Chapter 20 Searching
While Rory was with Tristan on the wine tour, Logan was just getting out of his bed at his father's home. It was one pm and he had a terrible hangover. The house was quiet since his father left to go to the office and his mother, Honor, and Odette left early that morning to go shopping in the city for her wedding dress.
Logan grabbed some Tylenol and a bottle of water. After dinner, last night, Logan and Colin returned to Colin's place where they found Finn and Robert talking. Logan and Colin were drunk and wanted to party so Colin called some girls and they continued to drink until Finn put Logan and the girls in a cab to take them home.
Logan reaches for his phone and calls Finn. knowing that he and Robert stayed with Colin last night.. Finn's phone rings and he knocks it on the floor hoping that it would stop. When Robert steps out of the shower, he hears the phone ringing. He quickly puts on his sweat pants and pounds on the door where Finn is sleeping.
"Finn, get up! Your phone is going off you Oocker."
"Bloody hell, who would be callin' me in the middle of the day."
The phone rang again, and Finn swore as he picked up his phone.
"What?" he yelled into the phone and put his hand over his eyes. He felt the room spinning. He hadn't been this drunk since he was in Yale ten years ago. He has to stop hanging around with Logan and Robert.
"Hey are you up?"
"Can't be bothered!" Finn answered.
"Well get up. I will be there in thirty minutes and we are taking a road trip to Stars Hollow."
"Mate when are you going to realize that she has gone on a walkabout. Give it up and make a life with Odette."
Logan mumbled something into the phone.
Finn sat up at this point holding his head. "You're daft! You know it don't you!"
"Finn I don't want to talk about it, I will be there in thirty minutes."
Finn shut off his phone and shouted "AGGGH!" He walked out of the bedroom and went into the bathroom. Robert heard the water running and walked to the main house to the kitchen. The boys were in the guest house just off the pool. Colin was already up drinking his third cup of coffee and eating avocado toast that the cook had made him. His father and his latest secretary had left to play tennis at the indoor tennis court at the West Hartford Tennis Club.
"Where's Finn?"
"In the shower. I gather you didn't hear him scream when Logan called."
"No, I didn't, " chuckled Colin, "Last night I told Logan to call Finn with his plans for today. I'm surprised that Logan actually remembered the way you three were drinking. Robert didn't Finn cut down on his drinking since he started modeling and acting."
"He has, but Logan was driving him nuts. So we started playing a game whenever Logan complained about Odette, his father or mentioned Rory ,last night, we would take a shot. Do you have any pain medication?" Robert asked him.
"Here take two of these extra strength Tylenol. It should help and make yourself and Finn a Bloody Mary. I will have the cook make you something for your hangover. "
Robert spoke to the cook in Spanish and soon she made Robert scrambled eggs. She handed him a bottle of coconut water and a plate with the scrambled eggs and toast with honey. After he drank the water he was able to eat the eggs and felt better. Finn came in with dark glasses on.
"Colin, mate what the bloody hell are we doing here in Hartford? Rory is gone and it's better for Logan to forget about her. " Colin and Robert looked at Finn, they both agreed but it was hard to say no to Logan when he was like this.
Colin spoke to the cook again and soon a plate of eggs with toast and honey was in front of him. Robert handed him the bottle of Tylenol and coconut water. "Drink and eat, you will feel better."
Finn drank the bottle of coconut water quickly and took four Tylenol. He ate his eggs and soon he was able to function without feeling dizzy.
They heard the horn blast from the driveway. Finn grabbed his winter coat and put the sunnies on his eyes and walked out. He glared at Logan and crawled into the back of the Lincoln Navigator that Logan was driving and closed his eyes. Colin sat in the front seat and Robert sat in the seat in the second row.
"What's the plan, Logan?" Colin asked him.
"We are going to go to Stars Hollow,"
When they got back to the car, Gwen went to the cooler that was in the back and pulled out four water bottles. She began to pass them around to Rory, Tristan, Jack and herself as they all sat in the car. The driver started the car and Rory leaned on Tristan's shoulder and said, "I could go for a big bowl of pasta right now."
"Sorry Rory, but there aren't any Italian restaurants around here but maybe when we go back home I will have the cook make some for dinner," Jackson said, "However, we are going to stop for lunch now and I made reservations for us at the Salt Water Grill, I think you will enjoy the food there."
Twenty minutes later the driver pulled up into the parking lot of the Salt Water Grill. and the people got out of the two cars. As they entered, Rory saw the ladies room and went there right away. Gwen joined her and soon Marj and Francie came in too.
"Rory you said you lived in London, but you didn't say what you did there?" Francie said as she stood next to her at the sink as they washed their hands.
"Oh I was a freelance journalist. I would travel and go where the stories took me," Rory replied as they walked out of the bathroom talking.
"Sounds romantic, why did you come home?" Francie asked her.
