Title: Taking a header or staying the course

Author: Joy

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. It's really nice to reviews that comment on the story itself. For those of you who mentioned Prince Phillip, I know they didn't name him in first season, but since they mentioned it was the Prince from Sleeping Beauty, I felt the guy needed to be named correctly. After all Sleeping Beauty is my favorite movie of all time. I know that sounds weird coming from me, but its true nonetheless. My taste in music and movies are all over the map. I blame my parents for it... Most parents play Mozart or Beethoven for their children in womb. Mine played Pink Floyd. I think that explains most of my idiosyncrasies.

PLEASE READ: The character of Tressa is my own design. Go with the back-story I give her. She will make the story a bit tense but it will be okay...I promise.

Chapter 10: Supporting the couple

Logan had decided to spend the night in Rory's room primarily because he wanted to be there to battle whatever assaults might come. This actually worked out quite well since he was the one that answered the phone when Emily called a third time. He knew Rory had no intension of dealing with her grandmother so he dealt with her.

"Mrs. Gilmore," Logan began.

"Please call me Emily."

"I believe Mrs. Gilmore will be more appropriate..." He paused, "While I appreciate your enthusiasm for my new relationship with your granddaughter, I think it might be best if you stop calling."

"Why is that?" she said quite curt.

"Quite frankly ma'am, she doesn't want to talk to you. I think it would be best if you talked in person on Friday at dinner."
"Why doesn't she want to talk to me!" Emily yelled, allowing both Paris and Rory to hear her.

Logan looked to Rory who nodded at him. "Well ma'am, I believe it is because of what you did at the wedding...trying to break your daughter and her boyfriend up. That hurt Rory and Lorelai very much. I don't think you are going to have much success speaking to either of them anytime soon."
Emily was silent for a minute. "I want to talk to my granddaughter."

"That is all well and good ma'am, but I assure you the minute I hand the phone over to Rory will be the minute the phone gets hung up. I would have thought with the number of times Lorelai had hung up on you by now you would have realized."

"Give the phone to Rory!" she demanded.

Logan held the phone out to his girlfriend, who just stared at it a moment. She seemed to collect her thoughts as she retrieved it gently then took a deep breath, "I don't want to speak to you right now. I don't care about your intentions. I don't care if you think you know what's best. I only care that the man that was truly my father you tried to remove from my life because he's not wealthy enough or has the right name. I won't forgive you for that any time soon. The fact that you honestly believe that those things matter in judging a person's worth in this world only proves you have learned nothing about mom and I since I was a teenager and it also proves you really are not fit to judge what is best for anyone due to your extremely shallow standards. Goodbye." And the phone was hung up with a great deal of might.

Rory gulped a few times staring at the phone before Logan gathered her in his arms.

"I'll order a pizza," Paris said quietly tying up the phone line to prevent any further calls from coming in. She then conveniently left the phone off the hook for the rest of the evening.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Rory studied most of Sunday trying to make up for the odd weekend she had been experiencing. She and Logan had made love for the first time, she ran away, Logan came after her, he brought his friends to her town, she assaulted her ex in the diner, and they arrived back on campus to a host of rumors and hostility. Needless to say her head wasn't really in it. Luckily spring break was approaching quickly, although technically Logan and Rory were supposed to be apart Logan had hinted coming back early may need to be scheduled in.

At roughly eight p.m. Marty showed at Paris and Rory's room to head to whatever this party was. Rory opened the door to see Marty dressed ironically a lot like Kirk. "Hey Marty. What's going on?" she asked touching his sweater lightly.

"Hey, you're dating him. I was just told what to wear and how to act."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, didn't I warn you Gilmore," Paris stated coming out of her room with her hair in a weird ringlet curly mop. "Those of us that know you well, have been assigned a dress code and attitude...Sugar."

"Sugar?" Rory said as Doyle came to the door in black pants, shirt, and blazer as well as a bowler hat. "Who are you? A short, white, Run DMC?" Rory asked quickly.

"Am I wearing Addidas?" Doyle asked.

Rory looked at all of them oddly.

"Oh yeah... You need to change your shirt," Paris instructed.

"I do?"

