"What are you doing back home so soon?" Rory asked, seeing Logan arrive home not one but three days earlier than she'd anticipated.

What he wanted to reply was something along the lines of Why, are you not happy to see me? However, he didn't consider it as appropriate to joke moments before potentially bringing her world crashing down.

"Apparently the Sun managed to run a story on us again," he began, "I wanted to make sure you were okay, I wasn't sure if you'd seen it yet," Logan added.

"I haven't seen it, but I know of it," Rory replied, continuing to empty the dishwasher.

"Do you think it was Cara? I swear if it was…," he inquired, not finishing the thought.

"No it wasn't. And I am pretty sure it wasn't intentional," Rory replied. While she couldn't be 100% sure, at this point what Gwen had told sounded plausible enough.

"And you are okay with this?" he inquired, not quite believing what he was seeing.

"Well, I am not sure what spin they have on the story exactly and I don't aim to find out," she replied. "But at least this time the main piece of news is not slander, sure it's private medical information, but it's not like something I need to hide. It's not ideal, but I can't make them take back something that isn't a lie. So let them talk, if it brings more attention to these issues overall where's the harm," she added. The half a day she had had to think it over had done wonders to her. Her first impression of the situation had almost fallen into the old pattern, but she'd stopped it. She was indeed 'okay'.

"I like this new attitude, Ace," he commented and kissed her. He couldn't have been more proud of her right then and there.


Paris' good-old "tip as you go" technique had worked wonders in the Dar Rhizlane, enabling a swift adjustment for Finn from the hospital room to their Convives Suite, that had been adjusted for their comfort enabling Finn's easier movement on crutches.

"Feels good being back here," Finn sighed, landing on the couch just as the bellhop and the server who'd brought them a lunch tray had left the room.

"You've got everything you need?" Paris asked, still in caretaker mode.

"Come on, all I need is right here," he said, snatching her hand and pulling her down next to him playfully.

"What do we have here?" he inquired, sensing an unfamiliar cold object around her finger, before seeing it.

"Oh, this," Paris began apologetically, having almost forgotten about it, "I thought it'd be easier to convince them I was your wife with this. I did read up on the place before I got on the plane, you know," she explained.

"You think of everything, don't you?" he added, with a smile.

"I try," she replied, modestly.

"You know, I'd love to exchange that to something prettier," he remarked a few seconds later, her hand still in his, having clearly lost his filter after this ordeal.

If they'd been back home, Paris would surely have given him a side-ways look or a hesitation in regards to it being far too soon for such things. But the adrenaline boost that had pushed Paris into rescue mode ever since she got off the phone with the embassy a couple of days ago, had shifted her priorities.

"So why don't you?" she replied confidently.


A few days passed and other than a few more requests for interviews in her inbox, Rory's life had turned almost back to normal. She'd assured Logan it was okay for him to return to work, knowing how much he had to do. Finn's fracture meant that he'd be little help with Leah for quite some time and she needed to make things work as they were. She asked Lorelai to come help her out in the evenings when she had her sessions with Cara, or just to hang out. Their evenings by the tv were becoming the norm again, still avoiding certain topics, but a step forward nonetheless.

That evening Rory wasn't feeling very sleepy, having had one too many coffees that day. Leah was fast asleep, her homework for class done, and she just didn't feel like starting another round of Cara appointed therapy homework. Yet her issues, both past and present, were on her mind. There was already a folder full of various texts she'd written about her feelings, thoughts and takes on life, some even from before Cara had assigned it to her as homework. She'd grown enough in the past weeks, perhaps months, to be able to view it from the far, distancing herself from the actual moments and emotions, enabling her to look at these texts with fresh eyes. And there was something Honor had said a while back that kept ringing in her mind - she could play the press interest to her advantage.

"Could you send me the contacts of your PR guy, I have an idea," she texted Logan.


While Leah stayed with Lorelai for the weekend, Rory joined Logan in Manhattan. They had wedding rings to shop for, and he'd even managed to schedule an appointment with their architect on that Saturday, giving them a chance to spend some one-on-one time for a change.

