A/N: Again I want to thank you all so much for both reading and reviewing
my story. It seems amazing to me that you do either. I hope you all like
this chapter... I took a longer time on it than I expected, again I
apologize. I'm going to try and keep this short so I won't say anymore, I
consently say too much as it is.
¤Kari¤
Chapter 25
**********
'Nothingness. Blank. Desolate. Bland. Hmm. I need new paint.' , she thought as she stared at her plain white ceiling.
It had been hours since she left Tristan. Hours since she had gotten to her empty apartment. Hours since she had attempted to go to bed, and still sleep and soundness of mind were on vacation. Her anxiety was overwhelming her. Guilt was racking her conscience. Tristan was on the edge of every thought.
It was starting to get a little cold, but she was to lazy to get up and turn the heat on. The last time she looked over at the fuzzy alarm clock it was two in the morning, and she had no desire to know how much more time she spent watching her ceiling. Her eyes were glued mindlessly to it like those of a person watching info-mercials into all hours of the night.
She didn't know what to do. She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and she needed someone to talk her down. Finally tearing her eyes from the ceiling she looked towards the phone on her night stand. She picked it up and looked at it, debating wither or not to use it.
'Hello?', a groggy voice answered.
"Hey.", Rory replied nervously.
'Mar?', Tristan asked, a little concerned.
"What are we doing?", she said quickly.
'Don't know about you, but at three in the morning some of us try to sleep.', he joked.
"I didn't realize it was that early. Sorry.", she sighed submissively, almost ready to hang up, questions unanswered.
'Ror, wait what's wrong.'
"What are we going to tell her? Tell everyone? God, my mother won't be happy.", she ranted with renewed vigor.
'Lorelai still doesn't like me.', he joked again.
"She doesn't like having things kept from her. Paris too. She'll go off the handle.", Rory went on as if he had said nothing.
'She might.'
"Tr-is. You're not helping.", she whined weakly. At 3 am she was prone to whining.
'I'm sorry. I wish I could be over there with you right now and make you feel better about this, but... .', he sighed. He hated hearing her like this, it made him nuts. And what made him even more nuts was that she was all the way in Stars Hollow where he could do almost nothing to help her with this.
"I do too.", she said with a small smile. Silence ensued for a few minutes.
"First we have to figure out what is actually going on with us. What are we doing? What are 'we' exactly, anyway?", Rory broke the silence. She needed to know where she stood, at the risk of talking it to death.
'Whatever it is I don't want it to stop.', Tristan said seriously but with a suggestive tone. He knew all the right answers didn't he?
"So we tell them that we've started over. That we're...dating?.", she proposed, a little unsure of herself.
'And we'll go from there.', he added insinuatingly. She had a feeling that when she woke up later she would find her early morning phone call a little on the crazy side. More than a little to be sure.
"Thank you."
'I live to please my Mary.', she could hear his smirk.
"Bye Bible Boy. I'll see you and Lana for dinner later."
' 'Night, sleep tight.'
"I will.", she said as she hung up. Oddly enough she fell right to sleep, like a little baby who had just been given back their magic blankie.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Lan!", Emma greeted her depressed looking friend.
"Huh? Oh hi.", she nodded mutely, eyes glued to the pavement as she walked.
"What happened?", Emma grabbed her arm, causing her to stop in the middle of the parking lot.
"Nothing.", Lana answered unconvincingly. Emma shot her a disbelieving look.
"Lana!", Alex called, practically running to catch up with them. Lana bit her lip and started walking again. Suddenly it became clear to Emma that they must have had some sort of fight. But since when do they fight?
"Lana...don't overreact like this.", he said now only a few steps behind her.
* Ouch, bad thing to say Alex. *, Emma commented mentally. Lana spun around and opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She shook her head and walked...well ran into the school.
"What was that?", Emma questioned.
"We had a little fight.", he said looking like he had hit an all time low.
"Obviously. Care to fill me in?", she replied sarcastically.
"After the party we went to her house to watch movies and walked in on her parents.", he retold dully. Emma's eye widened.
"Traumatizing.", she scrunched up her nose.
"No! No, not like that. Just watching a movie on the couch, her mother had fallen asleep. Anyway we went to my house to watch our movie and... I was an idiot, according to her."
