Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination.

CHAPTER 11: A CONUNDRUM

"I'm telling you Batman would win," Lorelai said, licking the last of the ice cream off her spoon.

"No way," scoffed Luke. He collected her dishes and put them in the sink at the diner. "Spiderman could do that web-thing."

"Web-thing? Luke, come on. You gotta do better than that. Besides, Batman did that whole martial arts training thingie in the mountains. That totally beats magical buff-ness."

"I agree," Kirk said, coming into the diner.

"Thank you," Lorelai said, as if Kirk's validation proved her point.

"What, you think that since Kirk agrees, that wins your argument? You are so delusional," Luke said.

"Maybe, but it's two to one, and that's all there is to it," Lorelai said triumphantly. "Ask around, I bet everyone here agrees with me." Lorelai stood up, ready to ask the entire diner. Luke grabbed her arm and sat her back down on her chair.

"Oh, no you don't. We are not involving the customers in this," Luke said, a warning in his voice.

"Why not?" Lorelai asked sweetly.

"Because, it's embarrassing. And ridiculous. Kirk, what can I get you?" Luke said, turning his attention to Kirk.

"A menu, please," Kirk responded.

"Kirk, you already have it memorized," Luke said, annoyance in his voice.

"I know, I just don't want you to change the prices on me again. Menu, please."

Luke rolled his eyes and gave Kirk a menu. Kirk opened it, then immediately closed it. "I'll have my usual."

Luke bit back a reply and simply took Kirk's menu and returned to the kitchen.

"Lorelai, I was wondering, do you have a ring-bearer yet?" Kirk asked hopefully.

"Yes, Kirk," Lorelai said, already wary of the next question.

"Because if it doesn't pan out, I mean, if the kid gets stage fright, I do have a sky-blue tuxedo, and an orange one depending on your color scheme," he offered.

"Wow, Kirk, as amazing as that sounds, I'm gonna have to pass," Lorelai said.

"Ok," Kirk said simply. He paused. "Do you have an officiant?"

"Oh don't tell me, you're secretly a minister?" Lorelai asked suspiciously.

"Actually, I still have my internet ordination from… well, it doesn't matter what from," Kirk said.

"Thanks, but no thanks," Luke said, setting Kirk's order on the table.

Unfazed, Kirk tried one last time. "I could be in charge of the wedding favors. I'm very good at wrapping things."

Lorelai thought for a moment, ignoring the look on Luke's face. Suddenly, she lit up. "Can you tie pretty little bows?" she asked.

"I've had some practice," Kirk said nonchalantly. "I have been tying my own shoes for ten years now."

Luke looked confused as he mentally calculated Kirk's age. Lorelai spoke up before he got a chance.

"Perfect!" she shrieked. "Thank you soo much, Kirk. That will be a tremendous help."

Kirk grinned. "Stay right here, I'll go get my sample book. I'll be right back." He sprinted out of the diner. Luke glared at Lorelai. She simply shrugged and took a sip of coffee.

"At least I didn't let him be the flower girl like he asked on Monday," she said. Luke just shook his head and went back into the kitchen.

Rory walked into the hospital and went straight to Mitchum Huntzberger's room to meet Logan, fresh from his trip. She was confused at the empty room and asked the nearby nurse's station where he was.

"Oh, honey, they moved him down a floor now that he's doing better," the nurse said kindly. She gave Rory the new room number and Rory headed to the elevator.

When Rory stepped off the elevator, she walked down the hall to find Mitchum's room. She paused at the room right before his. Through the window, she saw Logan playing with a child. She watched him for a moment and then cleared her throat, causing Logan to look up.

"Wow, Mitch, the hospital has done wonders for you. You look forty years younger!" she said with a mischievous smile. When Logan saw her, he broke out into a huge grin.

"Ace, this is my new buddy, Jake. He's been in the room next to my dad for awhile," Logan explained, standing up.

"Yup," confirmed Jake. "That's her, isn't it?" he asked Logan in a stage whisper.

"Shh, don't let her know we've been talking about her," Logan replied. "It might give her a big head."

Jake cocked his head to one side. "It doesn't look too big to me," he decided.

Rory suppressed a laugh.

"Nope, she's perfect," Logan said. He strode over to Rory and kissed her hello.

"Ewwww!" Jake said. "That's gross!"

