Disclaimer.  See previous chapters.

Minus Dean 5

Saturday came.  After the talk with his mother he figured that his father would soon find out, and he didn't want to hear what he had to say about it.  The opinion his father gave him about the girls he chose was never a good one, and he didn't want to be influenced by his father's opinion nor wanted to hear it.  He loved his father, as difficult as he could be at times, but his thoughts about the girls Tristan dated where always bad.  How he couldn't be seen with her or how she would be a great person to marry. 

Tristan always wanted to scream when his father said that a certain girl was a proper match for him.  He was 16 for god's sake! He wasn't thinking about a long-term relationship, let alone marriage.  In fact, if he could get the benefits of the 'relationship' without the actual relationship he would be more than glad to take that. 

So that Saturday he found himself wandering around.  He went to Bryce's and they went to pick up Josh.  But they bailed early, since they both had dates.

"What the hell is wrong with you DuGrey?"  Bryce asked when Tristan revealed that he didn't have a date for Saturday night.  "I mean, you usually have a date for Saturday night lined up since Monday or Tuesday at the latest."

"Well I don't today" Tristan answered.

"But why?" Josh asked.

"It probably has to do with the Gilmore chick" Bryce told Josh.

"It has nothing to do with her. . . in fact I've been hitting on girls even with Rory there"

"So she is Rory now? What happened to Mary?" Josh asked with a grin.

"Mary is just to tease her" Tristan answered "She's not here right now, so what's the point."

"Are you sure you don't want to go out with us? I bet there is someone out there that would cancel her plans for a date with you." Josh said.

"Nah, I don't want to go out today.  Not in the mood." Tristan shrugged.

"Tristan DuGrey not in the mood for dating.  Now there's a first."

"Stop giving me grief about it, ok? I don't want to get caught up today trying to reassure a girl that she doesn't have lipstick on her teeth or convincing her that the reason that I didn't ask her out earlier is because I thought that she might be busy when in actuality I didn't even consider asking her out in the first place, or whatever it is I have to say to make her feel important."

"Suit yourself then."  Bryce said.

~*~

When Tristan finally arrived at Bryce's and dropped him off, he asked him once again if he was sure of not wanting to go out with them.  That probably Adriana (his date for Saturday) had a friend that would drop everything she had to do for a chance to date Tristan. . . even if he called at the last minute.

But Tristan assured him that he didn't want to go out with them.  They said their good-byes and went on their ways.

In the back of his mind, Tristan already had a plan of what he was going to do.

~*~

"How about if we do independent tonight?" Lorelai asked from one of the video racks.

"What do you have in mind?" Rory asked her, from her own rack.

"Amy's O, and the one where this girl from Dawson's Creek does a British accent and. . ." Lorelai said as she wondered around.

"How about international? Along the lines of Amelie, And Your Mother Too and. . . Italian for Beginners."

"The second teacher they get is kind of hott." Lorelai stated, smiling.  "How about we do. . . Keanu?" she said with a wink.

"Dirty" Rory said, distractedly.

"You learn well." Lorelai grinned "but really, how about Sweet November, Hardball and. . . Bill and Ted's Great Adventure.  I just love hearing him say: Wow!"

"How about Brad Pitt meets George Clooney. . . Meet Joe Black, From Dusk till Dawn and Ocean's Eleven."

"How about Johnny Depp meets Leo DiCaprio. . ."

"That's not an option, we did that last week."

"But there are so many to choose from" Lorelai whined.

"My point exactly"

"Your mean"

"And you are being repetitive with our themes"

"Your mean"

"And now you're just being repetitive" Rory said and Lorelai smiled.

"How about this. . . speed picking.  No checking description, just pick them out of the rack in no specific order and we meet at the counter in one minute with two movies each"

"You're on!"

And they both picked two movies and met at the register.  They didn't look at what the other one had picked.  Then, they went to Doose's to get junk food, and stopped at Joe's Pizza Place.  They got two large pizzas because they couldn't decide on which toppings to choose.

When they finally arrived at home Rory took out the movies and Lorelai got the extra cheese for the pizza, a couple of glasses and soda.  When she came to the living room again she met Rory's disapproving glare.

