Disclaimer: Tristan and Rory are not mine, anything related to the Gilmore-Girls universe is a construct of Amy Sherman-Palladino's mind. I just thought I'd have a bit of fun with it, zat eez all.

PROLOGUE

Sometimes I think I do not sleep at night. Sometimes I know I don't. Either way though, I wake up tired and I face the world tired, and then I come home tired. To what end? I don't know. Maybe because those single nights of perfect slumber, found when I am at the very end of my strength, are worth it. I do not lie awake for hours on those nights, I do not dream. There is only myself, only myself in a darkened room, and then there is nothing till morning.

* * *

They usually sat at the same table, the one in the corner. They used to be a pretty happy couple, but a couple of months after they first began coming, things started going downhill. Tonight they came in angry, and I can bet they'll be leaving separately. The woman isn't helping matters much. Her companion is whispering things to her in the sort of controlled way which indicates emotional panic. She isn't listening though, she's drumming her fingers on the table. I smile to myself as I watch them, because I know exactly what is running through the woman's head. She is wondering if I am here, hoping so, almost eager to see me. Her eyes dart round the room, as her companion becomes angrier and his whispers to her louder.

"I know you've been seeing someone else!" The statement is loud enough for me to hear. Standing at the bar I move back a little, into the shadows.

Now the women's attention is fixed directly on the man opposite her. Her eyes widen.

"Paul, honey, how could you think...Would I do something like that?"

She's good at deception, but her companion is angry, and anger can break down trust and belief faster than anything I know of.

"Don't give me that Vicky! What kind of fool do you take me for?! Just stop lying to me, for goodness sake!"

It's sad in a way, because I can hear something other than anger in is voice. He's actually hurt. Yet Vicky is probably deaf to that hurt. She sees only what she wants, a jealous man, shouting at her from somewhere very far away. In Vicky's mind she has been wronged, she believes she has been stuck in a boring relationship and she wants out. In other words, Vicky is a fool. If she leaves Paul tonight, she'll be a very lonely woman. She doesn't realize that the chances of her ever seeing me again are nil.

That's the trick with women, listen to them and they'll think you care. It's a funny thing, but it works every time. Yeah, everybody wants someone to bitch to and if you take the time to listen, nine times out of ten a woman will let her defences crumble, completely. Then you're free to move right in, and when you're done, move right along. It would almost be laughable, if it weren't so pathetic.

I've seen this scene replayed a thousand times, I can almost predict what will happen next. She'll look at him, defiantly, and admit the truth. She'll say something in that harsh voice of hers, and rip his heart in two. Then he'll stand up, and there will be tears in his eyes; but she won't see them. He'll say something to her, very soft, very low, because there is a break in his voice; but she won't hear it. He will hold out a hand, begging, "Darling, darling, please reconsider" but she won't take it. So he'll walk away, because he has no other choice, onto a busy street where dusk is falling. He won't notice people bustling by him, he won't notice anything, because his world has fallen in. I'd feel almost guilty, if I didn't think him better off without her. She'd probably betray him sooner or later, and if it happened later on, like if they were married, it would probably hurt more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to excuse myself. I know I'm a jerk, in fact, I think I define the word. I'm only stating the truth, which is, that if someone is willing to cheat on their partner with me, they'd be willing to do it with someone else at a later time, even if I'd never been in the picture! You might say my looks have something to do with it, but the fact is that if somebody wants to cheat they'll do it regardless. I know it's a lousy way to live, but I'm a lousy sort of guy. My own parents despise me, what can I say? Careful now, don't feel too sorry for me, if you'll step a little closer you'll see that I have a particularly devilish gleam in my eye. I'll take all the sympathy I can get, mostly because women are so willing to give it. Get them feeling sorry for you and you reel them in, hook, line, and sinker. You'd better not trust me, I won't spare anyone. Give me the opportunity and I'll take it. Remember that, I'm warning you now. I'm not secretly good and I'm not the guy you can 'save.' I get in relationships for one thing, my own personal satisfaction. Why am I telling you? I think I like you; after all, you've been listening to me haven't you? I'm beginning to think you care.