Sugar and Spice: The More Things Change
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Chapter Eight: The More We Learn

"Hey babe," Lorelai said, answering a call from Christa, "Tell me you're calling to say you're coming to see me this weekend." She knew she couldn't expect the girls to come home every weekend, but she liked to see them as often as possible.

"Yes, but it's a flying visit," Christa told her, "I'm heading to Hartford tonight to have dinner with Straub and Francine. I have to be back in New Haven tomorrow night since Logan is having a party and I'm helping plan it. So I have to be back late afternoon, but I thought I'd come down to Stars Hollow for lunch and then head back."

"First week back and already a big party, that's my girl," Lorelai commented, "I'm surprised you're coming down at all." Christa wasn't obligated to attend Friday Night dinners like Rory was, so she didn't actually have to come to Hartford at all, if she didn't want to.

"I wanted to see Straub," Christa told her softly.

"I can understand that," Lorelai said softly. She knew that Christopher's father was sick and while she had many issues with the man, she felt bad because he was still Christa's grandfather. "Are you going to see your dad while you're there?" She knew things were better between Chris and Christa now that Chris was living in Hartford, but Christa still hated Sherri, which made things awkward.

"Nope, Dad left today for California and he's gone for 10 days," Christa told her.

"You're not going to stop in and visit Sherri?" Lorelai teased.

She could practically hear Christa rolling her eyes. "No. Francine mentioned that the nanny was bringing Gigi over tomorrow morning, so I should get to see her at least."

"The nanny," Lorelai mused, "Sherri doesn't like your grandparents?"

"Other way around," Christa commented, "you know how Straub and Francine are. They aren't impressed that Dad had another baby without being married and they don't like the fact that Sherri won't set a wedding date. Plus, some things were said when I decided to live with them instead of staying in Boston with Dad and things between them and Sherri have never recovered. So, Dad comes on his own without Sherri or Gigi comes by with the Nanny."

Lorelai was quiet, she didn't know the details about what had been said between Sherri, Chris and the Haydens at the time, but she could guess. The Haydens were very protective of Christa, which was one of their few good qualities. She would never like the Haydens or forgive them for the way they'd treated Rory, but she was grateful to them for all they had done for Christa, including giving her a safe place where she felt at home. Plus, it was oddly gratifying to know that they hated Sherri too.

"I can't wait to see you," she told her daughter, changing the subject, "Rory's coming home too." She knew the girls had made up their fight, though Rory was lamenting that Christa was super busy.

"I know," Christa commented, "she texted me. I've been super wrapped up with Colin this week and been a bit of a bad twin."

"How is Colin?" Lorelai asked.

"He's good," Christa told her, "he's pretty much the same as ever. Actually, my car is acting a little funny, so I'm getting it looked at—"

"Hopefully not at the dealership," Lorelai interrupted, "they rip you off."

"I know. Colin knows a guy who specializes in sports car," Christa assured him, "but he's in Hartford, so I'm dropping my car off with him, one of the reasons I'm coming down this weekend, but it means I'll be carless until sometime next week. So Colin is playing chauffer. His mom wanted to see him in anyway, since she hasn't seen him in a year, so he's visiting her tonight. He's going to drive me to Stars Hollow tomorrow, he wants to check out the Dragonfly, actually. I've been telling him about it."

"The Dragonfly isn't exactly what he's used to." Lorelai commented a little self-consciously, remembering that Colin's family was in the hotel business. Big, luxury hotels; nothing like her small operation.

"Colin knows that," Christa said quietly, "but he's still interested in seeing the set-up. He'd never admit it to his dad, but he loves the hotel business and I think he's looking forward to talking shop to someone without having to pretend to be bored."

Lorelai could actually appreciate that. Mostly because she hated admitting that she enjoyed anything her mother wanted her to. Plus, it probably wouldn't hurt to get to know Colin better since he was a part of Christa's life.


"What did you do to your hair?" Francine asked, as soon as Christa arrived on Friday night. "It was so lovely before."

"I felt like a change," Christa said with a smile, giving Francine a kiss. She'd known her grandmother wouldn't approve, but really she didn't care. After all, it was her hair.

Francine frowned. "You are such a beautiful girl and you keep doing odd things to your hair." She sighed. "However, you are in college and it is a time of exploration, so I guess it is to be expected. It could be worse, you could have pierced your face or something."

Christa bit back laugh, knowing that a facial piercing wouldn't just upset her grandparents—her parents would have a few things to say about it too. Christa liked to rebel, but she did it in within the approved limits and sometimes she wondered if could really be classified as rebellion. "How's Grandfather?"

Francine suddenly looked old and sad. "Not well. He's upstairs in his room. I know he'll be happy that you're here."

Straub was being cared for at home. They had hired a private nurse to care for him and dedicated a couple rooms upstairs for his use. Christa knew he was happier at home than he would be at a hospital and she was glad that he was comfortable.

"I'll head upstairs and say hello to him," Christa told her, "then I'll come down and join you for dinner."

"Do you plans for this evening?"

