Author Note: Thank you so much to everyone who is reading and reviewing! I try and respond to all of you, but sometimes I get behind. And a reminder that if you don't come off anon, I can't reply back.

These are the events in 2010 that shape the Logan we see in AYITL. As always, Logan's inner thoughts are in italics.

I do not own Gilmore Girls or any characters.

February 2010

"Mr. Huntzberger, there's someone down here to see you. He's a little hysterical. The ID says 'Colin McCrae.' Do you know him or should we call security?" the doorman asks Logan over the phone.

"No, I know him. You can let him up," Logan says.

Six minutes later, he opens the door to a disheveled Colin, wildly running his hand through his hair.

"What the hell is going on? Are you okay?" Logan asks.

"No. I did something really stupid," Colin says.

"What?"

"I slept with Jillian," Colin spills.

"What?" Logan asks again.

"My secretary. I slept with her," Colin admits.

"Why? What about Stephanie?" Logan asks.

"She told me she wanted to take a break, and I got wasted and screwed Jillian... I can't go home and face Steph. I can't go to work and see Jillian. I'm losing it, Logan."

"Okay, calm down… Why did Stephanie break up with you?" Logan asks.

"She's been upset that I've been working too much, and she says I'm not making her a priority… But what am I supposed to do? My dad expects me to bill at least seventy-five hours a week… I fucking hate it, and she knows it. Monday when I came home she said she wasn't happy and she wanted some space."

Logan's mind is instantly thrown back five years when Rory told him the exact same thing.

"I'm not happy Logan… I just need some space…"

Logan has to ask. "Did she actually say she wanted to break up, or-"

"No, I asked," Colin interrupts him. "I remember what happened with Rory. I begged her to change her mind, and she said no. So I went back to the office, and I've been sleeping there. But now I can't even do that… because I'm a weak slut… and how am I ever going to get her back now?"

"You can stay here. Don't worry about that. But I'm guessing Steph has no clue about the anniversary trip to Costa Rica," Logan says.

"I really wanted to surprise her, but… that's all fucked now," Colin says. He finally stops pacing and sits on the couch. "What am I going to do?"

"You want to stay with her right?" Logan asks.

"Yes, of course. But I don't know how to do what you did. I don't know how to tell my dad to fuck off. Maybe I can't have both," Colin laments.

"Well if you had to choose, what would you choose?"

"Stephanie," Colin says instantly.

"Okay, then make it happen. Just do it. Tell her you want to make this work and you'll do whatever you have to. And I know you don't want to hear this, but you also have to tell her about Jillian. I didn't do that, and it blew up in my face," Logan advises.

Walker telling Rory led to one of the worst weeks of my life.

"Hang out here tonight. But you gotta go home after work tomorrow. Just tell her, apologize, and beg for forgiveness."

Three days later, Logan stands in front of Colin and Stephanie's door. He raps sharply, waiting for her to let him in.

She opens the door, looking as devastated as Colin has the last week.

"If you're here to defend him-"

"I'm not. I'm here to check on you," Logan says. "Can I come in?"

She silently opens the door allowing him entry.

"How are you doing?" he asks quietly.

"Oh, just swell," she responds, her voice thick with sarcasm.

He studies her carefully. "You don't seem swell for someone who wanted this break up."

Stephanie looks away guiltily. "I didn't want to 'break-up' break-up. I just wanted him to know how serious I was about needing a change. I didn't think he would sleep with that whore within thirty-six hours. So go ahead and lecture me about playing games."

Logan doesn't; he waits patiently. She needs to get this out.

"It's just… I thought once he finished school, it would get better. But it's been seven months, and it's gotten worse. We never see each other, and when we do he's always tired and cranky. We never have sex anymore- sorry, but we don't. He's probably been sleeping with her for a while, and that's why he's always at the office."

Logan pulls her towards him moving them to the couch as she begins crying. "Come on, Steph. You know that's not true."

"We had been talking about getting engaged when he graduated, but he hasn't even mentioned it in months. We've been together too long to be so… static. You know?" she continues.

"Can I say something?" Logan asks.

This probably isn't my place to say, but she's not speaking to Colin, so…

When she nods, he continues. "He's not talking about getting engaged because he wanted to surprise you. He has a trip to Costa Rica booked for your anniversary. Same place we stayed when you guys got back together. He was going to propose down there."

"Are you serious?" she cries as she pulls back her head to look at him.

Logan nods. "I helped him pick out the ring."

"Oh, God… Well, it's too late now. He slept with her... I've always worried in the back of my mind, that Colin is destined to be just like his dad. Workaholic. Serial adulterer. Maybe this was just inevitable," Stephanie says.

