In the last episode the girls took a road trip to Charlotte, NC. It's safe to say throughout the episode Rory was not very happy with Logan, even after his visit. We are just going to pretend that little intrusion on her privacy never happened in the first place. Instead she will be running into someone else (that would be Dean for those of you just starting to read my stories.) It's a surprising and happy reunion especially once Rory finds out what Dean is doing in Charlotte in the first place.

"Lorelai would you please hurry up, I called to wake you up at eight so that you would be ready by now. We still have to go to the mall before we go to Mia's wedding. As informal as it may be I can't possibly show up in this." Emily said motioning to the outfit she was wearing.

"Grandma really you look fine, I'm sure that Mia won't…" Rory tried to help but was unsuccessful.

"Rory that's nonsense, I was invited to a wedding and I insist on showing up in at least semi decent last minute attire."

"Alright mom, I'm ready. Please let's go so that we're not late." Lorelai insisted motioning towards the door. "I can't believe you call us at eight and expect us to be ready when you knock on the door at nine."

"Lorelai please, I did not ask to be invited to this wedding. But now that I am I must find something to wear, why is that so hard for you to understand?"

"It's not please let's go."

The ride to the mall was quiet except for the show tunes that played softly on the radio. Once they pulled into the parking space Lorelai was the first to get out of the car. She was quickly joined by Rory and Emily.

"This shouldn't take long. This is a halfway decent town; there should at least be a few nice stores in this mall." Lorelai stared at her mother irritated with the comments she had been making all morning. "Oh Rory, that reminds me. Have you applied at the Charlotte Observer; it's a very respectable paper. While we are here you should look into it."

"Actually Grandma I haven't but you're right maybe I should."

They all entered the mall and walked over to the map that was immediately in front of the entrance.

Rory began to rub her stomach at the sight of the food court area. "Hey I think I'm going to grab a quick bite to eat, I'm starving."

"Don't you want to wait and eat whatever Mia has for us?" Lorelai asked.

"Mom please, did you just meet me? I can eat twice."

"Yes you can…hey you know what? So can I. I will join you for a bite to eat while Grandma finds her outfit."

"I don't think so Lorelai, I need you to come with me. What if I get something that I need help zipping up in the back?"

"But mom I'm hungry." Lorelai argued. "And if Rory gets to eat why can't I?"

"Lorelai please stop acting like a child. You didn't once mention food until Rory brought the subject up. Rory enjoy your breakfast; we will call your cell when we are heading back to the car. Come with me Lorelai."

Lorelai followed her mother but not before turning back to Rory and sticking out her tongue at her. Rory simply shrugged her shoulders and mouthed I'm sorry to her mother. As she made her way closer to the food court she began to stare up at the signs of her choices instead of paying closer attention to where she was walking. As she bumped into the tall stranger her attention went directly to the floor where his books landed.

"Oh I am so sorry." She began to apologize as she bent down and helped pick up the books, knowing that it was her that caused the collision.

"That's okay, it was an accident. Don't worry about it." He noticed something oddly familiar about this girl as he watched her pick up the last book. When she stood back up he saw her face, his heart began to beat faster and it seemed that he forgot that he needed to breathe in that moment. He waited for her to realize who he was before speaking again but it took a moment as she continued on about the book in her hand.

"Oh no, Physics, I had to take this class my freshman year in college. Because of it I had to drop another class. Hopefully you're having better luck then me." She said casually as she handed the book back to him finally making eye contact with him.

"Yeah I remember, I was there." He said casually finally finding his voice.

She thought about what he said for a moment before responding. He was right, he was there then…he was always there when she needed him. And now he was here again, the question was did she still need him?

"Dean…what are you doing here?"

"I live here. What are you doing here?"

"Mia is getting married…my mom and I came for the wedding."

"Mia?" Dean asked not sure who that was.

"The lady who owned the Independence Inn before it burnt down."

"Oh yeah that's right."

"So what about you? You live here now…I thought you were still in Star's Hollow?"

"No actually I've been here now for almost two years."

"And you're going to school?" She asked motioning towards the books in his hand.

"Yeah that's why I moved here actually, I got accepted to UNC."

"I didn't know you even applied here."

"Well that's because I didn't until after we broke up."

"Oh. I guess that explains why I didn't know."

"Yeah." Dean shifted becoming noticeably uncomfortable.

"So you have school on a Saturday?"

"Oh no, no class, but I still have plenty of homework to catch up on. I was able to get some grants to help with the tuition but in order to keep them I have to maintain a C average. Physics has been kicking my ass too. You know actually I should get going; I've got a lot to get done. But it was really nice seeing you."

"Yeah it was nice seeing you too." She watched him begin to walk away and suddenly became panicked at the thought of just letting him walk away. "Dean…wait."

He hadn't gotten far before he heard her call his name. "Yeah?"

"Are you going to be studying late tonight? I was hoping maybe we could have dinner or something before I have to leave." She asked walking closer towards him.

"Well the library closes at six so I'll definitely be done by then. How long are you going to be here?"

"We're leaving tomorrow."

"Okay well we can do whatever, just give me a call when you're done with the wedding." He replied and began to walk away again.

"Dean wait, I don't have your number."

"It's the same number I've always had."

"I actually got a new phone last year so the numbers I had stored…"

"Okay, let me see it." He asked pointing to her phone. She handed it to him and watched as he entered the number and pressed send so that it would store itself in her recent calls. "There you go, just press redial."

"Alright, I'll try to leave as early as I can tonight."

"Don't feel rushed…I'll wait. I'm actually pretty good at that." He waved goodbye before walking away this time. "Have fun at the wedding."

Rory smiled and nodded as she watched him walk away.

A/N: Well this is the first chapter of my new story. I hope everyone enjoys it. As an added bonus anyone who has access to my myspace page can read the first 300 words of chapter 2. It is posted now. You can access it by searching for display name: narcogilmore or by going to my profile page here.