Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, nada, zero, zilch. But I think y'all knew that. Smart little readers! The songs used are both sung by Barry Manilow, so not mine either.

A/N: Okay here it comes folks, the big apology and explanation for the lateness of this chapter. A thousand apologies, sorry sorry sorry sorry (you get the picture). I thought not being in school would make my life simpler, HA! Between setting up the new apartment, looking for a job, weddings, funerals, dealing with transferring schools, getting my grades (3.8 GPA yes!!), and the usual. Not even caffeine has managed to sustain me, so you know it's bad. But I'm back and trying to wrap this story up. Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed. I hope you like this part. I find it very amusing. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Thirteen

                        It had been two days since the fight with Dean, and Rory had refused to leave the house, not even for Luke's coffee. She wouldn't answer the phone, not even to talk to Tristan. Especially to talk to talk to Tristan. Lane and Lorelai both tried there hardest to cheer her up, but nothing worked.

            Rory just stayed in her room, feeling guilty. See that was the thing that everyone didn't truly understand. She wasn't heartbroken, not really. Sure she was upset about the loss of her first love and boyfriend. But she wasn't devastated; she realized that this had been coming. It was the guilt that was eating at her. She lied to him, well maybe not lied but omitted the truth. And she had hurt him badly, and that hurt her. She was depressed, and she was going to stay that way. She didn't deserve to be happy, she rationalized to herself.

            "Ow, I mean hello." Lorelai said as she answered the phone rubbing her shin.

            "Hi, are you okay?" the voice asked trying to muffle his laugher.

            "Oh hey Tristan. I'm fine the end table that attacked me however will pay for the bruise it has left."

            "Is Rory there?" he asked knowing the answer already.

            "Yeah, but sorry kid, she still isn't speaking to anyone." Lorelai answered sadly.

            "Yeah I figured but…ya know."

            "Yeah I do. This is getting ridiculous. She thinks I don't get what she's doing. She's punishing herself and it's got to end. I want my Rory back." Lorelai demanded.

            "Me too." Muttered Tristan softly.

            "I heard that mister." Lorelai cackled "But I've just got the most scathingly brilliant idea."

            "Isn't that usually how you end up in trouble?" Tristan asked remembering Rory's stories of her mother's brilliant plans that always go awry.

            "Shut up Devil Boy and get your cute butt here in an hour ok?" she ordered a devious smile forming on her full lips.

            "What—"

            "I'll explain everything when you get here. Just get here." 

            An hour later Tristan sat on Lorelai's bed adamantly shaking his head, "Oh no. You can't expect me to—I mean, I don't." he sputtered as the dark haired woman just smiled enjoying his reaction.

            "You want to cheer up Rory, don't you? Help her get over Dean…"she said with an evil smirk.

            Tristan shot her a look, "That's low."

            "Yes, and it's true. You like Rory. So the sooner she's over Dean, the sooner she can notice you." She recounted, "It's elementary my dear Watson."

            "Fine but this, isn't there another way? Can't I just buy her something? Like a Starbucks?"

            "No no, although feel free to buy me a Starbucks."

            "Lorelai focus."

            "Right. Trust me young Devil spawn, this is the way to go. It's guaranteed to make her smile and she'll never forget it. Or that fact that you did it for her."

            "Fine." He relented "Where do we begin?"

            Rory was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She heard the door open earlier but she figured that her mom had gone to Luke's or that Sookie had come over. She lifted her head suddenly as she heard some clomping down the stairs, a loud bang, and some muffled whispers. What was going on?

            And then her door was flung open.

            There stood Lorelai, dressed in a mans pinstriped suit, one of those 20s gangster hats that Frank Sinatra used to wear, an umbrella as a makeshift cane, holding a boom box and a hairspray bottle. She pressed play and lifted her 'microphone' to her lips as the music began to flood the room.

            "You know I can't smile without you. I can't smile without you." Lorelai crooned along with the music, "I can't laugh and I can't sing. I'm findin' it hard to do anything."

            Lorelai twirled around doing what she imagined looked like some Fred Astaire like steps. "You see, I feel sad when you're sad. I feel glad when you're glad. If you only knew what I'm going through. I just can't smile without you."

            She kneeled in front of her stunned daughter and continued, "You came along just like a song and brightened my day. Who've believed you were part of a dream. Now it all seems light years away. Now you know I can smile without you." She sang as she moved up and hugged her smiling daughter. "Love ya babe."

