A/N: I didn't know what to do with this story. I had continued it for fun, scribbling phrases and scenes and sticking them together when I realized that I didn't really have an idea as to where it was going. I've always sort of resented authors that did that, that spun a story and eventually led their readers into a unconcluded ending for months at a time. I suppose I understand it better now. It's difficult to write a story, because despite all the encouragement and help that you receive, it is still challenging. I applaud all the authors who were able to write a story successfully.
So here I am again, with maybe, my very first story ever written here on FanFiction. Hopefully, I'll finish it this time.
Thank you for all those who ever reviewed or took the time to say they liked it, and for those of you who waited despite the really, really long wait. I guess it was you guys who made me look at the story on my profile and decide to give the story a major re-edit.
Let's see. To conclude this really long Author's Note, I'll dedicate this one to Dad, who discovered it after all and wasn't too mad about it, and to my readers, if there are still any.
Enjoy.
maybe, Chapter One: No. Way.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Lorelai Leigh Gilmore IIV- Hayden III walked into her Yale apartment to see her roommate Paris and her boyfriend Doyle arguing about something.
"No," Doyle said stubbornly.
"Yes," Paris said calmly.
"No."
"Yes."
They didn't notice she was there, so she prepared herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch, watching them, hoping that something might actually come out of the kindergarten argument the two were having. But then, she reminded herself, she and her mother had kindergarten arguments on a daily basis, so who was she to talk?
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Rory wasn't in the mood for this. So she spoke. "As much as this amusing, this is conceivably the kind of thing that could go on forever, so would you mind telling me what's going on?"
Paris looked at her friend and rolled her eyes. "There's a rumor on campus that someone is having an arranged marriage with someone from Harvard."
"It can't possibly be true," Doyle insisted. "That's barbaric."
"An arranged marriage?" Rory snorted. "Who on earth does that?"
"Exactly," Doyle said to Paris, triumphant.
"But," Rory added, "You never know with society brats."
Paris smirked at her boyfriend. "See? You're underestimating the rich. They're willing to do anything to get what they want. The rich are ruthless."
"Paris, you're rich," Doyle pointed out.
"And I am ruthless, so I know what I'm talking about," Paris said, matter-of-fact.
Rory laughed. "But where'd you hear that?"
"Stacy told me." Paris shrugged.
"Stacy?" Rory said her forehead creasing. "You hate Stacy."
"A reporter's got to do what a reporter's got to do."
"I wonder who it is," Doyle murmured. "The girl's apparently from here; they guy's from Harvard."
"Well, one thing's for sure," Rory said, shaking her head. "Whoever she is, if the rumor's true, I wouldn't want to be her."
"You're joking."
"I wish," Tristan said, changing the channel.
"Your parents arranged your marriage?" Josh cried. "That's lower than low."
"Not for the DuGrays it isn't."
"What the hell are you going to do, man?"
Tristan shrugged. "Fight. Scream. Blame them for my crappy future."
"How can you be so cavalier about it?" Josh shook his head, not understanding his friend at all.
Tristan sighed, muted the T.V. and turned to his roommate. "Dude, what would you do if your parents gave you an ultimatum -- marry the girl they pick, or you get cut off? Would you say no? Would you have the guts to live like a pauper?"
Josh thought about it. "No," he admitted.
"We're too used to the rich lifestyle," Tristan said, sighing. "If I could live by myself, I would. But my dad will freeze my family credit card in an instant."
"Damn," Josh said. "That sucks."
Tristan smirked. "Dude, I'm going to have to marry someone I've never even met, some dumb trophy wife for the rest of my life or be cut off completely, no money at all, and all you can say is it sucks? You're smart Josh. Say something else."
Josh laughed at his friend. "It's completely barbaric and archaic that it makes me feel antipathy towards your parents even if I've never met them."
"That's better," Tristan nodded, satisfied. He turned back to the Sports channel.
"How is this helping?" Josh asked, pointing to the T.V.
"It's not."
"Then why…"
"Because I would rather not think about it."
"Want coffee?" Josh said, silently agreeing not to mention the arranged marriage again.
"Coffee," Tristan chuckled. "Oh, the memories that the word brings."
"Ah, yes. Mystery girl."
Tristan stayed silent, concentrating on the television.
"Come on, Tristan," Josh groaned. "Tell me."
"Rather not. It's one of those things."
"You were so whipped," Josh said, and with that he left their Harvard dorm room, leaving Tristan pondering whether whipped was the right tense to describe his feelings for a certain Rory Gilmore.
"Ace," a voice called, making Rory turn around and smile.
"Hey Logan. Colin. And… what's your name again?" Rory faked confusion, looking at the Australian.
Logan and Colin smirked, knowing that Finn would be annoyed that Rory had chosen to forget his name.
The Australian pouted. "Come on, Love, that's not fair. Why do you always pick on me?"
Rory laughed. "It's because secretly I favor you," she whispered her voice conspiring.
Finn grinned, triumphant.
"As much as this in interesting," Logan said, "we wanted to ask if you heard the latest Yale gossip."
