Disclaimer: I still don't own Gilmore Girls, just thought you should know.

A/N: First I would like to apologize for taking so long to put this chapter up, I've had many things in my mind right know, so this might be a bit short.

Every Time There's a Concert

Chapter 7: The Past Always Catches up

So as they were standing on the sidewalk, not believing what had happen between them and being as happy as they could actually be, especially Tristan since he had been waiting for this since he was 16, they finally decided that it was time to move from that place, so Rory finally spoke.

"Hey. . . um, as much as I am enjoying being here with you. . . do you think that we could go upstairs, because it is getting really cold out here" she said, and it actually was, considering it was November in Connecticut, and you can only imagine how cold it can get there.

"Sure, but you know what, I have a better idea" he said as he hugged her tighter and wrapped his coat around her as he did "why don't you go upstairs, change, and I'll pick you up in, lets say, an hour. . . we can go out and celebrate, what do you say?" he asked as he kissed her forehead while waiting for her answer.

"Okay! That sounds nice, I'll be ready and waiting in an hour" she answered.

And with this they kissed good bye and finally let go of each other after what seemed like minutes but had been hours.  Rory went up to the apartment and Tristan went on his way to his own place, just after watching her go inside.

Rory was walking in a daze, she didn't understand or know exactly at what moment she had started feeling that way, but it was one of the nicest feelings she had experienced in her life, the way things had been. . . she finally reached the apartment and opened the door to find Janine standing there, cup of coffee in hand.

"I am so sorry, Rory" she said first thing as she handed Rory her cup of coffee, "I shouldn't have pushed that way"

"That's OK", Rory answered as she took her cup of coffee "you were only calling them like you saw them. . . and you where right"

"Yeah, but that wasn't the way to. . . I was right?" Janine asked very confused at this moment.

"Yes, Janine, you were right. . . you cannot imagine how I felt when I saw Tristan with that girl there. . . I got so mad, and I didn't understand what was happening. . . and I kept asking myself, who the hell was that girl? And it was tormenting me. . . I felt jealous, and it was killing me"

"And, what happened?" Janine asked even more confused.

"Well after I snapped at you and left the apartment, I went downstairs without any direction, and as I was coming out of the building I ran into something, which turned out to be someone, who turned out to be Tristan and he asked me what was wrong. . ." and Rory told Janine the whole story about how they started fighting and then Rory telling him that she liked him, and the kissing and everything.

"Wow! I mean. . . wow!!" Janine couldn't even find the words to say anything, she was amazed.

"Monosyllabic, very impressive!" Rory said teasing her, knowing that Janine was many things but monosyllabic.

"Well I am in shock here. . . you just dropped this on me, and although I could smell it from a mile away, I never imagined that things would turn out this way, I mean you getting mad at him and just telling him like that. . . you are usually so. . . not like that!!"

"I know, but he just kept asking me and asking me, and I couldn't take the face he had, Janine you should've seen it, he had an expression of hurt. . ."

"Well, a minute before you had told him that he wasn't that important in your life"

"Yes, but that was because I was mad at him. . . you know I wouldn't hurt someone that way, by saying something that. . ."

"Nasty" Janine finished for her.

"Well. . . yeah, but I would have said mean" Rory answered.

"Hey, um, Lorelai called.  She asked that you call her back" Janine said.

"I'll do that while I get ready. . . thanks for the coffee, and. . . everything" Rory said, and Janine knew that it was because of what had happened earlier.

"Sure" She answered back, and got back to the couch and the book she was reading.  She covered herself with the quilt that they usually kept on the couch for such occasions, being that both friends were avid readers of everything and anything.

Rory walked to her room and on her way she grabbed her cordless phone.  She first went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face.  After this she went to her room.

She grabbed the phone and dialed the phone number without even looking at it.

"Hello" and familiar and grunt-like voice answered the phone.

"Hey Luke!!"

"Rory, how are you?" he asked in the same tone.

"I am doing amazingly well, how 'bout you?"

