A.N: Either you guys are getting perceptive or I'm becoming predictable but someone kinda got it right. :) Thanks for all the reviews. Also, I wanted to say that the story only takes into account what happened up to "Teach Me Tonight" so for the purposes of my story Rory/Jess never happened.

It Had To Be You
by inmyeyes
08 : Turned Out For The Best

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."  -William Shakespeare

He wondered – not for the first time- if he had lost his mind.

She had surprised him, not only by coming to his house but also by suggesting her little plan to get her grandparents and his parents off their backs. Rory had laid it out so rationally that it seemed like a viable, and very smart, solution.

But he very well knew that going along with her scheme would complicate things. He didn't like complications. Especially women-related complications.  No, he amended silently, most especially Rory-related complications. Yet, against his better judgement, he had called her the previous night, after hours of deliberation, saying that he would it.

She had made a mess of his carefully constructed universe when he was 16; now, over ten years later, he was willingly letting her do it again.  The reason? She still fascinated him like she had when they had first met, only this time she was allowing him in. She was holding out her hand and all he had to do was to reach out. And damn, he couldn't resist the temptation.

Yes, he concluded, he had lost his mind.

* * * * *

"You what?" Lane screeched, causing the other people in the diner to turn and stare at the pair sitting by the window.

Rory covered her face with her hands. "Lane!"

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

"I don't want anyone finding out about this."

"Not even Lorelai?" Lane questioned, frowning slightly.

"Not even Mom. This has to work, and I know Mom will inadvertently do something that will ruin it."

Lane didn't seem convinced by her reasoning but she let it go. "It's gonna backfire in the end," she remarked. "Things like this always do."

Rory shrugged as she took a sip of her coffee. "I don't think so."

"Things will get messy," Lane insisted.


Rory gave her friend a baffled look. "What are you talking about?"

"The messiness where someone's heart gets broken," was her clarification.

Rory laughed disbelievingly. "Broken hearts? That's not gonna happen. Not with Tristan & I."

"Don't sound so sure, Rory. Anything could happen."

"Tristan & I are just wrong for each other," Rory said. "He's hardly the type to fall in love, especially with me. And I don't wanna fall in love. I don't foresee any problems."

"That's what I thought when Jess & I started going out."

Rory grinned. "That's probably why you started going out with him!"

Lane threw a balled-up napkin at her friend. "Hey!"

"I'm just kidding, you know that."  Rory sobered as her thoughts went back to the issue at hand. "Nothing's bad gonna happen, Lane. We're just gonna spend some time together, that's all."

Lane raised a brow.

"Okay, that's not all. We'll spend some time together… maybe act a little affectionate with each other and," she grinned mischievously, "let people think what they want."

Lane sighed. "I still think something's gonna go wrong. It can't be that simple."

"It is," Rory adamantly said. "It's the perfect plan."

* * * * *

A knock on her bedroom door jostled her out of her thoughts. Sitting up, she called "Come on in, the door's open."

The door swung open partially to reveal her brother. "Hey Nat."

 "You're looking sharp," she commented, taking in his khaki pants and white shirt. "Going out with Rory?" she joked.

An amused smile lifted the corners of his lips as he leaned against the door frame. "Actually, yes."

Natalie jumped up, her eyes wide with shock. "You're lying."

He smirked. "Nope, we're having dinner."

"How did you manage that?"

Tristan laughed, enjoying her surprise. "I called her and asked if she would have dinner with me."

"And she said yes?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, she brutally rejected me."

Natalie laughed. "Well, have fun."

A wiggle of his brows, then, "Oh, I will." Moments later, a shout of laughter escaped him as he ducked the cushion that had come flying at him. Not able to keep from smiling, he walked over and sat at the edge of her bed.

"You know, Rory would hurt you with a fork before you'd have that kind of fun with her," Natalie remarked.

He had to laugh. "I wouldn't be surprised." He then carefully scrutinised her face. "You're looking chipper today."

Her face scrunched up. "Chipper? Couldn't you have found a better word to use." As he was about to protest, she went on, "But yeah, I know I look good."