"Yeah... Blue one on your door."

"Oh...okay?" Rory said and changed her shirt.

When she arrived Logan was standing staring at Marty, Doyle, and Paris. "Why are they dressed like that?" he asked as she came out.

"I assumed you would know."

"No..." he said shaking his head. "I have been kicked out of my room and told we are going to the basement of the Art department of all places?"

"Art department... I would have imagined it would be the newsroom," Rory said thoughtfully.

"Not big enough," Doyle stated, "...and I was not going to let them trash the place."

"Good point... Shall we go?" Rory said.

"Yeah... Love the shirt," Logan whispered to Rory as he put his arm around her back. "It brings out your eyes."

"Thanks."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The Art department basement looked the same from the outside as it had the day before, however once the doors were opened it was a whole new story. Logan and Rory stood stock still at the entrance staring at the spectacle before them.

"Ah... the guest of the hour," Finn called. "Ladies and gentlemen may I have your attention. Now that our honored guest has arrived the festivities can truly begin." Finn was wearing a wig that was shaped like Dean's hair cut. He was in jeans and chucks with a long sleeve shirt, exactly like the one Dean had worn the day before... AND he was speaking WITHOUT his normal accent.

"Oh my god," Rory whispered.

"What?" Logan whispered back.

"The people that know us pretty well are dressed up like people from Star's Hollow. Finn is supposed to be DEAN."

"Makes sense," Logan whispered back. "Tall guy with a crush on you."

"Finn does not have a crush on me," Rory murmured quietly.

"He wouldn't mind dating you," Logan murmured back.

"That's true of 90 percent of the female population."

Finn smirked at the wide-eyed stare he was getting from Rory. "This evening is to celebrate the removal of one of my best friends from the dating circuit since he has met his match. And since several of our friends don't know Rory that well Colin and I have endeavored to bring some of Rory's uniqueness to the masses so... Rory luv." Once he had her complete attention he began again, "Those of us that are dressed up you must identify before the end of the evening or we will have to remain in character all night. Otherwise everyone enjoy the coffee, the books, the music, the food, and the town in general."

With that Finn jumped down from his platform and led Rory further into the party leaving Logan a step behind. "Welcome to Star's Hollow," Finn whispered and let her look around.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The party was something to behold. There was a huge Star's Hollow sign on the wall with Luke and Sookie standing beneath with all sorts of food laid out on huge tables to be eaten. Both had obviously spent the whole day cooking to prepare for the event. Luke supplied the burgers and chili fries and other dinner items while Sookie handled the deserts. There were HUGE amounts of coffee of every form and fashion all over the place as well as a general book supply on every table. Different people were invited assigned attributes of the insane inhabitants of Star's Hollow. Lane's band was there for entertainment, and off to one side was Lorelai seated upon a golden throne with scepter and crown. Needless to say it was an event.

"I can't believe you did this," Rory gasped taking it all in.

"Here," Finn said handing her a pile of nametags already filled in.

She flipped through them, "What are these for?"

"For you to identify yourself and others."

Rory looked at him confused.

"Okay I will explain it in more detail," Finn offered very calmly as Logan approached. "Go through and find the name tags that apply to Logan."

Rory started cracking up, "There are four."

"Four," Logan said as she handed him one that said 'Master & Commander', one that said 'Logan', one said 'The boyfriend' and finally one that said 'Buttfaced Miscreant'. Logan chuckled as well.

"Okay so the deal is you will have one that is the person's correct name, and one that is who the person is playing. For the people that are from Star's Hollow there will be at least one descriptive tag and one nametag... You have a ton of tags to wear so we'll put them on your back and such... But here's the rule you can't label anyone their own name until Colin or I agree that you have the correct joke tag."

"You are very sober right now," Rory observed.

"I'm buzzed from earlier... Anyway...label Logan and let's get started."

Rory chuckled and tagged Logan. She then turned to Finn and put the labels that said 'Dean' and 'Finn' on him. "Now speak normally. I don't like the fake Chicago accent."

"Alright, Luv," he said in normal fashion. "I'll go change."

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Rory made a bee line for her mother next, "MOM...how could you not tell me about all this?"

