Disclaimer: Rory's job takes her to North Carolina, and her first assignment is to interview one injured soldier. She walks into that army base expecting to get her first story, but that's not all she gets, right? This is a Trory! :)

As soon as the words flew out of his mouth, Rory launched herself at him. Tristan was so surprised by the fact, even more by the arms that surrounded him enveloping him in a tight hug, that it took him a second to hug her back. And men, it felt good. When he learned that the reporter interviewing Ryan was one Rory Gilmore, his curiosity was picked. It has been ages since he thought about her. He wondered if she still had the ability to take his breath away, like she used to. Or if she had thought about him at all. After all, when he left Chilton, they were somewhat friends. He didn't know if she would remember him or recognize him. Well, it seems as thought she remembered him just fine, judging from this hug.

He knew that he shouldn't prolong it, especially with his men watching, but at the same time, he wasn't ready to let go of her. He didn't even noticed the moment when he closed his eyes, but he caught himself just in time, before sniffing her hair. Damn. He looked around just in time to see Justin poking Ryan in the arm, and motioning to him with his head. Fuck. He thought. Now he would have to deal with the thousands of questions he knew that Justin would ask. I really shouldn't have told him about her, back in Military School. But how the hell should I know that I would see her again, or that Justin would get the chance to meet her too one day.

Rory was slow to acknowledge the fact that they were not alone. Justin and Ryan were looking absolutely flabbergasted, trying really hard not to smile at the sight of the two of them hugging, and failing miserably. She slowly stepped back, looked at the two soldiers and smiled. She didn't miss the glint in Justin's eyes, but couldn't imagine what was that all about.

"No introduction needed, boys." She started, then look at Tristan again and continued. "I always wondered what happened to you, after you were send to Military School. I just never thought that you would make a living out of it, Captain DuGrey." He could hear the pride in her voice, in the way she said his title. The way he always waited to hear from this parents, but never did. "I guess now I don't have to wonder anymore..." She finished.

"Well, Mary, I can honestly say I wasn't expecting to see you here, in North Carolina. Last I heard you were breaking hearts in Hartford and following President Obama around the country." Tristan said. "Imagine my surprise, when I went back to my parents home after my first tour, and the word in the streets was of one Rory Gilmore turning down a mighty Huntzberger to follow the campaign trail..."

"Well, if you'd bothered to listen carefully, you'd know that one thing had nothing to do with the other. And Logan wasn't a Mighty Huntzberger..." Rory replied, annoyed. She really was not in the mood to discuss Logan with him. Why do people couldn't get that she was over him already. "And it's none of anyone's business what happened in our private lives... And for the record, it's Rory. Not Mary. You should know it by now."

Now, that really made him smile. He didn't even notice that he was not the only one smiling at the commentary. Justin looked like a kid in a candy store, listening to the two of them bantering.

"Now, see, that's the Rory Gilmore I remembered. I was wondering how many times it would take it for you to chew me out for calling you Mary, Mary." Tristan baited her, one more time.

This time, Rory ignored him, turned to the two soldiers that were watching the banter back and forth with amusement, and said with a frown: "Don't you two have anything to do here? Besides watching your Captain behave like a 16 year old boy?"

Boy, she really hasn't changed a bit. Still the same bossy, easy to rile, beautiful small town girl. Tristan thought. Then it dawned on him that his two friends were having a field day, watching him make a fool of himself in front of her. Heck, they were having a field day watching their Captain make a fool of himself, period. Okay, time to stop that, he told himself.

"Well, if you two don't mind, I'll escort Miss Gilmore back to her car, so she can be on her way. I'm sure if she needs anything more for her article, she knows where to find it, right? So, let's get going, shall we?" And continued, placing his hand in the small of her back, and guiding them to the door. "Looking good, today, Ryan. This round of physical therapy is going smoother than the last, right? Justin, don't follow me." He told, pointedly, his best friend. "Have a good day, boys."

And with that, Tristan dismissed the men and left the room with Rory. He figured he had at least a couple of minutes before Justin figured out who Rory Gilmore really was, if he didn't already.

Tristan escorted Rory back to the car, wondering if he should ask for her number. The two of them were walking in silence, both lost in their memories of their Chilton years. She really did grow up very nicely, Tristan thought, looking at the more sophisticated version of the girl that haunted his dreams for so long... "So..." he started, not really knowing what to say, now that they were alone.

"So... " Rory copied him, but smiling lightly. "I don't know about you, but I was glad to see you, Tristan. You look good. All grown up, especially in this uniform!" She said, checking him out. "I think I'd like to know how did you go from that boy who was kicked out of school for breaking into a safe to being Captain DuGrey."

"Why, Miss Gilmore, are you asking me out? After all this years you finally succumbed to my charm? I think I really have to revisited my nickname for you..." he smirked.

"Shut up, Tristan. " Rory said, exasperated. She was beginning to think that this wasn't a really good idea. But she didn't know anyone in North Carolina, and having a friend here would be really nice. Even if it had to be Tristan.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry! I guess old habits die hard!" he said. "But sure, it would be nice to hear the tales of one Rory Gilmore. I seem to be missing lots of pieces from the puzzle that is your current life. So, I heard you're living in Durham, now?"

"Yep. Almost a week now. But grandma made it look like as if I've been living here half my life. Here," she said, taking her card out of her purse "this is my new card, with my phone number and address. Feel free to stop by anytime!"

And with one last look, she got into the car and left a dumbfolded Tristan looking at the card in his hands. Damn. This really wasn't the girl I was expecting. He though. The Rory Gilmore I knew would never have invited me over like that. He stopped dead in his tracks. Is this a date? That's never happened before. No. It wasn't a date. Couldn't be. Does she thinks it is a date? God, I'm getting to old for that...