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: Friends Are Friends Forever

AN: One more to go. Sad, I know. I hate it, too. This one tried to be two separate chapters, but I beat it into submission—but it's long, which is good, right? I hope so. Thanks again for the reviews, can't tell you how much you guys make me smile. Without further ado. . .

Finn draped his arm around Lane's shoulders and passed a drink into her a hand rather suavely and seamlessly. She wrinkled her nose in disapproval and looked up at his hovering face.

"I'm sorry, wrong person. I didn't order anything," she held the drink back out to him.

"No need to ask anything of me, love, we communicate on a much deeper level than words," he winked at her, which she couldn't help but laugh at.

"Does that line actually work on anyone?" she inquired.

"There's only one on whom I hope it would," his efforts never stopped.

Lane sighed and took a defeated sip of the drink her delivered drink. She might as well get some liquor into her system if she was going to put up with a night of being stalked by the boy again. She had to admit that he was cute, but she had no such ideas of getting involved or attached. Then again, maybe she would take after Rory and just have a bit of fun . . . .

"They're here!" Stephanie yelled to the gathered party-goers, and everyone picked up a glass to toast the couple as they entered. Paris shoved Doyle through the door at its opening, and then the couple of honor breezed through—arms linked and laughing. Colin yelled out a congratulatory toast, and everyone drank as Rory tucked her head against Logan's shoulder modestly at the showing of support.

"Oh no," she breathed as he handed her a glass of champagne he procured from a passing waiter.

"What?"

"Finn's already got Lane trapped and it looks like he's working on getting her sloshed again."

"Ah, young love," he clinked his glass with hers and took a long drink. "Come on, we can start the rounds with them, and check on her."

"Thank you," she tightened her grasp around his waist and let him led their way through the crowd.

XXXX

"So, wait, you work in this Luke's Diner?" Finn asked, fully curious as he interrupted his prey.

"Yeah, for about a year now," she nodded in agreement.

"Does that mean you know of this Bagel Hockey?" his eyes twinkled and Lane felt a twinge of uneasiness at his sheer excitement. It couldn't bode well for her.

"Um, yeah, though Luke doesn't exactly encourage it."

"You'll teach us tonight!" he proclaimed.

"I don't think you'll find many bagels here," she giggled, sweeping her hand around the room. It was a rather elegant ballroom they'd obtained on short notice for the party, something that Jill and Stephanie had insisted upon taking care of themselves. They said they left the keggers to the boys, but an engagement party was girls' territory.

"You'd be surprised what we can get on demand in a moment's notice," he winked at her as he snapped his fingers demonstratively.

"What are you getting at a snap of your fingers?" Logan asked cautiously as he and Rory walked up to the pair. Rory and Lane exchanged knowing looks.

"Bagels," Finn offered.

"Just have a craving, do you?" Rory nodded in mock understanding.

"You can help her!" Finn gasped happily. "You're some sort of record holder!"

"Do I want to know what he's talking about?" Rory asked Lane.

"Bagel hockey," she whispered back.

"How does he—oh, no! Mom," she hung her head in shame.

"Bagel hockey?" Logan asked.

"Please, change the subject, I beg you," Rory shook her head.

"Okay, so Finn, what else did you talk about with Rory's mom last night? Did she tell you how she thinks I'm good for Rory?"

Rory rolled her eyes and smacked at him, but he kept his attention focused on Finn.

"Well, she was convinced that we'd come to crush Gilmore's heart," he mused. "Even though Colin and I tried our best to get her to believe differently. Colin finally talked her into a bet to get her to stop trying to drag us by our collars back to her house."

"I'm sorry, you made a bet with my mother?"

"What were the stakes?" Logan asked, clearly amused.

"Uh, if we were wrong and he was doing the most idiotic thing he could possibly do," he paused to take a drink of his beverage. "Then we had to agree to keep them apart until he graduated from Yale."

"What?" Rory's jaw dropped. "And you agreed to this?"

