Disclaimer: We do not own Gilmore girls, nor do we intend to, but we do own any original characters

Rating: PG-13 though it might go as high as R in future chapters…

Feedback: We appreciate any constructive criticism you have to offer!

Pairing: Trory & L/L or L/C

Author's Pointless Note: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter. It was just that our conflicting schedules were causing us to abandon the fic for a little while.

This chapter is going to answer some questions you might've had in the previous chapters such as how Luke and Lorelai know each other… We would like to warn you that this chapter is quite long but try sticking to it till the end =)

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Life's Endeavours

CHAPTER 3: All's Not What it Seems

"You!"

The unwavering glare that was being exchanged between the two dumbfounded teenagers was suddenly halted by the sound of Liz's bubbly voice,

"Do you guys know each other?"

Taking their eyes away, they turn their attention to Liz. Rory looked tentatively to Tristan seeing if he was going to answer but the look on his face showed otherwise. She took it upon herself seeing that Tristan wasn't about to make an effort any time soon.

"Well- you see… it's like this," Rory stutters with eyes fixed on the ground suddenly finding it very interesting.

There was another interruption but this time it wasn't a high pitched, annoying voice that belonged to Rory's sister but more like a deep, masculine voice. Rory looks up to put a face to the voice and was pleasantly surprised to see who saved her from the lies that were about to escape her mouth.

"Liz there's a 911 at the SGA meeting and since you're our leader I think it would be necessary for you to actually attend."

"Oh my gosh I totally forgot!" Liz exclaims and pulls Tristan along with her and he reluctantly goes but it wasn't without casting a glance over his shoulder to look at Liz's sister who was surprisingly looking back at him. He mutters under his breath,

"No way, that can't be Liz's sister."

* * *

"No way, that can't be Liz's boyfriend." Rory murmurs to herself.

"What?"

"Oh hi! I never got a chance to thankyou there."

"Uh… no problem but what exactly did I do?"

"Long story."

"Well um… I'm Andy Carter," he says letting out his hand but Rory doesn't notice it so he immediately pulls his hand up to his hair, all in one swift movement as if it was his original intention.

"Ooh I'm Rory Hayden."

"You're Liz Hayden's sister?"

"Yup, the one and only."

"Hmm… you look nothing like her."

"Oh thanks," Rory says sarcastically.

"No, I didn't mean you were ugly or anything. You're actually quite the opposite."

Rory blushes at his directed compliment.

"Well, I really need to get somewhere now so I guess I'll see you around some time."

"Oh, where are you going?"

"Just the library."

"Do you mind if I join you?"

"Ummm… don't you have to be at a SGA meeting right now?"

"Technically yes. But I'll use any excuse to get out."

"Oh it's that fun, is it?"

"Well it's just about a group of selected students who go on meetings claiming they are making the school a better place."

"So basically you're the elite, the popular, the chosen ones, the-"

"Alright alright, I get your point."

"Don't you want to contribute to making the school a better place," Rory says mockingly.

"No it doesn't really matter to me," he says in all honesty

" I can just feel you're enthusiasm"

"Well it's not like the guys are listened to anyway. The girls just go on and on and on about the silliest things. Like our last meeting we had to choose between switching our Coca Cola machines to a Pepsi one. I, for one, don't really care. Seriously what's the difference? They taste the same anyway!"

Rory looked at Andy intently throughout his little rant and had a newfound respect for him. He was different compared to Liz's so- called friends and she liked that. After looking at him that whole time, she realised that he beared an uncanny resemblance to, what's his name again? Josh Hartman… err… Josh Hartford… oh that's definitely not right! Oh that's it, Josh Hartnett,- in a blazer of course !

Liz's magazines do come in handy after all.

* * *

Chilton Hallway

"This better be important Liz." Tristan declares

"Isn't it always important?"

Tristan rolls his eyes, careful so Liz doesn't see.

"Oh I forgot! Before we got carried away at the locker, I was meant to tell you that you're invited to dinner tonight."

"When were you going tell me about this?"

"Well, you know now. I think it's about time you met my parents, well only my mom cause dad is always away." Liz was saddened at the thought of her father but brightens up before entering the meeting. Tristan reaches out for Liz's hand and says,

"I'll be there in a minute. I just need a breather."

Liz nods her agreement and closes the door behind her.

