Taking in the site before him he shook his head in amusement. "You know polite people call before they break and enter," he said with a laugh.

"Hey! We did not break in," Colin said with mock indignation, looking up from the game of pool he and Finn were engaged in.

"Oh no?" Logan asked with a raised brow.

"That's right mate," Finn replied, "We stole the spare key before you left and had a copy made."

Logan laughed at his two best friends. "And how'd you get past the doorman?" he asked them.

"Nothing a hefty bribe couldn't take care of," Colin said with wave of the hand as though it were no big deal.

Logan smiled broadly, his friends could always cheer him up and he definitely needed some cheering. Nothing seems as bad after Finn's Passion of the Christ...except Finn's passion of the Christ. Logan thought to himself, remembering what he told Rory all that time ago when she broke up with Dean.

"So what are you guys doing here?" Logan asked as he collapsed on a chair across from the pool table.

"Well Thanksgiving's in a couple of days mate."

"And the options were come here or spend the holiday with your family?" Logan asked with a raised brow.

"Exactly," Colin confirmed.

"I personally wanted to have Thanksgiving at Colin's house...the new Mom is hot," Finn chimed in, turning himself around so his back was to the pool table; he hopped up and took a seat.

"But Colin wasn't having any of that," Logan added, knowing how his friend felt about his family.

"Hell no, man," Colin exclaimed. "I was out of New Haven the second classes ended." Colin was in his second year of law school and hated every minute of it; actually it wasn't the law he hated, it was divorce law and that was the career he was destined to. The irony that his father was so great at both divorce law and divorcing wasn't lost on him. "So," Colin added, taking a seat across from Logan. "Fill us in on your life, we haven't heard from you in a few weeks."

"Ooh, yeah, any hot sheila's in your life you'd be willing to share? Perhaps a red head or two?" Finn asked suggestively.

Colin shot a backwards glance at his friend, "We've been through this Finn," he said shaking his head bemusedly, " Logan's given up on all the bunny's, trying to win back the lovely Rory."

Logan groaned at the thought of his Ace, he'd finally gotten his mind off of her for a moment and the guys had to bring it right back up again.

"Who's Rory?" Finn asked, narrowing his eyes, trying to remember.

"How much has he had to drink so far?" Logan asked Colin.

"Four or five glasses of whiskey, I think."

"Oh, so he's only mildly drunk," Logan replied.

"Yeah, give him a couple more glasses and he'll start remembering," Colin explained. The fact that Finn became more cognizant with increasing amounts of alcohol never ceased to amaze them but they had simply learned to accept it as a fact of life. Colin turned his attention back to Finn and tried to explain, "Rory Gilmore..." Colin began but Finn didn't show any signs of recognition, "Richard and Emily's grand daughter..." nothing. "Only girl to ever tame the beast," Colin tried, pointing at Logan but Finn's face remained blank. Colin sighed and tried one more time, "Reporter Girl."

"Reporter Girl?" Finn asked with glee. "I loved Reporter Girl. Lovely sheila, haven't seen her since before graduation. I wonder what she's up to."

"Why don't you ask her yourself," Logan suggested.

"What? Is she here?" Finn asked excitedly. "You sly dog."

Logan sighed, "No Finn, not here."

"She works for Logan," Colin explained to his drunken friend for the hundredth time over the past couple of months.

"And when you say work..." Finn began in a suggestive tone.

"At the paper, Finn," Logan said a little too angrily. He knew Finn was only joking but the innuendo still bothered him.

"Oh, so nothing kinky then?" Finn asked disappointedly.

"Well I don't know about that..." Colin began, looking at Logan, waiting for details.

"No, nothing kinky," Logan responded with exasperation in his voice.

"Still with that asshole?" Colin asked.

"What asshole?" Finn butted in.

Colin just sighed, not surprised by the question. He leaned his head back but didn't actually turn to look at Finn. "She's engaged, Finn."

"Wait, mate's getting married? How come no one told me? I have to start practicing for my best man duties. I have to plan the bachelor party."

