Author's Note: This is my first Gilmore Girls fan fic, so please be kind.
Couples: Rory/Tristan a bit of Rory/Dean…
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Moonlit Window
Chapter 6: Break Me Again
As they arrived back into Stars Hollow, Lorelai passed by Doose's Market and Rory looked out intently at the empty store. She saw Dean taking off his apron, ready to close up for the night. It was going to be now or never.
"Mom! Can you please stop here?" asked Rory, sitting up. Tristan looked over at her curiously.
"Sure, but what for?" she asked, and then noticed Dean who was standing by the entrance fumbling with a bunch of keys. She caught Rory's eye and her mouth formed an 'oh'. Rory nodded and Lorelai stopped the car. Rory quickly hopped out of the car and ran to Dean.
"Dean," she said. Dean turned around, surprised to see her.
"Rory," he began but she interrupted.
"Dean, before you say anything, just let me explain. Please don't interrupt me until I'm done." She pleaded. Before Dean could even reply, Rory started explaining.
"Ok, Thursday night Tristan appeared at my window, he ran away from military school, I felt bad and since he had no where else to go I let him stay, it was suppose to be for only one night. Dean, there was nothing between us." Cried Rory, looking at him in the eyes. Dean sighed and saw the sincerity in them.
"And you didn't tell him to come here?" he asked.
"Dean! You know how much I dislike him. I just felt bad; I mean deep down he isn't so bad. He was just so sad…" she said.
"You know, just went I think that we're rid of that jerk, he's back…" complained Dean.
"Dean, please don't be mad. It's not like what it looks, you need to believe me," said Rory. Dean sighed. His face relaxed.
"You know, this is what I get for being in love with a girl who's too nice." He said with a smile. Rory felt so relieved and smiled back at him.
"Thank you," she said with a laugh. Dean grinned.
"Ugh, but it just kills me to know that he's staying with you. Has he tried anything on you? Because if he has…" said Dean, in a warning tone.
"No Dean, don't worry, I can handle it. He hasn't done anything except act like his obnoxious self." She replied. Dean frowned but it faded when he saw Rory's caring eyes.
"Ok, I'm sorry." He said earnestly.
"I'm sorry too," she replied.
"It's not your fault," he said. She leaned in as he cupped her face with his hands and kissed her. "But did you really have to let him come in?"
***
Lorelai smiled as she looked at Dean and Rory make up. She would have killed Tristan if Dean hadn't forgiven Rory. It wasn't the first time that Dean had gotten angry because of another guy. She was so relieved that it was all patched up. She turned and looked at Tristan who was watching intently in the back seat. She knew very well that Tristan liked Rory. She saw the longing on his face and the pain that was stored inside him as he watched Rory and Dean kiss.
"You know, she's taken," said Lorelai, waking Tristan from the trance. He looked up and turned away from them.
"What?" he replied, pretending to not know what she was talking about.
"Rory. She's happy with Dean," said Lorelai pointedly.
"Yeah, little miss goody-two shoes and the Beave, a match made in heaven," said Tristan sarcastically, sitting back in the seat. Lorelai grinned.
"You don't have a chance," she teased. He looked away from her just as Rory came back to the car, smiling from ear to ear.
"So, I assume that everything's good?" asked Lorelai happily as Rory opened the passenger door and sat beside her mother.
"Yeah, I simply explained the predicament and it did need a bit of convincing but Dean's ok," replied Rory with a smile, nodding her head. Lorelai smiled.
"You know Dean couldn't be mad at you for long," said Lorelai as she started the car. Rory just sat back and glanced slightly at Tristan. He looked slightly bored and was staring out the window. Rory sighed.
"Rory, I can't live without you, I need you," said Lorelai in her 'Dean' voice. Rory glared at her.
"Shut up, mom," said Rory with a little laugh. Lorelai laughed and continued the ride home.
***
When they arrived home Lorelai and Rory went upstairs to change while Tristan stayed downstairs to change.
"See, I knew that things were going to be find, worry wart," teased Lorelai as she took off her earrings.
"It was just that Dean was so mad at me, he just didn't want to listen to me that time. I just don't understand why he gets so upset whenever Tristan is near me," said Rory, sitting on Lorelai's bed just as she had earlier.
"Umm, duh! Rory, Dean's a guy. Of course he's going to be jealous when another guy is with his girlfriend. Especially a guy who likes her too." Said Lorelai.
"Mom! We've already been through this, Tristan doesn't like me, he just likes to tease me, that's all." Exclaimed Rory. Lorelai rolled her eyes,
"Denial, denial, denial," teased Lorelai. Rory was irritated now.
