A/N: I know, I know. I'm sorry I've taken forever. Thank you all for your
wonderful reviews despite my constantly overdue chapters. It's weird how
impecably timed reviews come, the minute I think of putting it off for a
while one of you pushes me on...:-D Thank you!
¤Kari¤
Chapter 26
**********
"Um...uh...c-come in Grandfather.", Lana stuttered again, trying to hide the fear and complete surprise that was written on her face and embedded in her voice.
"Thank you Lorelai, and Lorelai...", he started icily, continually using her given name. Nothing was more improper to him than nicknames and such things.
"Yes Grandfather?", she turned back to him with a slight tremor.
"You may want to work on that stutter you are developing."
"Mom, Dad. Look who's here.", Lana called edgily into the dining room, biting back the bitter comments she had towards her paternal grandfather.
"Mr. DuGrey...H-hello.", Rory stuttered as she emerged with Tristan trailing behind. The old man merely nodded an acknowledgment.
"Must be hereditary.", Mr. DuGrey murmured.
"Father. To what do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit.", Tristan greeted coldly, although he already knew the answer to the question he posed.
"It's a...business matter we must attend to son.", he replied, no softness or warmth was added to his voice when he reached the word son.
"Would anyone like a drink?", Rory chimed in, trying to break up some tension.
Some explanation may be needed about Tristan's father. He was a man that everyone, even his family, feared, and if he didn't strike fear into your heart it was only because of years of being subjected to the hard hearted man. He reminded Rory of Edward Courtermain on General Hospital. This was, unfortunately, a very good depiction of the shrewd man, and it added to her theory of Tristan's family walking straight out of a soap opera. He was only capable of love when it suited his wants and needs. He was even more capable if you accomplished something that made him look good, but if you made him look bad he held you in the highest contempt.
"I'll take one.", Lana mutter under her breath. Tristan laughed as he over heard.
"No thank you. My son and I, as I said, have some business to attend to."
"No we don't.", Tristan deadpanned.
"Um...Lana, could you go upstairs for a while?", Rory whispered to her daughter, sensing an argument coming on.
"Gladly.", she sent her a half hearted smile but walked out into the backyard. On her way out she pulled the phone off it's charger and took it with her. She hated her Grandfather at this moment more then ever. He would screw this up for all of them, she was sure. He had a knack for that sorta thing.
*~*
Alex lay sprawled out on his bed reading a book with the radio turned up as high as he could make it without calling an extreme amount of attention to himself. That's why it was a miracle that he heard his phone ring, but he had heard it.
"Hello.", he sighed. He wasn't really in the mood for idle conversation at the moment, but it was either that or continue to mope.
'Go on. Say I told you so.'
"Lan? What's wrong?"
'He's here Alex. In our house. Talking to my father about "business". So go on tell me I told you so.', Lana rambled on at lightning pace.
"Who's there Lan?", he pressed.
'Grandfather.', she spit out the name as if it were the most vile thing in the world.
"DuGrey? I'm guessing from your tone it's not Luke or Chris?"
'I was so close. Now he comes along and screws it all up for us.', Lana continued as if he hadn't said anything.
"Lana I'm sure it'll all turn out fine.", Alex tried to comfort.
'Alex we're not the Brady Bunch, things don't always turn out perfect in the end.', she replied bitterly.
"You're Grandfather isn't all powerful Lan, your father and mother will do what they want.", he said with confidence.
'Sure.', she said disbelievingly.
"Where are you now?"
'Out on the back deck.'
"I'll be over in five."
'No Alex I' ll be fine.', she protested.
"See you soon Lorelai.", he said with finality.
"Bye Alexander.", she sighed, not willing to fight.
*~*
"I'd feel more comfortable talking about this in private Tristan.", his father said sternly.
"There is nothing to talk about. I'm sure you already have made your mind up on the matter despite whatever I say.", Tristan's voice was calm and steady despite the anger flashing in his eyes.
"We had a deal son.", he hissed, disregarding his intention of not talking in front of Rory.
"I believe the operative word in that sentence is 'had'."
"You costed the firm a tremendous amount of money. The Reads are not taking this well, but of course your too selfish to care."
"Because God forbid your son not sell him self out to better the family business, right?", he commented bitterly. Rory sank back in a chair, drink in hand. Nicole was still a raw subject for her. She had spent God only know how many hours trying to wipe her out of her memory, and was almost there, but this was not helping.
