I updated this in the first week of my Super Summer Vacation at the Dad's house and now that the Vacation Bubble is about to pop, I figured now was as good a time as ever to update. I'm sorry that my promise to update more frequently hasn't really worked on any of my stories, but I guess that's how summer goes. I'll be heading back to the real world early next week and it'll take a few days before I'm in the writing mood again. The 'Girl, Welcome Back Dinners' and 'Shoot, School Starts in Three Weeks Cocktails' are sure to lift my spirits; however, those activities prevent me from writing as I'm sure you'll understand.

Anyway, back to the story and not my life which isn't nearly as interesting – Round Ten of the continuing Game is up and the situation becomes a little more complex (surprise!).

Holding his trust over his head, Mitchum got Logan to promise to watch Rory in the For the Future Writers Program in London, meaning Logan and Rory will be together for three months. Only catch: Logan can't woo Rory – he is to treat her like a sister. Rory doesn't know and doesn't worry about how she'll act around Logan (her obsession) because she's too wrapped up in the fact that she is finally allowed to go to London!

In this chapter, I'm re-introducing Lorelai and Christopher. I wasn't planning to (most of you didn't want them in the story) but it works better for the flow of the story and provides some background, I suppose. Lorelai might seem a little OCC, but that has to do with Rory's complicated past (which will all be revealed eventually.) I know I promised Finn, but next chapter. Definitely next chapter.

Thanks for sticking with me through this obnoxiously long AN and through everything else. Your kind words for this story are heartwarming. Truly, thank-you and muchlove!

Disclaimer: Do not own GG!!

"Mom? Where are you?" Rory called out as she reached the top of the staircase.

A muffled yell came from the far end of the hallway and Rory quickened her pace. She had called Lorelai from HPG's offices, excitedly telling her that Mitchum had given the green-light for her to participate in the "For the Future Writers" Program. Three months in London spent soaking up every facet of the writing world sounded like absolute heaven and Lorelai's excited screaming confirmed that Rory needed to be part of this program. Lorelai promised her daughter to help packing the moment she got home.

A smile played at Rory's lips as an enormous pile of t-shirts, skirts, jeans, dresses, ballet flats, flip-flops and other items were strewn haphazardly in the hallway in front of her bedroom door. Apparently, Lorelai had gotten a head start.

"Mom?" Rory asked poking her head in to see the damage Lorelai had done to her otherwise neat and organized room. More clothes were separated into piles on the bed, dresser and floor and post-it notes were stuck on her vanity mirror with reminders like 'yummy toothpaste, not the other kind' 'good floss' and 'sexy red lipstick.'

"What are you doing?" she asked, slightly incredulous, as Rory stepped further into the mess that was now her bedroom.

"I started packing," Lorelai said, before whipping her head around and holding up two nearly identical navy button-down shirts.

"Which one says "I-am-a-smart-and-talented-writer-and-I-am-going-to-kick-your-butt-so-kiss-the-prize-goodbye" more?"

Rory's lips twisted into an uncertain smile as she surveyed both shirts for a moment, before resting her eyes on her frazzled-looking mother. "Are you alright, Mom?"

"Got to answer the questions, sweets," Lorelai said. Shuffling from side-to-side, she asked again. "Which one?"

Rory's brow furrowed in concern, which went completely unnoticed by her mother. "I'm thinking this one," Lorelai said to no one in particular as she tossed the shirt in her right hand behind her and went back to rummaging through Rory's closet.

Rory watched as the blouse landed on the carefully selected yes-pile but only staying there for a moment as it slid down ending up on the middle of the bed in murky, undecided territory together with a pair of short-shorts, a yellow tank-top and a baseball cap that had already found their way there, between the definite yes and reject pile.

She frowned at the mess and turned to her mother once more, who was now obsessively eyeing a Prada tote. "Mom!"

"What, honey?" Lorelai turned to face her daughter and now that she had Lorelai's undivided attention, she wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Maybe we should take a break?" Rory suggested, "Grab some coffee…"

"Can't stop. Have to pack. You've got August, September, October and part of November to spend in London. That's one hundred and twenty two days and a good four seasons to get through…"

"Four?"

