A/N: WOW. Thanks for all the reviews!

[Repost: updated it… it was kind of fast before.. sorry.]

Truth?

Tristan watched, waiting for Rory to turn around. He didn't know exactly how he let it slip out like that. He told himself that he wasn't going to let it happen. He couldn't tell Rory. Tristan knew how much it would hurt her. But he knew she was already hurting. She was here with Trevor, but wanted to be with Tristan. It was hard for him to face the pain he caused her.

So he said it. "Mary, wait." He let it slip out. It was a name that only Tristan would call her. He knew she'd understand.

He waited for what seemed forever before he saw her slowly turn around. Tears streaked her eyes and her pain was unbearable to see.

"What did you say?" She said in a choked voice.

"Rory. It's me. Tristan."

Rory stayed silent, staring at the ground. Tristan continued.

"After my grandfather died, I joined the CIA and became a mole in a secret agency called SD-6." He looked at Rory, hoping she'd believe him. She just looked at the ground.

"It was going well, but that night. That night I was in your room Rory. SD-6 found out who I was. They were going to kill me. I had to run."

Rory looked at him for the first time. Tristan couldn't help but notice the betrayed look on her face. She slowly backed away from him. Her eyes never leaving his. She finally turned around and started to walk away.

"Rory. It was the only way. I'm sorry. Please understand."

Tristan couldn't let her leave. He ran after her and grabbed her arm.

***

An unnerving silence filled the air.

"No. No." Rory kept repeating, shaking her head. It was something she secretly dream about everyday. For Tristan to come back to life and make things better. And here he was. Right in front of her. But it didn't feel the way it was supposed to. It was like a bad nightmare instead of a dream. It was probably her mind, playing a joke on her. Tristan was dead. Nothing could change that.

"Tristan's dead." She said angrily before throwing his hand off her arm.

"Rory, it's me. Please. Listen to me."

"No YOU LISTEN!" Rory felt all her pent up anger flowing out of her. The anger she once had for Tristan being taken away from her. All her sadness and pain exploded inside of her. She felt so many emotions.

"I've spent the last 2 years believing you were dead. I cried so many nights over you. I hated the world because I thought YOU weren't in it. I loved you and I didn't want to live because you weren't. But here you are. Alive and happy. Was it that easy to leave me Tristan? Was it that easy to just lie to me?"

The tears flowed easily from Rory's eyes. She felt she couldn't stop them.

"Rory. I'm sorry. I know there's nothing I could say to make you forgive me. But please Rory. Life without you hasn't been worth living. I haven't been happy! I've only been happy this last month. I got another chance with you. I just... didn't want to put you in danger. You have to understand."

"Bullshit."

"Rory please." She heard his voice crack. Rory knew he was on the verge of tears. She couldn't handle it.

"Just stop. I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. But just... stop."

"It's me. Tristan. The same Tristan that loved you. The same Tristan that made high school a living hell. The same Tristan you fell in love wit--"

"No." Rory interrupted. She didn't want to hear it.

"The same Tristan that was going to propose to you!" Tristan shouted.


Silence filled the air as his last words echoed in her head. Propose?... Marriage... Oh my god. This is too much.

"Tristan's dead." She said angrily before throwing his hand off her arm. "You're not Tristan."

"Yes, I am."

"No… you're not! He was blonde, he had blue eyes. As blue as that water over there. Eyes I could get lost in forever. He was taller than you. And sweeter. And funnier. And… and…" Rory couldn't go on. She burst into tears and found it hard to keep from collapsing. She stood firm. She couldn't let him see her weak.

***

Tristan needed to comfort her. He reached out to touch her on the shoulder but hesitated at the last second. He held his hand suspended in air, then let it drop to his side.

"Rory. I'm sorry. What else do you want me to do?"

"Nothing. Just leave me alone."

"I can't do that Rory. I lost you once, I can't lose you again." Tristan fought hard to keep them back, but he felt the tears falling down his cheek.

Rory looked at him with a look of disbelief. It hurt to see her like that.

"YOU LOST ME?! Tristan! You LEFT me! You didn't even say goodbye. YOU MADE ME BELIEVE YOU WERE DEAD!"

Tristan stayed quiet. Not knowing what he could say to make things better. To make her better. He did the only thing he could do.

He took a quick step towards Rory and pulled her head towards him. He gave her an intense kiss. All the years of separation. All the pain, the passion, the sadness was all wrapped into one kiss. It was the only way to show her how he felt.

Tristan stepped back and breathed hard, out of breath. He waited for a reaction from her. Any reaction. She seemed lethargic. He used to be able to read her like an open book. Now, no emotion was on her face. She looked lost.

His heart was breaking, knowing how much he was hurting her.

***

Rory stared at Tristan in shock, still unable to register what had just happened. His eyes weren't as full of life as they used to be. His tousled hair didn't glow like it used to. He wasn't who he used to be. She didn't know him anymore.

"Tristan's dead." Rory said in a barely audible voice before running. She had to get away. Away from him.

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Sorry it's really short. I'm really going through this crazy block. AHH!!! Help me. I'd love some ideas.