Tristan backs up against a wall and before he could think, out comes Summer from the door Liz came in. She seductively places both hands against the wall trapping Tristan's waist.

"Summer, what are you doing?"

"How about we sneak into the janitor's closet just like old times?"

"How about-" Tristan stops and pretends to think about it, "No."

"Geez, What's up your ass?"

"I have a girlfriend."

"Like that stopped you before."

"Look, Summer, I've changed."

And with that, Tristan walks into the room leaving an insulted Summer.

* * *

SGA Meeting

Tristan walks in to find the guys slumped in their chairs, bored out of their minds and the girls arguing yet again about something, probably about the dance coming up in a few months.

"No it has to be pink."

"But it was pink tablecloths last year, I think it should be red!" Another girl butted in.

"Girls! Girls! Calm down." Liz orders, serious in the matter.

"How about we brainstorm all the colours that can be used."

"Alright, alright," the other girls agreed

Brittany, one of Liz's close friends suddenly exclaims,

"How about purple?"

"No turquoise!"

"Not turquoise! That sounds too turtle-ish. It'll make me wanna puke at the dance."

"Hush girls, oh and boys, I've got an idea."

The girls hold their breath waiting for her.

"I think it should be… maroon."

The girls look at Liz in amazement and start clapping joyously.

"Great idea, Liz. We knew you'd come through for us in the end."

This left the boys laughing at the stupidity of it all.

"What are you laughing at? It's not like you guys contributed to any of our debates."

"Maybe because any time we try to have a say in anything, you girls just cut us off," says Alex, another jock from the school.

"Ugh… That is so not true," Liz says in disbelief

"Oh yes it is -."

They were interrupted by Brittany again exclaiming,

"I found the perfect dress on the way to school this morning!"

Liz turned her attention to Brittany and the girls went deep into conversation about potential dresses for the dance. Thus proving the point the guys tried to make previously.

The guys were about to argue back but Tristan protests saying, "We'll never win."

The guys thought about it and knew he was right so they slumped into their seats and dwindled back into oblivion.

* * *

Meanwhile in the Independence Inn

"Well they do sound the same!" Jackson argues

"So what am I supposed to do now? Give someone baked tomatoes when they ask for baked potatoes?"

"You are the best cook in Stars Hollow."

"Don't patronize me!" says Sookie, half-flattered

The kitchen door bursts open with a half dead looking Lorelai coming through it.

"Guys I can hear you arguing from out there! Can you please turn it down a notch, or two or maybe just turn it off completely! I've got a major migraine and you two fighting like old grannies isn't making it any better."

"Gotta go." Says Jackson eager to get out before she can fire him.

"Oh babe, are you okay? I think what you need right now is a nice cup of coffee."

"I agree."

Sookie walks to the coffee pot to find it empty and quickly covers it up by saying,

"But what the hell? Have a day off! I mean you do own the place and all. I'll take things from here and I'll call you if anything happens."

"Cut the crap Sookie, I know there's no coffee back there but I can't blame you for trying. I'd be afraid of me if I were you."

"It's ok honey, just go to Luke's."

"Alright…," she reluctantly agrees, "I have been working hard lately."

"Ok so I'll see you tomorrow. Everything will be exactly how you left it. Don't worry, just trust me."

* * *

Luke's Diner

Lorelai lifelessly walks into Luke's and sits down at her usual spot. She bangs her head, in frustration, on the counter unable to get rid of the constant pain. Luke ignores her momentary loss of insanity and casually asks, "The usual," knowing the answer already. Lorelai, head still faced down on the counter nods her head signalling her acceptance. Luke puts the coffee in front of her and she sips it with a content sigh.

"You're birthday's coming up in 5 days. Not that I'm counting or anything." Lorelai says with her last ounce of energy

"What are you getting me?" Luke inquires.

"Secret."

"Meaning you haven't gotten me anything yet."

"I have so!" says Lorelai unconvincingly.

"Since we're talking about secrets now, you want me to let you in a little secret?" Luke says in his rare story-telling voice.

"Oh yes please" Lorelai says in a child-like tone ,suddenly regaining her energy.

"The secret is that I know about the secret about you-know-what for you-know-who."

"No way! You know about your surprise party?"