"London weather is unpredictable, sweets," Lorelai said with a short smile and a heavy sigh. "You've got to look smart in your classes, professional at the networking get-togethers, cute for hanging out with your new friends, comfortable if you get sick or just want to spend a day relaxing… that's a whole lot of situations you have to be prepared for without…."

She swallowed her that last thought as she stepped over a pile of boots to one of the dresser drawers. Rory's features softened as she realized what had caused her mother's sudden spell of craziness.

"I'll miss you too, Mom."

"How 'bout these Santa socks?" Lorelai asked, holding the pair over her head.

"What happened, Mom?" Rory asked, ignoring her mother's sock inquiry. "I'm pretty sure you blew out my eardrum with that screaming earlier, what changed?"

"Maybe it's a little too soon for Santa," Lorelai said, dismissing the socks to another reject pile.

"It's not like I'm moving to London, Mom. It's three months, I'll be home for Christmas and you and Dad can come of visit and I went to college, lived in dorms and it was fine…" Rory said, rambling off reasons why Lorelai shouldn't be overreacting.

"They are comfortable socks, though," Lorelai said in contemplation, and fished the red-and-green footwear from the pile of rejects.

"Mom!" Rory let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you even listening?"

Lorelai whipped her head around, holding the Santa-themed socks tightly in her hands. "I know, I know all that, Rory," she said, "but you'll be all alone!"

"There are a hundred other participants…"

"And yet you'll be alone, or is everyone else a…" Lorelai interjected.

"Heiress?" Rory provided smoothly, not wanting her mother to use a whole list words that so accurately described her now-embarrassing past.

"Heiress," Lorelai nodded slowly in agreement before crossing her arms in frustration. "I can't believe Mitchum is just letting you go! He knows how your Grandpa felt about this…"

A tiny scoff escaped Rory's lips which earned her a wary look from her mother. "Is that what this freak-out is about?"

Lorelai pursed her lips in demonstrative silence, forcing Rory to continue. "You are mad at Mitchum for letting me go and yet you are packing for me to ensue I have a blouse that says "I'll-beat-you"?"

"It actually says "I-am-a-smart-and-talented-writer-and-I-am-going-to-kick-your-butt-so-kiss-the-prize-goodbye"" Lorelai said with a weak laugh. "And I can't stop you from going, you are twenty-two. You should be going…"

"But you can't let go of the past?"

"Yeah," Lorelai nodded, clenching the Santa-socks a little tighter.

Rory let out a heavy sigh. She knew she would always carry around the burden of her teen-year-persona but she had moved past it and put in her best effort to show that she was more that that, better than that. It hurt her that her mother could never quite let it go and embrace Rory as she was today.

"I won't be alone," Rory said finally, "Mitchum and Grandpa apparently had a plan in place. He told me and I should have told you on the phone earlier..."

The expression on Lorelai's face lightened considerably as she probed Rory for the outline of the plan.

"Well," Rory sighed, giving in, "You remember Logan?"

Lorelai's eyes widened in immediate understanding. "Oh, honey…"

The sincerity in her mom's exhale and the sympathy in her eyes caught Rory by surprise. Really, she was going to London, she'd rock the FTF-writers program and Logan would be there by her side…babysitting.

"Ooh…" she drew out slowly as reality caught up with her. Rory had been so enthralled by the prospect of London that the role her blonde-haired obsession played in it all failed to register completely. More to the point, Lorelai didn't even know about the unexpected non-date lunch she had Logan had shared, not to mention his gracious offer to fly with her across the pond and the spontaneous kiss she had pressed on his cheek.

Suddenly, what seemed like a straightforward situation became unbearably complex.

"This could be awkward," Rory said finally, raising her gaze to meet her mother's. It was clear by the expression on Lorelai's face that she was relieved that Rory hadn't considered the scenario of what 'Babysitter Logan' meant for them – if there even was a 'them'.

