bDILEMMA/b
Pairing: R/J/T, a little L/L
Rating: PG
Summary: Rory returns from Washington and thinks she is going to finally
find happiness with Jess. Things change when Tristan returns from military
school.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Obviously.
b[ Richard and Emily's house, the next night ]/b
iEmily opens the door./i
Emily: Rory, it's so nice to have you finally home!
Rory: Why, thank you Grandma. It's nice to be home.
Lorelai: Hi, I'm here too.
Emily: I'm aware. Hello Lorelai. Richard, the girls are here!
iEmily, Rory and Lorelai walk into the foyer./i
Richard: Rory, my dear! How was Washington?
Rory: I had an enjoyable time, but I am very glad to be home.
Richard: Well, we're glad to have you home. Hello Lorelai, would you like a drink?
Lorelai: Hi dad, I'll have a Martini please.
Rory: Excuse me everyone, I have to go to the bathroom.
iRory exits./i
Emily: Well, well, well. Our guests should be here any moment now.
Lorelai: Who's coming for dinner, mom?
Emily: Our dear friend, Janlen Dugray. I believe Rory knows his grandson, Tristan?
Lorelai: I thougt the Evil One was off at military school.
Emily: Evil One?
Lorelai: Inside joke... you know, between me and Rory and the rest of Stars Hollow?
Richard: I don't think you should talk about someone like that Lorelai.
Lorelai: Ok, so why is dear Tristan home?
Emily: His parents agreed to let him spend his senior year at Chilton. His parents are out of town and cannot make it to dinner, but I believe Tristan is coming.
iDoorbell rings. Maid shows Janlen and Tristan to the foyer./i
Emily: Janlen! How are you?
Janlen: Fine Emily, just fine. How are you?
Emily: Marvelous. Richard, Janlen is here!
Janlen: Richard! How's the insurance business?
Richard: Just fine. Nice to see you Tristan, how was military school?
Tristan: It was fine, sir. But I am glad to be home.
iRory enters and sees Tristan./i
Rory: Wh- what are you doing here?
Emily: Rory dear, aren't you glad to see an old friend?
Lorelai: i(rolls eyes)/i Oh Lord.
Rory: Old friend yes, but this is Tristan.
Tristan: Rory, Rory, Rory. I know your overcome with excitement to know that I'm back for good.
Rory: For good?
Tristan: I'm going to Chilton for senior year.
Rory: Well that's um, great. Can you excuse me everyone for one moment?
Lorelai: You just left.
Rory: I, uh, left my purse in my room.
iRory goes into the kitchen and picks up the phone. She dials Lorelai's cell phone number.
Lorelai's cell phone rings and she walks out into the hallway to answer it./i
Lorelai: Hello?
Rory: Mom, it's me.
Lorelai: Where are you?
Rory: In the kitchen.
Lorelai: Can I talk to you in there?
Rory: No, it's too obvious.
Lorelai: Okay, so what's up? Are we finally going to have that talk?
Rory: What talk?
Lorelai: The one about make-up.
Rory: Mom!
Lorelai: Sorry. Is this about Tristan?
Rory: Well, yeah. I mean I finally broke up with Dean. And I used to like Tristan. A lot. And I know that he likes me too.
Lorelai: Ah, so you really did like the Evil One.
Rory: Yeah but I like Jess too! A lot!
Lorelai: Rory, honey. The answer is simple. You pick Tristan, you end up in a life full of cotillion and Bentley's.
Rory: And my other option?
Lorelai: You pick Jess, and you're dates will forever be to crappy punk concerts. Blink 182 concerts. Or you'll end up in jail. Oh yeah, can't forget those biker bars.
Rory: You're not helping. I know Tristan is gonna try to talk to me.
Lorelai: So, talk to him.
Rory: Ugh. (hangs up phone)
iEveryone goes into the dining room for dinner. After dinner, while the adults are having brandy, Tristan suggests that he and Rory take a walk./i
Tristan: Well, well, well Mary. Who'd have thought that we'd be together again someday?
Rory: My name's Rory, Tristan. I see that military school has done no good for you, you are still a little boy at heart.
Tristan: Actually military school did help a great deal. It set my priorities straight.
Rory: So now your ego comes in second, opposed to what?
Tristan: Can't you see it, Rory? I really liked you. All those times I teased you, I liked you. It was my second-grade approach to flirting.
Rory: I don't know what to say.
Tristan: How about 'Hey Tristan, I like you too'. Oh wait. Are you still with bag boy?