"Ok, I'm leaving now," she said, walking to the door.
"Denial!" cried Lorelai as Rory slammed the door.
Rory quickly changed in the bathroom then went downstairs. She saw Tristan sprawled on the couch, flipping the channels on TV, his eyes completely glued to the television set. Rory continued her way to her room and sat at her desk, pulling out her history book. She wanted to get some studying done for her test on Monday so that she could spend more time with Dean. Even though he had told her that everything was fine, she still felt obligated to focus more on him. She slowly began reading through her notes.
Tristan had seen Rory walk off to her room. He was so frustrated. He had really thought that maybe, just maybe that Rory and Dean would have broken up but as usual, they were all about the forgiveness and stuff. I guess Dean isn't as dumb as I thought he was, he thought as he turned off the TV. He slowly got up and wandered around the house. As he walked into the kitchen he passed by Rory's room. He stood, leaning on the doorframe and grinned as he watched her. She was leaned forward, reading her history book intently. He liked the way her shoulder slightly twitched whenever she wasn't sure about something and how it relaxed when she understood. She looked so pretty, even thought he could see only her profile slightly, she took his breath away.
***
Lorelai hummed to herself as she skipped down the stairs. She wanted to make a cup of coffee before she popped in movie in the VCR. They had come home a bit earlier than usual and it was Friday night. A little movie, some snacks, a night to relax. As she walked down the hall, about to enter the kitchen, she saw Tristan standing at the doorframe to Rory's room. She saw the look on his face, completely focused on Rory. Any second now he's going to start to drool, thought Lorelai with a laugh.
"Need a bib?" whispered Lorelai into Tristan's ear. He let out a cry, jumping up a few feet. Lorelai laughed as Rory turned around and ran out her room.
"What's going on?" asked Rory, curiously.
"Umm, nothing," stammered Tristan, looking at Lorelai uncomfortably. Lorelai smiled him and Rory.
"I just thought that I'd make some coffee, get out some food and we could all watch a movie," said Lorelai, winking at Tristan. Tristan looked away.
"Mom, I need to study. I want to hang out with Dean tomorrow so I thought I'd study now and get it over with." Said Rory, heading back into her room.
"Aww, come on, we can all sit around and tell dirty secrets if you want," said Lorelai, teasingly. Rory rolled her eyes. Then Lorelai looked at Tristan.
"I think some of us have interesting secrets," she said, pointedly at Tristan. He shot her an evil glare. He walked back into the living room and sat at the couch. He was not enjoying Rory's mom, the way she tried to pin him for liking Rory. He sat back on the couch and looked up at the ceiling when suddenly Lorelai's head popped into the living room.
"Hey Richie Rich, I need to get my water bottle changed." She said to Tristan.
"What? Your water bottle?" he asked.
"You know, water to drink?" she asked him, pretending to drink an imaginary glass.
"Can't you get that out of the fridge?" he asked, puzzled. Lorelai rolled her eyes.
"I thought having a guy in the house would be useful," she said sarcastically. She walked into the living room and grabbed his arm and dragged him into the kitchen, just as Rory walked out of her room and saw her mother with Tristan.
"What are you guys doing?" asked Rory.
"I need the water bottle changed but Mr. What's-A-Water-Bottle here is making it difficult," said Lorelai, gesturing to Tristan. Rory laughed.
"Honey, why don't you show Richie Rich here the water bottle," suggested Lorelai as she got out some coffee. Rory pushed Tristan out the back door.
"She's one bossy lady," said Tristan, making a face once the two were outside, sitting on the bench.
"Ah, that's my mom," said Rory with a laugh. Rory leaned across Tristan and tapped her fingers on the large water bottle that was behind him. He looked down at her, the way she was stretched across him. He smiled.
"Mary, if I knew that changing the water bottle would make you come onto me I would have done it earlier." He said, cockily. Rory quickly moved away from him and scowled.
"Tristan," she said, annoyed.
"Oh, come on Mary. I sensed it from day one, you were a little uneasy with me but I knew you liked me. Don't fight it, I'm not," he said, grinning at her. Rory pushed him away from her.
"Tristan, just bring in the water bottle and leave me alone," warned Rory, glaring at him.
"Aren't you going to help me?" he asked, making a fake puppy face. Rory rolled her eyes.
"I don't think you need any help," said Rory, getting up. Tristan reached for her arm and pulled her back down.
"Aww… is that the way you treat a guest?" he asked, in a mock disapproving tone. She looked exasperated.
"I don't remember sending you an invitation," she said sarcastically. Tristan looked a bit hurt.
