"That is a gorgeous bag you've got there my friend." Paris said.

"Oh, it was from Logan."

"He's really wining and dining you, huh?"

"No, it's not like that. It was a little thing we had. He gave it to me filled with Chopin, Chekhov, C…"

"Well, in that case tell him the way to get to your heart is through your best friend and that Paris wouldn't mind some Proust in her Prada."

"Oh, please, try and stop yourself, and we're back to the third person are we?"

"So lover boy's allowed to abuse alliteration and I'm not?"

"Please. You just did…twice. Now come on or we'll be late for lunch."

Rory and Paris walked at a leisurely pace talking amiably in an attempt to catch on another up on each others' lives. They arrived at the previously agreed upon outdoor café to see that Tristan had already arrived and that he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by a somewhat petite and stunning raven haired woman. She was tan, but to a respectful extent, and she had playful green eyes. Paris was regretting her choice of apparel when Tristan greeted them.

"Rory, Paris. Wonderful to see you again." He said warmly. "This is my fiancé…"

"Katarina Morgan, but please, call me Kat." She said cutting Tristan off; her airy Australian accent filling the air.

"You aren't by any chance related to Finn, are you?" Rory questioned as Tristan assisted her and Paris into their seats.

"Yes, I am." She said cautiously. "How'd you know? I'm sure there are more than two Aussies in America."

"Finn mentioned that his sister was soon to be betrothed and there is a bit of a resemblance."

"Oh, well, please tell me that he didn't bed you and break your heart already, because honestly I don't think I could bear it if you hated me already."

"No, No, No." Rory said with a laugh. "You should know better, after all, I'm not a red head."

"How silly of me." Kat said. Paris suspiciously appraised the situation not sure what was going on.

"How do you know Finn?"

"I don't know him well. I was seeing one of his friends; we were introduced over drinks. That's it."

"Well, Colin doesn't seem like your type, and last I checked he was still very much into Stephanie, so Logan?"

"Purse Logan?" Paris asked.

"Yes, on both accounts." Rory said getting fidgety.

"Purse Logan?" Kat questioned amused.

"He gave her a purse. Chanel." Paris said with a raised eye brow and a pointed look.

"Really? That's not like him…" Kat said.

"How so?" Paris said leaning forward in Kat's direction.

"Well, it's just that once he's done with them, well he's done with them." Kat said. "No offense." Kat quickly added when she felt Tristan give her a slight nudge.

"None taken." Rory said. A short silence followed.

"So I must confess that Kat and I do have a bit of an ulterior motive."

"The timing of your trip could not have been more perfect for us."

"Oh?" Rory asked, not sure if she should be intrigued or afraid, but she assumed the latter would be more appropriate.

"We were hoping that you two would be bridesmaids at our wedding." 'Definitely the latter.' Rory thought.

"We're flattered, Tris, but Kat just met us. Are you sure?" Rory asked.

"Absolutely." Kat answered. "With all the back and forth I did between Australia and the US I haven't been able to maintain that many friendships and Tristan insists on having like a bazillion groomsmen."

"Military men bonds." Paris snorted at Tristan's comment.

"You sure you're sure?" Paris asked in a tone that would necessarily be considered friendly.

"Tristan loves you both, and I, well, I'm desperate, but I'm sure I will love you also." Kat responded.

"Sure." Rory said warmly.

After an intense staring contest with Tristan, Paris relented. "Alright, but we're leaving now before I get coerced onto bearing your first born."

"Remind me how we got roped into that again." Paris questioned as she and Rory were walking home.

"It's for Tristan, Paris."

"Do we like him this much?"

"Paris." Rory warned.

"I don't want to be a bridesmaid, Rory. I'm not the wedding party type of girl if you haven't noticed."

"I've noticed. Oh, and you know the first thought I had this morning was 'Gee, I hope I get asked to be part of a society wedding today. It's simply been too long. Not to mention the fact that my ex will probably me there."

"Fine. You win."

"Really? Is this what winning feels like? Because if so..."

"I'm still not happy about this, Gilmore."

"Don't worry…I got that. But look on the bright side. You will undoubtedly be seeing more of my pretty, pretty face."

"It ain't that pretty."

Rory was back in the office that Monday morning feeling rested despite the new events and responsibilities she had gained, ironically enough, on vacation. She was on her way to Logan's temporary office completely prepared to smooth things over with him. She tried to convince herself it was for the sake of their work relationship, but she knew it wasn't true. She had missed him, quite a bit, and the knowledge that Logan was mad had been eating away at her all weekend. She knocked and opened the door with out waiting for a response.

