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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Can't Move On:

'So mom, who was the guy?' Dana asked walking into the house.

'Guy?' Tori asked overhearing.

'Yup. Mom was introduced to a guy!' Dana provided.

'Mom?'

'What? I only said hi to the man! Plus, you guys know I don't want to date anymore.'

'You can't make one exception?' Tori asked.

'Yea, I mean we should have some kind of fatherly figure!'

'Umm, Jess?' Rory asked.

'Oh come on!' Rory groaned. This conversation was old and familiar but they'd never kept pushing at it like they were now. She collapsed into the sofa sighing. Her two daughters sat on either side of her.

'Sorry.' Dana said.

'We didn't mean to pressure you again.' Tori added.

'I know guys.'

'Plus there's nothing stopping you.'

'I know.'

'And you're still beautiful.'

'I know—hey wait. I'm not beautiful!'

'Yea, just keep telling yourself that.'

'Mom, you'll never find someone with that attitude.' Rory stood and sighed.

'I don't want to date!' Rory cried.

'Why not?' Dana asked. The phone rang, and Rory picked it up.

'Hello?'

'Yes, is this Leigh?'

'Yea, could you hold on for a second?'

'Sure.' She put the phone to her chest.

'Because.' Rory responded to Dana.

'You still miss our father.' Tori said sadly.

'Your father has nothing to do with this!' Rory cried frustrated.

'Then why won't you date?'

'Uhhh!' Rory groaned and lifted the phone back up to her ear.

'Sorry about that.' Rory apologized into the phone.

'Oh no problem.'

'So umm who is this?'

'Right. We met earlier today. My name is TC.'

'Oh yea. Bill introduced us.' Upon hearing this, Dana and Tori started to eavesdrop on their mom's side of the call.

'Yea, it was then.'

'Right, so how did you get my number, and why are you calling me?' Rory asked smiling.

'Well it's actually complicated. I'm not dating anymore, and Bill told me you don't want to either so he gave me your number, told me I'd regret saying I didn't want to date anymore and told me I had to call you.' He told her.

'Really? So what's your story?' Rory asked laughing softly.

'Ex-wife and stuff.'

'Oh, so you're divorced?'

'Almost 16 years now.'

'Wow.' She said.

'What about you? What's your story?' he asked. Dana and Tori were confused. When they found out who it was, they had noticed their mom looked a little happier than she had been in a while.

'Actually I don't know. My ex-husband got me pregnant twice and ran away after the first. Him and my daughter's and everything on top.'

'Nah, you're too pretty to be divorced.'

'Well tell that to my ex.'

'Ouch.' He said laughing.

'So tell me a little bit about yourself, TC.'

'Umm, I'm a lawyer.'

'Really?'

'Yea. I used to deal with only malpractice but I've broadened. I'm actually working on Bill's divorce. You know he's getting a divorce, right?'

'Yea I do, so is that how you two know each other?'

'No, we met about ten years ago, in a pool hall. I was new to town and I joined a pool club in search of some friends and such, and I met a lot of cool people. Bill was one of them. So how do you know Bill?'

'My daughter, Dana. His daughter is on Dana's team. Sweet girl.'

'Jen?'

'Yea.'

'Good. So what do you do?'

'Well I actually changed careers. About ten years ago, I started to work in Medicine.'

'Time for a change?'

'Well I used to, or I acted in one movie, and I was a journalist for most of my career, but then I wanted something more thrilling, so I went back to school and became an E.R. doctor.'

'And how's that?'

'I love it. The hours are yucky, but I love it too much to care.'

'Good money?'

'Barely. But I did extremely well as a journalist. I've decided I've been in the spotlight of writing for long enough, and now I get to relax, or enjoy my job more without the public knowing everything I do.'

'Of course. You sound and seem like someone I know.'

'I do?'

'Yea.'

'Hmm. I'm sorry to say that I can't say the same about you.'

'It's okay.'

'It was really nice talking to you, but I need to go.'

'Alright, call me sometime.'

'I will.' Rory smiled and hung up. Dana and Tori looked at her expectantly.

'So?' Dana asked.

'He seems nice.'

'Well?' Tori urged her. Rory startled them both by getting up quickly and turning around just as soon.

'Fine you guys win! I can't or don't want to date because I still haven't gotten over your dad!' Rory said evenly then looked away with a sad longing look. The two girls looked shocked. They didn't actually think it was true.

'Mom, I'm sure he hasn't gotten over you ether.'

'Knowing him, he has.' The two shrugged.

'Okay, Tori is your stuff all packed?' Tori nodded.

'You really want to leave me and Dana for eight weeks?'

'Mom!'

'I mean you only 11!'

'I'm going into sixth grade, and plus, I did it last year too!'

'But last year Ally was with you.'

'I'll be fine!'

'Okay.' Rory looked down and pouted.

'I'll write you!'

'Okay. The Johanson's should be here soon. Ready?'

'Yes!' As if on cue, they knocked at the door.

'Leigh, dear!' Claire Johanson hugged Rory.

'Hey, Claire. Would you like some coffee?'

'No, thanks. The roads are full of traffic patches today, so we should really right away so they make it on time for orientation.

'Okay. Tori, do you have your cell?'

'Check.'

'Alright sweetie. I love you.' Rory said hugging Tori tightly.

'Mom, you can let go now.' Tori mumbled.

'Okay, bye.'

'Bye! Love you!' Tori called leaving with her friend, Chloe and her friend's mom, Claire.

'They grow up so fast.' Dana said mock crying. Rory glared at her daughter, then stuck her tongue out at her.

'And you say you're 41, hah!'

'Hush child! That number must never be mentioned.'

'I'm taking a shower. Then we can go get some movies.'

'Willy Wonka?' Rory asked excitedly.

'We own that.'

'Umm, A Cinderella Story?'

'That's for like 8 year olds but sure why not. And we can get the movie you were in too!'

'What?' Rory asked snapping her head up looking straight into her daughter's eyes.

'Relax! I was kidding!'

'Oh good.' Rory said letting out the breath she was holding in.

'NOT!' Dana called as she disappeared and shut the door to the bathroom. Rory grumbled and plopped down onto the sofa.

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Umm, Review? Please! Thanks, Kiki