AN: Twenty minutes to midnight on a saturday night so heres the next part LOL! I hope you all enjoy it! and thanks for all the kind workds! I'm glad you are all enjoying it!

Part 10: The Ring

They walked inside of the apartment. Rory took a sleeping Gigi from Finn and put her in her dad's room to finish her nap. She covered her up with a small fleece blanket at the end of the bed then and closed the door leaving it open a crack. She went to her room where she saw Logan put her bags. She emptied them out and separated her things from the guys'. She packed her things in her suitcase, then took the other clothes into the living room.

"These are yours" She said handing the clothes to Logan. "I expect you three to wear these clothes."

"You got it, Ace." Logan said putting them on the desk. Rory smiled as she sat down on the couch and closed her eyes. The guys were watching TV. After they had had lunch with Tristan, they had walked around. Logan, Finn and Colin showed her around the big city. When she had gotten a text from her dad saying that he was leaving early, they decided to go back to the apartment and wait for Chris.

"So, what's your next story, Ace?" She heard Logan ask. Rory frowned and turned her head without lifting it up and looked at him.

"Why?"

"Just wondering." Rory smiled.

"You're just going to have to figure it out when it comes out in the paper now, won't you?"

"I guess so, but what about poor Finn who can't read."

"I can read, I just don't like to." Rory laughed.

"I'm guessing that you can fill him in on the details." Logan shrugged.

"That's only if I remember."

"You'll remember."

"What makes you so sure?"

"'Cause it's going to be an article you won't forget." Logan was about to respond when the door opened. Christopher walked in and the three guys straightened. Rory shook her head.

"Hey sweetie. Have you decided where you want to go for dinner?"

"No, I was thinking we could stay in, order pizza and Chinese."

"That doesn't go together, Babe." Chris said loosening his tie. Rory shook her head.

"Trust me it does, me and mom did it during one of our movie nights." Rory said, then looked down at the thought of her mom.

"Fine, we'll get pizza and Chinese, but we're getting ice cream too. And I'm guessing the three stooges are joining us?"

"Well, the place belongs to Logan's dad."

"Right, right." He turned to Logan.

"You wouldn't by any chance have a phone book around, would you?"

"No, but I know the numbers. I'll go put in the orders."

"Thanks."

"Oh, and be sure to get extra cheesy bread with the pizza and lots of egg rolls." Logan nodded as he went to the kitchen to get the phone.

"So, what did you five do today?" Chris asked as he sat down on the couch where Logan had been.

"We shopped and had lunch with a friend of mine."

"Which friend would that be?"

"Tristan. Then the guys showed me around"

"Sounds like fun, what did you buy?"

"Why?" She teased. Her father smiled and hugged her.

"Just wondering how much of a dent you put in my wallet."

"Oh dad, I would never take advantage of you like that. I spent about seventy dollars down at Hot Topic. Logan bought me the shoes and Tristan paid for lunch. Oh, and Finn took care of things for Gigi." Chris laughed.

"You've got the boys wrapped around your finger, don't you?" Rory smiled

"I'm still working on Colin."

"And we all know that Steph has him all figured out." Finn said having listened to the entire conversation.

"She does not." Colin huffed. Finn laughed as Logan came back and sat on the other side of Rory.

"What are we talking about?"

"Colin and Steph."

"Ahh, the oblivious twosome."

"Shut up, Logan."

"Why are they called that?" Rory asked.

"'Cause their both oblivious that they both like each other, love." Finn answered. Chris kissed Rory's head.

"Is Gigi in the room?" Rory nodded.

"Sleeping."

"Okay, well, I'm going to go change, I'll be right out." Rory nodded as Chris got up and walked towards his room.

"I can see why Colin likes her and why she likes him. Though I haven't seen them together yet, so I have no idea about the level of sexual tension." Rory said

"Oh believe me, it's there."

"All of you just shut up." They all laughed at Colin who was blushing in the end of the couch.

xxxxx

Twenty minutes later they were all sitting around the living room. Chris had changed into some sweats and his white undershirt and was sitting on the couch eating a slice of pizza. Rory was at his feet with Logan next to her. Colin was sitting at the other end of the couch and Finn in the recliner. They had put on "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Apparently Logan had a love for Brat Pack movies and was up with all his pop culture references to where he could keep up with any Gilmore. There was a slight buzzing. Rory frowned and saw her dad fumbling with his vibrating cell phone.

"Hayden... oh hey, just a sec." Chris got up, set his pizza on the table and went towards the kitchen to talk in private. Rory shrugged it off and went back to the movie.

"So, what's you're favorite movie Rory?" Colin asked

"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory."

"Really?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, we rented it every month when I was going to high school, then Luke gave my mom a special addition DVD and we didn't have to rent it anymore."

"You and your mom watched it?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, we did." They left it at that and redirected their attention towards the movie playing. Chris came back out and tapped Rory on the shoulder. She turned to him.

"Can we talk?"

"Yeah." Rory stayed seated though.

