Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, yadda yadda yadda.

Author's Note: And the mystery man is….

Rory's eyes slowly bugged out. Her lips parted in shock, a tendril of her light brown hair fell to her cheek, but she didn't notice. Her head tilted slightly to the side and she gazed at him openly.

"Well, I guess this is better than you running away." He said, trying to smile. She blinked once, but continued to say nothing for moments that stretched out like hours. "Rory?" He said after a while, and she seemed to snap out of her reverie. She blinked another few times, but straightened and began to walk. He fell into step with her, and every so often she would glance up at him. "So…this silence thing, is it gonna last long?" She stopped and glanced up at him, taking him in, the full impact hitting her hard.

"What..." She started, but her voice was rusty and hoarse, as if she hadn't used it in weeks. "What are you doing here?" As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. It was none of her business why he was there. After all, she hadn't been back for years, how was she to know that he hadn't been there all the while? But no, she knew he hadn't been. Despite their lack of communication, there was something inside of her that was in tune to him, she would have known if he had been in Star's Hollow.

"Finally, she speaks." He replied, throwing her a patented trademark grin. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten how." She glared at him from beneath her lashes, and he laughed. The smirk was irresistible, and she could do nothing but smile back. She looked at him expectantly. "You're waiting for an answer, are you?" He responded, then took a sharp left. Considering the fact that he had commandeered the heavier, book filled of her duffel bags, she had no choice but to follow. "Why am I here. Well, there are a lot of reasons, the most important of which was that Luke needed my help. He has his hands full with Lorelai," he stopped for a moment, grinning to himself. "So I figured I'd visit for a stretch." He walked up to the old gazebo and sat, spreading his arms out, getting comfortable. Rory stood at the entranceway, staring down at him. It was so odd, being with him now, after all these years. Her anger had fled as she had grown, but the memories hadn't. He was different though, from what she remembered.

"So you didn't come back because of me?" As soon as the words had left her mouth, Rory colored red. That had most definitely been a mistake. Why was she provoking him? Even if he had, she didn't care. She had just gotten dumped. She most definitely did not need an added complication to her life. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I don't know where that came from. I-" His laugh silenced her, and she watched him within a dumbfounded haze. Had he laughed this much when she had known him?

"It's Ok. And while it is true that there were several of misbegotten attempts to win you back, no. I didn't. For all I knew you could've been married to some preppy rich guy, have three kids a white picket fence, and stay at home mom status. And as much as I loved you," Rory's breath caught at how easily he threw around the sentiment. "I wouldn't have wanted to take away Biffy, Tami and Jodi's mother. You know how needy kids are these days." Rory laughed out of shock. There were obvious changes to him, she saw. He was less guarded, he laughed more, but as she look him in, she saw the same old Jess, just lurking beneath the surface. She started to speak, but his look silenced her. So without exchanging any other sort verbal communication, she took the seat next to his.

Despite his calm veneer, Jess was troubled. The sight of Rory after all of these years had assaulted his senses, and even though they hadn't parted on the greatest of terms 6 years ago…he could still feel the low ebb of their connection between within. Her nearness confused him. The rushing blood in his ears made him realize that he wanted to be near her. Closer. That was not a good idea. He resisted the urge to touch her, settling for sneaking a glance.

Author's Note 2: I know, I know. I'm sorry. I took out the love bit. It just seemed too blah, and too early, and something he should figure out a little later. Or at least admit a little later.