"It wasn't as romantic as it sounds. I simply got tired of living out of a suitcase," Rory replied.
Gwen came up behind Rory and putting her arm around her shoulder asked, "Are you happy to be home now?".
Rory looked over at Tristan who was standing at the bar with his father. She smiled and said, "Yes, very happy."
The men were standing by the bar and Jackson turned to his son, "Look at them,Tris. Your mom and Rory seem to be hitting it off. I like her and obviously your mom approves so do us all a favor and don't screw this up."
"We are taking it slow, Dad. She was hurt deeply by Huntzberger."
Andy was standing next to Tristan and heard this.
"She dated a Huntzberger?"
"Yes, when she was in Yale. Why, do you know him?"
Chandler took a sip of his scotch and looked at Tristan.
"Only by reputation. He and his father don't get along. Mitchum and Shira never liked the girl Logan dated and they were happy when they broke it off and he became engaged to that French model. It seems that Mitchum is involved with the politics in a few different countries and he needs money. He made some let say, shady deals and he and the board of HPG have been fighting for the last two years. So to save his reputation, he arranged to have his son marry that heiress. Didn't Mitchum ask you to stop by today and look at the contract?"
Tristan looked at his father, "Did you know anything about that dad?"
"I did Chandler, Oscar and Mitchum both asked me to check the contract. His son, Colin isn't happy with the way it is worded. It is a strange contract a lot of clauses and even a prenup. But to answer your question son, no I didn't know anything about that. Rory is smart not to be involved with that family. It would cause her nothing but heartache. They are like sharks. I only went over today as a favor to McCrae."
"Dad, Andy, Chandler, please don't let anyone know that you know Rory Gilmore. Rory doesn't want anything to do with Logan anymore," Tristan said then left the group when he saw Rory walk into the bar area.
"How are you holding up? Having fun yet?"
"I am. Are you?" she asked him holding his hands and smiling up at him.
"I am."
Tristan leaned forward and kissed her on the side of her head. They followed the hostess to their table and Tristan held the chair for her.
"Well thank you kind sir, " she teased.
He took the seat to her left. Francie was sitting across from them while Gwen sat on her right.
The hostess brought water to the table and filled everyone's glass.
Jackson looked at Rory and said, "Gwen, Rory I see that they have Jordan's Chardonnay here, should we get a bottle for the table or does anyone else have a suggestion?"
"Let's order two bottles," Chandler suggested, " I enjoyed that wine myself."
"Good bring us two bottles of your 2012 Jordan Chardonnay," he told the waiter, "and also could you bring us two dozen of your shrimp and two dozen of your Oysters."
"Oysters, Jack really?" Gwen giggled and then kissed her husband.
Tristan looked at Rory and raised his eyebrows. He leaned back and put his arm on her shoulder.
Rory blushed and then said, "Tris, we should take a group picture."
"You know Rory that's not a bad idea," Jackson said.
He called the waitress over and she took a picture for them using three different phones, Jackson's, hers and Francie's. Rory drank some more water and began to feel the nice warm, relaxed feeling that one gets after drinking wine. She leaned back in her chair, her head resting on Tristan's arm and he leaned down and smiled at her.
"I like the relaxed Mare," he said.
"Thanks, this has been a great day. I needed this to remind me that I can have fun again."
"Mare, this is only the beginning, I promise you a lifetime of fun," he told her as he played with her hair.
The wine came and the waiter filled their glasses leaving the extra bottle on the table in a wine bucket. Not long after the appetizers came, Rory enjoyed her cup of the New England Clam Chowder, while the rest nibbled on the shrimp and oysters. Tristan picked up an oyster and sucked it off the shell, he looked at her and grinned.
"You know oysters are an aphrodisiac," Tristan whispered raising his eyebrow and smirking.
"I have heard that to be true. Too bad we can't do anything about it.?" she teased him.
"Mare, are you using my own words against me."
She started to laugh. "Do you really need the Oysters, Tris?"
"Not with you around." Tristan leaned in kissing her behind the ear and the back of her neck.
Rory immediately blushed and whispered, "Tris, not now, " when she noticed that Francie was giving her the stink eye. Tristan smiled and kissed her on the cheek. Francine was jealous and she watched Tristan and Rory. Playing with her wine glass Francie looked at her and said, "Rory, I'm surprised you never married, "
"Why?"
"I thought you had a boyfriend in high school. I just figured that you being from Stars Hollow you would immediately get married. Doesn't everyone do that where you were from?"
Rory laughed at her. "Not everyone, I did have a boyfriend in Stars Hollow, but we broke up when I went to Yale. Why?"
"Huh, I just figured you would have gotten married by now., " Francie said.
"I guess I never found the right man, "she replied and took a sip of her wine.
"Until now," Tristan whispered in her ear.
