Chapter 11: The Difference

Lorelai prances into the living room, throwing confetti around haphazardly. Sookie is buzzing around in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on Rory's birthday cake, which is in the shape of an oompa-loompa this year. Lorelai stops her random showering of colored plastic bits and looks around, as if a thought has just occurred to her.

"Sookie, where's Rory?"

"In her bedroom, I think."

"Ah." Snapping her fingers, Lorelai hurries toward Rory's bedroom door, knocking on it lightly. "Rory, are you finished getting changed?"

"You can't make me wear this."

"I totally can," Lorelai snickers, jiggling the doorknob. "Now open up, I wanna see." After a long groan and a moment of silence, the door slowly opens up and Lorelai shrieks in glee. Sookie races over, giggling at the sight before her. Rory tips her brown top hat in their direction obligingly, frowning slightly.

"Lorelai, it's exact! Except for the hair. You couldn't find a Gene Wilder wig?"

"It's very hard to find anything that resembles that man's hair," Lorelai explains in frustration. "I tried."

"I feel so stupid."

"Oh, Rory...you can't blame that on the costume..." Lorelai teases, walking toward her daughter with a sly grin. Rory rolls her eyes. "But seriously, you don't want to wear it? I thought you'd be into this! You were when I thought of the idea."

'"I know I was, I just...I'm not in the mood to dress like Willy Wonka tonight," Rory sighs. "I'm not in a Wonka mindset."

"Maybe you need more sugar."

"I've had tons."

"Still not enough."

"Come on, Rory, you can lick the frosting spoon," Sookie offers, going back to the table and holding up a plastic spatula covered in bright green frosting. The look on Rory's face declines the offer without the need for words. Lorelai's smile droops, and she reaches out and touches her daughter's arm comfortingly.

"Is something wrong, hon?"

"No, nothing's wrong," Rory replies, tugging on the sleeve of her bright blue waist coat. "I just..."

"Want to worry needlessly about all the endless possibilities of what could go wrong tonight? Yeah, I know. Well, stop thinking about it. We did that all last night and frankly, I'm bored. So let's just stop fretting about how awkward things will be with Tristan after your little jealousy bit yesterday-"

"I was not-"

"We had that argument last night too, no need for deja vu, and yes, you were. And in addition, there's no need to worry about Dean causing problems with Tristan because the second that tall oafish lad walks in that door, I am going to warn him against it like no man has ever been warned before."

"Please don't use the word oaf to describe Dean. It's not very complimentary," Rory pleads and Lorelai shrugs in response.

"Guess it's not..." She gestures for Rory to come out of her bedroom and follow her to the living room. "But your guests are going to be here soon. You have to see the little party stuff I got going on here."

Rory follows her mother to the living room, where Lorelai picks up a small basket from the slew of baskets strewn about the room.

"I didn't quite know where to put 'em until I handed 'em out," she laughs. "But aren't they cute?" Rory takes a basket from Lorelai and looks at it.

"Willy Wonka brand candy...stroke of genius."

"Everyone gets one. Oo, and even better..." Lorelai gestures to the laundry basket sitting by the door which has been converted to a makeshift costume bin. "We've got cowboy hats and waterguns for the Michaels, chocolate suckers and liederhosen for the Augustus Galloops, chewing gum for the Violets, little golden wrapped chocolate eggs for the Veruca Salts...and of course, red scarves for our Charlies..."

"Red scarves, eh? I'd say the Charlie's got the short end of this deal. How do we decide who can take what?"

"We don't."

"We're going to have a lot of red scarves tomorrow, aren't we?"

"Ah, we'll find something fun to do with them, I'm sure," Lorelai claps her hands in delight. The door bell rings, bringing more clapping and the sound of Sookie shrieking from the kitchen.

"But the hor'douvres aren't ready!" A loud clatter arises and Sookie shrieks again. "And we now have pineapple upside down cake."

"Tristan! Why, you're the first one here. I never in a million years pegged you as an early bird," Lorelai grins as she throws open the front door. "And you're dressed casually. I never knew you owned a pair of jeans!"

"Rory advised me earlier this week that I dress like a slob or she'd never speak to me again," Tristan smiles, handing Lorelai a wrapped gift. "She said if I dressed like a Chiltonite, she'd have Luke throw me out."

"And he would have if she asked him to, so you made a wise decision," Lorelai replies, looking him up and down and taking in the dark but faded jeans, dark gray t-shirt and the unbuttoned red shirt he had thrown over it. A fisherman's hat with the Oasis logo covers his trademark disheveled hair. "Though I question the display of Oasis fanship you've got goin' on there," she taps his hat as she steps back to let him inside.

"Rory has already commented on that, no need to reiterate," Tristan starts, and opens his mouth as if to say something else. His voice trails off as Rory walks out of the living room into the foyer. "Hey, Birthday Girl," he greets her softly, a faint smile on his face. Rory smiles back almost shyly until a look from Lorelai prompts her to act.

"Hey, Tristan. Come on in," she gestures for him to follow her into the living room. Interested in seeing the drama unfold, Lorelai follows closely on Tristan's heels.

"Nice costume."

"Please refrain from comment," Rory rolls her eyes, taking off her top hat.

"Okay, well, this is for you," Tristan hands Rory another wrapped gift and Lorelai raises an eyebrow, holding up the gift she has in her hand.

"Then who, pray tell, is this for?"

"It's for you, just like you said."

"For me? Tristan DuGrey, you are just the sweetest thang," she drawls in a heavy southern accent, then plops onto the couch happily and begins tearing the paper open. "Presents are such fun." With a gasp, she lets the paper fall to the floor and holds up the box that was underneath it. "Where did you find these?"

"I heard from an anonymous source that you wanted them and I happen to know someone who knows someone. So...there they are," Tristan explains, grinning widely. Rory quickly moves to look at her mother's gift.

"Oh my god, you actually found them? I was just kidding!"

"What's going on, what's going on? Hey Tristan sweetie." Sookie bustles in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on what apparently is a slightly singed apron. "What's all the hubabaloo?"

"I have Mod Squad salt and pepper shakers," Lorelai informs her, clutching the gift to her chest and looking at Tristan as if he had given her the world. She mocks wiping a tear of joy from her eye. "My life is complete."

"Oo, Lorelai. Now you just need the Remington Steele napkin rings and you'll be done!" Sookie laughs, taking the box from Lorelai. "I'll go put these on display for you." Lorelai looks up at Rory and Tristan for a moment, and then stands up.

