THE COPYRIGHTS OF THIS SHOW BELONG TO AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO & WARNER BROTHERS. ALL I OWN IS THE PLOT AND THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

The Life & Times of Charlotte Gilmore Chapter 11: Ted Koppel's Big Night Out

Charlotte was in her kitchen eating breakfast with Jess and Michelle. Tristan had left an hour ago to get his things before they got on the road. She was a little hesitant to be around her Grandparents, mainly Emily.

"What's with the sourpuss face?" Michelle asked looking at her friend like she sucked on a lemon.

"Emily Gilmore." Charlotte replied getting understanding looks from her friends.

"I'd have that face as well" Jess added eating his bacon.

"I already have enough on my mind with work and school. I really don't have time to deal with Emily Gilmore and all her opinions on how my life should be."

"Well you cant avoid her forever and maybe you two will bond today," Michelle offered only to get disbelieving looks from Charlotte and Jess. "Who am I kidding she is going to have something snide to say about how you look."

"Look who cares what she thinks. Just be yourself and make jokes with your mom to get under her skin." Jess said taking his and the girls plates to the sink.

"Thanks Jess." Charlotte said getting a smirk in return.

Charlotte gets up and goes in her room to change her clothes. She had laid out her clothes earlier before she ate breakfast. She was going to wear her black sweater dress, dark blue jeans and her low ankle boots. She had curled her hair earlier and was going to put a beanie over it. Twenty minutes later she came out of her room dressed and her purse on her wrist.

"You look comfortable." Michelle noted from the sofa.

"I wanted something easy to move around in," Charlotte looked around the room and noticed Jess wasn't in the apartment. "Where's Jess?"

"He got called into work early. He said to tell you good luck with Gilmore reunion." Michelle said changing the channel.

"So what are your plans today?" Charlotte asked joining her friend on the sofa.

"I have to be at the gallery later tonight for the auction. Quinn is going to meet me there." Michelle said.

Michelle and Quinn had been going out since they met at Austin's party a month ago. Charlotte had yet to meet him. He seemed like a nice guy from the way Michelle smiles at the mention of his name.

Soon she heard her cell phone ringing breaking Charlotte out of her thoughts. She opened her purse and saw it was Tristan. She answered quickly getting a head shake from her best friend.

"Are you downstairs?" Charlotte asked.

"I am parked out front and can you hurry up" Tristan said hanging up abruptly.

Charlotte looked down at her phone and was confused. She wondered why he had an attitude and hung up on her so quickly.

"I will see you later tonight." Charlotte said hugging her friend.

"Good luck" Michelle called out as Charlotte closed the door behind herself.

(Time Skip)

As soon as Charlotte got in the car Tristan pulled off and they were on the highway into Connecticut. The entire ride Tristan was silent but Charlotte could hear and see his fingers gripping his steering wheel tightly. Charlotte turns in her seat and faces her boyfriend.

"OK what is with the attitude? Ever since you called me to come down you have been angry. Talk to me Tristan." Charlotte demands of her boyfriend.

"Before I came to see you my dad called", Tristan started to say before Charlotte cut him off.

"You don't even have to finish that. I know how your father treats you. I was hoping you would talk to me about it before lashing out on me." Charlotte said seeing the guilt on his face.

"I'm sorry." He said sincerely.

"I get it and I am about to go through the same thing with Emily later on."

"No you're not, Char." Tristan took his right hand off the steering wheel and took her left hand. "As long as we have each other we can get through whatever bullshit comes our way. We can't let anyone get in between us like last time."

"Don't remind me."

"So lets try to enjoy this afternoon and not let negative drama get in the way."

"Its easier said than done. But I will try."

"That's all I ask."

After a few moments of silence Charlotte spoke once more, "What were you talking about with your father?"

Tristan glanced at her quickly before giving the road his entire attention. "We were discussing my work ethic and personal life."

"Such as?" Charlotte probed.

"I cant speak about work because of confidential reasons but we also spoke about you."

"What could he say that made you pissed that you took your anger out on me."

"He said something along the lines that our relationship is not the same it was two years ago. That you are seeing someone besides me and I kinda snapped at him.

"And the seed of doubt was planted by the Jackass."

