Chapter Two: Televised Breakups and Proud Grandparents

Chapter Summary: Rory and Dane attend her twenty-third birthday party, where she meets a group of girls from her high school after seeing her mother again.  Tristan, with a new girlfriend (Milica, prounounced Mee-lee-t-sa) sees her and we realize that he has changed quite a bit, but still has a 'thing' for Rory.  Milica breaks up with Tristan in plain view.  Tristan and Rory meet - it's a very formal meeting, but Dane still has his suspicions.  Tristan leaves right after, and Rory and Dane soon follow, but Rory is waylaid when she says goodbye to her grandmother, who's friends talk to her for a few minutes.

A/N: The group of Chilton girls is just the names of the ex-girlfriends in 'Run Away Little Boy'.  I forget to mention that in this version of the story, Paris gets into Harvard and goes there as well, because she totally deserved to.  And Lane should be in this chapter, but I can't think of anything…so let's just say she couldn't make it.  I don't feel like going into the details of the Stars Hollow party, so this is where your lovely imaginations come in…

P.S. I decided to put Chapters 2 & 3 Together, under the title of Televised Breakups and Proud Grandparents, because they seem to go.  Yeah, I'll constantly be putting my chapters together, because I like them 3000ish words, but I have short bursts of 1500 word creativity, and just post it anyway.

            Rory took a deep breath and straightened her dress.  Then she turned to Dane and nervously dusted off his suit.

            "Rory, I think I'm clean enough," he said, but his eyes were serious.  "If you don't want to go in, we can just leave."

            "No, Grandma's probably already seen me through the window.  And besides, you just don't want to see my grandparents again."

            Dane held his hands up.  "Guilty.  Ring the doorbell."

            "I hate suprises.  I really do.  Alright, I love surprise.  They're fun, but this isn't a surprise- not anymore.  And plus, I don't want to make small talk for the next seven hours.  I want to go home and play Monopoly with my mommy."

            "Your mommy is already here."

            "Dammit," Rory said, and rang the doorbell.

            It had been a week since Rory's promotion and the glow of having her own office had still not quite worn off.  It was however being somewhat diminished by having to leave that very office and drive to Hartford.  The drive itself had been nice, spent in a comfortable silence, a chugging contest at one point, and some talking.  They had stopped at every rest stop they could find and bought souvenirs, so Rory had enough for almost a third suitcase.

            The maid opened the door.

            "Mrs. Gilmore is waiting for you in the study.  May I take your coats?"

            "Sure! Thank you…uh…ummm…Marie?"

            "Maria."

            "Right! Sorry!" Rory said.

            Dane smiled at her as she nervously handed the coat to the maid, and he did likewise.  He wrapped his arm around her waist. 

            "Ready?"

            "Yep," she said quietly.  "One hour.  Two at the most."

            "You might have fun?"
            "I highly doubt that."

            "Good.  Let's make a quick getaway now."

            "We're already in the house."

            "So?"

            "C'mon," Rory said, rolling her eyes and they walked together to the study.  Emily was the only one there.

            "Rory, dear, you look wonderful.  Hello Dane."

            "Wow, I heard the like level drop, no plunge just now," Dane muttered.

            Rory elbowed him.  "Yes, Grandma.  Am I early?"

            "No, everyone's in the living room.  Act surprised.  Oooh, surprise parties are so much fun," Emily said, leading Rory out of the study and to her party.

****************************************

            He knew that he would see her there.  In fact, he came knowing he would see her there.  It was her party, after all. 

It had been seven years, and they had been good to Tristan DuGrey.  The boyish good looks that were the trademark of his family were still there, but now he moved with the cat-like grace of a man that was very aware of his surroundings.  If ever he was awkward, it was when he was sixteen and near Rory Gilmore, but now he was older, less reckless, a practiced seducer.  He glanced at Milica, who smiled appreciatively up at him.  When everyone yelled surprise and leaped out of their hiding places, he slowly rose with the air of someone being led to the guillotine.

            There was a man with his arm tightly wrapped around Rory- too tight to be a friend, and he didn't think she had any siblings.  At first glance, Tristan thought the man to be Dean.  Dean, he thought bitterly, remembering Rory's first boyfriend.  However, this new man resembled him little.  His too-long hair was as rumpled as the suit he was wearing and he was a little taller than Rory, a few inches shorter than Tristan.  He was thin, but extremely handsome, with dark eyes and hair that contrasted with his rather pale skin.   Tristan was instantly jealous. 

            "Who's that with her?" asked Milica.  She giggled.  "He's very sexy. He's like a dream - tall, dark, and handsome."

