Title: The ultimate curve ball

Author: Joy

A/N: Thank you all for your reviews. It encourages me so. I'm glad you guys are enjoying the series.

7. Face off

Long about the time Tristan saw Rory disappear into the bathroom, he heard someone at his side. He turned to see Logan standing there. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

Tristan stared at him a moment, "In this pub or on campus?"

"What do you want with Rory?"

Tristan sighed, "I have known Rory since we were teenagers. I have spent years thinking about what I would do if I got the chance to see her again. I knew if she didn't have a boyfriend I would move heaven and earth to get her to realize how much she meant to me... She didn't have a boyfriend, so I am making good on my promise."

Logan shook his head, "She's mine. Everyone here knows it."

Tristan raised an eyebrow, "Lorelai Leigh Gilmore is no more yours than you are hers. Don't fool yourself."

"I think you're the one fooling yourself if you think that she isn't gonna come right back to me once you're gone," Logan stated cockily. "I have gotten rid of other guys that had her attention."

"Did she kiss any of them in plain view of the campus?" Tristan asked. Logan's eyes narrowed. "I thought not... Look Logan, this is nothing personal. Actually it is personal... Rory deserves far better than to be treated like some lay...but for the most part this is just about knowing a good thing when I see it and not letting it pass me by again...not without a fight. And before you get some crazy idea I mean you...I don't. I don't need to fight you. I need to fight her fear of commitment."

"Ace is not afraid of commitment," Logan stated.

Tristan began to laugh then stopped when he realized that Logan wasn't kidding. "You're serious. You really think that?" Logan looked at him confused. "Okay...well...you obviously don't know your 'Ace' as well as you think you do. If you did you would know that my 'Mary' has commitment issues a mile wide and six feet deep."

"That is ridiculous. Maybe with you she does? But no one else," Logan stated.

"Really?"

"Yeah really? She was dating some guy seriously when I met her."

"Dean?" Tristan asked succinctly.

"Yes," Logan responded.

"Did you think Rory was seeing someone when you met her?" Tristan asked.

"No," Logan said thoughtfully.

"Why was that?"

"I'm not sure."

Tristan sighed, "That is because that guy... she didn't talk about him. She never does. But Dean has always represented safety to her...even after he got married. What safer guy to be with than one you have known since you were sixteen, lives far from you, and is married."

Logan glared at Tristan, "You're lying."

"She didn't tell you."

"You're lying."

Tristan shook his head, "No, I'm not...but I assumed you knew. When she said you weren't committed or exclusive I didn't realize she wouldn't have told you jack..."

"You're lying," Logan insisted.

"What bother's you more? The thought that you didn't know or the thought that she told me ten minutes after seeing me?" Tristan asked looking at Logan who said nothing. "I suppose it just goes to show how much she really trusts you, doesn't it?"

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Logan was growling at some comment Tristan had just made when Rory walked up to them. Finn and Colin had been trying to keep her busy while Logan tried unsuccessfully to intimidate Tristan. "What are you doing, Logan?" she snapped.

"Just talking to your date," he said with venom.

"Yeah Mare, its going really well...we're about to build a clubhouse," Tristan teased, winking at her, trying to get Rory to lighten up.

For a moment Rory smiled and almost laughed but then things went from bad to worse.

"Oh for god sake, will you stop with the Mary crap. Her name is Rory...R-O-R-Y... I am the only one that gets to call her anything else," Logan growled arrogantly, too angry too see this would not help his cause.

Rory was seeing red and Tristan could tell she might actually hit the guy, so he decided to take the reigns.

Tristan stood in one smooth motion sliding into soldier mode, cold and icy, stiff and authoritative. "Logan, I know her name. I have known her name longer than you have, and I have had a nickname for her longer than you have. So let me make this clear, you are not the one with right to call her anything and you are not the one that dictates what goes on between MARY and me. I realize you are big man on campus... hell I realize you are big man every where you walk, in your own opinion... but don't think for one minute you have any place when she and I are together. I don't give a damn who your daddy is and what kind of trust fund you have. So please do not make this into a pissing contest, cause like it or not for the first time in your privileged life you might lose."

