A/N: Hey, ugh I'm sorry. I took way too long in writing this. I hit some writeres block, so forgive me if you don't like this chapter. I wanted to thank you all SO much for your encouraging reviews. (I want my own personal Alex too... Why can't guys like him be real?) You guys are great and I promise I won't neglect this story so much in the future. I finally got my SATs back which also side tracked me, I was relieved to find out I didn't totally screw them up as a freshman. Anyway I'll stop my rambling and let you get on with the story.

¤Kari¤

Chapter 28
**********

"Tristan.", Jess acknowledged as he entered the diner that afternoon.

"Jess.", he reciprocated each stood there for a minute, assessing the other. Jess knew it was only a matter of time before he came back, that was the thing about that town, and it's people, they always got you coming back.

"So how's it going?", Tristan broke awkwardly.

"Good. You?"

"Good."

"Good.", Jess replied, still in the same place he was when they started.

"So your back.", he commented.

"You too.", Jess countered. Tristan sighed slightly. There was once a time when they could have a conversation with more than two syllable words.

"Yea, me too. ... So how long are you staying.", Tristan asked trying to be friendly.

"Dunno.", Jess shrugged. He may have accepted that him and Rory were together again, but that didn't mean he was going to be 'best buds' with him.

"Well it'd be nice if you were here for Christmas.", he said, somewhat mysteriously.

"Why?", Jess questioned skeptically. Christmas was still a month away, and there was a limit to how much of this town he could take in one sitting. As much as he just loved this little 'chat', Tristan's loaded statements made him suspicious.

"Christmas is big here, you know. You can miss the festivities, now can you?", Tristan hinted.

"Wouldn't want to do that.", Jess rolled his eyes. He actually had decided to go and face his 'fears' back in New York or more than likely escaping to some unknown location, but Tristan's little visit renewed his interest for the time being. He had something up his sleeve and Jess was curious to figure out what it was.

~*~

He regretted ever going there the night before. He regretted saying all that he said, regretted letting his cool exterior slip. There was a hell of a lot for Travis to regret in such a short block of time.

Running a nervous hand through his hair, he recalled that almost stunned look on Emma's face when he first told her off. Ugh, Why did he even go there? Well where else was there? It's not like he knew a lot of people, and the ones he did know were the ones he couldn't go to.

Did he love to torture himself? Is that why he went to see Emma? Emma, the most sarcastic and brutally honest person he had met, was the one he went to see when he was at his lowest point... does that make sense to anyone? It stupefied him.

There was no guarantee that Emma could be trusted, no guarantee she wouldn't kick him while he was down, but he had a feeling about her. She had this rare loyalty about her that attracted him like a moth to street lamp.

"Will someone get that?", he yelled, unknowingly, to an empty house. Damn doorbell, couldn't a guy get some peace and quiet? Ha, like he was at peace.

"Fine then I'll get it.", he grumbled to himself. The bell rang impatiently a few more times before he had a chance to open the door.

"You know it's rude to keep someone waiting." .

Now it was Travis' turn to be stunned.

"Emma?"

~*~

"Why is Tristan here?", Luke leaned over the counter to ask Lorelai.

"I don't know Luke, why did Rory make us all meet here for lunch?", she replied sarcastically.

"You mean... they're..."

"No shit Sherlock.", she cut him off, not exactly thrilled. What was she suppose to welcome the man that put her daughter on an emotional roller coaster since high school back with open arms?

"I thought you were okay with this?"

"I lied.", Lorelai deadpanned. Luke shook his head with a sigh.

"Lor.", he smiled sympathetically.

"I know, I know, I should be over this. Rory sure as Hell is.", she commented bitterly.

"Coffee?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?", she rolled her eyes, holding out her cup for a refill.

*

"So where's your better half?", Tristan teased as Lana sat down across from him.

"I gave him the day off. The guys were beginning to think he abandoned them.", she replied with an anxious smile.

"Well wasn't that nice of you.", he said while stealing a glance at the door.

"She's not here yet huh?", Lana commented observantly.

"No, and I have a feeling people here aren't too fond of me.", he leaned over and whispered to her.

"That's only because they don't know why they're all here.", Lana smile naively. Tristan realized that they all knew already, but Rory argued that they had to be told. They were family so 'they deserved as much'.

"Yeah I'm sure that's it Lan.", he let her keep her delusion, "So I'm assuming you think you know why you're here?"

"Dad I'm not an idiot. I mean honestly... I don't even want to know Mom's real reason for being there at three in the morning.", she scrunched her nose up, willing the thought out of her head. Just because she was for them getting back together didn't mean she wanted details.

"Point taken."

~*~

"Are you going to let me in or not?"

"Well you know it's rude to show up without an invitation.", Travis smiled, regaining his senses.

"Well then, give me an invitation.", Emma retorted impatiently. She was on a mission. She had to figure out what was going on with him before she went nuts.

"Okay then. Emma, why don't you come inside... it's freezing out there.", he said politely.

