Pairing: R/T, of course, and L/L

Rating: PG-13 at the most

Spoilers: May reference anything and everything from Season 1

Disclaimer: The characters referenced here are the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, and Warner Brother Television. No copyright infringement is intended. The characters are being used solely for entertainment purposes, and no profit is being made from them.

Part 7: Confessions of a Daydream Believer

Rory awoke early the next morning, troubling dreams having disturbed her sleep the entire night. In all the dreams, Tristan had left her, and no matter how desperately she searched, she could never find him again. Although the break-up with Dean had been hard, she knew with startling certainty that to lose Tristan would destroy her.

When he still hadn't called by noon, Rory began to panic once more. She knew he had wanted to tell her he loved her the night before, and he must have seen how she freaked out. She was terrified that he had decided she wasn't worth the effort. When the phone finally did ring, she snatched it up immediately.

"Hi, Rory!"

She sighed, disappointed. "Oh, hi, Lane."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. Probably nothing. Did you have fun at the dance last night?"

"Oh, yeah! Guess what? Henry told me he loved me!"

Feeling an ache in her heart, Rory forced herself to reply, "Wow, that's great, Lane."

"I know. It's just so incredible. So, um, I was wondering if you were busy?"

"Well, I'm kind of waiting for Tristan to call."

"Oh. Um, well, I really kind of need to talk to you. It's important. Could you meet me in the center of town in, like, fifteen minutes?"

"I guess. What's up?"

"I'll, uh, I'll tell you when we get there. I, uh, don't want my mom to accidentally overhear."

Something was definitely up with Lane, but Rory hadn't the slightest clue what it was. "Okay. I'll see you in fifteen, then."

"Thanks!" Without another word, Lane hung up.

Utterly confused, Rory switched off the handset. Sometimes even she was at a loss trying to understand Lane.

When she arrived in the center of town, there was no sign of Lane. Taking a seat on a bench near the gazebo, she was surprised when the town troubadour approached her.

"Rory Gilmore?" he asked.

"Yes?"

He handed her a small envelope and a brightly wrapped package, and then walked away without another word. Her puzzlement intensifying, she opened the note, which simply said, "I told you I'd prove it to you." Hoping for a better clue, Rory opened the package, only to find a small stuffed monkey.

Seemingly out of nowhere, music began to play, and Rory realized it sounded suspiciously like… "Daydream Believer." She immediately began to look around for Tristan, but in the end, she heard him before she saw him. In a clear, strong voice, he sang,

 Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings

 Of the bluebird as she sings.

 The six o'clock alarm would never ring.

 But it rings and I rise,

 Wipe the sleep out of my eyes.

 My shavin' razor's cold and it stings.

 Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.

 Oh, what can it mean.

 To a daydream believer

 And a homecoming queen.

 You once thought of me

 As a white knight on a steed.

 Now you know how happy I can be.

 Oh, and our good times start and end

 Without dollar one to spend.

 But how much, baby, do we really need.

 Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.

 Oh, what can it mean.

 To a daydream believer

 And a homecoming queen.

 Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.

 Oh, what can it mean.

 To a daydream believer

 And a homecoming queen.

 Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.

 Oh, what can it mean.

 To a daydream believer

 And a homecoming queen.

 Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.

 Oh, what can it mean.

 To a daydream believer

 And a homecoming queen.

 By the time the song was done, Tristan was standing next to Rory, who was both laughing and crying. At last, she found her voice.

 "Well, you certainly did a better job than I did. I'm just not quite sure why you did it."

 He shrugged. "Well, first of all, I said I would. Second, it seemed fitting, since you are the Homecoming Queen. And, well, I know I kind of freaked you out last night, and I guess I wanted to cheer you up." Tentatively, he took her hand. "I want you to know that I'm not trying to take things too fast. I let myself get carried away, and I said some things that you probably weren't ready to hear. All that matters to me is that we're together. Everything else can just work itself out in time."

 She smiled, a flood of relief easing the panic in her heart. She knew, then, exactly what she needed to say. "Tristan, I have a confession to make."

 Worry began to cross his face. "You do?"

 She nodded. "That night, when we got caught in the traffic jam and it started to rain…I heard you read your poem."

 "You did?" he squeaked.

She nodded. "I know you didn't mean for me to hear it. But I did, and now we have to deal with it. I need to know, do you still feel the same way about me?'

Mutely, he nodded.

Rory took a deep breath. "Then there's something I need to tell you."

Panic, fear, and hope flitted across his face in a matter of seconds, and then he managed to regain his composure. Please don't break up with me, please don't break up with me, please don't break up with me… "What's that?"

Again, she took a deep breath, and then raised her eyes to meet his. "I need to tell you that…I love you, too."

Tristan was sure he must be dreaming. "Excuse me, what did you say?" he croaked out.

