Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned in this story.
Everything was perfect. They
didn't have any trouble with unwanted pregnancies or venereal
diseases, because they were young and in love and happy.
Therefore, it was a given that tragedy would soon strike.
And it did.
They were curled up on his couch, watching "Black Mama,
White Mama." Suddenly Rory began to cough. It was like she
couldn't stop. She covered her mouth with her hands and looked at
him apologetically, until the pain became too unbearable. She
winced, and when it was over, she withdrew her hands.
Then he saw the blood...
----
It was a terribly tragic and sudden affliction that turned out to
be hereditary, from Christopher's side of the family. Tristan
couldn't remember the details. But he stayed at her bedside in
the hospital for four hours every day.
"Oh, Tris," Rory sighed sadly, one day, looking pale
and weak. "Think of all the time we wasted"
Tristan's eyes welled up with tears as he stroked her hair
softly. "Love means never having to say you're sorry,
Rory."
She smiled. "That is, like, the cheesiest movie ever
made," she teased.
"It's an underrated modern classic," he corrected her
gently, taking her hand in his.
She laughed, but it turned into a coughing fit, and he felt awful
for causing her such pain.
"Even so, I'm sorry it took me so long to come around,"
he said.
"Don't be," she told him. "I'm just glad you're
here now"
She leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes. He
decided to leave her alone to rest.
On the way out, he encountered Lorelai, who had been watching
their conversation through the window.
He smiled weakly. She said, "Hey, you know, I keep meaning
to say this, but it's not easy, so-I just wanted to tell you that
in the beginning I thought you were bad news for Rory. You
reminded me a lot of her father at your age. And I really wish
she had told me about your relationship when it started, and I
really wish I didn't find out about the night she got sick. But
you're here for her now, and that really says a lot about
you." She bit the last word off abruptly, and he waited to
respond, to see if she had more to say.
"Thank you," he replied simply, and walked away.