WHAT IT IS: A sequel, to my other Trory, What Happens When. Now, I had no
intentions at all to do a sequel. However, you're getting one, because of
all the Jess/Dean/Rory angst currently on the show—it's stressing me out.
So, since I had decided that fluff was probably all I'd get out of a sequel
and fluff is what I need right now (it's either fluff or unbearable angst
coming out of me right now)—here's a sequel.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
After an afternoon spent up in Luke's old apartment trying to get Will's bigger presents from Santa put together and smaller ones wrapped, Rory and Tristan collapsed next to each other on the floor. Rory felt her back crack into place as she leaned back flat on the floor after having been hunched over rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon.
"Tell me that my gift from you is a years worth of massages."
"You could have done that on the table you know, your back would have been fine," Tristan replied, twisting his hips to the side to stretch out his own sore back.
"It's easier this way, there's more room on the floor."
"Why are we doing this anyway?"
"Mom asked. Actually, she laid on the guilt about how infrequently we visit, and how we're staying free at the Dragonfly."
"Nice tactic."
"At least it's done now. Just think, tomorrow's Christmas Eve," Rory said excitedly.
"So, what'd you get me?" He turned onto his side to look at her.
"Nothing. I'm sorry, is my love and respect not enough for you?" She batted her eyelashes at him.
"Not even a hint, huh?"
"Nope."
"Fine. But I'll remember this tomorrow night when I'm shopping for your gift," he added.
Rory said nothing, she simply shook her head at him as she pulled herself up off the floor. Pleased with himself, he followed her downstairs to get something to eat.
They'd just received their food when Rory's cell phone rang. Luke pointed to the sign but in true Lorelai fashion, she ignored him.
"Hello?"
"Happy Hanukkah!"
"Paris! How are you?"
"We're fine. I just can't get used to this weather."
"How is LA in December?"
"It's hot, we're actually out on the beach right now, but they over- decorate everything to make it seem more Christmassy. Palm trees with lights, wreaths on everything. It's like some creepy Twilight Zone episode."
"Couldn't come home this year, huh?"
"Well, I can't, not with my medical school schedule. Marty could have gone by himself, but he wouldn't go."
"That's nice, that he's staying with you."
"Yeah. I told him to go home and be with his family, but he said he didn't want me to be alone for the holidays."
"That's sweet."
"Yeah, he really is. Rory, I think he's going to ask me to marry him."
"That's so great! Are you sure?" Rory's voice rose, causing Tristan and several others to look at her suddenly.
"He's been all nervous and he has now until New Years overly planned out—there's a definite vibe."
"A marriage vibe?"
"Yes."
"I'm so happy for you! Keep us updated, but I need to go. My food is getting cold and Luke is giving me a death stare."
"Alright. Say hi to Tristan for me."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Luke came by, still glaring.
"What? We slaved all day for you and I can't take one very important call?"
"Was it work related?"
"No," she admitted.
He sighed and took her plate.
"HEY! I'm not finished with that!"
"I'm reheating it for you."
"Oh. Thanks," she smiled sheepishly, and then looked to Tristan who'd been observing the exchange.
"You've both got that man whipped."
"You should talk, big man," she teased as she stole a fry off of his plate.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?"
"No plan. Just resting. The next two days will be crazy."
"Good point."
They finished eating and headed back to the Inn. Rory noticed Jess' car back in the lot, but said nothing about it. They had just kicked off their shoes in their room when Tristan's call phone rang. Rory gestured to the door and he waved her on. As she slipped out of the room, he flipped open his phone, though he didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Tristan?"
"This is Tristan."
"Oh, good. This is Bill Walters. We met a few nights ago at the Gilmore party."
"Right. Can I help you?" he asked, uninterested.
"Tristan, I know you don't know me, but I've been seeing your mother the last few months," he began.
"I know. She told me so much."
"You are her only child, you mean everything to her. It's just that, I plan on asking her to marry me, but I wanted your blessing first."
"Look, Bill, she'll do whatever she wants to do. You don't need my approval."
"I know that. But I'd like to you to be happy about it."
"If she's happy, that's all I care about. I told her that."
