A/N: I apologize for the long wait! I've been swamped with stuff to do but it's better now…so I'll try to update more often I swear! Now, without further ado Chapter 8. 

Chapter 8: Good Times

"That was the infamous Gilmore dinners huh?" Tristan said smiling at the two Gilmore girls.

"Yeah," Rory replied rolling her eyes.

"I can't believe she did that!" fumed Lorelai. "Are you two together yet?" she said mimicking Emily Gilmore. It had been embarrassing for both Rory and Tristan to deal with Emily and explain that nothing was going on between the two. One minute, she and Lorelai had been arguing over whether or not Lorelai liked cabbage when she suddenly changed the subject onto the two teenagers. They had both been quick to reply 'we're just friends!' She had been skeptical but Lorelai had cleared it up for her that nothing was going on between Rory and Tristan.

"How about some mini-golf?" Tristan suggested breaking the silence and both girls heartily agreed.

"I want a blue ball!" both Rory and Lorelai squealed when they arrived at the mini-golf place. After five minutes of arguing Tristan gave Lorelai a pink one and Rory the aforementioned blue one.

"Finally," he grumbled. It was only the third hole and twenty minutes had passed. It was obvious that the two Lorelai's weren't mini-golf people. "Rory you're holding it wrong," Tristan complained.

"Help me?" Rory asked sweetly and Tristan groaned inwardly. Why did she always make him do things he never wanted to do?

"Okay," he agreed somewhat reluctantly. He got behind her placing her hands in the right places on the club and helped her practice swinging a few times. When he stepped back he suddenly started to miss the feel of her body pressed up against his. He watched her swing and it was a hole-in-one. "Yes!" Rory squealed while jumping up in down in excitement. She and Lorelai shared a secret handshake that Tristan had trouble with following but when it was finished Rory turned and faced him.

"Thank You," Rory whispered leaning in for a hug and then kissed him on the cheek. "What are friends for," he offered weakly and they were off to the next hole as if they're moment was only between friends…but that's why they were, Tristan reminded himself. Just friends.

            After another hour of playing mini-golf they finally finished playing and headed back to Stars Hollow. "We're going to Luke's!" Lorelai announced as she pulled the jeep into park and they sat in the driveway of the Crap Shack for a minute.

"Let's go!" Rory said cheerfully as she opened the door to get out with Tristan right behind her. "Are you sure he's ready though, Mom?" Rory asked. "I hope so," Lorelai replied seriously.

"Hello? I'm still here I hope you two know," Tristan reminded.
 

"We know," the two girls, sang out linking arms and heading to Luke's. "It says William's Hardware," Tristan pointed out and the two rolled their eyes.

"You find that strange?" Lorelai questioned.

"Wait until Al's Pancake World," Rory chimed in grinning.

"Are we going in or not?" Tristan queried impatiently. "Going, going, going…" Rory said as they headed into their beloved diner.

"Lukey!" Lorelai called out sitting on a stool at the counter and spinning around. "Lorelai," Luke replied with a light smile. "You're smiling," she commented before leaning across the counter to kiss him.

"What are you so happy about?"

"I beat Taylor at not putting decorations up again,"

"But decorations would make this place pretty, Luke,"

"Don't even think about it," he warned and she smiled at him innocently. "Me? Think about decorating the diner? Never,"

"Who's the boy with Rory?" he asked suddenly as Lorelai looked over her shoulder.

"That's Tristan," she replied looking at him, surprised at his protectiveness of her daughter.

"Bible Boy?"

"Ex-Bible Boy," Lorelai confirmed when Rory and Tristan finally spoke up.

"What's a girl suppose to do for service here?" Rory called out.

"Strip," Lorelai shot back.

"That's only with you Lorelai," he murmured as she wagged a finger at him. "Dirty," she whispered smiling at him and he headed to Rory's table with Lorelai hot on his heels. "Coffee," Lorelai whined as he stopped in front of their table.

"I'm Luke," Luke said gruffly. "Tristan," Tristan introduced himself but Rory ignored their talk.

"COFFEE!" Rory shouted snatching the pot easily out of Luke's hand.

"This is the good stuff Rory don't ever forget that," ignoring the fatherly talk that Luke was—still giving Tristan.

"You girls having a movie night tonight?"

"Oh Rory, we should, we should!"
 

"Take Tristan's wallet," Rory said softly as Lorelai reached for his wallet and they slipped out of the diner silently, after many years of practice.

"There's like a hundred bucks in here Rory! I'll take seventy bucks for our junk food…and you can take the leftover thirty for movies. Make sure to get some chick flicks with hot guys, okay?" Rory nodded in response as Lorelai handed over the aforementioned thirty. They separated promising to meet with each other back at Luke's in ten minutes.

Ten minutes later…Lorelai reappeared with three bags of junk and Rory reappeared with a bag full of movies. Luke and Tristan were arguing over who were better the Yankees (Luke) versus the Red Sox (Tristan).

"You coming to movie night? Tristan? Luke?" Tristan nodded silently gratefully for her ending a debate that would truly never end if she hadn't interrupted.

"Is that all junk food?" Luke asked his eyes widening at the bags. "I have tea, too!" Lorelai said defending herself.

