Dedication: To Surya who gets a drool-worthy boyfriend. And of course to my Susie, the best beta in the world!

Author's Note: I realize this chapter is shorter than the rest but it's so transitional (and therefore lacking in quality). And the guy who plays Joe Walker in my head is a young Kelly Slater (his Baywatch days). For a visual go here:

Warning: Beware the cheese.

Chapter 37: You're There For Me

When Tristan came back into the living room with two tall glasses of ice tea, Rory had already buttoned up her blouse and tried to remain as calm as possible. Making out like that with her boyfriend only to be interrupted by his ex-lover was not what Rory imagined the afternoon to be like.

"Here." He handed her a glass and sat on the coffee table across from her, watching her as he took a sip from his own glass.

Her eyes darted everywhere before finally resting on his face, on his eyes. "Joey's your friend from LA, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, uh, he's dating Apryl now?"

Tristan let out a disbelieving laugh. "Apryl and Joe? No, they're not dating. They're childhood friends."

Rory nodded briefly. "So, um, shouldn't you call Joe back or even Apryl?"

"I will. I just wanted to make sure that we're," he gestured at the space between them, "you know, okay."  

"I'm not mad or anything if that's what you think," she said, reaching over and patting him on the knee. "It was just kinda weird hearing Apryl's voice when we were…doing that. Kinda like the last time we were on this couch."

He laughed, squeezing her hand a little. "That settles it. The couch is jinxed."

"We're just going to have to find somewhere more appropriate." She pondered for a second and without really thinking blurted, "Maybe your bedroom would be more private."

"And much more comfortable," he agreed with a devilish grin. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against her gently. "Just say the words."

But she didn't have time to say them as someone cleared their throat, very distinctly behind them, causing her to blush even before she saw the intruder. They both broke apart and turned to look at the man standing in the entryway, looking a little uncomfortable. Rory immediately recognized him as Tristan's father; the posture, the messy hair and jaw line were identical.

Tristan was right; the couch was jinxed. After all, what were the chances of them being caught by one of his parents every time they made out in the mansion?

"Hello son," his father greeted them and a hint of a smirk played on the older man's lips as he briefly looked over at Rory. She decided that someone needed to patent that DuGrey trademark. He strode forward, smiling now. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Father," Tristan returned shortly. "I didn't know you were back."

"I just got in," he answered and again, his eyes settled on Rory. "Have we met before? You look awfully familiar, young lady."

She blushed; something about him made her nervous but she extended her hand to him anyway. "I'm Rory Gilmore."

"Gilmore?" he stated confused as he accepted her hand. Then recognition dawned and he smiled brightly, his entire face suddenly coming alive. "Richard's granddaughter! Oh, what a delight. He talks very highly of you."

Tristan seemed somewhat amused by this as he formally introduced them. "Rory, this is my father, William DuGrey."

"It's nice to meet you," Rory said politely, still aware that he held her hand.

William finally realized this too and patted her hand before letting it go. Then, he turned to Tristan again. "Well, son, it looks like you have another visitor. A young man by the name of Joseph."

"Joe? In Hartford?" Tristan asked, completely shocked. "Where is he?"

"In the foyer."

"Jesus Dad," Tristan scoffed as he headed to the foyer, leaving the other two people no choice but to follow. "Joe!"

Joseph Walker, with his wavy, unruly blond hair and clear blue eyes definitely embodied all the ideals and stereotypes people had about Californian surfers. Sure, he didn't have the chiseled good looks that Tristan possessed but the style was definitely the same: unaffected. Casual. Sexy. Since when did I become so shallow? she wondered again, already knowing the answer.

"And this is Rory." Tristan's voice snapped her out of her musings and she automatically smiled brightly and accepted Joe's extended hand.

"We finally meet," he said in a voice that was all warm and husky. Why wasn't Apryl dating this guy? It seemed kind of fuzzy to her. "It's great to finally put a face to a name."

"Right back at ya," she replied with a bright smile.

Tristan frowned as William came to stand behind Joe again. "Well, Joseph, I have arranged for the maid to set up the guest room upstairs. You will of course be staying here."

"I really appreciate this sir. Especially after I just dropped by unannounced."

"Nonsense," William returned with a smile, slapping him on the back. "It's not everyday I get to meet Tristan's friends and girlfriends. Is that all the luggage you have?"

Joe hoisted the backpack on his shoulder a little higher. "Yes sir."

"Dad, would you mind showing Joe his room?" Tristan asked suddenly. "I need to…do something."

Before Rory could ask him what was so urgent, he disappeared through the swinging door that led to the kitchen. William and Joe were already climbing the stairs and Rory reluctantly returned to the living room, after quelling the urge to spy on her boyfriend.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"He flew to Hartford?" Apryl exclaimed over the phone when Tristan called her from the kitchen. "It's official; he's out of his damned mind."