The older man looked towards Rory and began again more quietly, "Miss Read was perfectly nice young woman."
"You mean perfectly rich."
"You are impossible Tristan.", he paced impatiently.
"Wonder where I got that from.", he glared at his father.
"Your mother is entirely at fault. She was always so indulgent, you always got you're way as a child.", he dismissed.
"And you would know that how?", he retorted.
"Obviously military school didn't do you any good."
"I'm sorry father but I don't think we have anything left to talk about, please leave."
"I'm not going anywhere. Not until you tell me why you're so adamant about not fulfilling your obligations."
*~*
Alex sighed as he saw Lana sitting on the porch swing almost in a fetal position, legs brought tightly up to her chest. He walked quietly over to her and sat down wordlessly into the seat beside her.
"Do you remember the last time we were out here together?", she asked as the swing rocked when his weight hit it.
"Yea.", he replied softly, not sure what to say.
"It was the night my parents announced their divorce,", she said sadly, he put his arm around her and moved closer, but said nothing.
"No one was more shocked then I was...I ran out here and you came after me. Same as now.", she said staring out at the perfectly manicured lawn.
"Lana..."
"Can't you hear them yelling at each other, my father and grandfather? I can picture it now dear old Gramps is furious, which is making my father upset. And my mother? Well she is probably sitting in the chair beside the fire place with a drink, people tend to drink more when my grandfather turns up.", she predicted with a wistful bitterness.
"Well at least that means your Dad is fighting against him.", Alex tried to offer some consolation.
"Oh I was never worried about my dad not standing up to him. He does that whenever he gets the chance. It's my mother. She gets the idea she's coming between the family and becomes self sacrificial and runs away.", Lana rolled her eyes. As much as she loved them she knew her family had faults and they annoyed the hell out of her.
"But that's not going to happen." , Alex said confidently.
"Of course it will because my family is so God damned predictable.", she countered angrily, but still not moving from her previous position on the swing.
"Look Lan, whatever happens in there," he nodded towards the house, pulling her closer as he did, "I'll be right here."
Lana laughed faintly, leaning her head on his shoulder, "I know. ...Why?"
"What? I need a reason now?", he asked laughingly, but confused by her question.
"I mean I've been thinking, and all these years whenever I had a problem I ran to you to make it all better. Why did you put up with all my whining?", she smiled wryly, not really seeing the obvious answer. He smiled and gave her a slow, lingering kiss.
"I love you Lan.", he said pulling back a little, and stating what was obvious to everyone but her.
He hadn't intended to do that. He hadn't intended to spring something like that on her, but never the less he did. He watched as her face went from elated, quickly to confused and disbelief, and then he saw as her brain switched into what he saw as a classic example of the Gilmore fear of commitment.
*~*
"You what?"
"You heard me. I love her." Rory smiled from her chair near the fireplace. It felt good to hear him say that again.
"A deal is a deal son.", the imposing man hissed.
"You wanted a justification, I gave you one.", Tristan replied defiantly, not to his father's liking. How dare he defy him! He was entitled to some respect.
"I don't care about your little...flings. You have obligations Tristan, but why am I so surprised. You always shrug them off so frivolously.", the formerly stunned old man returned. Rory couldn't hold in an indignant snort at his words.
"I think you should be leaving. Actually I insist on it.", Tristan narrowed his eyes at him.
"It's supposed to snow soon, wouldn't want you snowed in here, would we.", Rory chimed in sarcastically.
"Yes the roads get very icy this time of year."
"Oh yes, always so concerned for my welfare aren't you son.", he replied, disregarding Rory.
"You should be going.", Tristan repeated.
"This isn't over."
"It never is with you."
"Tell Lorelai I said goodbye and her Grandmother sends her regards."
"Goodbye father.", Tristan nudged him out the door and watched to make sure he got into his limousine and drove away.
"Ror he's just...", he started to say a senile old bastard but she interrupted him.
"You love me.", she smiled up at him and kissed him briefly. Yup it felt good to hear him say that again.
*~*
'Nice move Alex.', he mentally kicked himself. What made him think she could handle this after what was going on inside that house at the moment?
"How 'bout we go to Luke's. I haven't eaten and I'm sure you're starving.", he evaded, attempting to get up off the swing.
"Alexander, get your butt back here.", Lana pulled him back down with a thud.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Don't do that.", she sighed.