"It made me think of you and Austin and then all these thoughts came rushing in."

"I thought we talked about this. There is nothing going on between Austin and myself. He showed how he treats girls and I don't want to be in a relationship like that. I don't want to be questioning myself when it comes to trusting the person I am with. If that's the case then I need to be single." Charlotte ranted.

"Are you saying we need to break up?" Tristan asked with a quiet fear.

"No, what I am saying is that I need to be able to trust who I am dating."

Tristan smirked and squeezed her hand lightly. "Now that we have that all cleared up.."

"Shut up and get us to Yale already." Charlotte jokingly ordered.

"As you wish" Tristan said putting more pressure on the pedal and they sped faster.

(Time Skip)

After two hours on the highway, Tristan and Charlotte reached Yale University. Being here brought up a lot of bad feelings for Charlotte. It was constant reminder in everyone's eyes that Rory was special and Charlotte was the extra. She seriously wanted this day to be over with.

Tristan parked the car and turned to face his girlfriend and the look on her face was one he hated to see. All the insecurities Charlotte felt were showing clearly on her face.

"Hey you okay?" He asked breaking her train of thoughts.

"Never better." Charlotte assured him. "Come on lets go meet your grandfather."

They both got out of the car and started to walk through the campus. Charlotte continued to gaze around as they walked pass students milling about.

Just a couple years ago Lorelai had taken Rory and Charlotte out of Stars Hollow after she decided not to marry Max Medina. They had somehow ended up going on a tour of Harvard and Rory had fit in of course. In that moment Charlotte knew no matter what she accomplished it would always be overshadowed by Rory's achievements. She knew her sister wasn't doing it on purpose but it still hurt.

The couple soon saw Tristan's grandfather Janlen Dugray, sitting on a bench talking to a young man. As they got closer the younger man looked at them and Janlen turned to see what had captured his attention.

"Tristan my boy." Janlen greeted as he stood to hug his grandson,

"Hi Grandfather" Tristan said in return.

As the Dugray men hugged Charlotte was happy that someone in Tristan's family was supporting him. Janlen was Tristan's inspiration to be a better person. Janlen then pulled away from his grandson and noticed Charlotte standing beside them.

"Charlotte, my dear you look wonderful. Tristan told me about you working for Ursula Underwood. I am most excited for your future endeavors." Janlen said making Charlotte blush in embarrassment.

"Thank You Janlen." Charlotte gushed.

"I hope we haven't made you wait long Grandfather." Tristan said as they all sat down on the bench.

"Not at all." He glanced at the young man beside him. "I was just speaking to this young man right here."

"I'm Marty it's nice to meet you both." Marty then turned to Janlen. "Mr. Dugray it was nice to meet you as well but I have something important to finish. Hopefully I will see you again, goodbye" Marty aid walking away from them.

"So who else are we waiting for Janlen?" Charlotte asked the older man.

"I was actually invited to join your grandparents Emily and Richard for their BBQ they are having on the other side of the campus. I know you don't have the best relationship with them but we don't have to join them."

"Its fine. Mom and Rory are there and I told them I would stop by and see them."

"Splendid." Janlen said getting up from the bench.

"Granddad have you spoken to dad."

"I did and frankly i don't think you should take anything he says with a grain of salt. Charlotte is a good girl and you'd be lucky to someday have her as your wife. You guys have something and you shouldn't let outside voices disturb it. Now I love my son but he is an idiot," Janlen said getting Charlotte and Tristan to laugh. "Now come along we don't want to make Emily have a fit."

"God forbid Emily wouldn't have a fit" Charlotte remarks.

"You may not like her but she is still your Grandmother." Janlen chides.

"Enough talk lets go and I am hungry." Tristan adds as they walk away from the bench.

(Time Skip)

Soon Charlotte and the Dugrays reached the site where the Elder Gilmore were having there BBQ. When they got there Charlotte tried to relax herself as they walked closer towards the BBQ. She was like her mother in that aspect, where she had to calm herself just to be in Emily's presence.

"Janlen, I was wondering when you would arrive," Emily says briefly before noticing Charlotte and Tristan beside him.

"Hello Emily" Tristan greeted.

