AN: First of all I have to say I was rather disappointed at the lack of reviews. Now I understand the chapter was a filler and so did not really contribute to the story, but it really made me realize how nice it is to get reviews. It's always cause for extra encouragement since I am writing for an audience and it's nice to have a reaction. Positive or negative (I prefer constructive). Anyhow, thank you for those who did leave me a message. They are all greatly appreciated. :)

Secondly, this chapter holds some GRAPHIC CONTENTS yet I did not deem it explicit enough to up the rating. I usually write said scenes in a way that they can be omitted from the story without loss of context, but in this chapter I have failed to do so. Therefore my apologies.

Thirdly, again this chapter does not show much progress, but for some reason my chapter get so long. lol. So I am keeping a chappie or 3 in mind for the events of Rose' birthday. For that too I apologize I can't really help it, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

Now without further due. Chapter 22. Enjoy! And please review :)

Eva.

Disclaimer: Do not own Gilmore Girls.

Chapter 22

"Running for the Hills"

"Come on! Wake up!"

Logan groaned when his (soon to be ex) girlfriend launched herself at him and poked his cheek.

"WAKE.UP. Let's go!" She shouted in his ear.

He managed to open one eye and peered at the alarm clock that in bright red digits indeed confirmed that the woman laying on top of him was out of her mind.

"It's 4 freakin' 30 in the morning, Rory. Go to sleep!" He growled and hid his head under the pillow.

"No. Let's go! You can sleep when you're dead. If we leave now we can be there before noon." She shook his shoulder and when that didn't work decided that her teeth would do a better job.

"Ouch! Have you lost your mind?!" He rubbed the sore spot she had just viciously attacked and pushed her off of him.

"How much coffee did you have?"

"4 mugs and I have some waiting for you in the kitchen as a bowl of cereal and a bagel. The paper isn't there yet, but you can watch CSPAN. Do you love me or what? If I had your slippers ready I would totally give Lucy a run for her money," she chirped.

"The paper isn't there yet because all normal people – unlike you – sleep at 4.30 in the morning! Even Lucy! As for the loving you. I totally dislike you right now."

"You know you don't mean that."

"Oh I mean that. Now leave me alone and wake me in at least 4 hours!" He closed his eyes again and turned off the light on the bedside. However, not even a whole 30 seconds later an audible click and a red gaze behind his eyelids told him it was once more shining bright. A fraction of a moment later his covers were brutally pulled off of his body and he shivered when the cool air hit his skin.

"Rory!" he exclaimed. She was acting like a maniac much like Finn's windup hopping lederhosen.

"Logan!" He suddenly knew very well how it had to feel to be in an army boot camp. It wouldn't surprise him if that turned out to be more pleasant and if she was not going to seize the madness right this second he was going to enlist. She had been bouncing off the walls for a week now about going to Rose' for her birthday, but this was pushing the amount he could handle.

"This is abuse! You, Gilmore, are abusing me! I am stuck in an abusive relationship!"

It was silent for a moment and he felt the mattress shift under another weight. Unable to open his eyes he prepared himself for poking, hitting, biting, or any other painful ordeal she could possibly throw his way. Instead she placed a trail of kisses on his jaw.

"Pleaaaase." Sure, there was the worst one of all: begging, "Pretty please with whipped cream and a cherry on top." He had to be strong. She surely had to stop some time.

"Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please!" The kisses traveled to his neck, his collar bone and shoulder. Then he heard her sigh and lay her head down on the pillow. Finally, victory! It was unfortunately short-lived.

"PUHLEAAASE!" He flinched and let out a frustrated roar before opening his eyes.

"Fine! I'm up! Jesus Christ!" He slung his legs over the edge of the bed and turned his head to give her a grouchy look. She was laying on her side, her head propped up with her hand, looking at him with big innocent eyes and a sweet smile on her face.

His body almost ached as he made his way into the kitchen and sat down at the counter burying his head in his hands and rubbing his face. Rory wasn't far behind him and sat down on the adjoining stool pushing the mug of steaming coffee within his reach. He lifted it up and put his lips to the rim, taking a careful sip. She was staring at him, with sparkly eyes like a kid on Christmas morning waiting till it was time to open the presents. That thought however was too quirky at this time of day and he preferred to look at her as a druggy on speed, which in a caffeinated way she was.

