A/N: I do try to get these out in a timely fashion, thought it is becoming inscreasingly more difficult. This will be it until next week, hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to all who review, seriously, I adore you.

Seven

Logan immediately felt Rory melt into him when he kissed her neck, not something he had intended and her reaction caused him to linger far longer than he should have. Needless to say he was both awkward and awestruck. What was that about?

"Let's go," he said, dropping his hands, trying to keep close but needing to remove what contact they had.

He saw her nod and he dared a look at her. She was flushed; a rosy shade of pink spread from her cheeks to her chest and Logan couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. They made their way through the dining room, Logan only steps behind her before they were finally at the coat room and Logan was helping Rory into her jacket. She was unusually quiet, a sign Logan had quickly learned meant she was deep in thought.

"Rory darling," a voice suddenly chimed as Mrs. Holden came sauntering out of the ladies room.

"Mrs. Holden," Rory faked excitement and Logan knew that this moment would be a huge step for their façade, "how nice it is to see you again."

"Yes, always," Mrs. Holden replied as they kissed each other on each cheek before turning her attention to Logan.

"Logan Huntzberger as I live and breathe," she exclaimed before taking his cheeks to her lips as well, "you are the spitting image of your father!"

"Best a trip to the plastic surgeon then," Logan quipped, sending a fit of giggles through Lady Holden as she playfully smacked his arm.

"You are too much," she finally managed to get out. "So what brings you both here tonight?" she immediately asked, Logan knowing full well that it would be Mrs. Holden driving their gossip train.

"You know," Logan answered, "dinner, dancing, just your typical date."

"I didn't see any dancing," Mrs. Holden pointed out, the Cheshire of all grins plastered on her face like she caught them red handed.

"Ah well," Logan grabbed Rory's hand, pulling her to him, his eyes pleading with hers that she just trust him and he instantly felt her relax as her back met his front before he spun her out in a move fit for a ballroom dance floor.

Mrs. Holden applauded, "you two kids are divine," she praised, "you enjoy the rest of your evening together and tell your families I said hello!"

"You are something else, you know that Huntzberger?" Rory smiled as they watched Mrs. Holden head back to her table, "I thought for sure that we'd be here till tomorrow playing twenty questions with her.

"What can I say Ace, I'm very, very good," he laughed as they headed out the doors to the valet, "I've been playing this game for a lot of years, you stick with me and I'll teach you everything I know."

"Ahh, like who to call first for bail money?" she joked at his expense as the car pulled up.

"Always call the lawyers first," he grinned, opening Rory's door.

Soon they were off to their next destination and Logan once again noticed Rory's silence.

"Something wrong Ace?" he asked.

"It's just a lot for one night," she shrugged, "I'm a little overwhelmed."

"Back there in the restaurant," he explained, once again feeling the need to put Rory at ease, "it was all for show, I didn't think…" he drifted off, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It was just unexpected," Rory admitted, "I guess I really should get used to the idea of public displays."

"Well, we can go over that when you're ready," he began, "it's just eventually we are really going to have to act like a couple, and even with your shyness, people are going to sense something is off if we aren't… affectionate."

"I know, I know," she said, "I'm just out of practice."

Logan's eye brows raised and Rory's hand flew to her mouth when she realized what she had said.

"No, no," she said, backtracking, "not like that."

"Not like that?" Logan smiled.

"I just don't do it very often," she explained and Logan could not stifle his laugh. She gasped, throwing her back on the headrest, her eyes closing and her hands covering her face. "Not that either…" she whined. "I give up trying to explain," she finally huffed, her arms crossing her chest in defeat.

"No worry Ace," Logan chuckled, "we'll figure it out."

……………………………………………………..

The pub was a hole-in-the-wall sort of place and Rory was sort of surprised that Logan would ever pick here for a hangout. It was a mixture of old-timey bar, complete with dark woods and high stools as well as comfy little enclaves for small groups of people. It was unusual, not the super high trendy, modern bar/club that Rory had been envisioning.

"What do you think?" Logan asked as they entered.

"It's different than I imagined," she admitted, "cozier somehow."

"You'll love it," Logan stated and Rory smiled, knowing that no matter what he'd learned so far, he still didn't know her well enough if he thought she enjoyed hanging out in bars.