"If it's about someone from Yale marrying someone from Harvard because their parents and grandparents arranged it, then I have already heard it from Paris," Rory informed them.
Finn laughed. "Yes, but we have something to add to that. The girl's last name is Hayden. Know anyone around here with that name?" he asked.
Rory froze. She felt like she'd just been sucker punched. Hayden. As in… Hayden… her?
"Ace?" Logan asked. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Rory said, shaking her head. "I'm fine." If the Hayden was her, and she had a nasty feeling it was, there was no way in hell that she was letting anyone find out.
"So, Hayden," Finn mused. "I wonder who it is."
"Is it confirmed?" Rory asked, trying to hide the hope in her tone.
"Definitely. It's just the who that's we're trying to figure out now," Colin said with a grin. "It should make for an interesting year."
"Supposedly it's going to be the wedding of the year," Logan added thoughtfully. "I wonder who it is… Hayden."
"Hey, listen, I've got to go," Rory smiled apologetically. "Friday is dinner at my grandparents'."
"Ah, yes. Torturing our poor Ace," Logan said dramatically.
"Don't listen to him, love," Finn said, feeling some pity for Rory. "Just form a sub-party, like we've taught you to."
Rory laughed. "Form a sub-party with who? The only people who are going to be there are my grandparents from Mom's side and Dad's side, Dad and Mom."
Finn looked back, stunned. "That sucks, Ror."
"Nah, because of Dad and Mom things turn out okay. Three against four isn't so bad."
"Three against four?" Colin asked, confused.
Logan and Finn grinned at Rory and rolled their eyes at their clueless friend.
"Go on, Ace. We'll explain it to Clueless over here. We don't want you to be late for hell," Logan grinned.
"You're so supportive," Rory called over her shoulder, smiling despite the news which had taken her breath away and made her feel like she'd been punched in the gut.
"I can't go, Dad."
"You're going," Michael said firmly. "The family jet is going over to pick you up as we speak."
"Thanks for the choice," Tristan said sarcastically. "For this and for my marriage."
"You will like your betrothed," Michael said. "She'll make you a lovely wife."
Tristan flinched at the word betrothed. It was so old fashioned he realized how cliché what his parents were doing to him was. "Forgive me for not being so enthusiastic about you choosing my bride," Tristan spat.
"Tristan Janlan DuGrey. Don't speak to me that way," Michael threatened.
"Fine," Tristan gritted his teeth.
"Don't you want to know her name?" Michael asked.
"Not particularly, no," Tristan said, a small smirk appearing on his face.
"I'll tell you anyway."
"Why am I not surprised?" Tristan snorted. Frankly he was surprised that his father hadn't told him sooner. It was probably going to be some rich, spoiled society brat.
"It's Lorelai Leigh Gilmore III – Hayden IV," he informed his son.
"Mom, you won't believe this," Rory began.
"I've lived through a lot, kid," Lorelai said. "Just today, Kirk started running around the town naked screaming something about freeing all body parts."
Rory was not to be distracted. So she said something that she was sure would knock her mother's pants off.
"Grandpa and Grandma have arranged my marriage," Rory said slowly.
Lorelei dropped the phone and Rory could hear her screaming something unintelligible in the background. Something that distinctly resembled, "They are so, so dead."
Lorelei Gilmore was normally a friendly person. But she was lethal.
And at that moment, Rory felt some fear for her grandparents. There was no telling what Lorelei would do.
"Hello Father. Mother." Tristan greeted his parents formally, the same way he would have greeted a long lost acquaintance. Which, he thought wryly, would be true if he didn't resemble them so much. The way they treated each other showed almost no affection, you could only guess they were related because Tristan was his parents brought back to youth.
Michael and Serena DuGrey both had blonde hair and piercing sapphire eyes. Tristan had the privilege of having both, but he liked to think that somewhere inside of him, he was better than his father. He almost laughed at that. Deep, deep down.
"Tristan," Serena said softly, placing an awkward kiss on her son's cheek.
He flinched. He didn't mean to. But the feeling of his mother's lips on his face was not one he was used to.
So she pulled back immediately and stared at a spot behind his shoulder.
His father, always so oblivious to anything that was happening before his very eyes, merely told his son, "We're having dinner at the Hayden's house tonight. You'll be able to meet Leigh and her family."
"Leigh?" Tristan questioned.
"Your bride-to-be's nickname," he informed.
Tristan flinched yet again. But this time, the feeling of wanting to throw up was added to it. He was 21. He was not ready to be married. But he didn't have a choice, did he?
He wondered if society parents ever realized how much they hurt their kids. It was a vicious cycle -- parents treat their children the way their parents treated them. No one broke out of the mold, because in society, status and reputation meant everything.
And Tristan was sure that his… betrothed… was a society brat. It was certain. The one girl he had ever had any real feelings for would never be part of society. The one person who he wouldn't have minded marrying would never be a part of society.
He was certain of that.
Fate is such a cruel thing.
Rory stared at the massive double door that served as an entrance to her grandparents' house -- her dad's side, that is. If this was supposed to be a place of welcome, then they had better start redecorating.
