Author's Note: Okay, this chapter's kinda short, and a lot angsty.
Chapter Four:
"Dad? You wanted to see me?" Tristan poked his head inside his father's study.
"Ah, Tristan, yes I did. Come in…" James DuGrey said. He was seated in a big leather chair, looking every inch the successful businessman. Tristan walked, and sat down in the chair in front of his father's table. "Yes… I've just been going over some of the files… I must say Tristan, you have a very impressive record. Only two cases lost, and yet you won the appeal that came after. You have the best, in the whole firm. Which is why, even though this wasn't supposed to happen so soon, I'm making you a partner. It'll be official when we return to Hartford,"
"Really?" Tristan had a hard time concealing his excitement. "I mean, yes, I'd be honored,"
James smiled at his son. "You've come a long way, Tristan. I'm very proud of you,"
"Thanks dad," Tristan answered. And for the first time, in a very long time, the two men openly acknowledged the bond they had as father and son.
"Enough of this business talk, how are you and Rory?" James asked.
"We're great…" Tristan smiled.
"No plans on Tristan the second?"
"I don't think we're ready yet…"
"Too bad. Just make sure you have one," James said sternly.
Tristan nodded. Every time his father asked about Rory, it was always about this.
"Why don't you join me for dinner with the Cartier's? They're old family friends of ours, and they're vacationing here. You do remember them? You met them when you were about fourteen?"
"Yes, I do. They have a daughter named Elizabeth, am I right?"
"Yes, they do," James said.
"Just let me call Rory first,"
"All right, but hurry up,"
Tristan walked into his room. He had been gone about two months already, and the last time he had had time to call was a couple weeks ago. He missed hearing her voice. He dialed their number. A maid answered it on the second ring.
"DuGrey residence,"
"Yes, I'd like to speak to my wife,"
"One moment, Mr. DuGrey,"
Rory picked it up a minute later. "Hello?"
"Hey Mary,"
He could just picture Rory, leaning her head against the bed post, faintly smiling. "Hey Bible Boy. I knew you were forgetful, but I didn't know you would forget to call your wife. You know, the wife who's name you can never seem to remember?"
Tristan laughed. "Sorry… I've been really busy. How are things at home?"
Oh, I started chemotherapy, and I feel horrible, but other than that things are okay here, Rory thought, but she wouldn't say that to Tristan.
"Earth to Mary?"
"Oh… things here are fine… Nothing to worry about, no accident to make you rush home… but-"
"But what?"
"Would you consider my lack of good coffee an emergency to rush back?"
"No…" Tristan shot back immediately.
"Didn't think you would. Actually, Luke hasn't been holding back much coffee. All I have to do is complain how lonely the house is… whine a little… and presto! Instant goodness,"
"You're using me as an excuse?"
"Well… yeah,"
"You little opportunist,"
"That's why you love me," she smiled.
"You sound tired, Rory. You taking care of yourself?"
"Yeah… I'm fine," Rory replied quickly. Except for the cancer thing of course.
"All right," Tristan said dubiously. "If you say so. I'm going to a dinner with a few family friends. See ya Mary,"
"All right, but Tristan-"
"Yeah?"
"If it's okay, could you try to call home more often, and just not when you have the time?"
"Um… yeah, why?"
"No reason… I just miss you,"
Tristan smiled. "I miss you too. Bye Rory, I love you,"
"I love you too," Rory whispered, and put down the phone. Phone calls like these made Rory long that Tristan was still there. She didn't want to admit it, but Luke had been right. Chemotherapy and cancer had been really hard. She really could have used Tristan's help. She had always felt so alone. She would come back and fall asleep with no body to comfort her. Not her mom, who could only help her every so often, or Tristan, who called at about two week intervals.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"God… I think about those phone calls that I always cut short, and I feel so pathetic. Every time I asked her how she was, the answer was always a quick 'I'm fine," I should have noticed she was anything but fine,"
Angela was silent. There were just some times that required silence as comfort.
