Things between them improved slightly. They talked again in the hallways, not the innuendo laden banter of before, but about regular things friends would discuss. Homework, movies, music…relationships were taboo. And every time Cassidy appeared, Rory seemed to disappear on the spot, only resurfacing once the effervescent sophomore had left.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?" Rory asked suddenly one day.

Tristan shrugged and answered, "nothing I can't change. Why?"

She hesitated for a second and then replied quickly, "I was thinking maybe you could come over for one of the Gilmore's famous movie nights. Lots of junk foods is a must. If you aren't busy."

Tristan smiled down at her while she squirmed under his gaze. "Why Rory Gilmore, did you just ask me out on a date?"

Rory rolled her eyes. "Please, my mom will be there."

"the more the merrier," Tristan shot back wickedly.

"Ugh," Rory said, "I was just inviting you to a nice evening between friends. That' all, Tristan."

Tristan stepped closer, out of habit, and said in a low voice, "what if I want it to be more?"

Rory regarded him with two stony blue eyes. Tristan winced and back up. He had forgotten the cardinal rule of their path to recovery, never acknowledge what lay between them. Not what had happened, not what might happen. The ball had been fully in Tristan's court and he had never got around to making a decision so their possibility hung between them, as subtle as a neon sign.

"Sorry, habit," he said.

"No problem," She answered grudgingly.

"So a night of family fun?" He joked lightly.

"Unless you have a date," She shot back, not in an altogether nice tone.

Tristan swallowed slowly. "I'd love to come."

She nodded quickly, somewhat mollified.

Rory came home the next afternoon to an empty house. She walked to Luke's and looked for her mother at their normal table. An hour or so later, Rory was beginning to feel antsy. Lorelai had told Rory that they would pick out the movies before Tristan arrived at six, which was approaching slowly.

She dialed her mom's cell again.

"Hey," Lorelai answered.

"where are you? You were supposed to be home ages ago."

"Sorry kid. Sookie and Jackson had a major to do. He went to go stay with a friend and I'm pulling major best friend cheer up duty."

"aw, poor Sookie," Rory answered immediately.

"Yeah," Lorelai replied, "So you and Tristan will be fine alone tonight? I'm probably going to spend the night here"

Rory gulped, it hadn't occurred to her it would just be the two of them.
"Yeah." She answered uncertainly.

"Save some junk food for me, I should go."

Tristan rang the door bell just a few minutes after six o'clock. Rory answered the door with a slightly flushed expression. She joined him outside on the porch rather than inviting him inside.

"Hey," he said slightly amused at her strange behavior.

"Hi," She answered distractedly.

"You okay?"

"yeah, fine."

"So," He said motioning to the house, "should we go in."

Rory pulled open the door reluctantly and said, "I guess so."

"Where's your mom? I'm looking forward to meeting her after all the stories," Tristan said.

Rory made a face and said quietly, "she's not here…she's not coming actually."

Tristan raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Rory answered not meeting his eyes.

Tristan leaned cockily against the wall, "So …you planning on seducing me Mare?"

"You must be kidding," Rory answered incredulously.

"Well," Tristan said with a lazy smile, "you ask me over under the pretense of spending a very friend-ish night with candy and your mother. I turn up, and your mother has suddenly disappeared. Leaving just you and me in the house together." Tristan whispered the last part, as he walked closer to her.
What Rory did could only be described as a scurry to get away from him.

"I thought my mother would be here. Right before you showed up she called and said she wasn't coming. And you really think this is what I'd wear to seduce you?" She asked motioning to her sweats and wife beater combo.

Tristan looked over her slowly. "You looked good to me Mare," He said in a tone laden with amusement.

Rory glared at him. "You really are …"

"irresistible?"

"unbearable." Rory shot back.

An hour later, the teens settled into the couch and were watching old episodes of saved by the bell.

"I can't believe you rented all of the seasons."

"Hey, A Saved by the Bell marathon is something to be commended and not mocked," Rory told him sternly.

Tristan shook his head, "you are strange."

Rory stuck her tongue out at him and whacked his head slightly with a couch pillow.

Tristan sat up, "what was that?"

"You not only insulted me but also Saved by the Bell," She told him primly.

"You dare muss the hair?" he asked imperiously.

"please, it looks exactly the same," she said looking at his tousled blonde locks.

Tristan gave her a haughty look and said, "a lot of work goes into my appearance. I can't have you messing it up."

"Oh yeah," Rory answered.

Tristan glanced back at the screen as the laugh track sounded off. The second he turned away Rory smacked his head with the same pillow, only this time much more enthusiastically.

Tristan glanced at her, his mouth in a slight 'o' of shock.

Rory giggled at his expression.

"You think that's funny?" Tristan asked with a devilish gleam in his eyes.

Rory couldn't answer because she was still shaking with laughter.

"Lets see how funny you think this is," Tristan said, swooping over to her side of the couch. He sat on her legs, making escape impossible, and began to tickle her mercilessly.
"No," Rory shrieked as his fingers flew to her sides. She tried to grab at his hands, blocking them from their target. In one swift move, Tristan grasped both her wrists in his grip and held them over her head, pinning her to the couch below him. The two stopped their fun for a second as they realized the compromising position they were in.

The silence between them was almost painful as their eyes bore into each other's.

Rory licked her lips unconsciously and tried to clear her throat to say something.

"Shh," Tristan said, anticipating her discomfort.

His face loomed over her and she began to squirm under his weight.

"Mary, be calm," He said whispering even though it was only the two of them in the house, something Rory was painfully aware of as her body got used to his weight on top of her.