"So you're okay with this?"
"Yeah. I mean, I guess so. It seems sort of fast to me."
"We aren't teenagers here. And we love each other. She's my world."
Tristan sighed. The guy sounded sincere, but he didn't know what to think. He'd been so relieved when his mom divorced his dad. He just didn't want to see her mistreated again.
"Sure. You have my blessing. Ask her. Just, make sure she's happy," Tristan added.
"Thank you. I'm planning on doing it Christmas morning."
"Then we'll see you that afternoon," Tristan said, hoping to end the call.
"Good, good. We can all celebrate then. Goodbye."
Tristan hung up the phone and reclined on the bed. 'Rory won't believe this,' he thought to himself. Hell, he didn't believe it. He glanced at the clock, wondering where she had wandered off to. Hopefully she'd gone down to score some treats from the kitchen. He decided to read while he waited for her, but soon after he'd settled into the bed, the book fell flat against his chest as he fell to sleep.
Rory slipped out the door when Tristan's phone rang, and walked the short distance to Jess' door. He had to be there, since his car was there. At least she'd hoped so. She didn't know why what Luke had said at the party had bothered her so much, but it had. She stood in front of his door for a moment before feeling ready to knock. She'd barely taken her hand down to her side as the door flew open. Jess stood there in jeans and a t-shirt, staring at her. He noticed she looked surprised, almost as if he had come to see her. This confused him, but he was curious as to what brought her here. After she didn't say anything for a moment, he shifted his weight and ran a hand through his hair.
"Do you want to come in?"
She nodded, wordlessly walking past him into the room. He closed the door and turned to face her.
"So, how was New York?"
"Same as always."
"You missed quite a party."
"I'm sure," he replied. She seemed out of it, and definitely seemed like she wasn't going to cut to the point. He decided to play along, though. "Did something happen at the party?"
"Mostly the same old stuff. Boring people, expensive food. Apple tarts. My dad showed up."
Jess had never met Chris. He'd overheard Lorelai talking about him to Luke before Rory's wedding. She'd been yelling about the balls it'd taken for him to try to worm his way into walking Rory down the aisle. Having not gone to the wedding himself, he'd known from Luke that it'd been Lorelai to who gave Rory away. Rory herself had never mentioned her dad to Jess.
"Oh."
"Why'd you go to New York?" She looked up into his eyes suddenly. He noticed the shiver that cut through him. After all these years, she still had the same effect on him.
"Work. I had to get some manuscripts turned in and pick some new ones up to work on while I'm here," he explained.
"Oh."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just," she started, obviously getting frustrated. "Did you lie to me the whole time?" she blurted out.
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, Jess. The whole time you and I were together—was anything you said to me the truth?"
"How can you even ask me that?"
"Luke was telling an interesting anecdote at the family party. He was telling Grandma about the time you came to meet her. He said that you got the black eye from a swan."
'Damn,' he thought, sucking in a breath.
"So, unless you, who know more words that I do, somehow frequently confuse 'swan' with 'football', you lied to me."
"Rory," he said softly.
"What?" she snapped.
"Calm down."
"Why should I? You did nothing but lie to me! Was it all a joke to you?"
"No! I wasn't like you, then."
"What does that mean?"
"Why does this even matter now? It's all in the past."
"It matters, Jess. You don't get it, do you?"
"Get what? Why is this so important to you?"
"That was the beginning of the end. That was the first fight, the first time it started to go wrong. You could have fixed it all with the truth, but you didn't."
"I'm sorry. It wasn't easy; I wanted to tell you the truth. I almost did."
"Then why didn't you?"
"I just wasn't ready to be with you then. It was easier to push you away. I knew you'd know I was lying."
She sat down on the edge of his bed. She hadn't expected him to say that at all. It was easier to think that he was just an ass. That he rambled around life, not thinking. But to think this was all a thought out act hit her like a wave.
"Why didn't you just break up with me?"
"I loved you. I didn't want it to end, I just saw no other outcome at the time."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I know. I'm sorry," he sat down beside her, staring at his hands.
"So, a swan beaked you in the eye?"
