DISCLAIMER: I own neither the show nor the characters of the Gilmore Girls. Just the messed up way in which I am portraying them.

Yawning loudly, she was brushing the sleep out of her eyes with the back of her hand as she exited out of her bedroom late the next morning. She opened her eyes fully for the first time since pulling herself out of bed, and came to a screeching halt.

Jess was seated at their kitchen table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Shirtless.

She blinked before looking away. On the journey of aversion, her eyes dropped a twidge lower to make sure he was wearing pants. To her relief, he was in fact wearing pajama pants. Plaid flannel ones. She filed it away to mock him about later.

"Good morning. Coffee?" came his casual voice, making her wonder if she really had to look at him to answer. It was probably rude not to acknowledge him, but she'd always heard it was rude to stare. . .

"Lorelai?"

"Yeah?"

"I realize that the stove in this house isn't used a lot, but is there some reason you're looking at it like that?"

"Like what?" she finally looked at his face, trying not to blush.

"Like it's talking to you, or about to burst into flame," he trailed off.

"You said there was coffee?" she evaded his comments, not unnoticed by him, but he went back to his paper saying nothing save for nodding.

She poured her cup of coffee, taking it with her as she sought out her mother. Winding up the staircase, she listened for signs of life but found none. She got to her mother's room, seeing the sheets all in disarray and flung up over her mother. Rory was all curled up, happily sleeping the morning away.

"Mom," she nudged her, sitting on the edge of the side her mother was curled up on. She would have normally gotten into bed with her mother, coffee and all, under the sheets. Today with a half naked Jess in their kitchen, she thought better of those actions.

"Mom," she said louder, earning her one eye opening to look for the source of the disturbance.

"Lorelai?" came the groggy, sleep laced voice.

She nodded, and offered the coffee to her mother. Rory took it, sipped out of the cup and handed it back.

"Thanks. What's up?"

"There's a half-naked Jess downstairs," she explained.

Rory blushed and nodded. "I told him to wear my robe, but he said something about pink making him feel less manly," she rambled.

"Mom," Lorelai warned.

"Which half is naked?"

"Excuse me?"

"Which half is naked?" Rory asked slower.

"Okay, if it were anything but the upper half, I'd call Social Services myself to take me out of this abusive household," Lorelai informed her.

"It's just a chest," Rory smiled.

"Well, it's weird. We don't walk around topless," Lorelai pointed out.

"Fine, fine. I'll take care of this," Rory said, sliding out of bed, and grabbing something from the foot of her bed before making her way downstairs. Lorelai followed, and watched as Rory dropped a t-shirt on Jess' head.

"Cover yourself, you're making us women all hot and bothered like," she drawled.

He smirked, pulling the shirt on over his head. "Sorry, Lore," he laughed.

"What? I said nothing," she raised her hands, and disappeared into her bedroom.

"I've embarrassed her with my maleness?" he laughed to Rory, who had slid into a chair opposite him.

"We just. . . aren't used to having your kind around here," she said diplomatically.

"My kind?" he raised an eyebrow.

"The shirtless kind," she giggled, taking a bite out of her bagel.

An hour later, with Jess having left to head to the bookstore for the day, Rory let Tristan in to pick up Lorelai. Lorelai wasn't sure what to wear, as Tristan wouldn't tell her what they were doing all day. He'd just told her that he'd made plans well into the evening. Still in her bathrobe, she peeked down the hall to see her mother and Tristan sitting uncomfortably in the living room. Not wanting to make them late for these plans he'd arranged, she let go of her second thoughts and headed into the living room.

Rory's eyes widened a bit when she saw Lorelai still in her bathrobe. Tristan looked up too, and looked from Rory to Lorelai with the same questioning look.

"Okay, mystery man. I need to know what to wear," she said, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him down the hall after her. Rory gave a snicker and turned on the television as they disappeared down the hall.

"Uh, we really don't have time for this," Tristan murmured as he stepped close to Lorelai once in her bedroom. Only the soft terry cloth of her robe separated them, and he couldn't take the thoughts running through his head. He bent down to kiss her, and she complied for a moment.

"Tristan, seriously. I need to know what to wear," she informed him after she gently pushed him away.

"Fine, fine," he complied, taking a step away from her. He smiled as she crossed her arms over her chest, drawing the closed robe tighter around her. "But I'm a guy, I'm not so good at the picking out girl's clothes thing," he informed her.

"Just—are we doing a movie type thing or a party type thing?" she gave him parameters for making a better-informed choice.

He thought for a moment before answering her. "I'd wear something comfortable and loose now, and bring something party-like for later," he finally answered.

She frowned at him and shook her head. "I have to bring clothes?"

He nodded and simply smiled. "Is that all, or do you need help changing?"

"Out or I'll sick my mom and Jess on you," she warned.

He took her threat in stride, giving her one last cocky smile before high-tailing it out of her room. He had met Jess once—not someone he needed to fight. And Rory was definitely one of the cooler mom's he'd come in contact with, but that also made her more fear inducing. Sort of like a mom that would still kick you where it counts.

