AN: Yay, another chapter; aren't you guys excited? I think you're going to like this one, plus it's nice and long. I don't know what's up with me and my long chapters lately but I hope for your sake I keep it up. Guess I just must have a lot to say. Thank all of you guys for your awesome response to all of my stories. I love you all for reading, especially those of you who leave reviews. Thanks guys.

Rory stood in the doorway of her grandparents' house. It was their usual Friday night dinner only Lorelai was out of town and Jess had attended as per Emily's request. The evening had started off bad when Jess was late and gone down hill from there. He had shown up with a black eye and refused to tell Rory where it was from—though Rory had a pretty good idea it had something to do with Dean. Jess hadn't been happy when he found out that Rory and Dean had both been at Miss Patty's for the dress rehearsal of her one woman show. When Jess continued to evade her questions about his eye, Rory pulled him aside and accused him of starting a fight with Dean. Jess had gotten defensive but refused to deny the claim. The argument that had ensued had been awful and had ended with Jess walking out without so much as a goodbye.

So now, Rory was waiting for a cab to take her home, since Jess had been her designated ride. Rory had considered staying the night at Emily's, a suggestion that Lorelai had made even before the fight had occurred, but Rory was feeling more than a little humiliated and wasn't in the mood to stay there. How she had managed to convince Emily that a cab was an acceptable form of transportation, especially for a young girl at night, was beyond Rory, but somehow she had.

"The taxi's here Grandma," Rory alerted Emily as she watched the headlights pull up in front of the gate.

"OK," Emily, acknowledged, joining her granddaughter in the foyer. "Here's some money for the fare."

"Oh, that's not necessary, Grandma, really." Rory protested.

"Nonsense. Now, be careful and remember to call me when you get home. Maybe I should go outside and meet with the driver…"

"I'll be fine, I promise," Rory reassured her.

Emily looked a little uneasy, but gave in. "Alright, if you insist. Bye dear."

Rory gave her grandmother a peck on the cheek, said her goodbyes and left. She climbed into the car and the cabbie turned around. "Where to, lady?" he inquired.

Rory thought for a moment. She had told Emily that she just wanted to go home but the truth was, Lorelai wouldn't be there and Rory didn't really feel like being alone. It was too late to go to Lane's, since Mrs. Kim had a strict, "no calls of visitors after 9PM" rule, and she couldn't go to any of her Chilton friends because they were not currently on very good terms due to a student government snafu that had left Paris feeling betrayed. Rory sighed before give the driver her answer, "Yale," she told him. "Berkley Hall."

The taxi driver nodded and drove off.

Logan was getting ready for his date that evening and just as he was sliding the gel through his hair, he heard a knock at the door. He wasn't sure who it could be since Colin, Stephanie and Finn were all at the Pub, having no dates of their own for the evening. He finished massaging the hair product into his scalp and made his way to the door.

"Hi," Rory said meekly as he opened the door. Logan took in her appearance and was instantly worried. Her eyes were bloodshot, her arms were crossed insecurely over her chest, and she kept her gaze firmly on the floor by her feet.

"Ace?"

She bit her lip nervously. "Can I…" she motioned to the inside of the dorm room.

"Oh yeah, of course," he replied, feeling like an idiot for not inviting her in in the first place. He led her into the room and sat her down on the sofa.

"What's going on, Rory? Everything was fine this afternoon before I dropped you off at Richard and Emily's."

"I just um…had a really bad night and Mom isn't home and I didn't want to be alone…and I shouldn't have come here. It's Friday night, you probably have plans. I'll just go," Rory motioned to stand up but Logan pulled her gently back down to the couch.

"How did you get here?" he asked.

"I took a cab. I was just gonna go home but…"

"You didn't want to be alone," he finished for her.

"And then I thought about Lane but it's too late, her mom is really strict. And then I thought maybe Paris or someone from Chilton but there was this whole big political scandal at school, very Watergate, and now Paris isn't talking to me."

