A Different Version of the Gilmore Girls Part 3

Author: Ice

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the idea. So don't sue. I have nothing.

AN: I know that really Rory's b-day is later than this but I wanted to set it earlier.

Tristan gets home from the Gilmores' a smile on his face. He walks up to his bedroom, not bothering to see if his parents or anyone is home. He looks around his room for a second then sees his Rory Journal. At least that's what he called it when he was little.

Dear Journal,

            Boy, I haven't written in this in a long time. Not since Rory left. Well she came back today. She's in Chilton with me now. Boy was it a surprise when Lorelai asked me for directions. I wasn't sure it was even them. I mean the last time I saw Rory she was what nine? Now she's 15 almost 16.  And boy is she ever beautiful. It made me fall in love all over again. But I've changed since she left. I didn't know why she left, or if she was even ok anymore. Then my parents started fighting more and more, and who did I have to turn to?  I have Grandpa but he can't be bothered with my problems. Rory was gone. I guess I turned inward. Put up a stone wall, with Rory gone and my parents gone half the time, I tried to find love anywhere I could. In the arms of the sluts at school. Man, when Brandi came up to me and Rory after school, I saw Rory's amused look. I saw what she was thinking, "This is shy little Tristan?" I know her too well. But now she's back. I know she'll hear things about me, she'll talk to people, people will talk about her.  But I'm big man on campus now. Not the little lost boy she used to know.

Tristan closed his journal and leaned back against the bed. He wasn't gonna let go that easily again.

            Rory went back into the house and sat on the couch. Lorelai smiled at her.

"You've missed him haven't you?" Rory smiled thinking about all those years that they could have been together. She nodded.

"He seems different though. I mean, at school after I called you this girl came up to him and said she had fun last night. I mean she was an airhead. Not the type of girl I would think Tris would go for."

"Well sweetie. I do agree Tristan has changed. Not the shy little boy he used to be. You've changed too." Rory nodded. She knew. But there was something, something different. Something that just wasn't right with her friend.

~~The Next Day at the Gilmores~~

"Knock Knock!" Tristan opened the door to the house as if he had been picking Rory up for school forever.

"Hey Tris. I'll be ready in a sec."

"Hey Tristan coffee?"

"Of course. You know you two got me addicted to this stuff."

"Then my work here is done. Take him away! Bring another!" Lorelai said to imaginary servants. Rory came out of her room in her Chilton uniform as Lorelai handed Tristan two travel mugs of coffee.

"Mom have you seen my Latin book?" Tristan spies it and thinks of a game they used to play all the time when they were little.

"I spy with my little eye…."Lorelai groans and Rory smiles trying to look annoyed, "something that is Latin." Tristan gives her a smirk.

"Where is it Tristan?"

"Oh oh! I see it too!" Lorelai decides see wants to play. Rory stars walking around the kitchen.

"Colder, colder, warmer, colder."

"You don't see it."

"Yes I do."

"you just said warmer than colder for the same place." Lorelai smiled. Tristan lifts the book over his head and hands it to Rory, smirking.

"A kiss than the book." Rory smiled than jumped and grabbed the book out of his hand. He smiled. "Let's go Mary."

"Bye Mom." Tristan grabbed the coffee off the table and followed Rory out the door.

~~Chitlon~~

After a short 30 minute ride, Rory and Tristan arrived in the school parking lot. They got out of the car. "No way am I missing a Lorelai/Emily Gilmore match. You how long it's been since I've heard one?"  Rory smiled as the walked across the parking lot. Tristan giving short waves to people as they went.

"So your big man on campus now huh?" She nudged him in the ribs. He smirked.

"You jealous that your not getting all my attention Mary?" Rory looked at him.

"No." He smiled at her. They get to her locker. She dialed the combination and tried to get it open.

"Gah. This thing hates me."

"It's only your second day. Here." He banged a spot right about above dial and it popped open. "There. Now I gotta get to homeroom. Save me a seat at lunch?"