"Now that the formalities are settled..."

"You can get to the point of why you're here?", he filled in.

"Exactly.", she nodded, but said nothing to explain her visit.

"Are you planning on telling me?"

"Were you messing with me last night? You know, trying to play on the sympathy card, or...what?", she questioned bluntly, it needed to be asked before she went any further.

"No... you just... caught me on really bad day I guess. Now what is this all about Em?", he answered hesitantly.

"Travis do not make me regret this.", she said intently.

"Regret what?", he asked, head clouded with confusion.

"I know I come off cynical and abrasive because... well I am, and you have to admit you were a jerk. Still I keep thinking I was a little hard on you.", she rambled. Why was she rambling? She didn't ramble, she never rambled.

"You're rambling.", Travis smiled.

"Sue me," she replied sarcastically, "I'm trying to give you a chance to start over Travis. Take it or leave it."

"There's the Emma I know. I'll take it...just tell me one thing."

~*~

"You ready?", Rory asked him nervously. She had only been in the diner a few minutes and that knot of excitement and anxiousness just kept growing.

"Why wouldn't I be?", Tristan squeezed her hand, sensing how nervous she was. Rory drew in a shaky breath.

"Guys we have an announcement.", she told their little group.

"Okay everyone out. Diner's closed... come back later.", Luke bellowed, shuffling the prying ears of Stars Hollow out.

"Not you Jess.", Rory called as she saw him trying to exit with the rest of the customers.

"Ror, it's redundant for me to stay...remember?", he replied, hand still on the door. He really didn't need to stay and be reminded that everyone else had something of a life and he was just... there.

"It'd be nice if you stayed.", she pressed, wanting everyone to be present. She was happy about this, was so wrong to want one of her best friends to be supportive of her? Tristan didn't understand her persistence. Jess already knew... he didn't need to be told a second time.

"Congratulations. You fixed your life, now let me go fix mine.", he said to her in a lower, guarded voice.

"Okay.", she nodded understanding, but slightly taken back. It was the first allusion of anything personal he had made since he had shown up.

"Thank you.", he turned and left.

"Uh so back to your... announcement.", Lana prodded.

"Right our announcement."

~*~

"What is it?", she replied a little agitated.

"What made you do this? You're not really my biggest fan.", Travis questioned with a slight smirk. So his little break down did more than just a number on himself.

"People deserve second chances.", she answered coolly, turning to leave.

"You really believe that?", he caught her arm, not buying it for a second. That second chances crap wasn't something a girl like Emma would buy into.

"No.", she relented easily with a bitter tone.

"The real reason?"

"Peace of mind. Ugh. I don't know. Look, we could both use another friend, let's leave it at that.", she rolled her eyes at her inarticulate and deficient explanation. She felt she was making this too easy for him, giving in too soon, but there was no undoing it now.

"I think you're going soft on us Emma.", Travis teased, although not realizing every word he said was counting against him.

"You only get one chance this time... don't screw it up.", Emma warned, and then hastened out the door, unaware if she had done the right thing.

~*~

"Well...get on with it... we don't have all day.", Lorelai commented with sour impatience.

"Lor. Be nice.", Luke whispered calmly into her ear. To which Lorelai rolled her eyes and slumped back into her chair like a disgruntled five year old.

"Well we just wanted to tell all of you... together...that..."

"You and Tristan are back together?", Lorelai interrupted her. Lana smiled, but quickly hid it, fearing a tirade from her grandmother. Rory gave her a look that was a mixture of 'You had to burst my bubble.' and 'How did you know?'.

"Come on Ror, give us more credit than that...", Lorelai began, looking back to Luke, who was glaring at her.

"I mean... your sixteen year old daughter figured you out... hell Jess figured you out, did you think we were all oblivious to your 'sneaking around'. Why else would Tristan be here sitting next to you? What to announce he's marrying another British twit? Speaking of you Tristan, why aren't you saying anything?"

"I think you're scaring him Lor.", Luke put in accurately. He knew a few years worth of resentment would definitely pour out if he opened his mouth. His father was one thing. He had rules and decorum, but Lorelai was irrational and fabricated her own guidelines, which changed by the second.

"Mom, I knew you probably had known already, actually I was hoping you did. That way you wouldn't throw a fit.", Rory countered, indirectly reprimanding her for her outburst and the ones to come.

"I'm not throwing a 'fit'," she rolled her eyes, "I'm just looking out for you."

"Well you don't need to."

"Look, if this is what you really want... I'll support you 99.9%"

"Lorelai.", Luke said disapprovingly from behind. He assumed that as his role in this whole thing... to keep Lorelai in line.

"Fine, 100%, but if you end up hurt I reserve all rights to the 'I told you so's.", she amended, lightening her mood a little.

"You won't need 'I told you so's", Tristan finally spoke up in his defense.

"I sure as hell better not, or things won't look too good for you.", Lorelai replied in mock innocence.

"Yes ma'am.", he smirked awkwardly at her threat. He was sure she would carry it out given the chance.