*A/N: I wasn't supposed to update until the weekend but then I'm stuck at home again with another fever and missed school again, so I decided to update since I got nothing to do. And anyways I believe this story is near to the ending (finally!!) Anyways here ya go and I hope you guys will like this chapter! - Nina*

This is Rory…

The words echoed into Tristan's mind as he continued to stare at her. It was unbelievable and he was right. He always felt that she might be still around waiting to be found and she was found. By who? He wondered.

"hi grandma, hi grandpa," she said with a smile

Tristan felt his knees tremble and he placed his hands on them to calm them down but while he did, he was shaking inside. It was a feeling that you're in the verge of tears and he tried not to show them. However, his mom noticed it, she placed her hand on top of his

"Rory? How…?" Emily began to talk after she calmed down from her shock state

"that we'll explain," Christopher said, "and Rory, do you remember the Dugrey?" he asked her

Rory looked at the Dugreys and remembered seeing the couples before and her eyes landed on him, he was looking down on his hands on his knees and then looked up at her

Rory felt something when she looked him into the eyes

Hello Mary

Get lost Tristan

You miss me that much huh Tristan?

Oh yea, very much since I left for North Carolina

I wonder if we can be friends…I mean, try to get along with each other you know…

I thought we were friends Tristan

oh, well…I thought we weren't because I kept torturing you for the past years and…I thought…you…um…you hate me?

I was wondering sometimes why an enemy wanted to be friends with an enemy and then they are friends but there are still times that a former enemy annoys a friend and there are times the former enemy is so nice and gentle…I can't understand your personality Tristan…

do you really want to know why?

yes I want to know why! I want to know why you really care and I want to know why you tortured me back then!

Memories of him came back to her and it pained her. Lorelai saw the pain in her daughter's eyes as well as Wilma saw Tristan's in his.

"maybe we can talk about this during dinner," Richard suggested and they agreed. The elders went first leaving Tristan and Rory the last one to leave the living room

"Tristan…"

"Rory…" he said, she sadly smiled at him and gave him a hug, and he hugged her back, not wanting to let go

"I missed you…" he whispered into her eyes

Rory gently pulled back from his embrace and avoided looking into his eyes, "we better go in, they're waiting for us," she said and went into the dining room

Tristan let out a sigh and followed her where everyone was waiting for him to be seated in front of Rory.

"Dinner was great Emily, especially having your granddaughter back, it's a miracle," Wilma smiled at Rory before the Dugreys turned to leave

"yes it is Wilma…I'm so happy, very happy I have to say," Emily smiled and put her arm around Rory's shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze

"we better get going, and Rory, take good care of yourself," Wilma said to Rory

"you too Mrs. Dugrey," Rory said with a weak smile. The whole conversation had worn her out and she didn't mind at all

"well then Emily, I'll see you at the DAR meeting next week," she said

"will do," Emily nodded her head

Rory took a quick glance at Tristan who was leaning against his parents' car and he was staring at her until he looked away. Rory shrugged and turned to her parents who were saying goodbye to Fred and shortly the Dugreys left.

"we better get going now mom, dad," Lorelai said wearily

"yes of course, boy, Brad is getting bigger these days," Richard said as he handed Brad to Lorelai

"yes he is, goodnight mom, dad," Lorelai said, giving each a kiss on the cheek and Christopher shook hands with Richard

"Rory dear, it was good to see you again," Emily said to her

"I know," Rory smiled

Emily nodded, "I'll see you next Friday dinner," she said

Rory nodded and gotten into the car and they drove back home. On the way home, Rory couldn't stop thinking about Tristan. It was really good to see him again but yet a little painful. What happened in the past is not fixed and no one knows who should make the first move but Rory decided that she would go over to his place tomorrow.

The next day, Rory stood in front of the mansion thinking if she should ring the doorbell or not. And few minutes later she rang the doorbell and the butler answered it

"can I help you?" he asked

"is Tristan home?" she asked

"yes he is, does he know you're coming?" Smith asked

"well, no but I did like to surprise him," she said

Smith nodded his head and let her in, "he is in his room, should I take you there?"

