Title: Taking a header or staying the course

Author: Joy

A/N: I normally don't comment on reviews but I feel the need to talk about the marriage & future allusions on Logan's part in the last chapter. (Although at the end he did very clearly tell her he was not looking for the next Mrs. Huntzberger). Rory is and always has been a runner when things get serious. She likes serious but she also panics. I am much in the same way. My husband took care of this freak out potential in me by simply saying he saw a future with me and planned to marry me (we had been dating for two freaking weeks)...but he also said he wouldn't bring it up at all again until I was ready to. This had two very odd effects 1) I knew exactly what he wanted and was not afraid he was going to bail on me and 2) it left the tradition 'marriage' conversation up to me to initiate. I simply had Logan use a similar strategy.

PLEASE READ: (1) WARNING- Dean becomes creepy and stalker-ish for the rest of this story. Sorry but it has to be done. (2) I am making Rory an anime fan to serve my purposes.

Chapter 4: Pre-party fun

Lorelai spend nearly an hour at the video store picking movies that were loved by college students (and her daughter) while still being easily mocked. She ended up with Swingers, Army of Darkness, Austin Powers, Gross Pointe Blank, Cowboy Bebop: the movie (because she knew Rory really wanted to introduce Logan to anime), and the newest version of The house on Haunted Hill (for reasons she wished to remain secret until the perfect moment to freak her daughter out). She figured the kids could choose what they wanted to see and she could watch the rest later. Besides the more kids that came the less likely it would be that Luke would watch the movie and the more likely it was that they could talk.

Suddenly she got the eerie feeling she was being watched. So it was no surprise when Dean cautiously approached her in the video store. "Lorelai?"

"Dean."

He rubbed the back of his neck, "I heard a rumor that Rory has a new boyfriend."

Lorelai sighed, "Yeah, Dean, she does... His name is Logan. He was one of the people you embarrassed my daughter in front of breaking up with her like that...this last time that is...since the time before that you broke up with her in front of the entire town."

Dean just gave her an exasperated look, "She was acting like one of them...drunk, giddy... not Rory. I didn't fit into that world."

She looked him over, "Rory isn't your concern any more Dean. Just accept that."

"Like you aren't Luke's concern any more...that is ridiculous," he muttered.

Lorelai sighed, "What is it that you want to know?"

"Is he good to her?" Dean asked quietly.

"Seems to be...He cares about her and what matters to her. That is why he is here this weekend."

"He's staying the weekend," Dean growled.

"Yes... And shocking...in her bedroom I would imagine."

"How can you be so nonchalant about this? You threw a fit about me and Rory."

Lorelai's eyes went huge, "You are married, you little punk. My daughter became the other woman because of you. Of course I was upset."

"Oh, you are going to lecture me on fidelity when you cheated on Luke with Rory's dad," Dean fussed.

Lorelai nearly punched him...but then paused, "Is that what the town thinks happened?"

"Yes."

"Great, that's just great," she growled.

Lorelai sighed, "Look Dean, I didn't cheat on Luke...not that it matters. Logan is jumping through hoops to get Rory because of the mess you left behind of her heart. He would do anything to prove he's serious about her...but I guess that is the difference between you two...you always seemed to bail when the going got tough. Now if you'll excuse me, there is a Gilmore movie night that I must get ready for."

Dean got out of her way and just stared after her.

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Lorelai stormed into Luke's diner. "Can I talk to you?" she said in a huff.

Luke looked at her confused. They had gotten along so well earlier. He was actually pretty excited to go over for movie night just to spend time with the Gilmore Girls again.

He nodded, "Ah...sure...Lane? You look after things?"

"Yeah," The Asian girl nodded as Luke followed Lorelai up toward his apartment. She hoped everything was okay. The whole town was crossing their fingers when they saw Lorelai at Luke's early that morning.

"What's up Lore?" Luke asked with apprehension.

"Do you really think I cheated on you with Chris?" she asked point blank.

"What?"

Lorelai was pacing, "I really didn't pay attention to what was being said about our break up because it hurt too damn much. But today I come to find out, from the married man that took my daughter's virginity no less, that the town thinks I cheated on you with Rory's dad, so that leads me back to you...do you believe that?"

Luke thought a minute, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" The pain in Lorelai's eyes was immense. "Come on Luke...this is me. You are my best friend. How could you think I would betray you like that?"

He looked at her like she were nuts, "How could I not? You would tell me about seeing him after the fact...You kept your night together a secret and he seems to be in love with you..."

"Luke..." she said softly. "I should have told you...but I was scared you would read too much into it. Not telling you only made things worse and for that I am so sorry... I screwed up...but I would never cheat on you."

"Okay," he stated already knowing it was true but still liking to hear it out loud.

They looked at each other for a long time. "Are you still coming tonight?" Lorelai finally asked

"Yeah...I'll bring coffee...but I'm not telling the kid my recipe," Luke stated gruffly.

"Good," she said with a sweet smile.

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Lorelai found Logan lying on their couch with Rory asleep on his chest. He was running his fingers through her hair looking down at her adoringly.

Lorelai knew she had made the right choice supporting him in town with everyone. "Nice...isn't it?" she whispered.

"Yeah...very," he said with a huge grin. "It feels so right...better than anything else in the world."

Lorelai smiled, "I remember. I felt the same when she would fall asleep on my chest as a baby... All the pain and hurt that happened because I got pregnant was muted by this perfect little person in my arms."

