A/N: GhostWhispererFangirl here! Meowser and I thought it was time for some Ned :) Enjoy!

Ned saw his mom, Tim, Jim, and Melinda out of the corner of his eye as they entered the bar.

He just wanted some time to himself, so he could drink himself to a stupor.

He swirled his scotch around and took a sip. He wasn't really a scotch kind of guy, his dad was, before he died at least.

"Rough day?" Jim asked as he slipped into the stool next to me.

"You could say that," Ned muttered before he downed his drink.

"Another for you?" The bartender asked and took the empty glass.

"Yeah," he resituated himself and looked over at Jim.

"What's up?" Jim asked and grabbed himself a menu.

"I didn't get into the police academy. I need to get into better shape and try out again next year or at least that's what the captain said I could do." He said and reached for his new drink. "It's just frustrating that I only got cut because I couldn't run a mile in six minutes. I came in at seven minutes and thirty seconds."

"That sucks. You'll get it next year, Ned." Jim reassured him. "You could come work out with me, if you want. I run a mile in around six minutes every time."

"Not a bad idea," he sighed. "I'm just disappointed in myself. I really screwed up this good opportunity."

"Well you said you have another shot next year, right?" Jim asked and flipped through the menu.

"Yeah, but it's whatever." He answered and took a drink.

"No. That's another shot, Ned!" Jim explained. "I'll work with you and you'll be in better shape. My trainer does miracles. I swear by him."

"When would you want to start?" He asked and took a drink of his scotch.

"We could start as early as Monday." Jim replied. "I meet with Derek weekdays at five am and on Sundays at nine."

"Monday sounds fine. Where?" He said.

"Just at the gym," Jim answered. "Well I should probably get back to Mel and your folks."

"Okay. See you then," he replied.

Jim patted his back as he walk away and Ned finished his drink and paid.

He didn't want to be here. Near her family, so they could report to her that he was still the same old Ned who drinks and fails constantly. And he definitely didn't want to be near his either because all they'd do is tell him what is doing is wrong and to shape up.

He was selfish, it was something he was good at. Look out only for yourself so that you don't get hurt and it worked out pretty well for him. Well, until the time that it just didn't.

He was good at pulling away, at distancing himself, as long as he didn't catch the way it hurt her.

There was never a returned smile or an inside joke. Not anymore at least.

Maybe she was his sun or maybe it was the other way around, maybe he was falling for her. No, he couldn't.

He just couldn't.

Katie always picked up a hot coffee before going to the library every Monday and Thursday. It costed her $2.99, and she usually got a pastry as well.

She usually went for black, like her father.
But today she felt like a creamy vanilla latte would suit her just fine, like her mother.

The tiny café on Katie's walk to the library is a hidden treasure among the huge city buildings. Washed out under the overcast sky, it hunched in itself, fighting against the drizzle. Hundreds of people rushed by it, outside on the crowded street. The half a dozen customers glanced up as the door swung open and she walked inside. Unlike the outside, the interior of the café was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colourful walls.

The customers returned to their conversations as the door swung closed behind her and the cold breeze was forgotten.

She undid her scarf and walked toward the counter.

"How can I help you, Katie?" A cheerful woman in a pastel blue apron said."The usual?"

"No. I'm mixin' it up today, Lorelai. I'll have a medium hazelnut latte and a glazed donut." She smiled toward her and fished out her wallet.

"That'll be 3.50." The woman smiled as she collected the money and gave the receipt. "I'll have that right up for you."

She stepped to the side and watched as her coffee was being made.

"You do know coffee isn't very good for you," an older woman said as she appeared next to her. "Neither are those donuts."

"Hi Harriet. How are you today?" She said softly as she pressed her phone to her ear.

"Trying to look natural, are you?" Harriet asked.

"I am," she laughed.

"No one here is paying attention to you besides that boy in the corner." Harriet replied.

"Even though most people in the city don't pay enough attention to realize that I am talking to a spirit; I still would like to keep it in the dark a little." She whispered. "Now who's looking at me?"

"Here you go Katie," Lorelai says softly and leaves the coffee cup and donut bag on the counter.

"Thank you," she said and pressed the phone to her shoulder and collected her drink and bag.

"He's right there," Harriet said pointing to a guy sitting alone at a table.

"Who? Toby?" She asked and smiled at him.

"You know him? He's very handsome." Harriet said. "I'll see you on Monday, dear."

"I know." She replied and walked toward Toby, who is walking toward her now. "Talk to you then."

She slipped her phone in her messenger bag and zipped it closed and..

"Hey Toby. What are you doing on this fine Thursday morning?" She asked and took a drink from her cup.

"Enjoying a good book," he said throwing away his coffee cup. "Want a walking buddy to the library?"

"Sure!" She smiled up at him and began to redo her scarf.

"Let me," he whispered in her ear.

The scarf had been such a simple gift. It probably cost just a few dollars.

It wasn't anything fancy, just a rectangle of red in cheap yarn. Even the knit was too perfect to be hand-made, it had been churned out of a machine with a thousand just like it. In that wool that somehow even failed to capture the notion of sunlight in its watered-down dye lay the memory of when her sister had given it to her.

Mackenzie had saved her allowance and gone to the mall without permission, then taken the scolding like a pro.

When mom wasn't looking she'd slid it over with a nervous grin, unsure of the reception her big sister would give it. But Katie wasn't an ordinary person, she wore it every cold day regardless of whether or not it matched.

"Nice scarf," he said as he looped it around her neck.

"My sister got it for me a few years ago," she replied.

"Cute," he replied and opened the cafe door. "After you."

She stepped out into the drizzling rain and walked with Toby.

The rain trickled down upon the heart of the city, pounding on the rooftops and turning the cobbled streets of the University District into a warren of slick stones and muddy waters.

"Why would come out in this weather for the library?" Toby laughed.

"Umm… I love the rain," she lied, she needed to research up on a ghost that was pestering her. "Plus my internet's out from the storm."

She did love rain, so she wasn't technically lying to him. She loved everything about rain.

Whether is was the whispering hum as sheets of precipitation plummeted to the water-forsaken ground, or the often unanticipated flashes of lightning or the rolls of ominous thunder.

She loved it all. Those facts were what truly created, in her opinion, a perfect rainy atmosphere.

"Katie?" He asked and looked down at her as they stood at the stoplight.

"Yeah?" She smiled and peered up.

"I want to take you out tonight. Nothing too fancy, just come and have some dinner and maybe a watch a movie at my place?" He said and the rain began to pour down. "The truth is you are still the most incredible person I have ever met. I've known you for exactly one month today, and it's been the best month."

"What are you saying?" She yelled, the rain drowning every sound.

"Go out with me, and hopefully be my girlfriend?" He outstretched his arms. "And let's get out of this rain, because we're both going to catch a cold if we don't."

"Okay," she said and smiled up at him.

"Okay what?" He asked and pushed his wet hair from his face.

"I'll go out with you and hopefully be your girlfriend," she said and held out her hand for him. "And come on. I know a shortcut home."

Her hands were frailty and caution, shaking gently as she reached for his.

Her heart races as he inched his hand toward her, she was fourteen the last time she was labeled as "taken", and she didn't know if that's what this even was. If he even wanted her for more than just the hope of peeling her clothes off.

But she jumped in headfirst, she trusted him.

He isn't Ned, she reminded herself.

He edged his hand toward hers ever so slightly, until she felt his fingertips brush her hand. She unfurled her fingers and let his slip around hers until she could feel the heat of his palm pressed against her own.

"Come on!" She laughed and pulled him down the street.