"Your mother is driving me insane, she keeps complaining about the lack of coffee and some other things that at times I block out"

"So what else is new, Luke you should know by now that, that is Lorelai, the one you know and love. . . it's those characteristics that made you. . ."

"Boy aren't we in a romantic mood today, you know what, I'll put you on to Lorelai now" he said, but Rory knew that, that was just a way of Luke dealing with stuff he was uncomfortable.

"Bye Luke"

"Bye Rory, nice talking to you!" he said sincerely before handing Lorelai the phone.

"Hello angel!!" Lorelai said when Luke handed her the phone.

"Hi mom.  Mom, why are you tormenting Luke? One day he will actually NOT give you coffee, and you know he can"

"I know, but hey, isn't it fun just to tease him that way."

"Yeah, but there is just so much a person will take before they start going thru with their threats"

"I know, I know.  I promise that from now on I will only tease him a bit.  So tell me about you" she said these last few words as if she was an in-depth interviewer.

"Well, school is going well, a bunch of word to do as usual but then again that's Ivy-league for you, Janine and her boyfriend are doing well. . ." but Rory got cut off by Lorelai.

"Yeah she told me about that when I called earlier. . . she also told me about a certain incident concerning Janine, you, and a certain boy sitting in a coffee shop with some girl. . . do you think you can elaborate on that story for me?"

"Janine doesn't keep anything to herself, does she?" Rory said.

"Well she was concerned about you, she said that you left very mad, and that you hadn't returned yet" Lorelai answered in defense of an absent Janine.

"I know, I spoke with her before calling you", she said to put Lorelai at ease "See, what happened was, that when we were coming back today we saw that Tristan was sitting at the Coffee House with some girl, and all of a sudden mom, I was so upset"

"Well, seeing the boy you like with someone else, doesn't always bring a smile to your face"

"Yeah, well, at the moment I hadn't realized that.  But then when Janine brought it up to my attention I got so mad, but not at her, but at me for not noticing what was right in front of me"

"You tend to be a little oblivious in that matter"

"Thanks, mom" Rory answered, sarcastic.

"The Jess charm, I thought that by know, that had been passed you" Lorelai answered when she heard the heavy tone of sarcasm that filled Rory's last words "So, go on with the story" Lorelai asked before Rory could answer at her last comment.  She knew that Jess was one of the many things that Rory was not able to handle, even now.

And Rory kept telling her the story of how things happened, and what she said, and what he answered, and all of the details.  Lorelai was giddy, she was happy for Rory because it was time that Rory settled into a new relationship.  And from what she could hear, Tristan made her happy, even if she didn't really know the guy considering that the only time she had seen him, was that brief moment way back when he was saying his good-bye's to Rory at Chilton.

As Rory, was talking to Lorelai she looked around her closet for something to wear, and shoes, and did her hair.  She wasn't wasting any time.

"That sounds sooo good hon! And when he kissed you, did he tilt you to one side just like Humphrey Bogart would do?" Lorelai asked almost hyper-excited.

"Sorry to disappoint, but no, he didn't, but he was really sweet when he kissed me"

"Of course! That poor boy had probably been waiting for this since God knows when"

"So mom, how are things coming for Thanksgiving?"

"Well, really well, I have managed to accept only two invitations this time"

"Good, I just don't see how we can pull of again four invitations. . . how we did it last time is still a mystery to me"

"Well we trained ourselves for that time for a lifetime, considering all those movie nights and everything"

"You are right about that. . . so mom, as much as I am enjoying this conversation with you, I have to finish getting ready for tonight.   Tristan is picking me up in 15 minutes"

"Sure sweetie, so call me tomorrow and give me the details ok?"

"Ok, bye, mom. . . love you"

"Love you too, honey. . . bye"

And with this they hung the phone.  And each of them went to their activities.

~*~ In Stars Hollow ~*~

"What happened?" Luke asked Lorelai as she got back to the couch where they were sitting before Rory's phone call.