"yes please," Rory said, "are his parents home?"

"no, they left for work, this way please," he said and Rory followed him to the second floor until they reached Tristan's door

"thanks Smith," she smiled and he nodded at her with a small smile before leaving. Rory took a deep breath and opened the door quietly not wanting to make a tiny sound. When the door was halfway open, she could see him sitting on the couch and his back was facing her. Rory walked quietly until she reached him, not too far, not too near.

Before she could say anything, she saw that he was looking down on the paper and he traced the drawing with his fingers. It was the drawing from Fez, the man who was sitting around near her, made a drawing of her and gave it to her. She was surprised that she remembered it and the way she looked, it was so innocent.

"Tristan…" she said and he quickly looked up at her, he was surprised and yet alone he didn't hear her come into his room

"Rory…" he said, almost a whisper when he stood up

she weakly smiled at him and brought her eyes down to the drawing in his hand, "I'm surprised you kept it,"

Tristan didn't know what to say

"I'm actually glad that you did…" she said

"Rory…"

"I'm sorry Tristan,"

he frowned, "sorry for what?"

"about me running away from you…" she looked down

"no…I should be the one to apologize Rory…not you…I've made so many mistakes and you did nothing wrong," he said, "I couldn't forgive myself when…when you were away…"

"Tristan…"

he shook his head to stop her, "let me finish first. I wanted to talk to you so badly last night but our family was there…I wanted to tell you how sorry I am. I am very sorry for hurting you and I am very sorry for acting like that…it was hard for me then. Knowing that the girl I love was going to die and you're not allowing me in, I became frustrated and then you ran away from me…I even became more frustrated and hurt…I turned cold because I didn't want to be hurt anymore but the pain was still there and unbearable. It was hard…really very hard and I kept questioning myself…I decided to go to Stars Hollow one day to beg forgiveness from you…but then…it was the day when you didn't return," he said, quickly wiping his eyes away

"It was painful, very painful that I thought you left for eternity and I always felt guilty the whole time without apologizing to you but somewhat I always had a feeling that you might be still around waiting to be found…then I saw you again for the first time in Bridgeport but yet your name was Faith…and I'm glad you're back Rory…"

"Tristan…"

"I'm really sorry for everything…will you forgive me?" he asked

Rory felt her heart beat harder

"yes I forgive you Tristan," she felt tears in her eyes and she quickly looked away from him but the tears wasn't missed by him, he saw it and he cupped her face, gently making her face him

"why are you crying?" he asked softly, wiping them away with his thumb

she shook her head, "nothing,"

"don't tell me it's nothing again…" Tristan weakly gave her a smile

Rory softly chuckled, "it's just that…you…actually really care and love me before…it's kind of overwhelming,"

"I still love you Rory, until now,"

Rory's eyes widened when he said that, "what?"

"you heard me Rory…I still do love you…but for now I'm not expecting anything from you…"

"Tristan…"

he shook his head, "I just wanted you to know, that's all,"

Rory gazed down on the floor and few seconds later she looked up to him

"I'm glad you told me that, Tris,"

"I needed to,"

she shook her head, "no, that's not it,"

he frowned, "what?"

Rory formed a tiny smile across her lips and said, "because you made me realize something else that I needed to know,"

He raised his brows, "which is?"

"this," she said as she took a step closer and leaned over to him, giving him a sweet kiss on his soft lips, and when she did that, it got him off guard until she pulled back

"I didn't know that I was so in love with you Tris…you made me realize that and I'm glad you did," she told him as she looked deeply into his blue eyes, "and I'm glad that you're still single,"

Tristan chuckled, "well, I guess not anymore…"

"what? You're already taken?" she gasped

"I believe so," he smirked

"to whom?" she raised her brows

Tristan grinned, "to you I guess, because I love you"

Rory smiled and hugged him, "good, because I love you too," she whispered into his ears.

*Reviews please!!!*