Rory blushed again and put her hand on his thigh and squeezed it. He captured her hand in his and held it.
"But don't you want children? You should have children before you get too old. We have four boys and they are my full-time job, our oldest, Chandler, is fourteen almost fifteen, then we have twins, Randy and Rick, they're twelve, and then surprise, Marcus he's six. "
"Oh wow, you have been busy."
Rory pressed her lips together and looked at Tristan suppressing a laugh.
The waitress brought their food and soon everyone was eating and talking. As they left the restaurant, Jackson was standing beside his son watching his wife and Rory talk as they walked into the ladies room.
"Tris, my advice to you, is hold on tight and don't let this one get away."
"I don't plan on letting her go this time, Dad. I left her once, I'm not going to do that again."
They walked over to the ladies as they came out of the bathroom. Tristan put his arm around her waist and guided her out to the parking lot. They all stood in the parking lot talking.
"This was fun, we should get together again sometime, " Francie said to Tristan and Rory. She gave Tristan a hug and a kiss and then went over to Rory. "We should do lunch soon."
"Oh, well yes, we should, " Rory replied and looked over at Tristan who was trying to suppress a chuckle.
Bowman stood next to Tristan and looked at Rory.
"Man, she is quite the babe. I don't know how you do it."
"Do what?" he asked him
"Well you have so many…" but before Bowman could say anything more Tristan glared and said seriously, "It's not like that with her."
"Shit, you are serious about her, " Bowman said looking at Tristan.
Bowman slapped Tristan on the back and said, "Congratulations man. It's about time you settled down. She's smart and independent Tris, just your type. If I remember you had a thing for her back in high school."
Tristan grinned and then slapped Bowman on the shoulder. Rory and Francie walked over to where the men were talking.
"Okay, I will see you later, Andy. Take care," Tristan said and turned to Rory, "Are you ready Mare?".
They walked over to the town car and they go in. The driver backed out of the parking lot to continue their visit of the next three wineries before returning to Hartford. Sitting in the car, Rory took out her phone and sent a message to Finn and her mother. Rory and Finn always used a secret code name and she always sent her text to him as LLH. They did this in case Logan ever got his phone by mistake.
LLH - Finnie sorry I couldn't call. I'm out of town. Call me tomorrow. LLH
Rory - Mom got you a couple of cases of wine. See photo attached. R
At the next winery, while the women were in the bathroom, Jackson called the cook and requested that the cook, Antoinette, make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight with garlic bread, salad and have the Italian bakery in Hartford, deliver a Tiramisu cake.
They went to three more wineries before they returned at the Dugrays home at five pm, with six cases of wine. They sat and enjoyed a delicious meal together before Tristan and Rory left.
Logan pulled into Stars Hollow with Robert, Colin, and Finn at two pm and stopped at the light in front of the diner. The town was bustling with people on this sunny Saturday in November.
"Where are you going first?" Colin asked Logan sitting next to him in the front seat of the car.
"I figured we will head to the house first to see if her mom is there. From there we can stop here at the diner and last resort at the Inn. Someone should be able to tell us where she is," Logan told them.
"Mate, I told you before. You are not going to get any answers here. You're chasing your tail, " Finn grumbled from the back seat looking out the window at the familiar sites.
"I agree with Finn, Logan, you can't find someone who doesn't want to be found. " Robert replied.
Logan pulled up in front of the Crap Shack and parked the car, "Come on, we won't know until we knock at the door. Colin why don't you go and knock on the back door."
The four men stepped out of the car. Colin went and walked to the back of the house, and Robert and Logan went to the front door. Finn stood at the car and leaned against it, wondering if he should text Rory and let her know that Logan was at her mother's home. He had his phone in his hand ready to write the message when he heard a voice.
"Can I help you," Babette screams from her kitchen window. Finn looks up from his phone and grins when he recognized the voice from one of the ladies he saw in the diner. Logan walks off the porch and goes over to the side yard towards the sound.
"Uh yeah. My names Logan and I'm looking for Rory. Have you seen her by chance?"
"Hey, I remember you, MORIE... It's THE HUNTZBERGER KID! I'm going in!"
Babette scurries out her front door hobbling toward them to get a good look at the man that broke their town princess's heart.
Finn folds his arms across his chest, and his eyes are twinkling behind his sunnies as a grin goes across his face when he hears Babette ask Logan, "So what do you want with our girl?"
Logan always knew that Stars Hollow as a small town ,felt protective of Rory, but he never thought that they would ever feel hostile towards him.
"Do you know where she is? Or her mother?" he asked her politely.
"That doesn't answer my question suga', but I'll let you have it because of your entourage. Last I saw her was at her mom's wedding. That girl still got the gams. You know a girl like that won't stay single for long. Has a whole line of guys knocking at her door if you know what I mean. Oh god and those eyes... have you ever seen a girl with those eyes, God was good to her to give her those gorgeous eyes. She will never have to worry about a lack in the male department, or female department eitha', knowing you kids that's becoming all the rage nowadays according to Tilly, but you didn't hear it from me. Hey Morie, after the wedding do you remember who Rory left with?"
