A/N: Ahh! It took me like ten tries before FF would let me upload this chapter. Annoying. Anywho, sorry it's been a few days. I'm working on this story as much as I can, but I've started packing for school and finishing up my work. No, I don't go to college - I'm not that old. I go to boarding school. It's a school like Andover or Deerfield - some of the ones mentioned on the show. I'll be a Junior this year, but I've been going there since Freshman year. I've wanted to go to Harvard since I was five and my dad's friend - an alumni - told me it was the best school in the world. While that's a matter of opinion, I've just always wanted to go there. Now you can see what another one of my attractions to Gilmore Girls is:) That and the fact that it's the best show ever. Hehe. And now that you know a little bit more about me, you can read chapter seven! Yay!

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Rory dragged her suitcase into the elevator of her apartment building in New Haven. It felt strange returning with a suitcase even though she'd left without one. After her five days in London she'd ended up having to get one, though. Brushing hair out of her eyes, Rory quickly pressed the button for the top floor.

Being in London with Logan had been amazing, blissful, and relaxing. She hadn't wanted it to end, but as cliché is it is, all must come to an end eventually. He'd waved to her from the metal detectors though, which she couldn't help but laugh at. Rory wondered when she would see him next. Guy Fawkes day was the plan, but when it came to her and Logan's relationship you just never knew. She enjoyed their surprise visits to each other. It made their relationship more exciting and unpredictable.

A ding signaled her arrival on the top floor, and Rory quickly turned to get her suitcase. Turning around, she backed out of the elevator, pulling her suitcase along behind her. Once out, she stopped and dug through her purse for her keys. Upon finding them, she turned around, but immediately stopped and almost dropped them. Rory completely froze, unsure of what to do.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded, after a minute of silence.

"I had to see you."

"You shouldn't have come here." Rory shook her head and took a step backwards.

"Rory, please. I want to apologize," he pleaded with her.

Rory shook her head again and grabbed her suitcase. She determinedly walked towards the door, passing him in the process. Without missing a beat, he followed her. She tried to ignore him, and reached out to put her key in the lock. Gently, unthreateningly, he touched her shoulder, asking her to stop.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled, turning on him in rage. "You don't get to touch me."

"Okay, I'm sorry!" He held his hands up in defeat.

Rory sighed, and crossed her arms in front of her. "What do you want, Dean?"

"I need to talk to you. I need to apologize," he explained desperately.

"Fine," she agreed shortly.

"Can we go inside?"

"No."

"Alright. I guess that's understandable," he admitted.

"I thought you were going to apologize," Rory stated more than asked. She looked at him sternly, unblinkingly.

"Right," he reminded himself with a nod. "I am really, really sorry about that night. I had no right to show up here that night. I was drunk, I was upset. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I wasn't thinking."

"You can say that again," Rory scoffed.

"Rory, I shouldn't have said those things to you, but like I said, I was drunk and upset," he continued. "I'm just…I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry."

There was a pause for a few moments as Rory let his words sink in. "You hurt me," she finally said. "Not just physically, but…it hurt to hear you say those things."

"I know." Dean nodded his head. "And I'm so sorry for all of that. I'll never be able to forgive myself for grabbing you, for saying all of the things I did, but I thought that maybe, just maybe, you could forgive me. Or at least start to forgive me. I'll do anything, Rory."

She stared at him, arms still crossed defensively. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Did you mean what you said?"

He looked taken aback at this. "Well, I…" He stuttered, unsure of how to respond. "I guess…I mean…" Dean sighed and scrunched his eyes up in frustrated though. "I think that part of growing up and moving on is accepting the fact that sometimes you love a person, but they can't love you back." He paused to look at her. "I do love you, Rory. You were my first love. I think it's a different kind of love now, but it's still love." He paused again, but his eyes remained on her. "I understand, though. You're in love with Logan. I don't expect anything." He sighed upon finishing, but Rory remained silent. "Now…would be the time to say something."

"I don't really know what to say." She hesitated on the words and stared in fixation at the ground.

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything right now," Dean assured her with a slight smile. "I just needed you to know that I never meant to hurt you, and I'm sorry. I hope that maybe, someday you can forgive me. Hey, maybe we can even be friends." He waited until she finally looked at him again. "I really am sorry, Rory."

He gazed at her for another moment before turning around and slowly walking towards the elevator. Rory watched him walk away, her mind racing.

"Dean," she finally said.

He turned around to look at her. He wasn't angry or upset, his face was simply blank. "Thank you," Rory said at length, allowing herself a small smile. He smiled back before getting onto the elevator.

Rory unlocked her and Logan's apartment and dragged her suitcase in behind her. Leaving her suitcase at the door, Rory walked over to the couch and flopped down. Not a moment later the landline rang. Rory groaned as she leaned over to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Rory, it's your grandmother," came Emily's harsh voice.

