Light began to break through into the courtyard- scattering the grass and trees with its rays, and bringing the garden to life with the light.
Almost everybody had gone home, although there were still a few people crashing out on Tristan's couch- but nobody came outside to bother them.
Rory and Tristan had melted into one another's bodies as they danced rhythmically with one another- there was no music, and infact it seemed a little cheesy, like something you'd see in a typical 'chick flick'.
But at that moment neither of them cared- after kissing and holding one another, Tristan had taken Rory's hand and lead her down the marble steps and into the centre of the garden, pushed their bodies together and held her in his arms, and they both began dancing to the music that was beating from inside the house.
But that had been a while ago now, but they didn't feel tired at all, infact; they felt light and free, like they could stay that way forever, entangled in one another's arm's.
The music had stopped playing a while ago too, but the rhythm was still there, as Tristan led their bodies into the dance- Rory's head nestled on his chest, and his head propped up against hers, their hands entwined.
Then, as the sun hit Rory's closed eyes, panic set in.
"Oh no! I have to call my mum" Rory whispered, trying to pull apart from Tristan, but finding it incredibly hard to make herself let go of him.
"This wasn't a dream, was it?" he whispered, pretending he hadn't heard what she'd just said.
Finally Rory released her grip, stepped back and looked into his face, and kissed him on the lips.
"I guess not," he said, smiling as she pulled away.
"Tristan- tonight was-" she stammered, trying to find the right words.
"Perfect?" he murmured.
Rory smiled brightly, and kissed him again "Perfect" she repeated.
But she quickly snapped herself back to reality "But I really have to go now Tristan" she said, looking down at her watch "It's 5 in the morning!" panic was in her voice.
"Ok, let me drive you home" he offered, and he took her hand and led her back up the stairs and into his house.
On the way back to stars hollow, both Tristan and Rory were quiet, and Tristan hated the silence.
"What are we now, Rory?" he asked, finally getting the question off his chest.
They were approaching stars hollow, and would be at Rory's home in 15 minutes- but during the drive Rory had been thinking long and hard- mainly about Dean, god! She hadn't even considered her boyfriend when she kissed Tristan!
"I'm still with Dean," she blurted out, not considering her words carefully enough.
Tristan frowned, a little angry at what Rory had just said.
"Great! But that doesn't answer my question- Rory, what are we?" he asked impatiently.
They finally stopped outside Rory's house; her mother would have heard the car and would be panicking.
"Tristan- I think we should-" but Rory was cut off, once she heard the front door of her house slam shut and saw her mother's furious face head toward them.
"Lets talk about this later, you have to get out of here" Rory said quickly.
"Don't have to tell me twice" Tristan said, and as Rory went to open the car door, he leant forward to kiss her, but she ignored him and leapt out.
As he drove off Lorelai approached her, but instead of blasting her with words she simply grabbed her in a bear hug, Rory was taken aback.
"Mum, I am so sorry, I lost track of time" Rory began to stammer.
Lorelai let go of her daughter, cupped her face in her hands- making her look into her eyes.
"Sweetie, I trust you, you are one of the oldest 16 year olds I know. But, God! Can you just call me? OK?" Lorelai said, a tremor in her voice.
"Mum, nothing happened, it's just I got talking to Tristan and-" Lorelai cut her off.
"Tristan? Was that who drove you home?" she asked, raising her voice a little.
"Yes, but nothing happened we just talked!" Rory hated lying to her mum, but she couldn't exactly admit to herself what had happened with Tristan, let alone explain it to Lorelai.
"Ok, ya know what kiddo? I'm just glad you are home safe and sound!" Lorelai said, her arm around Rory as she led her inside.
Rory was surprised that her mother had been so calm about this; she knew that her mum trusted her, but to come home at 5 in the morning? With a guy who isn't exactly a saint?
Rory shrugged it off, desperate to hop in the shower and get into some comfortable clothes.
"Rory!" Lorelai called out.
Rory was in her room, reading 'catcher in the rye', trying to divert her mind from Tristan.
But when she heard her mother's voice, she lifted her head.
"Dean's here" her mother added.
Rory jumped up, dropping the book on the floor, and ran over to the mirror. Why was she looking at herself? Was she trying to see if she looked guilty?
"Coming" Rory yelled out, but a voice was talking to her from the doorway.
"No need, I'll come to you" Dean said, leaning against Rory's doorframe.
"Dean!" Rory spun around, her hair whipping her in the face as she
looked at him- in his leather jacket and black pants, his hair a little ruffled.
"Hey" she tried to cover her last surprised welcome with a more laid back one.
"Hey!" Dean said, as he walked over to her and kissed her on the lips.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to sound normal.
"I wanted to see you- thought we might do something today." He said, now taking a seat on her bed, looking at her and waiting for her reply.
But Rory was frozen, what was she going to say to him? She needed some serious talk time with Lane before talking to either Tristan or Dean!
"Rory, are you ok?" Dean asked, looking seriously at her.
"NO!" Rory almost screamed, happy for diverge.
"Oh, well what's wrong? Headache? Cold?" Dean said, lifting himself off her bed and walking towards her.
"Err, no, just really tired," she said, pulling away a little as he went to feel her forehead.
Lorelai was standing in the kitchen, listening to their conversation, aware that Rory was hiding something; she thought she'd help her daughter out, and maybe get her to sit down and talk with her about it.
"You're hot water bottle will be ready in a sec, hun" Lorelai said, peering into her bedroom door.
"Err, thanks mum" Rory said, a little stunned.
"Well I don't want to keep you from resting" Dean said, sympathetically "But can I come round tomorrow and see how you're doing?" he asked.
Rory simply nodded her head, and Dean leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead.
"See ya tomorrow" he said as Rory closed the door behind him.
Rory turned around, happy he'd left, and she'd avoided telling him about her and Tristan; but as she turned around, ready to head back to her room and bury her head back into her book, she saw Lorelai blocking her path.
"We need to talk," she said, tenderly.
Lorelai, now hearing the full story, which Rory had just explained to her, in detail, was now in a moment of mock silence.
"Mum, say something" Rory pleaded, but Lorelai simply frowned, not sure of what she could say.
"Hello? Pull out the parenting pamphlet and give you're teenage daughter some advice!" Rory pleaded some more.
"Rory, it sounds to me like-" Lorelai stopped, mid sentence.
"Yes, I am totally open to suggestions here mum!" Rory said, encouraging her to go on.
Lorelai looked at her, leant forward and cupped her hands in her own.
"It does sound like, this boy is in love with you" Lorelai said.
"I mean, from what I have heard about his womanising ways- well, boys don't dance with just anyone until 5 in the morning!" she added.
Rory sat back in her chair, sighing heavily.
"And I think you are scared, and confused- because maybe, you want to explore this whole 'bad boy' adventure further" Lorelai went on; knowing Rory didn't want to hear that.
"In which case- you can't pretend with Dean, if you like Tristan- well, the heart wants what the heart wants" Lorelai finished, hoping she'd gotten through to her confused daughter.
"So I tell Dean what happened, but what do I tell Tristan?" Rory looked to her mother.
"Tell him, whatever it is that you feel for him- and you do the same with Dean, even if it means breaking his heart" Lorelai said, as she got up and grabbed two mugs and poured some strong coffee into them.
She placed one in front of Rory, and she took it greedily taking sips.
"I think my feelings for Tristan are stronger than they are for Dean…" she finally confessed to herself, and with that Lorelai leant forward and rubbed her arm comforting her, "So tell them" she said.