Disclaimer: Ja ja I don't own GG.

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The Trouble With Kids

Chapter 10: Meeting the twins, and an overdue hug…

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[Hayden Penthouse]

            A shrill noise rang through the penthouse. It was followed by Rory screaming, "Is this guy insane? He should know never to be 5 minutes early! That totally violates the rules! You are always at least 5 minutes late. AHH! Lane my zipper is stuck! Unstick it! Jules, Drew one of you get the door!"


            Juliette pressed the buzzer to allow entrance. Drew was lounging in a big armchair casually flipping through a magazine. Shortly, someone began to knock at the door. Juliette plastered on her fakest smile and opened the door.


            "Hi, you must be Juliette! I'm Sean Haley, your mom has told me all about you!" Sean appeared at the door holding a bouquet of roses.


            "That's just wonderful, why don't you take a seat while I put these in some water." Jules suggested disappearing into the kitchen. Once there she threw the flowers out the open window. 'Stupid guy.' Jules thought to herself. Then she made her way back to the living room and plopped onto the armchair right next to Drew's. They both proceeded to give him very disinterested looks. Sean was definitely a little uncomfortable around there and tried to make conversation.


            "So…which one of you was born first?" he asked.


            "Me." Jules answered.


            "Yeah, we were both right on the due date. Born exactly 9 months after we were conceived on a beach in Cannes…" Drew said.


            "In broad daylight." Jules added her eyes sparkling mischievously after looking at Haley's extremely uncomfortable face. Before they could say anything more Lane stepped into the room.


            "Rory will be ready in a couple of minutes." She said and leaned against the wall observing the looks that were being passed between the twins and Sean.


            "So Mr. Haley… what do you do for a living?" Drew asked knowing the answer already.


            "Call me Sean, and I'm the District Attorney."


            "Oh, a lawyer." Drew said and began to casually flip the pages again.


            "How much do you make? Never mind, you definitely don't make as much as my dad looking at that suit." Jules said and picked up the latest issue of Seventeen. Sean cleared his throat and nervously glanced down the hall. Lane just looked on amusedly.


            "So where are you taking my mom?" Jules started the questioning this time.


            "Oh, to this really cute little Italian bistro I know." Sean answered.


            "Italian? Ooh, bad choice, Mom hates Italian." She countered.


            "Oh okay, what's her favorite kind of food?" He asked.


            "She just adores seafood." Jules said.


            "Ooh…any suggestions?"


            "Aquamarine."


            "Aquamarine, the pricey restaurant on 5th?"


            "Yup, it may be expensive but mom loves it."


            "Thanks."


            "No problem." Jules said smiling, Drew had an identical smile on his face, and Lane covered her mouth to stop laughing.


            "So anyways, do you guys have any pets?" Sean asked.


            "Yeah, I have a Persian cat named Cleopatra." Jules answered.


            "I see, I'm kind of allergic to cats."


            "That's too bad, Cleo's such a good girl. Aren't you Cleo?" Juliette crooned to the cat that ran into the living room and jumped into her lap.


            "If you don't mind could you keep Cleo away from me?" Sean requested.


            "Well, I can try but I can't make any promises." Jules said smirking. Cleo inched towards Sean. She purred and rubbed against his ankles.


            "Oh, would ya look at that? I think she likes you Mr. Haley." Jules added seeing him squirm.


            "Well I guess she would be the only one." Drew muttered to himself.


            "Hey Sean! We should get going, we don't want to be late." Rory chirped stepping into the room wearing a black cocktail dress, stopping the possibility of any further interrogation.


            "Yeah, well bye Juliette and Drew, see you soon." Sean motioned to the two before almost bounding out of the apartment. As soon as he did, the three occupants of the penthouse burst out laughing.


            "Okay, not that I didn't enjoy seeing that man squirm, exactly why did you just sabotage his dinner? Your mom adores Italian and despises seafood. What are you two up to exactly, huh?" Lane questioned.


            "Well ya see Auntie Lane, uh…we're trying to get our parents back together." Drew replied.


            "A noble cause, now what can I do to help?" She asked and the twins broke out grinning, and set to work creating plans for the gala.


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[Next day @ The Law Offices of DuGrey, Berndhardt, and O'Connell]


            Rory stepped into the large building. In the lobby area everything seemed to be quiet and relaxed, but Rory knew better. The offices, conference rooms, and libraries upstairs were abuzz with excitement at all times. She walked up to the large desk in front tugging on her light pink sundress.