"Oh, hi Grandma," Rory replied in surprise as she sat up, obviously not expecting a call from her grandmother.

"Well," Emily said dramatically. "I'm surprised you even remember who I am."

"What?" Rory asked, baffled.

"You didn't have the slightest courtesy to inform me that you'd be leaving the country. I had to find out second-hand from your mother when she showed up to Friday night dinner alone," Emily explained in annoyance.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Grandma. It was really last minute."

"You had the time to call your mother and the Gazette I'm sure, but of course you can't spare five minutes from your busy life and call your grandmother to inform her that you're leaving the country!"

"Grandma," Rory attempted to reason, "Like I said, it was very last-minute. I was crushed for time, I had to spend the night in the airport. I'm sorry I didn't call you."

"Heaven forbid you should call me once you were in London," Emily continued, still angry. "I'm sure you had absolutely no time while you were there either."

"Well –"

"Did you say that you spent the night in the airport?" Emily asked, appalled. "Why on earth would you do such a thing? That's not proper at all."

"I had a seven AM flight and it took me a long time to finally get a ticket," Rory explained tiredly.

"If you had simply called me in the first place I could have gotten you there much quicker," Emily assured her smugly. "But of course I'm undeserving of information concerning my granddaughter's whereabouts in the world."

"Grandma, you know that's not true."

"Yes, yes it is true, Rory. You didn't even consider the effects that your globe trotting might have on anyone else," Emily complained, not even giving Rory a chance. "You can't just go gallivanting off like Carmen Sandiego!"

"Grandma, that wasn't my intention. I didn't think that –"

"That's right, you didn't think," Emily said angrily.

Rory sighed and rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry, I was under a lot of stress and I just…" Rory suddenly decided that saying she had forgotten probably wasn't the wisest choice at this point in time. "I just had a lot of things going on. I was tired and upset. I'm sorry, Grandma."

"Yes, well, you should me. Richard and I are expecting you this Friday night for the dinner you robbed us of. Goodbye." The phone clicked and Rory groaned as she pressed the 'End' button and sank down in the couch.

She couldn't move. She was tired, stressed, and now she was cranky as well. Jet-lag was a horrible, horrible thing. Rory willed herself to move, but couldn't. She was too tired. "One, two, three," she counted out loud, quickly sitting up on three and getting off the couch.

Dragging her feet, she walked into the kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee. Glancing at the microwave clock, she saw that it was only 3:00 in the afternoon making it 8:00 at night in London. I should probably give Logan a call and let him know I got in okay.

Walking back over to the couch, she picked up the cordless phone and quickly dialed Logan's number as she meandered back into the kitchen. He picked up after three rings.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," she said, trying to sound cheery, but failing miserably.

"Hey you, how was your flight?" He asked, leaning back in his desk chair, happy to have a distraction from work.

"It was nice – much better than the last one."

"Now aren't you glad I made you fly first class?" He asked knowingly.

"Maybe…"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Think whatever you want," Rory said with a huff. "I'm so tired."

"Yeah well, jet-lag will do that," he informed her with a smile.

"Hate jet-lag; must kill jet-lag," Rory told him as she took a mug out of the cabinet and poured herself some coffee.

"Be quiet and drink your coffee."

"How did you…am I really that predictable?"

"When it comes to coffee, you are."

"I don't like being predictable," she whined. "I want to be mysterious, otherwise you'll lose interest."

"You're very mysterious," Logan assured her.

"You lie."

"I do not lie, and stop talking like Tarzan."

"I will talk in whatever manner I please," Rory gave her best attempt at a snotty British accent.

"Your accent is still horrible."

"You hush."

"Do I need to start referring to myself in the third person?" He warned.

"Oh God no, anything but that."

"Logan can be mean, too," he teased, knowing that people talking in the third person was one of her pet peeves.

"I yield."

"Logan: one, Rory: zero," he said with a smirk.

"You referred to yourself in third person again," she observed, sipping her coffee.

"Did not – oh wait, I did, didn't I?"

"Mmhm."

"I'll stop now. That really is annoying."

"So I've barely been home for half an hour and already have had the pleasure of two confrontational conversations," Rory informed him after a pause in their conversation.

"Oh really?" He asked curiously, and Rory could just picture him raising his eyebrows.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I got out of the elevator, and guess who was standing at the apartment door, waiting for me."

"Chuck Norris," Logan ventured.

"No; Dean." There was silence on the other line, and Rory could tell the news had surprised Logan. "Don't worry, nothing happened. He just came to apologize. He said that he didn't mean to hurt me and that he had no right to do what he did."

"Uh-huh."

