Chapter 26

Confront Me & Love Me

By the next day, the whole campus was aware of the broken-up couple. It was amazing how many people were glad the couple had split, since it meant that Rory and Logan were available. But, much to their dismay, the two were not really taking dates. Logan spent his day with his comfort group, Finn, Rosemary and Stephanie. Rory spent her day at the paper, and at lunch, Finn had stopped by to take her out. The two were desperately avoiding the inevitable attention that had come to them from a disastrous newspaper article that had slipped past Doyle's Paris-boosted radar.

Perfect Match Over – Huntzberger and Gilmore Call it Quits!" Rory fumed when she saw the article; she spent most of her breakfast trying to dodge questions of "Rory is it true?" "Aww that sucks, you guys were so perfect" "Are you okay…do you want to go out some time?" She had seriously had enough. On top of that, Logan had sent a coffee cart after her, as if that wasn't grabbing her unwanted attention! Unfortunately, the coffee cart man could not be dismissed, unless Mr. Huntzberger spoke directly to him. Rory had spent the majority of the day avoiding the coffee stalker, nosy questions and Logan.

Rory slipped on a pair of big black shades and walked quickly to her adopted dorm room. She was furious at how one little break up, over a 3 week relationship, had lead to so much drama. It was then that she heard her name.

"Hey, Ror," Rory turned to find a cheery-looking Rosemary behind her.

"Hey Rose, what's up?" Rory said back.

"Well girlie, we're all heading to the hospital to see Colin out. He's doing fine; already asking when he can start drinking again-Can you believe him? Anyways, you wanna come?"

Rory smiled-Colin, sweetly sarcastic Colin-"Yes, of course."

"Great, come on!" The red head grabbed Rory's hand and raced towards Finn's SUV.

Rory and Rosemary walked towards the Explorer, which was parked nearby.

"Come one! Come all! Let us rescue Sir Colin from the confinement of hospital food and ugly doctors! Let us bring him home to a place where alcohol is the beverage of choice, and not something used to clean wounds!"

Rory laughed at Finn, and then moved her sun glasses to the top of her head before leaning in for a friendly hug. "Why hello Luv, Come to join us?"

"Yes Finn, how could I not help Colin escape the ugly doctors?" she grinned at Finn as she climbed into the vehicle. Her smile dropped as she found Logan and Stephanie sitting in the backseat. "Stephanie, Logan"

"Rory" the two replied, though Stephanie's reply was cool and Logan's was strained.

"Logan, your coffee man is waiting outside. Maybe you should dismiss him," Rory said tersely before turning to face the front and putting on her seatbelt. Logan had slipped out of the car, to pay the coffee-cart man his second half and dismiss him.

"You could be a little nicer," Stephanie hissed.

"You could mind your own damn business." Rory said, without turning around.

"You're a bitc-"Stephanie started, before Logan reappeared and Rosemary and Finn slid into the front seats.

"Well, off we go!" Finn cheered, oblivious to the tension in the back of the SUV.

Colin's Hospital Room

"Colin!" They all cheered as they made their way into his room.

Collin looked up; he immediately noticed something different about his friends. Well, obviously, as the only people who were genuinely smiling at him were Finn and Rosemary. The rest had smiles that didn't reach their eyes. Colin grinned, determined to ease the tension.

"Hey! Look, the doc said 48 hours before I can drink, right? What time is it now, 7ish? So I figure, I won't drink for the next 24 hours and then in order to meet the 48 hours, which, when you think about it, is just really two days, I won't drink for 4 more hours tomorrow until its 12 midnight. Then it will be the second day and I'll drink my balls off. It's the same thing right…" Colin looked desperately at his friends.

Rory smirked, "No Colin, it's not. 48 hours from the moment you are released, means from now until Sunday at 7pm. It's your health; remember that."

"Damn you, oh voice of reason" Collin muttered, his eyes teasing. Rory smiled, and squeezed his hand, before handing him the Get Well Now balloon she'd picked up on the way to his room.

"Feeling better Colin?" Rosemary asked, "Because we missed you"

"Yeah," he said, smiling. Stephanie leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Much, much better," Collin said, grinning goofily at Stephanie.

Rory's smile was pained as she looked at her ex-best friend's triumphant face.

"Well baby, there is a lot more where that came from." Stephanie jerked her thumb towards the rest of the group, "These people say they missed you, and maybe they did, but baby," she dropped her voice to a seductive whisper, "I swear; I missed you more".

"Gods help me" Collin muttered as Stephanie's lips rested on his once more.

"Really, Steph," Logan whined, "We're still here".

"Right then, leave" Colin said, his eyes still on Stephanie.

Finn chose this moment to cut in. "Let's go home! The nurses here are ugly!" Rosemary elbowed him, "Although, I have no reason to look at them, since I have my beautiful Rose here" Finn pouted hopefully at Rosemary who pecked him lightly on his lips as a reward.

