A/N: Hello everybody! Firstly I would like to thank you all for the reviews. I am always so happy when I get one. They make me rethink things, they make me want to come up with something that worth reading, and it's really great to get feedback.

Sorry for the delay, I didn't mean to make you wait so long, but life is a little bit crazy in my beloved city right now... Plus university started. It's cool, I'm not complaining, but in this semester my timetable is a little busier than it was. I just need some time to get used to it. Anyway, here's the new chapter.

Special thanks to my Beta 'dcrendi'.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine...

Chapter 4

Mitchum fished his cell phone out of his pocket and searched for the number to give to Logan. After saying good bye he left Logan's apartment with the less-than-happy Shira, who couldn't understand her husband's affections towards Ella. She didn't like Rory. First because she thought Rory could never be a supportive wife, she didn't think Rory could organize parties and provide a stable background for Logan, then because Rory proved her wrong during the DAR events. Long story short - she didn't like Rory, no matter what.

After his parents left, Logan stared at his cordless phone and a few minutes later dialed the number, but he had yet to push the 'call' button. Seeing his father with Rory at the Times party made him realize that he had to deal with this part of his life. He didn't know what to say to Rory, but he knew it was time to face the music. Procrastination worked when he lived on a different continent in a different time zone, but not when they lived in the same city, probably quite near to each other. He knew that by waiting to call her he was probably just postponing the inevitable, so he took a deep breath and pushed the button.

When Rory arrived home white as a sheet Steph and Colin knew something happened, and Steph would have bet her perfect wedding dress that the 'something' had to do with Logan. Fortunately, Ella was already sleeping. Rory stopped in her room and watched her for a few minutes. She knew that things were about to change. Logan was back, he was actually in New York. Not seeing him was no longer an option. It was just a matter of time. She sighed and went to the bathroom. She had to talk to her friends, but first she needed a shower.

In the living room Rory's cell phone rang. Stephanie answered it, and was more than surprised when she realized that Logan was on the other end of the phone. He wanted to know Rory's address. Stephanie hesitated. That was when Rory exited the bathroom in her pajamas, and looked at her friend questioningly. Steph mouthed ' Logan', and saw the pain in Rory's eyes as she nodded slowly and stretched out her hand for the phone. Steph said her good bye, and gave Rory her cell.

"Hello." It was stupid. Rory knew that. But she wasn't ready to say his name. It's been five years since she last said his name to him.

"Rory?" Awkward. He felt awkward. He didn't know what to say. There's no book like "What To Say To Your Ex-Girlfriend After Five Years For Dummies." And even if there was such book the chances of it having a chapter about the special case where said girlfriend had your kid and raised it alone because you were a coward were slim to none.

"Logan?" It wasn't a question, it wasn't a greeting, it wasn't a statement. Her tone was something he never heard before.

"I've got your number from Dad." And he thought it couldn't be worse.

"I figured." What was she supposed to say? There was so much to say, and yet she had nothing to say. Not after five years of silence.

"Can I talk to you?" 'She's not going to make it any easier for me,' thought Logan.

"You are talking to me." Leave it to Rory to answer a question without really answering it. Typical Rory, yet not the playful, bantering, answering a question with a question Rory. Every single word that left her mouth was said like it was to end the conversation.

There was no way of getting out of this for Logan. He had to say all the words. It wasn't like five years ago when they finished each other's sentences, understood each other without words just by the way one of them looked. She made it crystal clear that those days were gone. She made it clear that she wasn't going to read between the lines. And Logan knew that she could play the game much longer than he could. So here it was...

"I mean talking to you. Both of you. In person." It was out; he just had to wait to get an actual answer.

"Why?" Maybe a little more informative one. But he couldn't blame Rory. Her voice told him she was defensive. Again, he couldn't blame her.

