"I'll stay out here," Rory told her mother as they pulled up in front of the diner.
"Be back in a jiffy," Lorelai laughed as she strolled to the door.
"Luke," Lorelai called as she entered the diner.
"I'm coming," Luke came bounding down the stairs. He cleaned up well. His khaki pants were pressed and his collared shirt was even tucked in. His ever-present baseball cup had been discarded revealing a head of brown locks.
"Umm, hi," Lorelai managed to stammered out after she recovered from a few seconds of shock.
"You look nice," Luke complemented Lorelai as he opened the door for her.
"Thank you. You don't look to shabby either," Lorelai smiled as Luke locked up the diner.
"To dinner," Rory commanded as Luke and her mother buckled into the jeep.
"You're early?" Emily mused as she held the door open, "Luke, is it?"
"Yes Ma'am," Luke said as he nodded his head toward her.
"Emily please and it's so nice to see you two finally got together. Although I must say I'm a little disappointed that Lorelai didn't inform me," Emily looked at her daughter for an explanation.
"Mom, you got it all wrong," Lorelai laughed, "Luke is just my friend."
"Yeah, I'm her coffee supplier. That's it, " Luke waved his hands in an 'x' to demonstrate his point. They entered the living room and Tristan immediately followed Rory to her room while the adults went through the eventfulness of introductions.
"You look nice," Tristan said sincerely, making Rory blush as they headed down the hallway of her grandparents' large home.
"Thanks," Rory mumbled before changing the subject, "I wanna show you something," Rory stopped in front of a pine door at the end of the corridor.
"Ok," Tristan waited for her make the next move when she didn't he asked, "What? Do I have to close my eyes?"
"As a matter of fact," Rory laughed, as Tristan obliged. She grabbed his hand before turning the knob to the heavy door and pushing it open. She dropped Tristan grasp and flicked the light on, "Open 'em."
Tristan was speechless as he took in the sight. Rory was really letting him in her world.
"C'mere," Rory tugged on his hand pulling him toward the first bookcase of the large library, "Look at this," Rory pulled out a fragile book.
"First Edition Dickens?" Tristan looked at her amazed. He knew the moment he opened his eyes this was her favorite room in the whole house and it really was Rory. It had Rory written all over it simple, sophisticated, and amazing.
"Isn't it amazing?" Rory beamed as she flipped open the cover ever so gingerly.
"Why are you sharing-" Tristan began but was cut off by Lorelai coming to collect them for dinner.
"Come on down, the trough is ready," Lorelai had exclaimed as she burst through the door.
"Just a sec, Mom," Rory placed the book back on the shelf.
"Of all the places to take a boy," Lorelai scuffed under her breath. Tristan attempted to stifle my laugh as she headed down the stairs to the dining room.
"What's for dinner?" Rory asked as she stabbed as the concoction in the shape of a swan sitting on her plate. Her grandmother rattled off some weird French cuisine in response.
"At least it's not snails," Lorelai laughed at her own joke as everyone looked at her sternly.
"Umm," Rory began, "I don't mean to be rude but I was wondering would it be alright if I had something else, please."
"It's quite alright, Rory dear," Her grandmother replied with a smile and a nod toward Maria, the cook of the week.
"What would you like?" Richard asked.
"How about grilled cheese, that's what you teenagers eat, right?" Emily suggested. Rory and Tristan nodded in response.
"Maria, one-" Emily looked at Tristan's face, "Two grilled cheese sandwiches, please."
"Yes, Lady Gilmore," Maria left the room with Tristan and Rory plates in hand.
"Thank you," Emily called after.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gilmore" Tristan smiled. Rory smiled over to and thanked her grandmother as well. Five minutes later Maria returned with two grilled cheese sandwiches. She set one in front of each teenager.
After thanking Maria, Rory and Tristan took their first bites. Rory first reaction was written all over her face as it twisted and contorted. Tristan's reaction was a bit more reserved and discrete.
"What's the matter?" Emily asked.
"There's chunks in it. I think it's moldy," Rory looked horrified as the whole table erupted in laughter, even Tristan joined them as understood.
"What?!" Rory cried.
"Rory," Her mother laughed, "it's bleu cheese."
Rory eyes grew wide at her mistake. Who makes grilled cheese with bleu cheese? Rory thought to herself as she sunk deeper into her chair, wishing she could disappear. Tristan reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. Rory looked over with a small smile.
"Wonderful dinner," Cecile DuGrey gushed as she put her coat on.
"Yes," Timothy agreed as he extended is hand out to Richard, "See you next Friday?"
"Of Course, this account certainly won't close itself," Richard said as he shook Timothy's hand.
"See ya Monday, I guess" Tristan said to Rory as they walked out to his parents car.
"Yeah," Rory said as she stumped her heel and rubbed her arms up and down her arms in an attempt to get warm.
"You should go back in you'll freeze out here," Tristan said as he pulled her jacket closer around her and rubbed his own hands up and down her arms. Rory looked down at the ground letting her hair cascade over her face in order to hide the smile spreading across her lips and the blush creeping up her cheeks from the intimate position they were in.
Tristan dropped his hands from her arms and brought a gloved hand up to her cheek lifting her face to look at him. Her eyes shined as they reflected the moonlight that flickered against the shadows that the trees created as the hung over the driveway. Tristan slowly leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips.
"Tristan," Rory whispered when he pulled away, "I can't do this."
With that she was fled to the house. Tristan slammed a fist against the hood of the car before crawling into the back seat.
"So, thanks," Lorelai said as she walked Luke up to the diner.
"It was actually not that bad," Luke smiled as he entered the diner, "Coffee?"
"Let me go tell Rory," Lorelai run out to the jeep.
"What's up?" Rory asked as she rolled the window down.
"Coffee?" Lorelai asked.
"Go ahead. I'm gonna head home" Rory explained getting out of the car.
"Take the jeep," Lorelai said handing her the keys.
"See ya at home," Rory kissed her mother's cheek and climbed in the driver's seat. The kiss still fresh in her mind.
"Back," Lorelai jumped up on the stool and grasped the large mug between her freezing fingers. Luke suddenly emerged from the back baseball cap on and shirt untucked. Lorelai smiled at the familiar sight.
"Good?" Luke questioned as he sat down next to her with a mug of tea.
"Always is," Lorelai turned to Luke as she smacked her lips in contentment.
There was long pause before they both went to say something.
"You first," Lorelai sighed.
"Umm, I. Tonight was," Luke looked down at his hand thinking of the right words, "Nice and we had a good time. We always do. I always have a good time with you. I guess what I'm trying to say is," Luke suddenly stopped when Lorelai took a finger and placed it over his lips. Then she replaced her finger with her lips.
"I know what you mean," Lorelai whispered when she pulled away. Luke pulled her back capturing her lips with his own again. They pulled away gasping for air.
Wrapped up in their own world they didn't take notice to Kirk standing outside the diner window with his cell phone pressed to his ear.