            "He's hardly tall," Tristan retorted.

            "But he's oh so dark and handsome."

            "Humph," Tristan replied, filled with an anger that he couldn't place until he looked at Rory.  She was still beautiful.  More beautiful, if that was possible. Looking at her made her hate the man even more.  She was no longer the innocent that she once was.  In her eyes he could see that she had known a man, and enjoyed it.  He should have been the one to put that look into her eyes!  Tristan clenched his fingers until they turned white.  He did not know why he cared this much, but this time he knew she did not love him, and was not going to set himself up for rejection yet again.  He was not the boy he was in high school- not so stupid, nor so open.

            He's not my boyfriend.  I hate him.

            He sighed and wrapped his arm around Milica, pulling her abruptly against his side.  She giggled once more and he braced himself for the encounter with Rory that was sure to come.  For all he knew, she could be completely different now; someone who grated on his nerves and couldn't stand the presence of.  He was assuming that she hadn't changed in seven years, while he had so much.  It was unfair of him.  In fact, it was downright maudlin of him, to be stuck in the past so much.  The past was for history textbooks and old men with war stories to tell, or friends reminiscing about the good old days.  It wasn't for a still vibrant and healthy man like him.

            "How did you say you knew this girl again?" asked Milica.

            "We went to the same high school."

            "Were you guys dating or something?"

            "No…not my type."

            "Well, from the way you were just looking at her."

            "I was thinking."

            "Oh, okay.  About what?"

            He smiled sarcastically.  "The good old days."

Look, things are really good for me and Dean right now, and I don't want anything to mess that up. Especially not something that meant nothing at all to me and I wished had never happened in the first place.

*************************************************

            Rory smiled grimly down at the drink she held in her hand.  It was only a Coke, but it was times like these that her resolve to not consume alcohol was tested.  Dane, who had no such qualms, was liberally lacing his own soft drink with brandy.

            "You want some?" he asked.

            She gave him a look.  "Thanks, but no thanks."

            Just then, her grandmother came by.  "Rory, Lorelai is looking for you."

"Where is she?"

            "She just got here…" Rory didn't wait around to see what else her grandmother had to say, instead yanking Dane's arm so he spilled quite a bit of his drink on himself and rushed off, leaving him bewildered.  He set his drink down, and slowly made his way through the crowd, pausing to attempt to smooth down his hair so he could make a good impression.  As Lorelai was walking into the living room, she was ambushed by a smaller version of herself that threw her arms around her.

            "Mini-me!"

            "Mommy!! You're late!! You're late!!"

            Lorelai paused dramatically.  "Rory.  Something happened."

            "What?" Rory asked, pulling back.

            "I couldn't find those really sexy black shoes, you know, the strappy painful ones."

            "Whom do you have to be sexy for?" she asked, jokingly.

            "Your boy-toy, of course.  As soon as he catches sight of me…." The elder Gilmore made an appreciative whistle.  "Is he one of them?"  she asked, and Rory followed her line of vision until she saw a group of ex-Chiltonites, all looking very blue-blooded and very bored.  She recognized a few, but none had been her friends when she had attended the school. 
            "Naw.  He's coming."  At that point, Dane entered the room and crossed over to the two brunettes.

            "Mama Gilmore," he nodded formally.

            "So this is the Dane you've been hiding.  I'm Lorelai," she said, addressing the man.

            "It's a pleasure," he said, taking Lorelai's hand to his lips.

            "Well, aren't you a charmer."

            "Rory certainly thinks so…"

            "I don't need to know about the dirty." she said, her eyes teasing.

            "Mo-om!"

            "Yeah, bad images.  I feel your pain, honey.  Stay away from the balcony."

            "Lorelai, you were supposed to be here almost an hour ago.  I told you seven o' clock sharp, and it is seven-fifty now.  Why come at all?  You missed the surprise, anyways," said Emily, who had just approached.

            "Mom, there was no surprise to begin with."

            "Honestly, Lorelai…you have to learn to be more prompt."

            "I need a drink," Lorelai muttered, and escaped, giving Rory and Dane an apologetic look.

            "The balcony?" Dane asked with a half-smile.

            "The place of my conception…" Rory whispered

            "Enough said," he replied, also under his breath.

            "Rory, you must meet your guests.  Some people came all the way from Michigan to attend this party.  You should be a good host.  There's even people you haven't seen since high school!  Come on," Emily said.

            "With good reason," Rory told Dane, and followed her grandmother.  Dane shrugged and told her that he would use the bathroom and be right back.

