AN: Wow! Six reviews on the last chapter. I'm glad you all liked my take on the infamous bridesmaids incident. I would never have Tristan cheat on Rory, or vice versa, but I will create some drama for their relationship. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: "The only name that matters to me is yours. I love you."
"So Steph just took Rory home in my car and she's apparently staying with us for the time being," Riley said, "which I guess leaves me to ride back with you and if you want that to be a pleasant ride you better start talking because I'm about five seconds away from punching you in the face."
"I screwed up," Tristan said.
"No shit. My sister wouldn't have left in tears if you didn't. Now what the hell is going on?" Riley asked.
"Honor's bridesmaids," Tristan said, "I kind of left out some information when I was talking about them yesterday."
"Please tell me you did not just admit to cheating on my baby sister," Riley said.
"No, never. I wouldn't, couldn't do that," Tristan said.
"But, you have been with those girls," Riley said.
"Yes, but it was a long time ago. Before I even met Rory," Tristan said.
"Okay, that doesn't explain Rory's tears, unless she found out," Riley said.
"She did. Apparently they started talking about hooking up with groomsmen or whoever they could and when one of them brought me up and they found out Rory was dating me they decided they wanted to compare notes," Tristan said.
"Idiots. Why do girls do that?" Riley asked.
"I have no idea. But yeah, they went on about their experiences with me, talking about the things I did to them and how good it was," Tristan said.
"Oh man. And they said all of this in front of Rory," Riley said.
"Yep and she got pissed that I didn't tell her myself," Tristan said, "It caught her off guard and now…"
"What? What now?" Riley asked.
"She asked me to make her a list," Tristan said.
"A list?" Riley asked.
"Yeah. She wants a list of every girl I've ever been with so she's not surprised again," Tristan said.
"Are you going to do it?" Riley asked.
"I don't want to. I don't think it will help anything for her know all the names and how many," Tristan said.
"I know we've never really talked about it other than for you to tell me there's been a lot, but how big a number are we talking about here?" Riley asked, "Ten? Twenty?"
"That I've actually had sex with, I'd say fifteen off the top of my head and more than I can even remember that I've fooled around with," Tristan said.
"Wow," Riley said.
"Yeah. I'm not proud of who I used to be and over the years I've tried to forget it," Tristan said, "I've blocked out most of them."
"Is that what happened with the bridesmaids? You blocked them out or did you not tell Rory on purpose?" Riley asked.
"A little of both, I guess. I've tried to block out all the girls I've been with before and forget they even existed. It's easy for the most part. Most were one night stands at parties, but a few I see from time to time at one place or another," Tristan said, "But I think mostly I didn't tell Rory because I knew it would upset her. She may know about my past, but knowing it and hearing about it are very different."
"That may be true, but I think what hurt her more was hearing from them. It made it seem like you were keeping it from her by not telling her up front," Riley said.
"Maybe. I guess we should probably head back. I've got a list to write and I hate to admit it, but I'm not sure I even remember all their names," Tristan said.
"You're not that guy anymore Tris," Riley told him.
"I know I'm not, but it's hard to be reminded of it, you know," Tristan said.
"Yeah. Okay, let's go. You work on that list and I'll talk to Rory," Riley said, "See if I can't help you out some."
"So you're on my side?" Tristan asked.
"Well, no. I'm not on either side, really. I just don't like to see my sister upset so I'll do whatever I have to help fix that," Riley said.
"Thanks, man," Tristan said.
"You're welcome," Riley said.
Walking into his apartment after getting back to New Haven from the wedding, Riley gave Stephanie a kiss before going to check on Rory in the guest room.
"Rough night?" Riley asked, opening the door, seeing her on the bed, a box of tissues next to her and a carton of ice cream in her hands.
"Like you don't already know," Rory snapped, "Sorry."
"It's fine," he said, taking a seat next to her, grabbing the ice cream from her hands and setting it on the nightstand next to her, "You want to talk about it or you want to cry some more?"
