AN: Well guys, I know it's been a long time, but I promised you a sequel to Skip a Beat and I'm finally delivering. Sure, I have 2 other stories going on--but what's one more? Besides, there are only a few chapters of LAWKI left. For those of you readding this, who have never read Skip a Beat, I recommend trying that one out before embarking on this tale. Happy reading.
Logan lay in bed; a beautiful body pressed up against his side, a long, slender leg wedged between his own, and a bare arm tossed over his torso. He let his fingers graze ever so slightly over the soft, pale skin of said arm, all the way down to the perfectly manicured hand that was splayed on his chest. Of all the wonderfully naked body parts to admire (and admire them he did), at the moment it was this hand—the only part of her body that wasn't completely bare—that most captivated him. The diamonds sparkled brilliantly in all their flawless glory—and believe him, they were flawless; he had made sure of that. His Ace deserved nothing but the best.

He was still amazed that she had said yes. Sure, she loved him—she had given up on another engagement with a man she truly cared about for him, she had agreed to live with him, she had uprooted her life and moved across state lines just to be with him. He had, of course, believed that she would say yes or he never would have put himself on the line like that—but it didn't stop him from being amazed. Everything about this woman amazed him.

The fact that he had the rest of his life to experience mornings like this only made it more special—not less. It was truly an almost perfect moment—almost—except for one small thing—that growing sensation in his lower abdomen that was becoming almost painful. Damn, he hated his bladder; he never should have had that champagne last night.

He sighed in defeat, surrendering to this primal urge. He very carefully untangled their legs and lifted her arm just enough to slip out of her grasp, then gently set it back down. He paused for a moment to watch her as she snuggled into the mattress, before making his way to the bathroom. He reemerged a minute later, ready to get back into bed with his wife-to-be.

"I missed you," came a sleepy voice the moment he transferred his weight back to the mattress.

"You're awake," he chuckled.

"No," she mumbled, as she once again intertwined her body with his.

"So you talk in your sleep now? I'm not sure I can live with that, I may have to rethink this whole arrangement," he teased.


"Your other lover?"

"Not awake, no coffee," she replied tersely.

"Ahh, I see," he answered back, laughing slightly at how adorable she was. "I could get you some," he offered, leaning over to place a soft kiss to her lips, "but for that you'd have to get off of me."

She paused mid breath, seemingly contemplating this trade-off, before exhaling and pushing her body even further on top of his. "No."

"Well then I can't really do anything about the coffee situation, can I?" he reminded her.

"Coffee later, sleep now."

"Well, I can understand that—you must be exhausted after last night; it's not easy keeping up with a young, hot, virile man such as myself," he smirked, and though she could not see it with her face buried in his chest, she could hear it in the tone of his voice.

She turned her head so that her ear lay flat over his heart, and let out a sigh, finally resigning herself to the fact that she was awake. "You, mister, are past your prime," she informed him mater-of-factly, poking her index finger into his chest. "Whereas I still have years before I hit my sexual peak. We'll see who has trouble keeping up with who when we're in our thirties."

"Excuse me?" he asked incredulously. "Passed my sexual prime?" He gaped at her, astonished that she would say such a thing.

"It's a scientific fact," she argued, moving her hand under her chin and propping her head up to look at him. "Men reach their sexual prime in their late teens. Women don't peak until their mid-thirties."

"I can't believe you would say that. I'm prime," he insisted, propping himself up on his elbows and staring back down at her. "I am prime and ready and you better not forget it."

"It's OK baby. You don't have to prove anything to me," she teased, trying to force herself to keep a straight face. "I'd love you even if you were a eunuch."

"A eunuch? Seriously? You're really going for broke this morning aren't you?"

"So what if by the time our wedding night comes around, you'll be so far from your peak you'll never be able to consummate the marriage," she continued. "I won't hold it against you."

"Oh, I'll consummate," he growled angrily, flipping them over. "I'll show you how well I'll consummate. I'll consummate until you can't even walk straight anymore." He positioned his body above hers with one arm while he reached out to the nightstand with the other to pull the top drawer open. "Where the hell are to condoms?" he asked angrily as he desperately shifted through the contents of the drawer.

Rory lay below him with a highly amused smile on her face. After a moment she decided to put her fiancé out of his misery and she gently grasped his arm to still his motions. "Logan," she said, trying desperately to contain her giggles. "The other drawer," she pointed towards the nightstand on the other side of the bed.

