Stunned, I slowly turn to face him. "Please don't do this right now Dean."

"I came in here to try to work things out with you. To apologize for last night."

I sigh. "I appreciate that, but face it. You were right. You don't fit into my life anymore, and I don't fit into yours."

"You're being ridiculous. I was angry that you were late."

"Dean, I have way too much going on right now to worry about you. I don't want to worry about you. I don't want to be with you. We were lonely, we were scared, and we ran for the familiar. Or, you know, I did. Either way, it was wrong." I smile at Logan who has walked up. "We should get going. We're picking up the stuff for movie night."

"What about the thing with Lane?" he asks softly, ignoring Dean.

"Who's your new toy Rory?" Dean clips.

I close my eyes. "Go home to your wife Dean." I turn back to Lane. "Stop by my mom's when you get off. We need to talk to you about something. A few things actually."

She nods, and then looks at Dean. "I hate to do this, but you're going to have to leave Dean. Luke said he doesn't want you in here anymore."

Logan and I walk out of the diner quietly as Dean begins to argue with Lane loudly. "You okay?" he asks calmly, pulling me closer to him.

"I will be. I…Dean was a big part of my life for a long time."

"I suppose I'm not allowed to hit him?"

"I wouldn't." I warn.

"Can I get Colin or Finn to hit him?"

"Again with the not so much, no."

"So you're saying 'no bodily harm for the grocer'?"

"That's correct." I agree, and narrow my eyes at the sparkle in his. "What are you planning?"

"Nothing." He smiles.

"Yet."

"Therefore nothing." He grins as I lead him into Doose's. "Hey, what are you up to after this thing on Thursday?"

"No specific plans."

"Don't make any. I've already got us some."

I shrug. "Whatever."

"So, that was the Lane that's having issues with her roommates?"

"Being the fact that one of them is her boyfriend, but they don't sleep together or go out, well, ever?"

"Yeah. Why isn't she just on her own?"

"Can't afford it. Most of her money goes to band stuff."

"So if a person had a relatively empty house nearby that needed a caretaker, you know, maintenance and the like, would she be up for it?"

"She won't take charity Logan, and I won't let you ask her."

He laughs a bit. "Interesting theory, but no. Steph's parents stayed here for a couple weeks a few years back and fell in love. They bought a house in town, but don't have time to upkeep it, and really only visit in the summer. Something about a firelight festival?"

I freeze in the middle of throwing the mini marshmallows into the cart. "Stephanie is the Malone's daughter?"

He nods. "It's a three bedroom house, which means one is empty, even when they're there. I could call them and mention I met a hardworking, reliable girl who works at the diner and is having issues with her roommates."

I pull him into a hug. "Thank you."

He pulls back slightly after a beat. "I really do think this could work Ace." He whispers softly, pushing a piece of hair out of my face.

I smile. "I'm not sure why, but I do too."

He nods, and then tilts his head and the cart. "Just how much of this stuff are we buying?"

"All we still need is the licorice." I say, and pull away to grab the largest bag off the shelf, before heading to the counter to pay Taylor.

We walk along in relative peace and he stares in amazement as I spread the assortment across the coffee table. "You've got enough for an army here Ace."

"Except we don't." I comment lightly. "I've got enough for four people." I say, hitting the send button on the ringing phone. "Lorelai Leigh's House of Pain, Chief Whipping Girl speaking."

I nearly collapse laughing at Logan's astonished face. "I'd like to book a semi-private session of tooth rotting with your blonde, blue-eyed pain master tonight. Is he available?"

I lower the phone and smirk at Logan. "A Lorelai Victoria Gilmore would like to book a semi-private session of tooth rotting tonight. Are you available?"

"You're insane." He deadpans.

I lift the phone again. "He is indeed available, what time should I book you for?"

"You can expect my surly companion and I in approximately twenty minutes."

"You convinced him to come?"

"Not recently, why do you ask?"

"Dirty." I comment dryly.

"I definitely like grown up Rory." She says softly.

I smile. "I do too. I'll call Kirk. May the Force be with you."

"And with you my young padawan learner."

I hang up, and begin to dial the pizza place. "What?" I ask Logan calmly.

"Do you always answer the phone that way?"

"Usually just when I'm here, or when I see my mom's name on my cell's caller ID. Its one of our favorite ways to piss Grandma off."

He nods slowly, and flips open his ringing cell as Kirk answers.

"You're where?" Logan asks incredulously into the phone. "Oh god. Okay, talk to the owner, tell him you need to come here…Ace's house…he's her mom's boyfriend…yes, the hot brunette making out with him…What? Oh, hello Lorelai…you're sure it's okay?…I'll tell her." He ends the call abruptly and sighs. "Finn, Colin, Steph, Paris and Lane are coming with them." He says. "Your mom said she'd make the consumption adjustments, you just have to order the pizza."

I grin. "Yeah Kirk? Could you add another pepperoni and a sausage to that?…Thanks Kirk." I hang up and turn to Logan. "Did you say Paris?"

"Finn, Steph and Colin went to your room looking for me. Just to warn you, I think Miss Patty went after Finn and Colin. Steph was laughing her ass off."

"They are aware that alcohol is strictly forbidden under the Willy Wonka code of 1995, right?" I ask seriously.

"The pardon? I doubt it though, but there's plenty of candy for – why are you making more room on that table?" he asks.

"Five more people means more candy is necessitated." I flop down onto the couch next to him.

"There's a hundred and fifty dollars worth of candy there already Ace. Plus we're getting pizza."

"Have you ever seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?" I ask carefully.

"No."

"It's tradition to induct newcomers to the Gilmore Girl environment by fire. In our case, the fire is one of gluttony. If you survive –

"I COME BEARING THE KEEPER OF THE HOLY GRAIL!" my mother's voice shouts as the door bangs open abruptly and Logan jumps as I stand.

"All hail the holy grail; let it impart its caffeinated goodness upon us!" I respond enthusiastically.