"That depends on you," Christa told her sincerely, "I'm only home for one night, so I thought I'd spend the whole evening here with you, if you like."

"That's very sweet, Christine, but I'll likely go to bed early," Francine told her, "so feel free to go out, if there's people you'd like to see. I know you mentioned that your car is in the shop and that a friend dropped you off, so feel free to use mine. You can borrow it this week as well, if you'd like."

"Thanks Grandmother," Christa said, giving Francine another kiss. She'd give Colin a call after dinner and see how he was faring at his mother's. They had discussed telling his parents/her grandparents about their renewed relationship yet and she didn't know how he wanted to proceed with that, so meeting up could be tricky.

"Go see your grandfather now and then I'll have Anne serve dinner," Francine instructed.

Christa nodded and headed upstairs towards the suite of rooms that had been set up for Straub.

"Francine, is that you?" She heard her grandfather call out as she approached the door.

"No, it's me," Christa told him, entering the room.

"Christine," Straub said weakly, sitting up in bed, "my dear girl."

Christa crossed the room and took a seat in the chair by Straub's bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Same as ever," he told her. She could see him giving her hair a once over, but he didn't comment. Illness had apparently really mellowed him. "How is Yale?"

"Good, my classes seem interesting," Christa told him, "I know it's not Princeton, but I like being so close to home."

"I like that too." Straub admitted, "It's good of you to visit so often, Christine. Your grandmother and I appreciate the company, but I know that you are young and you have more interesting things to do than spend all your time with a couple of old people."

"You and Grandmother are very important to me," Christa said honestly. In the last four years she had developed a very strong relationship with her Hayden grandparents and visiting them now was more than just an obligation. They were her family and she found that she wanted to spend what time she could with Straub and to be a source of strength for Francine. They had given her a refuge when she'd needed it most and she'd always be grateful for that.

"And you to us," Straub told her, "I feel like we made so many mistakes Christopher, but you… You were our second chance and I'm delighted that we had the opportunity to have you with us for so many years. I know I've said in the past that getting your mother pregnant ruined Christopher's life. It certainly ruined our plans for him, but at the same time, it ended up being a blessing, it just took me a long time to see that. I'm delighted that we had the opportunity to have you in our home for so many years. You brought so much joy to this large, empty house and to this sour old man. I know I've never told you have before and I'm sorry about that. I don't know what your grandmother and I would have done these last few years without you, Christine."

"I'm not sure what I would have done with you," Christa told him honestly. "You and Grandmother gave me a home, a place to go when I couldn't handle living with Dad and Sherri and I really appreciate that. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

The Haydens were complicated people, and she hated that they wouldn't acknowledge Rory, but they had been good to her. It was interesting to hear Straub acknowledge his feelings about how Lorelai getting pregnant had ruined Christopher's life and that he seemed to have moved past some of his bitterness on the subject.

"This will always be your home," Straub told her, "your father hates this place, so once your grandmother and I pass, it will go directly to you."

"Oh." Christa said, a little surprised. She'd never really given any thought to the future or to what would happen when Straub and Francine were gone. She certainly never considered that she would inherit the house, but Straub was right, her father hated it, while for her it had become home.

"We've never discussed your future," Straub told her, as if reading her mind, "but you should know that one day very soon, you are going to be a very wealthy woman."

"Grand…" Christa began, not sure what to say.

"Your grandmother will be taken care of for the rest of her life and she will keep the house, of course," Straub continued, "but she has decided that she has no need for the rest. I have set up trust funds for your sisters." Christa was surprised by the plural. Straub must have seen the surprise on her face because he continued, "Rory will inherit an adequate trust when she turns 25. I would rather that neither she nor your parents know about it until then. I have set aside the same amount for Georgia, though I made your father aware of hers and appointed him trustee."

Christa could understand his reasons for keeping quiet about the trust, her mother would likely refuse it on Rory's behalf, and she would respect his wishes and keep quiet about it. She was just glad that he was leaving something for Rory, whatever his motivations for doing so might be.

"Christopher will inherit a suitable amount," Straub continued, "but everything else is going to be left to you. The London house, the beach house in California, investments, it will all be yours. I've made provisions and God willing, your grandmother will oversee everything until you turn 25."

"Grandfather…" Christa began, not sure what to say. She'd known she'd be left something in Straub's will, but she assumed it would just be a trust fund, similar to what Rory and Gigi were inheriting. The reality was overwhelming.

"I just want you to be prepared, Christine," her grandfather told her, "and I want you to make your choices wisely. One day in the not-too-distant future, you are going to be very wealthy and that could make you vulnerable."

Christa knew that he was talking about fortune hunters and she could assure him that that wasn't going to be an issue with her. She tended to be attracted to men in her own social circle, besides Colin's family was richer than hers, so there was no risk there. Not that she'd necessarily end up with Colin, but she was pretty sure her future included marriage to someone like Colin, if not Colin himself.

Straub paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "If anything happens to your grandmother before you turn 25, I've specified that your mother is to be the trustee."