"Honestly...? I have no answer to that question. I just... I just have to." he said sheepishly, his voice filled with regret, concern and anticipation, and that was something that Rory knew quite well. She could tell he was honest by his tone. He used his 'Rory' tone. The one he used when he called her Rory, not Ace to emphasis that he was sincere and earnest.

"You don't 'have to'. There's nothing Logan Huntzberger has to do. He always does what he wants to do, now doesn't he?" Now that hurt. She was sarcastic. However, she didn't want to be. She knew Logan. She knew that she started a battle with this remark. But it was out, there was no way back.

"I think I had that coming. But I really wish I could talk to you. I can't do that on the phone. I need to talk to you. It's important." If she hadn't been talking to Logan, she would have said that the person's tone was almost desperate. No battle so far. At least not a verbal duel. But he was prepared to fight, that much she could tell. After all, no matter what he said, he was Logan Huntzberger, and he was just as stubborn as her when he set his mind to it. There was no beating around the bush anymore. So after a few moments of silence she said:

"I know. You can talk to me. To me, but not to her. Not yet." Hearing this Logan let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. It took a few minutes, but she finally started to talk to him. This was an opening.

"When?" Yes, it was short, almost a grunt, but he wanted to know.

"How about Monday?" Two days. She wanted those two days. She wanted to be prepared, even though she knew there was no way to be prepared. She didn't want to lie to herself. She knew exactly that the upcoming conversation was one of those you just can not be prepared for.

"This Monday?"

"This Monday."

"Why not tomorrow?" His voice was desperate yet again.

"We are going to Stars Hollow for the weekend. We haven't seen my mother, Luke and April for ages." She was determined, that much he could tell, but that didn't stop him from saying

"You haven't seen me for five years." He knew he hit a nerve, but it was out before he could stop himself, and she didn't wait a second with her answer.

"Exactly. You can not waltz in and out of people's lives. You just can't." He could hear the exclamation mark after every single word. 'Pandora's box is now open.' thought Logan.

"Is that it? Are you punishing me?" Oh, no. No backing out. It was a fight, and if something Logan was a fighter. Even if he knew he could not win this one, he just couldn't back out.

"It's not about you, Logan." Her voice was like a whip.

"I never said it was about me. But I can't see what is so wrong about changing your weekend plans..." That was a thick lie. He knew exactly that Rory never talked to the air. She was one of the most trustworthy people he knew.

"Really? Huh. You could have fooled me. For your information, I have a daughter I have to think of. I promised her a weekend in Stars Hollow, so she gets a weekend in Stars Hollow. End of story. You can not play with people. Especially not with kids. She needs to be able to trust her mother. And I'm not planning on starting to break my promises just because you 'feel like talking' to me after five years." Logan wished she would yell. That would have made things so much easier. But she didn't. Her voice was quiet, but cold and stern. This was a new side of her. He never knew Rory could be this protective. Yes, protective - he realized that was the slight undertone he could hear.

"I know you have a daughter. She's my daughter too." He spat knowing that he was signing his own death certificate. For a long moment Rory couldn't even breathe. He did not just say that... not after five years. It was just too much for Rory. When she finally answered her voice was slightly above a whisper.

"So you do remember. Who knew... Listen Logan. I can't do this right now. It's just too much for me."

"Right, then don't do this now. You said Monday. When and where?" It was the only sane thing to do - not forcing the weekend. He thought about going to Stars Hollow, but it wasn't a good idea, and he knew that.

"How about around noon?"

"A lunch together?"

"I don't want to go to a restaurant to discuss this. But we could go to the park."

"It's settled then. I'll pick you up from your office on Monday at one pm if it works for you."

"Monday one pm. Meet me in front of the building. I don't want people to see you. I hate gossip."

"OK. I'll be the guy with bags full of food," said Logan trying to lighten the mood.

"Bye, Logan."

"Rory?"

"Yes?"

"Could you maybe bring a picture of her, please?" He said slightly above whisper.

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A/N: Thanks for reading – next time they'll talk in person. I promise... :-)

Enjoy your day!