Hi, this is my first fanfiction, so please be kind. Reviews are very welcome, as is constructive criticism. I'm also looking for a beta for future chapters; I have some written already, but something feels off. E-mail me at renee(underscore)205(at)yahoo.com if you would like to beta for me. Thanks!

This is set a couple of days after Sookie and Jackson's wedding. Assume Dean found out about Rory kissing Jess.

God, I cannot believe my mother abandoned me here. Emergency at the inn. bah. If it was a REAL emergency she would need her only daughter there too, far far away from here. Tonight was supposed to be a wallowing night, too, after the whole Jess/Dean fiasco. God, how could I be so STUPID? I have a perfect boyfriend, and I just went and threw it all away on a whim! What was I THINKING? "Oh, look, there's Jess, he has lips?" I really need to stop this train of thought now. Right now. New topic.

On the bright side, I only have to go to Washington, D.C. for five days, instead of over a month like I thought before. Paris will have fun there. Her type of people. I'm too nice to be a politician... then again, that's what got me in this mess to begin with. Hmph.

Oh, great. Here comes Mr. Chapell again. That man can drone on for hours on just about any given topic if you give him an opening. I'd better go get some punch before he gets over here.

"Rory, wouldn't you like to meet Mrs. Benson, she's in the DAR with me!"

Uh-oh. Cornered again. "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Benson. I love your dress!" I'd learned from a few of these parties how to make Grandma's friends happy, and get out of her grasp as soon as possible.

"... And you know, Rory's in the top three percent of her class at Chilton!..."

"Grandma, Mrs. Benson, I think I see a friend over there... It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Benson!" Mission accomplished. Now if I can just get up to my room, maybe I can get in a nap or some reading tonight.

I'm making my way up the stairs as I bump into someone. "Oh, sorry, excuse me..."

"Oh, don't worry about it..." That voice sounds familiar. Oh. My. God. "... Mary"

"Tttristan?!" I finally manage to sputter out. When did he get back? What is he doing here? Gee, he looks taller than when I last saw him... Pretty well built, too... no, stop! Bad Rory! This is evil Tristan! "Um, what are you doing here?"

"Don't sound so thrilled to see me. You know you missed me."

"Oh, yeah, dearly... let me tell ya." I had wondered if he was ever coming back, just out of my natural curiosity. Right. Well, there were those few times when I wondered what would happen if he just showed up in Star's Hollow... "Stop!" Did I just say that aloud? Crap. He's looking at me funny now...

"Stop what, Mary? I haven't even begun yet." Great. Now he's doing that smirking and leering thing. He's way too smug.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself. I was simply talking to the voices in my head." That really didn't come out right. I should just shut up now.

"Well, if those voices happen to tell you to push me up against a wall and have your way with me, feel free to act."

"Nah, I don't think so... I haven't learned that trick on how to take down a guy with just two fingers yet."

"Oh, really? I'm sure I can imagine a few ways you could do that." Does he have to turn EVERYTHING I say around? Great, I can feel my cheeks heating up, and he's enjoying this way too much.

"I think I'll pass, thanks." Why is he getting closer?

"You sure, Mary?" And still closer. "But I'm sure the bagboy wouldn't like that very much."

Okay, walking away now... "Probably not, but it really doesn't matter what he thinks anymore." He gave me an out! Why did that come out of my mouth? I should have just stopped at the 'probably not!'

"Oh, really? Trouble in paradise?" He's getting closer again... damn, he smells good...

"Can we not talk about this?" I bump into something. Is that the wall? How did I end up against the wall?

"I missed you, Mary"

"I... I missed you too. It's Rory..." Mmmm... he has blue eyes. Very blue. Miltary school sure has done him well.

"Care to dance?" Huh? Dance? Snap out of it!

"Sure" What? Sure? My brain and my mouth aren't communicating well tonight. Or maybe they're communicating too well.

He leads me down the stairs and onto the dance floor. It's a waltz, and I thank Mrs. Patty for all those dance lessons. He's really good... lots of practice, probably.