Sorry it took me a little long to get out the next chapter. But I wanted it to come out right, so it took me some time to write it. But here it is and I'm quite happy with it. I hope you enjoy my little advanced christmas present to you!

The First Snow

The following three weeks Rory and Roger started developing a real relationship. They went out for dinner several times, watched movies together and talked a lot to get to know each other better. Together they had decided to take one step at a time, so they hadn't told anyone at the office yet. And also sexually they had decided not to rush anything, to let it happen again when the time was right.

Rory had to admit that it made her feel better to spend time with Roger. Often they just sat on the couch talking for hours about their favorite books and authors, movies they loved or sharing childhood stories. Deep down in her heart she knew there was something missing, but she put that thought aside. Telling herself that he wasn't Logan wouldn't help her getting over her ex-boyfriend. So she tried as good as she could not to think about Logan and she managed to stay away from news about "Hartford's biggest engagement".

Three weeks after Thanksgiving Rory had decided to take the weekend off for her sister's third birthday on Saturday, Thursday was her last day at the office.

"Are you looking forward to go home to Stars Hollow?" Roger asked her in the afternoon. Of course he kind of knew already that Rory was happy to have a full weekend at home, but part of him still hoped she would invite him to come along. Or at least to come to Stars Hollow for the birthday party.

"Oh yeah. My mom's really into this whole birthday thing, so it's gonna be a big party. Too big for a three-year-old, in fact, but that's my mom. And I'm glad, that way I will meet everyone again. Babette, Miss Patty, Taylor, Kirk, all of them. It seems like forever since I've met them all." Rory answered and Roger noticed that her eyes were sparkling.

"Seems to be an interesting place you come from. I would love to go there and meet all of these unique characters someday." He answered, realizing too late that Rory would look right through the hardly hidden hint.

"Roger, please." Rory said in a low voice, looking down on her desk. "You agreed to give me time. I need this time in Stars Hollow for myself. I mean, I didn't even tell my mom about us yet. And I don't want to take her by surprise by just bringing you along."

Roger nodded, sending her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Ror. I shouldn't have started. I hope you have a great time. And I'll come to Stars Hollow when you're ready."

"Thanks, Roger." Rory answered, feeling the all too familiar guilt once again. He was too nice to be her consolation prize. But on the other had, he knew there was another guy in her heart and he had wanted her nonetheless. So she shouldn't feel this guilty, right?

Two hours later Rory finished her last article and started putting her belongings together. Just when she put on her coat she heard a female voice from behind: "Hey, look, it's snowing!" Rory turned around and saw Phoebe, one of her colleagues at the feature resort, pointing her finger to the window. And she was right. Perfect snowflakes were falling down, making everything look a little magical.

"Aww, this is perfect!" Rory couldn't help but squeal happily. "There's gonna be snow for Lily's birthday!"

Roger just looked at her for a few moments. Right now she didn't seem like the talented reporter she was but more like a little girl. "Have fun, Ror!" he told her with a bright smile on his face, squeezing her hand softly when no one was looking at them.

"Thank you, Roger. Have a great weekend!" she gave back before walking towards the elevator doors. While going down she couldn't help but smile. Finally the first snow of the year! It might seem childish, but for Rory every problem seemed solvable when there was snow. Snow was magical. Anything was possible when it snowed.

When Rory stepped out of the elevator she could hardly wait to get out and feel the snowflakes falling on her head. So she hurried through the lobby, looking straight towards the door. Outside she jumped down the stairs like a five-year-old. And then finally she stood on the sidewalk and the snow was falling all around her. A small chuckle escaped her lips just as she heard a male voice behind her.

"Ace?"

He couldn't be here. It wasn't possible, right? Rory shook her head. The snow must have clouded her mind. All these thoughts about how anything was possible when it snowed made her imagine his voice. She almost continued walking without turning around when she heard the voice again.

"Ace, it's me."

She slowly turned around and there he was. Just like that. He stood there in front of the New York Times office, smiling insecurely at her. Without really noticing it Rory gave back his smile and took a few steps towards him.

"Hey, Logan." she said, her voice sounding more confident than she felt.

"Hey, Ace!" Logan responded, using her old nickname for the third time. He had imagined it to be hard to say it again, but it wasn't. It felt so naturally.

Encouraged by hearing that familiar name Rory asked him: "Should we get some coffee?" She was a little surprised by herself, but somehow the words just flew out of her mouth.

"Sure, sounds great." Logan gave back, smiling at her with a little more confidence now. Everything went totally different than her had imagined it. But he didn't care. This was so much better. "You don't happen to know if there's a Starbucks somewhere around here?"

"Logan, I've been working here for nearly two years now, do you really think I don't know every coffee shop within walking distance?" Rory responded with fake annoyance, causing Logan to laugh. "The next Starbucks is just around that corner." she added, linked arms with him and started walking.