"Thank you so much, Tristan. If you're trying to buy my motherly affection, you're doing a wonderful job." She hesitates a moment, glancing at Rory. "I'm going to go help Sook find the exact and perfect place for those shakers. Can't be too careful, you know." Another pause. "Rory, why don't you show Tristan the awful present your great-grandmother sent you? It's in your room." Lorelai turns to Tristan before walking to the kitchen. "You'll get a laugh out of it, I swear."

"Okay..." Rory replies, wondering just how much more obvious her mother could be without wearing a flashing neon billboard. She follows Lorelai to the kitchen and then goes into her room. Tristan walks in after her, glancing back into the kitchen at Sookie and Lorelai who are pretending to concentrate all their energies on shaker placement. Rory half-smiles and gently closes the door. Standing next to him for a moment, she looks up at him and meets his gaze. The tension was too much for either of them to take and both immediately move.

"So..." Rory mutters, moving toward her desk. Tristan sticks his hands in his pockets and rocks back and forth on his feet once or twice nervously.

"So..." he echoes, not sure where to start. "I came here early in hopes that we could maybe talk about...what happened in the hallway yesterday."

"And what happened?" Rory asks innocently, picking up a book off her desk and looking at the back cover. Tristan lets out a long deep breath.

"I was hoping perhaps you'd tell me."

"I have nothing to tell you," she states, sitting down on her bed. "Unless maybe there's something you'd like to tell me."

"Such as?"

"Why didn't you tell me about you and Gretchen? Why keep it a secret? And why treat me like you barely know me all week long? I felt like you were running away and I don't think I've done anything to deserve that. Have I?"

Tristan sits down next to her on the bed, turning his body toward hers.

"Nothing happened with me and Gretchen. We kissed last weekend at my parents' party, she wanted to go further and I didn't. That's all there was to it," Tristan informs her, taking off his hat and fiddling around with it nervously. "I don't understand why you would've had to know."

"Because...because...we're friends. And friends tell each other that kind of thing. They don't hide it."

"How did I hide it?"

Rory gets up, frustrated with her mind for fumbling for a response that didn't sound like a five year old's rationalization.

"You didn't not hide it. If you wanted to go out with Gretchen you should have mentioned something. Hearing about it by accident in the locker room is not a way that I want to find out information about my friends."

"Well, frankly, my love life is something that I'd rather not talk about with you," Tristan stands up and walks to her bookshelf, not looking at her. Rory watches him, crossing her arms in front of her chest and trying to get her ferociously confused mind in some semblance of order. A million different emotions were playing against one another and she had no idea what any of them meant. Part of her wanted to hit him and tell him how awful it made her feel to imagine his lips on Gretchen's, but saying that would mean opening up a door of a million possibilities, all of which centered around the fact she was beginning to realize her feelings for him weren't strictly friendly.

Tristan's eyes move over the countless titles on Rory's shelf, the letters swirling around and making no sense. He had hoped this would be easier, that perhaps she would just come out with some perfectly reasonable explanation that sounded like the truth. He had been hoping that Rory was jealous but had tried to prepare himself for every other option. Every word that came out of her mouth didn't serve to give him any kind of hope or closure. It was making him insane.

"I guess I just don't see why you would care," Tristan mumbles, closing his eyes.

"I care because I don't think Gretchen is good for you. I think you could do better."

"I sincerely doubt it," he replies, turning around to face her. He leans against the bookshelf and uses every last ounce of willpower to muster a smirk.

"You're trying to tell me that Gretchen Madison is the epitome of the perfect woman?" Rory snorts with contempt.

"No, I mean that I don't deserve better than that," Tristan replies honestly, taking Rory aback. Her mind scrambles hopelessly for something to say for a few moments before the right words come to her.

"You deserve ten million times more than that," Rory says quietly, her voice soft and gentle. She takes a step toward him, instantly wanting to touch him, reassure him that he was worth more than that to her.

"I don't deserve you," Tristan remarks simply, stopping Rory in her tracks. He allows his gaze to fall on her and she can see that he isn't teasing. Seeing her stunned expression, he quickly looks away wishing he hadn't been so blatantly stupid. "It doesn't matter though, cause nothing happened with Gretchen so there's really no reason for this conversation." Tristan takes a step toward the door. "Maybe we should just get back out there. I'm sure other people have arrived by now."

"I didn't hear the doorbell," Rory murmurs. Tristan pauses as she walks toward him, something in her voice catching him off guard.

"Well that's probably because your mom and Sookie are sitting on the front porch, eagerly pulling people inside, ripping gifts from their hands and throwing strange articles of-"

He is cut off by the surprising sensation of Rory's lips pressed against his. A jolt of electricity surges through his body and it takes a couple of seconds to even register that what was happening was real. For a second it's as if he can't get his hands to work or his lips to respond, a momentary paralysis. Tristan feels her start to pull away when he finally gains control, kissing her back passionately and pulling her close.

Rory's mind is blank. Not blank, but rather thinking about nothing but the intense feeling that ran throughout every last little inch of her body the second her mouth hit his. Before he even started kissing her back. Now, with his arms around her, his hands in her hair and his tongue desperately dueling with hers, Rory could swear that the only reason her knees hadn't given out was because he was holding her up. She had never been kissed like this; her whole being is kissing him back, every nerve end tingling with arousal. It is scary and exciting, the power of the moment bigger than both of them.

Her fingers run through his hair, which is softer and finer than she had expected. Daringly, her hands slip across his broad shoulders and down his muscled chest. The spark had finally been ignited; all she wants to do is touch him. He presses her against her bookcase, jostling it and sending a few large volumes of poetry to the floor. Tristan still can't believe it. It is more amazing than he had ever dreamed. She feels utterly perfect in his arms, her mouth meeting his eagerly. It is nothing like the first time they kissed. She wouldn't run away crying this time.

"Rory, Dean's here!"

But she would still run away.

Rory jumps from Tristan's embrace like he had suddenly burned her and the color drains from her face.

"Oh my god," she turns away, bringing a hand to her forehead. Tristan leans his head against the bookcase, closing his eyes and bracing himself for the onslaught. But it is quiet. His eyes flicker open in time to see Rory take a deep breath and walk over and lock the door. "I'll be right there, Mom, just one second!"

She turns to Tristan, still out of breath and her eyes lit up like sparkling diamonds.

"Can we just pretend that this didn't happen until tomorrow?" She asks earnestly. "I just...this is...huge. Bigger than huge. And Dean is right outside and...I don't know what I just did. I mean, I know very well what I just did but..."