"What?" he asked her when she didn't seize the staring, "I'm up, aren't I?"

"Yep, you are." She bobbled her head in agreement, "Now, drink faster." He set down the mug and gave her an exasperated glare to which she only charmingly batted her eyelashes. The money he would pay to be able to truly from the bottom of his heart hate her. Unfortunately that luxury seemed not to be for sale.

The sun was already well on it's way up when the silver loan car turned on the sandy road towards Round Hill. It was so much different than the last time Rory had been there. The sheet of white was largely gone except for a lost muddled patch here and there. The trees were, short for a few pines, barren, the grass a filthy brown. Yet it still breathed that something special and when the stone manor appeared from behind the hill she was once again struck by the beauty of this place. She looked at Logan, who suppressed a yawn and put her hand over his, giving it a light squeeze. He met her eye and reciprocated a smile when she leaned in and kissed his cheek. She was going to make up for the brutal way she dragged him out of bed that morning. Nevertheless she wasn't sorry she had. She had looked forward to this weekend with so much eagerness that those last few hours had nearly made her go insane. This place was always going to have a special place in her heart. Not only for its magnificent location and its utterly lovable inhabitants. It was the beginning of them. It was the place where she finally started figuring out Logan, a place that deepened her love for him, a place that led to them being together and a place that caused her to return. Maybe without Rose' help and without the things she had learned here, they would be a distant memory instead of something she hoped would last in the future. She also hoped that this would tackle the new strain on their relationship, since it seemed to stir something in Logan last time. Maybe he could open up to her about his father, seeing as he still avoided the subject like the plague and each time she tried to pry something out of him chose to turn sour.

The car ceased and the engine stopped running.

"We're here," Logan sighed unbuckling his safety belt.

"We are." Rory smiled radiantly and opened the door hopping out of the car. Her feet had barely touched the ground when a hurdle of K-9's came storming around the corner.

"Napoleon!" she exclaimed happily when the smallest one of the 4 bounced up against her leg, his tail seemingly wagging him instead of the other way round. The rest of them stayed a few feet away, the monotonous barking not scaring her this time round. She crouched and scratched the Chihuahua's ear as Logan opened the trunk.

"What is going on here? Doggies! Back off!" Rory looked up and the familiar female voice came indeed attached to a bunch of scarlet curls and shining green eyes.

"Can I help you?" Rose asked coming closer.

"Well I don't know," Logan started pulling a bag out of the trunk, "We are here to see a man about a horse."

"Logan!" A radiant smile appeared on her face, "And… Rory?" Rory got up from the ground and smiled. Rose enveloped her into a tight hug.

"So very nice to see you, hon! I didn't recognize your car."

"It's a loaner," Logan explained coming closer, "My old one is probably at the junkyard. There was a run in with a moose."

"Oh my God! Are you okay? Is he okay, Rory?! He looks tired. Are you okay?! Were you in the car too?!"

Logan chuckled kissing her cheek.

"I'm fine, Rory is fine. Everyone is fine… except for my car and the moose. As for the being tired part I think you should ask Rory. It was after all she, who dragged me out of bed in the middle of the night. "

"You two are early. It's only 10."

"I couldn't sleep," Rory shrugged.

"Hear that?" Logan shouted from the back of the car again, "She couldn't sleep!"

Rose winked at her taking her arm.

"Come on, I'll make you some coffee. Hurry up, Logan."

Both women giggled when he groaned mumbling something about being dictated and ordered around as they made their way inside. The house hadn't changed. As grand as it was on the outside, as welcoming and warm it was on the inside. The mob of dogs scurried past them. The only thing now missing was Frank. Rory expected him to appear in nothing but an apron each moment now. Yet they turned into the kitchen and there was no sign of Frank's presence.

"Frank is in town," Rose voiced her thoughts grabbing a set of mugs and the steaming coffee pot. "We didn't expect you so early."

"I didn't expect us here so early either," Logan agreed sitting down and grabbed a cookie from a large plate sitting on the counter.