Christa was stunned, Straub usually pretended that Lorelai didn't exist. Her grandfather was full of surprised today, between naming Lorelai trustee and having a trust for Rory.

"I've never made any secret of my disapproval for some of your mother's choices," Straub told her, "but she is a practical woman. One who I know can be trust to make the right decisions and watch out for your best interests."

Christa just nodded and took Straub's hand. She hated that they had to have this conversation at all. She knew Straub was dying, but she didn't like to think about it. She might not always like her grandparents, but she loved them dearly and she was so grateful for everything they had done for her.


"This is a nice operation you have here, Lorelai." Colin said sincerely as Lorelai gave him a tour of the Dragonfly. Christa was off somewhere with Rory, leaving Lorelai and Colin alone for the first time ever. He had been on his best behavior during the tour, very polite, asking questions about the Dragonfly.

Lorelai admitted that most of the time she thought of Colin as the over-privileged jerk who encouraged her daughter to make bad decisions, but in this setting it was hard to think of him this way. Instead, he was just a polite, knowledgeable young man with whom she shared common ground.

"As I've mentioned before, bed and breakfasts aren't my area expertise," he commented, "but the Dragonfly is very comfortable and inviting and you pay a lot of attention to the details."

"We try," Lorelai told him as she led him to the kitchen, "and of course, one of those details is having the best food. Have you ever had Sookie's cooking before?" She knew they had met, but she wasn't sure if they had ever shared a meal. Colin's visits to Stars Hollow had been few and far between.

"No." Colin told her, "I've never had the pleasure, but Christa has told me all about Sookie and I always listen to Christa's judgment when it comes to food."

"Gilmore girls know their food," Lorelai agreed. "Sookie, your remember Colin."

Sookie stopped what she was doing and smiled. "Of course. Hi Colin."

"It's nice to see you again." Colin said politely. "Lorelai is giving me a tour, you have a great operation here and of course, I heard the food is the star."

Sookie beamed and immediately set about getting him a plate of full of things to try.

Lorelai watched as Colin easily chatted with the kitchen staff and asked them a few questions. There was no sign of snobbery or a haughty demeanor, instead he was friendly and engaging. It was easy to see that he had experience working with people. It was also interesting for her to see him outside his role of "obnoxious, rich brat".

After a few minutes, she and Colin headed to the dining room.

"This food is fantastic," Colin commented once they were seated and he'd had a chance to try the plate Sookie had prepared for him. "Seriously this food is as good, if not better than what is served at my father's hotels and they all have world famous restaurants. Sookie's a treasure."

"She is," Lorelai agreed, with a smile.

"You've only been open for a few months, right?"

"Three months," Lorelai told him, "business is gaining pretty steadily, we have bookings up to next year. I managed an Inn before and it burnt down and we have some loyal customers who were happy to follow us to the Dragonfly."

Colin nodded and then proceeded to ask her a bunch of questions. Lorelai answered all of them and actually asked him a few questions, getting his opinion on some things she'd been considering. She and Colin were still discussing business, Colin was actually giving her some marketing tips, when Rory and Christa joined them.

"What did you think of the Dragonfly?" Christa asked, leaning against his chair.

"It's great," he told her enthusiastically, "it's really impressive how smoothly things are running so soon after the opening. It's a sign of a really solid operation."

"There are horses," Christa informed him with a smile.

"I know, your mother introduced me," Colin said, standing up. "Thank for the tour, Lorelai. Tell Sookie that the food is amazing and that if she wasn't so happy here, I'd tell my father to snap her up in a heartbeat."

"She'll be thrilled with the compliment, but no stealing allowed," Lorelai said with a smile, "thank you for the marketing tips, I'm going to look into them." She stood up and turned to Christa. "Thanks for the visit and have a safe drive back to Yale. Call me often."

"Will do, love you." Christa said, giving her mother a quick him. She did the same with Rory and then grabbed Colin's hand and led him out of the inn.

"Did you have an ok time with Colin?" Rory asked curiously, once the duo was out of sight.

"I did actually," Lorelai told her, "he's very knowledgeable and he was very polite."

"So are you happier about Christa and Colin now?" Rory asked.

"It's not my place to be happy or unhappy," Lorelai told her, "Colin is your sister's choice and I'm happy that she's happy. However, yes, I am glad to know that there is more to him than spoiled, obnoxious society jerk."

"Christa seems happy," Rory said wistfully.

"I think she is," Lorelai said softly, she looked at Rory, "are you still avoiding Dean?"

"No, we talked." Rory said quietly. "I just… I don't know. It's weird. I'm not really sure where I want things to go. We're going to date, I think."

Lorelai was silent. She wasn't sure how she felt about Dean and Rory getting back together, but she knew it was none of her business. She had to keep reminding herself that the girls were grown now and that she had to respect that and not meddle. It wasn't always easy. It was odd that she was feeling apprehensive about Rory's reunion with Dean, whom she'd always loved, and was suddenly very optimistic about Christa's reunion with Colin, whom she'd never liked. It was just a reminder that with time, everything changed.