"We can Scarlett O'Hara it and deal with it tomorrow, Rory," Tristan says, trying not to let it upset him. What did he expect?

"Okay..." Rory looks around her room as if not sure what to do, then walks to the door and opens it for only a second before closing it again. "Just..."

"I won't say anything to Dean," Tristan mutters, his voice tight. Rory frowns at him.

"I was going to say that you need to know...that I know that I kissed you. This isn't..."

"A brush-off?" Tristan supplies and Rory nods.

"I just can't do this right now, not tonight. I just need to pretend everything is normal and freak out later."

"Seems rational."

"Tristan..."

"Okay," Tristan can't help but chuckle at the exasperated look on her face. "I'm surprised you're so calm," he whispers in her ear as she opens the door and she visibly shivers.

"I'm as far from calm as a person can be," she responds before pushing him away. Plastering a huge smile on her face, she walks into the kitchen and quickly proceeds into the living room, hoping to distract Dean from noticing Tristan following her out of the bedroom. "Hey Dean," Rory greets him, turning her face casually so his hello kiss lands on her cheek. "Let me take your jacket. There's all kinds of crazy stuff my mom has going on so just grab something from that bin and act like you're enjoying it or she'll probably do something to you."

"Okay," Dean laughs as Rory flits away to put his jacket in her bedroom. "How much sugar has she had?"

Rory breezes past Tristan, avoiding his eyes, and goes into her bedroom. Lorelai shimmies over to Tristan and tugs on his arm lightly.

"I won't ask why you two had the door closed or why I heard it lock, or why it took you two so long to come out, because I am a cool mom and won't humiliate my daughter at her birthday party, but I do advise that you wipe off that lovely shade of lipstick you have on," she whispers and then quickly moves away as Tristan's hand immediately goes to his mouth. "Who wants something to drink?"

Lorelai is about to go into the living room and repeat her question when the doorbell rings and she changes direction.

"Hey, there!" She greets Luke as she throws open the door. "You're prompt."

"Not all of us like to be fashionably late," Luke smirks at her.

"Am I late?"

"This is your house, Lorelai, you can't be late. I was referring to your general attitude toward arrival times."

"I could leave and come back and then I could be late to my own-" Luke cuts her off, giving her a quick kiss on the lips and then walking into the house.

"Where's Rory?" He is pulled back into the doorway before he can go any further.

"That was too short, let me do that properly," Lorelai grins and pulls him to her, kissing him passionately. She laughs gently as she pulls away. "That was more like it."

"Hello, Lorelai." Her mother's droll voice cuts in and Lorelai turns away from Luke to find both of her parents standing on the front steps, barred from entering the house by her daughter and Luke's public display of affection. "Hello, Luke." Emily nods at him, raising a critical eyebrow at Lorelai. "Are we early?"

"No, no, right on time!" Lorelai laughs nervously, stepping aside to let them walk inside. "You're actually one of the first people here."

"Well that was my fault," Richard states, straightening his collar. "Your mother was aiming for fashionably late but I insisted on leaving on time."

"I was not trying to be late," Emily shakes her head, taking off her overcoat and hanging it up herself. "Don't be silly, Richard. Now where is Rory? Richard, why don't you go find her."

"It's not that big of a house, Mom, she'll be right back," Lorelai says, rolling her eyes.

"Can you blame me for wanting to see my granddaughter? It is her party, anyway, she should be greeting people at the door like a proper hostess."

"Rory! Get out here!" Lorelai yells at the top of her lungs. Rory appears almost immediately. "Your grandparents are here," Lorelai tells her unamusedly.

"Hi Grandma, hi Grandpa," Rory says sweetly with a smile, hugging both of them separately. "Thank you both so much for coming."

"Oh now, Rory, we wouldn't miss your birthday," Richard replies with a good-natured smile.

"I see Dean is here," Emily observes, nodding at the young boy from his place on the living room couch. He gets up and starts to walk over but is stopped by Tristan walking out from the kitchen and catching Emily's full attention. "Why, it's the DuGrey boy," she says not-so-quietly to Richard, then turns to Rory. "I didn't know the two of you were such good friends."

"Mom, Rory told you about the newspaper, remember?" Lorelai reminds her, knowing full well that she does remember. Tristan stops beside Rory and flashes his most charming smile at Emily.

"Hello, Mrs. Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore. Nice to see you again." Lorelai makes a gagging gesture at him and he almost laughs out loud.

"It is certainly a pleasure, young man," Richard turns toward him. "You have to tell your grandfather to come down to the cluib more often. I do miss playing golf with him. Though he always was a bit of a sore loser," He chuckles.

"You played golf with Tristan's grandfather?" Rory comes into the conversation.

"I used to, yes, but I think after my game improved, Janlen decided to take a break from playing against me," Richard jokes. Tristan laughs along, slightly fakely.

"Janlen really is a lovely man, Tristan. You're very fortunate to have him so close," Emily says, patting Tristan's hand before looking to Rory. "Rory, dear, why don't you take your friend into the living room and sit down? And Richard, why don't you take Lorelai's friend here and do the same?" Lorelai grimaces at her mother before finding herself being backed into the kitchen.

"What?" Lorelai mutters.

"What? Why were you kissing that man?"

"Damn it. I really thought that once you saw Tristan you were distracted enough to not have this conversation," Lorelai bemoans.

"Mrs. Gilmore! Hello!" Sookie races over, not realizing Emily was in the midst of pressuring Lorelai for information. "I didn't hear you come in! It's so good to see you!" She half-hugs Emily, who patronizingly pats her shoulder. "Would you like something to eat? I kind of had an accident with the crab dip so you don't want that, but I made these wonderful cheese wedges! And stuffed mushrooms!"

"Maybe in a minute, dear. Do you mind if I have a word in private with Lorelai?"

"Mom, it's okay, we can go in here," Lorelai cuts in before Sookie can reply. Grabbing her mother's forearm, she pulls her into the bathroom and closes the door.

"The bathroom, Lorelai? This is hardly the place to have a serious conversation."

"It's not going to be a conversation really. How about you just listen for a change? How about that?" Lorelai states, then continues so Emily can not protest. "Luke and I are together now. It happened quite awhile ago and quite honestly I didn't want to tell you because I knew this would be your reaction. But I'm in love with him and he's in love with me, and he's a really really good man, Mom. He's sweet to me and he loves Rory, and that's all that matters. So if you could just be supportive, that would be great."

"All right."

"And just because he's not...what? All right? Did you just say all right?"