Emma was becoming a little impatient, because this was answering none of her questions. "And? Go on."
"You know how she gets when she has the slightest idea of them getting back together," Emma nodded impatiently, "Well I told her not to get her hopes up and that she shouldn't...jump to conclusions."
"Never rationalize with her!", Emma shook her head disapprovingly and started walking faster to the building.
"She barricaded herself in the kitchen and used Franklin as a buffer between the two of us because she didn't want to talk to me and couldn't go home yet.", Alex said tiredly. Emma didn't even respond, she ran to go find Lana, leaving Alex standing alone in the center of the bustling hallway.
~*~*~
"Em, it's not that simple.", Lana sighed. Emma had cornered her in the library while researching for their first period English class.
"Yes it is. Just accept his apology. He was only trying to look out for you.", Emma tried to persuade her.
"I don't know.", she lowered her voice upon receiving a death glare from the librarian.
"He loves you Lan." A shiver ran down Lana's spine. She had been fighting against feeling since the fight occurred. She shoved herself in her shell, a cold, hollow place that she ran to for solitude.
"You're wrong Em. It...it just doesn't work that way. It's too perfect.", she stared down at her paper, highlighting passages furiously.
"Lorelai Ann DuGrey, this was your first fight. My God it's been what... a week, for you guys? I thought if anyone could last longer than that it would be you two." Lana said nothing to her defense and went on highlighting.
"Lan, it's his job to keep you rational. He doesn't want you hurt. You have to believe that.", Emma continued kindly.
"Thank you for that impassioned little speech but can we just not talk for a while. I need to think.", Lana she agitatedly.
"Whatever you say.", Emma tried to keep the harsh, sarcastic tone out of her voice. She noticed an all to familiar face walking towards them. She got up to meet him, before he got to the table.
"Excuse me Lan...," she excused herself and got up, although Lana paid her no attention.
"No, no, no.", she said to herself as she reached him.
"Someone has a horrible short term memory. I thought you weren't gonna chase after her anymore?"
"Who said I was? Maybe I was coming to visit someone else.", Travis said coolly.
"Namely?"
"You?", he looked her straight in the eyes. In the jumbled mass of thoughts and schemes that made up Travis' mind, there was a kind of determination. A determination slightly different from the one seen while he pursued Lana. It was a determination to attain the unattainable.
"Not buying it.", she replied flatly, maintaining eye contact. In Emma's eyes there was utter defiance and mistrust.
"Not very trusting are you?"
"Not of people like you."
"Like me?"
"Like you.", she rolled her eyes and sat down at a computer in an attempt to actually get some research finished.
"As much as you like to think you know me and people 'like me' you don't.", he sat next to her.
"Don't I? You're kind is extremely competitive. You hate things that don't go your way and love the thrill of the chase. Am I right?", she analyzed.
"You say that like it's a bad thing.", he smirked.
"Oh and let's not forget what happens when the chase is over and you get what you want. The girl and/or object gets kicked to the curb."
"That's not true. I thought you were more perceptive than that, Emma."
"You know when I told you to find new friends I did not mean me.", she glared at him.
"Aww now come on Emma. You can't hate me that much."
"Haha that's what you think.", Emma retorted, eyes roaming over the computer monitor, looking for the right site.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to research this report, but someone keeps interrupting me.", she replied agitatedly.
"Is that what you're doing?", he smiled obnoxiously.
"Yes.", she said, teeth clenched.
"Someone's cranky.", he commented. Why did she have to get involved? Why didn't she just let Lana and Alex deal with him? So many questions. Now she would have to put up with this ass for how long?
"Only because someone makes me that way."
"Nice to know I have some effect on you."
"Go away Travis."
"If that's what you really want."
"It is.", she said firmly.
"Fine, but I'll be back."
"Whatever you say Arnold.", she said sarcastically. She feared what his newly vested interest in her meant. Instinctively she knew she was meant to be his next 'conquest' and she was disgusted by the idea of being thought of by someone so arrogant, cold, and self absorbed as Travis Griffin.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Morning Rory.", Jess said shortly.
"Morning Jess.", she greeted cautiously.
"Paris called here last night.", he stated. * Shit. *
"Uh...did she now?", Rory replied nervously.
"Yea, she wanted to talk to you about deadlines or something, but she couldn't find you anywhere and Lorelai wasn't home."