"Skeptical, eh?" He asked, his smile widening. "That's okay. You'll just have to be amazed then," he said cryptically before heading off to one of the comfy little small group spaces, a mixture of small tables, couches and chairs.

She followed him, sitting next to him on the curved sofa and he handed her a small one paged menu. She skimmed it over, her eyes widening and her mouth dropping open in shock. Her arm flew, playfully knocking Logan in the chest.

"Logan!" she exclaimed, suddenly giddy with excitement. "This is a bar,"

"Yes I know," he interrupted her, his smile even bigger, like the cat-who-ate-the-canary.

"But, it's a bar AND a coffee house!" she giggled, trying to decide what to try first.

"Told you you'd love it," he laughed, his arm sinking down onto her bare shoulders.

Now who was that for? Rory wondered to herself, thinking that what had happened in the restaurant was for show than this was… on purpose? Did he enjoy touching her? The way she was beginning to enjoy being touched by him?

"Hello Love!" she heard a very distinctive accent exclaim, then realizing that Logan must have spotted his friends and was trying to set a vibe.

"Finn," Logan laughed, standing and extending his hand.

"Not you mate," Finn looked directly at Rory, dropping to one knee to take her hand. "This exquisite creature who didn't realize she was sitting next to boring ole' you."

"Hello to you too," Rory smiled, slightly surprised by his intense hello.

"Easy there Finn," Logan laughed, "you'll scare her off and I'll be left dateless."

"Good God!" Finn cried out, "tell me it isn't so, darling?"

"Well," Rory grinned up at Logan, "he did drive me here."

Finn looked up, "Ahh, the chauffeur then," he frowned, shaking his head and moving to sit on the other side of Rory, "and you thought you had a chance, silly boy."

Rory couldn't help but laugh at the over-the-top comical banter of the two as Logan returned to his seat next to her.

"Now that that is out of the way," Finn looked to Rory, "I am Finn, exotic lover extraordinaire and you are…?"

"Rory," she smiled, "Rory Gilmore-Hayden," she extend her hand.

"Well, Rory Rory Gilmore-Hayden, what shall you be having to drink," he asked.

"I'm thinking of getting the biggest latte they have," she smiled, tossing her small menu on the small table.

"Coffee?" he asked curiously, "you do know they sell alcohol here, yes?" he questioned.

"But I like coffee," she chimed.

"You will never been intoxicated enough for me to convince to come home with me," Finn admitted, suddenly grasping her hand and holding it to his chest. "Rory, darling, it's been fantastic but I'm afraid our love affair is over, it's been grand."

"Be still my heart," Rory faked shocked, both hands flying to grasp at her heart.

"I know dear, but it's for the best," Finn stood, "I'm leaving you in semi capable hands," he pointed toward Logan.

"Well," Rory moved her hand and bravely rested it slightly high on Logan's thigh, finally becoming comfortable enough to play the game she was in.

Finn gasped, "so it IS the chauffeur!"

Rory winked and Logan shrugged, slipping his arm around her once more.

"And so it goes," Finn sighed before asking, "What can I get you brother?" clearly about to head to the bar.

"Scotch. Neat," Logan replied.

"Scotch and a Latte, coming right up," Finn blew Rory a kiss before walking away.

"You had your chance!" Rory called back as she and Logan were left alone again.

"He's a bit much," Logan explained, "but he's been one of my best friends since high school and he's had my back more than I care to admit."

"That's all one can ask for," Rory smiled, her mind wandering to thoughts of her mother, the only person who had had Rory's back through everything; God how she missed her.

"You okay Ace?" Logan asked, catching her distress.

She forced a smile, nodding, attempting to hold back tears.

"Hey, hey," Logan pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back, "what's up?"

"My mom was my best friend," Rory whispered, knowing if she said the words too loud she'd risk losing it in public.

………………………………………………

She was going to cry, good God, their first date wasn't even over and Logan had managed to almost make her cry.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Logan asked, worry sinking in his stomach as he held this breaking girl in his arms.

It was then that it finally dawned on Logan, that despite all her talk, all their banter, even despite the face she showed the world: Rory was fragile, Rory was special, and most of all, and this was the part he hated to admit, she deserved to be faking dating someone way better than him.