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Rory walked into her door. She felt different. The Rory who had walked out had not just kissed Tristan in a crowded airport. It was Rory before and Rory after, a life-changing event. Rory reminded herself this had not been the first kiss, but this one was different. It opened up a new chapter for Rory and Tristan, or at least she hoped so.

She looked at her answering machine. She had 3 messages.

"Rory, this is Bradley"

She skipped that one.

"Roryyyy it's your mother!"

she skipped that one too.

"Hey Rory, uh this is Tristan. I was just calling and uh I guess your not home, so I'll talk to you later then. Bye."

She smiled.

She picked up the phone and dialed her mother.

"Hello?"

"It's your darling daughter."

"Rory!"

"How many other darling daughters do you have?"

"Blah. Back home?"

"Yep."

"Are you taking a job far far away from your wonderful old mother?"

"Yes."

"Rory! How can you leave me?"

"You can visit me."

"Which paper?"

"The Manhattan Journal, although they don't know that yet."

"So did you and Tristan have fun?"

"Yes," she paused and then added, "WE KISSED!"

"I told you you had a crush."

"Shut up."

"I talked to your dad today."

"Tell him you were madly in love with him?"

"No… will you just drop that?"

"It's fun."

"My only daughter finds fun in torturing her mother!"

"You teased me first."

"That's true."

"So you'll tell Miss Patty to make sure the gossip gets around?"

"Of course. You mean to make the gossip get to Jess, don't you."

"Of course not, that was like 5 years ago!"

"I know, I just wanted to get back at you."

"Don't bring him up."

"Why not?"

"Well he's fine just don't bring up our relationship."

"Just because you didn't end well doesn't mean…"

"He said that I could never truly give my heart away mom. He told me that I could never love anybody fully, because I was afraid of getting pregnant and ending up like… you. That isn't something I want to remember."

"Calm down, Rory. Are you scared because you really like Tristan? Afraid your going to get hurt?"

"Bradley came and saw me, told me he loved me and wanted to marry me someday."


"And then you kissed Tristan."

"What if I gave up something wonderful to just get my heartbroken?"

"Honey, this is probably not the best thing to say, but in love, you have to take chances."

"Thanks. I don't know why I'm getting all upset about something this little."

"Honey you're moving to a big city, and have a possible romance going with the high school player. You have tons of changes going on, but just be happy and live!"

"Thanks mom. Any more advice before I go to bed?"

"Never drink decaf"

"Good advice."

"Bye Rory."

"Bye mom."

Rory hung up the phone and grabbed her shower stuff. She sang the words to a song she and Tristan had danced to, and hoped that taking chances would not lead to getting her heart broken. She found a huge sweatshirt, and crawled into her bed, knowing that this was one of the last times she would ever sleep in it. Knowing that this one of the last nights in the life of the old Rory Gilmore.

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Now it was Tristan sitting beside the phone. He told himself that she probably wouldn't call until the next morning, she had a long flight and was going to be tired. He remembered their kiss, and how she had tasted, and the feeling of kissing her was wonderful. It was enough, not just the foreplay to steamy sex. It was a sweet, innocent gesture, yet one filled with passion. Tristan could get used to that feeling, but he would rather not get used to the feeling of waiting restlessly for her call, or get used to being away from her.

He poured himself some orange juice, the alcohol was on a hiatus, for now at least. He walked into the guest bedroom, and lay in her bed, taking in the scent of Rory Gilmore, anticipating her return. Hoping, wishing, and dreaming for what he didn't deserve, but hoped was his second chance.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Rory woke up with the sunrise, wondering if Tristan had watched it in New York. She wondered if he would ever leave her mind. She knew he would be awake, and dialed the number.

"Hello?" he answered, and even just his voice could make her swoon.

"It's Rory."

"A Gilmore up this early?"

"Crazy as it is, it's true."

"I'm going to give the Journal a call tomorrow, and I guess they'll tell me when they want me to start."

"Are you going to have to sell your house?"

"It's rented."

"Oh, I see. What did your mom say when you told her about moving out here?"

"How did you know I talked to my mom?"

"A good assumption. I know how close you are."

"She'll miss me."

"Of course."

"But not swat team to keep you in Connecticut?"

"Remarkably, no."

"So you'll be back in Manhattan soon?"

"Very soon."

"The paper needs you," he said, thinking that he did.

"Of course," she replied.

"Are you resigning today?"

"In a few hours."

"They have no idea?"

"None whatsoever."

"Tough. But Manhattan will love you."

"And I'll love it. Change is just hard I guess."

"Of course."

"You need to get ready for work?"

"Probably."

"I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Mary."

"Bye."

He clicked the phone, and leaned his head against the couch. He had slept in the guestroom. They hadn't said a thing about the goodbye kiss. He prayed she wasn't regretting it. It would kill him, if she did. They couldn't avoid the subject forever, he knew, and he got into the shower, and got ready for a busy day at work.

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Rory washed her hair and made herself look beautiful and professional, probably the best she had looked at work, and just to resign. She felt almost traitorous. She tried not to think about Tristan, or even Manhattan. She floated in a dream world, where her only daily task was to leave the family she had grown close to over the years. It was going to be hard. She grabbed her purse, ran her fingers through her hair, and climbed into her jag and headed to the office for the last time.