"So…." Rose started, filling three mugs to the rim and setting them on the counter, "How many bedrooms do you two need? Two like last time? Or will one suffice?"

"One is fine," Rory smiled.

"Definitely two," Logan said gravely, "and I want mine with a lock on the door, preferably two."

"Oh, Rory," Rose laughed, "What have you done to him? Broken in to his apartment and set his bed on fire?"

"Breaking in?" Rory snickered, "I did no such thing."

"The wonders of living together…" Logan sighed sipping his coffee.

"Living together you say?" Her eyes sparkled as she gave Rory a radiant smile, her glance holding a silent 'I-told-you-so' in it, "When did this happen?"

"Last month."

"Last month… So this is relatively new, huh?" Her smile reminded Rory of the Cheshire cat in Alice in wonderland.

"And short lived. After today we are so over. I want you out by next week," he declared.

"No you don't," Rory grinned slinging her arms around his neck and brought her lips to his ear, "Who else would wear the black lace boy shorts?" she whispered.

He turned his head, his eyes wide. He was such a guy. She smirked.

"Are you?" he asked incredulously.

"I might."

"You are ruthless today."

Rose watched the display with amusement, thrilled to see the girl back, and overjoyed to find Logan so whipped by her. She was good for him, whether she knew it or not. And something she had suspected the first time he brought her here, now shone through clearly: He loved her to bits. She had known deep down that such a girl would cross his path at one time or another, a girl who would persuade him to settle. It made her all that more happy that that girl was Rory.

"If you want to lay down for a couple of hours, Logan, your usual room is ready as always…" she offered.

"I think I will. How it is you function, I will never understand," He told Rory kissing her cheek and unhooking her arms from around his neck, "You two, be good." With that he disappeared around the corner.

"So I take from this you are 'defined' now?" Rose winked and Rory could not help but blush slightly, "I told you it would play out well."

"Yeah… I guess you did." She smiled taking a sip of coffee.

An hour of coffee, cookies, and Rose' company later, the redhead had to get back in the saddle and Rory, Rory decided that she was going to lay down as well. If there would be sleeping was highly doubtful, but laying down she would do…and make up for being such a pain that morning.

" Uhu…you go do that," Rose winked and Rory's head turned into an oversized tomato. The woman had either freakishly mind reading skills or she had a sign on her forehead saying naughty things.

"I'm just tired…that coffee buzz is working off…" she mumbled.

"Sure!" Rose flashed her perfect teeth.

"Really!"

"Uhu." Before Rory could come up with a convincing protest Rose was out the door. Rory sighed and rubbed her flushed face, before climbing the stairs and quietly opening the door of their bedroom. The closed orange curtains didn't block the sun entirely, instead they enveloped the room into a peaceful golden glow. In bed, on top of the comforter lay Logan. His chest slowly moved up and down as he breathed in and out, his arm draped over his stomach. She watched him for a while, so serene and carefree in almost a boyish way and suddenly felt exhausted herself. Stepping out of her shoes she made her way to the bed and laid down curling up besides him. With a smile she lifted up his arm and draped it around her shoulder as her head found its way on his chest. He moved and she bit her lip laying as still as possible hoping he wouldn't wake up. He didn't. His arm tightened around her and he let out a deep sigh. Rory closed her eyes and drew in his scent, so compelling, sexy, so distinguishingly him. At times she still wondered what a guy like him was doing with a girl like her and yet laying in his arms felt so safe and a sense of belonging and satisfaction seeped into her soul. Of all the things she doubted or felt insecure about it was never his love for her. How could something feel so right otherwise? She finally saw what had been missing with both Dean and Jess. Dean had loved her, unfortunately no matter how hard she had tried she could not reciprocate that love. Sure she had loved him and he had been the best first boyfriend a girl could have, but there was never that want, that need, that deep connection. Jess she might have loved at a certain point and vice versa, however they had never had good timing: not when it started, not when it ended. She wondered at times how he was doing, what he was doing, she hoped he was happy and in a way they would always be kindred souls, but unfortunately nothing more. It just hadn't been written in the stars. And then there was Logan, with his on first sight entirely opposite personality, completely different background, and yet….everything felt so right. There was not a place in the world she would rather be than here in this bed, with his arm tightly around her. She had grown so much with him, because of him. He had pushed her off so many scaffoldings and with every jump she made she loved him more. He had supported her yet never honed to criticize her either. It had surprised her how wise he could be in tough situations, how logical and caring. Except for one…his own. Logan Huntzberger could conquer the world, but the monsters in his own closet were eating him up from inside. Maybe this place would do him good. Maybe he would open up towards her. Maybe she could help him. Her mind became drowsy and she tried to open her eyes but a deadweight was sitting on either of them. She surrendered.

