Rory is supposed to be mildly depressed in this fic so it's not as a simple as her just getting up and getting out. Yes, relationships take work, and as Rory has married Logan she sees it as her duty to stay. No, Logan doesn't physically stop her from reading (that's her depression) or finding a job, but he does manipulate her, humiliate her both publically and privately and laugh at her unhappiness, ignoring her when she tries to tell him she's unhappy and needs help, thwarting her from doing so. If you think Logan is treating Rory well in this fic then I don't know what to say to you. Every single person I have known who was in unhealthy relationship stayed much, much longer than they should have because they felt tied to the person and wanted things to be how they were at the start. Rory doesn't hate Logan, she's conflicted, and she doesn't want to lose her life with him. Everyone is pressuring Rory to stay, Logan, her grandparents, society, herself. This fic isn't about an affair. It's supposed to be about Rory coming back from a mistake she hasn't admitted to herself that she's made yet. If you hate the way it's going so much, why do you keep reading it?

The club was exactly how Rory had remembered it. She and Logan pulled up near the main building and walked to the dining hall for lunch. Rory barely had time to admire the lush expanse of green surrounding them before her husband was whisking her inside and looking for a table.

"Rory!"

"Grandpa?" Rory exclaimed, turning around. "What are you doing here?"

"It's Saturday, I like going to the club on Saturdays," Richard said briskly, dressed in golfing gear. "I didn't know you two were members!"

"I just signed us up, Richard," Logan said, going and shaking Richard's hand. "Bought the membership today."

"I think that's a very fine decision," Richard beamed. "Here, let me introduce you to everyone. Rory, here's some people you might remember. Fellows!"

A group of elderly men turned around at the neighbouring table as Richard proudly said,

"Men, this Rory. She came here with me once before though you might not remember, it was quite a while ago now."

"Of course we remember!" one of the men said loudly, taking his glasses off. "Your granddaughter, isn't she? Wanted to go to Fez?"

"That's right," Rory said with a small smile. He put his glasses back on and stared at her.

"The last time I saw you, you were just a chit of a girl. Makes a man feel old to see you all grown up."

"Oh, you were already old," Richard scolded. His friend waved him away and said,

"Your grandfather told me you went to Yale, is that right?"

"Yes, sir," Rory smiled and he frowned and said,

"I thought it was going to be Harvard."

"Oh, we talked her out of that," Richard laughed. "She made the right choice, graduated and married this fine specimen over here, Logan Huntzberger."

"Huntzberger," the man exclaimed, getting up as Logan shook his hand. "Are you Mitchum's boy?"

"That I would be."

"Why, he's a fine businessman," Richard's friend said admiringly. "Never talked to him much, but – Rory, you made a wise choice on all counts."

Everyone started laughing and he queried,

"Any young Huntzbergers running around yet?"

"Now, now, that's none of your business," Richard said as Rory shook her head, embarrassed. "They're young yet."

"Young? Why, you already had Lorelai by their age and I had my two before Emily was pregnant."

"They've got time," Richard said, protectively putting his hands on his granddaughter's shoulders. "Let them be."

"Fine, fine," his friend said, waving his hand. "I've got to see some boys at the bar anyway. Tell me, Rory," he called as they started to walk away, "did you make it to Fez?"

"I –" Rory hesitated and shook her head. "No. I didn't."

He wasn't listening and no one noticed the sadness she felt.

"What are you standing there for?" Logan said impatiently. "Let's eat."

After a large lunch they went for a stroll in the grounds. Richard and Logan went to play golf and Rory was left alone on the grass. She sighed and looked around. It seemed like eons ago that she had come here with her grandfather to learn how to play golf. She had enjoyed that day so much yet the place seemed empty now, with none of the charm she remembered. Rory quickly moved away from the group of wives who were watching their husbands play golf. She walked around awkwardly, not sure what do with herself, and saw a patch of trees in the distance. Rory made her way over to them and settled underneath, enjoying the shade, and pulled out her purse. She had put Jess's book in it and, after looking around to check she was alone, she started to read.

"What are you doing?"

Rory jumped. She had been so engrossed in the book that she hadn't noticed Logan coming toward her, golf club in hand.

"You're not supposed to sit under the trees."

"There wasn't a sign saying not to," Rory said defensively. "Look, people are walking all over the grass."

"If you want to read, get a chair," Logan said, as though he were talking to a child. "It's not Stars Hollow, you can't just eat dinner out here."

