Thank you for your continued support! Here's the next chapter. :)

Chapter 24

Rory walked past Gypsy's and saw Tristan with his top off working under a car. She smiled slightly and stopped to watch him for a moment. Tristan noticed her after a minute and smirked. "Enjoying the show?" He said.

"Maybe." She smirked.

"Don't you have work to get to?" Tristan chuckled.

"I'm on my way now." Rory said. "Just thought I'd stop by."

"And admire the view huh?" He teased.

"Possibly." Rory grinned. "Sorry, Gypsy!"

Gypsy smirked. "Noone can blame you." She said.

Tristan got up and gave Rory a kiss. "When do you finish today?" He asked.

"5." She said. "You?"

"6. Meet you back home?" He asked. "Whoa, that's still weird to say." He chuckled. The four of them had moved into their new place at the beginning of the week.

"I know right? I still need to remind myself not to head back to the Crap Shack!" Rory laughed. "So meet you at home? I think Jess is cooking tonight."

"Sounds good." Tristan nodded. "One more kiss?"

"Wouldn't say no." She grinned, leaning in to kiss him. "See you later."

"Bye." He smirked, watching her go.

"We should make a rota about who cooks dinner." Lane said as she and Jess worked together behind the counter at Luke's.

"Are you saying you don't like my food?" Jess raised his eyebrows.

"No! I'm just saying everyone should pull their weight. It shouldn't just be..." Lane stopped when she saw Jess smirking. "You're baiting me." She said.

"Perhaps." He said.

"Nice."

"You always make it too easy." Jess smirked.

"Anyway, I was thinking it could be cool to have a rota. We could take it in turns." Lane said.

"Yeah could work." Jess nodded. "Although Rory doesn't cook." He smirked.

"Hey, she's much better now than you think! She used to cook loads with Logan." She pointed out.

"Ah yes, the blonde dick from Yale. I remember him well." Jess said dryly.

"Jess!" Lane said but smiled slightly. "What I'm saying is that she might actually surprise you."

"Ok." He smirked.

"How come you never offered to cook for me when you used to live here?" Luke said walking past them.

"Because I was a moody, sulky teenager who just wanted to go out and annoy Taylor." Jess smirked.

"And drive me crazy." Luke said.

"That too." Jess nodded.

"Sure." Luke said smirking slightly. "How's the house going?" He asked them.

"Really good!" Lane nodded, smiling. "It's so cool all being together."

"Good. You know..uh..if you guys ever need any help with anything...or if you need money..." Luke said.

"We're good." Jess said. He glanced at his uncle. "But thanks."

Luke nodded. "You know where I am if you do."

"Thanks Luke." Lane smiled.

"Daddy!" A voice said.

Luke's face lit up as he saw Josh come running into the diner. "Hey!" He smiled at his son. He then smiled at his wife who had followed Josh in. "Hey." He said softly.

"Hey back." Lorelai smiled. "This one got hungry so I thought we'd come by for some food."

"Can I have a burger?" Josh asked.

"Of course." Luke smiled. He glanced at Lorelai and saw her expression change slightly. He knew how much Lorelai was trying to stick to her healthy diet and he knew it was partly for his benefit. She'd really kept to it as well. "Burger for you as well?" He asked.

Lorelai looked surprised. "What?"

"You've been good all week. You deserve a treat." Luke smiled. He saw her hesitant expression. "One burger won't hurt you." He assured her.

"Wow, who would have thought we'd see Luke trying to persuade you to eat a burger?" Jess smirked. "I'd take it if I were you."

Lorelai smiled slightly. She glanced at Luke. "You sure?"

"I'll do it now." Luke smiled.

"Thanks." She smiled softly.

Rory walked through the front door of their new house and heard sounds coming from the kitchen. She walked through to the kitchen and found Jess there, already cooking. "Hey!" She smiled.

"Oh hey!" Jess said. "Finished work?" He asked.

"Yeah. I didn't expect anyone to be here." She said.

"Lane offered to close with Luke today so I could come back and get on with dinner." Jess said.

"Ah ok." She smiled. "So what are you making?" She asked.

"Lasagne." He said.

"My favourite!" Rory grinned. "Aw, Jess, how did you know?"

"Well, you're always the golden girl with Luke. I forget how many times we had lasagne when you came to visit." Jess smirked.

"Well, what can I say? Luke loves me." She joked. "So how come you're doing it tonight?"

"It's been a tough couple of weeks for you with...well...what happened with your mom. Thought I'd treat you." He said. "Plus Lane loves my lasagne."

"Ah there it is. The real motivation. You want to get some action tonight." Rory teased.