Logan wanted to cry, not literally of course, Logan Huntzberger didn't cry, but this conversation was getting seriously depressing. Why did he have to walk in on Finn in the forgetful stage of his drunkenness? Rehashing everything that was going on was just too much.

"I'm sorry man," Colin said to Logan as though reading his mind. He turned himself back to Finn. " Logan is not getting married and if he were I would be the best man."

"But you just said he and Reporter Girl were engaged, and I would soooo be the best man."

"No, I said she was engaged," then Colin added in a softer tone, "to someone else." He let the best man argument drop.

"But she's Logan's girl," Finn exclaimed. "Where's the bastard that's marrying my best mate's girl. I'll kill 'im."

"It's OK Finn," Logan told him. "She made her choice. I accept that."

"Wait! Did you just say that you've accepted that the love of your life is marrying someone else?" Colin asked, clearly not believing.

"Yes."

"And you expect us to believe you."

"Yes." Colin just stared at Logan until Logan couldn't take it anymore. "Fine," he yelled. "I don't accept it. I hate it. I have to see her everyday knowing I'll never be with her again. He shows up all the time to take her out to lunch and I think I'd rather poke my own eyes out then see them together. I've never been so miserable in my whole entire life. Are you happy?" He cried out desperately and finished by burying his face in his hands.

"So what are you going to do about it?"

Logan looked up from his hands and shook his head, "Nothing. I'm not going to do anything," he admitted.

"So the mighty Logan Huntzberger's just going to give up?" Colin asked disappointedly.

"That's pathetic mate." Finn added.

"You guys don't understand."

"Well then explain it to us," Colin suggested.

"I can't do this right now guys. I'm going to go take a shower. I don't think I need to tell you to makes yourselves at home." Logan said, standing up and walking off towards the bathroom.

"Fine, but we're not finished with the conversation. This miserable Huntzberger is no fun and we fully intend on doing something about it." Colin called after him.

When Logan was gone from ear shot Colin turned back to Finn. "That boy seriously needs our help."

"Seriously," Finn agreed, "So what's the plan?"

----------------------------------------------

"Can I have some alcohol now?" Finn whined. He and Colin were on the elevator, going to visit the Liberty Herald.

"No, you made me promise not to let you drink anything until after the talk," Colin reminded him.

"Right...and why was that again?"

Colin sighed. "Probably so you don't forget who we're talking to."

"No, that wasn't it..." Finn said, deep in thought. "I think I just wanted to do something drastic."

"Well you being sober is definitely drastic," Colin agreed.

"This is serious, mate. Logan needs us."

"But he doesn't want us to..."

"But he needs us to," Finn said.

"You know what, you're right. I don't know why I'm having second thoughts about this. So Logan told us to drop it, that's not what he really wants. He's being an idiot and it's our job as his best friends to make this right," Colin rationalized.

"Exactly, and since it seems we can't talk any sense into Logan..."

"We'll just have to talk some sense into Rory, now get ready, this is the floor." The two stepped off the elevator and into the bustling newsroom. Scanning the room, Colin spotted Rory sitting at her desk at the far end of the floor. "This way," he said, leading Finn towards her. Half way across the room Finn suddenly veered off to the left. "Finn! Finn, where are you going?" he called after the Aussie. Colin rushed after him and once he caught up he saw what had drawn his friend's attention. "Oh no you don't."

"But...but..." Finn stuttered like a small child.

"No! Do you remember what Logan told you about the pretty red head last night?"

Finn pouted dramatically, crossing his arms over his chest. "Don't even think about hitting on the pretty red head. She's Ace's best friend and she's taken." Finn quoted.

"Precisely. Besides, we're on a mission. There's no time for detours."

"Fine," Finn sulked but turned back around and proceeded to Rory's desk. Once there the two men stood silently for a few moments waiting for their presence to be noted.

When they'd had enough of being ignored, Colin spoke up. "You know, a good reporter should be more aware of what's going on around her."

Rory finally looked up from her computer screen and squealed in glee at the site of the two people standing before her. "Colin? Finn? Oh My God! What are you doing here?" she jumped up from her seat, running around the desk to give her visitors a hug.

