Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.

Dinner was very quiet. It usually was… unless Dad and Tristan were yelling at each other. I slowly twirled my fork and pasta. Our cook made terrific carbonara. Strangely, it was dad who broke the silence.

"You won't be going to school this Wednesday," he said quietly. "I've already arranged it with the Headmaster."

I fidgeted, stared at my plate, and voiced a tiny, 'oh'. Wednesday. November 9. Mom's fifth year death anniversary.

My brother spoke quietly, no taunting or cocky tone. "Are we staying in Star's Hollow?"

Dad nodded. "You two will drive there after school on Tuesday, you should… bring your things… and another uniform."

There was another uncomfortable silence. I glanced at the empty place beside dad. Mom's place. It was always set.

I know Dad goes to her grave everyday before work. He talks to her, leaves flowers… I know I shouldn't be feeling this, I know I should want him to be happy, but I'm glad he won't let her go. I don't think I could stand his dating someone else. I don't even want to think about what Tristan would do if Dad did.

I go there when I have the time, when I want to think. When I really miss her. Which is a lot. I bump into Dad a lot there too. I remember once when she told me that when I graduated from high school, she'd take me on a trip around the world. Just the two of us… and of course, she had so many contacts and knew where all the good places were from her days as a model and overseas correspondent. But she's not going to see me graduate.

But Tristan… I don't think he's been there since her funeral. Even at her funeral… Tristan refused to look at the casket. He stayed firmly in his seat. He gave in and went closer when Dad asked him too… but when he reached it, he kept his eyes shut until they closed the casket.

To this day, both Dad and Tristan refuse to drink if they're going to be driving. It's a really big issue with them. Tristan rarely drinks actually. He smokes, I know… I've caught him. Drugs… I don't think so. Drinking… actually, I don't think he drinks at all. Sure, he takes wine… we have to at all those fancy dinner parties we're brought to… but beer… no. Definite no.

"And… Lorelai… don't forget your mom's journal," Dad said haltingly.

"I won't."

And it was silent after that. Just the clinking of knives and forks were left.

I remembered when mom was still alive, there would always be someone ranting, whether it was dad about work, or mom about an impossible colleague, or Tristan about school, or me about a kid I was fighting with… and of course there were funny stories, never a dull moment.

I'm proud to say we weren't spoiled at all… although we both did our fair share of whining and pleading. I guess by the time mom died we couldn't be spoiled anymore. Because, now dad spoils us. Well, he doesn't pay attention to us, so his compensation is buying and giving us whatever we want. Neither Tristan nor I take advantage of that. We ask for what we need.

*

January 3

Okay, developments. Apparently, we are going to have three kids. Two boys, one girl… preferably one eldest boy, and then twins. Their names will be Tristan James DuGrey, Sebastian Edward DuGrey, and Tatiana Elizabeth DuGrey. They will be called Tristan, Sebastian, and Tasha. They will study at Chilton, then take college at Harvard. Tristan will take business, Sebastian will take law, and Tatiana will take medicine. Tristan will eventually head the business, Sebastian will start his own law firm… to be called DuGrey… and something, that's still being argued about.

Something a little closer, it looks like we'll be getting married a year after we graduate. It's going to be a big wedding, I'll have to convert to Catholicism (I didn't even know that Tristan was Catholic.) That was a very long debate. Colors will be blue and silver. The theme is still to be decided. My wedding gown is to be designed by prominent fasion designer… I forgot the name, but he's a good friend of Mrs. DuGrey.

On the topic of location, it looks like Tristan will be inheriting the DuGrey house, and my grandparents house will belong to my daughter. Sebastian will get the house in San Fransisco.

My mom was present at this meeting, and she kept butting in with helpful comments and suggestions like, 'Why don't you combine all those names to make a really long name? Tatiana Elizabeth Alexandra Victoria Sandrine? Can't you just see it? When Rory gets mad? That'd be so cute!' 

She couldn't stop teasing me about my upcoming nupitals.

She kept asking Tristan if she could see the rings.

Needless to say, things have been getting worse.

January 5

Tristan finally snapped out of his shocked phase. To get everyone's attention at the meeting, he calmly announced that he was gay and was going to become a porn star. He apologized to me for stopping the wedding, but he was very in love with his boyfriend Chuck, and they were planning on adopting a child… one child, to be named A. No last name, no middle name. Just A. She would be homeschooled. It would be a small wedding, with a jungle theme. He was going as Tarzan.

He said this all with a perfectly straight face.

