Rory was driving their Volvo back home, while Logan sat at the passenger seat. The silence had grown tense. The rest of the evening at the Huntzbergers had followed according to their traditions, giving tiny, but expensive, presents. Rory had been too preoccupied to really think about what insult laid behind Shira's gift, an antique pocket-watch, surely there was something, but she didn't really care. She had more important things in mind. Logan could see from her face that the discussion between Rory and his father had been something important, and why she wasn't outright upset, he was desperate to find out what it had been, but he realized it had to come from her, so he went along with the motions, after pouring himself another glass of scotch or three.

They'd almost made it to the suburbs of Hartford, when Rory noticed the familiar shortcut path leading to Stars Hollow. It was the same road, in fact, she'd once gotten hit by a deer on. She turned off the main road and a few hundred meters later, she pulled over at the side of the road, put on the emergency lights and turned off the engine. They sat in darkness a good few minutes before anybody spoke.

"Ace…," he said. He didn't really need to say much more, he just needed to break the silence. She knew what he wanted to ask.

"He wants you back at the HPG soon," Rory replied. "And he thinks he can shake us by moving you back to London. He left the impression that it was his health, but he didn't confirm it exactly," she added.

"Again with the games, f***!" he reacted, angrily, unbuckling his seatbelt. He placed his elbows on his knees and rested his face on his palms.

"So basically he leaves us the choice of either going to London together, you going and me staying, or both of us staying and you being 'on your own', as he put it," she explained. "And ofcourse I wasn't supposed to tell you any of this," she added, tears already gathering in her throat. She didn't want to react this way, but her hormones had other ideas.

Logan listened silently.

"He played the 'do you love him enough to let him do what he loves" card basically," Rory sighed, trying to swallow her tears. She didn't want Mitchum to get to her. Yet she sobbed.

"How soon?" Logan asked, running his fingers through his hair.

"He said 3-4 months," Rory replied, searching for a napkin from her purse.

"Did he offer to buy you off? He did, didn't he?" he asked, feeling his anger surface again.

"Basically, yes," she replied, wiping her tears.

"I really hate him, I really do," Logan commented, shaking his head. For a moment he'd actually hoped his father could've just been happy for him, for once.

Rory was beginning to gather herself after a few deep breaths. "Let's just try to calm down, think about it. But I do think it's better if you don't go over there yelling at him right now. Maybe it's better he doesn't know I told you," Rory tried to rationalize.

"You are right, Ace," he said, taking a deep breath.

Rory sighed. She was beginning to calm down. It felt good the tension had lifted, but after driving for an hour and a half, she really needed to move herself a little. "I need some air," she said, before unbuckling the seatbelt, checking the side mirror and stepping out.

That night wasn't terribly cold, but it was certainly damp and chilly. She paced in front of the car, taking a few breaths. Logan followed her. While the drive had sobered him up, fresh air really could do him good too. The road was a tiny gravel road, without another car in sight. If it weren't for the emergency lights blinking they'd been in pitch darkness.

"Thank you for telling me, Ace" he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"There really wasn't any debate on that," she said, with a weak smile.

"I'm glad," he replied, kissing her on her temple.

"We're going to get through this, aren't we?" she asked, her voice still a little shaky.

"We're a family Ace. He won't win unless we let him," he assured, stroking her cheek dry.

"I love you, Logan," she said and brushed her dry lips against his, feverishly, as if looking for confirmation on what she already knew deep down.

He pulled her closer, sensing her little bump against him. He returned her kiss, and a warmth it created travelled through their bodies leaving her stomach feeling hollow in excitement. The next kiss wiped away all the unpleasant thoughts, as her hands wrapped around his waist under his woolen coat, the smoothness of it's silk lining brushing against the back of her hand as she stroked his back.

"You know there's a good way to relieve stress, Ace," he suggested, smugly to her ear.

"You always did push me just beyond my comfort zone," she commented quietly before kissing him again with more tongue.

They slipped into the roomy back seat, feeling a little giddy, throwing their coats over to the front seat. Here they were, a couple of 30-somethings, expecting their first child and acting like lovesick teenagers.

They sat side-by-side, her left leg positioned over his knee, as his lips kissed the side of her neck. She tilted her head, catching another deep and powerful kiss on her lips in between. He warmed up his hand, then his fingers traced her legs up her dress, massaging her thighs gently. She untucked his shirt, just feeling his warm skin underneath would have to suffice. She let her hair down, kicked off her shoes, and the next moment he lifted her slightly, yanking away her tights. As he had placed her back on the seat, she took his hand in hers and pulled it up to her mouth, placing his index finger in her mouth seductively, licking it.

"You're f**** gorgeous when you do things like that," he whispered in awe, feeling his excitement rise.

He continued to kiss her fiercely, while his hand travelled up her dress once more, tugged her underwear aside, tearing it a bit. Momentarily he looked at her apologetically, but she quickly snapped him out of it, by returning a kiss on his ear. His moist finger slid over her teasingly, front to back, and front again, leaving her biting her lip as he did. She unbuckled his pants, pushing them just a little lower along with his boxers. She tried to find her bearing, and a quick push later she was straddling him, his arousal settled between their bodies. Sliding herself against him a few more times already made her gasp in anticipation. His hands squeezed her ass tightly, positioning her slightly, allowing her to control the movement. She continued to tease, only really letting his tip in, smiling smugly. He couldn't take it, it felt too good. A second later he thrust his hips upwards. She gasped at impact, kissing him once more. Her hips moved calmly, taking their time, enjoying each sensation, their eyes locking at times. Soon she whimpered in pleasure, her trembling body finishing him off in seconds. She looked like a goddess in the darkness, still straddling his pulsating member, with just the flashing emergency lights shedding light.

"Oh, how I love you, Ace," he sighed. He felt it in every fiber of his being.