Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Gilmore Girls
Author's Note: Thank you for reviewing. I don't have a lot of time to update but I will keep going with the story.
His new regime meant that she hadn't really been able to spend time alone with him. Which probably wasn't a bad thing for her own sanity as well as her mother's. Lorelai hadn't exactly grown resigned to the idea of her daughter as Satan's moll. On the other hand, she hadn't been able to convince herself she'd done the wrong thing in attempting to ensure his Chilton survival. At this point she was simply proud that she hadn't forcibly dragged Rory to the doctor and insisted that she go on the pill immediately. After all, she'd almost tried that once before and it hadn't been her brightest moment. This time she didn't want to encourage her daughter into thinking that sex was inevitable. Because this time she was desperately afraid that it might be.
They'd managed to share a few chaste kisses after school, when no-one was around and he was waiting for his grandfather. He suspected that those moments were the product of his grandfather's sympathy. He was always just a few minutes late, just long enough to let them convince themselves that these moments might one day make a relationship, even if so far it didn't resemble any dating pattern either of them had known before.
They were waiting as usual for his grandfather- and her bus- when she remembered about the Winter Festival. She'd talked Lorelai into letting her inviting him even though she wasn't sure he'd be allowed to come- let alone want to. It didn't fit with anything she'd known of him before and glad though she was to still have him around, she wasn't sure that she trusted him yet.
"I'll talk to my grandfather," he said.
He couldn't quite believe that his social life had been reduced to having to beg for permission to attend some ridiculous small town event. He didn't know whether his enthusiasm for it came from a desperation for any kind of relief from his punishment or simply his inexplicable need to be near her.
She smiled up at him, slipping her hand into his and he was horribly afraid it was the latter. Having spent so much time chasing her relentlessly, tormenting her in an effort to break her resolve and relieve his frustration, he'd stopped being afraid that even with their new understanding he was just waiting for a chance to destroy the innocence that had so beguiled him. Now he was simply afraid of the "they" he'd craved for so long.
He gave her a quick kiss as he saw his grandfather's car approaching, trying not to notice how much it affected both of them and how hard it was to pull away.
"Call me if you can come," she said quickly, scrambling away as the car drew up. She was still scared of being seen with him, partly because she didn't wanted to be bracketed with all the other girls he'd been with, partly because she was afraid his grandfather would see her presence as defiance and he'd be sent away after all.
"Good afternoon," his grandfather said affably as he threw his bag into the car and climbed in. "Was that the Gilmore girl again?"
"Yes, it was." he decided to dive right in and ask before he could decide it was a bad idea. "She's invited me to a festival in her town this evening. Do you think it'll be all right for me to go?"
His grandfather sighed. "I'm not responsible for your punishment, Tristan. You'll have to ask your father. Although he did seem quite impressed by her. Rory- that's her name, isn't it?"
"Yes," he muttered, hating himself for the way he was blushing like a girl.
He knew that Rory was taking a chance on him, that it hadn't made things easy between herself and her mother. And he knew she was hurt by that, had been surprised when he realised just how close she and Lorelai were. But the stubbornness that had hitherto kept him at arm's length was finally serving him well.
"I'll have a word with him. It sounds fairly harmless. And you're unlikely to come to much harm with Rory. Her grandfather talks about her quite a lot. I imagine she could keep you in line. And her mother certainly could."
He chuckled as he remembered Lorelai. He'd admired her, even as a child. She'd never been taken in by the facade of propriety around her. Although he'd heard very little of her between her pregnancy and the recent advent of Rory to her grandparents' lives, he had a lot of respect for Lorelai. He had no doubt that if her daughter was anything like her, she'd be able to handle his grandson.
"So is he coming?" Lorelai asked when Rory got home, trying to keep the barb out of her voice. There was no point in pretending this wasn't happening. She'd have to try to pretend to be happy about it instead.
Rory shrugged. "I don't know. Depends if his father lets him. I'm going to get changed anyway."
