part 8

Name: Meg (tenismyidea@hotmail.com)
Title: I Must Be Dreaming part 9
summary: Rory tries to get over Dean's death. She is now living with Tristan in order to make new Chilton friends. Takes place Christmas Break during Rory's senior year. Tristan just came back from Military School over the break and will stay at Chilton for the rest of his time.
rating: Pg 13 (swearing)
author's note: I hope you all haven't given up and are still reading this. Thanks to everyone who sent me mail on it! I would also like ideas, cuz im running low.


part 9

Tristan, Christopher, and The Gilmores

Friday afternoon. The DuGrey Mansion

Rory was sitting on her bed, reading peacefully, when she suddenly had a thought. She climbed off her bed and crawled through the small door that led directly to Tristan's room. She found him asleep in his bed. Rory walked over, sat next to him, and gently placed her hand on his forehead. He looked so peaceful while he was sleeping. *So cute.* Rory thought. She moved her hand to his back, and shook him gently. "Tristan?"

"Hmmm?" Tristan moaned, reluctantly opening his eyes, with much difficulty.

"Sorry to bother you, but, I just remembered something."

Tristan sat up in his bed and leaned against the headboard to face her. "Yeah?" He said, rubbing his eyes.

"It's Friday. Which usually means dinner at my grandparent's house."

"Even on Christmas Break?" Tristan mumbled.

"Yep."

Tristan sighed and looked over at Rory. "What time? And, do you want to go alone, or with me?"

"Seven o' clock. I would prefer it if you came. It would take the spotlight off me. But if you already have plans, that's alright."

Tristan would have cancelled any plans to get to spend an evening with Rory. "Naw. No plans." He climbed out of bed and walked over to his dresser to look for clothes.

Rory stared at him. He had on his boxers, but that was all. *He's so...muscular. Ohh sexy. Rippling abs.. Wait! Did I just think that? About Tristan? Well, I can't deny that he's extremely attractive...Err! This has to stop.*

Tristan looked over, and caught Rory staring at him in a dazed way. He laughed softly. "Mary, Mary. Just can't take your eyes off me, can you? I knew you'd come around, eventually." He said while putting on his clothes.

"Yeah. Whatever." Rory said, unable to think of anything better, since it was the truth. She stood up, and crawled through the door, back to her own room. It was comforting in this room. The one Tristan had made for her.


Meanwhile, at the Gilmore abode.

"CHRIS!!" Lorelai yelled while exiting the kitchen.

"Ow." Chris answered from the couch, covering his ears.

"Oh, there you are. Well, you're staying at my house."

"I'm aware."

"That means dinner. With my parents. Tonight."

"Oh no, Lorelai. Not this time. No."

"Oh yes. You aren't getting out of this one, mister. Oh yeah, revenge is sweet." Lorelai smiled down at Chris, now realizing that she wouldn't have to be the one to break the news of Sherry to Emily. *Let someone else handle that woman's wrath.*


The Gilmore Home in Hartford

"Richard! Will you get off the phone? Lorelai and Rory will be here any minute! Honestly, you know we have dinner every week. Can't you ever be prepared?"

"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Richard answered, coming into the hall.

Emily opened her mouth to answer, but heard the doorbell. Marie was answering the door, and soon Rory and a young man that looked familiar entered the hall. "Hello, Rory. Where's your mother? Who's your friend?"

"Oh, hello, Mr. DuGrey." Richard interrupted. He remembered Tristan from Rory's birthday party.

"Pardon?" Emily asked, curiously.

"You know Janlan DuGrey, Emily. This is his grandson, um--"

"Tristan." Rory stated. Richard nodded.

"Oh, lovely. You have good taste, Rory." Emily approved. Of course she would, the DuGreys were one of the finer families of Hartford.

Rory glanced at Tristan, who had a smirk planted across his face. She glared at him and he blew her a kiss, deepening her blush. Tristan started to laugh at Rory's obvious embarrassment, which caused curious glances thrown his way by Richard and Emily. Good for him, the doorbell rang again, and Lorelai and Christopher were entering the hall.

"Rory! Evil One! You actually showed." Lorelai chirped. She ran over to stand next to Tristan and say hi to her parents.

"Unfortunately." Tristan muttered to Lorelai out of the corner of his mouth. She giggled


1/2 Hour Later- Main course

Rory was laughing quietly at Tristan, who was seated next to her, and kept impersonating her grandparents while they weren't looking, then smiling at them when they looked at him. Lorelai was giggling also, but that was ended by Emily.

"So, Lorelai, Christopher, how are things for you two?" Emily asked, nonchalantly. After all, Lorelai made it sound like things were going to go much smoother now.

Lorelai glanced at Chris who shot her a 'you haven't told them yet?' look. After all, it had been a very long time. But Lorelai hadn't come to dinner while Rory was in DC and it hadn't come up until Christopher was right there. "Um, well, I don't like to brag, so I'll let Chris talk." Lorelai said, while trying not to smirk.

Chris gave a look of pure terror. "Thanks, Lor. Well, Emily, things were great."

"Excuse me. Were?" Emily asked innocently.

Chris cleared his throat. "Yes. You remember Sherry?"

"I thought you two were over long ago?"

"Yeah, well, she told me she was pregnant while I was with Lorelai at Sookie's wedding." Chris decided not to beat around the bush.