I couldn't stop laughing.

I stopped reading for a second, and smiled. Dad? Claiming he was gay? Oh my god. I turned to see him leaning against my door with two mugs in hand.

"What's so funny?" He handed me the mug in his other hand and sat down beside me on the bed.

I took one look at him and started laughing again, picturing him in a Jane outfit.

"Okay… Lor, I'm going to take away that coffee…"

"No!" I squealed, still trying to stop laughing.

I managed.

For about two seconds.

"Lorelai… what is so funny?"

"Tarzan."

Dad grimaced. "In my defense, it seemed the only thing suitable to get their attention of the wedding. At the time, we weren't even officially dating, much less engaged."

But I wasn't listening. I was laughing, first at my dad stating he was gay, then at my great-grandparents, and grandparents reactions, then at my dad in a Tarzan suit.

He frowned. "It wasn't that funny."

I started laughing again.

"Okay… it was…" dad was looking desperate. "Okay… Lorelai… please stop laughing."

After laughing some more, I finally stopped, and we finally were able to talk. Ever since… what happened happened, dad hadn't been ignoring me so much. He would go into my room with hot chocolate when I was younger and we would talk. When mom would do that she would bring coffee. Dad would try to pry it away from us… it worked with Tristan but not with me.

We were talking about the new Spritz commercial for some strange reason when Tristan passed by my room. We saw him walk past and heard the door slam.

Dad turned back to me. "I wonder what your bro-" he trailed off. "Lorelai… you're looking guilty. What is it?"

I looked at the floor. "I kind of blew up at Tristan," I said in a small voice.

"You? Why, Mary?" my dad asked gently.

Mary. He hasn't called me that since… well, since mom died.

"It's just…" I sighed. "Please don't get mad at me?"

My dad frowned. "Me get mad at you? Ms. Perfect Child? What did you do that needs forgiveness?"

I looked down. "I saw Tristan hitting on the new kid at school… and, well after I got mad at him for that."

"That's understandable. I mean, if he was making her uncomfortable…"

"But… I don't know, something just made me bring up stuff that I kept pent up… things I didn't even know were bothering me."

"Like what?" he asked, still gently.

"Some stuff I got mad at him for was well, deserved… like how he treated everyone… but then… I started saying how hard it was to make friends… real friends because of him…  I mean, I can't believe I accused him of making high school harder for me. He was nothing but good to me in school, made sure nothing happened to me… it wasn't my fault that he was popular…"

"Well, Lorelai… what you accused him of was uncalled for…" my dad said delicately. "But, you did have a point when you talked about how he treated other people. You know, I think you should talk to him. Resolve whatever issues you have… because it's better not to keep secrets from each other."

I looked at the floor again.

My dad sighed. "Look, Lorelai… it's not like you're dating. You're family. He's not going to stay mad at you forever."

I sighed. "You're right."

"You still haven't said you'll talk to him."

"I don't want to confront him! I'm a non-confrontational person!"

Dad shrugged. "Lorelai, I told you what you needed to do."

"But…"

"Good night, Lorelai." He kissed my forehead and went out.

I looked across the hall to my brother's door. No. No way was I going in there.

*

It was Monday. After lots of begging, Dad drove me to school. I really couldn't face Tristan. I walked to my locker, when I saw Stephanie. She was staring at something… someone. She lookec curious. I turned to look. It was Tristan. Tristan wasn't with any girl, just moodily taking books out of his locker.

She caught me looking at her and went back to whatever she was doing.

*

"… and so class, remember, this project will be your second long test. I suggest you do this well, because I was very disappointed with your first long test. This is your chance to pull those horrible grades up."

Ms. James had given the results of our first long test… and nearly everyone had gotten low scores. Probably because the night before, Lydia Anderson had thrown a party. I got an A. Stephanie got a B-. Nearly everyone else got lower. Willow got a B.

"This project will be done by pairs. Anderson and Dalton. Simpson and Carter. DuGrey and Parker…"

I stopped listening. Stephanie? Why me.

Stephanie turned to me. "We should start planning right away… is Wednesday all right?"

I looked away. "Wednesday's not good for me. How about tomorrow instead? Is it okay if we stay at your place?"

She frowned. "It's all right… but it's a thirty minute drive to my town from Hartford."

"It's all right. You live in Littleton right?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I'll be in Star's Hollow… or at least, I'm going to Star's Hollow. It's only a ten minute drive from there to Littleton."

"Oh… okay."

