Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything up to Jews and Chinese Food is fair game. Past that, it's just where my mind takes over.

Teaser: When Rory and Logan's arrangement goes prematurely sour, his friends take it upon themselves to intervene. Sequel to Keeping it Casual

Story Title: Nothing A Good Friend Wouldn't Do

Chapter Title: The Need to Readjust

AN: Life, drama—it sucks. It greatly hinders the time to write. I hope to have that back in check soon. In the meantime, enjoy the updates when I can do them. Thanks again to people who are reviewing, I'm glad you seem to be enjoying this story.

"Exactly how do you intend to have children while traipsing about in foxholes?"

Rory looked at Jill, eyes narrowed. "Don't do that," Stephanie whispered in her ear, "Keep your face relaxed."

She sighed, and attempted to do what was being asked of her. She sat on the couch next to Logan (close, but not too close,) Stephanie and Finn on other side of them, with Colin and Jill seated in front of them all. It was the second evening of this interrogation/charm school lesson. Evidently Logan had told them to start out with the easier (or nicer) topics and progress to more taboo topics. Or at least, taboo to most people. Evidently the wealthy class saw no topic unfit to discuss when it came to those who might inherit a part of their fortune someday. So far it hadn't been that bad, but now Rory was rethinking her having taken his hand last night and willingly following him here. Her only reprieve was classes and the paper. She was in desperate need of a coffee break, but right now she needed to practice her grace while giving out her answer.

"I'll take time off from my career to have kids," she said with a smile.

"So, you're going to start a career and then give it all up to have kids?"

"No, I won't be giving anything up. I'll go back to it."

Colin let out a laugh at her ignorance. "I don't think you realize how difficult that would be to do. You've heard the saying, 'the news stops for no man?'"

Rory nodded, mutely.

"You leave your position, and there will be ten or twenty more eager people ready to fill your space. Those people won't just hand it back to you once you decide you are done raising your family."

Rory looked to Logan, who looked down. "They won't really take it to this level, will they?"

"Now wouldn't be the time to start private conversations," Finn reminded them.

"That's it, I need a break!" Rory stood up, moving to the door. Logan was up in an instant, on her heels.

"Ace, wait," he said, turning her to face him.

"No, I need coffee now. We can continue this insanity when I get back."

"I'm coming with you," he nodded.

"No. I need to think, to take a walk. Alone."

She gave him a look, her weariness and frustration showing through. He nodded. "I'll be here. Take your time."

She nodded, and turned to go. On her way through campus, she tried to get their words out of her head. The questions about her family, the disdain with which they spoke—it all bothered her, and this wasn't even Logan's family. It wasn't even what his friends thought—they were just acting the parts. She felt like she was interviewing for her relationship, and she wasn't getting the job. She wasn't what they're looking for. Don't call us, we'll call you.

Once she'd gotten her coffee, she wandered around until she found a bench. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed, needing to hear comforting words and voices.

"Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Rory? What's wrong? Are you crying?"

"No, I just wanted to talk."

"Okay. Are you at school?"

"Yeah. Just stopped for a coffee break."

"And you thought of me. Well, I guess I did hardwire that association, huh?"

"Yeah," she agreed. "Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you ever disappointed in me? How I've turned out, I mean?"

"What? No, why would you even ask that?" Lorelai asked, shocked.

"I don't know. It just seems sometimes that no matter what I do, it isn't enough."

"That's just your perfectionism talking. You shouldn't listen to it; in fact smother it with a pillow tonight. You're a great person."

"Thanks, Mom."

There was a silence, both were thinking over the phone line. Rory took a drink of the hot liquid, and tried to focus on her mother's words, and soothing tone.

"Does this have to do with meeting his family this week?"

"They already don't like me, and they haven't even met me."

"Sounds like their problem to me," Lorelai offered.

"Yeah."

"You'll be fine. Logan wouldn't let them say anything bad to you, would he?"

Rory smiled softly. Her mother was backing Logan up? It was nice to hear. Her mother really was on her side, no matter the case. Evidently it was good that he'd ignored her wishes and showed up in Stars Hollow. It gave her mom an opportunity to get to see how they were together. As much as she ever tried to deny it, Lorelai's opinion was important to her.

"No. I don't think he would."

"Besides, if you have real trouble, you know who to call."

"Luke?"

Lorelai giggled. "Funny, funny girl. Mommy's always got your back."

"Back at ya."

"Good. So, I'll see you Friday?"

"I thought you and Grandma were in a fight."

"When has that stopped me before?"

"Good point. Yeah, Friday."

Shutting her phone, she leaned back against the bench, continuing to think as she finished her coffee. She just needed more time in her solitude, to let her mother's words soak in before going back to the lions' den.

XXXX

"Do you think she's coming back?" Jill asked, watching as Logan paced behind the couch.

"She'll be back."

"We haven't even gotten to the rough topics, yet," Colin offered, sounding worried.

"My dad once asked the guy I was dating to see the balance in his checkbook, then made him leave when he deemed it not high enough," Jill nodded. "He told him he couldn't afford me and kicked him out."

"My dad had my ex-boyfriend and I followed, and the PI unlocked the car door when we parked and the jerked the guy off of me, leaving him stranded and half-dressed as he took me home."

Logan looked to his friends, listening to their stories. "Guys, your fathers ever get weird about the girls you've dated?"