She begins crying again. She lays down in his lap, resting her head on a pillow, and Logan tucks her hair behind her ear.

"I refuse to be like my mom," Stephanie continues. "Staying in a terrible relationship because it provides me with money and social standing. I'm better than that."

"You are better than that," Logan agrees. "And I honestly don't think Colin wants that life either. Look, we all have shitty dads. And we've been groomed to be shitty husbands. But for the right woman, I know he would give all that up to be decent and honorable. No matter how tough he talks."

I would have given up anything for Rory. And I never would have strayed.

"Do you think I'm that woman for Colin?"

"I do. I've known him since I was thirteen. You are it for him," Logan says.

"But how can I ever trust him again now?" she asks.

"You gave me some really good advice a few years ago on that long flight to Costa Rica. Do you remember? You told me to give it time, and if it was meant to work out, it would."

"Yeah, well how did that work out for you, Logan?"

He winces. Ouch.

"I'm sorry. I'm being a bitch," Stephanie says.

Logan breathes deep before continuing. "I may not have ended up with her, but I got a year and half after that trip, and I wouldn't trade that time for anything. Even knowing how it ended."

At least I learned what true happiness feels like. And that I was capable of obtaining it.

Logan rubs her forehead until she falls asleep. Eventually, he carries her to her bed and tucks her in.

Colin is back to pacing the floor when he returns to his own apartment.

"Did she talk to you? What did she say?"

"She's a mess. You've got to give her some time," Logan responds.

"Fuck. She's not going to forgive me, is she?"

"I don't know," Logan says truthfully.

"God. I'm such a dumbass. Maybe McCrae destiny is in the cards for me. Six wives. Working forever to pay alimony. It used to make me laugh, but now it seems like the worst life ever."

Logan sighs. I've had all these thoughts.

"It's only your destiny if you choose it," he tells Colin.

"What about you? Are you going to choose it? I mean, you just let Lauren go when Mitchum made you move back," Colin says.

At first, Logan doesn't have an answer. I don't want that life, but the universe seems to have other plans for me.

Finally he says "Yeah, but that was not… I really wanted that to be something. Even though it wasn't. She was great, and after all these years, it turns out that I actually really like being in a relationship. But it's not like she was the one or anything. If I ever come across something real again, I won't choose HPG. I just think I already missed my chance."

Colin is quiet for a few minutes before asking "Do you ever wish you were born poor? Give up all the money, the cars, the status. Just to be able to do what you want?"

All the time. Anytime I have to listen to Mitchum berate me. Anytime I sleep with some random girl that I know I never want to see again, but she knows who I am.

"Sometimes. Do you?" he answers.

"Never. I love being rich. I love everything that comes with money. But I've never had to give up anything like this before. I really envy Finn right now. He's loaded, but his family doesn't expect anything from him," Colin says.

But I don't know if Finn will ever experience the high of a professional score. Or know what's it like to love someone so much, it hurts.

"I'm sorry. I'm getting too fucking deep," Colin finally says. "I need to go to bed."

The days turn into weeks that turn into months, and Colin is still sleeping in his guest room.

June 2010

Logan and Robert are running through Central Park as part of their half-marathon training. Since Colin has been staying with him, Robert has become a more permanent part of his life.

I still don't trust him, but he is good motivation. I want to beat him at everything, and that keeps me running.

They slow down at the Reservoir, their mileage done for the day. Logan is slightly out of breath as he walks to the bridge, cooling off and guzzling water out of his hip bottle. He looks out over the water, a sense of calm washing over him.

"Hey, is that Rory Gilmore?" Robert asks, walking up to him. "Up ahead?"

Logan quickly looks where Robert is pointing. About one hundred yards away, two women are walking, one with long brown hair, and one with shorter blond hair.

The hair seems too long, but it looks like her body. Oh my God. Maybe it is her…

Robert is waiting for an answer, so Logan plays it as cool as he can. "Well, you would know what she looks like from the back more than anyone."

"Ha, ha. Maybe it's not," Robert answers. "Whatever. They look cute from behind. Want to go over there and see if the front's any good?"

Ugh. He can be so sleazy.

The blond turns her head to the side, and Logan is shocked to determine it's Paris Gellar.

Holy shit. That's got to be her.

I've been waiting for this moment forever. I have an entire conversation planned. But in my fantasy, I'm usually not dripping with sweat. I look good, and I smell better.

And in my mind, she's not with Paris. Paris hates me. That is not how I want our first conversation to go.

"No, I'm too gross to hit on girls right now," he says. "I'm gonna take off. I'll catch up with you later."

