Disclaimer: It has been said that if you wish upon a star, your wish might come true. . . let me tell you IT'S NOT TRUE.  I wished for Gilmore Girls, and it didn't come true, so I have to say, again, that I don't own the characters or the show or that I am in anyway related to the WB (although I wish I was).

A/N: And I am back!! Thank you so much to all of those persons who took the time to read the chapter and a double thank you to those who not only read but reviewed it, too.  A special Thank You to Trory4Ever (Thank you, you are extremely nice and your review brighten my day).   I have to say something though (not related to the reviews), you can tell by my name that I am a Trory Fan, but with all this Jess spin-off I have to say that I am a little bummed.  I mean, Tristan went away and we lived thru that right? Although, have you noticed the ratings for Gilmore Girls Beginnings: I don't think it is a coincidence that the episodes where CMM is a guest star are the ones with the higher ratings. . . but anyway, they brought Jess, and I honestly like the guy, he is cute and he gave the show a little spice (not that it needed it, but hey!) and now they take him away. . . hasn't the WB noticed that people would rather see Rory with someone rather than Dean, but no, they KEEEEP HIM. . . anyway I am done with this rambling, just needed to get that out of my head, even If it doesn't make sense to anyone.

So finally, after all this, here is the next chapter.

Every Time There's a Concert

Chapter 12: Tristan's Birthday

After weeks of planning the moment came.  It was now time for Rory to go through the preparations for Tristan's Birthday.  They still had a couple of days to work on it, but Rory had been doing lists of pros and cons of all of the options she had for his birthday since, practically, the holidays. . . and was driving Janine crazy with all that.  But she wasn't taking any chances; she wanted everything to be great for him, just as he had managed for her birthday.

"So have you finally figure out and decided on what it is that you are going to do for Tristan's Birthday?" Janine asked on Thursday morning as she and Rory where drinking their morning coffee before going to school.

"Here is the thing, there are so many options but according to my lists I think these ones are the best ones.  Now this is when you come in.  Tell me which ones to discard and which ones to keep.  Here is a copy of the expenses on each idea and what we have to do to get to it.  And here is a copy of my budget.  Remember this is for the whole day, so keep that in mind."

"Wow! You don't leave anything to chance, do you?"

"Nope. . . and specially not with this"

"OK.  Give me idea number one."

"Idea #1.  We start the morning with breakfast in bed.  I have managed to talk to the doorman at his building and he is going to let me in, then I know where Tristan hides a copy of the key to his apartment.  Breakfast will include: Bagels and Cream Cheese and Salmon, which I will have sliced by Ramon over at the meat place in the corner. . ."

"Ramon? How do you know Ramon? And since when, I mean we don't even go to the supermarket let alone the butcher"

"Work with me here, I told you I've been working on this for a long time"

"Working ma'am, so how do you know you will be able to wake him?  I mean, what if he is already up when you get there?"

"His birthday, luckily enough, is on Sunday, therefore, being Sunday the day of rest, that's what he'll be doing resting. . . I sound like my mom. . . so, he usually wakes up around 10 on Sundays because when he calls me on Sunday mornings it is usually after 10, so I figured that I have to be there around 8 or 9 to wake him."

"Check.  That seems like a good idea, and although it is almost the same thing he did for your birthday, it is still a little bit different. . . next idea please"

And by now they had started to walk out of the apartment, and while Janine went to get the elevator, Rory locked their apartment door and joined her.  They could check the whole list on their way to school.

"So after the whole breakfast thing," Rory continued as she joined Janine in the elevator "I thought that maybe we could go to meet with you guys, and hang out a while before going to lunch, where we already have reservations, made by Tristan, because he wanted the four of us to go to lunch together, and where I have arranged to have them bake a carrot cake, which is his favorite, that will say Happy Birthday, and asked them NOT to sing Happy Birthday to him, because I really, really don't like that, and I don't want to put him through that embarrassing moment."

"Good. . . but, um, do you think that his parents might call to ask to meet them or, ask him to drive back to Hartford?"

"Well, apparently they wanted him to drive back to Hartford, but he said that he already had plans, and that he would drive to Hartford some other day. . . even if he forgave them, he didn't forget and he was telling me that he has been alive for almost 22 years and they had barely remembered 4 of his birthdays so why should he leave us and go to Hartford now. . . it is very confusing for me, but I have to support him and his decisions."

"That's intense. . ." Janine stated, a little dumbfounded.

"Yeah, to say the least, but he learned to live his life that way. . ." and with this they had finally reached their building and had to go to each of their classes "so anyway, I'll meet you back home, at what time do you get out?" Rory asked.

"Um, I get off at 1, but Mr. Green is out sick, so I might get out around 11", Janine answered as she checked her schedule.

