Chapter 11: Dark nights
"You sure you want to go out to eat? We can stay in, watch a movie…" Tristan suggested when they got back to their apartment. It was getting pretty late and he didn't know what would be open.
Rory shook her head "I want to go out. If we stay in, it'll give me time to dwell on today…and I want today to be over as quickly as I can make it" she said softly
Tristan nodded "Okay, let's go see if Hectors is open"
"Thank you" Rory said with a small smile
"We're thanking each other now?" Tristan teased, throwing an arm around her as they left the apartment.
"So guess what…" Rory said a bit sheepishly when she got home.
Tristan was preparing dinner in the kitchen; he popped his head out and asked "What?"
"Doyle wasn't cheating on Paris" she said with a small forced smile
Tristan rolled his eyes "What was he doing?" he asked
"The girl that picked up his phone was Paris's cousin. Doyle and she were discussing a surprise birthday party for her." Rory explained
"Mhmm" Tristan hummed knowingly
"Yeah yeah, you can wipe that arrogant smirk off of your face. I get it…" she said with a grin
"Like I said, don't jump to conclusions" he reiterated as she came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"You're going to get burned" Tristan stated when she made no indication of moving and laid her head on his shoulder.
"You wouldn't do that to me" She said
"Not intentionally, but in a few seconds I need to take this pot off the stove and go drain the pasta…in other words, I actually have to be able to walk" he said grinning
"Fine…" she huffed and swung her arms out from under him, accidentally hitting the pot he was stirring in the process, not knocking it down, but burning the back of her hand. "OW!" She shouted
"Shit" Tristan cursed and put the gas on low heat before taking Rory to the sink and running cold water over her burnt hand. "You okay?" he asked
Rory nodded "Sorry…" She said
"It's fine. You sure it doesn't sting or anything?" he asked, handing her a couple cubes of ice, frowning when she grinned and ate them instead of putting them on her hand.
He handed her a few more "Don't eat them!" he exclaimed and put it on her hand for her.
"I'm fine Tristan…it was just a little burn" she assured him
"Alright, get out of here before we have to go to Hectors for dinner again. I don't think I can stomach that…" he said "Oh before you go, how'd you find out about Doyle?" he asked curiously
"I work at a paper, he works at a paper. Its like magic!" she said in awe
Tristan rolled his eyes "I told you so" He sang quietly as she left
"I heard that!" She yelled just as the phone rang
"I got it!" Tristan yelled, picking it up from the kitchen. "Hello?" he answered
"Hi is Rory there?" the voice on the other end asked
"Yeah sure, may I ask who's calling?" Tristan asked
"Oh good!" the woman sighed in relief "So she's home? She's okay?" she asked
Tristan became confused "Yes, why wouldn't she be?" he asked
"She didn't show up for work this morning" the woman said "Well, I just wanted to see if she was okay, tell her Parker called and that I'll talk to her tomorrow?" she asked
Tristan clenched his jaw and nodded "Sure" he said politely and said goodbye. A million thoughts were going through his head about now…Rory didn't show up for work. That wasn't like her. She told him she went to work, which meant she lied…what could she possibly have been doing? He finished dinner and walked out, finding her lying in her pajamas on the couch, watching TV.
"Dinner" Tristan said, trying not to jump conclusions
Rory jumped up from the couch and smiled, giving him a small peck before sitting down and helping herself. "Thanks" she said, practically scarfing down food.
Tristan didn't say anything, just nodded, eating his own. "Rory…" he approached
Rory looked up "Yeah?" she asked
"Where were you today?" he asked calmly
Rory took a deep breath and put her fork down "Why do you ask?" she asked hesitantly
"Oh well, no reason. Just someone named Parker just called looking for you, she was worried when you hadn't shown up for work today" he said sarcastically
"Oh" Rory's small voice rang "Tris…I went to see him" She said quietly
Tristan's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion "Who?" he asked
Rory realized how that sounded "Oh god…that came out wrong. I went to see him…in jail" she said
"Why didn't you tell me" Tristan demanded, now knowing who she was talking about
"It…it was a spur of the moment thing Tristan, I didn't plan it I swear. I just had to see it for myself you know?" she explained
"I understand that Rory, but I just want to know why you wouldn't tell me…" Tristan asked genuinely befuddled
"I didn't want you to worry…" She said
Tristan sighed and nodded "Okay…how did it go?" he asked, choosing not to get into an argument and let it go.