"Who's freaking out now, kid?" she laughed good-humouredly, wrapping her daughter in a hug. "It'll be okay…"

"How will it be okay?" Rory asked, pulling out of the embrace. "Ill be living in his apartment building, he and his security team will keep a constant watch on me, I kissed him…"

"You kissed him?" This caught Lorelai off-guard.

"On the cheek, after the meeting, after the not-date-lunch date, after we agreed on going out on a real date, before he knew about the whole FTF-program plan!"

Lorelai sighed heavily. After she found out that Airplane Boy Logan was in fact Logan Huntzberger she had been less than keen for him to be her daughter's first experience back in the world of dating, games and love. She acknowledged that her daughter had created a pretty bad reputation, though she also knew that Logan's write-ups in the gossip pages hadn't been unaccounted for. To her mind, he was just another bad influence Rory didn't need. Though, after the boy jetted back to London and out of her daughter's life, she really didn't see the need to bring up her concerns.

However, now that Mitchum and Richard decided to pair them up Lorelai's worries came back full force. She didn't understand why Mitchum and Richard had considered Logan being Rory's escort a good idea, though she also knew that Mitchum would have forced his son to some sort of agreement. Perhaps his trust. At the very least the promise of no funny business.

Something.

Lorelai didn't know for sure if Logan's interest in Rory was genuine – despite whatever non-date dating they had done – though it was increasingly obvious that Rory's feelings were true. And this needed to be nipped in the bud, immediately.

"Honey," Lorelai sighed finally as her jumbled thoughts aligned in her mind. "It'll be fine; not awkward."

Rory raised her eyebrows unconvinced. "Really?"

"You've just got to get your focus. What are you there for? Logan or the program?"

"For the Future but…"

"No buts," Lorelai smiled warmly.

"But he asked me out?!"

"You want to write, you'll write and he'll let you write – he's your mentor, he'll want you to do well…"

Lorelai's tone wasn't noticeably forceful, but Rory's subconscious picked up on her mom's urging. A sudden calm washed over her as she agreed with her mother – for now at least. She was going to London to write, not to be with him. He was a mentor. Happy to have diverted that crisis for another day, Rory dropped to her knees to deal with another, more pressing, matter.

"Santa-socks yes," Rory said excitedly, reaching over to another pile, "but this shirt…." She held up the one that ended up in the in-between pile, "is a no."

Laughing, Lorelai sat next to her daughter as they continued to sort through the piles of clothes, shoes and accessories. For now, all was right between mother and daughter in the Gilmore-Hayden world.

Friday came and with that an anxious looking Logan, standing on the Gilmore-Hayden's doorstep at seven-thirty in the morning.

The boy had plenty to be anxious about. He was about to see Lorelai and Christopher for the first time since Richards funeral, where he - unbeknownst to them - tried to pick up their daughter before she collapsed in his arms. Ever the cowardly gentleman, he passed Rory off to Lorelai, mumbling a few stupid apologies before getting the hell out of there. Not exactly a stellar first impression. What really set his heart racing, though, was the idea of spending three months with Rory. Maybe, he realized during their lunch, his infatuation was turning into the beginnings of something that one day could resemble love, but he didn't know. And, according to his agreement, he wasn't allowed to find out.

"Treat like sister," he mumbled to the still-chilly morning air as he pressed the doorbell. A maid, as if she had been waiting on the other side, promptly opened it and let him into the Gilmore-Hayden home.

"Mr. Huntzberger," the stout maid greeted him with a short nod.

"Morning," Logan nodded and followed her to the foyer, where Christopher and Lorelai were waiting for him.

"Good morning, Logan," Lorelai said in a sickeningly sweet society tone and Christopher shook his hand. "Morning."

"Good Morning," Logan acknowledged them both with smiles and nods but it didn't seem to defrost the icy atmosphere.

"Rory's just packing some last things, you know us Gilmore girls," Lorelai contuined with a fake laugh. "Coffee while you wait?"

Logan smiled, casting an awkward glance between Christopher – who looked about ready to pounce – and Lorelai who stood before him in a Stepford Wife kind of way. He seemed to have remembered them nicer, though perhaps the picture the glossies had painted had affected them more than he knew.

