Disclaimer: No, Gilmore Girls was not my back-to-school present.

A/N: The last chapter!! *tear rolls down cheek* Well, it's been great, but since all good things must come to an end, it stands to reason that halfway decent ones like this story must end as well. But remember, Trory forever!!!!!!!!! (okay, I got a bit carried away, so what?)

Rory felt relieved and a bit annoyed, frightened and guilty as she pulled into her own driveway. Dean had acted so pathetic when she broke up with him. She hadn't realized that she had meant so much to him, or that he had such a pathetic, grasping, irrational side. It made her feel bad about the breakup, but not bad enough to get back together with him.

She saw her mom lounging on the couch as she strolled into the house, and stood in the hallway for a while, debating whether or not to go in and tell Lorelai what had happened, or just turn the other way and continue on into her own room. Lorelai didn't say anything, but Rory knew that she heard her come in. With a sigh as her need to talk to someone steered her into the den, she collapsed next to her mom on the couch.

"Hey sweetie, what's wrong?" Lorelai gave Rory a concerned look.

"Nothing's wrong. I actually feel better than I have in a long time." It was the truth. The relationship with Dean had been heading south, and breaking up with him really was the best thing she could have done.

"Are you implying that there has been a black cloud hanging over your head that I, your wonderful mother, didn't know about?"

"Yes and no. I wouldn't call it a black cloud, more like an anvil."

"An anvil? Whoa, that's bad!"

"Not really. It's an anvil like in the Road Runner cartoons. I could've been the Road Runner and rushed past it, or been Wiley Coyote and have it fall on me. I chose the first option."

"Good analogy. Now, do you want to tell me exactly what this theoretical anvil is, or do I have to drag it out of you?"

And the story rushed out. How Rory hadn't been more comfortable than happy in her relationship for a while, but she couldn't let go; how she didn't begin to realize that this was not something she should be feeling until the beginning of the Romeo & Juliet rehearsals; how she had been so shocked at how sad she felt at Tristan's leaving; about the kiss that had been totally different than any she had shared with Dean; about finally getting the courage to break up with Dean; and about the breakup itself, which, despite it's patheticness, didn't hurt as much as Rory felt it should've. An hour and three cups of coffee apiece later, Rory's story was finished and Lorelai was left a bit shocked, but not very. She had noticed a change in Rory & Dean's relationship, but she had assumed it was moving toward the good sort of comfortable, not the bad kind (A/N: ya know, the kind where you feel like you've been with the person forever and they're just another part of you vs. the kind where you stay in a relationship just 'cause you don't want to be alone). But she was most surprised at who brought Rory to realize that she needed to break it off. Tristan. The person who Rory couldn't stand was the person who convinced Rory to change her life, whether he knew it or not. Lorelai had always suspected that the torments from 'Evil Tristan' were more flirting than anything else, but Rory's manner had never suggested she liked him back. She mentally slapped herself for missing that, then turned her attention back to Rory. She was looking at her mom as if to get her verdict on the situation. Had she been stupid or had she done the right thing? Lorelai just stroked Rory's hair and pulled her close.

"You did the right thing, babe. It was time to let him go. I'm just glad you were smart enough to see that. Most girls wouldn't realize that. But then again, you've always been smarter than most other girls."

"Thanks Mom." Rory tilted her head up and kissed Lorelai on the cheek. "I think I'm going to go to bed now. It's almost midnight and I've got stuff to do tomorrow."

"Ror, you do realize that it's the weekend?"

"Yeah, but I wanna go out. If I don't, the gossip mill shall turn."

"You're right. Night, hon."

"Night, Mom." Rory walked into her bedroom, changed, and was just about to crawl under the covers when the phone rang. She looked at the clock. Who would be calling at this time of night? She picked up and was more than a bit startled at the sound of the voice on the other end.

"Hello, is Rory there?"

"This is she, whom may I ask is speaking?" She struggled to keep her voice calm, not daring to believe that this was who she thought it was.

"This is Tristan. Sorry to call so late."