"Watergate, huh?" he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled a little.

"I don't suppose you were the Deep Throat," he teased.

"Logan!" she gasped, turning bright red at the innuendo.

"You can stay here, Ace. Don't worry about it," he said, moving back on topic.

"But it's Friday night, you must have a date. And you gave up another Friday night to help me out with the whole Gigi thing, I can't ask you to cancel your plans again."

"I was just going to the Pub to meet the gang," he lied. "I spend more than enough time there as it is. We can stay here and watch a movie or something, or if you're up to it we can go meet them," he suggested.

"Are you sure? Because I can just call another cab and…"

Logan cut her off. "Rory," he said sternly.

"Right, umm…let's go to the Pub. I don't want to sit around and sulk anyhow and this way you don't have to cancel your plans."

"You're sure? It's a lot less low key at night than it is in the afternoon, but it's still fun. If you'd rather stay here though..." He didn't want her going just because she felt bad about barging in on him. He really didn't mind staying in with her. That wasn't weird, was it? He wasn't exactly the 'stay in kind' of guy but with her…it didn't sound so bad.

"No." She shook her head adamantly. "I don't want to stay in." She wanted to go out and forget all about her stupid fight with Jess. She wanted to forget his jealousy and his rudeness and how embarrassed she was at how he spoke to her and her grandmother. She wanted to forget about him.

"OK, let me just go call the others, let them know we'll be there soon," he replied, standing up. Really he had to go call Cindy…or was it Mindy? Candi? Oh well, what's her name would get over it.

Ten minutes later they found themselves walking across campus, making their way to the Pub. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Logan finally asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"It's just…the whole 'meet the grandparents' thing didn't go so well."

Of course, Logan had forgotten all about that. He should have known her bad mood had to do with Jess. He tried to contain the anger he was feeling. "What'd he do?"

"Well, it started with him being late. Grandma was surprisingly good about it, but I wasn't quite so happy."

"Uh huh…" he prodded her on.

"Well, when he finally showed up, I opened the door and there he was with this huge black eye."

"A black eye?" he asked. Just great, not only was the guy a jerk, he had violent tendencies too. If Logan ever found out he so much as laid a finger on Rory…

"Yeah, and he refused to tell me how he got it, though I'm pretty sure I know…He got really upset when he found out that I had been at this thing with Dean, even though it was completely innocent. I told him as much but…"

"You think he started something with Dean?"

Rory nodded her head in answer.

"Has he…gotten into a lot of fights before?" he asked, trying to tread lightly on the topic so as not to make her defensive or upset with him.

"Once or twice," she admitted.

Logan stopped walking and turned Rory to face him. "He's never…" he paused, trying to find the right words to ask this.

Rory stared at him for a moment, before realizing what Logan wanted to get at. "What? Logan, no. Jess would never hurt me; that's ridiculous. What would even make you think that?"

Logan breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry, but you're talking about him getting in fights and stuff…I just had to ask."

"Well you can stop asking now because he would never do anything like that."

"OK," he said, concedingly. "I'm sorry." He wasn't sorry. She was his friend and he cared about her and he had every right to be concerned, but he certainly didn't want to fight and as long as he knew she was alright, he'd let it drop.

"That's alright, but can we talk about something else now?"

He nodded his head. "Alright, Deep Throat, tell me more about this Watergate scandal."

"Logan!"

The entire group sat around a table at the Pub talking about nothing in particular. They had been there for about a half an hour and Logan decided it was time for a drink. Standing up, he looked around the table. "Anybody need anything from the bar?"

Colin and Finn both requested a refill on their scotch. "Ace?" Logan asked.

"You know I don't drink. Besides, I'm not 21; you know they won't serve me. Come to think of it, you're not 21 either."

"Nope, I'm 22," he replied.

"What are you talking about Logan? You're 21st birthday is in May."

"Is that so?" Logan pulled out his wallet and handed her his license which did, in fact, state his age as 22.