"Well Stars Hollow isn't exactly known for it's secret keeping skills," Luke jokingly says, "And neither are you."

"I can so keep a secret," Lorelai angrily says ,surprising not just herself but Luke too at her sudden change of emotions. Thoughts started to invade her mind saying,

'Shut Up Lorelai, leave before you say something your going to regret.'

She does just that -well the leaving part- but she makes one last comment, proving her mouth was obviously not listening,

"If only you knew Luke, if only you knew…"

* * *

Flashback

Lorelai Gilmore… strong, brave and not afraid of anything. Well at least that's what she liked to believe. At 20 years old she had the whole world at her feet. She graduated from highschool in the top 3%, she was on civil terms with her parents, she had a wonderful boyfriend and a pink Cadillac - the car of her dreams, to top it all off. She smiles at her fortunes and gets out of her house to drive to her boyfriend Chris's house as it was their 5 year anniversary. She makes her way to her car and notices a multi-coloured flyer:

Stars Hollow Extravaganza!

Come to Stars Hollow for it's annual festivities and learn of more of this little town in Connecticut.

Come strangers! Come neighbours! Come troubadours! Come all!

See you all there!

Lorelai gets into her car, flyer still in hand and wonders,

"How did this get here?"

She gets into the car, squashes the flyer in the glove box and sets off to Chris's house.

* * *

She reaches the house and was about to knock but was stopped midway by an ecstatic Chris opening the door saying,

"I've got a surprise for you."

Lorelai raises her eyebrow and gives him a questioning look but before words could escape her mouth, Chris pulls her in and covers her eyes with his hands.

"Chris, what are you doing?"

"You'll see." He says mysteriously.

"Chris-"

Lorelai's protest was cut short with the release of Chris' hand from her eyes. Her eyes slowly opened and was met with a beautifully candlelit room, decorated with pictures and ornaments of their relationship. She was amazed at the effort and planning Chris had to go through to pull this off. Chris, as nervous as hell, was waiting for her to respond but didn't have to wait long for she turned to face him with a wide-eyed smile.

"Chris this is beautiful," Lorelai utters in disbelief.

He takes a step closer, now only a few inches away from Lorelai, and seemed to be leaning in to kiss her but instead he leaned to her ear and whispers, "Look up."

Lorelai does as she was told and as if she thought she couldn't get more surprised by the events of the evening, SHE WAS DEAD WRONG. She gaped at words formed by the rose petals miraculously held up on the ceiling:

MARRY ME

She slowly starts to back away from him as the ideal of what she thought of herself was shattered when she realised for the first time in her life, she was afraid… afraid of commitment…

Lorelai shakes her head and softly says with hurt and regret in her voice,

"I can't."

With that, she runs out not catching Chris's plea,

"Lorelai wait!"

* * *

Meanwhile, Lorelai was frantic in her car, hands trembling as she was trying to back out of the driveway. She stops at the lights and took that as her chance to find tissues to wipe her tears that was streaming down her face. She rummages through her glove box and found the scrunched up Star's Hallow flyer.

'This is just what I need….' she says to herself, '…and hopefully it would take my mind off things.'

She manages a smile through her stricken face and makes a left turn, heading off to Stars Hallow…..

* * *

She reaches the packed town and asks the cheerful redhead at a nearby cake stall,

"Do you know a good place for coffee around here?"

"Ummm… Just right there." She points to a hardware store.

"Errr... Sorry I said coffee not hardware."

"No trust me honey, it's a coffee shop."

"I'll take your word for that. Thankyou"

Lorelai heads off to "Williams Hardware". She came into an empty diner, with a young man in flannel sitting alone behind the counter, reading a newspaper. He looks up and sees Lorelai's devastated state and hears her nervously say,

"So I heard you had good coffee here."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I just had a bad day."

She backtracks and says,

" Wait, I'm not ok! I just turned down a proposal of the man I love."

She didn't know why she had the compelling feeling to tell a complete stranger her story but somehow the way he listened and the way he looked at her made the weirdness of it all disappear.

Little did she know that from that moment on, things would never be the same….

* * *

Gilmore Residence

"Liz, open the door!" Rory yells for the tenth time, "I need my chemistry text!"

Still no answer.

"Liz if you don't come out I'm telling Mom about Tristan before you do!"

