Houston, We Have a Problem

By Kyizi

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all related items do not belong to me. Only the Story and its related original ideas and characters are mine. No copyright infringement intended.

Rating: PG-13.

Spoilers: Up to and including 5x10, 'But Not As Cute As Pushkin'.

Distribution: Please ask.

Pairing: Rory/Logan

Feedback: is a gift. It's nice to give.

Notes: Here's another chapter for your viewing pleasure ;)

Also, a note for those of you reading "Skies Are Blue": I am working on it, but my muses seem to want to skip the next few chapters and write the bits that come after. I'm taking the opportunity to write those bits down before they go away! I will, however, get them back on track asap.

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Part Eleven

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He wasn't sure, exactly, how long they stood there; foreheads pressed together, bodies so close they were almost touching. Her fingers curled into his sweater and he took a deep breath, running his hands up her arm to rest on her shoulders.

"Logan?" she said, her voice coming out in a whisper.

He took a deep, steadying breath and forced a small smile. "Ace?"

"I think I'm ready."

He didn't want to ask what for, afraid of what her answer might be, so he took a guess instead. His hands brushed across her shoulders and up her neck, gently cupping her chin. She was clutching at him now and he smiled faintly before leaning forward, his eyes closing as her lips gently brushed his.

"Oh, my God!"

They jumped apart to find Paris Gellar staring at them in horror, her hands on her hips.

"Paris," Rory said and he was pleased to hear frustration in her voice. "Do you mind, we're busy."

"Mind? Do I mind? Why should I possibly mind?" Paris said contemptuously. "You realise you're throwing your life away, right? Everything you have worked for will be for nothing. You just signed yourself up to be a trophy wife. What's wrong, Gilmore, so afraid you'll fail at being a reporter that you decided to place yourself on the arm of someone who'll get every newspaper in the State area handed to him on a golden spoon?"

"That's enough!" Logan cried, not letting Rory hold him back completely. "This has nothing to do with Ace's career. She'll be whatever she wants to be and she'll succeed on her own skills. This engagement is nothing to do with her career and it's nothing to do with you."

"Keep yelling, Rich Boy, maybe someone will believe you."

"It's the truth, Paris!" Rory yelled, unwilling to remain silent any longer. "This isn't about that, okay, and Logan's right, it's none of your business. If you were really my friend, you'd be happy for me."

"And if you were really my friend, you'd tell me what the hell was going on."

Both girls stood staring at each other, neither willing to back down or set the record straight. Finally, Paris shook her head.

"I expected so much more of you," she said quietly, before turning and walking away.

Logan wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, because, to be honest, he had no idea what kind of friendship Rory and Paris had. The two seemed to differ on every opinion and have very little in common, but it was now obvious to him that they had some kind of bond, even if it wasn't the traditional kind of friendship.

"You okay?"

"She's right," Rory said softly. "I told Lane, but it never even occurred to me to let Paris into the loop."

"What would she do if you had?"

"Everything in her power to point out that I was making a huge mistake."

"Are you?"

She shrugged. "I don't know." He didn't want to admit how much her words stung. She turned to face him, taking hold of his hands. "This is…it's just strange, Logan. This isn't the way life's supposed to be, you know? I mean, pretending to be engaged to help someone escape the clutches of some sexed up trollop, that's TV, not real life."

Logan nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry. I had no right to ask this of you."

"No, Logan, it's okay, I just…this is strange. It's meant to be fun and it is fun for the most part, but that there?" she said, glancing at the spot Paris had been standing in a few moments before. "That wasn't fun."

"The little vein ticking in the top of her forehead was kinda fun," he said with a smirk and she glared. "I'm kidding, Rory. I know, okay? I know and I'm sorry. I never wanted to ruin your life."

"Don't give yourself too much credit there, Huntzberger. Besides, isn't it the marriage that's meant to do that?"

Logan frowned. "Does this mean you plan to continue with the plan?"

Rory nodded decidedly. "Yes, but I reserve the right to put an end to it at any point and come clean."

"Agreed."

"Shake on it?" she asked, dropping his hands and holding her arm.

He glanced at her hand, smirking. "I have a better idea," he said softly.

She didn't even have the chance to react before he placed his hands on her cheeks and kissed her. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the part that hadn't shut down when she began to kiss him back, was pointing out that he was playing with fire.

The way she was making him feel, he decided, was worth getting burnt for.

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End of Part Eleven

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I hadn't actually intended for them to kiss just yet, but after the reactions to the last chapter, I got the feeling that I might get lynched. Besides, Logan took over at the end there and I couldn't really stop him ;)