"I'm not eating, I'm reading," Rory retorted. "I didn't think it was that big a deal."

"What are you reading?" Logan asked, grabbing the novel from her. "Slaughterhouse Five? What, is it about an abattoir or something?"

"Sure, why not," Rory said stonily, heart pounding as he looked at it. He didn't open it, to her relief and handed it back, saying dismissively,

"Sounds depressing."

He watched as Rory got to her feet and said,

"Come on, let's go. I want to eat dinner and your grandfather is trying to make me drink with his friends."

"We could eat here."

"Nah, this place is giving me the hives," Logan said, tugging at his sweater and making a face. "Hurry up, I don't want to explain to everyone why my wife was sitting on the grass instead of watching me play golf."

Rory followed him to the car, stopping to say goodbye to Richard, who gave her an unexpected hug.

"I'm so glad you've decided to join," he said fondly. "Feels right that it's part of the family."

Rory nodded and he said,

"I hope you'll bring your children someday."

"Grandpa –"

"Someday," Richard said, his eyes twinkling. "Maybe your child will be more adept at golf."

Rory didn't know what to say. She was saved from replying by Logan honking the car horn in impatience.

The rest of the week passed slowly. Rory's hand wavered over the phone, knowing she should make an appointment like her mother had said, but Logan's words, laughter that she had nothing to be depressed about stopped her. She felt ashamed. Logan worked late every night, coming home smelling of something other than the office. Whenever Rory asked he would say that he had gone for a drink afterward and the scent was from that. On Friday, when he said he didn't know what time he would be back, Rory called Jess. Her heart fluttered as he answered.

"Hey," he said. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing."

Rory grinned. "Want to do something?"

"Sure. Meet me by the gazebo."

Rory changed into a sweater and jeans and headed out, leaving Jess's novel on the table from where she'd sat to read it. It didn't take her long to drive to Stars Hollow and he was there waiting, the moon casting a light on his face.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Any reason for the call?" Jess asked as Rory walked up to him. "Has something happened?"

"No, I just thought we could hang out. We're still friends, right?"

"Right," Jess said with a crooked grin. "Shall we?"

They walked back to his apartment without discussion. Silently Roy settled on the chair she always took and Jess poured her a glass of wine.

"So how are you liking Slaughterhouse Five?" Jess asked, sitting beside her. "Have you finished it yet?"

"Almost. I read most of it yesterday at the cub."

"The club?"

"The Country Club. Logan told me off for sitting under the trees."

"You're kidding," Jess said, pushing his chair to face hers. "The one in Hartford?"

"Only for the richest people."

"I thought you didn't want to join," Jess said and Rory blushed.

"I didn't. He signed us up anyway."

"Good to know he respects your opinion," Jess said sarcastically. "So you checked it out?"

"Yep. It was just how you'd imagine it. I went once, when I was sixteen, and I liked it then, it didn't seem so..." her voice trailed off and Jess looked at her expectantly. "So money," she finished. "It was like a bubble of wealth."

"Doesn't sound so bad to me," Jess teased but he looked sympathetic. "What happened, anyway? After the party? Luke said you stopped by the diner the next day with your mom. I figured you were going straight home."

"Mom saw me," Rory said, looking down at her glass. "She took me home and I stayed there for a few hours before driving back. That was when Logan signed us up to the club."

"The same day?" Jess said incredulously. "What about your fight?"

"He said he forgave me."

Rory looked up and saw Jess's mouth drop slightly.

"He said he forgave you," he said in disbelief. "For him humiliating you?"

"For throwing the glass...I guess it was kind of a stupid thing to do."

"No, Rory, it was because he was humiliating you and treating you like trash and he had the gall to say he forgave you? Don't tell me you apologised."

Rory's face went red and Jess exclaimed,

"You apologised to him?"

"Well –"

"Rory, what are you doing?" Jess demanded, staring her in the eyes. "Why do you let him push you around like this?"

"He's not pushing me around!"

"No? He's not turning something around he did on you, making you feel bad, and signing you up to a club you didn't want to join?"

"He said I could make friends there," Rory said weakly and Jess got up, shaking his head.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I told him I was unhappy and that I thought I should see someone and he –"

"What, thought an iced tea would solve it?"

"He said I didn't have anything to feel depressed about," Rory admitted. "He said I knew what I was getting into when I married him."