"You think I can do both?" Rory asked, laying her head on his shoulder as he threw his arm around her, pulling her close to him.
"Absolutely, Baby Girl. I got you. Just let it all out," Riley said, brushing a few of her tears away before continuing their conversation, "So you know I talked to Tristan."
"You didn't hit him did you?" Rory asked.
"No, do I have a reason, too?" Riley asked.
"No. He didn't do anything wrong. Not technically, anyway, I guess and not intentionally either," Rory said.
"True. You're right. I don't think he intentionally meant to hurt you, Baby Girl," Riley said.
"Doesn't mean it didn't happen though," Rory said, "Though technically it wasn't Tristan who hurt me. It was those vipers masquerading as Honor's bridesmaids."
"Right and what a lovely group of girls they are," Riley said with a slight laugh.
"It's not funny, Ry," Rory said.
"You're right. I'm sorry," Riley said.
"I just don't know why he didn't tell me himself. It's not like it would have surprised me," Rory said, "I probably watched him make out with a dozen different girls at Chilton. The fact he screwed around with a bunch of Honor's friends doesn't surprise me."
"Gotta say it didn't surprise me either, but I get why he didn't tell you," Riley said, "He doesn't like to think about the guy he used to be. The guy he was before you."
"So because he's ashamed of his history I'm left to find out he was with a girl by her telling me he gave her the best orgasam of his life," Rory said, "That's really screwed up."
"Well, he probably didn't give it much thought. He didn't not tell you to be malicious. He just didn't expect you to ever find out," Riley said, "I don't think he imagined they would say anything."
"I know he didn't leave me to find out from them on purpose and either hearing from him or the way I did would suck no matter what," Rory said, "But, that doesn't change the fact I would have preferred to hear it from him."
"And that's why you asked him to make the list," Riley said.
"He told you about that?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, he did," Riley said.
"Do you think it's a bad idea? Wanting to know every girl he's been with?" Rory asked.
"I can't answer that one, Ror," Riley said, "Only you can. If you think you need to know who he's been with than okay, have him write the list."
"Would you do it if Steph asked?" Rory asked.
"She doesn't have to," Riley asked, "The only person I've been with other than her and Sarah is Louise and she's already met Sarah."
"Lucky, Steph. She has a boyfriend who hasn't slept with half the state of Connecticut," Rory said.
"Tristan hasn't slept with half the state, Baby Girl," Riley said.
"He may as well have," Rory said, "I'm sure the number is still pretty high, regardless."
"Possibly, but no matter how many other girls he was with before you guys got together, he loves you," Riley said.
"I know he does and I love him, too," Rory said, "This whole thing is just overwhelming."
"Yeah, I guess it was easier when you just knew he was the King of Chilton," Riley said, "Not when you were witness to the experience of some of the girls who got him the title."
"Yeah. I think I'm going to go to Stars Hollow in the morning," Rory said.
"You're not going to talk to Tristan?" Riley asked.
"Not yet. I need some time to think about everything and I can't do that with him two floors below me," Rory said.
"Can I tell him when he asks where you are?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, I don't want to worry him," Rory told him.
"Okay, I let you get some sleep then," Riley said, moving to get off the bed, "Sleep tight, Baby Girl. I love you."
"I love you, too, Big Brother," Rory said as Riley kissed her forehead before grabbing the ice cream off the nightstand and leaving the room, "Night."
"So, what prompted this surprise visit?" Lorelai asked as she sat in the living room with Rory while she fed Sophie, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but it's rare that you don't call first and I'm even more surprised since you had Honor's wedding yesterday."
"Just fancied a visit home, that's all," Rory said.
"Rory?" Lorelai questioned, "I'm your mother. I know when something is bothering you so spill."
"Tristan and I had a fight," Rory said.
"A fight so bad you had to come here and hide out first thing in the morning?" Lorelai asked.
"I stayed at Riley's last night," Rory told her.
"Oh, so that bad," Lorelai said, "Is Tristan still in one piece at least?"
