TITLE: No Longer

PAIRING: L/L, L/D, R?

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, just this story and the made up stuff about this show…such as Tristan Dugrey this late in the show or them getting married.

SUMMARY: Tristan divorces Rory, but fate disagrees.

Rory was four minutes late for her "birthday" dinner with lane. She saw Lane sitting looking through a stack of cards. Rory smiled and ran in. Lane jumped up, and they hugged each other.

'Lane!' Rory said hugging her best friend tight.

'Oh my god, it's SSOO good to see you! I need some estrogen around me! God, it gets so tiring being in a testosterone bus for a year!'

'I bet, come on lets sit down.' Rory said sitting at the table where Lane was previously sitting at.

'Sorry, I'm late.'

'Nah, it's all right! You have an excuse.'

'Okay, then we're even?'

'Even. So how are you?'

'Ya know, so so.'

'Oh, and Tristan? How's he? Can I expect any nieces or nephews soon?' Rory smile faded and she looked down at her hands.

'What? Did I say something wrong?'

'No, it's just that, me and Tristan aren't, well we got a divorce a little after you left.'

'What?' Lane asked purely shocked.

'Yea, it was sudden.'

'But you two were like the perfect Hartford couple! You two were SO in love it was nauseating.'

'I know.'

'What happened? Was the sex bad?' Lane asked smiling. Rory laughed slightly.

'No, the sex was amazing. I guess I became overly obsessed with work. I think it was more my fault than his. Everyone thought that I couldn't handle being married to the rich and the famous, but Lane, I don't have nearly as much money a Tristan, but I have quite a bit, and also, I'm a top writer. I mean it's not like I could just get out of the spot light by divorcing him.'

'Yea, and that makes sense, but why did you two end it?'

'Well work, and I just became really secretive and I started to work more and more. I know that doesn't seem like me, but I was new at it, and I was the best out of all the writers my age and I just got caught up in the competition. Well Tristan became more distant too and he started to drink and neither of us would return home until about 11. We became more of college room mates than wife and husband.' Rory had a tear going down her cheek, which she wiped away on her sleeve.

'I'm so sorry, Rory.'

'Yea, I should have seen it. We were both morons who didn't see what was happening. All of a sudden it was like, whoa, I haven't seen my husband for a week. It was for the best though…at least I think it was.'

'You still miss him don't you?'

'Oh god yes.' Rory said smiling again and wiping away her tears.

'Come on let's take a walk.'

'Okay.' Rory said getting up and leaving with Lane. They walked in silence the gazebo and sat down.

'So when was the last time you saw him?'

'Last night at my party.'

'Oh yea happy birthday! I have your gift at home, and why do you look so guilty?'

'I don't know.' Rory said smiling still.

'You know you just don't wanna share!' Lane laughed.

'Fine, you caught me.'

'What it's not like you had sex with him or anything.' Lane laughed but quickly stopped when she saw Rory lean forward and put her face in her hands as if she were trying to protect herself.

'You had sex with him?' Lane asked shocked.

'Yea, I know, bad Rory but I mean, it just—it still feels SO right to kiss him. Not to gross you out or anything, but when we were kissing and making love, it just seemed like we were still a happily married couple, happy to be together.'

'Rory?'

'Yea?'

'Did you tell him how you feel?'

'No, I couldn't do that. I mean, he's doing great now with work and everything. I don't wanna complicate things anymore.'

'How about that present?' Lane asked trying to lighten the mood. Rory smiled and walked to the Kim's residence. Lane opened the door and Rory followed her up to her bedroom.

'Here.' Lane said holding out a birthday wrapped gift. Rory smiled and opened it.

'tight pants and a halter top?' Rory asked smiling.

'Well you see, that's your present from your last birthday, the one for this birthday is a little more practical, as us being like 62.'

'Right because I wear a house coat everywhere and bifocals.'

'Don't gynx yourself.'

'Haha. So what's my 26 present?'

'Well, I thought, anywhere you wanna eat anytime, and I'm paying. Also known as a gift card, but you have to bring me along!' Rory laughed.

'Okay.' Rory said. She hugged her friend.

'Now, why don't we go out clubbing tonight?'

'Lane…'

'Rory!'

'But why?'

'Cause you need to live a little.'

'But I have nothing to wear!' She complained.

'This morning you didn't, now you do.' She said pointing to the new clothes.

'Oh I don't know.' Rory said doubtful.

'Come on! You said that we could pretend today was your birthday.'

'So?'

'So…just pretend, I'm taking you out!'

'Fine, pick me up at my house—well the house me and Tristan shared at eight.'

'Yay!' lane shouted. Rory gave her another hug and drove back home. Rory took a shower and put her new clothes on taking off the tags. The outfit fit really well, although even she thought that her completed outfit with make up and everything made her look ridiculously sexy. She was glad she didn't know any men that were going to be there. If she did it would be guaranteed that they would make a large move on her. It was eight when she was fully finished and she went down stairs to find that Lane was sitting in her car waiting for Rory. Rory hurried over and got into the car.

'When I bought those I thought they'd look good on you, but not THAT good on you!' Lane said.

'So I look sexy?' Rory asked laughing.

'Sexy, hot, delicious…' those are just a few of the things people will call you tonight. Hopefully it'll be a guy though.' Lane said driving. They talked more and Lane and Rory got out of the car after Lane parked. Rory only then saw the club they were going to.

