Lorelai woke up when the alarm clock blared early the next morning. Luke barely stirred, and attempted to roll over. Unfortunately the bed was so small, he almost rolled out of the bed. Lorelai, though groggy, realized what he was about to do and grabbed a hold of him, pulling him back up next to her.

"Thanks," Luke mumbled, realizing what had happened.

"Uh-huh. So, we're," big yawn, "getting up now?"

"I am. You stay in bed," Luke instructed.

"No, Luke, I put you out last night, the least I can do is--,"

"The least you can do is take care of yourself," he reminded her.

"It must be stress. It has to be stress."

"Well, in that case, you need to stay in bed anyway."

Lorelai nodded and settled back down in the bed as Luke got up and moved to the bathroom. She put one arm behind her head, and one hand rested on her stomach. She looked down at her stomach and frowned. 'Maybe I should just go get a test,' she mused. She needed to look at a calendar and see how serious this situation was. She was really impressed that Luke hadn't freaked out last night at the realization of the situation. It suddenly dawned on her that she had freaked out. Quite a bit.

Luke came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and walked back over to the bed. Seeing she was still awake, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"Luke?"

"Yeah."

"I just want you to know, last night, just because I freaked out—it doesn't mean that I wouldn't be happy about that."

"Really?" Luke swallowed hard, waiting for her answer.

"Really." Her eyes shone a little as she looked at him. He smiled at her and nodded.

"Just, get some sleep, okay? I'll bring you some coffee up as soon as I get a chance."

Later that day, Rory and Tristan were reluctantly getting into his grandfather's car to head to Hartford. Tristan had put off their departure, using several different tactics. They had to go to Luke's for lunch. Then he insisted they get extra coffee. After that, he made them stop at the bookstore. His next stall was a walk around town to 'work off lunch'. He made another attempt to finish working off lunch another way when they got back to the house. Much to his dismay, and almost as if on cue, Lorelai had come home right then. Before they got into the car, Lorelai came out of the door and called to Rory.

"So, I need to go pick up Luke and we'll meet you there."

"Okay. Grandma and Grandpa are meeting us there, too."

"Yippee."

"Be nice. It's Tristan's birthday."

"It is not," both Lorelai and Tristan commented.

Rory rolled her eyes, "Okay, kids, let's play Quiet as a Mouse."

"I'll be good," Lorelai promised.

Tristan remained silent and waved to Lorelai before getting in the car. Rory walked over to her mother, giving her a quick hug.

"Is he going to be okay? He looks worse than I used to when I had to see Richard and Emily."

"It's going to be an interesting night."

"Should I run and get the camera?"

"Mom, stop."

"Party pooper."

Rory got into the car next to Tristan and put her hand on his. He looked over at her and sighed. She nodded towards the steering wheel and he finally let his hand turn the key, rolling the engine over.

Tristan blared the radio all the way to Hartford. Rory left him in his loud silence, knowing there was nothing she could say to make this night be any better for him, all she could do was be there for him. After it was over, she'd be there in anyway he needed her.

Once he shut off the engine outside the house where he grew up, he turned to face Rory.

"This probably isn't going to be pretty."

"I know."

"I have no idea what Dad will say or do. I have no idea what Gramps said or did. It could get loud, vicious and--," he shook his head and looked into her eyes, pleading with her for something, anything to make him not have to go into that house.

"Tristan, look. It might be the worst night of your life. It might not be as bad as you're expecting. Either way, you're leaving with me and my mom and Luke, and you're going to be done with it all."

He nodded. He leaned to her and kissed her slowly and deeply. When he pulled back, she could still feel the angst he had in him. She hoped this wouldn't become just another wound for him to live through. This situation had caused him enough pain. They had sat in the car so long, by the time they finally exited the car, Lorelai and Luke had pulled up behind them. The waited for them and headed for the front door.

"Is your folks' house this size?" Luke whispered to Lorelai.

"Uh, no. This is about three times the size of my folks' house."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

A maid opened the door, and welcomed them all to the house. Tristan walked into the main living room and looked around. The house was full of people, all the same people that always come to these parties. It never mattered if it were for his birthday, some charity event his mother was throwing, or what. All the same people. He was just happy that Rory was there. He finally spotted his mother, who was standing in a crowd of women. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek.

