A/N: Hello everybody. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I would like to preface it by saying that I do not hate Logan. I am very happy that he is a part of the show, but I will stand by Tristan's upcoming assumption that Logan and Tristan are one and the same. Think about it, they made a mistake sending Tristan away, and when they were ready to reintroduce the rich, blonde playboy, CMM was all tied up with One Tree Hill. But that is just my rambling opinion…On with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, or the characters, or CMM. Sigh.

Chapter Seven

Rory crashed into his arms the second he stepped off the escalator into the baggage claim area. Logan dropped his carry-on bags and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair, inhaling her warm, familiar scent.

After a long moment Rory pulled back slightly and loosened her grip to wipe her tear-filled eyes.

Logan kissed her, and with a little sniffle Rory gave in to the kiss. "God I missed you," he whispered.

"You have no idea," she responded, wiping her eyes again. She sniffled and laughed a little. "I'm an idiot."

"You're beautiful," he insisted.

She smiled and looked over towards the baggage claim. "Do you have any bags?"

"Just my carry-ons," he answered.

She stooped to pick up his heavy bag. "Let's go," she said, stumbling under the weight.

"Ace…" he said. "Come on, what are you doing?"

"You are my guest. Guests don't carry their own bags."

He laughed. "Maybe so, but guests generally know how to pull out the handle so that the bag rolls."

Rory watched in mock wonder as he reclaimed his suitcase and demonstrated it's rolling capabilities. "A miracle," she joked.

"You should see how I convert my phone into an MP3 player."

"Showoff," she teased. "I would like to see that when we get home."

"Really, because I was thinking that there are other things that I would much rather show you."

Logan's suggestive smirk conveyed his meaning, and Rory smiled. She took his hand and led him out of the airport, feeling like a missing piece had found its way back to her heart.

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"Dust much?" Logan teased as he rummaged through the dusty kitchen cabinets for a water glass.

Rory blushed slightly. "I--well…I haven't been eating at home very much lately."

"It looks like you haven't touched anything in this apartment since I left."

"Well that is a bit extreme," she said.

"Have you been staying with that Tristan guy?" Logan asked, causing Rory to look up at him, the surprise evident in her face.

"What?"

He shrugged. "It's pretty obvious that this place is barely lived in."

She looked down and sighed. Logan observed the mixture of emotions that crossed her face. "I'm not accusing you of anything, Ror," he said kindly. "I'm glad that you have found some company. I hate thinking that you are alone all of the time."

He brought his water over to the table where she was sitting and claimed the spot next to her.

She looked down at her folded hands. "Yeah. I guess I have been spending most of my time there. He's needed some help getting back on his feet."

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Rory got up and proceeded to make coffee. She had a feeling that they were in for a long night.

"How about you," she asked, glad that her hands were busy measuring coffee grinds so that she didn't have to face him. "Have you found any company in London?"

"I'm always working," he said with a sigh. "I've been putting in hundred hour weeks. When I finally get home I just crash."

Rory finished starting the coffee pot and reclaimed her seat next to Logan.

"Would you like to meet him?" she asked, breaking a long, tense silence.

Logan looked up, surprised. "Tristan?"

"Yeah. Well, I guess you already know him a little. But would you like to go to dinner with him or something?" She watched as Logan tried to figure out her offer. Rory sighed, surprised at herself that she was suggesting this. "I just want you to see how I've been spending my time, that there is nothing for you to worry about."

"I'm not worried," Logan assured her.

"Well I am," she admitted nervously. "I mean, we're just friends, but I worry that you think there is something more there. It would make me feel better to show you."

Logan took her hand in his. "I trust you Ace. You have never given me reason to doubt you."

Rory's eyes fluttered away from his own and settled on their entwined hands. But he doesn't know about kissing Jess last year, or kissing Tristan last night.

The coffee pot stopped it's deep purring, alerting Rory that it was ready. She stood up, breaking the moment and trying to break her guilt as she moved to the counter to pour two cups of coffee.

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Tristan hated him.

They had moved in the same circles for years, had made small talk for years, had been friendly for years. But tonight all of that was forgotten when Tristan saw the way Rory leaned into him, the way she laughed at his jokes, the way he so intimately looked into her eyes.

Tristan had known, of course, that these things would bother him. As soon as he had answered Rory's call and accepted her awkward invitation he had realized this wouldn't be a fun evening. He had instantly remembered the event they had all attended many months ago, the way his heart had stirred with jealousy when he had seen Logan enter with Rory, the way she kissed him so happily.

This evening was self-inflicted torture, but he was here for Rory. She had some kind of motive here, and although Tristan couldn't put his finger on exactly what that motive was, he knew that he wanted to make her happy. Making her happy meant sitting in misery while he watched the couple happily chatter away.

It didn't take long for Tristan to realize why he hated Logan so much. It was evident in the first five minutes that Logan was no different than Tristan. He shared the same smirk, wit, circumstance, and affections for Rory as Tristan. He even had a nickname for her, which he muttered like an endearment. This was immensely displeasing. Logan was simply Tristan's replacement; Rory couldn't have Tristan, and so she settled for Logan.

At least this is what Tristan mulled over as he downed several rounds of beer at the casual bar and grill they were eating at.

When they all finally agreed to call it a night, Tristan was dying to kiss Rory on the cheek, if only to rile up Logan. But he remembered their untimely kiss several nights before and thought the better of it. Instead he shook Logan's hand, and waved Rory off as Logan slipped his left arm around her waist.

But really, what kind of name is Huntzberger?