There she was. Where she swore she'd never be again; acting as Will's arm candy at yet another society party. The last one she told herself. Well, at least the last one in which she would be accompanying Will. She was realistic. Rory found herself wishing that she smoked. That way in would look less suspicious if she slipped outside. 'Fuck it' she thought. She carefully opened the door to the balcony and closed it behind her.

She thought no one had seen her. She was wrong. Logan Huntzberger's eyes had not left her since she entered the room. At the bar he didn't even try to conceal his stare. When colleagues made small talk around him he nodded feigning attentiveness, but his gaze never faltered. He didn't want to miss one smile, not matter how forced, or one laugh despite its hallow sound after becoming familiar what one of her genuine laughs really sounded like. When she entered with Will he felt his face flush slightly. He was angry and jealous. He was angry and jealous that she was with such an asshole that had so little regard for her. He was angry at her for lying to him, leading him on; making him feel the way only she could if she was only going to rip the elation out from beneath him. He was also regretful and slightly panicked at the thought of never seeing her smile or her laugh again, of holding her in his arms so when he saw her slip out onto the balcony he made his way quickly to the door and mimicked her clandestine actions.

"I was under the impression that you and Old Monty we're over." He said as he walked toward her with out even the slightness attempt to conceal his agitation. A dig at his age. 'How clever.' Rory thought. It wasn't as if she weren't aware of the age difference. She was also aware of his crisp blue eyes, lush mahogany hair, and toothy grin that still managed to attract women younger than herself. Not that his appearance or charismatic demeanor mattered to her anymore and in all honesty in hadn't for awhile.

"Yeah. So was I." she said with a small bitter laugh before downing the rest of her drink and turning to face him. Her breath caught in her throat. There he was. Right in front of her, with in reach. His eyes slightly darkened, in anger she was sure. His hair artfully mussed. She was trying to decide which she liked better. His hair styled in a perfect deliberately disheveled fashion or in its post coital disarray. It was an easy choice, although delectable in their own way, the latter was infinitely superior.

"Excuse me for being frank, but in my opinion that situation merits it. What the hell does that mean?"

"It means that we both had to make an appearance at this god forsaken thing. Nobody knows that were broken up and our families would sooner expect a wedding announcement than a split. I'm sure you know a thing or two about family obligation. Oh and I get the apartment if I smile and play happy society girlfriend for just one more evening."

She had returned to the apartment following her night with Logan to find Will waiting for her. He didn't spend anytime reasoning or pleading, Will knew he could find another suitable companion; one who wasn't critical and one who would remain utterly oblivious to him and his extracurriculars. Rory was simply too much trouble. God forbid a woman that spoke her mind. He went straight into business mode, he was always better at that anyway. He reasoned with Rory and put the penthouse on the table. She liked her apartment. It was close to her work and suited her well. Plus moving would just be a hassle. She mused at the realization that she honestly liked her apartment more than her boyfriend.

"So you and Montgomery?"

"Are nothing. Abso-fucking-lutley over." Yes she'd once again had a drink or two. It was, in her opinion, the only way to get through these types of affairs. She smiled at the double meaning. Tonight as she laughed at jokes that weren't funny the first time she heard them while Will's arm was tightly secured around her waist she craved the numbness alcohol provided in a way she hadn't in a while. She found herself looking at Will, sometimes staring, wondering how he was maintaining a seamless performance. She was astounded. If only he was this attentive while they were together. She knew it wouldn't have made a difference but maybe it would have made the experience more pleasant.

"Why do you care?" she inquired with her brows slightly knit.

"You certainly are a piece of work aren't you?" she wasn't sure who he was posing the question to but she decided to respond anyway.

"I'd like to think so." She said with a smirk. "I've answered you're question, now you answer mine. It's only fair" she teased doing her best to maintain a look of innocence.

"Because I prefer the women I see to be unattached. Things are much simpler that way."

"Be sure and let your next conquest know that."

"Rory." He said frustrated.

