You guys have been fantastic and oh so patient while I was away at the cottage! I now have 2 and a bit hand written chapters, I think. It might be one and a half. The point is, I did manage to write more over the weekend I just have to type it up. Assuming I get it all typed and ready to go by tomorrow, then 19 will be up.

Enjoy!

Mitchum Huntzberger was on a mission. Logan's phone had been going straight to voicemail all day and he was getting completely sick of it. If his son was avoiding him there would be some inappropriate words. Logan had been shirking responsibility too long now. He shot a grin at Logan's assistant as he breezed passed and opened the office door without knocking.

And stopped dead at the body in his son's chair.

Where Logan should have been sat a small girl, no older than ten, if his estimates were correct. She was absorbed in whatever she was doing, completely oblivious to everything going on around her, including, apparently, the opening of the door. Mitchum was thankful for her concentration. Being caught with his jaw on the floor was not the most attractive or intimidating thing.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my son's office?"

The little girl jumped, her eyes coming to focus on the new arrival. "Um… Sophie," she said timidly, her hands dropping to her lap. "Logan's in a meeting… I'm not sure when he'll be done."

"How do you know my son? What are you doing in his office?"

Sophie blinked fearful eyes at him. "I…Logan… I just…"

"Dad?"

Mitchum spun to his son, folders in hand. "Logan."

Logan's eyes darted from the terrified Sophie to his frustrated father and he almost groaned. "Hey, Half-Pint, can you go grab me a cup of coffee and run this to Theresa?"

Sophie nodded eagerly and fearfully, keeping her eyes on Mitchum as she approached Logan and took the folder he held out to her. "Two creams and one sugar, right?"

"Right," Logan answered with a reassuring smile, thankful that some of the stress in Sophie's shoulders dissipated.

"Pansy," she teased, sticking out her tongue before flouncing out the door.

Logan chuckled and closed his office door, trying to mentally prepare himself for the tongue-lashing and the interrogation that was more than likely to follow. Sophie had looked just as glad to get out of the office as Logan had been to remove her from the obviously tense atmosphere. He had no idea his father was coming to visit and his office had seemed like the logical place for Frank to bring Sophie after picking her up from school. After all, Logan had promised Rory on pain of death that Sophie would be safe with him.

This time, Rory's trip had taken her to Canada, Ottawa to be exact, assuming his memory served him right. Her usual nanny was on vacation and Logan had found himself volunteering to watch Sophie for the three days Rory would be away without much of a second thought. Rory, he knew, hadn't thought twice about handing the little girl over either. She'd gone over, in strict detail, everything she thought he needed to know when he'd dropped her off at the airport and both he and Sophie had all but shoved her through security. It didn't stop Rory from checking in every night.

"Who was that?"

Logan brushed past his father and took a seat at his desk, dropping his armful of folders on the surface and starting to thumb through them. "Sophie Wilson."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Logan took a deep breath. There was no way he was prepared to deal with the possible consequences of the next words out of his mouth. "Rory's daughter."

"Rory's daughter? As in your girlfriend's daughter?"

Logan nodded, glancing up at the screen and unconsciously shaking his head at the New York Times homepage. Sometimes Rory and Sophie were eerily similar for two females who were not genetically related. "She's nine."

"Your girlfriend has a daughter?"

There was a thrill of pride somewhere in him at the knowledge that he'd just stunned Mitchum Huntzberger. "Adopted daughter, if you want to get specific."

"She's a single mother."

Logan shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess."

Mitchum winced. He liked Rory well enough. While Shira had the notion in her mind of exactly what each of her children should be and the people her son and daughter should each have in their lives, Mitchum's business and lifestyle told him that things changed. Rory and Logan were good together, he'd seen it a million times and he couldn't question it. After what Mitchum calculated to be nine months of dating, and almost a year's friendship before that, he'd seen Logan change and, he had to admit, he liked that change.