She was aware of her mother watching her, knowing she wasn't prepared to admit just how much she wanted him to be there.
In her room, Rory opened her wardrobe, wondering what to wear. She wasn't used to considering her clothes with a view to seduction. She reddened, not really ready to think about seducing him, although in truth she could think of little else when his hands and lips were in any kind of proximity to her. She couldn't work out how she'd suddenly turned into this mass of teenage hormones, although she could almost pinpoint the exact moment. It was the point at which he'd pinned her against the classroom door in her ridiculous Elizabethan costume. Apart from then, and the play rehearsal, he'd hardly seen her in anything other than her Chilton uniform. Given how cold it was, though, it didn't really matter what she wore since she'd be well and truly hidded under a warm coat, hat, gloves and scarf. Lorelai would at least approve of that.
The phone rang and she dived on it before her mother could reach it.
"Hello?"
"What time do I need to be there?"
She grinned, unable to keep the obvious happiness out of her voice. "You're allowed to come?"
He sounded happy himself, though he still didn't quite understand the emotion, never milnd the reason for it. "Yes. My grandfather talked to my dad and they agreed. As long as I'm not home too late."
"Well then you should come over early."
"Now?"
She glanced at the clothes she'd strewn on her bed and started to panic.
"Now is good. If you want to, that is. I mean-"
"Relax, Rory. It'll take me half an hour to get there anyway. Where do you want me to meet you?"
"Can you come to my house?"
It was the last place she wanted to meet him, but Lorelai would chalk up another point against him if she arranged anything else. Anyway, sooner or later their meeting was inevitable and they might as well get it over with.
"Sure."
"Do you know where it is?"
"Yes," he admitted, not really wanting to say he'd made a point of finding out when he'd been to Stars Hollow for the play rehearsal. "I'll see you soon."
She hung up, still smiling before panic really set in and she rummaged through the pile on her bed, finally selecting a pair of jeans and a dusky pink shirt that at least she'd be comfortable in.
Twenty minutes later she was wondering whether the waiting for him to show up was worse than Lorelai's impending inquisition. As soon as she heard his car outside she'd gladly have continued to wonder a little longer. Her mother didn't even give her a chance to answer the doorbell, fixing her in her spot beside the couch with a glare as she shifted from foot to foot as if that was likely to make a difference.
Lorelai opened the door with the brightest smile she could muster. "Hello, Tristan. I see they let you out. For good behaviour?"
"Uh- yes."
He wasn't particularly good at situations like this. In fact he'd never before experienced a situation where a girl's mother was so clearly immune to his charm. He was only too well aware that none of his lines would work on Lorelai Gilmore. Of course, they hadn't exactly worked on Rory either. He wasn't sure exactly what had.
"Just so you know, the good behaviour had better continue. Got it?"
He nodded, wondering if this was really worth the effort. But then he caught Rory's anguished glance as she tried to signal her mother to stop and the split second of liquid blue drove the question from his mind. He rushed to help her as she struggled into her coat, and Lorelai's eyes narrowed as she watched. It wasn't his politeness that had her worried: it was the effect that his slightest touch was clearly having on her blushing daughter.
"Well, then, have fun." They were framed in the doorway for a moment. "But not too much," she couldn't help but add, ignoring Rory's glare.
She watched as Tristan took Rory's gloved hand in his own and saw Rory's face light up.
"Coffee," she muttered to herself, checking her watch to give them a few minutes' head start before she'd head for Luke's in an effort to distract herself.
"So they let you come?" Rory asked, inwardly cursing herself for the stupidity of the question.
He nodded, swinging their hands so that his arm came to rest around her waist.
"My grandfather can be quite persuasive. He said your mother would keep me in line even if you didn't."
"True," she agreed. "Although I think I'm quite capable of dealing with you myself."
"Really?" he murmured, pulling her even closer so that she shivered at his breath on her ear.
"Really," she affirmed, refusing to give in quite so easily.