            Emily went to a group of women in impeccable designer clothes that spoke of good taste and breeding.  As the women turned to face her, Rory realized that they were all her classmates from Chilton.  Ah, high school, something that she would rather not have remembered. 

            "I'll just leave you to mingle and get reacquainted," Emily said.

            After a brief, awkward silence, Rory spoke.  "Well, hello."

            "Who is that?" one of the girls asked another.

            "I think that's the girl who the party is for."

            "Oh, okay."

            "Hi, I'm Rory," she said, quietly.  "I went to Chilton."

            "Rory?  I remember you…you were the valedictorian.  I'm Kate, this is Beth and Jessica, and uh, Claire, Kathy, Summer."  The only one Rory remembered was Summer, but just as she was about to continue the pleasantries, a blonde girl and a girl with dark hair joined the group.

            "I finally have a drink.  Thank god…I don't think I can take anymore of- Rory?"

            "Louise…Madeline.  Hi."

            "Well, I see you haven't changed," Louise said.

            "I like your dress," Madeline said,

            "Well, uh, Paris is here somewhere, if you want to go find her," Louise continued.

            "Yeah…I think I'll do just that," Rory said, grateful to be able to escape.  Unfortunately, Dane returned from the bathroom at exactly that moment, and delayed the escape. 

            "Sorry, Rory…this house is huge…couldn't find the- Hello," Dane said, just realizing that Rory was talking to someone, or rather some women who apparently found him fascinating.

            "Tell us, Rory, who is this?" Louise asked.

            "He's cute," Madeline giggled.

            "I'm Louise," said the blonde girl, extending her hand to Dane.  Dane kissed it, lightly and Rory elbowed him.

            "I'm going to go find, uh, Paris now.  It was nice seeing all of you again," she said, pulling Dane away with her.

            "Don't flirt in front of your girlfriend," Rory said to Dane as they were walking away.

            "There was no flirting there…the girl gave me her hand and I did what all the guys in the movies do.  I was even going to say how charmed I was, and all that, but you didn't gimme' the chance.  Now who are we going to find?"

            "Paris.  Roommate at Harvard."

            "Ahhh."  They walked in comfortable silence.  When they reached the door of the room, Rory surveyed it, looking for a familiar blonde head.  Instead of the one she was looking for, she caught side of a light blonde head, full of tousled locks.  Tristan?, she thought to herself, surprised.  Is that really him? 

            "What's a matter?" Dane asked, surprised that Rory had stopped in her tracks.

            "Oh, nothing.  I just saw someone I once knew," she said, wondering if he would remember her or recognize her.  Ah, well, she'd just avoid the man until this dreaded party was over- he didn't have a good history with her boyfriends.  Unconsciously, she smoothed her hair down and patted her dress. 

*************************************************

It seemed to him that a certain member of the Gilmore clan was avoiding him.  Of course, he didn't seem to have that problem with a few flirtatious women, who slipped him their numbers obviously although their husbands were right next to them.  They completely ignored Milica, who was a beauty in her own right and not used to being overlooked.

            "Let's go," she now whined, pursing her lips.

            "We didn't even get to say happy birthday, though," Tristan answered.

            "She won't even notice…there's hordes of people here."  He realized she was right, so he said nothing.  "Tristan, there could be so much more fun we could be having," Milica said suggestively, taking his hand in her smaller one.

            "It's really rude to not at least talk to the host of the party," he said, knowing he was fighting a losing battle.

            She turned to him, her look speculating.  "My, my, my, when did resident bad boy DuGrey become so concerned about manners?"

            "My, my, my, when did you become so annoying?" he retorted and she frowned.

            "Tristan.  I don't think this is working, with me and you," Milica began.

            "Not now.  Let's talk about this later."

            "I want to talk about it now!" Milica said loudly, drawing glances from those around them.

            "Milica…"

            "No, stop it, Tristan.  Lemme' talk!  When we started going out-"

            "Two days ago," he supplied.

            "Yeah- when we started going out, you were fun and I liked hanging out with you, but now you're just too boring.  I'm sick of it Tristan.  I'm sorry, but it's over.  Goodbye. 

            "You want a ride home, then?" he asked, tiredly.

"No.  I'll call a taxi,"she said, pulling out her cell phone.  By that time, most of the people surrounding them were openly watching them and Tristan smirked.

            "I've been dissed and dismissed in my doddering old age," he told a lady of Emily's age and she looked away, as if she hadn't been staring like the rest of the crowd.  One of those staring was standing several feet away, holding a napkin with only crumbs on it and a wine glass. 