"Great, I get off at 11, but I have Mr. Green at 9. . . it just sucks that we couldn't get as many classes together this semester, it is throwing me out of loop here. . . So I guess it would be better if we meet at home and then organize ourselves, is that OK?"

"Yeah, great.  I'll see you at home. . ." Janine said and started to walk away "you are in charge of lunch today" she said and she got lost in the halls.

Rory went on her own way.

At Lunch

"So Mr. Green did show up, huh?" Rory asked as she heard Janine walk into the apartment.

"Yeah. . . and I am famished. . . Chinese?" Janine asked as she saw the familiar Chinese food boxes.

"I'm sorry, did you want pizza instead?" Rory asked sarcastically.

"No, Chinese is fine. . . so what are we having?"

"I asked for the whole rice menu this time"  Rory said as she handed Janine a pair of chop-sticks and a box with mixed rice.

"Great" she said as she grabbed the box and chop-sticks.

"You're crabby" Rory stated.

"Yeah, sorry, it's just I'm overwhelmed.  I missed an assignment in class, that I had to turn in last week, and I didn't even know I had to do it. . . I'm just so distracted."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know.  Listen, if you want to catch up with your school work I understand.  I can do the whole Tristan thing on my own."

"No, maybe this will help me to get out of this funk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. . ."

"So are you going to tell me what's wrong and why you hadn't mentioned anything to me?" Rory asked as she sat on a chair by the table.

"It's just, um, I don't know, it's Drew."

"What about him?"

"Well things are getting really intense, and I don't want to get into some really big relationship again. . . I've been through this before, the long relationship, and it's excruciating, and it's tiring and. . ."

"And you don't want to loose him" Rory finished for her.

"Yeah."

"You know that it is perfectly normal for you to feel this way right, maybe you are just a little scared of, oh, I don't know, your relationship with Drew might turn out to be like the one with Daniel."

"Maybe a bit."

"But not all guys are like Daniel, and your relationship with Drew doesn't have to be that serious if you don't want it too."

"I know, but I am afraid that if I tell him that, he might get upset."

"If he loves you, like he told you he does, he will understand."

"Yeah," Janine answered a little reluctant "you're right."

"But this is just my advice.  You don't have to follow it if you don't want to."

"Yeah, well. . . I will think about it"

"Great."

"So, what where you doing up until now, because I know it wasn't cooking"

"Well, I called my mom, because I haven't spoken to her for the last couple of days.  And then I started working on some school assignments.  Then I ordered the food and that's it."

"So, are you going to finish telling me the day you have planned."

"Sure. . . so, where were we? Oh, yeah.  So after lunch, here is when I need most of your help. . ."

And Rory finished telling Janine her plan after that.

That Night At the Girls Apartment

Relationships.  So many things can be said about them and the course that each of them take.  Even if one is different from the other, they usually walk along the same line.  They start amazingly well, and everything is perfect.  Then there's the first fight, and sometimes you can judge the future of the relationship depending on how far into the relationship does this first fight occurs, but it is not always the case. 

And then the relationships start heating up, and boy, can that be confusing if you are not sure of how far you want it to go.  And sometimes you're so sure, it's scary.

Rory and Tristan's relationship wasn't the exception.  For some time now, their kisses were different, more passionate, and more intense.  It was as if they were searching for something that would only be found as they deepened the kiss.  They were both in love, but just didn't now how much in love they were.

That night Tristan buzzed Rory's apartment.  Janine wasn't home that night, Drew had come to pick her up; they had been dating for over six months and he thought that they should go out and hang out at the place where they had first met, "The Hub".  So Rory was home, alone.

"Rory?" Tristan asked as he came through the door that Rory had previously opened for him.

"Come in, I'll be right out" she answered from the bathroom, but he could hardly understand, she was brushing her teeth as she said that.

"Hey, I brought movies."

"Great, I'm done."  And with this she came into the living room, which only took three or four steps from the bathroom. "Hi" she said as she came across to where he was standing and he leaned in to kiss her hello.

"Mmm.  Minty fresh"

"Yeah.  So what did you bring?"

"Well, I brought some comedy" he answered vaguely.

"And do this 'comedies' have names"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure they have. . . apparently it is a requisite."

"Really!! Care to tell me their names" she was very suspicious.

"Not really."

"Let me see the movies Tristan." She said in a stern-like voice.

"No."

"No, what do you mean, no."

"Exactly that, no."

"Oh, come on Tristan, pretty please tell me which movies did you bring." She said, and proceeded to pout.

"Oh, come on!! That is not fair."

"Tristan please, tell me."

"Liar, Liar and Ace Ventura"

"Jim Carrey?"

"Well, the guy is good. . . he is a very funny, funny man."