"He's fine, physically. He didn't do anything really that would require Riley to beat him up," Rory said.
"But he did do something," Lorelai said.
"Yeah," Rory said, "But I really don't want to talk about it."
"Are you sure?" Lorelai asked.
"I'm sure. I just want to spend the day with you and Soph and the rest of Stars Hollow and just forget about the drama that is my relationship for a little while."
"Okay, but if you change your mind," Lorelai said.
"Rory!" Lane called when she saw her walking to Luke's with Lorelai and Sophie.
"Hey!" Rory said, "You go ahead Mom. I'll be in, in a minute."
"Sure, sweets," Lorelai said.
"What's up?" Rory asked.
"I have really big news," Lane said, holding out her left hand for Rory to see.
"Oh my God! Is that? Are you?" Rory asked.
"I'm engaged!" Lane said.
"Oh my God, Lane," Rory said, capturing her friend in a hug, "How did this happen? When?"
"Just a couple days ago. It was so amazing. Zach talked to Mama about it and everything," Lane said.
"Really. He asked Mrs. Kim for permission," Rory said.
"Yes and then she wanted him to prove that he could support me with his music so he wrote song for me for his proposal," Lane said.
"Aww, he proposed to you in song, that's so sweet," Rory said.
"It's a beautiful song and Mama gave him my great-grandmother's to propose with," Lane said.
"Wow, I can't believe it. You're engaged," Rory said, her smile fading as she looked past Lane to see Tristan and Riley walking towards the square.
"Hey, are you alright?" Lane asked, noticing the change in Rory, turning around to see the two men approaching them, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, sorry. I'm really happy for you Lane, I don't want to bring you down," Rory said.
"No, it's fine. If something's bothering you, you can tell me," Lane said.
"Tristan and I are going through something right now," Rory said, "I should probably go talk to him."
"Okay, well, call me if you want to talk," Lane said.
"I will. Thanks, Lane," Rory said, hugging her again, "Congratulations!"
"Hi," Rory said, approaching Riley and Tristan.
"Hey," Tristan said.
"Ry, Mom's in the diner with Sophie if you want to go in," Rory said.
"You're good here?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, thanks, Ry," Rory told him.
"So," Tristan said.
"So," Rory said.
"I made a list," Tristan told her.
"You did?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said, handing her a piece of paper.
"This is blank, Tris," Rory said, unfolding the paper he handed her.
"Not quite," he said.
"The only name on here is mine," she said.
"Exactly. I know you asked for a list of every girl I've been with," he said, "But, this. This is a list of every girl I've ever been in love with."
"Tris, that's sweet, but," Rory began.
"You want the other list," he said, taking another piece of paper out of his pocket, "I was hoping you'd change your mind."
"Thanks," she said, turning the folded page back and forth in her hands.
"Rory as cold as it sounds, those names, they're just words on a page. Names from the past of a guy I'm not proud of," Tristan told her, "The only name that matters to me is yours. I love you."
"I love you, too, Tris," Rory said, still holding on to the papers he gave her, "But, I…"
"I'll be at the bridge when you're ready," Tristan said, placing a hand on her cheek and kissing her forehead, "I love you, Mary."
An hour later after a cup of Luke's coffee and a pep talk from Riley, Rory went to the bridge to talk to Tristan. She found him sitting on the edge, his feet hanging over the side as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Hey," Rory said as she approached him, "You mind if I sit?"
"Please," Tristan said, turning to face her, "So…"
"So," Rory said, taking the two pages out of her pocket, "I didn't read it."
"What?" Tristan asked.
"I decided I didn't need it," she said, ripping the page into pieces, "I didn't need that list written by the boy you used to be. The only list that matters is the one written by the man I fell in love with."
"Really?" he asked.
"Really. I love you so much, Tris," Rory said, laying her head on his shoulder as he placed his arm around her.
"I love you, too, Mare. So much," Tristan said, kissing the top of her head.