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.

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Tristan gets curious:

Rory slept till the next morning and got up. She decided to pay a visit to Luke's. She walked in the door as the bells jingled.

'Hey Luke! Hey Mom.' Rory said taking a seat at the counter.

'Hey pumpkin. Long time no see.'

'What can I get ya?' Luke asked.

'Coffee!' Rory asked pouting.

'No.'

'Why?'

'You know why.'

'Not even Decaf?'

'You actually asked for Decaf coffee? Wow.'

'Your right I want regular!'

'No.'

'Please! Lukey, I just got outta rehab!'

'And apparently for your coffee addiction.' He said plopping a newspaper in front of her. Rory skimmed it, and smiled from ear to ear as Luke place a cup of coffee in front of her.

'So, mom, like what I did?' Rory asked.

'No. You shoulda included me! I wanna be famous!' Lorelai complained.

'Next time.'

'Deal?'

'Deal.' Rory said and they shook on it.

'So, what's today ANYWAY?'

'April 7th, why?'

'That sounds familiar! Oh crap! I have this huge meeting today and they'll kill me if I don't go!'

'Well I want you fully alive when you give birth so go go go!'

'I'm going! Thanks Luke!' Rory called before running to her car and driving away.

'How long you betting until she tells Tristan?' Lorelai asked.

'Lorelai you know I don't bet!'

'Oh come on! I bet she doesn't tell him until when he see's her with a pregnant belly.'

'Fine I bet a month.'

'Oh you are so on!' Lorelai said evilly and shaking his hand to seal the bet. They both looked up when the door bells jingled and a tell blonde came in. Yup, this is gonna be interesting. Lorelai thought.

'Hey Tristan.' Lorelai said as he took a seat two seats down from her.

'Hey.' He said sadly.

'Can I get you anything?' Luke asked.

'Just coffee, thanks.' Luke silently put a cup in front of him.

'Why so sad?' Lorelai asked suddenly.

'Why didn't she tell me she was in rehab?'

'So this is about my brown haired blue eyed daughter.'

'How many daughters do you have?' he asked sarcastically.

'No need to be like that. By the way only one daughter and one son.'

'Yea, but I knew that.'

'Right. So, your sad about Rory.'

'I don't know. I mean…a coffee addiction? Would you ever let her get help for her addiction? I mean it would be kinda hypocritical of you wouldn't it?' Tristan asked taking a drink.

'That's what she told them because she didn't want them to know the truth. And your right, I wouldn't let her. I brought her there…she was ummm, not eating well and she lost a lot of weight and I was worried. She was 90 pounds, when I brought her in. Now she's 115 or more I believe.'

'Wow. Why didn't she tell me?'

'Tristan the only people who knew were me, Luke, her, Jess as of about four days ago, and her brother. I wouldn't feel bad about it.'

'Okay.' He said turning his attention to his coffee. Several minutes passed. Lorelai was thinking and Luke was waiting on other tables.

'Why did you and Rory get divorced?' Lorelai asked so suddenly that she even shocked herself.

'What?' he asked spitting the coffee in his mouth back into his cup.

'You know, why? And don't tell me that it just wasn't working out or that it's not my business because telling me it wasn't working out is WAY to vague, and telling me it's none of my business it bull because Rory is my daughter, therefore it's my business.'

'Well me and Rory both did things we regretted. We couldn't find the tires that once kept us together. We needed more than just the two of us. We had a strong relationship, but something was missing from it making it really hard and stressful. Then Rory was in that movie and when she came back, we knew it couldn't last to much longer.'

'Wow, you didn't struggle at all to say that. Have you been practicing that?'

'No, I just ask myself that question everyday so to me it seems kinda like a broken record when I say it.' He said smiling sadly.

'She misses you, you know. The morning of her birthday I think she was crying. I talked to her on the phone that morning, and she was having a hard time with it. She was glad you were there that night.'

'Yea, we decided to be friends, but it hasn't seemed like that too much lately.'

'She has…a lot going through her mind right now. She just needs the right time, and the right attitude to come over all of this.'

'I'm not sure what "this" is but I'm guessing it's better this way?'

'For now. Look, I gotta an Inn that's calling my name so I'm gonna go settle the nagging.' Lorelai said getting up.

'Okay, bye.'

'Bye. LUKE! I'M LEAVING!' Lorelai called on the way out if the door. Tristan sat there for a few minutes longer before paying and heading back to work. The next day Paris had off and Tristan went over to Paris' house. He rang the doorbell.

'Tristan…I wasn't expecting you.' Paris said still in her pajamas. Jess passed in the background carrying a small girl to their kitchen.

