Bad Timing

AN: I know this chapter is a bit boring, but I needed a bridge to the final chapter and for some reason this was what I came up with. Hope you all enjoy and thanks for the reviews :]

Claimer: I own Victoria.

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Thursday-

Rory paced back and forth in her oversized bathroom. She was contemplating the long conversation she had with her mother early on in the day. The mirror caught her attention, and she turned to stare at her weary features. She almost looked sick with her more- pale than usual complexion and her worn out big eyes. When they traveled down to her pink lips, letting her fingers follow suit, her heart started to beat erratically in her chest. The memory of an earth- shattering kiss that she received the night before replayed over and over in her mind.

"Rory, are you in there?" Logan's voice startled her, and she gasped loudly. "Are you okay?"

"Um yes," she bit her lip and opened the bathroom door, offering him a small smile and a peck on the lips. "How was your trip?"

He exhaled, scratching his head. "It went well, but I have some unfinished business I need to take care of so I wont be able to make dinner," he squeezed her arm, and looked in her eyes apologetically.

She could only nod. It wasn't a surprise, but now WAS the time for surprises. NOW was the time that he changed the playing field, and made their relationship look a little more promising.

"I'll schedule something for us tomorrow, okay?" and like that he was off to work again.

/

"Tomorrow is your big day," Tristan's sister Victoria announced, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him. He was facing double mirrors, examining his tux that fit perfectly.

Victoria was three years younger than Tristan, and she lived in Rhode Island. She was adventurous, and driven. She traveled around the world, and dedicated her years to helping sick kids in other countries. She loved life, but most of all she loved her brother…her best friend.

"My big brother, getting married,'' she turned him around and adjusted his tie.

"You don't sound too thrilled," he chuckled, running his fingers through his hair.

"It's not that," she sighed, squeezing his arm comfortingly, "I just feel like you're giving up on love is all."

He rolled his eyes, "Please save me your soul mate speech," he replied glibly.

Victoria shrugged, a smile creeping up her face. "She is …she's your soul mate Tristan Dugrey, and because of your impatience you will lose her forever."

"Vicky, She doesn't want me," his voice sounded resigned, "and even if she did want me in some way, she doesn't love me."

"How do you know? You have basically been dating this married woman, who you were head over heels with years ago for a couple of weeks and you decide that because she didn't throw herself at you she doesn't love you?" her hands go up in mock defeat, "are you freaking kidding me? You didn't even give the girl a chance to figure out how she feels before you up and tell her you are getting married to another woman."

Tristan bit his bottom lip, and rubbed his tired eyes.

"What if this is the woman who is meant to have your babies? What if she is the one woman in the world that you are supposed to grow old and grey with?" she crossed her arms to her chest, a fierce look in her eyes. "Obviously fate was trying to tell you something when it threw the two of you together after all of these years. And besides why the hell would you want to marry that bitch Courtney after all the shit she has said to you?"

Her outburst caught Tristan off guard. Even though he knew that as Courtney's soon to be husband he should defend her and yell at his sister, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. "I semi-respect the fact that you are this insane hopeless romantic Vicky, but please don't not insult Courtney just because YOU are in love with a girl you have never even met. How do you know you would even like Rory if you met her?"

"I'm sorry," she winced, "I didn't mean to just blurt that out, but come on! Courtney basically told you that you are not good enough for love. I don't understand how you would want to marry a person like that." She flipped her long, dirty-blonde hair over her shoulders and gave him a pointed look. "And besides I refuse to think highly of a woman that thinks so low of herself, marrying a man that she KNOWS is in love with another woman...shame on her," She added the last three words for dramatic effect.

After a couple of minutes of complete silence Tristan erupted into laughter. Victoria watched, first in shock and then in anger. "Am I a joke?"

"YES!" he let his last fit of chuckles rack his body and pulled her into a hug. After a couple of seconds he pulled back just enough to stare seriously at his sister. "Listen Vicky, I know you love me, and I know you want to protect me from all that's bad in this big ol' world, but you have to believe that I could do this on my own. It's funny because I always feel like the little brother with you, but I'm not and I know what I'm doing. Please just be happy for me," he pleaded, "you are my best man for goodness sake!"

Her eyes began to tear up, and she gave him one nod. "If you're happy than I am happy, but because I'm the best man does that mean I have to wear a tux?"

They both laughed

/

Thursday night

Rory was sprawled out on her oversized bed, staring at the ceiling. It took everything in her being to stop her from picking up the phone and dialing Tristan's number. Her body and soul yearned for him in a way she couldn't previously imagine. Calling him would be the wrong move; it would only confuse the both of them further…

But thinking of him marrying another woman made her heart ache… thinking of him standing at the alter waiting for his blonde bride made her stomach sick.

And still calling him was the wrong decision because what Tristan needed from her was something that she promised not to ever give to another man. She made vows in front of her family and God that she had to be committed to. She looked in Logan's eyes and promised through good and bad she would love him.

She knew all of this, but knowing this didn't change the fact that she never felt pain like she was currently feeling.

The sound of her phone ringing startled her. She practically fell off the bed, racing to answer it. Her gut clenched and her heart skipped a couple of beats as she stared at the called ID.

"Tristan," she stammered, trying to conceal the desperate tone of her voice.

"Sorry sweetheart, this is Victoria…his little sister," came an unfamiliar voice, but a very familiar name.

"Oh," Rory replied, confused to say the least.

"Listen I have to make this fast, because I kidnapped my brothers phone and I'm sure he will find me in about 2 minutes." Rory could hear her taking a deep breath. "My brother is in love with you. I don't know if you understand what that means, but I do. Tristan Dugrey has never been in love, but now he is and it's with you. Maybe I'm wrong, but from the sound of your voice when you thought he was calling- I would say you are pretty much in love with him too. I know you are a married woman, but I think once you fall in love with someone else any vows you made in church are pretty much NULL. So I really hope you get it through your thick skull before tomorrow morning, because my brother IS going through with this wedding and I think that means he's letting you go forever. Don't make that mistake Rory, don't lose out on real love because you are scared. And please," her plead was desperate, but her tone was full of love, "please don't let my brother lose out on love… if you don't love him then I am truly sorry for this phone call, and for not respecting your marriage, but he's getting married tomorrow Rory! He's getting married at the church on Front Street and I have to watch him give himself in front of God to a woman that doesn't even love him. I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't call you to let you know that…"

Click-

Rory couldn't suppress the tears that started to stream down her rosy cheeks. There was only one person who could help her now…

She picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. "Mom…I need you," she cried hard into the phone, "I need you now."

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