"Hmm."
"Hmm is right since you were supposed to be having dinner with her."
"Did you..."
"I told her you and Lorelai went out to eat."
"Thanks Jess.", she replied meekly.
"So you know I was thinking that since I braved a conversation Paris, covered for you, was lied to and am family, I deserve to know what you were really doing.", he said dryly. She pulled in a sharp breath.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry."
"I know, now is there anything you want to tell me about.", he coaxed, although he had an idea. Paris had added unto his suspicions last night when she rattled on about where she assumed Rory to be.
"We wanted to tell everyone at once but you deserve to know.... Well, Tristan and I are dating again.", she smiled nervously, trying to gage his reaction.
"Really? Congratulations.", he smiled wryly. As Paris said it was a never ending cycle with those two.
"You're not going to yell at me?", she sounded relieved. One could only hope that the rest of her family would react so coolly and rationally.
"I'm not surprised if that's what you mean."
"I thought you hated him?"
"Now don't be so harsh. I've made just as many mistakes as our beloved Tristan, if not more. I can't be the one to judge.", he said sarcastically, albeit honestly.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Not biting my head off."
"Isn't that Tristan's job." Rory rolled her eyes and left to go off to work. Hoping not to be grilled by Paris. But there was no such luck on that point.
*
"Rory! Hi. Did Jess give you my message?", Paris rose from her desk talking quickly.
"Slow down there. Yes Jess told me you called. What is it you wanted?"
"I was wonder if you could speak German.", Paris asked curiously.
"Huh?...German...", Rory was a little disoriented. That was a little out of left field.
"Mine is a little rusty, but I thought you might know. I'm always weary of using a translator. They don't always get things right and...well from the look on your face you don't speak German.", she ranted on rather quickly.
"Why do I need to speak German? And did you take your medication this morning?"
"We have a correspondent from Germany and I thought we'd gain some trust by speaking the language. We need to find out everything he knows and that won't happen if we don't..."
"Starbucks screwed up your order again huh?", Rory interrupted when she saw the Starbucks cup in her hand.
"Not a competent person there, I swear."
"Breathe. In and out. Never forget that.", Rory joked.
"Sorry, sorry caffeine and me don't mix. So how was dinner with Lorelai?"
"Okay.", she replied evasively. She figured it best to stay with Jess' lie and wait till Lana and Lorelai knew to tell Paris about Tristan.
"Just okay?", Paris scrunched up her nose.
"Yea. Just okay.", she nodded.
"No funny little anecdote? No story?"
"Nope."
"Nothing? Not even a crude story about Lorelai asking a seventy year old man if he needed a refill on his Viagra while he was eating with his twenty year old wife?", Paris prodded, throwing out a random example. Past encounters with Lorelai made it impossible to put it past her.
"Never ever talk about old men and their... medications. It's disturbing. Never again Paris. What goes on in that mind of yours? No wait I don't want to know.", She slide out of the room before she could be further questioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The work day crawled by for Tristan. He was eager to get home to his newly mending family. The only apprehension in his day was the messages his secretary was giving him. They were all from one person....
"Mr. DuGrey, um Mr. DuGrey called for you during lunch. He said it was important. He also called an hour ago, and ten minutes ago as well. Would you still like for me to tell him you are not in?", the timid secretary recited from the door way to his office.
"If you would Sherice, next time he calls, which I'm sure will be any minute, tell my father I have gone home for the evening.", he said in an exasperated tone. His father's severity was one to rival that of the infamous Hayden's. But then Rory's grandparents were not in the position to reek so much havoc as the DuGrey patriarch.
"Very well Sir.", she nodded in assent and turned out the door.
Tristan sighed and collected his things. He knew how horrible his new secretary was at lying, and how easily she might slip up so he thought it best to leave then before his father saw fit to personally come down to the office.
He snuck past his staff and past Sherice of course. God only knows what could happen if his father found out he actually was at home. His father wasn't the most reasonable man... especially when he felt betrayed.
That morning his daughter wasn't exactly in the mood he expected, but when he informed her that they needed to have a 'family' dinner tonight her mood visibly lifted. She was almost as set on all this happening as he was. Almost. He had been wanting this for a long time and he was hell-bent on making it happen. Pity is the only thing to be felt for anyone who would stand in his way.