"I seriously doubt it." Logan growled.

Rory glared at him, "Think again Logan. You are not winning any points here by this display."

"Ace."

She raised her hand in indication for him to stop talking, "Now back to the original reason why I was going to yell at you...I don't go 'talking' to your dates or use my friends to distract you while I corner them. This is completely unacceptable. I haven't seen you for weeks and now you pull this crap...what the hell is wrong with you?"

Logan pulled Rory to the side by the arm gently away from everyone, "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what? Having fun? Spending time with someone that actually cares about me?" she asked.

Logan held her shoulders, "I care about you. I care about you more than any other girl I have ever been with."

Rory pulled away, "You have a funny way of showing it."

"I'm sorry okay? I'm really sorry. I will do whatever you want to...I don't want to lose you," he pled.

She swallowed slowly, "For now... then in a few weeks you will have established yourself in my life, I will begin to lean on you, and you will bail because things are too serious. Newsflash Logan, I have my father to do that in my life. I don't need you too...Now I am on a date. Go find some girl with a name that sounds like a pop singer and sleep with her. I am sure you will forget all about this."

"No Ace, I won't," he said solemnly.

"Whatever...Tristan and I are leaving. I will talk to you later."

Rory glared at Finn and Colin as they approached. "You two are shameful."

"Come on luv. We're just looking out for our boy," Finn pouted.

"If this is gonna work, you're gonna have to not pull stunts like this," she chided.

"Yes luv," the Aussie sighed.

"Good," She snipped.

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Just then Marty walked up to the group, enjoying the fact Rory seemed angry with the trio. There was another blonde pretty boy with her that she was holding hands with. Marty hoped this meant Logan was a thing of the past. It hurt to see her with another guy but it hurt less knowing it wasn't Logan. "Hey," Marty called a bit unsure of the encounter.

"Hey Marty," Rory said giving him a hug. She moved back to Tristan's side and took Tristan's hand again. "Marty this is Tristan. Tristan...this is Marty."

Tristan extended his free hand, "Oh yes...Hi Marty. It's nice to meet you. You are spoken of highly. I'm glad to know my Mary has a friend here that makes her laugh...other than the Aussie, who appears to be able to make anyone laugh."

"Anger works for her...Inebriated works for me," Finn laughed as Tristan still kept his hand out to the bartender.

Marty nodded, and shook the offered hand slightly uncomfortable, "Thanks...Wait...If she's your Mary then you're her... oh what was it...Bible..."

"My Bible Boy," Rory fluttered her eyes dramatically at Tristan.

"You need to say it with a southern accent to get the full effect."

"Why Rhett, what ever will I do?" Rory said with a southern twang. "Bet you love those Belles."

"I'll stick with my Mary," Tristan murmured before kissing her brow causing Logan to grit his teeth and roll his eyes. Seeing this Tristan felt slightly guilty. "We should get going. Nice to meet you Marty...Stooges," he stated tipping his head to the other guys.

"Bye boys," Rory said with a smirk heading for the door.

"Bye Rory," came from Marty.

"Bye Luv...Solider boy," Finn acknowledged.

"Bye Reporter Girl," Colin teased.

"Bye Ace," Logan said painfully as Tristan and Rory left.

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Marty almost laughed at Logan's face and turned from the guys. "Something funny, Bartender?" Logan snarled.

Marty turned back to him with a broad smile, "Not funny. Just ironic... Be happy for her."

"We're still dating."

That Marty laughed at. "Right...that'll last," he said strolling away. "Don't worry...You're line is too long for anyone to notice that a girl actually replaced you. This will do no damage to your reputation."

"My reputation?" Logan countered.

"That's what you're worried about, right?" Marty asked.

"No."

Marty seemed a bit shocked, "Then what's the problem?"

Finn stepped in front of Marty to deflect Logan's glare, "Walk away now... He's not up for a reality check."

"Okay."

Logan downed his drink muttering, "We're going after them," which caused Finn and Colin to sigh in resignation. This was not Huntzberger's finest hour.

TBC...

A/N: Next chapter will be some of Tristan's life in North Carolina.

Okay no third person this time...Please give me REVIEWS. Please give me REVIEWS.