"It's not late at all." She tried to sound as if she got 11:50 phone calls all the time. "What's up? Not another good-bye, is it?"

Tristan laughed. "Nope, not good-bye, not good-bye at all."

"Then why are you harassing me so close to midnight?" Rory's voice didn't have the usual edge it got when she was speaking to Tristan; instead, it had the easy tone she used when talking to friends, the one she used to use when talking to Dean.

"I've got something very important to tell you." His voice had a little bit of nervousness mixed in with its usual teasing edge.

"Well then go on and tell me!"

"My parents changed their minds. I'm not going to military school. I'm living with my aunt instead. And I can still go to Chilton."

"You're not leaving?!"

"Nope."

"Then all of that this evening was for nothing?"

"Not for nothing. If it hadn't been for you, I'd be on my way to North Carolina by now. You gave my mom the push she needed to change my dad's mind."

"That's great, Tristan! I'm happy for you." And she really meant it. Her voice had none of the sarcasm she usually used when speaking to him.

"You're really happy?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"Oh, possibly because I tried to make your life a living hell last year…"

"You're forgiven."

"I am?"

"You were forgiven the moment I realized you might be going away."

"I've got to threaten to leave more often."

"Sorry, that was a one time only deal."

"Damn." They both laughed.

"Can you think of any other reasons why I shouldn't be happy you're staying?" Rory asked.

"Well, there's tonight."

"What about tonight?" Rory tensed. She was ready to start a friendship (okay, maybe a little more than friendship) with Tristan, and she had begun to think he felt the same way. She would be so embarrassed if he proved her wrong now.

"Oh, don't tell me you forgot the kiss."

"No, I didn't forget it."

"Then are you planning to? Are you going to see me and talk to me every day and just pretend that it never happened? Because I did that with you once, and I don't think that I can do it again."

"I had no intention of pretending it didn't happen." Rory's voice was soft, almost a whisper.

"What about Bag-Boy?"

"We broke up."

"Oh, you did?" Tristan fought to hide his happiness, and didn't quite succeed. Rory smiled at this

"Yes, I did."

"Mind if I ask why?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Yes. You made me realize that there are opportunities that are just going to pass me by if I don't seize them when I get the chance, and being with Dean, I was missing a lot of opportunities." Rory was more sincere than she had ever been with Tristan, but somehow, she didn't think that it would backfire on her. She could hear him take a deep breath, as if shocked by this revelation. But then he spoke, sounding like a sweeter version of the Tristan she was so used to.

"Well, I'm glad I did something to help. But where does that leave us?"

"I don't know," Rory replied honestly. "I would like to try being friends with you Tristan. I know that it backfired last time, but I'm willing to give it a go."

"I'm willing to try again, too. But if we're going to be friends, I've gotta be completely honest with you. I do want more than friendship. Now, if you don't want to give that to me, I'll put my feelings aside and do the friend thing, but if you want something more, too, please tell me now." He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

"Tristan, I do want to go a bit farther than friendship, but I was in a serious relationship with Dean, and I want you to be more than just a rebound guy. So can we wait awhile, and be friends first?"

Tristan released that breath he had been holding. "Sure, Rory, that would be great." Rory could feel him smile through the phone lines.

Just then, both of their clocks beeped, signaling midnight.

"I've gotta go," Tristan said. "One of the conditions of my staying was no telephone after 11:30. The 'rents pushed it back to midnight since we got home so late."

"That's okay. I'll talk to you later. And Tristan?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you get this number, anyway?"

Rory knew that he was doing his trademark smirk. "I have my secrets. Good-night, Miss Gilmore."

"Good-night, Mr. DuGrey." And with that, they both hung up and headed to bed, smiles on their faces.

A/N: Well that's the end. I might write a sequel, but I doubt it. You guys are welcome to, though. Just e-mail me and tell me that you're gonna do it. I hope you liked reading this as much as I liked writing it. I bid you farewell.

~*~*~Mistress Desdemona~*~*~