"Last I saw her she was dancing with Luke's nephew, Jess."
"Ya, that's right. She probably went with Jess. Imagine all this time, he being a famous author and she a writer, they finally get together. They have been pining for each other since she graduated from Yale... Ya' know, you look familiar…. have I seen you before?" Babette asked taking a pause and trying to get a good look at Robert.
"No, No I don't think so," Robert responded and put his sunglasses back on his face.
"Well, you look familiar and so does that tall hunk of a man standing by the car. I swear I saw you two before here in Stars Hollow. I never forget a tall drink of wata'." Babette smiled at Finn and winked. Finn chuckled and nodded his head at her. Logan looked over at his friends and then tried to refocus Babette on his question.
"Thank you for your help. Do you know if Lorelai is around today? Maybe in town or at the Inn?"
"Morie, is Lorelai at the Inn today?"
"What day is it?" Morie yelled from the window.
"Saturday," Babette yelled back, "Poor Morie has trouble remembering dates now that he is retired and no longer working at the clubs in New York. You know we had quite the show back in the day. He would play the piano, and I would sing with him. That's how we met. It was love at first sight."
"Babe, she usually goes to Luke's for lunch then the Inn, but I don't know , I think I saw her leave early today in her jeep," Morie said to Babette.
"Yea that's right, she did leave in her jeep. I remember she waved at me. You know they haven't been home very long. They took four weeks for a honeymoon in Fiji. Have you ever been to Fiji?"
Logan looked at his friends and then said, "Well thank you. We will go to the diner she might be there having lunch."
"Do you want me to give her a message when I see her? I am sure she would want to talk to you. I mean after all this time you come back looking for Rory, after you broke her heart it's the least you can do is apologize to her motha'," Babette said glaring at Logan.
"Yes please tell Lorelai I stopped by."
"Oh, you bet I will."
The men quickly got into the car and headed for the diner, as Babette watched them go. She immediately went inside her home to call Miss Patty to let her know that Rory's boyfriend was in town looking for her.
Logan parked in a spot across the street from the diner, and the four men got out. They crossed the street and heard someone yell, "Hey you, Yes I am talking to you. There is a crossing walk. We don't Jaywalk here in Stars Hollow. I will have to find the local police, and have you arrested for Jaywalking," Taylor yelled from the door of his candy store.
Colin walked over to him and said, "Hello, I am Colin McCrae Esq. from the law office of Hayden and McCrae in Hartford, now my good man is there a problem? Because you see we are looking for a missing person. Do you recognize this young woman? You see my best friend is heartbroken since she has gone missing. It is his girlfriend, and the last place she was seen was here in Stars Hollow." Colin showed him a picture of Rory taken when they were together in New Hampshire.
"Well that's Rory, she's been kidnapped? Oh my goodness, I better go and find Lorelai she must be beside herself with grief." Taylor went running inside his store to look up the Inn's phone number to find Lorelai. Logan looked at Colin and shook his head.
"Why did you do that?"
"I figured you wanted to find Rory, what easier way than ask this old busybody."
Robert and Finn started laughing as they walked into the diner.
The four men found a table immediately and sat down. The diner was not as busy as it was earlier when they drove through. They each grabbed a menu and Finn looked up at the special board. He noticed that today's special was a Rory Burger.
"Welcome to Luke's Diner, May I take your order?" Kirk asked the four men who sat at a table in front of the window.
"Yeah Mate, can you tell me what is in your Rory Burger?"
"Oh yes, it is one of our most popular burgers made especially for Stars Hollow's Rory Gilmore, our very own foreign correspondent. You can read one of her articles on the back of our menu."
Logan turned the menu over and looked at it. It was her article from the Atlantic Journal. He smiled as he reread it. He remembered the day that it was printed and how they celebrated that night in London. He took her on the London Eye at night where he held her in his arms kissing her as they looked out over the city talking about their plans and dreams together. That night was so magical, and he was so happy that they were back together again. He wished that he could have it all again, and that she was back in his life.
"A "Rory Gilmore" is two beef patties, double cheddar cheese, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, and of course the secret sauce," continued Kirk.
"What's the secret sauce, mate?"
"I can't tell you because it wouldn't be a secret if I told you." Kirk responded.
"Does it come with chips?" Finn asked him.
"No it comes with fries," Kirk said.
"That's what I just asked you. I asked you if it comes with chips."
"No it comes with fries," Kirk repeated himself. This got Robert and Colin to chuckle.
"Fine I want the Rory burger and a coke," Finn responded. Finn loved to confused people using the terms from Australia when he was at a restaurant especially if the waiter had no idea what he was talking about.
