Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and criticized. You helped me write a better story, at least I hope you think so. This chapter should answer the questions I've failed to answer previously: Luke and Lorelai are together (not married) and Jess views Rory as a sister now, although he isn't present in this chapter. Logan, Finn and Colin all come back! Please forgive me for not updating for so long. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think of it, and please be kind!
Things Are Looking Up
Unlocking her door, Rory tested the lights and was grateful when they came on. Apparently the superintendant had had them fixed sometime during the day. Tossing her purse on the table near the entranceway, she kicked off her borrowed shoes and headed into the living room. There, she paused. Was she mistaken, or was that a tattered duffel bag on her carpet?
Also, a pair of men's socks encasing a man's feet were propped up on her coffee table. She followed the strong and lean legs in jeans up to a solid chest and pair of shoulders, which connected to a tanned neck. This all led up to a clenched jaw, blazing blue eyes and slightly damp hair. Stunned, Rory couldn't think of what to say. But Tristan could.
"Good evening, Cinderella. Which prince did you skip out to tonight?" His voice was deep and even, but all the more intimidating for it. He folded strong arms across his chest and said, "I'm waiting."
Finally Rory managed to squeak something out. "Oh dear."
****************
Tristan nodded fiercely. "Indeed. Want to tell me where you were?"
Rory's back stiffened at the demand in his voice. He kissed her before he left, they talked on the phone and now he thought he had the right to know her whereabouts? She could feel the fun of the evening draining out of her and it infuriated her. The spirit of past women's libbers descended on her and she squared off with Tristan.
"You don't get to ask where I was. You don't get to have me sit at home like an inflatable doll waiting for you to call and tell me when we're going to go out. You haven't earned that right. So get out of my apartment, now!" Rory grabbed his duffel bag and threw it into the hall, followed by his shoes and laptop case.
"Wait a minute-" Tristan began, standing up, but Rory ignored him. Digging her finger into his chest, she began to rant and push him out the door.
"No, Tristan. We kissed before you left and you told me how you felt, but we never actually decided what we were to each other. And now, seeing what you would expect of me in an actual relationship, maybe we shouldn't be in one. Now, I'm tired and ready for bed and I want you out of my apartment. So, good-bye." Rory slammed the door in his stunned face, which gave her an immensely satisfying feeling.
Staring at the wooden door, Tristan fought back his instincts that demanded he let himself in again and make Rory listen to him. He obviously hadn't thought carefully about what he was doing when he had confronted Rory like that. He deserved being thrown out on his rear-end like that.
He kept reminding himself of that as he slowly gathered his stuff up and headed to his own apartment. The rage was still coursing through his veins and needed to be controlled. Tomorrow, Tristan promised himself as he lay down on his bed, they would straighten this whole thing out.
The Next Day, at the Chronicle…
"Rory Gilmore," Rory said as she answered her phone. Her fingers continued typing rapidly as she concentrated on meeting her deadline.
"In omnia paratus!" Voices sang over the extension. Rory grinned and leaned back in her chair. "Hello, all. In omnia paratus. Who is this?" She heard a brief struggle over the phone before someone started speaking.
"Hey Ace," Logan continued speaking but Rory's breath had caught in the back of her throat. She and Logan had made up and kept in touch via e-mail now, but it had been a long time since she had actually spoken with the man who had been such a major part of her life. "It's the Life and Death Brigade. We're organizing a reunion because most of us happen to be in New York right now and we thought that, since you were an honorary member in college, you might like to meet up with us."
"Blindfolded or am I to be trusted this time?"
He laughed as he remembered her first experience with the LDB. "No blindfold, but bring your gorilla mask just in case. We'll get the rest of the information to you soon. And no one else, just you. See you soon Ace."
She said good-bye and smiled wistfully as she hung up the phone. Seeing Logan again would be great, even if she did regret the way things had ended between them.
"Rory, was that a personal call?" Gary asked as he looked over her shoulder. Startled, she swiveled in her chair.
"Um, yes and no," she answered, thinking fast.
"How so?"
