A.N: It's been a while; I know. Since I've started school, time has been scarce but I love this story and I will finish it. It's just gonna take a while. I hope you're still reading, and still interested. :)

* * * * *

It Had To Be You
by inmyeyes
07 : Only So Much You Can Take

Running a towel through her wet hair, Rory gingerly walked into the kitchen, not wanting to bump into her mother. After last night's outburst, she had retreated into her room where she proceeded to lay in the dark and stare at her ceiling for a long while. She tried to rationalize her unnecessarily harsh words and tried to blame it on the unsettled feeling that had taken residence in her stomach- a feeling that she attributed to the DuGreys' surprise appearance and subsequent matchmaking during dinner. Still, she told herself, that was no reason for what had transpired the night before. Things had been progressively getting better between them and now, they were back at square one.

A part of her felt guilty; she should have forgiven them both by now but she hadn't been able to let go of the anger and resentment she felt over the long-held secret. Instead, she let it fester within her… and she let it affect her life too much.

It had come to a point where she wanted to move past it and let bygones be bygones… but she just didn't know how. She had been so angry at Lorelai for so long that trying to rebuild their relationship seemed like a foreign idea to her. She had been forced to be by herself and learn to depend on no one else that she wasn't quite sure how to let herself trust again.

Rory breathed a sigh of relief when she found the kitchen empty. Switching on the coffee machine, she let the whirring sound fill the emptiness as she decided which course of action to take. Certainly, the obvious thing to do was to apologize; but the streak of Gilmore stubbornness was legendary. As she watched the black liquid slowly drip into the pot, she decided to play it by ear and see what would happen.

* * * * *

"Rise and shine, sweetheart," Natalie chirped, as she energetically bounced on the large bed.

Tristan's head emerged from the mass of blankets, his hair tousled and his eyes still blurry with sleep. "God, I hate morning people!"

Natalie grinned and bounced harder on the mattress. "It's a beautiful day. Wake up!"

Stifling a yawn, he turned on his side and burrowed deeper into the blankets. "The day doesn't start til noon for me."

The young girl stopped moving and went into her next tactic- tugging the blankets away from her brother. "Tris-tan!"

A loud groan sounded as the tug-of-war continued. "What the hell are you so perky?" He yanked the sheets sharply and pulled them tighter around himself. His eyes narrowed suspiciously when he noticed the glint in Natalie's eyes. "You had those muesli bars, didn't you?"

"What muesli bars?" she feigned ignorance, her eyes wide with innocence.

He didn't buy one bit of her act. "Those muesli bars that make you act as though you're high on sugar and caffeine."

Natalie smiled cheekily. "And if I did?"

He half-heartedly pushed her off the bed before nestling himself back into his cocoon. "I really should remember to lock my door."

A giggle, then, "Okay, brother dear, go back to sleep. I'll just give a certain Miss Gilmore a call and tell her that-"

He instantly sat up, glaring at her. "Don't you dare, Natalie!"

She just winked.

Sighing, Tristan reluctantly got off his bed and the words 'evil' and 'sister' were muttered as he followed Natalie.

* * * * *

She rubbed her cold hands, waiting for someone to answer the door. Looking around her, she could not believe that she had come to this- seeking refuge at her grandparents' house in order to avoid her mother. Her eyes were on the white blanket of snow that covered the front lawn; a sight that only served to remind her of the snowball fights during her childhood and all those hours of snowman-making.

Turning around at the sound of the lock clicking, Rory saw her grandmother at the door. "Grandma!"

"Rory," Emily began, her brow furrowed in puzzlement, "What are you doing here?"

She smiled brightly, hoping that she would be able to lie convincingly. "I was just in area and decided to drop by."

Emily nodded her acceptance, although her arched brow told Rory that she wasn't quite convinced. "Well, your grandfather will be glad to see you. He mentioned something about a first edition of Jane Eyre."

Rory's eyes widened. "Really?"

* * * * *

"Could you please stop watching me?" Tristan snapped.

"I have nothing else to do."

He waved his hand towards the living room. "Go watch TV, call your friends, go out… do something else!"

Natalie just shrugged.

"I feel like a science experiment," he mumbled, as he picked up his fork and continued to eat his lasagne.

