"We should really get back, it was great catching up." Rory said rising from the table.

"Yeah." Logan agreed, throwing bills on the table to cover the meal.

Inaugural Ball 2014

Rory adjusted the top of her black Balmain gown as she touched up her lipstick in the mirror, a giggle told her that once again, she was not alone. "Sash, get out of there, Mason is going to tan your hyde." Rory said, enfolding the teenager into a hug.

"Hey, I saw Luke and Lorelai and April and your grandparents, they were looking for you."

"I was going over some last minute stuff with your dad ... We gonna dance tonight?"

"But of course, hey what's up with you and Huntzberger, mom and dad say he's the guy"

"what guy?"

"the one that made you sad I think dad called him that celibacy guy

"ugh ... You hear too much, he's an old friend. .. I'm here with Mason tonight, but you look gorgeous so how about we make an entrance"

Rory linked arms with her little buddy, the girl she called mini me and entered the ballroom. Her usual companion, Mason Waters, who had gotten a pass to be on half duty kissed her cheek "Gilmore, you're killing me"

"Mckellan 32, neat please" Rory told the bartender surveying the room with the eye of someone who was always on the job when a pair of arms encircled her waist and she was swept into a secluded corner. Hot lips engulfing her mouth, familiar sensations rushing through her body as she gave in to the kiss

"well this is familiar she said breathlessly and just like the last time you tried it, we both have dates she said pushing away from Logan

Not dates Rory, escorts

Regardless you know me better and I'm at work and my boss and my whole family are in the room, not to mention a man i care about who could twist you into a pretzel, you read this wrong Logan, I left my GoGo costume at the cleaners this isn't college

Rory grabbed her drink off the bar and walked toward her family, who were chatting with Mason while Sasha and April gushed over a new band they'd seen on youtube

Rory caught the tail end of the conversation as she approached

"I swear April "nonsuch is the ultimate xtc experience" Sasha told said with such passion it made Rorys heart swell.

"Uh uh I keep telling you drums and oranges" April replied

"Personally apple venus volume 2 has my heart, Rory said as she approached the group. Mason kissed her cheek. First time I heard it was the day before my first day at Chilton, you remember mom?"

"Aaah yes, the one foot of red nail polish" Lorelai responded nostalgically

"Um thats not an xtc album" Sasha said primly

"Its an import that one Lane Kim snuck past her seventh day adventist parents, such was her love of rare and obscure music."

"Ive gotta met this Lane girl" Sasha said, moving on to a book her and April had just finished.

"Soooooo Loinfruit, did I just see you emerge from behind that curtain with a certain blonde with both know well? " Lorelai whispered in Rorys ear.

Of course Logan chose that moment to join the group

"Why Logan, what on earth?" Emily exclaimed as greetings were exchanged.

"I am the new editor at the Post, we always get an invitation."

"What an interesting turn of events, you the editor of the post, Rory the new Press Secretary, it's almost like kismet." Emily said, a devious grin on her face. Well, you must join Rory next time we can wrangle a Friday night dinner out of her.

"Nothing would make me happier, I have missed Friday night at the Gilmores."

"Oh Mason, come on, Bowie has never known a girl like me before, let's join Barak and Michelle on the dance floor."

"Yes ma'am" Mason stated as he kissed her knuckles.

"So you gonna fill me in?" He asked as they began to move

"Hmmmmmm" Rory replied distractedly

"Trust fund prince over there, seems to be tight with the family, Luke and Lorelai seem to know him well, not to mention the rest of your family. He's well versed in Gilmore rituals, you had dinner with him the other night, do i have to keep pulling teeth?"

"Thats Logan Hunzberger."

"I know his name Rory, but obviously you didn't just meet him 3 days ago, espeacially since i saw him pull you behinx the bar curtain. .. Wait he's not big love, big drama, what does Barak call him "celibacy guy?"

"Um yeah" Rory replied

"Do you realize that's the guy who has your heart shut down? The reason you can't move past friends with benefits? Rory, what is going on? He's always been this nameless faceless rich guy you'd eventually get over but now he's right here living in the same city."

"I don't know, I'm just really confused and the thing is I just don't know"

"Sir, I know you're off tonight, but some intell is coming over and you should probably check it out in the war room." Rory looked up at her best friend Tristan Dugray with relief. "I'll finish this dance out with Rory and deliver her back to her group" he said as he smoothly displaced Mason from the dance.

"Oh GOD ... Thank you Tris." Tristan had joined the Secret Service after two tours in Iraq, when he and Rory reconnected they were grateful for a bit of home and settled into a close friendship ... Without benefits.

"I've known you 8 years give or take, I recognize save me face"

"It's just"

"Huntzberger, yeah I saw he has pretty much ditched his escort" he nodded his head to a stunning blonde dancing with Colin McCrae "and has ingratiated himself in the Gilmore clan. He's been staring bullets the whole time."

The song ended and Tristan escorted Rory back to her family.

"Tristan, the Gilmores and the Danes all exclaimed delightedly.

"DuGrey ... Man it's good to see you" Logan shook his hand.

"Uh you too Huntzberger"

"Wait are you an agent?"

"Tristan is the second in command on the president's detail and should get back, afterparty at zoo tonight? I'm bringing April for her first DC debauchery party."

"Wouldn't miss it, nice to see you all ... And Emily count me in for next Friday night, finally talked this one into a weekend off." Tristan wemt back to his post to rlieve his stand in

"I'm telling you kid, your career path is way off, I mean yeah, Whitehouse press secretary, whatever, you should start a foundation to rehabilitate beautiful spoiled trustfund brats, look at your success rate." Lorelai laughed with a pointed smirk at Logan.

"Rory, care to dance" Logan asked as he grabbed her hand and led her toward the dance floor

"Woah Logan"

"So you and DuGrey huh?"

"Im sorry me and Dugrey what" Rory asked then started to laugh "wow, you would have made a lousy journalist,I'm sure you niticed his wedding ring, he married a woman he met in the military 4 months ago, she's major badass and CIA, so I wouldn't go there, plus they are my best friends."

"Oh, then you and Captain America?"

"How about you and Stephanie?" She motioned to Colin and Steph on the other side of the dance floor.

"Her and Colin are married and here as a favor since I didn't want to bring a date. I don't date much, cause you see there was this girl once, who tried to be casual but convinced me that real intimacy and love were more important so everytime I start something, I want it to be real, but it never measures up."

"Oh Logan, I don't know, I just"

"How about this, we start slow, hang out, see where ut takes us, you know where my heart is, where is yours?"

Logan bent down and kissed her softly then rested his lips on her brow.

"After party, Zoo, we'll be there." he said as they sperated to rejoin their groups.