A/N: This one's just for fun. I had the thought, now I'm putting it to paper. Thanks to everyone who reviews.

Disclaimer: That's not my bag, ba-by. (Read in a British accent) (Oh crap, does this mean I need a disclaimer for the disclaimer? Fine then, I don't own Austin Powers either!) Yeah, yeah, I'm crazy… it's been a long day.

Ch. 8- California Love

"I can't believe you came all the way to San Francisco just to see me and managed to get away with it at work!" Rory exclaimed for the fifteenth time, reveling in the fact that she had the sweetest boyfriend in the world.

"Hey, it wasn't my idea to try pushing Matthew's poet's book on the West Coast. I just offered to play distributor. Lucky for you, I have impeccable timing" Jess replied, glad that his surprise had been a good one.

"Well, I still say you're here just for me. Let me have my delusions" she kidded.

"You're not deluded. I'm just good at manipulating my co-workers. Chris almost had a heart attack when I agreed that the idea to travel across the country just to push a crappy book of poetry was a good one" he replied slyly, pulling her close for a kiss that quickly turned into much more.

The alarm on Rory's cell phone startled them both back into reality. They were perfectly content spooning in Rory's hotel room bed and did not appreciate the interruption. It was lucky for Rory, though, that she was the type of person who set her alarm routinely, despite there not normally being a need for it, because she would have missed work entirely today without it. Sighing, Rory made an effort to rise from the bed to retrieve her clothing, but was held in place by a strong, deliciously warm arm.

"No…" Jess mumbled into the back of her head.

"Work" she replied, temporarily catching Jess' disappearing verbal disorder.

"Fine, call me when you're done and I'll come get you" he said sullenly, as he slowly removed his arm from around her waist.

"You're such a drama queen. It's only a couple of hours" she teased half-heartedly, knowing that she was regretting those few hours just as much as he was.

"Drama queen? Who was the one who threw a temper tantrum this morning when the coffee maker wouldn't brew fast enough and she only got one cup of coffee before she had to leave the room? I won't even mention the fact that there was free coffee at your meeting in the ballroom downstairs. Oh wait, I just mentioned it didn't I? Oops" he teased back, realizing that his pouting wasn't making their time together any longer.

"You're evil. Just for that, I'm working overtime. Or I would if I was allowed… It's the thought that counts!" she retorted, glad that she was able to put a smile back on his face.

After a few more minutes of banter, Rory really did have to go to work. It was pure torture, too. She felt like she was back in high school, daydreaming about her boyfriend. She had to fight the urge to doodle his name all over her notepad and force herself to focus. The second the event was over, she sent a hurried text message and headed for the door. Had she been paying attention, she might have noticed a familiar figure and began evasive maneuvers. She was too focused on her beeline for the door, though, that she was ambushed when a blonde man suddenly stepped in front of her.

"Hey Ace" he greeted her in a familiar voice.

"Logan. Umm… hi. What are you doing here?" she floundered, completely taken aback.

"Truthfully? I heard through the grapevine that a certain budding reporter was attending this fine event, so I decided to grace it with my presence" he answered, sounding as cocky as ever.

"Oh" she replied, again being struck with Jess' non-verbal disorder.

"So, how are you? You look good" he continued, ignoring her lack of a response.

"Good. Yeah, I'm good. How are you?" she asked awkwardly.

"Oh, you know me, Ace, I'm good. But I could always be better" he added suggestively.

Rory gave a weak laugh and began to look around, but trying not to be obvious about it. She figured she just had to buy some time and keep the conversation neutral; easier said than done, though. Jess had looked around for Rory outside for a few minutes, but decided that she was probably stuck in the crowd inside. He considered just waiting for her to show up, but discarded the thought as something he would have done back in high school. He was trying to be the type of guy Rory deserved, even if she insisted that she didn't want him to change at all. He knew she appreciated the small gestures that showed her that he loved her, especially when they seemed out of character. So he decided to brave the mass of people and search for her inside. He felt a moment of panic, therefore, when he saw her chatting amicably with the blonde dick from Yale, of all people. Fighting the urge to storm off and never return, he took a deep breath and walked up to her calmly.

"Rory, there you are. I was getting worried" he said, trying to keep any edge from his voice.

"Jess. I was wondering when you'd get here" she said, the relief evident in her voice.

"Well I did have to pull myself away from a rather captivating manuscript" he said sarcastically, but relief was evident in his voice as well.

"Uh-oh. You're not going to publish her, then?"

"Not if I have any say in the matter. Which I'm not entirely sure I will. Matthew did think she was pretty hot, though she certainly wasn't my type. He seems to think that you can sell a book by having a hot chick on the back cover" he said, ignoring Logan and putting his complete focus on Rory, until they were interrupted by someone clearing his throat noisily.

"Oh, sorry. Jess, you remember Logan, right? He's here for… sorry, but why did you say you were here again?" she asked a little too innocently.

"I'm here for work" he replied stiffly.

"Well, we'd better get going. Nice to see you again, man" Jess said only slightly sarcatically, trying hard not to smirk.

"Yeah, sure. Bye, Rory" Logan replied sadly.

Jess took Rory by the arm and she waved at Logan, suddenly feeling slightly guilty when she saw the look of disappointment on his face. The guilt melted away, though, as soon as she looked up the man she loved and realized that he must have worked really hard to stay so calm about the situation. He could have made Logan look like a total idiot and treated him as poorly as Logan had treated Jess the first time they met. Or he could have seen her talking to Logan and freaked out, leaving her and going back to Philly before she could give an explanation. It was a testament to how much he had matured, but she was glad that he wasn't too grown up to join her when she started giggling about the look on Logan's face when he first saw Jess as they made their way back to the car.

As the happy couple walked away, arms interlocked, Logan watched, finding it somewhat hard to breathe. He had been so sure he could make things right with Rory by showing up today, but apparently he was too late. Anger flashed into his head thinking about that damn smirk on Jess' face that he hadn't been able to hide so well. Was he the reason Rory said no to the proposal? Somehow he didn't really believe that, but it made him feel better to blindly hate the man who had managed to win back the heart of the only girl he had ever attempted to have a real relationship with. The worst part was, they actually did look really happy together.

A/N: It didn't come out quite the same as in my head, but I think I like it anyway. What about you?