Logan became aware of the sound of chirping birds, rhythmic hammering in the distance and the cracking of floorboards as someone walked past the room. He also became aware of the weight on his arm and the fact that said weight let out a snore. He opened his eyes and looked at Rory, who let out another snore. Not very surprising since she was laying face down, her head buried in the pillows and his armpit. It was astonishing she could breathe at all. He tried to move but as always she let out a grunt, clawed her fingers in his flesh, and adjusted her position to the exact same discomfort. He chuckled and ran his hand down her spine, sneaking underneath her sweater, his fingers grazing the warm skin of her back, intentionally tickling her side. She twitched and groaned coaxing another chuckle. For a moment he closed his eyes again listening to the sounds around him, drawing imperceptible patterns on Rory's back and almost falling back in a slumber, but similarly to him, a hand sneaked under his sweater and shirt as fingernails lightly scraped over his abdomen. He only smirked, continuing the lazy blueprints on her skin. She suddenly moved and rolled away from him. He was about to open his eyes when her sleepy voice told him otherwise.

"Keep them closed." His arm fell back on the bed as he obeyed, his smirk still firmly in place. The seconds felt like hours as he heard soft the rustling of fabric.

"Now," she said, "look at me." He lifted his eyelids and drank in the sight of her creamy skin against the contrast of lush black lace. The swell of her chest, the soft curves of her hips, her endless legs, her abundant curls pooling over her shoulders and he realized that it was not the lingerie that made her look incredible. It was the fact that she was standing in the middle of the room, barely dressed and seemingly feeling comfortable with it, him staring at her. There had been a transformation in her since he first met her. Somewhere in those months she had transformed from a cute, shy girl, into a self-confident, stunning woman. He himself felt stuck. Stuck in the past, stack in the present, simply stuck. Yet, as long as he had her he was going to be ok…everything would be ok.

"Are you going to say something?" She asked, "Anything?"

"Come here." He smirked.

"Come here?" She cocked an eyebrow, setting her hands in her hips, "That's what you have to say? Because let me tell you these knickers are not nearly as comfy as they are promiscuous and I have been wearing them all day just for this moment, just because you begged me to, because I wanted to make up for this morning. And now all I get is ' come here'?"

He laughed and sat up against the headboard.

"Please."

With an eye roll and a sigh she came to him and he pulled her down to sit next to him.

"You look very sexy," he smirked.

"That's more like it," she chuckled with a slight blush, "However, I sense a but…"

"BUT," he grinned, "it is not the promiscuous knickers… seeing that I love you most when you only wear the moonlight and my kisses."

"Ouch, Huntzberger on the cheesy tour."

"Ha. Ha. I mean it. You are sexy…whatever you wear…or not wear," he winked.

"So grandma underpants are the next piece of undergarment I am going to purchase then."

"Don't push it," he grinned pulling her in for a kiss.

"So are my attempts to make up at least acknowledged?" she asked in between kisses, now straddling him her hand running down his bare chest. The lamp across the room had caught his sweater, the shirt was laying in the middle of the floor.

"Hmm…no…I think you need to convince me more," he mumbled nibbling on her bottom lip as his hands reached around her and he skillfully unhooked the black bra. The sight of her smooth skin was just so much better. Sliding the straps down her arms he nuzzled the valley between her breasts as she arched her chest up to him her head falling back in bliss as he replaced his nose with his lips. Rory buried her fingers in his messy locks keeping his head in place, grinding her hips against his and coaxing a moan. And then he suddenly stopped.