            "Hi, I don't have an appointment but…" Rory began but was cut off, when two men stepped out of the elevator, laughing. One of the men, an older looking guy, stepped outside. The other young, red haired man turned around, catching sight of Rory. His eyes suddenly went big and then his brows furrowed with confusion, before a smile appeared on his face as made his way towards Rory.


            "Rory Gilmore formerly Rory DuGrey, what brings you to our fine offices this lovely Manhattan afternoon?" he asked.


            "Jackie boy screw formalities," She said laughingly hugging him "I was looking for Tristan, Jack. Do you know if he's here right now, or if he's busy or something I'll leave." Rory replied.


            "No, no it's okay. The old coot is holed up in his office. The idiot won't stop working." Jack O'Connell said good-naturedly.


            "Thanks Jackie, I'm off!" Rory turned around towards the elevator. Jack swung her around and said,


            "If you don't mind, I'll escort you upstairs. I have to go through some files anyway. The old man is getting on my back." Jack offered an arm and Rory obligingly took it. In the elevator Jack started the conversation up again.


            "If you don't mind an old friend asking, why exactly are you looking for Tristan?" He inquired curiously his brown eyes meeting Rory's blue ones.


            "Well I wanted to talk to him about one of the cases he's working on. His new client is my best friend Lane." Rory answered.


            "Ah I see, well this is our floor." They stepped out. Jack gave Rory a peck on the cheek before excusing himself towards his office. Rory took in a deep breath and approached Tristan's secretary. To Rory's surprise it wasn't a blonde bimbo, but rather an elderly lady decked out in conservative clothes.


            "Uh, Can I please talk to Mr. DuGrey?" She hesitated while asking the question.


            "I don't think you have an appointment, dearie, but since I think he needs a break why don't you go right in. He doesn't have any meeting scheduled until tonight." She replied.


            "Thank you." Rory said cordially and knocked on the door to his office.


            "Come in, whoever you are." Tristan muttered from the other side of the door. Rory slipped into the room, and let the door shut by itself. Tristan was sitting behind a cluttered desk, small glasses perched on his nose as he perused through some paper.


            "Well what do you want?" he asked annoyed not looking up.


            "I was hoping we could talk." Rory said timidly, after hearing her voice Tristan's head immediately shot up.


            "Sorry Ror, I was kind of busy. I didn't know it was you." He said abashedly.


            "Its okay." was her timid reply.


            "So what's up?" he asked looking up at her face. Rory walked over to the large glass window on the left side of his huge office and plopped down on one of the dark brown leather armchairs.


            "Well…" she said softly twirling a strand of hair around her finger idly, "It's about Lane."


            "Rory…" Tristan started.


            "What Tristan? You said we are trying this whole friendship thingy. Friends help each other, and I want your help to stop them from this separation." Rory interrupted.


            "Ror, I've tried to reconcile but they totally refuse to talk to each other." He sighed.


            "Well what did they say?" she questioned.


            "That's a lawyer-client confidentiality." He replied seriously.


            "That's bull, Tristan. Lane and Henry are friends. Do you think they would care if you told me?" She countered standing up and leaning on his desk..


            "Ror, you do whatever you want to do, but I am not going to interfere." He said and he looked down at his hands.


            "Tristan! I can't let their marriage fall apart. They loved each other! They still love each other." Rory raised her voice in annoyance.


            "Goddamn it Rory! I wasn't able to save my own marriage you think I'll be able to save someone else's?" Tristan threw up his arms and released his frustration. Rory backed away from his desk, unshed tears oblivious to Tristan's eyes.


            "Just because we didn't work out Tristan… it doesn't mean they can't…" She turned away and walked away from him.


            "Rory!"


            "Rory!" Tristan said again. When she was unresponsive he got up and grabbed her arm spinning her around to face him.


            "Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, you are not walking away from me. If it really means that much to you, I'll help you out, but I'm not making any promises." Tristan stared at Rory's face and then let go of her arm.


            Rory stared into the troubled blue eyes. They were so intense, angry, sad, and hopeful at the same time. She shook her head resignedly before burying her head into Tristan's chest. Tristan didn't know how to respond at first but wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her back.


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3 hailey