"Jim Carrey?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah! Come on, give him a chance. . . for me"

"Sure, why not" she said as she sat on the couch, feeling a little defeated.

"Great. . . oh, don't do that.  You'll see.  You'll enjoy it."

"OK, color me expectant"

And he inserted Liar, Liar in the VCR.

"Do you want anything to drink or eat, we have left over Chinese, and coffee and soda."

"Thanks, I would like some coffee. . .  what part of the Chinese food menu did you ask for this time?" Tristan asked as he set up everything in the living-room, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"The Rice" Rory answered back.

"You're on rice again, you were done with the menu really fast this time.

"I know, John was amazed by it too. . . so do you want any, the coffee is almost done."

"Maybe later, thanks, I'll stick with the coffee right now."

"I'll be right there"

And she finally joined him on the couch and handed him a mug filled with coffee.

"So, tell me about your day?"  Rory asked as she made herself comfortable and nested in Tristan's shoulder.

"Well, we had our first client today. . . he wants us to design a logo for his company and apparently, if we do a good job. . ."

"When you are done with a great job. . . continue" Rory interrupted.

"Yeah, when we are done with a great job, if he likes it. . ."

"When he likes it. . . continue"

"He wants us to do the whole layout for his store and everything.  He has a clothe-design firm, so it would be great."

"That sounds excellent, doesn't it?" Rory asked, because she was a little confused at the lack of excitement from Tristan.

"Yeah, I just hope we don't get in over our heads here."

"You won't.  You and Drew are responsible enough to know when to say yes and no to a work project.  Besides, I will be more than glad to tell you if you are getting in over your head.  I am very objective.  Journalism teaches you how.  I had a class on that." She finished this statement in a joke manner to lighten up the mood.

"Thanks" and he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"You're welcome" she said and kissed him again.

And then the movie was forgotten, as they went into a full make-out session.  The kisses between Rory and Tristan had changed, they were becoming more passionate, it was as if they where searching for answers. . . or searching for something.  To the untrained eye, though, it might look like they might swallow each other whole, but in an extremely sweet way.  But they never went at it in public places.  Rory wasn't good with the public displays, and he respected that, although he was fine with them, Chiltonites could vouch for that. . . even Rory.

As the kisses became more and more intense, so became the caresses.  Rory started to touch Tristan's jaw line, and moved along to the back of his neck, until she had her hands up in Tristan's hair.  Tristan's hands were traveling down Rory's side until he placed his hand on her hip and proceeded to lift her leg.  His hands went up and down her thigh and then he proceeded to play with the hem of her t-shirt, until he touched the bare skin under it.

With Tristan things have been always different.  Jess had been a great guy and a great boyfriend up until the point that he didn't fight for her the way he should have, but nonetheless, he knew how to do the passionate-intimate stuff, I mean, lets face it, the guy was from New York and he had the 'world-ness' Rory lacked, therefore the experience.  But Tristan, not only had the ways of the world that she didn't know, but the experience with as many girls as Rory could remember, and obviously that had work to his advantage.  But still. . . Rory wasn't ready, just jet, for something like that without having it planned, soooo. . .

"Tristan" she said in a muffled voice.

"Mmhmm" was the answer, because he wasn't intending on letting her go just yet.

"I think it is time for you to go home, sweetie. . ." she replied really fast. 

Tristan groaned.  But he respected her and her decisions so, he just let go of her neck, which he was kissing at the moment, and placed his forehead on her shoulder.  And took a really, really deep breath.

"I'm sorry" Rory stated as he did that.

"Don't be, I won't force you to do anything you don't want to.  I'll wait as long as I have to.  Don't worry."  He answered sincerely, and kissed her cheek.  "But I will go home, only on one condition."  And he lifted himself with an elbow to look directly into her eyes.

"Sure, what's that?" she said as she was looking at him.

"You will give Jim Carrey a chance"

"That's it!!" She asked.  Apparently she was expecting something else to come out of his mouth.

"That's it."

"I think I can do that.  Sure, why not."

"Great."  And he started to lift from the position they were in "Well then, Miss Gilmore, I do believe it is time for me to go.  May I kiss you good night?"

"Why, Mister DuGrey, that is so forward of you"

"Well, what can I say?  I'm scum"

"Good night, Tristan" she said and kissed him good night as they walked towards the door.  All the way to the door.

"Rory. . ." he said, this time, in a muffled voice.

"Mmhmm", she said, not letting go of him.

"If you really want me to go, then you should really not do this right now, because I will never be able to leave."

"Sorry. . ." she kissed him one last time as they opened the door  "go.  'Bye"

"Bye. . ." he said as he walked the hall to the elevator.  She waited by the door until he got into the elevator and then went into the apartment and closed the door behind her.