"Of course." Rory put her books into her locker as Tristan walked away.
"He's different now you know." Paris Gellar said as Rory closed her locker door. Rory jumped.

"Hello Paris, long time no see."

"He isn't the little shy boy you used to know. You're probably just his next conquest."

"Paris, I know he's different."

"You don't know how different." She walked away without another word. Rory turned to where Tristan was standing with his friends. He looked towards her, and she could see something in his eyes, it looked closed off or something. Something she couldn't explain. He smiled at her, his eyes dancing when she smiled back. He turned back to his friends, flirting with the girls, joking with the guys. Rory shrugged and went into her homeroom.

~~Gilmore Mansion Driveway~~

"Are you sure your ready for this?"

"Of, course. Hey I dealt with my parents didn't I?"

"You're a brave man." Rory giggled and rang the bell. Emily opened the door.

"Rory, Lorelai hi. And who are you?" Tristan was surprised she didn't recognize him.

"Grandma, this is Tristan, Tristan DuGrey." Tristan smirked.

"Tristan?"

"Hello Mrs. Gilmore."

"Well don't just stand there. Hello, hello. Richard! Come see who's here!"

"Well hello girls. Tristan! Is that you?"

"Yes sir."

"Well it's nice to see you again. How is your grandfather?"

"He's doing well thank you sir."  By this time they're in the living room and Richard is getting drinks for himself, Emily and Lorelai.

"Anything Rory? Tristan?"

"A soda please Grandpa."

"Same for me thanks." Tristan said as he and Rory sat on the couch.

"So Rory how is it at Chilton?"

"It's going really well actually. It's tougher then Stars Hollow High."

"But that's the reason your going there right?" Lorelai said taking her drink from her father.

"And what about you Tristan? Where do you go?" Richard asked, handing Tristan his drink.

"Actually I also go to Chilton. That's where Rory and I saw each other again."

"And what are your plans for the future?" Richard went on.

"I'll probably take the business over from my grandfather, once I graduate from either Harvard or Yale."

"Yale. I'm a Yale man myself." Tristan nodded.

"I remember. I also remember that you had a humongous library that Rory would drag me into." They laughed.

"There are so many stormy nights that I would find the two of you curled up in front of the fire. A book in front of you." Lorelai said.

"Dinner is ready Mrs. Gilmore."  A maid came in and said to the group.

"Does Frankie still cook for you Grandma?"

"Frankie? Why no Rory,  He left a while ago." Tristan and Rory looked at each other disappointed.

During the dinner conversation Lorelai studied Tristan and Rory. Tristan was smiling, joking with the rest of them, and Rory was probably the happiest that Lorelai had since her in a long time. Tristan was made for her daughter and she knew it. And from the way Tristan was looking at Rory he knew it. Lorelai wondered how long it would take Rory to realize it.

The rest of the evening was uneventful, much to Tristan's disappointment. Tristan and the Gilmore girls said goodbye to the elder Gilmores and walked out to their cars.

"Bye Tristan. You coming for a movie night tomorrow?" Lorelai asked him.

"Yeah. Sure. I mean if I have nothing in my calendar." Rory smacked his arm playfully.

"He'll come." They said good bye and Tristan and the Gilmores drove out of  the driveway.

~~Later that night~~

"Sweetie don't stay up to late."

"I got to do this research for Monday."

"Ok. I'm going to bed." Lorelai left Rory's room and made her way upstairs, leaving Rory to surf the net.

An IM popped up on her screen.

Ladyluck1983: Hi Mary.

BookLuver321: Hi Tris.

LadyLuck1983: So tonight was interesting

BookLuver321:With my mother and grandmother you expected different?

LadyLuck1983: ::laughs:: I suppose not.

BookLuver321: what time are you coming over tomorrow?

Ladyluck1983: I suppose…I could come by around 10 and you could show me around your town, and then have the movie night with your mom.

BookLuver321: 10? Way to early. Try 12:30. We'll meet you at Luke's?