Despite the protest from his exhausted legs, Logan takes off in the opposite direction.

That had to be her. There's no way Paris has other friends. I wonder if she lives here now… or if she's just visiting. I wonder if she would want to talk to me after all this time.

I wonder what she would think if she knew I was back at HPG. That I folded.

He gets back to his apartment, ignoring Colin on his way to the shower. He hops in and out, unable to control the anxiety that is creeping in.

Scrolling through his phone contacts, he stops at her name.

Maybe there's a reason I've never deleted this.

But he stops himself from calling her.

I can't fall back into this.

Instead he calls a different girl in his phone, making a date for that night. He takes her home afterward, but all he can think about is Rory Gilmore.

July 2010

Colin bursts in the door on a Saturday morning carrying two coffees. "You will never believe who I just saw in Starbucks!" he says, handing a coffee to Logan.

"Who?"

"Rory Gilmore. She was in the line ahead of me."

Logan is surprised. He had convinced himself in the intervening weeks, that it had not actually been Rory in Central Park.

"Did you talk to her?" he asks tentatively.

"No. Why would I talk to her after what she did to you?" Colin responds.

Logan smiles at Colin's fidelity.

"It's okay. Finn talks to her."

"Well, Finn is a disloyal son of a bitch," Colin says, smiling.

"Do you want me to stop talking to Stephanie?" Logan asks.

"No! I need your help getting her back… Wait. Did you want me to talk to her? So you can get back together?" Colin asks.

If I thought it would help, yes. As it stands…

"No," Logan replies. "You don't need to talk to her. I wonder what she was doing so far downtown though. You don't think she lives around here, do you?"

He is suddenly panicking.

"I don't know… She probably still lives in that rinky-dink town, don't you think? She's probably just here for a story or something. You would know better than I would," Colin says.

I don't know anything about her anymore. Except that I miss the way she makes me feel.

"Thanks for the coffee," Logan says, turning around and heading into his room. He closes the door behind him, sitting down with his laptop, and putting her name into the google box.

I have avoided doing this for so long, but I have to know.

He finds a recent byline for New York Magazine. He quickly skims the article on regentrification, heading to the end.

Rory Gilmore spent two years in Washington D.C covering President Obama's foreign policy. She now lives and writes in Brooklyn.

She lives here.

He breathes deeply trying to get oxygen to his brain.

She lives here. Is that good or bad?

It's good, because… maybe now that we're older, and we are in the same city, we can make this work.

It's bad, because… she may have never given me a second thought. She may be married to someone else by now.

God, what if she's married?

He slams the laptop shut and leans back on his bed.

It doesn't matter that she lives here. I have a life. And it doesn't include her. If I see her, I'll be polite and charming, then I'll go my own way.

And if she throws her arms around me and tells me she can't go any longer without me, that's fine too.

August 2010

Logan carries Aiden on his shoulders as he walks a very pregnant Honor back to her apartment from the Diana Ross playground.

"This heat is killing me," Honor moans. "I am so ready for this little girl to make her way into the world."

"I know. But you can make it three more weeks. I can come by again next weekend and take Aiden out without you. Would that help?" Logan asks.

"Of course you can do that, but Josh will be back in town Tuesday. I'm still just so happy you live here again, and we can see you so much."

Logan smiles at her as he shifts Aiden off his shoulders and into his arms. He zerberts into his neck, causing his nephew to giggle.

This has been the best part of being back east. This kid is the cutest.

They are stopped in the median on Broadway when he sees Rory Gilmore across the street walking perpendicular to them.

"It's her," he whispers to himself.

Honor hears him though and looks up to see Rory crossing by. She looks at him with raised eyebrows. "Do you want to go talk to her?"

He doesn't say anything, and she continues. "You should go catch her."

She's right. I'm going to talk to her… Just as soon as all these fucking cars pass…

Jesus Christ, are there always this many cars here?

When the light changes, they rush across the street. Logan tries to put Aiden in his stroller, but he resists. "No! You carry me!" he screeches, thrashing around.

Fuck! Did I just think this kid was the cutest?

"I've got him," Honor says, attempting to strap him down into the stroller. "Go! I'll see you at home later."

He takes off down Broadway, trying to catch sight of her brown hair.

Where did she go?

He pushes through the throngs of people, heading downtown six blocks.

She couldn't have gotten this far away. She must have turned or stopped somewhere.

He turns around and heads back toward Honor's checking every side street and window on Broadway until he gets back to 66th.

He dejectedly turns towards Honor's apartment and enters her building. When he walks in her door, she rushes up to him.

"How did it go?"

"I couldn't catch up with her. I didn't talk to her," he responds.