Sunday: Tristan's Birthday

Rory woke up around 7am that day.  She was really excited about the birthday, as much as if it had been hers.  She got up, went to take a shower, got ready, grabbed the things that she needed to take to Tristan's apartment and left on her way. 

On the way to her destination, she decided that it was a better idea if she bought the coffee someplace else instead of brewing it at Tristan's because she was almost sure that the smell alone would wake him and she didn't want to do that, so she stopped by the Coffee House, and bought three cups of coffee, but the asked for one more, just in case.  And she went on her way, again.

She finally reached Tristan's building where Joe, the doorman, was waiting for her and opened the door as soon as he saw her.

"May I help you with the bags, Miss Gilmore?" Joe asked.

"Actually you could help me carry these cups of coffee up to Tristan's apartment.  That would be a lot of help."

And with that Joe grabbed the coffee from Rory's hand and went to get the elevator.

"So, the day's finally here Miss Gilmore."

"Yeah, I hope he enjoys everything today.  Thank you so much for your help Joe.  You where a vital part of today's festivities."

"Don't mention it.  It is my job to help in as much as I can."

When they finally reached Tristan's floor they headed towards the door, where Joe said his good bye's wishing to Rory that everything went as she hoped it would.  Rory thanked him again, and as Joe got into the elevator again, Rory started looking for the spare key, that Tristan hid on one of the plants in the hall.

She opened the door, and was relieved to find that Tristan was still asleep, because there was no sign of him anywhere in the house. . . and there was no coffee in the pot, either.  She got everything into the kitchen and proceeded to prepare the bagels, which consisted of spreading the cream cheese and place slices of salmon over them.  She placed the coffee in a cup and decorated the tray that she would carry everything in with blue and white.  Everything was set.  She picked it up and went into his bedroom.

His bedroom was not the typical guy bedroom.  He kept it really, really neat.  You found everything in its place, no socks or underwear lying around on the floor.  On his bureau, you would find his different colognes, his gel, his brush, everything in perfect order.  Apparently, military school had taught him well, and he carried it on forever.

And then she saw him.  He was so peacefully asleep; she almost regretted having to wake him.  For a minute, she even hesitated and thought that maybe she would let him sleep for a couple of minutes more before waking him.  But then she figured that maybe it was almost time for him to wake up so she started her way towards his bed.

"Happy Birthday, Angel" she said to him and placed a small kiss on his forehead.

"I thought that you might never come in here" he said as he slowly opened his eyes.

"You knew?" she asked a little disappointed.

"No, I didn't know, but I heard you in the kitchen. . . you are a loud chef" he stated in a joking manner.

"I'm sorry. . . it was supposed to be a surprise."

"And it was, a very lovely surprise. . . so are you going to sing Happy Birthday to me?" he asked as he slid to leave room for her in the bed.

"I love you to much to put you through such a horrid experience. . . but I can play a tape with happy birthday in it"

"No, that's OK. . . so what do we have here?" he asked as he looked at the tray.  And Rory sat next to Tristan on the bed.

"For your eating pleasure, we have prepared for you a treat that has only been known to the Greek gods,  thousands of years ago. . ."

"Cream cheese was known by the Greek gods?" he asked jokingly.

"Go along with me here. . ."

"Going along, ma'am"

"And this is only the beginning. . . I have the whole day planned." She stated, excited by the idea that the day had finally arrived, and hoping that he would like everything she had prepared for him.

"OK, tell me about this plan. . ." he said as he grabbed the bagel that Rory was handing him.

"Well, it is kind of a surprise. . . and besides it is a very flexible plan, so if you have anything you want to do, we can." She said as she grabbed a bagel for herself.

"What about lunch? I didn't know you were doing this. . . I could cancel the reservation if you want"

"No, it's OK, that was already in the plan. . . so is there anything you would like to do?"

"In this day you've planned, is there a time that I will have to spend on my own? Without you I mean."

"No"

"Then I'm game for anything you have planned"

"Your game?" she asked.

"It is a pop-culture expression used as a way to tell that I am up for whatever you have planned." he explained sarcastically.

"I know what it means, I just have never heard you use it before"

"TV can do that to you, it gets into your brain."

"I know, it is a shame. . ." she stated with the same sarcastic tone.

"Come here. ." he said as he patted the spot in front of him, and she sat there with her back resting on his chest. . . "That's more like it, you were sitting so far away" He said and he kissed the top of her head. "So tell me, is there any time planned for just you and me?" He asked as he placed his arms around her.

"Well, we have this time in between breakfast and lunch.  I told Janine that we would meet them before lunch for a while, but I can cancel that if you want."

"You wouldn't mind? Because I would really like to spend this time here with you. . ."

"Sure, just give me a minute and I'll call her" and with that he reached the phone and handed it to her.  She started dialing and Janine answered almost immediately.