"I resent that. Can't I just do something nice for a change?" Jess said.

Rory smirked. "Nope."

Jess smiled slightly. "Yeah, well, don't pretend you don't want the same with Tristan." He said.

"Ok, maybe we need to stop sharing things with each other." Rory laughed. "This is getting weird...Subject change?"

"Please." Jess smirked.

"Do you want some help?" She offered.

Jess glanced at her. "Really?"

"Don't look so surprised!" Rory said. "I may actually surprise you. I can cook, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Apparently you use to cook with that blonde dick from Yale." He said.

"What, who told you that?"

"Lane."

"Oh." Rory said. "Well, yeah, I used to cook a bit. So, want some help?"

"Sure." Jess nodded. "If you don't mind?"

"Not at all." She said.

"Can you do the garlic bread?" He said.

"Sure!" She smiled. "Oooh can I put more garlic on it? Ooh and some cheese? Cheesy garlic bread is the best!" She grinned.

"I'm regretting this already." Jess shook his head.

"You love me really." Rory grinned.

"This is great." Tristan said as the four of them tucked into the dinner that evening.

"Thanks." Jess said.

"Yeah but how's the garlic bread? Good huh?" Rory grinned.

"The best garlic bread I've ever had." Tristan smirked.

"Why thank you!" She grinned.

"It really is good. The garlic bread might even have outdone your lasagne." Lane teased Jess.

Jess rolled his eyes. "Is it too late to pull out of this house contract now?" He said.

"You love us really." Lane grinned.

"Hmm...I'm starting to doubt that..." Jess said but smirked slightly.

"Well I think the lasagne's great, mate." Tristan said.

"Thank you." Jess said.

"Suck up." Rory sniggered.

"Will you take that back if I tell you how much I love the garlic bread again?" He smirked.

"Maybe." She grinned.

"Well...I loved it." He grinned.

"Alright, you're not a suck up anymore." She joked.

"Ok, I'll wash up. You cooked so it's only fair." Tristan said getting up.

"I'll help." Rory said. "You two go hang out."

"You sure? I don't mind helping." Lane offered.

"Nah it's ok. So hang out with your guy." Rory smiled. "Oh and Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"The lasagne was delicious." She smiled.

Jess smiled. "Thanks." He said.

Rory smiled as she watched them leave the kitchen. She glanced over at Tristan as he started washing up the dishes in the sink. She went over to him. "You wash, I dry?" She said.

"Sure." He smiled handing her one of the dishes. He glanced at her as she started drying it and then putting it away. "So you two love giving Jess a hard time, don't you?" He smirked slightly.

"Nah, it's all in good jest. We just love teasing him." Rory said. "Jess knows that."

"You really are close to him, aren't you?" Tristan said, glancing at him.

"I've known Jess a long time." Rory said glancing at him. "Are you jealous?"

"No! No, not at all. I know what happened between you and Jess is ancient history. I just..." Tristan said before sighing. "Ok, maybe I was a little jealous..." He admitted.

Rory smiled softly and leaned in to kiss him. "Tristan, Lane and I just love teasing Jess. We do it all the time. Jess is pretty much a cousin to me. It's nice that we're close again. But Jess and I, that's all it is. He's with Lane and I'm really happy for them."

Tristan sighed. "I knew I was being stupid..."

"No...I think it's sweet. And I'm sorry...if you felt left out." She said. "I can tease you as well if you want?" She grinned.

"It's fine." He said.

"You sure? I'd be happy to." She smirked.

Tristan chuckled. "I love you." He said without thinking.

"What?" Rory said.

Tristan froze. "I..uh..I meant...I..uh..I love that you're with me...that you...chose to be with me." He said quickly.

Rory finished drying the last of the dishes before facing him. "Tristan..." She said softly.

"Yeah?" He said nervously.

"I...I've said I love you to a few guys in my life and I always thought I meant it. And then...stuff happens and...well, I'm on my own again." Rory said. She sighed. "Tristan, I am loving being with you. I'm really enjoying us right now and all of this." She said gesturing round the house. "I just...I want to be sure this time...before I say those words. Is...is that ok?" She asked.

Tristan smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her. "That's more than ok." He said.

Rory smiled. "Hey, why don't we take this to my room? Or your room?" She said softly.

"You sure?" He asked surprised.

Rory smiled at him. ""Let's have some us time. Alone." She said softly, holding out her hand.

"Now that I won't say no to." Tristan smiled. "Lead the way." He said.

So I hope you liked it! :) Please keep the reviews coming! I really do love reading what you all think and your support really does mean so much to me so thank you! :)