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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I Will Not Cry…:

Rory was rummaging through the closet. She took out two dresses and then looked at her calendar to see what time she left. Yesterday, she saw was Dana's birthday. The two had gone out to eat but they retired to the house early because Rory had a flight she needed to take for another convention. This time Her mom would be gone for three days before coming home for two days and then going on another trip to meet with a selection of famous doctors for four days. She would be getting home very early July 5th. Dana was packing as well for Tristan's. She sighed and picked up a picture of her and her mom encased in an expensive glass picture frame. She pleaded with herself not to cry when she heard her mom's footsteps.

'Okay sweetie, I need to head out okay?' Dana nodded and hugged her mother. When Dana heard the door shut signaling her mom was now gone, she picked up the picture frame and threw it onto her bed. Collecting her belongings, she headed over to Tristan's house. He opened the door seeing her slightly red eyes. He immediately ushered her inside and enveloped her into a hug. She dropped her bags on the floor and let the tears fall as she cried that her mom was now redoing last summer, but starting earlier, meaning even less time seeing her mom.

'Sshhh. It's okay.' Tristan said comforting her. He led her to the family room and sat down pulling her down with him. (AN: This is a fatherly support kind of way.) She continued to cry a few minutes calming down as Tristan rubbed her back soothingly.

'Everything's going to be okay.'

'Yea well it doesn't look to hopeful.'

'Dana, she's doing her best I'm sure.'

'She left me on other people even when I was like two.'

'How do you know this?'

'My mom's friend. He visits sometimes when he visits his daughter. He told me that my mom left me with him when she left with my dad and came back a few hours later.'

'What about your sister?'

'Victoria?'

'Is that her real name?'

'Yea, Tori for short. She's always been independent; she's always doing something. For as long as I remember, she's always had plans to do something with this person or that person or to go to this place or that place. She's been home less then I have and I'm more than 2 and a 1/2 years older then her!'

'Dana, I—'

'No, it's okay.'

'No it's not! Yesterday was your birthday, and your mom should be with you, still celebrating!'

'Is that how your family did it?' she asked wiping away a few tears,

'Not even close.' He clenched his jaw, remembering. He continued.

'When my mother first had me, she brought me along to all of her appointments and such. But by the time I wasn't nursing anymore, I was being taken care of by a 24-hour nanny. Her name was Amelia, I think she was Spanish. Anyways, she became my sit in mom, I never really saw my parents too much. I would see them every so often in between their weekly, sometimes monthly trips. My birthday was long forgotten by my parents, I was even long forgotten. Mia, as I called my nanny, always made some kind of special meal for me. She would get me the presents my parents paid her to buy for me. Up until I was about 11, we would just sit around the house all day and play games. On my twelfth birthday, she wanted to give me a party. It worked out perfectly, my parents weren't going to be home, but 20 minutes before my guests started to show up they come home. Finding that the house was decorated for my party, they flipped out and fired Mia. I haven't seen her since then. Word has it that she passed away, but I refuse to believe that. My birthday's after that become completely non-existent. I'm surprised I haven't forgotten the date of my birthday over the years.'

'Wow.' Dana said shocked.

'Yea, but when I met my ex-wife and started to date her, that all changed. All of a sudden my birthdays were not forgotten, my friends—the true ones caught on, and right around when I turned 23, my birthdays became a big deal again. I still celebrate my birthday, but only a few friends eating dinner.'

'You know, this like the only thing you've ever told me about you.' Dana said curious.

'I'm aware of that.'

'Do you not want to share more? It helps me keep my mind off of my mom.'

'Yea, I'll share more. It feels good to finally tell someone everything—well in so long at least. So what do you wanna hear about dear old me?' Tristan smiled.

'Anything. You're a very mysterious person, you don't seem at all like you say you are.' Dana said pointedly. Tristan smiled.

'Well, I was married for about two years, and then everything went wrong. We ended up getting a divorce, and about a year and a half later, she comes to me and tells me that she was pregnant with my baby. We were together till she was in a car accident and she had the baby premature. She was unconscious and I wasn't there when she woke up, having been forced to go home. Well when I was at home, I got the call. The one that told me she was one, awake, and two, didn't want me around anymore. I refused to believe it so I went to the hospital and I heard her talking with her mom about how it my fault she got into the near fatal accident. I haven't really seen her or my daughter since.'

'So, you have a daughter?' Dana asked surprised.

'Yea. I haven't seen her in a long time though. Her mom doesn't want me around.'

'It's hard to believe that TC. I mean, you are such a good guy! You offered to take me in when my moms become insane, you gave me food the first time we met no questions asked.' Tristan didn't say anything, but just looked down.

'So what's your daughter's name?'

'Dana.'

'Wow, that's actually funny. I mean, my name's Dana and she's probably about the same age as me, right?'

'Yea.' He said nodding sadly.

'I'm sorry.' His head shot up.

'For what?' he asked confused.

'It must be hard for you. I mean I just turned 15, I don't know my dad, but its gotta be different for a father. Never getting the chance to know their only daughter—she is your only daughter, right?'

'Only one kid.'

'I couldn't imagine what that be like.'

'Not even I can.'

'Since we're both kinda down, can we go get some ice cream or something?'

'I can't I'm sorry. You see, I have these friends that I haven't seen in a long time, so could you maybe go to a friends house for a while? I'll pick you up right after.'