"Logan, I wanted to apolo…You're not Logan." Rory concluded as she stood before an older blonde man.

"No, I'm not. Mitchum Huntzberger." He said as he offered Rory his hand. "I assure you I am a capable replacement." He said with a smirk.

'That's familiar' she thought. "I'm sorry, Mr. Huntzberger. I'm Rory…"

"Gilmore. Yes I know. I'm just here checking some last little details. We're pretty much done. We're getting ready to pull out. Let you get back to running things." He said with another smirk.

"Pull out?" Rory choked.

"Yes. That's a good thing Miss Gilmore. I'm more than satisfied." He said noting her disposition.

"'Kay. Good…Great…" She said uncomfortably her mind somewhere else entirely. "If you'll excuse me?"

Mitchum simply nodded. It wasn't the response he was expecting.

Rory did her best to look productive and stay away from Mitchum for the remainder of the day. She couldn't help but note that since Logan had come into her life she had been spending more time staring at a blank computer screen or a piece of paper until the words blurred than she ever had throughout her whole career.

She was waiting for the elevator door, Logan's elevator door, to ping as she watched the illuminated numbers ascend. The doors opened.

"Rory?" Logan questioned; his surprise evident.

"You're pulling out?" She said with more anger than intended. 'Damn it!' she thought. She counted on having more time to formulate a sentence; not to be greeted by him on the other side of the elevator door.

"What?"

"I was rather disappointed to see the elder Mr. Huntzberger in the office today." She said more composed.

"So sorry to disappoint." He said getting on the elevator and pushing the button for the lobby.

"He told me that you are pulling back."

"Yep." He said his eyes focused on the ground.

"Logan, would you please look at me?"

He looked up at her. "Happy?"

"I'm sorry, okay? I should have told you, however, in my defense I only booked it a few hours before, but I get where you're coming from. If it were you going out of town, well, I would have wanted to know. So, I'm sorry."

"Okay."

"Logan, I said I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"Sounds like it."

"I'm late. So, I'll see you around, Rory." Logan said as his car pulled up to the curb and he got in. To his surprise Rory caught the door behind him and got in.

"Rory, what are you doing?"

She looked at him straight in the eyes. "I missed you. I really missed you."

That was all Logan needed. For the time being he just needed some indication that she wanted him too. He looked away from her and leaned forward tapping on the glass partition. It rolled down.

"Yes, Mr. Huntzberger?"

"Back to my apartment, Frank."

"Yes, sir. "

Rory wasn't quite sure what this meant. She opened her mouth to speak but saw he'd already moved on to his next task. He pulled his cell from his pocket and pressed a speed dial button.

"Col? I'm not gonna make it tonight." He said quickly; allowing no time for response. He returned his attention to Rory.

"I missed you, too." He said before his lips descended upon hers.

They were passionately making out in the back of the car and by the time they reached Logan's apartment building she was in his lap and a few buttons were undone here and there. They exited the car; Rory still attached to Logan's side, and made their way to the elevator. He had her pushed up against the back of the elevator. He was kissing down her neck and her legs were wrapped firmly around his waist. She could feel his growing bulge.

An elderly couple was standing waiting and as the doors opened the woman let out a gasp. Rory detached her lips from Logan, but not her legs.

"Sorry." She said embarrassed.

"I'm not." Logan said as he firmly planted his hands on Rory's ass and carried her out of the elevator and towards the door. Rory couldn't help but laugh.

He wasted no time getting Rory to his bed. He had been hard two floors before his own. He put her down on the bed and as he hovered over her he began to remove her pants and panties; his mouth never leaving hers.

She made a quick move so that she was once again on top of him. She opened his fly and pushed away just enough fabric to free his hard member. She lowered herself onto him but very slightly only allowing his tip entrance. He groaned as she continued to tease him. He had had enough and he grabbed her hips firmly pulling her down to envelop him in his entirety.

They made love frantic, and for the most parted clothed. They'd endured the longest separation since the beginning of their involvement. She came down hard and fast on him and he bucked upward meeting her every thrust as they found release in one another.

When they finished they laid at each others side breathless. Rory turned to Logan.

"Logan?" she asked still trying to catch her breath.

"Yeah?" he asked turning to look at her.

"You're not just my friend." She stated sincerely.

"Yeah, I know, Ace." He said as he leaned over to kiss her slightly sweaty forehead.