"You could hurt someone with that.  I, on the other hand, am immune to that look.  Growing up with Emily Gilmore, you develop an extra layer." She said as she sat on the floor, Indian style.

"Bill and Ted's Great Adventure and What's Eating Gilbert Grape?  I thought you said speed picking."

"It was.  You don't get speedier than knowing already what you want."  Lorelai said as if it was the most logical thing in the world "Besides, what did you pick?" she said as she lifted the boxes with Rory's picks "Seven and About a Boy?"

"Different picks" Rory said with a self-satisfied look.

"One of them with the same actor you had already proposed. . . and I bet that there was a moment where you hesitated and wanted to bring your suggestions"

"Yes, but I don't cheat. . . unlike others"

"Cheating is fun" Lorelai said, smiling.

"You won't think that when you are being asked your opinion about cheating in court"

"In court?''

"If the event ever presents itself"

"So, you are sending me to court?"

"It's only hypothetical"

"So you are sending me to hypothetical court?  And what delinquent activity would I be involved in that would require me to go to court?"

"Cheating, of course. . ." Rory answered matter-of-factly.

At this moment the doorbell rang.  Lorelai got up to answer the door.  "Put one of my picks first" she said as she was walking in direction to the door.

"Ok" Rory said, as she placed one of her picks, About a Boy, in the VCR.

~*~

He had been a little anxious about his decision.  For a moment he considered getting back into his car and leaving.  They would never know he was there.

And after a few minutes of pondering, he finally decided to stay.

Before he could chicken out, he walked towards the front door and rang the doorbell.

The few minutes that he waited for the door to open, seemed as if they where the longest ones.  He just wanted to get this over with.

After the conversation with Will, and then his mother, the night before he figured that he needed to sort out a few things.  First of all, he needed to know if he wanted to be on her good side to begin with.  He knew one thing for sure, he liked her. . . a lot.

She was different and that intrigued him. 

She turned him down, and that just made him want to be with her more.

And then the door swung open.  Lorelai was on the other side.

~*~

"Tristan!" Lorelai exclaimed surprised as the young man stood before her.

"Good night, Lorelai" he said politely.

"This is a surprise, is Rory expecting you?" she said, without asking him to come in.

"No. . .I was wondering if there was a chance for me to cash the rain check from the other day"

"Did you bring coffee?"

"I wouldn't dare to come here not bearing coffee" he repeated the same phrase from the day the offer was extended.

"Access granted" she said as she stepped away from the door. "Come in, come in" she said as she gestured for him to step into the house.

~*~

When Rory heard Lorelai say his name.  She jumped and her senses tuned in for a better 'reception' of what was being said at the door.

She didn't dare to move from her spot.  Instead, she stayed rooted to it listening at the exchange of wit that was going on at her front door.

It was Tristan.

~*~

"Hey babe, look who's here?" Lorelai said, enjoying the look in her daughter's face.  It was priceless.

"Hey Rory" Tristan said, standing next to Lorelai.

"Hey" Rory said.

"I'm going to get you a glass.  Go in, have a seat, have a slice of pizza.  I'll be right back" as Lorelai stepped away she gave Rory a confused look. 

In a way Lorelai thought that maybe Rory was expecting her friend to come over, but she didn't understand the reason why she hadn't said anything.

But when she saw the confused (and surprised) look on her daughter's face, she understood that she hadn't been expecting him either. . . although apparently the surprise had been welcomed.

Lorelai went into the kitchen, taking longer than she should have as she looked for a glass.

~*~

"Sorry for dropping in like this. . . you know, without notice or anything."  He said, as Lorelai stepped out of the room.

"That's ok" Rory said.

"I know that I wasn't expected, so you just say the word and I would understand and leave" he said. . . hoping against hope that she wouldn't say the word.

She smiled.  "I hope you like pizza" she didn't ask, but stated.

"Yeah, I like pizza.  Love it in fact" he answered, and was relieved that in her own way, she had extended an invitation.  Slowly, he let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding in.