Finn nodded as Logan's grip got tighter around her waist. "Yep, and your Mummy agreed to get Emily to drop the hard court press about making wedding plans. Looks like she won't have much of a job to do, however," he commented.

"Actually, she'll have quite a job. We're not getting married anytime soon," Rory bit her lip as she smiled.

"How not soon?" Lane asked warily.

"Couple years," Rory shrugged.

"Sweet Jesus! You're trying to kill your mother, aren't you?" Finn addressed Logan.

"Forming a sub-party this early? Come on, this isn't that bad," Colin said as he and Jill approached the small group. Logan nodded to Jill as she remained plastered to Colin's side.

"We were discussing the bets you were making on the future of our relationship," Rory raised an eyebrow at him in contempt.

"Hey, we were on your side, and we won," he laughed as he winked at her.

"Yes, your winning is the important thing," Logan said.

"Hey, our losing would have been a bear. Do you know how hard it would have been to keep your sorry ass away from her? You'd have to have been on some sort of Gilmore watch, every time you got drunk we'd have to put one of those bracelets around your ankles that people on house arrest wear," Colin snorted.

The group gave a good laugh at the image, and Logan held up one hand in protest. "So we haven't had much luck at staying apart. I can admit that."

"I think it's sweet," Stephanie said, laying her head on Rory's shoulder as she joined the group, having had heard the boisterous laughter.

"So, when is the embarrassing outpouring of gratitude for your meddling friends going to start?" Finn asked with a grin.

"Uh, I thought that was what this is," Rory informed him.

"No, you have to make some grand gesture, to show us you couldn't have gotten this far without our undying support."

"What, like announce that any children produced from this union will bear your names?" Rory snorted.

"I love it," Colin nodded at Finn. "Phineous Colin Huntzberger. Or should it be reversed?"

"What about us?" Jill laughed. "I want my name included in this as well."

"Looks like they'll have to pop out a couple, then," Finn nodded in agreement. "Stephanie Jill, hmm, no, how about Jill Stephanie?"

"Oh my God," Rory groaned.

"Doesn't it have to be another Lorelai?" Lane asked and pointed her drink free hand at Rory. "I mean, it's tradition, right?"

"Depends on how loopy the Demerol makes me, I guess," Rory laughed.

"I'm sorry, but you are actually considering naming your child Lorelai?" Logan looked at Rory.

"It's better than Jill Stephanie," she said, turning to the girls. "No offense."

"None taken," Jill giggled and then turned to grab Colin's elbow. "Come on, I wanna dance," she smiled flirtatiously and dragged him off toward the dance floor.

"What's wrong with Lorelai? It's my name," Rory balked.

"Exactly," he volleyed.

"So, you're saying you'd never name your son Logan?" she asked disbelievingly as she set up for an argument winning twist.

"I think it's time I took you for a twirl around the dance floor," Finn said to Lane, who complied out of happiness to get out of the impending bickering match. Stephanie snuck off the other direction as well, leaving the couple alone to hash it out.

Logan smirked as they found themselves alone. "Works every time," he kissed her cheek.

"I have a good partner to play off of," she smiled back.

He leaned in and took a deep breath of the scent of her hair. "Wanna go find the dressing room?"

Her heartbeat sped up at the thought of getting to fulfill their original entanglement that had gone so terribly awry. She shivered as she could feel his nose brushing the top of her ear and his breath tickling the short hairs on the nape of her neck.

"You're on," she gripped his hand and followed him out of the main ballroom and off in search of a more private location.

XXXX

"Who had under ten minutes?" Colin asked as they sidled up along the bar.

"I knew I shouldn't have given Rory so much credit," Finn shook his head.

"It was me," Jill held out her hand. "You forget I've talked to Rory on a one-on-one level about Logan. She's completely hopeless when it comes to him," she laughed. "Though I personally don't get it. Is he really that hot?" she wrinkled her nose.

"Oh, yeah," Stephanie and Lane groaned and nodded in agreement.

"I'm hurt. Quickly, tell me I'm hotter," Finn pouted.