He sighed. "So what does a winter festival entail, anyway?"
She giggled. "You've never been to anything like this before, have you?"
He shook his head.
"There's a torchlight parade through the town, and the school band plays. And there's a dance recital by one of Miss Patty's classes, but don't worry, I'll keep you away from her- she might like you a little too much."
"And they thought I'd be safe here!" he said, rolling his eyes.
"Don't worry, she's harmless. At least-" She eyed him dubiously and he looked alarmed.
"Hot chocolate?" she asked, changing the subject as they reached Luke's.
"Yes, good idea," he agreed, letting her lead him through the door.
He was aware of the eyes that followed them, disturbed by it even though he was used to being the centre of attention. He allowed himself a moment of triumph as he realised Dean couldn't fail to hear that he'd been here with Rory.
"Hi, Luke."
The flannel-clad man behind the counter glared suspiciously at him.
"Hi, Rory. What can I get you?"
The query pointedly excluded him.
"This is Tristan," she said, pulling him forward.
He offered his hand and Luke took it with reluctance. He had the sense of meeting a girlfriend's father for the first time- one who wasn't going to like him whatever he did.
"Can we have two hot chocolates to go?" Rory asked and Luke nodded without enthusiasm. He hadn't warmed to Dean initially, but compared to this cocky looking rich boy he was remembering him fondly.
Rory seemed unaware of the untrusting undercurrents, smiling up at him again as they went outside to watch the festivities. In the end he couldn't remember a better evening- certainly not one he'd been able to remember the next day. He knew she wouldn't be comfortable with the kind of attention he wanted to give her, not in public and not here. So he'd managed to restrain himself, thinking she'd appreciate it, not knowing she was doubting her control as well as his interest.
Finally he had to walk her home. He knew this wouldn't end like most of his dates, but he had glanced through the diner window to make sure Lorelai was still inside, trying to cajole extra coffee from Luke, knowing that this meant he'd have a few minutes alone with Rory. They were silent on the way back, until as they approached her house he remembered the other reason he'd been allowed out for the evening.
"I got an 'A' in English," he said suddenly.
She grinned, genuinely delighted. "Must have been the Shakespeare," she said, stopping to hug him impulsively.
"Must have been," he agreed, taking the opportunity to kiss her properly for the first time that evening.
She responded instantly, hands snaking round his neck to pull him closer until he drew away to catch his breath and she remembered that they were in the middle of her street, where anyone could see them. He was surprised when she towed him to her door, opening it quickly and pulling him inside. He wasn't arguing, though, kicking it closed behind him and kissing her again even as she tried to get out of her coat. With the sudden warmth of the house and the heat of him wrapped around her she felt as though she was in flames.
He'd pushed the coat from her and torn off her scarf and hat, running his fingers through her hair as her hands slid under his jacket to pull him closer as he pressed her against the door, figuring that would give them some warning then of Lorelai's arrival. His hands slipped down her sides and she jumped as they found their way under the hem of her shirt, their touch against her skin causing her to push herself against him with greater force. As his lips left hers, she was embarrassed by her sigh that sounded more like a moan, burying her face against him, drinking in his scent as he smiled into her hair at her reaction. They stood like that for moments longer, wound tightly together, each taken aback at the intensity of their reaction to the other. She couldn't believe that she had wondered earlier if he wanted her in that way at all.
"I have to go," he said at last, kissing her again with what he meant to be finality, leaving them both with a sense of the unfinished. After this reprise of the heat between them, he wondered if this would ever be finished.
"See you in school," she breathed, wondering if now she'd let him push her against her locker the way she wanted him to, regardless of spying eyes.
And then he was gone, and she was leaning dazedly against the door, wondering when she'd gather the strength in her legs to move over to the sofa.
She was still there when Lorelai opened the door minutes later, sending her daughter stumbling to the floor.
"Tristan?" she asked in resignation, shaking her head as a reddening Rory scrambled to her feet.
She didn't want to know.