A/N: OH MY GOD, I'M BACK! A little over two weeks (just like I said) and I'm updating! Sadly, only one person made a guess on my spoilers, but after this chapter, you can again review and add your own speculation, hint, hint.
REVIEW RESPONSES: To Gilmoregirl7878: Here's the update, and no, no one dies in chapter 25. To RunnerNDA: Wow, high praise, this little story playing out on the actual show? Anyway, thank you for actually trying with those little "cryptic" spoilers. You were mostly completely wrong, but not to worry; I'd actually be rather frightened if someone guessed correctly. You came close with "Not 'til You Eat It," though. To Kimbie652: I'm not sure how I could pull off never showing one of the main characters ever again… but yeah, Roy. Shows how creative I was being when I came up with that, huh? To CoCaCoLa29: it's fine about the fanfic jargon. It took me awhile to figure everything out myself. OOC: Out of Character. OC: Original Character. Lit/Literati: Rory/Jess because of their love of literature. You lost me after that, but thanks for the review! To RogueHoney: thank you. To Gilmore-Buffy-Fan13: thanks. I like this side of Logan, as well. To Cancat90: I'm trying for longer chaters, but hey, these short ones get what I need done, right? To Maggymoo21: Yes, definitely sweet. But don't expect Aims to be all forgiving. Would you be if it was your kid? To Draco's Lass: thanks. Well, as RunnerNDA said, they are kinda cryptic… To Mrs. Boyscout: Yes, one of his very few smart decisions so far in this fic. You're much more insightful than you give yourself credit for. To PrincetonGirl: thanks.
So, here it is, what you have all been waiting for!
Chapter 21: Familiar
Logan's back hurt. But there was something familiar… he opened one eye. Ace. Ace had her head on his shoulder and her left arm across his chest, a very familiar position. He could remember the first time he'd woken up like this, right after the first night they'd had sex. It was the first time he'd actually stayed, usually he preferred sleeping in his own bed, but he had known Ace would freak out so he stayed. Every morning they had woken up together, they had woken up like this, exactly like this. 'Okay not exactly,' Logan realized when he figured out why his back hurt so much. They'd fallen asleep on the floor. Plus they hadn't had sex so they were, therefore, not naked. Close enough, though. Logan brushed hair out of Ace's face.
"Coffee," she mumbled.
"Once you get off of me." Ace sat up, looking slightly disoriented. She looked down at him and frowned as if trying to remember why she was waking up next to him on his bedroom floor. Her expression softened.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," he said, as he sat up. Logan ran a thumb down her jaw line. "It was a one time thing." He stood and reached down to help her up. Ace didn't meet his eyes. Logan stroked her arms and kissed her cheek. "Thank you," he said sincerely. She smiled and returned the chaste kiss. "Now, let's get you some coffee."
Logan took her by the hand and pulled her out of his dorm all the way to a nearby coffee kiosk. After getting their coffee, the two stood, neither knowing where to start.
"Can I ask you a question – and if you make any reference to the fact that I just did, I will bean you with this coffee cup."
Logan smiled. "There's that bright, chipper Ace I know. Go ahead, but I get to ask one in return."
Ace nodded. "What happened last night?" Logan raised his eyebrows. "Why did you call me?"
Logan had known this was coming. Ace didn't have her name for nothing. But he still wasn't sure how to respond. "A lot of stuff from the past has recently been coming up. You know – the type of stuff you only ever talk about with the people that were there at the time." Once Ace sadly nodded, he continued, "Anyway, I haven't been too cheery these past few days, and I kinda figured that I can't keep blaming the tow people that I have been."
"One of which is me?" Logan nodded. He expected her to ask him who the other person was, but she surprised him by simply asking for his question.
"Well, would you go to dinner with me tomorrow night? And before you start coming up with reasons that you can't go, all I'm asking is for a thank you dinner. You just have to stay through after dinner coffee, and after that, if you decide you never want to see me again, I will reroute my entire life so you don't have the chance of bumping into me."
"Dinner and coffee, that's it?"
"That's it."
"Okay, fine, yes, I will go out with you for a thank you dinner."
"Good. Now, the place is in Hartford, so I'll have to pick you up an hour and forty-five minutes early, at least. Don't worry about dress code; I'll take care of that. Hope you like Japanese," Logan kissed her on the cheek and left before she could respond.
In rapid Japanese Logan was able to get reservations at his favorite steakhouse and place his order for the next night.
"So, rumour has it that Reporter Girl flew into your dorm in a panic last night." A familiar curly haired blonde sat down next to him and sipped her coffee.
"Is that so?" She glanced over at him.
"Yamaguchi's is a pretty expensive place to take a 'thank you dinner' date."
"How do you know that? Last I checked you couldn't speak Japanese, and you weren't there when I asked Ace out."
"Hey! You're talking to a world class gossip monger. I'm almost at Cassy DuGrey caliber of gossiping. Besides I'm a girl; therefore, I'm in communication with all girls at all times."
"So in other words, you ran into Ace and questioned her about what you heard from Lanny, and she mentioned that I was taking her to a Japanese place in Hartford. Then you deduced that the only place I would deem worthy enough to eat at is Yamaguchi's."
"Pretty much. So, what are you going to do about the Reporter Girl situation?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Are you going to ask her to be exclusive?"
"Not sure yet."
"Sure you aren't."
"Aren't you supposed to hate me right now?"
"Why? 'Cause you broke a three year old girl's heart? I'm pissed, but you're still my friend. Besides, there's hope for you yet, young one."
"Steph… I'm older than you."