"We're here to see you, love," Finn said, as though it were obvious.

"You came all the way to Philadelphia to see lil ol' me?" she asked skeptically.

"Well, OK no. We came to Philadelphia to see Logan but we came here to see you," Colin corrected.

"Oh really?" Rory asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, we wanted to take our favorite Reporter Girl out for dinner."

Rory smiled but shook her head. "I appreciate the offer Finn but I think Jess is expecting me and..."

"Jess? That's the lucky man who's won your heart?" Colin asked, trying to fake sincerity. He'd never met Jess but that didn't mean he couldn't hate him. He was allowed, no expected, to hate him simply because he was with Logan's girl. It didn't matter what had happened or how long it had been or how much Logan insisted he just wanted Rory to be happy, as far as Colin was concerned Rory would always be Logan's girl; those two were meant for each other.

"Yeah," Rory confirmed.

"Come on, he gets you every night. You can spare a night for two old friends, can't you," Colin continued.

"Well..." Rory hesitated. "It might be kind of awkward; things with Logan and me are..."

"Who said anything about Logan?" Finn asked.

"Well I just assumed."

"You know what happens when you assume, love." Rory rolled her eyes at Finn.

"Rory Gilmore, have you been holding out on me? Who are the new hotties?" Sue's voice broke into the conversation. Finn looked over at the voice and laid eyes on a gorgeous red head. He was practically drooling.

"Sue!" she greeted her friend. "This is Colin, and that's Finn," she introduced. "They're Logan's best friends."

"I'm insulted love? Is that all we are to you? Logan's friends."

"Of course not, Finny. You're my friend's too," she assured him, giving both the boys a peck on the cheek.

"Good, because the last we saw of you we were schlepping your things out of your grandparents' house and I'd hate to think that you were just using us."

"Oh Finn," she replied in a truly apologetic voice. "I never wanted to stop talking to you guys, I love you two. I just didn't want to cause any trouble between friends."

"Ahh well, you're forgiven. No straight man can look into those Bambi eyes of yours and stay mad; now back to this gorgeous creature standing next to me," Finn turned to Sue. "Finnegan Morgan, at your service." He took Sue's hand in his and lifted it to his mouth, laying a gentle kiss on the back of her palm. Finn suddenly felt something come down hard on his foot. "Ow mate, what was that?" he looked over at Colin who had just stepped on his foot.

"Off limits," Colin hissed.

"What was that?" Sue laughed.

Rory shook her head at the boy's antics. "I have a feeling Finn was warned," Rory informed Sue.

"Warned? About what? Why would he be warned?"

"Well you see, my dear Australian friend here has a thing for red heads,' Rory explained. "So I'm guessing Logan had the foresight to let him know you were taken but Finn has a horrible memory, one too many brain cells lost to his precious alcoholic beverages, so Colin was just reminding him. Isn't that right boys?"

Colin just shook his head and smiled. "Excuse out friend," he told Sue, "He just takes a little getting used to. He's completely harmless, I swear."

"Aww, I think he's cute," Sue offered.

"You hear that? She thinks I'm cute," Finn said proudly, standing up a little straighter and puffing up his chest. Everyone laughed. Finn scowled at the group but didn't let it deter him. "So Sue, we were just discussing taking the lovely Rory out to dinner. How would you like to join us?"

"Finn, what did Logan say?" Colin hissed in his friend's ear. Finn pulled Colin aside and whispered something to him.

"Are they up to something?" Sue asked Rory.

"Always, I'm sure we'll figure out what it is soon enough. You really should come to dinner with us though, it'll be fun."

"Well I don't want to intrude," Sue offered but only because she knew Rory would insist that she wasn't. Sue was highly intrigued by the pair of men standing before them and her reporter instincts wanted to find out more.

"So ladies," Colin said walking back to the desk, "Are we ready to go?"

Sue looked at Rory for confirmation and Rory nodded her approval. "Just let me get my purse and call Jess to let him know I won't be home for dinner."

