Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls? Nope, don't own 'em!

A/N: Sorry the updates are taking so long – classes are getting pretty intense these days! Mucho apologies, people…

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Chapter 12: Coffee and Confidences

"So, do you guys want anything to drink?"

"Sure," Tristan glanced at Jess, who shrugged. "What have you got?"

"Well, uh…" Lorelai's voice was muffled as she continued rummaging through the cupboard, her back to the two young men seated in her kitchen. "There's coffee. And some Slim Jims. Oh, and Pop Tarts." She threw a grin over her shoulder. "So, what'll you have?" 

"I think I'll stick with coffee," Jess said, his voice amused.

Tristan leaned back in his seat tiredly. "I'll second that."

"Good choice." Taking out three mugs, Lorelai glanced at Jess and Tristan. "Did you have fun at Rory's engagement party?"

"It was about as entertaining as going for a vasectomy," Jess muttered, and Tristan had difficulty suppressing his snort of laughter.

"Wow, aren't you Mr. Positive this morning!" Lorelai busied herself with preparing the drinks, but when she spoke again, her voice was suspiciously bland. "Mind me asking why you didn't like the party?"

"It wasn't the party that I didn't like," Jess stated, crossing his arms.

"What was it then?" Scratching her head, Lorelai played dumb. "Was it the shrimp puffs? The sorbets? The lemon meringue, perhaps?"

"It wasn't the food, Lorelai," Tristan interjected, shooting Jess a warning glance. "Society parties just aren't Mariano's scene."

"Is that a fact?" Lorelai handed the men their mugs before joining them at the table. "Come on, you guys. Out with it."

"Like Tristan said," Jess smiled nonchalantly. "Society parties aren't my style."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Wow, you really enjoy leaving a girl in suspense, don't you?"

"I try my best," Jess smirked.

"Fine. I'm not talking to you now," Lorelai pouted, turning away. "How about you, Tristan? You'll talk to me, won't you?"

"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say, but I'll go with yes," Tristan kidded, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Smart boy." Leaning forward, Lorelai rested her chin on her hand, a contemplative expression on her face. "What a night."

"You read my mind," Jess said, prompting smiles from the other two. A momentary hush fell over the room, and Jess watched as Lorelai fiddled with the handle of her mug.

"So what do you guys think of Rory's fiancé?"

There it was – the million-dollar question.

Tristan stiffened. His gaze automatically shifted toward Jess, whose eyes were glinting with mischief. There was no telling what would happen next. "He's…" Tristan paused, agonizing over what to say. How on earth could he possibly convey to Lorelai Gilmore just how much he despised her daughter's future husband? "He's… okay."

Jess raised his chin defiantly. "I think he's a jackass."

The effect of Jess's announcement couldn't have been more dramatic than if a bolt of lightning had suddenly struck out of the blue. For a moment, it felt as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room, and everything was deathly still as Tristan remained frozen in place, his eyes shifting from Lorelai to Jess.  

Lorelai silently regarded the outspoken young man, who looked back at her fearlessly. A lifetime seemed to elapse in the silence that followed Jess's startling revelation, and Tristan absently wondered if he'd have time to go wake Dean up before anyone started throwing punches.

But then the corner of Lorelai's mouth quivered, and she finally succumbed to the smile that had been threatening to overtake her. "Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks my soon-to-be son-in-law is a pompous jerk."

Tristan blinked, unsure if he'd heard her correctly. "Excuse me?"

"Don't look so shocked, Bible Boy," Lorelai chided, her smile impish. "Don't you know it's customary for mothers to hate their sons-in-law? Except in this case, I'm completely justified." She looked down at her half-empty mug. "What I don't understand is why my smart, wonderful baby girl would fall in love with someone like him."

"That's what we've been wondering," Jess leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table surface.

"We?" Lorelai's eyebrows shot up. "As in, you and Tristan – and Dean, too?"

Tristan smiled. "Why else do you think he got so drunk?"

"Good point."

"I know everyone's always going on about how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover and everything, but I know a jerk when I see one." Jess smiled dryly. "And Robert Matheson is a prime example."

"Wow, strongly worded," Lorelai clapped him on the shoulder. "You should take up speech-writing some day."

"My lifelong dream," Jess deadpanned, and she laughed.

