Tristan made a straight line for the bathroom and turned the water just
short of glacier temperature. If his grandfather's match making didn't give
him heart failure, the look in Rory's eyes most definitely would. He was
almost positive she wasn't ready to take that step. They had just graduated
to the point where she could hold a conversation with him without wanting
to shoot him, the last thing he wanted to do was rush her. But Lord help
him, if she kept looking at him like that he would lose his resolve faster
than Louise lost her underwear at a party.
"Ugh!" Rory was pacing back and forth trying to ignore the sound of the shower next door. The thought of a sopping wet, naked Tristan was not going to help her calm down. She didn't understand him at all. He had pushed her for something physical since the day they met and he just walked away from the tiny window of opportunity she had provided. "Damn it to hell!" She really wanted him to kiss her. She could hear Lorelei in her head right then singing I told you so over and over again. "Shut up wench, I'm still mad at you for the coffee thing." Coffee, she needed coffee. She probably shouldn't leave without telling someone but she really needed to get out of her room. Staring at her bed was winding her tighter than a spring. She couldn't tell Tristan, he was in the shower. "Stop thinking about that!" Her inner dialogue was definately not listening to the words coming out of her mouth. "Janlen, I'll tell Janlen!" She grabbed her purse but stopped with her hand on the door.
Should she interupt his nap? This couldn't be helped, it was a caffeine emergency, leading all Gilmore's to do drastic things. Janlen would understand, he was a Harvard grad. She knocked timidly on his door and tried to stand still. She lost out the the fidgetting and almost jumped out of her skin when the door opened.
"What can I do for you, Rory?" Janlen smiled at the frazzled look on her face. His grandson was starting to get to her.
"I'm sorry to bother you but I really need coffee and I didn't want to go out with out telling anyone"
"Isn't there any coffee in your room?"
"Yes, but it's no good."
"Why didn't you tell Tristan?"
"He's in the shower."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know yet."
"You are just going to wander around town?"
"Enough with the questions, man, I'm in need of coffee!" Rory slapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She just had a Tristan moment and forgot that he was a well respected elder.
Janlen burst out laughing at the horrified look on her face. "It's alright. I didn't get where I was without annoying people. I imagine Tristan picked up that obnoxious habit from me." He smiled genuinely. "Come on, let's go to the cafe' in the lobby and you can tell me what has you so upset."
She eyed him suspitiously. "They serve good coffee there?"
"Not the best but I think you will find it acceptible." Without further thought she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the elevator. Sitting down with a cup of coffee and the pot Rory downed three cups before she even considered speaking. "He's starting to get to you." Janlen chuckled.
"Evil, evil little child."
"I wouldn't call him evil." Janlen frowned.
"Not Tristan. My mother. She stole my coffee."
"Ahh, crime against humanity if I've ever heard one."
"Exactly. People underestimate the power of ambrosia." She nodded resolutely and poured herself another cup. "And to respond to your previous statement yes. He's latched on like a little parasite I can't seem to shake."
"He has a tendancy to do that." Janlen smiled knowingly.
"What am I conquest forty? Fifty?" She huffed into her mug.
"More like the conquering hero." Janlen mumbled.
"What was that?"
"You captured his flag when he wasn't looking."
"His flag being?"
"His heart."
"And you think I have it?" She scoffed.
"My son has many talents, love is not one of them. He married for power and influence. Tristan started out like him, much to my disappointment, until the day an innocent, small town girl walked into his world." Janlen laughed and filled her empty cup. "He went to North Carolina to become a man, but he came back to Hartford reclaim his heart." He met her gaze with unwavering sincerity.
"If he loves me so much, then why does he spend so much time trying to piss me off?"
"He doesn't know how to love, Rory. He's trying, don't be too hard on him if he falls back into the game."
"I can't decide if you are wise beyond your years or crazy as a loon." She studied him seriously.
"Go with wise beyond my years, it inflates my fragile ego." He chuckled at the girl.
"Fragile, my butt. Your ego is just as healthy as Tristan's" She shook her head and drained the last of the coffee.
"Feeling better?"
"Definately awake now."
"Then we should head back upstairs. I'm not looking forward to going to lunch in my pajamas."