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Tristan was in his office. He had the corner office, with a plush couch against the a big window. He laid on it and thought about his life. He remembered telling Rory, at her birthday party, that he was madly in love with her. He hadn't been kidding. She had replied "good luck with that." That was before the kiss. Before she got back with Dean. Before he broke into the safe. Before the Chilton dinner. Before the past weekend. He was such an ass to her, like a kindergartner with a crush.

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The next day, Rory dialed up the Manhattan Journal, and asked to speak to Bridget Rescan.

"Rory, Hello!"

"Hey there Bridget."

"How are you?"

"Pretty good, and you?"

"Great."

"I'm calling to say that I would love to take your job. I knew it from the second I left the office."

"Wow, you're kidding me. That's great news!"

"I know! It had the perfect atmosphere."

"Well, thanks. When can you start? Were eager to introduce you to everyone, they've heard tons about you already."

"Lets see, it's Tuesday, how about next Monday?"

"Sounds great! I'll see you Monday morning?"

"It's a date."

"My home phone is 555-555-6789, in case you need anything."

"Thanks a ton Bridget."

"No problem. See ya Monday!"

"See ya."

They hung up at Rory felt refreshed. If all her coworkers were as bright and sunshine-like as Bridget she was going to love her new job. Now the hard part came, calling the newspapers she had decided not to work with.

She rang the Gazette first.

"Gotham Gazette."

"Hello, this is Rory Gilmore, could I speak to Eloisa Jane, please?"

"Miss Peabody will be with you shortly."

The gruff voice answered, "Hello?"

"Hello, this is Rory Gilmore?"

"And your choice is?"

"I don't think I matched your paper very well, and I didn't want to work where I didn't fit."

"You mean where the salary is low and the offices are scrappy. Where'd ya decide to go? The prism?"

"I'm at the Manhattan Journal now."

"I see. Goodbye now."

"Bye."

Rory sighed and called the Prism.


"Manhattan Prism, how many I help you?" said one of the dozen secretaries.

"This is Rory Gilmore, may I please speak with Mrs. Renée Sharper?"

"One Moment Please."

"Miss Gilmore?"

"Hello, Mrs. Sharper."

"I do hope you've decided to come to the Prism?"

"Actually I decided.."

She was cut off, "I can offer 55,000 dollars. That's more money absolutely than any other place could offer."

Rory knew it.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Sharper, but I've taken a job at the Journal. Thank You so much for your offer."

"60,000? That is my final offer Miss Gilmore. It certainly must be tempting."

"As much as it is, Mrs. Sharper, I have already taken the position at the Manhattan Journal. Good luck finding a different employee. I'm sorry. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

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Rory drove a few miles ahead of a beat up U-haul, dragging what little things Rory had decided to not sell with her. She could buy new furniture up there, but she was taking a few things she didn't want to ever leave. She called Tristan at work, to see if he could unlock the place for her.

"DuGrey Corporation. How may I help you?"

"I would like to speak with Tristan DuGrey, please?"

"Miss, may I ask who his calling?"

"Tell him that Mary needs to speak with him."

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The pager rang in Tristan's office.

"Hello?"

"Mr. DuGrey, a young lady is on the phone, she told me to tell you it was Mary?"

Tristan smiled and said, "Tell her that I will be right with her."

He picked up the phone.

"Mary?"

"You liked that?"

"Very much."

"Well good."

"Where are you?"

"About 20 minutes away from your apartment, could you unlock it for me?"

"How much stuff are you unloading in my house?"

"Not very much."

"Whatever you say. You are a female."

"And what would you be implying?"

"Nothing. Nothing."

"I'll take the rest of the day off and help you get settled in."

"I think your missing to much work on my account."


"I'll just tell daddy I'm pursuing a relationship with a beautiful, successful woman of wonderful lineage."

"He'll be thrilled."

"Ecstatic."

"See you in a little bit… Mary."

"Bye, Tristan."

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They got settled in. Only a few arguments about where stuff went occurred, most settled amicably. Now they were sitting a few feet apart on his couch, watching Dawson's Creek reruns. Both were trying to avoid the subject of the kiss. Most conversation itself was abandoned. After a little bit however, Tristan turned to her, and Rory turned to him.

"Listen?' he said, exactly as she said, "About that kiss,"

"You go." He said

"No you."

"Okay, umm, that kiss last weekend.."

"Was I mean"

"It was good"

"Very good"

"You didn't cry."

"I didn't need to. Listen, I know we haven't even been friends for very long, and I wouldn't want to screw that up, but"

"I have the hugest crush on you in the whole world," he said, smiling, but not joking.

"I never thought it would be you, but I like you, a lot."

"But I don't want things to be weird."

"Me either," she said.

"We could do it again."

She didn't reply. He took it as a yes. He rolled over on top of her on the couch, and they began kissing. It was passionate, but also innocent, the kiss of two people getting to know each other, the kiss of people newly starting a relationship. After a little bit she pulled away and said, "lets get to know each other in the communication way."

"We were getting to know each other pretty well the other way."

"However…"

"What is your favorite color?"

"Silver? Your favorite song?"

"One Last Breath by Creed."

"Never saw you as a Creed fan."

"Your favorite day of the week?"

"Saturday."

"Not Friday?"

"Fully scarred by the years that that was dinner with my grandparents."

"Really."

"Tell me about North Carolina."

Their conversation continued on and on, they caught up and knew each other so well. They didn't even sleep, just stayed up the entire night talking. It was weird, they were, dating, or liking each other, or somehow things were different then they had been before. They had told each other their feelings. It was a happy night."