Going Home:

Going Home: All the World is a Stage

Author: snoflaik

Disclaimer: Borrowed characters owned by the WB, and the creators and producers of Gilmore Girls. I'll give them back I promise!

Rating: PG or PG-13 [mild cursing and some other stuff]

"Hey Mom, I'm home," called Rory as she hung up her coat and threw her purse onto the table.

"Hey honey," yelled Lorelei from the living room

"Donna Reed?!" exclaimed Rory was she walked into the room and saw what was on TV, "I thought we discussed this mother."

"There's nothing else on," whined Lorelei.

"It's been a sad, sad night in the Gilmore house."

"Speaking of nights, How was yours? I don't see any bloodstains on your clothing so that looks good. Any fist fights this time?" asked Lorelei turning off the TV and turning to give her full attention to Rory.

"Funny," replied Rory as she flopped onto the easy chair. She was so tired. The night had actually gone surprisingly well, except for the fact that Dean was quiet most of the time and the conversation usually consisted of Tristan and Rory battling with each other and making jokes at some of the more cheesy Indy films. Dean didn't look like he was exactly having a blast watching the two spar and laugh together.

"They were civil to each other at least. Dean was really quiet through most of the night. I don't think he liked the films."

"Or maybe it was all of the flirting he witnessed," commented Lorelei with a knowing smile.

"We do not flirt." defended Rory crossing her arms. "Ok maybe we get into some heated arguments and maybe we might have monopolized the conversation time a bit but it was not flirting."

"What ever you say denial girl," replied Lorelei, "So no confrontation? No emergence of Evil Tristan? No raging hormones of jealousy? Come on honey, Lorelei needs her story time! You know I live vicariously through you so spill!"

"It was fine. Nothing happened."

"No fighting no yelling, no pulling Rory from both ends like in cartoons and your arms getting really long?"

"Nope."

"There's gotta be something. Tell Lorelei. Please."

"Fine, Dean keeps telling me that Tristan has feelings for me beyond friendship. I always tell him to drop it but he brought it up again in the car. I'm tired of defending our friendship to everyone. And even if he does, I don't fell anything like that for him. We're just friends. Nothing more nothing less."

"You sure about that?" asked Lorelei.

"Positive."

"Sure you are. No I believe you. No I do. I really, really do."

-thwak-

Her response came in the form of a pillow being thrown into her face.

"You do know this means war?" stated Lorelei as she held up the pillow. "You better start running."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rory looked at the clock as she rolled over in her bed for what seemed like the 100th time that night, attempting and failing to find a comfortable position.

1:30

* I can still get 4 hours of sleep. * She thought as she rolled onto the stomach and buried her head into the pillow willing herself to sleep.

"Ugh!" she yelled in frustration as sleep eluded her. * I just want to get some sleep. Why is this so hard? *

After a while, she fell into that state in which you don't know if you're awake or asleep. She started to go over that night in her head. Trying to remember what had been said and what she had said in return. Dean's behavior was very strange and she suddenly wondered what exactly had been going on between her and Tristan.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

-Hours earlier-

"Hey there," greeted Rory was she opened the door and slid into the car.

"Hey back," replied Dean as he leaned in to kiss her.

"Ack! We better get going. I told Tristan we'd meet him in front of the theatre at 7:30 and it's almost 6:45."

Dean sighed as he put the car and gear and drove away from the curb. The moment was inevitably broken, once again, by some mention of Tristan.

"I'm so excited about this festival," exclaimed Rory.

"I'm excited too," replied Dean, "I finally get to spend some time with you."

Rory just smiled over at him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Hey Rory," greeted Tristan as they walked up to him, "Dean." He added with a nod.

Dean nodded back at him as Rory greeted him, "Hello. Sorry we're late."

"It's ok. I'm usually the late one so I guess you're allowed," replied Tristan teasingly.

"My humblest apologies."

"Accepted, I'll find some way for you to make it up to me." He added with a devilish smile.

Dean just stood back and watched the whole conversation unfold.

"Oh will you?" asked Rory, raising an eyebrow and continuing the usual flow of there conversations.
"Count on it," he replied still smiling at her.

Dean cleared his throat alerting them that he was still there.

"Well, we should probably go in and get a good seat."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Oh John, I will miss you so when you go away," exclaimed the actress on the screen as she cried for the 75th time in the last half hour.

"Yeah almost as much as I miss the plot of this movie," whispered Tristan to Rory.

"And I will miss you as well, my love. Please don't forget me."

"Since I won't forget those new implants you got." Tristan smiled as Rory broke out laughing and moved her hands onto her mouth, trying to muffle the noise.

"We will be together again won't we? This won't be the last time I see you handsome face will it?" whispered the actress as she pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"I hope it is," added Rory, grinning back at Tristan.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"But Doctor, how could this happen? I'm still a virgin," inquired the well-endowed blonde on the screen.

"Yeah and I'm the Pope," snorted Rory.

"Maybe it was the Immaculate Conception?" asked Tristan trying to keep a straight face and failing miserably.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I'll tell you where you can put that money," yelled the women as she picked up a vase

"Oh and where is that?" replied the man.

"Into a long term retirement fund?" inquired Tristan.

"Up your ass!" screamed the woman.

"Ouch, That wouldn't be too comfortable," commented Rory.

The man ducked as the vase flew at his head.

"I don't think she liked his offer," whispered Tristan.

"No, the flying vase was a symbol of love," replied Rory sarcastically.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rory flopped over again and smiled as she thought of all the fun she and Tristan had commenting on the movies. And with those thoughts in her head she slowly drifted off into sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * **

Rory was practically skipping when she walked into the market.

"Hey," she said as she smiled brightly and kissed Dean.

"Hey back," he replied. He then looked at her shining eyes and grin, "What? It looks like someone hit you with a happy stick."

"It's just been a good day. And sweet dreams last night. That festival was so much fun. I can't wait till next year."

Dean's smile faded slightly when he thought about the previous night. "Yeah it was pretty good."

"You had absolutely no fun. Didn't you?" asked Rory with a knowing look

" Well I got to spend time with you," replied Dean, trying to save

Rory just raised a brow.

"Ok fine. Miserable time. No fun."

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok. The upside was you were there."

"Well I'm always happy to be your upside."

"Too bad Tristan was there too."

"Why? You two seemed to get along this time."

"I just would of rathered it be the two of us," he amended without actually answering her question. They had reached an unspoken agreement about the topic of Tristan. The topic was to be avoided. "Hey isn't some special day coming up soon?" asked Dean with a sly smile.

"I believe there might be."

"And maybe we'll do something special to celebrate that special day."

"It's a date. We'll talk later. I gotta go hit the books." And with a smile and a kiss she was gone.

* * * * * * * * *

More coming :)~