TITLE: No Longer
PAIRING: L/L, J/P, 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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Two years, and D.L.C.D:
He didn't want to leave…he loved Rory, but she had made it clear. It was only a matter of time before Rory actually told him to his face. He had gotten a cell phone at a wireless store and figured out that he was in a suburb of Philadelphia. He had talked to Kyle, explained the situation to him. He had also given him and one or two other people his new cell number. After calling his work and telling him he was faxing his cases back to Hartford to get another lawyer on them, he decided to take a walk.
There was a movie theater, little eateries, art stores, drug stores, retail shops, and a train station. He hadn't seen most of these shops in his exhaustion the night before when he checked into the Wayne Hotel. He walked on the sidewalk of the town called Wayne, and saw this coffee shop called Brew Ha Ha. Tristan immediately became devastated. Continuing his exploration a little further, he stopped in front of the movie theater.
I Heart Huckabee's, Friday Night Light's, Ray, and The Incredibles were currently being shown. He considered seeing Friday Night Lights, but continued on his way and exploration. A Wawa was sitting around the area and he decided to check out the mini-mart. He saw a daughter and a mom arguing about which hoagie to order. He caught something along the lines of that tuna was much better for you than the Italian but the Italian was still very better.
He got into his car, filled up the gas and wondered into the side streets. Getting lost for half an hour, he stumbled upon two houses that were for sale. One was a Victorian house with 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and very beautiful in a beautiful neighborhood, while the other was small with only two bedrooms 2 1/2 baths and in a small and cute neighborhood. The open house for both was only in three days. He would go and check them out.
Deciding on picking the smaller one, he was able to move in about three weeks later.
MEANWHILE
It had been three weeks since Tristan had left and Rory was currently at her home burping her new daughter. After a few long days right after the baby was brought home, Rory debated with herself for hours on whether or not she should have some kind of name from Tristan's family. After hours of looking through many baby-naming books, she finally picked out or rather created a beautiful name. D.L.C.D. Her initials. Dana Lorelai Christina Dugrey. Now her daughter was three weeks old and without a dad. One look at her new daughter and you would've known right away who her dad was. Her face was shaped like his, and although she had no hair yet, her smile looked like Tristan's too. Rory swore she saw a smirk on her daughter's face at one point. All she knew was that it was going to be a long two years until the Chilton reunion.
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TWO YEARS AND HALF YEARS LATER
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'Dana, stop moving!' Rory said trying to dress her two and half year old daughter.
'Mommy!' Dana screeched. Rory was trying to get Dana to put on a new dress. Lorelai walked into the room.
'What in god's name is going on in here?'
'Dana's not cooperating with me.'
'Danelai, be nice for mommy.' Lorelai whispered into the little girls ear.
'Danelai?' Rory asked.
'Yes, Dana Lorelai equals Danelai.'
'I see.' Rory said as she zipped up her daughter's dress.
'Are you sure you don't want me to take Dana for today?' Lorelai asked. It was a Saturday in May and the Chilton 10 year reunion luncheon was today.
'Yea, Jess is bringing Ally.'
'Rory, he might be there.'
'I don't know, maybe that's the real reason I'm bringing Dana. If Tristan sees his daughter maybe he'll come back.'
'What time does this thing start?' Lorelai asked looking at the clock.
'Half and hour.'
'You should get going then.'
'Yea.' Rory filled up a diaper bag with juice, snacks, diapers and wipes. She slung the bag over her shoulder and picking up her daughter.
'Okay Rory, Aaron is still sleeping at home but I should get back.'
'Alright, thanks.'
'Sure. By Danelai!' Lorelai cooed to Dana who was perched on Rory's hip.
'Dana can you say bye to grandma?' Rory asked.
'Bye bye.' Dana said softly and waved.