"Ah, you pain me sometimes, Mary," he said sardonically, trying to hide his pain. Rory looked him in the eye and saw a sad expression on his face. They sat there in silence, as Tristan looked away distantly.
"Tristan," said Rory, breaking the silence. Tristan turned and looked at her.
"You know, you still never told me why you came here," she asked. He continued looking at her. "Come on, what's really wrong? Why in the world would you come here? This isn't like you Tristan, I mean, you've done some weird things to piss me off but coming here was a bit extreme. Don't you think? And didn't you say that military school would be all right?" asked Rory, moving closer to him, looking at his face. Tristan sighed.
"You really think you know me, don't you?" he asked, frowning at her.
"Tristan, as I said before. I think I know you enough, to know that this running away thing is way too extreme for you. There must be a real reason," replied Rory. Tristan's face was sad as he looked at his hands.
"I just had some trouble at the school." Said Tristan plainly.
"What kind of trouble?" she asked.
"I pulled some things," he said lamely.
"Tristan, that is just stupid! You got shipped to military school because of the trouble you caused at Chilton and now you're doing the same things in North Carolina. Are you trying to get kicked out of there?" asked Rory, frustrated.
"I don't need to hear about how stupid I am, don't you think I know that already?" he replied, sarcastically. Rory heaved a sigh.
"Tristan, you're better than that," she said softly.
"Rory, you don't understand," he replied, still not looking at her.
"You won't tell me what's wrong, how am I suppose to understand?" she protested. Tristan, fidgeted in his seat.
"Because you don't have parents like mine." He said, finally. Rory looked at him, waiting for more. "I've seen the way you and your mom talk. Do you know how it is at my house? Silence, until my parents start yelling at each other about me," He said, sadly. Rory listened intently.
"They can't even take a minute to talk to me, and figure out why I do the things I do. They either ignore me or ship me off." He said. Rory saw his lip tremble.
She had never seen this side of him before. He was usually so cocky and sure of himself. Now, to see Tristan sitting there, speaking to her like a frightened child, she saw a person she'd never seen before.
"Why don't you talk to them?" she asked, gently.
"Don't you think I tried?!" he cried, standing up and looking at her.
"Maybe you haven't tried enough?" she suggested. Tristan glared at her and slumped back down on the bench.
"I knew you wouldn't understand, you're little miss sunshine and lollipops. You wouldn't understand what it's like to have someone not listen to you," he said, propping his elbows on his knees and resting his head in his hands.
"I do," she said. Tristan glanced at her. "I know what it's like. Dean gets so upset whenever he sees me with you that he just doesn't listen to me explain anything. It's as if he doesn't trust me," she said. Tristan put his arms down and turned to her.
"Is it that bad?" he asked, concerned. Rory nodded.
"He's just so stubborn sometimes. I guess everyone's like that sometimes," she said. Tristan moved closer to her.
"Hey, I'm sorry for causing trouble between you and Dean," said Tristan, sincerely. Rory nodded.
"Yeah," she said softly.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you," she said, looking into his eyes.
"Well, I was a jerk," he said. "As usual," he added, with a grin.
"You're not so bad all the time," she said. He looked at her intently. In the dark night sky, the little twinkle lights that were hung out back made Rory's hair shine. Her hair looked so smooth and soft. He leaned in toward her and pushed a strand away from her face. At the same time Rory noticed the moonlight shine into Tristan's blue eyes, a way she'd never seen them before. Suddenly, caught in the moment, they leaned in towards each other and shared a moonlit kiss. Rory felt the tingles run through body. Tristan put his hand on one side of her face and pulled her closer to him. Slowly they pulled a part. Still staring at each other. There was a silence and no one knew what to say.
"Umm, I…" began Tristan but Rory put a figure on his lips.
"I'm sorry," she said and then she got up and went inside the house, leaving Tristan there, confused.
***
Lorelai had seen everything. She had been washing some dishes when she had looked out the kitchen window and had seen Rory and Tristan kiss. She wanted to ring Tristan's neck but she knew that it wasn't his fault. Well, not completely. Rory had kissed him too. Lorelai had hidden herself when Rory had run into the house and straight to her room, shutting the door. It was too weird. I hope Rory knows what she's getting herself into, thought Lorelai, staring at Rory's closed door. Just then Tristan walked into the house carrying a water bottle and setting it down on the floor.
"Umm… where do you want it?" he asked. She motioned him to put it in the corner. She had expected him to come strolling into the house with a cocky smile, but there he was, looking calm, as if nothing had happened. He slowly walked to the living room, not even giving Rory's room a second glance. It had taken all her strength not to go into the living room and give Tristan a piece of her mind.