Rory paced in the hallway outside her apartment. Her enthusiasm had been so great when she left the office and now she was just standing there, afraid to go into her own apartment. She stopped directly in front of the door, wringing her hands together and tapping her foot nervously. She knew she had to do this but she hated it. Jess had been nothing but great to her since they had gotten back together and she didn't want to hurt him. Here goes nothing, she thought to herself. She took a deep breath, stood up straight and walked into the apartment.

"Hey," Jess said as she entered. He was in the kitchen, apparently making himself a snack. She realized she hadn't eaten much during the talk with Logan but she wasn't really hungry anymore anyhow. "You're finally home. Get that article finished?" he asked.

Shit, the article. She'd completely forgotten, she couldn't worry about that now though. "Umm, not exactly."

"Oh, well I guess you'll have to bring your laptop. I know you didn't want to work while we were in Stars Hollow but you've gotta do what you've gotta do, right?"

"Yeah, umm Jess," she started nervously; quick, like a band aid-it was the easiest way, She took a few steps towards the kitchen. Taking another deep breath and steadying her nerves she said her next words...the four words no one in a relationship ever wanted to hear... "We need to talk."

Jess dropped the knife he was holding and his head shot up. He looked at her for a moment before speaking. "Damn," he said. He didn't sound mad, just disappointed. "It's finally happening."

"What is?"

"It's the four dreaded words Rory, I'm not stupid," he replied. That time there was a tinge of anger in his voice.

She looked down at her feet, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. "Can we sit down for this please?"

He sighed. He had known this was coming; he had known for a while. "Yeah, I guess," he said, walking out of the kitchen into the living room. He sat down in his favorite chair and Rory sat down on the sofa across from him.

Rory bit her lip, trying to find the right words to say. "Jess, I love you..." she began.

"I love you too, but that doesn't matter does it?" he asked.

"No, it doesn't," she answered, tearing her eyes from her lap and forcing herself to look him in the eye; she owed him that much at least, "Because I'm not in love with you."

"I know," he responded with a nod of his head.

"You do?" she asked, not hiding her surprise.

"You're in love with him." It wasn't a question. He had known from the moment that he realized she hadn't told Logan about their relationship, let alone their engagement.

"I'm so sorry...for all of this," she croaked out.

"You're sorry for loving him?" he asked pointedly. He didn't want her lying to him, or herself and for her to say she was sorry for everything was a lie.

"Well..."

"You're sorry for choosing him over me?" he asked again.

She inhaled deeply, holding the breath in her lungs for a minute before slowly exhaling. "No, you're right. I'm not sorry for that. I can't be sorry for the way I feel. I can't be sorry for picking him, not when I know it's the right decision; it took me long enough to figure it out but I know now," she admitted. "But I am sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for stringing you along. I may not be sorry that he's the one but I am sorry that you're not. You deserved more from me and I'm sorry I couldn't give it to you."

"So am I," he paused. "Does he know?" he asked.

Well this was awkward, definitely not how she expected this to go. She wasn't sure how she expected him to take the news but she sure as hell didn't expect that question. It was awkward but she promised herself she'd be as honest as she could. "I don't know." The truth was she had been purposely vague when she left the office. She'd kissed him so he probably suspected, right? But she didn't want him to know yet. She wanted to end things with Jess properly first. When her and Logan officially got back together she didn't want it to be tainted by guilt or with concern over an impending break up; she wanted that in the past so they could start on their future.

"You should probably tell him than."

"That's it?" she asked skeptically. "You're OK with this? You're not upset or...or angry?"

"Is that what you want? For me to get angry? Would it help? I can do that you know," his voice was getting louder. Yes, he could definitely get angry. "Would you like for me to yell and scream, or would you like me to beg you to stay with me? Do you want to hear me tell you that I can't live without you? Would that make you feel better Rory?"

She recoiled a bit at the harshness of his words but the truth was it did make her feel better. "I guess if you were angry I...I wouldn't feel so guilty." Honesty -she promised herself, right?

"Oh, well if it will make you feel less guilty by all means...I'll get pissed off just to make you feel better while you're breaking my heart in a million little pieces." He knew he was giving her exactly what she wanted. He was getting angry. He wasn't supposed to get angry. He'd been practicing for this conversation in his head since Halloween; that was when he knew for sure this conversation would come about eventually. As soon as Logan was officially back in her life he knew he was living on borrowed time, so he told himself that he would try to hold on as long as possible but when she made the inevitable decision to leave him, he would respect it. And when she walked into the apartment and uttered the words he had been dreading he had reacted just as he had practiced. But it didn't matter how prepared he was, how long he knew- it still hurt like hell to hear and he was cracking.

"Jess..."

"No, this is what you wanted. You wanted me to get angry and you got your wish," he screamed, standing up from his chair. "I'm pissed as hell to know my fiance is in love with another man. I shouldn't be pissed since I've known all along, but I am. I wish I could beat the crap out of him so badly that he can't ever lay a finger on you. I don't ever want to have to think about you and him being together. Oh god, were you together? Did you cheat on me?" He asked, wide eyed.

"Jess..." she tried again.

"Did. You. Cheat. On. Me?" he asked again, carefully articulating each word, his voice forceful and unwavering.

