Tristan stared at his father for a full minute before snapping back to reality.

"Excuse me?" He choked out; his throat felt dry and scratchy. His father looked once more around his newspaper, slightly scowling at the interruption. The only sound in the kitchen was his mother's heels continuing to tap incessantly.

"I said, you're going with Robert's daughter. And you're not going to see this…Laurie again."

"Her name's Rory!" Tristan snapped, then stood up with such force that his chair was knocked over. His mother looked up from her glass in surprise.

"Dear, Kylie is a lovely young girl from a prominent family-"

"I don't give a flying fuck if she's the queen of England! I'm not going anywhere with her!" With that, Tristan turned and stormed out the kitchen; his mother returned to her martini, but Mr. DuGrey was less than amused….

- - - - - - - - - -

"Rory, stop worrying! He'll call! He's probably dialing as we speak." Lane bit into her donut happily; after a barrage of tofu for the past two weeks, her stomach had all but curled into a fetal ball and whimpered. She tore her attention away from the chocolate frosting to look at Rory, who was currently chewing on her bottom lip and staring at her coffee cup with blank eyes.

"What if he doesn't want me anymore? What if he changed his mind?" She looked at helplessly at Lane, who smiled encouragingly before popping the rest of the donut in her mouth.

"Ell be phoon,"

"What?"

Lane swallowed quickly and took a gulp of coffee.

"I said it'll be fine. I mean, you guys were great last night. After all, you fell asleep together."

"Lane!" Rory snapped in a hushed voice; Miss Patty was sitting two chairs down and had been "drinking" the same cup of coffee for the past hour. She was, at the moment, propped up on her elbow, stirring the coffee and listening intently to their conversation.

"Sorry, sorry." Lane whispered back, then looked around. "Where's Luke? I need a refill."
"Me too…he went to the apartment a while ago, and then my mom went up and I haven't seen him since…"

Rory and Lane looked at each other with raised eyebrows and equally devilish grins covering their faces. Rory slid off her stool, and Lane followed her up the stairs. When they walked into the apartment, they gasped at what they saw.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tristan sighed. He had been driving around for an hour. He wanted to go see Rory, but he was worried about what she would say when he told her that his parents had forbidden him from dating such a "common" girl. 

"Who cares if she doesn't own a mansion and fifty cars? She doesn't need that. She's perfect." He sighed again and leaned back in the seat. He would have cried from the frustration of it all, but he hadn't cried in years and, quite truthfully, had forgotten how to.  He didn't want to go to that damn party. He wanted to be with Rory. Irritated by how much hold his father had over him, he just drove faster. And faster. Fast enough to get away from it all. To get back to Rory.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Mom!"

"Wha- oh, Rory!"

"What are you doing?"

"Well, um, you see…"

Lane was laughing uncontrollably at Luke's face. There Luke stood….all decked out in one of Lorelai's originals. Rory looked at Luke, and she suddenly cracked up. Tears were steadily running down Rory and Lane's faces; Lorelai looked a little embarrassed, and Luke…well, Luke looked mortified. After about five minutes, Rory and Lane were finally able to stop laughing, wipe off their tears, and grin at Luke.

"We so need an explanation."
"Lane's right. I think we should tackle the issue here, people."
"And that issue is, 'why is Luke in a dress?'"

"I have, at last, seen it all."
"I think I'm going to cry, I'm so happy. I finally saw the most disturbing thing in the world, and it wasn't even Ozzy biting off that bat's head…speaking of, will he never live that down?"
"Me and Mom had a discussion on this while cleaning out the garage. We determined the answer to be 'no'. "

"I figured."
"So anyway, back to Luke."
"In a dress."

Lorelai was biting the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something about his finally coming out the closet or asking where his rainbow flag was, and instead shook her head and grinned sheepishly.

"Well, I really needed a model for that new dress I made for the Christmas party…and you weren't home…"
"So, when you needed a replacement for my body type, you instantly thought 'Luke'?"

"No, I thought 'coffee!' and so I came to the diner, and there you were, and I was going to have you do it, but then I saw Luke go upstairs and I needed coffee, Luke coffee, so I followed. And I got upstairs, and he was all grumpy, and then while he was grunting about something, I looked at the dress. And, as it turns out, I had gotten the dress I was making for Miss Patty…you know, that pink foofy thing, for Christmas."
"Right, that...foofy thing."

"So anyway, I was thinking, hey! Luke's got the whole stocky thing going on-"
"I do not."

"Right, sweets. You're the poster boy for ballerinas. Anyway,  I convinced him to try it on-"

"Hold on. Half the time you can't even convince him to give him coffee. What did you do to get him to try on a dress?"

"Well…I told him I'd…well…"
"Spit it out, Lorelai!" Lane urged, her cheeks flushed from laughing so hard.

"Well…okay, okay, I gave up coffee for three weeks."

A pause.

"…You what?" Rory's eyes were wide, and Lane's mouth had dropped open. Luke looked a little smug…then he realized he was wearing a pink dress and that humbled him a little.

"You gave up the one thing we live for? Don't you realize coffee, not blood, runs through Gilmore veins?!"