Logan stopped his frantic search and looked down at her—eyes glimmering with the laughter she was holding in. That little…she'd done it on purpose. She wanted to provoke him. Well, two could play that game. He rolled off of her and swung his legs over the bed, sitting up. "Well, I guess I should get up then—we've got a long day ahead of us."

"Logan," she cried. "Logan, where the heck do you think you're going?"

"To brush my teeth." He stood up, stretching his arms above his head and letting her stare at him in all his naked glory.

"But you were…" she pointed at him. "And we were…" she pointed at the bed.

He turned to face her and shrugged his shoulders. "I got over it. Must be because I'm so far passed my sexual prime."

She gaped at him incredulously. "Get back here, mister." She sat up and grasped for his arm, pulling him tumbling back onto the bed.

"So, you're that hot for me, are you?" he teased, pulling himself into position to place a soft kiss on her lips.

"You're incorrigible, you know that?"

He kissed her neck, his hand running along the curve of her breast, "Guess that means pretty soon you'll be Mrs. Incorrigible."

Her only reply was a soft moan as he took her hardened nipple in his mouth. A lifetime of mornings just like this—he was definitely looking forward to that.

The doorbell rang and Rory paused, midway through pouring the Tostitos into a big bowl. She dropped the bag on the counter without a second thought and grabbed Logan's hand. "They're here," she said excitedly, yanking him out of the kitchen and towards the front door.

"You don't know that for sure—we invited a lot of people here tonight," he reminded her, trying desperately to slow her down. "It is a house warming party after all."

"The party doesn't start for another hour. The only other person who would show up so early is Finn, and he's been sitting on our couch tormenting us for the last forty-five minutes," she reminded him, cocking her head to the side and pointing in the direction of the Australian who was currently hollering at the soccer players on their plasma screen TV. "He's not getting a key," she added as an after thought.

"Well, OK, so it's probably you're Mom and Luke," he relented, not bothering to comment on Finn—him not having a key was pretty much a given. "But that doesn't mean we have to tell them right away. I mean, wouldn't it be more fun to surprise them with the announcement along with everyone else—you know, when there's a large crowd to slow them down."

Rory stopped and turned to face her fiancé, taking both his hands in hers and linking their fingers together. "Logan, I promise it'll be OK. Mom hasn't hated you in a really long time—she almost likes you now."

"Yeah, that makes me feel so much better," he sighed.

"You know what I mean," she replied. "And as for Luke, he doesn't blame you for breaking up Jess and me. He gets that it wasn't meant to be. He just wants to see me happy. You make me happy."

Logan sighed. "Fine, but I'm using you as a human shield."

"Wimp," she muttered, but smiled and proceeded to the door, swinging it open to the sight of her mother and step-father.

"Mom!" she cried excitedly, jumping into Lorelai's arms. "Guess what?" she asked, pulling back from the hug.

"You've learned how to off your enemies with bone-crushing hugs?" Lorelai ventured.

Rory rolled her eyes.

"No? Alright, let me try again. You've made plans to hike Mt. Everest?"

"Mom, be serious."

"OK, alright, it's not the Himalayas. Oh, I got it this time—you're getting married."

Rory looked at her mother in shock. "How did you—"

"Well, for starters, I almost thought I was getting a deep-tissue massage when you hugged me, the way that rock of yours dug into my shoulder." Lorelai turned to Logan. "It's about time. Do you know how hard it is to keep something like that a secret for so long?"

"It was week, Lorelai." Logan shook his head at his soon to be mother-in-law.

"A week of practical torture. Luke had to tie me down and disconnect all the phones last Wednesday so I wouldn't give in and call her. Of course, the tying me down part actually turned out pretty good as you can imagine…"

"Lorelai," Luke grunted.

"…You two kids should give it a try some time."


"Ignore her." Luke stepped forward and gave Rory a quick, only slightly awkward hug. "Congratulations." He released Rory from his grasp and held his hand out for Logan. "Remember what we talked about," he said, giving Logan a slightly intimidating look and a nod.

Logan chuckled. "I will. Come on in guys," he moved aside and motioned for Luke and Lorelai to enter, noticing they were still in the foyer. "Can I get you two anything to drink."

