Pairing: R/T…eventually

Rating: PG, if that

Spoilers: Up to and including the season 2 episode "Run Away Little Boy."

Disclaimer: The characters referenced here are the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, and Warner Brother Television.  No copyright infringement is intended.  The characters are being used solely for entertainment purposes, and no profit is being made from them. 

A/N: I apologize for the long delay in getting this part out.  I was doing fine while the entire thing was in letter format, but once I opted to include some actual character interaction and dialogue, I hit a brick wall.  I hope everyone likes it!

Please Mr. Postman

Part 2: I'll Be Home for Christmas

By Grace

December 19, 2001

Dear Rory,

                I got your letter today.  I wish I could say that I'm sorry you and Dean broke up, but I know you wouldn't want me to lie!  I am sorry that he hurt you, though, and I hope you're handling everything okay.  It sounds like you are.

                I still haven't decided what I am doing for Christmas.  My parents are going to Barbados, so no one will be home, and it doesn't really seem worth it to come all that way to an empty house.  On the other hand, it would be nice to eat something other than dorm food!  So we'll see.

                Your Christmas sounds like it's going to be absolutely amazing.  I envy you, Rory.  I can't remember the last time we had a family Christmas.  My parents despise winter, so they always go someplace tropical.  Most of the time I go skiing—nothing says holiday cheer quite like a roaring fire in a lodge snuggled up next to a snow bunny.  But somehow, it just doesn't seem appealing this year.

                You actually have a town Troubadour?  The more you tell me about Stars Hollow, the more unusual it seems.  I can understand why you'd never want to leave.  I'm a little confused about some of the people you mentioned in your letter, though.  Who are Jackson, Babette, Maury, Kirk, and Michél?  Are they family?  Friends?

                Anyway, finals are going pretty smoothly so far.  Only two days left—what a relief!  I'm looking forward to reading something that isn't a textbook.  Any recommendations?

                My roommate is turning out to be not such a bad guy after all.  It probably helps that I've lost some of my attitude since I got here.  Anyway, his name is Andrew, and I guess the last four generations of guys in his family have gone to school here.  He's sort of on the rigid side, but I'm hoping to loosen him up a little bit.  I managed to convince him to pull a minor prank with me and some of the other guys on the floor.  Nothing too serious, so we shouldn't get expelled if we get caught.  Every morning, they play the school song over the PA, and we all have to stand there and sing.  We're going to sneak into the office, and replace the tape with one of Alvin and the Chipmunks singing Christmas carols.  It's going to be hysterical!  Plus, I figure it will get everyone relaxed before their last final.  Anyway, I'll write and tell you all about it after it happens.

                Well, I need to get back to studying.  Merry Christmas, Mary.

                                                                                                                                                Tristan

*              *              *

December 23, 2001

There was a knock on Tristan's dorm room door, and he looked up from the magazine he was reading, startled.  Nearly everyone had left school after finals ended the previous day, and he couldn't imagine who would be coming to visit him.

                Barefoot, he padded over to the door and glanced through the peephole.  Seeing the hall director, he quickly opened the door.

                "You Tristan DuGrey?" he asked brusquely.

                "Yeah."

                "I have a registered letter for you," he stated, holding it out.

                "Thanks," replied Tristan, taking the letter, a puzzled look on his face.

                "Merry Christmas."

                "You too," he responded absently, shutting the door.

                Sitting down on his bed, he tore open the envelope.  The enclosed note was brief, but he didn't mind.

December 22, 2001            

                Dear Tristan,

I got your letter today.  No one should be alone during the holidays.  If you decide to come to Connecticut during your break, you're more than welcome to spend Christmas with us.

                                                                                                Love, Mary

                He stared wide-eyed at the sheet of paper, certain he must have misunderstood somehow.  Rory Gilmore was offering to have him be a part of her Christmas?  He glanced again at her signature.  Love, Mary.  The two simple words seemed to burn a path straight to his heart.  If only she knew…  He was certain she had written the words without thinking—just an affectionate signature on a letter to a friend, nothing more.

                He shook his head abruptly.  Now was not the time to be overanalyzing.  He had too much to do, like pack, and call his father's pilot.

                Tristan DuGrey was going home—home to Rory.

*              *              *

December 25, 2001

                The Stars Hollow group had all arrived, the eggnog was being served, and almost everyone was in a merry mood.  Miss Patty had Jess and Michél cornered, and was flirting madly; Lorelai was in the kitchen trying to ensure that Sookie didn't hurt herself, and Luke was in there to make sure neither of them burned the house down; Babette and Maury were sitting cozily by the fire; Richard and Emily were perched primly on the couch, trying not to look uncomfortable; Taylor was giving Kirk and Jackson a lecture on civic responsibility; and Lane was on the phone with Henry, taking advantage of the opportunity to talk to him when her mother couldn't overhear.