Damn, this honesty thing Rory was trying was getting hard. "He kissed me a couple of times," she hesitantly admitted. "I didn't exactly protest." She took a deep breath. "And then last night..."

"OK stop right there," he ordered her, holding his hand up in a stop gesture. "I take it back, I don't want to know. I don't want to know about last night."

"No, I didn't sleep with him, I swear Jess. I still care about you, I could never do that to you." She stood up to look him in the eye so that he knew she was telling him the truth.

"I said I didn't want to know," he snapped, turning away from her.

"I'm sorry."

"You said that already," he told her, his voice softening again.

"And it's still true...but Jess, I have to go now."

"Yeah," he looked around the apartment. "I'll move my stuff out after Thanksgiving," he said defeatedly.

Rory nodded and took his hand in hers. "Thank you...for everything," she said, moving back towards the door.

As Rory withdrew her hand from Jess's grip he noticed that she left something behind. He looked down into his palm where her diamond ring sat; his heart broke a little more. "Wait, Rory!" he called after her.

"Yeah," she said, looking back from the open doorway.

"I forgot the part where I threaten to kill him if he ever hurts you, and I'm not just saying that, I really will," he said with a weak smile.

Rory smiled back. "That's good to know Jess, but I think he's safe." And with that she was gone.

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The cab pulled up in front of a posh, eight story building. Rory handed some bills to the driver and stepped out. She looked at her watch, 10 o'clock, surely he was home by now. She walked into the building and headed straight for the elevators.

"Excuse me Miss, can I help you?" she heard someone ask.

Turning around she saw that it was the doorman. "I'm just visiting a friend," she replied nonchalantly.

"Is your friend expecting you?" he asked.

"Umm, I don't think so," she admitted. God, she just wanted to get up to see Logan, why was he being so difficult.

"Well what's your friend's name,' he asked politely.

"Logan, Logan Huntzberger," she tapped her foot impatiently.

"Ah, the penthouse. You have friends in high places," the doorman chuckled.

"Was that a pun?"

"It was supposed to be, yes."

"Oh," was all she said.

"OK, what's your name?" he asked, moving on. "I can call up and see if he's there."

"Rory Gilmore."

"ID," he requested.

He had to be kidding; was this place the friggin' pentagon or something? She dug through her purse, locating her wallet. She took it out and passed her driver's license to the doorman.

"OK, you can go on up," he replied, giving her back her license.

Rory narrowed her eyes at the man. "That's it? I thought you were going to call him."

"You're on the list," he stated simply.

"The list? Is this an apartment building or the latest hit club?" she asked.

The doorman laughed. "The tenants leave a list of approved visitors," he explained.

"Oh," she replied. Approved visitors? He had her on a list of approved visitors? Did he expect her to visit or was it just wishful thinking? Actually it was kind of cute. Besides, it was better this way, she wanted to surprise him. She turned and headed back to the elevators and made her way up to the penthouse.

She stepped into the hallway and knocked on the door. She waited a few seconds before she heard movement and the door began to open. Her stomach did a little flip flop. She was here at last but as the door opened she felt a sudden wave of disappointment. "Oh, it's you," she said.

"Hey, I think I'm offended," Colin said jokingly.

"No, I was just...he's not here right now is he?" she asked.

"Nope, still at work I think."

"Hey, who is it?" she heard Finn call from inside.

"Rory," Colin told him.

"Hey Reporter Girl," Finn called out, "Lover Boy's not home yet."

"Who's Reporter Girl?" she heard a female voice ask. She peaked her head around Colin to see inside- Ah the feisty red-head and her pretty blonde friend.

"No need for jealousy, love," Finn told her. "She's Logan's girl, wouldn't dream of laying a finger on her. Besides, she doesn't have your beautiful red locks."

Rory laughed. "Didn't mean to interrupt your dates," she assured Colin. "And I'm not Logan's girl," she yelled passed him to Finn. "I am my own person."

"Right, your own person who showed up here at 10 o'clock at night looking for a little lovin'." Finn shot at her.

"Who said I was "looking for a little lovin'?" she asked with a roll of the eye, crossing her arms over her chest.

"So you're not?" Colin asked her curiously.

"I never said I wasn't either," she admitted with a smirk.

"Ah, so something we said did sink in last night," Finn said, joining Colin in the doorway. "Finally kicked ol' what's his name to the curb."

"Jess," she said pointedly. "And I didn't kick him to the curb, I...gently shooed him."

Finn and Colin both smiled broadly. "Well than, what are you waiting for," Finn asked. "Go find your man and have lots of mad, passionate sex in your mutual place of work."

"Fine," she said shaking her head amusedly. "I'll leave you two to your dates." she said turning around.

"Rory..." she heard Colin call her.

"Yeah?" she asked, looking back at him.

"Do you want the four of us to find an elsewhere to be tonight?" he asked pointedly.

"I couldn't ask you guys to do that," she said with a shake of her head.

"You don't have to ask," he assured her. "It's done."

"Thanks, Colin."

"No problem, and Rory..."

"Yeah, Colin?"

"I think you made the right decision."

"So do I," she said with a smile. "So do I."