Something about the look in his eyes made Rory' s nerves fade and she felt her pulse quicken with excitement as Tristan leaned in to kiss her. Their lips met hesitantly but slowly gained confidence as the kiss deepened. Rory nipped Tristan's bottom lip quickly, eagerly, and he put his tongue in her mouth, probing the recesses. Tristan pulled away from her and regarded her with grin that stretch slowly across her face. Rory wriggled in discomfort as he watched her and tried to raise her face to his. He pulled back and said, "There's no need to rush Mary." She tried to still herself as he slowly kissed the underside of her wrist, both of which were still clasped in his hand. Tristan trailed soft kisses down her arm until he came to her shoulder. Rory began to shiver at the touch of his moist lips hitting her skin. He kissed her neck slowly and made his way to her chin, suddenly catching her mouth in a bruising kiss. Rory felt herself sinking even deeper into the couch and he laid himself out on top of her. With his free hand, he began to slowly roam her body. Lightly resting on her breast and then fluttering away as if he thought she'd suddenly want to stop. Rory could sense his hesitancy and wanted her make herself clear.

She tugged her hands from his grasp and pushed him off. She saw something harden in his jaw but Tristan didn't say anything. His expression changed to one of complete surprise as Rory pulled her tank top over her head, revealing a pink bra and smooth peach skin. Tristan's jaw lowered slightly and Rory smiled at his face.

"Come on," She said standing up from the couch and taking his hand.

"where?" he croaked.

She smiled again, and this time it was a bit of a smirk that reminded him of his own, "you'll see."

She was leading him to her bedroom when Tristan yanked on her arm, sending her back into his arms.

"What?" She asked confusedly.

He didn't say anything and instead caught her lips with his in a searing kiss. They stumbled blindly before Rory's back collided into the wall.

The impact didn't stop the two. Rory's hand skimmed under Tristan's shirt, feeling the smooth skin and tensing of his muscles. Frustrated with the material, she tugged impatiently at his shirt and soon it joined hers on the floor. She took a moment to survey Tristan's six pack and toned muscles. She smiled in delight.

Tristan watched her checking him out so blatantly and said, "like what you see Mary?"

She answered back impishly, "I'm not a Mary, Tristan. I told you that. I haven't been all school year."

Tristan shook his head carefully and answered back with a smirk, "someone obviously didn't do it right the first time," and with that he hoisted her up against the wall, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist in order not to fall.

He sucked at the skin at the junction of her neck and collarbone.

"Tristan." Rory moaned breathily after he scraped his teeth alone her skin.

He smirked into her skin hearing him react to her like that.

He ground his growing excitement against, letting her feel his reaction to her. Rory's eyes widened imperceptibly and soon her fingers were fumbling with his belt buckle. Tristan felt himself harden at the feel of her tugging at his belt and undoing his zipper. Tristan's pants slid down and pooled around his leg. He stepped out of them carefully and gingerly unwound Rory from his waist. She leaned against the wall obviously disappointed with the lack of contact between them. Tristan stared into her eyes and as he expertly undid the ties of her sweatpants and then with a cocky smile he tugged on them, hard. The pants fell down revealing a pair of simple white panties. She too stepped out of them and smiled at him, almost shyly, before saying, "the bedroom?"

Tristan followed her in mutely and had her sit on the bed. He kissed her again and it deepened quickly. Soon he was on top of her, flicking open the clasp of her bra with one hand and skimming the edge of her underwear with the other. Rory shivered as the cool air met her exposed chest. She turned away uncomfortably as Tristan looked over her.

"Hey no being shy," He said.

She met his eyes again. Tristan kissed her forehead lightly and lowered his head to her breast. He kissed it lightly, measuring her reaction. Rory gasped. Tristan smiled and moved one hand farther down her body. His nimble fingers slid inside her underwear and expertly inserted himself inside her. Rory let out a deep breathe of air as his fingers hit areas she wasn't even aware she had.

"TRIS-tan," She cried loudly as he probed a particularly sensitive area.

Tristan smiled as he kissed, he had never figured her for a screamer.

"Tristan, I want you," she whispered into his ear. She had no idea the effect those words had on him. Tristan looked around quickly for his pants but Rory was quicker to it and reached inside her nightstand drawer. She pressed the condom into his hand and he gave her a surprised look, "Ready supply?"

She rolled her eyes sheepishly, "My mom gave them to me as a joke."

"Remind me to thank your mom ," He whispered as he ripped open the package and wriggled out of his boxers. He slowly pulled Rory's underwear of her. She kicked at them as they made it to her feet, hastening the process. Tristan looked into her eyes and entered her slowly. Rory bit back a cry of surprise as he filled her. Tristan pumped slowly, watching Rory's reactions to his every movement. She felt herself become comfortable with him inside her. He pulled put quickly and entered her again, this time swiftly and with force. Rory bucked her hips automatically, allowing him to deeper access.

"Oh my god," She cried as he moved inside her. She felt all the heat gather low in her stomach and she felt like she was soaring. Intense pleasure ripped through her body and Tristan soon joined her in climax. After it was over, both of them laid quietly, unabashedly staring at each other in happiness.

"That had to be better than Saved by the Bell," Tristan said jokingly.

Rory just nodded her head blankly, still too stunned from what had happened. Tristan felt his body relax and he started to drift to sleep.

That was until he heard a soft tempting whisper in his ear, "you were right. It certainly wasn't done right the first time."

He smiled contentedly. Rory clambered on top of him, straddling him with ease.

Tristan cocked an eye open and asked, "and what are you doing?"

"Up for seconds?" She asked breathily, grinding her hips into him.

Tristan bit back a smile.

"what?"

"who knew you'd be so aggressive bed."

Rory laughed delightedly. "Definitely not me. Something about you, Tristan Dugrey, does something to me."

Tristan flipped her suddenly so he was on top.

"Only one thing?" He growled into her ear.

"Maybe," she tried to capture his mouth in a kiss, "a few more than one."