            "Rory," the man said, "You can't miss this.  A playgirl type just dumped some rich prep boy.  It's good television."

            "It's not television," Rory retorted, but swung around to look anyway.

            "The only thing that's missing are the incessant commercial gimmicks and the black border."  He didn't notice that Rory was watching the man who stood in the center of the room intently. 

            "I remember him."
            "You do?" Dane asked, surprised.  Rory had known downwards of ten people at the party so far.

            "Yeah.  Went to high school with him."

            "Was he always so…"

            "Yeah," Rory said, and then felt the need to defend him.  "But he's nice sometimes.  When his façade cracks."

            "Get a hammer," Dane said, "because he's walking over here."

            Rory glanced at Tristan again, and this time she found that he was watching her.  Unsettled, she averted her gaze, looking at Dane.  He approached slowly, and she couldn't help but think that certain doom waiting her, and in a way, it was.  Conscious of Dane sizing up Tristan, she laid a hand on his arm and he looked at her, his eyes softening.  He put his arm around her waist and she relaxed into his grip as Tristan stopped in front of them.

            "Happy Birthday," Tristan said, very aware that the man had his arm around Rory.

            "Thank you."

            "How are you, Rory?" he asked, formally.

            "Fine, thank you.  And you?  I haven't seen you in a very long time."

            "Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.  "What is it, six years?"

            "Seven."

            "Glad to see you've been keeping count," he said and Dane coughed, uncomfortable with the flirting.

            "This is my, uh, boyfriend, Dane.  Dane, this is Tristan.  I went to high school with him."

            "Until I got shipped off to military school," Tristan said.

            "Oh, really," Dane said, almost casually, but Rory could feel his grip tightening on her waist, possessively.  "Why'd you get sent there?"

            "Dane!" Rory said, shocked at his rudeness.

            "What?  I'm just curious."

            "I broke into a safe."

            "Aren't you too rich to be a thief?"
            Rory intervened quickly, elbowing Dane in the side.  "So, Tristan.  What are you up to these days?"

            "Well, I dabble in a bit of everything," he said, noncommittally.  "Almost done with business school.  I did a six year program, so I graduate in about six months."

            "Where do you go to?  In fact, where did you go since you left Chilton?"

            "Military school in North Carolina, some prep school in New York, then Stanford School of Business.  What about you?  You ever go to Harvard?"

            "Yeah.  Degree in journalism.  I work at the Boston Globe now."

            "You're twenty-three…did you graduate this summer?"

            "No, last summer.  I did my masters too."

            "Wow.  No partying for you, huh, Mary?"

            "Mary?" Dane asked. 

            "Uhh.  Nickname," Rory said, blushing.  Dane didn't look convinced, but he didn't say anything. 

            "Do you always fall for guys with those four letters in their names?" Tristan asked, trying to break the awkward silence that ensued.  It had been a slip of tongue to call her Mary, one he regretted.  "I would have a better chance if I changed my name to Enad."

            Rory smiled gratefully, but decided to not let Tristan continue with the banter, lest Dane get even more annoyed.  "You still wouldn't have a chance."

            "After all of those years of pining for you?  This is how you treat me?" he asked, inwardly flinching at his own words.

She laughed.  "Somehow you never struck me as the pining type."

"Yeah, you don't strike me as that either," Dane put in, looking warily between the two.

            Tristan let out a polite laugh.  "Well, I should go now.  Jet lag and all.  Got to sleep it off.  It was nice seeing you again Rory, and nice to meet you, Dane."

            "Yes, it was.  If you're ever in Boston, give me a call.  We can talk and catch up," Rory answered.

            "Bye," Dane said, shaking Tristan's hand, but Rory gave him a hug.  Surprised as he was, he uncomfortably put his arms loosely around her, noticing Dane's irritated glare.  She was still close enough that he could smell her shampoo, something fruity and fresh that made him extremely hungry.  Not for food, either.  For Rory.  He shrugged off the feeling, and headed out of the room, towards the door, his car, and his (rarely) empty bed.

            "Ex-boyfriend?" Dane asked, watching the man walk out.

            "Naw.  He actually made my life a living hell back in high school."

            "Yeah?" Dane said, his tone regaining some of its former lightness.

            "Yeah.  It was just politeness.  We used to not be able to stand each other."

            "Oh, okay.  Have we stayed two hours yet?"

            "I think so…let me just tell Grandma and find Mom, then we can go."

            "Noo…don't tell 'Grandma', then we'll have to stay.  Ro-ory…"

            "I can't just leave."