LadyLuck1983: That's the place with the hardware store sign right?

BookLuver321: ::nods::

LadyLuck1983: Will do.

Pause

BookLuver321: You need a new SN u realize that?

LadyLuck1983: Y?

BookLuver321: Because this one makes you sound like you're a girl. :P

LadyLuck1983: Oh really? And what do you suggest my new one should be?

Right before Rory was about to reply another IM came up on the screen.

Chicago311: Rory?

BookLuver321: This would be?

Chicago311: It's Dean. From the other day? Lane gave me your SN. I hope you don't mind.

BookLuver321: No I don't mind J

Rory clicks back to her conversation with Tristan.

BookLuver321: I don't know let me think about it. I'll talk to you tomorrow?

LadyLuck1983: will do. Bye.

Tristan logs off and Rory goes back to her conversation with Dean.

~~~Next Day~~

"Wake up my lovely offspring!" Lorelai said happily as she bounced into Rory's room.

"Agghh." Rory groaned from her bed. Lorelai jumped onto Rory's bed and laid down next to her.

"So what time did the clicking stop last night?"

"About 2. I was talking to someone."

"Who Tristan?" Lorelai said suggestively.

"No. Dean. The new kid at SHH." Rory rolled over and Lorelai looked at her. Shocked.

"Oh. Well what are the plans for today?"

"Tristan's meeting us at Luke's at 12:30."

"Well considering it's 11:00 I'd say you have to get a move on."  Rory slowly got out of bed and pushed her mother out of the room so she could get dressed.

~~Luke's Half an Hour later~~

"Luke.."

"No coffee."

"Please."

"No."

"Luke please." Rory smiled at the banter and sat at a table, looking out the window. Dean was walking by. She waved and he walked up the steps to the diner.

"Hi Dean."

"Hi Rory. What's up?"

"Nothing. Me and my mom are just meeting a friend of mine here."

"Cool. So you able to do something today?" Rory looked at him.

"No sorry. We're gonna show him around till my mom has to go to work. Maybe after that the three of us could get together." Dean smiled.

"Yeah maybe. By the way tell Miss Patty thanks for the help with the job. I'm working at Doose's Market."

"Ok will do." Tristan walks in and waves to Rory. Dean sort of nods and says to Rory, "I'll see you later." Dean walks away.

"So Rory, who was that?" Tristan couldn't help but feel a little jealous as he saw the guy say goodbye to Rory.  Rory smiled shyly. "That was Dean. A friend from school. My old school."

"Oh." Tristan looked up to the counter where Lorelai was still fighting Luke for coffee.

"So that's Luke."

"That's Luke. Hey Luke! Can we have two burgers and fries and a plate of onion rings? You still love onion rings right?"

"Only in private." Rory looked at him her eyes getting wide.

"Tristan!" He smirked.  Lorelai made her way over to the table, a cup of coffee triumphantly in her hand.

"You stole that when Luke went to put in our orders didn't you." Tristan said to her.

"You two know me to well."  Luke came over to the table with three plates of burgers, fries and a plate of onion rings to share.

"Where'd you get that?" Lorelai sipped her coffee, "Who are you?"

"Tristan. This is Luke. Luke this is Tristan. A friend from Chilton."

"Hey how ya doing."

"Hi."  Luke walks away.

"He's nice." Tristan said sarcastically.

"Oh he's a big teddy bear." Lorelai said loud enough for Luke to hear. He grunted.

"So what's up for today?"

"Well Mom. You're going to work and then we'll meet you back at the house at 6:00 to have movie night."

"Ok." Tristan looked between Rory and her mother. He was glad to be back in their lives. They finished their meals and Tristan followed Rory and Lorelai outside.

"Ok I'll see you in about 30 minutes at the inn. Have fun." Lorelai walked away leaving the two at the gazebo.

"Ok. So where to first?"

"Umm…let's see. You've seen Luke's, the most important. We'll hit Doose's market to get the junk food later, so umm…giant slinky?"

"You have a giant slinky?"

