part 6

Name: Meg (tenismyidea@hotmail.com)
Title: I Must Be Dreaming part 7
pairing: R/T/J
summary: So far, Rory tries to get over Dean's death, Tristan and Jess try to help her.
disclaimer: I can't even think about owning them
Author's Note: If anyone is reading this, there may be a delay in future parts, but I'm not sure yet. I hope you like it so far! Please write to me with comments and ideas.

part 7
Dad, Meet My Boyfriends

Rory and Tristan entered the mansion and were greeted by Ellie (head maid) and Marissa (family's interior decorator). Tristan grinned at the expression on Rory's face. She was looking around in awe at the huge entryway. You could see the dining area from it,too. There were chandeliers, beautiful chestnut wood furniture, huge paintings, expensive crystalware, and gorgeous rugs. At the end of the hall was a large staircase with scarlet carpeting. It reminded her of the mansion in Gone with the Wind, only bigger.

"Hello, Master Tristan. Hello, Miss Gilmore. We've been expecting you. May I take your things?" Ellie said sweetly putting on her best smile. Tristan handed her Rory's suitcases and Ellie scurried away up the stairs with them.

"Master Tristan, the room is complete. Do you wish for me to present it to the lady?" Marissa said. Her smile was fake, and there was no sweetness to her like there was in Ellie.

"No, I can take it from here. Thanks, Marissa." Tristan watched her leave, then turned to Rory. "Ready to see your room?" Tristan smiled at her with his one million watt smile.

"Of course!" Rory looked like a little girl waiting to get into the amusement park. Tristan grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. Rory felt like she was floating. His mere touch made her feel warm inside, while also making her shiver from the sparks that shot through her. She giggled slightly, then let him pull her up the stairs. He stopped at a large oak door and pulled on the brass handle. Rory stepped inside and couldn't believe what she saw. It was so.....her. The walls were light blue (her favorite shade) and there were Harvard banners and flags everywhere. On one wall, there was a gigantic PJ Harvey poster, and on another was a giant bookshelf filled with books. This room must be at least three times the size of her own room back home. At least! The bed looked just like her own, except bigger and a little more ornate, and the dresser next to the bed had a large cd player, that looked brand new. Another wall had a small door. She would have to duck down to get through it. The wall her bed was against had a dozen framed pictures of Lorelai and two very large ones of Tristan. She laughed and looked at Tristan who was staring at her.

"Tristan! Did you really have this made, just for me? It's beautiful! I love it! Where did you get the pictures of my mom, though?"

"Well, your mom donated them and I figured, you gotta have me on your special wall, too."

Rory laughed and looked around the room. She knew she would feel at home here. "What's the little door?"

Tristan smirked at Rory. "One of my more brilliant ideas. It connects to my room, so, if you want to come see me, just go through the little door. That way, you don't have to go into the hall at night. My dad roams around, plus it's a huge hall, and I didn't want you to get scared or lost. I especially don't want you to run into my dad at night."

"Why not?" Rory asked, innocently. She didn't know about Tristan's home life. She figured everything was...well, peachy.

Tristan stared at her, as though deciding whether or not he should tell her. After all, it might upset her. He decided she should be fore-warned. "That's when he's drunk."

"Oh, Tristan, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." Rory looked at Tristan's face. He was frowning and not meeting her eyes, like he was fighting back tears.

"It's okay. You didn't know. You should know, though. You won't have any unpleasant run-ins if you use the little door. And if you need to go in the hall, I'll accompany you. You'd be safe with me."

"Thanks, Tristan. Can we talk for a little while?"

"That's what we're doing."

"No, I mean sit down and really talk. I need to tell you something." Rory looked at her feet and Tristan sat on her bed, motioning for her to do the same.

"Go ahead, Ror, you can tell me anything." Tristan said with a worried look on his face. He gazed into her eyes and grabbed her small hand. He held it, and massaged it with his thumb while still looking at her.

"Well, it's just that--um--okay. You know when I kissed you at your party?" Tristan nodded and grinned. "Then at my house, too?" He nodded again, the grin still in place. "Um, I wanted to say that I'm sorry. Sorry for using you. You see, I wasn't over Dean yet, and I was drowning my sorrows in you. And I want us to be friends, but I don't usually kiss my friends, and I wanted you to know that I'm sorry if I made you think I wanted to be more than friends. I just don't think I'm ready, yet. With Dean and all." Rory looked at the ground and tried not to meet his stare. She knew she wanted to more than friends with him, but she didn't want people to think she could get over Dean that quickly, and she wanted to make sure he really liked her.

Tristan looked at her, his brows furrowed in thought. She didn't seem to be honest. Inside, he felt his heart break. *So the kisses didn't mean anything to her. Great. Once again, I give Rory Gilmore my heart, and once again, she breaks it. But Dean did just die. I'm confused.* "Rory, don't be sorry. I knew the kisses didn't mean anything to you. I know you like me as a friend, but I also know I could never hope for more. And I'm glad to be your friend. But I also want to be more than that, but I can wait for you. I've waited two years, already." Tristan met her gaze, she looked so sad, it made his heart break even more.

"Tristan," She wanted to say that they did mean something to her, that she had felt more alive than she had ever felt when she kissed Dean. But, she couldn't. She reached out her free hand and stroked his cheek gently. He closed his eyes from the pure pleasure he felt when she touched him. She ran her hand through his hair, and let it come back to his cheek. She was so gentle, like he would break any minute. She let her hand rest there and looked at his closed eyes. She wanted to kiss him, but knew that would give no meaning to what she just said. She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. He opened his eyes and realized she wouldn't kiss him, like he had been hoping. He wrapped his arms around her, and stroked her silky hair repeatedly, until she pulled away. She smiled at him and he managed a small smile. "Tristan, I still mean what I said, but, for the record, the kisses did mean something to me."