She carefully examined it. "This looks real."

"It is real," he assured her.

"How is that possible?"

"Let's just say I know a lot of very powerful people at the DMV."

Rory just rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll take that as a 'no drink for me, thanks,'" he said, laughing.

"I'll pass."

Alright then. He went off to the bar and Rory continued chatting with the rest of her friends. He came back with three scotches a few minutes later and rejoined the discussion.

"So, Love, you never did tell us what brought you back here tonight," Finn asked after they had been talking for a while.

Rory sighed. As much fun as she was having, she still couldn't completely get her mind off the events from earlier that evening. "I got into a fight with Jess; I don't really want to talk about it." She looked around the table. This was ridiculous, she was at a bar hanging out with her friends and everyone was having more fun than her. She wanted to be having fun too; she didn't want to be sulking over her boyfriend. Acting quickly, before she could talk herself out of it, she reached her hand out and took hold of Logan's glass. Picking the glass up, she took a big swig and immediately started coughing. "Ugh, that's disgusting. What is that?"

Logan laughed at the horrified face she was making, and the scotch that had wound up all over the table instead of down her throat. "That would be scotch, Ace."

"It's awful," she replied, but went ahead and took another sip, this one much smaller. "Yep, definitely awful."

"Why don't I get you something a little more your style," Logan suggested.

"No, Logan, I'm fine," she insisted.

"Well I won't have you wasting my perfectly good drink by spitting it all over the place. Now I need a refill." Logan stood up and walked off to the bar. When he came back he placed a martini glass with a brownish liquid, in front of her.

"What is this?" she asked him.

"Coffee martini," he replied. "Thought I'd start you out with something close to your comfort zone."

She looked at the drink tentatively for a few moments; it was one thing just to try Logan's drink, but something else completely to have her own. She let her gaze trail around the Pub at all the happy people sipping at their drinks. She wasn't going to sit here and feel sorry for herself, she was going to have fun. She picked the drink up and took a sip.

"Oh my god, that's sooooo much better than that disgusting scotch."

Logan laughed. "I thought you'd like it. Just don't go getting too drunk, Missy," he instructed.

Rory rolled her eyes. "I'll try and contain myself."

"Dear lord, what is she doing?" Logan asked, several hours later from his seat at the table.

"I think she's dancing." Stephanie replied.

"Dancing? Are you sure? Because to me it looks more like a seizure." Rory was currently on the dance floor looking very happy with Finn.

"She's just having fun," Stephanie said dismissively.

"There's fun and then there's…spastic. I don't get it; I only gave her two drinks. I know she's a lightweight but how the heck did she get that drunk off two measly coffee-tinis?"

"Well…" Colin began guiltily.

Logan gave him a look. "'Well' what, Colin?"

"I might have bought her a drink too."

"A drink?" Logan asked skeptically.

"I swear, only one, but…."

"But…" Logan prodded.

"Well, I may have seen her doing shots with Finn before."

Logan's eyes went wide in panic. "Shots...? Colin, shots? With Finn? She was doing shots with Finn?"

"Umm…yes."

"Oh dear god, that is not good." Logan looked at his watch. It was nearly 1:30 in the morning anyhow, and the Pub closed at 2. "I should probably get her to a nice cozy bed to pass out in."

"Might be wise," Stephanie agreed.

Logan stood up and walked out to the dance floor. "Hey, Ace. I think it's time to go."

She gave him a pouty look. "But Finn and I were dancing."

"Yes, if that's what you want to call it. Still, I think it's time we head back."

"You're going to steal my wonderful dance partner away?" Finn asked, aghast.

"Sorry, Finn. But I'm sure with your...skills, you won't have trouble finding someone to dance with you."

"True, the ladies do tend to be quite enthralled by my spectacular moves. Bye, Love," he bid Rory adieu.

"Bye Finny!" she said happily.

Logan turned around with Rory's hand in his and came face t.o face with a blonde girl who looked slightly familiar…and then it hit him. "Cindy!" he said, as cheerily as he could.