Nevertheless, the idea that the girl who was the best thing that Mitchum had ever seen happen to Logan was also raising a daughter put a damper on some things. As much as Mitchum wanted Logan to have a better life than he did – and therefore a better relationship, one he knew Rory and Logan were headed for – part of him was still slightly fixated on his reputation.

"Logan…"

"No. No way. You do not get to pass judgement on this," Logan said, immediately cutting his father off. "Rory is by far the best thing in my life, and sure, she comes with a little bit of baggage, but there is no way you get to come in here and tell me about the reputation of the family or the reputation of the company."

Mitchum was a little stunned at how quickly Logan had read his mind. "She's a single mother."

"Of an adopted child, Dad. Sophie's not hers by blood. Her parents died and Rory stepped in to adopt her. There's nothing in that except pure heart. There's no way that story can come out as anything but a good reflection for the company and the family."

"Your mother is going to be through the roof."

Logan bristled. He knew very well what his mother thought of Rory and really didn't appreciate the woman's opinion. "I don't care."

"Logan…"

"I don't. I love Rory, Dad and she loves me. She comes with Sophie and I can handle that."

"This isn't all about you. I like Rory, son. I like the influence she'd had on you. I like that it looks like you're actually settling down, but I also have a responsibility to this company and to our family…"

"Rory is better than any of those society women," Logan almost hissed. His anger was bubbling up in him. All of this over a nine-year-old girl.

Mitchum sighed. "I know that. Your grandfather adores her and really, I can't go against my father now can I?"

Logan sat back in confusion. "Then why are we having this conversation."

"I want you to look at this from the side of the competition, from the side of the public and what that girl may mean to them."

Logan shook his head. "Always about the reputation isn't it? Screw the fact that my relationship with Rory has stayed out of the spotlight for nine months. Screw the fact that Rory Hayden, a society woman in her own right with her own following, has never been connected with Sophie Wilson to save Sophie from the same thing. Screw the fact that I'm dating a woman with a heart of gold that's willing to look past my old reputation, my money and my name. Screw the fact that I love her. None of that matters when the reputation of the family or the company's at stake."

"That's not fair."

"Not fair? From the sounds of it, you were all for Rory and I together until you found out about Sophie, right? That's what changed your mind. One nine-year-old girl, the sweetest child I've ever met, one without a mean bone in her body unless provoked, and apparently a girl with the single-handed ability to ruin everything. Do you even hear what you're saying?"

Actually, when Logan said it like that it sounded stupid, even to Mitchum's ears. He was a little bit stunned at how logical Logan was. It was a shock to realize that his son had more of a grasp of life, even if he was ignoring his business responsibilities above his post. Even Mitchum had to admit Logan's name hadn't been in the papers for anything other than accomplishments.

"Does your grandfather know?"

Logan shrugged. "No idea. Sophie should be Rory's secret to tell."

"Why is she here?"

"Rory's in Canada for a couple of days and I offered to take care of Sophie. She's been here after school so she's not home alone."

His son had taken on the responsibility of a young girl? Mitchum was starting to feel like he was truly underestimating his son.

Logan sighed. "Look, Dad, she's a good kid. I really have no idea why this is such a big deal."

Mitchum was never one to admit he was wrong. "I'm just thinking of others, Logan."

"Others who," Logan replied warily. "I have no idea if grandfather knows, I know Honour knows and I don't care about Mother's opinion of her. Sophie's responsible, she's smart, she's a live-life-to-the-fullest type of kid. Hating her is like hating Dory."

Mitchum wrinkled his brow. "Dory?"

Logan grinned. Sometimes he forgot the little things. "Finding Nemo. Sorry, sometimes I forget not everyone is as media educated as Rory and her family."

"You've spent time with her family?" Rory had spent little time with the Huntzbergers. She hadn't even come to visit Elias.

"Christmastime," Logan responded shortly.

Ah yes, Mitchum remembered that unfortunately brunch. Shira had gone blathering on about the daughters of some of her friends from the club and Logan had blown up when she kept insinuating they were better than Rory. Of course, since Rory hadn't accompanied him – a choice he'd made as much as he respected her need to be with her own family – Shira had assumed something had happened in the week since they'd met and Logan had 'come to his senses about that dreadful Hayden girl'. Elias hadn't bothered stepping in when Logan lost it.

