AN: Due to storms in the Chicago land area I had to go with out power for 23 hours and 45 minutes and it made me aware of how reliant on electricity I actually am. It sucked.

Anyways I wrote this chapter with pen and paper by candle light and have never felt so archaic in my life…Enjoy. Thanks for your reviews and please keep reviewing!

"Sorry if I put a damper on the evening the other night." Logan said as he took another swig of beer.

"Oh, no don't worry about it. Steph felt horrible and she wanted me to relay her apologies." Colin said genuinely.

"It's fine. She's not the one who put Rory off relationships."

"How are things with you guys? Are there things with you guys?"

"Yep. As of right now there are things, stringless things, but things all the same. We're dating."

"You sound overjoyed about that." Colin said with a bit of a laugh and his inherent sarcasm.

"I guess it's better than nothing, but I made it clear that I wanted more."

"How very grown up of you."

"I don't want to play games with her. I find it easy to be straight with her…I just wish she'd be straight with me." Logan stated; frustration evident in his voice.

"Give her some time. Despite its fucked up nature, she did just extricate herself from a lengthy relationship." Colin pointed out.

Logan snorted slightly at Colin's statement.

"Logan, don't take this the wrong way because you know I'm always behind you, but Will is the kinda guy we'd be friends with if it weren't for the circumstances.

"Please tell me you don't think that lowly of us!" Logan shouted.

"Ok, new topic." Colin said holding his hands up in mock surrender.

"Actually man I gotta go." Logan said checking his watch. "Give Steph my love."

"No problem. Good luck with Rory."

"Thanks. Believe me I need it."

"Come on now. It can't be that bad."

"It's not bad it's just not…not easy."

"And since when has Logan Huntzberger ever enjoyed anything easy?"

"Goodbye Colin." Logan said in a humored tone with a smirk.

Rory was at her apartment packing before she had to leave for work. It wasn't like her to be up at the crack of dawn, but she wasn't sure if she'd have enough time to adequately pack if she relied on the time in between the close of her work day and her flight. As she was rushing she pondered why she procrastinated and waited until the last minute to pack. 'Right. I booked it five hours ago.' She thought answering her own question.

"So, Paris you're sure you don't mind me crashing with you? Because it would be no trouble for me to get a room somewhere."

"And deprive me of your constant company? I think not." Paris responded.

"Ok, well my flight gets in around eight-thirty so I should be there no later than ten. Be prepared." She said the last part with a mock sternness.

"I am. I have my menus thoroughly highlighted and annotated in anticipation of you're arrival."

"Fabulous. I got to go. See ya tonight."

"Bye."

Rory had a relatively smooth work day and had made arrangements to insure the quality of the paper through out the duration if her long weekend. 'Logan was right' she thought. 'I do need to get away.'

"Knock, knock." Logan said as he entered Rory's office closing the door behind him.

"Hey." Rory said.

"What do you think about Italian tonight?" Logan questioned.

"Sorry, I can't."

"Oh?" Logan questioned surprised. They had been having dinner together every night consistently. It had become routine.

"I have to rush home actually. I still have to finish packing." Rory explained.

"Did you decide to take me up on my offer?" Logan asked hopefully.

"No, I decided to take your advice. You were right. I do need a vacation."

"When do you leave?" Logan asked frustrated and hurt.

"Um, six-thirty."

"Tonight? You're leaving tonight?" Logan said incredulously.

"Uh huh. Is that a problem?" Rory asked noticing Logan's agitated state.

"Were you even going to tell me? Or were you just going to disappear?" Logan demanded.

"I just figured I'd see you when I got back." Rory said taken aback by Logan's anger.

"Uh huh. So where ya going?"

"Boston. I'm staying with Paris. Remember, I told you about her…Well were just gonna catch up on girl time and what not…Oh and our friend Tristan lives in Boston too so…"

"Tristan?"

"Yeah. He did Harvard and just ended up staying around there."

"So, do you fuck him?" Logan asked angrily.

"Excuse me?" Rory choked out; not believing the words coming from Logan's mouth.