Rory's eyes met Logan's and she looked away immediately. "Fuck. How awkward. Our friends are practically making out, and here're Logan and I, standing here like freaks."

An awkward silence passed over the group. Colin figured it was now or never. "Huntz, I've got a question for you"

Logan smiled. "Yeah, man"

"Why the hell did you and Gilmore call it quits? The newspaper said she broke up with you. Dammit boy, why'd you let her go?"

Rory glared. "Colin, do you want another bump on your head?" she said in a sickly-sweet tone.

"Really, Gilmore, I have a right to know!" Collin protested, staring down Rory. He loved the girl like a sister, and had always thought that his best friend and she were the perfect match, and he loathed the fact that they had broken up.

"Don't we all." Stephanie pretend to be bored as she looked down at her nails.

Rory stared briefly at Stephanie, before sending Collin a semi-apologetic smile, saying, "Logan and I broke up; it's our business and no one else's. Sorry, Colin."

"Gilmore, I want to know why my best friends are split up!" he demanded, "It's my wish as a man on a hospital bed."

"Well, Finn, please remove Collin from the bed, so that he no longer gets a wish!" Rory's cheeks strained from her false smiles.

"Come on, Reporter Girl; tell me why; everyone else obviously knows!" Collin figured if he got them to talk about it, they could work it out.

Rory swallowed, not wanting to talk about this. "Look, I'd appreciate it if the topic was dropped…um, I'll go get coffee for all of us while you guys pack up the rest of Collin's things. Really Collin, you were here for like two days…why do you have so much of your crap here?" Rory teased slightly, attempting to change the topic.

"Hey, people love me. What can I say?" Collin said smiling, but the tension in the room remained the same.

"Right." Rory said, moving towards the door, brushing past Logan to grab at the silver knob. She pulled it open and then shut it quickly behind her. She leaned against it slightly, thanking god for an excuse to leave the room. She finally felt like she could breathe. Coffee. Rory looked around quickly, determined to find a place to purchase her favorite beverage. She straightened out her pale yellow top and walked towards the elevator.

Stephanie smirked, "She left her purse, I bet she's going to be able to buy us loads of coffee now"

Logan, whose eyes were fixed on the door, quickly looked back at Stephanie words. He saw the purse on the little table on the side. Realizing this was a reason to talk to her, he snatched it up, "I'll, uh, go give it back to her…and help her bring back the coffee"

Logan moved quickly, not waiting for a reply from his friends. He knew Finn would say something stupid, Collin would again ask why they broke up, Stephanie would say something rude about Rory and Rose would try to be sympathetic. He didn't need any of that right now. All he really wanted was to wrap his arms around the girl he loved the most in the world…and never let go. As he stepped out of Collin's room, he scanned the floor for someone wearing yellow. He saw her at the elevator, a male nurse smiling at her and pointing at the map of the hospital, probably showing her where the cafeteria was. He moved quickly, as she pressed the elevator door button and walked inside. He raced towards the elevator, slipping in just in time.

"Oh-Oh." Rory said. Her first 'Oh' was one of shock, and the other of recognition.

"Yeah, uh, you left your purse" He said, handing it out to her.

"Oh, okay…thanks…do you want to get off at the next floor and go back up-"

"No…I'd think I'd rather help you bring the coffee back up. And I think I want a bagel" he said, sending her a half smile.

Rory smiled back, before looking down. Damn long elevator rides.

"Hey, do you remember…like two weeks ago…we were in an elevator…and that lady-?" Logan said, looking at her, willing her to look up at him.

"Yeah" Rory blushed, interrupting him before he could say anymore. Damn him for bringing that trip down from their apartment up, I mean, as if it wasn't awkward enough in here. "of course"

"Ace! You have to talk to me sometime!" Logan squeezed into the elevator before it shut on him.

Rory looked away. She wasn't going to talk to him, he had insulted her. How dare he!

"Ace, Rory, baby, please" Logan said, placing his hands on her waist and tugging her towards him.

She turned her head away from him, but didn't move her body. Taking that as a sign, Logan pushed her up against the elevator wall. "Come on, talk to me" his voice was low, and it sent shivers down her spine.

No! She wasn't going to speak to him! He had told her, that she drank too much coffee, and that it was a bad thing! I mean really, what a jerk!

"Ace, baby, we both know your just kidding. We're alone in an elevator…wouldn't you rather we do something…rather than you ignoring me?" Logan's voice was low and husky, making Rory feel a pool of heat in her lower parts.

Logan grinded his hips into hers, "You know and I know how much you want this"

Rory's eyes fluttered closed, as Logan's lips descended on her neck. He kissed and flicked out his tongue and of course, his hands were doing wondrous things to her waist.

She almost smirked, he knew she was just joking around with him, but here he was…pretending to make it up to her. She wasn't going to be able to hold back a moan for much longer-

"Oh" She moaned.

