AN: Sorry for the delay…I'm horrible, I know. I've been working on this chapter and it just didn't come as easily as the others. Honestly I'm not sure I'm happy with it even now…

Thanks for the support and reviews…Please read and review!

"Fuck." Rory said as she pulled away. Logan rose up straightening his belt and pants trying to ignore how tight they felt. Rory smoothed her dress and hair and wiped her smeared lipstick with the back of her hand before stepping forward to remove the traces on Logan's lips with the pad of her thumb. She pecked him lightly and looked into his eyes.

"There. I think we're good." She said before turning to answer the door.

"Grandpa. How are you? Was I expecting you?"

"How could you young lady?"

"Um…"

"I'd been hearing rumblings all morning at work and I just tried to shake them off but I just got back from talking to Will, who might I add was just discharged from the hospital a few hours ago!"

"The hospital?" Rory asked having no idea what was going on.

"Yes, it seems your new boyfriend broke his jaw." Richard said with a pointed look in Logan's direction.

Rory turned toward Logan and incredulously asked with a slight smile "You broke Will's jaw?"

"In my defense he had it coming…" He was relieved to see Rory wasn't mad.

"I'm surprised at you Rory. First your infidelity…"

"Wait what? Is that what he told you? Will was cheating on me. The whole damn time. I caught him the act at one of though pointless benefits I was coerced into attending." Rory said matching his tone of voice.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

"Well surely you must be aware of Huntzberger's reputation. Its no secret…I will not have you acting as just another one of his women. What will people think?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'm gonna have to jump in here." Logan said breaking his silence. "Yes, I was a tad promiscuous in college but I assure you my reputation is exaggerated at best…Your granddaughter is the only woman I'm interested in right now and she's the only woman I'm seeing I can assure you."

Richard appraised Logan. "Fine. I will do my best to smooth things over with Eric in the morning." Rory mouthed 'Will's dad' to Logan. "Will's omissions and distorted details certainly create a different situation." Richard turned to the door and stopped just short of the door way and took a deep breath and said "Rory you might want to check your shoe." Before promptly exiting.

Both Rory and Logan looked toward her shoe and saw the light reflecting off the foil. A deep blush invaded Rory's cheeks and her hands flew up to cover her face. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." She muttered.

Logan pulled her into a hug. "Relax, it could have been worse."

"Oh really? How?" she questioned.

"It could have been used…" her jaw dropped and she playfully smacked his chest.

Rory woke up the next morning in Logan's arms. She liked waking up in Logan's arms. He kissed the tip of her nose.

"Good morning." He said.

"Good morning." She replied.

"I think that's the best first date I've ever had."

"Ah, was your favorite part when my grandfather ostracized you?"

"The rest of the evening compensated for that delightful encounter ten fold, let me assure you." She kissed him softly.

"I'm glad."

"I was thinking that tonight you could join me for dinner and then follow that up with drinks with my friends: Colin, Finn, and Colin's better half Stephanie for drinks. I'd really like them to get to know you."

"Ok, I guess. It's just a casual thing, right?"

"UmHm. Trust be by the end of the night you'll end up over dressed no matter what you wear so no worries."

"And why is that?"

"Because my dear, Finn will undoubtedly loose several items of clothing."

"Well with a preamble like that how can I deny myself of an evening out on the town with the illustrious Finn."

"Should I be worried that Finn will lure you away from me?"

"Not at all because for in order for that to happen you'd have to have me in the first place." Rory said with a smile. "I'm taking a shower. Could you make some coffee? Pretty please?" she asked with a pouty lip.

"Alright. Could you save me some hot water."

"Maybe…"

"Well then I might just forget to make you coffee." He teased as she playfully threw a pillow at him.

Rory and Logan spent the morning and afternoon utterly ensconced in her apartment. When Logan stumbled upon one of her many bookshelves a long discussion of literature ensued. Rory was astounded she had found someone who shared her love of literature. He was well versed in the classics albeit equally fond of the obscure.

"When I was younger I used to make sure that no matter where I went I had a book in my purse so if ever got a free moment I could just open the book and be in another world."

"Why did you stop?" he questioned thoughtfully.

"Well, the free moments became fewer and farer between and Allende in Armani? Or Chopin in Chanel? Perish the thought. Emily Gilmore would never approve." She said with a laugh and a sad smile.

Later that evening following a successful dinner Logan escorted Rory into a noisy but classy little pub and steered her toward the back table where his friends were assembled.

"Rory this is Colin, Finn, and Steph. Guys this is Rory."

Rory offered a demur smile and a 'hi' to the trio around the table.

"Actually, we've already met. The Harrison dinner I believe." Colin said.

"Yes. Of course. Nice to see you again, Colin." Rory said as Logan helped her with her coat and the settled into their seats.

"So, Rory, Logan tells us that you are also in the newspaper business." Stephanie said.

"UmHm. I've been the editor at the Stamford Eagle Gazette for about a year and half now."

"She's too modest. She the best damn thing that ever happen to that paper."

"Really? I think I'd have to go with the whole founding thing." Rory said sarcastically in an attempt to shift the focus of the conversation.

"I like her." Steph concluded signaling for another drink.

"Can I get you anything Rory?" Logan asked.

"A coffee would be great, thanks."

"I will be right back then."

"So Rory, I'm so excited to finally meet you. I mean I've never heard Logan talk about anyone the way he talks about you."

"Oh?" Rory questioned. She was nervously shifting in her seat.

"He's been going on about…"

"Steph, lets give our boy some chance here." Colin warned.

"Sorry." She said sheepishly. "I'm glad you're here is all."