*~*~*~
"No spaghetti tonight?", Rory said in a false pout.
"Although I do love spaghetti night, no. Our daughter is eating with us tonight.", Tristan smirked as he heard her voice ring through the kitchen.
"We we're found out today.", she said lightly as he pulled her into a warm hug and gave her an eager kiss.
"What else is new?", Tristan laughed at her.
"I resent that! I'm not that bad.", she swatted at him playfully and retaliated with another kiss.
"Not at all.", he smirked earning a reproachful glare.
"Jess caught me in a lie, because of Paris. So I had to tell him."
"Everyone needs to find out eventually.", he replied coolly, grinning both inside out.
"Speaking of that where is Lana?"
"She was around here some...", Tristan started.
"I'm right here mom.", Lana popped into the kitchen with the days ever evasive smile.
"How do you time that so well?"
"Oh you know she hides behind corners and waits for her cue.", Rory answered, not doubting the truth of her statement.
"Damn she's found me out.", Lana countered sarcastically.
"Well with all those years around Lorelai, what do you expect?", Tristan added his in two cents.
"Ok, ok. Enough insulting family, let's eat dinner.", Rory ended the family banter for the moment, and each grabbed a part of the meal and set it down in the dining room.
*~*~
"On a more serious note Lana I-we have something to tell you.", Rory again initiated.
"Yes, I'm sure you have notice that things have been a little different lately.", Tristan took her hand under the table. Of course Lana had already realized all this and new what was coming but they felt the need of a formal explanation.
"Just a tad.", Lana responded sarcastically, observing their clasped hands and the looks they constantly throw each other. As happy as she was for them and the family, she was almost depressed by the sight of them.
"Well your father and I are...we've started...", Rory tried, first interrupted by her quest for the right words and secondly interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. That damn doorbell.
"I'll get it.", she volunteered, but Lana instantly sprung from her seat and decidedly told them that she would go, affording them time to "gather their thoughts".
It crossed her mind that perhaps it was Alex and she was looking forward to rubbing his nose in her apparent victory. So she opened the door with a triumphant smile set in it's place. Her smile sunk when she opened the door.
"Good evening Lorelai."
"Uh... Hello Grandfather.", Lana stumbled. * Shit. *
¤Kari¤
Chapter 25
**********
'Nothingness. Blank. Desolate. Bland. Hmm. I need new paint.' , she thought as she stared at her plain white ceiling.
It had been hours since she left Tristan. Hours since she had gotten to her empty apartment. Hours since she had attempted to go to bed, and still sleep and soundness of mind were on vacation. Her anxiety was overwhelming her. Guilt was racking her conscience. Tristan was on the edge of every thought.
It was starting to get a little cold, but she was to lazy to get up and turn the heat on. The last time she looked over at the fuzzy alarm clock it was two in the morning, and she had no desire to know how much more time she spent watching her ceiling. Her eyes were glued mindlessly to it like those of a person watching info-mercials into all hours of the night.
She didn't know what to do. She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown and she needed someone to talk her down. Finally tearing her eyes from the ceiling she looked towards the phone on her night stand. She picked it up and looked at it, debating wither or not to use it.
'Hello?', a groggy voice answered.
"Hey.", Rory replied nervously.
'Mar?', Tristan asked, a little concerned.
"What are we doing?", she said quickly.
'Don't know about you, but at three in the morning some of us try to sleep.', he joked.
"I didn't realize it was that early. Sorry.", she sighed submissively, almost ready to hang up, questions unanswered.
'Ror, wait what's wrong.'
"What are we going to tell her? Tell everyone? God, my mother won't be happy.", she ranted with renewed vigor.
'Lorelai still doesn't like me.', he joked again.
"She doesn't like having things kept from her. Paris too. She'll go off the handle.", Rory went on as if he had said nothing.
'She might.'
"Tr-is. You're not helping.", she whined weakly. At 3 am she was prone to whining.
'I'm sorry. I wish I could be over there with you right now and make you feel better about this, but... .', he sighed. He hated hearing her like this, it made him nuts. And what made him even more nuts was that she was all the way in Stars Hollow where he could do almost nothing to help her with this.
"I do too.", she said with a small smile. Silence ensued for a few minutes.