'Alright.' Lorelai went out with Rory and left the driveway first, being followed by Rory until Rory turned off onto another road towards Chilton. Rory had changed her appearance a little bit. She now had copper highlights and her hair was pulled back into a French twist. She was wearing a new dress. It was a greenish-blue and it was short sleeves with a low v-neck. Something a little lower than she used to wear. It came down to right above her knees and she was wearing matching blue flip flops. Dana had Tristan's blonde hair but it was getting darker slowly. You could tell if you saw her a lot that she would one day have dark hair like Rory and Lorelai.
Rory pulled into the long driveway of Chilton and found a parking spot in the shade so the car wouldn't get to hot inside. Rory stepped out of the car and into the back taking out Dana from her car seat. A young girl called Rory and she turned around with Dana in her arms. Ally was running towards them. Paris was wearing a square neck shirt and a nice skirt, Jess was wearing nice slacks and a collared shirt, and Ally was wearing a cute dress like Dana.
'Hey Allison!' Rory said bending down.
'Dana, say hi.'
'Hi.' She said softly.
'Hi Dana!' Ally said happily. Although Ally was now 6, the two got along like sisters. Rory stood up and smiled as she saw her daughter suck her thumb.
'So Rory, how are you?' Paris asked.
'Paris you saw me yesterday!'
'True but with you, it could change in 30 seconds.' Paris concluded.
'Yea, well nervous, but I mean that's normal right?'
'To see old classmates yes, to see your ex-husband and father of your daughter whom you haven't seen in like 2 and 1/2 years, no.' Jess said.
'Thanks for understanding.' Rory said sarcastically.
'Baby!' Dana yelled seeing a familiar woman walk to the entrance.
'Yes.' Rory said. They all turned towards the entrance and walked. Dana now had her head rested on Rory's shoulder and held on tight to her afraid of all the people. Her eyes had fear in them and Rory held her tightly and close to her, seeing that some of Dana's fear had gone away. They got to a quiet area away from the crowd and checked their coats and the diaper bag.
'Wow, that dress is gorgeous!' Paris said to Rory.
'Thanks, my mom made me get it. Her thoughts of how I should shock everyone with something not so me was absolutely necessary.'
'Next time you go shopping with her, bring me!'
'Okay.' Rory smiled. Paris and Jess walked away. Rory stood there looking around. A man came to her and looked shocked.
'Rory.'
'Adam! Oh my god how are you?' Adam was a quiet guy in high school. She had befriended him towards the end of high school.
'Good, thanks. How about you?'
'Great.'
'I see the nickname you were given isn't really suitable anymore.' He said referring that she had a daughter and the name "Mary" no longer fit.
'Yea, for a while now.'
'Didn't wait till you were married?'
'Actually no, it was right before the summer going into sophomore year in college.'
'Find a good guy?'
'My married ex-boyfriend.'
'So you're divorced?'
'Yes, but I was never married to him.'
'Was your life always this complicated? Because if I remember correctly you seemed like the perfect girl in a perfect world.'
'Yes that all changed the day I went to Chilton.'
'Hi.' Dana said quietly. They both looked at her.
'Baby, don't be shy.' Rory said rubbing her back. Adam smiled.
'Hey what's your name?' Adam asked. Dana just looked at him.
'Go ahead sweetie. What's your name?'
'Dana.' She said shyly.
'Well Dana, that's a very pretty name!'
'Say thank you.' Rory whispered.
'Dank you.'
'So how old are you?' She held out three fingers.
'She's two and a half.' Rory corrected.
'Adorable daughter.'
'Thanks.'
'So she doesn't really look much like you but she has your nose.'
'She's the female version of her dad.'
'Did he go to Chilton?'
'Yes.'
'Yea, I see something I recognize in her face.'
'Yea.' They both looked at her when she started to whimper.
'D.C. what's wrong?' Rory said comforting her. Dana reached out towards a piece of bread. Rory walked over to it and picked it up.
'You want this?' she asked. Dana nodded. Rory handed her the piece of bread.
'Small bites.' Rory said as she watched and approved of the first bite.
'So are you with anyone now?'
