a/n: I love you all so much!

disclaimer: okay, this goes for the rest of the chapters. i don't own gilmore girls. don't sue me.

Chapter Five: Secrets

Lorelai almost missed dinner. She was the last to be seated, but offered no explanations. Chris sat next to her, looking at her quizzically, but he did not press her for information.

Had Sookie not came in to tell her dinner was being served, she would still be downstairs with Luke. In fact, she had been down there all day, talking to him. She left feeling confident that he was much better, but longing to spend more time with him.

During dinner Lorelai dreamed up several plans that would get her back downstairs. Her daydreams, however, prevented her from noticing her daughter flirting with Tristan Dugrey. She also failed to notice Logan winking at Louise across the table.

None of the guests noticed these little nuances either. They were too busy wondering what had happened to the apple tarts.

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Tristan had left Rory to dance with another girl. Lately Rory had been struggling to find a balance in the time she spent with Logan and Tristan. After all, she couldn't let the gossips suspect that she was not truly interested in her own fiancé.

Logan spotted her standing against the wall, watching the festivities. He crossed the crowded room and stopped next to her.

"How are things with the good Prince Tristan?" Logan mocked.

Rory smiled. "Wonderful, though I do fear we've already danced too many times this evening."

"Well in that case, may I dance with the princess?" Logan asked playfully.

"I just saw Louise go up the stairs."

"I meant you," he said, holding out his hand.

"No thank you sir. I think I have had enough dancing for one night."

Logan gave her a refined nod and lowered her hand. "You're not just going to stand there all evening are you?" he asked.

Rory shrugged her creamy white shoulders. "I don't know. I might move if someone gives me a better option."

"Would you like me to fetch you some punch?"

"Fetch? Are you a dog?"

Logan feigned indignation. "I resent that."

The orchestra struck up a lively waltz and the guests were applauding with great enthusiasm.

"I don't like punch. The last two times I had it I spilled it on my best gloves. No one could get the red stains out."

"I'm sorry but I didn't hear you," Logan said. "Let's go upstairs."

"What?" Rory said, the noise affecting her hearing as well.

He leaned towards her. "Let's go upstairs," he whispered. His suggestion sent chills up Rory's spine.

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Lorelai swirled her punch glass. She hoped that the liquid would fly out and spill all over her dress. That, at least, would give her an excuse to leave the tedious conversation she had been involved in with Christopher and the Gellars. In fact, Lorelai was tempted to dump the whole cup down her bodice just to get away, but she figured such a movement would be a bit too obvious.

Instead she settled on watching the guests mingle. There were at least one hundred, and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. The brandy-punch had made sure of that. Every once and a while Lorelai spotted Emily. She was playing the perfect hostess, greeting all of her guests, talking to the briefly, then continuing on. Her social skills charmed everyone present.

The orchestra started a lively waltz that caused many of the younger guests to applaud happily. She watched as many couples streamed onto the dance floor. Any other time Lorelai would have tugged on Chris' jacket so that they could join them. It was the only time she and Chris really connected; that was how it had always been. The dance floor was their ceasefire. Tonight, however, Lorelai just wanted to spill the punch on herself so she could get back downstairs with Luke.

Her attention dwindled away from the dance floor and back to the crowd. She spotted Rory and watched her as Logan came up to her and they chatted and laughed. Lorelai's eyes narrowed as Logan whispered in Rory's ear, causing the young girl to hesitate, then begin to walk away. Logan fell into step with her and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her gently. Lorelai watched with pursed lips as they disappeared up the staircase. Lorelai turned to Chris and saw that he had not noticed.

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Rory woke the next morning and stretched. She lie in bed for several minutes, reflecting on the past evening. Logan had remained with Rory in her room for the remainder of the party, talking, laughing, and drinking champagne.

The champagne. Rory hopped out of bed and surveyed the mess that was sprawled across her bedroom. The champagne bottle lie empty on the chaise lounge, two empty wine glasses were tipped over on the floor. Rory smiled when she noticed Logan's tie and cufflinks on the hearth of the fireplace. She wondered how he had gotten home without them. It probably wasn't the first time he had left a woman's room without them, Rory thought. She immediately rebuked herself. Thinking like that was inappropriate. Besides, they had only talked.

Rory hopped out of bed and surveyed the mess that was sprawled across her bedroom. The champagne bottle lie empty on the chaise lounge, two empty wine glasses were tipped over on the floor. Rory smiled when she noticed Logan's tie and cufflinks on the hearth of the fireplace. She wondered how he had gotten home without them. Rory thought. She immediately rebuked herself. Thinking like that was inappropriate. Besides, they had only talked.

She moved about quickly, cleaning up the mess. Rory knew that no one had missed her at the party. Emily would have come looking for her had she noticed her granddaughter missing. Nevertheless, it would not be a good thing to have the maids find the remnants of Rory's gathering strewn about the room. Two empty glasses in her bedroom were not something Rory could risk the maids bringing to her grandmother, or her mother even. Though he was her fiancé, there were still rules, even if it was well known that no one followed them.

Rory set to work hiding her mess. She held his tie and cufflinks in her hand for a moment; then locked them safely away in her desk drawer.

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"So I didn't see you after dinner," Lorelai said to Rory as they sipped their morning coffee in Lorelai's bedroom.

"I was with Logan," Rory answered vaguely.

"Oh," Lorelai replied calmly, though inside she was burning. "I though I saw the two of you going upstairs."

Rory measured her mother's gaze. She didn't trust the stern look and casual tone. "I don't know what you want me to say."

Lorelai sighed and put down her teacup. "You can't run off with him like that."

"Nothing happened," Rory said.

"You can't drag a man up to your room in the middle of your grandmother's party. Or ever for that matter." her voice was rising.

"We just talked."

"You were alone with a man in your room."

"Not a man, my fiancé."

"Yes. A man. He may be your fiancé but he is not your husband yet."

Rory shook her head and looked her mother in the eye. "You don't believe me do you? Logan and I just talked. That is all. Why would I lie to you?"

Mother and daughter sat in silence for a minute; Lorelai sipped her cooling coffee. She broke the silence with a sigh heavy with emotion. "Nineteen years ago I told my mother that Christopher and I just talked. And look where we are now."

Rory turned away from her mother and looked out the open window, blinking back the tears that had sprung up in her eyes. She knew the story; she was one of the few who knew the truth. When Lorelai had become pregnant the Gilmores and Haydens had put together a hasty wedding. There was even an announcement in the newspapers. An intimate gathering of close family and friends the article read.

Of course there was suspicion. Why were sixteen year olds getting married? A business deal, a joining of two of the most prominent companies, sealed by marriage. Why was Rory born so soon after their wedding? Young love…you know how it is. She was a big baby anyway; no one could expect a woman to carry that baby to term.

Emily Gilmore mastered the rumors with her cool and convincing responses. But she never forgave her daughter.