Chapter Title: I'll Be Good For You by 'N Sync (Laugh all you want. But back a few

of years ago… They were cool.)

AN: You guys are great. I really do appreciate all the reviews you've sent in. And for

that you get some real Trory action finally!

I know you want me too

It's in your eyes I see you do

They're telling me you'll open up your heart to me

Rory woke up the next morning hearing someone at her window. She pulled the curtain back then rolled her eyes.

"Go away Dean!"

"I want to talk to you."

"No."

"I love you." He said with tears in his eyes.

"Three months ago I would have fallen for that." Rory said before shutting the curtain.

Lorelai watched from the door with a concerned look on her face.

"It's really over?"

"Yeah." Rory said wrapping her arms around her mom's waist.

"What about Tristan?"

"You got all day?"

"For you? I'll ditch going to see my mother." Lorelai left to call Emily.

Rory sat on the couch with her legs pulled to her chest. The phone rang but she didn't move. Lorelai sighed before grabbing it.

"Hello?" She said before looking at Rory.

Rory looked up when Lorelai shoved the phone at her.

"Five minutes. And then I get on the other phone and tell him baby stories."

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey." Rory smiled, she couldn't help herself.

"What are you doing today?"

"I'm spending the day with my mom."

"That's a great way to kick off Christmas Break."

"Hey, I like spending time with my mom."

"What about tonight?"

"There's a tree lighting festival in town."

"Do you mind if I come?"

"You probably wouldn't like it."

"Will you be there?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll like it."

"Jess isn't coming."

"I would hope not."

"Meet me at Luke's at five."

Lorelai sat down next to her halfway through the conversation.

"You have a date." She said when Rory hung up.

"He invited himself."

"But you didn't tell him no."

"Oh God. I have a date… With Tristan."

"What's wrong with that?"

"What if I'm not ready?"

"What if you fall head over heels for him?"

"Would you stop trying to make me giddy?"

"Would you stop being a compulsive freak?"

Rory sighed in frustration. Leave it to her mom to see the good in Tristan before she did. Lorelai pulled Rory to her then kissed her forehead.

"He's a good guy."

"You saw him for an hour. How do you know?"

"It was the way he looked at you. Like you were the only person in the room."

"He told me he wouldn't try anything until I was ready."

"Dean didn't even do that."

"Do not bring him up."

"Sorry. I leave you alone tonight. If you promise to let me help you get ready."

"You won't make me look slutty?"

"I can't make any guarentees."

XXXX

Rory walked into the Diner fifteen minutes late. Luke was drilling Tristan about what they were doing tonight. She sat down next to him and smiled.

"You're going out with him?"

"It's a date Luke. I'm not marrying him."

"Thank God for that. Can you handle him?"

"I'm good." Rory said nodding her head.

Luke walked away when Kirk started complaining about his order.

"He seems nice."

"He does it because he cares."

"He's like a dad to you?"
"Yeah. He's always been there for me."

"Aren't you going to order anything?"

"I have a better idea." She said taking his hand.

They walked over to Doose's and she stopped when she saw Dean.

"I'll wait out here."

"He won' do anything. He'd get fired if he did." She said pulling him into the store.

Tristan stared in awe as Rory threw things in the basket. Doritos, Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids… Anything she could get her hands on. He laughed at her as they walked out of the store.

"What?"

"Do you want to go into a coma?"

"At least I'd be happy." She said shoving popcorn into her mouth.

Rory took him everywhere she could think of. And still managed to keep him away from Babette and Ms. Patty. She saw her mom with Sookie and Jackson and crossed her eyes. Lorelai stuck her tongue out at her before pointing over her head.

Rory looked up and groaned. They were standing under the mistle toe. Rory shook her head and Lorelai pointed a finger at her, giving her a stern look. Rory sighed before leaning up to kiss Tristan on the cheek.

"Lame!" Lorelai screamed before Luke dragged her away.

"We're under the misle toe."

"Aren't you supposed to kiss the person on the lips?" Tristan asked putting his forehead to hers.

Rory looked into his eyes before brushing her lips to his. She pulled away only to lean in again. This time she wasn't going to run away crying. Tristan cupped her face in his hands feeling his tongue massage hers. He pulled away trying to catch his breath.

"Was that too much?"

"No." Rory said shaking her head.

"You're not running away crying.

"I don't have a reason to."

He pulled her down the street while Lorelai watched from the gazebo. Her little girl wasn't a little girl anymore. Rory didn't need her like she used to. She was more of a friend now than a mom. She had never been so proud of Rory in her life. Finally, Rory was thinking with her heart instead of her head.