Chapter 11: Moving On

A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait for this chapter. This is probably the 3rd last installment of this story.

This chapter was incredibly difficult to write because to be honest I wasn't sure what direction to go. The most difficult aspect would have to be in pacing the story. After the events of last chapter I didn't want Rory's love for Tristan to undermine her judgment in terms of the problems with their relationship, but on the other hand I didn't want there relationship to end. I did my best and I hope you enjoy it. Please review and let me know what you think, I wont update unless I have an idea of whether or not you like the direction in which this story is going.

Thanks,

Devaney

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Rory woke up feeling emotionally exhausted. She rolled over away from the light shining through the windows and shut her eyes wishing herself back to sleep. But the light was too bright.

Giving up on the hope of sleep she sat up in bed, too quickly. She stared at the doorway while her head spun. After a while she got up and walked into the kitchen, there was a cup of coffee and a note on the table.

Rory,

I have to work today, Sookie managed to sprain her ankle making pancakes. I'll be home tonight.

Love,

Mom

Rory sat down at the table with her head in her hands. She had come home looking for answers and she was more confused than anything. She picked up the mug and took a sip of the coffee. It was cold. Sighing she stood up and walked to the sink and poured the coffee down the drain.

She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, staring at the black screen of the TV. She looked around her childhood home. It used to be the place where she felt the most comfortable, where she felt really at home.

Now it just made her feel lonelier.

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Tristan hadn't slept. He had sat all night in a chair facing the door, waiting and hoping that she would come home. She never did.

He ran a hand over his eyes trying to stay awake. He felt like shit. He deserved it.

He still couldn't believe that last night had happened. The scene kept replaying in his head. She had all those questions, questions that he should have answered. But he couldn't. And then he had said the stupidest thing he could.

He sighed running a hand through his hair.

He had asked her to marry him…in the middle of a fight. How stupid could he get?

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Rory stood by the window waiting for her mother to pull into the driveway. She looked over at her packed suitcase by the door. It had been 4 days since she had shown up on her mother's doorstep in tears and it was time to go home.

"Rory! I'm home!" Lorelai called walking through the doorway. "I was thinking that we could order pizza tonight…" she trailed off as she noticed the bag by the door. "Your leaving." She said as a statement, not a question.

"Yeah." Rory said. "It's time for me to get back."

"Have you made up your mind?" Lorelai asked.

Rory wasn't quite sure how to answer that question. "I'm a big girl mom. And as wonderful as its been to escape, I've got to go back to living my life."

Lorelai nodded. "I wouldn't expect anything less." She said, pulling her daughter into the hug. "I'm proud of you sweets, but remember you're never too old to be able to come home."

"I know." Rory said and the she picked up her bag and left.

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She called Tristan when her plane landed. He picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"It's Rory." She said. She heard his voice catch and then he pauses.

"Where are you?" he asked uncertainly and she could here the edge of hope is his voice.

"At the airport." She replied.

"Are you coming or going?" he asked quietly.

She felt the corners of her mouth turn up into a half-smile. "I'm on my way home." It felt so good to say those words.

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The house looked the same. She pulled into the driveway and turned the engine off gathering her courage. Her hand was on the door handle when the front door of the house opened.

She could see him pause. And she unconsciously took her hand off the handle for a moment. Then with a deep breath she got out of the car.

"Hey." He called walking to the car.

"Hey." She said back.

Tristan stopped a few feet from her his hands in his pockets. "Rory I'm…"

"It's been a long day do you think I could get into the house before we start this again?"

"Of course." He said grabbing her bag from the open trunk. "You're right."

The walked to the house side by side, in silence.

She took a breath as she walked in the doorway; it felt so good to be home. Her carefully crafted plan to wait before jumping into heavy conversation flew out the window.

She turned to Tristan "I'm not giving up on us."

He nodded the relief evident on his face "Neither am I." he replied.

"Good." She said nodding. "I'm going to shower can you order Chinese?" she asked.

"The usual." He said already picking up the phone.

"Yeah, the usual."

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They sat on the floor around the coffee table eating in silence, until Tristan finally spoke.

"I fucked up." He said taking another bite.

"Yeah you did." Rory said helping herself to more fried rice.

"I should have trusted you."

"Yeah, you should have." She replied quietly.

"I just didn't want to burden you more then I already had. But that plan didn't work too well.

"Nope." She said swallowing. "It was a stupid plan. But it was also sweet and that's why I love you."

Tristan tried not to choke on the chicken he was eating. "Really?" he asked surprised.

She put her food down. "I don't want to live in this fight anymore Tris. I want to move on, together, and we'll sort things out along the way. I want to move on and get to the good parts, if I've learned anything in the last year it's that you don't have time to worry about life, you've just got to live it."

"Are you sure?" he asked "I mean it's a little unlike you."

She nodded "I want to be with you Tristan. And now I know that no matter how bad a fight it is that won't change. I just want to go back to living our life."

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. I promise Rory I won't leave you out anymore.'

"Just promise not to lie to me." She whispered "That's all I need is for you to be honest."

"No lies." He agreed. "But you have to promise not to walk out. You have no idea how much that scared me baby." He shook his head at the memory "I don't think I could handle that again."

"I won't run anymore." She agreed.

"Okay." He nodded. They went back to eating. Tristan reached over and put his hand on Rory's knee. She placed her hand over his.

"Hey Tris?" she asked.

"Mmm?" he said.

"Remember how you proposed the other night?" she asked.

"Yeah that was wrong to…" he started to say but Rory cut him off.

"Yes." She said cutting him off.

"Yes what?" he asked turning to look at her.

She met his eyes and smiled. "Yes I'll marry you." She said.

"What…Really?" he asked, confused.

"Yes really." She laughed at the look on his face. "Now will you shut up and kiss me?"

Still looking a little dazed Tristan smiled…and did as he was told.

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Tristan was lying awake looking at the ceiling a smile on his face. Rory was lying on his arm her arms wrapped around his waist and soft smile on her face. He looked down at her left hand that was resting on his chest and smiled at the sight of the ring that was once again on her finger. Their life was back on track.

Rory turned over in her sleep, and snuggled into his side. He chuckled softly she always was a restless sleeper. He looked over to the clock on the nightstand and the smile left his face as he looked at the paper resting beside it.

Commander DuGrey,

You are being called upon in the service of your country. You tour of duty leaves June 17th at 08:00 hours.

The letter continued for a few more lines but none were as poignant as the first. He read the note over and over again as his own voice echoed in his head. 'No lies.' He had promised. But how the hell was he supposed to turn her world upside down again.

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It's short, I know. And I apologize. On the bright side however the rest of the chapters have been written meaning that if I get a good response from your reviews the next chapter can be up within a few days.

Devaney