For the first time Rory noticed he was still in his flannel pants and fuzzy slippers. She tried to force out her apologies between giggles as he stood and offered her his arm. "I'm sure Tristan would be mildly embarrassed."
"You wouldn't be?"
"No, Mom drags me to Luke's diner in her pajama's all the time. It's the price of a coffee addiction."
"I will have to meet her sometime."
'I think you will find her an interesting charecter. She's crazy you know."
"Always a good quality in a woman. Makes it easier for you to handle old farts like me." Laughter filled the hallway as the doors to the elevator closed.
"Grandfather, have you seen Rory?" Tristan walked into Janlen's suite and searched the rooms. "Grandfather!" He was starting to panic. He had left her alone in her room to take a shower but she was nowhere to be found and now Janlen was missing as well. "Stop panicking, they're fine."
The door opening started him out of his thoughts. "Ahh, tristan. We wo't have to come looking for you after all." Janlen smiled.
"Where have you been. I was worried sick."
"Ahh, Dad, I just wanted some coffee." Rory whined and dropped down on the couch.
"You have coffee in your room."
"Let me clarify." She rolled her eyes for emphasis. "Good coffee." Bouncing slightly where she sat, she glanced quickly around the room.
Tristan just sighed and shook his head. He placed his hand on her shoulder to still her. "How much did he let you have?"
"I don't know I lost count." She smiled smugly as she leaned in to whisper. "And don't think I didn't notice you gave me decaf in the room."
He had the decency to look embarrassed. "How did you know?"
"I live on coffee, I can taste the difference." She sneered hoping he would believe her bluff. Truth was, she watched him pick up the canister, but if he thought she really could tell the difference maybe he wouldn't try it again.
"Oh." He crowded her slightly. "And we wouldn't want her highness to be unhappy now would we?"
"Not if you want to survive this trip!" She took a step away from him sudenly uncomfortable with his proximity to her.
"What's the matter am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Ugh, grow up DuGrey." She hissed as she turned and walked out of the room. "I'm going to change."
"Not the smartest way to win over a woman Tristan," Janlen chuckled from his spot on the sofa.
"I know, she just makes me so..." He threw his hands up in the air in defeat. "Ahh!"
"You better go smooth things over before she decides to stab you with your salad fork at lunch."
"Fine," Tristan huffed and walked out into the hall.
"This is going to be an interesting week to say the least," Janlen smiled and picked up his newspaper. "Mary!" Tristan jogged down the hallway to catch up with the girl walking away from him. Why did she always seem to be doing that? "Rory!"
She stopped and waited until he caught up to her, surprised when he came to stand in front of her. "Practicing name games?"
"Thought I'd give it a shot, see how many names I can get you to respond to."
"One," she said simply, inserting the key in her door.
"Wait," he grabbed the knob and held it closed against her attempts to enter.
"So you can finish whatever game you started in there? I don't think so," she snorted, again trying to push the door open.
"Would you stop for a second?" Impatience was starting to creep into his voice. He was trying to apologize, for crying out loud!
"No! Not when you're trying to MAKE me do something. God, déjà vu?"
Something flickered in his eyes at her subtle reminder of the "P.J. Harvey incident", as he had come to call it. "Forget it. I was going to try and smooth things over cause I hadn't meant to piss you off-just never mind."
Rory felt a pang of guilt rip through her as he turned and hastily unlocked his own door. "Tristan, wait-"
"I said forget it, Mary."
Rory watched as his door slammed shut on her face, unsure of what she had done to trigger the sudden coldness from him...it wasn't like him. Brows furrowed in confusion, she turned and went into her own room.
The phone in his room was ringing insistently as he locked his door back and stalked across to throw himself on the bed. Ignoring the sound, he closed his eyes and waited for it to stop...and waited...and waited. With a growl of frustration, he grabbed the phone. "What?" he barked into the receiver.
"I hope your tone was gentler when you apologized to her."
Tristan flopped back and ran a hand tiredly over his face. "I tried."
"And?"
"She was being stubborn, I was stubborn, she brought up a memory I'd rather not relive, I walked out on her."
"When she made up with her boyfriend?" the old man asked.
"No, but you're close," he sighed.
"When she said 'no' to the concert?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah," he chuckled humorlessly. "She actually used that against me. Didn't think she had it in her."
"I doubt she knows how much that hurt you."
