Title: The ultimate curve ball

Author: Joy

A/N: MsJML- You have no email listed so I can't answer your UNC vs. Duke comment. If you go back to chapter 8, that is where I made Tristan a Tar Heel fan, because I am a Tar Heel fan. I was on Franklin Street for the celebration after the NCAA tournament. That will only mean something to someone from North Carolina.

19. The Reason

Music was playing quietly in the background of Rory's room while Tristan held her in his arms. If he had known this was going to be the way things were going to turn out when he left North Carolina he probably wouldn't have put the trip off as long as he had. However if he had come at any other time Rory wouldn't have been fed up with lover-boy's behavior so...it was perfect. Fate turned out to be his friend. After years of heartache and missed opportunities Tristan had finally come back to the girl that had started to change him years before.

For Rory, she felt safe and content. After weeks of confusion she was starting to feel settled. Her first year at Yale was good but perplexing...stuff with Dean and Jess complicated things. This year there was the Dean thing and the Logan thing and...Rory tightened her grip about Tristan's neck.

He hadn't said it, but everything he did radiated love for her. She realized they hadn't said anything to one another since she told him she had broken things off with Logan and wanted to be with him. Normally the quiet would have unnerved her, but not now. Tristan had become more introspective over the years and she would have more silences like this in the future, she was sure.

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"Girl could get used to this," Rory murmured after awhile.

"Guy could too," Tristan responded. "I'd say I'm a luck man."

"I would have to agree," she teased.

He smirked, "And you of course are a lucky woman...I mean you get me."

"I think that actually changes my Mary status to sainthood."

"That was good...I'll have to remember that."

Tristan kissed Rory lightly on the lips. He whispered, "This has been quite a day."

"That it has...I mean, we ate Chinese and went to a bookstore," she uttered back.

"Sarcasm, thy name is Gilmore."

"Ooohhh. You have to say that to mom tomorrow. She will love you for life."

Tristan smiled, "Any other suggestions for tomorrow?"

Rory thought, "Remember: To win over mom you need coffee. To win over Luke you need to emphasize the fact we aren't sleeping together. To win over Lane you must show rock and roll knowledge. Everyone else is not to worrisome."

"What about whenever I meet your dad?" Tristan asked.

"Don't be undressing me in a coat closet and you will be doing better than when Logan met him," Rory offered, "That applies to Luke too so."

"New rule...no talking about getting naked with anyone else...its too disturbing."

Rory began to chuckle at Tristan's confused face.

Finally he pulled back and asked, "Where the hell were you that you would be having sex in a coat closet with your father and surrogate father in the near vicinity?"

"I thought we weren't talking about being naked with anyone else?" she said innocently.

"Just answer the question," he demanded in a playful way.

"My grandparents wedding renewal ceremony reception."

"I think I am even more confused then I was before you spoke."

Rory smiled softly, "I wanted to be with Logan. I knew he liked me. I confronted him about it. He mentioned me being special and being the girlfriend type and him not being exclusive and..."

Tristan brought his hand to her cheek and wiped away a tear she didn't know she had shed, "And you tried to prove him wrong." He kissed her sweetly and hugged her close. "I want you to promise me that if there is ever anything that you want that I don't agree with or don't want also at the time that you will under no circumstances compromise yourself again..."

"I wouldn't even know what that could be," Rory admitted.

"You want to move to New York and I want to stay in North Carolina. Something like that."

"You are thinking far ahead?"

Tristan grinned, "You don't ever go into a relationship thinking about when it ends...if you do then you shouldn't be in it."

Rory smirked, "So not a big fan of the pre-nups huh?"

"Precisely...you are planning for a divorce. Not the way to start a marriage."

"So I should just think I am gonna be with you till judgment day?" Rory kidded.

"I think that is a safe assumption," Tristan whispered in her ear kissing her on her neck just below the lobe sending shivers down her spine.

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The banter ceased again as Rory snuggled further into Tristan's arms while she listened to him quietly sing along to the song playing on her radio. He was leading her in a slow dance to 'The Reason' by Hoobastank. Tristan had a good voice and it felt delicious to have him murmuring against her neck and ear. The song was almost over but that was okay with her...they needed to talk but then something odd happened. Tristan rested his forehead on hers and looked into her eyes while mouthing the words.

' I'm not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you

and so I have to say before I go

that I just want you to know

I found a reason for me

to change who I used to be

a reason to start over new

and the reason is you

I found a reason to show

the side of me you didn't know

a reason for all that I do

and the reason is you'

Rory gazed with big eyes at the man before her. "I've missed you Mary...so much," Tristan murmured to her with such emotion she thought she was going to turn into one of those weepy girls she couldn't stand.

"I...I missed you too...I didn't know how much until today," she admitted.

