Chapter 2: The Answer to the Eternal Question
"Okay, what's tonight's theme?" Rory questioned as she cut a piece of pancake that the DuGrey cook, Anna, had prepared for breakfast.
Tristan chewed thoughtfully, "I don't know, let's just go to the video store and wing it."
Rory swallowed and nodded, "Kay. Do you wanna' stock-up on junk here, or in Stars Hollow? 'Cause, frankly, there is definitely more selection in Hartford."
"We'll get the stuff here, then. We can go to Candy & Co. before we drive to your place."
"Okay."
They ate in silence for a few more minutes. Rory idly glanced at the calendar, and then almost choked on her coffee.
"What!" Tristan looked at her sharply, and then quizzically turned his gaze to the calendar, too. "What?" He repeated.
"I just realized that I'm supposed to be at my grandparents for lunch in a few hours. I totally forgot about it!"
"Oh." He sounded slightly relieved, "Well, we can head to Candy & Co., and then go to your Grandparents. You don't think that they'd mind if I came too, do you?"
Rory shook her head, "No, They'd love it; you're part of the family. I'll call them when I finish eating; just let them know, though."
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"Red or Black?" The voice sailed through the endless aisles of sweets.
"Is this the start of the conversation where you ask me the eternal question, 'Boxers or Briefs?'" A voice drawled lazily in her ear.
Rory dropped one of the packages of licorice that she was holding as she stifled a shriek. She turned around and punched Tristan's chest. "Don't do that to me! You're horrible, do you know that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
An innocent grin took over his face, "Oops."
She sighed, "I repeat, 'Red, or Black?'" She leaned down and scooped the package of black licorice up off the floor, and held them up for his inspection.
"Hmmm. . . Both." Tristan decided.
"Ooookay. . . But if you puke your guts out again, it is so not my fault." Rory replied with raised eyebrows as she threw the packages into her cart. They settled with the many other goodies, including many kinds of chocolate and both sweet, and sour candies.
Rory smiled and turned back to Tristan, "And as to your previous question, I have absolutely no need to ask. I already know." She winked saucily, and walked away, leaving him with the cart, and the echo of her laughter.
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"Hi, Grandma." Rory gave her Grandmother a hug, before she shrugged-off her light jacket, and handed it to the awaiting maid.
"Hello, Mrs Gilmore." Tristan gave the maid his own jacket, and then turned to the smiling older woman. Taking her hand, he brushed her knuckles lightly with his lips.
"It's Emily." She shook her head fondly as she gave him a hug. "I've told you that a million times. You're a part of the family." She ushered them into the sitting room, and poured them each a soda as they settled themselves on the couch.
"So, Rory. . ." Emily started when she had settled herself on a chair, "Richard and I were wondering what to do for you on your birthday, we thought that you would like to have a party..."
"Actually, Grandma, I'm having a big party in Stars Hollow. It's gonna' be in the Town Square. So you really don't have to do anything." Rory said, embarrassed.
Tristan looked at her, "Hey! You weren't supposed to know about that!"
She smiled at him and shook her head, "I live in Stars Hollow, Tristan. There is no such thing as a Surprise Party. Especially with Miss Patty as a major planner."
Emily smiled and looked at the teenagers. "Alright. The party was just one of two ideas. I guess you're getting the other."
"What is it, Grandma?" Rory asked curiously.
"That, you will have to find out on your birthday. Now," Emily stood up, and brushed at the imaginary lint in her skirt. "Lunch should be ready, let's go into the dining room. . ."
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Tristan and Rory sat in front of the Gilmore couch, bowls of gummy bears, chips, chocolate, sourpatch kids, pixie stix, licorice, and much more surrounding them.
Rory unwrapped another chocolate bar, and leaned back against Tristan's chest, she broke it in half, and handed some to him. He took it from her, and took a bite of it; it was a part of their weekly ritual.
"Attack! Attack!" Rory shouted.
He waited a moment, "Run Away! Run Away!"
Laughing, the teens watched the Killer Rabbit attack the 'Holy Grail Seekers' on the television.
Some time later, Rory sighed as she hit rewind on the remote control, "I can never get enough of that movie." She leaned back into Tristans' embrace.
"Yeah, 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' is definitely in my 'Top 10'." Looking at the clock, he groaned when he saw the time. "C'mon, Ror, let's go to bed, it's almost four o'clock in the morning."
She looked at the clock, and then pouted playfully as she stood up and stretched. "Mean." She held out her hand to help him up.
"Hey, don't blame me, I don't make the time."
"No, but you just made me aware of it." Rory walked into her room, Tristan right behind her. Going to her dresser, she pulled out her purple coffee cup pajama pants, and one of Tristans t-shirts for herself, then threw him a pair of his shorts. "Go get changed in the bathroom, and brush your teeth, too. All of last night I had your horrible breath in my face. . . not fun."
"Hey, I don't remember you smelling minty fresh, either." He retorted as he walked out of the room.
Rory sighed, and then got changed; she was brushing her hair when Tristan walked back in, chest bare.
"Your turn." He said as he walked to her bed.
"Thanks." She grabbed her hair brush and went into the bathroom.
Tristan sighed, as he lay down, hands beneath his head. He didn't know what to do about his feelings towards his best friend; they had gone beyond friendship years ago. So long ago, that he actually had to struggle to remember when he hadn't loved her. For years, he had hid his feelings, terrified that one day she might suspect, that one day, she'd notice that he looked at her a little too long, or that when he touched her, it was just a little too tender. Terrified that one day, when she realized that his feelings were a little too deep for her, she'd run. And he couldn't live through losing her friendship. That was too high of a cost. So, he easily slid in to 'best buddy' mode.
As he heard her coming down the stairs, Tristan replaced his look of longing with a wide, albeit tired, grin. As she walked in, he opened his arms, and she promptly turned off the light and settled into them.
"Night, Tris, love you." She said softly.
"I love you, too, Ror." Only he knew how much.
Well, being friends wasn't that bad. For now.
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Hours later, when the two teens were fast asleep, and the sun was just peeking out over the horizon, Lorelai looked in. She smiled at the sight of her daughter curled up on Tristan's chest, their arms around each other; she shook her head at the innocent lovers embrace. She'd have so much fun when Rory came out of denial, and actually admitted to herself what Lorelai had known for years.
Only she had no idea how soon that realization would crash down on her daughter, and the effect that it would have on the world as they all knew it.
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55 reviews! OMG! I love you guys! All of you! Thank you so, sooo much!
Okay, for any of you, if you're confused, here's a bit of the Gilmore History...
Although Lorelai did move to Stars Hollow when Rory was a baby, she accepted help from her parents for Rory's schooling; therefore Tristan and Rory have gone to school together since JK. Lorelai got closer to her family... My theory is that Emily would be more laid back if she had a good relationship with Lorelai, so that's the reason she seems so much out of character.
Hope that helped.
So... tell me, do you want more?
Jayde