"Right. How could she not?"
"You're both feeling vulnerable, Tristan, and she doesn't understand why you were acting the way you were...or are now, I'm sure."
"Maybe," Tristan turned his head to look at their connecting door, "but I don't really want my heart broken."
"It's a risk you have to take to deserve her."
"I know, Grandfather, I know."
"Will she be joining us for lunch?"
"I'll try," the younger man promised, hanging up the phone and again running a hand over his face. Trying to gather his resolve to go try again, he was surprised when he heard her timid knock on his door. Slowly going to open it, he saw her standing in the hallway with a lost look on her face.
"That was a cheap shot, and I know it. I should never have used it. You were being nice and I, being the idiot that I am, was acting like a bitch." She watched a tiny smile curve his lips. "I'm sorry."
"Forgiven on one term."
"What?" she asked, wary of what he had in store for her.
"Don't ever call yourself a bitch," he said simply, shaking his head.
She chuckled in relief and smiled. "Deal. You still up for lunch?"
"What, you think you have one cheap shot and are free of me? Sorry, Babe, that's not how it works."
"I should have known to expect nothing else from you." She rolled her eyes, but there was a playful sparkle that belied her words.
"I thought you were going to change." He gestured to her rumpled outfit.
"Oh, well you see," she started sheepishly, "I spent the first few minutes being a dunce and having to figure out what I did, then I spent the next few minutes getting enough guts to come over here."
A smirk formed on his face as his eyes again swept her. "Next time you look this rumpled, I'd like to think I've had a more active role in making you that way." Watching the heat take over her face and turn her cheeks a rosy hue, he waited for the inevitable comeback.
"In that case, I'm not sure the hotel has enough water for all the cold showers you'll need." Her response was lame and delayed, but after her thoughts this morning, the mere reference to sex was leaving her slightly off her game. "Now, there's a sweet older gentleman waiting for us to go to lunch, so I'm gonna go change and pray you stay out of trouble while I'm gone." Turning and going back to her room, she failed to hear his mumbled response.
"The only trouble I want is with you; or didn't you know?"
AN: Crappy place to leave it, I know, but I'm already getting the next chapter ready to go, so if you all insist, I'll get my lazy butt to post it this weekend. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this part. Sorry for the delay. Oh, and the crappy title. You wouldn't believe how brain dead I went when I tried to come up with one.
"Ugh!" Rory was pacing back and forth trying to ignore the sound of the shower next door. The thought of a sopping wet, naked Tristan was not going to help her calm down. She didn't understand him at all. He had pushed her for something physical since the day they met and he just walked away from the tiny window of opportunity she had provided. "Damn it to hell!" She really wanted him to kiss her. She could hear Lorelei in her head right then singing I told you so over and over again. "Shut up wench, I'm still mad at you for the coffee thing." Coffee, she needed coffee. She probably shouldn't leave without telling someone but she really needed to get out of her room. Staring at her bed was winding her tighter than a spring. She couldn't tell Tristan, he was in the shower. "Stop thinking about that!" Her inner dialogue was definately not listening to the words coming out of her mouth. "Janlen, I'll tell Janlen!" She grabbed her purse but stopped with her hand on the door.
Should she interupt his nap? This couldn't be helped, it was a caffeine emergency, leading all Gilmore's to do drastic things. Janlen would understand, he was a Harvard grad. She knocked timidly on his door and tried to stand still. She lost out the the fidgetting and almost jumped out of her skin when the door opened.
"What can I do for you, Rory?" Janlen smiled at the frazzled look on her face. His grandson was starting to get to her.
"I'm sorry to bother you but I really need coffee and I didn't want to go out with out telling anyone"
"Isn't there any coffee in your room?"
"Yes, but it's no good."
"Why didn't you tell Tristan?"
"He's in the shower."
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know yet."
"You are just going to wander around town?"
"Enough with the questions, man, I'm in need of coffee!" Rory slapped her hand over her mouth as soon as the words came out of her mouth. She just had a Tristan moment and forgot that he was a well respected elder.
Janlen burst out laughing at the horrified look on her face. "It's alright. I didn't get where I was without annoying people. I imagine Tristan picked up that obnoxious habit from me." He smiled genuinely. "Come on, let's go to the cafe' in the lobby and you can tell me what has you so upset."
