Good to be back… hope you enjoy…

            Rory jumped up and started cheering. "Go! Go! Go! Go!… GGGGGGOOOAAALLLLLL!!!!" She started doing her silly little victory dance that she had made up especially for the soccer team. She fell back on the living room couch and watched Tristan on tape giving high fives to his team members. Without realizing it Rory's eyes glazed over and a goofy smile plastered her face.

            "EXCUSE ME!" Lorelei ran a hand in front of her daughter's face smiling widely. She hadn't missed the look in Rory's eye, nor the smile. She recognized it as the look she had often given Chris when they had been together.

            Rory's head snapped up. "Hi Mom. How long have you been standing there?"

            "Long enough to see the retarded victory dance."

            Rory sighed and let her head drop to the back of the couch. "I was just recapping the game so I could put the finishing touches on the article."

            "Sure, sure. You weren't watching to see those gorgeous sweaty Chilton men."

            "Mom. I'm going to Lane's. I'll be back for dinner."

            "Fine. Just meet me at Luke's then. Seven sharp."

            Rory grabbed her jacket and ran out the door.

            "Now you are all mine." Lorelei jumped over the couch and pressed play on the remote. She watched in awe as the soccer team ran back up the field.

Ten minutes later

            "Mrs. Robinson is bored now." Lorelei shut off the TV and went to find something to occupy herself until seven.

Large Bedroom in Hartford

            "Thanks Nana. I knew I could count on you. Tomorrow at two then. Great. I love you too. Bye." Tristan threw the phone on the bed and began to walk toward  the kitchen.             "Nana huh?" Gino stood in the doorway blocking the hall. "You're pathetic. You know that. Rory Gilmore would never ever date someone like you. I've been here a month and I can see that. Why do you leave the cherry popping to the master, eh? It'd save you the embarrassment, the heartache."

            "Get the fuck out of my way you Italian grease ball. You don't want me to mess up that pretty little face of yours." Tristan took a few steps toward him with a violent look in his eye.

            Gino smirkingly put his hands up in surrender. "Just trying to save a pal from that kind of torture. You know you're going to lose. Anyway, have fun at your little luncheon. Tell Rory I'll see her after school on Monday. She still has so much to learn." He walked back toward the west wing where he was staying… smiling at his cleverness the entire way.
           

Sunday… One O'Clock… Door Bell

            "Mom, can you get that? I can't find my other shoe."

            "Sure hun. Try the cupboard by the sink." Lorelei swung open the door and met Tristan's smiling face with her own. "Hey Studdly. How much would it cost to get you to permanently carry me around?"

            He was about to reply when Rory ran into the entranceway. "Sorry shoe dilemma." She smiled at him.

            Lorelei held her daughter up as she fastened the buckle. "Where'd you find it hunny?"

            "It was in the fridge. I was cleaning it out and something slimy and furry and brown and big crawled out of the leftover moo shoo. My shoe was the closest thing. Then the phone rang and I had to look for that and I forgot about the entire thing." Lorelei listened intently knowing that Rory was being completely serious. Tristan however was having a hard time containing his reaction. "Ready?"

            He nodded trying to get his extremely large grin under control. He led her to the car and opened the door for her.

            Someone looked on from the end of the driveway as they sped away. The bushes covered him so he could not be seen. He shook his head in distaste. 'Kirk was right.'