"Oh god, please, can we not talk about this?"
"But, it's so funny!"
"Rory, come on."
"Fine, fine. Sorry." She apologized, but couldn't help the giggles from surfacing.
"So, is that why you came over here?"
"Yeah, I guess it was. I don't know why that bothered me so much, I guess I've always wondered about all that."
"So, we're good?"
"Yeah, we're good." She looked at him as she stood up to go.
"How weird is it that we're cousins?"
"Don't get me started," she smiled, as she gave him a hug. "It's late, I should go."
"See you tomorrow."
"Right. Night, Jess."
"Night."
He watched her go, back to her room, to her husband. He sighed and let himself fall to the bed. He knew someday they'd hash all this out. He'd expected a lot more yelling, but they were both more mature now. Hindsight had set in a lot. It could be more easily dissected. He knew it probably wasn't over. The awkward conversations, that is. She said they were good, but someday she would ask him the other question that had been bothering her for the longest time—why he wasn't at her wedding. He pushed it out of his mind and opened up another manuscript to start editing.
Rory opened the door to her room, and peeked in. Tristan was asleep sitting half up against pillows, a book opened on his chest. The light was still on. 'He was waiting up for me,' she thought, glad of it. She wanted to talk to him, to be able to tell him about the conversation she just had, the peace she felt, but she knew she wouldn't tell him everything. He wouldn't understand her need for peace after all this time. This was something that was hers, something she always held in to herself. Jess was the only other person in the world that got what it was that held them together. It really couldn't be explained, and she was too tired to try anyway. Instead she slipped into bed, and kissed his forehead while removing the book. He stirred and opened his eyes to see her reaching across him to turn off the light.
"Hey, where'd you disappear to?"
"I went to say hi to Jess."
"Damn. I was hoping you'd snuck to the kitchen."
"Oh, no, I didn't think of that. We could go now, I know Sookie has a ton of those Christmas cookies down there."
"Let's go," Tristan said, pulling her back up with him as they snuck down past the night manager into the kitchen. They sat up half the night, eating cookies and drinking milk. He told her about his phone call, and she told him about Paris' phone call. They laughed and talked all night, like they used to when they'd first started dating. At long last, they fell into bed, just as the sun was coming up over Stars Hollow.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
After an afternoon spent up in Luke's old apartment trying to get Will's bigger presents from Santa put together and smaller ones wrapped, Rory and Tristan collapsed next to each other on the floor. Rory felt her back crack into place as she leaned back flat on the floor after having been hunched over rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon.
"Tell me that my gift from you is a years worth of massages."
"You could have done that on the table you know, your back would have been fine," Tristan replied, twisting his hips to the side to stretch out his own sore back.
"It's easier this way, there's more room on the floor."
"Why are we doing this anyway?"
"Mom asked. Actually, she laid on the guilt about how infrequently we visit, and how we're staying free at the Dragonfly."
"Nice tactic."
"At least it's done now. Just think, tomorrow's Christmas Eve," Rory said excitedly.
"So, what'd you get me?" He turned onto his side to look at her.
"Nothing. I'm sorry, is my love and respect not enough for you?" She batted her eyelashes at him.
"Not even a hint, huh?"
"Nope."
"Fine. But I'll remember this tomorrow night when I'm shopping for your gift," he added.
Rory said nothing, she simply shook her head at him as she pulled herself up off the floor. Pleased with himself, he followed her downstairs to get something to eat.
They'd just received their food when Rory's cell phone rang. Luke pointed to the sign but in true Lorelai fashion, she ignored him.
"Hello?"
"Happy Hanukkah!"
"Paris! How are you?"
"We're fine. I just can't get used to this weather."
"How is LA in December?"
"It's hot, we're actually out on the beach right now, but they over- decorate everything to make it seem more Christmassy. Palm trees with lights, wreaths on everything. It's like some creepy Twilight Zone episode."
"Couldn't come home this year, huh?"
"Well, I can't, not with my medical school schedule. Marty could have gone by himself, but he wouldn't go."
"That's nice, that he's staying with you."
"Yeah. I told him to go home and be with his family, but he said he didn't want me to be alone for the holidays."