"Well, Rory has a new boyfriend apparently" Lorelai answered as if it was the most normal thing in the world.  Which in some cases it would be, but for Rory finally realizing there was something there, was a very seldom occurrence.

"She did sound happy" Luke noted.

"And she was" Lorelai answered.

"Are you? Happy I mean, " Luke asked.

"In general, with you or about Rory?" Lorelai answered shifting so she could carry the conversation with Luke face to face.

"About Rory?"

"Yeah, I am. . . although this time, this guy, I just have the feeling that he won't let her go that easily, you know?"

"You think?"

"Yeah, you see he had been trying to get Rory ever since she started Chilton, and he had the chance now, and I don't think that after it took him so long to finally get to where they are, he would let it go that easily"

"And is that good or bad?" Luke asked, because he couldn't read Lorelai's expression on the matter.

"I don't know Luke, I don't know" she said as she shook her head and then placed it on Luke's shoulder "I'm hoping, good"

~*~ At Tristan's apartment ~*~

He got the keys to his apartment, still amazed at what had taken place minutes ago, and not being able to believe it yet.  When he opened the door he found his friend Drew there.  Drew had a key to Tristan apartment as Tristan had one of Drew's, so he wasn't startled.  Drew was still working on their business plan, which they both had neglected a bit since the girls appeared in their respective lives.

"Hey"

"Hey man, I figured that if I had some time right now I'd come and work on. . . what's with the face?" Drew asked when he noticed that Tristan wasn't even paying attention to anything that he was saying.

"Oh, nothing. . . so the business plan, huh?"

"Yeah. . . what happened to you?"

"I can honestly say I don't know, but whatever it was, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me" Tristan answered, a little absent-minded still.

"What? Did Rory finally say she liked you or something?"

"Yeah, she did" he said finally looking at Drew, just in time to see the face of amazement that his friend had the moment he let those words out.

"So, shouldn't you be jumping up and down, I mean. . . Rory Gilmore, PJ-Harvey-Juliet-Formerly-Known-as-Mary Rory Gilmore, said she liked you, and you are acting that way"

"Well it was odd, you know? We were having this fight and she said something and I snapped back, and then all of a sudden she was telling me that she was head over hills for me"

"So? Wasn't that what you had been waiting for?" Drew asked confused at why Tristan was acting that way.  She was the one girl he kept obsessing about for years and years and know he was confused, to say the least.

"Yeah, you're right.  I mean don't get me wrong I am happy, extremely happy, but things happened so fast that I didn't even have time to digest them.  She was so mad, man, I mean she said stuff like 'you are not that important in my life' and such, and then she said that.  I couldn't even believe my eyes, ears, anything. . . you could've hit me over the head with a bat at that moment and I would've not felt it.  But you know what? I am happy.  Finally Rory Gilmore, and believe me Drew I am not going to let that girl get away, not in this lifetime, you can be sure of that"

 "I would've never doubt it"

"Hey, why don't you and Janine join us tonight? We are going out to dinner" Tristan asked, now realizing what had finally happen between him and Rory.

"Thanks for the offer, and as nice as it would be, you are going out with Rory, for dinner, to celebrate, the last thing you guys need is another couple hanging with you guys, so we'll take a rain check.  There would be more time for the four of us to hang" Drew answered politely, knowing that his friend wasn't in his 'right' mind at the moment.

"OK, sure. . . I'm gonna get ready, help your self to anything"

"You know what? I have to go anyways, so don't worry.  I'm going over to Janine and Rory's so I guess I'll be seeing you in a while" Drew answered and with that, he grabbed his keys and drove over to the girl's apartment.

~*~*~*~

Drew drove over to Janine's house, but before he did he went in to the Coffee House and bought three cups of coffee, one for each one of the girls and him.

He rang the doorbell, and Janine buzzed him so he could get into the building.

He reached the girls apartment and knocked on the door.  Janine opened it for him.