Logan and Rory laughed. "Hey kid," Logan said, "call me in ten years. You'll have changed your mind by then." Jake just made a face. "Enjoy the Jell-O, dude," Logan said, waving goodbye.

"Thanks," said Jake. "Bye!" He returned to his Jell-O and comic book as Rory and Logan walked back to the elevator.

When they got in, Logan hugged Rory fiercely. "Missed you, Ace," he mumbled into her hair.

"Oh, were you gone?" Rory said airily. "I hardly noticed," she said, grinning evilly.

"Ouch! You watch out, Gilmore, or else you don't get your surprise," Logan warned, nipping her ear.

"Tragedy!" Rory murmured into his lips.

Rory walked down the sidewalk in Stars Hollow, headed to the gazebo to meet Logan for a picnic. As she walked by Miss Patty's studio, she waved to Miss Patty, who signaled her to wait. Rory paused in front of the window as she watched Patty instruct her students to keep dancing before rushing outside.

"Oh, baby!" Miss Patty exclaimed, hugging Rory.

"Hi, Patty," Rory said in surprise. "Um, squishing," she pointed out.

"Sorry, honey. Oh, you lucky, lucky girl!" she exclaimed. With that, Patty rushed back into her studio. Rory shook her head and kept walking. She saw Babette and Morey walking from the other direction.

"Hey, Sugar," Babette said as they passed Rory.

"Oh, hi Babette, Morey," Rory said. She kept walking.

"You were cool, baby, I think she couldn't tell," Morey said after they passed Rory.

"Aw, thanks, hon," Babette said.

Rory turned around and watched them walk away. "Freaky," she said to herself. She made her way to the gazebo.

"Surprise!" said Logan. He gestured to the spread on the table.

"Chinese?" Rory asked.

"Yes. I got numbers 4, 6, 17, 28, and 32. The surprise part is that I am actually partaking of one of your four main food groups," Logan said, smiling.

"I see," Rory said, sitting down. "The weirdest thing just happened. When I was walking over here, people were being really strange to me."

"Oh yeah?" Logan said nonchalantly, opening a packet of duck sauce.

"Yeah. Miss Patty called me a lucky girl," Rory said.

"Well, she just knows what a great catch I am. I suppose she saw me sitting here and thought 'what a lucky girl that Rory is; she gets to kiss that handsome, handsome man," Logan said, smirking.

Rory threw a wonton at him. "Cocky, much?" she asked. Logan pulled the crispy bits out of his hair.

She sighed. "It was just weird. Like everyone knew something I didn't," she said, pointedly looking at Logan.

He just shrugged and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

"Oh, I'm stuffed," Rory said, leaning back and patting her stomach.

"Ace, I'm surprised at you. You only had three plates," Logan teased.

"Everyone has their limits," Rory said, laying her chopsticks on the plate. Logan grinned and shook his head. He reached for the takeout bag and emptied it onto the table. A lone fortune cookie fell out.

"Damn, they only gave us one fortune cookie," Logan complained.

"Oy with the poodles, already," Rory said.

"Huh?" asked Logan.

"Nothing," Rory said, waving the comment away.

"Well, you take it," Logan said, offering the fortune cookie.

"Oh, no, I'm stuffed, you take it," Rory protested.

"No, no, I insist," Logan said. "That's why you're lucky, cuz I love you so much I even let you have the lone fortune cookie," he said, leaning back.

"Thank you," Rory said, unwrapping the fortune cookie. She cracked it open.

"What's it say?" Logan asked slyly.

"Lucky Numbers are 8, 3, and 2005. That's weird; that's today, right?" Rory asked.

"How 'bout that?" Logan said. Rory flipped over to the fortune side and read it aloud.

"Rory, will you marry me?" she read. She felt her heart stop. She looked up at Logan. "Wow; you said Rory!"

"I want to be clear," Logan said. He dropped to one knee. Rory looked around and saw townspeople sneaking a glance. Her eyes grew big as she saw Logan open a box. Inside was a gorgeous diamond ring.

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, will you marry me?" Logan said in all seriousness.

"Yes!" shouted Babette from across the street. Everyone turned to look at her. "Sorry!" she called. Rory returned her attention to Logan.

"Whaddya say, Ace? Make me the happiest man alive?" he whispered.

