Rory stepped fully into the kitchen once Jess stepped away from her. He went to his previous seat and held it out for her.

"I've got a book tour stop in Hartford so I've got to get going. You know, a sequel always has to be better than the first, or just promoted more than the first."

"True," said Rory, sitting down in the seat next to Logan. Luke replaced the half eaten plate of Jess' with a brand new one for Rory. Other conversations ensued, like one between the boys and one between Luke and Lorelai, but none of them were being listened to by Logan. His eyes were for his plate, but his ears were for the voices of Rory and Jess.

"You've got great boys. They do resemble their father, but a lot of you too. I like that."

"Thanks," said Rory briskly.

Jess nodded and put on his coat. As he walked out, he rubbed each of Jack and Charlie's head. Logan looked like his own head was going to burst with anger as he stopped eating and just stared. Rory turned towards Logan, but he kept his eyes forward, refusing to look at her.

"Can we go talk outside?" sharply asked Rory.

Still refusing to turn his head, Logan simply said, "I'm eating."

Rory let out a breath in the apparent absurdity. "Afterward?"

He stayed silent and shoved another bite of his food into his mouth.

"So you're just not going to talk at all...Great."

Lorelai, finally out of her own conversation with Luke, turned her attention to a silent Logan.

"So Logan," said Lorelai, "Trying to bring sexy back with the wooly mammoth look?"

"I was going more for a blonde Jesus," quipped Logan, as he smirked and carried on as if he had a split personality.

Luke let out a chuckle, and the kids smiled even though they didn't quite understand. Rory, however, just laughed in a rather sarcastic way and kept eating forcefully as well. Logan knew felt like he should've said something. He wanted to storm out, and wait for Rory to follow him. The only thing that stopped him was fear: afraid that they would yell and argue like too many times before, afraid that this mutual vacation would be ruined, but most importantly, afraid that she would not even follow him out. So he didn't do anything. He decided to just keep his emotions inside in the form of keeping quiet. Though, Rory knew better. Every subtle and swift glance towards her spoke volumes. The way he'd jolt his leg away from hers if ever they would accidently touch underneath the table.

Rory knew why he was angry. Looking at Jess brought up the past- this certain part of the past that spawned the first major struggle in their marriage. Sometimes Rory wondered if she shouldn't had told him about what had happened. Maybe things would have been better just not knowing the truth of everything? But she surmised that this wasn't true. Their lying and lack of communication had been going on a while before this incident, but everything came to a head in it. Afterward, it all got worse, but just simmered until they couldn't take it anymore. The damage was not a crack, but a break. Maybe it was inevitable...

Regardless of the possibilities and probabilities, both Rory and Logan knew for sure that this was a defining moment in their marriage; and time could not erase the thoughts or feelings from the past

Jess eased to a stop right behind Rory's parked car. An awkward silence ensued as Rory tapped her fingers on her to go box.

"Thanks for dinner, Jess."

"No problem."

"Do you want this?" asked Rory, mentioning the to go box.

"No, I'm not really a fan of mushrooms. Just take it home."

"I can't take it home."

"Why not? He's probably sleeping anyway. Just put it in the fridge. And even if he asks, you did say you were going to an office party."

"Right...I don't do this sort of thing. Logan and I...We're happily married."

"Rory, it's not like we're doing anything anyway. You were just having dinner with an old friend. You said that he would probably not watch the kids if he knew you were having dinner with me."

"Yeah."

"He doesn't like me. Or he basically is a selfish asshole who thinks about himself before his family."

"Jess-"

"No, Rory, I'm sorry if I'm being harsh, but I think you're in denial. You practically said all of that over dinner. You've been saying this, but not this bluntly. I don't think you are happily married if you not only had to lie about having dinner with me, but you also spilled your guts all over the dinner table before the drinks even arrived."

"I don't just do that with everyone. I'm not some basket case."

"I know...But you are like that with me."

Jess leaned forward and cupped Rory's chin. She knew what he was doing, but honestly, she didn't think he really would have balls to try to make a move on a married woman. It started out slow. This was practically foreign territory for Rory since she hadn't kissed another man in almost 10 years. The intensity increased as Jess tempted her morals even more, and slipped his tongue between her lips. It was like having an out of body experience. Rory couldn't think. Her hands released from the to-go box, and found the sides of his abdomen, pulling him closer to her. Suddenly, Rory stepped back into her body as she realized her cheeks were cold. Logan's hands would always find a way to her face when kissing her, giving her warmth physically and emotionally. Logan's kisses gave her serenity. With Jess, she felt nothing.

Rory pushed him away rather brashly, remaining silent as she tried to catch her breath and thoughts.

"Those things that he does, and the things that he says...They're upsetting. They're unfortunate. But they do not define him- Logan...The man I'm still very much in love with. Thanks for dinner, but I have to go see my husband. I want to go see Logan- all the time, actually."

She opened the door, and picked up the the to-go box on the floor since she was done keeping secrets from Rory.