'Serious girlfriend, but she's in Florida. Her father's sick.'
'Oh I'm sorry.'
'Yea me too. So whose your husband?' She didn't have enough time before Jess came up to her, whispered in her ear, and Rory gave Dana to him. She didn't mind, growing up with Jess always around.
'I don't think he ever went to Chilton.' Adam said confused.
'Oh, we're not together. He happens to be my daughter's godfather. He's actually with Paris.'
'Hey look, I see someone I haven't seen in a while to I'm gonna go say hi.'
'Okay.' Rory smiled and walked away. It was more like someone she DIDN'T want to talk to you. Their eyes connected before she looked away and walked outside.
Inside, Jess and Ally were sitting side by side, and Dana was on his lap. Jess and Ally were playing some kind of hand game. Dana was laughing.
'I win!' Ally said in victory.
'Fine.' Jess was used to being beaten. They restarted the game trying to include Dana which didn't turn out so well because she started to cry from and accidental hit done by Ally who was sad that she made Dana cry.
'Shhh, D.C. it's okay. It's okay.' He said bumping his knee up and down soothing her. D.C. was a nickname that he had come up with. It was her first initial and third. Rory started to use it also.
'Mom's are normally better at that.' Jess looked up to see Tristan there. Jess noticed something in his eyes, it looked like rejection, longing, and hurt.
'Well, Dugrey that's kinda hard for you to say. You never stuck around with Rory to know that.'
'So this is automatically my fault?'
'Well, Rory wasn't the one who walked away was she?'
'It's not what it seems.'
'Fine it's not.' Jess said giving up. As time went on Jess started to lose his choice to give him the benefit of the doubt.
'So I didn't know you had another baby. What's her name?' Tristan asked serious.
'Dana.'
'That's pretty, Allison—'
'D.L.C.D.' Jess interrupted.
'What's that stand for?'
'Her initials.'
'Oh, what's her full name? You last name starts with an "M".'
'Dana Lorelai Christina Dugrey. D.L.C.D.' Tristan looked shocked.
'Oh yea in case you didn't get it, she's yours.' Jess spat out.
Rory leaned her head against the wall listening to the wind. She heard a clicking noise and saw someone using a lighter. They started to smoke so she decided to go back inside. She didn't know where he'd be, but she never expected him to be within two feet of his daughter. Tears came to her eyes. She wouldn't let him do this to her, she couldn't. She took a deep breath and walked over pretending not to notice
'Hey Jess, I should get going…D.C. didn't sleep very well.'
'Oh.' Jess was confused. He wasn't sure if Rory had noticed Tristan right in front of her.
'So, yea, can I have my daughter?' she asked. Jess knew she knew that Tristan was present. Tristan stayed quiet. Jess looked at her seriously.
'Fine! Hi Tristan, yes I know your there!' Rory said mad. Jess made a face for her to continue. She glared at him and turned around.
'Do you want something from my daughter or are you just gonna stand there like an idiot?'
'Can we go somewhere quiet and talk?'
'Here is good.' Tristan looked around and sighed.
'Well since you're the one who wanted me to go, shouldn't I get to pick the place where we talk?' Tristan asked.
'What? Fine, let's go.' Rory said walking away, Tristan following closely. They were outside when Rory stopped.
'Talk.'
'You look really good.' He said. He wasn't avoiding her question, he just wanted her to start.
'Tristan, why?'
'Why did I compliment you? Because I love you and I haven't been able to think about anything else but you!'
'Then why didn't you prove it?'
'I prove it now.'
'What?' she was so confused. The thoughts in her head were swirling around and she started to feel dizzy. She stumbled, and Tristan caught her. He walked her over to the wall and leaned her against the wall, holding her up.
'You okay?'
'No.' her thoughts were mixed up. The last thing on their minds right now was why Tristan had left.
'No, I'm not okay. I'm being held by the father of my baby and it feels good!' tears were in her eyes.
'Why is that bad?'