"Mindy!" she reminded him snidely.

"Yes, yes, I knew that," he insisted.

"You seem to be feeling awfully chipper for someone who was so horribly ill not four hours ago," she accused.

"Well, what can I say, it musta been one of those 4 hour flu bugs." He forced a smile.

"And to think I actually fell for that stupid line, and instead I find you here with this…this…floozy" she said, pointing angrily at Rory.

"Hey!" he insisted. "Watch it."

"Go to hell, Logan Huntzberger," the girl spat at him before storming away.

"Well that went well," Logan mumbled to himself. He turned to Rory, "Come on."

Rory didn't move. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked angrily.

"What?"

"You were supposed to have a date with that girl tonight?"

Logan glanced at Rory, a sheepish look upon his face. "Maybe."

"You lied to me. You told me your only plans were to come here and hang out with the gang. You lied. You lied to me and you apparently lied to her…and you couldn't even remember her name; what the hell was up with that?"

"Rory, if I told you I had a date you would have insisted on leaving; you were upset and you had nowhere else to go. What did you want me to do?"

"No, I don't care. You should have told me the truth. You lied. What is up with guys and lying? Is it so fricking hard for guys to tell the truth once in a while? Is it like, some genetic thing, like color blindness or something that only guys get that makes it impossible for them to tell the truth? You're all alike…you, Jess, everyone. I can't trust any of you," she ranted. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and stormed off in the direction of the exit.

Logan stood there in shock for a moment until he saw her push open the door of the Pub and leave. She had nowhere to go in New Haven. What the hell did she think she was doing? He started to follow after her.

"Logan!" some girl squealed, stepping in front of his path. Great, just what he needed, another clingy girl to throw herself at him and fuck things up even more.

"Listen…umm…"

"Brittany."

"Right, Brittany. I can't really talk right now."

She gave him a pouty look. "You don't have time for little old me?" she asked as flirtatiously as she could. "I promise I could make it worth your while."

"That sounds really...great," he tried to refrain from rolling his eyes. "But I'll have to take a rain check. I'll call you."

"Promise?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Uh huh," he nodded impatiently.

"Fine," she pouted.

"Bye," he said, side stepping her and making his way outside. He looked around but saw no sign of Rory.

"Shit!" he cursed to himself. He stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to do when he heard something around the corner. He walked around the building and found Rory on her knees, head buried in a bush, retching up the contents of her stomach.

He sighed, partially in relief, partially in worry over her current state and partially in disgust; he was never great with sick people. "Rory."

She lifted her head up to look at him, wiping at her mouth. "I don't feel so good," she mumbled.

Logan chuckled slightly. "Well that's what you get for doing shots with Finn," he playfully scolded her, reaching a hand out to help her up off the ground.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"I'm sorry I lied to you," he responded.

"You were only trying to help," she mumbled, leaning into his side for support. Somewhere in the back of her mind she marveled at how quickly she could go from being so hyper to being ready to pass out, but mostly she was too drunk to think at all.

"I know, but I shouldn't have lied. I want you to be able to trust me."

"I can," she nodded her head into his shoulder as they began the walk back to his dorm. "I shouldn't have compared you to Jess. You're not Jess. I can't trust him. I want to, but I can't." she mumbled. "You're way better than Jess. I can trust you. You're nicer and funnier and waaaay cuter."

Logan's step faltered momentarily. Had she just said what he thought she said? But, no, it was just drunken rambling. Even if she had, it didn't mean anything. He continued walking, her whole body leaning against his, her arm wrapped around him for support. It didn't mean anything. She was with Jess, she wasn't developing feelings for him, and he hadn't felt that way about her since Thanksgiving, had he? Nope, he definitely hadn't…didn't. They were just friends. He accepted that. It was all they would ever be.

They walked the rest of the way to the dorm in silence and he let them in. "You can take the bedroom," he told her.

