I'm still working on BOF if you're reading it, so don't worry it will eventually be updated, but I had an idea for this story and I couldn't resist writing it. Please read and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls. (obviously)
Chapter One: Tied Together With A Smile
He sat on the airplane, first class, best seat. His mother would have it no other way. He leaned back into the seat and ran his hand through his hair. He was about a half hour away from Hartford now, he guessed, checking the time on his watch.
He was sure that the minute he stepped out of the airport there would be photographer after photographer snapping pictures of him. He expected it, he was ready for it. He shook his head and closed his eyes. Two years. Two years away from it all, he was sure the rumors were flooding Hartford about him. In all honesty he still wasn't able to figure out why they all cared so much. He wasn't an actor, or a singer, or some big movie producer. He was the twenty two year old son of a lawyer.
Granted, his father probably had more money than God. But he still didn't seem to understand why the fact that his family had money drew everyone's attention to him. He'd dealt with it his entire life. The cameras and the stories and his reputation and his family name. But back then, he had something to make it better. Now, he was walking back into the fire and this time she wouldn't be there to hold his hand.
He stepped off the plane and grabbed his bag. He traveled light, one bag usually fit everything he could of thought to bring with him. He stood against the wall, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He ran a hand through his hair again and let his tongue run out over his lips, wishing that he could still taste that last cigarette.
When he was about to just throw caution to the wind and light one up, he was interrupted by his name, called loudly. He looked up and met the eyes of the caller, a smile spreading onto his face.
She laughed and ran over to him, launching herself into his arms and wrapping hers around his neck, holding onto him tight. "Hey Taylor," he chuckled, spinning her around in his arms before setting her firmly onto the ground.
"I missed you, Tristan," she said, stepping back and then hugging him tightly again. He laughed, nodding his agreement.
"I missed you too, squirt," he said, pulling out of her hug and slinging his arm across her shoulders. "How've you been?" he asked as they walked toward the doors.
Taylor shrugged her shoulders. "Good," she said. "School's boring as hell and all I ever hear from all the teachers is what a pain in the ass you were."
Tristan smirked and shrugged. "I did have my moments," he said and she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, we all know about your moments, Tris," she scoffed, shaking her head at him.
He looked over to her as the automatic doors to the outside opened. "You ready?" he asked and she smiled.
"I think I should be asking you that question. I'm used to it, you're the one who's been out of the pictures for two years. It's not gonna' be me that they're focusing on, Tris."
He sighed, nodding. "Yeah well, let's get this over with," he said and she nodded.
They walked out into the bright sunlight and Taylor let her sunglasses fall down over her eyes. Tristan kept his arm locked firmly around her shoulders and followed his baby sister to the car, ignoring the shouts for him to look up or to answer a question.
He slid into the car behind Taylor and closed the door, leaning back against the seat and she looked over to him. "You okay?"
Tristan nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."
They rode most of the way home in silence. Tristan looked out the window at the many buildings of Hartford, remembering certain things about certain places. As they passed a few certain houses Tristan smiled.
Taylor watched him as they passed the Gilmore-Hayden estate. He smiled first and then his smile faded into the ghost of one.
"She's home too," Taylor said and Tristan nodded, not looking at her and not saying anything.
"Is Logan around?" he asked and Taylor nodded her head.
"He got in a few days ago and Rory got here yesterday," she said. "Her grandmother has been helping mom with the planning."
Tristan seemed to wince a little at the mention of Rory's name and then nodded his head again. "She'll be there you know," Taylor said as the car pulled up to the Dugrey mansion. "He wants to see her again, you know he always liked her."
Tristan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I suspected," he said. "I wouldn't have expected her not to come," he shrugged, "it's not my place to say anything anyway," he said. "It's his birthday party after all."
Taylor nodded, leading her brother into the house. They stepped into the foyer and Stephanie Dugrey came forward quickly, opening her arms to her son. Tristan stepped forward and hugged his mother.
"It's good to have you home, Tristan. We've missed you," she whispered and he pulled back smiling.
"I've missed you too, mom."
She smiled and then called for the maid to take Tristan's things to his bedroom. "Mr. Dugrey," she said, smiling at Tristan and he stepped towards her and pulled her into a hug.
"It's good to see you Carol," he said, smiling down at the short maid. She patted him on the shoulder.
