Author's Note: Okay, I'm back with another chapter! Hope you are enjoying this because there's still more to come! By the way, I don't know any French so I'm relying on the smarts of my friend Drew.

PS- The name of the restaurant is, "The Enchanted Rose."

Chapter 4-Enchanting

"Just the two of us?" Rory asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, just us. I was talking to Drew earlier and he said that he knows this quiet little restaurant downtown, supposedly it's place that you had mentioned wanting to visit a couple weeks ago."

"La Rose Enchantée." Rory replied knowingly.

Tristan nodded. "So, what do you say? Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

Rory smiled and considered it for a moment. "Sure."

"Great, I'll pick you up at seven."

"Okay, see you tomorrow then."

"Bye."

~

"Nice try missy, you almost got away with it! What happened with Tristan?!"

Rory sighed, rolled over and realized that sleep was not going to be an option when Katherine Jucas was involved.

~~~~~~~~

"Rory? Rory, darling daughter of mine!" Lorelai entered the dorm singing.

"Do you want her to answer?" Luke asked gruffly.

"Of course I do."

She peered around the dorm and sighed disappointedly, finding the room empty she put the spare key Rory had given her back in her pocket and turned to Luke and his ramblings.

"Then don't scare her by singing like an idiot."

She punched his shoulder playfully. "You know if I didn't love you so much I'd kill you for that comment."

"Well then I guess this is my lucky day." he flirted before pulling her into his arms.

"You betcha." she affirmed before pulling him into a lung-crushing kiss.

"Mom? Luke? Are you in here, the door is open and...aah! My eyes my poor eyes!" Rory yelled as Kate followed her into the room.

"Hey, parents are not allowed to make out in dorms!" Kate protested.

"Not my fault, he started it!" Lorelai pointed an accusing finger at Luke.

"Oh jeez, not this again." he groaned.

"What?" Lorelai questioned.

"The whole whose fault it is argument. Let's just forget about it and move on." he suggested.

"Okay, fine. Rory you're home! So what are we doing today?" Lorelai asked giddily.

"Well, about that..." she trailed off.

"Rory's got a date!" Kate piped in.

"A date?" Lorelai asked eagerly.

"It's not a date!" Rory objected.

"Yes it is. It's a date with Tristan."

"A date with Tristan?" Lorelai repeated.

"No, it's a dinner with Tristan in a non-date kind of way." Rory corrected.

"Uh huh, we'll see about that." Lorelai narrowed her eyes. "Are you meeting somewhere or is he picking you up?"

"Picking me up." Rory answered.

"Sit down, fancy shmancy restaurant or a fast food order out place?"

"Well, it's fancy I guess."

"And finally, what time he picking you up?"

"At seven." Rory answered.

"Ah ha! It's a date!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"He's picking you up at your place, meaning he will be the source of transportation, you're lifeline of sorts, you're going to a fancy restaurant, not a friendly outing kind of place but an intimate little place, and he's picking you up at seven!"

"How does him picking me up at seven make it a date?"

"Because Rory!" Katie sighed exasperatedly. "Everyone knows that seven o'clock is the universal date pick up time!"

"What?! No it's not!"

"Of course it is! Have you learned nothing from TV? Every time the guy asks a girl out it's always, 'pick you up at 7?' Six is too early, eight is too late, and anything other than that is just casual." Lorelai explained.

