A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! I really dolove reading all your comments and it's very encouraging. Sorry it took so long for this chapter to be posted, I'm blaming the holidays and my inability to get this chapter the way I want it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
PART X- The Art of Revelations
Revelation: "Something revealed, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized." –dictionary dot com-
There were many witnesses to the kiss between Rory and Finn as it occurred at the center of the dance floor during the Annual Huntzberger Charity Party:
A pair of which were Lane and Colin: Lane gasped and Colin simply laughed.
"Is that part of the plan?" Lane asked.
"Apparently." Colin replied, scanning the crowd for Logan, upon finding him and spotting his expression, added, "Yep. Definitely."
"Is Finn going to survive the night?"
With a smirk, he simply replied, "Finn rarely ever does."
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Another pair of witnesses was Richard and Emily Gilmore: Richard gaped and Emily smiled.
"Emily, is our Granddaughter kissing a boy in the middle of the dance floor?" Richard asked aghast.
"Yes she is Richard." Emily replied calmly.
"Emily, I don't understand. You told me she was with Logan."
"Things change Richard."
"Who is that boy?" He asked still flabbergasted.
"Marigold and Kerry Wentworth's son."
"The property barons from Australia?"
Emily simply nodded smugly and smiled, "Yes, the very same."
----------------------------------------------------
Perhaps the most important witnesses were the third pair, Logan and Ginny: Logan's expression darkened and Ginny grinned knowingly.
"So maybe hell has just frozen over?" Gin asked casually.
Logan, his eyes fixated on the interlocked couple in the middle of the room said curtly, "Don't start with me Gin."
"You're angry." She stated.
"What?"
"You're angry." Gin simply repeated.
"I'm not."
"Your demeanor seems to imply otherwise."
Logan took his eyes off the couple when he saw them break apart and turned to Gin with an impatient tone demanded, "Why has everyone recently decided that they know me better than I know myself?"
Gin simply shrugged, "Maybe because everyone needs a third person perspective every once in a while."
"Right and suddenly everyone seems to have the same third person perspectives about how I'm feeling." He replied sarcastically.
"If you're talking about your feelings for Rory, then yes."
Logan sighed, "People seem to be investing a lot of time and energy on my apparent feelings. Why does everyone care so much?"
Gin threw him a look that seemed to imply that she thought he was a moron, "Logan. Why do any friends do anything for their friends at all? It's because friends want friends to be happy. Call everyone a fool, but maybe we think Rory can make you happy."
"You don't even know her."
"Right but I know Colin and Finn and while I may not always trust their judgment, or make that rarely trust their judgment," Gin said with a smile, "I do trust them when it comes to their input on you. Adding Steph's agreement and their word is as good as gold. Plus I know you. Granted we haven't spent as much time together over the last couple of years, but I can still tell when someone melts your cold, cold heart." She finished with a smirk.
Gin watched Logan as he tried to stop a smile from appearing on his face, standing resolutely silent. Knowing that she maybe getting through to him continued gently, "Logan. I know it might be hard for you to admit to your feelings, you being the ultimate playboy that you all. But there is no harm in giving this a try; Rory seems like someone that is worth trying for."
Logan turned to his friend with a rare uncertain look, "I'm not good at this Gin."
"Contrary to Mitchum Huntzberger's beliefs. You don't have to be good at everything." She replied with a shake of her head, "Just go and try."
"I can't believe I'm contemplating taking the advice from someone who would choose Harvard over Yale." He replied with a grin as he began searching for Rory and Finn.
Ginny simply smirked, "Consider yourself lucky Logan, I could have chosen Yale and the next thing you know we would be getting married this spring."
Logan laughed, before spotting the couple he had been searching for. For a moment the frown returned to his face, when he saw Finn smiling happily at Rory. Maybe he was jealous of what he saw but part of him was also angry- angry with Finn.
He started heading towards them, when Gin lightly grabbed his arm and stopped him, stating, "And Logan. Don't be hard on Finn. Sometimes a friend will go to drastic measures to get thick-headed friends to notice what is right in front of them."
Turning back towards Gin, Logan shook his head in realization and partial wonderment, "How is it that you really do know what I'm thinking?"
She smirked, "It's both my gift and my curse."
Logan grinned, "Well, I consider it a gift. Thanks." Giving her a quick hug, he smiled again before walking through the dancing crowd.