"No, Logan, your bed. You take it," she insisted sleepily.

"Ace, I'm taking the couch, and you're in no position to argue with me."

She sighed as she followed him into the bedroom. "Sit," he told her, helping her onto the bed. He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a pair of old sweat pants and a t-shirt for her that was a size small on him as well as his usual sweats and t-shirt that he slept in. "You can sleep in this." He handed her the clothes. I'm going to go change in the bathroom.

He walked out of the room and went to the bathroom to change and brush his teeth. When he finished, he walked back to the bedroom and knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," came the mumbled reply.

He opened the door and immediately stopped to stare at the sight before him. Rory was sitting on the bed, tangled up in the t-shirt, her sweater still on. He bit back a laugh.

"Having some trouble there, Ace?"

"Can't get this stupid thing on," she mumbled petulantly.

"Well for starters, you have your arm in the neck hole. Also, it helps to take off your other clothes first."

He watched her as she struggled to get herself out of the mess she had made. As it became more and more apparent that she was so drunk she no longer had the motor skills to get changed, he realized what he had to do."Here, let me help you with that," he said, walking up to her. He helped her take the t-shirt off then went to reach for her sweater. She immediately crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him in shock.

"Rory, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. If it makes you feel any better, I'll keep my eyes closed." She just sighed and reluctantly uncrossed her arms. "See, now I know you're really drunk if you passed up such a prime opportunity to mock my ability to undress a girl with my eyes closed."

"No mocking, too tired."

He chuckled a little. She was cute when she was drunk. "Stand up." He instructed. She did as she was told. He threw the t-shirt over his shoulder and closed his eyes, reaching for the hem of her sweater. He lifted the sweater over her head, then reached for the t-shirt. The shirt dropped from his hands as he tried to orient it properly. Crap! Apparently he wasn't as good at this whole 'undressing a girl with his eyes closed' thing as he thought he would be. He fumbled around for the shirt but couldn't find it. Reluctantly he opened his eyes, locating the shirt. Without thinking he stood up again, not closing his eyes. Her shirtless torso came into his view and he stared in awe. He knew he needed to look away, close his eyes. He wasn't supposed to be looking at her that way, but damn! was she hot.

"You're way better than Jess. I can trust you. You're nicer and funnier and waaaay cuter." Her words from earlier came flooding back into his head. He squeezed his eyes shut again. She was drunk; she didn't mean it when she said that. And he, well he was a horny 20 year old guy with a half naked girl in his room, it wouldn't be normal if he didn't want to look. It didn't mean anything. Only what about everything else? She showed up at his door crying and he comforted her…he wasn't exactly the kind of guy who comforted crying girls. And he had cancelled his date for her. He had spent an entire Friday night in a hospital waiting room with her just because. If that didn't mean anything…and that's when it hit him—he had it bad for Rory Gilmore.

He quickly pulled the shirt on over her head and opened his eyes. "Umm, sit down," he instructed nervously. She did as she was told. He lifted her feet and pulled the sweat pants legs over her own, sliding them up until they reached the hem of her skirt. "Stand up." She stood again and he shimmied the pants the rest of the way up her legs underneath her skirt before unzipping the skirt and pulling it off of her.

"Okay done," he said hastily.

"Mmhmm," she mumbled, falling back on the bed.

Logan stood there for a moment, not sure what to say or do. She was lying flat on her back, that wasn't good. She already threw up once, she could do it again.

"Rory, you have to lie on your stomach."

"No move!" came the terse reply.

"Rory," he walked over to her and helped her turn over. There was no way he was getting her under the covers so he grabbed a throw blanket and tossed it over her. He moved the garbage can by her side.

"Night Logan," she said softly, and barely coherently.

He stared down at her, half asleep, her hair cascading over her face. He bent down and pushed it back behind her ear. "Night, Ace," he whispered. He backed slowly out of the room and closed the door behind him. He fell back against the door and let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. Shit! What was he going to do now?