"So what exactly are you planning with Maxwell?" he inquired referring to the HPG PR manager.

"I've decided to write a book," she stated confidently, "I pretty much have half of it written already, it just needs some context," she added having pulled a couple of half-nighters putting the gist together. She hadn't realized how much confidence editing the books she had had already given her in terms of a gut feeling on what worked and what didn't.

"And I aim to use the publicity on us right now to boost it. Starting with an interview next week for the Vanity Fair," she continued.

Logan looked at her with a smug smile for a long time, before replying, "So you are really sure this is what you want to do?" he asked, unsure if Rory truly grasped how much of herself she was putting out there.

"I think I need to do this," she replied."And Maxwell will coach me first, don't worry," she added observing Logan's impression. While it had been a few years, she did know how this business worked, she'd been the one conducting an interview like this on more than one occasion herself.

He didn't reply, instead he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and kissed her temple. He'd missed that Rory.

After having unanimously picked out two fairly minimalistic platinum rings at Cartier, each handing over the inscription meant for the other's ring, they felt very much back in sync.

They grabbed a quick lunch at one of Logan's favourite restaurants before walking into the studio of a small architect bureau called Bric. Logan had asked around and this apparently was the place to be, if they wanted something not too lavish, but yet with a personal touch that grasped where they were coming from. They'd sent over a list of wishes and the location, they'd already purchased before, just a few miles from Honor's place, weeks earlier, and today they were actually going to see a couple of alternatives.

The lean and dark man, who'd introduced himself as Benjamin Dunn, had set up two large screens each projecting one of the floorplans with 3D visuals. Rory's wishes had included a one story building, largely thinking of Leah, with no more than 4-5 bedrooms, some of which would rather qualify as studies than bedrooms, she also hoped for a terrace or porch to enjoy the warm summer nights like she had once she was a kid in Stars Hollow. Logan's wishes were similar, however he had hoped for a little grandeur, especially when it came to the ceiling height and large windows in some of the common rooms. Designways they'd both quite enjoyed the vaulted ceilings they had in New Haven, and other than a slightly modern touch, they had few other wishes, besides Logan adding a request for a small one-bedroom pool house at the last minute, which Rory had then counted as one of the bedrooms as a compromise. There was just something about the idea, perhaps from their own youth, the privacy and the excitement that pool houses held.

"So what do you think," Logan asked Rory after having listened to both presentations being left alone in the conference room.

"I still can't believe we're doing this," Rory exclaimed.

"You better start believing, Ace," he suggested.

"I am getting there," she sighed.

"But what do you think, could you picture us in either of these?" he asked.

"I can, I am not really picky, but I guess if I had to pick, I'd prefer the one with the living room overlooking the pool and the bedrooms in the two other wings. Somehow feels homier, hearth of the home all centered around here," she explained gesturing at the living room and kitchen area on the plan.

"I agree but I do like the other pool house a little better," Logan replied.

"Well they are two separate houses basically, I am sure that can be changed, right?" she discussed.

"Probably. So do we have a house?" he asked.

"I think some small adjustments are still in order, but almost," Rory replied.

"Getting the money's worth, excellent. You're really getting the hang of this," he commented, before inviting Benjamin back in the room to discuss the changes.


Finn and Paris arrived from Marrakech, their minds still somewhat lingering in the mood of the Majoral blue pool-side, they'd enjoyed to the fullest from their balcony, wrapped up cozily with a bottle of wine and sweet mint tea for Finn, who was still recovering. It had been one of the shortest but one of the most exceptional holidays she'd ever experienced, and despite its hectic beginning, she cherished it.

They drove by New Haven on their way to Hartford, Finn having missed Leah painfully. He'd called a few times, but Leah's patience and his timing had not always been the greatest, having allowed them only brief moments in each other's audience.

"Isn't that my little princess," he greeted, stepping into Rory's hallway, limping on his crutches.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Leah exclaimed, adding "Up-up," wanting to be picked up.