She eyed him suspitiously. "They serve good coffee there?"
"Not the best but I think you will find it acceptible." Without further thought she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the elevator. Sitting down with a cup of coffee and the pot Rory downed three cups before she even considered speaking. "He's starting to get to you." Janlen chuckled.
"Evil, evil little child."
"I wouldn't call him evil." Janlen frowned.
"Not Tristan. My mother. She stole my coffee."
"Ahh, crime against humanity if I've ever heard one."
"Exactly. People underestimate the power of ambrosia." She nodded resolutely and poured herself another cup. "And to respond to your previous statement yes. He's latched on like a little parasite I can't seem to shake."
"He has a tendancy to do that." Janlen smiled knowingly.
"What am I conquest forty? Fifty?" She huffed into her mug.
"More like the conquering hero." Janlen mumbled.
"What was that?"
"You captured his flag when he wasn't looking."
"His flag being?"
"His heart."
"And you think I have it?" She scoffed.
"My son has many talents, love is not one of them. He married for power and influence. Tristan started out like him, much to my disappointment, until the day an innocent, small town girl walked into his world." Janlen laughed and filled her empty cup. "He went to North Carolina to become a man, but he came back to Hartford reclaim his heart." He met her gaze with unwavering sincerity.
"If he loves me so much, then why does he spend so much time trying to piss me off?"
"He doesn't know how to love, Rory. He's trying, don't be too hard on him if he falls back into the game."
"I can't decide if you are wise beyond your years or crazy as a loon." She studied him seriously.
"Go with wise beyond my years, it inflates my fragile ego." He chuckled at the girl.
"Fragile, my butt. Your ego is just as healthy as Tristan's" She shook her head and drained the last of the coffee.
"Feeling better?"
"Definately awake now."
"Then we should head back upstairs. I'm not looking forward to going to lunch in my pajamas."
For the first time Rory noticed he was still in his flannel pants and fuzzy slippers. She tried to force out her apologies between giggles as he stood and offered her his arm. "I'm sure Tristan would be mildly embarrassed."
"You wouldn't be?"
"No, Mom drags me to Luke's diner in her pajama's all the time. It's the price of a coffee addiction."
"I will have to meet her sometime."
'I think you will find her an interesting charecter. She's crazy you know."
"Always a good quality in a woman. Makes it easier for you to handle old farts like me." Laughter filled the hallway as the doors to the elevator closed.
"Grandfather, have you seen Rory?" Tristan walked into Janlen's suite and searched the rooms. "Grandfather!" He was starting to panic. He had left her alone in her room to take a shower but she was nowhere to be found and now Janlen was missing as well. "Stop panicking, they're fine."
The door opening started him out of his thoughts. "Ahh, tristan. We wo't have to come looking for you after all." Janlen smiled.
"Where have you been. I was worried sick."
"Ahh, Dad, I just wanted some coffee." Rory whined and dropped down on the couch.
"You have coffee in your room."
"Let me clarify." She rolled her eyes for emphasis. "Good coffee." Bouncing slightly where she sat, she glanced quickly around the room.
Tristan just sighed and shook his head. He placed his hand on her shoulder to still her. "How much did he let you have?"
"I don't know I lost count." She smiled smugly as she leaned in to whisper. "And don't think I didn't notice you gave me decaf in the room."
He had the decency to look embarrassed. "How did you know?"
"I live on coffee, I can taste the difference." She sneered hoping he would believe her bluff. Truth was, she watched him pick up the canister, but if he thought she really could tell the difference maybe he wouldn't try it again.
"Oh." He crowded her slightly. "And we wouldn't want her highness to be unhappy now would we?"
"Not if you want to survive this trip!" She took a step away from him sudenly uncomfortable with his proximity to her.
"What's the matter am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Ugh, grow up DuGrey." She hissed as she turned and walked out of the room. "I'm going to change."
"Not the smartest way to win over a woman Tristan," Janlen chuckled from his spot on the sofa.
"I know, she just makes me so..." He threw his hands up in the air in defeat. "Ahh!"
"You better go smooth things over before she decides to stab you with your salad fork at lunch."
"Fine," Tristan huffed and walked out into the hall.