"Don't stop," she whimpered, her eyes firmly shut.

"Ehm…yes…please… continue," a foreign voice said and her eyes popped open and her head flicked around in plain horror. There stood Frank, looking like a moose after one too many fermented apples. Before her head could turn purple out of shame he had closed the door behind him and she could hear him make his way down the wooden stairs in a rapid pace, missing a step and only barely keeping from falling. She turned back to face Logan who opened his mouth ready to say something but burst out in laughter instead. She was too stunned to speak. Frank had just seen her in all her glory…

"He…" She started in a high-pitched voice sending Logan in a second wave of laughter. Before she knew it her hand collided with his cheek and the slap echoed through the room. He seized laughing and gaped at her as she, seemingly shocked herself covered her mouth with her hand.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry!"

"I.CANNOT.BELIEVE.YOU.JUST.DID.THAT!" he shouted with furrowed eyebrows.

"I'm sorry! I don't know what has gotten into me!" She felt horrible, "I really didn't intend to and I didn't- I'm-"

"I think you knocked a tooth out!"

"I-"

"I'm tasting blood. You could have disfigured me." His eye twinkled and she raised her eyebrow contemplating hitting him again.

"Are you contemplating hitting me again?" he voiced her thoughts.

"Yes."

"Please don't. You have a mean right hook there, Gilmore."

She sneered at him and he chuckled, his hands running up her sides again and he leaned in to kiss her. Rory, however, pushed him away.

"Oh come on…" he pleaded, "I was just kidding."

"It's not that. I can't-," She got off of the bed and started putting her clothes back on, "not after…I mean…" She stopped.

"Oh my God! I can never go down there again!" She stated in a raised whisper.

"Rory…"

"You will have to feed me! You will have to bring me food, because I can never go down there again in my life! I will die in this room!!" she rambled.

Logan sighed. Damn Frank. Now he needed a shower, a cold one to be precise. He got off the bed as Rory buttoned her pants.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Shower."

"I'm sorry. I just-"

"It's fine, Ace. But you are going down. I'm not gonna leave you up here for-"

"ETERNITY!" she cut him off.

"I was going for the weekend…but yes, okay, eternity," he chuckled.

As he disappeared in the bathroom and she heard him turning on the water she put on a pair of socks, and dug a book out of her bag. Curling up in the chair, she tried to block out the recent occurrences by losing herself in Northanger Abbey and the mystery surrounding Mrs. Tilney's death.

She had her nose in a book as he walked out of the bathroom feeling slightly more awake and slightly less turned on. Yet she, absentmindedly biting a nail as her eyes flew over the lines, made him ache for her once more. He grabbed a fresh undershirt from his bag and pulled it over his head, a clean white shirt followed. He threw it on and started buttoning it as Rory turned a page and then another one. He squinted to see what it was she was so entangled in and smirked.

"Hey, Catherine," he called.

"Huh?" she looked up a bit confused and he winked at her, "What do you say we go grab some lunch?"

She blinked a few times then shook her head.

"I'm not going down. EVER."

"I beg of you, miss Morland. It is not that big of deal. Frank is probably just as embarrassed as we are and everyone will pretend it has never happened."

She rolled her eyes and let him pull her off the chair and into his arms.

"I'm not going. So don't you smirk at me. I am perfectly fine up here."

"Now I MUST give one smirk, and then we may be rational again." She chuckled against his shoulder. He really did remind her of Henry, sarcastic, intuitive, clever with his witticisms and flirtations.

"Either come with me, Catherine, or be harassed by a queer, half-witted man."

"Boy, when you're on, you're on," she shook her head.

"Is that a yes?" He asked with smiling eyes.

"I guess," she sighed, "But one remark about it and I'm up here and one joke from you, Henry, and you will have to get used to manual labour."

"Ouch."

"As long as you know it."

"I love you, crazy lady." He leaned his forehead against hers and she returned his smile. Her heart still fluttered each time he uttered those words, for he seemed to use them sparingly, but when he did it showed in his eyes, made her feel warm and truly loved. She sighed closing her eyes.

"You're okay too…"

TBC…