Gilmore Girls

These Things I Know

A/N: I admit. I'm a sucker for spoilers so I've read what's going to happen in season six and all I can say is OMG! I cannot wait and yet, I have to because the rest of Australia hasn't even seen all of season five. Amen for friends, Amazon and DVD box sets! Happy reading! Genevra.

Summary: You might finally have what you thought you always wanted but the truth is this- you don't know what you've got 'til its gone.

Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Gilmore Girls in anyway.


Chapter Twelve: Diamonds


Rory breathed in the scent deeply. It was a mixture of rose essential oils and lavender bath gel. She swished her legs around the silky water and sighed blissfully. A rose petal brushed across her stomach and she jumped before she realized what it was. A candle flickered from the sudden movement but it stayed lit.

It had to be close to 7.30 and time to get ready to meet Finn's new girl but she was so relaxed and the room was so peaceful, she didn't ever want to leave. The idea of spending an evening with Logan and her old friends made the idea of leaving the sanctuary she had created more alluring but it was not enough to make her leave quite yet.

Rory relaxed and let the water swish all over her body. She contemplated getting out again but changed her mind. She closed her eyes but they fluttered open quickly when a soft knock came at the door.

"Yes," Rory called.

"It's 7.30," Marta yelled back.

"Thanks, Mart," Rory sighed. She waited until Marta's footsteps had faded and the bedroom door had been closed before she hopped out of the bath. She towel-dried herself carefully and put on her underwear and a navy blue silk robe before she blew out the candles and turned on the bathroom light. She was an expert at getting ready in short amounts of time. Her make-up was light, fresh and done in a flash. She pulled on her dark-blue knee-length dress, leaving the back un-done, as she couldn't reach the zip. She sat on the edge of her bed and buckled up her silver Manolo Blahnik sandals before adding diamond studs and the tennis bracelet Logan had given her two Valentine's Day's ago.

She looked in the mirror of the bathroom and decided something wasn't quite right. She added another coat of mascara and then surveyed her outfit. She yanked the blue dress off and stalked to the cupboard. She pulled out a red spaghetti-strap dress with a plunging neckline. It was made out of the finest silk and it felt like butter on her skin. She quickly changed into it and ran back into the bathroom, her heels clicking on the tiles. Again, she wasn't entirely impressed with it so she pulled it off and pulled on a flimsy dark-green chiffon slip dress but it didn't go with the heels but she could change them. She sighed and walked into the bathroom to do her hair but she noticed a small tear in the fabric. She grunted and walked back to the cupboard and pulled out a little black dress. She shrugged and went into the bathroom to fix her hair. As she brushed her hair and put in a product to hold the soft waves and another to make it glossy, Logan walked in.

"You ready, Ace?" he called.

"No!" she yelled back. "I need help."

He walked in and they greeted each other with a kiss.

"Hey," he said, looking down into her face.

"Hey," she replied.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Zip!" she ordered. He tugged on the zip but it wouldn't budge. She sucked in and he tried again but that wasn't the problem and it would still not move. "Damn!"

"Sorry, Ace."

"What am I going to wear?" she cried.

"What's wrong with the red one?" he asked, seeing it in a pile on the floor.

"I think it has a stain on it," she moaned.

"Well, no wonder with the way you treat it," he replied. He scooped it up off the floor as she preened with her hair and he explored it. "No stain, Ace."

"Fine," she yelled, yanking it out of her hands. She pulled the black dress off, careful not to slip in her heels, and stripped down to her underwear.

"Nice view, Ace," Logan said, wolf-whistling at her.

"We don't have time for this," she argued. She turned around and let Logan zip her up.

"You look beautiful," he murmured.

He kept his hand on her neck for a moment and bent down to kiss the soft flesh at the nape of her neck. She sighed and her eyes fluttered closed as he moved a hand down the back of her dress and around her neck. She leaned into him.

"We have to go," she said softly.

"No, we don't," he whispered, trailing kisses across the back of her neck. He felt her weakening.

"Yes, we do," she whimpered. "Finn and the others. They're waiting."

"So they can wait a little longer," he frowned.

"Have you not seen Finn when he's hungry?" Rory asked.

"Ace…"

"Logan…"

She pulled reluctantly away and scooped the discarded dresses off the floor. She walked out of the bathroom leaving Logan standing alone. He followed her and surveyed the contents of her wardrobe.