"This is going to be an interesting week to say the least," Janlen smiled and picked up his newspaper. "Mary!" Tristan jogged down the hallway to catch up with the girl walking away from him. Why did she always seem to be doing that? "Rory!"
She stopped and waited until he caught up to her, surprised when he came to stand in front of her. "Practicing name games?"
"Thought I'd give it a shot, see how many names I can get you to respond to."
"One," she said simply, inserting the key in her door.
"Wait," he grabbed the knob and held it closed against her attempts to enter.
"So you can finish whatever game you started in there? I don't think so," she snorted, again trying to push the door open.
"Would you stop for a second?" Impatience was starting to creep into his voice. He was trying to apologize, for crying out loud!
"No! Not when you're trying to MAKE me do something. God, déjà vu?"
Something flickered in his eyes at her subtle reminder of the "P.J. Harvey incident", as he had come to call it. "Forget it. I was going to try and smooth things over cause I hadn't meant to piss you off-just never mind."
Rory felt a pang of guilt rip through her as he turned and hastily unlocked his own door. "Tristan, wait-"
"I said forget it, Mary."
Rory watched as his door slammed shut on her face, unsure of what she had done to trigger the sudden coldness from him...it wasn't like him. Brows furrowed in confusion, she turned and went into her own room.
The phone in his room was ringing insistently as he locked his door back and stalked across to throw himself on the bed. Ignoring the sound, he closed his eyes and waited for it to stop...and waited...and waited. With a growl of frustration, he grabbed the phone. "What?" he barked into the receiver.
"I hope your tone was gentler when you apologized to her."
Tristan flopped back and ran a hand tiredly over his face. "I tried."
"And?"
"She was being stubborn, I was stubborn, she brought up a memory I'd rather not relive, I walked out on her."
"When she made up with her boyfriend?" the old man asked.
"No, but you're close," he sighed.
"When she said 'no' to the concert?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah," he chuckled humorlessly. "She actually used that against me. Didn't think she had it in her."
"I doubt she knows how much that hurt you."
"Right. How could she not?"
"You're both feeling vulnerable, Tristan, and she doesn't understand why you were acting the way you were...or are now, I'm sure."
"Maybe," Tristan turned his head to look at their connecting door, "but I don't really want my heart broken."
"It's a risk you have to take to deserve her."
"I know, Grandfather, I know."
"Will she be joining us for lunch?"
"I'll try," the younger man promised, hanging up the phone and again running a hand over his face. Trying to gather his resolve to go try again, he was surprised when he heard her timid knock on his door. Slowly going to open it, he saw her standing in the hallway with a lost look on her face.
"That was a cheap shot, and I know it. I should never have used it. You were being nice and I, being the idiot that I am, was acting like a bitch." She watched a tiny smile curve his lips. "I'm sorry."
"Forgiven on one term."
"What?" she asked, wary of what he had in store for her.
"Don't ever call yourself a bitch," he said simply, shaking his head.
She chuckled in relief and smiled. "Deal. You still up for lunch?"
"What, you think you have one cheap shot and are free of me? Sorry, Babe, that's not how it works."
"I should have known to expect nothing else from you." She rolled her eyes, but there was a playful sparkle that belied her words.
"I thought you were going to change." He gestured to her rumpled outfit.
"Oh, well you see," she started sheepishly, "I spent the first few minutes being a dunce and having to figure out what I did, then I spent the next few minutes getting enough guts to come over here."
A smirk formed on his face as his eyes again swept her. "Next time you look this rumpled, I'd like to think I've had a more active role in making you that way." Watching the heat take over her face and turn her cheeks a rosy hue, he waited for the inevitable comeback.
"In that case, I'm not sure the hotel has enough water for all the cold showers you'll need." Her response was lame and delayed, but after her thoughts this morning, the mere reference to sex was leaving her slightly off her game. "Now, there's a sweet older gentleman waiting for us to go to lunch, so I'm gonna go change and pray you stay out of trouble while I'm gone." Turning and going back to her room, she failed to hear his mumbled response.
"The only trouble I want is with you; or didn't you know?"
AN: Crappy place to leave it, I know, but I'm already getting the next chapter ready to go, so if you all insist, I'll get my lazy butt to post it this weekend. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this part. Sorry for the delay. Oh, and the crappy title. You wouldn't believe how brain dead I went when I tried to come up with one.