Logan returned coffee in hand and placed it in front of Rory.

"So, Finn, I got the invite to your sister's wedding today."

"Ah, yes. The Morgan women are a buzz, my father is one more flower arrangement away from a coronary, and I am staying as far away as possible."

Rory took a sip of her coffee and made a very slight face when she realized the coffee was cool. Despite the subtly of the expression Logan noticed immediately.

"Is something wrong, Ace?"

"Oh, no." Rory replied caught off guard Logan had noticed. "It's just a little chilled. Nothing to write home about and I'm not one to turn away coffee anyways." She tried to assure him.

"I'll get you another." Logan said.

"No. It's absolutely not necessary." Rory tried again, but Logan had already asked the waitress for another.

"Logan, this place is so busy; I doubt she needs to be fetching me a hotter cup of coffee."

"Relax, Ror, I tip like a Rockefeller."

"You know, I'm not exactly sure how well that simile works when you have more money than a Rockefeller."

"Au contraire, Love. Colin is a McRae and he's the stingiest bastard you'll ever meet." Finn said.

"He is." Steph said nodding vigorously in agreement.

"I'll remember that next time." Colin said to Steph in mock anger. "I prefer frugal." Colin said to Rory.

"Rory, would you care to dance?" Logan asked taking her and in his.

"Sure." Rory said with a smile rising form her seat.

They were swaying to the music softly. Rory's head rested on Logan's shoulder and he held her firmly albeit gently against him.

"I was thinking we could go away together next weekend. I've got a place in the Hamptons or on the Vineyard."

"I don't think so."

"Aw come on. We could both use the time away. Anywhere you want. You name the place. Please Rory."

"I can't. I've been neglecting the paper too much as it is."

"No you haven't. The paper is fine. Just think about it. Ok?"

"Ok, I'll think about it."

"Good."

The song came to a close and they slowly meandered through the crowd and found their way back to the table. Logan's hand never left the small of her back and Rory knew his attentiveness was something she wouldn't mind getting used to. She also wouldn't mind having drinks over witty conversation with his friends that she could see becoming her friends in the not to distant future and spending passionate nights together and lazy afternoon discussing Fitzgerald's use of alliteration wasn't bad either.

Steph had a few drinks under her belt as such her lips were becoming looser.

"It'll be nice to have you around, Ror. I won't be the only girl in the gang anymore. You're the first of Logan's girlfriends I genuinely like."

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not his girlfriend." Rory said quickly and nervously.

"Yeah, she's not my girlfriend." Logan said bitterly as he downed the last of a glass of scotch that was on the table.

"That was mine…" Finn said quietly, but was silenced by Logan's eyes.

Colin, Finn and Stephanie tried many times to re-start conversation but each time they were shot down. The evening was never able to recover. If Rory was quiet, Logan was silent. They all exchanged good-byes and made promises to get together again soon and Logan set out to walk Rory home.

"Your friends are really great."

"Hm."

"I think my Mom would really be impressed with Colin's smooth cynicism."

"Yea?"

"And Finn. He's everything you said he'd be. Absolutely hysterical."

"Yep."

"And Steph. I'd love to go shopping with her sometime or something. She seems like she'd make a wonderful friend."

"Yep."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yes."

"Did I do something?" Rory asked; carrying the conversation was becoming a burden.

"Nope."

"Ok, well this is me." Rory said as they came to a stop in front of her building. She started to walk in and she soon realized Logan wasn't behind her. She turned and found him walking in the opposite direction. She jogged forward, her heels clicking and clacking on the pavement, and caught his arm.

"Logan? What's up? You've been moody monosyllable man for ten blocks and now you're not coming up?"

"I'm sorry Rory, this is my fault, I've should have been straight with you from the beginning."

"What?"

"I don't want this thing between you and me to be casual, and tonight you made it perfectly clear that you want nothing more..."

"Logan, I don't think I can move forward with you right now, but I don't…I don't want to loose you."

"You can't loose what you never had, right?" He bitterly mimicked her words from her jest in the morning.

"Logan."

"Good bye Rory."

"Logan, please."

"I'm sorry." Logan said walking away.

Rory watched Logan walk away from her and the feeling in her stomach confirmed she'd made a mistake. She went to bed but she didn't get any sleep. She tossed and turned all night. Morning came eventually and although it was early she didn't see the sense in laying in bed wide awake. She was making coffee when she heard a knock at the door. 'Great' she thought. 'With my luck it's my grandmother this time'.

She opened the door to reveal a tired looking Logan. He handed her a venti coffee.

"I ordered extra hot." Logan said trying to lighten the mood. Rory didn't give away much of a reaction.

"Right. So, I'm sorry. I'd didn't mean to push you. Honestly, I was little hurt, but I thought it over and I've come to the conclusion that I'm willing to have you in any capacity you'll allow…for now. We'll go slow." He revealed a large bag from behind his back and handed it to her.

"What's this?"

"It's a little 'I'm sorry' gift."

She open the bag and her eyes widened as she moved the tissue paper aside to reveal an beautiful, quilted, black Chanel bag.

"Logan…" she said in astonishment.

"Look inside, Ace." He prompted.

She unzipped the bag and tears were quickly welling in her eyes.

"Chopin in Chanel." She said breathlessly.

"And if you dig deep you might just find some Chekhov."

He noted the tears that were now streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry. Would Dostoevsky in Dolce have been more appropriate? Or…"

"No, Logan, it's perfect. This is the best gift I've gotten in…I can't remember how long." She said with a little laugh as she leaned into kiss him.

Rory and Logan curled up together under the heavy covers of her bed and they were both finally able to find rest… together.