Author's note: WOW!! Chapter 12…only about 2 chapters to go! Excitement!! Thanks for the reviews they really did make me type faster…I love all who did review!! Here's Chapter 12…

These Summer Days

Chapter 12: One more tale of a DuGrey-Gilmore romance.

They were in the middle of a movie night when someone knocked on the door. Lorelai and Rory grunted in response and Tristan rolled his eyes. Then he got up and headed to the front door. He opened it and was surprised by the person standing rather uncomfortably on the porch.

"Uncle Josh?" he asked surprised to see his Uncle.

"Tristan?" Josh DuGrey questioned just as confused as his nephew. "What are you doing here?" Josh asked Tristan.

"I'm one of Rory's friends," Tristan replied still bewildered.

"That's great. How is little Rory?"

"Not so little anymore," Rory said coming to the door right behind Tristan.

"Ror this is my Uncle Josh who's here because?" Tristan questioned.

"Can I see Lorelai?" Josh questioned eagerly.

"Sure," Tristan responded as Rory called for her mother. "MOM!" Rory called out.

"Is Joe giving you guys a hard time?" Lorelai asked smiling but when she saw who was at the door her smile faded.

"Josh," Lorelai said softly leaning against the wall for support.

"Lorelai," Josh responded in the same manner. Silence followed as both Rory and Tristan were at a loss to what was going on.

"Can I talk to you?" Josh pleaded.

"Yeah, kids can you go watch the movie?" the two did leave but they didn't watch the movie they were eavesdropping on the conversation.

"What are you doing here?" Lorelai hissed.

"I'm still in love with you," he offered weakly.

"Bullshit Josh. I swear to god my mother still doesn't get it. I love Luke for crying out loud!"

"Your mother didn't put me up to this," Josh said quickly.

"Josh look I'm seeing someone," and then the whole house was silent. And suddenly they heard Luke ask Lorelai something.

"Lorelai will you marry me?" Luke's voice wafted through the hall. Rory was immediately on her feet with Tristan right behind her. "LUKE!" Lorelai squealed jumping up and down for a moment but then became serious.

"Ask me again," she said quietly.

"Lorelai Gilmore, will you marry me?"

"Yes! Of course," Josh was soon forgotten as soon as Luke had arrived he had slipped away, it was a couple hours later when Rory brought it up again.

"How come Tristan's uncle was here?"

"Good way to ruin the moment Rory," Lorelai joked.

"Mom," Rory said seriously.

"Okay, okay!" Lorelai responded sitting down on the couch between both Rory and Tristan.

"Well, Rory was six and I was twenty-two. I was still a maid at the time when I met this man who had been staying at the hotel who was my age. He was a charming guy, of course with his blue eyes like Tristan's and the same trademark smirk. He asked me out and how could I resist so I said yes. We dated for a few months and on our sixth month anniversary he proposed. I knew Rory would need a father sooner or later so I accepted. In a few months time it's the wedding day. So there I am walking down the aisle when I spot my mother grinning like a cat who caught the canary. I then realized if I did marry Josh I'd be kissing my life in Stars Hollow good-bye. Along with my independence of working on my own to wash it all down the drain to become a trophy wife. So, I grabbed Rory and took off in my wedding dress to the bus stop. People stared there I was in my wedding dress boarding a bus back to Stars Hollow," she paused. "About every other year he shows up begging to be taken back. Normally we got on a few dates but I always break it off but now I never have to worry about it again," she finished smiling fondly at Luke.

"Luke blushed!" Rory said giggling.

"Shut up," he replied glaring at her, making her quiet down but Rory smiled. It was going to happen…she was going to have a real family. Lorelai, Luke and her, the perfect family.

*           *            *

The Next Night:

"So, what are you doing tonight?" Tristan asked Rory on the phone. "Uhh..I have a date," Rory responded nervously.

"You do?" Tristan questioned as he felt like he was deflating.

"Don't sound so surprised, DuGrey," Rory teased.

"Who's it with?"

"His name's Craig…I met him at Luke's,"

"That's nice," Tristan lied.

"I'm SO nervous Tristan," she complains.

"You'll do fine, Ror. Like you always do with everything,"

"Thanks," Rory replied blushing on the other end from his flattery.