"Please bring me extra sauce for my chips too, Mate," Finn told Kirk.
"How about you," Kirk said looking at Robert.
"I'll have the special with a Coke," Robert responded.
Logan quickly flipped the menu over and said, "I'll have the Monte Cristo, with coffee," Logan told Kirk.
"Really you want the Monte Cristo? No one has ever ordered the Monte Cristo before," Kirk answered in surprise.
"Why isn't it any good?"
"I don't know, it's just something Lorelai and Rory convinced Luke to put on the menu one day."
"Hello there, don't I know you?" Miss Patty said walking over to the table where the men were sitting, and Kirk was taking the order.
"Kirk what are you doing? Are you bothering these men?" she asked him.
"I'm taking their order," Kirk said.
"Does Luke know you are doing this?"
"Well….no but he would want me to help if they got busy since he isn't here. You know I have experience. I owned my own outdoor diner called. Kirks."
"Go get Lane, Kirk so she can take their order. Now how can I help you handsome men today? I am sure you all look familiar."
"Well, Kirk was explaining about the Monte Cristo and said no one orders it," Logan said with a grin.
"Oh that, well our little Rory was going through her French Adventure novels stage, I think she was thirteen. Oh how she loved books and would come in here and read and discuss them with anyone who would listen to her. Anyway, she told Luke that they should have a sandwich on the menu called the Monte Cristo, after the Count of Monte Cristo; since there was a candy bar named the Three Musketeers which was another book written by the same author. You know who I mean since you look so Ivy league and all."
"Alexandre Dumas," Finn replied. Logan, Robert and Colin looked at him in surprise.
"What, didn't you mates read that book? It was required reading," Finn replies since he was an avid reader like Rory, another thing that the two of them had in common..
"That does sound like Reporter girl," Colin whispered to Logan.
"Yes, I was right about you," Miss Patty purred at Finn, "You are an Ivy League man. So handsome, so debonair, so mysterious, so exotic."
"You were telling us about the sandwich?" Logan said glaring at Finn who now took off his sunnies and put them on the top of his head.
"Well Luke, he just could not deny that girl anything; actually no one could deny her anything. She had those eyes, and she was so sweet and innocent, well until she went to Yale and some cad broke her heart! Too bad she didn't meet someone like you, Mr. Exotic. I could eat you right up."
Miss Patty leaned over and pinched Finn's cheeks. Finn turned a bright shade of red as Logan glared at him.
"It does sound like Ace," Logan replied.
"Ace? You know our Rory? That's what her boyfriend would call her. Wait I do know you. You are the Lothario that broke that poor girl's heart. I should wring your neck. The last time I saw her she was crying, I think you better leave and not come back to Stars Hollow ever again," Miss Patty said walking over to the door and holding it open.
"Wait, no I love Rory, and I am here looking for her to apologize. I was stupid, and I need to talk to her."
Just then Lane came out of the backroom and saw Miss Patty standing by the open door speaking loudly to four of the patrons in the diner. Kirk was standing quietly beside the counter with a pad of paper in his hand looking shocked.
"What's going on here, Kirk? Luke left me in charge. Are you harassing the customer?"
"Well, I thought I would help and take their orders. They are looking for Rory."
Lane walked over to the table and looked at Logan, Robert, Colin, and Finn. She recognized Logan immediately and said, "Can I help you?"
"Your Rory's friend Lane, do you remember me? I am Rory's boyfriend. I need to find her so I can apologize."
"Oh, I bet you do. Well, she's gone, moved away….far, far away. She doesn't need you or your friends. I think you better leave now."
Just then Zac came into the diner and saw Lane yelling at the customers.
"Lane, is there a problem here?"
"Yes, these men are looking for Rory."
"She's not here," Zac repeated crossing his arms and glaring at them.
"Yes we know that, but I need to find her. Do you know where she or where Lorelai are?" Logan asked again
"Why do you need to talk to Rory? Haven't you done enough?" Zac said very angrily at Logan.
"Wait… what do you mean?"
Lane glared at Zac and shook her head then she turned to the men and said: " I think you better leave, Logan, and take your friends with you.." Miss Patty stood holding the door open and glared at them.
Lane turned and quickly walked away and stood behind the counter. The four men stood up and began to walked out of the diner. Before Logan left the diner he turned to Lane and said, "Please I love her. If she calls tell her I am looking for her."
The four men got into the car and headed out of Stars Hollow.
After leaving his parent's home, Tristan brought Rory back to his apartment. They walked in and he started the fire in the fireplace, and they sat on his loveseat kissing.
He looked at her face and trailed his fingers down her cheek then he loosened her hair taking out the hairpins that she used to keep the front of her hair back away from her face. He threaded his fingers through the braid and let it come loose.
"That's better," he told her as her hair fell around her face. He then took a piece and tucked it behind her ear.
