Disclaimer: See Chapter 1...or 2, 3, 4, or even 5. You have a plethora to choose from.

- Chapter 6 -

Stars Hollow was usually a very vibrant town at night. The citizens made it a fairy tale out of a book by draping lights across shop windows, trees, and the gazebo in the center of the town. And there was always someone out in the streets: couples holding hands, kids leaving the BWR movie, or Kirk following up some crazy scheme of Taylor's. However, the center of the town was as alive tonight as a vacant roach motel.

Rory was still trying to get over the loss of Dean when she spotted the familiar, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, leather jacketed young man sitting on the bench across from Luke's Diner. She pulled her car over and climbed out.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

He held out a cup of coffee. "Brought a white flag, Ace." He nodded toward Luke's and added, "I had to pay off some weird, schitzophrenic dude to go in there and buy me two cups. Appears Luke has no liking for me any longer."

"Smart guy," Rory said, taking the warm beverage and taking a sip. She didn't sit down, though. "I repeat, what are you doing here?"

"Came to ask for forgiveness," Logan said with a sigh. Seeing the look of skepticity on Rory's face, he added, "I love you, Ace."

"No, you don't."

"And how do you know how I feel?"

"A) it took you four weeks to realize it and B) because I don't love you."

It hurt. Rory could tell from the look on his face. But it was the truth, and that's what made it hurt. And it needed to be said. She didn't love him, only his company… sometimes. And he didn't love her, only her unbelieveable stubborn streak of never backing down and always up for a challenge. That was their relationship… and it was finally over.

She thought.

Logan wasn't one to give up on her so easily. "Rory, I love you. Please, trust in me that I am giving up that entire life. I'm a new man." He stood and moved close to her, cradling her cheek in his hand. "Losing you has made me realize that I do love you." He pulled out a box and dropped to his knee, opening it to reveal a beautiful, diamond engagement ring. "Will you marry me?"

Neither Rory nor Logan saw the dark blue truck sitting down the street. Neither saw Dean's lips purse together, his hands gripping the steering wheel more tightly. Neither felt the rush of guilt he did, realizing he was a little too late. And neither saw him drive off, out of their lives. Again.

Rory stared blankly at the ring.

Logan had done everything she'd asked him to do. He'd given up his family and life to be with her because he loved her. And here he was, asking her to spend the rest of her life with him. But something felt wrong about it. Did she love him? Slowly she shook her head, and a confused look came across Logan's features. She didn't get that feeling in her stomach when she was with him. That feeling of forever that she got only when she was with Dean. And as much as she knew Dean wasn't going to be her one and only, her gut instinct was screaming at her to say no to Logan - that this isn't meant to be, no matter how upset she is that she lost Dean and he found someone else.

"I can't Logan," she mumbled, her hand clasping her mouth as a sob worked its way out. With sad, puppy eyes, she shook her head again. "I can't because I don't love you. I love someone else."

Logan nodded levelly. He closed the box and stood, dusting his pants off. With what looked like an unusually perturbed look, he calmly asked, "Who?"

"Dean," she said simply.

"That guy from last year? The one from your grandparents' party?"

Rory nodded. After a pause, she furrowed her brow and asked, "How did you…?"

"I've met your other boyfriends, Rory," Logan said with a misplaced grin. That cocky grin he always wore. "None of them ever seemed to hold such a devastated look in their eyes at the prospect of losing you or having already lost you to a guy like me.Dean did. If I didn't love you as much as I do, I would probably still feel the guilt of what relationship I destroyed that night. However, I never would've gotten you if it hadn't haveturned for the worse, huh?" It wasn't so much gloating as a statement. And Logan truly looked hurt by the pain he'd caused.

"We got together," Rory admitted. "Things got a little far, and we slept together."

Logan looked a little taken aback by this. Perfect, chaste Rory had cheated on him? He quickly reminded himself that he and Rory hadn't really been a couple - they'd broken up some time ago, though he'd let her stay in his apartment till the end of school.

Rory was rubbing her eyes now. "I'm, um, pregnant, Logan," she said.

That's what really shocked him. Not hurt, just shocked.

"And I, uh, don't think he loves me anymore. I mean, why should he?" she asked, the tears coming again. "Look at what I did to him. First Tristin, then Jess, and now you. I was never fair to him. And he's found someone else again, and, and… what am I going to do? I can't tell him about the baby now, can I?"

"Whoa, whoa, Ace, slow down," Logan said, wrapping her in his arms and kissing the top of her head. "You don't need to worry about any of that. He loves you, I know, believe me. I saw it in his eyes. All he ever had eyes for were you. He'll see how stupid he's being, and then he'll come and rescue you. You'll live happily ever after."

Rory scoffed and sniffled, pulling away. "What if he doesn't?"

"Then he's an ass, and he doesn't deserve you. You're strong, you can make it. And I know Lorelai will help in any way she can," Logan added, "and worse comes to worse, you've still got me, Ace."

"But we can't…"

"As a friend," he stated. He cocked his head to the side and tried to lock onto her lowered gaze. "That alright? We can be friends still, right?"

Rory smiled and nodded, sniffling again. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks, Logan."

"No problem."

With another hug and kiss atop the head, Logan bid Rory farewell and headed toward his car. Rory smiled toward the night sky as she made to climb in her own car. Someone up there was either toying horribly with her emotions, or sending her signs that it would all work out in the end.

AN: Okay, this chapter went a little better than the last. I tend to jump ahead of myself, though. I know this is totally bipolar of the characters in the series... they would never act this way, but I felt bad that Logan and Rory couldn't be friends. And I completely forgot that Logan and Rory were already engaged in the TV series, so I'm sorry about that. Too late to fix it.

As always, Read&Review! and tell me what you think.