Pairing: Established relationships for L/L and P/J; R/T eventually
Spoilers: May reference any and all episodes from seasons 1 & 2, up to and including Lost and Found.
Rating: PG
Summary: Future fic. Seven years after graduating from Chilton, Rory and Paris are business partners. What happens when they strike up a joint venture with Tristan DuGrey?
Unholy Alliance
by Grace
Part Three: Don't underestimate the power of the Force…
"Jess?" Paris called as she walked into their apartment.
"In the kitchen!" he yelled back.
She kicked off her shoes and padded into the kitchen. The aroma of garlic assailed her nostrils, and she breathed in the heady scent of her husband's homemade spaghetti sauce. Paris had to smile at the sight of Jess bent over the stove, a wooden spoon at his lips, and his jean-clad backside giving her all sorts of tempting ideas. Crossing the room to stand behind him, she looped her arms around his waist and planted a kiss on his neck. Jess twisted in her embrace and caught her mouth with his. Breaking apart in order to breathe, Paris licked her lips and remarked, "You taste good."
"Thanks. So do you. How was work?"
Paris let go of him with a sigh, and went to get a soda out of the fridge. "Okay, I guess. Rory and I still can't agree on the Internet edition, though. And…Tristan stopped by."
Jess paused in mid-stir. "Did he see Rory?"
"Yes. Actually, I was at lunch when he got there, so I guess he spoke with her instead."
"How did that go?"
"Fine, as far as I know. I wish I had been there, though—I can almost always see through his masks."
"He's a big boy, Paris."
"Yes, but she broke his heart once, and she doesn't even know. And now they're supposed to go out for coffee."
Jess removed the sauce from the heat, and dumped the noodles into a colander in the sink. "Try not to worry unless something actually happens, Frenchie."
"I can't help it. I'm an expert worrier."
"Well, then, I guess I'll just have to come up with a way to relax you later on," he said suggestively.
"Sounds wonderful."
* * *
"Hello?"
Rory smiled at the sound of her little brother's voice. "Hi, Billy. Is mom there?"
"Rory! Guess what? At the park today Tommy and I were playing on the swings and Mr. Taylor told us we were swinging too high and we'd get hurt and then he stepped in a hole and fell down!"
"Wow, it sounds like you had an exciting day. Now can I please talk to mom?"
"'Kay."
Rory heard a clatter as the phone was unceremoniously dropped, and Billy hollered, "Mom! Phone!"
Several seconds later, Lorelai's voice came through the receiver. "Hello?"
"Hi mom."
"Rory! Hey sweetie, what's up? Did you win a Nobel Prize or something?"
"That's Pulitzer Prize, and no. But I did go on a date tonight."
"Ooh, details! Blind or sighted?"
"Sighted."
"Name?"
"Ryan."
"Occupation?"
"Professional computer geek."
"Cute?"
"Definitely."
"Where'd you meet?"
"Coffee shop in the lobby of my building."
"Well, he obviously has taste."
"Obviously."
"When are you seeing him again?"
"I'm not sure. He kind of, um, lives in New York."
"Oh."
"It's not that far away, mom."
"I know. I was just hoping…"
"That I would meet a nice neighborhood coffee purveyor, settle down, and get married?"
"No, that you would meet someone from Connecticut."
"I haven't exactly had much luck with Connecticut boys."
"Boy. Singular. Dean. Stupid."
"Mom…"
"Fine. At least you didn't marry Jess."
"News flash—he's your nephew too now."
"Scary."
"Speaking of scary, you'll never guess who I saw today."
"Rob Lowe?"
"Um, no. Tristan."
"Tristan?"
"DuGrey? From Chilton? Tormented me?"
"Ah, that Tristan."
"You know more than one?"
"No. Is he still evil?"
"Not noticeably so, but I didn't have the demon detector switched on."
"Have I taught you nothing?"
"We're having coffee tomorrow."
"Wow, two days, two dates, two guys."
"It's not a date."
"Does he know that?"
"Mom, it's Tristan. He probably has fifteen girlfriends back in New York."
"Another New Yorker?"
"Apparently there was a mass exodus after everyone realized how overrated the Yankees are."
"Took them long enough. Hey, Emma's crying. Gotta go."
"Okay. Love you."
"You too."
Rory grinned as she hung up the phone. Talking to Lorelai always made her feel as though she was back in Stars Hollow. Her life in Hartford was great, but no place else could ever truly be home.
* * *
"Rory, I'm leaving for my lunch with Tristan," Paris announced as she stepped into Rory's office.
"Okay. I'll probably be on my way to meet him myself when you get back."
"Are you sure you don't just want to come to lunch with us?"
"No, I have some things I want to get finished. Besides, this way you can vent about my irrational fear of expansion."