Natalie snorted. "Yeah." She eyed him. "It's like watching a pig inhale whatever crap it eats."

"Hey!" Tristan protested.

She made a face and threw a balled-up napkin at him. "Could you please keep your mouth closed while you're chewing? It's not attractive; you can't expect to win Rory that way."

Tristan rolled his eyes and swallowed the mouthful of pasta before speaking. "I'm amazed at how you bring Rory into every topic of conversation."

"It's a gift."

"It's a nuisance," he corrected.

"No, it's-"

The clicking of heels against the marble floor silenced the duo.

"Hello children," Lauren said airily as she strolled to the fridge and took out a bottle of Perrier.

Tristan and Natalie simultaneously rolled their eyes, annoyed by how they were still referred to as 'children'. "Hello mother," they chorused.

When Lauren made her way to the table to seat herself, Natalie immediately stood up. "Oh my," she exclaimed in an overly agonized tone, "I forgot that I have to call Alicia!" Before Tristan could protest, she scurried out of there, turning back to toss her brother an apologetic smile.

Cursing under his breath, Tristan kept his eyes on his plate and concentrated on chewing evenly. He fully intended to ignore his mother's presence but his plans were dashed in the worst of ways.

"Rory's wonderful, isn't she?" were her opening words.

Tristan wanted so badly to bash his head against the mahogany table; it seemed like his entire family was fixated on that woman whose existence he had resolved to try and ignore. He looked up and saw the expectant look in his mother's eyes. "She's nice," he answered, his tone nonchalant.

"She's pretty, intelligent, has a good job and has good bloodlines. Very suitable." Lauren nodded emphatically.

It was much easier to pretend to not understand her. "Suitable?"

"Yes," she said pointedly, "suitable."

He made her wait while he ate another spoonful. "Suitable for what?"

Lauren gave a mock sigh of annoyance. "Suitable for you, of course."

He nodded and he could see her delight at his agreement. Although his expression was agreeable, his voice was cold when he said, "You mean suitable for bearing future DuGreys, don't you?" Before she could say anything, he pushed his plate away and stood up. "I'm suddenly not hungry anymore."

* * * * *

"Did you have a nice time at dinner last night?"

Rory set her glass of juice back on the table. "Last night?"

"Yes, the dinner with the DuGreys," she clarified. "Tristan's a fine young man."It was clear which direction Emily wanted to take the conversation in.

"It was a nice dinner."

"You didn't mention that Tristan once went to Chilton with you."

She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. "It was a long time ago."

"So," Emily leaned forward, smiling, "what do you think?"

"About what?"

"About you and Tristan." Her smile widened. "Go on, you can tell me."

Rory had to laugh. "There's nothing to tell Grandma."

"Nonsense, I saw the way he was looking at you."

She shook her head in disbelief. "What are you talking about, Grandma?"

Emily leaned back again and sighed. "All right, if you don't want to tell, it's fine."

"Grandma, you're being impossible."

The comment was ignored and Emily went on as though Rory hadn't said anything. "It's just that Tristan seems like a good man and you've been alone for too long."

Rory didn't refute. "There's nothing wrong with being alone."

"No, there isn't." A pause, then, "But I worry about you sometimes. We all do; you're missing out on so much, Rory. And you deserve to have everything."

Hearing those words, her eyes dropped to her lap as she recognized the truth in what was being said.

Emily was perceptive enough to catch the forlorn expression that overtook her granddaughter's face and reached out to lightly touch her shoulder. "Dear, I don't mean to upset you."

Rory caught her grandmother's eyes and tried to smile reassuringly. "It's all right."

A relieved smile came forth before Emily exclaimed, "Where's Richard? I told him that we're having tea but he's still cooped up in that office of his." She stood up, "I'll go fetch him."

Once her grandmother was out of the room, Rory sighed heavily and wondered why it seemed like her life was crumbling around her.

* * * * *

"So what did she talk to you about?"

He didn't bother looking up and kept on drawing. "What do you think?"

"Rory?"

"Ding ding ding, give the girl a prize," was his sarcastic answer. "This whole family is obsessed with her."

"Especially you," Natalie quipped.