Rory: No.
Tristan: So what's holding you back?
iRory's pager goes off./i
Rory: He is.
Tristan: Your pager is a he?
Rory: No. Jess is.
Tristan: Jess? Does he go to Chilton?
Rory: No, he lives in Stars Hollow.
Tristan: Oh. Now I don't know what to say. I waited all this time, and I could have had you. But I lost again. Game over. i(annoyed look)/i
Rory: I like you Tristan. I always liked you. But, I have to see. This is a big surprise, you coming back.
Tristan: Yeah, well. Don't keep me hanging too long this time, Rory, ok? I really care about you.
Rory: Okay.
Tristan: I'll call you. Maybe we can go to the movies or something.
Rory: Okay.
Tristan: Well I'll get grandfather and go home. Good-bye Lorelai Leigh Gilmore.
Rory: Good-bye Tristan Dugray.
b[ later that night, the crap shack around midnight ]/b
iRory hears a knock on the window and opens it. Jess is smiling up at her./i
Rory: Jess, what are you doing here?
Jess: I have a surprise for you. I thought this is the romantic way to do things. Very Romeo and Juliet.
Rory: You want me to sneak out?
Jess: Well, do you think your mother will be okay with you going out in the middle of the night with me?
Rory: Okay, I'll just go. She's already in bed anyway.
Jess: Well then, let's go Juliet.
iRory carefully climbs out of her window and takes Jess' hand./i
b[ at the bridge ]/b
iJess has set up candles all around the bridge, along with a radio and a picnic basket./i
Rory: Jess, this is amazing!
Jess: I'm glad you like it.
Rory: I'm just surprised that you own a Kenny G CD.
Jess: Hey now, some of his stuff is pretty good!
Rory: I'm just mocking. What'd you bring to eat?
Jess: Brownies and coffee.
Rory: You rock, you know that?
iJess smiles. And Rory looks at him quizzically./i
Jess: Do you want to dance?
Rory: Sure. That would be nice.
iThey get up and start slow-dancing to Kenny G's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Rory lays her head on Jess' shoulder./i
Rory: Jess?
Jess: Yeah?
Rory: I really like this.
Jess: I do too.
iThey kiss for a moment and then Jess walks Rory home and she climbs back in the window./I
Rory: Shades of my mother.
IRory shakes her head and Jess smiles and closes the window./I
b[ Richard and Emily's house, the next night ]/b
iEmily opens the door./i
Emily: Rory, it's so nice to have you finally home!
Rory: Why, thank you Grandma. It's nice to be home.
Lorelai: Hi, I'm here too.
Emily: I'm aware. Hello Lorelai. Richard, the girls are here!
iEmily, Rory and Lorelai walk into the foyer./i
Richard: Rory, my dear! How was Washington?
Rory: I had an enjoyable time, but I am very glad to be home.
Richard: Well, we're glad to have you home. Hello Lorelai, would you like a drink?
Lorelai: Hi dad, I'll have a Martini please.
Rory: Excuse me everyone, I have to go to the bathroom.
iRory exits./i
Emily: Well, well, well. Our guests should be here any moment now.
Lorelai: Who's coming for dinner, mom?
Emily: Our dear friend, Janlen Dugray. I believe Rory knows his grandson, Tristan?
Lorelai: I thougt the Evil One was off at military school.
Emily: Evil One?
Lorelai: Inside joke... you know, between me and Rory and the rest of Stars Hollow?
Richard: I don't think you should talk about someone like that Lorelai.
Lorelai: Ok, so why is dear Tristan home?
Emily: His parents agreed to let him spend his senior year at Chilton. His parents are out of town and cannot make it to dinner, but I believe Tristan is coming.
iDoorbell rings. Maid shows Janlen and Tristan to the foyer./i
Emily: Janlen! How are you?
Janlen: Fine Emily, just fine. How are you?
Emily: Marvelous. Richard, Janlen is here!
Janlen: Richard! How's the insurance business?
Richard: Just fine. Nice to see you Tristan, how was military school?
Tristan: It was fine, sir. But I am glad to be home.
iRory enters and sees Tristan./i
Rory: Wh- what are you doing here?
Emily: Rory dear, aren't you glad to see an old friend?
Lorelai: i(rolls eyes)/i Oh Lord.
Rory: Old friend yes, but this is Tristan.
Tristan: Rory, Rory, Rory. I know your overcome with excitement to know that I'm back for good.
Rory: For good?