--- Rory/Janine Intercut ---

"Hello?"

"Eager, are we?"

"Hey Rory, I was just on my way out."

"Listen, would you mind if we met you guys at the restaurant at one?" Rory asked as Tristan kept kissing her neck.

"No, actually it works out well, because I haven't been able to do what you asked me to, so it will really be very helpful.  I'll tell Drew OK?"

"Sure, so see you later then"

"Great, bye." And she hung up.  She was a little rushed, she knew that what Rory had asked for was very important for her and she couldn't let her friend down, and she was already behind schedule.

--- End ---

"Thank you" Tristan told her as she finished the conversation.

"No problem.  Do you want another bagel?"

"Yeah, I am famished. . . Can you hand me the coffee too, please?"

"Yeah, here. . . I don't know if it's still hot, though"

"Yeah, pretty much. . ."

"So, is there anything you want to do right now. . ."

"This is pretty much it" he said as he finished his second bagel.

"Lying in bed?"

"Yep. . . but it's not just lying in bed when you are here, it's more special"

"OK, laying in bed it is. . ." she said as she finished her own bagel. 

A few minutes later, the food and coffee was all done, and Rory attempted to get up and leave the tray and dirty dishes to the kitchen, but Tristan stopped her.

"Later, let's just place it down here" and he grabbed the tray and placed it on the floor "So, where's my birthday kiss?" She couldn't help but smile as she remembered that same question from, oh, so many years ago, on her 16th birthday.  "What was that smile for?"

"Oh, nothing. . . of course there's a birthday kiss" and with that she shifted positions and kissed him softly.

"It's my birthday" Tristan told her as she broke apart from their kiss.

"What?" Rory asked, confused.

"That's what you said the first time I asked you where's my birthday kiss" he stated and smirked as he saw how she knew exactly what he was talking about.

"You remember that?" she said with a smile on her face.

"You could say I do. . . is that why you smiled?"

"Yeah, I don't know where that came from because it was so long ago, but when you said that I felt 16 again"

"I have to tell you something.  I'm madly in love with you"

"Really? Can you eat?"

"No, I can't"

"Can you sleep?"

"Nope, not that either"

"Do you wake up in the middle of the night saying my name, Rory, Rory?"

"Yeah. . . How ever did you know?" he asked, following along.

"Well, I have psychic powers. . ."

"So, what do you think I should do about this?"

"I'm psychic not a doctor. . . good luck with that"

"Good luck with that?!?" He said and started laughing "Come here" and he grabbed her hand and pull her down under him, and then kissed her long and deep.

"I have a birthday present for you" he told her, as he placed a small kiss on her lips.

"Even if we reenacted that scene, it is safe to tell you it is not my birthday"

"I know, but I still have a present for you"

"You are like the coolest boyfriend.  It's your birthday and I get a present too!!" she said, excited.

He reached over to his night table and pulled out a small box, and handed it to Rory.

"What's this?" Rory asked as he handed her the box.

"This, is called a box, it is used to store objects in them.  Funny thing, but they usually have different sizes for your different storage needs.  Come on open it. . ."

And as she opened she saw a silver ring.  He then proceeded to retrieve it from the box and grabbed her hand.

"This, Rory, is an exact replica of this ring" he said as he showed her his own silver ring "and it is for you to use it in your middle finger also" and with that he slid it down on her left hand middle finger.  "Please don't freak out.  I know it is a ring, but I just thought that it would be nice if we had the same ring, there is no hidden meaning behind this present"

"No, it's great.  I love it" she said as she looked at her finger, and then she grabbed his left hand and held it up against hers.  "It is identical"

"Well that's the meaning behind 'exact replica'" he answered.

"It is, isn't it? OK. So, what now?"

"Well it is still early and. . ." he glanced at the clock that was on the night table on Rory's side "we still have time 'til one, so, what to do? What to do?" he pretended to ponder, and then gave a half smile and leaned down again and kissed her.  "I have the perfect plan. . ."

"Which is?" she asked.

"Are you still sleepy?"

And they both laughed.  And then after a while, they both fell asleep in each others arms. 

Rory was more tired than she thought she was because she was the first one to fall into Morpheous' arms.  All the preparations for today had her exhausted and after going through with one third of her plan she fell into a deep slumber. 

Tristan on the other hand couldn't believe that he had her right there, in his bed, sleeping next to him.  They had slept in the same bed before over Thanksgiving weekend at Lorelai's house, but this time was different.  She was in his bed, in his apartment, on his birthday.  So many feelings filled him the moment he saw that she was finally asleep.  He took the chance to look at her, really look at her.  She was so beautiful and peaceful when she slept.  You could, almost, see her smile in her sleep.  Her face looked so soft and she looked so fragile.  Her eyes held the same beauty as if they were open, because he knew what was behind them.  Her hair was on his chest and on his shoulder, her lips had no lipstick or lip-gloss and where just parted.  How was it that after so many months together he had never really had the chance to see how delicate all of her features where, and therefore how delicate she was?  He remembered at that very moment, how much he loved her; he had to fight the urge to kiss her and touch her, so he just held her.  That would suffice. . . at least for now.  And, with all those thoughts in his head, he too fell asleep.