As he reached Finn and Rory, he heard Finn say, "eight… nine…"
"Ten?" Logan said with a smile as he patted Finn on the back, stopping the two in mid-waltz. "Is Finn showing off his ability to count again?"
"Logan, good timing as always." Finn replied with a grin. "Here to steal my beautiful date away?"
"I was simply going to borrow her, if there were no objections." Logan replied, winking at Rory.
"There are no objections on my part mate, as long as you promise to take good care of her." Finn answered, passing Rory over to Logan.
"You have my word, Finn."
Finn smiled, "Good man." Before leaving, he leaned in and whispered into Rory's ear, "I told you so. Good luck darling." With that he pranced off to find the eagerly waiting Lane and Colin.
Rory, who had silently observed the interaction between the two gentlemen, felt her heart beat a little quicker when Logan pulled her closer to him and the two began to dance.
They were silent for a moment, before Logan said casually, "That was quite the show you and Finn put on."
With a nervous laugh, Rory replied, "Well you know, Christmas, mistletoe and Finn's love for theatrics. A deadly combination."
"Ah the deadly mistletoe…" Logan said trailing off.
Even knowing Finn's intentions behind the kiss, he still couldn't help being bothered by it. Trying to shake the feeling he leaned in closer to her and whispered in her ear, "Finn was right."
She pulled slightly away from him, studying his expression, asked, "Right about what?"
"You and the dress." Logan replied smiling.
Rory cocked her head in confusion, before he continued, "And how beautiful you look in it."
She couldn't resist smiling smugly, adding a playful jab, "My goodness Huntzberger, was that an actual complement?"
He instantly smirked at her, "Now come on Ace, don't go and ruin the moment."
"I didn't know we were having one." She replied with a smirk that matched his.
"Well we certainly aren't any more now are we?"
Rory laughed as he spun her around, her back now pressed against him before he continued, "I think we have an audience."
She looked in the direction in which Logan nodded, following his gaze she found Colin and Finn ginning happily at them.
Letting out a soft sigh she said, "That's an oddly disturbing sight."
"Disturbing. Good word. I would have chosen frightening. Any idea why they're gleaming manically in our direction?"
Rory hesitated, "I'm assuming it has something to do with us."
Logan spun her back around to face him and she saw him smiling gently, "What about us?"
And there it was, her opportunity to tell him how she felt about him. Get it out in the open, but she hesitated. She had just newly admitted these feelings to herself, could she really admit them to Logan now?
Looking at him smiling at her, she silenced the doubt in her head and blurted out, "I like you Logan."
With these words, she blushed and looked away as more words came tumbling out, "I mean, I think I've liked you for a while but didn't know if I did or not, or was scared. Then everyone around me was making comments about us and the more they said, the more it got me thinking. Maybe I already knew how I felt but didn't know…"
She stopped when she realized she had begun rambling. Working up the courage she looked up, making eye contact with Logan. He was still smiling at her but for the first time since she had met him, she saw a hint of uncertainty on his face. She now realized he hadn't stopped her rambling, in fact, had yet to say a word since her revelation.
Rory felt her cheeks burning as she began to pull away, speaking quickly, "Okay so you don't feel the same way. Right, if I could just erase these last 45 seconds. That time machine would really be handy right about now. Damn you Tolstoy and your five hundred characters."
"Wait, Ace, please." Logan finally said, gently pulling Rory back towards him. "I like you too…"
"But?" She simply stated.
Then, there it was, Rory saw Logan looking uncharacteristically hesitant and she felt numb, he always seemed confidant and in the one moment she wanted him to be, he wasn't.
"Look Rory. I like you. I'm attracted to you. I know it. You're beautiful, intelligent and one of the most interesting people I've ever met. It's just I'm not good boyfriend material; in fact I've never been a boyfriend. You, I'm sure would make a great girlfriend, but I have never done the commitment thing and I don't want to hurt you."
Logan watched the mixed emotions play across Rory's face and he was sorry for what he had said, but it was the truth. While his friends had recently convinced him to admit to himself how he felt about Rory, when Rory revealed her feelings, he had felt his other uncertainties rising.
While he felt a mixture of happiness, excitement and relief at her ramblings, her revelation had also hit home the reality of their situation, and in that moment Logan couldn't get past his own feelings of doubt when it came to serious committed relationships.
Rory who was still trying to sort out her own emotions, "You like me?" She asked uncertainly in a way that made Logan's heart flip flop.
