Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Gilmore Girls, actors, characters, plots, etc, that would be the wonderful people at WB. Although if I did, I'm pretty sure they'd be some big changes coughChadcough. Anyway if you do feel inclined to sue me, some people have strange urges and we must accept them for who they are, I'm currently flat broke so all you will get is a used textbook, on organic chemistry.
AN: Why Lori is a Huntzberger: In a previous chapter, Rory mentioned that she accidentally forgot to take her (contraceptive) pill the day she came back from New York. If you miss one day's dosage, you can't just take the next pill and hope that everything remains on track, actually skipping one pill messes up the whole cycle. Therefore, her cycle would have been out of wack when she slept with Logan. Now here's where you have stretch your imagination a fraction, there was something wrong with the condom used by Logan and as a result, Rory fell pregnant. Hence Lori has to be Logan's.
Photoboothromance: Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Rish: Thank you for taking the time to read and review.
FairyGirl07: Tristan's not going to disappear! Lori had to be a Huntzberger (your feeling was right!), and I've given my 'medical' reasoning above. Although I had mentioned the paternity of Lori several times before, however nobody believed me. Thanks.
Eva: Check out AN above for my reason as to why Logan is Lori's father. No, this is not the end. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Rockrose: Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Ali: Thank you for taking the time to read and review.
LoVe23: Updating! And see I didn't take not nearly as long as I did last time. Thanks.
GGluvr1987: The reason why Lori is a Huntzberger is explained above, but don't worry, things will get better for Tristan. Thanks for reviewing.
Finnlover: The baby had to be Logan's, I've explained why above. And who doesn't like a story with a bit of conflict? Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Fallen Heart: Actually I had written that Logan is the father of Rory's baby before, but no one seemed to believe me. Anyway, some of my reasoning is in the AN above. Thanks.
Heavenleigh88: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Check out the AN above as to why Lori is Logan's.
Ess3sandra: Thanks, darling. I promise this story will end with happy people.
Bethany Inc: Thanks for clearing up the Maury-issue, I had never seen or heard of it before, I don't think it's shown in Australia (maybe it's on a cable channel, but then again, I don't have cable). As to the Logan-issue, read the AN above for my reasoning, but Tristan is not going vanish from this story. I promise the very last thing that happens in this story involves Tristan smiling, how about that? Thanks for reading.
Coffeeaddict1515: See the AN above for why the baby is Logan's. Thanks for reading and reviewing.
Chapter 24 (V2)- Previously on Gilmore Girls: Shades of Grey…
…She held her breath, begging anyone with divine power to intervene.
"Lori Gilmore-Huntzberger," Tristan breathed, his voice was neutral, hiding any hint of hurt.
"Oh Tristan, I'm so sorry," Paris sighed, her heart breaking for him.
Not as sorry as he had been when had found out…
--
The bitter news came in the form of a phone call from Huntzbergers' lawyer's secretary, apparently Rory had listed their house number as her home number, it probably had something to do with the ice-cold reception Lorelai was giving the Huntzbergers. Anyway, the secretary had mistakenly called their house when she was supposed to call the Gilmore residence in Hartford. He had known that Rory, Emily and the Huntzbergers would be meeting that morning at the lawyer's office where they were expecting the results from the paternity test. His gut told him he was not the father, but he didn't want a secretary to be the one to confirm it. Yet nothing was as bad as what else the secretary informed him.
"This is Lynn Phillips calling from Johnston Carter Wright," a young woman informed Tristan.
He had been sorting through some of his study notes, preparing for the start of the new semester when the phone had started ringing. He had snatched it up on the first ring, not wanting to wake Lori who was asleep in her room, he had checked the baby monitor in case the shrill sound had disturbed her. Nothing except for a peacefully sleeping baby.
"Yes?" Tristan prompted, his tone guarded, wary of what the Huntzbergers' lawyers were up to now.
"May I speak to Mr Richard Gilmore?" she asked, her tone was earnest, as if this was her first job and she was trying to prove herself worthy.
His mind rebelled against years of etiquette training, which demanded he provide the woman with the correct information. Instead of providing her with Rory's grandfather's contact details, he kept his response as short and unhelpful as possible.
"I'm sorry, you have the wrong number," he replied curtly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she began to apologise, sounding flustered, he could hear papers being shuffled in the background, she was obviously trying to locate the correct details, "It's just Miss Gilmore wanted me to inform him – "
"Wait," he interrupted her, the mention of Rory was enough to peak his interest, "What were you saying about Rory?"
"Uh, um," the secretary paused her shuffling, a little thrown by his sudden change in tone, "Miss Gilmore wanted me to inform him, Mr Richard Gilmore, that the father of her child is Mr Logan Huntzberger."
"What?" he replied softly, her news another poison-tipped arrow to his heart.
"Mr Logan Huntzberger is the father of Miss Gilmore's baby," Lynn Phillips repeated, enunciating each word very slowly.
"Is Rory there?" he managed to squeeze out, forcing his voice not to waver, "Could I please speak with her?"
"I'm sorry, she's currently unavailable. She and Mr Logan Huntzberger are making plans."
"Making plans?" he echoed, his mind still reeling from the result of the paternity test.
"Yes, for the wedding. He proposed, not even half an hour ago," Lynn explained, completely unaware of the effect her words were having on him, "Sir, I really don't think I should be telling this, it was meant for Mr Richard Gilmore's ears directly."
"It's fine."
If he sounded reassuring, it was merely reflexive, but he hung up before she could press the issue. Most likely, she would ask that he not tell anyone the news, not yet, she didn't want to loose her job over spilling the beans to the wrong person. He couldn't tell her that he would be the last person to spread the word. Who would want to spread the news of their own humiliation and heartbreak?
