10 Things I Hate About You
15 : I [heart] You
by inmyeyes


(A few months later. Gilmore house)

"I'm sick of that song," Lorelai stated, reaching to turn down the volume. "I thought that you getting back with Tristan would end the tribute. Alas I was wrong. I think I can now sing this song in my sleep." She saw the small smile on her daughter's face and couldn't be more glad to see it. "What time is Pea Boy coming?"

"Pea Boy?"

Lorelai shrugged. "Pea Boy. Former Evil One. Disowned Spawn Of Satan."

Rory shot her mother a weird look. "Ok, whatever you say mom. He'll be here soon."

Lorelai watched her daughter and saw her fidgeting and clenching her hands. "So, you're finally gonna tell him tonight, huh?"

"What?"

"You're gonna tell him tonight."

Rory was lost. "Tell him what?"

Lorelai moved to sit next to her daughter on the couch and put her arm around her. "Don't worry, it'll be fine."

"Mom, it would help if you told me what you're talking about."

"You love him," she stated. "And you're finally gonna tell him." Lorelai hugged Rory closer when she saw the surprised look on her face. "I think he knows, but nothing beats hearing it."

Rory sighed. "How did you know?"

"Call it mother's intuition," Lorelai smiled. "It'll be fine. Don't worry."

She disregarded her mother's reassurances and started wringing her hands nervously. "It's not fine. What if I say it wrong?"

Lorelai laughed. "You can't say it wrong, honey."

"What if he doesn't love me back? Rory mumbled dejectedly, leaning her head against the back of the couch.

Lorelai pulled her daughter up into a sitting position. She cupped her hands around Rory's cheeks. "He does. I know he does. You know he does. It's in the way he looks at you."

Rory fiddled with the hem of her skirt. "I know. But it still doesn't make it any less difficult."

Just at that moment, the doorbell rang and Rory let out a grunt of frustration. "Ok, that's probably him. I'll see you later, mom."

Lorelai gave her a reassuring hug. "Don't worry about it, ok?"

Rory took a few deep breaths before opening the door, mentally psyching herself up. She swung open the door and was greeted with the sight of him smiling at her. 'God, he has a beautiful smile.' As it always did, her heart started racing whenever he was near.

"Hi Mary," he said, grinning widely as he leaned down to drop a quick kiss on her lips. 'Mary' had become an endearment of sorts, and it never failed to make her smile whenever he called her that.

There he was, standing at her front door. He was smiling in that special way he had, his blue eyes made more brilliant by the deep blue shirt he was wearing and he was looking at her as though she was most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

"I love you, Tristan," she said softly, the words coming out much easier than she ever anticipated.

At first he thought that he imagined it. He had hoped to hear it come from her lips someday. He knew that he loved her. It was difficult to deny every time they were together, and even every time they weren't together. She made him happy like any other; she made him smile, she made him laugh, she made him enjoy life and everything it had to offer. Every moment he spent with her was a moment he cherished because he had learnt never to take things with her for granted.

There were moments when he'd catch her looking at him, or the times when she kissed them or even just held his hand and he felt that maybe, she could come to love him. There was a gentleness in the way she touched him, a tiny spark in her kisses that hinted to him about her growing feelings. But he suppressed any hope that he might have felt; he didn't want to pressure her and besides, being with her was more than enough for him. They were together in a way that he had once only dreamed of.

But now this...

He shifted his gaze so that he'd see her eyes and he had to remind himself to breathe when he saw the love shining clearly from her bright blue eyes. She loved him . He fought to come to grips with it and struggled to get his mind back in working order.

His eyes had widened in surprise at her words, then darkened with an emotion that she recognized as love. The next thing she knew, his arms had engulfed her as he whispered to her, "I love you too, Mary."



- Finis -


A.N : Okay, it's done -phew- :D Hope you guys enjoyed it all and much, much thanks to you guys who reviewed.