Tristan snorted, ruffling her hair affectionately as he got up. "Well, since you're obviously in a chipper mood, I'll be on my way." Before he closed the door, he said, "And if they ask where I am, let them know."

Natalie gave a mock-salute. "Yes, sir."

As the door clicked shut, she had the urge to look out her window to see if pigs were flying. Tristan was going out with Rory Gilmore.

* * * * *

Nervous. She was feeling nervous, which didn't make sense to her. She had no reason to feel nervous. Yes, she was going out with Tristan; but, she told herself, it was more of a friendly outing as opposed to an actual date.

She examined her appearance in her full-length mirror. After much consideration (and some input from Lane), she had decided on a gauzy white dress with thin straps that skimmed her knees. With her hair down and minimal make-up, she looked a lot like the 17 year-old that she had been. She smiled at that thought.

She cast a glance at the clock- she had another 10 minutes before Tristan arrived.

Tristan. She had little doubt that he would look good. She couldn't remember a time when he didn't look good. All through high school and ever since they met again, his appearance had always been impeccable and very appealing to her. She was not one who was easily susceptible to good looks but something about Tristan just hooked her in.

Since his telephone call the previous night, she had been thinking about the scheme she had put into motion. It was a simple idea, really; one that she had gotten while her grandmother had been rambling on about how well-suited the two of them were. She knew that the DuGreys and her grandparents were eager to see the match and would jump at any indication that a relationship was being forged.

The plan was to let them think that something was happening, as she had explained to Tristan. They would spend some time together, make sure their elders knew about it and if needed, be affectionate in their presence. Then let them assume whatever they want.

The chime of the doorbell shook her from her thoughts. Taking one last look in the mirror, she smoothed down her dress, grabbed her purse and walked into the living room.

* * * * *

"Is that your mother peeking out from behind the curtains?" he asked as he twisted his key in the ignition and heard the car roar to life.

Discreetly, she turned her head in time to see the curtains in her room yanked to the side. "Yes, she definitely is."

"So I take it she didn't respond well when she found out we're going out?"

Rory shook her head wryly. "I'm sure you didn't miss her shocked expression. And I know you didn't miss the fact that she called you evil."

"Definitely didn't miss the evil comment." He turned to smile at her once he had backed out of the driveway. "She's an interesting woman."

"Oh, you're being kind," Rory matched his smile. "Interesting is the understatement of the century.

Not taking his eyes off the road, he said lightly, "Well, at least now I know where you get it from." He didn't need to look at her to know that her expression was indignant.

"Hey, I'm not as crazy as she is," Rory protested. "I'm sane compared to her."

Tristan threw a smirk her way. "That remains to be seen."

An outraged gasp followed by a howl of pain from Tristan was heard as Rory retaliated by hitting his arm.

His lower lip protruded in a pout as he rubbed his sore arm. "Wow, you sure pack a punch for such a little thing."

Rory crossed her arms, giving him a warning look. "Wow, you sure are on a run tonight."

As he got onto the freeway leading them to Hartford, he gave her a sidelong look. "What can I say? You bring out the best in me."

Laughing at his glibness, she settled herself comfortably in the soft leather seat. A smile played about her lips as she watched him; and she thought that maybe spending time with him wouldn't be so bad after all.

* * * * *

There was a terse silence as the two people on the line contemplated.

Rubbing her eyes wearily, Lorelai let out a sigh. "Things are getting better, but I know that she's still holding it in. And now tonight, she's out with Tristan."

"Who's Tristan?" was Chris' puzzled question.

After filling Chris in about what had been happening, Lorelai said, "I see so much of us in them."

"And that's bad?"

"Chris!"

Laughter travelled through the phone line. "Still, it wouldn't hurt for Rory to get out some."

"I know, I know," Lorelai agreed. "I'm just being paranoid."

There was another short silence before Chris suggested, "Maybe I should come down."

"What-"

He went on as though she hadn't said anything. "Maybe we should all sit down and talk about this. That's the only way we get can past this."

Uncertainty tinged her tone. "I don't know, Chris. This could backfire."

"Or it could make things better."

As Lorelai was about to answer, a beeping noise sounded. "Hold on, I've got a call on the other line." Without waiting for a response, she clicked onto the waiting call. "Hello?"

