I hope everyone had a good New Year. This chapter is going to take a small break from the family issues of the last two chapters, but there will be more in chapters to come. Originally I was going to make the Allison character do a scheme, but since I am running out of time of Rory and Logan in New York and have so many storylines in this story I decided to drop that. Therefore, Allison will just gossip, I am sorry if there was build up to that in chapter 15 this is my first story after all and I am learning about mistakes to avoid. I might have a story about a columnist who does a scheme in another story.

August 26th 2004

The ballroom in the Met was decorated beautifully in colors of silver and blue. There were three different bars; one of them was made of ice, which impressed Rory. It was pretty much the most elegant party that she had ever been to. Although the food was a little small and not quite edible for her taste. Logan had made sure that she had gotten to talk with people who weren't so boring or shallow, since he did feel bad for bringing her there. This seemed to work well; Rory seemed to engage well in conversations with them and even among some of the most obnoxious people Rory seemed to stand her ground well. Lorelai had been wrong. Rory wasn't having the time of her life, but she wasn't bored to tears or having a horrible time either. True, there were some that Emily would describe as insufferable, but there also were people who seemed kind, well read, and intelligent. She knew some of that was Logan's doing since he wanted to make sure she had a good time. Rory smiled at how Logan would do everything to make her happy, and then tried to remind herself to murder those evil butterflies. They were appearing more often lately, especially since their almost kiss just yesterday.

Rory was talking to Hugo Grace who owned an online company. He seemed like a funny and intelligent guy, who seemed to take an interest in her work. Logan had gone to talk to someone that he told Rory was boring.

"So, Rory, remember to send me some of your work this school year, and I will make

sure that you will have work in the near future" Hugo said and caught Rory off guard with that comment.

Rory was flattered. "Really?" She asked and Hugo nodded. She then noticed Logan gesturing her by the ice bar. She nodded at him giving him her understanding, than turned back to Hugo.

"Thank you so much. It was lovely talking to you" she said with an appreciative smile. "However, I have to go talk to my friend."

Hugo handed Rory his card, and than said "Logan is a keeper you should try to hold on to him."

Before Rory could say anything Hugo had already left. A little confused Rory turned around and walked up to Logan at the ice bar. "Thanks for introducing me to Hugo. He was really nice."

"See, I promised you would like that guy." Logan said smirking.

Rory laughed. "Really? Because I think I preferred Prescott and his ancient story about his chandelier."
Logan grimaced: "Ace, please tell me you're kidding because I heard this story like a hundred times and it's so draining."

"Of course I am" Rory admitted with a smirk of her own. "The way he drags on and on about how old that chandelier is, makes the story longer than how old the chandelier itself is. I never want to look at another chandelier again. You should take the one in our apartment down."

Logan liked the way the words "our apartment" sounded on her lips. "I will get right on it the second we get home" he promised.

"Don't forget the one in the study where I peruse books."

"Of course, I don't want the chandelier to get in the way when you sniff books" Logan said having a hard time holding back his laughter.

"Logan, what are you talking about?" She asked although a part of her knew what he was referring to.

"I have seen the way you sometimes take some leather bound classics to your nose, and you sniff them." Logan teased.

"Logan, don't mock my book sniffing. I just love the smell of old classics!" Rory defended.

"I'm not mocking. I actually think it's a cute habit. Although I'm not sure if it's legal because sometimes I'm afraid that you would OD from all the books you've inhaled." Logan continued to tease.

"You think you're so cute, Logan, you the guy who goes to a million bars and college party where you'll actually have a bigger chance to OD" Rory reminded him.

"Hey I display rational behavior at a party." He defended. That was somewhat true; Logan hardly did hard drugs at a party unlike some friends he had.

"This coming from the guy who burned half of Finn's dorm, while trying to light fireworks" Rory said sarcastically.

"How do you know about that?" Logan asked in amazement.

"Colin told me" Rory said casually.

"Dang, I should've not introduced you to my friends, Ace."
Rory suddenly noticed that they were bantering in a room full of New York's elite. She couldn't believe that just by talking to Logan a location could disappear. She tried to focus back to their location. "So, Logan, are their anymore entertaining party guests?"

"I think we talk to most of the good ones" Logan said looking around. "Although Claire Meade is over by the bar, and she is quite a character."

"Oh I think I met her in the bathroom" Rory remembered. "She slurred something about how she wished Daniel would find a girl as nice as me. Then she said how I was so lucky to be dating you." She frowned. "I mean I don't get why everyone thinks we're dating."