Around 11:30, Rory woke up to find Tristan's arm around her waist.  She slipped out of his grasp to go to the bathroom and start getting ready.  But something stopped her.  He really looked peaceful when he slept.  How was it that a man that looked like that when he was sleeping could stir all those feelings inside of her, awake?  She cursed herself for not giving him a chance before, when they where younger.  And then she remembered that it was not their time to be together, that destiny had this prepared for her later on in her life.  When he would be able to appreciate what he had. . . and so would she.

She went out of the room and into the living room to grab her bag, and then proceeded to go to the bathroom and get ready for lunch.  If at 12, Tristan wasn't up she would go and wake him for him to start getting ready.

But it wasn't necessary.  As she was in the bathroom getting ready, Tristan knocked on the bathroom door.

"Are you decent?"  He asked from the other side of the door. 

She proceeded to open the door to let him in.  "Yeah, I'm done.  Come in, I'll finish getting ready outside" She was wearing a navy blue skirt down to her knee and a light blue and navy blue shirt, but she was still barefoot and had her hair pulled up so she could do the little make up that she used to wear.

"That's OK, are you almost done? 'Cause I can wait"

"Yeah, I'm just finishing my make up"

"OK, then I'll wait out here. . . would you like me to close the door for you again."

"No, that's OK.  I believe it is safe for you to see me apply my make up"

"Sure, I'll just go check what I am going to wear. . . maybe you could help me with that"

"Sure, just let me apply this and I am. . ." she said and finished applying her mascara "done."

She helped him pick out a pair of khaki pants and a beautiful blue shirt that only accentuated the deep blue of his eyes. . . and the tone of his skin.

They finished getting ready and headed toward the restaurant, where they met with Janine and Drew.  Lunch time was done quickly and when Drew finally glanced at his watched he noticed that it was almost five.  The crew had brought out the Carrot Cake they had baked for him, and didn't sing Happy Birthday.  The only thing that made Drew glance at his watch was the fact that the cake was gone. 

"Would you guys excuse me, nature calls."  And Drew lift from his place at the table. . . but didn't go to the bathroom, instead he went to speak to the maitre'd and paid the check, as a way of a birthday present for his friend. 

When he came back, they where all aware of the time and decided that it was time to go their separate ways.

"Check please" Tristan asked to the first waiter that he saw.

"Your check has been taken care of, Mr. DuGrey" he informed Tristan.

"Thanks" and the waiter walked away, and Tristan proceeded to look at his friend "Nature Calls? I should have known better"

"Well, what can I say.  Happy Birthday Man!"

"Thanks, bro"

"Sweetie are you ready to go?" Drew asked Janine.

"Yeah, we should let them go back to their celebration. . . I hope you have a very Happy Birthday Tristan, of what is left of the day.  I am glad I had the chance to celebrate it with you."  She said as she hugged him.

"Thank you, Janine.  I am glad that I spent it with you guys, too"

"So, Rory. . . I'll see you later, right?"  Janine asked.

"Yeah, we'll be there later" Rory answered back.  But they, and only them, knew what they were referring to.

Drew and Janine said their final good bye's and left them there.  They proceeded to take a ride down the road.  They did the last part of Rory's Birthday plan and then went to her apartment.  And this is where the real birthday present was. . .

Rory and Janine's Apartment

"OK, here is the next part of your birthday present.  But I have to blindfold you" and she took out of her purse a bright colored scarf.  And she placed it, gently, over his eyes.  "OK, tell me if you see anything"

"I could so easily lie to you right now"

"But I now you won't. . . so tell me if you see anything"

"No, I don't see a thing."

"OK. . . grab my hand" she did this to test him.

"I can't . . ." he tried to grab her hand but never reached it "I don't know where your hand is. . . I am blindfolded you know"

"Good. . ." and she grabbed his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.  "I will tell you when we are close to a stair, a door, or anything OK?"

"OK.  Good thing this building has an elevator" he said as they opened the front door of the building and Rory helped him step into the building and then into the elevator.  When they where in it, she pressed the button that will lead them to her floor.

When they reached  her floor she led him out of the elevator and then down the hall to her apartment door.

"OK, here we are. . . don't take the blindfold off yet"

"OK"

She searched for her keys in her purse and then, when she found the keys, unlocked her door and opened it for him.  Janine had come through for her, and she gave a silent thank you to no one.  She led him into the apartment and closed the door behind them and then she removed the scarf.

