A/N: Thank you so, so much for the reviews. I've hit thirty!! apple_eye, be patient the answers will come in time, actually there are a few hints in this chapter and Dreamer don't hate me, please. You'll be happy with me for somethings in this chapter, but by the end I can almost guarantee you will hate me, but don't give up on me because things aren't always what they seem. You'll see what I mean. R/R.

:-D

On with the story....







Chapter 7

********



Tristan just sat there in a daze.

"Shouldn't you...I don't know...go after her. Because God knows you didn't go after me.", Rory yelled at Tristan, some things never change.

He didn't like remembering that day. He wanted to erase it from existence. That faithful day when...the past is the past and the past hurts to much to think about.

"She needs time to calm done.", he said lamely and sat down in the seat behind his desk.

"Time? Tristan is that what you thought I needed? Don't screw this one up too. I love you too much to let you do that.", she questioned with a sigh.

* Did say she loves me? She still loves me? I am so pitiful. This is the reason why you haven't talked to her in two years. I should just go find Nicole, get married, make my father happy, and forget Rory. *

"Maybe your right Mar. Maybe I should go after her.", he sighed adverting his eyes from looking at her, it hurt to much.

"Go. Time is a precious thing, don't waste it.", she shooed. Even though she hated this woman, she wanted what was best for everyone, everyone but her.

Tristan walked through the door and looked back at Rory, this was killing her that much he could see, but he had to move on right?



Lana had heard everything, being that she had mastered the art of eavesdropping via Lorelai, and had concluded that this situation was starting to brighten. Her father didn't love Nikki, not by a long shot. Nikki was most likely someone that either Grandfather DuGrey, or another one of his uppity relatives had set him up with in some sorted business proposition.

* Hum now where should I begin. *, she thought.



Nikki had left and Rory was not going to sit there while Tristan made his apologetic phone calls. Not that he should have had to make any. It was all completely innocent, but she of all people should know nothing is innocent with Tristan.

"Lana!", she called.

"Yeah ma?"

"I'm leaving hun. Just do me one favor.", she asked hugging her daughter good bye.

"What?", Lana asked innocently.

"No more temper tantrums.", Rory laughed.

"I'll try. Bye mom."

"Bye.", Rory said walking out the door with a small smile.

"Now I must call Alex so we can get started.", she smirked talking to herself. This is going to be fun.





"Nicole. Nic...Nicole please.", Tristan pleaded with the person on the other end of the receiver.



Nicole: What is that you want?

Tristan: I wanted to explain. Not that there is anything to explain but....

Nicole: Cut to the chase Tristan.

Tristan: It was nothing Nicole. Mar...Rory was upset and worried about Lana. It was nothing.

Nicole: (sighs) I suppose I have to believe you. I'll come back with one condition.

Tristan: What is it? Anything.

Nicole: I don't want you to see Lorry again.

Tristan: It's Rory and how can I not see her she's Lana's mother.

Nicole: I don't know send the brat off to boarding school or let Rory have custody. You figure it out.

Tristan: Wait a second you want me to give up my kid and if I don't you won't marry me?

Nicole: When you put it like that you make me sound like Cruella DeVille, but in essence yes.

Tristan: You can forget it. My child means more to me than anything.

Nicole: Even me...and money.

Tristan: Yes even you and money. What kind of father do you think I am?

Nicole: All right. All right. Don't get all worked up. You just ask for custody.

Tristan: You are impossible. You don't know me at all if you think I would agree with that.

Nicole: You'll sleep on it then?

Tristan slammed down the phone for the second time in two days. Who did this woman think she was. She wanted him to give up Rory...er Lana.



Alex's cell phone rang while he was in the middle of taking someone's order. So he quickly finished taking the order and answered the phone.

Alex: Hello (Luke points to the no phone sign and Jess watches mumbling how some things never change.)

Lana: Hi ho the wicked witch is dead.

Alex: What are you talking about Lan?

Lana: Cruella has left the building.

Alex: (sighs) Quite quoting children's movies and tell what you really mean.

Lana: Blah your no fun. I think we are rid of Nikki once and for all.

Alex: (surprised) What did you do to Mary Poppins? I thought she was here to stay.

Lana: That was before Dad saw my mom again and Nikki threw a fit over nothing. Although it could have been more than nothing given time.

Alex: You're sure that you had nothing to do with it?

Lana: Well aside from basically telling her to hang herself,

Alex: Lana! No death threats I thought you learned from last time.

Lana: Funny. Really I'm rolling on the floor. ANY way I thought I should take more of a role in this little soap opera we have going here and you are going to help me.

Alex: I am?

Lana: (playfully) Yes. Yes you are, because you know you could never resist me.

Alex: (under his breath.) You have no idea.

Lana: (Half hearing him) What?

Alex: Um...nothing. So what were you thinking of.

Lana: Well, you see, that is where you come in my friend.

Alex: Me?

Lana: You know you are going to do whatever I say so stop the one word questions.

Alex: Touchy. Uh oh planning is on hold, your mother just walked in.

Lana: Don't just stand there, go and pick her brain a little.

Alex: Twisted. Oh well bye bye Lorelai.

Lana: Ok Alexander.

Lana was the only one who could ever call him Alexander, even his parents got an ear full when they used that name. Well my mother was named after a city so I guess I got off easy.

He turned around to enter the diner and 'pick Rory's brain' as Lana put it, but Jess had already taken his seat.



"What's wrong Ror?", Jess asked worriedly.

"Um...It's nothing really.", she replied biting her lip. She was the most readable person he knew and she hadn't change much since they were seventeen.

"Rory. I've known you long enough to know when some thing is bothering you. So just tell me what's wrong."

Rory paused a moment to think over telling him and gather her thoughts.

"All right. Well it's...it's just...Tristan."

"Ah well who would have guessed it had to do with Tristan?", he said sarcastically.

"Jess.", she warned. He never did like Tristan.

"Sorry. Sorry. Go on."

"He is, or was not completely sure now, getting remarried.", she paused to see his reaction.

"What do you mean not completely sure? Did you do something?", he insinuated.

"Jess Mariano! How dare you say something like that.", she scolded sarcastically.

"Well it's a legitimate question.", he smiled.

She sighed, "I was upset over something with Lana and he came over to comfort me and she walked in and thought it was something more. Then she stormed out saying how he might not hear from her again."

"Home wrecker.", he laughed. Wrong thing to say.

"Home wrecker!? If anyone should be called that it's that pretentious English snot."

"Whoa there. Calm down Rory. You obviously aren't over him.", he observed.

"I am over him. I've been over him. I told him to go after her," he still wasn't convinced.

"You want me to prove it?", she said looking him straight in the eye.