"Oh, but not if you're already dating," Katie chimed, "because then it doesn't matter the time."

"But only if you've been dating for at least a month." Lorelai added.

"Or if you've both agreed that it's a date, date, like a no question about it this is going to be a relationship date." Katie finished.

Rory and Luke looked back at the two in bewilderment.

"I don't even want to know. I'll be at the guys' dorm." he held up his hands as a sign of backing off the subject and quickly left the room.

Rory followed his exit with her eyes and then turned back to the other two women. "I think I agree with him."

She turned to leave but was held back by two sets of arms dragging her back.

"Wait, wait, wait! Where do you think you're going?" Katie questioned.

"Um, anywhere but here." Rory answered.

"Oh, no you're not," Lorelai ordered as the two girls forced her down onto the chair in front of the vanity, "you have to get ready for your date."

"It's not a date!"

"Fine, it's not a date!" Lorelai announced. "And Deep Impact was better than Armageddon." she mumbled.

"What?! Armageddon was SO much better! Deep Impact was unrealistic!" Rory argued.

"That's what they wanted you to think." Lorelai said dismissively.

"Armageddon and the gorgeous Ben Affleck top Elijah and that stupid tidal wave and you know it!"

"Alright, Armageddon was a better movie." Lorelai grumped.

"Thank you. You scared me there." she mumbled with a frown.

"Well, we're agreed then, Armageddon is superior to the cheapened copy-cat and you're going on a date with Tristan." Lorelai said quickly.

"What? No! I did not agree with that!"

"Yes, you did. Didn't she Kate?"

"I believe so." Katie affirmed.

"No!"

"It's all or nothing babe. You agree with both or you agree with none." Lorelai stated.

"I take it back! I loved Deep Impact!" Rory pleaded.

"Too late." Katie annoyingly reminded her.

"But Elijah rules! This isn't a date!"

"Unfortunately that answer came a little too late, but thanks for playing." Lorelai mimicked a game show host.

"Fine, I'll get ready for this NON-date," Rory stressed, "but not now."

"But you only have four hours!" Katie protested.

"Yes Kate, four hours. I'm almost positive that Tristan isn't planning on showing up four hours early to pick me up." Rory said slowly.

"It's going to take that much time to make you look stunning." Lorelai explained.

"As opposed to the train wreck I am now?" Rory asked sarcastically.

"Of course not, that would take closer to six hours."

"The point is," Katie broke in, "you have to shower, brush your teeth, pick out dress, shoes, purse, hair, make-up, there is so much to do and we haven't even started! Now come on!"

She exclaimed before dragging Rory into the bathroom and slamming the door. Lorelai waited outside as she listened to the two bickering and then the sound of the shower starting.

"Nothing can ruin this night. Please, don't let anything ruin this night." she prayed, looking heavenward.

"GET IN THERE NOW!"

After a scream in protest, the sound of struggle, and another scream that bordered anger and shock, Katie emerged, closing the door behind her.

"Threw her in?" Lorelai asked.

"Clothes and all." Kate assured her.

Lorelai grinned wickedly before throwing an arm over her and guiding her away from the bathroom. "I have taught you well."

"You didn't really mean that about Deep Impact being better did you?"

"Of course not, who do you think I am? Armageddon is truly superior." Lorelai affirmed.

"Just checking."

