Disclaimer: They still aren't mine.

A/N: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! I know it's been a while. Anyway it's been a rough couple of months. Also from here on out I have had to write the story as I ran out of the already written part. But thanks to Jamie who was my beta for this as well. Now back to the action and the Birthday surprise.

The Birthday from Heaven.

The Apartment

Tristan and Rory woke up on the morning before Rory's birthday. Rory still had no idea what was in store for her. In fact she hadn't even packed for herself. Tristan had packed some stuff that she might like to have, taking into account her favorite clothes. The suitcases had been stashed in his car the night before. Now all that remained was getting Rory out of bed. Tristan showered giving Rory extra time to sleep. He then walked into her room and gently shook her awake.

"Hey, sleepy head it's time to wake up." Tristan said as Rory groggily rubbed sleep from her eyes.

"To early." Came a muffled protest, as Rory pulled the covers over her head.

"If you want your birthday present you have to get up." Tristan told her which got her to peek out from under the covers. "We are going somewhere so get ready and meet me in the living room."

"Fine." Rory responded, getting up from the bed and heading to the bathroom for a shower.

Twenty minutes latter Rory was showered and dressed, ready to concur the day. She was a little curious as to what Tristan had planned, knowing only that they where going somewhere. That could mean anything. Rory headed into the living room where she smelled fresh coffee.

"You made coffee." Rory stated.

"Well, I knew that if I was going to wake you up this early I had to at least make coffee." Tristan told her handing her a coffee mug. "But drink fast we have quite a drive ahead of us."

"Really. So are you going to tell me where we are going?" Rory asked him, gulping down the coffee.

"No, it's a surprise." Tristan told her, but upon seeing her pout added, "All I will say is that it's a good thing you don't have class today."

"Fine be all cryptic. See if I care. This better be good." Rory told him; dissatisfied with the answer she was given. "I'm done so lets go."

"Fine, I am already." Tristan said walking to the door.

30 minutes later they were on the freeway, heading toward Stars Hollow. Tristan couldn't get Rory to stop asking him where they were going. Because of this he decided to stop for what would be the first of many coffee breaks.

"Why are we getting off the freeway? This is why it's a good thing I don't have class? We have only been gone like 25 minutes." Rory protested.

"This is just a stop along the way." Tristan told her as they pulled up to a coffee shop. This of course got a response form Rory.

"I take it all back. I love stopping, it's my best friend." She said as she bounced out of the car.

A couple hours and several coffee cups later the pair were enjoying the nice car ride. Rory in true Gilmore fashion was hyper and rambling, but Tristan didn't mind, in fact he found that to be one of her more endearing qualities. However it was nearing the state line for Conneticut and although he had taken a way that he was sure she wouldn't know he pulled off the road for the distraction that would insure that she had no idea where they were going.

"Are we stopping for coffee again?" Rory asked, a gleam in her eyes.

"No, actually we are here." Tristan said, getting out of the car and pulling out a picnic basket.

"Wow. All this for a picnic. Tristan you shouldn't have." Rory told him.

"It's no problem." Tristan said in response. Then noticing her look added, "Don't worry its inside, just to resemble the 'Great Outdoors' there are no bugs."

"That's so sweet. This is one of the best presents anyone had gotten me." Rory told him.

"Well I try. This isn't your present though. Before you say anything I wanted to. " Tristan explained.

Tristan knew that this would be enough to through her off track. The lunch went smoothly with small talk and a food fight that left them both in a fit of laughter. When it came time to pack up and get back in the car Tristan pulled out a blindfold.

"What is that for?" Rory asked him.

"It's for you. There is one more part of the surprise that needs to stay that way." Tristan said as he tied the blindfold over her eyes. This was an important part of the plan to keep it a secret. After he was done he helped her back into the car and drove off.

1 hour later

Rory was growing tired of not being able to see. She knew that Tristan was trying to make her birthday special but, still, she liked her sight.

"Are we almost there?" Rory whined causing Tristan to chuckle.

"Yeah we'll be there in about 5 minutes." Tristan told her as he took the turn off that would take them to Stars Hollow.

"Where is it that we are going to be?" She asked him hopefully.

"What would be the point of the blindfold if I told you that?" Tristan countered.

"I guess there really wouldn't be a need for it." Rory said pouting; she hated to be proven wrong.

"Don't worry, we are stopping, but don't take off your blind fold, I have to get you inside first." Tristan told her, knowing that she would have torn it off the second he told her they were there.

Tristan went around to Rory's side and opened up the door. He helped her out despite her grumbling and led her up a small set of stairs. This of course she had to respond to. Proving just how observant she really was.

"You know I like the amount of 5 steps to a building, my house has 5 steps leading up to it. I guess that's why it has always been comforting to me."

"Well its good to know." Tristan said, as he knocked on the door. He had already told Lorelai to be quite when opening the door; he wanted Rory all the way inside before she knew where she was. True to her word she was silent, but was smiling ear to ear. Rory was lead inside.

"You know this smells the same as my house does…" Rory commented as the blindfold was removed. She then screamed, " MOM!"

"Mini-me Happy Birthday!" Lorelai said as the two hugged.

"How did you plan this with out me knowing?" Rory asked her stunned she hadn't caught on.

"I didn't he did." Lorelai said pointing to Tristan.

"This was your idea?" Rory asked surprised beyond believe.

"Yeah, all of it. Down to every coffee house." Tristan told her.

"This means so much to me. Thank you so much." Rory said as she gave him a hug.

"No problem Mary. I hope you enjoy it. You deserve the weekend to relax anyway. " He told her.

"But we can only stay the day I have class tomorrow." She said sadly.

"I took care of that as well. I have some one taping it for you. I know how much you like hear the actual lecture." Tristan assured her.

"That was so great of you." Rory said.

"Okay enough of this mushy stuff. I want to see my baby. And so does Luke." Lorelai interrupted.

"But wait I don't have clothes to wear." Rory ever practical stated.

"I took care of that too." Tristan said. "With a little help from Lorelai."

"I really can't believe you guys planned all this behind my back." Rory stated.

"Well I hadn't seen you in forever and we needed to pick a dress anyway so when Bible Boy here suggested it, I couldn't say no." Lorelai said.

"I think that this is one of the best Birthday presents I have ever had." Rory said.

"Who said this was your present?" Tristan asked her.

"No, you I can't accept anything else, this is too much." Rory protested.

"If she doesn't want it can I have it?" Lorelai asked half jokingly.

"No, Lorelai, Rory will take it. I can't return it." Tristan told them.

"Fine but it better not be big." Rory said in defeat knowing she wouldn't win this argument.

"Come on we have to get going so little time and so much to do!" Lorelai said as she pulled Rory out of the house.