Emily pursed her lips and Richard dropped his fork. "I see." Emily said, rather coldly. "Lorelai, why didn't you tell me?"

Lorelai, determined to take the spotlight off herself, quickly said. "Yeah, well, at least I'm not living with a very cute boy, therefore exposed to extreme temptation!" She said, defensively while throwing a horrified Rory pointed looks. Tristan just smirked.

"MOM!" Rory shouted out of embarassment.

"What's going on?" Emily asked.

"Rory's living with Triiiiistannnn. Bad girl." Lorelai sing-songed.

"What?!" Emily gasped.

"Mom!! You made me!!" Rory said.

"Oh, come on, Rory, I didn't exactly have to do much convincing. We all know you're dyin' to get closer to Hot Boy over there." Lorelai jerked her head in Tristan's direction.

"Really now?" Tristan smirked. He was doing his best not to laugh.

"No, not really! MOM!!" Rory shot, first at Tristan, then at Lorelai.

"Will somebody please explain?" Emily asked, impatiently.

"Rory moved in with Tristan. Tristan asked her to 'cause he looovess her. And she agreed 'cause she looovesss him." Lorelai mocked. Chris raised his eyebrows in her direction.

Tristan pretended to be shocked. "Mary! And this whole time I thought it was unrequited love!"

"Shut up, Bible Boy." Rory said, exasperated.

"You're letting her live with a boy, Lorelai??" Emily asked, shocked.

"Ugh. Yeah, Mom, they're only friends. Rory needs more of a Chilton social life."

"Well, is this okay with her boyfriend, Dean?" Emily asked.

Lorelai and Tristan looked at Rory, who was staring at her plate. Rory felt her eyes beginning to tear a little. *No, if he were alive, he would be upset. Gee, thanks, Grandma.* She couldn't let her grandma see this. "Excuse me, please." She whispered, and left the room, heading straight to the library.

"Oh, dear. Did they break up?" Emily asked, confused.

"Not exactly, Mom."

"Well? Something obviously happened."

"Dean--um--no nice way to put this--died." Lorelai choked out.

"WHAT??" Emily asked, shocked.

"Yep. Car accident. Didn't you wonder why Rory had the cast on?"

"Oh dear!" Emily said, concerned. Richard had disappeared right around the Sherry part and wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"Excuse me." Tristan said, finally deciding to go after Rory.

" 'Bout time, Loverboy." Lorelai sighed. Emily still had a shocked expression on her face. Chris was still staring at his plate, not sure how to react.

Tristan found Rory in the library and walked in quietly. She was sitting in a chair, her face covered with her hands, shoulders shaking from her weeping. He went over to her and got on his knees, so he could look into her eyes. "Babe?" His voice was quiet, he didn't want to startle her.

"I'm sorry," She choked out.

"Don't be. Are you alright?"

She nodded then looked into his eyes. "Can we go home?"

He smiled at her calling it home. It felt so right for his home to be called hers also. "Of course. Come on." He took her hand and they walked back into the dining room. Lorelai smiled at Tristan's obvious adoration of Rory. "I think we're gonna call it a night, if that's okay."

Emily nodded. "Rory, hun, I'm so sorry."

Rory nodded and started pulling Tristan towards the door. "Thanks, Mrs. Gilmore, Lorelai. Bye, Mr. Hayden." Tristan said to the room before they left. Once they were outside, Rory stopped and turned to Tristan.

"Thanks, Tristan."

"For what?"

"Everything. You're being really nice to me, still haven't figured that one out, yet. But thanks. It's almost too good to be true."

Tristan smirked slightly. "You mean, I'm too good to be true?"

Rory sighed. "You wish." She muttered, walking quickly towards his car.

"Oh, do I ever." He muttered and followed her.


Later that night. DuGrey Mansion

Rory finally fell asleep in front of Tristan's TV in his room. She was curled up against his shoulder and he was smiling, staring down at her. *Loveseat. What an invention.* He thought. Someone knocked on his door, so he gently placed her down full length on the couch, careful not to wake her and went to get it. He opened the door and stuck his head out. "Oh. Hey, Duncan. Long time, no see."

"Tell me about it." Duncan answered, trying to push his way into Tristan's room. However, Tristan stayed in the doorway. "Can I come in?"

"Uh, well, what did you want?" Tristan asked, he really didn't want Duncan (Chilton's dumbass) to see Rory there. He would get the wrong idea. Not that Tristan wouldn't like to claim Rory, just that it would be wrong.

"T, my man, you've been gone! I gotta fill ya in on Chilton news. So you don't go back on Monday unprepared."

"Oh, I'm prepared. Listen, it's really late. Could you come over tomorrow?"

"Come on, T, whatchoo hidin'?" He managed to push past Tristan and looked around. He spotted Rory on the couch. "Ah. It's a girl." He continued to stare. "No way. That ain't the Gilmore chick is it? The one you's carryin' the torch for sophomore and junior year? Wow, dude. Didn't think she dug you."

"No, it's not like that." Tristan sighed. This was going to be difficult.

"The King's gotten all modest on me. Well, man, I'll leave ya."

"Duncan, you keep your mouth shut. This isn't what it looks like. She's livin' here for a while to clear her head. She had a rough night."

"I bet." Duncan winked at Tristan. "I'm gone, man. You can trust me." Duncan left and headed down the stairs. Tristan walked over and shut his door, then leaned against it. "Great." He muttered.


part 10