Disclaimer: I own nothing

A/N: Updating, editing, and expanding since this story was started in the 00s.

Chapter 2

It was 2:59 pm Saturday afternoon and Rory was making sure that her wig was covering her entire hair. There was a knock at the door. She answered the door with great enthusiasm.

"What's up Doc?"

He was stunned by her attired, but quickly recovered, "What's up Doc?"

"Well Harpo doesn't talk so there's no good catch-phrase."

"Well, there's Groucho."

"Everyone does Groucho." She paused. "Come in, come in."

They made minor small talk with regards to the Marx Brothers in the doorway before he came in further. Rory had outdone herself with decorations that fit the theme.

"I like what you've done with the place." He commented.

"Well, it's about the vibe. Hey, what did you bring?"

She inquired about the food that Marty held. "It's just some leftovers from the Cartina engagement party."

She had snacks as well, assorted kinds of pretzels. "Hey, I told you I'd take care of the food."

"And I see you did." glancing at them on the table.

"Pretzels of the World." She announced, "San Francisco sour dough, German pumpernickel, chocolate covered Swiss and Wasabi bites are also very intriguing." She looks up into his eyes. "And I also ordered a pizza before you got here."

"Well I see we have the food part covered."

"Yes we do," and she beckoned him to sit.

Rory was a little nervous and she started talking faster than usual. It was a bit obvious that the situation seemed awkward from Marty's angle. He started making stiff gestures and was twitchier than she remembered him to be.

"You going to stay like that all night?"

It took Rory a second to figure that he was talking about the wig. "Oh, no. Sorry."

"I mean, you can." He was trying to cover his tracks.

"No, it's okay." She was realizing it.

"I mean it works for you."

Rory was inwardly flattered a bit, but never missed a beat in the conversation. "I guess we should start the movie."

She pressed play and noticed he was a bit restless. He gladly took the Wasabi nougats that she offered. He shoved the entire handful into his mouth. Only after did he realize how strong of taste the nuts have at that amount. He tried to remain cool, but Rory who had been watching him, looked concerned.

"You in a little pain there?"

With a mouthful, he proceeded to tell her, "Much more than a little."

"Don't worry, your mouth will get numb in about a minute."

He continued to mumble, and she offered him a soda. As she went to get one, Paris, upon arriving home, lectured her about kicking Doyle out. She let Paris vent; it was the best for everyone. Once the storming girl left, they got back to the movie. Marty was a bit more relaxed, and things got back to normal. As they once were.

"God, I missed this place." Marty smiled as he referred to the old times.

A little while later into the movie. Marty started. "I'm going to say something that will upset possibly everyone in the entire world" He was comfortable on the couch.

"Wow" was all Rory could respond with.

"I thought that I Love Lucy, the episode with Harpo Marshall was lame."

"Get out." Rory responded jokingly.

"I don't think that Harpo even for a second believed he was looking in the mirror. Last time they made that, popping up from behind the partition move she was totally slower than him."

"You carried with you that for a very long time."

"I mean we had to believe a lot from those Hollywood shows. I mean Dorie Sherry just happened to be hanging out in their pool. I'm sorry I was totally with Lucy when Ricky took those women to his premiere of his movie. What an ass."

"You have to stop watching I Love Lucy" remarked Rory.

There was a knock at the door.

"Oh man, I hope that's Paris. Maybe she and Doyle had a fight. That would be great."

Rory looked at him so happily when she got up to get the door. He was so relaxed, and she was just hoping whoever was at the door was not going to interrupt them for too long. "What is this darkness under the bosom buddy exterior of yours?"

When she opened the door, her smile faded a little. It was Logan. Of all people and of all the nights. Why now? She residually gave him a shocked greeting. It was so apparent that even Marty visibly tensed at the sight of him. Logan, seemingly did not notice, and continued to invite Rory to dinner, and extended the invitation to Marty as well to dine with him and his crew within the hour. As swiftly as he came, he departed with an arrogant expectation that they will obey.