"Rory?" asked Jess, right before Rory was going to close the door on her way back to her own car.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry-I-"

"No, it's okay, Jess. Thanks for everything: dInner and-"

"Yeah, I get it."

Rory returned home and tried to be quiet, though her clicking high heels were a dead giveaway. She laid the to-go box on an end table, then bent over to take off her shoes. She got sidetracked as Logan's arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

"Keep them on," whispered Logan into her neck.

She turned around and faced a glowing Logan, who went straight for her lips. The intensity was induced by Rory this time, pushing her tongue in between his lips and then sucking his upper lip. In this moment, Rory knew what she said to Jess was right. No one could make her feel the way Logan did. They barely made it to their bedroom, with Rory forcefully attacking his pajama pants and undershirt to come off. Once there, Logan unzipped her dress, continuing his kissed now to the nape of her neck. Her knees hit the back of the bed and she fell. Logan stood in front of her, with lust in his eyes, and took her dress off. He glided on top of her, but before their intensity could keep growing, Logan stopped. He pulled away a bit, and put his hands to the side of Rory's face.

The look he gave her now was different. His eyebrows weren't slightly furrowed anymore, but drooped a bit. His whole face displayed innocence and vulnerability. His look was no longer of lust, but of love. He kissed her with trepidation, letting his lips linger as he opened his eyes and saw her gorgeous blues staring back at him in the exact same way. He got up and went to his briefcase, as Rory sat up in the bed confused. He turned around and held a ring box in his hand. Rory was definitely more confused, and also able to feel the full extent of her guilt. Moving back in front of her, he attacked her lips again, but slowed the tempo down while multitasking. Logan took the ring out of the box, and fit it just above her wedding ring.

Rory decided that she needed to stop being distracted, and broke the kiss. She looked down at the beautiful white gold and diamond encrusted band that not only fit perfectly, but looked perfect with her already gorgeous wedding ring.

"I know I missed our anniversary, since I was in Hartford last week, but I went to that same place I got your wedding ring. And I know my apologies haven't really been taken well-"

"Logan, I said it was fine-"

"No, I know you better. And it wasn't fine. I know you don't think I listen to you all the time, but I heard you when you said that I don't try hard enough in this marriage. I'm telling you now that I will start, because I am so in love with you. And I'm sorry if I ever made you doubt that."

"Logan-"

"Rory," said Logan, picking up Rory's face to meet his eyes, "I'm never not loving you."

Logan leaned in for another exhilarating kiss, but Rory turned her head.

"Ace-"

"No, Logan," whispered Rory, realizing what she had to do, "I need to tell you something..."

Logan couldn't help but be angry at Rory. Seeing Rory with Jess made his previous thoughts from years prior come back to a boil in his head: Jess is trying to win back Rory, Rory stayed with him out of obligation, he's been an unlikely catalyst in the love story of Jess and Rory...He kept ruminating about it in his head, but chose to distract himself with the two boys across from him. Regardless of anything, Charlie and Jack were worth any love story that he hadn't been involved in. Even though that thought almost made him more angry in a way, their smiling faces didn't let him.

"So Logan, what do you have planned to do today?" asked Lorelai.

"You know, some important things to do. Some work related, some not. On that note, I should actually get going."

"No!" shouted both Jack and Charlie.

Logan got up and hugged both of the boys, giving them kisses on both of their foreheads.

"I'll be back later. Maybe I'll tuck you guys in before you go to bed."

"Promise?" asked Jack.

Logan glanced at Lorelai as she slightlly nodded.

"I promise, you two."

He gave them another hug and kiss, before putting on his wool peacoat draped behind his chair. He thanked Lorelai and Luke for breakfast before exiting out the back door. Breakfast went on as usual after he left, but Rory couldn't stop thinking about how Logan seemed like he couldn't even stand to be in the same room as her. She had thought that they were making progress as a soon to be divorced couple, but Jess and the thoughts of the past definitely caused a setback. Maybe she just should have known better, but it wasn't her fault. Logan cheated.

"He cheated!" said Rory suddenly, thinking outloud.

"Sweets?" asked Lorelai.

Rory looked up from her plate to see the entire table looking at her rather confused.

The first instinct that Rory had was to throw anything at him. The first thing that came to mind was the new anniversary ring of which was tainted now. Amazingly, it hit Logan right in the eye, and Rory internally thanked the t-ball her mother made her go to in 3rd grade despite her bad hand-eye coordination. Covering his eye, Logan didn't see the alarm clock glide at his head either.

"What the hell, Rory!" shouted Logan.

"You expect to give me a ring that was sold by Sally, a saleswoman that you had sex with later on that evening. What? Did she then give you a discount or something like that?!" yelled Rory back, throwing a picture frame next, but missing this time.

"Stop throwing things! You cheated on me too!"

"I kissed Jess. That was it. I didn't let it get further than that, because I was under the impression that I was in a faithful marriage!"

"Stop yelling, Rory. You're going to wake up the kids."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before you cheated on me."

