Pairing: Established relationships for L/L and P/J; R/T…eventually
Rating: R
Spoilers: May reference anything from seasons 1 & 2
Summary: Seven years after graduating Chilton, Rory and Paris are business partners. What happens when they strike up a joint venture with Tristan DuGrey?
Disclaimer: The characters depicted here were created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, and are the property of Hofflund-Polone and Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions. They are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from their use.
A/N: This chapter's title quote is from How the Grinch Stole Christmas…the original animated version, not the Jim Carrey movie. And yes, I know this chapter was extremely long in coming. Will the next one come sooner? Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies…
Unholy Alliance
By Grace
Part Twenty-seven: Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!
'Twas the night before Christmas Eve, Tristan thought, and I have nowhere to go. Paris had taken a half-day, and left the office hours ago. Rory had been running around like a crazy person, while he double-checked and triple-checked the website's layouts, graphics, and links. He would be on vacation until the New Year's Day launch, so all bugs had to be found and exterminated before he left work today. Normally, RJ would take care of such technical tweaking, but he had already flown back to Chicago to spend the holidays with his family.
Sequestered in her office, Rory typed furiously, trying to tie up countless last-minute details. She almost screamed with frustration when her phone rang, shattering her concentration.
She snatched up the receiver and barked, "What?!"
"Who died and made you Scrooge?" Lorelai asked.
Rory sighed. "Sorry, mom. Today has been crazy. I just want to finish up and come home."
"I know, sweetie. Just a little while longer, though, and you have more than a week off."
"Believe me, I'm counting the minutes."
"Is anyone else left at the office, or are you all by your lonesome?"
"No, Tristan's still here."
"Say hi to him for me, will you?"
"Sure."
"What's he doing for Christmas?"
"Actually, I don't think he's doing much of anything. Thanksgiving with his family was a disaster, remember?"
"I know, but we've had plenty of disastrous family holidays, and we still get together."
"Our family is a little different from the DuGreys, mom."
"Still, no one should spend Christmas alone. Why don't you invite him to come here?"
"I don't know…"
"Sweetie, it's not really a suggestion."
Rory sighed again. "Okay, mom."
"Go do it now."
"Pushy much?"
"Decisive, not pushy. There's a difference."
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
"I'll see you tonight."
"Bye mom."
* * *
After hanging up with Rory, Lorelai immediately called Lane's cell phone. It went straight to voice mail, and she left a brief message. "Lane, it's Lorelai. Phase One of Operation Not-Technically-Breaking-My-Promise-to-Tristan is officially underway. Updates will follow as events warrant."
* * *
Rory stood outside the door of what had unofficially become Tristan's office. She hesitated, unsure of why it was so hard to ask him to spend Christmas with her family.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, walking in at the sound of his distracted "Come in."
She sat down, and didn't speak until he paused his furious typing.
"How's it going?"
He exhaled loudly. "Okay, I guess. Slower than I'd like, but this is really RJ's area, not mine."
"I know he feels guilty about leaving at such a critical time."
Tristan waved it off. "I don't mind. I know how important it is for him to be with his family."
She smiled gently. "You're a good guy, Tristan."
"Thanks, but don't tell anyone. It would ruin my image." He grinned when she chuckled, and then asked, "So what are you still doing here? Isn't there some Stars Hollow festival you could be attending?"
"Yeah, but you're not the only one with deadlines. I'll head home soon. What about you?"
He shrugged. "I think I'll work a while longer. I don't really have any pressing plans."
Rory shifted nervously in her chair, uncertain of how to phrase her request. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that. Would you…wouldyouliketospendChristmasinStarsHollowwithme?"
He laughed. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you repeat it?"
Slowly, she drawled, "Would…you…like…to…spend…Christmas…in…Stars…Hollow…with…me?"
Tristan gave her a sad smile. "It's nice of you to offer, but I don't want your pity, Rory."