Duffel bag in tow, Lorelai reemerged to find Tristan sitting on the couch watching AbFab with Rory. Rory was giggling and Tristan looked terrified and confused. She just smiled.

"I'm ready," she offered and he leapt up to leave.

"Have fun guys," Rory called, still laughing from her perch on the couch.

The kids had only been gone for about ten minutes before the phone rang. Rory thought about letting the machine get it when a brief scan didn't reveal the whereabouts of the cordless phone. She could page it, but that was just like the ringer, and not helpful at this juncture. She could already hear the incessant ringing, but couldn't quite place the origin of the noise. It sounded almost far away, which was impossible unless it was under the couch or muffled some other way. She moved and pulled the cushions off the couch and the ringing did get louder before she picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello?"

"I thought you died! What took so long?"

"Hey, Sook, I was looking for the phone. What's up?"

"I'm trying to get ready, but nothing I have is right—maybe I should call and cancel," she reasoned.

"Whoa, slow down. You don't like your clothes so you think you should cancel? Sookie, come on," Rory chided her friend.

"Well, I was thinking the blue skirt, so I put on the skirt, and I'm looking for a top when I notice that the skirt makes me look like a blueberry. So I take the skirt off, and suddenly my entire wardrobe starts reminding me of fruit—I can't do this, Rory, I can't," she ranted.

"How about I come over. I'm pretty sure none of your clothes will remind me of any of the four food groups. We'll get you ready, and you can come early with me to relax while we set up."

"Oh, that would be great. Thanks, Rory," Sookie gushed.

"Oh, and Sook?"

"Yeah?"

"I take it the offending clothes are still not on?"

"No," she admitted.

"Grab a robe before I get there, huh?"

"Right," Sookie giggled.

Shaking her head, she hung up and grabbed her jacket and purse. This was going to be one for the books, she could just feel it.

"Where are we?" Lorelai asked, looking out the car window as Tristan pulled to a stop.

"We're at a spa," he answered, opening his door and coming around to do the same for her.

"A spa?"

"Yep, come on," he extended his hand to her, and led her into the very peaceful interior. She heard the soft music and the gentle trickle of the large waterfall in the reception area. Tristan walked up to the front desk and gave his name. Immediately they were ushered back into the spa area and showed into a darkened room with two massage tables and another fountain inside. She looked at him, and then listened as the woman gave them instructions as to how to get on the table and left them alone.

She stood, gaping at him. He'd arranged for a couple's massage for them. She'd never had a professional massage, but more than that all she could think of was that they were very much now needing to get undressed.

"There's a privacy screen in the corner, or I could turn my back if you like," he told her, seeing her anticipation.

"Oh, right. No, I'll just use the screen," she said, grabbing the top sheet and heading to the corner. She got undressed quickly and wrapped the sheet around her torso. She was about to head out from the screen, but realized he might be just standing there, naked and thought better of it.

"Tristan?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you, I mean, can I come out now?"

"I'm on the table, it's fine."

Coming out into the room, she gave him a smile as she slid onto the table and smoothed out the sheet over the top of her.

"You know, you shouldn't be so embarrassed. You've got a great body," he reminded her of the fact he'd seen her in intimate situations before.

"That was different," she tried to explain.

"How?"

"There was a build up to that, and it wasn't just me standing there, naked," she said awkwardly.

The two quieted as their massage practitioners came into the room and began their treatments. Lorelai was in heaven as she felt the hands soothing the tension in her neck. She'd been under quite a lot of strain lately, in all facets of her life. She let her mind drift over them individually, like her schoolwork, which seemed ever increasing. Then there was the drama of her mother and father, including the introduction of her other grandparents. Then there was Rory's new relationship with Jess and all the weirdness of him fitting into their lives and their house every now and then. Not to mention her own trying to juggle two guys. Two wonderful guys. Guys that got lost in hay mazes and paid for Swedish massages. Guys that for the life of her she couldn't seem to choose between. Giving into the sensation of the extreme relaxation, she closed her eyes and drifted off to a place where she wasn't really conscious but not really asleep.

"Are you sure I don't look like a strawberry shortcake?"

"Sookie! You look beautiful!"

"Fine, I look gorgeous," she groaned. "What if he doesn't like me?" she asked seriously.

"Sookie, this is Jackson. He already knows you and wanted to go out with you," she reminded her friend.

"I know, but what if the lighting is just really good in the kitchen at the Inn, and when he sees me at the bookstore he sees me how I really look and bolts?" she painted a scenario for Rory.

"Well, then we throw him in my car and drive him and you quickly to the Inn and you can make him dinner," she suggested.

"I'm nervous," Sookie admitted, feeling silly. "How did you get through it?"

"Well, it's weird—I didn't even really realize Jess and I were on a date until about halfway through dinner, and at that point I just convinced myself over and over we were just two friends out to dinner," she explained.

"But it was a date?"

"It felt like it, when he dropped me off," Rory remembered.

