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Chapter 8 - You are Mine
Tristan glanced at his watch as he rang the doorbell to the Hayden mansion. Today had been torture. He must have stopped himself from racing over here about a hundred times. He sighed, and glanced at his watch again, impatiently tapping his foot against the stone steps.
He looked up, as Lorelei opened the large oak door, dressed in an evening gown and he expelled a soft sigh. He had been hoping Rory would open the door, he didn't realize how much until he saw her mother. He tried to hide his disappointment as he smiled at Lorelai.
"Tristan, hi. Are you here to see Ben?"
He nodded in response. "Yeah, is he ready yet?"
Lorelei laughed. "You know Ben, he's still in the shower. You can wait in his room, though."
Tristan nodded, "Thanks." He smiled as Christopher walked in and wrapped an arm around his wife's waist. "Hi, Mr. Hayden." Tristan murmured.
Christopher smiled at Tristan. "Hey, Tristan." He turned to Lorelei, "We should get going, honey. We'll be late."
Lorelei nodded, and turned to Tristan. "Would you tell Ben we probably won't be home until late?"
Tristan nodded. "Of course."
"Wonderful. There's food in the fridge, in case you guys get hungry. Melissa will be on duty until we get home, so she can heat it up for you. Have fun." She smiled as her husband wrapped her coat around her delicate shoulders.
Once they were gone, Tristan made his way up the staircase. As he walked past the bathroom by Ben's room, he heard singing from inside. He shook his head, and kept walking down the hallway. He knew that Ben would be a while yet.
He took a deep breath as he opened the door, and looked inside the spacious bedroom, walking inside. His eyes took in his surroundings, noting all the changes. The last time he had been here, he had been so intent on reaching her, that he hadn't taken note of her room.
Gone were all the photos of them, that had once lined all the shelves and tabletops.
Now they were empty, or replaced with photos of her with her parents and Ben, or Maddy, Louise and Paris. He felt that familiar tightness returning to his chest, and took a deep breath. Walking over to her window seat, he sat down, and sighed. How did we get here, Rory? What happened to us?
Tristan reached into his pocket, and pulled out the locket. He simply stared at it for several moments, lost in memories.
He stood up, courage overtaking him as he walked over to her bed, and hung it on her bedpost. The delicate chain sparkled as he looked at it. He already felt better. The die had been cast when they were children. Their fates were entwined. It was just a matter of time until they found their way back to each other. Tonight, he would take that first step.
He owed her that much.
Several hours later, Tristan was lying on the futon in Ben's room, listening to the steady,even breathing coming from his best friend. He had been lying awake for the past two hours, waiting for Rory to come home. He heard the front door shut, and looked at the clock across the room, it was one o'clock in the morning.
Was that her? He held his breath in anticipation. Several minutes later, he heard her gentle footsteps in the hallway outside Ben's room. He knew it was her, it had to be. He got to his feet, and crept out of the room, not wanting to wake Ben. Gently closing the door, Tristan walked down the hall, to where he saw the light shining from her open doorway.
He looked inside, and found her on the bed, clutching his locket. Tears ran down her face, as she stared at the golden heart.
Tristan felt his breath lodge in his throat as he watched her. "Rory," he said in desperation.
Her head shot up at the sound of his voice. "Tristan? What are you...how did this? What is going on?"
He suppressed a smile, as he walked into the room, and sat next to her on the bed.
"May I?" He said, as he motioned to the locket still clutched in her hand.
Rory nodded and held out her hand to him, slowly opening it. She watched him through tear filled eyes as he took the locket, and gently fastened it around her neck. She looked up at him, "But I thought..."
He smiled down at her, wiping away her tears. "Its always been you, Lorelai Leigh. It always will be."
"But what about Summer?"
"I broke up with her tonight. I don't love her, I never did. She was just away for me to forget you. Because without you, Rory, life is unbearable."
Rory smiled up at him. "Kiss me, DuGrey. I need to remember."
He smiled, before lowering his head, and gently caressing her lips with his own. It was a gentle kiss, but in it held all the love and longing the two of them had suppressed for far too long. He ran his hand gently down her face, feeling her soft skin. He lifted his head, and looked down at her. "Rory, my God, I..."
Rory shook her head at him. "No regrets, Tristan. What happened, happened. We can't change that. But...we can move forward."
Tristan smiled down at her, and kissed her again. He wanted to kiss her forever. He forced himself to pull himself away. "I should go, I don't want Ben to wake up and wonder where I am."
She smiled at him. "Good point."
"We'll talk tomorrow?"
Rory nodded, as he began to walk towards the door.
"Oh, and Rory?"
"Yes?"
"Don't ever take that off again."
Rory laughed. "I promise."