"Hello Lorelai."

Inwardly, she suppressed a sigh. "Mom, what can I do for you?"

"Is Rory there? I'd like to speak to her."

"No, she's not at home. She's out."

"Out?" Emily sounded pleased. "With who?"

"Tristan."

"Tristan DuGrey?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Yes, mother. Tristan DuGrey."

"All right then. Ask her to call me back, will you?"

She could just imagine the satisfied smile on her mother's face. "Sure Mom."

Clicking back to Chris, she said without preamble, "Maybe coming down would be a good idea."

* * * * *

Dinner had been a casual and comfortable affair. He had brought her to a little bistro that served great pasta and even better coffee. They had talked candidly of their high school days, shared tid-bits about their jobs but there was a certain unspoken rule that they wouldn't delve into matters that were too personal. Instead, they argued incessantly over books, movies and music. In fact, now that she thought about it, the dinner had a 'first date' quality about it. She didn't want to think of the fact that it technically was a first date.

Yet, there was nothing 'first date' about their comfort level. They were comfortable with each other; something that surprised her since she thought that her attraction to him would cause her to act awkwardly. Surprisingly, she found that she trusted him and didn't think twice about touching him. She readily accepted when he had offered his arm to her and while they were talking, she sometimes found herself reaching out to touch his hand or his arm.

And now, she didn't think twice about leaning against his side.

As she pulled her coat closer to her to ward off the chill, she tilted her head up to glance at him. With the light from the street lamp bouncing off his sharp features, she became more aware of the hand he had laid on hers, the warmth emanating from his body and the light smell of his cologne.

Absently, she moved even closer to him and mumbled, "You smell good."

His fingers that had been playing with hers stilled. Then he lifted his arm and draped it over her shoulder. "So, we've been making small talk all night. Let's-"

Rory pulled away slightly. "I hardly think that our loud and heated argument about J.D. Salinger counts as small talk."

Tristan laughed as he remembered how involved that discussion had been. "Okay," he conceded. "But we've definitely steered clear of personal matters."

She shrugged. "Well, we're still trying to get to know each other."

"Yet, you're comfortable enough to lean against me," he pointed out.

Embarrassed that he had noticed, she pulled away abruptly, using her curtain of hair as a shield against his perceptive eyes. But before she could pull away completely, the arm around her shoulder tightened.

"Hey," he said softly. "I didn't say that I didn't like it."

Sighing, she let him drag her back to her previous position snuggled next to him. "I'm usually not this clingy," she mumbled. She felt him lean his head on hers.

"I didn't peg you as the clingy type either. But," and she knew that he would say something teasing, "you can cling to me any time you want."

She pinched his side in response and giggled when she heard his yelp. "You're incorrigible, you know that."

"Thank you," was his mock-gracious answer.

In the silence that followed, Rory took in her surroundings. The smell of freshly-cut grass lingered in the cool night air, the lamps that cast shadows and light in equal parts creating a hazy vision, the well-kept plants and the beautiful gazebo they were sitting on.

"I can't believe you have a gazebo in your garden," she commented.

"Thank my mother," was his dry reply. His voice softened as he went on. "When my parents first got married, his father was apparently madly in love with my Mom. She loves, or rather loved, the outdoors and she spent a lot of time working on the garden… and the story goes that when she was pregnant with me, my dad had this built as a gift for her."

"It's hard to think of this as a gift of love after meeting your parents," she said. 

His laugh sounded hollow. "I know."

"Do you get along with them?" she asked, somewhat cautiously.

"As well I can. It was easier when I was younger and didn't have a mind of my own."

Instinctively, her hand reached for his.

"But once I got carted off to military school, things became worse."

Sensing that he didn't want to say any more, she switched to another topic. "How was military school anyway?"

"I survived," he answered with a small smile.

Her eyes widened. "That bad?"

He laughed. "It wasn't that bad."  An introspective look entered his eyes. "But for a kid like me who had had everything at his feet, it was a shock." His eyes dropped to their hands and when he smiled, she wasn't sure if it was because of what he saw or if it was something else. His gaze came up again as he said, "I guess it turned out for the best."