"So, then what'd you do?"

"We had a fight."

"I don't want to fight with Jackson," she shook her head.

"We were both being so stupid—trying not to really talk about what was going on," she explained.

"So, what finally happened that made you realize that you wanted to be more than just friends?"

"We avoided each other, then I kissed him."

"Wow. A kiss doesn't sound so bad," she smiled.

"Well, as long as you have your goals in mind for the night. Shall we?"

"Let's shall," she said, linking her arm in her friends as they headed out of the house.

In Hartford, the two teens were laying now very much relaxed on their backs on their respective massage tables.

"That. Was. Amazing."

"That it was."

"No, Tristan, seriously. Thank you so much. I can't imagine a better way to spend the afternoon," she said, propping herself up on one elbow to look over at him. His chest was uncovered and it was all glistening from the massage oil. She looked him over for a moment, and he noticed.

"You want to join me, here?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, we should get dressed, before they come back in," she fumbled attempting to rewrap the sheet back around her. She used the sheet to absorb some of the extra oil off her body and pulled her clothes back on. When she emerged, Tristan was buttoning his pants, and she cast her eyes away until he finished. He saw her ignoring him and walked over to her.

"You know, I don't bite," he offered.

"I know, it's just—I don't really know what to do," she admitted.

"What do you mean?"

"This dating thing is new to me, and I like you, I really do. But you know I'm dating this other guy too, and I guess I just don't want to lead anyone on," she bit her lip.

"I see," came his response. "But just because we're not exclusive doesn't mean we can't do this," he leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips. She responded, wrapping her arms lightly around his waist. They continued for a few moments, until he broke away smiling. "Let's get out of here," he offered.

Next up was lunch at the Hartford Country Club. Slightly worried she'd run into her grandmother and have to introduce Tristan to Emily was too much. She kept looking around, as if she were afraid she'd pounce out from behind a plant in the corner.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. It's just, my grandparents belong to this club," she said.

"So?"

"I just, don't want to put you through Emily," she smiled.

"Afraid they wouldn't like me?" he gave her a smile.

"They're very scrutinizing," she said constructively.

"Ah, but I can be very charming to family," he assured her.

"You haven't charmed my mother," she countered.

"Yeah, well, Rory's different," he pointed out.

"That she is," she smiled as they enjoyed their lunches. She'd been so afraid that she and Tristan were just about the physical aspect of their relationship. Now her choice seemed even harder. Both guys just seemed to be balancing out. Maybe her mother was right; maybe she really did just need to see both of them in the same room. . .

"Everybody pipe down! Movie's starting!" Jess bellowed, as he stood ready at the lights. Rory giggled as she watched him try to control the ruckus crowd.

"Kirk! Stop that!" came his voice again. Everyone had piled into the bookstore for this week's showing of Citizen Kane.

"He started it!" came Kirk's response to being caught throwing popcorn at Morey Dell.

"Kirk's just jealous that Morey here has his snug-bug to curl up during the movie," Babette Dell spoke up.

Rory laughed harder as Jess' face screwed up in distaste as Babette offered her two cents.

"Kirk, you're cleaning that up!" came the final word, and Kirk slouched down in his seat as Jess flipped off the lights and headed to sit next to Rory.

"I hate movie nights," he grumbled.

"You don't like this?" she asked as she took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders. He couldn't help but smile a little and settle down in his seat comfortably. Rory glanced over to her friend who was sitting too straight and rigid next to Jackson, who also appeared hypersensitive to the fact that he was sitting exactly four inches from his date. She was glad to be at such a comfortable place with Jess and focused on the movie.

The date had been going to perfectly. Lorelai was almost convinced she'd never be able to choose between them—each boy was perfect in his own way. That was, until they reached their final destination. Some kid's parents were away for the week, making it a prime time to have the years best to date Chilton party. The mansion was filled with kids from their school, and the music was pumping so loudly that she swore the walls were reverberating. She'd gone off after they danced to get something to drink, and when she got back, she saw him dancing. He wasn't just dancing; he was dancing very affectionately with a very familiar looking girl. Her name was Summer, and Lorelai had heard all sorts of sordid rumors flying about the school early in the year about those two. Stories of their knockdown drag out fights as well as their sexual escapades during their tumultous relationship, which had been quite lengthy as far as the normal standards go. And this dance they were sharing was definitely starting to resemble foreplay to her. Shaking her head as she felt the anger swell up in her, she turned on her heel and made for the door. She got just outside and whipped out her cell phone, checking the time before she dialed.

"Hello?"

"It's me. Do you think you could come get me?" she asked while trying to keep her voice calm, hoping against hope for an affirmative answer.

AN: ah, a cliffhanger! I do try to entice those of you who are reading this. I know you're out there, and I always appreciate the comments you leave for me about this story. I'm hoping to wrap up the L/L/T love triangle and the story itself soon. Though it's fun to write her with both guys. And Jazz, as for which chapters are L/T, well, it's sort of interspersed, so there you just kind of have to read. . .sorry!