"You should wear this to the Christmas party," he said, pulling out a black dress. The dress had a silk bodice and a shiny tulle skirt that stopped just below her knees. A tiny black belt with a cluster of diamantes sat just under the bust-line.

"Maybe I will," she said, turning to him. She quickly shoved the necessities into an impossibly tiny red handbag that matched her dress.

"You really should. It's my second favourite dress on you," he said. "You look gorgeous in it."

"As opposed to the gorgeous I look now?" she teased. "What's your favourite dress?"

"The one you have on now," he replied as she quickly corrected her side-part and changed her diamond studs to thin silver curls that hung halfway down her neck.

"Logan, I'm not going to change my mind," she said. "We're going to dinner no matter how much you flatter me."

"Rats," he sighed, coining her much-used expression. She wrinkled her nose up at him but smiled anyway.

"You ready, Huntzberger, or do I have to go myself?" she asked, leaving the bedroom.

"Hey, I take less time to get ready than you do," he proclaimed as they exited the apartment. Rory waited until she had locked the door before she replied.

"Now, we both know that's not true," she replied. "I seem to recall sitting in the car before out engagement party waiting for you."

"Come on," he said, as they slid into the lift. "That's hardly fair. You started getting ready hours before me."

"Oh, I did not," she cried. "You're just jealous because it takes me less time to be prettier than you."

"I liked it better when we weren't talking," he said, turning away.

"You don't mean that," she gasped, hitting him with her bag. He threw his arms around her waist and pulled her into him. She looked up at him and they kissed.

"You're right. I don't."

-

"Rory!" Stephanie squealed, getting up to hug her friend. Stephanie's perfume immediately overwhelmed Rory but it was a smell she didn't mind. "I am so glad you're here."

Rory and Logan took their seats after greeting their friends.

"Rory, this is Kate," Finn announced proudly, motioning to a petite redhead with sparkling blue eyes. She smiled at Rory, her teeth a blinding white. "Kate, this is Rory, Logan's Huntzberger and my best friend."

"Aww, how sweet. I'm your best friend," Rory cooed.

"I meant to say one of, love," he replied. Rory poked her tongue out at him and turned to the girl. She held out her hand and Kate took it.

"It's lovely to meet you, Kate," she replied.

"You too," Kate smiled. She caught sight of the bracelet around Rory's wrist and she gasped. "Oh my gosh. That thing is beautiful. It must have cost a fortune."

"Thanks," Rory replied. "It was a gift from Logan."

"Finn, when are you going to start buying me pretty jewelry?" she asked, her eyes shining. Rory and Stephanie exchanged glances but listened to see what Finn's answer would be.

"In time, babe," he replied. "Diamonds should not be brought just for the fun of it."

"But they are purdy," Stephanie chimed in. Kate pouted.

"He's right, sweetheart," Logan added. "Diamonds are worth so much more if they're special."

"Let me guess," Kate smirked. "You pulled some big Nora and Delia Ephron move to get that bracelet to her."

"There is nothing wrong with Nora Ephron moves," he shot back, his face a mix of pure anger and incredulity. "They are incredibly romantic."

"And completely unsubtle and over done," she replied. "I mean, really, what's romantic about a guy doing something that every other guy has already done?"

"In Logan's defense," Rory piped up, exchanging another glance with Stephanie. "Logan has done some pretty romantic, non-Nora Ephron things."

"Yeah?" Kate replied. "Name one."

"Coffee cart, anyone?" she asked the table. Colin, Finn and Stephanie laughed as Logan fumed and Kate looked on in confusion. She glanced over at the girl. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess you just had to be there."

"She's a feisty one," Colin told Finn when Kate excused herself to the bathroom.

"I'll say," Logan replied, still angry.

"Do her parents have money?" Rory asked, realizing how shallow she sounded. It felt so good to be back where she belonged.

"A bit. Not Gilmore-esque. Certainly not Huntzberger-esque," Finn replied.

"So you'll be marrying her within a year?" Rory continued.

"Not if I can help it," Colin answered.

"With someone like her, you'd better get an ironclad pre-nup," Logan said.

"Guys, guys," Stephanie said, holding up her hands. "Maybe we should continue this when the threat of the girl returning isn't hanging over our shoulders."

"Were you always so smart, Gorilla Girl?" Rory asked.

"Oh, there's that pretty nickname again," Stephanie smirked. "I went to the same college as you, sweetheart."