"Oh no," Rory interrupted before Lorelai had a chance to ask for her signature martini. "Don't think we're through here." She turned to Logan. "What did she mean 'it's about time'?"

Logan shrugged his shoulders. "I guess she just knows we're made for each other."

"Pft," Rory rolled her eyes. "Yeah right."


She turned to her mother next. "You weren't the least bit surprised, why weren't you surprised?"

"Oh honey, you should know better. You're getting hitched to a proper man of society—they do gentlemanly yet archaic things like asking for your hand in marriage."

Rory looked at Logan with a stunned expression. "You asked her for my hand in marriage?"

"Maybe," Logan replied with a sheepish smile. "Ow!" he screeched as she slapped him across the shoulder. "What was that for?"

"I can't believe you." Sure, her first reaction was that it had been sweet and thoughtful, but then she remembered the way he had been acting right before they opened the door—and on and off all day as well.

"Are you serious? You're mad about this?"

"Someone's sleeping on the couch tonight," Lorelai sing-songed.

"You made me think you were really freaked out about telling them. Why would you do that? Why would lie about that?"

"I wanted you to get to tell them. I thought you would prefer it if you didn't know they already knew." Logan glared at Lorelai.

"Who else did you tell? Dad? Grandma and Grandpa? I know Colin and Finn know because Finn has been calling me 'the little missus,' all afternoon."

"I didn't tell your Dad or your grandparents. And you know it's impossible to keep anything from Finn, I can't be held accountable for that," he argued.

Rory sighed. "Fine, but then I get to tell Sue. And we probably should tell Dad and Grandma and Grandpa when they get here, before we make the official announcement--what?" she asked looking at Logan's guilty expression.

"I kind of, might of, had Sue help me pick out the ring," he had the decency to look sheepish.

"You are unbelievable."

"But that was over two months ago," he quickly added. "She didn't know when I was going to ask, I swear."

"Two months?"


"You've been planning this for two months?"

"Well, I wanted it to be right," he defended—not quite sure what he even had to be sorry for—but whatever it was, he would just apologize and be appropriately regretful because he was whipped and he wasn't afraid to admit it.

"We've only been back together for four."

"And I knew long before that, that if you ever gave me a second chance I wouldn't let you go again."

Rory just stared at him for a moment before finally smiling and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a slow, sweet kiss.

"Someone's getting laid tonight," Lorelai sang as the two continued their kiss.

"Oh geez," Luke turned his head, nervously tapping his foot. "Is it over yet?"

Several hours later, the announcement had been made and what had started as a house warming party had turned into an engagement party.

Rory never thought she would get tired of hearing people congratulate her, but it had finally happened. When did they get so many friends? Of course Emily Gilmore hadn't congratulated her—no, Emily Gilmore had offered her 'best wishes;' plus the name of her florist, dress designer, caterer, and calligrapher.

"Where's the old ball and chain?" Rory looked up at the source of the voice and smiled.

"I thought I was the ball and chain."

"Traditionaly, yes. But you know I was never one for tradition," Sue answered as she reached around Rory to grab a chip out of the bowl that was on the counter behind her.

"Yes, I think you demonstrated that quite clearly last Christmas when you requested that the choir singers at your church sing Adam Sandler's Chanukah song."

"Can you believe they didn't know the words?"

"How shocking!" Rory exclaimed, holding her hands to her heart in mock shock.

"So, are you actually getting married this time? Because I don't want to have to pay for another bride's maid dress if the best man isn't going to get the opportunity to rip it off of me in a coat closet while the rest of the party is doing the Electric Slide."

Rory laughed. "You do remember that you have a boyfriend, right?"

Sue shrugged her shoulders. "So?"

Rory decided to try another tactic. "And you realize there's a 50/50 chance the best man will be Finn, don't you?"

Sure scowled "Only 50/50?"


"What?" she shrugged again, turning around to spot the subject of their conversation in the crowd—he was currently laughing about something with Colin and Logan and Sue thought for a moment that he had caught her looking, but he continued on as though nothing had happened. "He's hot."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Don't let him catch you saying that or you'll never hear the end of it."

"Don't worry, I'm a discreet ogle-er. Besides, I just like to look."

Rory laughed. "And when did looking ever hurt anyone?" Rory agreed.

"Exactly." A slightly uncomfortable silence followed. "So, can I get a better look at that mine-field on your finger?"

