"Rory, I just saw Colin," Logan reported to Rory who looked at him like he has an IQ below fifty.

"Yes I just saw him too, Logan..." she replied.

"No... no, I mean... him with, uh... he was making out with..." he cleared his throat. "Paris. Your friend Paris,"

Rory's eyebrows shot up. "Colin was making out with Paris?"

"Is. Colin is making out with Paris. As of right now. Currently." Logan added.

"Huh. It finally happens."

"You knew about this?"

"Well, you remember when I met Colin at lunch when I was with Jess? He was with Paris. Paris is now working with my Dad, head of the Hayden's Law Firm New York, and they've crossed paths a few times. I remember vaguely Paris mentioned him before her divorce with Doyle. I guess now they're crossing the bridge,"

"What? And you are okay with this?"

"They are grown ups, Logan. I'm not his real mom. And even if I were, I don't actually have a say on who he's dating,"

"They're dating?"

"I don't know. Stop asking me questions I can't answer because I don't have any clue what the answer is, and stop being so dramatic! Come here and sit with us, I want to cuddle,"

Cuddle in the middle of a party? Sure. Logan sat himself beside Rory obediently and enveloped Rory who instantly snuggled herself to his chest. V

As he sitting comfortably in Rory's arms, he thought about that day he met Colin after court. He did look suspiciously cheerful for a man who just had his third divorce. Different with his other two divorces. But Logan was too occupied with his own problems to noticed.

"Colin is making out with Rory's scary friend from college," Finn came and plopped himself on the couch beside Rory and Logan.

"Whoa, it doesn't take so much to scare you guys, huh? Just an independent woman with her own mind and her own opinion," Bethany commented.

"She can speak?" Finn asked Robert.

Bethany rolled her eyes while the others laughed. "I have engaged in numerous conversations with you these past three years, Finn. I just didn't feel the necessity to burden your shallow minds with meaningful conversations before now," she smiled venomously.

"Bonzer. That's how I liked it,"

Bethany shook her head, giving it up and joined the others laughing. Finn really is a lost cause.

"Robert really doesn't deserve this one," Finn added grinning.

"Lucky I have spent enough time with you guys to know that you actually love each other and you didn't mean what you just said, because Robert is very sweet and is a great boyfriend, and he doesn't treat me like a Barbie and he is very supportive, although my job keeps me away from him most of the times and he has to travel around the world just to have a date," Bethany replied.

"We know, sweety. And we know that you know and that's enough, we don't talk about our feelings like that," Finn patted her back lightly, like a mother calming her baby, and that made Bethany laughed because she just snapped at Robert's silly friends although she knew they never took things seriously.

"But it's cute that you defend me like that, I might consider giving you a lift to Paris," Robert added with his annoying deadpanned look.

"See, I know you guys will do this too. Rory told me," Bethany shook her head, but laughing wholeheartedly.

"Mother knows best!" Finn raised his glass.

"Cheers!"

Logan laughed at his friends' antics. They had gotten used to not showing their true feelings because it was a necessity in their world. They acted like they don't care, they played the heartless dumb heirs to mask their crappy childhood and to protect themselves from people who wanted to take advantages of them.

But Logan was so proud that Rory knows them so well to be able to see pass through their careless facades, and loves them sincerely. And he was relieved to know that Bethany and Robert is doing great. The girl has genuine feelings for him and that was a rare thing in their world.

But Colin and Paris bothered him so much. Probably because it was Paris, and that girl scared the shit out of him, not that he would admit it to anyone. Having her dating one of his closest friends would mean that she will officially be in their circle and he had to deal with her in regular basis, even holidays. And not that it would happen, but if him and Rory fail again, Logan had a feeling that Paris would be the first to kick his ass. She knew Krav Maga so may God help him.

Logan sighed and downed his drink when he saw Colin and Paris walking towards them, bickering about something. Paris didn't seem to age at all, he noticed when they were getting closer. Or maybe because she was always living with an adult mind so ten years wouldn't have affected her much.

"So, cat's out of the bag..." Colin started the conversation which was responded with random "yeahs" and "uh-huhs" and "congratulations".

Rory was the only one who showed genuine smile and looked happy for the both of them.

"None of you are surprised. Why aren't you surprised?" Paris asked incredulously.

"Well, Rory already knew. Robert and Logan are too afraid of Paris to comment, and I, well... I simply don't care who Colin dates" Finn explained briefly showing his everlasting grin.

Rory stood up and hug Paris. "Congratulations, Paris. You've got a good man here," she continued.

"So, are you guys like, together? Dating, or what?" Logan asked.

"No, we just like to meet up at private parties and make out in the dark. Of course we're dating! I might be a divorcee but I am still an honorable woman. And I have kids so I have to set examples," Paris answered, holding her chin up above.

