Disclaimer & Summary : See chapter 1.
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Author's Note: Once again, thank you for all the wonderful feedback. Just so everyone knows it's a Trory so don't be upset by Rory's reaction in the previous chapter, she run away when scared. Fear not, she'll come back... eventually. Major thank you to Jayde (coffeechick87) for helping out with my bad grammar and also her craziness, and to Arlene (angel moon princess) for her enthusiasm at making certain at don't totally suck. Enjoy!
Didi
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The
Seventh Stranger
Chapter 16: New Beginnings
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Xavier DuGrey advanced toward his son, "Tristan, what are you doing here in the middle of the night."
Tristan walked by his father without acknowledging him. As he passed by his mother, he heard her falsely-sweet voice, "I see you have finally lost your new puppy?"
What happened next happened was in the span of three seconds, Gabrielle's mouth dropped open as Tristan grabbed his mother by the shoulder and smashed her against the wall, he was about to slap her but was restrained by Xavier who took him by both arms from behind. Gabrielle was screaming for them to stop but no one listened. What really changed the outcome was Clarissa whispering evilly, "Truth hurts, doesn't it?"
While Gabrielle didn't understand what had happened, she was holding on to her father. Xavier, who couldn't fight both of his kids at the same time, released Tristan so he could control Gabrielle. With his new freedom of arms, Tristan raised his right fist and smashed it as hard as he could to hit the wall beside his mother's head. His eyes were dark and as cold ice as he whispered, "This time I've missed because I wanted; next time I won't, so do us both a favor, and remember that you don't have a son anymore."
Tristan took his fist from the wall, where there was now a big hole, and turned to his father, "I won't be at work for a little while." He said as he stormed up the stairs to his childhood bedroom. He retrieved a suitcase from the closet, and went though his room, grabbing a pair of unused tickets to PJ Harvey, the first book he ever read, a picture of him and Gabrielle when they were kids, an old announcement of the interpretations of Romeo and Juliet, a couple of year books and pictures.
Xavier entered the room and sat at the edge of the bed. "Care to explain what all this is about?"
Tristan looked at his father, his eyes burning from lack of sleep, "I want out, out of this family, out of the little 'but sweetheart, she's not good enough for you'. I want OUT!"
Xavier felt his heir slipping away, and he couldn't afford it. He needed to fix it even if it meant losing a little in the fight for once. "Why? Don't tell me you wanted to marry her, have kids and live happily ever after with her."
Father and son stared at each other for a couple of minutes, ever so quietly, Tristan sat beside his father and said, "What if that's what I wanted? Would it be so bad?"
He chuckled, unbelieving that his son still had innocence inside him, or rather, ignorance "Yes Tristan, because you are not suppose to fall in love." He locked his gaze with Tristan's, "You aren't supposed to fall in love, because your wedding will be an allegiance with another influential family."
Tristan paced in the room, "But I don't want that life! I don't want an arrangement; I don't want my kids to be raised by nannies." He pointed his father, "Look what good it did to you. You go behind your wife's back time and time again and…"
"My affairs are none of your business. We have to pretend, and we do it well. You'll have to do the same."
He took a vase on a desk beside him and sent it smashing on the opposite wall. "But I don't want to pretend." He faced his father, "I want the whole package deal, or nothing."
Xavier let out a groan and decided to change strategy, "Then tell me what is so special about Miss. Gilmore."
Tristan sat down on his desk chair, "It's not about her, at least not only. It's about what I want."
"I know for a fact that since you came back from London, you slept in her dorm, you brought her to a cheap motel, and I have to add that I'm really disappointed in the choice of places, and lastly went out with Saturday and came home with her last night. What makes her different than all of your money-grubbing whores?"
"You had me followed?"
Xavier shook his head, "Only for your safety, since… You know, I can't lose my only son."
Tristan quirked an eyebrow, "I didn't know you cared."
Xavier stood up and paced the room, took a picture of Tristan at Chilton that rested on a bookshelf, "I've always wanted what was best for you." He studied the picture sadly, "I can't point out exactly when you started to rebel."
Tristan sat at the desk and hid his head in his arms, and muttered, "I know when."
Xavier thought about his son's answer for a little while then asked softly, "When? Why?" With no answer, he walked over to Tristan and realized he had fallen asleep. Quietly, he secured the chair to make sure it would not topple over and put a blanket over his shoulders.
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Gabrielle burst inside the room with bags of take-out food in her arms. Jeremy didn't move a finger as he watched the TV set in front of him, completely ignoring his surroundings. She grabbed the remote control and clicked the TV off. Jeremy sighed as Gabrielle grabbed a chair and a willed herself to remain in control of her emotions. She carefully placed the chair in front of him and rolled the moving tray in front of him.
Jeremy watched her silently, only his eyes moving and following her. Then as she sat in front of him unpacking food, he whispered, "What are you doing?"
She smiled sadly, tears flickering in her eyes with hope, "I did what you asked. You wanted to break up, we did. Can't we at least be friends?"
Jeremy shook his head negatively, "I'm not sure I could be a good friend."
She bit her lip, "But I can be yours. I can bring you good food instead of what they serve you here. I can keep you company."
He closed his eyes, hoping he would have the strength to insert his fingernails inside the palms of his hands but he couldn't. It was the pain that he wanted, a reason for the pain, anyway. "Then I would never get over you."
"It doesn't matter, I can't get over you. I tried but I can't." He opened his eyes and saw her begging eyes, "Let me come and keep you company once in a while."
"I would love to hug you right now, but I can't anymore."
Gabrielle rolled the tray away and held him tight. "But I still can."
Jeremy breathed the scent of her hair and closed his eyes.
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Jeremy opened his eyes and looked around. He was alone in his bed. It must all have been a dream. Without realizing it, he moved his head a little to the side and watched the sunrise. 'What day is it today? Is it Wednesday already? Or shall I wait 'till Saturday for company?'
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Paris woke up with banging on the door. She shouted, "Go away! Too early!" The knocking didn't stop. She rolled out of bed and saw Rory sleeping soundly in her bed, still dressed in the gown she wore for her date on Saturday. She muttered, "What did you do this time, Tristan?" She opened the door as she tried to flatten her disheveled hair and wasn't certain of the way to react in front of the apparition in her doorway. "Mister DuGrey." She looked at her watch, '5:45' then opened her mouth to yell but closed it hurriedly.
"Won't you invite me in, Miss. Gellar?" He didn't wait for an answer and walked inside the living area, he sat quietly in the pinkish couch expectantly.
Paris shifted around and asked cordially, "Would you like something to drink?" Then her anger for being awaken so early resurfaced, "Or do you want to talk to your daughter which I unfortunately have to inform you that she is not here."
Xavier brushed her words off, "No thank you, for everything. I need to speak with Miss. Gilmore."
Skeptical, Paris asked a little too loudly, "May I ask why I should wake her up to talk to a stranger at barely six in the morning?"
Just at that moment, Rory opened the door to their room and asked, "Paris? It's too early for screaming. I had a rough night and I just want to sleep the month away." She stopped rubbing her eyes and saw the last person she wanted to see sitting on her couch. "Ok, I get it, I'm having nightmare."
Paris grabbed her arm in a hurry, "This Mister is here to talk to you. I'm the one going back to bed." She pushed Rory out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Rory crossed her arms as she discretely tried to pinch herself awake and glared at her uninvited guest.
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Gabrielle silently walked inside Tristan's room and left a note right beside his head.
Tristan,
I took a shower and changed clothes like you wanted.
But since you are asleep and need it, I called a cab to drive me to the hospital.
I'll call you later.
-G.