"Well you said you're friends and that what you consider us… So I figure I have the right to be curious. Do you Rory?"

"No. You're a real asshole Logan! You know that?"

"Yeah? Well you're kinda a cold hearted bitch so I guess it works out."

"Fuck you!" Rory exclaimed as she gathered her stuff and stormed out of her office.

"Have a nice trip!" He shouted sarcastically after her.

By the time Rory had her seat belt fastened and her seat secured in the upright position she had calmed down. She had an entire plane ride to reflect on her heated exchange with Logan. At first she was furious about the way he dared to talk to her, but soon her anger faded. She had neglected to tell him she was leaving and if the roles were reversed she would have wanted to know; even if it were only for the weekend. She was initially outraged about his reaction to Tristan but she figured that too was understandable. She didn't think of Logan as just a friend but she wasn't sure of the proper label to attach. Maybe there wasn't one. The hum of the engine soothed her which she thought was strange because it normally infuriated her. 'I have more tangible things to infuriate me now.' She thought as she recollected on a certain blonde that had become a staple in her daily and nightly routine.

She thought about calling him as she rode in a cab through the streets of Boston to Paris' apartment, but decided against it as she arrived. She would take this time for herself and give Logan a chance to cool down and talk to him when she got back.

"She was just going to leave with out saying anything. I mean if I hadn't stopped in her office to ask her about dinner she would'a just left with out a word!"

"Where'd she go?" Colin asked.

"To Boston. To fuck Tristan."

"DuGrey?" Colin questioned.

"I don't know! But why is it that you know everyone of her fuck buddies?"

"He better not be her fuck buddy! I'd have to kill him! He's Kat's fiancé." Finn said referring to his sister Katarina.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Logan said.

"No. He's a really good guy actually. I think you'd like him." Finn said.

"If one more person says that I swear to god…"

"Ok. Relax." Colin said in attempt to calm Logan down.

"I'm done." Logan stated profoundly.

"With?" Finn inquired.

"With this whole thing. I'm sick of walking on eggshells. Don't let Rory know you care too much. Don't use the 'L' word or the 'G' word or she'll be gone." Logan spat out. He sighed. "It's not worth it. I'm practically done at her paper and if anything else comes up I'm sure my dad will be more that happy to handle it."

"You sure about that, mate? That sounds a bit like givin' up to me."

"Positive. And I'm not giving up I just know when to cut my losses."

"So you got any good taco places in Boston?" Rory asked.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because we are going to be so hung over tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah, that. So Rory are you going to tell me what prompted this sporadic visit? Not that I mind…"

"Well I've been kinda stressed at work lately and with the fall out from the whole Will thing…When Logan brought it to my attention that I could use a vacation I decide to do something about that."

"Logan?"

"He's the guy I've been seeing. Or was. I dunno; we kinda had a fight before I left."

"Ah, it all makes perfect sense know. You're running." Paris stated definitively.

"No. No I am not. I booked this before we fought."

"You're not running from conflict; you're running form intimacy. He's getting too close, isn't he?"

Rory was silent as the words sank in. He was getting too close for comfort. Too close for her to deny his role in her life and the feeling that bubbled up at the mere thought of him. He had managed to integrate himself so completely and seamlessly into her life. For the past month or so they had spent almost every moment together, waking and otherwise.

At work they were a power couple with an incredibly synergistic relationship, with out actually being a couple. Always anticipating each others next thought and keeping each other sane in the process of producing flawless work. He kept her well fueled with coffee just the way she like it, despite the fact that she had never actually told him just the way she liked it. He had simply observed. He mastered her preferred ratio of cream and sugar; three creams and two and two-thirds packets of sugar. 'What man would take the time to add two-thirds a packet of sugar?' she questioned. The answer was simple. Logan. He paid attention to the details and the minutia.

He knew the slight sigh that she let slip from her lips when she read a particularly striking line as they were entangled on the couch clad only in pajamas reading. He knew to what extent she was puzzled or perplexed by the manner in which she bit her lip or in which fashion she wished to be made love to with only one touch of her lips.

"You're right. He's getting too close." Rory concluded.