Disclaimer: As I tried to write in the last chapter (damn typos), I do not own Gilmore Girls

CHAPTER PI (3.14159265...)

By five thirty, they stood by the door. Rory held onto Logan's hand firmly, his hand covering most of her engagement ring. But there was no mistaking the little glint of platinum and diamond that sparkled from her fourth finger.

"You ready?" Logan asked.

Rory shook her head frantically. "It isn't too late to turn around and go home! I'm sure your Porsche can drive really, really fast. We could be in Russia before they even got to their cars!"

"We're going to drive over an ocean?"

"I mean, they're old. They take a long time to start their cars, and they drive really slow. We could move really quickly using our spry and nimble young limbs, and we'd never have to see them again."

"Can cars drive over oceans?"

"Of course, we would need new names. Hey, I know, you could dye your hair! And your name could be… um, Boris! Yes! You can be Boris and I will be Maria."

"Boris? And are you sure it's a good idea to drive the car through an ocean?"

"Logan! You aren't being helpful."

Logan smiled deviously. "Sorry, Ace. Here, is this helpful?" Before she could stop him, he shot an arm out and rung the doorbell.

They heard the scurrying footsteps as the maid approached the door.

"You are sooo sleeping on the couch tonight, mister." She whispered as they walked into, for lack of a better word, hell.

He smiled and turned to kiss her, but stopped when he heard someone clear their throat. He turned and instantly regretted it. Four stony faces belonging to four cranky members of the Hartford Elite stared at him.

"Logan, Rory." Emily said tonelessly, "Come sit with us."

Logan and Rory moved to the waiting sofa and sat down carefully. Logan was now holding Rory's hand in both of his, ensuring that the ring was completely hidden. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. He looked over at Rory, whose miserable expression said the same thing.

"So, Rory." Mitchum said suddenly, breaking the ice. "I hear you finished off at Yale and got yourself a job."

"Yes, sir." Rory replied stiffly, giving a very false smile. Logan squeezed the hand he held, giving her the comfort to continue. "It was a higher position than I expected, but who's complaining?"

Mitchum nodded. "You know, I might have been wrong about you, Rory." He told her, his face hinting that he was trying to be intimidating. "Then again, you must be one of the most well connected people in all of Connecticut, so it's hard to say."

Rory felt blood boil in her veins. Why did he hate her so much? Logan's hands had gotten tighter around hers. "Excuse me." She said politely, "I have to use the washroom." She stood up, not letting go of Logan's grip until her hand was no longer visible.

By the time she reached the bathroom, she was nearly crying. She sat down on the small bench that sat outside it for several minutes before Logan appeared next to her.

"Hey Ace," He whispered, sitting down next to her and gathering her in his arms. "What's wrong?"

"How can he talk to me like that?" She wasn't sad, just angry. Logan could feel a rant coming on. "I've never done anything to him, ever! He's the one who told me I didn't have it. He told me I didn't have what I needed to be a successful journalist. But I became one! And here I was thinking that he was going to apologize, but oh no, that would be too nice for Mitchum Huntzberger. And connections! Connections! How DARE he? We all know I didn't use any connections! Why did he have to be so condescending and-"

She was silenced by Logan's lips that came crashing down on hers.

"He doesn't matter." Logan told her firmly when they parted. "Don't waste your breath on him. By the way, do you think it's too late to drive to Russia?"

This got a small laugh out of Rory. "Do you promise to be Boris?"

Logan opened his mouth to reply when a shrill voice sounded nearby. "Logan honey, are you there with the Rory girl?" Shira's sudden presence startled them both. Rory stood up quickly, accidentally knocking the antique clock off of the wall above them.

Logan watched as it crashed to the floor, eyebrows raised.

"Don't you say a word." Rory warned him, mouth curling into a smile.

Logan shook his head. "Rory three, Clocks zero. How many more do you think you can take out before we have to leave?"

Drinks slowly progressed into dinner, and Rory and Logan realized that they needed to tell them the news soon. After they had returned, Mitchum had barely spoken to any of them, except to make the odd comment about either Rory or Logan's careers. Richard and, surprisingly enough, Shira, had tried to make pleasant conversation, both failing. Rory and Logan were terse, his hands never leaving hers.

The maid had just cleared the first course when Logan looked to Rory and nodded. She drew in a breath and slipped her hand from Logan's, placing it near her fork. Not too blunt, not too subtle. Emily noticed first.

"Rory." She said, "Is that what I think it is?" Her comment caused the three others to look at her left hand, where the ring stared at them, challenging them.

Shira gave an obviously fake smile. "You're engaged." She said in a very stilted voice, "How lovely."

Logan raised an eyebrow.

"Logan, Rory, congratulations!" noomed Richard. He didn't care much for Logan since he had found out that he and Rory were sleeping together, but he was genuinely happy that his granddaughter was content.

Mitchum said nothing.

"Have you set a date?" Emily asked, as though she wasn't too bothered.

"No." Rory replied, giving Logan a frantic look. Why weren't they angrier? Temper tantrums she could handle, but distance and coldness was aggravating. "But we were thinking summer."

Mitchum finally opened his mouth. "Son," He said, "I don't know whether I'm proud of you or disappointed. Either way, I do not think you should marry Rory."

And that was the end of that. Dinner went on, and Logan and Rory left immediately after. Once they had left, however, the 'grown-ups' had a talk.