"It's good to see you too, sir," she said and picked up his things, taking them upstairs as Tristan and Taylor followed their mother into the kitchen.
"So how's your life Tristan?" she asked as he and Taylor sat at the counter stools and his mother leaned up against it.
He shrugged. "It's going pretty well. I'm really getting into good business with the advertising thing."
Stephanie smiled and nodded her head. "Good for you, Tristan."
He shrugged again. "I'm sure, dad won't say the same."
His mother leaned over and patted his hand. "You're father is a stubborn man, Tristan. He'll accept it. I'm not saying that he'll like it or that he'll approve, but he will accept it," she said. "But, this is not about your father. You aren't here for him anyway," she smiled. "You're here for your grandfather and he was very happy to hear that you would be here."
Tristan smiled back at her. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
Stephanie nodded. "Well I'm sure you're tired from the flight so I'll let you get some sleep, Taylor can give you a hand unpacking if you need her."
Tristan shrugged. "I think I'll be alright," he said and then felt the impact of Taylor's foot against his shin and reconsidered. "But, I guess I could use a hand," he said, glaring at his sister who merely smiled and jumped off her stool, pulling him along behind her.
"Jesus Tay, that hurt!" he whined, flopping back onto his bed while she lowered herself into a chair in the corner.
Taylor shrugged. "You were gonna' leave me down there with her, and you know that she was gonna' make me help plan some more."
Tristan laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "So when did you start wearing make-up?"
Taylor rolled her eyes. "About the same time I started having sex," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"What!?" Tristan yelled, sitting up straight and staring at his baby sister.
Taylor shook her head, laughing. "Just kidding," she said.
Tristan sighed and leaned back into his bed. "God Taylor what're you trying to do, give me a heart attack?"
She smirked and Tristan realized just then how much she looked like himself. "Just felt like a laugh," she said and he rolled his eyes.
"Don't joke about that," he said. "Some innocent kid might've gotten his ass kicked for that."
She shook her head again. "You don't even know who my boyfriend is Tristan."
He raised his eyebrows at her and sat up again, slower this time. "I didn't even know you had a boyfriend," he said. "But I think I need to know who it is."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't worry about it, Tris."
"I'm serious Taylor, who're you dating?"
She laughed and shook her head. "Andrew Blake."
Tristan raised his eyebrow again. "Yeah?"
Taylor nodded.
He shrugged. "He always seemed like a nice kid. Maybe I won't have to kick his ass after all."
Taylor shook her head in exasperation and stood up. "Well I'll leave you to your thoughts, Tris. Do you want me to call you for dinner?"
He nodded, placing his hands behind his head.
"Okay," she said, closing the door behind her as she left.
Tristan looked around his bedroom. It was just the way he left it. He sat up on the bed and decided that now was a good a time as any for unpacking. He unzipped his back and took out the clothing to put into his drawers.
He opened the top drawer and put in boxers and socks. T-shirts in the second drawer, accompanying some that he'd left here.
When he shut the last drawer he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and set it on top of the dresser, realizing for the first time which picture sat in the frame there.
He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair and looked at the faces in the frame. Her face smiled out at him from the photograph as he pressed a kiss into her temple. He shook his head, placing the frame face down on the dresser.
He rubbed his hands over his face and sighed, lying back down on his bed, giving in to the sleep that had been threatening to take him.
---
Rory sat on her bed flipping through the pages of Pride and Prejudice for about the millionth time. She closed the book, leaning back against the head board and closed her eyes.
A knock came to the door softly and she groaned. "Come in," she said.
The door opened and Lorelai walked in, seating herself on the edge of her daughter's bed. "Hey, sweetie," she said. "How's the article coming?"
Rory shook her head. "Nonexistent," she said, gesturing to the book beside her.
Lorelai laughed. "I should've guessed you'd be reading."
She nodded. "Logan called this morning," she said. "He said he's coming over later so we can have a movie night."
Lorelai smiled. "That sounds like fun, you and Logan haven't really had a chance to hang out lately."
Rory nodded again. "Yeah," she said. "It'll be good. I've missed hanging out with Logan," she shrugged. "Being back here, it feels like I'm seventeen all over again."
Lorelai laughed, nodding her head. "It is a little bit like back then. Logan coming over for a movie night."