Neither of them said a word in the five minutes they walked towards the coffee shop. But both of them wondered how they had managed six years without each other. It felt so good to be near each other again.

They were still so familiar with each other. When Rory looked up at the grey sky Logan was sure she silently thanked the snow for bringing him back to her. Which was exactly what Rory had done. She felt a little childish, but it was what her mother would say if she told her: "The snow brought him back."

After entering the Starbucks Logan was the first to speak again: "So, what do you say we get our coffee to go. I'm sure you want to take a walk in the snow, right?"

Rory looked a little surprised, but the bright smile on her face mad clear that Logan was exactly right. "That would be great." she answered. He knew her so well, it was almost scary. After all these years he still knew her.

She ordered a tall Vanilla Latte and Logan got a normal coffee. Of course he didn't let her pay and as a sign of her appreciation she gave him a small kiss on the cheek. It was over before it really began, but Logan could feel her lips touching his skin for minutes.

They left the Starbucks and just walked next to each other for a few minutes. "So, you were done early today, hm?" Logan asked after a while.

"Yeah, usually I don't leave the office that early. But I took this weekend off to go home to Stars Hollow. My sister's turning three on Saturday." Rory answered, still amazed at how comfortable it felt to be around Logan, how easy it was to be herself. It even felt like she hadn't been herself since they had broken up.

"You have a sister?" Logan asked surprised.

Immediately a smile was plastered all over Rory's face. "Yes, I do. She's so adorable. Lorelai Emily Gilmore-Danes."

"Pretty long name for a small kid." Logan smirked. He like to see how happy it made Rory to talk about her sister.

"We call her Lily."

"Way better. Danes, hm? So Luke is her father?"

Rory nodded. "My mom and him got married the year after I left Yale. I was so happy for my mom, she and Luke just belong together. And since they have Lily they are the perfect little family."

"And I bet her big sister is the one in the family to spoil her?" Logan winked at her.

Rory blushed a little. "Well, she's just so cute, you wouldn't believe it. And when she looks at me with those big blue eyes… trust me, you wouldn't be able to say no to these eyes either."

If they are just a little like those of her sister I'm sure I couldn't! Logan thought, but he didn't say it out loud. "I know what you are talking about. Honor has two daughters, Mia and Sophie, they look like angels, I don't think I ever even thought about using the word no in their presence."

Rory laughed. She could imagine Logan soften at the sight of two pouting little girls. After all she had been able to make him weak with a single pout or by batting her eyelashes. "But I have to say my Grandma is far worse than I am."

"Emily? I can hardly believe Emily Gilmore is spoiling a kid."

"Well, not just any kid, it's Lorelai Emily Gilmore-Danes." Rory pointed out. "But it's okay. I mean, you know that my mom and my grandmother never really got along that well. In the beginning she even tried to separate her and Luke. But then Luke went to her and my grandfather and asked for their permission to marry mom."

I'm here to ask your permission, your permission to ask Rory to marry me. For a second Logan could hear the words he had said all those years ago. But he quickly pushed the memory aside. This afternoon with Rory was too precious to spoil it with old memories.

"I mean, of course Luke would also have asked her if they had said no, but somehow that made them change their mind about him. I don't know, maybe it showed them he has "the right manners" and isn't just "that diner guy", whatever. It doesn't matter. And my mom was so happy that they finally accepted Luke, which made her and grandma become closer again. And when mom got pregnant grandma said something to her, I have no idea what it was, she hasn't told anyone, but it made her decide to name her daughter Emily."

"Sounds like everything is going great in your family. I'm really happy for you. I know how you always wanted Lorelai and Emily to be closer." With that, Logan reached for her hand. He knew that might go too far with it, but he couldn't help it.

Rory was surprised at his action and for a moment she wanted to pull her hand away. But then she automatically laced his fingers with his like it was the most normal thing in the world. It felt so good to hold his hand and she could feel a lump building in her throat.

"Yeah, everything's fine in my family." she said when she trusted her voice again. "It's just sad that I don't meet them that often, with all the work and all. I mean, I love New York and my job, but sometimes… I don't know… I just miss to have someone around, I guess." she admitted.

Logan looked at her and could see the sadness in her eyes. She almost seemed to be… lonely. That realization shocked him. How could it be that his Ace of all people was lonely?

Without thinking he stopped and pulled her in for a hug. He put his arms around her and even though he had imagined it to make him feel good to finally hold her again he was surprised by the wave of emotions that got hold of him now.

Rory was surprised at his actions, but as soon as she felt Logan's arms around her she didn't think anymore. Instead she put her arms around him and pulled him in closer, losing herself in his embrace.

They stood there, in the middle of a New York sidewalk, holding each other close while the snow fell down on them and both of them felt the same: Like that had finally reached home after a long journey.