"That's sweet."
"Yeah, he really is. Rory, I think he's going to ask me to marry him."
"That's so great! Are you sure?" Rory's voice rose, causing Tristan and several others to look at her suddenly.
"He's been all nervous and he has now until New Years overly planned out—there's a definite vibe."
"A marriage vibe?"
"Yes."
"I'm so happy for you! Keep us updated, but I need to go. My food is getting cold and Luke is giving me a death stare."
"Alright. Say hi to Tristan for me."
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
Luke came by, still glaring.
"What? We slaved all day for you and I can't take one very important call?"
"Was it work related?"
"No," she admitted.
He sighed and took her plate.
"HEY! I'm not finished with that!"
"I'm reheating it for you."
"Oh. Thanks," she smiled sheepishly, and then looked to Tristan who'd been observing the exchange.
"You've both got that man whipped."
"You should talk, big man," she teased as she stole a fry off of his plate.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?"
"No plan. Just resting. The next two days will be crazy."
"Good point."
They finished eating and headed back to the Inn. Rory noticed Jess' car back in the lot, but said nothing about it. They had just kicked off their shoes in their room when Tristan's call phone rang. Rory gestured to the door and he waved her on. As she slipped out of the room, he flipped open his phone, though he didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Tristan?"
"This is Tristan."
"Oh, good. This is Bill Walters. We met a few nights ago at the Gilmore party."
"Right. Can I help you?" he asked, uninterested.
"Tristan, I know you don't know me, but I've been seeing your mother the last few months," he began.
"I know. She told me so much."
"You are her only child, you mean everything to her. It's just that, I plan on asking her to marry me, but I wanted your blessing first."
"Look, Bill, she'll do whatever she wants to do. You don't need my approval."
"I know that. But I'd like to you to be happy about it."
"If she's happy, that's all I care about. I told her that."
"So you're okay with this?"
"Yeah. I mean, I guess so. It seems sort of fast to me."
"We aren't teenagers here. And we love each other. She's my world."
Tristan sighed. The guy sounded sincere, but he didn't know what to think. He'd been so relieved when his mom divorced his dad. He just didn't want to see her mistreated again.
"Sure. You have my blessing. Ask her. Just, make sure she's happy," Tristan added.
"Thank you. I'm planning on doing it Christmas morning."
"Then we'll see you that afternoon," Tristan said, hoping to end the call.
"Good, good. We can all celebrate then. Goodbye."
Tristan hung up the phone and reclined on the bed. 'Rory won't believe this,' he thought to himself. Hell, he didn't believe it. He glanced at the clock, wondering where she had wandered off to. Hopefully she'd gone down to score some treats from the kitchen. He decided to read while he waited for her, but soon after he'd settled into the bed, the book fell flat against his chest as he fell to sleep.
Rory slipped out the door when Tristan's phone rang, and walked the short distance to Jess' door. He had to be there, since his car was there. At least she'd hoped so. She didn't know why what Luke had said at the party had bothered her so much, but it had. She stood in front of his door for a moment before feeling ready to knock. She'd barely taken her hand down to her side as the door flew open. Jess stood there in jeans and a t-shirt, staring at her. He noticed she looked surprised, almost as if he had come to see her. This confused him, but he was curious as to what brought her here. After she didn't say anything for a moment, he shifted his weight and ran a hand through his hair.
"Do you want to come in?"
She nodded, wordlessly walking past him into the room. He closed the door and turned to face her.
"So, how was New York?"
"Same as always."
"You missed quite a party."
"I'm sure," he replied. She seemed out of it, and definitely seemed like she wasn't going to cut to the point. He decided to play along, though. "Did something happen at the party?"
"Mostly the same old stuff. Boring people, expensive food. Apple tarts. My dad showed up."
Jess had never met Chris. He'd overheard Lorelai talking about him to Luke before Rory's wedding. She'd been yelling about the balls it'd taken for him to try to worm his way into walking Rory down the aisle. Having not gone to the wedding himself, he'd known from Luke that it'd been Lorelai to who gave Rory away. Rory herself had never mentioned her dad to Jess.