Rory shrugged. "Yeah, that. But I guess I just meant, being back here for the reasons that I am."
Lorelai sighed. "You mean for Tristan's grandpa's birthday?"
She nodded. "It seems strange doesn't it?" she asked. "I mean, me coming back for this, for him."
"You've known Tristan and Logan for a long, long time Ror. You guys have been friends forever."
Rory bit her lip. "But after everything, after me and Tristan..." she trailed off as if saying his name hurt her.
"Honey, Tristan has been one of your best -"
"He left, mom."
Lorelai nodded. "I know, honey. I know."
Rory cleared her throat, forcing herself not to show tears. "I'm gonna' go shower before Logan gets here, okay?"
"Sure, okay."
She stood up and Lorelia smiled, closing the door behind her as she left.
Rory walked into the bathroom and started the shower. She climbed in, letting the warmth of the water calm her and wash away all of her thoughts. She ran her hands through her hair.
She stayed in the shower for what seemed like hours before exiting the bathroom and making her way back to her bedroom, wrapped tightly in her towel.
She opened her bedroom door and jumped. "Jesus Logan!" she yelled. "You scared the hell out of me," she said. Logan smiled, standing up from his place on her bed.
"What no hug?"
She laughed, throwing her arms around him and pulling him in tight. He let his arms wind around her and hugged her back.
"Oh God, I got you all wet," she said, pulling back.
He shook his head. "No worries," he said and she smiled.
"Okay, let me get dressed and then we can watch the movie."
He nodded. "No hurry," he said, sitting back on her bed and leaning against the pillows. She walked into her closet and changed quickly.
She came out in a few minutes, pulling her pajama t-shirt fully over her stomach. She turned and he looked over at her back. He thought he'd seen that shirt before, and reading the back he knew he'd seen it many a time.
He decided this was the opportunity to bring up the subject he contemplated avoiding all night. "So, Tristan got in today."
Rory paused in what she was doing and nodded. "I figured," she said. Logan nodded.
"Have you talked to him?"
She turned to face him, shaking her head. She set her hairbrush back on her dresser.
"You have to talk to him sometime, Ace," Logan said, meeting her eyes.
Rory shook her head. "No," she said. "I don't actually."
"Rory, come on. It's been two years since you've spoken to him. You have to talk to him sometime."
"Why?" she asked. "Why do I have to talk to him, Logan? Answer me that."
Logan sighed and stood up, walking over to her. "Because you want to," he said softly and Rory shook her head, fighting tears again. "Yes you do, Ace you know you do."
Rory shook her head. "No, Logan. I don't."
Logan sighed, looking down at the floor and then back up at Rory. "You still love him, Ror."
Rory let a few tears slip and roll down her face and shook her head.
"Rory, you still sleep in his t-shirts. You talk to his grandfather once a week and we all know that it's to make sure that he's doing okay," Logan shook his head back at her. "You miss him, and it's okay."
Rory broke down, letting Logan take her into his arms. "I can't do this again, Logan," she whispered. "I can't talk to him. I'll just fall harder, all over again."
Logan let his hand run over her hair and sighed. "I know," he whispered. "It's okay. It's all gonna' be okay."
He held for a while, letting her cry and stroking her hair until she gained control of herself.
"God, look at this. I told myself I wouldn't let him do this to me again, I told myself not to cry over him again."
Logan nodded. "Come on, Ace. Let's watch that movie."
Rory smiled, standing up and nodding.
---
"Rory, come along dear. You promised that you would help with this and there's not a chance your mother is talking your way out of it," Emily Gilmore said, dragging Rory along behind her into the Dugrey mansion to help Stephanie with the plans.
Emily rang the doorbell and Taylor opened it, smiling at Rory and ushering them inside. Once their coats were off and taken Taylor lunged herself at Rory and hugged her.
Rory laughed. "It's good to see you, Tay," she said and Taylor smiled wider.
"It's too see you too," she said.
"Come along, come along girls you can chat while you decorate," Emily said, ushering the two girls into the living room to meet Stephanie.
"Rory, darling how are you?" Stephanie asked, wrapping her in a hug.
She smiled. "I'm fine Stephanie how are you?"
"I'll be wonderful once all this planning is over with," she said smiling. "I'm sure your parents and grandparents are just happy as can be to have you home."
Emily nodded, smiling. "And I'm sure that having Tristan home is just wonderful for you."