He smiled tenderly and nodded in agreement.
"And I like you." She continued slowly.
Again he nodded.
A perplexed look appeared on Rory's face as she asked, "So what now Logan? I like you, you like me, but you don't have girlfriends and I do."
Logan smile turned into a smirk at her words, "So you took Steph up on her offer then?"
She looked at him in confusion before realizing what she had said, smiling sheepishly, "Logan. You know what I mean."
The simple exchange had lightened the mood slightly and Logan simply replied, "I guess we're in a bit of a predicament."
"I guess we are."
Again the pair fell silent as they continued to sway on the spot to the music, contemplating their dilemma, before Rory, as she so often did, listened to her practical side and took hold of the situation, "So we'll stay friends then."
It wasn't a question but a declaration and Logan felt his heart drop in disappointment. But what had he really expected? He had just told her he didn't do commitment and she did, where could their relationship then go if not to friendship.
He certainly didn't want to lose her from his life, so collecting himself he smiled back at her, saying, "Ah the good old friendship root. If we had drinks I would have said we should drink to our newfound friendship. But I think we've done that already." He finished with a wink.
This time, it was Rory's turn to hide her disappointment. When she had suggested friendship, she had held on to a hope that he would have been against it and propose they give a relationship a try. But now with him smiling in agreement, she too attempted a smile, "Huntzberger. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"What?" He asked with a grin.
"That was me, doing Humphrey Bogart at the end of Casablanca."
Logan laughed, "Of course it was Ace."
She laughed as well, before pouting, "I'm happy to see that we've returned to the mocking part of our friendship."
"I think that mocking is one of the key foundations of our relationship."
She just eyed him warily before grinning. She paused for a moment before bursting out in laughter again.
"What?" He asked in confusion.
Rory simply pointed over his shoulder and Logan turned to find Finn and Colin trying frantically to get their attention. Lane and Gin were now by their side looking mildly embarrassed and amused.
The sight of his two friends waving their arms madly in the air would have normally been a fairly amusing sight, but in their current surroundings amongst the finely dressed elite they looked absolutely hilarious.
The pair upon realizing they had Rory and Logan's attention, stopped waving their arms and instead they began pointing up.
Logan and Rory both did as indicated and looked up. Rory's eyes widened upon discovering what Finn and Colin wanted them to see.
There, she and Logan stood under the same big ball of mistletoe she had just recently been under with Finn.
Logan turned back to look at Rory, said softly, "See Ace, what did I tell you about mistletoe? Deadly."
"Logan, do you really think we should be doing this?" She asked, gesturing up at the mistletoe. "Especially after the conversation we just had?"
He paused for a moment, "Well, normally I would agree. But if you think Colin and Finn are making a scene now. Just wait until we don't do what they're implying."
Rory sighed, which prompted Logan to say lightly, "So instead of drinking to our on again friendship, we'll kiss to it."
"I don't think this is a good idea."
"I think there's already been too much thinking this evening," he said seriously.
Looking at him hopelessly, Rory mildly protested, "Logan..."
"Rory." He simply replied, before gently grasping her arms and pulling her towards him.
Immediately her hands came up and pressed against his chest, on the off chance she needed to make a quick getaway.
She closed her eyes and their lips met.
Logan's eyes closed as well as he pulled his Ace closer to him.
Their kiss was both gentle and questioning. Only lingering a second longer than it should have and when they broke apart there was just the hint of breathlessness.
The two stood motionless for a moment before Logan smiled. Rory saw that his confident smile had returned and she felt a familiar sense of butterflies in her stomach.
"To our newfound friendship?" Logan asked softly.
Rory smiled tentatively before repeating the words they had said to one another not to long ago, "To you and me."
Sweeping her back into his arms, the pair began to dance again; unbeknownst to one another, they were both having the same thought: friendship this time around was not going to be easy.
----------------------------------------------
"Well I've done it." Finn declared as he, Gin, Lane and Colin watched the events unfolding from the side of the dance floor, unaware that the outcome was not as it seemed.
Lane grinned, "A very impressive display Finn. I was slightly worried for you for a moment."
"That is an understatement, you were very worried for him. But I had confidence in you buddy." Colin replied slapping Finn on the back.
"Uh hum." Gin interrupted, "Don't I get some credit too?"
"Of course darling." Finn replied.