"Alright Leah, but we've got to take it steadily, I hurt my leg you see," he explained, while Paris removed his left crutch and Rory placed Leah onto his hip. His face squinched slightly, the sensation of the increased weight on his hips and legs being more than he expected. "I'm sorry Leah, I'm not quite up for this yet standing up," he said apologetically, handing her back to Rory.

"Come sit, for a moment," Rory suggested, as Paris helped him to the couch.

The moment he sat down, Leah climbed onto the couch and into his lap with her Pinky and a new book Rory had bought her. She had clearly missed him.

"He's adorable with her, isn't he?" Rory commented to Paris as the two of them observed him from the kitchen.

"Hmhm," Paris agreed.

"No come on, that is just weird, you guys," Finn scolded. He was in a room with three women who loved him, all in their own way, but them observing him with commentary was just plain weird.

"I was worried about you too Finn. Leah missed you. I'm allowed to feel happy that you're back," Rory argued, laughingly.


"Glad to finally meet you, I've heard great things about you from Logan and Mitchum," Maxwell said, shaking her hand in greeting.

"Likewise," she replied politely.

"So as I gathered from your e-mail you aim to use the momentum created by an unintentional information leakage to promote your book," Maxwell said, after they had taken their seats at a sleek bistro in Midtown Manhattan.

"That's right. I am sure you've read the piece the Sun published," Rory said, sipping on a glass on water.

"I have," he replied.

"Well then you know more than I do. I've adopted a policy not to read what they write," she explained.

"That's a little unusual," he hesitated.

"This is one of the things I require your help with. I want you to tell me what are the potential pitfalls that I might encounter going into the interview with Vanity Fair, without having to read it," she explained.

"Alright, that can be arranged," he agreed. "I can get you the long overview later today, but I guess the gist is that despite marrying a very eligible bachelor you are still not happy," he added.

"I figured something along those lines," she replied.

"And I understand that you are still writing the book?" Maxwell inquired further.

"I am, I am pretty sure it will be done within three-four months, editing included, I've already contacted my publisher and from their side there is no obstacle," she said, knowing that she needed to have a talk with Mitchum soon about delaying her return to editing a bit longer.

"Okay, this is definitely the time frame we can work with, and I believe it will also coincide somewhat with your wedding," Maxwell replied.

"I will need you to also go through the book with the PR point of view, identifying possible secondary issues that we might want to avoid," she added.

Maxwell nodded, making his notes.

"Also, I am willing to allow a red carpet at our rehearsal dinner, but I want my actual wedding to be off limits, they can have the official pictures later," Rory clarified her terms. She felt in power, knowing exactly what she wanted to achieve and how she wanted to do it. If she couldn't fight it, there were ways to control it. It was also an interesting to experience how Maxwell treated her as he probably would've treated Logan, perhaps even Mitchum, as an equal in their joint path rather than some novice he was training.


Rory saw Gwen just before class. She could see from her eyes she was still upset about what had happened. She'd already sent over the interview files and her notes, and Rory had edited a number of theses and articles for her. On that part what they had agreed upon was done.

"Hi Gwen," she greeted, trying not to dwell too much on what had happened. She had no proof it had happened on purpose, but then again she hadn't really looked into it. Having taken the best out of the situation with her idea for a book, especially after her first meeting with Maxwell, she felt much better about the entire situation than she had at first.

"Hey," she replied hesitantly.

"Listen, I know what happened was unfortunate, but thankfully that piece of information was not something to cause permanent damage," Rory said trying to make her feel better.

"I promise I'll watch my mouth better from now on, if there is any way that we can still be friends," she added.

"I am going to be honest with you, Gwen. I could use a friend, it's much easier to push through the courses and the probably upcoming research process with someone else, and I mean helping each-other by that, not just one-way. But when it comes to everything else I am not sure if I can do that. Maybe I can, but at this point you can't blame me for being a little hesitant," Rory explained. The old Rory would have forgiven and forgotten probably, but this was not the old Rory anymore. It was more than just her privacy at stake. She had taken a risk and it had backfired, even if not terribly, it still had been a disappointment. Now she needed to learn from it, and not repeating the same mistakes was what she had learned.