When his eyes adjusted the light, he saw what his present was.  She was standing right in front of him, and the whole living room/dining room/kitchen was lit up with candles of different shapes and sizes and colors.  The only thing he was able to think of was, just how much beautiful she looked in the candlelight.

"I know it is terribly clichéd, with all the candles and everything, but I thought that it was probably the only way that would help me go through with this. . . it is after all, extremely romantic, I think"

"It's beautiful. . . but when did yo. . ."

"Janine helped me. . . I called her when we where coming over, and that's why I blindfolded you from the very entrance of the building, because I wasn't sure if she was gone or not and I didn't want to spoil it."

"Is that what you were talking about in the restaurant?"

"Yep. . . so. . ."

"So. . .?" He said as he walked to where she was standing.

"There is something very important I have to tell you. . ."

"What would that be. . .?"

"I am extremely thankful to my lucky star that she let me get to know this great man that is standing right in front of me. . . and I thank my lucky star that I had the chance to meet that annoying 16-year-old boy so many years ago, because that way I would know just how lucky I really am. . . life has blessed me in so many ways, that I can't help think that somebody up there loves me.  I am happy to have you in my life, you are, next to my mom, one of the most important persons I have in it.  What I am getting to is, that I want you to know that I love you more that I've ever loved anyone, and I thank God that he gave me the opportunity to see you again and blessed my life with having you in it.  If this were to end tomorrow, it would have been the most beautiful 5 months I spent in my life.  You never let one of those days be a dull day, you always had something that made each, and every day with you, the best day, so I guess that I've had approximately 150 of the best days of my life.  I love you more each day that goes by, and each day that goes by I know that it would be harder not to spend the next one with you."  And with that she kissed him.

While she was doing her speech he couldn't believe what he was hearing and held her tight and then tighter with every time she said that she loved him.  Never in his wildest fantasies could he ever think that Rory Gilmore would tell him that she loved him.  So this time it was his turn.

"So many things come to my mind right now, and each of them coincides in one thing.  Never in a million years could I ever think it possible that this would happen to me.  With you, I mean.  I never really thought that after the way things ended with us the first time this would be happening to me.  But Rory, I have to tell you something.  I love you more than life itself, I would do anything to make you happy, as happy as you have made me over the last months.  It was a long way that we came and I am glad that we are here.  I love you.  I never had a birthday quite like this one. . . thank you" And he kissed her.

He kissed one cheek, then the other.  To him that meant affection and devotion.  He wondered if she understood it.  He started kissing her lightly.  He remembered how much he had felt earlier, in the morning, when he saw her sleeping in his bed, and couldn't help but sigh.  She just smiled at him.  When he started to brake apart she drew him to her.  He had broken from the kiss because he was feeling too much too soon.  He placed his hands on her back and let them travel to the small of her back as their kiss deepened.  The kiss grew hotter and hotter and when he placed his hands on her hips and she pressed against him, he thought that he might just die right there.

She couldn't believe what she was doing, but it felt so right.  She wanted that kiss to last forever and she didn't want to brake it.  So she was surprised when she started to tempt him to take everything at once, he started to react to that but then. . .

He, with all his experience, had learned that pleasure taken slowly, given gently, could be so much more gratifying.  And she responded to tenderness so much more than to something driven by heat.  And she deserved every bit of tenderness he could muster.

Her stomach fluttered when he skimmed her lips with his, offering, promising.  She heard her own sigh escape, a soft, giving sound that whispered across his lips.  Then he murmured her name, quietly, as if it were the only thing he needed to hear.

There was no rush.  She didn't feel rushed.  She wanted to go through with this.  She loved him as much as she could ever love anyone, and thought that this was the next step to take.  His needs seemed to meld with her own.  She let herself enjoy the soft kisses that aroused the soul before they tempted the body.  Relaxed, she allowed herself the thrill to the light caresses that made her strong enough to accept being weak.

They started walking, as they kissed, towards Rory's bedroom.  To his surprise, she was leading the way.  He needed to ask her if she was sure of what she wanted to do.  When they went into the bedroom he saw the bedroom was also decorated with daisies in vases al over her room.  The bed was open.  More to his surprise, she had planned it this way.

"Rory. . . are you sure you want to go through with this?" he asked as she pushed her away a bit so that he could see her reaction when he asked her.

"I have never been so sure of something in my life" was her answer and she pulled him to her once again.

This time things were different.  With her answer, he was more sure of himself.  He didn't want to  hurt her, and didn't want her to do something that she wasn't sure of.  And she was sure that that was what she wanted.  