'Blondie's Cove?' Rory asked surprised.

'Surprise!'

'Lane, Blondie's Cove is the most exclusive club in Hartford!'

'Yea, about that…….umm well you see my bands kinda playing here tonight….'

'Lane! Why didn't you tell me?'

'I wanted it to be a surprise. Come on, we get to go through the back entrance!'

'Oh goody!' Rory said sarcastically but she laughed and followed Lane into the back door.

'Excuse me, ladies! Can I help you?' a buffed man asked…obviously a bouncer.

'Uh, well my bands playing her tonight and I'm kinda late!' Lane said.

'And how do I know you're not just trying to get in?'

'Well, I'm not, but this is my friend Rory and today's her birthday, and well she gets the pleasure of hearing my band play.'

'I'm sorry, but what's your point?'

'Listen, Lane is part of a four member band! One of her band mates is Dave Rygawski.'

'Fine, but if there's any trouble….'

'There won't be.' Rory said politely. The man opened the door and Rory went in. First she went with Lane back stage and allowed her to say hello.

'Hey Dave.' Rory said. He gave a her a quick hug.

'Hey. Happy Birthday.'

'Aww, thanks. Look Lane, I'll be here after okay? I'm gonna go find some ummm…ya know—'

'Just go!' Lane laughed. Rory smiled and went into the club. She bumped into a woman.

'Rory?' the lady asked.

'Liza!' Rory said hugging one of her old college room mates. They separated.

'What are you doing here?' Liza asked,

'Well yesterday was my birthday, and my friends in the band playing tonight so she brought me.'

'Cool, I'm here with my boyfriend, and his friend. Maybe I'll introduce you two. I think he's 26 also!'

'Oh, really?'

'Yea. So I heard you got divorced.'

'Yea, from who?'

'Paris.'

'You still talk to her, like regularly?' Rory asked surprised.

'Yea, we saw each other I think about three weeks ago. I bumped into her at the Hartford Mall. Funny, isn't it?'

'Hilarious.' Rory said bored, and showing a tight smile.

'Oh, I'll be right back. My boyfriend needs me.'

'Oh, please….don't hurry.' Rory said. Liza always got on Rory's last nerve.

'Kyle, what are we doing here again?' Tristan asked leaning against a club wall.

'Tristan, you need to get out! You said you got divorced.'

'Yea, what does that show?'

'I know I've never met her. But I mean how could someone drag you down like this?'

'She was amazing, Kyle. Even at Blondie's Cove I'm not gonna find someone as amazing as her.' Tristan said sadly.

'Get back together then.'

'Kyle…shut up.' Tristan said. Kyle frowned and then smiled when he saw his girlfriend talking with someone. He signaled her over.

'Hey, what's up?'

'So, Liza, who was that?'

'Who was who?' she asked confused.

'You were talking with someone…who was it?'

'Oh, just an old room mate from college!'

'Oh, is she here with anyone?' Kyle asked.

'No, just her friend, but her friends in the band playing tonight.'

'Swell.' Tristan sad sarcastically thinking that they wouldn't be introduced because he thought the girl's friend was a male.

'Isnt it though!' She said chirpily.

'Why, are you telling me this?' Tristan asked.

'She was recently divorced like you! You should meet her!'

'but her friends here.'

'Yea so? She's not bi.' Liza said defiantly.

'What?' Tristan asked confused. Liza caught on.

'Oh, you're SO stupid! Her friend's a girl, not a boy!'

'Now it makes sense.' Tristan said laughing at himself.

'So you wanna meet her?'

'Kyle, go check her out for me.' Tristan commanded. Kyle laughed and walked to the girl who his girlfriend had been talking to earlier.

'Excuse me, miss?'

'Sorry, I'm not single.'

'Neither am I. I'm Kyle.'

'Yea, umm which is why you shouldn't be asking me to dance or go on a date with you.'

'Look, I wasn't. You know my girlfriend…Liza?'

'Your Kyle.' Rory said nodding her head catching on.

'Bingo.'

'Okay, so what can I do for you?' she asked.

'Your divorced, right?'

'Wish I wasn't, but yes. Why?'

'Well my friend just got divorced…he still loves her. You can tell. I can also tell you still love your ex-husband.'

'Did you wanna talk to me just to tell me how much I still love my ex-husband…or was there a purpose to this conversation?' Rory snapped.

'Just wondering if you'd like to meet him.'

'I already said I'm—'

'Taken, I know. But your not, you would have told Paris, who would've told liza who would've told me.'

'I don't think so.' Rory shook her head sadly.

'Fine, later tonight.' Kyle said walking away.

'I never said YES!' Rory yelled after him, but it was jo use over the loud music currently playing.

'She's got some definite spunk, and a smart-ass mouth, but she's god damn pretty, and she's still heartbroken. I think she's game, but I wouldn't go to hard on her.'

'Yea, I don't think I wanna anymore.' A slow song came on. Kyle turned to Liza.

'Would you like to dance?'

'Sure.'

'And Tristan don't worry, you can meet her later tonight!' he said while walking to the dance floor.

'I never said YES!' he yelled. He gave up and got a beer from the bar.

Yay………….Three WHOLE chapters! Lol, Please review! Kiki