The next week Rory and Logan met with Lorelai, Emily, and Richard for Friday Night Dinner and discussed what they could do to help Rory back into Yale for her Masters Degree. Emily and Richard had been delighted. They had said that of course Yale would let her back in and that they thought her decision was perfectly wise. Richard made a few phone calls and scheduled Rory an appointment with the dean of admissions the following Tuesday.

That Monday Rory woke up to the smell of bacon. She grabbed her robe from the closet and padded into the kitchen to find Logan busy at the stove.

"Mmmm" she said pecking him on the cheek and pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Morning Ace. Breakfast will be on the table in five minutes so don't go anywhere."

"Wouldn't dream of it. What can I do to help?"

"Setting the table would fulfill my life's dream."

"Set the table it is then." She said grabbing plates, silverware, and paper napkins.

Logan joined her at the table with a plate full of hot pancakes and bacon a few minutes later.

"What would I do without you?" she asked after taking a bite.

"Starve"

She nodded sadly. "Yeah, probably. That or I'd have to move back home with mom so Luke could nourish me. But then I'd lose my Education."

"Which could tamper with the rest of the world." He said wisely.

"How so?"

"Half the world's money comes from what you spend on books."

She thought for a minute. "True. But where does the world get the other half of its money?"

"That comes from what Finn spends on alcohol."

"So you've got everything figured out, don't you?"

"You said it, not me."

Rory laughed. "So what are we doing today?"

"Well, since you already know what you're going to be doing and I still have no idea, I figure I'd take you somewhere familiar and important to me and hopefully that can help me decide."

"That sounds great. Where are we going?"

Logan smirked. "Do you honestly think I'm going to tell you?"

She sighed. "Well, I had to give it the old college try."

"Dress casual and wear tennis shoes."

"What are you doing?" she asked a few minutes later.

Logan looked up. "Getting dressed." He answered slowly.

"You're wearing jeans!"

"Very good, Ace. Now can you tell me what I'm going to put on my feet?"

"You're wearing the jeans I bought you!"

"You bought these?"

She smiled triumphantly. "Yep. I was at the mall a few days ago with Rosemary and we made a bet that you wouldn't wear jeans if I bought any. And I won! I won! I won! I won!"

"Ah, my little Ace is starting to bet. You're becoming more and more of a chip off the old block everyday. What'd you win?"

"Fifty bucks." She said picking up her camera and snapping a few pictures.

"What's that for?"

"Evidence"

Logan rolled his eyes. "Let's go before I decide I can't take you out in public."

"Give me a minute to finish getting dressed." A few minutes later Rory had added a pink tee shirt and jean jacket to her jeans and tennis shoes and met Logan in the living room.

"Let's go."

"We're here." Logan announced finally.

"Where are we? We've been driving for an hour." Rory asked climbing out of the car and stretching her legs.

"Just follow me, Ace." He grabbed her hand and led her into a large building with huge glass doors. Once inside Rory gaped at her surroundings. There were huge wood beams supporting the ceiling that looked as if it could touch the skies. Most of the walls had huge open windows and there was a huge wooden desk at the back. Above the desk was a sign carved out of a piece of wood reading "Freemont Trails". On each side of the doors were some couches and vending machines. A door off to the side had a neon, 'Freemont Café' sign above it.

"Where are we?" she asked again.

"Freemont Trails."

"And here we are going to…."

"Hike"

"Hike" she repeated.

He led her over to one of the unoccupied leather couches and they sat down. "When I was younger we'd go to all kinds of places on vacation. Sometimes we'd go to France or Germany or England or wherever… But I'd always get bored. It was either: follow my father around, go out with my mother, or stay at the hotel spa with Honor. So after awhile I'd just go off by myself and I'd usually wander into parks or trails of some sort." He let out a breath. "Being up on top of a huge hill or a mountain…. It just, it's incredible. It makes me feel like I actually have control in my life for a little while. And since I am finally free of that burden and no longer work for my father, I want to go again. Because I think that now that good feeling I get whenever I'm up on top of that mountain will be ten times more powerful. And I wanted to show you something from my past that I hope I can share with you."

Rory smiled. "That was beautiful."

He chuckled. "That was incredibly cliché."

"I just have one question."

"I assumed."

"Why didn't you go hiking when you weren't on vacation?"

"Daddy Huntzberger wasn't ever very fond of nature. And besides, it would've interfered with my grooming to become the perfect heir."

She stood up and held out her hand. "Well, I am very surprised and very intrigued. Let's go Huntzberger."

Logan took her hand and joined her. "You know what? You are-" he leaned in and kissed her sweetly. "- amazing."

She smiled and tugged his hand. "Come on."

