Flashback in italics, if it isn't obvious...

Chapter 2:

Lane sighed as she opened the door to the limo and sat inside softly. She had the daunting task of informing everyone that the wedding was off and she sure as hell wasn't looking forward to it.

Turning to her right, she saw Paris in a heated debate with Stephanie (they had never really gotten along) while Lorelai and Lane were talking about married life, in general being the only two with husbands (other than Lane).

She decided Lorelai should be the first to know, probably (and for her own safety) followed by Paris, so she quietly the two women form their separate conversations and over to the far corner of the stretch, where she herself was seated.

At the two girls' questioning glances, she began. 'Uh, Lorelai, Paris?" she started, biting her lip nervously.

Both were a bit tipsy, but managed to settle down at the look on Lane's face. Lorelai frowned, while Paris got a thoughtful expression.

"Where's Rory?" Paris asked, suddenly noticing the lack of host.

Lane cringed, "Well, that's what I came to tell you about," she said.

A small giggle could be was heard from Honor and Stephanie who where flirting with the limo driver. The Korean girl ignored it and continued, "Rory's not get married tomorrow."

Lorelai set down her drink and focused intently on what Lane was saying, "What?"

Lane pulled the ring out of her pocket and handed it to Lorelai, "Rory called off the wedding. Now I have to tell Logan, cancel the plans, and sit by the phone, worrying about when Rory's going to call and if she got there okay."

"Where? Got where?" Lorelai asked somewhat frantically.

Lane looked at Lorelai guiltily. "I don't think I should be the once to tell you. This kind of thing should come from Rory. I don't really understand it myself," she admitted.

Paris chimed in after a pregnant pause, "So now that Ken is gone, how are we going to inform everyone?"

"First order of business is to tell Logan, and I guess Rory's grandparents since they are paying for the whole shebang. Then we wait for Rory to call," Lane considered.

Lorelai sighed again, "Not something I'm looking forward to." She turned to Lane, "Are you sure she's sure she made the right decision?"

Lane nodded, "She said something that sort of surprised me , but at the same time it didn't. You know what I mean?"

"Not really," Paris said. "So who's going to tell bimbo one and two over there that Rory's not coming back?"

Lane volunteered reluctantly, ""I'll do it, I guess. Lorelai is too drunk and you, well Paris, you can be a little abrasive."

Honor and Stephanie stood up, finally noticing Rory wasn't there. "What's going on?" Logan's sister asked, confused.

Paris and Lorelai sat back, letting Lane take the floor. "Rory called off the wedding," she told them bluntly.

Stephanie blinked at her and Honor gave her a disbelieving look, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Rory gave back the ring, decided she couldn't marry him, and ran of to- to take care of some things," Lane said slowly.

Stephanie bit her lip, baffled, "Why would she do that? He's a Huntzberger."

Paris raised an eyebrow, ready to retort, but Lane cut her off warningly, "She didn't love him enough, or the right way to marry him."

"She's going to get in so much trouble," Honor said, letting out a low whistle.

"I know. I wouldn't be surprised if Emily and Richard disowned her," Stephanie replied.

Lorelai got up, ready to defend her daughter, "Hey. Wait just a second. Rory did the right thing calling off the wedding before it happened. Don't put her at fault here."

"We can't just go looking for somebody to put the blame on," Lane said, mediating. "We've got to tell Logan."

Stephanie stood up, "Not me. I'm not doing it."

"Me neither," Honor stated.

Lorelai sighed, "Logan and I have never rally gotten along."

Lane looked at Paris. "I've never met him."

Paris threw her arms in the air, "Fine. I'll do it. But can this wait until tomorrow morning?"

" Paris. Telling a guy that his fiancé just called off their wedding isn't something you can just hold off telling him. If I were you, I'd go now," Lorelai told Paris exasperatedly.

"Well aren't we glad for that fact," Paris shot back. "You know, for all this trouble, let me at least get a ride to wherever the hell he is in the limo."

"Fine." Lorelai rolled down the window separating the front and back, "Hey, driver. Take us to "The Off Spot."

Paris glared at Honor and Stephanie as they giggled at hearing the name. "What?"

Lorelai looked at Paris apologetically, "Uh, Hun…it's a strip club."

Paris glared, "Nope. I'm not going into a room where dozens of women degrade themselves for a few dollars. It ain't happening."

Lane thought for a second, " Paris, you don't like Logan, right?" At Paris' head shake she continued, "Well, think how fun it'll be to embarrass him in front of all his friends and all those other guys. It'll be like a tribute to all women of the world."

"Fine. But only because I want to hurt him. Bring him down." She emphasized her point with an exaggerated fist.

Lane sighed, "Good. Let's go, then."

Honor and Stephanie frowned, and Honor leaned in towards Lane. "That wasn't very nice," she said, "He's going to be heartbroken."

Lane nodded, "I know, but it's the only thing I could say to get her to agree. I feel bad for the guy."