"Oh… Is that good or bad?" she asks.

"I don't know," Logan admits.

Aiden comes running up to him. "Carry me!" he says in a much sweeter voice.

This kid is the cutest.

He picks Aiden up and swings him around.

"Logan," Honor begins. "I think you should call her. I could tell by your face today that you really wanted to talk to her."

Logan ignores her and keeps swinging Aiden around.

"Logan?"

"I'll think about it."

And he does. He thinks about her and their life together all afternoon. That night, bolstered by three glasses of scotch, he opens his phone and calls her.

"The number you have dialed is no longer in service."

He ends the call and turns to his computer.

All I know is her Yale address, but I have to try.

He types out a quick email.

Hey Rory. It's been awhile. I saw you in Manhattan today, and I wanted to get in touch. Maybe we can get together for coffee. Catch up. My number hasn't changed.

Logan

He rereads it, cringing.

It sucks, but I doubt she'll see this anyway.

He hits send and heads to bed.

He wakes up the next morning to an automated message.

From: Yale System Administrator

Subject: Undeliverable

Sounds about right.

He deletes it without reading further.

September 2010

"Thanks for coming here with me," Stephanie says to Logan as they wait in line at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. "I've gained some weight since… well, you know, and my mother is making me see a nutritionist. I've been eating like a rabbit. I really need this burger."

"You don't need a nutritionist. You look great. Tell your mom to back off," he replies.

Stephanie rolls her eyes. "You make it sound so easy."

He laughs out loud. "Yeah, I can talk a big game."

She smiles before turning serious. "So… how is he?"

"He's… okay."

"You guys have been going out a lot? I've seen your name in Page Six twice this summer. Nicky Hilton?" she asks, playfully pushing him

"That's… nothing," he smirks. "And Colin hasn't been going out at all. He just works and mopes. I've been going out with some of my guys from work and… actually, I've been going out with Robert."

"What? Are you friends with Robert now?"

"Shut up! No… He's just around a lot," Logan says.

Fuck… Am I friends with Robert? What is happening to my life? I need a girlfriend.

"Is that Rory Gilmore?" Stephanie asks as if on cue, breaking into his thoughts.

He looks up to see her sitting on a park bench drinking a shake. The sun is hitting her face, and…

Goddamn. She is beautiful.

"Yeah. She lives in Brooklyn now," he says, trying to keep his demeanor even.

"Have you talked to her?"

"No," he says. After a moment, he admits "I tried to call, but her number's not the same."

"Logan, you have got to get on Facebook. How else are you going to stalk your exes?" she laughs. "I mean, that's basically what I use it for."

He ignores her, watching Rory wistfully.

"Go talk to her. I'll order for you," she says, nudging him along. "Do you know what you want to say?"

Please. I've had this conversation a thousand times in my mind.

"Well, well. Rory Gilmore. It's been a while."

I'll be charming, yet aloof.

"I'm doing awesome, thanks for asking. Couldn't be better."

"Yeah, I got it. I want a double shack burger and a strawberry shake."

He heads towards Rory, building his confidence as he crosses the park. When he is close, he quickly checks her left ring finger.

Oh, thank God.

"Rory?" he says, sounding neither charming nor aloof.

She looks up, sees him, and then quickly stands. "Logan! Oh my gosh."

She leans toward him, and they awkwardly hug.

Fuck it. I want to touch her.

He pulls her in tight to really hug her, feeling her body relax against his. He inhales deeply.

Her shampoo is still the same.

When he backs away, she is beaming that thousand-watt smile that makes him melt. He feels his own smile taking over his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"So…"

"So…" she responds. "Are you living in New York, or just visiting?"

"No, I… uh, I live in Soho. I'm back at HPG," he admits.

She smiles at him. "Mitchum is lucky to have you."

It is all he can do not to hug her again.

"What about you? Do you live here now, or…" he says, feigning ignorance.

"Yeah, I just moved to Brooklyn a few months ago. I was in D.C. covering politics, but I needed a break. I'm still doing some freelance for Politico. You know, just to pay the bills, but New York is a better fit for me right now."

They grin at each other for another moment until Logan finally breaks.

"So, do you want to maybe get coffee sometime?" he asks, the swagger back in his voice. Her smiles have given him confidence, and the feeling of invincibility she used to give him is returning.

"Sure," she says. "I have a new phone though. Let me get your number."

The smile is taking over his face again as he gives her his number. He pulls out his phone as she says "Okay, mine is 929-"

"Hey, Rory!" A man with dark brunette hair comes over to greet her.

"Hey…" she replies, giving him an awkward side hug, never losing eye contact with Logan.