Tristan: I'm going to Chilton for senior year.
Rory: Well that's um, great. Can you excuse me everyone for one moment?
Lorelai: You just left.
Rory: I, uh, left my purse in my room.
iRory goes into the kitchen and picks up the phone. She dials Lorelai's cell phone number.
Lorelai's cell phone rings and she walks out into the hallway to answer it./i
Lorelai: Hello?
Rory: Mom, it's me.
Lorelai: Where are you?
Rory: In the kitchen.
Lorelai: Can I talk to you in there?
Rory: No, it's too obvious.
Lorelai: Okay, so what's up? Are we finally going to have that talk?
Rory: What talk?
Lorelai: The one about make-up.
Rory: Mom!
Lorelai: Sorry. Is this about Tristan?
Rory: Well, yeah. I mean I finally broke up with Dean. And I used to like Tristan. A lot. And I know that he likes me too.
Lorelai: Ah, so you really did like the Evil One.
Rory: Yeah but I like Jess too! A lot!
Lorelai: Rory, honey. The answer is simple. You pick Tristan, you end up in a life full of cotillion and Bentley's.
Rory: And my other option?
Lorelai: You pick Jess, and you're dates will forever be to crappy punk concerts. Blink 182 concerts. Or you'll end up in jail. Oh yeah, can't forget those biker bars.
Rory: You're not helping. I know Tristan is gonna try to talk to me.
Lorelai: So, talk to him.
Rory: Ugh. (hangs up phone)
iEveryone goes into the dining room for dinner. After dinner, while the adults are having brandy, Tristan suggests that he and Rory take a walk./i
Tristan: Well, well, well Mary. Who'd have thought that we'd be together again someday?
Rory: My name's Rory, Tristan. I see that military school has done no good for you, you are still a little boy at heart.
Tristan: Actually military school did help a great deal. It set my priorities straight.
Rory: So now your ego comes in second, opposed to what?
Tristan: Can't you see it, Rory? I really liked you. All those times I teased you, I liked you. It was my second-grade approach to flirting.
Rory: I don't know what to say.
Tristan: How about 'Hey Tristan, I like you too'. Oh wait. Are you still with bag boy?
Rory: No.
Tristan: So what's holding you back?
iRory's pager goes off./i
Rory: He is.
Tristan: Your pager is a he?
Rory: No. Jess is.
Tristan: Jess? Does he go to Chilton?
Rory: No, he lives in Stars Hollow.
Tristan: Oh. Now I don't know what to say. I waited all this time, and I could have had you. But I lost again. Game over. i(annoyed look)/i
Rory: I like you Tristan. I always liked you. But, I have to see. This is a big surprise, you coming back.
Tristan: Yeah, well. Don't keep me hanging too long this time, Rory, ok? I really care about you.
Rory: Okay.
Tristan: I'll call you. Maybe we can go to the movies or something.
Rory: Okay.
Tristan: Well I'll get grandfather and go home. Good-bye Lorelai Leigh Gilmore.
Rory: Good-bye Tristan Dugray.
b[ later that night, the crap shack around midnight ]/b
iRory hears a knock on the window and opens it. Jess is smiling up at her./i
Rory: Jess, what are you doing here?
Jess: I have a surprise for you. I thought this is the romantic way to do things. Very Romeo and Juliet.
Rory: You want me to sneak out?
Jess: Well, do you think your mother will be okay with you going out in the middle of the night with me?
Rory: Okay, I'll just go. She's already in bed anyway.
Jess: Well then, let's go Juliet.
iRory carefully climbs out of her window and takes Jess' hand./i
b[ at the bridge ]/b
iJess has set up candles all around the bridge, along with a radio and a picnic basket./i
Rory: Jess, this is amazing!
Jess: I'm glad you like it.
Rory: I'm just surprised that you own a Kenny G CD.
Jess: Hey now, some of his stuff is pretty good!
Rory: I'm just mocking. What'd you bring to eat?
Jess: Brownies and coffee.
Rory: You rock, you know that?
iJess smiles. And Rory looks at him quizzically./i
Jess: Do you want to dance?
Rory: Sure. That would be nice.
iThey get up and start slow-dancing to Kenny G's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Rory lays her head on Jess' shoulder./i
Rory: Jess?
Jess: Yeah?
Rory: I really like this.
Jess: I do too.
iThey kiss for a moment and then Jess walks Rory home and she climbs back in the window./I
Rory: Shades of my mother.
IRory shakes her head and Jess smiles and closes the window./I