After All These Years:
Chapter 6: What's Going On?
-Ivy
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Gilmore Girls really belongs to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB. Can't we just leave it at that?
Distribution: Yeah, sure, whatever. Just ask first, okay?
A/N: Again, sorry for the delay. I've been swamped with homework. Just don't yell too much, okay? I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible, but really, I have no idea when that'll be. I'll try. Anyways, happy reading!
-Ivy
After All These Years:
Chapter 6: What's Going On?
*6 months after Rory's outburst in the laundry room:
As the early morning light began to filter in through the expensive blinds, Tristan DuGrey turned over in his sleep, a smile crossing over his lips. As he began to awake, he stretched and thought about the day ahead of him. Shit. He still had a lot of work to do before his date with Rory that night. But first, before he began to worry about other things, he had to take care of more…important things – like waking up the love of his life.
Emerging from under the covers, Tristan slowly stood up and padded out of his room and into the hallway that would lead him to Rory's bedroom across the house. God, he loved knowing that she was that close to him; that to get to her all he had to do was walk through a maze of hallways. He could see her whenever he wanted to, and he loved it.
Stopping in the kitchen to grab two mugs and fill them with coffee, Tristan thought about how life had been in the past 6 months since he and Rory had gotten together. In his opinion, it had gone wonderfully. It had been so easy for the two of them to adjust from being "just best friends" to being "best friends and more". Lorelai had commented on the fact that both Tristan and Rory seemed to smile more now; and even Rae seemed happy with the change. Actually, what she had said was "It's about time!" echoing the thoughts of Lorelai and Emily Gilmore, along with the whole population of Stars Hollow. Wise words for a 6-year-old. Anyways, Tristan had agreed with Rae's words, and now looked forward even more than he used to for every single moment that he got to spend with Rory.
Shaking his head and continuing on his way, Tristan chuckled softly to himself as he walked so as not to wake Rae. God, he had become such a sap. Oh well. Laughing to himself, Tristan nudged Rory's bedroom door open with his elbow and tiptoed in, carefully setting the coffee down on her nightstand before gently lying down next to Rory. Leaning on his elbow, he gazed down at his sleeping girlfriend. She looked so innocent and beautiful, as if she was without a care in the world. How had he gotten so lucky?
"Rory…" Tristan whispered, "Rory?" he whispered again, gently shaking her shoulder. "Oh Mary…" he continued, placing gentle kisses up and down her neck and shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Mmm…" Rory murmured.
"Wake up Mary, and come play with me…" Tristan crooned as he continued to praise Rory with gentle kisses.
"Mmm…Tristan?" Rory questioned, beginning to wake up.
"Yes Mary?"
"Am I dreaming or are you really here…and do I smell coffee?" Rory said, her eyes still unopened.
"Although I know you dream about me, Mar," Tristan smirked, "I am really here. AND, I brought you coffee." Tristan said, reaching over to grab her mug off of the nightstand.
"Good Bible Boy" Rory said, opening her eyes, leaning up, and reaching her hand out for her coffee. After gulping down what she called "The Drink of the Gods", she placed the now-empty mug on the bedside table and lay back down, placing her hands over Tristan's arms that were wrapped around her waist. Closing her eyes and sighing in contentment, she said, "I could get used to waking up to you and coffee."
Leaning over to gently brush a stray hair off of Rory's face, Tristan kissed her forehead and thought, 'Yeah, me too.'
*A Few Hours Later: 10:00 AM
"Tristan?" Rory murmured, the two of them still lying in bed.
"Yeah, hon?" Tristan replied, his voice thick with sleep.
"Shouldn't we be getting up soon? Rae's probably been up for hours."
"Of course we should." Tristan said, not making any effort to move.
"Tristan, I'm serious," Rory said, also not moving.
"Me, too."
"Tris…"
"Okay, okay…" Tristan grumbled, releasing his grip on Rory and slowly getting out of bed. "Your mom will be here in a few hours anyway."
"My mom?" Rory questioned as she stood up and walked over to her dresser.
"Yeah, she's coming to pick up Rae for a grandmother-granddaughter weekend in Stars Hollow."
"How come I wasn't aware of this?" Rory stated, turning to face Tristan, obviously a little peeved.