'Yea, I know. Can I come in?' he asked.

'Sure, come on. If you don't mind waiting like ten minutes I'll go get dressed. I was actually on my way before you came.'

'Sorry, go ahead. I'll just talk with Jess and Ally.'

'Kay.' Paris said before running upstairs. Tristan ventured to the kitchen where he saw Jess placing a bowl of cereal in front of Ally their four year old daughter.

'Hey.' Tristan said. Jess looked up.

'Hey man.' He said.

'Uncle twistan!' Ally shouted.

'Hey Ally.' Tristan said sweetly to the girl. Tristan and Rory were named Ally's godparents and Ally insister on calling them aunt and uncle.

'So Tristan, what's up?' jess asked sitting down next to his daughter and opposite Tristan.

'Not much, I'm just waiting to talk with Paris.'

'I wouldn't talk to her about Rory.'

'Wha? How did—'

'You show through. Lemme guess you recently talked with Lorelai and she told you part of why Rory went into rehab?'

'Okay, your freaking me out.'

'Okay fine Lorelai just called she told us about what happened.'

'Now, I feel better.'

'Look, just don't do anything stupid okay? Rory needs you.'

'Lorelai told me that.'

'Okay, Tristan.' Paris said coming into the room dressed.

'Ready to go?' he asked.

'Yup but I should be back in like a half an hour.'

'Paris, it's okay. I got Ally.' Jess said.

'You sure?'

'Positive.'

'Okay, lets go. Jess I have my cell if you need anything.' Paris said leaving this house with Tristan. They walked to the short walk to Borders and went to the café. They got their drinks and sat.

'Something tells me you wanna talk about Rory.'

'You talk to Lorelai too?'

'Lorelai? Did she call?'

'Nevermind. How'd you know?'

'I see you almost everyday. You've been particularly moppy since you read in the paper Rory was in rehab.'

'She's not there for her addiction.'

'I know.'

'What…'

'Look, Rory should be the one to tell you. Not me.'

'So there is something wrong?'

'I don't know. I can't give you any specifics. Just don't go anywhere to far. She needs you, she just has to fully realize it.'

'Why does everyone tell me that?'

'What that she needs you?'

'Yea.'

'Because she does. It shows in her eyes, in her smile, and you need her too.'

'Last time I tried to talk to her she blew me off.'

'She has a lot on her plate right now with work and everything.'

'Lorelai called it "this" and you call it "everything". Why does it seem the world is keeping secrets from me?'

'The world isn't. Trust me. The only one who could be keeping a secret is the same one and it's not even a secret.'

'Then helcome I don't know it.'

'You will. Just leave this all alone and when the time is right, you will know.' Paris said suddenly looking really nervous. She could see Rory in the parenting books section and she couldn't let Tristan see.

'I still don't understand.' He said not aware yet.

'You, ummm, you will. Yea, umm don't umm worry. Yea.'

'Umm, you okay?' he asked noticing Paris's sudden strangeness.

'Oh yea umm, yea.' She said starting to tap her foot when she saw Rory moving closer down the shelves. She was very close to them. Rory looked up to think and she saw Paris's face. She smiled and waved not seeing Tristan. Paris waved back.

'Who'd you wave too?' he asked.

'Oh, umm—'

'Hey Paris…whose your friend?' Rory asked coming up behind Tristan.

'Rory?' Tristan asked turning around at her voice.

'Tristan.' She said suddenly going pale.

'I need a bathroom.' Rory muttered before running away.

'Should I go after her?' Tristan asked worried.

'Nah. She's here with her little brother.' Paris said seeing Aaron hug Rory and then watch them walk towards an exit.

'See, she totally freaks when she sees me.' Tristan said sad again.

'It'll pass. She was just…surprised.'

'That's bull shit and you know it!' He said slumping in his chair.

'Come on, lets go. Ally wanted to go to the park with you one of these days anyway.'

'Okay.' He said getting up and leaving.

'Rory are you SURE!' Aaron asked.

'Yes, I'm fine. Just a little upset stomach.'

'Okay.' He said sighing. Rory felt bad she couldn't tell her brother but it was too risky. He was an even bigger blabbermouth than her mom. Hmmm, must run in families.

'Come on. You want ice cream?' Rory asked. The boy shook his head excitedly. Every Saturday, Rory took Aaron. She had started it back when things were bad for her to keep her mind of off it and she had never stopped. It allowed them to bond and to be really close. The two walked out and went to get ice cream.

I know this is a bad place to stop, but I need a place! Please Review!