Stephanie nodded. "Oh, you have no idea," she said. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere. He should be down before too long."
Rory tensed at the mention of Tristan being in the house and Taylor gave her a reassuring smile. "Rory and I are going to go start outside okay?"
Stephanie nodded, waving the girls off.
"Sorry," Taylor said as they stepped outside. "I tried telling my mom that you and Tristan in the same house might not be a good thing, but she didn't really pay me much attention. She thinks you guys are still on speaking terms."
Rory nodded, gathering that Tristan would have no idea that she was here. "Well I suppose we should get started."
Taylor sighed. "Yeah," she agreed, taking a seat at the small table and grabbing a pen. "Okay, so we're working on the seating arrangement for dinner."
Two hours later, and twenty four seats left to arrange the patio doors opened. The girls, now engulfed in the project, didn't hear it.
Tristan stepped outside, stopping himself as he caught sight of the back of her head. At least, he was almost positive it was her, how could it be anyone else.
He sighed and Taylor looked up, noticing him. She froze, her eyes locked on her brothers.
"Okay, so what about this?" Rory asked, waiting for a response. "Tay? Hello. Taylor..." she stopped, looking up and over to where the other girl was staring.
She met his eyes. They were the same as she'd remembered. That brilliant ice blue that always seemed to warm when he looked at her.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," he said finally and Taylor shrugged. Rory looked away. He stood there for a moment, wondering what he could say to her, and after a minute the words came out before he could stop them. "Can I talk to you?"
Rory looked up, meeting his eyes again. "What could you possibly have to say Tristan?"
He looked away for a minute before meeting her gaze again. "Please?" he tried and she sighed, standing.
She glanced at Taylor who nodded towards her brother and smiled reassuringly again.
Rory followed Tristan back into the house and up the stairs she knew so well, into his bedroom. He let her enter first, closing the door behind them. It was just the way she remembered. She looked to his dresser, noticing the picture and wondering if she should feel as hurt as she did by the fact that he had it upside down.
"How've you been?" he asked and she looked at him again.
"Fine," she shrugged.
He nodded, licking his lips and sighing. "I've read your articles in the Times, they're good."
She shook her head and sighed. "Is this what you want, Tristan? To just make small talk and act like everything is okay?"
He shook his head in confusion. "I don't know what I want Rory. I don't know what you want."
She looked up at him. "You used to," she whispered.
"Mary," he tried but she shook her head.
"Don't, Tristan. Don't do that."
He took a step towards her. "I didn't mean to hurt you," he said. "I would never, ever mean to hurt you Mar. You have to understand that."
She shook her head and this time she didn't fight the tears. "You left, Tristan!"
"I know."
She sighed. "You didn't even say goodbye, you just left!"
He shook his head. "You don't understand."
"Then please, explain it to me!" she yelled. "Tell me why, one minute you're telling me that you love me and that you'll be there and you'll be with me and you can't imagine your life without me and then the next thing I know you're gone!"
Tristan shook his head, fighting his own tears, watching her cry. "I didn't just choose to leave, Rory! I would never have chosen to leave you! I loved you, I still do!"
"Then why did you go, Tristan? From everyone that knows anything about it you just left, you made the choice and you took off. You left me behind and didn't even tell me goodbye."
"I can't," he shook his head in desperation.
"You can't tell me?" she asked. "You've never had to keep anything from me, Tristan! Why now?"
He shook his head. "You have to trust me, Rory. I never would've left if I had the choice. I spent the entire two years that I was away missing you, and wishing you were with me! You have to believe that."
She wiped her eyes. "Then tell me why you left."
He shook his head in desperation. "I can't. All it would do is hurt you. You just have to believe that I never wanted this."
She let out a sob. "I can't. I can't do this again, Tristan. I can't." she shook her head and turned on her heel to the door.
"Rory," she paused. "I love you."
She shook her head. "I love you too," she whispered. "But I can't let you hurt me again."
And with that she walked out, closing the door behind her and running down the stairs and out of the house. She had to get out of there, she had to find Logan. She would deal with her grandmother later.
Tristan collapsed onto his bed and wiped his eyes with his hands, groaning in frustration. Why didn't you just tell her, you idiot. It would've hurt her, he told himself. But she might've understood. If anyone understood, it would be her.