The muses are with me, still! Please read and review…

Girls in bikinis, 2.0

"Chinese, pizza, Red vines, popcorn, m&m's…" Tristan looked at the food spread out on the coffee table in amazement.

"You can't be serious! One person cannot possibly eat this much food and watch a movie!" he exclaimed. Rory looked at the spread and shook her head.

"It's movie night! We discuss the selection over the Chinese, enjoy the popcorn during the first feature because popcorn has to be freshly popped or it isn't any good." She waved her hand in the direction of the pizza. "The pizza can be easily reheated to serve as the second course, which we eat for the second feature, thereby reserving the Red vines and the m&m's for dessert to close out the entertainment portion of the evening." She said proudly. Movie night was a sacred Gilmore tradition.

Tristan shook his head and laughed softly. Rory Gilmore was proving to be such a delightful mystery. The polished, professional journalist, the on-the- go career woman, the avid reader, the movie junkie… each facet of her personality deepened his attraction. He picked up the pile of DVDs and began flipping through them.

"Enigma?"

"A great movie about the code breakers at Bletchley Park in England, during World War II."

"Four versions of 'Pride and Prejudice?"

"To compare and contrast. The oldest version I have features Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy. Then, there is a BBC version, actually the very first movie version of the story that I ever watched. Next is the quintessential boxed set with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, and finally we have the latest, with Matthew Macfadyen as Darcy. I like his take on the character. He plays Mr. Darcy as shy and insecure rather than proud." Rory offered as she moved about the room.

"The Specialist?"

"One should always have a Sly Stallone movie in ones repertoire."

"Why not 'Rocky'?"

"Too mass appeal."

"The Iron Giant?"

"One of the last old style animation movies made, with a great jab at Cold War politics. The voice talent is great in this movie."

"Beach Blanket Bingo?"

"Oh, yes! Let's have a Frankie and Annette night!" Rory squealed and grabbed the pile from his hands.

"Have you ever seen any of these?" she asked

"Actually, no." Rory stared at him in disbelief.

"Never?" she asked in awed tones

"Never." He admitted. She was adorable.

"I can't believe you are beach movie virgin." She laughed and popped the DVD into the player. She tugged Tristan onto the couch and dove into the vegetable low mein.

"You have to suspend your disbelief that there was no sex going on in any of these situations. That, and that Annette ever really got her hair wet…" Tristan laughed out loud, then shaking his head, picked up a carton and began to eat.

"I cannot believe how cheesy those movies were." He said, when the last movie ended.

"Of course they're cheesy, that is what makes them exceptional! I think that they were made to comfort the parents of that particular generation. Most of them didn't have a clue about what was really going on with their kids."

"I can't believe we ate that much!" he groaned as he stretched

"See?" she said smugly. There were only a few slices and some m&m's left.

"Now, you have no left overs" he pointed out.

"That's okay. I am actually heading back to Stars Hollow for a couple of days. I haven't seen Mom in what feels like forever, and I can have some face time with Lane." She related as she moved about the room.

"Who's Lane?"

"Lane and I have been best friends since we were in kindergarten" Rory smiled. "She's a drummer in "Hep Alien", her husband Zack is a guitarist in the band and they have twin boys who are now, let's see, five!" Oh my God, I cannot believe they are five already!" she stopped and stared at Tristan.

He grinned and shook his head slightly.

"What?" she asked gently.

"You have life long friends. It just reinforces my opinion."

"What opinion is that?"

"That you are the perfect person. They should clone you."

"I am not perfect." Rory said, slightly flustered.

"I didn't mean that you are without flaws." Tristan continued softly. "I think you are perfect, because you have flaws. It makes you fascinating. I wouldn't have a snowballs' chance in hell if you didn't have flaws."

"What do you mean?" Rory whispered

"I can't compete with 'perfect', not now, not with all that has happened. I am trying. Have patience, and maybe you'll see someone you like." He said.

"I do see someone I like." Rory admitted.

"So do I." He grinned and kissed her.

Tristan drove away, happy with how he had handled himself. He kept his surging desire in check, kissed Rory a few more times, then said goodnight. When she said she would let him know when she got back exultation flared inside him. The ball was in her court now. The "Second Date" as extended as it was, was now finished. She would make the next move. He patted his breast pocket, touching the talisman he carried with him- his grandfather's words.

"I think it's going to be good Grandfather." He whispered.