"Wow, this is…this is unexpected, and… quick! This is quick! And did you ask my mom? Or my dad? Or Luke, did you ask Luke, cuz you know he's a very dad-like protector here, and - "

"Hey, Ace, shh, relax," Logan said. "Yes, I asked anyone who would potentially kick my ass if I didn't." He searched her face. Rory was still visibly freaking out. "Look, you know, you don't have to answer right away; you can take some time to think about it."

"Ok," Rory said quietly.

"Here," said Logan, placing the ring box in her hand. "Why don't you keep the ring…for safe-keeping."

"Ok," said Rory, staring at the box in her hands.

As Rory walked home, the box was burning a hole in her pocket.

"Rory!" she heard a voice scream behind her. She turned around.

"Lane!" she cried. They hugged. "How was the tour?"

"Awesome!" Lane said. "How are you?" she asked excitedly.

"Oh, do I have things to tell you!" Rory exclaimed.

"Oh wow," said Lane, slumping down in her seat at Al's Pancakes.

"I know! So should I tell Logan?" Rory asked.

"Definitely not, I mean, unless Jess gave you some STD or something."

"No, no, I just feel guilty," Rory said. "Logan is being so perfect, and the whole Jess thing happened…"

"Let me see the ring again," said Lane. Rory rolled her eyes and pulled out the box. Lane flipped it open and whistled. "Rory, you do realize that this says 'Tiffany,' right?"

"I know," Rory whined.

"I mean, it's very convincing," Lane said. She thought for a moment. "So, when is Jess leaving?"

"Tomorrow," Rory said. She played with the ring.

"How did you leave things with Jess?" asked Lane.

"Well, we said goodbye, but he left that note, remember, and I haven't called him or anything," Rory said.

"So what was it like?" Lane asked.

"What was what like?" Rory countered.

"You know!" Lane said. "Sleeping with Jess! I mean, you do remember that I'm sexually living vicariously through you," she said.

Rory laughed a little. "Well, it was wrong, that's what it was."

"No, I mean what was it like?" Lane asked.

"Well…it was very passionate, I think; I don't remember much of it. I think it was kind of hurried and frenzied, you know, like the time I told you about with Dean at Miss Patty's," Rory explained.

"Hm," said Lane, thinking. "How are things with Logan in that department?" she asked mischievously.

Rory smiled, looking down at the ring. "Well, that's passionate too. We can be so in sync, you know?"

Lane gave her a look that said 'no, as a matter of fact I don't know.'

"Well, I mean sometimes it's passionate in an I've-got-to-have-you-right-now way, but sometimes it's more sensual and sweet," Rory explained.

Lane sighed happily, then got down to business. "Ok, so, what we have here is a conundrum. And it's funny how things have reached an ultimatum here."

"For real! What is up with this?" Rory said, sighing. She put the ring back in the box and closed it.

"Ok, let me ask you a few questions," Lane said.

"Ok; shoot."

"Who makes you laugh?" Lane asked.

"Usually my mom," Rory said.

"Ok, let me clue you in here," Lane said. "You answer is either Logan or Jess."

"Oh, right," Rory said, blushing. "Um…I guess I'd have to say Logan."

"Who do you think of when you first wake up?"

"Juan Valdez," Rory answered. Lane gave her a look. "Sorry!"

"That's ok. Legitimate answer. Um…who challenges you to be a better person?" Lane asked.

"I guess both."

"Who makes your blood boil with anger?"

"Jess! The way he- but, I mean, that doesn't mean anything," Rory stammered.

"Uh huh…" Lane said, pausing to come up with her next question.

"Who's your best friend?" Lane asked. Rory simply thought about it. Lane continued.

"Who do you depend on in a pinch?" she asked.

"Logan," Rory replied.

"Ok: seems like we're still torn. But here's your final question. Who do you see yourself growing old with? Who do you want there for all the important moments of your life? Who do you see yourself having children with, sharing a life with…who's your future, Rory?"

Rory thought about it for a split second, then had her epiphany. She knew who she belonged with. The choice was clear.

"Wow, Lane, thanks… you have no idea how much you helped, and I'll be eternally grateful," Rory said, quickly hugging Lane and getting up. "Thanks again! See ya!"

"But wait!" Lane said, running to the door and calling after her. "Who'd you choose?"

A/N: The next chapter contains the true, original ending. Chapter 13 is the Alternate Ending for the opposing camp. Enjoy!