"Did you guys all go to school together?" Kate asked, settling back down. She immediately latched herself onto Finn, sitting as close as she possibly could. She put an arm around his waist and the other one, she lay across his arm so her hand was on top of his.

"We all went to Yale," Logan answered. "But Finn, Colin, Stephanie and I knew each other way before that."

"That's why you all have the same moves," she answered. "I should have known. The Rat Pack, hey?"

"The Swingtown Lads, actually," Logan replied, bitterly.

"U-huh," Kate said, raising an eyebrow. "You're the leader of the pack. Your wife has the biggest ring and the most class. I should have known."

"Whoa," Rory called out. "Back up, Lolita."

"I'm sorry. Did I say something wrong?" she asked, innocently.

"It's fine, Rory," Stephanie replied. "She's just jealous because we actually have rings."

The three women engaged in a stare-off and Kate eventually looked away.

"Let's just order, shall we?" Colin said, quickly jumping in before things got worse. There was an argument over what to order but it was quickly settled.

"You girls actually eat?" Kate asked, in shock.

"We're married," Stephanie replied. "We can afford to eat."

"Actually, Stephanie and Rory are champion eaters but neither of them can beat Lorelai," Finn replied.

"Lorelai?" Kate asked, screwing up her nose.

"My mother," Rory replied. "She has a metabolism the speed of a hummingbird."

The food was delivered quickly and speedily. Rory looked down at her plate and motioned to Kate.

"You really should try some of the chicken," she replied. "It's good."

"I'll stick with my salad," she refused.

"That's they way, honey," Finn joked. "Keep Daddy happy."

Kate looked at him defiantly and turned to Rory.

"On second thoughts, I think I will," she declared.

The night went on and as Kate got over her nervousness, she actually became a nicer person and began to fit in slightly more. It became an enjoyable event and Rory almost didn't want to leave.

"Oh, shoot!" she cried. "It's one o'clock."

"So?" everyone asked.

"I have to work in the morning," she explained.

"Take the morning off, Ace," Logan said.

"I can't," she replied. "Final copies have to be in by noon for tomorrow's bumper issue. I cant have my first big project failing."

"Wait," Kate said. "You have a job?"

"A very big job," Rory moaned.

"She's features editor at the New York Times," Logan said, a mixture of pride and grief in his voice.

"But you work?" Kate asked again.

"Believe me, Kate, I've done everything I can to talk her out of it but she insists," Stephanie said, leaning over the table.

"I'm proud of her," Finn exclaimed. "I think what you're doing is very admirable."

"Thank you," she replied, wryly. Logan stood up and helped her out of her seat.

"I should take the lovely Ace home," he said, flinging some money onto the table. "This should cover our part of the bill."

"Good night, Rory," Colin called.

"I'll call you tomorrow and we'll do lunch or something," Stephanie said, standing to give her another hug.

"Sounds good. Night, new best friend. Night, Kate. It was lovely to meet you," she smiled politely.

"Good night, love," Finn replied. "Don't keep our boy up too late."

"Finn," Kate cried, slapping him playfully. She smiled at Logan and Rory. "It was lovely to meet you both."

They left the restaurant quickly and piled into the limo. They were quiet on the ride home, just happy to be there, sitting with each other.

"So, that was fun," Logan remarked as Rory unlocked the myriad of locks on the front door.

"That's one word for it, Mr. Nora Ephron," she smiled. She opened the door and let him in.

"I'd just like to say that not one of those ideas came from anywhere else but my heart," he murmured.

"Sure," she winked. "I know that your Mum and Nora are close as close can be."

"Didn't you think they were romantic?" he pouted.

"Of course they were," she replied. "And very expensive. Loved the diamond speech by the way."

"It's true," he said. he leant against the doorjamb. "I should let you get some sleep."

"Yeah," she agreed, reluctantly. She leaned forwards and kissed him. "Thank you for a good night."

"Anytime, Ace," he replied. He kissed her again. "So, I'll pick you up at 8 on Sunday."

"Sounds great," she replied. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," he sighed.

"Meanie," she shot-back. They kissed again and Logan finally pulled away.

"Good night, Ace."

"Good night, Logan."

He tipped his imaginary hat and walked away. She watched him as he walked to the lift. The doors opened almost immediately and he turned to her. He kissed two fingers and blew at her. She smiled and closed the door.

It had been a good night.