                Rory sat alone near the window, her gaze alternating between the driveway and the brightly wrapped package with Tristan's name on it.  She had thought—hoped, even—that he would come.  The idea of him spending the holiday all alone tore at her heart.  Obviously, what she had initially assumed to be a charmed life wasn't so magical after all.  He was the epitome of a "poor little rich boy."

                Rory was torn from a particularly long spell of staring at his Christmas present by the ringing of the doorbell.  She sprang to her feet and all but ran to the hallway, wrenching open the front door.

                There he was.  His hair was a little shorter, his posture a little straighter, but his eyes were just as blue, his smile just as charming.

                "Tristan!" she exclaimed, launching herself at him and giving him a fierce hug.  "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

                He pulled back slightly from her embrace to meet her eyes.  "Did you really think I would miss the opportunity to spend Christmas with my Mary?"

                The way he said the last two words sent a spark of electricity through her, but she quickly dismissed it.  Grabbing him by the hand, she hauled him into the house.  "Come on, I want you to meet everyone."

                She went through the introductions quickly, and then she got him settled with a glass of eggnog and a plate of hors d'oeuvres.  Miss Patty lit up like a…well, like a Christmas tree when her eyes landed on Tristan, and Jess and Michél breathed a collective sigh of relief when she made a beeline for the blonde boy.

                Lane hung up with Henry and walked over to her best friend.  Rory was surveying the scene in the Gilmore living room, a contented smile upon her face.

                "You look happy," commented Lane.

                "It's Christmas day.  Why wouldn't I look happy?"

                "No, I mean you look happier since Tristan got here."

                Rory stared at her best friend, eyebrows raised.  "Why would that make me happier?"

                Lane shrugged.  "You tell me."

                "I suppose I am happy that he isn't spending Christmas all by himself.  That would just be too sad."

                "Are you sure that's the only reason?"

                "Lane, what are you trying to say?"

                "It's just that you and Dean aren't together anymore, and you know Tristan's always had a thing for you…"

                "So, what, you think we're just going to up and start dating each other?"

                "Well, you have been writing to each other…"

                "Yes, we have, and the reason we've been writing letters instead of torturing each other at Chilton is because he now goes to school in North Carolina.  Even if I wanted to date him, the whole long-distance thing wouldn't work."

                "But you miss him, don't you?" Lane asked quietly.

                "Yeah," Rory said softly, her voice barely more than a sigh.  "I didn't expect to, but I do, and I'm glad that he's here now."

                Wisely, Lane let the subject drop, knowing Rory wasn't yet ready to admit what she herself had suspected for a long time.  Instead, she simply said, "Don't you think it's about time you rescued him from Miss Patty?"

                "Good point.  I suppose I should have mercy on him."

                Lane suppressed her laughter as Rory hurried to Tristan's side, and then went off to find Lorelai.

                Rory approached Tristan and Miss Patty carefully, choosing her words in her mind.  "Miss Patty?  I think I overheard Kirk say that he wants you to teach him a new dance step."

                The older woman tore her eyes from Tristan's handsome face.  "Right now?"

                "I guess so.  You never can tell with Kirk."

                Looking mournful, Miss Patty told Tristan, "Duty calls," and headed off in search of an unsuspecting Kirk.

                A look of profound relief crossed Tristan's face as soon as she was out of sight, and Rory grinned as she plopped down beside him.  "You're welcome," she said.

                He turned to face her.  "Thank you.  Another ten minutes, and I might have ended up engaged."

                "You wouldn't have been the first," chuckled Rory.  "So when did you get into town?"

                "Late Sunday night."  He watched Rory's face take on an expression of hurt, and he began to panic.  "What's wrong?"

                "You were in town a day and a half and you didn't call?  I was beginning to think you weren't coming."

                His heart soared.  She really wanted him to be here—she hadn't invited him solely out of pity.  "It was much too late to call on Sunday, and I knew you'd be at your grandparents' yesterday."

                "You could have come with us," she insisted earnestly.

                "I didn't want to impose, Rory."

                "You wouldn't have.  I invited you to spend Christmas with us—that meant all of Christmas.  Besides, do you know how ecstatic my grandparents would have been if I had brought a DuGrey?  They probably would have started planning my dowry!"

                He graced her with that familiar smirk.  "Planning our wedding already, Mary?"

                Instead of scowling as she once would have, she grinned and shot back," Well, you're probably planning the honeymoon!"

                "You wound me, Mary," he emoted, clutching a hand to his chest.  "As if I would ever think such lascivious thoughts."

                She arched her brow.  "Lascivious?  My, my, it seems you have learned something at military school."

                At the mention of his hated home-away-from-home, his face fell.  "The only thing I've learned is that breaking into that safe was the biggest mistake of my life."

                Her expression softened, and she reached out to place a hand over his.  "I wish there was something I could do."