Colin and Finn nodded their heads in triumph. Things were going well so far and it looked like they might even have a little extra help.

------------------------------------------------

The group sat around the table in the restaurant rattling off their drink orders to the waiter. "And for you sir?" the man asked as he reached Finn. Colin shot a pointed look at Finn letting him know it wasn't time to drink yet.

"Just a water for me," Finn said sadly.

Rory looked on in confusion. "Is he alright?" she asked Colin. "Should we call a doctor?"

Colin shook his head nonchalantly, "No, he's just taking it easy on the alcohol tonight."

"And I repeat, is he alright? Should we call a doctor?"

"Hey, I don't always drink," Finn said. Rory just looked at him. "Well, I can change," Finn tried but Rory wasn't swayed. "For the love of god woman, I'm fine. I'll have a drink later."

"If you say so Finn. I'm just gonna run to the ladies room, I'll be right back," Rory said.

As soon as Rory was gone from the table Finn leaned across to Sue. "So, we hear you're on our team." he whispered.

"Team? What team? There are teams?" Sue asked.

Finn sighed dramatically. "The get-Rory-and-Logan-to-stop-acting-like-shmucks-and-get-back-together-already-team."

"Oh yes, that team," Sue nodded enthusiastically.

"OK well, we figured we'd try the not so subtle 'gang up on her' technique; you know strength in numbers." Colin added.

Sue laughed. "So you're plan was to double team her? I don't think Jess would appreciate that, and I know Logan wouldn't, especially not coming from his two best friends."

Finn laughed at Sue's comment, "I like her," he said as an aside to Colin.

Colin just rolled his eyes. "Are you going to help us or not?"

"Hey, I've been at this for weeks. I'm the team starter, you guys are relief; you're helping me."

"Whatever. Shh, here she comes," Colin whispered.

"Do I even want to know what's going on here?" Rory asked as she sat back down with her friends.

"No" Colin and Sue said in unison.

Finn had a different idea "So Rory..."

"So Finn..."

"Why haven't you and Logan shagged yet?"

Sue and Colin groaned and Rory just shook her head. She should have seen this coming. "Shagged? Isn't that British slang?"

"What? Just because I'm Australian that means I can't speak British?"

"No, Finn, you can use any kind of slang you want," Rory said appeasingly.

"Damn straight, now what were we talking about? Oh yes, you and Logan getting jiggy wit it."

Sue leaned over to Colin, "You know when you guys said 'not so subtle', I wasn't expecting it to be quite this blunt."

"Wait. You knew they were going to shanghai me like this?" Rory asked Sue, her anger building.

"Well not like this per se," Sue defended.

"You three are unbelievable. I should have seen this coming. This wasn't meant to be dinner it was meant to be an inquisition."

"Listen, Rory," Colin began. "That's not what this is. Logan's our best friend; we're just looking out for him."

"So he sent you here? This is 'effin ridiculous. First he's all over me, then he says he's going to leave me alone, then he kisses me, then he won't talk to me for a week, then he has Sue check up on me and now he sends you two after me? Un-freaking-believable," Rory grabbed her purse and stood up from the table, preparing to leave but Finn stood up opposite her, blocking her exit.

"Rory, love, wait," he pleaded. " Logan doesn't know we're talking to you, I swear. He explicitly told us not too talk to you about him."

"Oh, so what you're saying is that you went behind your friend's back and disobeyed his wishes. You're great friends," Rory spat at them.

"Sometimes being a good friend means reading between the lines," Finn stated.

"Ooh, I like that. That's a good motto," Sue said, smiling at Finn then turned to Rory. "Just hear them out Rory please. I tell you this stuff everyday, what difference does it make coming from them?" she reasoned.

Sue was wrong; it did make a difference coming from Colin and Finn, partly because they were mostly Logan's friends but mostly because they had been there for the entire Rory/Logan saga. They had been there since the beginning and they had insight into their relationship that Sue would never have. Put the three of them together and Rory knew all of her excuses would fall short. She'd be stripped bare, exposed for everyone to see. She wanted to run away, she didn't want to be so vulnerable but she couldn't run, she just sat back down.