"So you let Gin in on our little plan did you?" Colin asked.
Finn paused, replying innocently, "I may have mentioned it."
She laughed, "He actually begged me to help. But no worries, I was a willing accomplice."
Colin smirked, "Tsk, tsk, Finn, with your boasting you made it sound like you did everything on your own."
"Well, I was smart enough to know that if there was anyone Logan would listen to, it would be Gin." Finn defended.
"Right of course." Colin nodded mockingly.
"Anyhow mate, I did the rest myself…" Finn began, before Robert appeared and interrupted their conversation.
"Finn, you owe me fifty dollars." Robert said matter-of-factly.
Finn raised an eyebrow, "Good timing as usual Robert."
"What can I say, my mother's Swiss." He replied expressionless.
Taking out money from his pocket Finn handed it to Robert, with an easy smile said, "Fifty dollars well spent."
Robert smirked, "Pleasure as always doing business with you." Pocketing the money he turned to Gin, "Ginny, I see your date is presently engaged, care to take a turn with me on the dance floor?"
Gin smiled, "Of course Robert. I don't think I can stand any more of Finn's bragging."
"Lovely." He replied, taking her hand and leading her away.
Watching the pair walk away, Finn quipped, "I hate that guy."
"No you don't. You just like saying that." Colin began, "The fifty dollars wouldn't have anything to do with Logan and Rory would it?"
Shrugging he replied, "I may have enlisted Robert's help as well."
Lane laughed, "Is there anyone not involved in the plan?"
"Well sweetheart, whatever it takes right?" Finn replied with a wink.
"Didn't I tell you? When it comes to mischief and mayhem, there is no one better than our Finn here." Colin piped in.
"Well this fox is retiring for the evening to drink himself into a stupor, but before I do that, I must ask the lovely Lane for a dance." Finn grinned. Taking her hand he continued, "I would like to be able to boast of how I was in the company of the most beautiful women of the evening."
"You really do have a way with women don't you?" Lane grinned, before turning to Colin with a questioning look.
"Go dance with Finn, I wouldn't be able to stop him even if I wanted to."
"Good man Colin. I promise I'll be on my best behavior."
"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. Just try to avoid that mistletoe would you? I'm getting tired of everyone getting some action expect me."
Lane and Finn laughed as the two went off, leaving Colin to watch them go. He looked around the dancing couples and spotted Rory and Logan dancing and Colin smiled.
The plan seemed to finally be paying off and he felt a twinge of satisfaction. Glancing back at Lane laughing and dancing with Finn, he silently hoped that the second part of his plan would have the same happy ending. He paused before smiling. He might just have to employ some of Finn's tactics.
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Several hours later the two original couples were back in the limo headed towards the Gilmore residence. Except Colin was now realizing the thoughts that had comforted him not so long ago were now shot.
"You two are going to try and be friends?" Colin asked in disbelief.
Rory sighed, "How many times are you three going to make me repeat that?"
"You may have to repeat it a couple more times, because it doesn't make sense." Lane replied.
"I'm drunk right? I must be really, really… really drunk, because I keep mishearing what my darling date is telling me."
Colin shook his head, "You are drunk Finn, but you're hearing is perfect. Unless, Rory here is drunk too and just doesn't know what she's saying."
Rory just sighed again, "Logan and I are going to be friends. I can not say it any more clearly than that."
"Even though you like him and he likes you?" Lane asked.
She shrugged in reply.
Finn thinking of his wayward friend, slurred, "Love, did he propose sex? Are you two going be that kind of friends?"
Lane's eyes widened, shooting a look at her best friend, causing Rory to quickly interject, "No. We're just going to be regular friends. Not the benefiting kind."
Colin turned to Finn and the two passed knowing looks.
"What?" Rory demanded.
"He must really like you." Colin replied.
"What?" She repeated.
"Oh Rory darling, I want to apologize on behalf of our dear confused Logan as he will soon realize the error of his ways." Finn quipped.
"I'd sigh again, but that just seems redundant. I really do appreciate the three of you and your inexplicable interest in Logan and my relationship, but we talked and decided that we're going to be friends, can't we just leave it at that?" Rory pleaded.
"Men and women cannot just be friends." Finn declared.
Rory groaned, "Where is this coming from?"
"No Finn has a point," Colin piped in, "I've never known any man or woman to be just friends, something always happens, whether it conscientiously admitted to or not."