"Yes, I did. And I should also add I told you so. But that would just be mean and you know that I am not mean, so I'll just forgo that pleasure," Emily smiles at Lorelai's stunned expression. "Though I would've appreciated you telling me before this so it wasn't such a surprise, and honestly, making out like teenagers on the front porch when your daughter's birthday party is going on? That's hardly mature behavior."

"We were hardly making out..."

"I should go back out there before your father thinks I've disappeared for good. Wouldn't want to give him hope, would we?" Emily says with lighthearted sarcasm, walking out of the bathroom. Lorelai stands there for a moment, still processing what had just occurred. Sookie pops her head in, looking at her best friend questioningly.

"Everything okay?"

"What? Oh...yeah. Surprisingly."

"What was the matter?"

"She saw Luke and I kissing and I kind of hadn't told her about it yet, so I figured...huge deal," Lorelai holds her hands apart wideyl. "But it was just a little deal," she holds two fingers up with a small amount of space between them, then shrugs. "She almost seemed...I don't know...kind of..."

"Happy for you?" Sookie supplies, ducking back into the kitchen. Lorelai walks out of the bathroom, a puzzled look on her face.

"Yeah...I think that might've been it...though it's never happened before so I'm not sure..." Shaking her head, she picks up a tray from the table and helps Sookie move the food into the living room, which is now slightly more crowded; Miss Patty, Maury and Babette, Andrew, Lane, and a few other townspeople had streamed in within a few seconds of one another. Putting her party face back on, she greets everyone with a huge smile and a light laugh. "Lane, isn't your mom coming?" She asks her daughter's best friend as she hands her a drink and Lane shakes her head no with a bright grin.

"I heard about this meeting in Hartford for Korean mothers to talk about the problems they're having with raising teenagers in today's world. Or rather, Tristan found out about it."

"Tristan, you devil you..." Lorelai winks at him and he laughs.

"All I did was take down a flier and give it to Lane," he brushes it off.

"Still...a Mrs. Kim-less evening? Lane, we ought to spike your punch and take you to a strip club."

"We're doing the second best thing," Rory interjects. Lorelai gives her daughter a questioning look.

"Henry is coming," Lane supplies excitedly. "This is going to be the best night ever! Thank the lord for the Hartford Korean Society!"

"Hallelujah, Babe," Lorelai raises a glass in toast and then downs it quickly. She hands a glass to Dean, who is sitting on the armrest next to Rory on the couch. "Here, Dean. Why don't you grab a pillow and sit on the floor? That has to be like the most uncomfortable seat in the entire world." She gestures for Rory to hand him a pillow. "Dad, you want anything to drink?" She offers Richard the tray but he passes.

"No thank you, Lorelai. I am fine. I could use one of those lovely stuffed mushrooms your friend Sookie has made, however. They smell absolutely delicious."

"I'll go get you a plate," Sookie chirps, turning to dash into the kitchen and nearly knocking over Babette. "Sorry!"

"That's okay, darlin'!" Babette waves her off before sitting down on Maury's lap. "Lorelai, baby, ya gotta get a bigger place to throw these shin-digs. Rory's just got too many friends, dontcha Rory?" The doorbell rings.

"And here come more of her admirers now," Miss Patty coos, motioning for Rory to stay where she is. Miss Patty goes to answer the door and moments later Mary and Henry walk into the packed room. Lane jumps up, knocking a present off of the table and nearly tripping over Andrew's loafers.

"Henry! Hey!" she exclaims as she stumbles. She stops in front of him and straightens herself out, laughing giddily. Lorelai sets a hand on Lane's shoulder, steadying her.

"Don't be scared Henry, it's all my fault. I spiked her punch."

"She did not," Lane tells Henry before grabbing his hand and heading out onto the front porch with him.

"That's what you think," Lorelai replies with an evil grin and Lane laughs again. Emily stares at her daughter, agape.

"Tell me you did not put alcohol in that young girl's drink, Lorelai."

"What if I don't tell you that? What if...I tell you to go invent a new dance move called the Siberian Steppe? What then?" People nearby chuckle but Emily does not look amused. Luke pats her on the shoulder gently.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Gilmore, Lane is completely sober," he informs her. "Lorelai is just being Lorelai."

"He says that like that's a bad thing," Lorelai snorts, looking at him.

"Thank you, Lucas, that's all I wanted to know." Emily walks to go sit down next to her husband and Lorelai cracks up.

"She called you Lucas."

"Oh well..."

"She called you Lucas. You are forever going to be called Lucas now, do you realize that?"

"I'll just correct her, Lorelai, it's not a big deal."

"The last maid they had? My mother called her by the wrong name for the entire time she worked there, no matter how many times I corrected her. You're screwed, Lucas," Lorelai pokes him and he rolls his eyes.

"One of these days..."

"One of these days what?" Lorelai prompts teasingly.

"One of these days I'm going to ask you to marry me and I'm not going to be kidding," Luke replies, wrapping his arms around her. Lorelai's face immediately sobers before a faint smile lights over her face.

"What makes you think I'm not going to ask you first?" She retorts, letting herself melt into his embrace.

Rory watches her mother and Luke from her place on the couch, smiling happily.

"That seems to be working really well," Tristan says, leaning in toward her.

"That it does," she nods. "They look perfect together."

Mary sits down on the floor next to Dean, pulling his attention away from the fact that Tristan and Rory are talking and he can't hear what they're saying.

"Hey, I'm Mary," she introduces herself.

"Hi," Dean says off-handedly before glancing back at Rory. He opens his mouth to say something to his girlfriend but Mary, not noticing that, continues her introduction.

"I'm one of Rory's friends from school, are you a friend from Stars Hollow?" She inquires good-naturedly. Dean looks back at her, obviously having missed what she just said, but not caring that much. Mary smiles gently, realizing the source of his distraction was the girl sitting just a few feet away on the couch. "I wouldn't bother."

"Excuse me?" Dean finally turns toward her completely, confused.

"Rory. She's the absolute best, but I wouldn't waste your time. She's completely gone on Tristan. And vice versa. All they have to do is realize it, it's almost funny. I wish Tristan wasn't into her...but...they just look so perfect together," Mary smiles, then stops, feeling incredibly awkward after Dean's expression falls. Rory looks toward Dean and sees Mary nervously trying to talk to him and realizes that she has been ignoring them both.