"You were an amazing mom," he said looking at Lorelai with admiration. "I have spent my life in fear of being cut off...never really knowing if I was an heir or their child... You took what was most important to you and ran...with no support or help. You took away their power over you and made a life. I can't even imagine."

Lorelai smiled softly, "You'd be amazed what you are willing to sacrifice for the sake of love."

Logan looked down at Rory and said, "I'm learning."

"I know," she agreed.

They shared a bonding moment of silence over their mutual love for Rory before Lorelai spoke again, "When do your friends arrive?"

"Around 5:30."

"Okay... Are they going to want to stay too?" Lorelai asked.

"If they bring alcohol, probably," Logan admitted.

"Alright, so you and Rory will be in her room...your boys out here?"

"That would be okay?" he asked cautiously.

"What?" she questioned.

"Me in Rory's room?"

Lorelai smiled, "You're sleeping with my daughter. Separating you for the evening isn't my style."

"Paris may come too," Logan tried to point out.

"Doubt it," Lorelai whispered.

"Why?"

"That would mean she wasn't with Doyle tonight...or she would bring him here. And from what I understand being in your near vicinity would cause him and ulcer or heart attack. No, I am very sure Paris will keep him there with the room to herself so she can get laid."

Logan scrunched his eyes shut, "I so didn't want that image... I don't know if I will ever be able to see them talking again without that image."

Lorelai smirked and changed the subject, "What about that Steph girl?"

"Date...I'm not sure who. Colin sounded like he might actually be a bit jealous."

"Will wonders never cease...Well then I suppose it will Rory and her Harem tonight with you as the favorite slave boy... just no handcuffs please. It makes one hell of a racket on her bed."

Logan's eyes were huge until Lorelai started to laugh. "That is not funny."

"Sure it was...but seriously, if you two are going to 'make up' tonight," she said with quote fingers. "I would rather not hear it...okay?"

"No problem."

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Five thirty in the evening rolled around and so did the limo boys, alcohol on tap. Finn in his normal theatrical form flung open the door and announced, "The alcohol has arrived, bring on the women."

"The only women here Finn, are very much attached," Logan stated calmly, possessively keeping his arm around Rory, who was somewhat reserved. Logan knew she was gearing up to have her life and town attacked.

"Say it ain't so, Gilmore...Say you didn't actually succumb to the Huntzberger charm?" Finn chided trying to get a smile from the slightly reticent girl.

Rory laughed, "Well...I won't be swooning at his feet anytime soon."

"Well that's good...I have heard he might be swooning at yours," Colin said addressing Rory for the first time.

"Oh definitely," Logan stated before kissing her forehead.

"Lorelai," Logan called.

"Yeah," the elder Gilmore yelled from the kitchen.

"Come meet the rest of the limo boys," Rory responded wanting her mommy for this meeting.

Lorelai came around the corner. "They're here..."

Rory gestured to each guy, "Mom this is Colin and Finn."

"Is there a limo in my drive that doesn't belong to my parents?" Lorelai asked peaking outside. "No there is a Mercedes that I really hope my boyfriend doesn't hit with his truck."

"What?" Colin said quickly.

"I'm kidding," she said with a wicked smirk. "I'm Lorelai, Rory's mom. I am responsible for her hair, eyes...her earlobes are her father's...oh...strangely used cultural references, also me..."

"Don't forget caffeine addiction," Logan threw in.

"Very true...also general mocking capabilities..."

"Blimey, you are high energy," Finn stated suddenly.

"90 percent water, 10 percent coffee," Rory added.

"I like that... Do you think I could get that tattooed..."

"No new tattoos unless they say property of L. Danes," the gruff diner owner said from the door. "What is this? They multiplied?"

"No...Rory is forming a harem of socialite slave boys to do her bidding. Colin provides the cars, Finn provides the alcohol, and Logan provides the sex... She's got you for coffee and food so at this point she really only needs a guy to do her school work and write for the paper and she'll be set."

"I am not a socialite," Luke clarified. "I keep you in food and coffee...therefore Rory as well."

"Sorry kid, looks like you have to find your own Burger man," Lorelai chided wrapping her arms around Luke's middle.

"But he makes the best coffee," Rory pouted coming over and hugging his other side.

"All right, all right... I have been your coffee supplier for nearly fifteen years. I guess I can't give that up now," Luke said uncomfortably while Colin and Finn tried to take in the rapid-fire conversation.

Finn smirked, "Looks like you know where you rank on the totem pole in reporter girl's heart since she wrapped around the coffee man."

"You see now why I have to have your coffee recipe man..." Logan pled with Luke.

The older man shook his head, "I may have to make an exception so I only have one coffee addict to supply."

Logan smirked, "Colin, Finn this is Luke, Lorelai's boyfriend with the truck...that did not hit your car Colin. Luke these are my roommates."

"Nice to meet you. I would shake your hands but I am slightly Gilmored at the moment," Luke stated wrapping an arm around each of his girls.

Logan laughed, "We're going to go get the ice cream. We'll be back soon." The blond pushed his roommates out the door.

Once outside Colin looked at his friends, "That has got to be what an acid trip feels like."

TBC...

A/N: I forgot to mention I am going to be out of town for about a week coming up soon. I will probably post one more chapter before my trip. But think of it this way...I am still pretty much sick in bed so hopefully that means I will have some time to write more.

Now since you are all such wonderful fans- Please REVIEW.