Rory walked around Stars Hollow. It had been an interesting morning. Taylor had them hard at work on costumes for the festival. The Spring Fling Parade had musical dance numbers integrated into a parade inspired from the musical Annie, inspired because they couldn't get the rights. They had dyed curly wigs red, and numerous flower hats. The irreverent mishmash, made Stars Hollow, well, Stars Hollow.

She had missed it.

Lorelai and Gigi had gone straight to 'Shoot the Stars', to meet up with Rachel. As much as she wanted to witness the awkwardness between her mother and Luke's former love, and perhaps ease it, she wanted to get better acquainted to her home town.

She heard a voice call behind her. It was Mrs. Kim running towards her.

"Rory. Gilmore," said Mrs. Kim.

"Mrs. Kim," said Rory, "It's been a long time,"

"It has," said Mrs. Kim.

"How is Lane and the family," said Rory.

"They are all very good. Lane and Zack will be back soon. The boys are just now six. You are home for good?" said Mrs. Kim.

"I'm just visiting. I live in Washington, D.C now. I'm working as a journalist," said Rory.

"Are you married?" said Mrs. Kim.

There was nothing like Mrs. Kim.

"No, I'm a single lady. But no cats, yet," said Rory.

"You try to be funny, like your mother, yes?" said Mrs. Kim.

"Yes," said Rory.

"Okay. You are going to vote for me in the election. Can't have that man boy Kirk running the town into the ground, bad for business, bad for everyone" said Mrs. Kim.

"I would, but like I said I don't live here anymore," said Rory.

"You were raised here?" said Mrs. Kim.

"Yes, but-" said Rory.

"You participated in town events for at least 15 years?" said Mrs. Kim.

"Yes," said Rory.

"Then you can vote. According to town charter, even if you don't live here you can vote if you were born or raised in the town, and or participated in events for 15 years. You vote Kim," said Mrs. Kim.

Mrs. Kim handed Rory a giant button that said Kim in big black letters. She tried to imagine Kirk as Mayor. Quickly she grabbed the button, and put it on.

"You have a supporter in me," said Rory.

"Good," said Mrs. Kim, "Oh, there is Andrew. He's a heathen, but a voting heathen,"

Then Mrs. Kim was off running after Andrew. Andrew started to runaway.

"I'm abstaining Mrs. Kim, I don't want to choose!" called out Andrew.

Rory couldn't help but chuckle when she looked at Mrs. Kim chase Andrew down. She decided she would re-read the book in her purse, Middlemarch. She had missed the Gazebo, some days it had felt like her personal island in the middle of the chaos. It could be hers for at least an hour... as long as Kirk wasn't putting up his pop up shop.

Rory bee-lined for the Gazebo and stopped in her tracks.

Under the gazebo were Jess and Tristan again, drinking coffee from Luke's. They looked so preppy, as if they had both fallen out of a Connecticut Life magazine cover. She wasn't sure she wanted talk to two of boys of the past. If she just carefully turned she could have her spot at the bookstore.

But then they spotted her. Jess and Tristan both waved her over.

"Fancy seeing you two here," said Rory.

"Well, as I said before we are coffee buddies and Luke's in the best in the county," said Tristan, "Possibly the state."

"I thought we said coffee buddies was a little too Bosom Buddies, and not Bad Boys enough. Be cool," said Jess.

"We will find a great name that denotes all things cool," said Tristan, "Luke's isn't all that brings me to Stars Hollow, I'm actually looking at property,"

"You're moving to the hollow?" said Rory.

Rory hoped that her jaw hadn't dropped too noticeably. But a Chiltonite moving to the Hollow, she never thought she would see the day.

"I've been living across from the firm since I came to Hartford, and it's been great, but I never really leave work. I need some space if I ever want to have a family and put down roots," said Tristan.

"You're getting married?" said Rory.

"Not even a little, but I figure if I build it, they will come," said Tristan.

"We're searching for a field of dreams Rory, and we will find it," said Jess.

"And when I move here, I'm going to convince Jess to follow me," said Tristan.

"In your dreams," said Jess, "I can visit the mad house, but I can't live here again. I need a city,"

"The lady doth protest too much," said Tristan.

"Keep dreaming Shakespeare," said Jess.

Rory got swept away in their banter. They seemed so close. She remembered when she and Jess were that close.

"I hate to be blunt, but how did you two meet? The Tristan and Jess I knew wouldn't be caught in the same room, let alone house hunting," said Rory.

"Well we didn't meet in a I've kissed Rory Gilmore chat room, if that's what you're asking," said Jess.

They talked about her. Rory went pale. Did they compare notes? Was Dean their friend too.

"I'm joking Rory," said Jess, "We met on a date through an add in the Hartford Chronicle,"

"A date?" said Rory.

"A date," said Tristan, "I hadn't been back in Hartford long, and I didn't want to meet any of the woman my parents set me up with, so I put an ad in the paper. M seeking F for coffee and then we'll see,"

"And I, being new in town and not getting out there enough, according to April, saw the ad and gave him a call. Except the Chronicle messed it up and put it in F seeking M. I called his secretary and said I called about the ad and my name was Jess and we could meet at the Bean at 8pm and I'd be in blue," said Jess.

"So we both sat in the Bean for a very long time, until I realized Jess was wearing blue. After we finished being a little freaked out, we sat and talked and realized we had somethings in common and people in common too," said Tristan.

"And we've been friends now for a almost two month now," said Jess.

"You two are adorable, you have the best meet cute of anyone I know," said Rory.

"You're funny Gilmore," said Jess.

"I've had the accusation before Mariano," said Rory, "I've been tried and convicted of being a witty one,"

"At least working on fashion and wedding coverage hasn't dulled your wit," said Jess.

"You've read my work?" said Rory.

"I keep up on people I care about," said Jess, "I really liked your piece on Obama Care,"

"Thanks," said Rory, "It was before the online magazine I was working on went bust,"

"You haven't written the political beat in a while, mostly light puff pieces," said Jess, "Is everything okay?"

Rory backed away.

"Everything is great Jess. I'm diversifying my portfolio. Maybe weddings and lifestyle don't appeal to you, but I've gotten positive feedback and they pay the bills," said Rory.

"I didn't mean to-" said Jess.

"It's fine. I'm doing what I love. I'm writing. When the old guard shifts, I'll be right there to get on the political beat. I have contacts. I network," said Rory, "Listen, I need to go help my mom ,you two enjoy house hunting."

Rory walked quickly away from the Gazebo. How dare he judge her? Life wasn't great, but she was getting by. She wasn't the perfect Rory Gilmore that everything went her way. It had been a couple of years where she had disappeared. Life ebbs and flows, right? She wiped away the tears, and ran behind the dinner. She worked on breathing in and out and dabbed her eyes. Why did Jess get to her like that?

Maybe the question wasn't was she ready to try again with Jess, maybe the question was was he even interested in who she was now. She wasn't that bright young thing shooting for the stars anymore. She was a little rougher around the edges, and she had started to lose hope. There were hundred of Rorys out there in Washington from across the globe trying to win the political beat.

Maybe she wasn't the Rory who was going to win.