Finn nodded, "Right, right Colin. Think about it, Mulder and Scully, Ross and Rachel, Harm and Mac, David and Maddie, Tony and Angela, Sam and Diane, Lois and Clark, Dawson and Joey, Pacey and Joey…"
"Finn," Rory interrupted, "you do know that you're naming all fictional television couples right?"
Finn shrugged and replied matter-of-factly, "Fiction is just a manifestation of reality."
Lane jumped in, "You're telling me that you two have never just been friends with someone of the opposite sex?"
The two gentlemen looked at one another before shrugging and replied, "nope."
"Now I don't believe that." Rory said.
Finn replied, "Well believe it love. I have never been just friends with a woman."
"We're friends." Rory pointed out.
"Love, I thought it was obvious that I have a crush on you." He replied, with a wink.
Colin added, "Plus your situation is included in the one exclusion to the men and women can't be friends theory."
"Which is?" Lane asked.
"Two people of opposite sex can be just friends, if one or both of the participating parties is in a relationship. Technically Rory, to us, you and Logan are dating, therefore off limits, therefore we can be friends."
Rory shook her head, "How convenient. Well what about Steph or Ginny you two are friends with them aren't you?"
"True, but you don't know our sordid histories. There was much secret pining, overt crushes, broken hearts and actual dating, before the friendships became what they are today. However, I'll refrain from revealing all of Colin's secrets in present company." Finn replied with a smirk.
Colin just grinned, "Alas, it is all true. Finn however, has conveniently forgotten to include his mad infatuations with the mentioned ladies who would have nothing to do with him."
Finn laughed, "Well I'm never ashamed to admit that I have wonderful taste in women."
Lane who had been listening intently said slowly, "Well they may have a point."
Rory raised an eyebrow, "You agree with their theory?"
"Maybe, I mean neither of us have ever really been just friends with boys before right?"
"Well…" Rory paused.
"I mean you dated Dean and Jess. You're friends with Marty now, but think about what had to happen first. I had Dave and then now Zach."
"Yes but we're just two specific cases."
"What about Lorelei and Luke? They were friends, but everyone in town knew that something would happen with them and now they're dating."
Rory shrugged, "Okay so that's another specific example, but I'm sure there are plenty of men and women who are friends in the world, where neither want to have more than friendship."
Colin with a smirk retorted, "Maybe you're right, but you and Logan won't be one of them."
"Are we back to that again?"
"Isn't that where this whole conversation stemmed from?"
"Care to make a wager Miss Gilmore?" Finn asked.
"No." She simply replied.
"Come now darling, if you're so sure of your present situation you have nothing to lose."
"Finn's right Rory, you really don't have anything to lose." Colin added.
Rory rolled her eyes, "I'm not falling for this."
"Come now. I'll even make it in your favor. I bet that before these holidays are up, you and Logan will be more than friends." Finn finished with a grin.
"No."
"At least listen to what you'll win." Lane insisted.
"Lane." Rory protested.
"How's this. If you win, the three of us will leave you two be. No more meddling, no more pushing, no more comments." Colin said.
Eying the three suspiciously, Rory asked, "And if you win?"
Colin grinned, "Then that's winnings enough for us. You two will be a couple and our plans have succeeded."
"See love, nothing to lose." Finn grinned.
"You three will let this subject drop if I win?" Rory clarified.
Colin nodded, "Absolutely."
"Promise." Lane added.
"Scout's honor." Finn replied.
Rory shook her head; "I have a feeling you were never a scout, Finn."
Looking around the limo at Colin, Finn and Lane who had put their innocent faces on, she bit her lip in contemplation. She really wasn't certain where her feelings for Logan would now go or what would now happen between the two of them. But like Finn and Colin reiterated, she really didn't have anything to lose with this wager, did she?
Pausing for a moment, Rory finally said, "Okay you have a deal."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the three immediately broke out into huge grins and Rory couldn't help but regret her words. But she comforted herself with the simple thought: there wasn't much more they could do that they hadn't already done… was there?
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A/N Part 2: I know, I know, what am I doing right? This should have been the chapter that Rory and Logan finally get together right? I swear to you that I had to do this because for me it had to reflect the reality of Logan's character from the show, why would he suddenly chose to be in a serious relationship if he's always just done the casual thing. So this chapter was taking some elements from Wedding Bell Blues.
Anyhow…thanks for reading and as always feedback is always appreciated!