Lorelai sniffed. "I just wanted Luke to try on a dress! Is that such a crime!"

"In some states, probably." Luke muttered and tugged at the material.

"Oh, mom…we need to get some-"
"No coffee."

"But Luke…"

"I'm wearing a dress. She's keeping up her part of the deal."
Lorelai sighed.  "Fine, fine. But only cause you're so pretty!" She giggled and pinched his cheek. He looked like he was quite capable of shoving the whole pink, frilly mess up her nose. The giggling ceased.

"Well, as entertaining as this is-"
"And, believe us, it is."

"-we need to go get some food in our systems before I embark on the scary mission of calling Tristan."

"Oh, have fun with that. Poor baby…" Lorelai hugged Rory, then held her out at arm length. "He still hasn't called?"
"Nope."

"Aw, you look gloomy. Well, go call him. He's probably nervous."
"That's what I said." Lane piped up.

"See? Listen to me and Lane. It's fine. Just call him and go…make out, or whatever it is you guys do." Lorelai wrinkled her nose a bit.

"Ok…love you." Rory kissed Lorelai on the cheek quickly, before grabbing Lane's hand and dragging her down to the diner. Lorelai turned to Luke, grinning evilly.

"Let's try the heels."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Deep breaths. Deep breaths."

Rory did as Lane instructed, as she looked nervously at the phone in her hand. They were standing behind the diner counter, and Lane was trying to calm her down.

"Ok, I'm dialing."

Pause.

"This time for real."
Another pause.

"Now-"
"Rory! Dial the number!"

Rory bit her lip and dialed Tristan's home quickly. She waited as it rang, and then, at last, a maid picked up.

"DuGrey residence."

"Hi, this is Rory Gilmore. I was wondering if Tristan was home-"

"Master Tristan is not home. He won't be available this evening, therefore calling again would be in vain."

"Well, um, this is his girlfriend-"
"He will be preoccupied all day. Call back tomorrow."

Rory was met with the dial tone.

"Well?" Lane looked at Rory excitedly.

"He wasn't home." Was all she offered, but she did look confused. "I think I'll try his cell."
"Good idea."

With much more confidence than the first time, Rory dialed his number. After a few dials, she was greeted with his voice.
"Hello?"

"Hey."

- - - - - - - - - - -  - -

Tristan felt a smile instantly spread over his face. Trying not to sound too excited, he replied, "Why, Mary Mary. Is that your pretty little voice?"

He heard her laugh. The smile grew.

"You're absolutely insane."
"That's what they tell me." He chuckled, then continued. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"
"My intense boredom."
"Ah."
"That, and I was being on of those girly-girls who thinks a guy forgot about her if she doesn't hear from him the next day. Especially after he disappears in the middle of the night."
"Well, Lorelai kicked me out. I had no choice."
"You should have woken me up. I feel bad that I didn't get to say goodbye."
"Well, say goodbye now."

"What?"
"If it'll make you feel better, you can say goodbye to me now. You know, clear the ol' conscious."

There was a pause, then he heard her say "goodbye"; he could tell she was trying not to laugh.

"That's my girl. Alright, now that you have repented your sins, do you want to do something today?"

"Yeah; we could just bum around here…or oh! We could go shopping! For Christmas stuff!" Tristan was amused at how excited she sounded, and decided that, to preserve her happiness, he should just leave out the whole party incident…at least, for now.

"Sounds great. I'll see you in a minute."

"You live half an hour away."

"I was…driving around. I was bored."

"Oh..well, that's good. So I'll see you in a bit?"
"Yeah; later, Mary."

"Bye, hot stuff."

"That sounds so much better than Bible boy."

He heard her laugh as she hung up the phone; he did the same, now in much better spirits. That inexplicable urge to whistle overtook him again; he decided to just turn up the radio.

- - - - -  - - - - - -

Rory hung up the phone, and there was a moment of quiet before she squealed and began jumping up and down. Lane did the same.

"What'd he say? What'd he say?"

"He's coming! And he'll be here soon, cause he was out riding around and ergh, I look horrible! And I need coffee! And Luke is upstairs playing dress up and the coffee pot is empty!"

Lane looked around, noticed Kirk sitting next to her with a steaming cup of coffee, and, while his attention was on his newest "money-making endeavor" (a line of cat sweaters), she quickly slid the mug over to Rory. She gulped it down gratefully.

"Ok, ok. Now, do I look ok? Or do I look like I've been traumatized by seeing my father figure in a dress?'"

"Father figure?"
"Hasn't that occurred to everyone by now?"

"Eh. Probably."

" Anyway, how do I look?" Rory stood up and did a little twirly-thing. Lane nodded approvingly.

"You look fine, Rory! And besides, this is Tristan. He'd be drooling over you if you were in a paper bag."

"Actually, I think I'd prefer the paper bag."

Startled by the voice, Rory spun around and blushed slightly. Had he seen her twirly thing?

"Hi, Tristan."

"Hey, princess. Why, who's the stunning creature? And why have we not been introduced?"

Tristan strolled over to Lane and gave her an exaggerated look-over. Rory rolled her eyes as Lane's face turned an amusing tomato color.