"Hmm?"

"The other night was great…Incredible actually." He corrected himself with a nervous laugh. He saw her lips as they began to part and he beat her to the chase. "and before you make any smart ass remark I wasn't just referring to the sex…" she put a finger to his lips. He stopped instantly and it was if he were hypnotized by her brilliant baby blues.

"Can I let you in on a little secret?" she asked to which he only nodded wordlessly in response. She leaned forward, her shapely breasts brushing over his chest causing his breath to catch in his throat. Her hot breath lingered on his neck, her face next to his, as she whispered into her ear. "I was drunk." She drew out each syllable and promptly restored the distance between them. She was certainly aware of the heat brewing between their bodies although she would not allow him the satisfaction of acquiring such information.

"Bullshit." He said regaining his words. "Granted you had your fair share of drinks unless you are the world's most coherent drunk…Bullshit. We talked for hours and you left at almost four the next day." He huffed, turning away from her and looked at the ground before turning to face her once again. "I just want to spend sometime with you for Christ sake." A look of shock passed over Rory's face. He approached her with such honesty and she had never felt wanted like she did at that moment. She didn't know what to say so she did what she thought was best.

"Rory!" he called. "God damn it!" he muttered.

Rory spent the rest of the evening at Will's side. She figured that was more comfortable than chancing another encounter with Logan. She was still confused as to what exactly happened on the balcony and what it all meant but she knew that she had reached her quota for overwhelming feelings of vulnerability and exposure for the evening.

Logan wasn't pleased in the least to see Rory with her ex for what seemed like the millionth time that night as he re-entered the ballroom shortly after her. 'That sure didn't take much time' he thought bitterly. He'd had enough of watching Rory and Will 'play house' for the evening so he politely excused himself.

"Hello." The man on the other end replied.

"Hey Colin. How are you?"

"I'm alright. What's up?"

"I am feeling the urge to have a boys' night."

"Ok. Well how do you feel about loosing a hefty chunk of change? Some of the guys I know from work and I are having a poker night tomorrow. We were going to restrict to just guys from work but I never seen a Huntzberger denied yet…"

"Well you shoulda been at the Hayden's tonight…"

"Really? Is that what inspired your need for a boys' night?"

"Don't get to cocky Colin, I've watched you strike out many a time."

"Ok, ok. Relax." He said in good humor. "I'll see you tomorrow night. Eight o'clock."

"Eight o'clock." Logan confirmed.

Rory was at a Starbucks sipping a peppermint mocha and enjoying her book when a man approached her.

"Hi. I'm Ian."

"Rory."

"Nice to meet you Rory." He said offering a smile. He was bad to look at but she immediately was comparing him to Logan, to whom he could not hold a candle.

"Now I wouldn't want to overload you on coffee,"

She stopped him. "Impossible."

"Good to know. May I buy you another?"

Before she knew it or could even comprehend her action she heard the words "Sorry, but I'm with someone." come from her mouth. It wouldn't have been a big deal. She had frequently used those words to ward off unwanted suitors in the past, however, this time it wasn't an empty excuse. It wasn't just habit. It was someone and that someone was a haughty blonde with an intoxicating smirk. She startled herself and quit paying any attention to the man before her. He tried to offer her a few polite words of parting but she didn't respond. If she hadn't been caught up in her own thoughts she may have seen the man give her a look as if to say she were crazy and walk away.

Logan arrived at Colin's early and was greeted at the door by Finn.

"I thought that this was restricted to lawyers and barristers of the highest order." He said with mock pretension

"It was, but once Colin let it slip that you'd be here I would take 'no' for an answer. I even denied the 'no fucking way'. Colin has some harebrained idea that I'm going to embarrass him."

"However would he get that idea?" Logan teased.

"Ha Ha. I'm a reformed man…kinda. Besides I could leave you alone with their kind." He said with a mock shudder.

"And what kind would that be Finn?" Colin questioned as he entered the room and greeted Logan. "Hey man."

