Rory sat in the small cafe, yawning into her laptop. It had been a busy day and late night last night. The front door opened. She perked her head up, checking. But no, it was just more tourists stumbling in for their warm breakfasts. She ducked her head back to her steaming mug of coffee, closing her eyes to savour every caffeine-filled sip.

"Should I leave you two alone?" A husky voice said from behind her.

"Hey! I didn't see you come in," she stood and the two hugged quickly before sitting down at the table.

"Late night last night?" Jess noted the empty coffee mugs scattered around the table and the circles under her eyes she'd tried to cover up.

"You have no idea. I'm still finishing off my article, but it's not quite up to snuff yet."

"Ya, I heard people in the streets 'till pretty late," he nodded. "You didn't have to stay up with them, did you?"

"Of course I didn't have to," she laughed. "But I got so many notes and quotes, it was worth it! Everyone shouting Yes We Can through the streets for hours– it's so exhilarating, you have no idea!"

Jess leaned back in his chair and admired her. She looked tired but thrilled. "So this is the Rory Gilmore, hard-hitting journalist I've heard so much about," Jess smiled at her.

"The one and the same!"

"How are you liking it?"

"It's fantastic. I've learned so much, and I learn more every day. It's constantly busy, which was tough to get used to at first, but I think I've got the swing of it now. Even today has a tight schedule. There's this thing with a train later where we peruse the suburbs looking for more votes." He liked the way her eyes lit up just talking about it all. "It's been a year next month, you know," She sighed. "I'm really glad you were free when I called. You have no idea how great it is seeing a familiar face."

"I wouldn't miss this. To be honest, I was kind of hoping you'd call. I heard Obama was coming to town, and I hoped I'd get a chance to see you again. It's been a while," they smiled softly at each other.

After a second Jess sat up, breaking the moment with an awkward smile. "I'd offer to cheers the occasion if I had a cup, but you seem to have drained the place of all caffeinated beverages!" he laughed.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry," Rory blushed. "I came in thinking I should get you something too, but I got here pretty early, and I didn't want it to get cold, and then I didn't know what you wanted, and here you are, me babbling on, and you don't have anything, even though we said we'd do coffee!"

"Simmer. I come here all the time. No sweat, I'll just get the usual." He waved someone over, smiled a greeting and ordered the usual. He noticed her staring at him a little slack-jawed. "What?"

"Nothing!" She looked away innocently. "I just never thought I'd see you so settled in a place that you'd be able to order a usual. It's so old-man of you."

"Well don't tell Luke. He doesn't need to know how much like him I'm getting. I even bark at customers at the shop once in a while."

"No! You? I can't imagine."

"Yes. I even told someone to go to hell just yesterday. They kept asking if we sold the latest twilight book," he shook his head. "It was rough."

"Aw, poor you. So I guess this means I shouldn't ask if you're a Jacob or an Edward?"

"Very funny. So how are those two?"

"Who? Jacob and Edward? At each others' throats the last I heard. Why?"

Jess glared at her, "I meant Luke and your mom. I got the invitations."

"Oh, right. Ya, they sent out two save-the-dates just in case. I think it was a bit of an over-kill, but they wanted to make sure it wouldn't interfere with the campaign dates. The June one is if Obama doesn't make the vote as democratic candidate, and late November is if he goes all the way."

"And what is your professional opinion? You know, from the press."

"Well, he's been getting a lot of support lately. He's still a little behind Clinton, but there's definitely time to pull it up. He's got big plans. It's so inspiring seeing him talk. You know, I even met Oprah?"

Jess shook his head, so proud of her. "You're doing really well, Rory."

She looked into her coffee cup, aware of his scrutiny, and enjoying it. "And there I go again, gushing about my life. How about you? How's Truncheon doing?"

"It's doing really well actually. Better than any of us expected. We've got a bunch of people signed, and hold events weekly. We're actually starting to run out of space and probably have to expand soon. I'm having trouble convincing the other guys of that, though. They'll come around once they realize there's no room to sip their chai lattes," they both laughed.

"Have you written anything else?"

Jess sighed. "You're not the only one without time. I'm constantly editing and coordinating that I barely have time to get the Zine articles done. But I might have one or two things in the works," he winked, "so you'll have to stay tuned."

"Oh, is it a sequel? You have to tell me you're adding onto the Subsect. You can't just leave it like that, and I'm not the only one who thinks so!"

"Oh, I have my own private publicist do I?"

"Let's just say, I may have slipped Oprah one or two things when we met," Rory grinned.

"That would explain why sales went up with single moms all of a sudden. I was curious about that one actually."

"You're welcome."

Just then the warm smell of hot potatoes and bacon wafted over as the waitress brought Jess' food. She placed it in front of him, and to Rory's surprise, pulled up a chair to join them, leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips.

"Surprise!" The red-head flipped her long silky hair as she leaned away from Jess, grinning wildly. "Who's this, hon?" she asked, grabbing a fork and munching on some of Jess' potatoes.

Jess blushed, looking a little uncomfortable. "Hey, uh. This is Rory. She's... Well, she's going to be my Uncle's step-daughter soon I guess."