"Mary, hey!" Rory scooches over on the couch and then drops down to the floor next to Dean, her top hat falling off of her head. Tristan gets up and walks around the coffee table, sitting down on the floor next to Mary. "I see you've met Dean," she says, giving him a kiss on the cheek that seems as awkward as it does forced. The color drains out of Mary's face and her eyes widen, her mouth opening to speak but instead just gasping in air. Rory raises an eyebrow and looks at her friend quizzically. Tristan nudges her.

"Mar?"

"I'll be right back," she jumps up. "I suddenly feel like I'm going to be sick."

"Are you all right?" Tristan asks, all three of the teens on the floor whipping their heads around to see Mary dashing from the room. "She didn't look too good."

"We should go check on her," Rory starts to get up but Dean grabs her hand. Tristan sees that he's none too happy and sidesteps the land mine for Rory's sake.

"I'll go. Stay here," he tells her. "I'll be right back." He heads in the direction that Mary went, leaving Rory to be with Dean for the moment.

"Did you say something to Mary to make her upset?" Rory asks Dean and he throws his hands up defensively.

"I didn't say anything. She did all the talking," he mutters, looking away from Rory. Rory eyes him wearily and then looks in the direction that Mary and Tristan went, getting a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.


Everyone is gathered around the main area of the living room, watching as Rory opens up her birthday gifts. Richard looks on fondly from the armchair with Emily by his side as their granddaughter carefully opens up the small box in her hands. Sookie hovers nearby, waiting to see her reaction. Rory is sitting next to Lorelai on the couch, Dean still on the floor by her side. Tristan is sitting at the end of the coffee table, just next to Henry and Lane.

"It's beautiful, Sookie. You didn't have to do this for me. Thank you so much," Rory says gratefully as she runs her fingers over the delicate silver bracelet that Sookie had just given her. Sookie smiles in response, obviously thrilled that Rory likes it. "Thank you too, Jackson." Jackson shrugs with a grin, knowing that he deserved no credit. All he'd done was sign the card and bring her a fruit basket to go along with Sookie's gift.

Rory sets the thin jewlery box down on the coffee table and Lane hands her the next gift, momentarily pulling away from Henry's loose arm around her shoulder.

"That wrapping paper is great," Lorelai observes, eyeing the travel-themed wrapped package. "Whose is that?"

"It's from me," Tristan speaks up, and Rory could've sworn he blushed slightly as he adjusted the hat on his head. "It's just something I found in the mall."

"It's really awesome," Rory remarks.

"You could've just bought her the wrapping paper, sweetie, and she would've been thrilled," Miss Patty says, chortling with laughter.

"Gilmore Girls are easy to impress, right, doll?" Babette practically swats Lorelai's arm as she heads back to her seat with Maury by the window. Luke snorts and in turn Lorelai swats him. Dean shifts in his seat, trying incredibly hard not to say a word. The whole night every sentence that popped into his head was an insult for Tristan and he knew the second he let one escape Rory would be pissed off. Tugging at a rip in the hem of his jeans he tries to focus on the pattern in the carpet instead of Rory's beaming face as she continued to look at the pictures of Prague, Paris, London and Amsterdam which decorated her gift.

"Oh, open it already, Ror, we're anxious to see what Richie here bought you," Lane teases, sticking her tongue out at Tristan. He rolls his eyes at her as Rory laughs.

"Okay, okay. It's sad though, I don't want to rip the-"

"Just open it, Rory," Dean demands a little too loudly and then looks back down at the carpet sheepishly. Rory is flustered for a moment and then wordlessly tears the paper off of the boxed gift. She stands to take the present out of the box and then a smile of delight caresses her face.

"Wow, Tristan, what is all this?" She asks, sitting back down and setting the large, packed basket in her lap.

"Take a look for yourself," he replies, happy that she seems to like it. Lorelai leans over and starts poking through everything with her. There was a travel coffee mug with Rory's name engraved on it, a package of Starbuck's coffee and a gift certificate to Barney's, a package of Twinkies, a bag full of arcade tokens, a mix CD, a package of batteries, a journal, a bookmark, a gift certificate to Andrew's Book Shop, a framed picture of Lane, Mary, Rory and Tristan holding up their newspaper, a small wrapped package with a tiny bow and oddly, a little figurine of Bugs Bunny dressed as the devil.

"Oh my god," Rory laughs as she sees the figurine and she picks it up. Dean looks at her oddly. "Totally."

"That's what I thought," Tristan nods while laughing with her, the two of them obviously taking part in some private joke.

"That's so great!" Rory giggles.

"I won't even ask about the Looney Tune devil, so, hey, what are the batteries for?" Lorelai inquires, holding them up. Rory grins sheepishly.

"I'm always complaining that my batteries die in the middle of a bus ride home and I don't have any with me so then I'm bored and music-less."

"Well, these ought to hold you for at least a little while," Lorelai states, putting the twelve-pack back into the large basket.

"It's awful when the music just stops, isn't it?" Maury adds, tilting his sunglasses down his nose. "Ain't nothing less cool than taking a ride without being able to groove."

"It sure stinks all right. One time we took a trip to New York and the tape player broke...he just went bananas," Babette cries, acting pained by just the memory.

"I'm sorry for the gift certificate to the book store but I looked on your shelf and I just couldn't think of a single book that you would want that you didn't already have-" Tristan starts.

"It's wonderful, Tristan, thank you."

"You forgot something, Rory dear," Emily nods toward the basket.

"Tristan, this is too much stuff, you really shouldn't have."

"It's nothing, Rory, really," Tristan tries to let it slide, feeling awkward underneath the death glare Dean is giving him. "I wanted to."

"Besides, he can afford it," Henry laughs. Lane tilts her head up to look at him.

"Hey, so can you, so you better have put your money where you mouth is there, buddy." Lane pauses. "Unless you're saving up to buy me a drum set. In which case, go you!" Henry smiles and kisses Lane on the cheek playfully. "God I'm glad my mom isn't here."

"Me too," Henry agrees wholeheartedly and everyone laughs. Rory finishes unwrapping the small gift and clicks open the velvet jewelery case with a small gasp. Dean quickly whips his head around to look.

"It's the Irish symbol for friendship," Tristan explains as Rory lifts the silver necklace and Claddaugh charm out of the box. It sparkles in the light, the tiny emerald between the small hands glistening.

"This is amazing...it's so beautiful," Rory says in a half-whisper, almost in awe. Lorelai leans forward to look at it, as does Emily.

"Is that from Harold's?" Emily asks Tristan and he nods. "It's remarkable."

"Excellent choice, Mr. DuGrey, that's where I find all of Emily's jewelery," Richard nods in approval, causing Dean to shift in his seat once again uncomfortably.