She shuddered dramatically. "Yeah, who knows what might have become of you had you stayed at Chilton."

Their eyes met and Tristan smiled at the teasing light in her eyes. "Well, I might have worn down your defences eventually."

Rory shook her head, laughing lightly. "I don't think so."

"No?"  He raised his brow. "I thought that you were warming up to me."

"In your dreams, mister!"

He squeezed her hand. "Yeah, I was probably hallucinating."

Their shared laughter rang in the air.

"This is probably a bad question to ask," Tristan began, sounding unsure. "But what happened with you and Dean?" When she didn't say anything, Tristan silently cursed himself for bringing it up. "Rory, I'm sorry. I shouldn't-"

She waved her hand dismissively, telling him that she didn't mind. "We broke up just before we went off to college," she replied. "After you left, things steadily went bad 'cos I started to spend time with my friend, Jess."

"Let me guess," Tristan said dryly. "He got jealous."

"Yeah. Then Jess & I got into a minor car accident and he got sent back to New York. And somehow, we re-built our relationship until just the summer before college when we mutually decided to end it."

"That's a long time to be with someone," he commented.

"Yeah," she agreed.

Looking down at her, he caught the wistful look in her eyes and had to quell the rising jealousy in him. As it always had been, he had no reason to feel jealous; Rory was never his. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.  Deciding to move on from the subject of Dean, he asked, "So what happened with Jess?"

"Nothing. We met again during Christmas break of my freshman year when he was visiting his uncle, Luke. Whatever there had been between us had fizzled out over time and we've been friends ever since." A grin curled her lips. "And now, he's marrying my best friend, Lane."

"How Dawson's Creek," he laughed. As she was about to protest, he suggested that they head into the house. "We'll get you a cup of coffee and then I'll drive you home."

"You're using the coffee card already?" she kidded.

As they walked towards the house, he kept his arm around her. "Well, I figured that I can probably use that card over and over again."

"Wow, you learn fast," Rory complimented, giving him a smile as he pushed open the door leading to the kitchen and allowed her to enter first. She then halted so abruptly that he almost bumped into her. Automatically, his arms snaked around her waist in an attempt to steady them both. And when he looked up, he realized why she had stopped so suddenly. Unwinding his arms from around her, he reached for her hand instead and gave a reassuring squeeze. As he led her to the coffee maker, he said drolly, "Hello mother."

"Tristan," Lauren admonished lightly, "You didn't tell me that Rory was here."

Reaching for a travel mug, he poured the coffee into it. "We had dinner and then came here to talk."

"How lovely." Lauren positively glowed with satisfaction. She turned her attention to Rory. "Why don't you have dinner with us tomorrow? We'll be glad to have you."

Rory tried to find a way to politely decline but before she could do so, Tristan cut in. "Sorry Mom, but we already have plans for tomorrow."

Lauren looked both disappointed and pleased. "Oh well, some other time then."

"Well, we have to get going, I'm driving Rory home," Tristan said, passing the mug to Rory and leading her out of the kitchen.

Rory's manners forced her to be amicable. Smiling, she said, "Bye Mrs. DuGrey, it was nice to see you again."

"Likewise, dear," she replied, smiling brightly.

* * * * *

Instead of heading straight to the Gilmore house, they found themselves at yet another gazebo- this time, the one in the centre of Stars Hollow.

Sitting beside each other, they both looked out onto the empty street. A comfortable silence enveloped both of them only to be broken when Rory asked in an amused tone, "So, we have plans tomorrow?"

Grinning, Tristan turned to her, admiring the way her blue eyes seemed especially bright and the way her smile lit up her face. "Well, seems like it. What do you wanna do?"

She shrugged. "I'll think of something."

"Should I be scared?"

"You should be," Rory advised, seeing the amused glint in his eyes.

"You know, I had doubts about this plan of yours. But I think it's gonna turn out fine."

She smiled. "Me too."

* * * * *

A.N: Since it's my birthday today, feedback would be nice. Heh. And while I'm being shameless, I might as well plug a new elite GG fic site called Proud & Prejudiced which you can find at http://www.fanshoot.com/proudandprejudiced . If you haven't been there, you should definitely take a look. :)