A/N: Someone must not want me to post this chapter! My computer and
internet are against me, and then FF.net was down ugh, I'm sorry. I hate
making everyone wait so long. Right now I'm actually working on chapter 11
so look out for more posts soon. Thanks for all the reviews, they are what
keeps me writing.
Chapter 9
********
Tristan sighed and started his walk along the outskirts of the park. There was a bench not far away and he decided to sit and mull things over for a while. Ha like that will work I've been doing that for the last two years and I haven't thought of a single thing to help my situation.
"How do I get myself into these messes?", he asked head tilted up towards the sky.
"I think you have to figure that out for yourself.", came a voice from behind.
"I guess I can't have all the answers handed to me. How are you doing Alex?", he laughed looking over to acknowledge him.
"Well I had was going to go to Hartford to give someone a message, but now...
...so what are you doing in Stars Hollow Mr. DuGrey?", Alex trailed off to cover his slip up.
"Alex, we have been through this call me Tristan. What kind of message was it?", he said with his trademark smirk, avoiding the question he didn't have an answer to.
"Um...Nothing that can't wait. You never answered my question. What * are * you doing here?", he fumbled.
"That's a question I'm still trying to figure out."
"Where are we?", Lana asked getting out of the car.
"Well if I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise.", he smiled.
"You never said this was a surprise.", she protested.
"I just did. So come on let's go in. Oh and close your eyes.", Travis laughed.
"But...Hmph. Fine lead the way.", she said gesturing for him walk ahead of her, instead he put his arm around her waist and guided her through the door.
He smiled when they opened the door to what Lana now recognized as the place her friend's band plays.
"How did you know about this place?", she asked a little surprised.
"I have my sources.", Travis smirked.
"One of them being having Alex's room at your disposal?", she retorted as they found a table to sit at.
"You've got me all figured out haven't you?", Travis smirked yet again.
"Lana!", called a voice from behind them.
"Em?", Lana replied turning to see her friend Emma.
"The one and only. So who's your friend Lana?", Emma hinted for an introduction.
"The is Travis Griffin, Emma. Travis this is Emma Serici.", Lana provided.
"Griffin," she paused searching her social data base of a brain.
"Oh, so you're Alex's cousin.", she sighed coming to the conclusion that Lana was doing this for him.
"That would be me. Hello Emma.", Travis winked.
"Call me Em. Everyone does. Can I talk to you for a sec Lan?", she asked.
"Sure...Em.", Lana said confused. Travis laughed silently and waved them off saying he would be fine.
"Sorry it will only take a minute, I need to ask about helping me with the next set.", Emma explained pulling Lana away.
"What do you mean, you know last time was a one time deal.", Lana said nervously, Emma always begged her to come sing with her band, but Lana was constantly afraid of public humiliation..
"Did something happen between you and Alex?", she questioned ignoring Lana's last statement and figuring that this would be a good tactic to get her own way.
"No, why do you think that?", Lana wondered aloud. * Where is she going with this? *, she asked herself.
"It's just that the two of you have been joined at the hip as long as I've known you and now you're here with his incredibly cute cousin.", she answered emphasizing incredibly a little too much.
"Em.", she sighed, Emma had always been hinting at her and Alex to become a couple. Crazy right? Of course...
"Fine I'll leave it alone, just as long as you sing with us.", Emma said knowing she was getting nowhere with the other topic.
She sighed, "Fine. What songs?"
"I knew you would see it my way.", Emma said excitedly and started walking towards Travis.
"It looks like we've got ourselves a singer.", Emma announced to him.
Back in Stars Hollow Alex had left Tristan to give him time to 'sort things out', and had headed home. Tristan finally worked up the nerve to confront his ex-wife
* I really hate calling her that, my ex-wife. It sounds so permanent, so final. * he thought to himself.
Remarkably he snuck into the diner unnoticed and pretended to be looking at the menu, to hide the fact he was searching for Rory. His eyes surveyed around the diner then all of the sudden he spoted her. That diner kept Rory alive all her life, without Luke Lorelai might resort to, for God knows what reason, Lorelai's nonexistent cooking skills.
"Mom, I've made a decision.", Rory stated.
"And what would that, by chance, be?", Lorelai asked teasingly.
"I need closure and to get that I have to move on right?", Rory started and Tristan's heart sunk.
"Well that is the concept.", Lorelai joked.
"I'm going to ask out the next guy I meet.", Rory announced, although it was completely unlike her, but hey you can't just sit around and wait forever.
"The only problem with that plan is there are no guys in the diner besides Luke, and Kirk right now. I refuse to let you anywhere near Kirk and Luke is mine."
"What about that guy in the corner.", she asked not recognizing him, but Lorelai did.
"Are you sure Hun? He could be a stalker or ax murder or...", her mother babbled.
"Funny mom, but this is Stars Hollow how bad a guy can I end up with..", Rory interrupted walking towards Tristan, who was in a kind of shock over what he just over heard. This may just be his second chance to make things right.