He shot her a dirty look. "Nice of you to bail on me, by the way."

"I've learned the art of self-preservation from you."

A few moments later, when Tristan looked up, Natalie was dozing off on his bed. "Nat?"

Sleepily, she opened her eyes. "Yeah?"

"You all right? Have you eaten yet?"

She curled up on her side and nodded. "Yeah, I ate a sandwich just now."

"You look exhausted."

She shrugged, her eyes closing. "I've had a long day. I woke up at 6."

"Whatever for?"

Natalie shrugged again.

Sighing, he got up and shook her awake. "Nat, c'mon… I'll walk you to your room. You should get some sleep."

She made a sound of protest but allowed him to drag her up. Leaning against him, she slowly trudged to her room that was a few doors down. When she was safely in bed, Tristan tucked the blankets around her and lightly kissed her forehead.

"Tristan?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," she mumbled, hugging her pillow closer to her.

He smoothed back her hair and smiled, although the expression was tinged with worry. "I love you too."

* * * * *

"Tristan."

From his perch in the middle of his bed, he looked up and met his father's hard gaze. Quickly, he dropped the pencil in his hands and dragged a pillow over his sketchbook before standing up. "Father," he answered in the same emotionless tone.

Stephen remained standing in the doorway, making no move to enter the room. "I heard that your mother talked to you earlier."

He merely inclined his head in response, silently telling him to get to the point.

"I don't understand why you insist on being so difficult."

Tristan resisted the urge to comment and crossed his arms, waiting for the command that was sure to be issued.

"You need to find a wife and get married. And Rory's a good choice."

Still, silence remained on his part.

"Tristan, you-"

His jaw unclenched and he unfurled his arms- and his temper. "Don't you dare tell me who I should marry."

"Tristan-"

He vehemently shook his head. "No. You don't get a say in that. I'll get married if and when I want to. As to whether Rory's a good choice or not, that's for me to decide." He narrowed his eyes in anger. "You get no say. At all."

Stephen didn't answer but his brow rose in challenge. A long look was exchanged before the elder DuGrey turned around and walked away.

* * * * *

'What the hell am I doing here?' she asked herself for the hundredth time. She lifted her head from the steering wheel and peered at the large house that lay across the street.

The Tristan-onslaught had continued once Richard joined them for tea. It was as though she was stuck in some alternate universe where everyone loved Tristan. It was weird… and uncomfortable to realize just how much attention her grandparents paid to her non-existent love life. And they were so hell bent on the idea of a Tristan and Rory that she didn't have the heart to tell them how she just didn't think that it would ever happen.

Finally, when she couldn't take anymore, she made her excuses and left. But not before she saw the expectant and encouraging looks.

Which was why she found herself dialing Paris' number moments later and that was how she found herself parked across the DuGrey house, wondering what in heaven's name she was doing there.

She had an crazy idea. An insane idea. But it was the only way out she could see. And damnit, she would take any way she could.

It was stupid, he wouldn't go along with it and she would humiliate herself by asking him; but she was going to do it. Taking a deep breath for courage, she swung her car into the driveway, jumped out and rang the doorbell before she could change her mind.

* * * * *

As his arms sliced through the warm chlorinated water, he felt the aggression that had been building up inside of him slowly fade. Making a turn and pushing off against the wall, he let the steady motions calm him; but his mind was still churning.

Between thoughts of last night and thoughts of his conversations with his parents- thoughts that he realized all revolved around a certain brunette- his brain hadn't been able to rest. And all he wanted was some kind of peace, for however long he could get it.

He couldn't believe the nerve of the man! He was used to his father's highhanded ways and had come to learn to fight it effectively in his own way; but this… this took the cake for being the most presumptuous thing ever. It was one thing to try and determine which college he went to, which course he'd take… but to actually interfere in what could possibly be his life's happiness was just too much for him to handle.

Not that Rory was possibly his life's happiness, he quickly reassured himself as he took a measured breath before stroking through the water. Marriage could possibly bring him happiness. Sure, his parent's weren't exactly the best example of that but from observing his grandparents and well, other happily married couples, he learned that love and marriage could be his salvation; could be that missing thing that had eluded him from complete and utter happiness.

