Author's Note: Everything that happened in the show up until a couple of weeks ago with Logan and his sister's wedding, took place here...does that make sense? In other words, everything is the same up until that point! Then I veer off...ok, I hope you guys like this.

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Swish, swish ,swish.

The snow swirled around outside, leaving frosty patterns on the window. The temperature had dropped drastically in the past half hour, turning the falling rain into glistening icy cotton balls. Rory's eyes lit up at the sight.

"Are you done?" Rory asked eagerly.

Jess stoped picking at his food – if you could call it that.

"I think Al needs to stick to pancakes. This Thai thing isn't really workin' for him."

"Then come on, " she quickly got up and ran out of the restaurant after saying a hurried goodbye to Al.

Jess sighed and went over to the register to pay the bill. Rory returned through the front door.

"Hurry up! We have to go play," she balled up and down on her feet like a child at Christmas.

"Rory..." Jess began, but relented when he gazed at her overly excited face. She was just as beautiful as he always remembered her, if not more so. Her exuberance over something as simple as snow never ceased to amuse him. He wished that he could have that; that simple innocent joy untouched by any jadedness. As he finished handing the bills to Al, Rory grabbed his hand and dashed him out the door with her.

The chilled air seemed to bring her back to her senses and she nervously realized that she still had a grip on his hand. She quickly released it as though she had been burned.

"Sorry, the snow does funny things to me..." she began nervously.

He cracked a lopsided smile, "I know."

She turned her face up, sticking out her tongue trying to catch some rogue flakes. She caught Jess' stare and closed her mouth sheepishly.

He laughed softly. "Good to know some things never do change..." he echoed the words she spoke to him earlier, producing a genuine smile from the girl.

"Thanks for lunch."

"Lunch? You call that food?"

"Come on, give Al a break. Hey, at least he tries to be different."

"He different, all right."

The snow frosted his black hair and all of the old familiar memories of their snow covered jaunts came flooding back to her. Times in the past where they stood at this very spot...Jess looking at her the very same way that he looked upon her now. The same way...as though he still had feelings for her. Just tell him...she sternly berated herself. Tell him what? Do it, tell him that you still think of him every single day, pathetic as it sounds. Do it before you chicken out...do it...do it now...

"Hey -" they both began simultaneously.

Rory let out a nervous laugh, "You first," cuz I'm a coward she finished off to herself.

Jess cleared his throat. "So, are you still seeing that great guy from Yale?" His voice was laced with sarcasm.

She completely deflated at the question. Guilt started to bite at her before she realized that she hadn't answered yet.

"I'll take that as a yes," he said looking at her expectantly.

"Yes," she replied in a small voice.

He nodded silently and his expression became unreadable.

The snow was still dancing around them, powdering everything in it's path. She shuddered involuntarily. She was once again adorned with his jacket, he had insisted that she wear it when they returned out to brave the elements. She knew he had to be freezing, wearing only a flannel over his T-shirt for protection against the on slaughter of frost.

"So, how's that going?" His kept his face blank, hoping that she wouldn't detect his silent wish that yuppie boy would fail.

"Oh, it's going..." she left the rest hanging.

"What kind of answer is that?"

"An honest one."

Something in her tone told him not to prod any further for the moment, though curiosity was drowning him. He picked at the ground with the toe of his boot, the snow starting to stick.

"So, you here for the Spring Fever madness?" He asked.

"Yeah, though it looks more like winter than spring right now," she answered.

She examined him a moment, then began daringly, "Jess, why are you here?"

He steadied her face briefly before averting his gaze.

"How could I stay away from Star's Hollow? You know I miss it so much!" he delivered caustically.

"Really?" She shot back, her demeanor growingimpatient and he sighed before relenting.

"To see you."

"Really?" She couldn't keep the titillation out of her voice and he nodded an affirmative, still not returning her scrutiny.

"Well, how did you know that I'd be here?"

"You always come to these stupid town functions." He looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I told Luke that I just stopped by for a visit..."

"Oh." I will not let myself be hopeful, or happy, or anything...I have a boyfriend...and he's not Jess.

He cut through her inward reprimands with a scoff. "I told him that I didn't know that you'd be here. Told him that I didn't remember this idiotic circus weekend. Guess I'm easier to read than that." He finally turned his eyes back to her. "I remembered, Rory. I always remember."

"Jess," her voice was tremulous and she suddenly felt very hopeless. The Can-Can infiltrated their conversation and she looked down at her pocket.

"Man, you get more calls than Barbara Stanwyck on a bad night."

"It's my mom. I kinda just took off when I saw you through the window and she's got to be wondering where I went..."

"Answer it."

"This will only be a minute, I swear. Don't forget what you were saying." She reluctantly fished out the mobile and flipped it on. She took a few steps away from him, speaking low into the phone.

"Mom?"

"Rory, hun, where are you?"

"Oh, well, I'm just, uh, I went for a walk..."

"What's going on? One minute you were here and then next you pulled a David Blaine."

"Well, I just went to see...Lane. Yep, I went to see Lane and I kinda lost track of time." She felt bad for lying to her mom, butthe truth did not seem a very viable option at the moment. She was in no mood for a lecture about the 'evils of Jess'. "I'm sorry I didn't call you to let you know where I went."

"It's ok, just don't forget about our movie night," she whined.

"I'll be home soon." She ended the call and walked back over to Jess.

"You didn't tell her you were with me, did you?"he surmised astutely.

She paused. "No."

"Huh." The two stood together, immobilized by silence.

Moonlight Sonata filled their ears once again and Rory groaned loudly.

"Aggg! See what I mean about wanting to hide!"

"That's him, isn't it?"

She nodded.

"Well, don't you think that you had better..." he shrugged, cocking his head to the side. "Look, you seem busy, and I should probably let you get going. It was really nice catching up with you." He turned around and started walking away.

"Jess?" she called after him.

He turned around.

"Don't worry, this isn't the last that you'll see of me, Rory Gilmore," he gave her a hint of a smile and with that he was gone.

She stood frozen to the spot, the last remnants of Beethoven's song melting away into nothingness until the only sound that filled Rory's head was the soft billowing of the snow.

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