(for disclaimers, etc. - see 1.)

21. Sleigh Rides and Significant Glances
'Verse: The Runaways
Date/Timeline: December 2011

When Lorelai said she had something super fun to share with the kids, neither Rory or Jess knew quite what to expect. With Christmas so close, it could be anything from new hand-made stockings to gifts she just couldn't wait any longer to give. They really could not have guessed what it actually was.

"Pictures?" Jack frowned as he was pulled closer to his grandma on the couch, Tori being dragged up into Lorelai's lap to see too.

"You see who the people are in the pictures?" she asked, looking between the kids.

They were only six and four, but they knew their parents when they saw them, the both of them yelling and cheering at the realisation of it.

Rory looked to Jess and they shared a look before moving around the couch to peer at the photographs themselves. Rory was not surprised by her husband's initial reaction.

"Huh."

"Oh, wow," she said herself. "This is..."

"The Bracebridge Dinner," Jess finished for her. "I didn't even know..."

"That stealthy camera lady had you both framed?" said Lorelai, grinning too much. "Oh, yeah, I saw you two, looking at each other when you thought nobody was looking at you. Well, I was watching. I saw, Mr Sneaky Looks and Little Miss Heart Eyes when the boyfriend's back was turned. Grandma's not so dumb!" she said, pointing that last remark at the kids who both assured her they knew that already.

"Ten years," said Rory then, so soft that she was not surprised only Jess heard her, especially since Jack, Tori, and Lorelai had since dissolved into silly tickling games and crazy laughter by now. "That day, the Bracebridge Dinner, it was ten years ago."

Jess looked as if he was about to say it couldn't be true, before realisation seemed to dawn. "I guess it was. Wow, that's a crazy thought."

"Tell me about it. Back then, I was with Dean and you..."

"I was busy being a wiseass, making Luke's life miserable, and hating everybody I met in this town... well, except for you."

Rory smiled at that. "You were also getting into fist-fights with people like Chuck Presby, and jumping into moving horse-drawn sleighs," she reminded him.

Jess literally face-palmed. "It's a miracle I didn't get myself killed, one way or another," he admitted, even as he hugged her closer, "but it was worth the effort, to get the attention of the most incredible girl I had ever met my whole life."

"Jess." Rory shook her head. "Why couldn't you have tried saying stuff like that back then? It would've been so much easier."

"I don't know," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Somehow pranks and wisecracks seemed easier, but I think I got my point across in the end. I mean, helping you win the snowman competition didn't do me any harm, right?"

Rory's eyes widened a little at that particular revelation. "So, it was you!"

Immediately, Jess shushed her, pulling her further away from the couch. "You seriously wanna break it to your mom that her winning streak did not start as early as she thinks it did? Far as I know, she still believes that fancy snowman fell down all by itself and I really don't want a pissed mother-in-law for Christmas."

With a sigh, Rory put her arms up around his neck and nodded her agreement. "Fine, we won't say anything, but since I know now, officially, can't I at least thank you?"

"Any way you want," Jess assured her, smiling in anticipation of the kiss Rory happily gave to him.