"And Lorelai comes up here some times to visit when she needs a break from Chris and Kitty."

Wow, he sure knows a lot about the Gilmore-Haydens, Mitchum found himself thinking. Substantially more than we know about Rory.

A soft knock sounded on the door and Logan called the interruption in without thinking twice. He chuckled slightly when Sheila poked her head in, opening the door for Sophie to walk carefully inside, two mugs carefully balanced. Both Huntzberger men watched as she came around the desk and set them on Logan's blotter, carefully avoiding the folders and papers.

"Two creams, one sugar for the pansy, and my perfectly black brew. Rory would be appalled at the quality of this coffee." Then Sophie looked up and noticed Mitchum was still in the room. Immediately, her cheeks bloomed bright red. "Oh… I'm… I'm sorry Mr Huntzberger, I didn't know you were still here or I'd have gotten another cup of coffee and I know I just called Logan a pansy but I didn't really mean it because he has to have things in his coffee and Rory and I always drink it straight black and…"

Gently, Logan laid a hand over Sophie's mouth, pulling the nine-year-old onto his lap. "You're rambling," he pointed out gently. Then he took a deep breath. "Dad, meet Sophie. Sophie, this is my father, Mitchum Huntzberger."

Both men were slightly surprised when Sophie extended her small hand politely. "Its nice to meet you."

Logan watched his father's mouth twitch at the corners before he took the small hand in his own. "You too."

Logan's office phone rang shrilly and they all jumped. Mitchum wrinkled his brow. He knew Logan's secretary and Sheila wasn't one to simply patch someone through. His confusion grew as he watched a smile blossom across his son's face.

Logan looked at Sophie. "I think it's for you."

Sophie returned Logan's grin as she reached for the phone. "Your boyfriend needs to be reprogrammed."

Logan caught his father's eye and motioned him out of the room, following closely. "Sorry about that. Rory doesn't get a lot of time to call. She's been all over the greater Ottawa area apparently."

"That was Rory? Why didn't Sheila call you first?"

Logan shrugged. "I think she simply stopped bothering. She knows when I'm in important meetings and she'll just take a message down for me, but she started recognizing Rory's number with the amount of calling we do. Now, I'm assuming you had a reason for coming here?" Logan almost laughed as he literally watched his father's face shift into the mask he knew meant business.

"I know you've been working hard as the editor in chief here, Logan but I really think it's high time you looked more closely at the management side of things, following in my footsteps…"

Logan resisted the urge to groan. Here we go again.

Rory laughed as Sophie's voice floated over the line. "Reprogrammed?" she asked.

"Two creams, one sugar."

Rory nodded sagely, knowing exactly what her daughter was talking about. "I believe he's a hopeless case." She waited for a reply from Sophie, but nothing was forth coming. "Soph? Is something wrong?"

Sophie breathed deep. "I just met Mitchum Huntzberger."

Rory's eyebrow went to her hairline. "Logan's father?"

"Mmhmm."

"Why? How?"

"I've been coming to Logan's work after school instead of going home, right? Frank's been picking me up and driving me here and I guess I've been helping Logan out around here and everything…"

"Sophie, slow down, sweetie."

"He came to visit Logan today, but Logan was in a meeting and I was using his computer to read The Times while I could and Logan's father walks in and starts demanding who I am and what I'm doing here."

Rory closed her eyes. "Did Logan come back?"

"Before I got a chance to tell him," Sophie replied, her voice an odd mixture of fear and reassurance. "I went out to get coffee and drop a folder off at Theresa's desk before coming back."

"Hence the reason you know Logan has to be reprogrammed," Rory agreed. "Is everything okay?"

"I guess," Sophie answered. "I mean, I don't know what they were talking about while I wasn't here."

Rory immediately flew into placating mode. "I'm sure everything is fine. Now, I called to talk to Logan but he's busy, right?" She could almost hear Sophie's pout form over the phone.