One

Two

Three

And Liz being the predictable person she is, she opens the door only allowing her face to peek through, red faced and nearly in tears.

"Oh, Liz what happened to your hair?"

"My hair straightener just burnt my hair," Liz says in a teary voice.

She grabs a heap of hair and whimpers, "Look at this! This is what a late model straightener can do to your hair!"

"Errr… you just got that a month ago."

Liz closes the door but only moments later she popped her head back through the door and says with a sickly smile on her face, "Rory… please don't tell mom. I'll tell her about Tristan coming for dinner after I'm ready and beautiful."

"Tristan's coming to dinner?" Lorelai interrupts out of the blue.

"Where'd you come from?"

"Out of hibernation. So back to this Tristan thing. When were you planning to tell me about this? A minute before he arrives?"

"Well… uhhh… Now you know," Liz says under a nervous laugh

"Liz how many times have I told you- "

Lorelai was cut off with Rory saying, "Well… I'd like to stay and get involved but I need to get my chemistry text from your room, Liz."

Ding Dong

"Oh no that's him," Liz frantically says and slams her door shut, " Doesn't he know that 7 o'clock means 7:30!?"

"Obviously not", Rory mutters and heads off to her room deciding that she was never going to get her chemistry book back one any time soon.

"Hold on, where do you think your going?" Lorelai asks.

" Umm…to my room "

Ding Dong

"No your not! You're answering the door, "

"What?! You can do it yourself !," Rory exclaims.

" Ahem, in this," Lorelai counters, pointing at her current outfit which was pink pyjamas covered with white pigs.

" Oh. You are so right. You cant answer the door looking like that,' Rory says mockingly. She then heads towards the stairs, which in turn signalled her defeat from the conversation.

" Thanks honey" Lorelai says in a sickeningly sweet voice.

Rory stops mid step to cast a glare at her mother. Lorelai in response, sticks out her tongue.

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

Rory rolls her eyes at Tristan's growing impatience and so when she reaches the door, she decides to make him suffer a little bit longer. She stands there waiting, but it wasn't too long until he was pressing the life out of the doorbell. She smiles and opens the door to see a very agitated Tristan standing at her doorstep.

" Hello"

" Hello,"

An awkward silence falls upon them.

"Hello," Rory says, yet again, mentally slapping herself at her repeated greeting.

"So are you just going to stand there and stare at my face or are you going to let me in ?," Tristan says with an evil grin.

"Well actually, I was staring at that pimple on your nose"

"Pimple? What pimple ?," he asks sternly.

"Don't fret Fabio I was just kidding"

" I knew that," he unconvincingly said.

"Oh let the poor guy in," a differently attired Lorelai butts in, saving Tristan from further embarrassment.

" Why, thank you Mrs Hayden"

"Your making me sound like an old lady. Call me Lorelai."

" Oh but I assure you, you don't look a day over 25"

Lorelai smiles at his exaggerated compliment and heads of towards the kitchen.

"Suck up," Rory taunts, once Lorelai was out of view.

"What did you just say ?"

" Ohhh…my"

"No, I specifically heard you say something else"

When Rory still wasn't answering, he decided to follow her gaze. He turns around to see Liz coming down the stairs wearing a gown that had a remarkable resemblance to the one Julia Roberts wore at the Oscars.

'Ohh…my,' he repeats in disbelief.

Liz stares at Rory and Tristan, both in denim jeans and casual tops. She quickly glances at what she was wearing and then runs straight to her room.

Tristan turns back around to meet Rory's steady smile, -which was just dying to burst into laughter-, and starts to smile himself. Their 'moment' was suddenly broken with an announcement from Eleanor saying,

"Dinner is ready"

* * *

"Where is she ?," asks Lorelai to no-one in particular.

Rory and Tristan, both sitting opposite of each other, staring at their empty plates quietly for they too are waiting for Liz; the girl who was supposed to be the hostess for the evening.

"Well this evening has started out just fine," Rory comments, hoping to start a conversation.

"Yes, things are just peachy don't you think ? Now if only a certain party would arrive- oh, speak of the devil, hi Liz nice of you to grace us with your presence," Lorelai says all in one breath.

'Hi,' Liz says nervously, taking a seat besides Rory. "I'm sorry, I just had to make a small change.