            "Love you too. But you're crazy." Rory responded.

            Lorelai gave a sinister grin and said "You think I'm crazy, watch this." She changed the song on the CD player and suddenly another figure appeared at the door.

            Rory's jaw dropped.

            There stood Tristan, rather awkwardly, his hair mussed by the yellow feather boa tossed around it. His stormy eyes highlighted by bright blue eye shadow, Rory knew came from her mothers 80s collection. The lips that had given pleasure to many girls at Chilton were painted a garish red, and to top it all off was the balloons, at least she hoped they were balloons stuffed in his shirt. In his hands a brush was gripped tightly and as the words started he began to sing softly.

            "Her name was Lola…" he all but whispered his face becoming a lovely shade of red; matching the blush Lorelai had amply applied.

            "Sing out Louise!" Lorelai yelled mimicking the mother from Gypsy Rose Lee.

            Tristan glared at her, how on earth did she talk him into this. Shaking his head in confusion he saw Rory smiling and trying to conceal her laughter, then he remembered that was why. To cheer up Rory. Well he thought, if I'm going to make an ass out of myself no matter what I might as well put on a good show.

            "…She was a showgirl. With yellow feathers in her hair." He gestured to the boa wrapped around his head, "And a dress cut down to there." He drew his hand down to the end of his "cleavage", damn he thought as he then pushed his balloon breasts out of the way, how do girls deal with these things?

            "She would merengue and do the cha-cha." He sang as he danced the steps expertly. "But while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar." He spun around holding the microphone aka the hairbrush. Tristan was really getting into it now.

            "Across the crowded floor, he worked from 8 till 4. They were young and had each other, who could ask for more? At the Copa! Copacabana! The hottest spot north of Havana. At the Copa! Copacabana! Music and passion were always in fashion. At the Copa…they fell in love."

            Rory was clutching her sides so hard, she couldn't control the laughter that was pouring out. She could hardly breathe as she watched Tristan DuGrey, the Tristan DuGrey, singing and dancing around her bedroom—in drag—to cheer her up. Lorelai was wiping the tears from her face as he finished the number and the balloon breasts fell out as he did his finale, she knew she liked this kid.

            Rory was lying flat on her back, still trying to control the laughter, when Tristan collapsed next to her on her bed. They lay in silence for a moment, as Rory got her breathing under control. She turned her head to find him his head already facing her. His makeup was running and the boa had left errant yellow feathers in his hair, and he was…beautiful. She smiled, this huge smile that lit up her face. She lay there beaming at him and for a moment Tristan swore his heart skipped a beat. He decided the hell with rules and decided to seize the moment, carpe diem and all that jazz. He leaned forward, as did she and then—a camera flash went off.

            Was fate against him, Tristan wondered angrily? He looked up to see Lorelai standing there camera in hand with this guilty 'oops' expression on. Rory had already turned away, not looking at him. He just layback cursing that camera…wait…camera!

Lorelai saw the little wheels turning in his head and sprinted off, but not before she stuck her tongue out at him.

            "Lorelai! Get back here!" he screamed as he tore after her.

            Rory could her the muffled shouts and curses and her mothers laughter. She sighed and gave up trying to analyze what happened and decided she would just enjoy it for now and wait to analyze it with Lane later. As Lorelai flew by her room with the camera and a big grin, she smiled back, what great blackmail. She could tease him for years just on the fact that he knew all the words to Barry Manilow's "Copacabana". But the outfit and the dancing made it priceless.

            "Over here Mom!" she called and Lorelai threw her the camera. Tristan appeared at the doorway, out of breath and clutching his left shin. He went after Rory, who taunted "Keep away from Tristan!'' and tossed it back to her mother, and so the game continued.

            Later when Tristan left that night, without the film of course, Lorelai sat down beside Rory. "Feeling better babe?"

            "Yeah I am. Today was one I'll never forget, that's for sure. I can't believe he did that…"she chuckled.

            Lorelai smiled in memory, "Not many guys would do that Ror." She said gently hoping her daughter caught her meaning.

            "I know mom."

No, no dancing button, just me the author singing and dancing "At the Copa! Copacabana! " doing a little cha-cha. So what are you waiting for, review me! Review me! Me, my story, the reasons why Joan Rivers should be put on mute, anything. I'm a desperate woman people. A review junkie. Save me from my plight.