"The kind that have had a stick up their ass since birth and use words like 'aformentioned' and 'notwithstanding' in casual conversation." Finn replied grinning.

Not soon after more of Colin's colleagues began to filter in and they started playing poker. Nothing of any great excitement was happening and he lost count of the formal legal terms that were being slung around. Finn was right, and it wasn't that he didn't understand, he was a bright man and he had spent quite enough time before a judge, but who really chooses to talk about it for amusement? And taking into account some of them were drunk…pathetic really.

Logan was ready to call it a night when a new face let himself in.

"Nice of you to join us." Colin said barely looking up from his hand.

"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." He replied taking a seat across from Logan. "Deal me in."

Logan had to resist the urge to lunge across the table.

"Ah, that reminds me." Colin said. "Finn you want to hear something unbelievable?"

"Shock me. Render me speechless?" Finn delivered dramatically earning a few looks from men around the table.

"Logan told me something interesting last night." Colin continued with a glance Logan's way. "The almighty Huntzberger was turned down at the Hayden event!" Colin and Finn shared a laugh and a few of the other men indulged in polite smiling and light laughter not really discerning the unbelievable portion of Colin's statement. Colin surveyed the look on Logan's face and quickly decided it was time to move on.

"So Will, you went also, didn't you. Tell me you had a better time than my dear friend."

"Wonderful time." Logan's face soured. "Actually I'm still rejoicing the fact that it's probably the last Hayden affair I'll be subjected to for a while."

"Trouble in paradise?" Another man teased.

"No fucking hurricane." Will joked.

"I thought you were with the Gilmore girl?" Logan spoke up breaking his silence.

Will's head raised and he caught Logan's eyes. He was intrigued by Logan's interest and sudden interjection. "Gilmore-Hayden." He stated his eyes still locked with Logan's.

"Oh." He choked out trying to maintain composure. He wasn't expecting that.

Finn sensed the tension in the air and attempted a better segue than Colin. "Who wants more scotch? I know I do." No one said anything. Finn wasn't the only once who noticed the tension. It was rising, almost suffocating everyone in the room.

"Come on now every bloody lawyer loves scotch…" he tried one more time to no avail.

"You're Mr. Sweatpants aren't you?" Will aggressively stated.

"Excuse me?" Logan questioned.

"The day after Rory caught me she came home in some other man's sweat pants and a Yale t-shirt. It fits. Huntzberger, Yale. It was you."

All eyes were on him. "The girl from the bar." Colin whispered to himself in realization.

"Aw, how classy of her." Will said.

"Don't you dare say a word about her." Logan angrily responded.

"You know the first thing she did when she came back to our home? She took a shower. She wanted to wash away every trace of you. Any memory of you."

"I'm not above hitting an old man. You might want to keep that in mind." Logan all but growled. Things were escalating quickly.

"Now, Now. There's no need to get upset over a silly little girl." Will said as if to placate Logan, but when he continued it was apparent it was not his intent. "You know I cheated on her since day one?" By now Will was simply goading Logan. Logan quickly rose from his chair and as he made his way around the table Will found his way to his feet as well. Logan wasted no time in delivering a solid blow to Will's jaw. A crack rang through the room and Logan shook his hand in the air. The rest of the men simply watched, mouths agape, unsure as to where this turn of events would lead. Will had yet to pull himself off the floor.

"You don't deserve her. You never deserved her." Logan said venomously at Will before turning toward Colin. "I'm sorry, Col. I'll, ah, I'll talk to you later." And with that Logan left.

AN: I decided to extend this into a full story as opposed to just a one shot. I was just so weary of falling into some of the same plot traps that have been over done ad nauseam. I will do by best to maintain some sense of originality and quality to this story so if a couple of days pass between updates that's most likely why.

Thanks so much to those of you have read and reviewed thus far…I'd be happy to hear from you again!

By the way the title and chapter titles (thus far) are from Regina Spektor's Fidelity.