                "Don't you see, Rory?  You already have—more than you'll ever know."

                She smiled, the smile that haunted his dreams and made his heart catch in his throat, and said simply, "I'm glad you're here."

                "So am I."

                They sat there is silence, just staring at one another, until Lorelai announced that dinner was ready.

                The meal was long and loud and delicious.  Tristan sat quietly beside Rory, listening to the lively conversation of this extended family that embraced almost an entire town.  He had never experienced anything like it, certainly not among his own family, and they were related by blood.  The only bonds binding these people together were love and respect.

                When dinner was finally over, everyone trooped into the living room and settled around the Christmas tree for the gift opening.  Tristan hung back, knowing he would be little more than a spectator for this portion of the evening's festivities.  But no sooner had Rory sat down than she glanced back in his direction, and beckoned him to her.  Hesitantly, he approached the sofa, and sat down beside her when she patted the cushion.

                Relaxing into the couch, he marveled once more at where he was and whom he was with.  This was the best Christmas present he could have imagined.

                Loelai presided over the distribution of the gifts, wearing a Santa hat and a pair of pointed elf shoes with bells on the toes.  Before she could pick up the first present, Sookie yelled "Speech, speech!"

                A wicked gleam in her eye, Lorelai straightened her stance into a proper oratory mode.  "Friends, family, Stars Hollowites.  Ask not what your presents can do for you, but what you can do for your presents.  Personally, I advocate a fun-filled Twister tournament, but the Luke that Stole Christmas already vetoed that."  Everyone laughed, and she smirked before continuing.  "As you know, this party has become a Christmas tradition in our quiet little hamlet, and I'd like to thank you all for coming and sharing the holiday with us.  This year, we get to welcome a few new faces, like Jess and Tristan, who gets the Troll-doll trophy for traveling the farthest distance.  Last year it went to my beloved parents, who drove in from exotic Hartford!  Let's hear it for Richard and Emily Gilmore!"

                There was applause and more laughter, and Tristan reflected that he had never met anyone remotely like Lorelai…except perhaps Rory.

                "So, without further ado, the first present of the night goes to…Tristan!"

                He sat up straight in surprise.  Was this some kind of cruel joke?  They were going to give him his one and only present first, so that he had to sit there the rest of the night and do nothing?  Wordlessly, he accepted the package, and was stunned to see that the tag read "To Tristan, From Sookie."  Sookie had gotten him a Christmas present?  He hadn't brought anything for her, and suddenly he felt uncomfortable and awkward.

                As if reading his mind, the rosy-cheeked chef spoke up.  "Sweetie, I don't expect anything from you.  Go ahead, open it."

                He obliged, and quickly unwrapped the festive box to find an assortment of beautifully decorated Christmas cookies.  "Thank you so much.  They look almost too good to eat!"

                Sookie giggled and blushed.  "You're so nice to say so!  But go ahead, try one!"

                The cookies tasted even better than they looked, and he impulsively left his seat and went to give Sookie a hug.  After that, it seemed that the ice was broken was more.  Everyone tore eagerly into their presents, and Tristan discovered that Luke, Lorelai, Lane, Emily and Richard, Miss Patty, and Maury and Babette had all thought to include him.  None of their gifts were elaborate, but all were heartfelt, and for the first time in his life, he felt like part of a real family.  He had only thought to bring gifts for Lorelai—a pound of gourmet coffee—and Rory, but no one seemed to feel slighted.

                It was almost the end of the night when Lorelai handed a heavy, elaborately-wrapped present to Tristan.  Seeing that it was from Rory, he grinned, and his smile widened when he saw that she had given him books.  The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, to be exact.

                "Thank you, Rory.  I've always wanted to read these."

                She smiled shyly, and commented, "You asked for recommendations, so…"

                "They're perfect.  I love them."

                Lorelai broke in to hand Rory a small, carefully wrapped box.  "This is the last one, Ror.  And you know what they say…the best things come in small packages."

                Rory felt her heartbeat accelerate when she realized the gift was from Tristan.  She knew she shouldn't be nervous…it was just a Christmas present.  Knowing Tristan, it was something silly, like a gold-plated coffee bean.  When she removed the wrapping paper and saw that it was a small velvet jewelry box, her breath caught.  Tristan had bought her jewelry?  She was almost afraid to lift the hinged cover, but tentatively she did.  Nestled inside was a beautiful, delicate silver bracelet, and from it dangled three exquisite charms…a book, a coffee cup, and a Christmas tree with "Christmas 2001" engraved on it.  "Oh, Tristan, it's beautiful," she breathed.

                His face flushed, and she realized she hadn't ever really seen him embarrassed before.  "You can add more charms to the bracelet…I just didn't really know what else you'd like."

                "I love it just the way it is."  On impulse, she leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.  "Merry Christmas, Tristan."

                "Merry Christmas…Mary."

TBC