A/N: So, Bad news, ya'll didn't get a chapter yesterday. Good news, I got sidetracked and started writing a chapter that won't appear for a long while, so the show will go on, at least until then.

I'm also uping the rating to M for content that might occur in the previously mentioned future chapter. Sorry to those I might loose.

So, without further interuption...

Five

"We'll do it," Logan declared the moment they walked in the door, Rory still anchored down onto his arm.

"Wonderful!" his mother and Emily exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"So what now?" he asked, "I'm sure there are papers to sign?"

With that they were led into the dining room where their contracts awaited them. For one year they would date and behave as a couple, it was only on the anniversary of this dinner that they would be able to decide their own fate. Until then, Logan was to be completely devoted to Rory and Rory in turn was supposed to use her shining reputation to polish off Logan's dusty halo. Most importantly, they could not tell anyone about the arrangement.

Their families hoped that after a year they would be comfortable enough to move forward, after all no one really expected them to fall in love. Logan wasn't even sure he even believed in love. Relationships built in society, for society, were never based on feelings, they were arranged like complicated business deals that cost fortunes to renege on. His father had married his mother because her father dominated the west coast publishing market and their nuptials were the catalyst that made Huntzberger Publishing the force it was today. It was all but clear they were now hoping for a Gilmore-Hayden-Huntzberger merger.

"So we'll see you for dinner next Friday?" Emily asked as everyone was gathering to leave.

"Regretfully no Emily," Logan began, causing Rory's head to whip around. "Friday night is a prime date night for a young couple, I'm afraid Rory and I will be indisposed."

"Perhaps twice a month then?" she questioned, "one here and the other at your parent's?"

"That's two Friday dinners a month when there are usually only four to account for," he countered.

"One then," Emily bargained, "either here or there."

"That would be splendid," Logan replied, sounding completely gracious.

Emily smiled, nodding enthusiastically, like it had been her idea all along, before turning to Richard and starting the walk to the door, lost in trivial conversation with his parents.

"You are good," Rory snuck up and whispered in his ear as they were following everyone to the foyer. "You just managed to turn 52 dinners into 12."

"Well, you have a whole year to witness most of my tricks," he leaned into her, taking her arm into his. He noticed her jump right away, causing him to only pull her in and hold on tighter. They had a year and he wanted her to feel comfortable, especially if they were going to pull this off.

"Rory dear," Emily began as Richard handing out everyone's coats, "the car won't be here for a few minutes, we finished quite a bit earlier than I anticipated."

"No need Emily," Logan interrupted, reaching for Rory's wrap, "I'm more than willing to take Rory back to Yale. We are headed in the same direction after all."

"What a gentleman!" Emily exclaimed, hugging her granddaughter and basically shoving her into Logan. Rory looked into his eyes and he noticed at once how dejected she seemed. Suddenly she wasn't the brazen warrior who had concocted their plan; she was an innocent woman who was at the mercy of her grandparents. He felt something inside him shift; she was as stuck as he was.

"You kids drive safe," Richard added, kissing Rory on the top of her head and shaking Logan's hand.

"Nice seeing you again Rory," his mother chimed in.

Logan bid goodbye to his parents and escorted Rory out to his car opening the door for her as she slid in.

"Been a while since you've done that," she ribbed him when he was finally seated next to her.

"Not since prom," he joked back, putting the car in gear and heading toward New Haven.

The silence in the car was deafening. What could he say to her? Besides the obvious they really had nothing in common despite what their families thought.

"I like coffee," she said unexpectedly.

"Random," he replied. "I like coffee too."

"No, but I really like coffee," she pressed. "Like, I drink at least two pots a day and I've been petitioning Wrigley's to come up with a coffee flavored gum."

"Wow," was the only response he could manage.

"I mean, I just figured you'd want to know something about your girlfriend. After all, I know a lot about you, from, well, what other people say," she admitted, finishing the sentence much quieter than it had started.

"Do you always listen to what other people say?" he asked, suddenly wondering what all she might have heard.

"When it seems to be true," she answered and he realized she was staring at him like he was a puzzle she'd yet to put together. He'd seen that look on her face once, the only time he had been in the newsroom this year, and she was completely lost in her work at the time.

"Do you want to get some?" he questioned.

"What?" she replied, sounding suddenly panicked.

He couldn't help but smile, her mind had just gone where his normally resided. "Coffee," he clarified, "would you like to get some coffee."

.............................

The rest of the car ride was filled with chit-chat and plans and after much debate on when, how, and where they decided that it would be useless to put off the inevitable. Tomorrow night they would venture on their first public date. Logan convinced her that he would arange everything, that he would text her tomorrow with specifics and for her not to worry about it - which worried her more.

For now they were finishing up with their coffee run.

It was only a simple coffee bar at the edge of campus but she acted like he had given her water after months in the desert. For some reason it made him smile, she drank more coffee than the entire newsroom at the Chicago Tribune.

"Thanks," she responded after filling her cup for the third time and heading off with him toward her dorm. "I need coffee after a night with my grandparents the way I'm going to presume you need alcoholo after an evening with your parents."

"My night's not over. I'm supposed to be meeting friends at the pub for drinks and delinquency," he joked. "You are more than welcome to come with."

"No, I shouldn't, that's not really my thing," she finally answered as they were reaching her door.

"You sure," he asked, "I could wait here for you to change. Not that you don't look glorious, but Chanel is a bit much for the pub."

"You know designers?" she eyed him questioningly.

"One of those tricks I promised you," he grinned.

"Good night Houdini," she laughed as she entered her room.

For the first time Logan noticed how nice it sounded. There was just something about Rory, this strong little woman who apparently had a backbone of steel under that dress, completely and totally intrigued him. She was beautiful, in a way that Logan had never noticed in any other girl. Maybe he had just never looked, but being forced to stare into her eyes this entire night, knowing they were on the same side, knowing how completely unaware of her own stunning beauty she was, made her that more attractive.

"Goodnight Ace," he chuckled before disappearing into the dark for his last night of freedom.

Read, Review. Serious though, the comments keep me going.