"It's cute, isn't it?" Lorelai said from her throne wearing tight jeans and a sweater that showed off her curves.

"Mom..."

"Yes?"

Rory slouched looking around the room, "I'm a being glared at."

Lorelai smirked, "Of course you are... Shira Huntzberger is touting you as the next Mother Theresa... only with newspapers."

"She hasn't even met me," the younger complained.

"But she will... She loves your grandmother...once upon a time she loved me. I have no idea what she thinks of me now."

"You knew them?" Rory asked.

"I babysat for them... Logan and Honor. I didn't remember it until recently. Don't tell Logan though. Years from now I want to have him turn bright red in front of the Christmas tree as I regale the story of him as a one year old running around without diapers trying to perfect his peeing aim at house plants."

Rory clapped a hand over her mouth, "Oh my god. That would have been so funny."

Lorelai waved her daughter over close, "Not as funny as watching a kid that age tug at his family jewels trying to figure out how everything worked... gave himself a baby boner." Rory turned beet red and covered her face with her hands. "See now everyone is looking at you trying to figure out why you're embarrassed."

"Thanks mom."

"Look, everyone is going to relax as the night wears on. Once people see how well you and Logan are getting on together it will become old news. Now get some coffee and label people," her mother instructed.

"But..."

"Go..."

Rory wandered away to increase her caffeine intake. Lorelai smiled as turned in her chair throwing one leg the arm of her throne and got comfy.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Hi Luke. Hi Sookie."

"Hey Hun," Sookie said.

"Hey Rory. Want a burger?" Luke asked.

"Do you even need to ask?" she answered.

Logan walked up with two cups of coffee. "Here Ace."

"Why thank you boyfriend," Rory said kissing his cheek.

"Na-huh... real kiss," he insisted holding the coffee away until he got his kiss.

"If I must I must," she murmured and kissed him sweetly.

"I learned that from you," Logan said as he smirked at Luke.

"Okay...don't do that in front of me please...or at least limit the number of times you do. If I ever feel the need to say 'Hands where I can see them' in your presence again we are going to have issues," Luke growled at Logan who dutifully gulped as the older man handed Rory her food. "Want one?" he asked Logan.

"Please... Don't poison it though," the blond tried to joke.

"Oh no worries. You still have to deal with her," Luke said pointing to a strawberry blond in black letter pants and eggplant colored tank top made of a spandex material.

"I don't recall anyone in town dressed like that," Logan stated.

"I'm not from town," the woman answered.

Rory turned around quickly, "Tressa! What are you doing here?"

"I heard you went over to the dark side. I had to see it for myself... Damn, he's a pretty boy and a manor born. Quick, how many ball gowns do you own?" Tressa asked.

"A few," Rory muttered looking down.

"A few? BB, what are you thinking?"

"BB?" Logan asked.

Tressa looked him up and down; "It means Bright Blue...as in her eyes. I call her bright eyes, blue eyes, Ror, and of course Cous."

"Cous?"

Now Tressa was glaring at Rory, "You can no longer tell me he is intelligent."

"Come on..."

"Rory... Dean, mainly descent guy, until the end. Jess, obnoxious bad boy with literary twist. Tristan, precursor to this. But I am standing at a party to celebrate the joining of my cousin and a guy I trust as far as I can throw... The party is to celebrate the fact that the guy is going to try to keep his trouser snake away from other girls, since he has never accomplished this feat before. Forgive me if I am less than thrilled by this turn of events."

Logan stood there in shock. Rory was looking at the floor trying to think of some defense but coming up empty. Lorelai appeared suddenly at Tressa's side and tugged her away. Luke quickly spoke, "Sorry kid. I didn't know she was going to lay into you that bad or I would have warned you."

Logan nodded, "Its okay... What's her deal?"

"Tressa..." Rory said softly. "Tressa is my first cousin. My dad had and older brother who is dead now. Tressa is his daughter. She can't stand that world. She hates her family for rejecting me...but even more now that Gigi is born."

"Gigi?" Logan said quietly.