The mansion looked rich, screamed society and was definitely imposing. But welcoming was an entirely different story.
Rory would have felt more welcomed if she was being led into a torture chamber.
In medieval times.
Where they stretched people to death.
She was interrupted from her tortured thoughts when a jeep came shrieking into the driveway. She smiled as a Jaguar followed closely behind it.
Lorelei slammed the door to the jeep. "I'm going to kill them," she announced as a way of greeting.
Chris got out of the Jaguar and banged the door as well. "I'll hand you the hammer, the screwdriver and the glue."
Rory's eyebrows furrowed. "Hammer, screwdriver and glue?" she repeated.
Lorelei and Chris looked at each other and grinned. "It involves your Great Aunt Marge's dress, a goldfish and a locked door. But that's not what we're here for," Lorelei explained.
"I can't believe Straub and Francine would do this," Christopher mumbled.
Rory and Lorelei looked at him in disbelief.
"Well, I can't believe they'd do this to you," he amended. "They hate me, which is understandable." Rory chuckled. "But you're the perfect grandchild."
"I am not perfect!" Rory protested.
"And humble too," Chris sighed. "Lor, how'd we manage to create this kid?"
"I think it involved booze. The memories of that night are foggy," Lorelei replied with a grin, and she and Christopher cracked up.
Rory looked up to the sky and sighed dramatically. "Why me?"
Tristan stared at the houses that passed by as they headed towards the Hayden's house. Each house seemed to get bigger as they went along, and he sighed. No doubt the Haydens would be loaded, their kid would be a brat and he wouldn't have a single choice in the matter.
Life sucked.
They were all there. Of course. Arranged in a loose semi-circle, her grandparents, all four of them, were standing before her and smiling like nothing was wrong.
Traitors, her mind said angrily.
"We know," Rory said flatly, before they could even speak.
Richard and Straub looked at each other warily. Emily spoke first.
"What are you talking about?"
Rory was about to reply but Lorelei cut in. "Cut the crap, mom. We deserved to know that you arranged Rory's marriage. Rory is not going to doanything she doesn't want to do. Chris and I back her up on that." Her voice had turned scathing and disgusted.
"Lorelei, don't you think you're overreacting?" Francine said slowly. "And Chris. We're just doing what we think is best for her."
Christ snorted. "Doing what's best for her? When has that really been the case, Mother? When have you and Dad done something for the benefit of someone else without you somehow being rewarded in the process?"
"You will not speak to your mother like that," Straub told his son.
"And you won't tell me what to do!" Chris exploded. "I am a grown man and I can take care of myself!"
"For heaven's sake!" Lorelei cried. "Who do you people think you are? Do you think that Rory is a toy? One of your money making schemes? That you can just sell and trade and… barter her off like she's some inanimate object? Well, let me tell you something." Lorelei was in full angry mode now. "If you think she's going to comply happily with whatever evil scheme you have, you are all sadly mistaken!"
"Lorelei!" Richard thundered. "Is this really necessary? Rory will do as we say, because unlike some people she is obedient and does what is best for the family."
That was the last straw. She had been a quiet observer for the past few minutes, allowing her parents to defend her. But now it was time to speak up for herself.
"No," she said quietly.
Everyone turned to look at her. Lorelei and Chris looked at her proudly. It took a lot to stand up to their parents. They should know.
"What?" Richard asked.
"Rory!" Emily gasped.
"Excuse me?" Straub said, highly taken aback.
Francine just gaped at her eldest grandchild.
"No. I won't do it," Rory said firmly.
"Yes you will. You will because we said so," Straub told her.
Rory exploded. "That's it! Who the hell do you think you are? You can't just decide you want me to marry someone. It's sick! What kind of person forces someone to marry if they don't want to? And worse, who does that to their own granddaughter? I have been kind and respectful and I have played along with all of your little parties and plans. I have always been a good granddaughter! You are all unbelievable!" she was screaming now.
She breathed in and out heavily. Her voice was calmer now, and it was firm. "I know now why Mom and Dad left society. Because it's filled with people like you, who think just because they're rich, they can trample all over everyone else."
Then she heard something behind her, an unmistakable voice, which made her gasp and whirl around.
"I know now why Mom and Dad left society. Because it's filled with people like you, who think just because they're rich, they can trample all over everyone else."
Tristan couldn't believe it. What was Rory doing here?
So he said the only coherent thought his mind could form. "Mary?"
She whirled around to face him, her blue eyes sparkling with disbelief. "Bible boy?"
Their voices reverberated around the large ornate living room, while all the adults watched the encounter warily.
"What are you --"
"Doing here?" Tristan cut off. "I could ask the same of you. What are you doing here?"
"Excuse me? This is my grandparents' house!" Rory shot back.
"Your grandparents' house?" Tristan asked slowly, his sapphire eyes confused. It was impossible…
The truth hit both of them at the exact same time.
"Oh my god," they said, their eyes both widening, Rory's hand flying to her mouth.
"I'm marrying you?"
They stared at each other in disbelief. The words that feel from their mouths surprised everyone in the room, including themselves. "No. Way," they breathed.