So this was it, Tristan thought, staring numbly at the phone in his hand. Just like that, it was all over. Why was it that the very things he wanted, needed, were the very same things he was denied? First his mother, then his father and now Rory.
--
She dragged her feet on the short pathway to the front door. Her day had been exhausting to say the least, that and being away from her baby made her heart ache. A niggling voice in the back of her mind reminded her that the pain she felt inside was not just for little Lori, having to break the news to Tristan was also adding to her need to dawdle. She couldn't bear to think what this would do to him, especially after everything he had down for her and Lori.
She did not really understand how today had ended up the way it had. One minute she, her grandmother and the Huntzbergers were anxiously awaiting the results of the paternity test in the lawyer's office and then seemingly in the next minute they were planning a wedding, her wedding.
Unlocking the front door quietly, Rory stepped into the darkened entryway. There was a slight smell of food, lasagne, and faintly she could hear thuds and bumps coming from further in the house. Despite the rumbling in her stomach, reminding her she hadn't eaten anything in over six hours, her curiosity drew her to the strange noises.
The house was dark, but light spilled out from under the door to Tristan's study, the sounds were louder now, almost deafening and when she knocked there was no response. Carefully she pushed the door open, inside the room looked like some kind of stationary bomb had hit the room. Everywhere there were boxes all shapes and sizes, bubble wrap and polystyrene packing bits created an eerie fake-snow impression and in the middle of it all, the king of this bizarre little world, stood Tristan. Shirtsleeves rolled up, muscles tensing as he lifted a large pile of books, dumping them unceremoniously in a box, his hair seemed to shimmer with bits of polystyrene that had some how found their way on to his head. Sensing her presence, Tristan looked up, his face an unreadable mask.
"What are you doing?" Rory's brow creased slightly in confusion.
"Packing looked like fun," he shrugged nonchalantly, picking up another stack of books and dumping them in the same manner as the previous pile.
"Why?"
"Well unfortunately my drug dealer's just been busted," he replied sarcastically, "I was the lucky one to get his one call."
"Tristan – "
"What?" he snapped.
"I need to talk to you about today," Rory began nervously, "Maybe we could sit down?"
"I like standing just fine," Tristan replied, scowling.
"Okay, we can stand," Rory allowed.
"So glad to have you're approval," Tristan muttered, he turned his back on her, fiddling with something on his desk.
"What's your problem?" Rory snapped.
"Look, I have a tonne of things to get done, if you don't have anything useful to say, leave, please," he whirled around, his gaze heated, she could feel the anger in his voice.
"Fine, we can talk later, but just tell me why you're packing? For real?"
"It would be inappropriate for us to live together, considering the situation," Tristan replied cryptically.
"What?" Rory frowned, unable to comprehend what he was saying.
"You being engaged to another man and all," Tristan shrugged.
"How do you know about that?" Rory gaped at him.
"I'm psychic," he gave her his best cold smile and it almost her shiver, "Or maybe the secretary at a certain law firm as very loose lips."
"Oh God, I didn't mean for you to find out like that," Rory wanted to reach out to Tristan, "It's not the way it should have been."
"It's fine, Rory," he replied dismissively, closing a box and pushing it to one side of the doorway.
It hurt, more than it should have, not to hear Tristan call her 'Mary' any more. He had stopped soon after the whole legal thing started.
"I can't kick you out of your own house," Rory placed her hand on top of Tristan's as he went to pick up another empty box, instantly he tensed.
"You wouldn't be," Tristan shrugged her off and putting as much space between them as he could in the confined room, "This is not my house, it's yours."
"Just because of what's happened between me and Logan, doesn't mean – "
"I don't think I was clear," Tristan interrupted her, "This house is in your name."
"What?" Rory gasped.
"Check the deed," he rifled around the room, pulling out a sheaf of papers he handed them to her and just like he had said, there was her name on it.
"You bought the house for me?" Rory asked, her eyes wide with disbelief, "Why would you do that?"
"I don't know, Rory," he spat, "Why does anyone do anything?"
"I can't let you leave like this, it's not fair."
"Rory, you made a choice," Tristan stopped his packing once more, "Actually you've made a lot of choices and now the only thing left to do is to live by the choices. And even if you don't want me moving out, I would prefer not to be living with you and Lori when you are engaged to someone else."
He resumed shoving things into boxes with a vengeance, Rory almost flinched as the cacophony of noises filled the echo-y room once more.
"Where will you go?" she had to be shout to be heard.
"You don't need to worry about that," Tristan brushed her off.
She wanted to say more, but the sound of a baby crying burst into the room. The baby monitor had been set to its highest setting, loud enough to cut through the noises in the room.
"Lori needs you," Tristan looked at her pointedly.
There was a time when even the tiniest whimper from the little baby would have Tristan bolting to Lori's side, but now he just stood there, staring at Rory.
"Tris – " Rory began, there were so many things she wanted to say to him.
Another cry burst out from the baby monitor and Tristan cocked his head towards it, in case Rory had misinterpreted what he had said.
"She needs her mother," Tristan reiterated, and edge in his voice, "I mean I would love to help, but I wouldn't want to ruin any parent-child bonding."
She knew she should have said something, anything, to him then, but instead she mutely walked down the hallway, letting her maternal instincts direct her movements as she comforted her baby.
--
AN: It's not over yet, plenty more drama to go. Oh and if any of my review responses seem curt or rude, my friend has given me a touch of flu and I'm about as fun as a burst water balloon. Sorry.