"Tristan, honey, you're late!"

"Sorry, Mom, we got hung up trying to get out of Stars Hollow."

"Honestly, I wish you would have stayed here last night. Rory is always welcome, too, so you know."

"Speaking of which, Mom, this is Rory. Rory, this is my mom, Elizabeth Dugrey."

"It's so wonderful to finally meet you, Rory. I've heard a lot about you."

"It's nice to meet you too," Rory said, shaking her hand.

"I honestly don't know where you're father's gotten to."

"It's okay, he can meet Rory later," Tristan shrugged noncommittally.

"Well, dear, you should probably say a few words, get it out of the way."

"Alright," Tristan agreed. He kissed Rory on the cheek and told her to go find something to drink while he did his obligation. Rory thought back to the birthday party her grandmother had thrown for her and noticed how cool and unaffected Tristan seemed by the standards of society life. She still wasn't used to the practices and was grateful to leave his side as he made his little speech. She joined her mother, who had cornered two waiters, one with appetizers and one with drinks. They began to pick at the food as Tristan finished up his speech.

"So, I'd like to thank all of you for coming. It means a lot to see you all on this occasion."

"Are you sure about that, son?"

The voice had come from the stairs, and everyone in the area turned to look.

"Dad?"

"Tristan, why are you even here? I thought you wanted out of all of this?"

"Thomas! If you have any brains left in your head at all, you'll stop talking right now," Janlan stepped up beside Tristan and glared at the man coming towards them now.

"No, no, no. Tristan, we had a deal. You broke your end of the bargain, and now you don't get come back here and ruin my life."

"You've done a good enough job of that on your own, Dad," Tristan countered.

"Thomas, what is all this about? Tristan didn't leave this family! You drove him away, sending him to that horrible school," Elizabeth interjected.

"You stay out of this!" Thomas yelled.

"Don't talk to her like that! She doesn't deserve that from you of all people. You've done enough to her!" Tristan yelled.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Thomas almost growled in a low tone.

"Dad, I know when I see two people fucking. That's what you were doing to your secretary and you can't deny it. I'm done with your lies."

The room had been slightly abuzz before, but complete silence fell over the entire house. Even the people out on the patio had fallen quiet. Not one person in the house hadn't heard Tristan's last words. Most importantly his mother had, and as Elizabeth stood next to him, a rage was building inside her. After what seemed an eternity to Tristan, Elizabeth stepped forward and slapped Thomas as hard as she could.

"You bastard! I asked you, flat out to your face if you were screwing around on me, and you lied! I should have known, how stupid have I been? You sent our only son away, drove him away from me, for what? To cover up your lies and indiscretions? Fuck you, Thomas. Leave, now."

"Elizabeth," Thomas started, almost sounding ashamed of himself.

"NOW!"

Thomas looked at his family for a moment; his expression had turned cold and unfeeling. He shook his head as he pushed his way through the crowd and left. Tristan hugged his mother, whispering in her ear how sorry he was. She told him it was all right. He turned to his grandfather, looking at him questioningly.

"What did you say to him last night?"

"I told him he was going to pay for what he had done to you. That I knew why he'd sent you away, and that was the reason you felt you had to stay away. He told me about signing the money over to you so you could gain your independence, but that you were lying about everything else."

"Then what?"

"Then I said he was fired."

"You what?"

"I fired his ass! Tristan, your father has been in his position comfortably for years, being groomed to replace me when I finally decide to retire. I no longer have confidence in him to properly represent my company or my interests. I told him so much, as he has shown a lack of loyalty and responsibility."

"Wow. I'm speechless."

"Now you're speechless. You know, announcing all this to Hartford society wasn't how I would have gone about it."

"I just, got mad. I didn't mean to," Tristan began.

"No, no. It's his mess, his concern."

Tristan nodded and looked around. People had gone back to their conversations, though he was sure the topics had changed. He saw Rory looking at him from the corner, and felt a hand pushing him towards her.

"Go on, I'll stay with your mother."

"Thanks, Gramps."

"So, that was quite a show," Rory let out a low whistle as Tristan drew close to her.

"I just got so pissed, it came out before I knew it," he replied, wrapping his arms around her, feeling comfortable once again.