"Yes, yes we do."

"I've got to see that." They walked off to the giant slinky.

~~Independence Inn~~

"Michel, please answer the phone."
 "Why should I? People are always asking for rooms we already have booked up. They just won't let go." Lorelai gives him a look.

"Michel answer the phone." Lorelai goes into the kitchen as the Michel finally answers the phone.

"Sookie coffee?"

"Uh. Yeah over there. Ow."

"You ok?"

"Yeah…I put my hand on the stove again."  Michel walks into the kitchen.

"Lorelai. Your daughter is here and she has a man with her who insist on coming into the kitchen?"

"A man?" Sookie looked interested.

"It's Tristan you know the one I told you about?"

"Oh. Yeah."

"What should I do with them?"

"They're allowed back here and you know it."  Michel hmphs out of the kitchen and in a few minutes Rory and Tristan walk in.

"Hi Mom! HI Sookie. Oh. Sookie this is Tristan. Tristan, Sookie."

"Very nice to meet you." Tristan said kissing the back of Sookie's hand. Rory playfully punched him.

"You to Tristan. Would you and Rory like some chocolate fudge brownies for your movie night tonight?"

"Thanks Sookie!"

"So you kids have seen the sights?"

"Yep. The shed, Al's Pancake world." Tristan said.

"The giant slinky?" Tristan laughed and Rory gave him an evil glare.

"What it's not my fault you got stuck inside." Lorelai and Sookie looked at each other. They probably didn't want to know.

"So now I'm showing him the inn and we're off to Taylor's and the video store."

"You know one of these days we should just buy all the movies." Rory smiled. Tristan loved her smile. The softness and calmness it sent out.

"Ok so off to the Video store."

~~Doose's Market~~

"Mom's gonna kill us for not getting Willy Wonka." Rory said walking into Doose's Market.

"No she won't trust me. You guys owe me Back to the Future. And I seem to remember her having a certain crush on Michael J. Fox?"

"True. But still. All three of them?"

"You guys owe me. Next time you can pick." They walked to the candy aisle where Dean was stocking selves.

"I'm gonna go get soda Ror. You want anything?" Tristan said not seeing Dean stocking on the bottom self.  Rory shook her head. Tristan walked towards the drinks.

"Hey Rory." Dean said as soon as Tristan was out of earshot.

"Dean. Hi. How are you?"

"Fine. You here with your boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend? Tristan? No. He's just a friend from school." Dean smiled.

"Oh. Ok. So what are you doing tonight?"

"Movie night with Tristan and my mom."

"Oh. You doing anything tomorrow?"

"I don't know. I'll call you ok?"

"Ok." Dean wrote his number on a piece of paper as Tristan stood in the next aisle listening, heartbroken. No Rory wasn't his girlfriend but still.

"Hey Rory you ready?" Tristan had come around the corner.

"Uh yeah. Tristan this is Dean. Dean this is Tristan." They both eyed each other and shook hands. Neither liked the other. Rory and Tristan went to the front counter to pay for the candy.  When they were ready Tristan said, "Back to your house?" Rory nodded and they crossed the street to Luke's where Tristan's 2003 black convertible Mustang GT was parked. They climbed into the car and drove home.

~~Gilmore's House~~

"Rory what were you thinking? Letting him get all three back to the futures?"

"Michael J. Fox, Lorelai." Lorelai looked at Tristan and frowned.

"You have to good a memory." Tristan smirked.  The doorbell rang.

"I got it." Tristan said getting up from the couch. He opened the door.

"Ok Hi. How much do I owe you?" Tristan asked the delivery boy.

"Umm.." The guy paused causing Tristan to look up. It was Dean.

"Looks like Bag Boy is delivery boy too." Tristan smirked.

"12.75 plus tip." Dean growled. Tristan took out his money and paid Dean with no tip. Dean handed him the food and Tristan said thank you and closed the door.
 "Food's here!" He called to the rest of the house.