"Hey" he said when he saw her.  Her hair was in a very cute-but-a-little-messy bun and she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  He liked  it when she looked as relaxed as she did right now. 

"Hi! I thought you weren't coming tonight" she said as she helped him with the cups and kissed him lightly, really happy about the surprise.

"Yeah, well. . . I needed coffee, and a drive, and see a pretty girl. . . and what do you know I drove, I got coffee, and saw this really pretty girl. . ." he said jokingly.

"I missed you too, sweetie" she said.  By now, after dating steady for a couple of months she had gotten to know him well enough to recognize that, that was the way that he said he missed her, "Come on in. . . Would you like to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure. . . hey, give this to Rory for me, and tell her that Tristan will be here in a couple of minutes" he said as he handed Janine the cup of coffee for Rory.

"Sure, she will love the coffee, she's on the phone with Lorelai right now, getting dressed and everything" she continued the conversation "give me a minute, I'm going to get one of the movies and I'll be right back"

"Ok!"

Janine knocked on Rory's door and when she opened the door, Janine whispered.

"From Drew" and she handed Rory the cup of coffee.

"Thanks" she mouthed back.

Janine went to get the movie and met back with Drew at the kitchen.  He was preparing popcorn and coffee and sodas for the movie.

"Do you feel like pizza?" Janine asked as she entered the kitchen and helped Drew get everything set up.

"How 'bout later.  Let's have this first and see what we are in the mood later.  Maybe Chinese" Drew answered back.

They liked to stay in sometimes.  They would hang out and talk and make out and basically enjoy each others company.  They had been that way since the time they met at the bar, and when they hanged together they had great times.  They understood each other  as well as any couple that had been together for years.

"So how's Rory about the whole Tristan thing?"

"She's still a bit shocked.  She says she didn't know when it happened"

"Yeah, Tristan is the same way right now.  So, um, what have you decided to watch tonight."

"How about this?" she said showing Drew the 'Only You' "It's really nice, total chick flick of course, Marissa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr, and how destiny threw them together. . . what do you say?"

"How about the Fast and the Furious? Total guy flick, cars every where, no story line, but again the cars make up for it"

"Sorry babe, we don't have that one. . . see we are girls here, and we care so little about cars and everything. . ." and she started laughing just as Drew picked her up from the floor and kissed her, just so she wouldn't finish the sentence.  Ah! The first months of a relationship have always been the best.

As they were starting to watch the movie, the doorbell rang and Rory got out from her room and went to the door, and of course on the other side of the door was Tristan.

"You look great!" he said as soon as Rory opened the door for him.

"You don't look so bad yourself" she answered back as she kissed him hello. 

"Thanks. . . are you ready?"

"She has been ready for hours" Janine yelled from the inside of the apartment.

"Yeah, I am" Rory answered.  Just as when he had met her, she didn't take long to get ready, since she used almost no-make up, her hair was ready in a minute, and just about anything would look good on her.  Finally Lorelai's influence in clothing style had rubbed off on her.

And with that, they both said their good bye's to the other couple and went on their way.

"Aaah! To be young and in love!" Janine said, jokingly.

"Yeah grams, you are right!" Drew answered playfully imitating an old person's tone of voice.  Janine hit him playfully on the arm, and he hugged her, pulled her to him and kept watching the movie.

~*~ Meanwhile Rory and Tristan ~*~

"So, where are we going?" Rory asked Tristan as they were walking down the hallway.

"Are you in the mood for Indian food?" Tristan asked.

"Am I ever!!"  Rory answered back, excited about the idea.

"Then I guess Indian food it is" he said as he hugged her by the waist and kept walking towards the car.

And so the celebration went on that night, and they talked about how things had changed, about happiness and all the mushy stuff new couples talk about.  They would walk hand in hand to just about anywhere.  And their relationship progressed amazingly well.

One day Rory did have to ask him something, and because she didn't know how to start the conversation, she sat next to him on the couch at her apartment and grabbed his hand lightly, and just dropped the question.

"Who was the girl?"