"First we have to figure out what is actually going on with us. What are we doing? What are 'we' exactly, anyway?", Rory broke the silence. She needed to know where she stood, at the risk of talking it to death.
'Whatever it is I don't want it to stop.', Tristan said seriously but with a suggestive tone. He knew all the right answers didn't he?
"So we tell them that we've started over. That we're...dating?.", she proposed, a little unsure of herself.
'And we'll go from there.', he added insinuatingly. She had a feeling that when she woke up later she would find her early morning phone call a little on the crazy side. More than a little to be sure.
"Thank you."
'I live to please my Mary.', she could hear his smirk.
"Bye Bible Boy. I'll see you and Lana for dinner later."
' 'Night, sleep tight.'
"I will.", she said as she hung up. Oddly enough she fell right to sleep, like a little baby who had just been given back their magic blankie.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey Lan!", Emma greeted her depressed looking friend.
"Huh? Oh hi.", she nodded mutely, eyes glued to the pavement as she walked.
"What happened?", Emma grabbed her arm, causing her to stop in the middle of the parking lot.
"Nothing.", Lana answered unconvincingly. Emma shot her a disbelieving look.
"Lana!", Alex called, practically running to catch up with them. Lana bit her lip and started walking again. Suddenly it became clear to Emma that they must have had some sort of fight. But since when do they fight?
"Lana...don't overreact like this.", he said now only a few steps behind her.
* Ouch, bad thing to say Alex. *, Emma commented mentally. Lana spun around and opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She shook her head and walked...well ran into the school.
"What was that?", Emma questioned.
"We had a little fight.", he said looking like he had hit an all time low.
"Obviously. Care to fill me in?", she replied sarcastically.
"After the party we went to her house to watch movies and walked in on her parents.", he retold dully. Emma's eye widened.
"Traumatizing.", she scrunched up her nose.
"No! No, not like that. Just watching a movie on the couch, her mother had fallen asleep. Anyway we went to my house to watch our movie and... I was an idiot, according to her."
Emma was becoming a little impatient, because this was answering none of her questions. "And? Go on."
"You know how she gets when she has the slightest idea of them getting back together," Emma nodded impatiently, "Well I told her not to get her hopes up and that she shouldn't...jump to conclusions."
"Never rationalize with her!", Emma shook her head disapprovingly and started walking faster to the building.
"She barricaded herself in the kitchen and used Franklin as a buffer between the two of us because she didn't want to talk to me and couldn't go home yet.", Alex said tiredly. Emma didn't even respond, she ran to go find Lana, leaving Alex standing alone in the center of the bustling hallway.
~*~*~
"Em, it's not that simple.", Lana sighed. Emma had cornered her in the library while researching for their first period English class.
"Yes it is. Just accept his apology. He was only trying to look out for you.", Emma tried to persuade her.
"I don't know.", she lowered her voice upon receiving a death glare from the librarian.
"He loves you Lan." A shiver ran down Lana's spine. She had been fighting against feeling since the fight occurred. She shoved herself in her shell, a cold, hollow place that she ran to for solitude.
"You're wrong Em. It...it just doesn't work that way. It's too perfect.", she stared down at her paper, highlighting passages furiously.
"Lorelai Ann DuGrey, this was your first fight. My God it's been what... a week, for you guys? I thought if anyone could last longer than that it would be you two." Lana said nothing to her defense and went on highlighting.
"Lan, it's his job to keep you rational. He doesn't want you hurt. You have to believe that.", Emma continued kindly.
"Thank you for that impassioned little speech but can we just not talk for a while. I need to think.", Lana she agitatedly.
"Whatever you say.", Emma tried to keep the harsh, sarcastic tone out of her voice. She noticed an all to familiar face walking towards them. She got up to meet him, before he got to the table.
"Excuse me Lan...," she excused herself and got up, although Lana paid her no attention.
"No, no, no.", she said to herself as she reached him.
"Someone has a horrible short term memory. I thought you weren't gonna chase after her anymore?"
"Who said I was? Maybe I was coming to visit someone else.", Travis said coolly.
"Namely?"
"You?", he looked her straight in the eyes. In the jumbled mass of thoughts and schemes that made up Travis' mind, there was a kind of determination. A determination slightly different from the one seen while he pursued Lana. It was a determination to attain the unattainable.
