Disclaimer: Did I own anything, I would be more than happy to flaunt it. But I don't.

A/N: Reviews are pie :)

'Ace?'

Rory's blood froze and then boiled. She turned back slowly to face a past she had methodically tried to erase.

'Logan.'

She wasn't sure she said it out loud, but his name strangled her throat.

The blond man made a couple of short steps and stopped before her. He hadn't changed. Not visually. He was still looking like the lazy careless heir of his rich father, with a hint of a lost good-natured boy behind the loaded exterior.

Rory licked a lip. He hadn't changed, it seemed. She had, though. Or at least she hoped so.

He ran a hand through his hair awkwardly. It was a while since they last saw each other. Last time - one year ago, when she packed her stuff and left. When he didn't try to stop her. Because he knew exactly why she was leaving and a good part of him thought she was more than right to. 'I'm sorry, Ace,' right before her cab arrived. Then he helped her load her suitcase on. And then it was over.

'You working here now?' he asked, tearing them both out of the memory.

Rory considered snapping at him, something about being none of his business knowing anything about her anymore. But there wasn't any point in bringing out old ghosts, was it?

'I am,' she nodded. Then, suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. 'Please tell me you aren't starting a job here.'

He let out a short laugh although the honest disgust in her tone didn't escape him and hit a sore chord here and there.

'No,' he shook his head, his smile turning bitter. 'My father is holding a meeting with your Board. That's why I'm here.'

She nodded again, not really having anything to say. There wasn't anything she wanted him to know anymore. There wasn't anything she would like to know about him, either. There were times when she would give anything for just another moment spent with him. Maybe all good relationships had such, even the ones that ended up in shatters.

There was an uneasy silence before he decided to speak.

'Is there anywhere we could talk, maybe with less limping and coughing people around?'

She didn't smile. He didn't, either.

'Look, Ror, I...'

Her eyes turned a warning shade of cold blue, her features rearranging almost audibly, and Logan looked down.

'I see,' he let out a quiet sigh. 'You're probably right.'

There were times when she would reach out and stroke his cheek when she saw him like this. Those times ended abruptly more than a year ago.

'Take care, Ace,' he gave her a small nod before making his way past her.

'You should start dating,' Lorelai's voice carried through the line while Rory was trying to make her way round a puddle. It had snowed, and now the snow was turning into a thawy white-brownish mass.

Rory stopped before the window of a jewelery store and took a look at her own reflection, smoothing her hair.

'Who says that I don't?' Rory asked.

'I do.'

'There's no way you can be sure,' Rory insisted, her eyes pausing on a man buying an engagement ring.

'Except the fact that I am.'

Rory watched as he talked to the salesgirl. He looked excited. He would most probably propose on Christmas Eve. Maybe Logan had the same expression when he bought her engagement ring. He proposed in their senior year. They set the date a couple of weeks after graduation. Back then, she had a feeling the world was theirs to conquer. A world in which they were young, ambitious doctors at the start of their career. A world in which he could fight his tyrannical father and she could fight his casual drinking. Everything seemed so simple back then. A thousand mistakes to make. A thousand dreams to follow.

Rory shook her head and started walking again, faster this time.

'Remind me, how did we end up having this conversation?' she asked, changing the mobile into the other hand. Her fingertips were numb.

'I've been trying to have this conversation for ages,' Lorelai explained simply.

'You don't have to.'

'Oh yeah? And watch my lovely precious daughter turn into a dried fig?'

'Why thank you, mom.'

'No, really. Who was president when you last dated?'

'What? Very funny.'

'I'm a Brobdingnagian source of fun, grasshopper.'

Rory shook her head but couldn't help a smile.

'Wait,' Lorelai's voice sounded then and Rory stopped in her stride involuntarily. 'Please don't tell me you're wearing that pastel dead-orange coat again.'

Rory started walking again, fighting a chuckle.

'Okay, I won't.'

'Oh, Rory, listen to mommy, that coat can wake the dead with it's lack of seductiveness.'

'What are you talking about, I'm the queen of seduction.'

'That would be interesting to see. Leopard or zebra?'

'Giraffe.'

Rory shook her head as she listened to her mother's cheerful laughter. She stopped by the window of a small bookstore and her eyes glazed over the titles.

Her look paused on a Robert Frost anthology. The quote at the bottom of the back cover caught her attention, and although she knew it quite well, the words somehow stuck out this time.

"We dance in a circle and suppose, while the secret sits in the middle and knows."

The quote played on repeat in her head over and over again, until she finally snapped out and realized Lorelai was calling her name from the other end of the line.

'I'll call you later. I... just realized I left something unfinished.'

Rory hurried out of the lockers room and ran straight into someone.

'Sorry,' she mumbled without looking up.

'Whoa.'

Jess frowned, searching for her eyes. There were smudged traces of mascara over her cheeks and he could swear she had cried.

She recognized his voice and tried to sidestep him, looking away.

'Hey,' he caught her shoulders, blocking her way. 'What's up?' he bent his head, searching for her eyes.

'I'm late,' Rory breathed out, making a step forward, trying to make her way past him.

'Hey. Rory.'

Jess' voice was unrecognizable. She'd never thought it could bear such a gentle vibe, almost unnatural. It made her snap her head up in surprise.

His eyes flashed knowingly as he caught sight of the stormy blue under wet lashes.

Rory took a breath, understanding it was too late to deny the obvious. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. His eyes kept hers at bay and she felt a wet streak make its way down her cheek. The salty drop hesitated at the corner of her mouth before it continued down her chin.

They stood silent for a while, her lower lip quivering, his features unwavering.

There was a silent pleading in her eyes to let go without asking. He didn't ask, but didn't move an inch, either.

'I told him,' Rory said then and his eyes narrowed. 'His father was on Board meeting here and Logan was with him and I... I told Logan about the abortion.'

'Ace? I... I'm so glad you called.'

'There's something we should talk about.'

'Where are you?'

'There was a part of me that felt better,' she admitted. 'For once, he felt as betrayed and misled as I did.'

Jess watched her silently and she felt thankful he didn't try to lecture her, or judge, or comfort her. She took a breath.

'The worst part is,' she continued, 'he never really lied to me. I was the one who deliberately lied to myself that I could change him, mend him by marrying him, make it alright when it never was, even before everything went completely wrong...'

She paused and took a ragged breath, feeling a clutch at her throat.

'I hate myself for letting things come this far,' she admitted to her own surprise and the confession bruised her tongue. 'Excuse me,' she broke contact then and went past Jess.

'Ror...' she heard behind her back and stopped at the door. She held onto the door frame and turned to give him a look.

It was a peculiar bunch of emotions that registered on his face. Apprehension, hesitation, and then, finally determination. When he spoke, his voice was calm and the words would echo in her head for a long time after he said them.

'He was a lucky bastard who fucked it up. I bet he regretted it more than you would believe.'

She bit on her lower lip and blinked a couple of times. She wanted to say something, ask how on earth he knew that, thank him, for this was his way of expressing kindness (because he had this side to him and she knew this now). However, the grip at her throat felt even tighter, so all she managed was a quick nod before she went out in a determined attempt to collect herself.

A/N: Reviews would let me know what you think and help me write better. Your opinion matters.