"The girl?" Tristan asked, but as his words came out he realized who she was asking about, "oh! The girl"

"Yeah, the one you were with over at the Coffee House that day, who is she or who was she?"

Tristan took a deep breath before answering that question.  He needed to phrase his answer the right way so there will be as little conflict as possible.

"That was Chiara" he said, as if it was a given who she was. . . and it was.

"Chiara?" Rory asked then realizing who Chiara was "Oh! Chiara!! Huh!" she sighed.

"Yeah. . ." he said not knowing what to expect.

"What was she doing in New Haven, Tristan?" she asked curious, but not mad. . . yet.  Apparently she hadn't realized the full proportion of the situation.  But she was going to.

"She came to visit" he stated as calm as possible.  He knew that he was walking over egg-shells right now.

"Huh! What for?" she said a little upset now by the little elaboration in his answers.

"I don't know yet, she called me and told me she was here, and to meet her over at the Coffee House, for an espresso. . ." he was telling Rory, as she cut him off.

"Out of all the gin joints?" She said, and the quote of Casablanca didn't go over Tristan's head.

"She doesn't know the town, she found the Coffee House and she said to meet her there, it wasn't on purpose Rory, it was a coincidence" he answered back.

"You haven't answered my question, what was she doing here?" Rory asked again.

"Look Rory, in all honestly, she was visiting me of course.  I'm sorry to be so blunt about it but it is the truth.  Why else would she be here?"

"I know that she was here for you, but why was she was here for you, is the real question" trying to keep her jealousy to the minimum, but not succeeding.  As any other girl, she felt threaten by the presence of the 'ex-girlfriend', and in Tristan's case the only serious one he ever had.  That would make any girl uncomfortable.

"Remember how I told you that things finished one day, before Christmas.  Our relationship changed.  It was a very monotonous at the end, so maybe she thought it was only time apart what we needed."

"Yeah, go on"

"Well she came here, because she met someone and he proposed a couple of days before she came here, and she was uncertain about the answer she should give him, because she needed to see if there was still something between us."

"And was there?" Rory asked, concern filling her words.

"Not on my part. . . and not on her part either" he answered and saw how Rory's expression changed completely.

"How did you find out?" she asked.

"Well, we started talking and she told me about the guy, and you could see how her face lit up when she did.  And I told her about you, and that we had met again, and I guess she felt that the way I felt about you had never changed.  It was a given when we were just catching up on what had happened in our lives after being together, but nothing beyond that.  So she got her answer and went back to Florence two days after you saw us together. . . with her wedding gown packed in her suitcase.  We might even have to attend a wedding in Florence."  He stated this last comment as a joke and Rory went on with the joke in her own way.

"Apparently I have plans for that day" she said.

"I never told you when it was" he said as he pulled her closer to him and kissed her lightly.

"Yeah, but I plan to be extremely busy. . . and so would you be"

"I will?" he asked.

"Yeah, you will have to help me out with my busy-ness" she said joking now.

"Busy-ness. . . Rory, I don't think that word exists" he said as he smirked at her.

And they kept talking and kissing and joking.

Thanksgiving came around, and Rory asked Tristan one day:

"What are your plans for Thanksgiving?"

"Nothing that can't be rearranged if a good offer comes along.  Why?"

"Well, since my mom hasn't been able to come up here to visit, and therefore meet you, I was wondering if you would like to come with me for Thanksgiving to Stars Hollow and meet my mom and everyone.  There are only two invitations, for this year, that we are attending which are Sookie's and Luke's, mom's boyfriend and coffee supplier, and Stars Hollow is an experience by itself and. . ."

"Rory. . ." Tristan cut her off.

"Yeah. . ." she said hoping that he wouldn't say no.

"Stop marketing your invitation, I would be more than honored to come to Stars Hollow with you and visit" he said

"Really. . ." she asked excited that he had said yes "great, then I'll call mom and tell her you are coming with me"

"Is there anything that I should know before we go there?"