"My half-sister. Mom and dad were back together a few years ago. Then his former girlfriend called to say she was pregnant. Christopher abandoned us again to be someone else's father. He married the other woman and had Gigi. When my grandfather died not long ago, Gigi was mentioned in the will and I wasn't. Tressa threw a fit...more than a fit. She verbally berated my grandmother on that side to an inch of her life. Tressa has now become very public about trashing her family in the papers...after all the brilliant mastermind business investor child genius taking pot shots at the entirety of the Hayden family is a notable affair."

Logan suddenly remembered a T.S. Hayden out doing his father in a business venture the summer before. At the time it had pissed the man off but once he met his opponent he was completely taken in...Now Logan knew why...actually he had a vague notion he had met this woman before.

Tressa rejoined the group and looked at Logan, "Come with me...now!"

"Tressa," Rory began.

"Let her do this Ror," Lorelai said softly. "If you don't this will get very public and very messy." She nodded.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Logan walked with Tressa to the backroom that Finn had earlier changed in. "Okay... Lorelai is on your side so that is the only thing standing between me and paying you to get gone or offing you right now and disposing of your body," Tressa stated. Logan chuckled. Tressa raised an eyebrow, "You think I am kidding."

"Not anymore," he gulped.

"Good... Now I have dealt with your family before. In fact I have dealt with you before. You were drunk, you tried to grope me, and your father was completely embarrassed by the occurrence. I was told you normally had bedmates that fell all over you; that you weren't used to being put off by a woman. He also mentioned living in fear of the day he found out he had a dozen or so grandchildren from various strumpets. I suggested getting you neutered or at least a mandatory vasectomy. It was about that time you drunkenly said if I wanted to play with your bits I only needed to ask. Is this ringing any bells, kid? Cause this was a few months ago."

Logan gulped again. He did remember that night, not in a great deal of detail mind you but enough. He and his father had a row earlier in the evening and he had played drunk to embarrass his old man. He was buzzed certainly but he did still have enough faculties not to assault the woman. Logan had no idea how badly it was going to come back and bite him in the ass now. "I... I'm sorry... I did that to embarrass my father. I was pissed at him for some reason I don't remember. Not that it excuses my behavior at all it's just... I... I have changed a lot over the last few months."

"Because of my cousin."

"Yes... No... Yes, because she showed up and had a way of making me see how screwed up my life was. But no, because I wanted to change."

"Good answer," Tressa murmured and then smiled.

Logan timidly smiled back, "I really am sorry for my behavior towards you."

Tressa's face slid into business mode, "Part of doing battle in the business world is gathering information on your opponent...find out their weaknesses. You, my dear, are your father's biggest weakness. You screw up in any small way and you will find out just what kind of a bitch I can turn into. I have enough on you to make her hate you until judgment day. If you think I am above squashing you like a bug, you are sorely mistaken. I beat your daddy. I can beat you too. Screw up and I will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes, kid. Daddy won't even be able to save you."

Logan remained silent for a moment staring into her eyes. He left no doubt in his mind that she would make good on her threat. "We have one important thing in common," he finally said.

"That is?"

"We both love Rory. Now I haven't proved it to you yet...but Lorelai believes me and Rory believes me...hell, I think even Luke believes me. I will prove it to you."

Tressa smirked, "Right answer." She threw her arm around his shoulders. "Come on kid. There's a party outside these doors to celebrate your removal from the playing field... lets do just that."

Logan sighed a little knowing he had passed an important test.

Suddenly the door swung open and Finn appeared. He stopped mid-stride and stared at Tressa. She continued to move Logan and herself out the door. When Logan looked back Finn had turned around and was staring at the redhead to his side...Finn rarely was in awe, but this was one of those moments.

TBC...

A/N: Can anyone guess where this is headed? So you have one chapter more of the party, one chapter of the surprises, one chapter of Mitchum's coffee with Rory, and at least one Spring Break chapter. I hope this makes everyone happy because my HP fans are grumbling. (There are more funny nametags coming. Let me know what you think I should include. Maybe yours can be added.)

And now class, please REVIEW and tell me what you think of Tressa. (She will be explained in great detail in Chapter 12.) Please REVIEW and tell me what you think of the party. Please REVIEW and tell me what you think of Finn's behavior. Oh and PLEASE REVIEW.