"Remind me never to piss you off."

"Did you find edible food?"

"Sort of. There's some weird stuff here."

"Mom's got strange tastes. I don't know what to tell you."

"I'll just have my mom stop by fast food on the way home."

"You on the other hand have such a refined palate."

Rory smacked him playfully. Tristan looked much more calm and relaxed than he'd seemed in weeks. He pulled her into a hug and she didn't fight him, she just melted into him. She stayed there until she saw a familiar face walking up to them.

"Tristan, were you raised by wolves?"

"Paris! How kind of you to never miss a birthday," Tristan commented sardonically.

"Can it, it's not your birthday."

"It never is," he sighed, shaking his head.

"What were you thinking, telling everyone stuff like that!"

"Jealous you didn't know first?"

"Well, I am surprised you never told me. I of all people would understand, with the parents I have."

"I didn't tell anyone."

"I figured something big must have happened to keep you in the South of all places."

"Paris, it's not that bad there. I do like it."

"But you're not staying, now, right? I mean, you're coming to Yale now, aren't you?"

"Paris, this little exercise has been about clearing out secrets and getting people off my back. So I can live my own life."

Rory smiled and rolled her eyes. Paris noticed her actions and raised her eyebrows at him.

"What? She isn't the boss of me."

Rory socked him in the stomach and he pretended to double over in pain.

"Remind me not to piss you off, Gilmore," he shot back at her.

"Tristan, seriously, are you transferring?"

"I'm going to start the paperwork, but Paris, you can't tell anyone. I'll announce it later, after it's final."

Paris let out what could only be explained as a girly squeal. Rory and Tristan looked at her in wonder as if she had just spoke some unearthly language.

"What? I'm happy for you two. The feeling is passed now."

"So, Paris, where's Marty?"

"I have no idea. I get so lost in this damn house. I think he went to the bathroom. I guess I should go try to find him. I just wish I knew which bathroom." Paris headed off in search of her boyfriend and Rory turned back to Tristan. They burst out laughing and went in search of drinks.

Richard and Emily had just left Lorelai and Luke in search of Janlan to find out the details of the situation. Lorelai turned to Luke and shook her head.

"They are so going straight to hell."

"You're dying to know just as badly as they are."

"Yeah, but I would never go running to the victim and ask for gory details."

"Of course not. You'll grill Rory later."

"Damn straight. It's only the polite thing to do."

"I'm so glad you ran from this place."

"Me too. How's that tie treating you?"

"Seriously, can we go soon?"

"We have to wait for the birthday boy. We're their ride home, remember?"

"Can we stop for real food on the way?"

"Oh, we're so making like five stops."

"Why five?"

"Well, you know how Rory and I can eat. And since I'm eating for two now, well, I'm taking as much advantage of that as I can. Emily really deprived me of that when I was pregnant with Rory, she was all, 'prim and proper ladies never--,'"

"Wait, whoa, stop. Back the truck up a minute," Luke grabbed her arms, almost as if for support. He looked into her eyes and saw her looking full into his face, smiling.

"I said I was eating for two," she spoke slowly as if to a child.

"You're, you're—how, when, details, I need some details here! And to sit. Sitting is good."

Lorelai helped Luke into a chair and sat down on his lap. She leaned into his ear and whispered, "This afternoon. I left the diner and ran to Doose's. So the entire town probably suspects by now, just to let you know. But I haven't told anyone yet. I wanted to tell the daddy first."

"Daddy," Luke whispered, in awe.

"That's you," she informed him.

"That's me," he repeated, taking her face in his hands, kissing her sweetly.

"Are you okay?"

"I've never been better," he assured her.

They stood up, and he took her hand as they went off in search of Rory and Tristan so they could make their way back home. As per everyone's request they stopped for 'real' food. Tristan had promised his mother to come home soon and actually stay with her next time. He'd missed seeing her the past couple of years. He had stayed away at all costs and now felt even worse about cutting off his mother because of his father's actions. He told her he was going to try to transfer into Yale for the fall semester, which had made her more than happy. Now he sat in the backseat of the Jeep, next to a now full Rory who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He smiled and rested his head on top of hers and let himself drift off as well.