'Because, I haven't seen you in 2 1/2 years! I can't still have feelings for you like this!'
'Does it help if I say that I still have feelings for you too? I haven't gone on a date since the time between getting divorced and when you got pregnant.'
'I don't want to be here.'
'Me neither.'
'I'll be right back.' Tristan looked confused as Rory left for a few minutes. She returned shortly after with a coat and her purse.
'Did you bring your car?' Rory asked,
;Yea, why?'
'Good, because Jess has my keys. Go on, show me to your car!' Tristan was confused but brought her to his car.
'I'm hungry, lets get food.'
'You do know there's food inside.'
'Yucky food.'
'So where do you want to go?'
'I don't know! I should be screaming at you demanding answers but I can't.'
'I know.'
'I just want coffee.' Tristan nodded and pulled into a nearby starbucks. He brought Rory two cups and himself one. They drank their coffee in the car.
'Now where?' he asked,
'Home.'
'You still live in our house?'
'No, I put that up for rent, I live in an apartment now.' Tristan nodded and followed Rory's directions to the apartment. He pulled up in front and parked. The ride had pretty much been quiet.
'You have any aspirin?' Tristan asked before Rory got out.
'Upstairs. Come on, I'll get you some.'
'Okay but only for a minute.' They got out of the car and walked up to the building. Taking the elevator up to her floor she opened her door and pushed it open picking up the mail on the floor and dropping it into a basket. Tristan looked around the main room.
'It's nice.' Rory smiled and disappeared and returned with a white pill and a cup of water. She handed it to him and he threw it back and washed it down with the water.
'Thanks.'
'Sure.' She was standing directly in front of him looking down.
'I should get going.' Tristan said.
'Yea.' He frowned and picked her chin up with his finger.
'Don't forget me okay?'
'Never.' She shook her head.
'Do I get my good bye kiss now?'
'You already got it!'
'But I want another one.' She smiled and walked all the way up to him. The front of them were touching and Rory stopped in the position before giving him a kiss. They were staring at each other. Rory's eyes clouded over wanting to be even closer as Tristan's darkened and couldn't help but run his pointer finger over her cheek and then her lips. Her breathing labored and thy both leaned forward.
'We should talk.' She whispered. Closer.
'Yea, let's talk.' Closer.
'Later?' Rory asked still getting closer.
'Works for me.' Tristan said before catching her lips with his and pulling her closer to him. All of their rational thoughts flew out of their heads as they made their way over to her couch and sat down. Tristan leaned back and Rory leaned on top of him unbuckling his belt. He kept his hands on her face keeping her lips on his. She leaned her body up a little and pulled down his pants and boxers.
'We shouldn't do this.' Tristan murmured against her lips even though his hands were slowly going down her body and underneath her dress slowly pulling down her panties.
'Let's stop.' She mumbled back although neither made any attempt to stop but attempts to go further.
They couldn't help but take it all the way as they had rough sex on her couch and moaning each others names. Rory collapsed onto his chest from exhaustion after an hour on the couch.
'I cant exercise this much!' Rory complained catching her breath. Tristan laughed quietly. They both had the majority of their clothes on. They put the taken off clothes back on. Rory took Tristan's watch and looked at it.
'The reunion's almost over.'
'For Chilton yes, for us well for now since I need to go.' Tristan answered. She nodded and sat up getting off of Tristan. They both stood up.
'You want me to drive you back to the reunion?'
'Yes.' They got their stuff and left arriving at Chilton ten minutes later.
'Aren't you gonna come back in?' she asked him.
'Nah, it's over now anyways. They wont miss me.'
'Okay.'
'I'm sorry about this. The whole have sex and run thing.'
'It's okay, I understand.'
'But this isn't the first time.'
'No.'
'We even have proof of that.' Tristan said.
'But that wont happen again.' She said.
'No, it won't.' he smiled.
'But, you'd do amazing even if you did.'
'No I wouldn't.'
'What about Dana?'
'What about her?'