"It…it was interesting. I guess I just needed to see it for myself. I didn't talk to him or anything, don't worry. He didn't see me either." She said in assurance
"So…" Tristan chuckled "How about them Padres…"
Rory laughed "When did we get so lame?" she teased
"I don't know. But you better tell me before you go and do something like that again…" he said playfully but by the tone of his voice Rory knew he was serious.
Rory nodded "I will" She said
RORY/TRISTAN
"Pepsi" Rory stated
"Water" Tristan said, shoving a bottle into her hand
"Tristan…I need caffeine! Even at its lightest form!" Rory whined annoyed
"No caffeine. I don't want our baby having 8 toes and 2 heads!" he exclaimed
"You're mean today" Rory huffed and sat down across from him at the dinner table.
"Sorry…I'm just looking out for you" he said softly
"I know but seriously? You have me on a diet of juice, water, salad…which by the way you will pay for, and vegetables! Where's the good stuff!" She said incredulously
Tristan smiled sheepishly "I guess I did go overboard huh?" he said "Fine. But still no caffeine. I'll make something you like for dinner today" he agreed
"Thank you. I love you but this baby's going to be fine if I eat some unhealthy food here and there" She assured him
"I know…so when are you planning on taking your leave from the times?" He asked
"Not anytime soon" Rory said with a raised eyebrow "They'll give me maternity leave up to 3 months in advance" she said
Tristan nodded "Okay." He said "Are you excited?" he asked finally
"Of course I am. Where is this coming from?" Rory asked, taking his hand from across the table.
Tristan shrugged "I just wanted to make sure. I gotta run, take care and don't look for coffee, you wont find any." He said with a smirk and gave her a peck before heading off to work.
RORY/TRISTAN
Rory gasped slightly and shook her head as she woke up. 'What a dream…' she thought. She glanced over at the time and saw it was only 3 in the morning, hoping she didn't wake Tristan up, she turned onto her other side, facing him and tried going back to sleep. But as soon as she moved, Tristan lifted his head slightly, his eyes squinting open in confusion. "Hey what's up?" he asked sleepily
"Nothing, go back to sleep." Rory whispered, shifting closer to him and letting him throw an arm around her before falling back asleep.
"Hey were you okay last night?" Tristan asked as she emerged from the shower and went to get her morning coffee.
Rory nodded "Yeah, I just had weird dream that's all" She said
"What was it about?" Tristan asked curiously
"I can't remember it" Rory lied, not wanting to freak him out
Tristan raised his eyebrows and smirked "You're lying" He stated
"How do you know?" Rory challenged
"You get this twitch in your eye when you lie, and you haven't had any of your coffee yet" He stated amused
Rory sighed "it was just a weird dream Tristan…" she said
"Hey if you don't want to tell me that's fine…I was just asking" He said, backing off when she got defensive
"Sorry, it's just…I don't want to freak you out" She said
"About…" Tristan urged
"I was pregnant" She blurted out before she knew it
"In your dream right!" Tristan exclaimed in question with a wide eyed look on his face
"Yeah of course! Tristan!" Rory screeched
"Sorry just making sure, so what? You were…pregnant? Anything else?" Tristan asked, not seeing how this was weird
Rory looked at him in awe "Are you serious? You're not even the least bit freaked out? You do know the baby was yours right?" She added
"I figured…" he said still amused "It scares me a little, but it doesn't really freak me out" he said
"Oh" Rory said, not knowing this was what his reaction would be "Okay then…that's good." She said "I have to go to work" She said after a couple minutes of awkward silence
Tristan smirked "This isn't over Mary!" he shouted as she practically ran out of the apartment.