"Look I got to go. Call me later okay?"

"Okay, bye," Rory said softly.

"Bye," he replied and with a CLICK, he had hung up. Sighing Rory stares at the phone for a minute wondering what the hell was Tristan's problem?

Later that night:

The date had gone well. Much to Rory's surprise it had gone really well. Unlike the normal first date awkwardness Craig and Rory hadn't had a single moment that was awkward. The date had been filled with chatter full of books and music. It had been odd at first being with a different guy other than Tristan, Jess or Dean. Despite the date going well Rory couldn't help but wish it were Tristan sitting across from her. Craig however had seemed smitten with her. He had kissed her goodnight and as Rory expected she had felt nothing. No sparks at all just his lips moving against hers. Which got her thinking of the two kisses she and Tristan had shared. They had been filled with so much emotion. The opposite of that good night kiss.

At about midnight Rory heard the back door open and shut. It was Lorelai. She was humming—ever since Luke had proposed Lorelai had been insanely happy even if it had only been a day.

"Rory?" Lorelai whispered nudging the door to her daughter's room open. It revealed a very upset Rory sitting on her bed.

"Babe?" she questioned cautiously.

"Hey Mom," Rory greeted sadly.

"Are you okay? Because if that Craig kid pulled anything…" she trailed off at Rory's shake of her head.

"He didn't do anything. The date was perfect,"

"Then what's the problem, sweetie?" Lorelai asked.

"He's not Tristan," she said softly staring at her hands.

"Oh babe. Come here," Lorelai said opening her arms for Rory. She held her for a long time. "It's going to be all right," Lorelai soothed.

"I like him Mom. I just wished he'd like me back," Rory whispered. Lorelai was shocked. Rory was oblivious to Tristan's huge crush on her.

"Why don't you call him?" Lorelai suggested.

"It's one in the morning," she pointed out.

"Hun, I bet he's still up,"

"Night Mom," Rory said softly as Lorelai kissed her on the forehead. Rory soon crawled back under the covers phone clutched in her hand. She then dialed the memorized phone number.

"Hello?"

"Hey Tristan…it's Rory,"

Lorelai stood leaning against Rory's doorframe. She realized Rory was just as oblivious to Tristan's crush as she had been to Luke's. Luckily, for her Luke had finally gotten the courage to ask her out. Although later she learned Jess had dared him to do it. And look at them now, they were engaged.

"How was your date?" Tristan questioned uncomfortably. There was silence on the other end. Only the occasional sniffle to make Tristan realize she was crying.

"Rory?"

"Tristan…I know it's late but do you think you could come over?"

"I'll be over soon," Tristan promised as he hung up the phone. If her date had pulled anything he'd be the first to go and find him. No one messed with his Mary.

"Come on, Jules," he whispered to his dog clipping on her leash. They hurried out of the mansion quietly and managed to get into the car without anyone in the mansion noticed.

"To Stars Hollow we go,"

*                       *                       *

Rory was sitting on her porch, elbows balancing precariously on her knees and her chin resting in her hands.

"Hey," he said softly sitting down next to her as Juliet sat beside him.

"Hi," she replied looking up at him.

"You okay?" he asked draping his arm around Rory and pulling her close.

"Yeah," she mumbled. "I'm better now," they sat for a while until Rory began to fall asleep.

"It's time for bed Rory," he said smiling.

"Okay," Rory muttered as Tristan pulled her up and he guided her to her room with Juliet right behind them trotting along. "Night Ror," Tristan said softly as he walked to the door and flipped the light switch off. "Tris?" she said softly.

"Yeah?" came his response.

"Can you stay in here tonight?"

"Sure," Tristan agreed climbing back onto her bed as she scooted over to make some room for him. Juliet hopped up as well curling up into a ball on the end of the bed. Ten minutes later, when Tristan thought Rory was asleep he murmured: "I love you Rory,"

Except unknown to Tristan she was really awake and she had to smile. He loved her and it was the best feeling in the world. With those words playing over and over in her head she fell asleep with a smile.

Coming up…

Articles and Harvard Bound: The long-awaited article for the Hartford Post and a good-bye.