"So what do you think?  Would Claudia be interested in organizing a benefit for Gil and Hep Alien?"  Rory asked Logan on the phone later that evening.  She had dinner with her mom and Luke, then watched a movie with them.  As she had done the night before, Rory excused herself early to go into her room to call Logan.  Lorelai winked at her as she left the room.

"Oh my God, yes! She has been waiting for anyone to give her a chance.  And this is just an amazing opportunity,"  Logan said obviously happy with Rory's suggestion.  "I really appreciate you thinking of her. I know she comes across as a rich, spoiled bimbo, but she really isn't.  She is quite intelligent and extremely determined."

"Oh, I can believe it,"  Rory said thinking back to Claudia's ambush at the after party for Hep Alien.  Rory had been shocked with Claudia's forcefulness and audacity.  "She is downright frightening when she wants to be."

Logan laughed and said," Yeah, she mentioned you two had a, uh, conversation..."

"Well, she had a conversation.  I really just kind of listened with my mouth open I think.  Even though Claudia was right in front of me, all I could picture was Paris.  I never would have guessed Claudia had that side to her,"  Rory laughed. Images of that night went through her mind.  When she thought of  Logan with Claudia, Rory got serious for a moment.  She hesitantly asked, "Logan, how long are you going to keep up the act of dating her?"

"Rory, I explained the situation to you.  I am feeling good about us right now, but I need to know we are going to work this time.  Please don't be mad at me. I am sorry to do this to you and ask this of you, but I am not going to disrupt lives until things with us are more concrete.  I thought you understood where I was coming from?"  Logan asked.

"I do.  I know we need to work on things and find ways to make things work.  I was just wondering...especially after last night,"  Rory said.

"Last night was great, Ace.  It felt right.  But, be honest, that is not where our problems were.  We never really had issues in that department,"  Logan said.  He chuckled and tried to lighten the mood,  "But it's sure nice to know that part is still looking good."

"Last night was very good,"  Rory said shyly.  Then she said, "May I ask one favor of you during this time that we are figuring things out?"

"What's that?"  Logan listened.

"Will you talk to me, let me know what's going on with the Claudia situation?  I mean, if anything changes with you two, I'd rather know sooner than later.  Like, I don't know, if you decide you do want to be with her or something.  And maybe give me a heads up in social situations?  Not that we are likely to run into each other or anything...or...maybe we will... I mean, you guys showed up at concerts.  I don't know, just let me know so that I don't make a complete fool of myself please?"  Rory asked in a ramble.

"Rory, she and I  are friends.  That's all.  Friends in a convenient situation.  I understand you are not pleased with this whole situation, but are willing to try this. I appreciate that, really I do,"  he said gently to her.  "I don't have feelings for Claudia.  I have feelings for you.  I want to be with you.  I always have."

"Ok,"  Rory said quietly.

"I did have a couple things I wanted to tell you.  Well, actually, one that I wanted to tell you, one to run by you,"  Logan said.

"Alright,"  Rory said leery of what Logan would say.

"Ok, so, this arrangement... the public, our parents, everyone still thinks I am with Claudia.  There is a dinner, a work thing for me, in New York this Saturday night.  I am flying back and going with Claudia.  You just asked for a heads up on things like this.  Honestly, I was going to tell you anyway.  It's an awards banquet, kind of a big deal, so there is a pretty good chance it will make the news and be in the papers.  I really didn't want you to be blindsided if you saw anything and think I was hiding things from you.  I have nothing to hide from you.  You know the truth about everything,"  Logan explained.

Rory swallowed, hating the thought of Logan being photographed with Claudia, being with Logan at all.  She already thought of Logan as hers again. The idea of the two of them featured in print did not sit well with Rory.  She brought herself back to reality and focused on the conversation.  Logan was being open about things, she figured she should listen and try to be mature about all this.  "I understand.  Of course I don't like it, but I do understand.  We are leaving very early Sunday morning for the west coast, have to be at the airport at 7 am.  So I will probably be asleep early Saturday night.  I won't watch the news before bed," she joked with an edge in her tone.

Logan could hear the hurt in her voice and it killed him.  He said, "I'm sorry.  I really hope I can 'end it' with Claudia soon."  Then he continued, "The thing I wanted to run past you is just an idea.  You can say no if you think it's a bad one and I will totally get it.  It may be too soon and not that great of an idea considering where we are, but I wanted to at least mention it.  Maybe it's a dumb idea.  I don't know.  I guess you can decide..."

"Logan!  What is it?" Rory interrupted his bumbling.  She was curious what he was going to suggest.

"Would you want to stay with me in California?" he blurted out.  "I mean for the shows around  San Francisco?  I know some are too far and it wouldn't make sense, but maybe for those few? I figured out the travel times from all the cities and shows to my place.  Vegas is over 8 hours from Palo Alto, so that wouldn't work.  Phoenix is 11 hours away, so not that either.  L.A. is just under 6 hours away.   That's not crazy.  I've done the drive a few times myself, but probably too far too for you to commute back and forth to the shows.  But the San Fransisco, Fresno, and, of course, Palo Alto shows could work.  I mean, they could work if you wanted them to work.  Hep Alien is going to be in my general area for four shows, about a week and a half, if I remember correctly.  As I said, just an idea.  It's your choice,"  Logan rambled hopefully.

"Really?  You want me to stay at your place?"  Rory asked with everything in her brightening up.  She was grinning broadly at the phone but trying to act reserved.