"Oh."
"Why'd you go to New York?" She looked up into his eyes suddenly. He noticed the shiver that cut through him. After all these years, she still had the same effect on him.
"Work. I had to get some manuscripts turned in and pick some new ones up to work on while I'm here," he explained.
"Oh."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I just," she started, obviously getting frustrated. "Did you lie to me the whole time?" she blurted out.
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, Jess. The whole time you and I were together—was anything you said to me the truth?"
"How can you even ask me that?"
"Luke was telling an interesting anecdote at the family party. He was telling Grandma about the time you came to meet her. He said that you got the black eye from a swan."
'Damn,' he thought, sucking in a breath.
"So, unless you, who know more words that I do, somehow frequently confuse 'swan' with 'football', you lied to me."
"Rory," he said softly.
"What?" she snapped.
"Calm down."
"Why should I? You did nothing but lie to me! Was it all a joke to you?"
"No! I wasn't like you, then."
"What does that mean?"
"Why does this even matter now? It's all in the past."
"It matters, Jess. You don't get it, do you?"
"Get what? Why is this so important to you?"
"That was the beginning of the end. That was the first fight, the first time it started to go wrong. You could have fixed it all with the truth, but you didn't."
"I'm sorry. It wasn't easy; I wanted to tell you the truth. I almost did."
"Then why didn't you?"
"I just wasn't ready to be with you then. It was easier to push you away. I knew you'd know I was lying."
She sat down on the edge of his bed. She hadn't expected him to say that at all. It was easier to think that he was just an ass. That he rambled around life, not thinking. But to think this was all a thought out act hit her like a wave.
"Why didn't you just break up with me?"
"I loved you. I didn't want it to end, I just saw no other outcome at the time."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I know. I'm sorry," he sat down beside her, staring at his hands.
"So, a swan beaked you in the eye?"
"Oh god, please, can we not talk about this?"
"But, it's so funny!"
"Rory, come on."
"Fine, fine. Sorry." She apologized, but couldn't help the giggles from surfacing.
"So, is that why you came over here?"
"Yeah, I guess it was. I don't know why that bothered me so much, I guess I've always wondered about all that."
"So, we're good?"
"Yeah, we're good." She looked at him as she stood up to go.
"How weird is it that we're cousins?"
"Don't get me started," she smiled, as she gave him a hug. "It's late, I should go."
"See you tomorrow."
"Right. Night, Jess."
"Night."
He watched her go, back to her room, to her husband. He sighed and let himself fall to the bed. He knew someday they'd hash all this out. He'd expected a lot more yelling, but they were both more mature now. Hindsight had set in a lot. It could be more easily dissected. He knew it probably wasn't over. The awkward conversations, that is. She said they were good, but someday she would ask him the other question that had been bothering her for the longest time—why he wasn't at her wedding. He pushed it out of his mind and opened up another manuscript to start editing.
Rory opened the door to her room, and peeked in. Tristan was asleep sitting half up against pillows, a book opened on his chest. The light was still on. 'He was waiting up for me,' she thought, glad of it. She wanted to talk to him, to be able to tell him about the conversation she just had, the peace she felt, but she knew she wouldn't tell him everything. He wouldn't understand her need for peace after all this time. This was something that was hers, something she always held in to herself. Jess was the only other person in the world that got what it was that held them together. It really couldn't be explained, and she was too tired to try anyway. Instead she slipped into bed, and kissed his forehead while removing the book. He stirred and opened his eyes to see her reaching across him to turn off the light.
"Hey, where'd you disappear to?"
"I went to say hi to Jess."
"Damn. I was hoping you'd snuck to the kitchen."
"Oh, no, I didn't think of that. We could go now, I know Sookie has a ton of those Christmas cookies down there."
"Let's go," Tristan said, pulling her back up with him as they snuck down past the night manager into the kitchen. They sat up half the night, eating cookies and drinking milk. He told her about his phone call, and she told him about Paris' phone call. They laughed and talked all night, like they used to when they'd first started dating. At long last, they fell into bed, just as the sun was coming up over Stars Hollow.