Tristan looked in her eyes and saw that she was sincere and grinned at her. "Of course they did. No girl can kiss me and walk away feeling nothing."

Rory rolled her eyes and stood up, taking his hand in hers. "Come on, let's have some fun."


Meanwhile, at Luke's

Lorelai walked in, wearing a sad expression. "Coffee." she said to Luke.

Luke poured her some with no argument, then looked at her. "What's the matter?"

"Evil One stole my firstborn!"

"Tristan stole Rory?"

"Yep."

"And you're not calling the cops or anything?"

"No, I told him he could. Rory needs him right now."

"Okay--" Luke stared at her, confusion written all over his face. "So how long will she be a hostage."

"I don't know. She's living there for a while. Maybe even the rest of the school year, if she likes it."

"What?! Lorelai, that's crazy. You can't live one week without Rory."

"Neither can Tristan." She pointed out.

"Yeah, but c'mon. He gets to see her at school."

"Luke, I trust my parenting skills."

Luke grunted. "Well, I don't."

Lorelai stuck out her tongue at him, and exited the diner. He stared after her in disbelief. He was cleaning her coffee mug a few minutes later, when he was interrupted by a man. "Hello?"

Luke looked up at him. "Hi," he said gruffly, recognizing the man.

"Luke, is it? You're the one that's close to the Gilmore girls, right? Well, I'm Chris. Rory's dad."

"Or lack thereof." Luke grunted.

Chris frowned at the man. "Um, I was wondering if you know where Rory is."

Luke looked at Chris, matching his frown. "Funny that I would have that information, and you wouldn't. Seeing as you're her dad."

Chris glanced around then back at Luke. "Yes, well, I was told she comes here alot. So I came to you for help. I want to find my daughter."

"Fine. She's staying with Tristan."

"I don't know who that is."

"Neither do I. Hang on. JESS!" Luke yelled in the direction of the stairs. "Jess will know." Luke said to Chris. Chris looked even more confused.

Jess appeared next to his uncle, eyeing the strange man. "Yes?" he said to Luke.

"Jess, can you tell Rory's dad where she is? I'm busy."

Jess grinned at Chris, happy that he knew Rory better than her own dad. "Chris, right?"

Chris looked at Jess in amazement. How did this kid know his name. "Yeah, Jess. How do you know my daughter?"

"She's my best friend. Follow me." Jess headed up the stairs, with a confused Chris following him. Jess went into the apartment and came back with Rory's paper. He looked at Chris, then read it. "The DuGrey Mansion in Hartford. Do you know it?"

"Edward and Cathy DuGrey?" Chris asked. What was Rory doing there? Jess nodded. "Yeah, I'm very familiar with it. Unfortunately." Chris remembered how his parents were good friends with Ed and Cathy. "What's Rory doing there?"

Jess couldn't believe Chris didn't know a thing about Rory. "Staying with Tristan DuGrey. Another friend of hers."

"Well, Jess, it was nice to meet you. As Rory's dad, though, can I ask you one more question?"

"Might as well.Then we'll be done playing Twenty Questions."

"Right. Do you have feelings for Rory?"

Jess raised his eyebrows. "Why do you ask that?"

"Curious."

"Um." Jess looked at the ground. "She's my friend."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you don't have stronger feelings."

"Okay, okay. Yes, I do. But I blew it. I let her get away. She was standing right there. Oh, nevermind."

"No, tell me. I want to know everything about my daughter and her friends."

"I'm not one to open up."

"Well, do it just this once."

"Fine. She was right there. She wanted me to be her boyfriend. I've wanted to be her boyfriend since I met her. But, I figured I was doing the right thing by resisting her. After all, Dean hasn't been dead for very--" He was cut off.

"Wait. Did you say that Dean died?"

"Yeah. Didn't you know? Rory and him got in a car accident, and he didn't make it. Been dead two weeks yesterday."

"Wow. Is she okay?"

"Yeah. She broke an arm and two ribs, but it's healing now."

"How did I not know this?"

"Come to Stars-Hollow more often."

"Yeah. Well, tell me the rest of your story."

"You pretty much know everything. We both like each other alot, but she needs time to get over Dean."

"How do you know she likes you?"

"She kissed me three times. Once when Dean was alive."

"Whoa. So, you let my daughter get away?"

"Yep."

"Bad move. She's a great girl."

"You're telling me."

"I better go. Nice talking to you, Jess."

"Sure." He was back to his one syllabled words.


DuGrey Mansion. A while later.

Rory and Tristan were coming down the stairs when the doorbell rang. Tristan hurried to the door and pulled it open. A strange man was standing there.

"Are you Tristan?" The man asked.

"Yes, sir. Come in."

"Dad!" Rory saw him when he came in. She ran down the stairs. "What are you doing here? Oh, sorry. Tristan, this is my dad, Chris. Dad, this is Tristan."

"Nice to meet a DuGrey." Chris shook Tristan's hand. "I'm Christopher Hayden."

"Oh. I wondered when I'd be meeting you. I didn't know you were Rory's dad, though. My parents talk about you all the time."

"Good to know." Chris turned to Rory. "Hey, hun. I had no idea where you or your mother were. I had to find out from Jess."

"You know Jess?" Rory asked.

"Yeah. Cool kid."

"Really? Mom hates him."

"Interesting. Ror, I'm sorry about Dean." They spent the whole afternoon from there, chatting and laughing. Tristan was a part of it, too. Like he was family. Chris didn't miss the attraction between the two. He was glad to be a part of the Rory/Jess/Tristan triangle.


part 8