~~~~~~~~

Luke knocked on the door to the guys' dorm.

"Come in!"

Luke entered and immediately began coughing as smoke filled his lungs.

"You smoking?" he asked.

"Tristan's fault." Jess pointed the blame. "He lit up so I lit up."

"Are the guys who live here cool with it?"

"It's no problem." Drew answered as he entered behind Luke. He extended his hand to Luke.

"You must be Luke, Rory's told us about you, I'm Drew," another boy with blond hair entered behind him, "and this is John."

"Hi." he answered as if preoccupied.

His eyes nervously darted around the room. He fidgeted ever so slightly.

"What's with you?" Luke asked.

"It's the smoke. I used to smoke but Rory made me quit but now," he inhaled deeply, "uuhhh, just one, all I want is one."

"Dude, no." Drew said forcefully.

"Why allow Tris and Jess to smoke then? They aren't exactly supposed to be smoking either." Luke threw a glare at his nephew.

"Because, it's a test to see his willpower against temptation." Drew answered.

"Okay." Luke said hesitantly. "Where's Tristan?"

"He kind of went out for another pack of cigs." Jess answered.

"Didn't he go out for a pack this morning?" John asked.

"Yeah, but he's kind of nervous about tonight with Rory.he smokes when he's nervous."

Tristan came in, his hands shaking nervously.

"Hi, guys, hey Luke, I really need..." he stuttered as he fumbled with trying to open the pack of cigarettes, "Damn it! Why won't this freaking thing open!"

"Dude, chill, here, let me help you with that!" Drew offered.

He took the pack out of his hands and pulled open a corner. Tristan snatched the first cigarette offered to him and turned to Jess for the lighter. In seconds he let out a content sigh and murmured his thanks.

"You do know that Rory is going to smell the smoke on you, don't you?" Luke reminded.

"It's still three and a half hours away, I have time to air out."

Luke looked doubtful. "Why are you so nervous?"

"Because...tonight's the night that I tell Rory that I love her."

"What?!" the other occupants yelled.

"That is not exactly the method I thought you'd use." Jess mumbled.

"I'm tired of waiting to see if by some miracle something just sort of happens to get us together." Tristan answered looking at all the other men with sincerity in his eyes. "This is my last chance, if we aren't meant to be...I'll leave it alone. I'll move on."

"It's not that simple." Luke reminded him.

"I know," Tristan fiddled with the cigarette in his hands, "but what other choice do I have?"

They stood in silence, letting the seriousness of his words sink in.

"You do know that Rory will make you quit for good when you two get together." John pointed out, purposely making sure to say 'when' as opposed to the 'if' that was on the tip of his tongue.

Tristan chuckled and looked down at the cigarette. "Yeah, I know. It's a terrible habit. I only do it when I'm nervous or depressed, usually she has to do with both emotions. She's the reason I started."

"How so?" he asked, inching ever so slightly towards the pack that Drew had tossed carelessly on the desk.

"Last day of sophomore year at Chilton, Dean shows up and foils my plans of taking her to a very costly concert that I had planned and tells him she hates me. I was pretty down after that so I went for a drive around Hartford where I run into Duncan and Bowman at a mini-mart and I decided to smoke my troubles away."

"Wow, well that's fascinating," John responded nervously, one hand behind him as he backed up, "anyway, I have to go, study...uh yeah, for a...something. I'm gonna go." he said hurriedly before turning towards the door.

"John." Drew admonished. "Hand it over!" he held out his palm.

Reluctantly John withdrew a cigarette from behind his back and placed it in the outstretched hand.

