Author's Note: Okay everyone, I know I promised more frequent updates, and honestly I intended to keep that promise, but my life has conspired against me to prohibit me from updating anything. You all have my apologies. Again, I won't bore you with the details of my train-wreck of a week, but trust me when I say it was bad and unavoidable.

Madness is More Interesting

"You're bringing him here? Paris asked.

"Yes, Paris. Logan is coming here. We're going to watch movies and eat mountains of junk food."

"In that case, I'm leaving. Perhaps I'll pick up a chance of address form while I'm out."

"Sure," Rory said absently, "Or you could pick up some more of that disinfectant you like so much and just spray the entire place down once he leaves."

"I'm leaving."

"Okay."

Once Paris was gone, Rory allowed herself to focus on preparing for her date with Logan. While it had seemed like a simple enough matter – plan a date, the more time she'd spent planning, the more unsure she'd become of her overall plan for the evening. This entire situation was new to her. She didn't know Logan as well as she'd known Jess, and she didn't have her mother here to act as a date buffer. There was not enough information for her to analyze and come up with a foolproof plan…she fought the urge to make another pro/con list.

"MOM!" Rory exclaimed into her cell phone.

"Yes, fruit of my loins?"

"I'm a freak."

"And the circus just left town. I had such high hopes for your career in the circus. No matter how much you try to mould your children into circus freaks, they just turn out so normal," Lorelai responded.

"This is why I'm a freak, just so you know."

"What's the problem kid? You were great a couple of hours ago. What brought on the freak out?"

"What if he hates movies? What if junk food makes him find me repulsive? I eat an uncommon amount of junk food. Maybe he's super health food conscious…he won't enjoy the date at all!"

"Well, then you'd be even," Lorelai answered. "And sweetie, Luke still likes me, in spite of my horrifying food habits. Logan can't possibly any worse than him."

"Paris is picking up change of address forms."

"See, your date's already a success."

"Mom!"

"What? You'd have the whole suite to yourself. Finally, your greatest dreams will come true, and your books will finally have a room of their own."

"You think he'll like the date?"

"Will you be there?"

"Sort of an integral part of the date scenario."

"Then, kid, he'll love it."

"Okay."

"Okay, call me with Paris' new address so we can keep in touch."

"I'll be sure to tell her how much her friendship has meant to you for all of these years."

"Mean."

"Bye."

She'd just finished placing the cookie dough on the coffee table when she heard a knock on the door. Forcing her jitters down, she slowly walked to the door. After a fortifying breath, she opened the door.

"A little peace offering," Logan said as he lifted up a brown take-out bag, "and a little ambiance."

"Cheese fries and champagne, quite an eclectic collection," Rory said as she ushered Logan into the room.

"Practice for when I'm old and grey…want to make sure the last chapter of my biography is interesting,"

"Practical. Good to know you're thinking ahead."

Logan placed the bag and the champagne on the coffee table to free his hands. He pulled Rory into his arms and kissed her gently.

"You look amazing, Ace," he whispered.

"Cheese fries will get cold," Rory told him.

"I'll buy you more cheese fries," Logan argued as he captured her lips once more.

"Mmm," she pulled away. "You're already behind on the cheese fry requirement, Huntzberger."

"Can't have that," Logan agreed, releasing her from his grasp. "You said nothing about what to expect for tonight, Ace."

She grinned cheekily at him. "No, I didn't."

He glanced briefly at the assortment of junk food littering the table before sweeping his gaze back to her. "It looks as though we're staying in?"

"It's part of your overall education," Rory responded.

"Education?"

"Mhm," Rory nodded, "It's a Gilmore tradition. Movie night."

"Ah, and the food comma is?"

"Part of the experience. Where's your sense of adventure?"

"You eat food like this each time you have a movie night?"

"Oh no," Rory answered with a shake of her head.

"No?"

"No, this is much less food than normal. I decided to ease you into the full experience. Marathon training."

"A food eating marathon?"

"My mom and I once had four full Thanksgiving dinners to attend…we skipped the rolls at Luke's in an attempt to save room. Turn out it was unnecessary, which was sad because Luke makes incredible rolls."

"Four Thanksgiving dinners?"

"Well, dinner at my grandparents ended badly, so we really didn't need to skip the rolls at Luke's. Marathon eating is a goal to achieve."

"I see."

Not knowing what to say, Rory filled the space by opening the Styrofoam container and pulling out a cheese fry. She chewed thoughtfully, wondering where he'd procured the fries because they were wonderful. It appeared as though her mother was not alone in finding fantastic junk food. Just another thing to add to her pro/con list as it related to one Logan Huntzberger. Currently, the pro side was kicking the con sides ass…badly.