'Couldn't I just go with you?'

'Maybe next time. I need to talk to them about something and it'd be easier if you weren't there.' He said sincerely.

'Okay. I wanted to see Jen anyways.'

'You okay with this?'

'Yea, of course, but I can come back right after right?'

'Yea of course. I shouldn't be there more than two hours.'

'Kay.' They stood up and Tristan dropped her off at Jen's house before driving to his long lost friend's house. He parked the car and got out. He rang the doorbell.

'Tristan?' the guy asked.

'Hey man.' He responded.

'Holy crap.'

'What, no hello? Kyle, come on!' Kyle laughed and gave Tristan a hug.

'What up?' he asked letting him in.

'Nothing, I just figured I'd drop by. Is Liza home? Tristan asked.

'Nope. She went with the kids to visit her parents. Won't be home until tomorrow afternoon.' Tristan nodded his head and sat down on the couch.

'So Tristan, or is it TC now?' Kyle asked sitting down too.

'Both.'

'All right. Well Tristan I haven't seen you since my first kid was born, and even then I never really talked with you.'

'I know.'

'So what's been up with you?'

'Nothing. I've talked to this woman one the phone a few times. Met her daughter, she's become like my daughter. She's actually staying with me right now but she's at a friends house.'

'That's umm—peculiar.'

'What?'

'No it's just that, I would've thought you wouldn't have taken over someone's child if she wasn't your sweet Dana.'

'Her name is Dana, but I can give up my own daughter wishes. They aren't gonna happen.'

'You know, I still talk with Rory.' Kyle said.

'You do?'

'Mmmhmm. She says your daughter, well she used "my daughter", but she said Dana was having problems.'

'With what?' he asked.

'Emotional. Rory says it's because she misses her father—or you.'

'Dana's never really met me Kyle.'

'Hey, I never said I believed what she said!'

'She's really bad at the whole mothering thing, isn't she?'

'Man, she used to be so good with Dana. And then Vic—' Kyle stopped short, realizing Tristan never knew about his second daughter.

'And then, what?'

'Oh a guy name Vic came along, and suddenly everything changed.'

'Huh, what happened?' Kyle shrugged,

'Don't know.' Tristan was confused.

'Oh. So how is your family?'

'Oh we're great.' Kyle said happily.

'That makes one of us.'

'I thought you had this new "daughter like figure" in your life now.'

'I do, it's just that she looks so much like Rory and Lorelai. I would never bring it up because I know there is no way she could be, but I still wonder sometimes.'

'What if I helped you get Rory back?'

'No.' Tristan said shaking his head.

'Wow, that was definitely not the answer I thought I'd hear.'

'Why?'

'Oh I don't know! Maybe because you still wanna be with her!'

'Look, what we had was over 15 years ago!' Tristan said frustrated.

'Why do you make yourself not have feelings for her?'

'Because I can't. Because I'm not able to allow myself to tear myself apart for what could have been.'

'Tristan, man, I don't get you. You know that?'

'The only one who ever understood me like that was Rory. And this new girl. So how's Dana again?'

'She seems fine. I haven't seen her since last summer, but apparently she's gotten really beautiful.' Tristan looked away with sad eyes.

'Tristan, don't do this to yourself!' Kyle said shaking his head.

'You want to meet her?'

'Who?' Kyle asked confused.

'Dana. I'm having a surprise party for her tomorrow and if you'd like, you can come.'

'Well Liza's gonna be home around 5 tomorrow so I don't know…'

'Well it' s from 12 to 4, so you can come if you'd like.'

'Sure?'

'Yea man, I'll let you meet the girl.' Kyle rolled his eyes.

'So hey, you wanna go grab something to eat or something?' Kyle asked. Tristan shrugged but followed Kyle to his car anyways.

'Hey Dana! Come on in. Jen is up in her room.' Bill Thompson greeted her.

'Cool. Thanks.' Dana said before running up the stairs to her room. Jen looked up from her magazine and smiled.

'Hey! I didn't know you where coming over.'

'Yea, but TC went to see an old friend and said he'd rather me not be there this time.'

'Ouch.'

'No, it's okay. I think he's going to talk about his ex-wife. You can tell he still misses her.' Jen just nodded.

'So what brings you here?' Jen asked.

'My mom left again.'

'Oh Dana!' Jen said getting up and giving Dana a hug.

'How long is she gone this time?'

'Morning after July 4th.'

'Oh no, she's coming back right after the celebrations and stuff!

I know. She left this morning.'

'Oh yea, happy birthday!' Jen said remembering.

'Thanks.'

'Wait, oh god. Your mom left the morning after your birthday?' Dana nodded her head mutely.

'Dee, she's never done that before.'

'I know.' Dana said, tears once again clouding her eyes. Dee was a nickname that her friends called her which was shortened from Dee Dee (Dana Dugrey).

'Oh Dana.' Jen said bringing her into a hug again. Dana cried into her shoulder.

'Hey let's go get food, okay?' Dana lifted her head and dried her eyes.

'Okay.' She answered quietly following Jen downstairs where her father was waiting to bring them to eat.

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Next chapter: the two parties eating and then the dun, dun, dun…. PARTY! Sorry about this long time of no new stuff. It's been crazy, with school and computer time, and thinking in general. Please review! Thanks, Kiki.