"It's not pity, it's friendship. I want you to be there, and I know my family does too."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Then I accept. Thank you."
She beamed at him. "You're welcome. Now get cracking—I want to be home in time for dinner!"
He snapped off a salute, and replied with a grin, "Yes, ma'am!"
* * *
Snow was falling lightly when they reached the house in Stars Hollow, and Rory leapt from the car and did a happy little dance, spinning in circles with her face upturned. She laughed joyously, and the sound was infectious. Tristan couldn't resist joining in, so he grabbed both her hands and twirled her around.
Dizzy and out of breath, they finally stopped a few minutes later. Rory's heart did a funny little leap when she looked at Tristan, with his rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. Giving her head a sharp shake to clear the odd feeling, she dashed towards the house, calling behind her, "Last one in's a rotten eggnog!"
He sprinted after her, but she was too quick for him. He entered the house two steps behind her, and then barreled into her when she stopped abruptly.
Grabbing Tristan by the hand, Rory hauled him in the direction of the kitchen, shouting, "Mom, mom! I found a stray! Can I keep him? Please, can I? Huh, huh?"
Lorelai, who was standing in front of the open freezer holding a pint of Ben & Jerry's The French Hen or the Eggnog, nearly snorted ice cream through her nose in her excitement. "Rory! You're home!" She engulfed her oldest child in a bear hug. "It's snowing, sweetie! Did you see it?"
"Of course I did. Tristan and I even danced in it."
Immediately, Lorelai shifted her attention to the young man hovering in the background. Her expression menacing, she advanced on him. "Dancing in the snow with my daughter, eh?" She broke into a wide smile. "I'm glad to hear it. You know, there's sort of a tradition in our family—magical things happen when it snows."
"Is that so?"
Lorelai nodded solemnly. "It is so. I have a feeling that magical things are going to happen for you this weekend."
"I hope you're right."
She smiled impishly. "Haven't you heard? I'm always right." She gave him a quick hug. "I'm so happy you're here."
Tristan bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Not as happy as I am to be here."
"Ever the charmer, aren't you?"
He smirked. "I try."
"Don't waste all your ass-kissing on me. My parents should be here any minute, and they're much harder to impress than I am."
"You mean casually dropping my last name won't be good enough?"
She gazed at him thoughtfully. "Actually…it might."
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. "Speak of the devils…" Lorelai mumbled.
"Mom…" Rory chided gently. "Be nice."
Lorelai pouted as the three of them headed for the front door. "But it won't be a holiday if I don't make steam come out of their ears."
"Behave," her daughter said sternly. Without waiting for any further argument, Rory flung open the door. "Hi, grandma, hi, grandpa! Merry Christmas!"
"Hello, dear," Emily replied. "Merry Christmas to you, too."
"Hello, Rory," Richard said, embracing his granddaughter. "I'm glad you made the drive safely."
"It's not that far, grandpa—you live just as far away."
"I know, but we still worry," he replied.
"Aren't you going to invite us in, Lorelai?" Emily asked tartly. "It isn't exactly the Tropics out here."
"Of course, come in. Can I get either of you a drink? I know I could certainly use one."
"White wine would be lovely."
"Anything for you, dad?"
"Scotch on the rocks, please."
After Lorelai disappeared into the kitchen, Rory asked, "May I take your coats?"
"Certainly, dear," her grandmother said, "but aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"
Rory flushed, having momentarily forgotten Tristan was there. "Yes, sorry. Grandma, grandpa, this is Tristan DuGrey. Tristan, my grandparents, Emily and Richard Gilmore."
"It's a pleasure to see you again, ma'am, sir."
Emily's eyebrows shot up. "Have we met before?"
"Yes, ma'am, briefly. It was quite a few years ago, at a birthday party you threw for Rory."
She nodded approvingly. "I see. You're a friend of hers from Chilton, then?"