Rory sighed before continuing. "He went on to say that he hoped I could forgive him one day and we could be friends. I asked him if he meant what he'd said." Rory paused for a moment, composing herself before she spoke again. "And he told me that he still loves me, but in a different way. And he understands that I don't and can't love him back, because…well, because I love you." She smiled at the last bit.

"I see," Logan finally said. "Well, it was nice of him to clear the air with you."

"Yeah, it was," Rory agreed, happy that Logan wasn't upset about the whole thing.

"Did you forgive him?"

"No yet. I'm not sure if I'm ready to forgive him yet. I thanked him, though."

"Well, one day you'll be ready," Logan reassured her. "So what was your second confrontation?"

"Right, well after Dean left I go into the apartment and I'm there for like a minute when my grandmother calls."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes," Rory confirmed evilly. "She started berating me about how I didn't even have the decency to inform her that I was leaving the country. She said that she had to find out from my mom when we didn't show up at Friday night dinner together and that that was simply unacceptable."

"Ouch," Logan sympathized.

"Yes. And there was something about Carmen Sandiego. Oh, and she expects me this Friday night because I 'robbed her' of last Friday night's dinner." Rory sighed.

"Man Ace, you just can't catch a break tonight, can you?"

"Well," Rory said dryly, "Life is a highway. I wanna ride it."

"All night long," Logan supplied with a grin.

"Jeez, Huntzberger. We're not even on the same continent and yet you still try to work blue."

"Every little bit helps," he informed her, still grinning.

Rory sighed and sipped her coffee again. "I should probably let you go," she finally said.

"You need to get some sleep," he informed her.

"Yes that and…oh my God." Her eyes widened in realization.

"What?" He asked, almost concerned. There was no reply. "Rory, you alright over there? Did Emily just burst through the door with a machine gun? Rory, talk to me."

"I'm starting Yale in less than two weeks," she finally responded.

"Yes," Logan replied, unfazed. "Your point being?"

"My senior year at Yale starts in less than two weeks," she revised, her eyes still bulging.

"Don't worry about it, senior year's not that much different from any other year," he assured her.

"This is going to be so weird. I mean, you're not going to be there."

"Well, you survived Freshman year without me. And I'm just a phone call away," he assured her.

"Yeah," she agreed, drawing out the word.

"You okay, Ace?"

"What?" She jumped. "Yeah, I'm fine." Rory rubbed her forehead before sighing. "I think I just need to go to bed. Even though it's barely past three o'clock."

"Yes, go to sleep," Logan insisted.

"Alright, I'm going." She stood up and began to make her way towards the bedroom.

"Sweet dreams."

"Bye, Logan," Rory said, shaking her head with a chuckle. Rory hung up and then proceeded to flop down onto the bed. She didn't even remember her head hitting the pillow.

-

Rory was surprisingly happy to be back at work. She only had a little over a week to enjoy it while it lasted. It was nice to have an agenda, plus she loved being in the newsroom. The thrill of getting that new story was something she lived for.

Chas Murdoch had called her twice that week, reminding her that they needed a decision soon and that she still owed him lunch. Rory was doing her best not to focus on the L.A. job and had surprisingly gotten Chas to agree to give her an additional month after she promised him lunch. Yes, she was bad, but was also willing to donate a kidney for more time on this decision.

A moment later her desk phone rang. "Hello?" Rory asked, sitting back in her chair.

"My father is an asshole," came an annoyed voice.

"Tell me something I don't know," Rory replied with a snort.

Logan grunted out of anger. "I'm at my apartment right now, packing."

"What?" Rory asked, sitting up slightly. "Packing for what?"

"When I got back to work this afternoon after a business meeting, there was a note waiting for me from my father informing me that a plane would be leaving for Sydney, Australia in four hours and I was going to be on it," he explained, all the while trying to button up his dress shirt.

"Australia," Rory stumbled over the word. "You're going to Australia?"

"It's news to me, too," he informed her with a sigh.

"Well, for how long?" She asked, not able to help the emotion in her voice.

"I don't know. It could be a week, it could be a month. For all I know I'm moving to Australia. I am so sick of having no say in my life," he complained angrily. "For once I wish I could just tell him no."

"What's the time difference in Australia?"

"I think it's fourteen hours ahead or something like that," he guessed, still attempting to pack.

"Fourteen hours!" She exclaimed.

"Rory, I know this sucks, but we just have to deal with it. I'll call you whenever I can, but we might have to tone down the minimum of two phone calls a day. I mean, I'm going to be busy with meetings around the clock, and with you starting Yale in about a week…"

Rory sighed and rubber her temples as she sat back in her chair. "I'm going to miss you," she admitted sadly.

"I know," Logan replied with a slight smile. "I'm going to miss you, too. But I have to do this, you know that."