He walked with her and took her through a pair of glass doors on the side. They found a girl sitting on a bench near by. As soon as she saw Logan she squealed and ran over to them, throwing her arms around him tightly.

"It's been forever!" she said happily, still not letting go.

"I'm sorry!" Logan said laughing and hugging her back.

Rory surveyed the girl. She was tall, with dark brown hair that fell to her shoulders. She wore a light blue t-shirt and a pink jacket that came to right below her chest, zipped almost all the way up. She also had on a pair of jeans and light brown UGG boots.

The girl finally let go of Logan and turned to Rory. She smiled and stuck out her hand. "Hi! I'm Amanda, Logan's cousin. You must be Rory."

"Cousin?" She said slowly shaking the girl's hand.

"I know! We look nothing alike, right? It's weird. My mom is Shira's sister." She explained. "I guess I got my dad's hair."

"Well, it's…. nice to meet you." Rory said finally smiling.

"You too! When Logan called me a few days ago and asked for a tour of the property I was thrilled. He talks about you SO much in his e-mails. He sends me pictures and all that, but you're so much prettier in person."

"Well, to be honest, I never even knew Logan had any cousins." She said sheepishly.

"Oh, I'm not surprised. Logan's never been one to go into details about family. But he never shuts up about you. And I when I found out he wanted me to take you guys around I almost wet my pants. I was so excited to meet the girl who's going to be marrying my cousin."

Rory smiled.

"Well, if you guys are ready, I'll just go inside and grab my bag and we can head off." Amanda said happily.

"You work here?" asked Rory.

"Uh-huh. I'm a trail leader. Best job ever."

"Thanks Amanda." Logan said.

"No problem! Be right back." She walked off.

Rory turned to Logan. "You never mentioned any cousins."

"Well, I was worried. I mean, you've met my parents. I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about Amanda before you met her."

"Logan! You know I'm not that kind of person."

"I'm sorry, Ace."

"Are there anymore people in your family I should know about? Because at the wedding I really don't want to be surprised to meet anyone else."

"Oh, I can help you there." Amanda said returning with a backpack. "I'll talk as we walk."

Rory laced her hand with Logan's and walked between him and Amanda as she explained all about her soon to-be in laws.

"Okay, there's my mom, Shira's younger sister, whose name is Danielle and my dad Sean. My older sister Carrie and Shira's dad Elias, her mom passed when Logan and I were really little. Both of Mitchum's parents' have passed but he has a younger sister whose name is Susan and her husband John and their little boy Ethan, who's seven. And of course you know Honor and Josh. That's about it."

"Wow."

Amanda giggled. "You'll learn it eventually. Give it time. Do you have a big family?"

Rory shook her head. "My mom, Lorelai, ran away when she got pregnant with me at 16. She moved to Stars Hollow, a small town outside of Hartford, and got a job as a maid at a local Inn for a while. We lived in a fixed up old barn behind the Inn for a while before my mom was able to buy a house. Then we finally got back in contact with her parents when we needed help to pay for my high school and now we see them all the time. My dad, Christopher, I see often. Usually with my half-sister, Gigi. We don't really talk to his parents much. And both of my parents don't have any siblings so I don't have any aunts or uncles or cousins."

Amanda let out a breath. "Wow."

"Yeah."

"Want to sit down for a minute? I'm getting tired."

"Sure. Logan?" Rory turned around and saw him looking around. "Logan!"

"He's not with us." Amanda said sitting down on a huge rock. "He's lost in his own little world. Give him a few minutes and he'll be back."

"Is he okay?" she asked worriedly.

"He's fine. This always happens when he gets out here. He probably hasn't heard a word of what we've been saying. He just…. gets lost. But I think it's good for him, you know?"

"Yeah… he seems different." Rory sat down next to her, still watching Logan. "He seems so…"

"At ease? Yeah. Don't get me wrong, Logan loves the city. He could go clubbing every night and probably never get tired of it. But when he's out here he just……. relaxes. So anyway, tell me more about your family."

Rory smiled and began telling Amanda all about life in Stars Hollow, her mom, Yale, and how she met Logan. Amanda, she found, was a very good listener.

"Can I ask you a question, Rory?" Amanda asked once she had finished speaking.

She nodded. "Sure."

"Why do you want to marry Logan?" Rory's jaw dropped. "I mean, I'm not trying to be rude, but I want to make sure my cousin is getting the best."

