AN: So it's been years since I've updated. First off sorry about that but I do plan on finishing this story before I graduate from college in August. I started this in high school and now almost done with college, so weird. Second I have had this story planned out in my head for awhile but finally have decided to just write everything out and finish it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything; does it even matter anymore when the show is no longer on?

Chapter 8b

When Rory finally made it to the coffee shop she found Tristan outside already waiting for her, well pacing while waiting for her. As soon as he spotted her approaching he raced towards her with two cups of coffee in his hands.

"Good morning Mare, here's your coffee. I know we were planning on going in and talking but Jess is working this morning so I thought that it would be better if I just got our coffees so we could take a walk together or go back to one of our places and talk. That is if you don't want to go inside and see your ex but if you feel fine about it we can go inside the café."

"Tris you need to breath." Smirked Rory. "You haven't even spent that much time with me since we saw each other again and you're starting to ramble like me. But yea, not seeing Jess right now would be nice so why don't we just go to one of our places and talk."

"Whatever you want Mare. We can go to my place since I live closer." After taking a breath Tristan decided that teasing Rory would put them both a little more at ease so he felt he had to add. "Besides since you live in a dorm room here you probably are using a college issued bed. If this talk goes anywhere close to as great it has in my head my big spaces bed might come in handy."

He chanced a glance at her and was happy to see that some of the tension in her body was gone. Tristan then offered her his free hand while giving her a real smile. Taking the offered hand Rory responded with a genuine smile of her own.

They walked in silence to Tristan's apartment which was just a couple of blocks from the coffee shop. Both of them were trying to get their thoughts together which were very similar to each other. They both were trying to get their emotions in check and figure out what they wanted from themselves and the other.

Once they arrived at Tristan's place he unlocked and lead Rory inside and up the stairs until they reached his actual apartment. It was a nice place that was surprisingly clean; it had a clean modern feeling to it and was very much a bachelor's pad. "The second door down the hall to the left is my room. The others are my roommates and we all have our own baths but you have to go through my room to get to it."

"Do you mind putting on a pot of coffee? I'm almost done with my cup and since you woke me up before ten I only think it's fair that you give me my fill of the elixir of life."

"Of course I don't mind Mare. Like I said before anything for you." Tristan went and started up a strong pot of coffee while Rory looked around the living room and kitchen until she finally sat at the counter/bar.

"So.." Tristan just wanted to get this talk started. "I know that we've only just met after a lot of time has passed and I'm sure we're both different people today then we were back in high school but being around you makes me feel like that nervous 16 year old boy with a crush again. Only now it's been so long and you've never really been out of my mind so the crush has evolved and I really hope you can give me…give us a chance." While giving this little speech Tristan walked over to Rory until he was standing between her legs and looking her straight in the eyes.

"I feel just about the same. I've been freaking out trying to think of what I want us to be but my mind just keeps going back to the kiss and how it made me feel. Being around you makes me feel like my 16 year old self also. But for me I just don't know why you would want me. I'm not experienced at all…I really am still a Mary and you're you. You probably expect me to be something I'm not and I just don't know if I can open myself up to you. I'm also not sure if I can trust you with being a one woman man and don't be fooled. If we do anything other than be friends we WILL be in a committed relationship."

After listening to all she had to say Tristan pulled her face just a little bit closer to his almost in desperation to make her believe what he was about to say.

"Rory, yes I used your name, I want you to know that I'm being serious here. I loved who you were in Chilton and even though I know you're not that girl anymore I want, more than anything, the chance to fall just as hard for who you are today. I'm no longer that boy who feels the need to piss you off by having a new flavor pressed against your locker each week. I want an us and I will stay faithful."

With that Tristan pressed his lips against Rory's. The kiss started off sweet as Tristan tried to pour all of his promises into it but Rory soon started to take control and build the kiss into something more as she threaded her fingers in Tristan's hair, pulling him closer to her. Before either of them could get too carried away, well before Rory wrapped her legs around Tristan so that she could literary be carried away, Tristan pulled back just slightly enough to be nose to nose with Rory. "My second wish is for you to give me a chance, to become my girlfriend and let me show you just how much we could mean to each other."

"Tristan, that sounds wonderful and I agree to the whole dating thing but if you don't kiss me again in the next five seconds our new found relationship is over."

"We wouldn't want that, now would we?" And with that out of the way Tristan reattached his mouth to hers.

AN: So there you go a new chapter after 4ish years. I'm not sure if it flows all that well with the rest of the story but I've grown a lot and don't know if I can write like I did. Hopefully it's an improvement. I only see a couple more chapters until this is finished.