"Come here, I told you last night that when we danced I would have music for us to dance too. Tristan stood up and hit the remote that he had for his stereo. The room filled with music and she heard the soft voices of the group Lady Antebellum as they began to sing the song Home
"Oh I love this song," Rory said. Tristan pulled her in his arms, and she put her arms around his neck. They began to sway back and forth to the music.
"Took a million miles and wrong turns
just to find you
And I guess I'm the guy
who you were waiting on me all along
In a world gone crazy, I know it's hard to believe it
But I know we're gonna make it,
'cause you're the song that's in my soul
Rory rested her head on his chest and let him sway her body round and round the room.
You feel like home
You're the steady through whatever
The shelter from the storm
You feel like home
You're the promise of forever
The place where I belong
You feel like home
She listened to the words as the music twirled like thread around them. "Home", was she really home this time? Dancing in his arms she felt safe. She wondered if this could it be her new home? Rory pulled him close to her and wondered if it was all that wine she had or was she falling in love with him. Were they really meant to be together? She thought about their first kiss and the many kisses they recently shared. Rory begins to hum the song in his ear. He stopped dancing and looked into her eyes and leaned down and kissed her. They began to dance again, and he sang the chorus to her their eyes locked.
"You feel like home
You're the steady through whatever
The shelter from the storm
You feel like home
You're the promise of forever
The place where I belong…."**
He stopped dancing then walked over to a chair where he had a big fluffy blanket, picking it up he placed it on the floor in front of the fireplace. She stood there watching him.
"What are you doing?"
"Making a place in front of the fireplace so we can sit and talk," he said as he threw pillows on the floor. He got down on the floor and reclined propping himself on the pillows. He reached up and took her hand and pulled her next to him. She sat down crossing her legs next to him. He gazed at her and Rory saw the softness in his eyes, the same softness that she glimpsed at Louise's party sitting on the piano stool the day of their first kiss.. Rory felt his vulnerability, something she knew he guarded, but with her, he let her see it. She placed her hand on his cheek and tilted her head ready for him to kiss her.
She got on her knees and knelt closer to him and he said, " My parents like you. I told you they would."
She gave him a little smile. "They are nice. I had fun with them today. You know your father used to scare me."
He put her hand on the back of her head with his thumb on her chin. He gently pulled her towards his face leaning so that their lips would meet. He tenderly let his lips glide against hers.
She moved back and bit her lip. He let his thumb rub gently on her chin.
"He used to scare me too. He traveled a lot when I was younger. He was an attaché for the military and spent most of his time in Europe where he got his Law degree and practiced contract law.."
"That's why you spent time with your grandfather?"
"Yes and no, my mom couldn't handle me. I had an older sister and I was two when she died. She was only five years old and had been sick. After she died, my mom and dad fought a lot and he began to travel more. My mother was so sad, and she would give me whatever I wanted. Of course I was always an independent little guy and learned quickly to act out to get attention. So my grandparents stepped in to help when my father wasn't around."
"Oh Tris,"
"I think that's why I went into medicine and became a surgeon. Her appendix burst before they could operate."
"I'm sorry. That must have been hard."
"Well we all have something that we have to get through to make us stronger. Mine was my sister's death and acting out. I guess going to military school helped me though. I had to prove myself to my parents that I wasn't a loser."
She laid down stretching her body beside him and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Mare, what did you have to prove?"
"I guess, when I went to Chilton, I had to prove that I could get into Harvard, that I wasn't a quitter, I could be a journalist. My mother was never a quitter, and I wanted to be like my mother, strong, independent, successful."
They were holding hands and he was playing with her fingers, "You know if I had stayed at Chilton I would have been Valedictorian not you."
"No way. I would have beat you, hands down mister."
"You might have but I would never had let you. It's a good thing I left." He pulled her on top of him and said, "So tell me Mary, were you a Mary at Yale? You hinted earlier that you broke rules. Tel me one rule you broke?"
"No, I did things."
"Like what? Taking extra cereal out of the cafeteria in your coat pocket?" he teased. "Tell me the worst thing you ever did." Rory sat up and looked at him. Cocking her head to the side she said softly, "I stole a boat and took a sloth year at Yale."
"You stole a boat?"
"Well technically Logan and I stole a boat."
"Did you go to jail?"
"Yes, that was not one of my proudest moments." she said sitting up cross legged looking into the fire. Tristan sat up behind her and put his arms around her waist . She leaned her back on his chest.
"Huh, my Mary stole a boat. Never would have guessed you had it in you. I should have stayed around we could have been a regular Bonnie and Clyde."
"Yeah …right running from town to town hitting different banks, living on the lamb." She giggled when she thought about that.
"So what was your sentence."
"Community service."
"And Logan?"
"Daddy got him off of that."
"He didn't offer to help you out?"