He's eyes grew wide when he saw the massive amount of toppings that were on the pizzas, and he turned to her.

She smiled, apologetically.  "We couldn't decide on a topping so we, pretty much, um. . . asked for all of them in different combinations on each half"

"I see"

"Yeah"

"So, um, what are the movie choices for tonight?" he asked.

"Well, we couldn't decide on a theme so we did 'speed picking'. . ." she said.

"Pick whatever, without looking at the descriptions. . . good method" he interrupted.

"My mom thought so too."

"Ok kids.  Here's your glass, Tristan" Lorelai said as she handed him a glass with ice in it "shall we get on with the show."

"We shall" they said in unison.

"Roll it. . ." Lorelai commanded and Rory pushed the play button.  "Hey, I thought we said one of my picks" she said, pointing a finger to her chest, as the movie credits started to appear on the screen.

"Nope, you said.  I just decided otherwise." Rory said, mocking her mother.

"So we are watching Hugh Grant?" Lorelai asked.

"He's just as good a choice as yours are." Rory stated.

"I'm the provider of the house-hold, yet I get no respect."  Lorelai said, directing herself to Tristan.

"You live in a state of anarchy" Tristan answered back.

"It is good to know that this is noticed by outsiders also, so the moment that I have to press charges against this type of behavior I will have a witness." Lorelai said.

And they started watching the movies.  After the Hugh Grant movie Lorelai, backed by Tristan, decided to watch Bill and Ted.  They all mocked the 'dude' and the 'wow's.  They agreed that such characters had given life to many characters that came after this movie, for example Joey in Blossom and the guys in 'Dude, where's my car?'.  They laughed, ate all of the pizzas, joked, and did impressions.  Both teens were relaxed around each other giving into sporadic banter sessions that where calmed by Lorelai's shushes and hushes.

After watching three out of the four movies (Seven had been avoided by Rory, so there wouldn't be any Brad and Jen comments) Tristan decided to go.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Lorelai asked "because we could call your parents and tell them that you are going to stay over here."

"It's fine, but thanks anyway" Tristan said.

"It's just that the drive from here to Hartford can be really tiring sometimes, and specially this time a night"

"Don't worry, I'll get there safe and sound" Tristan assured her.

"Would you do me a favor?"

"Sure"

"Call when you get there, please"

"Will do" Tristan reassured her.  Lorelai hugged him good bye.

"I'll walk you to the door" Rory said as Lorelai went up to her room.

"Thanks" and they started walking towards the door and out to the porch.  "We've been doing this a lot lately" he said.

Rory just gave him a confused look.

At this he started to explain.  "You walking me to the door"

"Oh, well you've been coming over a lot lately, so it is only proper that when you leave. . . I walk you to the door.  Some say is good manners"

"I had fun tonight" he said, with a small smile.

"Yeah, it was fun tonight" Rory affirmed.

"Thanks for not asking me to leave"

"Why would I have done something like that?" she asked confused.

"Because I came over without calling."

"It's ok, I won't tell anyone" she said with in a low, conspiratory voice as she leaned in a little closer to him.  He had to fight the urge to pull her to him and kiss her senseless.  They were making progress and doing that (he was sure) would probably diminish his chances.

"Thank you. . ." he said matching her tone of voice.

"Why did you come over?" Rory asked out of the blue.

He grinned.  "Because I couldn't wait till Monday to see you." 

"Yeah. . . and the other 99% of the reason why you are here is?" she asked.

"I wanted to come to a place where I would have a change of pace.  And I found myself at your house without really knowing why"

"Oh. ."

"But the main reason why I came here was the former. . . the latter is just an excuse" he said as he stepped closer to her.  He took a stray strand of her hair, and placed it behind her ear.

"You're not that good of a liar" she said as she met his gaze.  She felt the way her stomach hit the floor, when he smiled at her.

"Who said I was lying?" he asked as he looked straight into her eyes.

She tried to hold back a hint of a blush that came from his touch.  "Well then, your telling the truth needs work" Rory said trying to keep her emotions in check.

Tristan smiled.  "The doctor said it would happen after so many years of avoiding saying the truth.  It's a medical condition."