Rory relaxed a little. "I understand. Why do I want to marry Logan? Well, he's sweet, charming, funny, nice, protective, free spirited, fun, romantic, dedicated, and incredibly smart. Not to mention nice looking, but don't tell him I said that. He can be there to catch me when I fall, but at the same time let me do my own thing and have my own life. He supports me in whatever I do, even if he doesn't agree with it. And, he makes me look at life differently. He challenges me and makes me take risks that I would've never thought possible and he brings out the best in me. When I see him walk into a room, I can't help but smile. And when I'm in his arms, I can't help but feel warm and safe." She looked up and wiped her eyes, which were beginning to water. "My mom says there's a huge difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. I am in love, really, really deep love, with Logan. And I am positive that I can be with him for the rest of my life and wake up every morning and embrace everyday as if it were my last. As long as Logan's with me, I know I am truly happy." She wiped her eyes again and chuckled. "I bet that was a little longer than what you wanted but I've had to answer this question many times before."

Amanda smiled. "It wasn't too long. It was-"

"Ace!"

Rory turned around. "Hey, you!"

"Ace, Come here! You have to see this!"

She looked back at Amanda, who smiled. "Go, I've seen it before. Besides, he wants you."

That kept playing in her head as she walked over to Logan. He wants you. He wants you. She liked sound of that.

Logan pointed to the view in front of them. "Look, Ace."

Rory looked out in front of her. There were mountains beyond mountains. Since it was spring the flowers were blooming, birds were out, and the trees were bright. Everything was so full of life.

"Wow" she breathed.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?"

"It's….. I can't even describe it. It's breathtaking."

"I've always loved it up here. It makes me feel like I can do anything." He said wrapping his arms around her.

"Like you're on top of the world."

"Ace, anytime I'm with you I feel like I'm on top of the world."

"Logan! That was…… really sweet. Thank you."

Logan leaned down and pulled Rory into a deep kiss. Amanda watched from her place on the rock and smiled. This girl really seemed like a good one. Honor had told her right. Logan was going to be just fine with Rory.

"Logan, come here a sec." Amanda said once they were back at the lodge and Rory had gone off to the bathroom.

Logan turned around and walked over to her. "Yeah?"

"She's a great girl. Don't mess this up."

He smiled. "I won't."

"I'm serious, Logan. She's crazy about you."

"Well, I guess it's a good thing were getting married, huh?"

"I just wanted to let you know…. I approve. I really think you'll make each other happy."

"How so?"

"They way you two look at each other. It's not everyday you see two people look at each other like that. You're in love with her, I can tell. And she loves you back."

Logan laughed. "You've known her a day and you already know this?"

She smiled. "Let's just say we were talking and she….. mentioned something of the sort."

He nodded, clearly not believing her. The two leaned in and hugged tightly.

"Let's meet up again soon." She said into his ear. "I hate not seeing you. Bring Rory."

"I will. I promise. You'll have to come down to the city and stay with us for a few days. Maybe for a long weekend."

"Give me a date and time and I'm yours. Hey Cuz?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too." They finally let go and stepped back, to find Rory standing there smiling.

Amanda threw her arms around her. "It was great to finally meet you!"

"You too! You need to come down and stay with us at the apartment soon. I want you to meet my mom. She'd love you."

"That'd be great." They broke apart. "I'll give you my cell phone number." Rory nodded and they quickly traded phones, programmed in their numbers, and traded back.

Amanda shoved her hands in her pockets. "Okay, you two drive safe and stay in touch."

Rory and Logan climbed into the Escalade and nodded.

"We will." Rory assured her.

"Bye!" She yelled, waving as they drove off.

"So that was Amanda." Logan said after a minute.

"She's great, Logan. She's really nice and…."

"Not like the rest of my family."

"Well, minus Honor and Josh."

"Did you have fun today?"

"I had an incredible time. This was so cool. Thank you for taking me."

He smiled and took her hand in the one of his that wasn't driving. "You're welcome."

"I love you."

"I love you too, Ace."

"Hiking?" Lorelai said later that night on the phone. "Hiking?"

"Yes, and it was fun. And his cousin is really, really nice mom."

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, actually, I had a blast. It was so much fun to see a different side of Logan. One from his past. And you know what? He really, really loved it. I could tell. I mean, he was practically on his own planet up there. He seemed like a little kid."

"Well, I'm glad you had fun."

"Me too. I can't wait until I can show him something like this."

"Well, we can figure something out."

"I think I might already have an idea…"

A/N: Wow, this chapter is a bit longer than expected. I got the idea for this today when I went to the zoo.

I had originally planned for Logan to love animals, but this seemed more likely. Besides, loving animals might lead to pets and I don't really see either one of them as a pet person. Remember the pony? It lay down and took a nap. No, no, it lay down and DIED. So no pets.

Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. I'm not sure if Rory's thing will be shared in the next chapter or not, I really need to get moving with the wedding, Rory going back to Yale, etc. But I do know two things for sure.

One- I know what Rory's thing that she shares will be. But no, I won't tell you. Sorry. And two- I know that next chapter will be Rory's meeting with the dean of admissions. Thanks again, and REVIEW!!!!!!!