Tristan lay on his back on Rory's bed. She was sitting on his legs, staring down at him. She didn't think she'd ever seen him quite this happy. Of course, what guy isn't happy at a time like this?

"Where did you learn to do that?" he finally spoke after a few moments.

"Hey, it's all natural talent."

"You've never done that before?"

"A lady never reveals things like that," she giggled.

"Well, if you've never done that before, you should get a medal. That was fucking amazing."

"Thank you. It's always nice to have praise when you work hard at something." She lay down half on top of him, resting after her job well done.

They lay there for a moment, just wrapped in the other's arms, legs now tangled together. Rory looked at the clock and noticed it was almost eleven. She sighed and propped herself on one elbow so she could look at Tristan.

"I hate to say this,"

"Then don't."

"We should get dressed. My mom could be home anytime."

Tristan thought about this. On one hand, he was sure Lorelai wouldn't look too kindly on him if she walked in on a scene like this one. On the other hand, he was pressed up against his naked girlfriend whom he hadn't seen in a week. He groaned knowing she was right, but still not ready to give in.

"What if I give you one more go around?"

"Tristan, come on!"

"Fine. Fine, you win this time. But next time you visit me, all bets are off."

"Next time I visit you, no parents will be popping in."

"Knock on wood."

"I didn't figure you for a superstitious kind of guy."

"You can't be too careful when it comes to parents. Keep all bases covered."

"They can't be that bad."

Tristan snorted. "They are. Trust me."

"Do you want to talk about it?" She could tell he wasn't in a good place thinking about his folks, but other then them being rich and sending him to military school, she knew nothing about them.

"Not really. You'll meet them, you'll see what I mean."

"Oh, okay."

"Look, I'll tell you everything about them and my childhood someday, just not tonight. Okay?"

"It's fine, really. It's not like you know everything about me like that."

"I'd like to."

"Do we talk enough?"

"What do you mean, you're afraid sex is all we're about?"

She raised her eyebrow and bit her lip a little.

"We haven't even had sex yet."

"But it's getting more and more focused on that one topic. The bed is our favorite piece of furniture."

"Fine, we'll spend the rest of the weekend talking. I need to ask you something anyway."

"Go ahead."

"Will you be my date to a birthday party in three weeks?"

"Sure. Whose birthday?"

"Mine."

"Your birthday is in three weeks?"

"Well, no. It's in two months."

"So, wait. I'm confused."

"My parents will be in Europe on my birthday. So we're celebrating when it's convenient for them."

"Nice."

"So they're throwing a party for me."

"I'll be there. Lucky for you, you're dating me—we have birthday weeks in this house."

"I remember hearing something about that on an email--,"

"A whole week of celebration. Of course, it might be tricky with you in North Carolina."

"I'll be on spring break that week."

"Perfect!"

"Should I be concerned here? Worried? Fleeing the country myself?"

"Only if you don't like presents."

"As long as you're around, I'm cool. Don't kill yourself."

"It'll all be surprises. Don't worry."

"So, what about your family? Tell me more."

"Well, you know about my mom. She was 16 when I was born. You've met my grandparents. My dad lives in Boston with his new wife and my half-sister."

"That must suck."

"Yeah, he and mom almost got together before he found out Sherri was pregnant. I spent a lot of time hoping they'd work it out someday, but I've given up on that a long time ago. Besides, I think Mom will be happier with Luke."

"Aren't they on like, their first date ever? And you have them 'together forever'," he said the last two words in a high-pitched sing-songy voice.

She smacked his chest and laughed.

"I know what I know. Luke practically asked for her hand in marriage before they left."

"WHAT?"

"Well, he asked if I was cool about 'all this'. You have to meet Luke."

"Well, maybe you'll take me to the diner for breakfast. You talk about it all the time."

"True. I guess you're Luke's-worthy."

"Gee, thanks."

Luke and Lorelai had gone back to the now closed diner for coffee at Lorelai's request. They sat at the counter next to each other while she poured her second cup.

"So does this mean I get free coffee for life?"

"Don't you usually get free coffee anyways?"

"Hey, I pay you!"

"Every time?"

"Well, I have a tab."

"No one has a tab. This isn't Cheers."

"Everybody does know my name, you see where I could get confused."

"You're so very strange."

"So, we have some real business to talk about."

"Oh yeah?"

"Luke, we're dating. We live in Stars Hollow. How are we supposed to tell people?"

"Well, you could just tell Babette tomorrow about what you did tonight and everyone would know in two minutes."

"Or you could passionately kiss me in the middle of the diner."

"I don't think that's sanitary."

"Party pooper."

They sat looking at each other, smiling. Lorelai noticed the time on Luke's watch.

"Oh, crap. I should get home. Rory's home alone and she'll want juicy details."

"So what, you're going to tell her about free coffee?"

"Yep."

They stood up and he ran his hands down her arms. She shivered a little and stepped in closer to Luke. He leaned in and gave her the sweetest kiss she'd ever had in her life. She couldn't quite put a finger on the exact emotion she was feeling with him. She'd never experienced it before. It was different even from Christopher. It was stronger, more engulfing. It was just Luke. She responded to the kiss, and soon she forgot about leaving. She forgot about everything in fact, other than the feel of Luke's soft lips on her own. He licked her lip, and she opened her mouth. When at long last he pulled back, she whimpered at the loss of contact.

"You have to go, remember?"

"Uhhn, crap. Yeah, I should go. Next time you might not be so lucky."

"We're really going to have the gossip mill going."

"I look forward to it. Goodnight, Luke."

"Don't you want me to walk you home?"

"No, thanks, I'm good. See you tomorrow?"

"As always. Goodnight Lorelai."

As she walked up to her house, dreamy smile still in place, she noticed a car in her driveway. The license plates were from New York, and she got a little nervous. New York, the only person she could think of that would come to her house from New York was Jess. Jess was here making trouble. She would kill that boy if he was ruining what Rory was building up with Tristan. She had taken him leaving so hard, and she seemed so together and happy now with Tristan. She needed to meet this boy, she reminded herself, but right now all she could do was get in her house as fast as possible.

"Rory?" Lorelai burst through the front door in a bit of a frenzy.

"Rory, are you here?"

"Yeah, Mom, in here!" came her voice from the kitchen. Lorelai walked in to the kitchen to find Rory sitting at the kitchen table playing War with a really good-looking guy. A good-looking guy that definitely wasn't Jess. She breathed out, relieved, and kissed the top of Rory's head.

"Hey, so I'm Lorelai. Who're you?"

"Mom, this is Tristan."

"Nice to meet you, Lorelai."

"So, what brings you here to our little town?"

"Rory. I came to visit Rory."

"So, Mom, can Tristan crash on our couch?"

"Oh, yeah, no problem. We'll just make a Luke's run in the morning."

"Something tells me you'd be doing that anyway."

"Yeah, but now we get free coffee for life!"

"Score!"

Tristan watched the exchange with interest. He knew they were close, but had never seen a mother and daughter have such a mutually enjoyable exchange.

"Don't stay up too late. And no noises that make me want to hang myself. Goodnight."

"So, that's your mom?"

"That would be Lorelai."

He nodded and continued getting trounced at War.