She stepped closer to him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I said that I love you, too."

"Why?"

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Why what? Why do I love you?"

"Yes, no, I mean…why are you saying it now? I thought it was too soon…I didn't want to rush you…I don't want you to feel like you have to say it…"

She cut off his babbling by gently pressing her finger to his lips. "I'm not saying it because I have to, I'm saying it because I want to, and because it's true. I know you're not going to leave me, not ever. Even though I already knew you loved me, I knew you wouldn't say the words until you were sure I was ready. I'm ready, Tristan. This isn't fueled by guilt or fear or desperation or loneliness. I want you to know that I love you. I want the entire world to know that I love you. And I want you to know that I've told you I love you more times in the last two and a half minutes than I told Dean during the entire course of our relationship. I told him I loved him because it's what he wanted to hear. I never loved him the way I love you."

Tristan's eyes were shining with tears. "I can't believe that this is really happening. I can't believe that someone as amazing as you could love a conceited jerk like me. This is all I've wanted for so long, but deep down, I'm not sure I really believed it could ever happen."

Leaning in for a kiss, Rory whispered, "Well, believe it, Bible Boy."

Several minutes later, when they were forced to break apart due to oxygen depletion, Tristan rested his forehead against Rory's and asked, "By the way, Mary, have I mentioned recently that I love you?"

An angelic smile graced her face. "Not in so many words, no."

"Well, I do. I love you, Lorelei Leigh Gilmore, with my entire heart and my entire soul; I love you more than I've ever loved before, more than I was ever capable of loving before; if I'm truly worthy of loving you and receiving your love, it's because you made me worthy of that love."

Tears were streaming down Rory's face. "Say it again."

He placed a kiss on her right cheek. "I…" Now on her left cheek. "Love…" On the tip of her nose. "You." On her lips, as he allowed his passion, joy, and love flow from his heart to hers. She responded to the kiss, the warmth of his lips spreading quickly, all the way to the tips of her toes. It was even better than the kiss on the porch the night before, because gone were the fears, the nerves, and the worries. In that moment, their souls touched, fused, and became one, never to be sundered. Locked in the comfort of his embrace, Rory slowly became dimly aware that she was hearing applause.

Pulling back slightly, she glanced around and realized that the entire town of Stars Hollow had formed a circle around them, and everyone was clapping and cheering madly. Catching sight of Lane, Rory took Tristan by the hand and the two of them walked over to her. There was a glint of mischief in her best friend's eye, even as tears were running down her cheeks.

"You helped set this up," Rory said flatly.

"Well, yeah," admitted Lane. "You're not upset with me?"

Rory beamed at her. "How could I possibly be mad at you?" She hugged her friend swiftly and fiercely. Over Lane's shoulder, she saw her mother standing nearby, with Luke behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. Breaking away from Lane, she ran to Lorelei. No words were spoken as her mother scooped her up, and the Gilmore Girls silently shared in their joy.

The next few moments were a whirlwind of hugs and kisses and congratulations. Miss Patty suggested an impromptu festival, and a Beatles CD was quickly slipped into the stereo Tristan had used earlier. As couples paired off and began dancing on the grass, no one noticed a glint of light on Lorelei's left hand.

"When do you think we should tell them?" Luke asked.

"Tomorrow," responded Lorelei. She looked down quickly at the diamond solitaire Luke had presented her with the night before, sealing their betrothal. "Today should be their day."

As "All You Need is Love" began to play, Luke kissed Lorelei on the neck. "Would my fiancée grant me this dance?"

Lorelei smiled dreamily. "I love how that sounds."

Out of the corner of her eye, Rory saw Luke and Lorelei begin to dance. Turning back to Tristan, she inquired, "Will you be my date for mom and Luke's wedding?"

He grinned. "I was wondering if you had noticed the ring. And of course I'll be your date for the wedding. I'd be your date to a cadaver dissection if you asked me."

"Okay, eww. For now, how about dinner and a movie?"

"Sounds good."

Their conversation lapsed as they watched Luke and Lorelei dancing. "Do you think that'll be us someday?"

Stunned at her question, Tristan answered seriously, "I have no doubts."

As they came together for yet another kiss, both their minds were filled with thoughts of their future together, a future that was just beginning. But that's another story…

A/N: Alice in Wonderland (by Lewis Caroll), The Wizard of Oz, Four Weddings and a Funeral, "I Think I Love You" (as performed by The Partridge Family), "Frustration" (by Dorothy Parker), The Princess Bride, "Complicated" (as performed by Carolyn Dawn Johnson), Jerry Maguire, "Here's to the Night" (as performed by Eve 6), "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This" (as performed by Toby Keith), and "Daydream Believer" (as performed by The Monkees) do not belong to me. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made off the use of these quotations or lyrics.