Jess set her coffee cup down as she heard the doorbell ring. She walked towards the front door wondering what Nick was up to. He hadn't rung the doorbell or even knocked since he was 9 years old. Smiling she grabbed the knob, pulling the door open and found herself face to face with what looked to be at least 3 dozen white roses. "NICK! They're gorgeous!" she squealed and held her arms out. Her smile faded when she found Dylan standing behind the flowers. "Well, I'm not Nick, but I'm glad you like them Jessie." He replied, setting the flowers in her open arms. Jess stepped back, flinching slightly at the nickname she hated when he called her Jessie. "Dylan…what are…I mean, why…" she stuttered slightly as he stepped through the doorway, laughing. "Surprise gorgeous." Dylan leaned forward and kissed her, then continued into the living room. "So, where's mom?" he asked as he dropped down into a chair. Jess followed him and set the flowers down on the coffee table between them as she sat on the couch. "She's working today. Dylan, why are you here? You have a show in a week." Dylan nodded, "Yes I do. I stopped by your place to leave something for you and well, I overheard some of the conversation you had with Jenna." His face grew serious as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. "And since you hadn't called, I thought you and I should talk."
Jess grew pale as she listened to him. "You heard…what did you hear Dylan?" "Well, from the little I did overhear, our engagement seems to be off and you have gone back to Nick." Dylan made the comment matter-of-factly, with little emotion from his voice. Jess sat shocked at the statement, her mind reeling with all the things she had planned to say that she now found she couldn't. Dylan sat silent for a few moments, watching her, internally relishing the uncomfortable look on her face. Externally he smiled and stood, walking around the table to sit beside her on the couch. Taking her hand, he played with the diamond ring on her finger and looked up at her, his eyes focused on the glittering stone. He looked up and Jess watched as a tear slowly rolled down his cheek. "Oh Dylan…" she breathed softly and reached up to brush the tear away. He sat back, quickly brushing the offending droplet from his face and forced a smile, "It's okay Jess, it is. I've thought a lot about it and I realized that we fell out of love a while ago, it's just that neither of us wanted to admit it I suppose. I knew you still loved him; even after everything that happened, you never stopped. You tried to move on, but I'm not a man who'll settle for placing second." He smiled lightly and brushed a stray auburn hair from her cheek. "I'm okay with this. All I want is for you to be happy; granted, I would have rather it been with me. I think we've made an amazing team, but if happiness for you is with Nick, then be with him."
Jess sat mute, listening to his words, not believing what she was hearing. Where was the anger? Her eyes searched his, looking for the slightest hint of the anger she'd expected to be boiling just below the surface, but found nothing. She chewed her lower lip lightly, still trying to find words, and still coming up with nothing. "Now," Dylan stood at the word and paced over to the window, turning to face her, "I have one request." "Yes?" Jess asked softly. "The show is in a week, I had planned it for a surprise, but since circumstances have changed the surprise really isn't that appropriate now." "Surprise?" Jess questioned him, watching him curiously. "The final gown…the gown I had designed originally for you to wear at our wedding…I want you to model it." Jess stood quickly, shaking her head, "Dylan…I…I shouldn't. It wouldn't seem right." "No, Jess, the dress was made with you in mind. It was my gift to you and I still want it to be that. But it's, if I might be so humble to say so, my best design so far in my career. And I want you to show it…please. It wouldn't be right for anyone else to wear it." Jess walked over to him, grasping his hands in her own, and smiled up at him, nodding. "Okay Dylan. But I have to tell you one more thing…this is my final show as well. I'm quitting modeling and coming home." Dylan smiled back and lightly kissed her forehead, "well then, you'll just have to go out with a bang won't you."