"Two months later… everything that was going down gradually just, went straight down,"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hello?" James DuGrey picked up the phone in their Paris house.
"Uh, James? This is Lorelei,"
"Lorelei, yes, what can I do for you?"
"Could I talk to Tristan please?"
"He's not here now, he's showing a daughter of a family friend around Paris,"
"Oh," Lorelei paused. "Could you tell him to call Rory? She's staying at my place. He knows the number,"
"All right. Can I do anything else?"
"Um… no, that's it. Thanks anyway,"
"Your welcome,"
They put down the phones. James looked at the message he scribbled on to a piece of paper, and threw it in into the trash can.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No luck reaching Rory?" James DuGrey asked his son.
"No. No one's answering the phone," Tristan said, putting the phone down.
"Hmmm. Well, I'm off to dinner with the Gellars. Care to join me?"
"No… I think I'll catch up on some sleep,"
"All right,"
Moments after James left, the phone rang. "Hello?" Tristan answered.
"Hello Tristan? This is Lorelei. When are you coming home?"
"In four weeks. I'm pretty excited, there's a lot of things I have to tell Rory,"
Lorelei flinched. "By any chance, is there a way you can come home sooner?"
"No. Dad met up with an old friend, and they're discussing a possible merger,"
"But-hey!"
"Tristan?" a tired voice called.
"Rory?"
"Yeah… umm…"
"Rory, are you all right?"
"Yeah… just sleepy, you know. I've been pretty run down lately,"
"Maybe you should take some time off work? Just to rest…"
"Ummm… yeah sure. I'll do that. Is there any chance you could come home soon?"
"Sorry, Ror- but we're really busy,"
"Please?"
"I'll see, but I doubt dad'll let me,"
"Please Tristan?" Rory whispered. "I really miss you,"
"I miss you too… but Rory, I do have obligations. Why do you want me home so badly?"
"I miss you," she said simply.
Tristan nodded. "I'll see what I can do. Why don't you get some sleep. I'll call you in the moring. Bye," and he hung up the phone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I wasn't able to move my schedule. Lorelei pestered me about one week before I left. I brushed her off. I told her I'd be going home in a week. Then I disconnected my phone. That was the biggest mistake of my life,"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tristan arrived at the airport, sleepy and jet lagged. He got his bags, and was surprised by a familiar face. "Luke! What are you doing here?"
"Picking you up," Luke said gruffly. "Lorelei wanted me to take you to Rory,"
"Oh… alright,"
Tristan fell asleep in the car. When they pulled over, Tristan didn't see anything familiar. "Luke, where are we?"
Luke didn't say anything, but opened Tristan's door. He pointed outside.
"Luke, is this one of Lorelei's jokes?" he said, when he saw the graveyard. "Look, I don't have time for this. I want to go home to see Rory-"
But Tristan stopped short as he saw where Luke led him. He felt his knees go weak, as he dropped to the floor. He felt as if he'd been stabbed in the gut. "No," he whispered, tears starting to fall down his cheeks. "No… this can't be," he said, reaching out a hand to touch the cold marble slab.
"Lorelei DuGrey," the harsh engraving read.
"She can't be dead," he whispered. "Luke, what is this?"
"It's not a joke Tristan," Luke said quietly. "Rory died of leukemia, last Monday, at 4:02 am."
Author's note: *hides from flames* Safe to come out? *ducks as readers throw flames* okay… don't hate me for killing Rory! You guys should have known she was going to die! I'll explain why and how in the next chapters. We've got a furious Lorelei yelling at Tristan, and Tristan feeling all sorry for himself next chapter!
I update quickly, usually everyday if I can. Stay tuned for the next chapter! And please review! The number was kinda disappointing compared to my last fic… but that's okay! I'll write it even if no one reviews! (but they would help *hint, hint*)