"Tristan" Emily said dryly while gazing at her wayward granddaughter. "Charlotte I wasn't expecting you. I would never dream to see you in a place such as Yale." She digged.

"Well my boyfriend invited me and I couldn't turn down a day with him." Charlotte retorted. "I also spoke to Rory and mom earlier, and I promised them I would come to see them. I hope that's not a problem?"

"No not at all. It would have been nice if you had called ahead." Emily sniped just as Lorelai, Rory, and Richard walked over to them.

"Hello Charlotte"

"Hi Grandpa" She replied politely, not caring for the glare Emily sent her way.

"Charlotte" Rory said hugging her sister. "I heard about Sarah Jessica Parker saying your name on the red carpet."

"I know me and Sierra are still in shock. On top of that we are in the finishing stages of the expo and the gala. I am really enjoying working at Underwood designs. So enough about me, tell me what's going on with you."

"Nothing much"

"She's being vague. She went on a date the other week." Lorelai added ignoring the looks she got from her mother and Roy.

"So do you think there is going to be a second date in the near future?" Charlotte asked her sister curiously as they sat down with their mother.

"I don't know. I am not ready to date to be honest after what Jess put me through. I've been thinking about him and I miss him. But I am not ready to forgive him until we speak." Rory confessed.

"Honestly Rory what do you see in that hoodlum?" Emily asked with disdain.

"Grandma you might not like Jess but he is the only guy that understands me personally. He doesn't belittle my success or things I want. He wants me to be the best at whatever I want. He has personal issues within himself that he needs to work on." Rory explained her to grandmother.

"You can do so much better. There must be plenty of boys from good families that would be suitable for you to date. Even Charlotte is dating a boy from a respectable family." Emily said.

"That is the nicest backwards comment you have ever said about me" Charlotte said.

"Lorelai" Emily reprimanded.

"I didn't even say anything this time." Lorelai exclaimed.

"Exactly Lorelai." Emily said walking over to her catering staff.

"That woman is an enigma." Charlotte said as Tristan brought her a plate of food.

"Here's some food." Tristan said sitting next to her.

"How are things with the two of you?" Lorelai asked.

"Well we are boyfriend and girlfriend again. I asked her out after this club we went to with Jess." Tristan said not noticing his girlfriend wincing.

"Jess?" Rory asked confused.

"Yeah, Charlotte introduced us at her apartment." Tristan said noticing the glare his girlfriend was giving him.

Lorelai knew it was about to go down between her daughters. "Tristan could you give them a moment. They need to work things out and it might get ugly."

"Sure" Tristan said leaving the three of them alone.

"How long?" Rory quietly asked once Tristan was out hearing range.

"Since I moved to New York. I ran into him on my first day of school and we've kept in touch. Most recently he's been living with me and Michelle." Charlotte said.

"You've been in contact with him the entire time and you never told me. For the longest time I thought he was in California but he's been in New York with you" Rory accused in a hurt tone.

"Rory." Charlotte started to say before Rory cut her off.

"You of all people should know what I've been through since he left. He was to coward to tell me he couldn't graduate. That is what he does when things get too hard. He runs away and nothing gets solved. I hate the fact that I still love him and he hurt me. What makes it worse is that he is living with you and can't or won't even call me to say sorry."

"Sweets" Lorelai said pulling her daughter in.

Charlotte stood up and joined her mother and sister in the hug. Once all three pulled away, Charlotte grabbed Rory's hand.

"Rory you know how jess is when it comes to emotions. He's like Luke in that aspect. They both have the emotional range of teaspoons." She says making her mom and sister laugh with her. "The reason Jess is living with me is because his apartment caught on fire and I was the only friend he could call. Jess is one of my best friends and he needed me. You can be mad at me all you want but I don't abandon friends."

"Just let me know when he is ready to talk." Rory said walking towards her grandparents.

Lorelai pulled Charlotte back into her arms, "I know it was hard telling your sister all that." Lorelai said walking to join the rest of the Gilmore's.

"I just wish she wouldn't make it about her." Charlotte remarked as Tristan came back towards her.

"You might want to go over there," He said pointing towards the Elder Gilmore.

"What's going on, babe?" Charlotte asked.