"Thank you so much, Tristan," Rory clambers up off of the couch and wraps her arms around him, not even thinking about Dean for the moment. Dean gets up and walks out of the room silently and Sookie and Lorelai exchange worried looks. Lorelai follows Dean into the kitchen quickly.

"I just needed a break for a second, Lorelai," Dean tells her the second she enters the room, knowing why she has followed him. "I'm not going to create a scene."

"Good...because they're just friends, and it would be really crappy of you to ruin her birthday because you can't accept that," Lorelai states as Dean turns to look at her.

"I'm trying to remember that," Dean replies honestly. "It's just hard to when she's hugging him and acting like he's the best friend she's ever had."

"Hey. I'm the best friend she's ever had and don't you ever forget that," Lorelai retorts, crossing the room and poking him in the arm. Dean is quiet for a moment and then he sighs.

"My present sucks compared to his."

"Rory is going to love whatever you get her, no matter what," she assures him. "Now why don't you get yourself something to drink, take a minute to yourself, and come back into the living room. And act like that adorable boyfriend Rory usually sees and not the sullen guy you've been all night, okay?"

"Okay," Dean nods, forcing a smile for Lorelai's benefit.

"All right. I'll see you in a few minutes." She heads back to the living room, hoping that she had just done the right thing. She hated to think about how severely Dean's heart is going to be broken when Rory finally realizes she's been dating the wrong guy. Sighing slightly, she plops down on the ground next to Luke and watches as Rory begins opening up another gift.

"Everything okay?" Luke asks quietly. Lorelai leans her head on his shoulder for a moment before answering.

"Just doing a little damage control," she whispers and Luke nods.

"Dean upset?"

"Yeah," she lifts her head and moves closer to him. "I think Tristan and Rory kissed earlier."

"What?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think Tristan usually wears Pale Rose lipstick," Lorelai informs him quietly.

"Dean doesn't know yet?"

"Completely in the dark," Lorelai responds. "This is going to get messy."

"Well I'm here if you need me," Luke offers. "To run interference, talk to Dean, beat up Tristan, whatever..."

"Thanks, Luke. I appreciate that." She kisses him on the cheek and then rests her head on his shoulder again. "Oh, by the way, I think you got the stamp of approval from my mother." Lorelai catches her father looking at her from across the room with a faint smile. "And perhaps even my father too."

"Really?" Luke turns his head to look at her, genuinely surprised.

"Yeah. Today has just been a strange day."

"Apparently."


Dean sets his empty cup in the sink and puts the container of milk back into the refrigerator. It is quiet in the kitchen, compared to the living room. Empty trays and leftover food fill the counter and table and he contemplates starting to clean up just so he wouldn't have to return to the party. Coming to the conclusion that that probably wasn't a very good idea, he takes a step toward the living room but then stops, remembering that Rory's present is still in his coat pocket. He had saved up all of his paychecks for the past six months and borrowed money from his parents to buy her a first edition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Now, after all the personal I-know-you-so-well endless amounts of presents that Tristan had given her, his just seemed like a beat-up, faded book that she'd already read millions of times, even if it was a first edition.

Walking slowly, Dean goes into Rory's bedroom to find his jacket, rifling through the pile which is tossed on her bed. Pulling out the big baggy hooded sweatshirt, he retrieves the present from the front pocket and tosses the piece of clothing back onto the pile. Turning to leave, he stumbles over a book on the floor.

"Ow, shit," he curses lowly, wincing in pain. He bends down to pick the heavy poetry anthology off of the floor and goes to put it back on the shelf for Rory when a bookmark falls out of it. Sticking it back between the pages, he realizes it's not a bookmark, but a strip of pictures from those photo booths in malls and arcades. A strip of pictures of Rory and Tristan, no less. Dean can feel his heart start to crumble and immediately starts rationalizing the fact that Rory has the pictures, inwardly repeating the words that Lorelai had spoke earlier.

But it's hard to believe that Rory and Tristan are just friends. Within the last frame, he could've sworn they were on the verge of kissing one another, locked into one of those stupid gazes that only happen in soap operas and horrible romantic comedies. And worst of all, Dean knew within an instant that Rory had never looked at him like that. It made him want to throw up. Sitting down on the floor, he stares at the small photos in a daze, every little thing that Rory ever said about Tristan and every moment that he had felt her drifting further and further away from him echoing inside of his head.

She was already gone. Mary was right. His relationship with Rory Gilmore was over and neither of them had even realized it.. It would only be a matter of time before Rory woke up and then he'd be out of the picture forever.

Biting back tears which threatened him, Dean stands up and shoves the book onto the shelf angrily.

"I'll get it, hang on," Tristan's voice cuts into the silence and seconds later he enters the bedroom. He stops in his tracks, seeing Dean standing there. "Um, hey."

"Hey," Dean says, just looking Tristan up and down. He couldn't decide what he hated about him the most. They stand there for a moment, staring at one another, before Tristan moves.

"Rory needs a paper and pen for Lane to write down something, so..."

"They're in the top-" Dean says but Tristan already has it open, paper in hand and rifling for a pen. "Drawer."

"Got it," Tristan replies. He closes the drawer and looks at Rory's boyfriend, not quite sure what to do. He had always envied Dean and hated him for what he had, and even now the feeling isn't gone. Because he still has Rory, no matter what had happened in this same room earlier. There was still a chance Rory would simply choose Dean over him. But the fact that maybe she wouldn't made Tristan feel sorry for him, even if just for a moment.

The silence is staggering.

"I was just getting out Rory's present," Dean responds after it becomes evident that neither of them are moving.

"Oh," Tristan mumbles, taking a step toward the door. "What'd you get her?"

"None of your business." Dean retorts curtly and Tristan raises his eyebrows.

"O...kay. Nevermind then. I'm sure she'll love whatever you got her," Tristan replies, a slight smirk of sarcasm just dancing along his voice. He couldn't help it when provoked. Dean rolls his eyes and then gestures toward his hat.

"You like Oasis?"

"Quite a bit, yeah."

"Figures," Dean snorts, heading toward the door.

"That's what Rory's reaction was, but I changed her mind."

"Oh did you." He speaks in a matter of fact tone rather than a question.

"You know it," Tristan responds and Dean looks away, not even wanting to think about the fact Tristan is right. "I should get back out there, they're probably wondering what's taking so long. Excuse me," Tristan continues with overdone politeness, walking past Dean and out into the kitchen. Dean clenches and unclenches his fist a few times, taking deep breaths and trying to overcome the urge to run after and punch him.

