A/N: Oh wow I haven't updated this story since January! I'm sorry about that! I'm not sure how long this chapter will be as I have a broken thumb and I can only see out of one eye but hey at least I'm getting you an update!
Disclaimer: I don't own GG!
~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~
Tristan woke up early and took a quick shower and then dressed for his first day back at Chilton. After making sure that he had everything he would need for the day he grabbed his car keys and then headed out of his bedroom and down the steps. He normally would get some coffee to drink but he was in too much of a hurry. After seeing that it was six thirty he walked out of his house and to his car. After throwing his back pack in the backseat he jumped in the drivers seat and started his car and then pulled out of the driveway. He wanted to get to Rory's to make sure that she was still okay after the day she had yesterday.
~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~
Rory had just finished getting dressed and brushing her hair when she heard a knock on her front door. She tensed up because she wasn't sure who it was that was knocking. "Mom can you get that?"
Lorelai who had just popped her head into Rory's room to make sure she was almost done getting ready smiled. "Of course I can mini me. I'll let you know if it's Tristan."
Rory rolled her eyes. "I don't understand why I just couldn't take the bus today."
Lorelai shook her head. "Honey it is simple why you couldn't take the bus. We didn't want to take the chance of Dean trying to corner you. Now hurry up while I go see who is at the door."
Rory nodded and finished packing her books in her school bag and then she let out a breath she hadn't been aware she had been holding when she heard Tristan say "Good morning Lorelai. Is Rory ready?"
She chuckled and grabbed up her bag and walked out of her bedroom and into the living room just in time to hear her Mom said "She should be ready any second now Tristan."
She shook her head and said "I'm ready."
Tristan looked over at Rory and said "Good morning Mary. Did you sleep okay last night?"
Rory rolled her eyes but nodded. "Actually I did sleep very well last night. Thank you for asking. Do we have time to go over to Luke's to get some coffee before we head to school?"
Tristan laughed and nodded. "Yes we do. That is actually why I'm here so early. I didn't take the time to drink a cup of coffee before coming here. So I wouldn't mind getting a cup from Luke's."
Rory smiled and then laughed as Lorelai bounced up and down on her heels and said "Let me get my purse and I'll go with you two. I need some coffee also. Are we walking over or driving over?"
Tristan lifted an eyebrow and said "Why don't we walk over? We still got another half an hour before we have to leave to make it to school."
Rory nodded and said "Can I put my bag in your car though?"
Tristan held out his hand and said "Give me your bag and I'll put it in my car. Come out with your Mom when she is ready."
Rory smiled and handed her bag over and then watched as Tristan walked out to his car before turning to look at her Mom. "He really has changed in the last eighteen months."
Lorelai smiled and said "It seems as if he has hon. At least I know he'll keep you safe. If you need me for any reason today call me. I'm going to call Headmaster Charleston and let him know about Dean."
Rory sighed and said "Mom do you have to?"
Lorelai nodded her head. "You know I do honey. I don't want a repeat of yesterday."
Rory sighed again but nodded and then said "Well lets get going. This should be interesting."
Lorelai smiled and grabbed her purse and then followed Rory out of the house. She stopped long enough to make sure that the door was locked and then walked down the path and over to where Tristan was standing with his arm around Rory's shoulder. She couldn't help but think that maybe just maybe something good would come out of the bad that is happening to Rory right now. "Alright kids lets go get some coffee."
Tristan laughed but followed Lorelai as she led the way. As they were walking through the town he saw Dean and he tightened his hold on Rory slightly even as he shot Dean a glare. Once they reached Luke's he let out a sigh of relief that Dean hadn't tried to come up to them. "Alright Rory get inside please."
Rory looked over at Tristan and then when she looked over his shoulder she saw Dean glaring their way and she nodded and said "I'm going but you're coming to. Please Tristan?"
Tristan sighed but nodded. "I'm coming in to. Come on lets get some coffee so we can head to school."
Rory nodded and pulled open the door followed by her Mom and then Tristan. She walked over to the counter and sat down. "Hey Luke can we get three cups of coffee please?"
Luke shook his head and said "That stuff is bad for you."
Rory sighed and said "Please Luke? After the day I had yesterday I am in some serious need of coffee."
Luke looked at Rory questioningly and then his eyes widened when he saw Tristan sit down on Rory's right side. "What is he doing here?"
Tristan met Luke's eyes and said "I'm here to make sure Rory gets to school with no problem. Dean has been harassing her and he hurt her yesterday."
Luke's mouth dropped open and he looked at Rory. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have taken care of Dean."
Rory shook her head. "I thought I was doing just fine on my own til yesterday. Now can we please have some coffee so Tristan and eye can head to school soon."
Luke nodded and quickly poured three cups of coffee and placed them in front of Lorelai, Rory and Tristan and when Tristan pulled his wallet out to pay he shook his head and said "You saved Rory so it's on the house."
Tristan looked at Luke in surprise but nodded. He quickly drank his coffee like Rory did and then he looked back at Luke. "Can Rory and I get a cup of coffee to go please?"
Luke nodded and then poured coffee in two to go cups and gave them to Tristan. "You two be careful."
Tristan nodded and looked Luke in the eyes. "I will not let anything happen to Rory."
Luke nodded and then watched as Tristan wrapped his arm around Rory's shoulder and guided her out of the diner. He then looked at Lorelai with a raised eyebrow. "When did that happen?"
Lorelai chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not even sure if they both realize what is happening. It's going to be interesting to watch it all unfold."
Luke nodded and then said "Is Rory really alright?"
Lorelai sighed. "I don't know but what I do know is that Tristan will make sure that she is."
~/~/~/~/~/~/~/~
Once Tristan had Rory in his car and he was in the drivers seat and driving he looked at her and said "Are you sure you're okay?"
Rory sighed but nodded. "I'm sure that I'm fine Tristan. You do realize that with us both showing up at school together is going to cause everyone to talk don't you?"
Tristan shrugged his shoulders and then shot a quick look at Rory before looking back at the road again. "I don't really care if it does or not. Do you?"
Rory smiled and shook her head. "In the past I probably would have but now no I don't care. If they are talking about me they are leaving someone else alone.
Tristan laughed and took a hand off the wheel and grabbed one of Rory's hands in his. He couldn't get enough of touching her and he couldn't believe that she was allowing him to. He couldn't help but wonder what it all meant for him and for them.
When they pulled into the school parking lot ten minutes later he parked next to Paris's car and then smiled when he saw Paris, Madeline, Louise, Daniel and Joesph all waiting on him and Rory. He got out of the car and grabbed his and Rory's bag and then went around and helped Rory out of the car. He smiled down at her and bent his head and kissed her cheek. "It looks like our friends are waiting."
Rory looked over and saw the group and smiled as she sent them all a wave. She grabbed Tristan's hand in her own and then led the way over to their friends.
She didn't even realize that she had Tristan's hand in hers until Louise squealed and said "Oh my God look they are holding hands!"
A/N 2: *chuckles* Well that was longer than I thought it would be... *grins* Only the beginning went as I planned! Click the button and let me know what you think!