"Well I didn't want him too, I did the crime I had to accept my punishment. My mom was disappointed in me and so I moved in with my grandparents, living in their pool house. I decided that I didn't want to go back to school."
"You took a half of a Sloth year from Yale? Now that surprises me, the girl who loves to study. Come on Mare, you're the only one I know who's notes were so organized and alphabetized. What was that about?"
"I was confused, I didn't know what I wanted to do, my sentence was community service, a lot of community service and my mom and I weren't talking, and so my grandparents were happy to have me move in with them. My dad wasn't around and so I moved into the redecorated pool house my grandmother did for me. Then my grandmother got me a job at the DAR, so I had to join the DAR. It was awful, I became one of those society women, serving on committees and planning parties. I missed my 21st birthday party with my mom, instead had an Emily Gilmore party. Have you ever had a Rory?"
He shook his head and raised his eyebrow at her, "What's that?"
"Don't! it's a terrible pink drink that Emily made for my birthday. This was worse than my sixteenth birthday party she threw for me or the "Yale Sausage Party" that she had for me and made me wear a Tiara! Remind me that if we ever have a party we will not let Emily Gilmore get near it."
He took off the scarf that was around her neck and moving her hair he began to kiss her neck. She arched her back and turned her head so that she could kiss him.
"I'm sorry I had to miss it. I would love to have seen you wear a tiara. Hmmm a Male Sausage Party. All men, you were the only girl. Damn, Rory Gilmore a rebel. Promise that you will break some rules with me sometime? You know, rules are made to be broken." He laid butterfly like kisses around her neck then licked the shell of her ear.
Rory shivered then looked up at him with her deep blue eyes and continued talking.
"Paris was so mad at me when I quit school. Then Jess came back to give me his book that was just published, he was so proud, but was furious that I was living in my grandparents' home. I was no longer living out in the pool house but inside the house in a pink bedroom with boy band posters hanging on the wall." Tristan started chuckling and pulled her close to him rubbing her back gently. " If it wasn't for Jess I would have never graduated from Yale. Jess was the one who convinced me that I was wasting my time living with my grandparents organizing parties."
"That's not you. Remind me to thank Jess when I see him," he whispered kissing her gently on the lips.
"No, it's not."
"So what happened with journalism? Are you rebelling now?"
"I'm not sure. I was on the campaign trail for Obama and when that ended I worked for small papers and began to write articles for different magazines and tried to have my stories published. Before I went to Hamburg, I had a few stories published one in the Atlantic Journal and one in the New Yorker. With those published articles other offers began to come in. I was on a roll and I received an assignment to write an important piece for Conde Nast. I went to a journalism conference to cover that for another paper and that's when I ran into Logan, he was one of the keynote speakers. Logan and I had dinner with each other, and we fell back into our old habit. I lost my focus and instead of completing the assignment for Condé Nast, I spent time working on stories with Logan. He got the bylines for the stories I wrote. He suggested that I pick up random stories so that I could be with him in London …. Soon my heart wasn't in it anymore. "
He sat there silently holding her in his arms as she stared into the fire remembering the last year with Logan. She had been sneaking about, living in a bubble and hiding her belongings in boxes in his closet so his family wouldn't find out about her.
"Logan made arrangements for me to write a memoir with a crazy English lady. The lady was nuts, and there was no story there. Jess sent me messages, but I never responded. Paris would call me, and I never called her back. I am surprise she still likes me. I was a horrible friend and I wasn't around when her marriage fell apart. My organized life that I always planned with Pro Con list fell apart, and I finally realized that I wasn't happy with the life I was living with Logan, so I came home in the spring, with my clothes in boxes and no place to live. I let the lease run out of my apartment in the city because I was never there, and I would crash at different friends' homes. Luckily Olivia and Louise, two close friends at Yale let me crash at their apartments . Do you know that the last piece that I wrote was called, "Why people stand in lines in Manhattan." I spent a whole day in Manhattan and stood in lines for Cronuts, sneakers and many other things. I even stood in line with people when there wasn't even a line, they were friends just hanging out talking. Then I stood in line with a Comic Con group and ended up sleeping with a Wookie!"
"What did you say? You slept with who?" Tristan started chuckling.
"Never mind,"
"Oh no Mare, you slept with who?" The smile was getting bigger on his face.
"A Wookie."
"Like the Star Wars Wookie? The actor?" Tristan tried not to laugh so that she could explain but the smile on his face just got bigger.
"Tris, this is embarrassing."
Tristan pulled her closer to him and kissed her again. Pushing her hair away from her face he tilted her chin up and said, "No, Mare. It's time for us to share all of our embarrassing moments."