"Not buying it.", she replied flatly, maintaining eye contact. In Emma's eyes there was utter defiance and mistrust.
"Not very trusting are you?"
"Not of people like you."
"Like me?"
"Like you.", she rolled her eyes and sat down at a computer in an attempt to actually get some research finished.
"As much as you like to think you know me and people 'like me' you don't.", he sat next to her.
"Don't I? You're kind is extremely competitive. You hate things that don't go your way and love the thrill of the chase. Am I right?", she analyzed.
"You say that like it's a bad thing.", he smirked.
"Oh and let's not forget what happens when the chase is over and you get what you want. The girl and/or object gets kicked to the curb."
"That's not true. I thought you were more perceptive than that, Emma."
"You know when I told you to find new friends I did not mean me.", she glared at him.
"Aww now come on Emma. You can't hate me that much."
"Haha that's what you think.", Emma retorted, eyes roaming over the computer monitor, looking for the right site.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to research this report, but someone keeps interrupting me.", she replied agitatedly.
"Is that what you're doing?", he smiled obnoxiously.
"Yes.", she said, teeth clenched.
"Someone's cranky.", he commented. Why did she have to get involved? Why didn't she just let Lana and Alex deal with him? So many questions. Now she would have to put up with this ass for how long?
"Only because someone makes me that way."
"Nice to know I have some effect on you."
"Go away Travis."
"If that's what you really want."
"It is.", she said firmly.
"Fine, but I'll be back."
"Whatever you say Arnold.", she said sarcastically. She feared what his newly vested interest in her meant. Instinctively she knew she was meant to be his next 'conquest' and she was disgusted by the idea of being thought of by someone so arrogant, cold, and self absorbed as Travis Griffin.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Morning Rory.", Jess said shortly.
"Morning Jess.", she greeted cautiously.
"Paris called here last night.", he stated. * Shit. *
"Uh...did she now?", Rory replied nervously.
"Yea, she wanted to talk to you about deadlines or something, but she couldn't find you anywhere and Lorelai wasn't home."
"Hmm."
"Hmm is right since you were supposed to be having dinner with her."
"Did you..."
"I told her you and Lorelai went out to eat."
"Thanks Jess.", she replied meekly.
"So you know I was thinking that since I braved a conversation Paris, covered for you, was lied to and am family, I deserve to know what you were really doing.", he said dryly. She pulled in a sharp breath.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry."
"I know, now is there anything you want to tell me about.", he coaxed, although he had an idea. Paris had added unto his suspicions last night when she rattled on about where she assumed Rory to be.
"We wanted to tell everyone at once but you deserve to know.... Well, Tristan and I are dating again.", she smiled nervously, trying to gage his reaction.
"Really? Congratulations.", he smiled wryly. As Paris said it was a never ending cycle with those two.
"You're not going to yell at me?", she sounded relieved. One could only hope that the rest of her family would react so coolly and rationally.
"I'm not surprised if that's what you mean."
"I thought you hated him?"
"Now don't be so harsh. I've made just as many mistakes as our beloved Tristan, if not more. I can't be the one to judge.", he said sarcastically, albeit honestly.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Not biting my head off."
"Isn't that Tristan's job." Rory rolled her eyes and left to go off to work. Hoping not to be grilled by Paris. But there was no such luck on that point.
*
"Rory! Hi. Did Jess give you my message?", Paris rose from her desk talking quickly.
"Slow down there. Yes Jess told me you called. What is it you wanted?"
"I was wonder if you could speak German.", Paris asked curiously.
"Huh?...German...", Rory was a little disoriented. That was a little out of left field.
"Mine is a little rusty, but I thought you might know. I'm always weary of using a translator. They don't always get things right and...well from the look on your face you don't speak German.", she ranted on rather quickly.
"Why do I need to speak German? And did you take your medication this morning?"
"We have a correspondent from Germany and I thought we'd gain some trust by speaking the language. We need to find out everything he knows and that won't happen if we don't..."
"Starbucks screwed up your order again huh?", Rory interrupted when she saw the Starbucks cup in her hand.
"Not a competent person there, I swear."
"Breathe. In and out. Never forget that.", Rory joked.
"Sorry, sorry caffeine and me don't mix. So how was dinner with Lorelai?"