"Rory-" said Logan, bolding approaching Rory standing on the other side of the bed.

"Just tell me one thing. If I hadn't told you about me and Jess, would you have told me about you and that lady Sally? Sally of all names..."

"Honestly? No."

Pushing him away, Rory yelled again, "Just get the hell out."

Everything came to a head that night, causing a major break in their marriage. They both agreed to marriage counseling, for the kids' sake, but nothing was the same after that. They were never the same, and it all led up to how they were now, separated. Rory continued to shove food in her mouth, but stopped suddenly as she looked at the wedding ring she still had on her left ring finger.

"Mom, can you watch the kids for a bit? I have to go do something."

Sulking in his room at the inn, Logan was about to fall asleep when there was an abrupt set of knocking at his door. He could honestly say that a part of him expected to see Rory there matching the anger he had from before at breakfast.

"It's not like I knew Jess was going to be there."

"I know."

"And it's not like I'm looking for a Logan replacement right now, okay?"

"Okay."

"Here-" said Rory, holding her wedding ring in her palm.

Picking it up, Logan opened his mouth with the intention to say something, but nothing came out.

"You don't get to be angry, Logan. Maybe you can go trade this in at the same place you got it. Say 'hi' to Sally for me."

And with that, Rory turned around and left. Logan closed his palm hard. Any harder and the 2 carat ring would have punctured his skin. Miscommunication was definitely the cause to the downfall to their marriage, but at this point Logan didn't have the will power to communicate. He was emotionally exhausted, so he went to his dresser, set the ring down, picked up the champagne that came with the honeymoon suite (the only room left open), and sat on the bed. Taking a few swigs and laying down, he was about to fall asleep for a nice mid morning nap when he was disrupted yet again by another set of knocking at the door.

This time, he didn't expect to see Rory at the door.

"Back again? I wanted to take a nap."

"I thought you said you were happy."

"I thought I was," whispered Logan, "I mean, I am."

"You are?"

"Maybe. Rory, you don't need to check up on me. We're not together. I have the ring back. Alright then."

"Logan...I still care about you. A lot. Even if we're not together, that's not going to change."

"Good to know."

"So what's going to make you happy? I want to see you happy."

"I don't know..."

"Well, when you figure that out, let me know."

Logan nodded, unable to stop staring and admiring Rory's cerulean eyes glazing back at him. She slightly smirked, nodded as well, and walked away. This time Logan didn't hurriedly shut the door, but stayed at the door frame watching Rory walking away, uncontrollably smiling now as well. Sometimes Rory provoked anger out of Logan, but other times she was able to provoke the complete opposite. But the truth of the matter, the fact that they were no longer together, still hurt Logan in a way that he couldn't understand. He didn't know it now, but that was at the heart of his unhappiness, and being with her would also be at the heart of his happiness.

Deeming the hotel room as a sure fire enabler of depression by loneliness, Logan put the wedding ring in his pocket, and got out. After taking a taxi to Hartford to rent an SUV, he stopped at for a bite to eat at an old diner he used to go to. After eating, he stepped out of the restaurant and took a deep breath of fresh air, knowing that getting out was just what he needed. His eyes settled on a jewelry store directly across the street as his hands went in his pockets, and he felt Rory's ring.

He stepped into the store, and a bell rung. An old woman probably around the age of 80 struggled her way from the back to the front of the store. Her wrinkly face lit up as soon as she saw Logan.

"Why Logan, so nice to see you again!"

"Hey Sally. It's nice to see you again too. I see you're still trucking here with the store. I thought I told you a woman of your age needs some employees."

"I don't need them," laughed Sally.

"I guess you don't."

"Well, what can I do for you this time?"

"I wanted to trade this ring in for maybe a watch."

He placed the ring on the counter, and waited with trepidation.

"I thought I told you that a marriage was forever the last time you were here when you traded that anniversary ring that you bought for Rory in for a watch."

"Well, this isn't the 18th century, Sally."

"Smartass. I'll see what I can do."

May 17th, 2009

Hi. So I know I'm a big liar lol. I said that I was going to be like a normal author, and have regular updates. I'm sorry. Life is so unpredictable, and so are my updates. I'm going to try to get a new chapter up by the end of this week. I kind of got empowered by this other story I wrote for the show "Chuck" (in marketing, I think they call this cross-selling), and so right after I wrote that story, I wrote a new chapter to this one.

Also, I know a lot of you guys were all mad about Logan cheating when the last chapter went up. I think someone said that cheating is unforgivable. True. I said that I had an idea up my sleeve, and here it was. Logan didn't cheat. I hope that was obvious to you guys, unless you think he would cheat with an 80 year old woman. Logan was hurt. Finding out that Rory kind of sneaked around with Jess made Logan think he was merely intruding on the love story between Jess and Rory, and that he was just a waste of time.

More will be explained about that in the next chapter. I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve. I know by now you guys are probably dying for Rory to find out that he never cheated. We'll see. Just bear with me, and the story.

Thanks a bunch as always. Don't forget to review.

Sam.