Sorry about the lack of updates…this whole college thing really puts a dent in my spare time…also, I thought I would add the whole Orlando/Kate breakup thing in there, because for all of you Logan fans, you probably know that Matt and Kate had a thing before Orlando stepped in…I just thought it would be fun.

Chapter 16

The Romance

Logan glanced around the spacious party hall quickly and noted the position of each guard. Once he was sure they would not be spotted, he grabbed Rory's hand and quickly led her to the exhibits.

"I feel like such a rebel." Rory whispered to him.

"Only you would think it rebellious to sneak into a museum." Logan laughed.

"Well, it is rebellious when the exhibits are roped off and there are guards all around." Rory said defensively.

"Well, however you get your kicks." Logan said with a wicked grin.

"Hey Logan, before I forget. I just wanted to thank you for everything." Rory said looking at him seriously.

"What did I do?" Logan asked skeptically.

"You were just…you. Thank you for bringing me here, for giving me the necklace, the dress…thank you for being so understanding with everything. I know I have not been the greatest company lately, but I think everything should be back on track now." Rory said, averting her eyes from his gaze.

Logan tilted her head up so she was forced to look into the warm depths of his brown eyes. "Rory, I waited for this for months, a few days is not going to hurt anything. What we have is special; I know that a few minor interruptions won't change that." Logan said.

"Okay…good. I was just…worried. I guess I thought you may get jealous, or maybe misinterpret my confusion as me not wanting to be with you." Rory tried to explain.

"Well you do want to be with me right?" Logan questioned.

"Of course! I have just never been too good with the whole revealing my feelings step. I do want to make it obvious that I care about you a lot, and running into my ex won't change that. I want to be with you, in every sense of the word, but I don't want to rush things. If things between us are going to work out, then they will be okay with us waiting longer until we…you know…again." Rory said awkwardly.

"Rory, please stop worrying. I know that you thought you could not trust me in the beginning. I know I have a reputation to outlive, and I know that at first glance I don't appear to be boyfriend material, but you make me want to be a different guy. I saw what Dean had with you, and I want to have that too."

"You already have what Dean had." Rory said confused.

"Not totally though. You still act guarded around me. It's like you are waiting for me to drop the ball." Logan said, his dark eyes even darker in the dim lights of the museum.

"I am not expecting you to drop anything." Rory said exasperated. "I am just trying to get back into things. I have not had to learn how a guy ticks in years. I have only had two boyfriends, and the last one I have known since I was 16. If I appear guarded it is because I am still trying to take everything in. I really hope you don't think that I have not been who I was with Dean, or who I was before we started dating…" Rory trailed off.

Logan gently placed his fingers on her lips to silence her. "Rory, relationships take time, and work…why do you think I went so long drifting from one girl to the next? I want to take the time and invest the energy into us. If I did not want that, then I never would have pinned you." Logan said grinning.

Rory could not help but return his grin as she placed a delicate kiss on his lips. She felt the warmth that his kiss provided spread throughout her body. However, she could not help but think about his words. Was she guarded around him? Did she not open herself up to him completely? She thought for sure she had, but then again, talking only makes up part of any communication. She pushed these thoughts aside as she felt Logan deepen their kiss. All she wanted to focus on at this moment was Logan's lips on hers…and his tongue in her mouth…and his hands caressing the soft flesh of her neck. She felt a chill run through her body.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked, stepping back after feeling her shudder.

Rory slowly opened her eyes and allowed a slow smile to spread over her face. "I have never been better."

"Right, well, now that we have that taken care of…shall we?" Logan asked offering Rory his arm.

Rory linked her arm through his and she let him lead her around the amazing museum. They stopped to examine the works of past American artists. Logan could not help but point out a striking piece by Ralph Earl entitled Elijah Boardman. "Look Rory, it is your great-grandfather." Logan said pointing at the painting. The man was posed in what appeared to be a library, with his arm resting on a book shelve.

"Ha ha ha." Rory scoffed at him. "You are hilarious. So it appears that this Elijah fellow likes his books and wanted to be painted with them." Rory said, defending this artist's work.

"Oh yes, and I believe he is not the only one." Logan said, glancing at her.

Rory flushed from his reference to the painting in her Grandfather's study. She had not wanted to be painted to begin with, but the addition of the book at least made the sitting tolerable.

"Anyway, let's keep going." Rory said, wanting to change the subject. "Ahh, see this one is more along your taste." She said pointing at a still life of cheese and whine.

"Have you ever thought about taking your act on the road?" Logan said, mocking her sense of humor.

"Actually, my mother and I will be performing at CBGB all week." Rory replied deadpan.