He smirked. She could feel his lips move against her neck and her hands moved to cup his face and bring it up to hers, fiercely kissing him. Logan cupped her ass and pulled her up, so both her legs were wrapped up around his waist.

Ding

"Oh my goodness, Alex, close your eyes!"

Rory snapped her lips away from Logan, and looked past him to a woman with an 11 year old son with her. The son seemed to be enjoying the view. She squirmed slightly so she fell on her two own feet.

"Of all the nerve! This is not a sex room!" The woman shrieked.

Rory blushed deeply and Logan smirked, grabbing Rory's hand and moving towards the exit, "Oh, so sorry…we'll go find one then!" before pulling Rory onto the first floor and laughing at her blushing face. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders he kissed her forehead.

"Embarrassed of me?" He teased.

"No, never" Rory whispered, "Just, well…we were…and that lady! And her little son! …it's pretty disgraceful!"

Logan grinned, "Babe, I'd kiss you in front of anyone, any which way I please. I want people to know how god damn crazy I am about you"

Rory blushed slightly at this, "And I'm crazy about you too Huntzberger" and then she reached up and kissed him.

"Ace" Logan whispered, and Rory jumped slightly, not knowing when he had gotten that close. His voice was low, and seductive. He hadn't planned for this, but sometimes…the best things are unplanned. He moved towards her, and she moved behind a bit, and they continued this, their bodies dancing with the need that was surging off their bodies. When her body hit the wall, her eyes looked up at his and he saw the look in her eyes change for shy to bold. He almost grinned in triumph as he hit the emergency stop button and watched as she dropped her purse to the floor. He moved to cup her breasts through the pale yellow shirt she wore. Her hands moved around to touch the hair on the back of his head. She played with it gently, as Logan's once soft hands got urgent in a moment of desire and he pulled her body against his. The kiss was brutal and weak at the same time. The need to concur the others lips took over the couple. Rory slipped her hands under his shirt and a moan escaped Logan's lips as he moved to bring her legs around his waist. His hands were moving fast as they cupped her ass, ready to bring her legs up, when Rory's mind snapped back.

"No, No, Logan, Logan wait." Rory panted, as moved away from him quickly, almost tripping over her purse.

"Ace, Rory" Logan said and she saw desire burn in his eyes. She almost moaned at the sight of it.

"Don't, don't stop baby" He whispered as he moved to grab her.

"Logan, please" Rory stopped him and Logan moved back.

"You can't kiss me, and then move away Rory." Logan's eyes burned with a mixture of need and anger.

"We shouldn't do this" she whispered, trying to catch her breath.

"But we could" Logan whispered, "Rory…what's stopping you?"

"I-Logan, Collin is waiting for Coffee…and…you and I are-"

"Rory, don't say it! Please dammit! I can't do this…I need you! Just you Ace. Why the hell won't you give me a chance? Why won't you give me a chance to make it up to you?"

"Logan-I-"

Logan covered her bruised lips with his hand, "Baby please, just hear me out. All I'm asking for is a few dates. I can make it up to you…Rory you fell in love with me. You can't just fall out-"

Rory tugged his hands away from her mouth, "I never said I did! I love you Logan, but can we just look at how much heart ache has occurred because you and I decided to do this romance thing. We broke each others heart waiting for each other for 5 years, then I'm available when you're available but we have a fight at the Gala, and then we make up and finally decide to date, and now we've broken up again. And those are just the highlights Logan! I'm broken without you yes, but when I'm with you I break. I crack. It's too intense, it's too passionate, and it's too real. I'm not used too-"

"Staying?" Logan hissed, his eyes filled with anger.

"What?"

"Well normally you run, or set yourself up with people you know aren't going to work out, but with me…you wanted to stay. And that scared you, so you ran? Is that it Ace? Are you afraid we're going to fall so much in love and I'm going to leave you?"

"I'm afraid you're going to lie!"

"So? So what Rory? Fine I lie, I lied. Now what? Do we just go the rest of our lives, without each other? Rory, Rory listen to me- Look into your future, look into your life after college, hell after you're all settled as Editor of a major newspaper…who are you with? Who do you see yourself with? Robert? Dean? A mystery man? Or me?" Logan paused, and noticing her blush he knew he was right, "See, Rory…you. Are. It. For. Me. And the only person I see in my future is you, and our future children. That's it. You're it."

A silence overtook the couple. Logan reached up and gently brushed away some of her hair, "baby, won't you just give me a chance? Please?"

They were silent, Rory thinking hard and Logan trying to figure out what she thinking. It felt like an eternity when she finally said.

"I have my conditions"

Don't bother saying it, i know...i suck. Haven't updated in ages. But honestly, life sucks! And i couldn't find time to finish this up...i'm so sorry guys! It's partly the reason why i have Rory leave off on a hopeful note...time to change the angst maybe? For my dedicated fans? Quite possibly? A bribe to stop you guys from being mad at me? most likely.

You know you love me,

deep, deep, down.

Muah

Sammie