"This isn't a forum for your vanity, Finn, now everyone pay the lady," Colin said. "Now, we'll meet here again to see who won the next pool," he announced as people forked over the cash from the bet of how long the couple would last before sneaking off for a rendezvous.

"What's the next pool?" Lane asked, chewing on the edge of her cocktail straw.

"How long Rory'll keep him in the dressing room," Stephanie winked at her.

"Oh," Lane blushed.

"Obviously you need another drink," Finn tapped on the bar to get her another round.

XXXX

"We're being terrible hosts," Rory panted as her head bent back to rest against the door, finding herself unable to support it as his hands roamed over her body.

"We're not hosts. We're just the guests of honor," he said between kisses across her collarbone.

"Even worse," she gulped as he ran his hand up the side of her dress to find the top of the hidden zipper.

"Does that mean you want me to stop?" he breathed, moving to kiss her mouth quickly as his hand pulled the fastener apart.

"Oh, God, no," she said as she pushed him back toward the chaise lounge that was directly behind him.

XXXX

"Tell me you aren't really going to let that idiot get into your pants," Paris said as Lane came out of the bathroom stall. Paris was drying off her hands and looking at Lane in the mirror.

"Nice to see you again, too, Paris," Lane shook her head.

"You can do a lot better. You're intelligent and nice, and you know, not bad looking."

"Do you want to get into my pants?" Lane joked, laughing nervously at the very fact of being complimented by Paris.

"I'm just saying, be careful. This is how Rory got sucked in."

Lane shut off the water and grabbed some paper towels. "Yeah, well, it seems to have worked out well for her. She's happy, right?"

Paris nodded begrudgingly. "She is. As much as I loathe Logan, she is."

"Why do you loathe Logan? He's good to her."

Paris sighed. "He's changed I guess. He does seem to care for Rory, it's just I can't get what used to be true of him out of my head."

"What used to be true of him?" Lane inquired.

"The women, the cocky, elitist attitude, the way he would try to charm his way out of any blame. Though I imagine that last one will die a long, hard death."

Lane laughed. "Yeah, he does have a talent there. Though it might come in handy with Rory. She will argue until she falls down dead when she's annoyed. It might be the one quality he has that'll save him over the years."

"I just can't believe . . . they're getting married."

"Yeah," Lane agreed and the two girls shared a moment of awe over the idea. Their friend was stepping past them into a whole other realm. While both would remain close to Rory, Logan would take over a bigger role in her life.

"Well, we should get back out there. And let me know if you need any help calling Finn off. I know a lot of very convincing people in New Haven."

"Thanks, but I'm okay. He's harmless."

Paris nodded and the two made their way back out to mingle among the large crowd.

XXXX

Logan held the door open for Rory, who was still desperately trying to smooth out her hair as they attempted to uphold the pretense that they'd not been missing from the party for the last—forty five minutes, as Rory noted by catching hold of Logan's arm and peering at his watch face. She looked to him in surprise, and he simply smirked and held his hand out to motion for her to go first. Ladies first. She swallowed any nagging worries that everyone would be staring at them upon their reentry and walked back into the main ballroom. No one seemed to be the wiser as they slipped back through the crowd, making their way over to the bar where their friends were congregated.

"Alright, who had forty-five minutes?" Colin asked, and Finn raised his hand.

"Finally, I got one," he said as people began placing bills in his hand.

Rory's mouth dropped open, and she felt Logan take her hand. He squeezed it and laughed. "I think we should get a cut of that," he informed Finn.

"What? Why?"

"Because if it weren't for my incredible stamina, you wouldn't be collecting your booty right now," his eyes gleamed with amusement and pride. Rory's blush crept up from her chest to her neck and face, as she prayed to turn invisible.

"I believe you've already got your booty tonight, mate, and this is all I'm getting," Finn informed him, shoving the money into his wallet. "Consider it a fair split."

Logan looked from his friend to his increasingly uncomfortable fiancée. "Oh, I do, believe me."

"Okay, I think it's time for a dance," Lane piped up, causing Finn's features to brighten. That is, until she grabbed Rory's hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor.