"You don't love me anymore?"

Rory laughed. "Of course I love you, but Logan can't lie to me and I want to make sure you're being good and following all the rules."

"Even eating my veggies," Sophie was quick to reassure.

"How many times have I told you never to bring up the veggies? We both know it's not true." Rory smiled affectionately as her daughter's laughter floated over the line.

"You were the one that made me eat them for weeks after I was in the hospital," Sophie pointed out unrepentantly.

Rory groaned at the reminder.

"Hey, Rory, Logan wants to talk to you."

The phone was moving before Rory could get a word in. "Hey Ace."

Her smile was unconscious. "Hey Mac. Everything okay?"

"Just my dad, it's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about? Oh, Sophie's in the room." It wasn't often that Logan held back from her. They'd promised each other unconditional trust and one of the ways they showed it was by sharing everything and anything. It had become even more important after he found out her past had been a little less than spectacular when it came to love.

"Yeah. You're home tomorrow?"

She could hear the hopefulness in his voice, even as he tried to mask it. "I'm home tomorrow," she affirmed. "You think you and Sophie can survive one more day together?"

"Now come on, Ace. I haven't had to call your mother or Honour once. Half-Pint and I are great."

Rory laughed as she heard Sophie's indignant voice snap, "I'm not a half-pint!"

"Sounds like you've got your hands full," she replied. "I'll leave you to it. I just wanted to check in before I head into the hospital."

"The hospital?"

"One of the applicants up here is already in hospital," Rory revealed.

"Are you okay?"

Rory smiled at Logan's immediate concern. "I should be just fine, thanks," she promised. "I'll call when I'm done, you can gauge for yourself. This isn't the first one."

"No," he acknowledged, "But it doesn't mean you're immune to the impact."

"Wise words."

"I love you, Ace."

Those three words could make the world seem so much brighter. "I love you too."

"Call me."

"I will. Hug Soph for me."

"I will."

They both paused.

"Bye," Rory finally whispered out.

"Bye Ace."

Rory sighed and leaned back against the outer wall of the hospital. Things between her and Logan had been more than great since their fight three months ago. Sophie had grown attached to him and while she was glad for the relationship she'd built with Logan, it also scared her. The pessimistic insecure woman that had been hurt big time by a cheating boyfriend still resided as Rory's rational, logical mind. It screamed that things could change, and could change in a heartbeat. She wasn't sure if her heart could handle a drastic change, let alone Sophie's.

She hated that insecure part of herself. Logan had been nothing but fantastic, nothing but a rock. Sharing with her came easily, just as sharing with him did. Things between them had slid back into that natural feeling that greased their transition from acquaintances to lovers and partners and while Rory was thankful with the simplicity between them, sometimes her insecurities would rear their ugly heads and throw doubts into her otherwise perfect world.

And other than the few things that bugged her – his mother, for example – everything was better than perfect. Things with Logan Huntzberger were rarely boring. He'd whisked her away to the Vineyard on a couple of different occasions and they'd once stayed a weekend in the Plaza just because they could. He'd endured dinner with her grandparents and inevitably made it down to Stars Hollow when she went to visit. The town had grown to love him, though it had been touch-and-go when his reputation as a ladies man and the exact amount of money in his bank account had been discovered.

She was trying not to be self-destructive, trying not to sabotage what was definitely the best thing In her life, Sophie aside. Still, a part of her had a hard time accepting the way Logan dealt with his mother. He'd kept Shira's exact words to himself whenever they crossed paths, but Rory knew from the stance of his shoulders and the tone of his voice that Shira was probably never going to accept her in her son's life. There had even been a couple of occasions in the last three months where Shira had tried to set Logan up with other women.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out, glancing at the new text message from Master and Commander. She hadn't bothered to change the entry.

You'll be spectacular. Knock 'em dead. I love you.

She grinned as she closed the phone and glanced at the time, sighing and trying to mentally prepare herself for what she was sure was going to be a difficult interview.