Disclaimers: I don't own anything except for Hope, Faith and Dustin.

Special thanks to Jayde who takes the time to beta read me!

Memories

Chapter 7: The town

"Tristan! I forgot to tell you! Hope is in town and I invited her to have Dinner with us!"

Tristan comes out the shower clad only with a towel and asks, "When will she be here?" Looking at the clock, Rory is about to answer when the sound of the doorbell is heard.

Tristan runs up the stairs calling, "There is no way you're cooking!" He enters the room he is temporally sharing with Rory and closes the door. Rory lets out a small smile before going to answer the door.

Hope is alone in the living room waiting for Rory to come back with coffee. She walks around the room and looks at the pictures displayed everywhere around the room. Hope is thinking 'All I see is love in this house. What could have gone wrong?' She is lost in her thoughts as she looks at a picture with two beautiful women laughing while lying on the grass.

"They were really close. They were best friends before anything else and to spend time with them was always entertaining." Hope turns around, surprised that she hasn't heard anyone coming. She sees Tristan, a welcome smile across his features.

He extends his hand to Hope and presents himself, "I'm Tristan. Rory told me all about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Hope studies Tristan for a while before she says, "My name is Hope, I'm sorry that she never talked about you."

Smiling, Tristan replies, "She didn't want to deal with the pain, she needed time."

Hope asks the question that has been bothering her all day, "Aren't you mad at her?"

Tristan closes his eyes, takes a deep breath then answers, "I was mad that she didn't say goodbye, but I knew she was leaving. I just didn't know when she would be back. I thought she would at least stay in touch."

Hope is stunned, she asks, "She comes back with a baby and you take her back without any questions?"

Sighting, Tristan whispers, "Yeah, that's how much I love her but you have to know that she never wanted me before. I was just her best friend. As smart as Rory is, she always needed to make list to make a decision."

"What are you doing Leigh?"

Rory raises her head to look at Hope and says, "I'm making a list; I want to know if it's better to go back or continue with my life here."

Hope looks at her and asks, "What could be so bad that you want to run away from your past?"

Tears threaten to fall and Leigh bites the flesh under her bottom lips to keep the tears from coming when she whispers, "Lost ones, one that loved me but I didn't know my feelings. I don't know if I'm strong enough to go back and know that he might have moved on."

Hope holds her tight and murmurs, "You seemed pretty sure yesterday. Do you love him?"

Tears fall down Leigh cheek as she responds, "I always have…only I didn't know it."

"She told me that she was scared to come back knowing you might have moved on. She said that she always loved you but she never realized it!"

Tristan takes Hope in his arms to holds her tight, he whispers, "At first she was a game for me, she became a challenge, and then someone I should forget about. That's how she became my best friend. I've always loved her. I always will. But I have to thank you for taking care of her for the last year."

Hope breaks the hug and says, "You're welcome."

"What are we eating tonight Rory?"

Rory looks at Tristan then replies, "I thought we might go to Luke's."

Concerned, Tristan looks inside Rory's eyes and asks, "Are you sure you're ready for that?"

Rory looks at Hope and Tristan, she says, "Between the two of you I think I should be able to face the town."

Hope is the first one to enter the Diner. She looks around and sees the same costumer that she talked too. Behind the corner is the owner calculating his bills. He looks at Hope and says, "I'll be with you in a minute."

Hope sits down at a table then Rory enters the dinner. Hope sees a flash of black passing by her to hold Rory. Jess let go of the hug and whispers, "Thank God, you're back. Are you here to stay?"

Smiling back, Rory explains, "Well, I'm not disappearing again if that's what you're asking."

Upon hearing Rory's voice, Luke's runs over to Rory and starts to shout, "You cannot do that ever again! Do you understand what I'm saying Rory? You can't just leave leaving everything behind worrying us!"

Rory looks at the floor and murmurs, "I'm sorry Luke. I needed to get away for a while."

Giving Rory a bear hug, Luke says, "It's good to see you kiddo." Luke walks back to the counter with a giant coffee mug filled with coffee.

Smiling, Rory says, "Well, if I had known that's all it took to get coffee I would have done it a long time ago!"

Tristan stayed in the corner with Leila in him arms. He finally advances to the group.

Upon looking at Tristan, Jess gets close to the baby in Tristan's arms and exclaims, "You weren't kidding! You're a daddy! Congratulations Tristan."

Luke realizes that there is a baby in the Diner asks Tristan, "Who did you get pregnant? Do you know how much it's going to hurt Rory? How…"

Rory cuts him off by saying, "Don't worry about it Luke. The baby is mine. I'd like you to meet Lorelai Gilmore the fourth."

A tender smile comes across Luke's features while he looks at Rory, then turning to Tristan with an angry voice, he says, "You better marry her, treat her right or I don't know what I'll do to you!" Tristan's smile fades.

"I'm sorry Tristan, I can't marry you, ever."

"Will you marry her?"

Breaking the awkward silence, Rory pulled Hope to her side, "Luke, I want you to meet Hope. She took care of me while I was away!"

Luke says, "Thank you for taking care of Rory. Three cheeseburgers, three fries and three coffees, coming right up!"

None of them has seen Kirk going out of the Diner to go make a phone call. Within minutes, all the phone lines in Stars Hollow are ringing. Not so long after that, a huge crowd enters the Diner. They all try to hug and talk to Rory, saying how much they missed her. Beside the counter, Jess and Tristan still holding Leila look at the town surrounding Rory.

Dean goes to them before joining the crowd. He asks, "So, Rory is back for real! I wonder if we'll start to fight again?"

Tristan smirks at Dean before replying, "I have no reason to fight with you! I got the girl." Just then, Dean sees the baby in Tristan's arms before he can say a word, Tristan resumes, "She's mine, and Rory's."

"Where do you want our house to be?"

Rory turns around in the bed to rest her head on Tristan's shoulder whispering, "Anywhere, as long as we are together. But I have to tell you, I love this town!"

Kissing her head softly, Tristan says, "Stars Hollow it is then! I'll build you a castle!"

Half asleep, Rory mumbles, "I don't want a castle, I just want you. I love you Tristan."

Author's note: It's not over yet, if you want more, review, it'll give me motivation to continue.

Siaram