"Are they always like this?" Tristan questioned softly in Rory's ear. "Yeah," Rory responded with a smile.

"No wonder they're dating. Anyways, have you seen my wallet lately?" he asked casually and Rory looked at him with her wide blue eyes.

"What wallet?" she asked innocently.

"The one you and your mother stole from my for movie night,"

"You're accusing me of stealing Tristan! You should know better than that,"

"Sweetie?" Lorelai interrupted as she opened the door with Rory and Tristan following her out.

"Yes?" Rory replied smiling.

"You've stolen something before," 

"She has?" Tristan feigned a shock look and she punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"That was different though,"

"Rory!" he groaned as she just grinned and laughed. "Tell me," he commanded as he started chasing her and when he reached her he tackled her to the ground tickling her.

"TRISTAN!" Rory screeched as Lorelai just shook her head, how oblivious was she? Laughter followed Lorelai into the 'Crap Shack' five minutes later.

2 ½ hours later—Crap Shack—Movie Night

"Why are we watching this?" complained Tristan as Lorelai popped in 'The Wedding Planner'. "Because J. Lo is her idol," Rory whispered leaning into Tristan a little to grab some mini marshmallows.

"When's your birthday?" she asked as they were waiting for the previews to end. "August Fourteenth," he replied resting his head in her lap. Rory couldn't help but smile at him as he looked up at her.

"That's in six days!" Lorelai said happily bouncing from her position on the couch. "Are your parents planning anything?" Rory asked curiously and he snorted in response.

"I take that as a no,"

"They're in Europe for god knows how long," unbeknownst to Tristan the girls mouthed 'party' to each other as Lorelai grabbed a note pad along with a pen and started to scribble down ideas.

"What're you doing this week then?"

"On Wednesday I'm going to New Hampshire to see my Great Uncle George but the rest is free to hang out with you,"

"Great," she replied sarcastically and Tristan smiled.

"Lorelai!" Luke called out from the front door making Lorelai jump up, her pad flying in the air and hitting Tristan in the head with her foot.

"Ouch," Tristan groaned sitting up and Rory smiled sorrowfully at him. "Are you okay?"

"I'll survive," he replied dryly and she giggled. "Rory!" Lorelai called out bounding back into the living room to stop the tape. "Yeah?" Rory replied looking over at her mom.

"Town meeting—now,"

"What for?" Lorelai shrugged. "The fair?"

"Okay, I'll see you there, go with Luke,"

"Kay," Lorelai happily agreed as she grabbed her sneakers and took off with Luke. "Let's go," Rory said grabbing Tristan's hand and dragging him out the door despite his protests. "You'll love it," she promised finding amusement in his horror stricken face. They reached the edges of Stars Hollow's main street quickly.

"Is Dean going to be there?" he questioned softly placing his arm around Rory's shoulders. "Probably," Tristan's eyes darkened visibly but she patted him in reassurance. "We could always pretend that he's not there. But, he loved Madeline, remember," she reminded gently and as she spoke there the couple was sitting on the gazebo.

"Hey Dean, Madeline," she greeted smiling at the couple.

"Rory, Tristan," Madeline chirped back as Rory and Tristan continued on their way. Tristan's arm around Rory's shoulders didn't go unnoticed.

 "Are Rory and Tristan going out?" Rory could hear Madeline faintly ask.

"No, no Rory would never go out with him," Tristan tightened his hold on Rory and she looked up at him concerned.

"You okay?"

"Fine," came his short reply and she rolled her eyes. "Let's go get good seats then," as soon as they settled in their seats Taylor called the meeting to order as Rory craned her neck she was surprised to see that Lorelai and Luke weren't their. A minute later a disheveled Luke and a grinning Lorelai entered with Burgers and fries.

"Is that food?" Taylor demanded to know and Lorelai smiled at him. "How's the weather Taylor?"

"It's too hot, and humid. I hate summer, I hate it!" The rant continued on until he realized Lorelai did indeed have food.

"Confiscate the food!" Taylor cried out.

"Are a lot of vegetables being sold at the Market?" Lorelai questioned and he went off on another rant. "Lorelai!" he roared and Lorelai laughed.

"So, why are we having this meeting!" called out Rory and almost two hundred eyes swung over to her seat. She shifted uncomfortably for a moment and then Taylor finally regained control.

"We need more volunteers for the booth on Saturday,"

"Tristan and I will do the dunking booth!" Rory called out again causing everyone at the meeting to stare. Normally Rory didn't speak up much at these town meetings, Lorelai did enough of that but this time Tristan was setting her on the edge.

"Mare, if you wanted to see me wet all you had to do was ask," he whispered softly causing her cheeks to flame red for a moment but then she rolled her eyes.

"Ego check please," she requested.

"Sorry it just inflates whenever you're around,"

"Silence!" cried out Taylor in desperation and for a moment it was quiet. Until suddenly Babette spoke up. "Patty, you have a date waiting outside,"

"Yeah! I saw him!" Lorelai piped up. "He's a hot one!"  Patty smiled and winked at Babette and Lorelai.

"I give up! Meeting adjourned,"

"Wow," Tristan commented and Rory grinned. "You've got to love Stars Hollow!" And that he did.