"Do what?", he continued to play dumb.
"Ignore whatever you think makes me uncomfortable.", she said, emphasizing the word think.
"I'm not...", he started, only to be interrupted by being pulled wordlessly into a kiss. Lana remain silent as ever afterwards, as did he, but she didn't need to say anything. It was a unspoken agreement between them that talking was completely unnecessary. Despite the cold and the snow that threatened to fall, they stayed on the swing for what seemed like forever. Alex draped his coat over her as she fell asleep. He hadn't the heart to wake her up, instead he just watched her sleep. Oh yeah he was in over his head with no way out. What was he going to do with himself?
*~*
An almost depressed sigh escaped him as he looked out the window and across the lawn, only to be faced with the happy little couple. No, Travis wasn't still deluded by his little competition with Alex. It just seemed to him that no two people could be that...perfect, that peaceful, or that content. Impatiently he dropped the curtains back into place and wandered downstairs for some dinner.
"Travis just in time. Have you seen Alex?", greeted his Aunt Victoria as he sat down across from his Uncle at the table.
"I don't think he'll be coming to dinner. He...went to a friend's house or something.", Travis said indifferently. Mrs. Griffin nodded and after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence and the mere sound of each chewing, Victoria prodded her husband to say something.
"So how are you Travis? Have you talked to your father?", Mr. Griffin asked.
"No, but I didn't expect to.", he replied with that same calm indifference as before and continued eating. He really could have cared less what or who his father was doing in Europe. He stopped that a long time ago.
Victoria shot a worried look to her husband. She had become increasingly worried about Travis since his father had carelessly sent him off to live with them. The fact that him and Alex weren't getting along as well as she hoped didn't exactly quench her uneasiness.
"Aunt Vicky, I'm fine you don't need to worry about me.", Travis reassured, suppressing and eye roll. He could take care of himself, he didn't need someone watching out for him.
"I'm gonna go take a walk.", he said abruptly after more uneasiness at the dinner table. Where he was going, he didn't know, but he needed to get out of that house. He rolled his eyes as he passed the window, seeing them again, and stopped as he began to open the door.
"I wouldn't expect Alex home too soon... I have a feeling he won't be coming home right away.", he called over his shoulder, not sure wither or not he was heard he walked through the door.
¤Kari¤
Chapter 26
**********
"Um...uh...c-come in Grandfather.", Lana stuttered again, trying to hide the fear and complete surprise that was written on her face and embedded in her voice.
"Thank you Lorelai, and Lorelai...", he started icily, continually using her given name. Nothing was more improper to him than nicknames and such things.
"Yes Grandfather?", she turned back to him with a slight tremor.
"You may want to work on that stutter you are developing."
"Mom, Dad. Look who's here.", Lana called edgily into the dining room, biting back the bitter comments she had towards her paternal grandfather.
"Mr. DuGrey...H-hello.", Rory stuttered as she emerged with Tristan trailing behind. The old man merely nodded an acknowledgment.
"Must be hereditary.", Mr. DuGrey murmured.
"Father. To what do we owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit.", Tristan greeted coldly, although he already knew the answer to the question he posed.
"It's a...business matter we must attend to son.", he replied, no softness or warmth was added to his voice when he reached the word son.
"Would anyone like a drink?", Rory chimed in, trying to break up some tension.
Some explanation may be needed about Tristan's father. He was a man that everyone, even his family, feared, and if he didn't strike fear into your heart it was only because of years of being subjected to the hard hearted man. He reminded Rory of Edward Courtermain on General Hospital. This was, unfortunately, a very good depiction of the shrewd man, and it added to her theory of Tristan's family walking straight out of a soap opera. He was only capable of love when it suited his wants and needs. He was even more capable if you accomplished something that made him look good, but if you made him look bad he held you in the highest contempt.
"I'll take one.", Lana mutter under her breath. Tristan laughed as he over heard.
"No thank you. My son and I, as I said, have some business to attend to."
"No we don't.", Tristan deadpanned.
"Um...Lana, could you go upstairs for a while?", Rory whispered to her daughter, sensing an argument coming on.
"Gladly.", she sent her a half hearted smile but walked out into the backyard. On her way out she pulled the phone off it's charger and took it with her. She hated her Grandfather at this moment more then ever. He would screw this up for all of them, she was sure. He had a knack for that sorta thing.
