A tearful Rory came down from the terminal to meet her mom at baggage claim in the Hartford airport on Monday morning. Lorelai frowned a little as she pulled her daughter into a hug. Rory held on tight to her mother, sniffling into her shoulder.

"You okay, babe?"

"This sucks!"

"I know."

Lorelai had no words to make it better, so she linked her arm in Rory's and they headed off to the Jeep. As Lorelai got out of the main parking lot, and Rory's tears subsided. She looked over at her mom who was paying attention to the road. Too much attention to the road, in fact. Even the radio was off, very un-Gilmore like.

"So, what's going on Mom?"

"Nothing's going on."

"Really?"

"What would be going on?"

"You look guilty and happy."

"I'm not guilty!"

"You never mentioned how it went with Luke."

Lorelai blushed and turned the radio on full blast.

"That trick doesn't work," Rory reminded her, turning down the volume.

Still she said nothing.

"Did he remember kissing you?"

Nada.

"Did he freak out?"

Zilch.

"Did he do it again?"

The blushing got redder. Rory had her answer.

"He did! He kissed you again! Why aren't you as excited as I am?"

"He asked me out!"

"So?"

"So?! Rory, this is Luke. We're going on a first date."

"Again I ask, so what?"

"For starters, it's going to be awkward. Secondly, he's one of my best friends. And of course for a finisher, what if it doesn't work out?"

"What if it does?"

That was the big question, and Lorelai was terrified of the answer. She pondered that until she pulled up outside of Dufree. She put the Jeep in park and turned towards Rory.

"So how was your weekend, Weepy?"

"Eventful."

"How eventful?"

"Now in a way you're thinking, gutter brain."

"Not even a little?" Lorelai wiggled her eyebrows at Rory.

"Okay, maybe a little. He showed me all over Chapel Hill and talked ad nauseum about why he loves it there."

"So a big NO on him transferring?"

"Well, I never specifically asked, but yeah, I'm guessing."

"Chicken."

"That's me."

"So, can we make it a Stars Hollow weekend?"

"When's the big date?"

"Saturday."

"You want some moral support, huh?"

"Am I that transparent?"

Rory smiled and kissed her goodbye, "I'll be home Friday afternoon to ride to the grandparents with you!" With that she got out of the Jeep and waved her mom off.

Rory got off to her classes as planned and stopped by a professor's office to discuss an upcoming paper before heading back for dinner. Paris was waiting when she got home. Rory hoped the rest of her date had gone better, which probably happened if Paris calmed down and hadn't scared the hell out of Marty.

"I didn't think you were ever getting back!" Paris pounced off her bed when Rory walked into the room.

"I had to talk to a professor about a paper. What's with you?" Rory eyed her friend strangely.

"We have so much to talk about! Aren't you the least bit curious about my date?"

"Paris, we go to Yale. Get a grip, life is more than boys."

"Says the girl who flew hundreds of miles to be with a boy, taking a long weekend."

"Hey, I missed no classes. Just some study time."

"Whatever, do you want to hear how it went?"

"Yes! I was going to ask you before you trounced me." Rory teased.

"Well, he did ask me out again for later this week," Paris smiled, looking pleased with herself.

"So you took my advice and got over the naked Marty story."

"Yeah. I mean everyone does something stupid freshman year of college."

"Yeah, some people date professors three times their age."

"Low blow, Gilmore."

"Hey, I'm just saying. . ."

"So how were you and loverboy this weekend?"

"It went well. We're dating."

"Dating?"

"Well, talking and seeing each other as much as we can."

"When do you see him next?"

"He's thinking he can come up in a month."

"Wow, who would have thought Tristan Dugrey would be able to handle a long distance relationship?"

"Hey, that's not helping. I trust him, it's just neither one of us thinks this is a good idea, but we felt we had to try."

Paris nodded. She'd known for years that these two needed to be together.

"Hey, I'm really glad you and Marty had a good time."

"Thanks. I don't know if it'll be a long term thing, but it can't hurt to have some fun."

"There's the spirit!"

Later that evening Rory came back from the library to find Paris on the phone, talking very animatedly to the person on the other end. This wasn't unusual; Paris could get into a heated debate over anything. Indecisive and unopinionated would never be words to describe Paris.

"How can you say that, Tristan! God, only you would think that was true!"

"Tristan? Paris, give me the phone!"

"You weren't here, and I'm in the middle of a thought!"

"Phone, now!"

"Fine," Paris relented, handing Rory the phone.

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself."

"So how are you doing?"

"I've been better. I miss you and Paris is nuts. How was your flight?"

"Well, there were no screaming babies. And mom was there to meet me. She had some interesting news."

"What was that?"

"She and Luke are going on a date."

"Luke, the diner guy?"

"That's him. Finally after all these years, the flirting can be acknowledged."

"From what you've told me, that's got to be a relief to your whole town."

"No kidding."

"So how are you?"

"I miss you. Isn't that sad? I saw you all weekend, and I knew it would suck, I just didn't think it would suck this much."

"I did."

"Sweet boy."

"Sometimes. So, what are you wearing?"

"Tristan!"

"What? We're going to have to make the most out of these calls until we can be together again."

"You're incorrigible."

"So, what are you wearing?"

"Nothing."

"My, my. Hoping I would call were you?"

"Well, as a matter of fact I was."

"Are you alone now?"

"Actually I am. I have been for the last few minutes."

"Good, we can have some fun. You up for it?"

"Fine. So what are you wearing?"

"Well, I'm in bed, so,"

"Your boxers." Rory grinned, remembering the feel of him up against her last night.

"Mm-hmm. That's right. Although, if you're naked, maybe I should catch up."

"Go ahead. While I'm waiting, I may have to do some exploring."

"Tell me about it," he replied, hungrily.

"Well, I'm kissing your chest, running my finger down the center of your body lightly and following the trail I'm making with my tongue until I reach your—PARIS, oh God! You scared me to death!"

"Hey, did you forget the only rule here?" Tristan cried out on the other end of the line.

"Sorry, Tristan," Rory cringed. She hoped Paris hadn't heard anything, but by the look she was giving her, she honestly couldn't tell.

"What? I came in for a folder so I could work on my paper in the front room. I'm giving you space to be all kissy-faced or whatever you want." Paris smiled knowingly at Rory and left the room again.

"Oh, geez, she knows what we were doing."

"Correction, trying to do. Again, saying 'Paris' during sexual encounters is just going to negate all reactions for me."

"I'm so sorry! Guess I'll have to find somewhere more private to talk to you," she hinted.

"Rory, I had no idea you had this in you. I'm impressed."

"Just wait, I'm full of surprises."

"I bet you are. I just bet you are. So, since THAT isn't going to continue tonight, how did you like Chapel Hill?"

"It was impressive. I see why you love it."

"Are you ready to transfer?"

"Nice try. I happen to like Yale, and my family."

"You're no fun. I thought you cared."

"You can always transfer here," she offered.

"Is my grandfather there?"

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but he is. He's here all the time."

"Haha. I'm so glad you came down."

"Me too. It's good to see your life. Now I know what I'm really missing."

"Rory,"

"Yeah?"

"This sucks."

"I know. We should probably not focus on how sucky this is."

"You're right. I need to get off the phone and get some studying done."

"Me too. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"Count on it. Goodnight, Rory."

"Night, Tristan."

Forcing herself not to dwell on Tristan, she opened her laptop and brought up the file with the beginning of her paper on it. It was going to be a long night if getting him out of her mind was what it took to get some work done.