"So I should doubt most of the things you say to me then, huh?"

"No."

"No?"

He looked at her straight in the eye, with a serious expression on his face.  "No.  Every time I direct myself to you, regardless of my facial expression, I'm telling you the truth."

Rory had to stare at him for a moment.  Somehow she couldn't believe that at this moment he wasn't being completely honest to her.

She sat down on one of the porch stairs, and he followed her move sitting right next to her.  She hugged her legs and placed her head on her knees so she could look at him.

"So, how come Tristan DuGrey didn't have a date for Saturday night?"

"More important, pressing matters to take care off." He said with a hint of a smile.

"This night might go in to the books as a first." She answered back.

"It seems to be popular belief.  I, for one, have no complaints about it."  He said staring into the sky.

"Do you ever get bored?" She asked out of the blue.

"Of?" He questioned looking at her.

"Of everything that you represent at school?"

"Sometimes.  It's a good thing that I have people that keep me on my toes."

"Such as?"

"You, for example."

"There has to be someone of more. . . um, influence."

"My mom, I guess.  Oh, and of course Will."

"So you get along with your mom?"

"Yeah, I do.   Not as well as you and your mom, but well enough considering Hartford standards."

"Oh, well" she said, smiling "that's saying a lot."

He laughed.  "I know" he said looking at her.  "But how would you. . .?"

"My mom and my Grandma." Rory answered without him finishing the question.

"Oh, right.  Is she the way they make her out to be?" he asked her.  The myth of Emily Gilmore transcended in Hartford Society.

"As I said once, she needs no embellishment.  She lives to the hype that is her name."

"Wow!"

"Yeah. . ." she said, and trailed off a little.  "Who's Will?"

"Oh, Will. . . he's a whole other story. . ." he said, and she with a nod of her head urged him to go on "Well, faith has funny ways of working.  Will's job description is butler, but he is more than that.  He used to work with Paris' grandfather, but when he past away and since my grandfather – who was friend's with Paris' – knew him, he hired him."

"Why didn't Paris' father hire him?" Rory asked.  She thought that would've been the obvious way.

"He didn't like Will.  So my grandfather hired him, but since my grandfather already had a butler he told him if he wanted to go and work with us.  And Will said yes.  And he has been working with us ever since."

"Did he ever marry?"  Rory asked.  It seemed to her that never, nor in real life of movies, do butlers ever married.

"He did.  He married his high-school sweetheart.  But she passed away.  They diagnosed cancer in her on a very late stage and there was nothing they could do.  And when she died, he bowed never to marry again.  He loved her – and still loves her – more that life itself.  A few months later he moved into our house."

"So, he knows you well?" Rory asked.

"If there was anything you wanted to know about me, he's the guy to ask."  He stated.

"The poor man must have some nightmares then."  She quipped.

"And some wet dreams."  He leered.

"He probably didn't know what he was going to go thru when he was hired.  I bet that if he had known that a hormone-driven teenager was going to tell him about all of his conquests. . ."

"He would have accepted less pay for the opportunity of leaving vicariously thru me" he cut her off.

She smiled and he didn't expect that.  But he was starting to figure out that Rory never acted as expected.  Or at least what he was used to expecting.

"You seem fond of him."  She stated.

"How do you figure?" he asked, a little surprised at her perception.

"For you to open up like that to someone else, must mean that you think highly of him."

"He has known me most of my life. . . do you think I would open up to anyone if I didn't trust them enough?" He asked, rhetorically.

"You're opening up to me. . . in a way"

"I trust you enough" he answered.

"You hardly know me" she stated.

"Somehow I think you are trustworthy."

"Thanks" she said, while rolling her eyes.

He smirked.  "Anytime."

"So what about your friends. . . Do you trust them enough?"

"You said it well once, you don't need friends you need allies."

"But you have friends, you are a statue away from worshipping.  And my sources tell me they are in negotiations for that, even as we speak."

He chuckled.  "That's status.  In my case it was given because of my name. . ." he stated, "among other things" he said with a smirk.