"He really told you not to talk to me about this?" she asked.

"He really did, but Rory, he just looked so broken. He tries to get along without you but he can't, he needs you," Colin told her.

Rory felt a pang of guilt but brushed it off. "He doesn't need me, he's a big boy, he'll move on."

"No he won't, he's in love with you Rory, you only fall in love once," Colin told her.

"What do you two know about it, you've never been in love," Rory spat, she immediately regretted her harsh words. "I'm sorry," she added meekly.

"No, you're right. I've never been in love," Colin agreed. "But I've seen a lot working for my father. I've seen hundreds of couples that used to love each other fall apart at the seams. Every once in a blue moon a rare couple pulls through. Those are the couples that didn't just love each other, those are the ones that were in love, because being in love is forever. I see in those couples the same thing I've seen in you and Logan. I haven't seen you with this Jess guy but I'm willing to bet money that even though you may love him, you're not in love with him because you're already in love with Logan."

"He's sappy," Sue said to Rory, bringing a slight smile to her face, despite the intense conversation.

"Hey!" Colin said, offended by Sue's comment. "I am not sappy."

"No mate, she's right, we're going to have to do something very macho after this," Finn agreed with Sue.

"Finn, are you just doing that thing where you agree with whatever the red head says, because she's not going home with you." Rory said, hoping for a reprise from the previous conversation.

"No, I'm not just doing that thing where I agree with the red head," Finn argued. "But even if I were, that's beside the point. We're getting off topic here and the longer this conversation goes the longer I have to wait to get a drink so let's get back to the topic at hand."

"Which is what?" Rory said with great annoyance.

"You're in love with Logan, Logan's in love with you. Get off your ass and go get him," Finn said matter-of-factly.

"It's not that simple, there are other matters at hand," Rory argued.

"Like what? This Jess guy?" Colin asked.

"Yes like Jess, my fiancé. We're getting married; we're starting a life together. We're going to be husband and wife and we're going to have children and a home and maybe a dog; we're going to have a family. I want that now. I'm out of school; I have a decent job, now I want a family."

"So you can't have a family with Logan?" Colin asked

"No," Rory said forcefully.

"What, did I miss something?" Finn asked. "Is there a problem with Logan's little swimmers?"

Sue laughed at Finn but Rory just glared. "It's not his ability to procreate that's in question here Finn."

"Then color me confused, because I'm not getting it."

"Look at his life guys. He spends god knows how many hours a day in that office, he's a slave to his father and that company. He moves all the time; Hartford, London, Hartford again, Philadelphia and who knows where he'll be next. And even when he's living in one spot he's always traveling. I can't take that. I need someone who will be there. I don't want someone who's never home for dinner, who's not around to tuck the kids in and read them a bed time story, who will send them away to boarding school. I don't want to spend half my nights lying in bed alone wondering if the business trip he's on has a little pleasure on the side." As soon as Rory finished speaking she froze up. Had she really just said all those things aloud? She'd hardly formed these fears into coherent thoughts and she just belted them out to a crowd. She should have just walked away from the table when she'd had a chance, but there was no going back now.

"My god, she's completely daft." Finn declared. "If you weren't a lady I'd smack you upside the head for that last comment. I mean it was all a little crazy but for you to even think that he would cheat on you..."

"Is that seriously what you think of him? He's not Mitchum for god sake." Colin added.

"Holly crap," Sue declared, having an epiphony. "I get it. How could I have been so stupid, how could I have missed it? It all makes sense?"

"What makes sense love?"

"That guy! That guy that he was taking about isn't some hypothetical guy it's his father. He's afraid of turning into his father, that's why he's doing this crazy 'letting you go' thing. And then he said he figured out that you were scared of the same thing, and you told me that it wasn't really about Mitchum which meant that in a way it was. So that's what you're afraid of; him becoming just like his Dad."

"Oi," was all Finn could say.

"No, no, this is good. We can work with this," Colin assured Finn.

"Right, I know," Finn said to his friend then turned to face Rory. "You're an idiot."