Rory smiled, holding out her left hand.

"Yep, I knew it was the one for you the moment I saw it—"Sue remarked, taking Rory's hand and examining it closely. "You're lucky I was generous enough to help Logan pick it out."

"Yes, because I'm sure Logan would have gotten me something horribly atrocious otherwise."

"Well, I wasn't going to be the one to say it." There was another silence. "What? Stop doing that."

"It's just…I'm going to miss you," Rory replied sincerely.

Sue scoffed. "Well then, maybe you should have thought of that before you ran off to New York with your boy-toy."

Rory continued, not deterred by Sue's attempts to make light of the fact that they would no longer be seeing each other on a regular basis. "I'm going to miss your sarcasm and your bluntness, your witty remarks and the way you can never mind your own business."

Sue turned away slightly, tapping her foot uncomfortably. "Will you stop that Gilmore. You're getting all sentimental on me. I don't do good-byes."

"Oh come on. Admit it—you know you want to."

"Fine," Sue relented, throwing her hands up in defeat. "I'm going to miss you too—are you happy now?"

Rory threw her arms around her friend—hugging her with a vice-tight grip.

"Hate to break up this kinky girl-on-girl action here, loves," they were interrupted. "But we just need a minute.

Rory and Sue broke apart and turned to Finn. "What is it Finn?" Rory asked, her voice full of exasperation.

"Well, it seems we've had a bit of an accident," he admitted, stepping aside.

"Tim? What the hell happened to your shirt?" Sue asked, looking at the huge red stain down the front of her boyfriends top.

"Well doll, I may have accidentally bumped the poor sod while I was showing off my amazing dancing skills. Red wine all over the place. Now personally, red wine has never been much my taste; I prefer something a bit more—manly. But that's really besides the point."

"What exactly is the point Finn?"

"Well, our boy Tim, here," he said, turning to grin widely at the other man, "needs something to change into."

"Well I'd offer him one of my shirts, but I'm afraid it would probably be too small in the waist," Rory rolled her eyes.

"That's OK, love—I think I left one of my shirts with Logan. If you don't mind, I'll just have a look around upstairs and see if I can find it for him."

Rory sighed; she really didn't want to deal with this right now but she couldn't stop imagining all the trouble Finn could get into in their bedroom unsupervised. "You can look through the closet, but stay out of the drawers," she ordered.

"Of course," he said, giving his best innocent smile and turning to walk away, Tim in tow. Rory had a feeling she was going to regret this.

"You do know that in an hour all the guys will be lined up outside of your bathroom ready to shell out a dollar just to look at your underwear—right?"

"Yeah Sue," Rory groaned. "I know."

"Umm, I think it's time to go." Sue turned away from her conversation with Rory once again to look at her boyfriend.

"Oh my god," Sue chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand, trying to hold back the full on laughter. "I thought you were going to change into one of Finn's shirts."

"Oh, I did. He just forgot to mention that the shirt he had left with Logan was part of his boarding school uniform back in 1995."

Sue took a step back, taking in Tim's entire—look. The shirt was a pale blue button up with the "Andover" emblem emblazoned on it. It ended about two inches above his belly button and there where gaping holes between the buttons where the fabric stretched across his chest. "He sure has grown a lot since then," she smirked.

"This isn't funny, Sue."

"No, of course it isn't," she shook her head, a few more chuckles escaping through. "What about your shirt? It may have been stained but it's got to be better than this."

"Don't ask," he replied seriously.

"Ooh, that's ominous."

He just glared at her.

"Well couldn't you have borrowed one of Logan's shirts?"

"I don't know, Finn disappeared and I wasn't about to just take something out of their closet."

Sue turned to Rory, and shook her head, laughing at her boyfriend's ridiculousness.

"Tim, go back upstairs and help yourself to a shirt that fits you," Rory offered.

"I appreciate that Rory, but I really think we should go." He turned his gaze to Sue. "It's a long drive back to Philly and it's late, and I've already made a humungous ass out of myself."

Sue looked from her boyfriend's pleading face to her best friend. "Don't think you're getting rid of me this easily. I'll be harassing your cell phone and e-mail every day."

"I wouldn't expect any less."

The two friends embraced again. "It's the first day of the rest of your life, Gilmore-soon-to-be-Huntzberger. I hope it was a good one."