Oh shit. She has a boyfriend.

"Jason, this is Logan. Um, Logan is… a friend from Yale… Uh, Logan, this is Jason. We, um… we work together at New York Magazine," Rory explains.

Logan can tell from the side-eye that Jason is giving Rory that he is more than a co-worker.

And he hasn't taken his arm off of her. I am such an idiot.

He quickly says "I gotta get back in line. It was good to see you, Rory. Nice to meet you, Jason," before turning around and heading back to Stephanie.

"But…" he hears Rory protest as he walks away.

Stephanie is waiting for him at the front of the line. "How did that go?"

"Fine. She's good. Works for New York Magazine. I'll have a double shack burger and a strawberry shake," he says to the young girl waiting to take his order.

He notices Stephanie watching him and says "Steph. I'm fine. I promise."

But he's not fine at all. Later, once he's alone, he admits some hard truths to himself.

Ever since I saw her a few months ago, I've been building this in my mind. She's crept back in completely. I've been running in Prospect Park just hoping to bump into her. I'm comparing other women to her again. I'm jerking off to memories of her.

And this whole time, she's had a fucking boyfriend.

But… I guess…

I've been dating a lot too. She seemed happy to see me today. Maybe she didn't know I was here in New York. Maybe now she'll spend her time thinking about me. Maybe she smelled my cologne, and it's made her remember how happy we were. The way her shampoo is doing to me.

She has my number. The ball is in her court.

He is busy throughout the work day Monday, so he doesn't realize until the day is over that Rory hasn't called.

It's only been one day.

On Tuesday, he finds himself continually checking his cell phone.

Maybe she's abiding by the three day rule. I just didn't realize that applied to someone who's had her tongue on every part of my body before.

On Wednesday after work, he finds a voicemail from an unknown number and is positively giddy, until he listens to it. "Hi, this is Cheryl from the New York Times calling to talk about renewing your subscription."

He flops onto the couch with a beer where Colin finds him on his way in.

"What's wrong with you? You look like crap," Colin says. "You look like...me."

Logan ignores him and keeps drinking. He has a hard time sleeping that night as he realizes that Colin is right.

I'm moping around like she dumped me. All she's done is not call me for three days. But she hasn't called me for three years. What's different now?

The only thing different is that I fooled myself into thinking something was going to be different. But it's not. She still doesn't want me.

She said no. She had reasons.

On Thursday, he comes to the answer and heads into his father's office.

"Dad, I need to talk to you."

"I'm really busy this morning, son. Can this wait?" Mitchum asks.

"No, it can't," he says sternly.

Mitchum puts down the proposal he's reading and looks up at Logan. "Okay. What's going on?"

"I can't work here, Dad. In New York. I have to leave."

"Logan. We made a deal when I bought your company. You signed a contract," Mitchum reminds him.

"I know. I'm not trying to leave HPG. I just… I can't be in New York. I'll go to Dallas, London… God, even Omaha. Wherever. I just need to get out of the city," Logan begs.

"What's really going on?" Mitchum asks again.

I'm obsessing over Rory Gilmore. I have to get away from her, before I make a fool of myself again. Before I get my heart broken again. I've got to start over somewhere new. Again.

"I just… I don't think I'm reaching my full potential here. I can do more for the company in a smaller market. I think," Logan finally stammers out.

Mitchum eyes him suspiciously. "Okay. I'll see what I can do."

It happens quickly.

On Saturday, Logan is on a flight to London, back to his old job in his old department. He settles into a hotel room and falls into a deep sleep. The next morning, he heads out to get a new phone.

One that has no connection to Rory.

Once changed over, he drops his old phone in the trash can on the corner.

I'm done for real this time. I've got to get a grip on myself. I'm better than this. I know I'm good at this job. I know I'm attractive and can find another woman. I can have a life. I just have to do it.

Bonus:

After a week of soul-searching, Rory leaves Jason's apartment on Sunday afternoon. He hadn't seemed too upset when she'd told him that she didn't think they should continue their personal relationship at the cost of their professional one.

As she walks down his breezeway and out into the Brooklyn streets, she turns on her phone and scrolls through her contacts until she finds Logan's number. Smiling, she calls him.

"The number you have dialed is no longer in service."

A/N: When I outlined this story, I did not have Rory and Logan actually seeing each other. He was just going to see her from afar a few times. But when I started writing, they just kept interacting. I guess I just love the way these two look at each other, and I needed it to happen this way.

Also, there are several details here that come from my previous stories We Were on a Break and You're my Lobster. I want these to be able to be read solo though, so if it is getting confusing, let me know.