I could hear the surprise in his voice, but it seemed to pale in comparison to the shock that was coursing through my body right now. This cannot be happening right now. I had convinced myself of what Les said about New York being a big city. It is a big city. How in the world did we end up in the same bar in the same night? McConnell's was my bar. He didn't belong here, Leslie and I belonged here.

I didn't know what to do or say. I guess Leslie had felt me stop behind her, and I heard her voice, but I sounded like it was a million miles away.

"Rory, what's the hold up? Decide to go back for martini number…"

She trailed off. Without looking at her I knew she had turned around and saw him. He had let the rest of who I assumed were his friends continue into the bar but he stayed, standing in the doorway, his eyes locked with mine.

I felt Leslie grab my hand again and start to pull me away, but I couldn't let go of his gaze.

"Ace!" He called after me as I stumbled down the alley after Leslie, towards the street and the subway station. She was right; I had to get out of here.

I hadn't said anything. What was I supposed to say? He's the one that showed up out of nowhere, but his voice, calling me by the name only he had ever used, rang in my head as I sat on the train. I was in a daze, almost completely unaware of my surroundings. It was only thanks to Leslie that I found my way upstairs to my apartment. I had thrown my coat over a chair and found myself sitting on my bed staring into the middle of the room before I managed to come out of my fog and say something.

"It was him."

"It was him." Leslie repeated. She was sitting on the couch staring at me. "You doing okay?"

I still wasn't sure. Like a zombie I walked over to the coffee maker and turned it on. I was going to need caffeine to process all of this.

For a moment I was upset with Leslie and I snapped at her, "You said I wouldn't have to see him." Immediately I knew it was unfair. "I'm sorry, I just…"

"I know."

I poured a cup of the fresh coffee and took a big gulp. I tried to look at the big picture instead of focusing on him calling me as we walked away. I knew it was his birthday, he must have been celebrating, or maybe even reveling in what I trust was a successful press conference.

"What am I supposed to do, Les?"

"Honestly? I don't know. I guess you don't have to do anything if you don't want to. It's not like either of you went looking for the other; you don't owe him anything."

I collapsed into a chair. Oh boy… Suddenly I felt every single one of those martinis and a headache set in. I put my head down on the table, coffee cup still in my hand.

"Come on, you need some sleep."

Leslie took the cup from my hand and put it in the sink, before lifting me out of the chair and leading me over to the bed. She threw some pajamas at me as I kicked off my shoes and unzipped my dress. Without even bothering to take off my makeup, I laid down and tried to sleep.

I tossed and turned for a long while before I managed to drift off, but even then my sleep was restless. I kept hearing his voice and reliving him turning around in that doorway, looking me right in the eyes.

When my alarm blared I rolled over and heavily dropped my hand down on the snooze button. Ten minutes later when it sounded again I finally opened my eyes. I saw Leslie stirring by the couch. She had stayed the night. At that moment I really appreciated having a friend like her. As I slowly managed to stand up out of bed she met me with a warm cup of coffee and a sympathetic look.

My head was throbbing and as I passed the mirror on the way to the table I realized I looked as bad as I felt. My makeup from last night was now smeared and smudged, and managed to accentuate the bags that were all too noticeable under my eyes. My hair that was previously curled was now an unfortunate tangle around my face. I looked like a brunette Courtney Love.

I sat down in the same chair I had collapsed into before and looked at Leslie.

"So? Have you decided how we're going to play this?"

"We're going to play this like I'm terribly hung-over and…" I looked at the clock, "…going to be late getting to the office. Crap."

I stumbled my way to the bathroom to do some damage control. What I really needed was a long hot shower, but I should already be out the door. Instead I washed my face, managed to run a brush through my hair and get it into a bun, and dabbed some concealer under my eyes. I stared at my reflection… it was going to be a long day.

I came out of the bathroom to find Leslie dressed in her skirt from the day before and one of my blouses. I quickly pulled on pants and a top, slipped into some flats, and shook my coat out from its heap on the chair.

We headed out the door to catch the train; the wind had picked up overnight and it was even colder out than the day before. With no time for a stop at the coffee cart, we waited for the elevator in the lobby, figuring that I would have to settle for a mediocre cup from the break room. The fluorescent lights of the office were not helping my headache, which I suspected was just as much from last night's encounter with Logan as it was from the alcohol.

"Hang in there, champ." Some words of encouragement with a hint of pity from Leslie as I headed to my desk, planning to drop off my coat and bag before I went in search of coffee.

To my surprise, when I got there, I found a cup already waiting for me; I could see the steam rising up out of the whole in the lid, and it smelled much better than what came from the break room. I looked at Leslie, wondering if she had somehow arranged it, but she shrugged her shoulders, just as surprised to see it as I was. She came back to my desk, curious about the mystery gift. I picked up the cup to find a note on the desk underneath… Enjoy – L. Nothing else, but I knew exactly who "L" was, his handwriting was exactly the same as it was years ago. This cannot be happening. I took the cup and the note and unceremoniously dropped them into the trash can.

"Just like that?" I had forgotten that Leslie was standing behind me.

"How could I possibly enjoy coffee from him?" It finally hit me just how upset I still was with him. Sure, I had chosen not to call him after he left. I was hurt; I wasn't going to beg him to take me back. I turned him down. I told him that I wasn't ready to get married and he left. If he changed his mind about the ultimatum, he would have called me, but he hadn't. He turned his back on us, not me.

"Okay… I get it. Just wanted to make sure I knew where we stood after last night."

"Where else am I supposed to stand? Does he expect that he can show up, send me a cup of coffee, and we could be… I don't even know what… Friends? No."

"I agree." But she looked at me like she could tell how hard I was working to convince myself of that.

"Besides, I've got work to do."

"Well, you go get 'em, tiger." She mockingly gave me a soft punch to the shoulder, as if I was heading into the big game, before heading turning towards her own desk.

I stood up, marched into the break room, got myself a cup of coffee, and proceeded to do exactly as I said. I pushed last night out of my mind, well, to the back of my mind at least, and got to work. I submitted my article I had finished yesterday to my editor, Gerry, and got started on research for my next piece.

** I do not own any characters or content relating to Gilmore Girls **