"Apparently some woman named Pennilyn Lott came over and asked your Grandfather about Lorelai's inn."

Charlotte smirked and said "Really!?"

"You're evil" Tristan remarked to his girlfriend.

"Sweetie we've barely scratched the surface of how evil I am. Never forget who my mother and grandmother are. Now let's go join the festivities so we can have something to talk about on the drive home." Charlotte says leading her boyfriend back to the BBQ.

As they got closer they could see Emily yelling at Richard. Emily's face was getting redder as she spoke. "You've met with her once a year since we've been married. The woman your mother wanted you to marry. Do you know how that makes me feel, Richard?"

"Emily." Richard says seeing the hurt in wife's eyes.

"I can't even look at you." Emily said walking away from them all.

With Emily walking out of sight the awkwardness in the air becomes stifling. Lorelai attempts to make a joke, "So how about football?"

She gains several weird looks for that comment.

(Time Skip)

After the fiasco at the game yesterday, Charlotte decided she needed to unwind. Being around her family brought out the negative more so, then usual. Charlotte was home alone for the first time, Jess and Michelle were at work. She was sitting at the table in her living room going over some last-minute plans for the expo. It was in a couple of days and she was trying not to stress about it.

Charlotte heard keys opening the front door and it was Jess walking in. He looked exhausted as he walked further into the apartment.

"How was work?"

"A fight happened in the bar. Police were everywhere and they let me leave early." Jess said tiredly as he laid on the couch with his eyes closed. "What are you doing?"

"Going over the plans for the expo." She replied putting down the pencil in her hand. "I got to talk to you about something."

Jess opened his eyes giving her his complete attention. Charlotte took a deep breath before speaking, "Rory knows that you are in New York and that you are living with me."

Jess sat up on the couch and rubbed his face with his hands. "How did she find out I was here?"

"That would-be Tristan's fault. He mentioned when we went out to go see Dave preform." Charlotte explained.

"How angry was she?" He asked.

"I'm not gonna lie, she was more hurt than angry. She feels like you ran away because you couldn't face her. Then she turned it on me and said I was just as bad for defending you."

"Charlotte, I never meant to come in between you and Rory."

"I know that Jess, and so does Rory. She's hurt because she still loves you and you never truly broke up. I need for you to finally fight for your relationship. Rory could have anyone but she wants you. Are you really going to let some douche at Yale get my sister? The only girl who has seen past the broken image you display."

"She could do so much better. Seriously what could I offer a girl like her? She is intelligent and has a future. What do I have that she wants?" Jess said with doubt in his voice.

Charlotte stands up and joins Jess on the couch and pulls him into a hug. "The fact that you know and acknowledge that says a lot. You know what Rory's capable of and yet she still wants you in her life. Are you really afraid of letting her in that you would sabotage your one true moment of happiness?"

"I need time." Jess simply says.

"How much longer are you going to wait. You've been miserable for months and its getting pathetic."

"Jeez, I get it."

"Figure things out sooner than later or you will lose her." Charlotte said picking up her work and heading into her room, leaving Jess with his emotions and thoughts.

(Time Skip)

The next day Charlotte was steaming clothes inside her office. Sienna was typing something on her computer.

"So how was your weekend at Yale?" Sienna asked.

"Entertaining to say the least," Charlotte replied. "Between Rory finding out about Jess living with me and my grandparents arguing about something that could possibly ruin their marriage. I guess you could say I filled my quota for Gilmore family events."

"Rory found out? How?" Sienna asked enthused.

Charlotte then proceeded to tell Sienna all about what happened at Yale, and her talk with Jess last night.

"Your life is like a rollercoaster and you keep doing loop after loop."

"I'm the one living it and it is a shit show." Charlotte added before putting down the steamer. "I was wondering if you and Ethan wanted to go on a double date with me and Tristan sometime this week?"

"I would have to check with Ethan but that's cool with me."

"Great, now I have to bring these clothes back downstairs before Ursula has my head on a plate." Charlotte said pushing the mobile closet out of the office.

*Drama is about to start in the next chapter between Charlotte and Tristan. An old frenemy comes out to play and things will go down.

*The next chapter will be titled "The Expo Part 1", and it will be up sometime towards the end of August.

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