"Yes, I'd really like you to stay with me.   I figured I could use the company jet and fly to some of the other locations to see you.  We could have our first date in Vegas.  I could be there in no time with the jet.  But, yes, I was hoping you would consider staying with me for the last few shows,"  Logan said.

"I could probably do that,"  Rory said still smiling like the Cheshire Cat.

"Oh you probably could, could you?"  Logan teased with a smile of his own.  "Rory, I know you well enough to picture your face right now."

"Oh yeah?  Did you see me stick my tongue out at you?"  Rory teased back.

"No, but I can picture you smiling right now," he said in a sexy satisfied voice.

"Yeah, I am smiling.  People smile when they're happy!"  Rory said.

"Are you happy?"  Logan asked.

"I've been happy since the floor of that limo,"  Rory said.

Logan laughed. "Me too, Ace.  I'll be heading back to California from New York on Sunday.  But, if you would want me to, I could fly directly to Vegas and meet you for dinner."

"So, you're moving back in with him?" Lorelai asked the next day as they sat in Luke's diner having coffee and lunch.

"No, I'm not moving back in with him.  I am just staying with him for a few days while we are in town for those shows,"  Rory explained.

"And he is going to fly to the other cities to go on dates?"  Lorelai asked amused.  "He's going to fly to Vegas to take you dinner, then fly to Palo Alto for work the next day?  Then he will fly to Phoenix to take you to a movie or something?"

"Yes, Mom,"  Rory said getting impatient and regretting telling Lorelai the plans.  "I told you before we are going to try dating and see how things go.  I'll be on that coast.  We want to try to see each other as much as we can."

"Relax.  I am not criticizing.  It just seems silly, all this flying back and forth," Lorelai said. "I mean, thankfully the man has a jet at his disposal.  Otherwise he would qualify as a frequent flyer in the next month or so.  He would earn a lot of points though."

"You don't think we should try?"  Rory asked getting annoyed.

 "That is not what I am saying, not at all.  I am saying the flying around is crazy.  You aren't obligated to go to every show.  You already did two of the interviews.  From what I can tell, you are pretty far ahead.  You just have Lane and Zack left.  Hell, you probably don't even have to interview Lane.  You two know every detail about each other,"  Lorelai observed. Rory listened and looked at her expectantly.  "All I was going to suggest was to maybe skip the Phoenix shows.  Head out west with Lane and the guys, stay with them for Vegas.  Then skip Phoenix, go visit with Logan.  Then meet back up with Lane and crew in Los Angeles.  After LA, you'll be back at Logan's again."

Rory looked at her mother and considered the idea for a moment.  "Mom, that's a really good idea," Rory said.  "Really all I have to do is write up Gil's article.  Brian's is done and submitted.  It will be published in next month's edition.  I do still have to interview Lane and Zack for their articles.  And, yeah, I have to interview Lane, get a few direct quotes at least.  But really there is no rush.  Their articles won't come out for a few months.  I guess I really don't have to be on the tour the whole time.  I have just been tagging along with them for so long now, it has become habit.  Funny, it never even occurred to me that I don't have to be at every show.  Even if I skip those two, I'll still be at eight of them on this tour.  I'm not their manager or P.R. person.  I am just a freelance writer doing stories on them.  You're right.  I could rearrange this trip a bit."

"Mommy has good ideas.  And you just jump all over me expecting the worst,"  Lorelia said pouting, pretending to be hurt.   The fake pain didn't last long as her eyes lit up when she got another idea.  "Oooh, maybe you could even surprise him!  Don't tell him you are skipping the Phoenix shows, just show up at his place,"  Lorelai suggested.

"Do you think that's smart?  Should I just show up?"  Rory asked already forming a pro-con list in her head.

"You want him back, right?  Fight for him, show him you are willing to give a little to be with him,"  Lorelai said.  "The guy asked you to stay with him, didn't he?  I highly doubt he'd be upset if you stayed more."

"You're right, Mom.  He wants to be assured I am all in.  Showing him is better than just saying it,"  Rory agreed.  "See, I told you...you've gotten pretty good at this relationship stuff now that you are back with Luke!"

"Yes, yes, Mama is getting wiser.  Strange how I am not getting older though, isn't it?"  Lorelai said.

"Truly amazing,"  Rory humored her mom.  "So I am only home for a few more days.  Do we have any plans?"

"Funny you should ask.  While you were out interviewing Gil, I got a call.  It seems Emily's radar is in fine working order.  She informed me dinner Friday night is at 6 o'clock.  You, Luke, and I are expected.  It was not a question.  She was very firm on the time,"  Lorelai said rolling her eyes.  What if we had plans?  How did she even know you were home?"  Lorelai asked.

"I talked to her a couple weeks ago.  I may have mentioned it, don't really remember.  But that's good.  I would like to see her and Grandpa while I'm home,"  Rory said. 

"I assume we won't be mentioning Logan or your get-your-man-plan during dinner?"  Lorelai asked smiling.

"Oh no!  Definitely not!  God, she would hop on a plane and come to California to meddle,"  Rory laughed.  "This is her dream come true.  And Mrs. Kim will be on the tour.  Grandma and Mrs. Kim have met.  It was terrifying, two peas in a pod.  They would team up on me!"

"How much fun would it be to see Emily Gilmore at a Hep Alien concert though? Get her a mini skirt, maybe some pink highlights, really let her rock out!"  Lorelai mused causing them both to erupt in giggles.