Jess stared at her in silence and Rory burst out,

"Jess, stop! Stop looking at me like that!"

"Rory, what the hell is going on here?" Jess demanded. "This isn't you, this – you married to this moron who's treating you like dirt!"

"He's trying –"

"Trying to what?" Jess snapped. "Trying to demean you all the time, trying to tell you your problems aren't real, trying to make you feel bad when he's been a jerk?"

"Jess –"

"You deserve better than this," Jess said furiously. "I could see the way he was treating you four years ago. You were unhappy then and you're unhappy now."

"Jess –"

"I wasn't ecstatic when I heard you married him," Jess said, pacing around. "I still thought he was a jerk but I thought as long you were happy, it wasn't my business. It's your life and if you want to be Mrs Huntzberger that's your choice."

"I kept my name," Rory said weakly. Jess shook his head.

"You're still his wife. He's still acting like he owns you. Anyway, that's not the point. I figured I'd keep my mouth shut, I'm not going to try and split up a marriage but you are miserable. He's making your life hell."

Rory didn't say anything and Jess insisted,

"Tell me you're happy. Tell me you're happy to be married to him, tell me you made the right choice. I don't believe it."

"Jess, it's not that simple –"

"Yes, it is!" Jess exclaimed, sinking back down to face her. "It is that simple! You're better than this! You can walk away!"

"Jess, it's not just a relationship," Rory protested. "It's a marriage. It takes work."

"You've been married for two years, do you think anything's going to change?"

"I made a commitment, I can't –" Rory stopped for breath and said heavily, "I always decided that any marriage I made was going to last."

"What, you're worried about what people might say?"

"I don't want my marriage to be a statistic!"

"So do you care."

"Jess, none of my mom's relationships ever worked out," Rory said slowly. "She was engaged and everything and it still didn't work. I want it to stay happy."

"But it's not happy, you're not happy!" Jess exclaimed. "So you're going to stay married to someone because you're scared of failing? You're going to stay miserable for the rest of your life?"

"No!" Rory cried. "I don't want to be miserable, I want it to work! It has to, I love him!"

"But it's not working!"

They stared at each other. Jess was sitting so close to Rory that his knees were brushing hers but neither made a move or sound.

"Logan loves me," Rory said eventually and Jess shook his head. "What?"

"If Logan loves you so much how come he gets home so late every night? What's he doing?"

"He works –"

"That's what he says," Jess snorted. "How come he ignores what you want? How come he told you it was your fault when he humiliated you? How come he laughs at you when you tell him you're unhappy?"

Rory stared at him and Jess said,

"That's not a way to treat someone you love."

"I know Logan's not perfect, but –"

"He's a jerk," Jess said roughly. "And being married to him doesn't make less of one. What's he going to do next? When's he going to cheat on you again?"

"He's not –"

"Because he says he's changed? People don't change, Rory. He's still a jerk. My mom married a ton of jerks."

Rory bit her lip and he added,

"The new husband would always be different. He wouldn't hit her like the last one, or bully her, or make her have sex. This one would steal instead, or yell at her, or yell at me, but she'd never leave because they were married. She thought he'd change if she proved that she loved him enough. She was scared to be alone. He'd always leave her with half her possessions and break her heart."

"Jess, I –"

"I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me," Jess said, lowering his voice. "I just don't think staying married is worth your happiness. Nothing is."

"Jess –"

"He's not making you happy," Jess said quietly. "He's not."

Rory tried to speak and found she couldn't He took her hand and she didn't shake it away. She looked deep into his eyes, his gaze uncompromising. She wanted to say something, tried to open her mouth, but all she could do was look at him. His face was moving nearer and nearer and suddenly his lips were brushing hers. Rory let them rest for the briefest moment and then instantly got up, backing away.

"I have to go!"

"Rory, I –"

"Jess, I have to go," Rory said wildly, grabbing her purse. "I need to go, right now."

"Rory, wait!"

Rory was already running down the stairs of the apartment. She drove back in a state of shock, her head reeling, and exclaimed in shock as Logan was home and waiting by the table.

"God, you scared me," she said breathlessly. Logan didn't smile. He held up the copy of Slaughterhouse Five and said furiously,

"What's this?"

"What are you –"

Logan ignored her and flipped open the front cover where it read, in black pen, personal property of Jess Mariano.

"So," Logan said in a deep, dangerous voice. "You want to tell me what's going on?"