Dislaimer: I wish I owned them... really... but I don't :'(

AN: Thanks so much to SkitteryIdol who reviewed! You're my first reviewer! And I know that things went a little fast with Rory&Dean in the last chapter, but I wanted to get to the good stuff. But you're so awesome for reviewing! Thanks!

Chapter 3

Morning came too soon, and with it, Dean's absence. Rory found a note from him on the bar, indicating that he would see her back in Stars Hollow. She sighed. What had seemed like an unforgettable night really was forgettable. Glancing around the apartment, Rory found a message on the machine. She pressed the red button to listen.

"Rory, Mom here," came Lorelai's voice. "It's 5:20 in the morning, and you're not in your bed. Wanna know how I know? I'm staring straight at it. Ha, so, I figured you got caught in Hurricane Hartford and didn't make it back to Stars Hollow. Fine with me; I got to keep Paul Anka all to myself, and Luke got the couch. So, call me later so I don't freak that you were in that humungous car crash on the bridge. Bye."

Rory rolled her eyes. Sometimes she had to wonder who was the child in the family, her or her mother. Lorelai could sure give her a run for her money.

There was another message on the machine.

"Rory," sighed Logan's voice, "we really need talk… over the phone, voice to voice. I'm sick of the machine, and I have the strangest feeling you're not even listening."

"Wrong, Ace," Rory mumbled mimickly.

"Look, I turned down my father's offer to head his Paris office. I finally said no to the man. I'm coming home to you… the woman I love. I'm sorry about the family, and all those stupid girls… but I can't erase all those mistakes, Rory. I can only try to correct them. So, my flight arrives in Hartford at 10:30 in the morning. If my math's correct, it should only take a half hour to get through customs, and ten minutes to get to the apartment. Hopefully, I'll be there to surprise you after your classes. Bye, Ace," the machine cut off with a deafening beep.

Rory was left standing speechless at the desk. She could feel her heart rate quicken, and her breathing became slower. Logan… coming home? It wasn't what she had anticipated, that's for sure. Her eyes fell on the clock above the door. If Logan's flight was on time, Rory only had three hours before he'd arrive at the apartment. She took in the shape of the loft, the realization of last night finally dawning on her.

She slept with Dean. Again. In Logan's apartment.

Closing her eyes, Rory hoped the entire scene would disappear. Hoped it was all a nightmare or some delusional dream she'd had from being out in the bad weather for too long. However, opening her eyes, Rory found the same messy sheets in the same messy bed in the same messy apartment. Logan's apartment.

She didn't want this. Not now. She didn't want to be with Logan right now, least of all be in his apartment with him. She wanted to go home… back to Stars Hollow and her mom and Luke, and Lane, and… Dean. She wanted to see him again, to see if the feeling was still the same, not just a long-time-no-see, butterflies sort of thing. A I-love-you-forever, you're-my-soul-mate type of thing.

Reaching into her purse, Rory pulled out her cell phone. "Mom? I need help moving my stuff out of Logan's. I want to come home to Stars Hollow."

------------------------

Lorelai and Luke showed up to help Rory pack up her stuff. They loaded the big, heavy stuff into Luke's pickup with the help of two doormen. The small boxes fit nicely into Rory's Prius, and as Rory was grabbing the last box, Luke and Lorelai pulled out into the midday traffic of Hartford. Rory got into her car and pulled off after them, glancing in the rearview mirror long enough to see a limo pull up in the space her car and Luke's pickup had occupied only moments before. She saw Logan step out, completely oblivious to Rory's Prius driving down the street, out of his life forever. And Rory did nothing but avert her eyes back to the road ahead of her… and Lorelai waving crazily back to her from Luke's pickup.

AN: Please R&R! It's giving me inspiration and encouragement! Also, I try really hard to make Lorelai seem like Lorelai, but it's hard because of how fast she's supposed to talk and how so many of her jokes are based off of popculture/movies/music and stuff, so if any of you guys could give me some tips on writing her character, I'd appreciate it. R&R!