Tristan glanced quickly at Rory, knowing that wasn't really an accurate representation of their relationship in those days, but unwilling to try and explain. To his relief, Rory spoke up.
"Yes, you could say that."
If Emily Gilmore sensed there was more to the story, she wisely said nothing.
Lorelai chose that moment to return with the drinks. "Why's everyone standing around out here? Come see the Christmas tree."
The group dutifully trooped after her into the living room, and gave the appropriate "oohs" and "aahs" in appreciation of the decorations. Tristan hid a grin. His mother would be mortified by the tree, with it's mishmash of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments, homemade ornaments covering in glitter and cotton balls, garlands of popcorn, and a liberal garnish of silver tinsel.
He thought it was the most beautiful Christmas tree he had ever seen.
Once everyone was seated, Emily asked, "Where are Luke and the children?"
Lorelai made a face. "Over at the diner, wrapping my presents. He apparently thinks I can't be trusted not to peek."
"Wherever would he get that idea?" her mother inquired dryly, taking a sip of her wine.
"One incident with an X-acto knife and people never let you forget it," Lorelai grumbled.
Puzzled, Tristan commented, "I think I'm missing a story, here."
Rory turned to him and began to explain. "The first Christmas mom and Luke were married, he wrapped all her gifts several weeks in advance, and put them on the floor in his closet. He figured that since they were wrapped, he didn't have to worry about her peeking. On Christmas morning, though, he could tell she wasn't surprised, even though the packages looked exactly like they had when he wrapped them."
"How did she manage that?"
"Apparently, she took an X-acto knife, slit the tape along the seams of the paper, and unwrapped the presents. Then, she wrapped them back up exactly the same way, using the existing creases and folds in the paper, and placing brand new pieces of tape directly over the old, cut pieces."
Tristan gaped at Lorelai. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope. Ever since that year, Luke hides all of mom's presents at an undisclosed location, wraps them at the diner on Christmas Eve, and then brings them home to put under the tree."
He guffawed. "That's classic! I wish I had thought of that when I was a kid."
"Well, I think it's dreadful," Emily said. "Lorelai was certainly old enough to know better."
"Can't we just chalk it up to my being a kid at heart?" the culprit asked, her tone wheedling.
Tristan reached over and patted her knee. "If that's what helps you sleep at night."
"You people are no fun."
"Of course we're fun!" Richard admonished her. "We're just…mature."
"Isn't that another word for 'boring'?"
"Mom…"
"Sorry, Rory," Lorelai said contritely. She turned to Tristan. "See, your family isn't the only one that has interesting holidays."
"Where is your family this Christmas, Tristan?" Emily asked.
"I believe they're in Vermont, ma'am, at the family cabin in Killington."
"All of those 'ma'ams' are making me feel ancient. Please, call me Emily. Christmas in Vermont sounds lovely—why didn't you join them?"
Suddenly uncomfortable, Tristan floundered for an answer that wouldn't make him feel like a fool. Once more, it was Rory to his rescue.
"Tristan is just too dedicated to his work, grandma. He and Ryan are designing the on-line version of the Harbinger, and with Ryan in Chicago for Christmas, he didn't feel he should go out of town as well."
"That's an admirable work ethic, young man," Richard complimented him. "You don't see that very often these days."
"Is this Ryan the same young man you've been dating, Rory?" Emily asked.
"Yes, grandma."
She shook her head disapprovingly. "It's really not wise to date people that you work with."
Rory squirmed uncomfortably. She wasn't used to getting a negative reaction from her grandmother. "The work situation is only temporary, and really, I spend most of my time working with Tristan."
"I see," Emily murmured. The way she said it, Rory was quite sure that she did see—she just wasn't sure what her grandmother saw.
Sensing the awkward shift in mood, Lorelai piped up with, "So…how about eggnog? I spiked it."
In one simultaneous breath, Rory and Tristan mumbled, "Thank God."
It just might be a holly jolly Christmas after all.
To be continued…