"So, uh," Tristan paused. "How did the Rory-Robert deal happen, anyway?"

"He was from Harvard," Lorelai said. "A Business graduate or something."

"We know that, and we know she met him through a friend," Tristan said. "But I'm sure there's more to the story than that."

"I don't know, actually," Lorelai confessed, her face mystified. "They hung out in the same social circles, so I guess that must've been part of the reason. Either way, he is one smooth dude when he wants to be, swept Rory right off her feet. It's amazing what a few romantic gestures and a couple of intellectual debates can do these days."

"Way better than your approach in high school, I'll bet," Jess smirked at Tristan.

The blond man glared at his friend. "What, like your I'm-too-cool-for-this-town tactic was any better?"

"Whoa, okay," Lorelai interrupted, just as Jess opened his mouth to retort. "Any more of this, and I'm going to have to call a time-out. Now, does everyone agree to play nice?" When the men nodded grudgingly, she brightened. "Good."

"So what does she see in that jerk, anyway?" Jess glowered, remembering his brief encounter with Rory's fiancé at the party. "He's rude–"

"And arrogant," Tristan butted in.

"And indiscreet."

"And self-absorbed."

"And he's got big ears and a pointy head!" Seeing the expressions on Jess and Tristan's faces, Lorelai shrugged. "What? You guys were getting so carried away with all the descriptions, and I wanted to join the fun."

Jess shook his head. "The point is, how could we possibly just stand by and watch Rory throw her life away for him?"

"That's not for us to decide," Lorelai argued. "Look, I know everyone here has issues with Robert, but really, if Rory loves him, then I'm afraid we'll just have to suck it up and deal with it."

Tristan frowned. "I don't agree with that."

"I trust Rory's judgment," Lorelai stated, her tone leaving no room for debate. "And if she says there's a good side to him, then I believe her."

"I guess you're right," Tristan conceded, albeit reluctantly.

Jess scowled. "But that doesn't make me like him any better."

"I'm not asking you to like Robert," Lorelai said. "I just want you guys to put up with him, for Rory's sake."

"If it's for Rory, then–" Jess sighed heavily. "Fine." 

Lorelai smiled softly. "Thank you."

Tristan stretched wearily. "It's late. We should probably get going."

"Yeah," Jess finished off the remainder of his drink before relinquishing his seat as well. "Thanks for the coffee, Lorelai."

"No problem," she replied, walking the two to the front door. "Are you sure you guys don't want to stay the night?"

"No, I've got to be heading back to Hartford," Tristan smiled, retrieving his coat as he spoke. "Thanks anyway."

"And I can just walk home," Jess added.

"I'll drop you off, if you want," Tristan suggested, his offer met with a nod of appreciation.

Lorelai unlocked the door, easing it open before turning back to the men. "Well then, drive safely, okay?"

"Sure thing," Tristan said, slipping out the doorway, Jess behind him. "Good night, Lorelai."

"Good night, Tristan," Lorelai responded. "Bye, Jess."

"See you later, Lorelai!"

With a sigh, she closed the door again, resting her head against it. Outside, she heard the muted sounds of a car starting, followed by the crunching of tyres on gravel. She listened as Tristan's car pulled away from the house, and then all was quiet once more. She closed her eyes, a wave of exhaustion suddenly washing over her.

"Lor? Are you okay?"

Hearing the voice, Lorelai turned around, a smile on her face. "Hey, there you are. We were wondering where you disappeared to."

"I was in the shower," the other person said, easing closer to Lorelai. "Besides, I knew better than to intrude on a Lorelai Gilmore Let's bash the Future Son-In-Law meeting. Where're the boys?"

"They just left," she said, resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh Chris, I feel so…old."

"Maybe that's because you are," Christopher Hayden soothed, wrapping his arms around Lorelai and kissing her forehead. "We both are."

"What happened?" Lorelai peered up at him. "I mean, one minute Rory's sixteen and telling me about her Biology test. The next thing I know, she's getting married and I'm sitting in the kitchen with two of the boys who used to worship her, trading hate stories about her fiancé." Closing her eyes, she buried her head in Christopher's shoulder again. "I miss my baby."

"I know," he murmured, stroking her hair. They stood that way for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, both not wanting to let go. Finally, Christopher smiled down at Lorelai.

"Come on, let's get you to bed."

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To Be Continued…