"Okay.", she replied evasively. She figured it best to stay with Jess' lie and wait till Lana and Lorelai knew to tell Paris about Tristan.
"Just okay?", Paris scrunched up her nose.
"Yea. Just okay.", she nodded.
"No funny little anecdote? No story?"
"Nope."
"Nothing? Not even a crude story about Lorelai asking a seventy year old man if he needed a refill on his Viagra while he was eating with his twenty year old wife?", Paris prodded, throwing out a random example. Past encounters with Lorelai made it impossible to put it past her.
"Never ever talk about old men and their... medications. It's disturbing. Never again Paris. What goes on in that mind of yours? No wait I don't want to know.", She slide out of the room before she could be further questioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The work day crawled by for Tristan. He was eager to get home to his newly mending family. The only apprehension in his day was the messages his secretary was giving him. They were all from one person....
"Mr. DuGrey, um Mr. DuGrey called for you during lunch. He said it was important. He also called an hour ago, and ten minutes ago as well. Would you still like for me to tell him you are not in?", the timid secretary recited from the door way to his office.
"If you would Sherice, next time he calls, which I'm sure will be any minute, tell my father I have gone home for the evening.", he said in an exasperated tone. His father's severity was one to rival that of the infamous Hayden's. But then Rory's grandparents were not in the position to reek so much havoc as the DuGrey patriarch.
"Very well Sir.", she nodded in assent and turned out the door.
Tristan sighed and collected his things. He knew how horrible his new secretary was at lying, and how easily she might slip up so he thought it best to leave then before his father saw fit to personally come down to the office.
He snuck past his staff and past Sherice of course. God only knows what could happen if his father found out he actually was at home. His father wasn't the most reasonable man... especially when he felt betrayed.
That morning his daughter wasn't exactly in the mood he expected, but when he informed her that they needed to have a 'family' dinner tonight her mood visibly lifted. She was almost as set on all this happening as he was. Almost. He had been wanting this for a long time and he was hell-bent on making it happen. Pity is the only thing to be felt for anyone who would stand in his way.
*~*~*~
"No spaghetti tonight?", Rory said in a false pout.
"Although I do love spaghetti night, no. Our daughter is eating with us tonight.", Tristan smirked as he heard her voice ring through the kitchen.
"We we're found out today.", she said lightly as he pulled her into a warm hug and gave her an eager kiss.
"What else is new?", Tristan laughed at her.
"I resent that! I'm not that bad.", she swatted at him playfully and retaliated with another kiss.
"Not at all.", he smirked earning a reproachful glare.
"Jess caught me in a lie, because of Paris. So I had to tell him."
"Everyone needs to find out eventually.", he replied coolly, grinning both inside out.
"Speaking of that where is Lana?"
"She was around here some...", Tristan started.
"I'm right here mom.", Lana popped into the kitchen with the days ever evasive smile.
"How do you time that so well?"
"Oh you know she hides behind corners and waits for her cue.", Rory answered, not doubting the truth of her statement.
"Damn she's found me out.", Lana countered sarcastically.
"Well with all those years around Lorelai, what do you expect?", Tristan added his in two cents.
"Ok, ok. Enough insulting family, let's eat dinner.", Rory ended the family banter for the moment, and each grabbed a part of the meal and set it down in the dining room.
*~*~
"On a more serious note Lana I-we have something to tell you.", Rory again initiated.
"Yes, I'm sure you have notice that things have been a little different lately.", Tristan took her hand under the table. Of course Lana had already realized all this and new what was coming but they felt the need of a formal explanation.
"Just a tad.", Lana responded sarcastically, observing their clasped hands and the looks they constantly throw each other. As happy as she was for them and the family, she was almost depressed by the sight of them.
"Well your father and I are...we've started...", Rory tried, first interrupted by her quest for the right words and secondly interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. That damn doorbell.
"I'll get it.", she volunteered, but Lana instantly sprung from her seat and decidedly told them that she would go, affording them time to "gather their thoughts".
It crossed her mind that perhaps it was Alex and she was looking forward to rubbing his nose in her apparent victory. So she opened the door with a triumphant smile set in it's place. Her smile sunk when she opened the door.
"Good evening Lorelai."
"Uh... Hello Grandfather.", Lana stumbled. * Shit. *