"Marlboro Nazi." he grumbled.

~~~~~~~~~

*Knock, knock*

"Coming!" Katie called before putting the finishing touches on Rory's hair. "You look great girlie." she said encouragingly.

"He'll be speechless." Lorelai agreed.

"Oh please, this is Tristan we're talking about." Rory rolled her eyes as she made her way towards the door and opened it.

She jumped back in shock. Tristan was not alone. John, Drew, Jess, and Luke all stood behind him with eager faces. He threw her an apologetic look and mouthed 'sorry'. She recovered and gave him an understanding look as Lorelai and Kate rushed up behind her.

"Wow, Tristan you look great! Very smooth." Katie noticed.

Rory took in the sight of Tristan standing in casual suit not unlike the one he wore many years ago at a dance that Rory remembered to have not ended so well. Still, he looked handsome. Tristan took in her every detail, from the simple, above the knee black dress, to the minimal make-up and pulled into a twist hair-do allowing small strands to escape to the sides of her face.

"Kate, shut up." Rory hissed.

"Well, no time for chit-chat. No use spending the evening her with us when you're obviously overdressed so," Lorelai threw a black shawl over Rory's shoulders and shoved a matching purse in her hands, "get out of here you two."

Katie nearly shoved Rory in Tristan before throwing them a pointed look. Confused and afraid of being the only normal ones in the group at the moment, they made no objections to leaving.

"So now what?" Luke asked.

"Anyone up for ice cream?" Lorelai asked.

"Only if that ice cream can be eaten near La Rose Enchantée." Katie answered.

They all looked at each other for a few moments.

"Let me get my purse." Lorelai agreed before they all exited the building.

~

"Is it just me or were they being really weird?" Tristan asked as he drove towards the restaurant.

"Who?" Rory asked.

"The patients of the local mental hospital that we left back at your dorm." he answered.

"Definitely." she agreed.

He smiled and stole a quick glance at her before returning his eyes towards the road. "You know, I would have brought you flowers but my lackeys wouldn't leave me alone long enough to pick some up."

"It's okay." she dismissed as they pulled up to the restaurant and he helped her out of the car.

He linked his arm in hers and led her to the door. "You've been smoking." she whispered.

"Sorry." Tristan apologized sheepishly.

"I'm going to get you to quit." she vowed.

"Believe me, I would love nothing more than to have you bug me about quitting." he replied. ~Every day for the rest of my life~ he thought silently.

~

"My ice cream is melting!"

"Stop shoving me into the bush!"

"Did anyone bring any napkins?"

"Ow! Dude, that was my foot!"

"Hey! Everyone shut up and sit back!" Luke chided.

"Meanie." Lorelai grumbled but obliged all the same.

They all turned and sat back on the two adjoining benches that were hidden from the restaurant by some bushes. Lorelai looked over her shoulders every few seconds.

"What's the point of spying if we're looking in the opposite direction!" John complained.

"Hey, we are not spying." Lorelai corrected. "We are simply enjoying ice cream from a place that happens to be very near to a quaint little French restaurant."

"That Rory and Tristan are dining at." Luke added with a roll of his eyes.

"Really? They're here?" Lorelai feigned ignorance.

"I don't see them anywhere!" Katie complained.

"Maybe they didn't get a seat near a window." Drew reasoned.

"But I don't see them anywhere, they should have gotten there by now."

"Oh wait, look!" Lorelai pointed.

The five 'spys' turned back to and leaned over the back of the bench on their knees, staring intently through the window a little ways away.

~

"Sorry about the delay, monsieur." the waiter apologized.

"It's okay." Tristan dismissed in understanding.

"Would you like to start out with anything to drink, perhaps a bottle of wine?"

Tristan looked to Rory who nodded in response. "We'll take the finest bottle of wine in the house." Tristan requested.

"Any particular brand?"

Tristan thought about it for a few seconds before answering, "Surprise us."

The waiter nodded and left. Rory turned to her menu.

"It's all in French." she observed.

"You took French right?" Tristan offered.

Rory smirked. "Among many other languages. Not necessarily fluent in those but I am in French."

"Well all right then." he replied.

~

An hour later...

"They're smiling. That's a good thing." Lorelai observed.

"A very good thing." Jess agreed.

"Now they're laughing." Luke commented.

"They are so drunk." John mused.

"No way! Although another bottle of wine might help when Tris tells her." Drew joked.

"Tells her what?" Katie asked.

"That he loves her." Drew answered simply.

"WHAT?!" she screeched.

"Sshh!" they all hissed.

"What do you mean he loves her?" she said in a quieter voice.

"He's been in love with her since high school but he's too afraid to tell her. This is his last chance, if she doesn't feel the same way...he's going to stop trying." Jess explained.

"Oh my gosh, I knew it!" she whispered triumphantly. "I knew he loved her and she feels the same way!"

"How do you know?" Jess asked.

"Because! It's totally obvious that she harbors more than friendly feelings towards him but refuses to admit it. Why? I have no idea."

