Long time again… ooops. Anyway, here it is. The story is almost complete.

            Everyone sat down to the dinner that Emily had meticulously dictated to the current maid over the airplane phone. "For what that telephone costs, this meal better be perfect. I'm so happy everyone's here." Emily smiled at her husband that it was somewhat less brilliant than usual, especially in the presence of company. But it seemed to carry from one to the next with the exception of Tristan and Rory who acted oblivious.

            Salads and appetizers were served without much conversation other than polite business talk.

            It wasn't until the main course arrived that the discussion shifted to closer topics. Mia, Tristan's mom, was the first to bring it up. "I was so sick with worry with Rory and Tristan touring the city by themselves…"

            "They are perfectly capable of taking good care of each other Mia." Janlen glanced at his daughter-in-law affectionately.

            "What I meant to say Dad is that I didn't want them to run into that terrible boy, Gino. He does go to school in Rome. After everything that happened, I wouldn't want there to be a scene. Tristan makes enough of them in America. He doesn't need to start in foreign countries. Especially if we want him to have a strong international group of friends later on life." She gave her son's hand a squeeze, which he replied to with a half-hearted sneer.

            "Thanks Mom."

            "He sounds like me when I was a teenager." Lorelei said encouragingly holding her wine glass up ready for another sip. Everyone went silence and looked at her like she had two heads while Rory just shook her head trying not to laugh. "Huh… I guess that wasn't the best thing to say."

            Rory gave a quick mischievous look to Tristan that went unnoticed by anyone else. They had all dug back into the dinner trying to avoid Lorelei's comment. "See now I would have liked to see Gino again." Everyone again looked up.

            "Rory darling," Lorelei patted her forehead to see if there were any signs of fevering, "It's Mommy. You've lost touch with reality." Rory just smiled and took another bite of her potatoes noting satisfactorily how Tristan's knuckles turned white gripping he had on his fork.

            "I would have liked to give him a few light slams against a brick wall."

            "Here, here." Lorelei lifted her wine and drank deeply.

            Emily glared at Lorelei. "Do you two think we can keep the violence to a minimal since we have guests?"

            "Sorry Grandma. I suppose I should be more charitable, especially with witnesses in the room." Everyone smiled and continued to eat.

            When dessert rolled around, Tristan and Rory exchanged the signal for the grand finale. In honor of a casual evening, homemade ice cream and hot fudge were served to the nine diners.

            "So how many lady callers did I have while I was gone?" Tristan looked from parent to parent looking for an answer.

            "They're all written down at home son." Janlen, Jr. looked at his son seriously.

            "I'm just looking for an estimate. I want to know how busy I'm going to be when I get home."

            Rory glared at him. "Only you could make a business out of crushing girls hearts. Bastard."

            "Lorelei Leigh! How rude." Emily set down her spoon. "I'm so…."

            "At least I'm not a stuck up hag that won't give anything but books the time of day."

            "Tristan Janlen DuGrey! Apologize." Emma followed suit and put down her spoon. Everyone but Lorelei had stopped eating her ice cream. She was now holding hers close to her mouth and shoveling it in as if she were watching a suspenseful soap opera and it was in the last five minutes, not knowing if they would show what was to come and drag it out.

            In a mila-second, there was ice cream all down Rory's front and in her hair. She had tried to brace herself, but it took every single amount of self-control not to laugh. Instead of laughing, she scooped out a wad of hers and threw it right back then bolted out of the room with Tristan hot on her trail. She could hear everyone now screaming at them and one and other, but she imagined her mother was still watching in fascination. In the atrium that led to the gardens, she stopped in front of the newly installed fountain and seconds later had another handful of ice cream in her face. She laughed. "That was NOT part of the plan."

            "I know. But now you look so good, I could eat you." He wrapped his arms around her and licked her cheek. "Mmm, good."

            "Hmm-hmm." Six very infuriated adults and Lorelei (with her dish in hand) stand in a line in front of the couple.

            "Well, I don't know what to say." Emma and Emily looked at one and other.

            "Well, Grandma G and Grandma D it looks like we've all been had." Lorelei had finally taken the time to say something. 

            "Mom's right. Tristan and I planned this."

            With that Tristan spilled out an explanation feeling very satisfied with the results. "In conclusion, Rory and I would like to say that though we appreciate the annoying effort, you all need to take a rest on the match making business… And we're together."

            When all the anger and then the wooing and ahhing at their new relationship was concluded, Tristan and Rory were left in the atrium alone while the adults convened in the sitting room for coffee. "So cat's out of the bag. What are we gonna do for fun now Trisy?"

            "Watch it missy. I'm still not happy with you about that unplanned Gino comment."

            She slid off her shoes, stepped into the fountain, and dunked her head. "That was sticky." Then sat on the edge and continued to dip her feet in hair dripping in her face and down her dress. "We could always cause trouble at Chilton. The Headmaster would love it. Though your fans may be very disappointed."

            "Everyone knows we have an ongoing thing. Plus I want everyone to know how much I love you and that you're off-limits."

            "Oh am I?"

            "Yes. You are." He rolled up his pant legs after slipped out of his shoes and socks cupping water in his hands to wash his face. "What did you have in mind out of curiosity?"

            "Dunno." She looked up and smiled.

He pushed the hair out of her eyes and leaned into kiss her softly. "I want to be able to do that any time during the day everyday. So maybe we could stage a fight every week or something. Just to keep it fun and give us a reason to make up."

In the car of the way home, Rory gave the story to Lorelei in the unabridged version that had not been given to the grandparents.

"I knew something was up and I couldn't put my finger on it. That was the most entertaining dinner I've ever had in that house."

            "Glad I could be of service."

            "So you're with the bad boy."

            Rory looked out the window and smiled to herself. Yes, she was.

            On Monday, Tristan picked her up and drove amicably to school. He opened her door and carried her backpack for her. Looks of suspicion amongst other things were darted their way as they walked into Chilton hand in hand. Five minutes later suspicions were confirmed:

Tristan DuGrey had Rory Gilmore pinned against a locker in an iron-grip lip-lock.

Some said it was about time. Others (mostly Tristan's adoring fans) said it wouldn't last. They of course knew it was when in Rome.

THE END

OK so that was kinda sucky for an ending but it was really bothering me not having it finished. I hope you liked it anyway.