AN: Thanks for the reviews! I loved them, and they actually made me feel guilty for not updating sooner! So, here's a new chapter! This is pretty much the turning point in the fic. I hope you like it!

Chapter 8

"Rory, what are you doing out here already?" Chris asked, coming up to his daughter who was seated next to Jake.

Rory glanced up at her father. "Oh, turns out the person wanting to speak to me wasn't anyone I had much to say to."

Chris nodded, his brow furrowing. He really needed to get the two of them together. "Rory, rather than sitting back here you really should sit closer to the front. Follow me." He said, grabbing his daughters arm and hauling her towards the front.

As he walked away he shot Mitchum a look, making sure the other man noticed the empty seat beside his daughter. Mitchum nodded slightly.

Less than five minutes later Logan sat down next to Rory.

"What, are you doing here?" She hissed, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"Hey, I come in peace!" He joked lightly, holding his hands up. "I was instructed to sit here."

Rory's eyes narrowed at him. "You're up to something, and I don't like it."

Logan shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Before she a chance to reply the speaker walked up to the podium, signaling the beginning of the memorial.

-GG-

Rory attempted to ignore the occasional arm brush she received from Logan. As much as she hated to admit it, sitting this close to him affected her. She hated that it did. It wasn't supposed to. She was supposed to hate him. After all, she wasn't good enough for him when she was just a Gilmore, why should she be considered good enough for him now? She took a deep breath, building back up her resolve.

The memorial continued far too long in Rory's opinion. She couldn't take much more of being near him. As soon as the speaker stepped down and the memorial was over Rory breathed out a sigh of relief.

She was just about to stand up when Mitchum Huntzberger walked over to her. Rory narrowed her eyes at the man. No good could possibly come of this.

Mitchum put on an overly happy society smile. "Your father wanted me to tell you that he had to leave early. He said to share a limo with Logan here. I'll see you two later."

With that, the newspaper tycoon walked away, leaving Rory to attempt to shut her gaping jaw.

Logan smiled at him luck. He knew something was going on. He wasn't sure what it was, but as long as it helped him he didn't care.

He beamed at Rory. "You heard the man."

She reluctantly took his arm and followed him to the limo. Once they were inside she looked everywhere except at him.

Logan sighed. "Come on Rory, you can't hate me forever."

"I can try." She icily muttered.

She sat is silence, her arms folded across her chest. Things just weren't adding up. She wasn't supposed to be stuck in a limo with Logan. She was supposed to be riding back with Jake. But her father, and Mitchum…

"You stupid ass!" She screamed, her head jerking over to look at Logan.

He sighed. "What the hell did I do this time?" He asked her, defeated.

She snorted. "Yeah, like you don't know."

Logan moved in front of Rory, looking her directly in her eyes. "I have no clue what you're having a fit about."

Rory rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "You had this set up. You had your father come up to me and tell me to ride back with you. You did this!"

Logan looked at her in shock. He didn't doubt for a moment that his father was behind their little set up, but he certainly had nothing to do with it. "Look Rory, believe it or not, I am not really a manipulative bastard. If I were I never would have broken up with you in the first place!" He shouted, pouring himself a scotch from the stocked bar.

"What are you talking about?" She asked him, confusion and disgust playing over her face.

Logan dropped his head into his hands. "Never mind. It's not important. Not anymore."

"Logan, tell me."

He glanced up at her. "Look, you want me to leave you alone, fine. I'll leave you alone. I love you, but I'll get over it. I'm sick of being the bad guy here."

The limo rolled to a stop in front of the Hayden mansion. Logan glanced over at her still form.

"I'm done trying to get you back. You don't want me, fine. Go have Jake, go do whatever. See if I give a damn." With that being said he got out of the limo, leaving a shocked Rory to ponder over everything he had just said.

-GG-

"Mr. Hayden! Mr. Hayden! Wait up! I need to speak with you!" Shannon gasped, chasing after her best friends father.

Chris turned around, an annoyed expression on his face. "What is it this time, Shannon? Is ruining my property with your pranks not enough?"

Shannon's jaw dropped, and she stared at him. Chris couldn't hold his laughter back at her expression.

"Yes, I knew it was you. Don't worry, my friends and I did the same things to our parent's when we were your age. Now what can I do for you?" Chris asked, in an uncharacteristically warm tone.

Shannon knew she was gaping like a fish but she couldn't help it. Shaking her head, she got down to business.

"Mr. Hayden, I know that you are plotting with Mr. Huntzberger to set up Rory and Logan. I have an important piece of information that it is vital for you to know before you try to push them together." She told him, trying to sound as grown up as possible. It wasn't easy when she saw Finn on the other side of the property riding the gardeners riding lawn mower in hiskangaroo boxers. The gardener was, of course, chasing after him with huge lawn cutters in his hands, yelling.

Chris nodded, his face now also serious. "What is it?"

Shannon looked around, knowing that she couldn't keep from laughing much longer. After all, Finn was headed towards them, making designs in the grass as he drove on. She took Chris' arm and steered him towards the house, so he wouldn't see the scene behind him. "Perhaps we can discuss this inside?"

Chris followed her to his office, obviously confused.

"What is it? I don't have all day." He informed her once the office door was shut.

"You see, the Huntzberger's said some things to Rory…"

-GG-

"You bastard!" Chris yelled, swinging his fist towards Mitchums face as he stormed into the library.

"What in the hell Hayden?" Mitchum screamed as he ducked.

The two men made such a ruckus that all the kids in the house, who had been lingering in the kitchen and media room came running in, along with a few adults.

"Come on, we're going to fight like me! Put up your dukes, Huntz!"

Mitchum's face was horrified.

"DAD!" Both Rory and Logan screamed, running in the room at the same time.

"Stay out of this!" Chris told his daughter. "How dare you say my daughter wasn't good enough for your family!" He spat at Mitchum.

Mitchum's face paled. "Look, we can discuss this like civilized men…"

Shannon and Finn stood in the doorway, her hair mussed and skirt twisted, and his shirt half unbuttoned. They had been enjoying themselves in the laundry room when the yells attracted their interest. Neither of them was one to miss a good show, so they grabbed their flasks and made their way to the yelling.

Chris scoffed. "Please, you come to me, wanting to make a deal. You try to get me to push our children together after you insult my daughter!"

Chris shook his head, putting his fists down. "You, are an ass. I will not push my daughter to be with your son. I will not do business with you. I will be polite to you in public, but that is it. Your dealing's with the Hayden's are finished."

Rory looked from her father to Mitchum to Logan. "Wait, what?" She questioned, shaking her head.

Chris looked at his daughter, wanting nothing more than a scotch and an aspirin. "Mitchum wanted me to set you and Logan up together. Then I found out what he did to you."

"It wasn't Logan?" She asked Chris, biting her lip. Chris shook his head no.

Rory turned to look at Logan, but he simply walked out of the room, shrugging off his father's attempts to follow him.

She walked to the doorway, looking at Jake and sighing. "I fucked up."