"In the kitchen." Rory nodded and set her plate on the table and followed him to the kitchen. She sat down at the island and her father leaned on the counter. He put his cell phone in front of her.

"Call her." Rory looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Lane, Paris, Miss Patty? Be more specific, dad."

"Rory." Rory sighed.

"She called, didn't she?"

"She heard from Paris that you were in New York with me and called to see how you were doing, if you were eating and going out. Talking."

"Well, I am and she had no business calling Paris or you."

"Rory, she misses you. She needs you."

"She has Luke."

"Ror."

"I'm not talking to her. She sold me off to a stranger, dad. God, how many times do I have to repeat thins for everyone to understand?"

"Rory, she did it for your education."

"She traded in my whole life for four years at a high school I hated, okay! That is no excuse, so don't even go there Dad."

"Rory, she's your best friend."

"Lane and Paris are my best friends"

"She's been there for you. She's going to want you at her wedding, in her wedding."

"Well, we'll just see how that goes." She said pushing the phone away from her. "'Cause I'm not talking to her, I'm not visiting her and I sure as hell am not going to Friday night dinners." Chris sighed.

"Don't do this, Ror. Don't cut yourself off from your family."

"They're the ones who turned their backs on me! God! I need space and time and I don't have that! I can't deal with her, I just can't! I can't deal with her or Grandma or the Huntzbergers! God! I would run away, but those damn family ties keep me staying at Yale, hiding out in my dorm room after classes!"

"Ror." Chris said, his voice filled with sympathy. Rory winced.

"I don't want your sympathy, dad. I don't need it 'cause I've got enough of my own. I just need to be alone right now." She got up and walked past the living room, three pairs of eyes following her every move, and into the guest room. She closed the door and walked to the window staring out.

Those damn family ties kept her here. As much as she hated... no, hate was too strong of a word. Rory never hated, she disliked with great passion and that's what she felt towards her family at the moment. Very passionate dislike. As much as she liked Logan as a friend she needed to get her space. Think everything through, get a hold of her life and figure out her life. God, what the hell was she going to tell Dean? How the hell was going to tell Dean? She loved him so much and this was going to kill him. She covered her eyes with her hands and scrubbed her face. Her life was crumbling and she didn't know how to stop it.

There was a light knock on her door. She walked over and opened it. Logan stood there with a plate piled with food. She let him in and closed the door.

"I thought you might be hungry. You only had one slice of pizza, so…" Logan said handing her the plate.

"Thanks." She put the plate on the dresser next to the bed and sighed. "You heard?"

"Bits and pieces."

"What bits and what pieces?"

"I understand the need to have space, Ace."

"You rhymed." He smirked, but continued.

"Hartford gets very confining at times."

"That's why I never wanted that life. The elite social life. I'm not a trophy wife, Logan, and don't plan to be one. I want to finish school, have a career, but I always saw that before settling down with a boy I loved. And I don't..." Rory trailed off.

"Love me."

"Yeah."

"It takes getting used to."

"You don't love me, Logan."

"Never said I did, I just said it takes getting used to. The idea of marrying someone you don't know nor want to know." Rory smiled.

"I keep forgetting you're in this too."

"Yeah, I figured that I'd let you deal with your problems, then pop that bubble. Just know that I know what you're going through, Ace, 'cause I went through it too and still am. It doesn't take weeks or months to like it 'cause, truth be told, I still don't." Rory nodded.

"Thanks."

"No problem." They were silent for a moment, the Logan spoke again. "Listen, me and the guys are heading back. We have some business to tend to, then we're coming for our stuff. So I'll see you back on campus?"

"Yeah, remember the tickets are on your desk. You have to do that review, Logan." He smirked.

"Wouldn't miss it. See ya, Ace."

"Bye Logan, say bye to the guys for me."

"I will." He walked out and closed the door behind him. He walked down the hall and out the door where the guys were waiting in the hall.

"So, where are we going, Logan?" Colin asked.

"We've got some LDB stuff to take care of and I have to stop by the jewelers."

"The jewelers?" Finn asked as he pushed to button for the elevator.

"Yeah, I need to pick up a ring."

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Rory woke up to the rare sight of the New York sun shining through her window and into her eyes. She rolled over and saw the clock. 8:45. Then she frowned. There was a small velvet box sitting next to the clock with a white piece of paper attached. She felt her stomach roll. She knew what was in the box. She reached for the folded piece of paper and took a deep breath before opening it. A small chain fell out and she fingered it lightly.

Ace,

I know that this is a bad time to give you this, but my dad told me that you need to wear it for Tuesday. To the engagement party. Much to my dismay, we apparently have to show up to said engagement party.

You don't have to open it yet, only when you're ready. The chain is to put it on, seeing as you still have a boyfriend, you wouldn't want to be wearing this during your meetings. So put the ring on the chain if you want.

I'll see you tonight, Ace.

Logan.

Rory sat up and picked up the box. She traced it lightly, but didn't open it. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

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Next chapter! The Concert!