"Okay." Stephanie let out a long breath. "This is going to get more and more interesting as the night goes by," she mumbled.

Rory Gilmore smiled as her boyfriend of about two years led her into the nicest restaurant in Hartford. She shrugged out of coat, hanging it lightly on the back of her chair before sitting down and smoothing out her dress.

Logan Huntzberger flashed her a grin and sat down across from her, reaching for her hand. "What do you think of the restaurant, so far?"

She looked around appreciatively, "It's really nice. Are we celebrating something special tonight?"

"You could say that," he said, furtively.

She nodded, "I've heard of this place before. Their Peking Duck is supposed to be amazing."

"You're grandparents recommended it actually. They have pretty good tastes."

"Apparently." Rory picked up her menu, "We just have to hope that their food is as good as everyone says it is."

"I'm sure it will be."

They spent a few nice minutes talking quietly until the waiter came to take their order. Both chose the seafood special, and enjoyed it immensely as the night went on. After their meal was finished, Logan cleared his throat.

"Hey, Ace."

Rory smiled, "Yeah?"

"So…we've been dating for a few years now, and you're graduating soon, right?"

She nodded, "Yeah…"

He shifted in his chair, a little nervous, "I love you, you know that, Rory?"

"Yes, Logan. I love you, too," she assured him, her face holding a confused frown. "Where exactly is this going?"

He reached his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a velvet black box. Rory gasped, raising a hand to her mouth in shock.

He flipped open the lid to reveal a large princess cut diamond nestled in a grouping of littler diamonds on a thick white-gold band.

Reaching for her free hand, he grasped it with his own, a soft small on his face. "Rory Gilmore, will you marry me?"

She bit her lip. She definitely wasn't expecting this, but…it wasn't really all that much of a surprise, either. She knew she was going to say yes, but while wiping the tears away from her eyes and nodding her head, she couldn't help but see the flash of a certain someone from her past; dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes, dark everything. Dark.

She kissed her oblivious boyfriend…no, fiancé enthusiastically, all the while trying to get Jess Mariano out of her head, and Logan Huntzberger in.

Paris groaned as she stepped inside the strip club where Logan's bachelor party was gathered (at the moment). The flashing lights, the men reeking of sweat and alcohol, and the lack of any clothing on the women were all grating on her last nerve.

She pursed her lips and marched through the throng of people, not caring who she shoved and pushed, trying to find Logan. She was a woman on a mission and no one could stop her.

She caught sight of his spiky blond hair towards her left; sitting on a chair and getting a lap dance from a voluptuous redhead.

She smirked. "Hey, Huntzberger!"

He apparently didn't hear her, or was ignoring her.

She tried again, louder, though. " Logan Huntzberger!"

She caught his attention. He frowned at her, and waved the stripper off his lap, stuffing a few singles down her bra. He made his way over to Paris, beer still in his hand.

" Paris."

She sighed. "I'll cut right to the chase. Rory finally came to her senses and she called off the wedding."

He paused mid-sip, and brought the bottle down from his lips. "What?" he asked, confused, disbelieving.

"You. Rory. Over. Off. Kaput. No more. Is that too hard of a concept for you to grasp?"

His eyes widened and he took a large swig of beer. "That's impossible," he scoffed.

She rolled her eyes, "No. It's not. She doesn't want to marry you anymore. I don't know the whole story, but I know it's over between you two. She made that pretty clear."

She furrowed her brow in thought. "Hold on." Paris stuck her hand in her pocket and pulled out the ring, dropping it into his outstretched hand. "Here."

He inspected the ring, almost as if making sure it was real, and that he had it, not Rory.

Paris huffed impatiently, "Now, if my work here is done, I'm going to get going."

Logan nodded mutely, still processing. If it was at all possible, Paris' eyes softened in pity. "Look, I know you love her, but get over her. Don't pine, or waste your efforts trying to win her back with money and power. It won't work, this time, Huntzberger."

He didn't give her any reply, and she took this as her cue to leave.

He brought his eyes back up to the back of the retreating blonde, "Paris!"

She turned her head, irritated scowl in place. "What now?"

"Is it someone else?" he faltered.

Paris sighed. "I don't know the details, Logan." At his sad expression, she relented. "I think so."

"So she was cheating on me?"

Paris shrugged. "I doubt it. Rory Gilmore wouldn't do that. All I know is that she called up an old friend and is going to stay with him for a while."

Logan nodded, sitting down in a chair. Paris watched for a moment, a little worried, and even more concerned that she was worrying over Logan. She shook her head and went back to the limo; to the anxious faces of Rory's friends and family.

A/N: Sorry it took so long. And for the lack of any Litness. I have what I'm gonna do for next hcapter already in my head, so I just need to get around to typing and editing and all that crap. Please don't let the boringness and potential suckiness of this chapter keep you from reviewing. I was shocked at the number I got...And now I'm addicted. Wanna see if you can break the record? Get 20, this time. C'mon, I know you can do it!

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