She decided to ignore the last comment.  "You don't seem as happy as I would have pictured you because of that."

"So you have been picturing me, while I'm away" he said, smirking.  She just scoffed.  "Don't get me wrong," he continued "I am.  Really.  It's just that sometimes it's hard to get away from it.  It gets annoying. . . sometimes" he added at the incredulous look in her eyes.

"Your reputation precedes you" she stated, obviously.

"Exactly. . ." he decided to change the line of questioning to something that interested him more "So how 'bout you?"

"What about me?"

"Is there more than Rory Gilmore, than what meets the eye?"

"Nope, what the eye meets is it."  She stated with an uncomfortable smile.

"I doubt that. .  . I bet there is more just waiting to be discovered."  He said looking at the horizon.

"How do you figure?" she repeated the question he had asked earlier.

"No leering of anything intended" he said looking at her in the eye "but I just know that there is more to you than even you would know"

"How would you know that?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

She didn't answer and instead averted her eyes from him.

Inside he smiled.  "You see.  Right there is a whole other part of yourself that hasn't been exposed to the world – or to yourself -, so there is so much more than you would think."

"Thanks for the analysis, doctor" she said sarcastically.

"How come?" he asked her.

"How come, what?" she asked confused, looking back at him. 

"How come you've never been in love?"

"Have you?"

"We are not discussing me." He said simply.

"How evasive of you." She stated.

"Well, you should talk about evasive"

"I don't think anyone has ever considered me that way."

"You would change your mind about that, if you just listened to the conversations that you are main subject in the boys locker room."

She blushed at that statement.

"I think that there have been guys that considered you that way, it's just that you are too oblivious to notice".  And at that moment he considered himself lucky.

There was a small pause.  And Tristan lifted himself from the step and extended a hand to Rory to help her up.  The moment she took his hand a shot of electricity hit them both.  They both let go of each other and smiled.  He extended his hand again for her and the same shot went thru them, except this time Tristan didn't let her take away her hand and held it in his.

When she was finally up, he let go of her.

"So, I'll see you Monday. . . Mary" he said, smirking.

"Monday" she said, and then added "Remember to call when you get home."

"Can't live without listening to my voice, huh Mary?" he said, as he turned half-way to his car.  He walked the rest of the way backwards.

"Oh, I can.  In fact, I would pull a Van Gogh to save myself from listening to it, but my mom will worry if you don't call.  Apparently she is fond of you, although God only knows why." She said shrugging.

"She's the one with the good sense.  I'm hoping that it will hit you soon." He said, she made a face and he smiled "Don't worry I'll call. . . for your mom's sake." He said and got into his car.

He drove away and she couldn't help but smile.

A civil conversation with Tristan DuGrey, she thought that might never happen.  He was nice, a good conversationalist.  Interesting even.  And she smiled again.  Apparently the good sense was hitting her.  He would smirk at this, she thought to herself.

Maybe she wasn't getting an alliance at Chilton, but a friendship.

She went into the house, and went to her room. . . with phone in hand.  She started reading, and 23 minutes later the phone rang.  She let it ring a few times, before she answered.  Lorelai smiled, and picked up the phone and covered the mouth piece.

"Hello?" she said, as if she didn't know who was on the other side of the line.

"I'm home. ." he said.

"I'll alert the media" she said with a small smile.

"I thought that it was for your mom's sake I was calling and there you are answering the phone."

"Maybe she wasn't as worried as she let you think."

"Maybe. . . but you where, apparently, or you wouldn't have answered the phone."

"It's an annoying sound that needed to subside.  It only happens when one answers the phone."

"So you did this for your sanity. . ." he said.

"Exactly. . ." and then she smacked herself mentally; she had walked right into that one.  Lorelai just smiled.

"Good night Mary" he said in a sing-song voice.

"Good night, Bible boy" she answered in the same way, and hung up the phone.

~*~

Author's Note.  Thanks for all the reviews to everyone.  This is the fifth installment of, what I have just figured, will be a 9-chapter story.  I hope you enjoyed it. 

A special thanks to: Chelle thanks for your nice words.  Enjoy. ;o).