"Good question. . . here are some pointers: never call my mom Mrs. Gilmore, call her Ms. Gilmore or Lorelai if she tells you to.  Expect a lot of food over at Sookie's, and expect a non-traditional Thanksgiving at Luke's.  The coffee runs in our blood so expect the same amounts of coffee consumption over at my mom's house.  Expect the mother talk where she tells you not to hurt me and how she would hunt you down and kill you if you harm me in anyway possible.  Don't expect a home cooked meal while in my house.  And, we always have pop-tarts and coffee prior to breakfast at Luke's diner."

"Anything else?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, everyone in Stars Hollow is a character by him/herself, but expect to be the talk of the town and people knowing your life's story while in town, few hours after you set foot there.  And people will make comparisons about which actor, music player or singer you look like. . . if I think of something else I'll tell you" Rory said really excited about it.

"Wow, quite the experience that town of yours"

"Yeah, but it is always good." She said as she smiled at him, and hugged him and said "it will be worth it, trust me"

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving finally came, and they packed and by late afternoon both Tristan and Rory where on their way to Stars Hollow.  They would be staying at Lorelai's house, because it was home, and insisted that Tristan should stay with them instead of going to the Independence Inn, as he had suggested before.

They finally reached Stars Hollow, and drove over to Lorelai's.  Everything was set for their arrival that day.  Lorelai even went by Doose's Market and bought extra Pop-Tarts and milk, some apple juice, extra coffee for their guest, bread and some chocolates.  All the essentials for the Gilmore Residence.

"Turn here" Rory directed Tristan as of where to go, and turn.  Although he had visited Stars Hollow before, he had never been to Rory's, so he had to ask directions.  "Over there, next to the pink house with the gnomes" Rory gave the last direction, giving Babette's house as reference as to where theirs was.

Tristan got into the driveway and parked behind Lorelai's new Jeep.  She had finally given up on the one that she had before, and bought another one a couple of years ago. 

Luke would probably be arriving later and everyone else also, just as soon as the word spread that a black – unknown – BMW, with polarized windows, had arrived to Stars Hollow and was staying at the Gilmore House; everyone would drop by 'casually' to visit and see the 'mysterious stranger'.

"We're here" Rory finally said excited "come on, hurry.  Will get the luggage later"

"But what if. . ." Tristan asked, worried about leaving stuff in the car that might be stolen from, but Rory cut him off so she could put him at ease.

"This is Stars Hollow, Tristan, crime rate 0, don't worry, really!!!" she said in her sweetest voice, so he stopped worrying.

They got out of the car and started walking towards the main entrance.  Tristan took a deep breath as he held Rory's hand and when she noticed that, she hugged him by the waist and got a little closer to him, lifted he head to meet his eyes and said:

"It is going to be okay, my mom is one of the coolest persons in the world.  She is going to welcome you in our home, just as she did before.  Nothing will happen. . ."

"Except the 'mother talk'" he stated.

"Except the 'mother talk', but I already told you how that one goes, so don't worry, as long as you as you reassure her that you will do nothing to me you will pass with flying colors.  I'll even go to the bathroom soon after we arrive, so you can get that part of the visit out of the way.  What do you say?"

"I say. . . lead the way, Miss Gilmore?"

"Off we go then, Mr. DuGrey" and with this she kissed him full on the lips in the middle of the front lawn, and grabbed his hand and led the way.

"Hey, can you give me another one of those?" he asked wanting another kiss and trying to stall a bit more his entrance.

"She already knows we are here, I bet she is looking out the window right now.  As much as you stall, you will have to come in eventually.  And besides, if we don't she will come out here and pull us in.  So come on" she said and they started walking to the door.

Rory got her keys and opened the door.  Lorelai was sitting on the couch watching a documentary on ants on Animal Planet, a very clear sign that she was, indeed, looking out of the window.

"Mom!!!" Rory yelled when she came in, still holding Tristan's hand.