"Maybe some tea? I don't drink coffee…"

"You don't drink coffee?" Lorelai asked, trying to hide her shock. If she were still talking to Rory about the possibility of Rory-and-Logan she would add his distaste for coffee to the con-side of the list. This was a major, dealbreaker con.

"No."

"What about lattes?"

"No," he shook his head, not caring about the laugh that escaped him.

"Cappuccino?" She narrowed her eyes to suspicous slits. What boy dared mock her love of coffee?

"Never had it, but probably not because it's, you know, coffee…"

"Actually, espresso made with hot milk and topped with a milk-foam cap!!!"

"I see…" Logan said uncomfortably digging his hands deeper in his pockets.

"Give it up, Lore," Chris laughed, sliding behind Lorelai and snaking his arm around her waist. "The boy doesn't like coffee…"

The look he gave Logan made him feel as if he had just stated that he liked to shoot kittens on the weekends, not something as silly as not liking coffee.

"You know Rory likes coffee, right?" Chris asked.

Logan nodded, "She loves the stuff."

"You won't withhold her coffee, will you?" Lorelai asked as she contuined eyeing the boy suspiciously.

"No, uh.. what…?" Logan tried to verbalize his confusion, but it wasn't working out for him as Chris immediately cut him off.

"Mitchum tells me you are to treat her like a sister."

Logan swallowed a few times. No wonder they hated his guts. Strolling in here, acting like a slick society fellow when in reality – at least to Lorelai and Christopher – the only reason he was doing this was for the sake of his precious trustfund. Rory told him that her parents were amazing and this display really proved they cared about her. He couldn't imagine Mitchum looking out for him like this.

"I take it your trust is important to you?" Lorelai carried on with the interrogation .

"Yes, that it is," he said, not bothering to hide that fact. "But Rory is important to me, too." Logan suppressed the smile that threatened to spread over his face as he continued, using his most professional voice. "Her performance in the FTF-program is important and my team and I will do everything to make sure that she gets what she wants out of her time in London…"

He concluded with a small smile; happy that he had made his 'feelings' toward her a little more professional and just as Chris was about to launch the second attack Rory bounced down the stairs, yelling, in her typical ranting way.

"Mom? Dad? Where are you guys? This house is too big! Is Logan here yet? I have too many bags! Do I have time for one more cup of coffee?"

She rounded the corner and entered the foyer and stopped dead in her tracks. "I guess not," she said in a softer, more lady-like tone, wishing the blush that appeared on her cheeks would fade just as quickly as it came.

"Hey."

"Morning, Rory," Logan said with a warm smile, though he was careful to only lock his eyes to hers for a beat, maybe two. More would be suspicious and that wouldn't do anything to help his case, on the protective 'in-laws' front or his own. Treat. Like. Sister.

"Have your coffee," he told her, gesturing at the cart in the corner of the room, "the jet doesn't leave 'till ten. I'm early."

She shot him a crooked smile as Lorelai piped up. "Gilmores always run late, never early…"

"Please, mom," Rory laughed, handing her mom a fresh mug, "When do we run?"

Christopher, Lorelai and Rory shared a laugh, and Logan chuckled uncomfortably. It was obviously some sort of inside joke.

"Do you know Logan doesn't drink coffee?" Lorelai asked, hoping to evoke a disgusted reaction from her daughter.

"Yeah," Rory shrugged, "he drinks Coke." She turned her direction to Logan. "Hey, did you know that on May 29, 1886, the first print ad for Coke appeared in the Atlanta Journal?"

Logan smiled a careful smile, "I didn't."

"What's with the facts?" Lorelai asked, feeling dangerously out of the loop. "What about coffee?"

"Coffee has facts," Logan said, intentionally missing the point of Lorelai's query. "Did you know, for example, that large doses of coffee can be lethal. Ten grams, or 100 cups over 4 hours, can kill the average human?"