'From what I saw, you did an amazing job with her Rory.' She looked into his eyes and saw the sad blue of his eyes.
'Thanks.'
'And she looks a lot like you, she's beautiful.' He said softly.
'Thank you.' She whispered back.
'But she's only beautiful because her mom is a goddess.' She blushed.
'She's gonna be a heartbreaker.'
'Because her mom is a heart devastator.' Rory said rolling her eyes.
'I was gonna say you were a heart breaker but go for the gold while your at it.'
'I broke your heart?' she asked confused.
'Yea. Look I really need to go, this whole family obligation "while I'm here I gotta do" says the old man.'
'Okay.' He gave her a light kiss on the lips.
'By the way, I didn't want to leave.' He said before getting into his car again and driving away. Rory ignored the comment and walked inside. Jess was sitting down talking to Adam. Rory walked over slowly and sat down next to Jess. Adam saw her first since he was opposite Jess. Jess looked to.
'Where were you?' he asked confused.
'I had to, umm take care of something.' She said avoiding eye contact.
'Where's Dana?'
'Ally is playing with her over there.' He pointed, and Rory looked seeing her daughter and Ally sitting on the ground with cards. Ally was trying to get Dana to stop chewing on one.
'Did you leave?' Adam asked.
'Oh umm, just for a little.'
'Bad memories?' he asked. Jess sat quietly.
'Something like that.'
'I saw you leave with Tristan, that must have been a bad memory.'
'Hey Adam, can I talk to you alone?' Rory asked.
'Yea.'
'Kay, we'll be right back.' She said to Jess. The two got up and walked outside. Rory didn't see any trace of Tristan.
'Rory, are you okay?'
'Yea, why?'
'I don't know. You suddenly had to go say hi to someone, and then you leave for over an hour, and now you wanna take to me.'
'She's Tristan's.'
'Who's Tristan's?'
'Dana.'
'What?'
'We got married and then divorced about 2 years after that. On my 26th birthday, Tristan and me saw each other and we went a little to far. I got pregnant, and 7 months later had Dana. He left suddenly, and we still have to discuss this, but I haven't seen him since a few days before Dana was born. Today was the first time Tristan's seen his daughter in 2 1/2 years.'
'Wow.'
'My life is so complicated…I swear once you have sex for the first time, you have it a lot easier.'
'Why do you say this?'
'You really wanna know?'
'I think.' Adam said unsure.
'My birthday we did it, the night after we saw each other in a club and we did it then too, and today…that's where I was.' She waited for Adam to respond.
'Say something.' She commanded him.
'You should get back together.'
'What?'
'Obviously if you still act like a married couple sneaking off to have sex then you should be a married couple sneaking off to have sex.'
'I can't.'
'Look Rory, this is your choice, but I've known Tristan my whole life and believe it or not but he wasn't always a player. It was his friend's that made him that way. He used to be a really nice guy, and that's probably who you married…am I right?'
'Yea.'
'So, the old Tristan never went anywhere. He just needs to learn to get it back, and I know you and I know that you probably brought out the best in him.' Rory didn't say anything. Adam thought of something to ask.
'Can I ask you a question?' he asked her.
'Yea.'
'What do you want from Tristan?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, what do you want him to be to you, to your life. What questions do you want him to answer?'
'I want him to be around. Even if it's not for me, he has a daughter now and I want my daughter to have a father.'
'That's understandable.'
'I want to know why he left, and why every time I'm near him everything I want to ask is suddenly erased from my mind. I want to know if he's giving up on this life he had in Connecticut.
'I can't answer that.'
'I know.'
'When will you see him again?'
'Unless something comes up, the next Chilton reunion.'
'Rory, that's in ten years.'
'Then I'll wait ten years.'
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Okay, so wow that's a long chapter! Sorry this took so long to get up! I'll try harder to write more, although I'm thinking that the next chapter is going to be five months from this chapter, and the one after might take place two years after the next one. But we'll see. Please review! Thanks, Kiki