When he finished swimming four lengths of the pool, he came up for air… and saw Rory standing by the side of the pool.

* * * * *

She had to admire the way his strokes smoothly cut through the water- there was a grace about him that was undeniable. She was so intent on watching him that it took a second for her to realize that he had stopped and was now watching her.

"Um… hey," she said awkwardly, tucking a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

He gave a surprised look but smiled. "Hey."

She tried to keep her eyes from widening when he pulled himself out of the pool; his hair was standing up in blonde tufts, his shorts were hanging low on his hips and her eyes involuntarily followed a droplet of water that trickled down his smooth cheek onto his neck and down his toned chest. Unconsciously, she licked her lips as she watched him walk to a deck chair and grab a towel.

She finally caught herself when she watched the muscles in his back flex as he rubbed his hair with the towel. Closing her eyes in embarrassment, she silently chided herself for acting like a sex-crazed teenaged girl. She took a deep breath and just managed to look impassive when he turned back to her, the towel slung across his broad shoulders.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but what are you doing here?"

"I have a proposition for you."

He smirked. "Sounds kinky."

"Can you please get your mind out of the gutter for a moment?" she asked, exasperated.

"Only if you get yours out too," he winked.

Her eyes filled with mortification as the realization that he knew she had been looking at him- no, that she had been checking him out- hit her. "Oh God," she mumbled, covering her face with her hands.

In three strides, he was standing before her and pulling her hands off her face. "Hey hey, no need to be embarrassed."

She peeked at him through his fingers, pulling aware that her cheeks were tinged with pink… and more than fully aware that his warm body was only inches away from hers. His warm, half-naked body. At that thought, she groaned and covered her face again, cursing her damn hormones.

Tristan chuckled. "Rory. C'mon, it's nothing."

"It's not nothing," she protested. "I was checking you out."

He tugged at her hands again; this time he was successful. "It's nothing; people check other people out all the time."

"Not me."

His expression was incredulous, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he directed her attention back to the matter at hand. "So, tell me about this proposition."

* * * * *

The sound of the front door closing, followed by an overly-dramatic sigh informed her of Lorelai's return.

Closing the magazine that she had been mindlessly flipping through, Rory smiled tentatively when she saw a slumped figure drag herself into the living room and onto the couch. "Rough day?"

Her answer was a groan. A few seconds later, Lorelai wearily sat up to face her daughter and smiled grimly. "I have two words for you: soufflé and Sookie."

Rory winced in response, as she remembered the last time Sookie had an incident with a soufflé. "Ouch."

Lorelai leaned back and let her feet rest on the table. "My sentiments exactly."

She saw the exhaustion that clearly lined her mother's face and the observation that her mom wasn't as young as she used to be hit her out of the blue. Quietly, she got up and went into the kitchen and returned moments later with a cup of coffee and a donut in her hands. "Mom?"

"Hmmm?"

"Coffee?" she offered. "Or a donut?"

The offering of both sugar and caffeine immediately livened Lorelai up and she eagerly accepted, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. Through mouthfuls of donut, she whispered her thanks.

Once Lorelai was energized enough to babble about what had actually happened between Sookie and the errant soufflé, Rory finally found the nerve to bring up what had happened the previous night. "Mom, about last night-"

Dismissively, Lorelai waved her hand and smiled. "Forget about it."

"But Mom-"

"Rory, you're entitled to be angry. I don't blame you for that."

"Still-"

Lorelai shook her head. "As long as you won't be angry forever."

Her eyes met and held and an understanding passed through them.

"I'm trying, Mom," Rory sighed, raking a hand through her hair.

"I know you are."

There was a short moment of silence before either of them spoke again.

"I went to Hartford today," Rory offered, laying back against the couch.

"What for?"

"I made the mistake of visiting Grandma and Grandpa."

Lorelai winced. "Damn right it's a mistake. Let me guess: they-"

The distant sound of ringing interrupted the conversation and the two women looked at each other.

"O-kay." Rory looked around. "Where's the phone?"

After some frantic searching (cushions were overturned, magazines were strewn about and some cussing was involved), Rory finally found the phone underneath the couch.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Tristan." There was a short pause before he said, "Okay, you're on. We'll do it."

* * * * *