"You ready for tomorrow?" he asked quietly.

She smiled, "I'm ready for anything...as long as you're there."

"Always Mary...always."

"And next year?"

"We're gonna make this work...I promise. I don't know how...but we will."

Rory nodded slowly with a bit of fear.

"Hey," Tristan muttered taking her chin in hand. "I grew up...and when I grew up I knew I wanted nothing more than to be with you...I'm not him Rory. I'm not gonna get bored or treat you like you don't matter to me. I'm not gonna be there until you get comfortable then bail on you. I'm not gonna fail you in the last inning either...I haven't been able to let you go for all these years and I'm not about to start now that I have you." She nodded. "Did I cover all the annoying little thing the voice in the back of your head is saying?"

Rory smiled, "Yes...thank you."

"Your welcome," he murmured before kissing her goodnight. "I really should get back to the hotel...I'll see you in the morning."

"Tristan," Rory called to him as his hand was on her door to leave.

"Yeah?"

"Stay...I know we're not there yet, but it would sure help me if you were there in the morning."

Tristan hesitated for only a moment then removed his hand from the door and stood before her. "Get ready for bed...I'll be here when you get out."

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Viola saw Logan look up at a window at Bradford College as a girl got into bed and a guy followed. The guy in the room reached up and turned out the light. A flash of pain crossed Logan's face.

"Old girlfriend?" Viola asked quietly.

"The one that got away," he answered. "My own fault. He's someone that could treat her the way she deserves to be treated. I'm still learning."

"We're all still learning Logan. They are still learning too."

"Yeah...I will have to learn to be happy for her."

Viola smiled, "That would be good...healthy...grown up."

Logan took in the sight of the girl beside him. He knew she was older than him since she was in grad school. He also knew she was partially there cause she felt sorry for him...not because he was Logan Huntzberger. He grinned at Viola. "Have I mentioned I am having a good time with you?" he admitted almost shyly.

"Actually you did and that is why we were going to get a drink...something non-alcoholic."

"Yeah...coffee," he said as an after thought.

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Rory's head lay on Tristan's bare chest as he stroked her hair. "Big day tomorrow," she murmured.

"Yeah."

"You're gonna meet my mom."

"That I am," he said succinctly.

"Nervous?"

"No."

"Why not?" she asked quietly.

Tristan gazed into her blue eyes despite the darkness, "Because I am the man that loves her daughter and wants only good things for her and I will do anything in my power to make her dreams come true. No mother could ask for more than that... Well maybe your grandmother could...but that is beside the point."

"You...you love me?" Rory whispered.

"I do."

"How do you know? You haven't seen me in years."

Tristan smiled softly at her, "There are some people in the world that you meet and are just connected to. You just love them. No rhyme or reason. Some people you wake up one day and realize that feeling in your belly when you are around them is love. Some people you feel protective of and want to check that they have enough gas in their car or their tires are okay...and that is love." He paused and tilted his head slightly, "And then there are people that you have known for forever that never really leave your mind entirely and you hope and pray one day you will be worthy of the friendship they always offered but you didn't know how to accept... I may not be in love with you Mary, but I'm getting there. Yet that has nothing to do with the fact that as a person, I know that I do love you."

"Wow," she whispered a little overwhelmed.

He placed two fingers on her lips lightly and kissed her brow, "Don't say it back just to say it or because you feel like you have to. I have had years to sort out how I feel about you. You have had a few hours. It is more important that you know where I stand."

"I want you to know where you stand to."

"Mary, I don't have the commitment issues you do. How I don't is beyond me? You dropped a guy you liked because you were ready to take a chance on me. Right now, that's all I need."

"You are amazing."

Tristan smirked, "Women often tell me that."

"There is the Tristan I have been waiting to emerge all day," Rory said digging her fingers in his side.

He kissed her lips, "Got to tease you a little or you'll be overpowered by my natural charisma."

"Right."

Tristan kissed her brow, "Don't get worried if in the morning you wake up and I'm not here. I run every morning."

"What time?"

"Used to be five but I let myself sleep until six these days."

Rory lifted her head to stare at him, "You better be good at getting out of bed without disturbing me or we will have issues."

Tristan smiled, "Might take some practice."

"Something tells me you will have plenty of opportunity."

He chuckled, "Good night my Mary."

"Night Bible Boy."

TBC...sort of...an epilogue.

A/N: I know. I know. I have a ton of material to write a sequel with. I just liked the idea of writing a series on one day...a few hours really. I like what I have so far with the epilogue. There will be quite a few flashbacks so be prepared.

You know what I want...REVIEW please. REVIEW please. REVIEW please. (Or I will hold the epilogue hostage...just kidding. I'm not that mean.)