Scrambling, Rory grasped onto an idea. "When I was at Yale, I did an expose on the Life and Death Brigade and sort of became an unofficial member. That was some of the members, who are getting ready to form a reunion and I thought I could write a piece about nepotism in clubs."
"Nepotism in clubs?" Gary repeated, looking interested now. He leaned against her desk and indicated that she should continue. Warming to her subject, Rory did.
"Well, at Chilton Preparatory School, I learned that Sandra Day O'Conner was part of a sorority and she helped others who were part of that same sorority get internships and such. I thought that now would be a good time to see where the members of the Life and Death Brigade are and if they have their positions because of their participation in this secret society."
Gary raked a hand through his hair. "Sounds good, go with it. Finish up those two pieces you have and then get to work on it."
"Alright, thanks Gary." Rory smiled and turned to face her computer again. The articles only needed a little fine-tuning, so she quickly wrapped them up and sent them off. She gathered her things and stopped at Kat's desk.
"Hey, how did things work out with Calvin last night?" Kat stretched backwards and smiled slyly.
"He was wonderful. He's a masseuse at Higher Nirvana in Manhattan. He's got magnificent hands." Rory laughed at the well pleased look on her face.
"Do you have time to grab dinner with me? I finished up my articles early." Kat agreed and grabbed her purse. The two headed over to the Greek deli, ordered and sat down with their sandwiches.
"So, spill. What happened between you and Tristan last night?"
"What makes you think anything happened?" Rory demanded as she chewed her pickle. Kat laughed as she picked up her pastrami on rye.
"You both came into the office looking upset, although he looked unhappier than you, and neither of you have looked at each other all day. So, give."
Rory filled her in on the unexpected visit last night and how it had ended. "I still don't know how he got into my apartment. I'm going to have to have the locks changed."
Kat snickered as she imagined the scene. "I can just see your face when you walked in and saw him. And oh my word, his when you threw him out must have been priceless!"
"He seemed to be contemplating how best to dispose of my body." A popular song filled the restaurant as Kat's phone went off. Apologizing to Rory, she answered it only to have her smile wiped from her face. "Ten minutes," she snapped as she quickly got up to leave.
"What's going on?"
"Shooting in the Village. Gotta go. Have a good night!" Kat called over her shoulder as she left the restaurant. Rory waved to her back and then left herself. After letting herself into her apartment she found a note that had been slid under the door.
Webster Hall - Midnight Tonight
P.S. Wear the Gift
Just like the LDB, Rory thought as she answered the buzzer. "Yes?"
"I have a delivery for a Rory 'Ace' Gilmore?"
"From who?"
"A Mr. Logan Huntzburger."
"Come on up." She buzzed him in and grabbed a tip. Opening the door, she was surprised to see not a delivery man but Tristan standing there holding a large white box with a blue bow.
"What are you doing here?" Tristan shouldered his way in and negligently tossed the box onto the sofa.
"I told the delivery man you were expecting me and would take the box up to you myself. I also gave him a very large tip so he wouldn't question me too hard." He jerked his head towards the box. "Secret admirer? I didn't see a card."
"No, I know who it's from. Can I help you with something?" Rory tucked the money she had had out for the delivery man away and picked up the box. Tristan continued to stand with his hands tucked deeply into his jeans.
"Go ahead, open it. I don't mind."
"No, I'll wait. What do you want Tristan?"
"I want to clear up this misunderstanding between us. Did you think that I meant 'let's be friends' when I kissed you before I left? I thought I had made myself clear as to my intentions towards you."
Rory crossed her arms and glared at him. "You said that you wanted me and that you planned to, quote, 'come after me'. I was never given a chance to respond on how I felt about this."
"You kissed me back!"
"But I don't want to just jump into a serious relationship here! We don't know each other anymore, I doubt we ever really knew each other before! We need time to just date, or be friends at least, before you can let yourself into my apartment and demand to know where I've been. I will not be taken for granted, do you understand me?"
Tristan rubbed his jaw irritably. "How was I taking you for granted?"