"...or your ex-husband.", Lorelai muttered.
"Hi. have I seen you here before?", Rory questioned, still not completely seeing his face beneath the menu.
* I really need to work on that opening line thing. It's been way to long. *, she thought.
"Once or twice.", he smiled setting the menu down.
"Oh God", she gasped.
"Hi Mary."
"Tristan...what...are you doing here? I...I thought you would be with your fiancé.", she stuttered in surprise. He always did have that affect on her.
"Well let's just say she wasn't worth a second chance.", he said flatly.
"Tris, I'm so sorry." * Liar! * she yelled at herself, *You hated that lady.*
"Don't be, I'm not. Do you want to go out to dinner with me?", he asked forwardly with a slight knot in his stomach, but he figure it was her intent in the beginning.
"In your dreams.", she smiled.
"Every night.", he replied falling back into there old banter.
"Hmm. Well if you put it that way.", she replied sarcastically.
"Come on Ror, just as friends. We have barely spoken in two years.", Tristan cajoled
"I guess it would be okay."
* Great way to gain closure, Rory. Maybe I don't really want closure. Are you forgetting what he did to you!? People deserve second chances. People do, not the spawn of Satan and I think this would be his third. Oh shut up. *, she debated with herself.
"Rory?", his voice called her out of her reverie.
"Oh sorry."
"Arguing with yourself again?", he asked knowing exactly how her mind worked.
"Don't start DuGrey."
'Oh I haven't begun."
"Really now?", she replied rolling her eyes.
"I will see you Monday night at seven.", he said confidently with a genuine smile. He was finally getting the opportunity to make everything okay again, so that the happy ending to they're fairy tale will be complete.
"I guess so. Let's not tell Lana right away. It's confusing enough as it is.", Rory returned. This might get Lana's hopes up to high, it was only dinner after all. He nodded and got up to leave.
"Bye Bible Boy.", she called as he opened the door to leave.
"Goodbye Mary.", Tristan replied turning back to her and then walking out the door.
Lorelai had, per usual, been listening to the conversation, what can you say it's in her nature, and had hurried over to where her daughter was now sitting.
"What just happened here?", she questioned, her daughter did spend just about two years wishing he would fall off the face of the earth.
"I'm going to dinner with the next guy I saw.", she answered simply.
"That wasn't a guy that was Tristan. This was supposed to bring you closure, not open up old wounds.", Lorelai responded, he hurt her once what should make her so sure he won't do it again?
"Maybe I don't want closure.", she replied uncertainly.
Chapter 9
********
Tristan sighed and started his walk along the outskirts of the park. There was a bench not far away and he decided to sit and mull things over for a while. Ha like that will work I've been doing that for the last two years and I haven't thought of a single thing to help my situation.
"How do I get myself into these messes?", he asked head tilted up towards the sky.
"I think you have to figure that out for yourself.", came a voice from behind.
"I guess I can't have all the answers handed to me. How are you doing Alex?", he laughed looking over to acknowledge him.
"Well I had was going to go to Hartford to give someone a message, but now...
...so what are you doing in Stars Hollow Mr. DuGrey?", Alex trailed off to cover his slip up.
"Alex, we have been through this call me Tristan. What kind of message was it?", he said with his trademark smirk, avoiding the question he didn't have an answer to.
"Um...Nothing that can't wait. You never answered my question. What * are * you doing here?", he fumbled.
"That's a question I'm still trying to figure out."
"Where are we?", Lana asked getting out of the car.
"Well if I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise.", he smiled.
"You never said this was a surprise.", she protested.
"I just did. So come on let's go in. Oh and close your eyes.", Travis laughed.
"But...Hmph. Fine lead the way.", she said gesturing for him walk ahead of her, instead he put his arm around her waist and guided her through the door.
He smiled when they opened the door to what Lana now recognized as the place her friend's band plays.
"How did you know about this place?", she asked a little surprised.
"I have my sources.", Travis smirked.
"One of them being having Alex's room at your disposal?", she retorted as they found a table to sit at.
"You've got me all figured out haven't you?", Travis smirked yet again.
"Lana!", called a voice from behind them.
"Em?", Lana replied turning to see her friend Emma.
"The one and only. So who's your friend Lana?", Emma hinted for an introduction.
"The is Travis Griffin, Emma. Travis this is Emma Serici.", Lana provided.
"Griffin," she paused searching her social data base of a brain.
"Oh, so you're Alex's cousin.", she sighed coming to the conclusion that Lana was doing this for him.
"That would be me. Hello Emma.", Travis winked.
"Call me Em. Everyone does. Can I talk to you for a sec Lan?", she asked.
"Sure...Em.", Lana said confused. Travis laughed silently and waved them off saying he would be fine.
"Sorry it will only take a minute, I need to ask about helping me with the next set.", Emma explained pulling Lana away.