"Is that why you don't drink the stuff?" Rory asked curiously, stepping closer toward him, "because you know that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amount of antioxidants as three oranges." She held out her mug and pointed at the steam rising from her mug.

A heartfelt laugh came from Logan, causing Lorelai to question her earlier image of Logan. Maybe his affection was genuine after all? Nevertheless, she couldn't help picking on him.

"Have you even given coffee a fair chance?"

"Mom!" Rory said in shock – she certainly didn't want her mother embarrassing her in front of her off-limits obsession. "Logan just doesn't like coffee!"

Logan raised his eyebrows, impressed that this girl would defend him (about something as silly as coffee, but still) to her parents.

"What do you mean he don't like coffee?" Lorelai asked in a strange accent as she placed a hand on her hip.

"Why don't you just make lamb?" Rory countered calmly, before the family couldn't keep the seriousness up any longer and burst out in laughter.

It took him a moment to make the obscure connection in his mind, but finally joined in with a lame laugh. "Cute movie, that one is."

Chris coughed uncomfortably, making in painfully clear that Logan disrupted a family moment. "Well, kiddo, I should get to work."

"Okay, Daddy," Rory said with a frown, placing her mug down on the coffee table. "I'll miss you, you know that right?"

"I'll miss you, too, baby girl. Be safe, have fun – but not too much – and call me when you get in," Christopher rattled off his standard fatherly words before enveloping her in a big hug and gently kissing the top of her head.

Rory pressed a kiss on his cheek, before quickly moving on to her mother, by nature a much harder goodbye. Logan rested his gaze on the emotional scene but was interrupted as Chris stood before him. "Logan," he nodded, sticking out his hand for him to shake.

Logan took the hand and was surprised that Chris pulled him into a man-hug. "Rory is nothing more and nothing less than your sister. If you hurt her, your father and your trust are the least of your problems, understand?" he said under his breath.

A good parental threatening never unnerved Logan and he replied with a curt nod and a brisk tone. "Understood."

Christopher continued to look at him, so he tapered the harshness in his tone. "I'll wait outside."

After a few moments, a teary-eyed Rory met Logan on the steps leading up to the front door. "Hey," she said softly.

"Hi," he replied and turned to look at her. "Are you okay?" he asked, fishing a tissue out of his jacket pocket and handing it to her. "Never been used," he assured her lightly, trying to alleviate some of the drama of saying goodbye.

She gratefully took the tissue and blew her nose. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be," he told her, waving his hands to underscore his point. "I get it." Logan didn't, but a white lie was justified in this case.

She smiled, before chuckling. "You are so full of it, Logan. I know who your dad is, remember?"

He laughed with her, happy the intenseness of the moment had passed. Still, he felt uncomfortable knowing that Lorelai was still eyeing his every move from her place behind the windowsill only a few feet away from them. He knew she watched as he handed her the tissue, proceeded to take one of her many bags and rest his hand on the small of her back as he led Rory to the car.

Step for step, risky moves that could – and probably would – make it back to his father. But he didn't give a damn; it was worth it for Rory's smile.

"You okay?" Logan asked, settling next to a seat across from Rory in the jet.

"Yeah, why?" she asked, fingering the lid off her steamed mocha latte.

"You just had a look about you," he said and immediately cursed himself inwardly as he realized it was a fine line between concerned and simply perverted "brother".

"I was just thinking that you dropped about a million points in my mom's mind, with all that negative talk about coffee," Rory said wiht a slight chuckle.

A second of silence passed between them and Rory realized that her question implied a lot more than was appropriate, considering she was now to view him as a mentor-type-person.

Her eyes widened as she blushed her apologies. "Not that we are counting.""No, not counting, Ace," Logan smirked, mentally adding about a million points to her side.

I know Lorelai and Chris are a little more manipulative (especially Lorelai) than on the show, but they are more society, too. It balances each other out, don't you think? More Rogan goodness in the next chapter, promise. I just wanted Lorelai to plant doubt in Rory's mind so that Logan isn't the only one fighting certain urges. It promises to be exciting fight, this game. Let me know what you think! You know I love the reviews!!!!