Rory caught his eye, still a bit surprised. She covered quickly though and leaned across the table, offering her hand and a warm smile to the other girl. "Nice to meet you!"

"You too! I'm Allie, by the way. He has no manners, I swear. I keep trying to pound them into him, but he's as stubborn as a mule sometimes! The best I've done is got him to tuck his shirt in once in a while, and it's been," she paused, looking at Jess. "God, how long has it been now?" she giggled when Jess opened his mouth dully. "Look at me, putting him on the spot like that. Let's see, we started dating last October, so that means..." she thought to herself for a moment. "Almost a year and a half now! You owe me a present soon!" She giggled and stabbed another potato.

"How sweet," Rory smiled pleasantly. "How did you two meet?"

"Well, he'd been coming in here for such a long time, and I always had my eye on him. You kept thinking I was just looking for tips - which I didn't argue with, mind you," she giggled to Jess again. "Well, I snooped and found out he worked at Truncheon," she turned to Rory. "So I submitted some of my poetry to one of their showcases, and here I am!"

"Her stuff was terrible. That's what got my attention," Jess smiled at her.

She hit him in the arm, "oh, stop teasing. It just needed sprucing up!"

"I let you in anyway, remember? I still haven't lived it down, but you had your moment."

"You guys seem really happy," Rory smiled, looking at Jess. He caught her eye, turning away from Allie, and looked down.

"So you're from... Where's that dreary little town you lived in once?" Allie turned to Jess.

"Stars Hollow?" Rory offered.

"Right," she nodded. "Glad to get out of there for a bit, I'd imagine. What brings you out here?" Rory blinked, not sure if she should go on the defensive or not. Before she could answer, though, Jess piped up.

"Rory's actually in town with the campaign. She's working for an online magazine, following Obama's trail."

"Wow, a political reporter. You should have warned me earlier so I would know to keep my mouth shut," the girl giggled.

"Oh don't worry, nothing's on the record, I promise. We're just having a friendly coffee to catch up. I've been on the road a long time and took the chance for a small break as soon as I found one," Rory said quickly.

"Hey, ya, Allie, what are you doing in so early? I thought you were working later."

"Oh, I grabbed an extra shift," Allie's smile became a bit stiff. "Dan was out last night marching the town apparently, so I said I'd cover. It worked out didn't it?" Rory noticed the other girl's eyebrows pull together ever-so-subtly. She realized it was probably a good time for her to bow out now before she started a fight with those two.

"Oh, speaking of which," Rory chirped. "Look at the time, will you? I'd better get going. I've got a train to catch!"

"So soon?" Allie pouted, getting up and helping Rory lift her bag.

"Like I said before, it's a really tight schedule. Not time for much these days, but it was nice seeing you." Rory put her laptop back in its case.

Jess stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. He was clearly uncomfortable at the sudden departure.

"We'll see you at the wedding though, right? At the end of June?" Allie continued beaming.

"Um, ya, one of those dates. I'll be there. It's my mom's wedding too after all."

"Oh right! Of course! So we'll definitely see you!" Allie grinned and stood for a moment. Realizing no one was saying anything, she quickly added, "Well, I'd better get back to work and let you two say a proper goodbye. Nice meeting you, Lori, is it?"

"Close enough. Bye Allie." The girl meandered back to the kitchen, clearly keeping watch out of the corner of her eye. "Well," Rory said.

Jess looked up "Sorry, I didn't know she was going to be here."

"No, it's not a problem. I'm glad I got to meet her. She's just a little protective, but I'd expect nothing less," they both smiled awkwardly. "She seems nice. Perky," Rory raised a mocking eyebrow, trying to hide her smile.

"Ya," Jess shrugged, grinning his lopsided grin. "Her poetry was all angsty, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into. She's grown on me though."

"Apparently. You look happy."

"Ya?" He smiled, looking up.

"I'm glad, Jess. You deserve it."

"Ya, well," he patted her arm. "You've got a train to catch, right?"

"Right." They stood in front of each other, waiting for the other to say something. "Oh, here's my card," Rory remembered, digging it out of her bag. "My cell's on a world network, so you should be able to reach me at all times, if you want to. But my email's there too if that's easier. Probably cheaper."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

"Let me know how the sequel's coming so I can tell Oprah," she tried to wink.

He laughed, "I will try. Not promising anything though, I'm still pretty swamped."

"Fine, whatever you say!"

They stood again. "Well, bye, I guess," Rory shrugged.

"Talk to you soon, probably," he shrugged. Awkwardly, they both reached out for a hug, both going the same way first, almost getting themselves tangled. When they finally got it right, he patted her on the back twice, like a chum. She smiled to herself, but held on a moment longer. He let her, and gave her a light squeeze.

Finally they parted, avoiding the other's gaze. "Go," he said. "You've got a train to catch!"

"Right," she said. "It was nice seeing you!" She waved as she quickly left the small cafe, lugging her laptop over her shoulder.

Something buzzed against her leg. Rory slowly opened her eyes. The scenery was slowly drifting by outside the window as the sun dipped lower in the sky. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the call-display.

"Hello?" She mumbled sleepily.

"So about this sequel idea..."

She smiled to herself.