"I don't know what's wrong," Tristan admitted as he leaned against the counter. Whatever he was, he wished that he wasn't being dragged into another infamous fight between two childhood best friends. "What happened?"

"I don't even know anymore," Apryl sighed, annoyed. "I gave up on figuring Walker out a long, long time ago."

"Well, whatever happened must have been major enough for him to put an entire continent between the two of you."

She made a noise of disgust. "That's so Dawson and Joey."

Tristan rolled his eyes. So that's where he got his Dawson's Creek references. "So what am I supposed to do with him?"

"You're his best friend, you figure it out."

"You know him longer."

"Correction: I knew him," she replied, sounding disappointed. "Now he's just a big question mark to me. Whatever you do, send him home safe."

He sighed. Apryl had this uncanny ability to make him feel like he had to be some kind of a hero. It was too much pressure and that was one of the reasons they had never worked out. "Watson, you really haven't changed."

"You sound disappointed."

"No," he said grinning slightly, "just amazed that we survived through all those dates."

"Ah well," she shot back off-handedly, "I was just using you for your body."

He laughed and leaned back against the counter. "No one can blame you."

She sighed heavily again and her tone became wistful. "I meant what I said, though. I do miss having you around. Are you sure Hartford would miss you?"

"I'm not sure about that," he returned and the glanced in the direction of the living room before adding silently: But I sure hope Rory would.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Rory was laughing when Tristan walked back into the living room after his mysterious errand. Joe had just re-told her the story of the first time the two boys met, from his point of view, and she decided it sounded much better the second time.

"What crap are you telling my girlfriend, Walker?"

"Dude," Joe replied, sprawling out on the couch. "You know I speak nothing but the truth."

"Sure you do," Tristan said good-naturedly as Rory giggled. "And in keeping with this claim of honesty, why don't you tell me what you're doing in Hartford."

The smile faltered on his face and he glanced from Tristan to her and Rory immediately understood that they needed privacy. But Joe recovered quickly. "DuGrey, I'm hurt that you think I need a reason to visit you."

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Apryl's worried."

So that's what he needed to do, Rory thought. She wasn't sure if she was impressed by how much he cared about Apryl and Joe or if she was jealous.

Now it was Joe's turn to roll his eyes. "Figures. She's probably just irritated that she didn't get to finish laying into me before I-"

"Ran away," Tristan supplied, somewhat amused. Joe glared at him and then there was a moment of uncomfortable silence. "What about school?"

Joe shrugged. "Parent-teacher conferences. Four-day weekend."

More silence.

This time, Rory broke it. "You know what? I should get going."

"You don't have to do that," Joe protested.

"Yeah but I need to study and I blew Paris off earlier and I think she's pissed about it so I can still make it up to her," Rory explained with a grin. "You two can bond." The boys chuckled and she gathered her things from the floor near the couch before turning to Joe again. "If you're in town this weekend, you should come with Tristan to my birthday party. It's the place to be, really."

The surprise in Joe's eyes belied the cool answer. "I'll have to check it out then. Bye Rory."

Tristan walked her to the door and pulled her flushed against him. "You know, if it were up to me, I'd much rather spend my time with you and pick up where we left off."

Her cheeks tinged pink as she remembered where exactly they were before the interruptions: half-naked and tangled. She reached up behind his head and played with the hair at his nape. "Well, I'm glad to know I rank up there. But from the looks of it, Joe needs you so the two of you go and have a deep, meaningful conversation and figure the mess out."

Tristan gave her a dubious look. "You have no idea what guys do together when they hang out, do you?"

"Not a clue."

Standing on her tip-toes, she brushed her lips against his in a parting kiss meant to be light. She should have known he'd want to take it deeper. Forgetting that Joe was in the living room waiting for Tristan's return, she pressed herself against him and returned the fervent demand of his mouth with her own. When his hands traveled down her back to rest on her rear, she broke away breathless before they got carried away and screwed in the foyer – which she doubted he'd mind.

He rested his forehead against hers and smiled. "G'night Ror."

"See you tomorrow."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"So you weren't exaggerating when you said she was pretty hot," Joe greeted Tristan as he re-entered the living room. "I see the appeal my friend, and I approve one hundred percent."

"I feel much better now about my choice in girlfriends," Tristan returned sarcastically.

"Wow, somebody needs to get laid."

"Exactly what I was trying to do," he muttered under his breath and ran a hand through his hair. Sighing resignedly, he dropped onto the couch next to Joe and shrugged. "So, you wanna tell me what's going on?"

"Karen Thompson is a phony."

"Ah," Tristan said significantly and then after a beat, "Wanna go get wasted?"