"Damn. I thought I was wearing her down," Finn pouted.

"I think you've gotten your colloquialisms confused. You were wearing on her last nerve," Colin corrected, causing the group to laugh before scattering back out into the crowd.

XXXX

"Wow. You're getting married. Let me see the ring!" Lane said, grabbing hold of Rory's hand for an inspection as they continued to slow dance on the floor, surrounded by a mass of boy/girl pairs. She studied the large diamond that was sticking up off of Rory's finger, catching the light from around the room, and she sighed happily.

"Now that's a ring," she giggled.

"I know! It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is. And you'll be living with him, in just a couple of weeks?"

Rory nodded as they continued to hold hands and sway back and forth to the music, oblivious to the rest of the crowd. "We are. You still going to help us move?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Lane promised. "It'll be weird, not having you home for the summer."

"Yeah. But it's not like we won't see each other. I'll be in Stars Hollow a lot, and you can come visit me."

"Really?"

"I insist. In fact, I could make you a key," she offered.

"No, you'll want your privacy. You know, with Logan."

"Yeah," she sighed and remained silent for a moment. "But I'll gladly kick him out every now and then so we can have a girls' night."

"Sounds like a plan," Lane squeezed her hand back as they finished dancing to the song.

XXXX

"A toast," Colin raised his glass to his two best friends.

"To?"

"What else? The death of Logan Huntzberger, 'man's man, ladies' man, man about town,'" he quoted.

"You've been watching chick flicks again, Colin?" Finn asked.

"It's Jill. She likes Ewan McGregor."

"Don't we all?" Finn winked at him.

"I'm dying?" Logan asked.

"Funny. So, this is what you really want? To settle down with one woman and leave all those other women so unsatisfied?"

Logan nodded. "As long as the one woman is Rory, I think I'm good."

"Then, I say again, a toast," Colin said as the three clinked glasses.

There was a moment of pleased silence as they enjoyed the taste of their drinks. Logan cleared his throat and his expression became contemplative.

"I uh, just want you guys to know, that you know, I appreciate everything you've done for us. None of this would've gone down without you guys pulling for us," he showed a rare moment of utter gratitude in all seriousness.

Colin patted his back. "We know. We're happy to do it."

"Definitely. And you'll let us know, if you ever need other help with Rory? I mean, I for example, would be happy to step in if you ever needed me to--," he began cheekily.

"And on that note," Logan shook his head and looked around for Rory.

"Hey, man, one last thing. As far as the sex thing goes, you know, between the masses and just being a one woman man, what's the difference? I mean, are you taking severe losses?" Colin asked as Logan spotted Rory still dancing with Lane.

Logan smiled and began to walk away slowly. "My cup runneth over," he said with a flourish of his hands as he walked off to cut in on Rory's current dance partner.

XXXX

"May I cut in?"

"I prefer brunettes over blondes, but thanks," Lane informed Logan.

"Very funny."

"I thought so," Rory giggled.

"You know, if you really do like brunettes, Finn is just pining away over there. And I would like to take my fiancée back now," Logan waited as the two girls swayed slowly without moving their feet at all in front of him.

"Well, as much as I hate the idea of trading Rory for Finn," Lane sighed, but handed her over to Logan.

Rory waved to Lane as she left the couple alone and Logan pulled her into his arms yet again this evening.

"So, good party."

"Yes, it is."

"Sort of nice, a pre-finals bash."

"Is this your way of telling me I won't see you much the next couple of weeks?" he asked, his displeasure showing through.

"You wish, Huntzberger. Now you're stuck with me," she informed him as she rested her cheek against his shoulder, letting him sway her back and forth in the midst of the crowd populated by their good friends. These good friends were the kind you couldn't buy, or even get rid of if you wanted to. These friends were the best kind: that stick by you in good times and bad, that tell you when you're being an idiot or a genius, that tell you when you have food in your teeth or your foot in your mouth. They'd both been blessed with wonderful friends like this, and they relished in that very fact as they continued to celebrate surrounded by the best of the best.