"Just what the world needs…two Gilmore girls...onstage."

Rory gave him a little shove as she began walking towards the next portrait.

Just as Rory and Logan stopped to examine a painting of a rather pale woman with a prominent nose, they heard someone yell to them.

"You guys can't be in the museum now." The guard yelled.

Rory looked at Logan with wide eyes. She was ready to bolt, but she waited to take Logan's lead.

Logan stepped away from Rory and walked over to the guard. She heard them exchange hushed whispers and noticed Logan reach in his pocket and extract something and give it to the guard. With that, the guard nodded at him and walked back to his post.

"What just happened there." Rory asked confused by the new developments.

"Oh, Frank and I just reached an understanding." Logan simply stated as they continued walking through the museum.

"Let's check out what is going on in here." Logan said, leading Rory into an empty ballroom.

"Okay, I really don't think we should be in here." Rory said, looking around the elegant room.

"Rory, calm down, Frank is on our side." Logan said mysteriously.

"Did you plan this?" Rory asked confused.

"Maybe. I just thought we might want some time alone from the hysteria of the party." Logan said to Rory leaning towards her. "Shall we have this dance? I think they are playing our song."

"What are you talking about crazy boy, there is no music." Rory whispered, losing her assurance in this romantic setting.

"I have that covered too." Logan said, walking over to the back of the ballroom where a sound system was set up.

A slow melodic sound escaped from the speakers as Rory stood waiting for Logan to rejoin her. He held out his hand and they embraced for a dance as the lyrics filled the empty room.

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

"So I like Howie Day and all, but why exactly is this our song?" Rory whispered to him as they danced.

"Well, I thought the lyrics were suiting. I am in this Ace. You don't have to worry about me, I am sticking with this." Logan tried to explain.

"So you are not saying that you are the best and you fell for me?" Rory grinned at him.

"Well…there is that too." Logan smiled back.

"I don't think tonight could be any more perfect." Rory said to him.

"I would have to agree." Logan said as the song finished and they slowly separated.

"You know, I never planned on any of this happening." Logan said to her.

"What do you mean? I thought you planned this entire night out." Rory said confused.

"Yes, this night I planned, but falling for you was not something I expected." Logan said. "But I have to say, this is probably the best thing that has ever happened."

"Did you not want to fall for me? Or for anybody for that matter?" Rory asked him, not hurt, but rather curious.

"Not really. I mean I had this life going, this reputation, and I enjoyed most of it. I liked having the freedom of the girls I was with. I thought that I was happy living that way…but I never knew what I was missing." Logan said looking at her.

"So I think that in this moment of unblemished honesty, I think I should confess to you as well." Rory started. "I know that I started out a little skeptical, and I tried to push it out of my mind, especially after seeing Jess…I think that is why I chose to sleep with you, I wanted to prove to myself that I was over him. Don't get me wrong, I am over him, but I just don't want my past relationship to ruin our future. You don't have to worry about Jess or Dean or my feelings for you." Rory explained.

"And you Rory, don't have to worry about my past ways." Logan said. "That was my life before you. Since I met you I have felt different. I have had no interest in other girls, and I honestly like it that way."

"Good, so do I." Rory said laughing. "We spend too much time talking about the past." Rory said.

"I know, I just don't want you to think that I won't be faithful to you." Logan said.

"Logan, I am not worried. Let's just take things as they come. And right now, I am the happiest that I can ever remember…just standing here."

"Yes, this does feel pretty good" Logan said, hugging her tighter to him.

"Do you think maybe we should head back to the party? I want to get one last look at Orlando before he takes off…" Rory smiled.

"As long as you don't take off with him." Logan laughed.

"Nah, I think I have a keeper right here." She said, taking his hand and leading him back to the party.

When Rory and Logan entered the ballroom they noticed that the majority of the guests had already left. Neither Rory or Logan noticed that they had been alone in the museum for over three hours, and the concert had already finished.

"I think we missed Lenny." Rory said slightly disappointed.

"Wow, I did not even realize that we were gone that long." Logan said in return. "I am sorry we missed him, I know you were looking forward to it."

"Meh, I had a better time with you anyway." Rory said turning to him. "I think I am ready to get back to the apartment anyway."

"Okay, just give me a minute to call for the driver." Logan said, walking away to talk on his cell phone.

Rory took the few minutes of alone time to watch Logan from afar. She took in his stance and his sly smile. She felt her stomach fill with butterflies as he stood talking on the phone and waved to her. She knew she was falling for Logan fast. She knew she could trust him, she was just afraid that she could not trust herself around him.