"By assuming that just because you declared your intentions towards me, you would be the main focus in my life. I enjoyed our phone conversations, maybe we can go back to doing that, or e-mail. We just need to back up."
"Back up?" Tristan looked incredulous. "Rory, I don't want to be friends. I told you-"
"And I'm trying to tell you something but you're not listening. You seem all ready to jump into a relationship with me. Now, I'm flattered but I did just get out of a messy relationship and I haven't had nearly as much time to think about this as you have. And, I have to be blunt here, I'm clearly not as involved as you are." Hurt flashed across Tristan's face and stung Rory, but she needed to make this clear to him. "We need time, Tristan, or else this will never work. Just give me time to get used to the whole thing, okay?"
Tristan paced angrily for a minute before he once again faced her. "Alright, but with some rules set up. We don't date other people."
"Fine, agreed."
"We talk on the phone and we e-mail each other weekly. I don't know when you'll feel ready to start actually dating me, so you'll have to make the first move." Rory nodded. Weary, Tristan turned towards the door before he seemed to remember something and turned around again. "Can I ask you what's with the box?"
"Sure. Some of my old college friends and I are getting together tonight and we normally have themes. This is probably my costume." He nodded, smiled and left.
Rory felt tired herself after that face-off but she knew it was better to have gotten it over and done with. Sighing a little, she tore the top of the box off and was surprised into laughter. Inside was a costume from the twenties, complete with a feather boa and wig. She lifted the dress out of the box and was surprised to find that it fit perfectly. How did they always get the right sizes for her?
She stretched to answer the phone as it rang, still marveling at the dress. "Hello?"
"Hey, honey, how are you?" Lorelai asked on the other end.
"I'm fine Mom. How's Luke?"
"He's ranting in the kitchen about some new threat to the environment from corporations. And he's cooking some delicious smelling burgers. What are you doing?"
"I'm getting ready to go to a Life and Death Brigade party."
"Really? At Yale?"
"Nope, the old group is apparently in New York and they invited me to come and meet them. It's a twenties theme. My dress is pretty, black and teal. I've even got a teal feather boa."
"But, Rory, what about Logan? Won't he be there?" The worry in Lorelai's voice warmed Rory. It was comforting to know her mother cared so much about her.
"Yes, he will be there. But we've been e-mailing each other and I think it should go well. Besides, I'm going to be getting a story out of it." Rory glanced at her watch and cut off her mother. "Sorry, but I've got to go if I'm going to be ready on time."
"Okay honey, call me tomorrow at the Dragonfly and let me know how it went."
"I will. Love you, bye!"
"Love you too." The next few hours were hectic as Rory showered, blow-dried her hair, pinned it underneath the waved wig, wiggled into the Gatsby dress and heels, did her make-up and grabbed a coat. She should just make it in time if traffic was obliging. Right when she had grabbed her purse to leave, her buzzer went off.
"Who is it?" she questioned breathlessly.
"In omnia paratus!" An inebriated Australian called out. "Darling, come out and join us! We've the best in drinks this side of the Atlantic!"
"The Atlantic is only a mile east, you idiot." Colin corrected. Apparently Finn was simply leaning against the buzzer and Rory could hear everything going on. Laughing delightedly, she locked her door and rode the elevator impatiently down to join her friends.
As she appeared on the sidewalk, she saw Finn still talking into the intercom, singing to her now. "Over here!" she called out. The group turned to her and whooped loudly. She was hugged, kissed on the cheek and at one point suffered a kiss drenched in alcohol. And it was only 11:30. Rory was released from one set of arms and stumbled to a halt in front of her old love. His brown eyes warmed as they rested on her face.
"Hello, Ace," he said softly as he opened his arms to her.
Author's Note: Sorry Sorry Sorry. Slight cliffhanger here but I'm writing the party scene next. I did want to bring Logan back because he was such an integral part of Rory's life. Even if he did say it was all or nothing in season 7, Rory is a Gilmore girl and no gets over a Gilmore girl. Please, review and please be nice! I hope you enjoyed it.