*~*
Alex lay sprawled out on his bed reading a book with the radio turned up as high as he could make it without calling an extreme amount of attention to himself. That's why it was a miracle that he heard his phone ring, but he had heard it.
"Hello.", he sighed. He wasn't really in the mood for idle conversation at the moment, but it was either that or continue to mope.
'Go on. Say I told you so.'
"Lan? What's wrong?"
'He's here Alex. In our house. Talking to my father about "business". So go on tell me I told you so.', Lana rambled on at lightning pace.
"Who's there Lan?", he pressed.
'Grandfather.', she spit out the name as if it were the most vile thing in the world.
"DuGrey? I'm guessing from your tone it's not Luke or Chris?"
'I was so close. Now he comes along and screws it all up for us.', Lana continued as if he hadn't said anything.
"Lana I'm sure it'll all turn out fine.", Alex tried to comfort.
'Alex we're not the Brady Bunch, things don't always turn out perfect in the end.', she replied bitterly.
"You're Grandfather isn't all powerful Lan, your father and mother will do what they want.", he said with confidence.
'Sure.', she said disbelievingly.
"Where are you now?"
'Out on the back deck.'
"I'll be over in five."
'No Alex I' ll be fine.', she protested.
"See you soon Lorelai.", he said with finality.
"Bye Alexander.", she sighed, not willing to fight.
*~*
"I'd feel more comfortable talking about this in private Tristan.", his father said sternly.
"There is nothing to talk about. I'm sure you already have made your mind up on the matter despite whatever I say.", Tristan's voice was calm and steady despite the anger flashing in his eyes.
"We had a deal son.", he hissed, disregarding his intention of not talking in front of Rory.
"I believe the operative word in that sentence is 'had'."
"You costed the firm a tremendous amount of money. The Reads are not taking this well, but of course your too selfish to care."
"Because God forbid your son not sell him self out to better the family business, right?", he commented bitterly. Rory sank back in a chair, drink in hand. Nicole was still a raw subject for her. She had spent God only know how many hours trying to wipe her out of her memory, and was almost there, but this was not helping.
The older man looked towards Rory and began again more quietly, "Miss Read was perfectly nice young woman."
"You mean perfectly rich."
"You are impossible Tristan.", he paced impatiently.
"Wonder where I got that from.", he glared at his father.
"Your mother is entirely at fault. She was always so indulgent, you always got you're way as a child.", he dismissed.
"And you would know that how?", he retorted.
"Obviously military school didn't do you any good."
"I'm sorry father but I don't think we have anything left to talk about, please leave."
"I'm not going anywhere. Not until you tell me why you're so adamant about not fulfilling your obligations."
*~*
Alex sighed as he saw Lana sitting on the porch swing almost in a fetal position, legs brought tightly up to her chest. He walked quietly over to her and sat down wordlessly into the seat beside her.
"Do you remember the last time we were out here together?", she asked as the swing rocked when his weight hit it.
"Yea.", he replied softly, not sure what to say.
"It was the night my parents announced their divorce,", she said sadly, he put his arm around her and moved closer, but said nothing.
"No one was more shocked then I was...I ran out here and you came after me. Same as now.", she said staring out at the perfectly manicured lawn.
"Lana..."
"Can't you hear them yelling at each other, my father and grandfather? I can picture it now dear old Gramps is furious, which is making my father upset. And my mother? Well she is probably sitting in the chair beside the fire place with a drink, people tend to drink more when my grandfather turns up.", she predicted with a wistful bitterness.
"Well at least that means your Dad is fighting against him.", Alex tried to offer some consolation.
"Oh I was never worried about my dad not standing up to him. He does that whenever he gets the chance. It's my mother. She gets the idea she's coming between the family and becomes self sacrificial and runs away.", Lana rolled her eyes. As much as she loved them she knew her family had faults and they annoyed the hell out of her.
"But that's not going to happen." , Alex said confidently.
"Of course it will because my family is so God damned predictable.", she countered angrily, but still not moving from her previous position on the swing.
"Look Lan, whatever happens in there," he nodded towards the house, pulling her closer as he did, "I'll be right here."
Lana laughed faintly, leaning her head on his shoulder, "I know. ...Why?"
"What? I need a reason now?", he asked laughingly, but confused by her question.