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from the guy who thought the sun was a myth until his junior year of college."

"You're not an idiot, Rory," Colin assured her. "You're right."

"She's what?" Finn asked incredulously.

"She's right."

"I am?" Rory asked, clearly not expecting that response.

"Oh I got it," Finn chimed in.

"Good for you Finn," Colin sarcastically.

"No, seriously I understand where you're going. What our dear friend Colin is trying to say..."

Colin cut him off. "Finn, don't explain for me."

"Seriously Colin, I know what I'm saying, just let me handle this."

Rory dropped her head down on the table "Do you guys want to get to the part where I'm right sometime today?" she asked, "Because this conversation is getting very tiresome." Sue patted her gently on the back.

"Fine, Finn, take it but if you say one stupid thing I'm cutting you off."

Finn smiled triumphantly. "Do you know why Mitchum is so...Mitchumesque?" he began.

Rory shook her head back and forth without lifting it from the table, "Enlighten me," she mumbled into her place mat.

"He's lonely. He's lonely and bitter and jaded." Finn stated matter-of-factly. "Just like Logan, his parents never thought of him as anything but an heir to the company. They never cared for him a stitch. Then they forced him to get married and he never gave a damn about Shira. She was just what his parents expected of him. So when he had his kids, it was only out of duty, not out of love and so he never really loved his children and they in return don't love him. I don't think Mitchum has ever been loved a day in his life." Everyone at the table looked up at Finn with amazement. It was, of course a very un-Finn like thing to say but he didn't seem to notice, he just carried on. "So could Logan turn out that way? Sure. His family doesn't care about him and eventually he will have to get married if he's going to take over the company and he could get stuck in a loveless business arrangement of a marriage and he can stop caring, or he could wind up with you. He could spend the rest of his life with a woman he loves; someone who gives him a reason to come home from the office early and to send his employees out on the business trips for him so he can spend more time at home. Someone who gives him children who are more than a business investment. So that's the difference- love. The moral of the story, doll, is that family's most worth having when you have it with the right person."

Rory continued to stare, not knowing what to say. She finally forced words out of her mouth. "You seriously need to have a drink Finn because this whole insightful thing is really creeping me out."

Finn just smiled proudly, "Told ya I knew what I was saying."

"Is that what it's really like?" Sue asked softly.

"What what's like?" Colin replied.

"Being rich and powerful. Is that really the price you have to pay? Families that resent you or only want to use you? Being forced into marriage with someone you don't even care about? Having no options, having no one who really cares about you?" she asked incredulously.

"Some have it harder than other's but for the most part, yeah," Colin confirmed.

"Wow, and to think I spent all those years being jealous of Ivana Trump."

Rory laughed. "Now you know why my Mom ran away with me."

"Ahh look, right on time," Finn said, pointing towards the doorway. The girls turned around to see what Finn was pointing at. Rory stared wordlessly at the door and Sue groaned at the site. Those two idiots had gone and possibly messed up everything they had just done.

"Oh god, oh god. I can't do this." Rory began panicking. I can't deal with this yet. Oh god."

"Rory," Sue tried in a soothing voice but she knew it was hopeless; the brunette picked up her bag and bolted out of the restaurant brushing right passed a very confused looking Logan on the way. Sue stared at him for a moment as he stood there contemplating which way to go before she turned back to the two at the table. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"We were thinking they should talk," Colin defended.

"Ugh, you idiots. You can't just lay all this stuff on her and then throw them together again. She needs time to process."

"We didn't think..."

"Clearly," Sue scolded.

"What the hell just happened?" A new voice broke in. Apparently Logan had decided not to chase after her.

"It's nothing Logan, just have a seat," Sue said.

"It's nothing?" he asked incredulously. "She just ran out of here in tears, she looked like she just saw a puppy die."

"She just has a lot on her mind. She needs some time alone to process."

"So you're not going to go check on her?"

"No."

"But..."

"But nothing, she'll be fine. I promise."

"What the hell did you two say to her?" Logan asked, turning his attention to his two friends. "I told you not to say anything to her."

