A/N: Tristan and Rory weren't the only two unmarried people, it was just a way of saying how ironic the seating arrangement was, given the characters sarcasm.

AN: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up! Hopefully the next few will be coming faster!

The small procession of expensive cars, a group of old friends getting together, reminded Rory of her senior year. She had made friends with the "gang" and had had great times. Tristan however hadn't been there. They all pulled into the Starbucks parking lot, and walked in. They took the biggest table. Madeline and her husband, Louise and hers, three single boys, who were ogling over Paris, their names were Charles, Steven, and Rick, and then of course Rory and Tristan, who were being treated like a couple, although they weren't.

They ordered, and the talk of old memories began.

Tristan felt somewhat apart from the group he had once belonged to, sad that he had missed the years that they had seemed to have so closely bonded. He was accepted, obviously, but he felt lost realizing what he had missed. He wondered, if he hadn't been so stupid, if maybe he and Rory would have… "No," he thought. Even now she was simply playing with his feelings, and not even realizing what she was doing. She had broken his heart, and hadn't even realized it.

Rory noticed that Tristan was slightly lost in his own world as they talked about their own memories. She had noticed his absence that was for sure although maybe she had been happy about it. That was what she had told herself anyway. She had told herself how lucky she was that Tristan wasn't there to bother her. How lucky she was that Dean or Jess or whomever she had been with didn't have to worry that Tristan would flirt with her. That they didn't have to worry, that she would fall in love with him.

They all excited the building and went to their cars. They continued the talk and people drove off. Rory and Tristan were the only ones left. Then she realized what she had done. "Crap!" she said. He turned to her, "What?" She explained to him that she had locked her keys in her car. He smirked, and she remembered the boy she had known in high school. "You did it purposely to get me in bed, didn't you, Mary?" She stuck her tounge out. He rolled his eyes, "Comebacks are fading, Mary. Finally realize you're desperately in love with me?" She said, "Finally? Well since my plan to "bed you" sure didn't work out, I suppose I'll walk home?" He opened the passenger door, "Get in." She smiled, "Thanks."

Their car ride was fun. The most indirect routes were taken, to give even more talking time. More than once she warned him to watch the road. He explained it wasn't his fault she was so beautiful. She had wittily snapped back that it would be his fault if her beautiful face was gushing with blood. She did have a way with words.

"So you've been pretty successful?" she asked him.

"Pretty. And you? Doing what you've always wanted," he said.

"Yes. I really do hope to start that new magazine, but I don't really know if I have the guts to make such a step."

"You do. You're brave, and you're smart enough to do it."

"Well at least I know I have one vote of confidence."

"Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry if I was mean to you back then."

"Forgiven."

"Really? You sure I don't have to like kiss you to make up for it?"

She hit his shoulder playfully, "You will never change Tristan."

This actually hurt Tristan. She hated me then, he thought, and if she thinks I'll never change…

She continued her statement, "thank god."

He grinned, "You love me just the way I am."

"Oh, of course!"

"You're awfully cheery to be coming back from hell, and where is your car?" asked Lorelei

"It was good catching up with old friends, and I locked the cars inside it at Starbucks, we'll have to call a locksmith tomorrow morning."

"By old friend's you mean Tristan?"

"The word is plural mother, indicating more than one old friend."

"Grammar will not save you now!" proclaimed Lorelei, "Rory has a crush! Rory has a crush!"

Rory looked up and saw the blonde boy in question standing in the doorway. He held her purse, "You forgot this." A wry grin decorated his face.

"Hi!" said Lorelei, trying to cover up her previous words, "I'm Lorelei, Rory's mom, and you must be Satan."

Tristan grinned, "High School nicknames?"

Rory nodded.

Lorelei continued, "Umm Rory and me were just getting ready to watch Willy Wonka, if you wanted to join us."\

Tristan grinned and winked at Rory, "How could I resist?"

Rory remembered the movie night, when the very same video tape had played in the very same vcr and she had fallen for Dean. It seemed so long ago, it was so long ago. The three sat on the couch, and Lorelei, being the woman she was, went up to "get a glass of water."

"Obviously you're mother approves of us getting' wild in her living room," said Tristan.

"You read her well," said Rory

"I read all women well"

"You wish."

The two picked up couch pillows and began to hit each other with them, turning into a monster pillow fight, he was winning, almost on top of her smacking her with the pillow. The pillow fight ceased, and they realized the position they had ended up in. He laughed, and although her cheeks had turned red, she laughed with him. Their lips were beginning to start to meet for a kiss, when Lorelei walked back in, hearing the Oompas Loompas from the kitchen.

"Oh Hi Mom," said Rory.

"Rory has a crush" she began chanting again.

Tristan buried his head in a pillow, taking in the sight of the two Gilmore girls.

After the movie was over, Rory walked Tristan to his car.

"So you're going back to Manhattan tomorrow?"

"Yeah.

"And you're going back to…"

"New Canaan."

"You didn't go far."

"I work for the Connecticut Journal, remember?"

"Manhattan has many opportunities."

"Yeah."

"But?" he paused, "there's a guy, isn't there."

"Were on a break, with no apparent ending."

"Come stay with me."

She wanted to. She wanted to kiss him, and go live with him in Manhattan, but she didn't want to leave her security. She was an hour and a half away from her mother, and her grandparents. She had a good job. She had her Jag, although it had taken much savings and a loan. Could she give up that security? Did she want to. She hugged him and wrote her phone number on his hand.

"I might take you up on that offer someday,"

"Don't let it be years before we see each other again," he said, still not letting go of the hug.

He kissed her head, "Bye Mary."

He got in his car and drove away, wishing to god that she was coming with him. He realized why he hadn't forgotten about her."