"I do, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Hey, have you had that conversation with your father yet?"

"No, I haven't gotten the chance. I'll talk to him first thing when I get back though," Logan assured her weakly.

"Okay. Oh, I got Chas to give me another month."

"That's good to hear," Logan congratulated her. "Listen, I've got to go. My flight leaves in two hours."

"Okay. Call me as soon as you can. I love you, Logan."

"Bye, Ace. I love you." With that, he hung up, leaving Rory sitting in her chair, still holding the receiver up to her ear and listening to the dial tone.

Logan was going to Australia for God knows how long. Rory swallowed the lump in the throat and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. No, she would not cry. Crying never solved anything and this was no exception. She was sick and tired of crying. It made her feel weak, and she knew she wasn't weak. With a soft sniffle, she hung up the phone and rubbed her eyes. "This is going to be okay," she assured herself. "I just need to focus on my article. Okay."

"You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity," came a familiar voice. Rory looked up to see Lorelai standing there.

"Mom!" She squealed, jumping up and hugging her mother.

"Rory!" Lorelai squealed as well as they hugged each other tightly.

"What are you doing here?" Rory asked incredulously as they separated.

"Well I haven't seen you in ages, so I decided to come here and kidnap you. Force you to eat lunch with me," Lorelai explained with an evil grin.

"It's Friday, Mom – I was going to eat dinner with you at Grandma and Grandpa's," Rory reminded her with a grin.

"Yeah, but that's no fun," Lorelai scoffed and waved her off. "Come on, ditch work and come out to lunch with me."

"Well…"

"Come on, Rory, please," Lorelai begged, pouting.

"Alright, alright. Let me just get my stuff."

"Yay!" Lorelai exclaimed immaturely as Rory grabbed her things. "So where do you want to go?" Lorelai asked once they'd reached the parking lot.

Rory sighed in resignation. "Luke's," she announced.

"Luke's as in Stars Hollow Luke's?" Lorelai asked, confused.

"Yes."

Lorelai was about to say something, but then grinned. "Luke's it is. I'm driving."

-

"Luke!" Lorelai yelled half an hour later as she and Rory walked into the diner. "Ror-Ror's here! Come feed us!"

Rory and Lorelai took a seat at a table as Kirk walked up. "What can I get you ladies?"

"Kirk, you don't work here," Rory told him.

"Yes I do!" He insisted. "I have an apron and everything."

"Kirk, your apron says 'Winner, 2003 Mother-Son Cake-Off'," Lorelai explained, looking at him sympathetically.

Kirk looked down at his apron. "Yes, but it's still an apron, signifying that I am a cook."

"Kirk get out!" Luke grumbled, coming up next to him with a pad and paper. "Hey, Rory."

"Hi, Luke," Rory said happily.

Kirk stalked off and plopped down at the counter.

"What'll it be?"

"A large coffee," began Lorelai, "And a double cheeseburger with a side of chili fries."

"Oh, me too!" Rory exclaimed. "But I want onion rings, too."

Luke shook his head as he wrote it down. "How your arteries aren't clogged still amazes me."

"Wow, thanks for the words of comfort, Sweetie," Lorelai said sweetly. "I love you, too."

"You know what I mean." Luke turned on his heel and walked off to prepare their lunches.

"I missed Stars Hollow," Rory announced a moment later.

"Stars Hollow missed you," Luke said as he came over and poured them each a big cup of coffee.

Rory smiled up at him. "I missed Luke's coffee most of all." Rory picked up the mug and took a big gulp.

"So," Lorelai said excitedly, "What's the what in the life o' Rory? How was London, how's the Gazette, come on, tell me something."

"London was amazing, but we talked about that on the phone last night. The Gazette is busy, and I'm so excited for school to start!"

"You are the only kid I've ever known who used to sing along to the songs on those going back to school commercials," Lorelai reminisced sadly.

"It's the most wonderful time of the year," Rory sing-songed. "I can't believe I'm going into my senior year at Yale though."

"Seems like only yesterday you were in diapers."

"Those were the good old days," Rory said happily.

"So how are things with Logan?"

"Ugh, his father's making him go to Sydney for awhile," Rory explained with a frown.

"Sydney as in Australia?"

"Finn's homeland, yup," Rory confirmed with a nod.

"Is streaking illegal in Connecticut?" Kirk asked, walking up and standing next to their table.

"The fact that you would even ask that is very disturbing to me," Lorelai dead-panned.

"And on that note, let's just say that yes, yes it is," Rory added with a scrunched-up nose.

"Damn," he mumbled, walking away slowly.

"This town hasn't changed one bit," Rory said happily as a double cheeseburger with chili fries and onion rings was placed before her.

-

Yeah, the end is weak. I have some ideas for the next few chapter though. And now you can review and tell me what you think!