Colin and Finn stuttered, looking for a way to explain themselves but were at a loss for words. "I'll deal with you two later," he said. "You're really not going to check on her?' he asked Sue again.

"No, and you're not either," she replied.

"Someone has to," Logan turned back around and started for the entrance.

"I swear to god if you upset her anymore there will be hell to pay Huntzberger," she called after him, but he was already gone.

--------------------------------------

Rory climbed into her car and stuck the keys in he ignition but didn't turn them. She couldn't drive like this, she was a mess. What the hell had just happened in that restaurant? Everything they had said had made so much sense and yet she felt more confused than ever. She banged her head down on the steering wheel and the horn sounded but she ignored it.

Were they right? Could he really be the man that she needed? If so than she owed him a chance, right? And what about the other side? Could he really turn out just like his father if she rejected him? Would she really be condemning him to that awful fate? But she didn't want to pick him because she felt guilty, he deserved better than that. But was that what she was doing with Jess? Was she just with him because she felt guilty for breaking her promise to him? Or was she with him because of what he could do for her? That was wrong too. And maybe Finn was right about that too. Maybe a family with Jess would be tainted if she was really meant to be with Logan. Was she just stringing them both along? If so she was an awful person. They both deserved better, why the hell were they fighting over her?

She rubbed at her temples furiously; all the thoughts were giving her a head ache. Her head was pounding...or was it something else pounding? The window? She looked up and sure enough there was Logan knocking on the car window. Great, just what she needed. She wasn't ready to talk to him. Apparently he didn't care because the next thing she knew he was opening the car door.

"You OK Rory?" he asked crouching down so he was at her level. He had almost called her Ace but he remembered her reaction the last time he had tried to call her that. He was sure it wouldn't be a better reaction after he hadn't said a word to her at all for a week.

"Just go away Logan," she sobbed.

"Not until I know you're alright," he insisted, placing a hand gently on her leg for support.

"You shouldn't be here. Remember, you're supposed to stay away from me," she replied, wiping furiously at the tears in her eyes.

"It's not like that. I never meant it to be like that," he insisted.

"Right, that's why you've gone out of your way to ignore me all week," she said angrily.

"It's not that I don't want to be around you, Rory. I want that more than anything. I wish so much that I could just have you in my life, even if it's not the way I really want. I just don't know how to do it."

She looked down, trying to hide the new tears springing up. "I don't know what I'm doing Logan," she said softly.

"Join the club," he let out a short chuckle. "Cause I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing either."

She just sat there, continuing to cry, content to know she wasn't alone. "Hey, come on, Ace" Logan said standing up. He pulled softly on her arm and she obeyed, stepping out of the car. He smiled softly, she hadn't yelled at him for calling her Ace. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her closely to himself. She leaned her head against his chest, continuing to sob into him.

They stood like that for an indeterminate period of time, wrapped in one another. "It's just all so confusing," she finally said, mumbling into his chest.

"Tell me about it," he replied rhetorically but she apparently misunderstood.

"I can't, not yet."

"Well whenever you want to talk, I'll listen," he said, kissing the top of her head lightly.

She pulled back and looked up at him. "I missed you Logan."

He smiled down at her. "I missed you too, Ace. You have no idea how much," And before she knew what she was doing she pushed herself up on her tippy toes and pressed her lips to his. Her hands ran up his chest and encircled his neck. She didn't even have to ask for entry, his mouth was open and waiting. She plunged her tongue into his mouth desperately, taking comfort in the warmth it offered.

They continued for a few seconds before she hastily pulled back. "Oh god I shouldn't have done that. I'm so sorry, I should not have done that," she rambled. That wasn't how it was supposed to happen. She was still confused and irrational. Sure she was considering leaving Jess more seriously now but she needed to at least talk to Logan first, not just ram her tongue down his throat. And if she did decide to leave Jess for Logan she had to actually leave him before anything happened. "I'm so sorry," she said again, tearing herself from his arms and scurrying back into the driver's seat. "I'm so sorry," she muttered once more as she shut the door.

Logan watched her drive away. His life wasn't confusing, not at all.