Logan watched Rory silently. He enjoyed watching the emotions cross her expressive face. Unlike so many of the carbon-copy girls he had dated over the years, Rory enjoyed food. She made no apologies for the sheer quantity of food, nor did she delicately pick at food placed in front of her. In fact, he couldn't name a single person he knew who would become excited at the idea of eating cheese fries and drinking champagne in the same meal. As he'd learned, this was merely the tip of the iceberg for her. He really took in the array of food before him and felt his stomach roll slightly at the prospect of consuming even a portion of the food Rory had provided.

"Want to begin the movie madness?" Rory asked.

"Movie madness, Ace?"

"Don't look at me with that look of disbelief. I'm full of surprises."

"Oh, I know that, Ace."

Rory glared at him as she stood from the couch to insert the first video.

"Is that – "

"Yes, it is a VHS. It has the commercials and everything."

"You say commercials as if you are happy about them."

"I am!"

"Why?"

"They are half of what makes the show so amazing. Really, Logan. Didn't you ever just watch bad TV until the early hours of the morning?"

Logan smiled, the one that reached his eyes.

"Come here," Logan beckoned.

With a smile, Rory curled up into his opened arms. She sighed contentedly as Logan wrapped his arms around her. She pushed the play button on the remote, and turned her face to watch his.

"Are you going to watch me watch the show?" Logan asked, with a tone of mild annoyance.

"Maybe."

"Is this part of the Gilmore tradition?"

Rory's face scrunched in confusion.

"Do you two sit on your couch and watch each other watch movies?"

Rory shook her head. "No, but we do watch newcomers."

"There are lot of newcomers?

"Afraid you won't be as special anymore, Logan?"

"Just gathering all the facts."

"For your biography."

"I do practice responsible journalism."

"Shhh. No talking during the show."

Rory snuggled back into Logan and smiled as she felt him kiss the top of her head. She thought this was turning out to be a much better date. Here, they could simply be Logan and Rory. Out there, they would be Logan Huntzberger – heir of the Huntzberger dynasty, and Rory Gilmore – the last hope of the Gilmore clan. No one was going to judge her based on what she was wearing; no one was going to care that her mom was sixteen when she got pregnant. Here it was only a girl and a boy who liked each other.

After a few hours, which was about five episodes, Logan became a bit restless. There was nothing he liked more than having his arms full of Rory Gilmore, but the longer they laid on the couch the more he wanted to lay down with her somewhere else. Somehow, he knew she wasn't ready for their relationship to go there…yet. He decided on a surefire course of action to remedy the situation but not ruin the date. At least, he hoped his bulletproof plan would work that way.

"Are they all in black and white? Do they all have to overact like that?"

"Are you mocking the perfection of Dark Shadows?" Rory asked.

"Do you always answer a question with a question?"

"Do you?"

"No. But, c'mon, Ace. The girl made her eyes go wide with the beat of the obvious mood setting music. It's completely cheesy. No one does things like that."

"I do it all the time."

Logan's smile reached his eyes as he maneuvered them into a position where he could look her in the eyes, but still hold her close.

"Do you?"

"Oh yeah. It's a carefully cultivated skill."

"How do you and your mom sit quietly though these episodes, Ace? I just don't see it."

"We're not quiet. We mostly improve their dialogue. And then there are certain parts we watch over and over again. Like with the Godfather movies, mom has to watch Sophia die over and over and over…so much that even I am sick of seeing it."

"Then why did I have to follow the no talking rule?"

"Are you a Gilmore?"

"No."

Rory smiled. "Exactly."

"Let's go somewhere," Logan begged.

"But, we haven't even gotten to the really good parts yet. Barnabus shows up and – "

Logan silenced her with a kiss. He moved them into a more comfortable position and one that allowed him a better angle to deepen the kiss. Movie nights equaled heavy kissing; it was in the rules. Unable to resist, he moved his hands up into her hair and carefully carded it though his fingers. He loved the way the silky strands felt against his finger tips and if the little moans escaping from the girl in question, she enjoyed the sensation as well. He smiled a little as he moved his lips down her neck, placing gentle kisses on the delicate skin he found there.

"I thought you wanted to go somewhere," Rory mumbled.

"You're really killing my ego, here, Ace," Logan said.

"Huh?"

"You're thought process still works. I'm losing my touch."

"Ah," Rory said knowingly. "And if I told you your mad skills were still – mad?"

"I can't believe you just said mad skills."

"It's the lingo in the streets."

"You spend a lot of time on the streets?"

"Oh yeah, I hang with the badest of the street hanger outers."

"Didn't know I was dating such a dangerous woman."

"Better watch yourself, Huntzberger."

"I consider myself warned."

"Good."

"Ice cream?"

"What"

"Want some?"

"And you talk about the way my mind works?"

Logan chuckled. "Was that a yes?"

Rory kissed him, gently at first, but soon Logan was deepening the kiss and pulling her back against him. When she felt his fingers begin to move through her hair, she knew she'd successfully distracted him. She moved her own hands to mover her fingers through the small hairs at his neck. Ice cream could wait until later.

Part one of Rory's date. Hope you all enjoyed it. No promises about update time frame other than as soon as I can.