"Tristan is signaling for the check." Luke announced.

"Wait, did he tell her yet?" Lorelai asked, too absorbed in their own conversation to pay attention to Tristan and Rory.

"Doesn't look like it," Luke answered, "he seems nervous though."

"Um, guys, they're leaving the restaurant and if I'm not mistaken, they're heading this way." John said nervously.

"Oh, uh, let's move, quickly, preferable before they see us." Katie suggested.

They scrambled across the path to another set of bushes and ducked behind them.

~

"That dinner was incredible Tris." Rory said happily. "Thank you."

"Only the best for you." Tristan replied sweetly.

Rory looked down and blushed before shivering and pulling her shawl around her shoulders tighter.

"Cold?" Tristan asked.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not. Here, take my jacket."

Before Rory could protest, Tristan's jacket was engulfing her in warmth.

"Don't argue." he ordered.

"No complaints here." she replied.

They turned back to wandering down the dimly lit path looking at the small shops that surrounded the area and enjoying the surrounding beauty from the landscaped park. Tristan was nervous, the little voices in his mind argued about what to say and whether or not to say anything at all. He looked over at her smiling form that remained oblivious to the complicated thoughts that filled his head. She walked along, looking around at the other people who chose to go out that night, wondering who they were and what their lives were like. She looked back at Tristan who had turned away by then and bit her lip in sadness. She saw a happy couple walk by them, the love for each other written all over their faces and for a brief moment she wished she could have what they had. But she shook that thought away, she could never have that, and only she knew why.

"Rory?" Tristan asked.

"Yes?"

They came to a stop under a dim lamp, next to some benches, not knowing that their friends were only a few feet away, hidden by the cover of shrubbery, able to hear and see everything.

"I need to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Rory..." he began.

"Yes, me Rory, you Tristan." she joked.

"Mare, I'm trying to be serious here." he said, although a small smile had formed on his face.

"Sorry, Bible Boy, continue."

"It's been so long since you've called me that." he realized.

"Yeah, it has." Rory agreed. "But you haven't been calling me Mary that much."

"I know, we haven't really spoken much either."

"Yes we have. That's all we've been doing these past three days." Rory corrected.

"No, I meant, before I came here. We didn't talk. What happened?"

"I guess when I got back together with Dean you started to avoid me." Rory answered.

"True, but after you broke up with him that shouldn't have been a problem. Rory, don't lie to me, you and I started drifting apart even before you got back together with Dean. But it wasn't me Ror, you spaced yourself from me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Rory said nervously.

"No, you do. I know you do." Tristan said earnestly.

"Tristan..." she began.

"No, you know what? That's not even what I wanted to say to you." he sighed.

"Then what did you want to say?"

He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist but keeping her at enough distance so he could look into her eyes when he spoke. She placed her hands on his upper arms, holding them, looking into his eyes with an expectant look. He leaned down so that his lips were centimeters from hers.

"Rory Gilmore, I have been in love with you for the longest time. I can't go on anymore just being you're friend when I want to be more. Yesterday, I wanted a kiss to be the judge of whether or not you felt the same way but we never got that kiss. So I'm going to kiss you now and I pray that you feel the same way." he whispered before closing the gap between their mouths.

The kiss was simple, sweet, but conveyed all his emotions as he held her gently, afraid to be too forceful. She responded but pulled back suddenly, a pained expression in her eyes. He gulped and felt the fear rise in him. He had seen that look already twice before in his life. Both times ended in pain. His worst fear was slowly coming true. That look was the worst form of torture anyone could give. It was he look that he had crushed him in high school, the look that had nearly killed him a year ago, and now it was the look that made him want to kill himself.

"Oh God no." Lorelai begged as they crouched on the ground studying Rory's face.

"She's going to run." Jess breathed sadly.

~

AN: So? Do you like? I know, I know, totally evil right? Why can't they get together already?! Well, be prepared, if you think this is bad, trust me when I say that it's not over yet. But never fear, I believe in happy fairy tale endings...if I get reviews. Now, I already have everything written, meaning I have a cute little "awe" ending waiting to be posted but if I don't get enough reviews I swear I'll re-write it and believe me, you don't want that.anyone who's read my Harry Potter fics knows that I am the Queen of killing off characters, I won't hesitate to do that here. So, review and I'll reconsider Tristan's death...oops, did I give that away...?