"RORY GILMORE!!!!!" Lorelai yelled from the inside and went directly to the door to greet her daughter, it had been a while since they saw each other.  Three weeks exactly.  Rory hadn't been able to come to Stars Hollow because of extra school work.

When they saw each other, Rory let go of Tristan's hand.  And hugged her mother as tight as possible, just as Lorelai did.

"How are you, kiddo?"

"Glad to be home" Rory answered back.

"Glad to have you home" Lorelai said, both Gilmore Girls not letting go of their embrace.

Tristan stood there watching the scene.  Never in his lifetime had he seen such a tender and loving greeting scene.  He thought way back when he came over to his parents house on vacation from Florence, and as hard as he tried to remember he had never gotten a greeting like the one Rory just got. 

When they finally let go of each other, Rory introduced Tristan to Lorelai.

"Mom, this is Tristan" she said as she intertwined her fingers with his.

"Miss Gilmore, very nice to meet you" Tristan said.  He sounded really funny when he was nervous.

"You too, Tristan, nice to finally meet you." Lorelai said as she looked at the bright expression Rory had on her face, so she added "Call me Lorelai"

"Ok! Nice to meet you Lorelai" he said as he squeezed Rory's hand a bit.

"Come in, come in.  Tristan you can leave your bags in. . . Where are your bags?" she asked confused looking at both of them.

"Oh! They are in the car. . . I'm going to go and get them" Tristan said, and he kissed Rory on the forehead and went to get both their bags.

"Verdict?" Rory asked Lorelai.

"Wow, he is gorgeous honey.  You never said that about him"

"Well, the fact that he tormented my existence blocked that fact from my head" Rory stated.

"Noted. . . but how can such beautifulness in one person can be blocked by that"

"Mom, where you here when I went to Chilton?"

"Right, Right. . . just had a lapsus of some kind.  I'm back!. . . He seems nice too"

"That he is, mom.  That he is" she said and you could almost see her eyes sparkle when she looked out of the door and into the driveway where Tristan was pulling out the bags from the trunk of the car.

"Nice car too.  Do you think he will let me drive it?"

"Maybe. . . not.  Mom don't ask him for his car, that is just mean. . . his bike is the coolest, though" she said as they both giggled.

"So, may I ask him?"

"Ask me what?" he said as he was standing on the first step of the porch.

"Nothing" Rory answered before Lorelai could.

"You can put the bags in Rory's room. . . Rory, why don't you show him"

And with this, Rory signaled him to follow her, and she led the way to her room.  When they reached it, Rory told him where to place them.  They were two small suitcases, the ones that you pull, just like the ones pilots use. 

"And this is my room" Rory stated as he left the suitcases and reached for her hand. 

"I can tell" he said as he pointed to all the books in the shelves.

"Oh, that's nothing. . ." and she showed him the piles of books under her bed, and the ones in the drawers "and I have a bunch of them in New Haven, that you already know about"

"So, should we go out there and face the music." He asked almost whispering, because he heard Lorelai walking in the kitchen.

"Are you ready for it?" she asked matching his tone of voice.

"Yeah, what would the excuse be? I want to have the chance to reassure Lorelai that she doesn't have to worry about you being with me"

"OK, time frame?"

"About 20 minutes"

"Feeling pretty sure about yourself"

"I have my case prepared."

"OK, then I'll say I am going to go and take a bath, because I am tired from the drive"

"Hey guys. . . coffee is ready" Lorelai said from the kitchen.

And they both walked out of the room and grabbed their respective cups.  Rory handed Tristan one, because he didn't know where they were.  They drank the coffee the same way: black, no sugar.

They started talking about stuff, Lorelai asked Tristan questions and the conversation was flowing well.  And then the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it" Rory said, as she got up from the table where they were sitting and went to the door, not expecting to see the person she was going to see at the other side of the door.

As she opened the door, she was surprised to see him standing there and all she could say was:

"Jess!"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Please read and take the time to review my story.  I've had very little reviews and it is a little disappointing.