"Because they have a lot of time on your hands, but don't worry about Claire. She won't remember everything tomorrow, and even if she did; she is too nice to say anything" Logan assured her.

"Yeah I got the impression" Rory said slowly eying the women at the bar who seemed to have a lot of trouble by trying to sit on her stool.

"So, since we met everyone interesting why don't we dance to one song?" Logan suggested offering her his hand.

"Wouldn't that get more people to assume we're dating?" Rory asked hesitantly looking around. "Plus Allison is in the corner looking at us."

"Who cares what other people think?" Logan tried to convince her. "Come on, it's just one dance. Plus they're playing Van Morison Someone Like You"

Rory remembered the movie, smiled and said, "Well in that case you made me an offer I could not refuse."

Rory took his hand and they headed their way towards the dance floor. Logan put one hand on her waist and the other hand intertwined with hers. They look so perfectly together, but Logan tried to push that thought side. They both took a deep look into each other's eyes and started to sway to the music. They both were in a trance forgetting everything in the room. They were just swaying to the music enjoying each other's company.

I've been searching for a long time

For someone exactly like you

I've traveling all around the world

Waiting for you to come through

Rory remembered when they had danced at the pub a few weeks ago, and how well they did fit together then and now. She couldn't remember the last time she had danced with a guy. It was probably years ago with Dean, since she and Jess had never danced. When she was with Dean their dancing was cute, but it never made her feel the excitement and butterflies the way it did now with Logan. God, why did she keep thinking about all these things? Damning the party for having such a romantic atmosphere, she focused her attention back on the dance.

Someone like you

Makes it all worthwhile

Keeps me satisfied

Someone exactly like you

Logan couldn't believe that dancing with someone could be so intimate. Usually when he danced with girls it was because he had to do it for a cotillion, or a prelude to sex for the girl he dated. This time he felt an intimacy that he had never felt before, and that scared him. True, he felt chemistry when they danced at the club a few weeks ago, but it was not as strong to the closeness that he was feeling now. Just by locking eyes with her in this dance he felt all of his thoughts go away.

I've been searching all around the world

Marching to the beat of a different drum

But just lately I have realized the best is yet to come

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Kelly and Allison were by the ice bar watching Logan and Rory dance. "Aren't they adorable? I told you he would bring her to this event." Allison gushed.

"Allison, quit rubbing it in, and just because Logan brought her here doesn't mean they're together." Kelly spoke reasonably.

"Oh please, are you blind? They're both looking at each other with glassy eyes." Allison pointed out trying to prove her theory.

"Allison they're dancing like 100 feet away. You can't see that from far away."

"Hello? Kelly, it's our job to watch people from a far." Allison reminded her.

"Well, you have a point there, but I still am not going to spend the rest of the night thinking about Rory and Logan." Kelly started to look across the room to see if there maybe was something else to talk about other than Allison's favorite potential couple. She then saw something strange by Mitchum and Shira. "Um, Allie? Did anyone mention in the office about Marcy Fallon being invited?"

"Why would Fallon be invited? She doesn't write for a paper, and I actually don't even think she knows how to write. While she does come from an influential family, her parents aren't in the publishing biz. Why?" Allison said frowning.
"Cause right now I see her talking to Shira Huntzberger in the tackiest dress I've ever seen." Kelly explained.
Allison looked in Shira's direction and saw Fallon walk towards Rory and Logan's direction. "Oh my God, this would be Shira's doing and I think I know why."

Kelly couldn't believe the audacity of Shira Huntzberger. True, she had never liked her, but meddling was too much.

"And the plot thickens, but don't worry. She can't cause that much harm" Allison stated.

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Rory and Logan were still swaying to the music unaware that they had danced their way through three songs, when they were originally going to dance to only one. Logan snapped out of his trance when he saw the girl he absolutely could not stand making her way towards them. He would guess that was his mother's doing, since he couldn't find another reason as to why Marcy would be invited to this event.

"Ace?" But Rory was in a heavy trance herself.

"Rory!" He then said a little more loudly.

"What?" Oh god, had she gotten that lost in Logan's arms that she had lost her own train of thought?

"Sorry, you seemed a bit miles away." Logan said and smiled the one smile that always reached his eyes.

"Sorry, I must have zoned out a bit." Rory said trying to regain herself and taking a deep breath.

"It's alright, I did too." He assured her. "Anyway, you see that blond girl walking her way towards us?" Rory nodded. "Well, could you please pretend we're together? I want to shoo her away, she is the crazy girl I was telling you about."