Sighing she continued, "Okay, I was interviewing people who were standing in line for a comic con party. I stood in line with them asking them questions and we all went into the bar. They bought me drinks and soon we were talking, laughing, drinking shots and I was flirting with this tall guy in a Wookie costume. The next morning I was doing the walk of shame back to Olivia's apartment. Tristan, while I was walking back to Olivia's the next morning I realized that I had hit an all-time low. I slept with a total stranger, I was that girl."
She looked at him and said, "I guess I'm more of a Magdalin than a Mary, Tris."
Tristan's face lit up in a sexy grin.
"My Mary is a Magdalin now, I like that, " he teased her.
She hung her head in shame. "Trist I'm not like that. I don't sleep with just any guy. I mean Logan was the last man I slept with in a long time. There hasn't been that many, three in fact."
"Ror, we all have done things we regret."
"Oh really what have you done?"
"Many things, but the thing I regret the most was breaking into Bowman's father safe and missing the chance to kiss you like this."
He laid her down on the floor and repeated the lines from Romeo and Juliet and then he kissed her. She closed her eyes and kissed him back deeply opening her mouth and letting his tongue caress hers. Immediately she felt her body warm to his kisses. She reached up and pulled him closer arching her back to him. He began to kiss her neck and collarbone.
"Tell me to stop Mare," he whispered in her ear.
"Please," she whispered back.
"Mare, I want you and only you. I don't want to date anyone else and I don't want you to date anyone either."
Just then his phone rang. He ignored it and continued to kiss her. It went to his voicemail. The phone started to ring again. He stopped kissing her and looked up.
"Sorry Mare, I have to get this."
Picking up his phone he answered, "Dugray, Yes Ethan you are interrupting . Can't you get anyone else? Ross is called in too? Fire? How many victims. Okay, I will be there in fifteen minutes."
He sat up and looked at her. "I am sorry, this is the life of a surgeon. Maybe I shouldn't put you through this. This is why I never made a commitment with anyone before."
She put her hand on his face and felt the roughness of his beard. "Tris, I understand. Did I tell you how sexy you look with this on your face?" she asked him.
He smiled and kissed the palm of her hand. "Come on let me take you home."
He stood up and took her hand and pulled her into his arms. They kissed again, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her close to his waist rubbing their bodies against each other. He sighed and pulled her away.
"I am on duty tomorrow and I don't know how long I will be at the hospital. I will probably spend the night there. I will call or send you a text later. Oh I don't want to leave you," he whispered in her ear as he gently kissed her neck.
She turned her head and kissed him back not wanting to leave him either. She was ready to tell him that she wanted to be exclusive with him, when the phone rang again. He quickly barked into the phone, "I am leaving now." He then hung up.
They took the elevator down to the garage and he opened the garage door. Rory looked up to the dark sky and inhaled. She smelt snow. She walked out to the middle of the driveway and looked up and stood there twirling around.
"What are you doing?"
"I smell snow."
"You smell snow. Okay, I'll bite. You can smell snow?" he asked walking out of his garage.
"It's a gift. Trish something magical always happens when it snows."
He came over to her and pulled her into his arms. " You said that last night. Really and what magical thing will happen?"
"Us."
She kissed him deeply and then she said, "Tris you make me feel like home. This could be what I am looking for. A home, here in Hartford."
"I know, you make me feel that way too. So what are you saying."
"I want to try, Us. We never had our chance before, and I think, no, I know that there is something here."
With a half-smile Tristan wrapped his arms around Rory picking her up and twirling her around. He put her on the ground and took his hand and gently cupped her face.
"Mare, I agree, there is something special about the first snow."
They kissed again as the snow began to fall around them neither of them feeling the change in temperature. He finally felt his pager go off.
"I have to go. Come on." They got into his car and he touched the call button on his steering wheel. "This is Dugray, I'm on my way. okay, tell Dr. Romero I will be there to assist, ETA twenty minutes.
He pulled up in front of the Hayden's home and walked her to the front door.
"I'll call you later," he told her and put his forehead to hers and touched her chin with his fingers.
She gently kissed his lips, "Okay. I'll talk to you later. Go save some lives."
Tristan winked at her and turned and walked back to his car.
She walked into the house and saw her father sitting in the living room reading a book.
"Hey, Kiddo, I didn't expect you home this early. Did you have a nice time."
"I did, Where's Gigi?"
"I let her spend the night with Samantha Chandler. I saw your mom and Luke today. They stopped by the hospital to see Grandma."
"That's nice. How is grandma doing?"
They sat there talking about her grandmother's condition and she told him about her trip to the different wineries that they went too.
"Oh, I left the wine that I bought for mom and for us in the car. Tristan is on the way to the hospital."
"Can you get it tomorrow?" he asked her.
"Yes I will send him a text." As she was sending Tristan a text she noticed that she had a message from Finn that came earlier today. She opened it and read it.
E O - Love, he insisted on going to Stars Hollow today, luckily your mother wasn't there. I will continue to try to dissuade him from finding you. E O