"What do you mean, you know last time was a one time deal.", Lana said nervously, Emma always begged her to come sing with her band, but Lana was constantly afraid of public humiliation..
"Did something happen between you and Alex?", she questioned ignoring Lana's last statement and figuring that this would be a good tactic to get her own way.
"No, why do you think that?", Lana wondered aloud. * Where is she going with this? *, she asked herself.
"It's just that the two of you have been joined at the hip as long as I've known you and now you're here with his incredibly cute cousin.", she answered emphasizing incredibly a little too much.
"Em.", she sighed, Emma had always been hinting at her and Alex to become a couple. Crazy right? Of course...
"Fine I'll leave it alone, just as long as you sing with us.", Emma said knowing she was getting nowhere with the other topic.
She sighed, "Fine. What songs?"
"I knew you would see it my way.", Emma said excitedly and started walking towards Travis.
"It looks like we've got ourselves a singer.", Emma announced to him.
Back in Stars Hollow Alex had left Tristan to give him time to 'sort things out', and had headed home. Tristan finally worked up the nerve to confront his ex-wife
* I really hate calling her that, my ex-wife. It sounds so permanent, so final. * he thought to himself.
Remarkably he snuck into the diner unnoticed and pretended to be looking at the menu, to hide the fact he was searching for Rory. His eyes surveyed around the diner then all of the sudden he spoted her. That diner kept Rory alive all her life, without Luke Lorelai might resort to, for God knows what reason, Lorelai's nonexistent cooking skills.
"Mom, I've made a decision.", Rory stated.
"And what would that, by chance, be?", Lorelai asked teasingly.
"I need closure and to get that I have to move on right?", Rory started and Tristan's heart sunk.
"Well that is the concept.", Lorelai joked.
"I'm going to ask out the next guy I meet.", Rory announced, although it was completely unlike her, but hey you can't just sit around and wait forever.
"The only problem with that plan is there are no guys in the diner besides Luke, and Kirk right now. I refuse to let you anywhere near Kirk and Luke is mine."
"What about that guy in the corner.", she asked not recognizing him, but Lorelai did.
"Are you sure Hun? He could be a stalker or ax murder or...", her mother babbled.
"Funny mom, but this is Stars Hollow how bad a guy can I end up with..", Rory interrupted walking towards Tristan, who was in a kind of shock over what he just over heard. This may just be his second chance to make things right.
"...or your ex-husband.", Lorelai muttered.
"Hi. have I seen you here before?", Rory questioned, still not completely seeing his face beneath the menu.
* I really need to work on that opening line thing. It's been way to long. *, she thought.
"Once or twice.", he smiled setting the menu down.
"Oh God", she gasped.
"Hi Mary."
"Tristan...what...are you doing here? I...I thought you would be with your fiancé.", she stuttered in surprise. He always did have that affect on her.
"Well let's just say she wasn't worth a second chance.", he said flatly.
"Tris, I'm so sorry." * Liar! * she yelled at herself, *You hated that lady.*
"Don't be, I'm not. Do you want to go out to dinner with me?", he asked forwardly with a slight knot in his stomach, but he figure it was her intent in the beginning.
"In your dreams.", she smiled.
"Every night.", he replied falling back into there old banter.
"Hmm. Well if you put it that way.", she replied sarcastically.
"Come on Ror, just as friends. We have barely spoken in two years.", Tristan cajoled
"I guess it would be okay."
* Great way to gain closure, Rory. Maybe I don't really want closure. Are you forgetting what he did to you!? People deserve second chances. People do, not the spawn of Satan and I think this would be his third. Oh shut up. *, she debated with herself.
"Rory?", his voice called her out of her reverie.
"Oh sorry."
"Arguing with yourself again?", he asked knowing exactly how her mind worked.
"Don't start DuGrey."
'Oh I haven't begun."
"Really now?", she replied rolling her eyes.
"I will see you Monday night at seven.", he said confidently with a genuine smile. He was finally getting the opportunity to make everything okay again, so that the happy ending to they're fairy tale will be complete.
"I guess so. Let's not tell Lana right away. It's confusing enough as it is.", Rory returned. This might get Lana's hopes up to high, it was only dinner after all. He nodded and got up to leave.
"Bye Bible Boy.", she called as he opened the door to leave.
"Goodbye Mary.", Tristan replied turning back to her and then walking out the door.
Lorelai had, per usual, been listening to the conversation, what can you say it's in her nature, and had hurried over to where her daughter was now sitting.
"What just happened here?", she questioned, her daughter did spend just about two years wishing he would fall off the face of the earth.
"I'm going to dinner with the next guy I saw.", she answered simply.
"That wasn't a guy that was Tristan. This was supposed to bring you closure, not open up old wounds.", Lorelai responded, he hurt her once what should make her so sure he won't do it again?
"Maybe I don't want closure.", she replied uncertainly.