Rory could only nod, for Marcy had just tapped Logan on the shoulder. "Logan" She said in a very high-pitched voice that Logan had always found annoying. "Can I cut in? Your mother told me that you promised me a dance. It will give us a chance to talk about our wedding."

Logan and Rory both had to fight the urge to laugh at Marcy's delusions.

"Sorry, Marcy, but tonight I am spending the entire evening dancing with my girl. She and I are very busy during the week and I don't spend a lot of time with her." Logan explained and pulled her close to emphasize his point. Rory smiled. She sort of liked the way the words "my girl" sounded on his lips. However, Rory tried to prevent herself from melting, concentrating at the task at hand.

"What?" Marcy asked shocked and Logan expected her eyes to hop out of their holes every second. "You guys can't be dating! Your mom just said you brought your coworker to talk business! That you're really crazy about me!"

Logan was going to kill his mother; instead he searched his head for more elaborate lies. "Well, Rory and I have been dating for a year and a half." He found one and gave Rory a subtle glance that told her what he was up to. "We just have been dating in secret, so there would be no pressure from our friends and families. You know how our families would react if news got out that we were dating, wouldn't they, Ace?"

Rory played along. "Oh yeah, my grandmother would immediately marry us in her parlor if we told her we were dating. Plus, my mom would throw a tantrum since she is not Logan's biggest fan. Seeing Logan in secret makes it very exciting and a lot more intimate." Rory hugged him close. "So now that you know our love story, could you please back off my man?" Rory had no idea what had made her tone so possessive, she probably got too caught up in the role play. But she kind of liked that little game.

Logan smirked at that tone of her voice.

Marcy appeared to become angry, but still wouldn't bolt. "This can't be true; I haven't heard any gossip that you were seeing someone. I mean I know about your flings Logan, but I knew that you would eventually marry me the spring after your graduation at the Plaza!"

Logan was right, that girl was crazy. Rory and Logan were both about to say something when they heard a voice behind them say, "It's true, they are dating." Rory and Logan turned around and were shocked to see Allison defending them. "Fallon, you should listen to them and get it through your thick head. They appear to be deeper than one of Logan's past flings, and I am not allowed to write about them because his father owns the paper I work at. Now could you kindly leave this kind couple alone or I will write an unflattering story about you tomorrow. Trust me, I am good at making stuff up." Allison looked at Marcy victoriously and Marcy started to angrily walk away.

Rory and Logan looked at Allison in gratitude.

"Thanks, Allison I owe you one" Logan said sincerely.

"No problem" Allison smirked. "I would do anything to tell the world you're dating."

"But we're not dating, we just told that to get rid of her." Rory said defensively.

"Whatever you say," Allison said not believing them. "However, can you please persuade Mitchum to have an article about you guys seeing each other?" She really wanted to write about them. She wasn't for nothing writing for Page Six after all. And she had to admit, they would make a cute couple.

"No!" Rory and Logan said in unison, and ran away holding hands.

Kelly went up to Allison. "That was a really nice thing you did and I'm sorry you didn't get the story."

Allison shrugged. "It's okay. Their whole denial and you-and-me-against-the-world-mentality just made them a lot cuter in my eyes."
"You know, for once, Allie, I couldn't agree with you more." Kelly said smiling, draping and arm around her friend's shoulders and leading her towards the bar.

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Rory and Logan were walking towards the elder Huntzbergers. "So, I have had enough shangians tonight" Logan announced. "We're just going to go say a quick hello to my parents, and then spend the rest of the night talking on the balcony."

Rory nodded appreciative anxiously waiting for their leaving.

When they approached Mitchum and Shira Logan noticed they had different facial expressions. Mitchum's was stern and somewhat pleased, and Shira seemed to be disappointed. Probably because of her precious Fallon, Logan thought. Nevertheless he didn't want to fight with her in front of Ace, so he was determined to save his anger for later.

"Rory" Mitchum spoke first. "You look lovely tonight, and I have heard many good things about you from our guests; not something I usually hear about Logan's dates."

Rory laughed. "Thanks Mr. Huntzberger it's a lovely party, and Logan made sure I had a good time."

"Good, I'm glad Logan didn't get you into any trouble" Mitchum said with a smirk that reminded Rory so much of Logan's.

Logan was glad that his father was being nice to Rory, but he hated the way he would always assume the worst in him. He was about to speak up when Rory said. "Not at all, Logan was a complete gentleman."