"Uh, okay. Congrats, man!" Logan said finally followed by the rest of the gang although he's still a little hesitant.

Colin tended to jump into relationships too fast with women, although women like Paris was never his type. He was more into shallow women, those who liked to be spoilt and pouted when you bought them Chanel instead of Hermes. And Paris, well, it was really clear that Paris is no pouty girl. But maybe she's who Colin really needed.

As the night got older, the party started to tone down a little, and contrary to what he told Rory this afternoon, he found himself enjoying the party and canceled his intention to kick them out before dawn. That was before Paris caught him alone sitting in the bar waiting for his and Rory's drinks.

"So, Huntzberger... you're back," she stated.

"It's my house, of course I'll be back."

"Still with that dry joke. Guess women really as shallow as they show to fall for that,"

"Yeah, I rely solely on looks and Daddy's money,"

"Oh, nuh-huh. Nope." Paris shook her head disagreeing. "You maybe many things, Huntzberger. But you no Daddy's bitch no more."

Logan raised his brows. "Uh, thanks?"

"Just stating the obvious. Not a compliment whatsoever," she replied downing her drink in one gulp. "Anyway, you're back in Rory's life. Huh." She gave him a side eye.

"What? You're gonna lecture me too about being careful with her? I am, okay? God, why can't you people see that I could never hurt her, because if she's hurt, I hurt."

Paris snorted.

"Other people might see you as the playboy Richie Rich who broke her heart a thousand years ago, but I know better. I know you're whipped since that day you sent Rory last semester care package. I remember telling her that she had tamed the stallion. Of course I did too, but hey, my stallion turned out to be one of the horse from the horsemen apocalypse, such a waste..."

Logan raised his brows. Paris has a way to turn any conversation into about her.

"Anyway, I could tell you some crap about how she had gone through enough trauma to last a lifetime, but you already knew that. I could tell you that she's vulnerable, but I can see that she's stronger and starting to look like herself since you're back. So I guess you know what you're doing, Huntzberger. I trust you with her, and that's a compliment."

"Why thank you, Paris." He smirked at the unexpected turn of event. "On the contrary though, I still have to tell you to be careful. My buddy Colin, he's like a brother. And I very much like to not see him hurt, in any way."

"Well, I am Paris Gellar. I don't get into something half way, I always give 100%, Huntz,"

He nodded. Such a weird conversation. It was like talking to guy about a business deal, but he guess that's how Paris always acted. Glad to know something didn't change, he was getting tired to come back and see everyone seemed to have changed enormously.

"In all seriousness, if you ever having doubt about her feelings for you, just call me. I have been there through your entire relationship, and I can assure you that even if you're not there, you're there. She thinks about you a lot, it's sickening..." Paris concluded.

Logan shook his head. That was probably the most supportive sentence he'd heard from Paris about him and Rory.

"I kept contact with her on the campaign trail, and looking back, I think I already had a hunch about what happened with her in Texas but I was just too busy with my own life to follow up. That's my biggest regret in life. But rest assured, I never make the same mistake twice."

"Thanks, Paris. Really appreciate it."

"Yeah. Although I must warn you, the Lewis guy?" She paused to see Logan's reaction. He immediately sat up, feeling the chills in his bones upon hearing that name. He nodded for Paris to continue.

"He got released from jail about a year ago. I don't know where he's at now and I don't know if he's still a lunatic but I figured I need to give you a heads up. I already informed Chris and Lorelai too, they are keeping tabs of him," she shrugged.

Logan rubbed his forehead. He'd already asked his father about this guy, but he hadn't heard any updates. Just thinking about him making Logan's skin crawl and his stomach churned at the thought of Lewis getting to Rory.

He spent the rest of the night over thinking about Lewis but warned himself when he came to the thoughts of how can he convince Rory to hire a bodyguard or put a GPS on her so that he would always know where she's at.

Because as tempting as it was, it couldn't be healthy and it wasn't something he would want Rory's life to be. She's had enough trauma to heal and having The Terminator tail her everywhere won't help because she needed a normal environment, as normal as possible.

As he wrapped his arms around her body and felt her snuggled comfortably against him that night, he decided to stop overthinking things. He would do everything in his power to protect Rory, but at the same time giving her time and space to heal. It won't be easy, but he'll do it.

Because this woman in his arms, is his whole life.

A/n: Ah, Colin and Paris. Some of you probably won't approve of this pair, but I always thought they would match really well. They're both witty and sarcastic and I am really excited imagining what their conversations gonna go.

Thank you so much for you guys who are still patient with this story. It's progressing slower than I'd wanted because I'm so busy with real life. Dang! But I will reach that finish line. Just you wait. *kisses