I couldn't help but laugh out loud as we sat in the plush, U-shaped seat. "We could have at least taken our drinks with us."

He shrugged his shoulders, "So? We'll get fresh ones…"

I knew I had already had more than enough to drink, but I was too interested to see where this was going. Besides, the break while we waited for the server to return gave me an opportunity I had been waiting for, and I was just inebriated enough to take the chance…

"So, why haven't we talked about you at all?"

I saw him freeze. It was only for a second; in fact if I hadn't been expecting it, I doubt I would have noticed. "We just talked about me…" The server returned to place our drinks on the small table between us, and I assume that Logan thought that would get him off the hook, because he took his tumbler of scotch and sat back in the booth.

"No, Logan. We talked about Colin and Finn. I've told you all about my work, my family and my friends, but you haven't said anything about your life." I wasn't trying to be accusatory; I think it came off as matter-of-factly as it could have.

Now he knew he was caught. He let out a sigh as he leaned forward to put his elbows on his knees, and looked at me eye-to-eye, "What do you want to know?"

"All of it."

He ran a hand through his blonde hair and gave me a 'Really?' look. I waited patiently for him to begin.

"I dunno, Ace… you know all about Colin and Finn. They were out in California with me for a little while, but got bored when they realized I was doing actual work… surprise, surprise. I've got other friends, but a lot of the socializing I do these days is for business. Schmoozing, entertaining potential clients, lunch meetings, cocktail parties… all that stuff I hate having to do."

"You don't hate it." He smiled. I was right and he knew it. He fought long and hard to avoid responsibility at Yale, but once he found his way, he loved his work. He wouldn't be so good at it if he didn't love it.

"Fine, California was alright."

"Alright? It only took you what, like six months before you had that company up and running with its first major client? That is better than alright."

He raised an eyebrow at me. I rolled my eyes, "What, you can follow my work, but I can't follow yours?"

"Okay, okay… yea, the work part was good, is good, but there wasn't much more to it than that."

Now it was me raising my eyebrows, "Logan Huntzberger, party animal extraordinaire, struck out on his own to make a name for himself, found a big house in California, built a major company from the ground up, and didn't have any fun?"

I was teasing him, but he wasn't laughing now. His eyes were on the floor.

"Logan?"

"I didn't keep the house..." He was speaking softly again, like he had on the street the other day. I didn't know what to say.

"…The avocado tree? That's what you're talking about, right?" He paused for a second, but didn't wait for me to respond. "That house wasn't for me, Rory. It was supposed to be for us."

"Logan, I didn't mean…" I wanted to know about his life, but I wasn't looking for another round of dramatics.

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't want to start this again. The other day was… exhausting." He gathered himself a little before he took a drink and spoke again. "You're right, I had my share of fun, but mostly I worked a lot. I'm still working a lot."

"But it's worth it, right? I mean, look at all you've done. You've become so successful…" I was bordering on sappy, and he was starting to look uncomfortable. He always gave me a bad time about not being able to take a compliment, but he was just as bad. I wanted to redirect but as soon as I said it, even with my sarcastic inflection, I wished I hadn't… "Plus, with that Huntzberger charm the ladies must be lining up at your door."

I guess, subconsciously I had been wanting a chance to fish for answers, too, even though I pretty much already knew what the answers were. I knew who Logan was before me, and I had no right to expect anything different after me. I had said no to his proposal, and I came to terms with what that probably meant for his sex life a long time ago.

He made a face at me, "Ace…"

I really wasn't trying to make him feel guilty. I just have a morbid sense of curiosity. "It's okay, Logan. I was just giving you a…"

"It wasn't like that."

"Really Logan, you don't have to…"

"Rory, stop." I was surprised. "You really want to know this?" I nodded, now I was really curious.

"I wanted it to be like that. Believe me I tried." He was almost laughing at himself now, and I smiled in spite of myself. "I wanted to move on, but it never… After you… Crap like that just wasn't enough."

Wow. Not at all what I was expecting from the guy who slept with half of his sister's bridal party without me even knowing we had broken up.

"You… I… Everything I did before us, the hooking up and the casual stuff, it was all stupid… But after I knew what it was like to have more, to have what we…" I really wanted to know how he was going to finish that sentence. "… I found out the hard way that the stupid stuff meant even less. And I wasn't… I'm not interested in finding somebody else to have more with."

Was that present tense? As in he is still not interested in finding somebody else? Was it the booze talking? He did say he wasn't walking away again. Why was this making me so uncomfortable? I was having another one of those possible movie moments.

We had been having fun at the start of the night, more fun than I thought we would, but then I pushed him and it was suddenly getting serious. Neither one of us was sober enough for serious. I didn't want serious right now. At that moment the server walked by and I flagged her down for two more shots.