Logan's heart flip-flopped after she defended him to his father and made a mental note to bring her to these events more often. However, he soon changed his mind when his mother interrupted the civility.

"Logan, I can't believe you let Marcy Fallon walk out of here in anger. All the poor girl wanted you to do was dance with her." Disappointment was written all over her face.

Logan started to get angry. "Mom, you had no right to invite her, I told you specifically that I would bring Rory to this event. Dad said it was okay for me to bring Rory."

"That is precisely true, Shira" Mitchum interjected. "I found Rory to be a good date for him. I see no reason why Logan had to bring that Fallon girl who I always found foolish."

Logan smiled at the way his father was on his side. That was a rare occurrence.

"Well, it's my own fault" Shira said much to everyone's surprise. "I should have told you to approve of a girl who did not want to have a career. "

"Shira, I don't see how that is a problem" Mitchum tried to reason. "I mean, I don't care what the girl in Logan's life does with her time."
"Well I do!" Shira hissed vehemently. "Logan deserves a wife who will do well socially. Not one who will go from place to place which is what Emily says Rory will do by being a oversees correspondent or reporter."

Logan couldn't believe his mother's old fashioned ideology.

"I am sure Rory understands that she is not fit for this family" Shira continued.

Logan noticed that Rory had left. He was so angry that he wanted to throw all the champagne glasses from the bar at his psychotic mother. But instead he said staying as calm as he could "Mom, you have no right to insult my friend! I am not dating this girl because she is way too good for me, and come to think of it she is way too good for this family as well. I am never going to marry Fallon, and if you ever insult Rory again at an event I will automatically leave as I will do now!" Logan dashed at his mother then turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd.

Mitchum smiled. He couldn't believe his wife's behavior because this girl was exactly what Logan needed. She seemed to give his son a passion for something.

Logan found Rory at the balcony looking morose. He went up next to her and pulled her into his arms, tried to warm her up. Rory leaned against him; her body was so warm at his touch. They were both in a quiet mutual understanding not needing any words to speak.

It was finally Rory who broke the silence, "Well, I guess our moms have something in common hating our friendship and all." Rory tried to joke, but it wasn't working. She was not used to being hated by adults.

Logan hated seeing her so upset, and he hated his mother so much for making her feel this way. "Rory, I am so sorry about my mom. It's not your fault. They apparently don't teach manners in Hicksville."

"Hicksville?"

"She grew up in a small town in Arkansas" Logan explained but then returned to the topic at hand. "Anyway, don't listen to her, I love and admire your dedication to journalism. Sometimes I wish my Dad was less pushy so that I could have that as well. My mother is just an ignorant snob who apparently drowned herself in fifties ideologies. My Dad likes you and trust me he is a very tough critic and I believe he can influence Mom to change her opinion. He has done it before." Logan pulled her close.

"I just never had anyone criticize me for wanting to work." Rory started to cry.

This girl was obviously not used to people hating her, and he understood why. She was like Bambi and nobody hates Bambi. Logan whipped her tears away, and Rory felt herself melt at his touch that she started to slightly forget about Shira.

"Ace" he said softly. "She is psychotic but I told her I would leave family gatherings if she ever said anything bad to you again. You being in my life is more important than my mother's opinion."

"Kind of like you being in my life is more important than my mom's opinion." Rory said quietly recognizing the irony of their situation.

Logan looked at her deeply. "We're really lucky to have found each other." Suddenly as ever, they were looking at each other with a mutual understanding. Their hearts started to pound and Rory started to feel the butterflies fluttering within her, but for once she didn't want to murder them. She looked tentatively at Logan, and even though she knew she could regret what she wanted to do later she really wanted to know what it would feel like. Rory lightly put her lips on his, and Logan for once abandoned his caution and put one hand on her cheek and another in her silky hair. He then kissed her back gently at first and then harder with more certainty. It was unlike any kiss he'd experienced before. It was filled with tenderness, and an excitement of not being able to stop. The whole world seemed to go away and all he could feel was he and Rory sharing this kiss and the pounding of his own heart.

Rory kept pulling Logan as close to her as possible. The kiss was even better than the one in her dream. It was sweet and lustful and the best first kiss she'd ever had. No, she thought again. It was the best kiss she'd ever had. It was like the true loves first kiss in fairy tales, not that this was true love or she believed anything more would come of that kiss. Just right now she was going to savor the moment, no analyzing. In that kiss Rory felt like she was flying and everything that happened earlier, her Mom, Marcy, Shira… all seemed to fade away.