Paris grinned. "I will convince you, Gilmore. Don't underestimate the power of the Force."
"Oh good Lord, now Jess has you quoting Star Wars?"
"Hey, just because I didn't see it until I was twenty-two doesn't mean I can't appreciate it now."
"Whatever, Jedi Master. Now go, or you'll be late for lunch."
"I'm going. Geez."
No sooner had Paris left than Rory's phone rang.
"Lorelai Hayden."
"Hi Lorelai, it's Ryan."
"Hi! I didn't think you'd call until you were back in New York."
"I guess I just couldn't wait that long. Anyway, I was wondering if you might be able to join me for a quick lunch."
"Oh, I'd love to, but I really can't. I'm swamped at work, and then I'm meeting an old friend for coffee this afternoon. Can I take a rain check?"
"Sure," he replied, disappointment in his voice.
"I really do want to see you again. I was, uh, actually thinking of taking a weekend trip to New York later this month."
"Really? That'll be great! Hey, I'm losing my cellular signal. Call me at home tonight!"
The phone disconnected before Rory had a chance to respond. As she hung up, she pondered what she had told Ryan. She hadn't been planning a trip, but now that she had said the words, it seemed like a pretty good idea…
* * *
Walking into the small café, Paris immediately caught sight of Tristan's blonde head. She also noticed the appreciative glances he was receiving from several of the waitresses.
He smiled and stood up when he saw her approaching. As soon as she was within reach, he swept her into a bear hug.
Stepping back, he declared, "Paris, it's been far too long."
"Yes it has, and whose fault is that?"
He looked sheepish. "Guilty as charged. I meant to come to the wedding, but…"
"But you were too afraid of running smack into your past?"
He sighed. "I'm going to have to plead the fifth."
"Coward."
"If that were true, would I be meeting Rory for coffee today?"
"Tristan, be honest with me. Do you still have feelings for her?"
He ran a hand through his hair, reminding Paris of their Chilton days. "It's been so long, I don't even know Rory any more. But when I saw her yesterday, there was still that spark, you know? I've never been able to get her completely out of my head. I always wondered if we could have ever been…more."
"In all the years before we met her, I never knew you to truly care about anyone. What is it about her?"
"Paris, we both know I was pretty much a bastard in those days. Rory made me feel like that wasn't who I had to be. It was almost like…finding the missing piece of myself."
"That's how I felt when I met Jess," she murmured.
"How is he? By the way, you look great. Married life obviously agrees with you."
Her features softened, and the love in her eyes was obvious. "He's fine. Work keeps us both busy, but we manage. At first, the whole good-girl-falls-for-bad-boy thing seemed so clichéd that I even made myself nauseous. I didn't want to fall for him, but I finally realized that he was exactly what I needed."
"I'm happy for you."
She grinned. "Of course, it got a lot easier once I finally came to the realization that you and I would have killed each other if we ever actually tried dating."
"Happy I could help," he remarked dryly.
"Seriously, though, do you think meeting her for coffee is a good idea?"
"It's something I need to do, if for no other reason than to try and put her behind me."
"Really?"
"Really. I promise I won't do anything stupid, like propose."
"That's not funny, Tristan."
He laughed bitterly. "You worry too much. I just have one question—does she have a boyfriend?"
"No. Although, she did go on a date last night. What difference does it make? I thought you weren't going to do anything stupid."
"I'm not! I just…wondered."
"Sure you did."
* * *
Stepping out of the cab, Rory quickly paid the driver and headed into the airport. Bradley International wasn't very big, and she had no trouble finding the United counters. There were a surprising number of people in line, and she scanned the crowd for a few minutes before finally catching sight of Tristan. He was near the head of the line, and she decided to wait until he finished checking in before approaching him.
She saw him step away from the counter a few minutes later, and he immediately began looking around, presumably for her. Trying to catch his eye, she waved, and he broke into a wide grin when he spotted her.
They quickly closed the distance between them, and to Rory's surprise, he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so glad you could make it!" he said. "Sorry we couldn't go someplace nicer."
"I don't mind. Besides, it's good to get out of the city once in a while. So did you have a nice lunch with Paris?"
"Yeah. In so many ways she hasn't changed, but Jess has really been good for her."
"She's been good for him, too. Actually, I'm kind of surprised you weren't at the wedding."
He glanced away guiltily. "Yeah, I wanted to go, but…"
Sensing that he didn't want to talk about it, she quickly said, "So how about that coffee?"
"I just need to tell my partner something first. Here he comes. Rory, I'd like you to meet…"
Rory turned, and her eyes widened in shock. "Ryan?"
"Lorelai?"
"RJ?"
"Tristan?"
To be continued…