn't bother to glance up, knowing it wasn't the person she wanted it to be.

"Oh Rory..." Carmen's voice murmered softly.

Her best friend slid down next to her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Rory let herself cry on Carmen's shoulder, not caring about how many people could hear her, or about who was listening.

Carmen smoothed Rory's hair away from her face and rubbed her back gently, offering her a sympathetic glance.

"What happened, Ror?"

"I made a mistake."

"What do you mean?"

"I told him I loved him, I told him how much I cared."

"And that was a mistake?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Carmen asked, confused.

"Because he loves me too."

"Rory, hun, you're not making any sense."

"He was in an accident, Carmen, after I left. He was in the hospital and Colin called me. I deleted the message before I even heard it. And he thought for all these years I didn't bother to show up. He thought I didn't care!"

"Oh my God..." Carmen breathed.

"I told him that I never listened to the message, and he seemed to understand. But he was still so angry about me moving out! And I apologized for that, and I told him how much I regretted it. And he apologized for the brides maids and he explained himself. And I thought, maybe, this is our chance. But he couldn't forgive me, not for leaving like I did. And I told him I loved him, and he said he loved me too, but he couldn't trust me anymore," she finished her sentence between heaving sobs and Carmen pulled her into another hug.

"Give him time, Rory."

"We've had so much time!"

"But he knows how you feel now, he knows that you love him. Give him some time to process that."

"I told him that we could just be friends, that I just missed his company."

"So let him think about that, okay? This isn't over yet, I promise."

"Yes, it is."

"He loves you, Rory! He loves you. Give his friends time to talk to him, give him time to think. If he loves you like he says he does, this isn't over."

"I wish I could believe that..."

"So believe it, Rory. Just...just try and hold out a little bit longer, okay?"

"Thanks Car," Rory sighed, trying to get the tears to stop flowing, "I'll be out in a little while, okay?"

"Okay," Carmen stood, and then glanced down at her sadly, "Hang in there."

"I'll try," Rory whispered as Carmen walked out the door.

She wanted to believe everything Carmen was saying. She wanted to believe that he woud be back, that he just needed time to talk to his friends, that he just needed time to think. But she wasn't so sure. Carmen didn't see the look in his eyes, how furious and hurt he'd been. She hadn't listened to their whole conversation, heard the words that had poured from their lips.

But at least now she knew that he loved her back, at least now there was a little bit of light shining on the horizon. She still found it nearly impossible to believe that he would come back to her, but maybe, just maybe, they could be friends. Because being around Logan, even just as friends, was better than nothing. He brought out a side of her that she missed so terribly it hurt. He was her other half, and she hoped her knew that. He was her best friend, and she missed her best friend. She needed her best friend.

She'd been so hopeful. She'd thought the possibly was strong that he would forgive her that day. But that was eaiser said than done, she knew that now. She knew now, after looking into his eyes for that long, exactly how hurt he was. He needed time, she hoped that was all. She hoped that after thinking about it, after replaying her words in his head, that he would return to her. And if he said they could only be friends, well, that was a choice she was willing to accept. It would be hard, sure, but not as hard as living without him for over a year. And certainly not as hard as being without him for the rest of her life.

"Ror?" she heard Aiden's soft voice call from the doorway.

"Right here," she replied quietly.

He stepped inside, and with one look at her he was on the floor, pulling her into his strong embrace.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "Are you okay?"

She felt the tears falling again as she leaned into his comforting arms, "I don't know."

"What happened?"

"We talked, yelled, fought. Things were explained, things were apologized for, and then," she paused, "And then I told him I loved him. He said he loved me too, but that that didn't solve anything because he couldn't trust me anymore. And then he walked out the door."

He stroked her hair softly, waiting as she sobbed quietly in his arms.

"He'll be back."

"Everyone sounds so confident about that."

"He'll be back," Aiden said again, more firmly this time.

"How do you all know this?" Rory demanded through tears, "Please let me in on your secret!"

"Because he said he loved you, Gilmore. It's that simple."

"But he can't trust me anymore. Damn it, all I want to be is his friend. I just want him back in my life."

"And he will be. Maybe not as your boyfriend, but he'll be back in your life. He needs you just as much as you need him, believe me."

"How do you know?"

"Because the other night, me and Shawn decided to ask about you, and he all but lost it. He got drunk out of his skull and went home."

"You asked about me?" Rory demanded, slightly annoyed.

"Only because we knew you still cared, and we had a feeling he still cared," Aiden explained, "And we're sorry for not being around lately, Rory. But we love you, you know that right?"

Rory sighed, "Yeah Aiden, I know."