Disclaimer : The song for this chapter title is from the Melodie Crittenden song. So yeah I dont own it etc, etc, etc

Rating: PG-13 though it might go as high as R. There may be some minor swearing in chapters.

Pairing: Trory

Authors Note: Okay this has been a looong time coming, I know. Sorry for that but its here now =) Well at least the first part of it…Yes, the final chapter got too long so I had to separate it into two. Believe me, I tried reading it all together and I almost fell asleep!

I think this is just the filler though. The part before all the drama/happiness (or whatever you think might happen) begins. And yes, I promise you, I'll update sooner next time. The next part has already been written. It just has to go through revisions and stuff like that. I've also made slight revisions to previous chapters coz the small mistakes really bug me =(… So anyways here it is and thanks for all you're encouraging reviews!

*

I look back on the years I spent
Just passing through
I'd like to take the time I lost
And give it back to you…

*

Final Chapter: [Part One] This much I know is true…

"I Quit"

That declaration came out so single-mindedly and so determined that Megan Trescot almost couldn't recognise who the person on the other line was.

"Rory?" she placidly asked fighting back the urge to be unreasonable and ask what the hell was going on, "Are you okay ?"

A brief pause was what followed as Rory Gilmore then tried to think of a way to answer such a question without giving too much away.

"Yeah I am" she ended up replying, pronouncing her words carefully so her boss couldn't detect the slight tremble in her voice.

"If you're okay then why did you say something that is bordering insane like quitting? And if you're okay…" Megan trailed off, taking a swift intake of breath before resuming, "… then why are you calling me? We made a pact that you'd only give me a ring if an emergency was to come up. You shouldn't be wasting your time telling me bad jokes Gilmore. You actually have a job to do."

"No I don't" Rory evenly responded in the same tone, " I told you already. I quit"

"You can't do that!" the anger in Megan's voice was now clearly seeping through,

" Do you realise how much money this article is costing us? If you leave at a time like this, I can guarantee that you will not have a job to come back home to. But please Rory, I don't want to come down to that. You are one of my most valued employees and for you to leave would have a significant effect on this magazine…and believe me, a significant effect to your career "

"I'm sorry Megan" Rory replied, her effort to be defiant slowly starting to dissolve into sympathy, "But I just can't do this anymore…"

Not waiting for her boss to fill in the tense silence that followed, Rory took it as the perfect opportunity to continue-- and hopefully put an end to the conversation.

"My formal resignation will be at your desk in a few days time. You still have two months to get a replacement and I know that whoever you choose will do a much better job than what I could've done." Still there was no reply. "So I guess this is goodbye…"

" Hold on" Megan finally spoke up much to the surprise of the younger girl as she was almost convinced that the sound of a voiceless dial tone would be heard right about now "Before you go, do me a favour and answer a simple question"

"Fine" Rory responded somewhat reluctantly.

"Why are you quitting ?"

It was a question that Rory knew she'd have to answer sooner or later.

So prepared she was for it that she already had what she was going to say all planned out. It was an answer that was completely false but if well executed, it could've easily fooled anyone- even the cynical type like Megan.

But it all went down the drain as Rory's guilty conscience pointed out that she owed it to her not just as a boss but also as a friend to tell her the truth. It would be hard to lie to someone who had probably been her only support in the four years she had been in L.A.

"I cant interview a guy on how much he loves his fiancee," she belatedly replied, "when I'm in love with him myself."

**

As soon as the conversation ended, Rory clicked the phone back open only to punch in a number that was so familiar but has lately rarely been dialled. As she waited for someone to pick up, she curled herself into a ball on the couch listening to the plodding rings continue to go by unanswered.

"H-hello ?" came the sound of a weary male voice. It was at that moment that Rory made a note to see what the time was. Glancing at her watch she winced to find that it was well over midnight.

Inwardly chastising herself but realising it was too late to turn back now, she then made an effort to reply to the man who has been her father-in-law for a good four years.

"Hey Luke I know its really late but -- "

"--I'll go get your mom," he replied already knowing what she was going to ask before it even escaped from her mouth. "Oh and Rory", he continued in the midst of a yawn, "its really nice to hear from you again"

She smiled at hearing the conventionally manly Luke giving out such a remark of affection but it turned upside down at the sound of her mothers worried voice. "Hey honey what's wrong? I mean, you wouldn't wake me up in the middle of the night for no reason-" she paused. " -not unless you're the child of Satan, so spill."

She wanted to tell her everything; pour her heart out to one of the few people that knew her inside out. But she knew that there was no need for hastiness. She'd have plenty of time soon enough…

"I'm going back to where I belong mom, " Rory replied distantly, her thoughts focusing elsewhere, "I'm going home"

**

The room was small; tacky to say at the very least. The mud brown walls, bare, with only a few antique paintings to add some much needed life to the dark, dreary place.