            "Pweety pwease, with a chewwy on towp?"

            "Grow up, Dane."

            "Huhh…fine.  I'll go find Lorelai then, while you look for the matriarch of the Gilmores."

            "Alright, then," Rory said, setting off in search for her grandmother.  She finally found Emily among a group of stiff people, the men in suits and the women in the conservative clothing favored by their generation. 

            "Grandma," Rory said softly, touching the older woman's shoulder.  She instantly turned around.   

            "Rory, dear!  Just the person I was looking for.  It's the birthday girl, everyone," Emily told the people she was talking with.

            "Grandma, Dane and I, were thinking about going home.  It really was a lovely party and I want to thank you for going through so much trouble."

            "Nonsense, Rory, it was no trouble at all.  And you surely can stay for just a few more minutes," she said, effectively cutting Rory off and introducing all of her friends to her.  Only one name jumped at Rory from the procession.  DuGrey.  Janlan Dugrey.  Must be Tristan's grandfather.

            A kind looking woman with light blonde hair puffed out around her face smiled at her.   "So Rory, I hear you're a journalist from Emily.  Where do you work at?"

            "The Boston Globe.  I do some features, but mostly I just cover political events."

            "Oh, okay.  And do you like your work?"

            "Yes, it's very interesting.  I hope to be an overseas reporter in the future."

            "That's a noble aspiration.  Good luck with that," the woman said, but a man quickly halted Rory's escape.

            "Rory, where did you go to college?'

            "Harvard," her grandmother said proudly for her, "She graduated with distinction and honors.  Phi Beta Kappa, even.  Only the top ten percent of the class gets it.  And did you know?  She did her masters as well as her B.A.  All in three years."

            "Admirable," the man said.  "You may know my granddaughter.  She went to Chilton, but attended Princeton.  Rebecca Lariens.  She's attending Yale Law School."

            "What a coincidence," another man cut in.  "Darwin is attending the Yale Business School."

            "Wow, that's very difficult to get accepted into.  It's one of the best business programs, I hear, along with Stanford and Harvard, right?"

            "Yes, that's correct."

            Another voice chorused in.  "Tristan, my grandson, is attending Stanford for business school."

            "Yes, I was just speaking with him," Rory said, studying the man.  The boyish good looks Tristan possessed obviously ran in the family.  Despite having become less fit over the years, and a generous sprinkling of gray in his hair, Janlan looked as vital as ever.  Where Tristan was smirks and leers, however, this man was aristocratic and dripped of old money.

            "Oh, you know Tristan?" Emily said.

            "Yes, Grandma, he went to Chilton."

            "Oh, lovely.  Janlan, why don't you and your wife come over with Tristan and Charles and Jocelyn for Christmas dinner.  It'll give Rory and Tristan a chance to talk, and you haven't had dinner with us for quite a while."

            "Well, that sounds wonderful," Janlan said.

            "Grandma," Rory protested, but was unheard.  She sighed.  "I really have to go.  Thank you again for the party and good night."  This time Emily hugged her goodbye, saying how wonderful the party was and she would see Rory on Christmas day.  Rory then went looking for her grandfather, in order to say goodbye.  She found him, talking 'shop' or so to speak with some colleagues.

            "Grandpa, Dane and I are going to leave now."

            "Is he that photographer of yours?  I saw him when you walked in.  Honestly, give that boy a comb."

"Grandpa."

"Well, all right, Rory.  I suppose I'll see you on Christmas, then?"

"Yes, Grandpa.  Bye."

"Bye, Rory." When she finally walked outside of the stifling mansion, Lorelai and Dane pounced on her.

"What took you so long?" Lorelai asked, while at the same time Dane asked,
"Where have you been?"

"I got stuck talking to Grandma's friends."
            "Well, thank god you're out of the Tower over there.  Now it's time to get the real party started!! You know, this kind of reminds me of your sixteenth birthday.  Déjà vu," Lorelai gushed.

"How much sugar did you eat?"

"Enough, dear child, enough."

"Okay, so Rory and I will take my car, and we'll just follow you, Lorelai," Dane said.

"Yep."

"Wait, are you too drunk to drive?" Rory asked.

"No, I'm not even tipsy yet," her ever responsible mother answered.

"Okay, then, we'll see you when we get there."

"Yeah, bye.  Don't do anything-"

"-that you wouldn't do.  Bye, mom," Rory said, and they climbed into their respective cars to head up to the Stars Hollow version of a fitting twenty-third birthday party- or in less words, the real party.