(a/n: this story will indeed have three flashbacks, just to explain a bit more about Tristan's parent's and their connections.Oh, and thank you again Gigi for your e-mail. It may have taken a little bit longer for me to work up the motivation to write this chapter. Hopefully my muse won't fail me in the next few days.)

Tristan opened one eye and was happy to find Rory still there. He almost believed that it had been some wonderful dream. He had now kissed Rory twice, and both times she'd called it a good kiss.

Happily he disentangled himself from the sleeping wonder and moved to the door. He quickly made something for breakfast, just some toast and sausage. The smell made his stomach growl but he needed to take a shower first.

After a short moment of poking around he found the bathroom and started the water. Warm water was his new best friend as he leaned against the tiled walls and closed his eyes.

**Flashback**

A young blonde haired boy started to open the large doors to his father's study. A woman, also blonde and quite lovely closed the door and dropped down to look him in the eyes.

"Tristan sweetheart, you're father's busy. Don't bother him right now."
The boy's lip stuck out as he gave puppy eyes that one day would turn into the look that melted a hundred hearts.

" Why can't we play mommy? He used to play all the time. Does he still like me?"
She bit her lip and thought of how to respond. How do you tell your son his father is too busy?

" Of course love. He just has some work to do. Maybe he'll play with you tomorrow. Okay?"

" Alright, can I go and play in the kitchen?"

" Yes, yes darling of course. I'm leaving for New York tomorrow."

**End Flashback**

Always in the kitchen, he loved to help the current cook. If and when the cooks were fired he always hated to say goodbye. Some of them he knew better than his own parents.
And with his mother always leaving he had the feeling she was trying to get away from her family. Well, she succeeded he thought bitterly.

**Flashback 2**

" That's it, I'm going on vacation." She whirled and made for her room, unabashed by the fight she was still in process of fighting with her son.
"Again mother?" he spit out viciously. " Where to now? Where are you going to get away from your family? Your son, your husband?!" He bitterly slammed a hand down on the end table in the hall.

" I am not running from you. I am NOT hiding!"

" Than what? Why don't you just stay? Just for once mother, please just stay here." He could see her tears, and the conflicting sides trying to decide what to do.

" My flight is tomorrow morning."

**End Flashback 2**
The water ran cold but he didn't notice. He loved his parents, but he didn't know if they could be forgiven just yet. Every time he closed his eyes he saw more wrongs, more problems with his unhappy little family that should have been addressed long ago.

And like everything Tristan had done where his father was concerned, it was too little too late.

**Flashback 3**

" You could have made her stay." Tristan's father had downed half a bottle of Jack Daniel's and was in the 'it's all Tristan's fault I'm in hell' stage. Hopefully he'd just shut up and leave too.

" How? By telling her that you wanted her to? By pushing her around or tying her up. I didn't see you here to help."

To that he said nothing, but under his breath he murmured; " You can't understand."

" Work? You being to busy to make sure you're wife wasn't unhappy? She said she'd be gone a week this time. How are you planning to buy her back? Make her happy again?"

" There's a party, at the Boxwood house. Only a few days after your friend Madeline's party."

**End Flashback 3**


Tristan stepped out of the shower, reaching for a towel. He opened the door and went around towards Rory's room to get dressed.


When Rory woke up, Tristan was no longer in bed and she heard the downstairs shower running. The smell of food drifted under the door and Rory made her way out to the kitchen to get some breakfast.



She was just biting into a piece of toast when he walked, towel clad and dripping, into the kitchen. Her mouth dropped open and the toast fell to the table.

" Stop gawking at me would you? We need to get ready for school." Her eyes widened.

" My bus! I'm gonna miss the bus to Hartford!" She turned to go to her room and get ready but Tristan took hold of her arm.

"Don't worry, I have it under control. And I think I should get dressed in there, seeing as I am only in a towel."

'He just had to bring attention back to that minor; okay major detail, didn't he?.' she thought.

Sliding past her he went to prepare for the day from hell.

(a/n: Expect chapter 8 in the next couple days, most likely the 15th in the afternoon./central US time/ and remeber, im writing this for you, if you have anything you'd like to see happen, or someone you'd like to see apear in this stoy send it to countrykitten87@yahoo.com, i reply to all my mail) oh and ps R&R my other stories too pweeeese? my two fav. things in the world is the WB and Harry Potter (unless you count Simon Ross my cute as a button and true as an arrow,friend)
Love love love love ;) ~Sara