Once the door closed, Rory explained to Marty they were not obligated to go. Marty, who felt a defeated wave over him, guiltily agreed because he didn't want to hold Rory back. He noticed the desire for Rory in Logan's eyes. And he did not want to be an obstacle. He knew this girl was out of his league and he was mere friends with her. He knew that guys like Logan always got what they wanted in the end.

Rory knew Marty was put on the spot, and that he did not like Logan's crowd. For one, they went out of their way to treat him like an inferior and subservient. She knew this time would be no different. She reflected on the night they had been having together. Everything was going so well. He finally seems like his old self. And we have so much of the DVDs to watch. It was such a great date…er... Hang out. Do I want it to be a date? From somewhere deep in her mind, the answer was YES!

Marty had already stopped the show. She was unconvinced by his body language, not even for a second, that he truly wanted to go. But he was forcing his body to respond.

Logan was an interesting character, but if tonight proved anything. He thought he could waltz in with an entitled attitude and just assumed that she would have a clear calendar for him. She refused to believe he could not have called or pre planned, he just could not be bothered. Everything was with him was on a whim. And as exhilarating that appeared to be, it was not Rory's style. She needed to think, planning, and organizing comforted her and right then Logan was messing with her peace, and apparently Marty's too.

She glanced at Marty and really took in what he was about. He was a tall, lean man who wore vintage clothing with unruly brown hair, and deep brown eye who would only shyly smile at her when he didn't think she was not looking. In a crowd he was the quiet one who would fidget with something, only absorbing the conversation around him, but one on one, he would be the one sparking intellectually stimulating dialogue about books, movies, and TV shows that Rory appreciated.

If Rory had more time, she would probably make a hefty pro/ con list, but she needed to think quickly. With that, she made a decision.

Marty just searched her face for confirmation about the departing. He would sacrifice a night with Logan's berating entourage for Rory's happiness.

Rory grabbed her cell phone from on top of the mini fridge and dialed. She turned away from Marty but was aware that he could still hear her. "Hey Logan…. Sorry we're not going to make it. … No, we are in the middle of something…. Yes, sort of…" She mumbled something about 'strings' and finished with a firm, "Good night."

She shut her flip phone and replaced it. Rory turned back to Marty, and met his gaze. "I got us out of that. I hope that's okay."

"It would have been no trouble." Marty felt dutiful in saying that.

"No. How dare he just presume I haven't any prior engagements?" She was getting angry, so she moved back to the couch, she softly continued. "Besides, I invited you over. And I like the time we were having tonight."

Marty followed suit with Rory and sat back down to where he was sitting earlier. He was still tense but that was slowly melting. Reality was favouring him so he put out his hand in front of Rory's who held the remote ready to press.

"Wait, Rory, I really feel I have to tell you something." She looked at him curiously, and he turned to fully face her. "I am glad we are friends and all, but I don't want to be just friends anymore." He paused. Here goes nothing. "I like you, Rory."

Without skipping a beat, Rory leaned in and softly kissed Marty's nervous expression away. His eyes were wide, and he couldn't move. "Rory?" was all he stammered out, and even that came out as "Morey" But her mouth covered his to stop him from saying anything else. He started kissing her back with more passion and desire. Rory reciprocated by pulling him in deeper and closer to her.

Her hands automatically webbed through his hair and his caressed her upper back unable to figure out the right spot. Together, they shifted positions as if they were in sync. She leaned back and bringing his body on hers. When her hands shifted from his hair to his mid-back, he pulled back to look at her. He resisted a bit when she made to pull him to her. Rory opened her eyes. He searched them for meaning and found her big blues staring at him longingly and lustfully. She licked her lips and bit her lip. Marty could not resist this, and he recaptured her lips with his.

When he felt his jeans tighten, he broke off the kiss once more, and sat up. Rory just smiled from under him. He retreated, trying to recompose himself.