Logan was wearing the amused expression he always had when I surprised him by doing something out of character. I challenged him with a 'What?' look. It was the same kind of silent communication we had mastered years ago.

He smiled, seeming to be as relieved as I was for a change of direction in the conversation. "Well, alright then, Ace. What are we drinking to now?"

"We established that California went well, and I know that Oregon and Washington followed suit. And now you're taking on New York. We toasted to my new opportunities, so now we should toast to yours. So, to New York…"

"To New York. It will be… interesting."

I wasn't quite sure what he meant by that last bit, but at that point it didn't matter anymore. We had had too much, but at the same time just enough to drink. I knew that I would regret it in the morning, but right then, we were finally just relaxed and having fun. I hadn't had fun like that in a long time.

A while later we were engaging in a drunken battle of wits with a couple of guys from the next table when Logan threw his hand up to emphasize a point. I happened to glance at his watch and was hit with a sense of dread.

"It's after one?" I had no idea it had gotten to be so late. I was going to need an IV drip of caffeine tomorrow.

"Uh, oh. Is Cinderella late for her pumpkin?"

I glared at him.

He dragged out his response like a whiny toddler, "Aright, I'll settle the tab and we'll get going."

I grabbed my purse, but much like at lunch he waved me off and went to the bar to pay. I pulled on my coat and went to wait for him by the door, only to feel someone run into me from behind. If I had been sober I might have been able to steady myself, but instead I stumbled forward, only to be caught by Logan.

"We've really got to stop doing this Ace."

I knew I was blushing. I have not had good luck with doorways lately.

He laughed and put his arm around my shoulders, "Come on, let's get out of here."

I let myself lean into him as we walked out, but when the cold night air hit my face I realized that this is what I had been afraid of when I agreed to drinks. With no inhibitions it would be so easy for me to fall into his arms and pretend like everything was back to normal, but I wasn't ready for it. I could wake up tomorrow and feel differently, but I didn't want to take that chance yet.

"So, um… I should get home." I started to pull away from him to hail a cab.

"Ace, let me take you home. I already called a car."

"I'll be fine, don't worry about it."

"Please, it's late, we've been drinking… Look, Ace. The car's right there."

"Logan, you don't…"

"Damn it, Rory. Just get in the car." He held the door open, with one arm held out to me and his head was hung down in frustration.

Being stubborn was a trait that he and I shared when we were sober, and being drunk only made it worse. When we were younger it caused more than a few arguments, but in that moment all I could do was laugh. It all just seemed so silly.

He finally looked up when he heard me laughing, and tried to hide a smile as I walked toward him. "You can be a real pain in the ass sometimes, you know that right?"

"My mother would be so proud to hear you say that."

He gave in and let a real smile spread across his face as he shook his head, "Please just get in the car already."

I finally relented and gave the driver my address as we pulled away from the bar.

We rode most of the way to my apartment in silence, but it was a comfortable quiet. I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.

"Tired?"

"I will be tomorrow."

When we pulled up, the driver opened my door and I started to get out of the car.

"Ace…"

I turned back and saw Logan looking at my building and down my street. I knew what was coming; we had been through it before when I moved in with Paris and Doyle at Yale.

"Logan, I'm fine."

"At least let me walk you inside."

I rolled my eyes to let him know how I felt before I finally waved him out of the car. I knew he would just sit out there until he saw a light come on anyway.

He followed me up all four flights of stairs, only making one comment about how it must be convenient to not need a gym membership. When we got to my floor, I undid both of the dead bolts and opened the door, "Home sweet home; safe and sound." I made sure to add emphasis to the safe part.

"Hey, you can't blame me for wor…"

"Please don't." I didn't need to hear him say it. I knew he didn't like that I lived here, but to hear him say he was worried about me would only make me more susceptible to whatever charming line he had in store for a good night.

I stood in the doorway, facing him in the hall. We looked at each other hesitantly for a minute before he said something.

"Don't let your stepmother know I kept you out so late."

I was confused for a moment, until I remembered his pumpkin comment from before.

"Your secret is safe with me." I returned his smile as he backed away from the door.

Before he started down the stairs he looked back to me, "Good night, Ace."

I closed the door and leaned my back against it. It was late, I was tired and still a little drunk, but I was happy.

** I do not own any characters or content relating to Gilmore Girls, Cinderella or any other entities mentioned.

A/N - Sorry again, for the delay with these chapters, but I hope you enjoy them! Keep the follows, favorites and comments coming! I love hearing from you!

Also, to GilmoreGirlsAddict - Rogan Fan, I have never seen the movie, but I will take it has a high compliment for you to consider a scene I've composed to be screen-worthy :)

Thanks again to all! xx