"Why do you keep looking at the door?" Emily asked Rory after half an hour at the function.

"No reason," blushed Rory.

"So it's not got anything to do with Logan?" asked Emily. "You asked whether he was coming and seemed very happy with the news he was on the guest list."

"Okay so it might have something to do with him," Rory replied.

"Well the Huntzberger's usually arrive later than most ... they like to make an entrance," explained Emily.

"- and then I flew to Rome which was absolutely fantastic," Rory explained to several of the DAR ladies who were interested in her recent travels.

"Sorry ladies, mind if I cut in?" came a male voice from behind her. She spun around and smiled when she saw Logan dressed in a suit and tie.

"Be our guest," smiled Darcy and she led the other ladies over to the bar for another drink.

"Hi Ace," greeted Logan.

"What's up with the whole Ace thing?" asked Rory.

"That's your new nickname," explained Logan. "While I was away I had a lot of free time, especially on the flights so I took a load of your articles and read them."

"Really?" gasped Rory.

"Yeah. And the more I read, the more I realised that you truly are an amazing writer. I knew you must be special when my dad hired you but ..."

"That still doesn't explain the Ace thing."

"Well you're an Ace reporter, so now you're Ace," smiled Logan.

"I guess I can live with that," shrugged Rory.

"Good. So, now that we've got that covered, how are you?" he asked.

"Better now you're here," she smiled. Logan took another step closer to her and kissed her softly. Rory blushed as she heard several people nearby gasp and quickly start gossiping. "You do realise that we're now the hottest gossip of this party?" she whispered.

"Let them gossip," Logan replied.

"Rory, you do realise that everyone here is talking about you and Logan?" asked Emily as Rory walked out of the bathroom and started heading back to Logan.

"Umm yeah ..." trailed off Rory, embarrassed.

"They're calling you the new 'golden couple'. Isn't that great?"

"Well ... it's only been about a week Gran."

"That doesn't matter," Emily waved her hand to show how unimportant that factor was.

"Emily, Rory, I've been looking all over for you," Richard said, hurrying over to them slightly out of breath.

"Richard what's wrong?" asked Emily, concerned.

"Christopher's here," Richard revealed after a couple of deep breaths. Rory froze and quickly glanced around, but she couldn't see him.

"What? He wasn't on the list," Emily argued.

"Francine would have had a plus one though," Richard pointed out, referring to Christopher's mother.

"Why has he come here?" asked Rory when she could talk again. "I said I didn't want to talk to him."

"He used to be part of this society," explained Richard. "I imagine whilst he was in the area, he thought he'd stop by."

"Well he shouldn't have. Rory made her feelings perfectly clear," replied Emily, her voice getting louder.

"Emily, keep your voice down, people are starting to stare," Richard told his wife.

"Well let them," Emily argued. "He had no right to be here and what was Francine thinking? They knew that Rory would be here, she's always at these events and Christopher must have known it would upset her."

"I don't want to be here," said Rory.

"No, no, you shouldn't have to be," agreed Richard.

"Why don't you take the car and we'll get a driver to take us home," suggested Emily.

"No, I'll see if Logan can drive me. He drove separately from his parents."

"We'll see you at home," said Richard as Rory hugged him goodbye and went in search of Logan.

"Where have you been? I was beginning to think you'd got lost and was going to send out a search party," smiled Logan as Rory approached him.

"Do you have to stay longer or can you leave?" she asked.

"What's happened?" Logan asked, realising something was wrong.

"Christopher's here," Rory replied.

"Christopher? Your father?"

"Yes. He's here with my paternal grandmother and I really don't want to run into him so I told my grandparents that I'm leaving. If you have to stay then I'll get a cab."

"I'm coming," said Logan immediately. "We can go to a bar or something if you want, or I can just take you home."

"A bar sounds good," smiled Rory.

"Let's go," he wrapped his arm round Rory and guided her towards the door.

"Don't you need to tell your parents that you're leaving?"

"They'll figure it out," shrugged Logan. "What?" he asked when Rory suddenly stopped walking.

"Hello Rory," said Christopher. "I didn't know if you'd be here."

"I'm leaving," replied Rory. Logan held her tighter, sensing her needed support.

"I don't believe we've been introduced, I'm Christopher Hayden, Rory's father."

"Logan Huntzberger, Rory's boyfriend," Logan replied icily.

"Huntzberger?"

"Yes," Logan nodded. Christopher looked impressed. "If you'll excuse us."

"I'd really like to talk to you, Rory," Christopher blocked their path.

"I don't think this is the time or place," Logan answered.

"I was speaking to my daughter."

"I'm not your daughter. To be my dad you would have had to have been in my life. Now I want to leave with my boyfriend so could you please get out of the way."

"Rory, I came here hoping to get a chance to speak to you."

"Well you wasted your time. Please could you tell Francine that I'll see her next week," Rory added.

"What?" asked Christopher.

"Your mother," Rory replied. "I'll see her next week."

"Why would you –" but he got cut off.

"Unlike you, Francine did not cut me out of her life. I see her at Thanksgiving, Christmas, DAR functions and my birthday, which is next week."

"I ..."

"Didn't remember? I didn't think so," frowned Rory.

"Please Rory."

"No. If you want to tell me something then send me a letter or something." With that Rory rushed past Christopher with Logan right behind her.

"Are you okay?" Logan asked her as they left the hall.

"I need a drink," she said.

"I know just the place."

"Thank you."

"For what?

"For being here."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else Ace."