His lips met hers again.  This feeling was foreign to her, in a way.  It had been a long time since her first time, with the only person she had ever done it with.  Jess.  And this was so different from that one.  This was soft and slow, and extremely gentle and loving.  With Jess had been the same, and yet so different. 

He began, slowly, gently, testing them both.  His lips were patient as they moved over hers, light and soothing as they kissed her eyes closed completely, letting the feeling take her wherever he was taking her.  He didn't touch her, not yet, though he couldn't help but think how it would feel to caress her as though it were all new.  And then he remembered it was.  That with her it was.

Her body seemed weightless, gloriously light and free.  She felt the pleasure go through her, but sweetly, fluently, like a stream.  There was so much to absorb.  The flavor of his lips as they lingered on hers; the texture of his skin as his cheek brushed hers; the scent that clung to him; the dark curious look in his eyes as he watched her.

She looked as she had when she slept that morning in his bed.  Fragile in the most arousing way.  And she felt. . . At last he touched her, fingertips only, along skin already warm.  He heard her sigh his name in a way that she never had. . . it almost had a melodious tone.  He touched and she yielded.  He tasted and she gave.  When he shifted her, she felt as thought she could float. . . and maybe she was.  When he started to undress her, she opened her eyes, needing to see him again.

The candles made her, actually, glow only to accentuate her beauty, he thought, as he slowly drew off her shirt.  He couldn't take his eyes off her, couldn't stop his hands from touching, though he had no desire to be quick.  When she reached up, he helped her pull off his own shirt.  He took the hand that now held his ring in her middle finger.  He kissed her fingers, and her palm and her wrist, until he felt her tremble.  Bending, he brushed her lips with his again, wanting to hear her sigh his name.  Then, watching her, waiting until she looked at him, he continued to undress her.

Slowly, achingly slowly, he drew her skirt down her legs, pausing now and then to taste newly exposed skin.  Pulses beat at the back of her knees.  He felt them.  Lingered there.  He ran his hand slowly down her knees to her ankles, kissing every inch, causing her to moan.  The he waited, letting her settle again as he stripped off his own pants.  He came to her, flesh against flesh.  Nothing had been like this.  Nothing could be like this.  Or so she thought, and then. . .

After everything was over she felt weak.  She had never known pleasure that way.  She had never known love could bring so many things in her life that way.  She was happy.  And he was ecstatic. 

"Did you know that when I was in second grade, my teacher, Mrs. McKay sent a note to my parents?"

"I didn't know that.  And what did that note say?" She said as they were holding hands in bed.

"Well, you see.  We had this fish in our class"

"Uh-Huh"

"And I wanted to see it flop, like in the cartoons"

"You didn't?"

"I did.  One day I grabbed the bowl and turn it over and dropped it on the floor"

"Did it flop?"

"Yeah, but only for a little while, and then he died"

"What did Mrs. McKay say?" she was trying really hard not to laugh.

"Well she sent home a note. . . of course, the next day I showed up with another fish that I wasn't supposed to make it flop.  I saw Mrs. McKay once when I was in North Carolina"

"Really? Did she remember you?"

"I believe her exact words where, Mr. DuGrey, made any good fish flop lately?"

"And what did you say to her?"

"That I had taken up fishing"

"That was mean."

"I know.

Time went by and they just kept talking.

"So my mom told me that the name of the tree was a 'Weeping Willow'"

"Uh-Huh" he answered as he heard her story develop.

"So I spent days outside reading to the tree and telling it jokes and playing music to it, so it would cheer up"

"Oh, Rory" he said and he placed a small kiss on her nose.

"Apparently it didn't work so I gave up"

"Well you tried and that's what counts"

And then they finally gave in.  They where tired and it was time to sleep and so they did. . . in each others arms just like they had earlier.

4:16am

Lorelai

"Aaaaahhhhh!!!!" was the scream that followed the jump.  Lorelai woke up in the middle of the night startled of her dream.  Luke had cheated on her.  He had cheated on her with Taylor's lawyer, the one he had dated that time so long ago.

"I have to know what it means. . ." she tried to get out of bed and tried to turn on the light.  But when she did she decided against it, because the light hurt her eyes.

So getting the book that Rory had gotten her for "Dream Interpretation" was out of the question.  So the next logical thing was to call her, she would probably know what it meant anyway.

Amazingly enough she found the phone rather quickly and started dialing her daughter's number.

Rory

Tristan and Rory were sleeping deeply.  The phone was on Tristan's side, just like in his house.  When the phone rang, the next logical thing was to answer it.  So he did.  Rory just stirred.

"Hello!" He answered in a very sleep-sunk voice.

"Tristan is that you?" Lorelai asked when she heard his voice over the phone.

"Lorelai!!!" He said as he jump to consciousness quickly enough.  And so did Rory.

"Tristan, what are you doing in my daughters house at 4:19 in the morning?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*