Rory scoffed her disagreement at the use of the word 'small'. It was more like a considerable she thought as she glanced at her sister who was now wearing 'normal' clothes.

"Oh well you're here now so lets eat!,' Lorelai hurriedly says, signalling the maids to bring in the food.

'Thank God,' Tristan whispers, low enough for Lorelai and Liz not to hear. But Rory heard it just fine. She smiles at him, genuinely, and before he could catch her looking at him, she digs into the food set before her.

* * *

It was 20 minutes into the dinner when Rory realised that Tristan was constantly fidgeting and looking increasingly uncomfortable. She concluded that it was probably just because he was nervous of the whole 'meet-the-parents' situation, though she couldn't tell why because so far the conversations have been very pleasant and for her, very informative.

Like for instance, she found out that he had a younger sister and he was also the president of the school Amnesty association. Not that she cared or anything.

Finishing her meal, Rory felt she was still hungry so she reached to the right where the bowl filled with bread was situated. In doing so, her elbow grazed her fork causing it to plummet to the ground. Sighing, Rory then decides to pick up her fork but she had no energy to actually get up so she swings her chair to the right but in the process she loses her balance and falls cheek –first onto floor.

' How embarrassing, ' Rory thought, as she lay on the floor helpless. But her moment of self-helplessness was interrupted at the sight that was before her. She finally saw the real reason Tristan was uncomfortable.

Liz's foot was lounging dangerously close to a certain part of his anatomy, which explained his constant fidgeting. Rory then quickly tries to get up before anyone else could witness this bizarre showing of emotions.

But it was too late.

"You-hoo, honey, are you OK down- oh my goodness LIZ! Get your foot away from there!," Lorelai cried.

Rory gets up in time to see a very red-faced Tristan and Liz, trying to avoid the fiery gaze that Lorelai was sending the two. The room went silent as the people in it were waiting for her to speak. Lorelai said nothing and the room stayed quiet for a few minutes more.

"So… Tristan…… What college are you planning on going too?,'"Rory says, desperate for a way to rid the awkward silence that filled the room.

"I'm, ummm, planning on going to Harvard," he replies, looking at Lorelai as if seeking for her approval.

"That's a really good school. Rory's planning on going there," Lorelai says as Tristan visibly relaxed at her civil tone. 'Speaking of colleges, which one are you planning on going to Liz ?' Lorelai innocently asks.

"Hmm…whichever one Tristan goes to, which of course, is Harvard," Liz replies cheerfully.

" What? You can't think for yourself Liz ?," Lorelai asks incredulously, as she got up from her seat , dishes in hand, and heads for the kitchen.

"Mom !," Liz cries as she too gets up and follows her mother.

That left Rory and Tristan, making them the only people remaining in the dining room. Realising that they were alone, they both tried to think of something to say.

"So…" they began at the same time. This caused Rory to smile and insist,

"You first"

"Well I just want to thank you for breaking the ice back there. I don't think I could've taken your mom hating me on our first meeting."

"It's alright,'" Rory replies, surprised that Tristan was actually thanking her.

" Look I know we didn't exactly hit it off, but seeing as your Liz's sister and I guess, I'm her boyfriend, maybe we could at least try to be on civil terms for her sake."

Rory thought about it and realised that he was right. It wouldn't hurt to at least try to be friends with the guy.

" So…What do you say ? Friends ?,' he asks, outstretching his hand for her to shake.

Rory just looks at his hand and smiles, remembering that just a few hours ago, she had blatantly refused it.

But not this time.

She reached over and placed her hand in his. From the moment she touched his hand and saw his face turn from innocent into mischievous, she knew a witty comment was going to escape his mouth.

"I always knew you wanted to touch me.'

Rory sighed. She was right after all.

Author's Answers: Well hello again. Thanks for all your reviews and this note is here to clarify a few things. Oh btw, thanks to Roxy from the forums4fans board for the SGA information.

Kater you get challenges at trory addiction at www.blue-roses.net/trory.

klm111a we would like to remind you that this is an AU [alternate universe] fic. Tristan is older because it was a requirement in the challenge and we had no choice in the matter. Also, they went to Stars Hollow because Lorelai is Luke's best friend. The town was planning a surprise party for him and Lorelai just attended the meeting. We hope that clears things up for you.

Andy At the moment were not matching up the episodes but maybe in the future we might : )