"Don't worry, Mar." Tristan said as he walked over behind Rory who had now turned around again, and placed his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him. "Your mom just volunteered to give us a little alone time, that's all; and I took her up on it."
"Okay," Rory sighed as she gazed at the image of Tristan and herself in the mirror. "Just tell me first next time, okay? She IS my daughter and I don't like being away from her."
"Deal." Tristan said as he turned Rory around to kiss her.
"Mommy!" Rae screamed as she ran into the room and threw herself into Rory's arms. "Good morning, Mommy."
"Good morning, honey." Rory said, laughing. Walking out of the room with her daughter in her arms, she asked Rae, "What do you want for breakfast before Grams comes?"
"Coffee!" Rae and Rory yelled in unison ecstatically.
Laughing, Tristan followed them out of the room. Yup, they were definitely Gilmore Girls…
*Same Day: 5:30 PM
"So…" Rory said curiously, shutting the door to their mansion after Lorelai had come to pick up Rae. "What exactly ARE we doing tonight?"
"Well," Tristan said, coming down the grand staircase with a bag in his arms, "It's actually a surprise."
"Oh, yeah?" Rory challenged, raising one of her eyebrows skeptically, "and what would one wear for this so-called surprise? You know, I have to be ready for whatever punishment you insist on forcing upon me."
"Well, madam. First of all, I'll have you know that nothing with me would be called 'punishment'; unless you like it dirty, Mary… And second…I have the answer to your clothing problem right here in this bag." Tristan said, holding up the bag in his arms as Rory rolled her eyes.
"Really?" Rory answered.
"Yes," Tristan said, placing the bag in Rory's arms. "All you have to do is put on what's in this bag and meet me back down here at 6:30. I've taken care of the rest."
"This better be good, DuGrey," Rory smirked before turning on her heel to go to her room and get ready.
"That smirk looks good on you, Mary, but I know something that would look even better… And don't forget the handcuffs, Mary. You know, for your 'punishment!' " Tristan called after her, sexual innuendos dripping from his voice.
"Yeah, right. In your dreams, Evil One!" Rory called back over her shoulder.
Laughing, Tristan turned to head to his own room to prepare for their big night…
A 24-year-old Jess Mariano browsed through the shelves of the bookstore with interest, checking out the collection of Hemingway novels before moving on to look at some new releases that had sounded interesting. But just as he was about to head up the stairs to the 2nd floor of the store, one of the clerks stopped him and pointed to the sign on the stairwell that read 'Closed for Private Party.'
'Jerks,' Jess thought, 'this is a bookstore; for people who are actually capable of some intelligent thought. Can't those stupid-ass socialites spend their daddy's money somewhere else and let us 'common folk' be?!?'
With that thought, Jess headed out of the doorway and turned abruptly to his left, intent on heading home after finding yet another reason to believe that the fine city of Boston sucked. Had he glanced to his right he would have seen Tristan DuGrey leading a blindfolded Rory Gilmore into the bookstore.
But he didn't.
"Tris, where are we going?" an exasperated Rory Gilmore asked for the 6th time since they had gotten out of the car and started walking 5 minutes before.
"I told you, Mar, it's a surprise." Tristan laughed.
"Okay…" Rory said hesitantly, "but I swear if you make me walk into a post or something because of this blindfold, I'll…"
"Rory," Tristan interrupted, "We're here."
"Oh," Rory replied, blushing.
Tristan held the door open with one hand and held his other hand around her waist protectively to help guide her through the bookstore.
Rory looked around in wonder, amazement, and slight amusement. "Tristan, what's going on? You dress me up like this to come into a bookstore? A wonderful bookstore, but a bookstore nonetheless… What's going on?"
In the bag that Tristan had given Rory for the night she had found a black, sparkling, dress with an asymmetrical skirt and a one-shouldered strap. On her feet were matching black heels; and around her neck was a diamond necklace. She had curled her hair and left it down to add to the effect; but now she was wondering what was going on. Why had he given her such clothes only to bring her to a bookstore? And why was Tristan dressed in a tailored Armani suit? Given, he looked extremely handsome; but still…
"Hold on Ror" Tristan chuckled, "Just trust me…" he said as they began the ascent up the stairs to the second floor.