Filling up the limited space were the large pews aligned in two orderly sections; separated to form a narrow path that led straight to the most attractive feature of the room: the altar.

It was adorned with flowers and musk scented candles that could have probably been smelt from a mile away. Only the sight of a large organ in the background dared to defy the prettiness of the feature.

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing ?" Vivienne asked nervously, breaking the silence that fell upon her and Tristan the moment they set foot into the desolate room.

"Viv this was your idea," he answered benignly, hoping to change the tense mood.

"Yeah, I know its just that…" she stopped to focus on her surroundings once again," this is not how I pictured my first wedding to be like," she continued trying to sound serious but the smile tugging on her lips showed otherwise.

This small wedding chapel on the outskirts of New York provided the scenery for what was supposed to be 'the wedding of the year'.

No guests would be there though—except for a few essential witnesses taken from the streets and sworn to secrecy. The actual ceremony would be quick, informal and kept in secret: away from the prying eyes of the often-brutal media. Just the way the 'couple' wanted it to be.

It was now only a matter of time until Vivienne's plan would take into effect.

***

- flashback

"… remember that contract we signed at that preliminary engagement party ?" Vivienne asked a bored Tristan who then tiredly nodded his head in understanding.

"Well its not what's in there that's important; its what's not in there that really counts"

"Go on," he urged, slightly intrigued.

"Before daddy passed away he stated in his will that the company would remain in his name until we get married, or hitched to put it more bluntly. And then, shock horror, "Viv added to tease, "it would then be passed over to you.

"Obviously he thought that he'd live to see the day that happened…"her voice then started to falter a little "… so he didn't bother to change his will. We're still not married so that means that the company is still not exactly your's. Instead, it's in the hands of the CEO, Colin Richardson-- a man I don't fully trust." She then stopped to pour down a glass of water in her unused cup.

"Which brings me to flaw number one in the contract"

Tristan was taken aback but not altogether surprised at his fiancee's formality.

"They said we were to marry." He was confused. How was that a flaw ? "But," she continued noticing his distress, "they never said when."

"What are you getting at Viv ?"

"Patience Tristan," she silenced him mockingly, "all would be explained"

"Whatever you say," he conceded with a shrug as he leant back in his chair awaiting the 'explanation'.

"Flaw number two. They never said we couldn't annul the marriage; make it void, at least on paper"

Tristan sat back up, the pieces slowly starting to fit together. "So you're saying that we get married and annul it straight after ?" he asked. " But I just don't see the point-"

"-there's just one tiny detail you're forgetting," she interrupted with a sly grin, waving her index finger condescendingly at him, "You do know the moment we marry- no matter how long it lasts- the company would be yours. You have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. You can even do a silly thing like oh, I don't know…" she halted momentarily pretending to think about it, "…sign it over to me ?"

Tristan chuckled at the thought that this seemingly innocent female in front of him could be capable of being so conniving.

The intentions were clear now but Vivienne took it upon herself to elaborate anyway.

"And when that is done, there'd be no need for us to be married. I've got what I want and you, Tristan, have got your freedom—although I do warn you that it might take a couple of months for the annulment to be resolved but even then, no one will found out. And even if someone does it'll be too late for anyone to do anything about it."

Tristan then gave her another moment to make sure she was finished.

But apparently she wasn't done just yet.

"I also think we should do it sometime soon. Like tomorrow kind of soon."

"Tomorrow ?" he asked numbly, the gladness he felt from actually getting a word in quickly disappearing, "but why ?"

"If you want to get the annulment papers done and announce to the whole world that there isn't going to be a wedding in 2 months time, then I think we should. Then there's the issue of Colin. I don't trust him after his involvement in the security scandal last year. The only reason why his ass is still safe is because my father was such a nice man. He couldn't help but forgive a pathetic loser who was willing to grovel at his feet." Then the expression on her face slowly changed, abolishing the previous harshness that was plastered on it.

"And then there's Rory, " she trailed off, her voice now considerably gentler, " you have to realise that she wont wait for you forever"

- End Flashback

***

Tristan sat himself down on a carpeted step at the front of the room, waiting for his cue. He tried to feel happy about what they were about to do but feeling stupid overweighed that emotion. He couldn't believe that he actually thought that once this was all done and once he was free, that Rory would just come back to him and accept him with open arms.

She was too smart for that, too independent.

Although he would never admit it, he was scared. Scared at the fact that she'd turn him down. Scared at the fact that what he was doing right now would be all for nothing.

Then the sound of the distinctive wedding tunes being heard played out on the archaic organ interrupted Tristan's contemplation and signified the arrival of Vivienne.

The ceremony had now begun.

**

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