"Lane, Tristan. Tristan, Lane."

"N-n-nice to meet you." Lane managed to stammer, and extended her hand. Tristan took it in his and kissed it. Her face turned an even deeper red, and she giggled before rambling about having to go to Bible study and scooting out the door, mouthing "HOT!" over Tristan's shoulder to Rory, who couldn't help but be amused.

"Charming." Rory turned to Tristan, who was standing in a pose that just screamed "photograph me!" She looked annoyed, and she felt just the slightest hint of jealousy. Though she knew it was just Tristan messing around, or rather, Tristan being Tristan, it still didn't sit well with her.

"Oo, jealous, Mary?"
"Yes. Please, please treat me like a little bleach-blonde who can be shoved up against a locker at a moments notice, and who's charmed by you kissing my hand!" Rory rolled her eyes and leaned on the counter, resting her elbows on the surface. Tristan laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. She giggled slightly, then reprimanded herself for it; she was supposed to be acting annoyed. Or at the very least, not falling victim to his charms. Completely ignoring the tingly feeling on her skin where his arm touched, she untwined his arms and hopped on her stool, crossing her legs daintily and looking at him with an eyebrow raised. He just laughed, and sat on the stool next to her.

"Not the easiest to charm, are you, Gilmore?"

"I make it my life mission to be incessantly impossible." She flashed a grin and flipped her hair in an exaggerated fashion. Tristan grinned.

"Mission accomplished, princess. Now, how bout you hop off that stool-" He rose and stood in front of her, gripping the counter with his hands, sufficiently trapping her, "-and give a proper hello to your boyfriend?" He whispered the last part, leaning in close enough to lightly brush the shell of her ear. Rory blushed, and he was pleased to see her smile grow even wider. She pulled back from him just a bit, enough to look at his eyes.

"You have pretty eyes." Rory said quietly, grinning. He grinned back.

"So do you."

"Pretty boy." Rory giggled before allowing him to catch her lips in a kiss. He pulled back after only a moment though, leaving her flustered and confused. He put on a stern face and leaned closer to her, if possible.

"Did you…call me a pretty boy?"

Rory smiled innocently. "If the shoe fits…"

"Such cruel words. Pretty boy? Moi? I am, if nothing, the epitome of bad-boy..-ness."

"Great vocabulary. Hooked on Phonics will be so proud."

"Shut up and kiss me."
Rory happily obliged

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tristan practically floated inside his house; he and Rory had spent the entire day together, and it suddenly occurred to him that he had most likely never been happier in his life. He didn't have to act like some sex maniac, he didn't have to brag about his bank account or newest car. Instead, he was allowed to have snowball fights and throw marshmallows at that scary blonde lady's new cat…in fact, it was encouraged.  

Unaware of the ridiculous grin adorning his face, he strolled into the kitchen. His father was sitting there, sipping a cup of tea, looking irritable as he instructed Rita on how to clean the oven most efficiently. Rita looked incredibly relieved with Tristan entered.

"Good evening, sir."

"Again with the sir? C'mon, Rita…seriously, I'll give you a blank check if you call me Tristan!"

Rita simply smiled warmly and put a plate in front of him and hurrying to the oven for whatever it was she had cooked.

"So, son." Mr.DuGrey began, and set his tea cup down. Tristan looked at him with disdain, and prompted him to continue.

"I have talked over this...party situation with your mother, and we both think it would be best if you would go to the party with Kylie. Then-" he went on quickly, as Tristan was about to interrupt him, "-we will…discuss whether or not you will be allowed to see this Gilmore lady."

'But-"

"Either you take Kylie and have at least a chance of getting to see Rory, or you don't take her and you're forbidden from the girl."

Tristan was silent, weighing his options, considering the consequences…wondering how incredibly pissed Rory was going to be that he was taking some other girl to a party…

"Well, boy? Take a pick. I don't have all night."

With one last glare at his father, Tristan let out a deep sigh. "I guess…I'm taking Kylie to the party."
"Glad you see it my way. Rita, have Tristan fitted for a new tuxedo. And tell them to hurry, the party is tomorrow. Alright…night then." Nodding briefly to Tristan, he walked out of the kitchen, leaving Tristan to sit with his head in his hands. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

*A/N: yeah, I know. Filler chapter. but hey, the good stuff's coming up (this is where the shit hits the fan, people; "THE PARTY" dum dum duuum…) anyway, i needed to show that, yes…*sigh* tristans going with the little rich chick. Lifes unfair. All I need to figure out is how rorys going to react (hehe…this should be fun). OH! Oh oh almost forgot:  CINNAMON ANGEL! YOU ROCK! I was giddy when I got your review. I looooove reviews. Especially ones that actually say something, instead of just "cool update yay".  And, per your request, I added some luke to this chapter (who wouldn't want to see luke in a dress?) and ill have him more in the next chapter too.  And ill be listening to all the reviewers suggestions on what should happen at the party. So REVIEW! And thanks to all who did take the time to review; your ideas & comments are like the cherries on the proverbial sundae of life. now, be unique and click the blue button. *