"I mean I've been thinking, and all these years whenever I had a problem I ran to you to make it all better. Why did you put up with all my whining?", she smiled wryly, not really seeing the obvious answer. He smiled and gave her a slow, lingering kiss.
"I love you Lan.", he said pulling back a little, and stating what was obvious to everyone but her.
He hadn't intended to do that. He hadn't intended to spring something like that on her, but never the less he did. He watched as her face went from elated, quickly to confused and disbelief, and then he saw as her brain switched into what he saw as a classic example of the Gilmore fear of commitment.
*~*
"You what?"
"You heard me. I love her." Rory smiled from her chair near the fireplace. It felt good to hear him say that again.
"A deal is a deal son.", the imposing man hissed.
"You wanted a justification, I gave you one.", Tristan replied defiantly, not to his father's liking. How dare he defy him! He was entitled to some respect.
"I don't care about your little...flings. You have obligations Tristan, but why am I so surprised. You always shrug them off so frivolously.", the formerly stunned old man returned. Rory couldn't hold in an indignant snort at his words.
"I think you should be leaving. Actually I insist on it.", Tristan narrowed his eyes at him.
"It's supposed to snow soon, wouldn't want you snowed in here, would we.", Rory chimed in sarcastically.
"Yes the roads get very icy this time of year."
"Oh yes, always so concerned for my welfare aren't you son.", he replied, disregarding Rory.
"You should be going.", Tristan repeated.
"This isn't over."
"It never is with you."
"Tell Lorelai I said goodbye and her Grandmother sends her regards."
"Goodbye father.", Tristan nudged him out the door and watched to make sure he got into his limousine and drove away.
"Ror he's just...", he started to say a senile old bastard but she interrupted him.
"You love me.", she smiled up at him and kissed him briefly. Yup it felt good to hear him say that again.
*~*
'Nice move Alex.', he mentally kicked himself. What made him think she could handle this after what was going on inside that house at the moment?
"How 'bout we go to Luke's. I haven't eaten and I'm sure you're starving.", he evaded, attempting to get up off the swing.
"Alexander, get your butt back here.", Lana pulled him back down with a thud.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"Don't do that.", she sighed.
"Do what?", he continued to play dumb.
"Ignore whatever you think makes me uncomfortable.", she said, emphasizing the word think.
"I'm not...", he started, only to be interrupted by being pulled wordlessly into a kiss. Lana remain silent as ever afterwards, as did he, but she didn't need to say anything. It was a unspoken agreement between them that talking was completely unnecessary. Despite the cold and the snow that threatened to fall, they stayed on the swing for what seemed like forever. Alex draped his coat over her as she fell asleep. He hadn't the heart to wake her up, instead he just watched her sleep. Oh yeah he was in over his head with no way out. What was he going to do with himself?
*~*
An almost depressed sigh escaped him as he looked out the window and across the lawn, only to be faced with the happy little couple. No, Travis wasn't still deluded by his little competition with Alex. It just seemed to him that no two people could be that...perfect, that peaceful, or that content. Impatiently he dropped the curtains back into place and wandered downstairs for some dinner.
"Travis just in time. Have you seen Alex?", greeted his Aunt Victoria as he sat down across from his Uncle at the table.
"I don't think he'll be coming to dinner. He...went to a friend's house or something.", Travis said indifferently. Mrs. Griffin nodded and after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence and the mere sound of each chewing, Victoria prodded her husband to say something.
"So how are you Travis? Have you talked to your father?", Mr. Griffin asked.
"No, but I didn't expect to.", he replied with that same calm indifference as before and continued eating. He really could have cared less what or who his father was doing in Europe. He stopped that a long time ago.
Victoria shot a worried look to her husband. She had become increasingly worried about Travis since his father had carelessly sent him off to live with them. The fact that him and Alex weren't getting along as well as she hoped didn't exactly quench her uneasiness.
"Aunt Vicky, I'm fine you don't need to worry about me.", Travis reassured, suppressing and eye roll. He could take care of himself, he didn't need someone watching out for him.
"I'm gonna go take a walk.", he said abruptly after more uneasiness at the dinner table. Where he was going, he didn't know, but he needed to get out of that house. He rolled his eyes as he passed the window, seeing them again, and stopped as he began to open the door.
"I wouldn't expect Alex home too soon... I have a feeling he won't be coming home right away.", he called over his shoulder, not sure wither or not he was heard he walked through the door.