"Here, Ror," Tristan hands her a pad of paper and a pen as he plops down onto the ground haphazardly, his leg accidentally brushing up against hers.

"Thanks," she replies, flipping it open and turning her attention to Lane. "Now how do you spell the name of that band?"


"Thank you for the lovely evening, Lorelai. It was a marvelous party," Miss Patty croons, stroking Lorelai's hand. "Rory, I hope you had a wonderful birthday."

"I did Miss Patty. Thank you very much for everything."

"My pleasure, sweetheart," she replies. "Now where is that lovely little cutie-pie friend of yours? I want to thank him for the dance." Miss Patty asks, peering back into the living room to the now sparse group.

"I'm right here," Tristan walks out of the kitchen with a charming smile already plastered on his face. He stops next to Rory, taking Miss Patty's hand and kissing it gently. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Patricia."

"Oh, you are just the most handsome thing this planet has ever seen, dearie," Miss Patty almost swoons, taking her hand and holding it to her heart. "Rory, you are just the luckiest girl."

"Yes, to have a friend like Tristan and a boyfriend like Dean, what more could a girl want?" Lorelai cuts in, ushering Miss Patty toward the door.

"I'll see you both tomorrow, pussycat. Have a nice night, especially you, Tristan," she manages to add before Lorelai closes the door.

"You are either really brave or really desperate for attention to placate that woman," Lorelai says to Tristan, shaking her head in dismay. Tristan laughs.

"I don't see the problem, she's harmless. I can suck it up and dance with her for two minutes if that's going to make her so happy," Tristan says, shrugging. Lorelai and Rory exchange stunned looks.

"You do realize that she's going to want to relive those two minutes every single time she sees you-"

"You see her in the market and she's going to fawn."

"You see her in the street she's going to go all a flutter."

"You can't run."

"You can't hide."

"All you can do is wait for the attack."

"And pray that she won't try to kiss you."

"I thought it was nice," Luke stops the pair from continuing to rattle off the dangers of Miss Patty.

"Then why didn't you dance with her?" Lorelai turns to him.

"What am I, crazy?" Luke exclaims, shaking his head. Everyone laughs. Dean enters from the living room and wraps an arm around Rory's slender waist.

"What's so funny?"

"We're just reliving Tristan's Strictly Ballroom moment."

"I'm so lucky I had my camera ready," Lorelai adds as Dean removes his arm from around Rory. "The look on your face when she dipped you was priceless."

"I think I got whiplash," Tristan says. "She dips rather fast." Seeing the look on Rory's face as Dean pulled away from her and knowing Dean's not looking too thrilled either, he decides to liberate himself from the conversation. "I'm gonna go back to helping Sookie clean up the kitchen now."

"Yeah, you better. If Sookie is all alone in there, something is liable to catch fire," Rory tries to joke lightly, her voice cracking.

"Hey, I heard that!" Sookie calls, followed by something falling onto the floor. "Oh, shoot!" Tristan hurries to help her, leaving the rest of the group to laugh. Lane walks back in from the front porch, a dreamy smile on her face.

"Someone is on cloud nine," Lorelai teases and Lane nods happily.

"Try cloud thirteen. Or fifty, even. If there is such a thing," she giggles. "Henry kissed me good-bye...and we're going to meet at the mall again next weekend to see a movie."

"That means I'm going to have to cover for you, doesn't it?" Rory inquires.

"If you don't mind."

"This'll be what, the fifth time?"

"You know you love aiding and abetting," Lane laughs.

"Oh you two with your shenanigans," Lorelai pretends to scold them. "Come on Luke, let's go upstairs and let them plot their next elaborate scheme."

"You need to go upstairs to do that?" Rory raises an eyebrow.

"Hush," Lorelai scolds her again, grabbing Luke's hand. "We have been so good all evening with your grandparents here."

"Okay..." Rory says as if giving her permission and Lorelai claps her hands happily.

"Oh goody. Come on," she pulls a bright-red, embarrassed Luke up a couple of stairs toward her room. "Tell Sookie we'll be down to help in a few minutes."

"They're just so cute," Lane giggles as they disappear into Lorelai's room. "So, seriously. Would you be okay to do that again this weekend? I mean, you and Tristan can come with like last time, if you want." Lane stops, realizing Dean is standing right there. "Or even Dean. Dean can come. If you're not working. Are you working?"

"Probably..." Dean sighs, then looks at Rory. "I'm going to go to the park for awhile...can you come when you're done here? We need to talk."

"Oh. Okay..." Rory frowns, wincing inwardly. Dean leaves and Lane turns to Rory with a questioning look.

"What's that about?"

"I'll fill you in later. I have a feeling there's going to be a lot more to tell after we talk, especially since we're meeting in the park."

"Why the park?"

"Neutral fighting ground. We almost always have our squabbles at town landmarks. The junkyard, the gazebo, the streetcorner...The park is just another forboding location."

"Oh. Well, the park meeting isn't good then."

"Not at all. Especially considering certain extenuating circumstances."

"Which are?" Lane starts, then stops. "I know. Later. Well, call me. No, actually, I'll call you. My mom will kill me if the phone rings late at night. Midnight sound good?"

"Make it twelve-thirty. I have a feeling this might take awhile."

"Sounds good. Good luck with whatever this is."

"Thanks," Rory waves good-bye as Lane lights down the front porch, so happy about Henry that it seems like her feet are barely touching the ground. Smiling at her best friend's behavior despite the heaviness in her mind, Rory turns to go to the kitchen and surprisingly finds it almost entirely clean already. "Wow, you two work fast."

"We make a good team," Sookie nudges Tristan in the ribs. "Wouldn't have expected a blue-blood like this boy to be into the manual labor but boy he sure can work fast!" Tristan nearly blushes and Rory has to stop herself from smiling warmly at the mere sight of it.

"I do what I can," Tristan brushes it off.

"No, you're just a horrible suck-up," Rory teases, picking up a stray paper plate from the counter and tossing it into the trash. "I'm gonna get changed out of this stupid costume really fast. Be right back."

Rory re-appears a few minutes later wearing jeans and a baby blue sweater.

"You look nice," Tristan compliments her, tying up a garbage bag and gesturing toward the door.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Garbage bins are out there, right?"

"Right. Here let me take this one," Rory picks up the second bag and follows Tristan out onto the porch. The night air is chilly and Rory shivers as she closes the lid on the garbage can.