RORY/TRISTAN
"Mary! Come on…you have to talk to me sooner or later" Tristan smirked as she came straight through the door and went to take a shower
He shook his head, chuckling lightly, that girl was easily embarrassed…oh well…she'd have to come out sooner or later.
An hour later he heard Rory emerge from the bedroom. He was sitting in the living room on the couch facing away from her watching TV. Thinking he didn't notice her, she went into the kitchen to grab herself a cup of coffee. Tristan smirked to himself and followed her into the kitchen quietly. "Hey Mar" he said smirking.
Rory gasped and almost dropped the coffee she was holding "Shit you scared me!" She screeched
Tristan chuckled "So…" he started, backing her up against the counter "More about that dream…" he said
"Tristan" Rory protested, pinkening slightly as he leaned closer, so close that she felt every breath he took
"Just tell me" he whispered
"What do you want to know?" she asked in a daze from him being so close to her
He smirked "Everything" he said, tucking a stray hair behind her ear
"I was pregnant…and you! You wouldn't let me have soda or coffee!!!" she exclaimed
Tristan smirked "Well…can you blame me?" he teased
"And you made me eat salad…and vegetables. Come to think of it, it was a nightmare" she said, relaxing a bit
Tristan grinned "Well they are good for you" he stated, not moving back any
"That's it." she added
Tristan nodded "Okay" he said carelessly leaning in to kiss her when her cell phone rang. He groaned and moved back, letting her go. Rory smiled and pecked him quickly before answering her phone.
"Hello" she answered
"Hey sweets, how's it going?" Lorelai asked
"Great. How are you?" she asked
"Better now that in only 23 hours I will be seeing the fruit of my loins" she answered excitedly
Rory grinned "Really? You're coming to visit? Who's driving?" she asked seriously, knowing Lorelai got distracted easily
Lorelai snickered "I can drive!" she defended "but Luke" she answered afterwards
"Good" Rory stated "How long will you guys be staying?" She asked
"Just for the weekend" She answered "You sure you guys didn't have plans or anything? Ask Tristan" She said
Rory rolled her eyes "Its fine….I promise" she said
"Just ask" Lorelai pushed
Rory sighed "Okay okay. Hold on." She said, putting her on hold before turning to Tristan "My mom wants to make sure its okay if she and Luke come over for the weekend tomorrow" She said like a child.
Tristan chuckled "Mary…" he said amused
"Please please please!" Rory begged mockingly "I promise to be good" She pouted before cracking up hysterically
Tristan couldn't stop laughing, he was on his way to rolling around on the floor. "Mom. Like I said its fine" she said into the receiver
Lorelai grinned "Kay, I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye hon." she said
"Bye mom" she said and hung up.
"Don't do that again Mar, it took great willpower to stop laughing" Tristan said, a wide smile gracing his features
Rory smiled "You're easily amused" she stated
"I am not…" he said and groaned "I have to go…my lovely 20 hour shift starts in 20 minutes."
Rory pouted "Don't go" she whined
"Bye Mary" He said smirking, giving her a quick kiss before walking to the door and grabbing his coat off the rack.
"Bye" she said, watching him leave. She sighed…what to do now?
RORY/TRISTAN
Rory rushed through the emergency room in tears. Horrible memories encased this place but that's not what she was thinking about at the moment. She needed to figure out what to do…She saw Tristan in stitching a cut on a young boys arm, laughing lightly and trying to distract him from the pain.
"Tristan!" she called out as she ran towards him, not caring about anything at the moment. Tristan turned his head towards her in confusion, immediately passing the boy over to another doctor after seeing Rory's distress.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked when she practically threw herself in his arms
All he could get out of her was 'Mom, Luke, accident' he put two and two together and figured it out. "Where are they?" he asked
A/N: Hey guys, yay another chapter! Aren't you proud? Okay enough of that, so here's the next chap…review please…you know I love them!