"Dad was just glad I seemed to like the ladies so much—I've never brought one home," Finn shrugged.

"Yeah, I'm not dumb enough to bring a girl I like home. The old man would probably hit on her."

Jill's face paled a bit, and Stephanie laughed with Logan. "Right. So, this is unbroken ground, here."

"Rory's smart and beautiful, maybe they'll see potential in her. Your parents aren't monsters."

"I shouldn't be putting her through this. I'm calling my dad right now, we're not going."

"No, you're not," Colin said, standing up to stop him. Logan looked to his friend, phone in his hand.

"Logan, think about it. If you back down now, they'll assume they've won. Rory will wonder why you've called it off, and assume that it's because you don't think she's good enough. Do you want any of that?"

"No. The whole point is, she is good enough. Too good. And if they can't see that," he began.

"They can't see it if you don't go."

Logan nodded and put his phone down on the table. "I'll be back."

His friends watched as he exited the room. He got as far as the outside of his building before he leaned back against the brick exterior to collect his thoughts. He hoped she hadn't just gone home. He checked his watch and decided to go find her if she weren't back in five minutes.

XXXX

She recognized his form easily as she rounded the corner that brought his building into her direct view. He was leaning up against it, his head back and eyes closed. He looked as exhausted as she'd felt before she left for her break. Maybe he should take one of his own, she thought. She had to smile, seeing him did seem to have that effect on her. If only he wasn't so obviously attractive. His messy hair, his defined jaw, his amused eyes, his strong, lean frame—they all contributed to her unraveling each time she neared his presence. She walked up next to him, and he opened his eyes upon hearing someone approach. He leaned up away from the wall, clearly giving her his attention.

"Hey."

"Hey," she smiled.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming back."

"Could you blame me?"

"No," he said, his tone rather sad. She moved closer in to him, to put a hand on his cheek.

"Hey, of course I was coming back. I just needed to, readjust."

"No, you don't."

She looked up at him, unsure of his meaning. Was he calling it all off? It wasn't unfathomable after her poor reactions to the questions that he would decide it wasn't worth the effort. She wasn't quite the chameleon that he was. She couldn't fit, and it was probably better that he saw this sooner than later.

She pulled back, nodding tersely. "Oh. I get it."

"No, you don't get it—you don't need to readjust because you're perfect the way you are. We'll go and meet my folks, and if they don't like you, then screw them. I told you before; their opinion isn't going to change how I feel about you."

"Do you want to go back in there?" she asked, looking at the building.

"Yeah. But to hang out. You can ask questions, then if you'd like, go back and sleep in your own bed. Whatever you want," he promised, moving closer to her to slide his hands around her waist.

"Well, this hasn't been all bad, you know," she smiled. "Your bed is much more comfortable than mine."

"So, you do appreciate the perks of having money," he smiled back.

"Let's just say I'm not complaining."

"So?"

"So, I'll come in, we'll hang out. If you don't mind, I'll spend the night for tonight, and tomorrow, we'll see."

"And Saturday?"

"Saturday, we'll go have dinner with your family. You won't let anything get out of hand, will you?"

"No, I won't," he promised.

She nodded, and leaned up to kiss him. He could still taste the warm coffee on her lips, her tongue. It was too bad that he couldn't reassure her in this way if she got uncomfortable in front of his parents. It always worked, feeling him pressed into her. It brought to mind various occasions when he was all that covered her, moments that brought them closer than she could imagine two people being. She bit his lip feeling the longing built up inside of her spill out, realizing that their alone time had been nil since the weekend. He pulled her closer, and she stumbled back against the building.

"We should at least get to your room," she giggled into his ear softly as he slid a hand under her top.

"There are people up there," he answered before his lips moved down to her collarbone.

"There could be people out here," she pointed out, causing him to pull back to look around. "Don't see any," he countered. Granted they were by the side entrance, and there were some tall hedges next to them, but they were by no means invisible to anyone who might pass by.

"There's my room," she offered, glad for the fact their buildings were in quick walking distance of each other. His hands were driving her crazy, and she wanted to be able to extract her revenge—she just couldn't quite bring herself to do so in public.

His only response was to bring his lips back to hers without caution, wanting her to get as lost in this feeling as he was—as he knew she could be. He eased her about five yards to the side, so they were under cover between the building and the hedges. There was just enough room for two back there, and his message to her was clear. He wasn't into waiting right now.

"You're perfect," he whispered, kissing her before dropping to his knees for a moment. She closed her eyes, and prayed that no one would use the side door to the building for a bit, or take notice of them if they did. She could feel him on her, his hands warm as he made an accessible path to the object of his desire. His mouth trailed kisses from his handiwork up her mostly clothed body, coming back to work at her mouth. He made similar adjustments to his own clothes and before she knew it, she was in the middle of something that she would have never consciously agreed to before. It happened a lot in his presence, her getting taken up in the heat of the moment like this. This wasn't proper behavior, being taken against the side of a building. As he repositioned her leg so it was around his waist, causing her to lose all train of thought, her indignance left her and all she could do was bite down on his neck to keep the pleasure she felt between the two of them.

They now continued to hold onto the other, taking the chance of being caught post-coital to relish in the effect of still racing hearts and surging hormones. He kissed her once more before either could think of putting themselves to rights and heading back up to his room. His forehead leaned into hers, and she smiled sweetly with her eyes closed.

"I love you."