"Cold?" Tristan sets his hands on her arms and rubs them gently before pulling her into an embrace. Rory lingers in his touch for a moment before pulling away.

"We need to talk about before, now." She tells him earnestly and he sighs, nodding. He steps back from her, like he's preparing for the worst. "What are you doing."

"I'm backing away from you. Somehow that will lessen the blow when you inevitably tell me it was a huge mistake."

"You think it was a huge mistake?"

"Me? No, I don't. I just assumed you did."

"I don't. I mean...I do...I mean, I don't know what I think yet." Rory looks away, slightly frustrated with herself.

"Okay..."

"No, not okay! I should know. It shouldn't be this complicated."

"All relationships are complicated."

"Not with Dean. With Dean, everything is simple. Up until this point...simple."

"Well then you're clearly doing something wrong."

"Obviously I am if I'm kissing you."

"So what am I, then? Just a symptom of your and Dean's failing relationship? I really hoped I was at least more than a side effect but I guess-"

"That's not what I meant," Rory says, shuffling her feet in the moist grass, watching little droplets of water collect on her shoes. Tristan sits down on the back porch steps, running his hands through his hair. Rory shifts her gaze to him and watches him in silence. "What are you thinking?"

"What am I thinking?"

"Right now."

"I'm thinking I would give anything if you would just tell me that you like me."

"I do."

"And that you're attracted to me."

"I am."

"And that you'd rather be with me than be with Dean."

"That I don't know yet, Tristan. I'm sorry," She sits down next to him, putting a hand on his knee. "I need a little bit of time. Until a couple of hours ago I didn't even realize I was...that kissing you was something that I...I just need time."

"Okay..." Tristan breathes out slowly after a few minutes of quiet. Rory smiles slightly, not really feeling all that much better. "I should go home." He begins to stand up but Rory catches his hand, standing up also. He gazes at her and she gazes back, trying to find the right words to verbalize her request. Tristan leans toward her, understanding what she wants without her having to speak.

They melt into one another, their lips meeting one another's in a passionate kiss, the kind that could be felt all the way down to the tips of your toes before it surges back up your spine and sets your entire body on fire. Rory revels in the feeling of his body pressed against hers, the sensation of his hardened muscles moving beneath her touch almost too amazing to register. He reacted to her like Dean never did; his kisses ran through her so deeply it felt as if he was trying to reach her very soul. She felt wanted, so seductive and sexy. Dirty, dirty thoughts were running through her mind at a rapidfire pace and the memory of that faint concept called morality was the only thing holding her back from slipping her hands underneath his loose shirt and touching his hot, tight skin.

Tristan felt warm all over, his blood turning to liquid heat and surging through his veins. Kissing her just got better the longer he did it. Her delicate fingers tugging gently on his tousled hair and the way she fit perfectly into his body...the idea of staying like this forever definitely crossed his mind. He pulls his mouth away from hers and slips down to her neck, illiciting this tiny, heavenly moan from the back of her throat which reverberated in his mind as quite possibly the sexiest thing he'd ever heard. Suddenly Rory loses the battle with her self control and Tristan feel her hands slide down his chest and then underneath his shirt, slipping underneath his wife beater and caressing his flat stomach. Accidentally or maybe not, Rory pushes her body tighter against his, her thigh rubbing between his legs. A groan escapes his lips before he can stop it and he immediately seeks Rory's lips again.

Out of breath and frightened by the overwhelming power of her own arousal, Rory pulls away and rests her forehead against his, gasping for air. Tristan is equally exhausted.

"What was that?" Rory whispers, more shocked with herself than with him. Tristan chuckles lowly.

"That was just in case I never get to do it again."

"Oh...well, maybe we should do it just...one more time...you know...just in case," Rory replies, her lips brushing against his.

"Yeah...just in case..." His words trail off as Rory's lips meet his.


Rory climbs up the porch steps, glancing back at Tristan as he heads toward the street where his car is parked. She waves with a smile as he disappears around the corner of the house and then goes inside, her insides still melted together from the heat of the moment, her pulse racing and her face flushed. Hearing the door close, Lorelai hurries in to the now empty kitchen.

"The party favors went over great, people just loved-" She takes one look at her daughter and knows. "Again?"

"Again, what?" Rory says self-consciously, running her fingers through her hair.

"Oh come on. Something tells me your lips didn't get all swollen from eating a popsicle."

"How would you know? Maybe I have a secret popsicle stash. Where's Luke?"

"He went home. Early morning delivery."

"Oh."

"So, uh...what's the deal?"

"The deal with what?" Rory replies innocently.

"Rory." Lorelai shoots her a withering look.

"Okay, so...perhaps, maybe I kissed Tristan," Rory mumbles fast.

"Rory."

"Okay! So I kissed Tristan a lot."

"Rory..."

"Stop saying that. I know this is not good. I know it's terrible and that I am a terrible, terrible person."

"Yes, you are," Lorelai agrees, smiling to show she's just joking. "But for all your talk you really don't seem like you're flipping out about it." Lorelai sits down at the kitchen table, looking at her daughter questioningly. "I thought you'd be a wreck."

"I am. I'm just...still in the stunned I-can't-believe-I-just-did-that phase. Did that twice phase, in fact."

"Is this kissing Tristan routine you've got going on going to be a regular show? Cause if so, you might want to tune Dean into some reality programming. And get me a TV Guide cause I'd really like to be caught up on the matter here...I think I missed an episode somewhere."

"I don't know what's going on. I just know that when I kissed Tristan I didn't want to stop there. And that's not a good thing."

"Not a good thing for Dean, anyway," Lorelai remarks. "And wait, not really a good thing for me, thinking about that as a mother. How about we just stick to Dean? Dean's great. Perfect, in fact."

"If he's perfect why am I kissing Tristan?"

"Because you're a normal teenager with raging hormones and Tristan has a nice ass?"

"It's more than that. Though he does have a particularly nice-"

"Stop right there, missy!" Lorelai throws up her hands, closing her eyes. "I want to keep the image of a nice, innocent Rory in my head."

"The whole innocent thing just got lost about five minutes ago when I officially became a two-timing slut," Rory retorts glumly.

"No, you're not...you're a Supermarket Slut, get the title right. You're a Literary Lolita."

"Thanks," Rory frowns. "I better go talk to Dean. He's waiting for me."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"Um..." Rory wavers as she puts on her jacket. "Can I answer that when I get back?"

"Good luck, ya whore," Lorelai winks, trying to lift her spirits.

"Night, mother."

To be continued...


A/N: Thank you all again. Reviews are love.