*Outside of Tristan's apartment building 1 hr later

"So, you just decided to transfer here?"

"No, it just made sense, I'm closer to home, I have friends here, plus my new client only lives a few minutes from here, and the case is going to take up a lot of time, so I'll actually be saving money by not commuting." Tristan replies slyly.

"Well…I'm glad, at least now I can keep my eye on you." Rory replies smartly.

Tristan gives Rory a once over, "Wow, a lot's happened in two weeks, huh?"

"I know…I huge."

"Stop. You're beautiful." Tristan says honestly.

"That's actually why I'm here, I took a day off of work, you know to rest…and I got bored."

"Figures…you never did know how to chill out."

"Nope."

"Where you headed?"

"Home."

"Can I walk you?"

"Sure." Rory says walking forward.

Tristan walks casually beside her, observing her every move. "You really do look great."

"Thanks." Rory says quietly. "Well, here we are."

"Wow, that was a short walk."

"I know you're not even half a block away." Rory replies, "Want to come in."

"For a minute, but then I have to go, I have a meeting with my new client." Tristan smirks.

"Ok." Rory says opening the door.

*Apartment.

Looking over her shoulder Rory says, "Sorry, it's such a mess in here, I didn't clean this morning."

"Don't worry about it, it's not like I'm a guest or anything."

"Can I get you something? Coffee? Soda? Water?"

"No, thanks. I have to be going. I'm glad I got to meet my new neighbor though." Tristan smiles at Rory.

"Yea, you'll have to come to dinner sometime."

"How about tomorrow."

"…Yea, picked a good night actually, Jess cooks on Tuesdays…he makes great spaghetti, I can't even make rice." Rory giggles.

"Ok, so tomorrow then. I'll bring dessert." Tristan says, hugging Rory.

"Can it be pie? I love pie…cherry?"

"Sure." Tristan says retreating to the door.

Rory closes the door after him, as she turns around she notices that the light on the answering machine is blinking. She presses it, and then stands back. Jess' voice booms loudly through the room.

Hey Babe,

Just calling to check in, I hope you're sleeping and not out somewhere. Listen, I was supposed to have this meeting tomorrow, but the guy called and moved it up, I didn't want to be here until 11 o'clock tonight, so I told him to stop by later. So I'm going to pick up some Chinese, and he's going to join us for dinner. Don't worry about anything; it's just a casual thing. I'm sorry it's so late notice please forgive me. Love you see you later.

Rory groans out loud as Jess enters, "You ok?"

"Yeah, I just got your message." Rory says agitated.

"Oh…you were sleeping for 6 hours?" Jess asks skeptically

"No…" Rory replies shamefully.

"What book did you get?"

"Helen Fielding's—

"Chick book."

"Shut up." Rory replies playfully hitting Jess' arm

"Hey, don't kill the bearer of Chinese food."

"I'm starved."

"Well, this guy should be here any second." Jess replies, entering the bedroom. "So how was your day?"

"Good, just slept, went to the bookstore, oh and you'll never guess who moved in down the street."

"Who— Jess is cut off by a nock at the door. "Oh, that should be him, I gave him the door code."

Rory opens the door, a smile plastered on her face, "Hello, It's nice to meet you—

"Mary."

Rory looks up in disbelief, "Tristan. What are you doing here?"

"Well,"

"He's here for the meeting." Jes says entering the living room.

Rory looks form Tristan to Jess, "What? Why?" Rory stares at Jess, "You don't need a lawyer…" Turning to Tristan, "He is definitely not a client."

"Actually his is."

Jess approaches Rory, "Come on in, DuGrey."

"Nice to see you again, Jess."

"Enough." Rory says sternly, "What's going on?"

"Alright, truth."

"Yea."

"When I wrote my first book, my editor suggested that I hire a lawyer, full time. To handle the legal matters that go along with being, well, an author. I didn't take his advice and as you remember I ended up in court for 2 weeks fighting against a plagiarism accusation." Jess sighs at the memory of those horrible times. "So, now that I've started working on my second book, and I'm syndicated…it kind of made sense to hire someone…and then you mentioned that Tristan was a lawyer, and I thought he'd be the best guy for the job. I mean; it wouldn't be like I was hiring some weird stranger."

"…And having a permanent client Mary, gave me the perfect excuse to transfer, and lets face it. I had to get out of that hell hole."

"So…you're staying…because of Jess."

"Yea." Tristan replies.

"Is that ok, Rory?" Jess asks concerned, noticing Rory's flustered cheeks.

"Yeah, it's great." She says weakly.

"Are you ok?" Jess asks moving closer to Rory.

"I'm fine, it's just…

"What?" Jess looks anxiously at Rory.

"You brought that food home 20 minutes ago, and we still haven't eaten." Rory replies looking longingly at the cartons of Chinese food.

"Oh…right!" Jess replies rushing towards the cartons.

*10 minutes later.

"…So if you knew you were coming here, why didn't you just stay instead of walking around for a half hour?" Rory asks Tristan in between bites of chicken.

"I believe some one requested pie."

"You brought me pie?!"

"It's in my bag." Tristan smirks at Rory.

"I love you!" Rory exclaims, eying the bag.

"Here…" Tristan reaches for his bag, handing Rory a box of entiemen's cherry pie.

*2 hrs later

*Rory is sleeping on the couch while Jes and Tristan review a bunch of contracts.

"…This clause here just means that rather than bring the issue to court I have right to suggest a settlement…of course you don't have to take my suggestion, it's just in there to cover, my ass."

"Understandable." Jess replies, his eyes on the couch.

Tristan notices Jess' mind wondering, and stand up abruptly, "So, why don't you finish signing these, and then take your wife to bed. I'll stop by your office tomorrow. Sound good?"

Jess comes out of his trance, "Hu-yea, thanks. "

"Hey, I should be the one thanking you, not many men would put their entire career in the hands of a guy like me…especially when this guy was—

"I trust you, Tristan. Let's face it, you care too much for Rory to screw this up for her, and I know that. In my mind there's no one better to rely on."

"Smart man." Tristan replies heading for the door.

*10 minutes later

"Ror."

Rory stretches and yawns, "Jess…what time is it?"

"Late, come on, let's go to bed." Jess holds his hand out to Rory.

Rory takes his hand, allowing him to lead her into the bedroom.

"Hey Jess, Thanks."

"For?"

"What you're doing for Tristan."

"It's nothing, just a business deal."

"Who do you think you're kidding" Rory smirks at Jess "You hired him, so he'd be out of Boston, and out of trouble…you hired him, for me."

"Believe what you want, but he's a really good lawyer."

"Sure."

"Go to bed." Jess replies faking an angry tone.

Rory turns over, smiling at Jess' good deed.