She gave me her address, directions, saying something about Rusty, an old barn, and a windmill.

Stephanie looked at me thoughtfully. "You know, I think I should warn you… the minute you step into that town, people will be staring at you, looking at you, trying to figure you out."

I shrugged. "Typical small town."

"Right… well, don't say I didn't warn you. Oh… and prepare yourself for my mom. She's… eccentric."

I felt a rush of envy for this girl. I nearly hated her. But I contained myself. I kept my answer light.

"I consider myself warned."

The bell rang, and we walked out of class. Someone grabbed me aside. It was Tristan.

My eyes widened. I looked to the side, and Willow was there, staring at me and Tristan… as well as Stephanie.

Tristan's voice was controlled. "Willow, could you give me a minute with Lorelai?"

Will turned to me, eye brows raised. Unspoken question. Should I?

I nodded. "I'll be there in a second."

Will nodded and with a last suspicious glance, turned away.

I looked at the floor.

Tristan spoke first. "Did you really mean what you said yesterday? How I made high school harder for you?"

I was filled with remorse. I looked up at him. "No! No you didn't!"

Tristan just looked at me.

"Maybe… just a little."

"I'm sorry then."

I looked down, then looked up at him. It was now or never. "Tristan… I'm so sorry for what I said the other day. I didn't mean it… you're not a horrible person, you're the best friend anyone could ask for."

I said friend, not brother. It was true. We were best friends as well as siblings. I think I'm the only true friend that Tristan has. The people he hangs around with are like his… groupies.

"Actually Lor, you know perfectly well that you're right. I do treat people… with less respect than they deserve. You're only apologizing because I'm angry at you, and you hate it when anyone's angry at you."

I looked down.

"And I love you for it."

I looked up tentatively at Tristan.

He smirked at me. "Isn't your neck starting to hurt from looking up and down?"

I grinned sheepishly. "Am I forgiven?"

"If you'll forgive me." He put an arm around my shoulders.

"Good." My smile grew wider. "Cause I have a favor to ask."

"Name it."

"Can you drive me to Littleton tomorrow?"

My brother frowned. "Doesn't Stephanie Parker live in Littleton?"

I sighed. "Yup. I have a project to work on with her. Can you drop me off at her house?"

There was an indescribable expression on my brother's face. I don't know if he was annoyed, happy… "All right. Do we go to Star's Hollow first or Littleton?"

"Drop me off at her house, and I'll call when I'm done so you can pick me up."

He nodded. "See you."

I turned to go to my next class, when I saw Stephanie standing by the lockers, near where Tristan and I had been talking. I continued walking. She probably heard the whole thing. Oh well.

*

Study Hall. I glanced at the clock. I finished the homework I needed for the next day… there was still about ten minutes left. I pulled out mom's journal and started reading.

The good news was that they stopped talking about the wedding. The bad news was that they threatened to disown Tristan. The worst news, was after they found out Tristan's announcement wasn't serious, they started planning for the wedding again.

I wonder how they'd react if we really were getting married.

I closed the journal. It just didn't feel right reading it in school. I didn't get to laugh or call dad when I reached a funny part. I asked the teacher if I could leave early, and thankfully, she agreed. I said I had to go to the bathroom, and by the time I would be done, this period would probably be over too. 

"…whipped cream, chocolate, and Stephanie…"

I froze. That sounded like my brother.

"I'm ignoring you, Tristan."

"You wound me. Do you no longer have any need for me at all?"

"I'm sorry I ever asked for your help."

Okay… that was Tristan and Stephanie. I stayed where I was, I didn't want to get involved in… that.

"Face it, you need me."

"No, I don't." Exasperated sigh. "Can I have my bag back please?"

"May."

"What?"

"May, not can."

"Whatever! May I have my bag back please?"

"No. What kind of a man would I be if I left a damsel in distress?"

"Look, I really need my bag."

"Class doesn't start for another fifteen minutes!"

"I'm serious. I need to go."

"And deprive yourself of my company? What ever is the matter, Stephie?"

"For the nth time, it's not Stephie, it's not Steph, it's not Annie, it's Stephanie."

"Of course, beautiful."

"Tristan… my bag, please?"

"Only because you said please."

Okay… that was my cue. I walked past them, just when Stephanie had her bag back. Tristan looked guilty… again. Stephanie looked horrified. I wonder why.

Author's Note: People, please, please, please, please REVIEW!!!! I'm dying here! Not literally… but please, I need more to go on!!!!