The Party is So Not Over

Chapter One: Sub-Wallow-Party

By jessebelle

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, that honor belongs to Amy Sherman-Palladino. Nor do I own anything else referenced that it clearly Not Mine! If you've heard of it, I unfortunately can't claim it. But what a world we'd live in if I did.

Spoilers: This story is my own ending of episode 5x08 The Party's Over. Anything before is canon, though everything after has been changed.

Author's Note: For the record, I AM a Dean fan, so I apologize for anyone who takes offence to how I characterized him. It was necessary for the story. Also, this is my first time writing fanfiction for Gilmore Girls so if any characterization is wrong, or any details are screwed up beyond the usual, again, I apologize. Please, read and review. I live on feedback.

Toodles, jessebelle

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He'd been watching her. Not in a creepy stalker way, but in a fond, reminiscent way mixed with a bit of disbelief. He'd watched as she'd been led around the room, being introduced to all the different men by her grandmother as she wore that stupid tiara. He'd watched as Logan had saved her from Jordan Chase, wrapping his arm around her and acting like a boyfriend, as if Logan Huntzberger had ever dated anyone exclusively, let alone for a year and a half. He'd watched in the background as a sub-party had formed. He'd watched as panic entered her eyes at the realization she was late to meet her boyfriend, the bagboy at the aforementioned sub-party. And so, it was no surprise that he stood outside, watching as said boyfriend broke her heart.

"I don't belong here. Not anymore. Do I?"

"Dean." Her voice was pleading, practically begging him not to do this, not here, not tonight.

"You look good." Then he turned, got in his truck, and left leaving her staring in his wake, tears falling down his face.

"Stupid dumb ass bagboy; never knew what he had." He hadn't realized he'd spoken out loud until Huntzberger interrupted his thoughts.

"You know Ace?" Tristan DuGrey, never taking his eyes away from the scene before them, from the crying woman before him nodded.

"Chilton."

"Ahhh." Logan made a sound of understanding. "Uh, then maybe you should, um, comfort her?" This made his head snap around and stare at the blond incredulously.

"What? I haven't seen her in three years, you're her friend now. It should be you."

"Uh, I don't do so well with crying girls, and I don't want to give her the wrong impression. Colin couldn't comfort anyone if he tried-"

"Hey!" Logan continued as if uninterrupted.

"And Finn's already gone looking for more provisions. So that leaves you, unless you want to let one of them be her comforter." Tristan eyed the other men at the doorway, all rich playboys who saw only one thing when looking at the girl still standing in shock at the empty place her boyfriend, ex-boyfriend's truck should have been. He knew Logan was right. Sighing he nodded, and then taking a deep breath, left the pack and approached.

"He wasn't worth it, Mary." He stood behind her, so close he could smell the intoxicating scent he'd missed from days back when.

Her entire body froze at his voice, and at hearing the nickname she hadn't heard in so long she knew without a doubt who was addressing her. She spun around in shock, amazed to see him standing in front of her and barely comprehending the words he was speaking.

"Not then, not now. He's a fool for leaving you and a jackass for making you cry."

"Tristan." His name passed through her lips in a breathless whisper, one he'd dreamed about in circumstances far different from this one.

"You're…what are you doing here?" He gave a small smirk.

"I was invited." His smirk dropped. "Are you okay?" At his questioning the composure she'd held in her shock broke and she was crying again. He didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her, holding her close. "Shhh. It'll be okay. Like I said before, Bagboy's an idiot for letting you slip through his fingers, again. He'll discover the truth soon enough and you can either take him back or-"

"No! Three times is enough. I'm done with that, done with him." He could hear the hardening of his voice. Her words brought a smile to his face. "I'm just…mourning what was."

"Well, good. I never liked him you know."

"Really? I never would've guessed." Her voice was sarcastic and teasing, and a small smile curved her lips as she looked up from him from the place in his arms. Wiping the remaining tears away with his thumb, he returned her smile.

"Well, it was hard but I managed to hide my true feelings." She gave a giggle, before a few last tears escaped. "Hey now, it'll be alright. We'll go back to the pool house, you'll have a few drinks, and we can watch Finn's reenactment of the Passion of the Christ. You can fill me on what you're doing at Yale instead of Harvard." And keeping an arm around her he turned her away from the scene of the crime and back toward the pool house. Logan met them in the doorway.

"Hey Ace, nothing ever seems quite as bad after Finn's Passion of the

Christ. Except Finn's Passion of the Christ." He wrapped an arm her other side. And together they reentered the sub-party.

"Gilmore!" Finn met her enthusiastically at the door, a glass of scotch in hand.

"Finn."

"Oh don't sound so glum, chum. Now he's gone and you can choose me. I know you've been pining but never fear, our love with persevere. Here, have a drink." An unwilling giggle escaped her lips, bringing a smile to everyone in the pool house. She stared at the offered drink, hesitation clearly on her face. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, most notably the two blonds at her side. Then in an impulsive move she grabbed the glass from Finn's hand and slugged it back. And hearing the cheers around her, it suddenly didn't seem quite so bad.

"Thatta girl, love. Now, let's go get you another one of those and then I'll show you my famous Passion of the Christ."

Half an hour and who knows how many drinks later, she sat on the couch sandwiched between her favorite blonds, Tristan and Logan, watching Finn's antics.

"Now remember love, it was exactly like, oh mmmmm, eggs."

"Finn!" Everyone yelled. The Australian looked at them in shock before getting with the program.

"Oh, right, it happened exactly like this. Now picture the scene, a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…."