Claim: I own Bella, Ryan and maybe a few short scene characters…
Sum it up: "I never cared that much," Rory stubbornly retorted, and watched as he sauntered out of her life…again.
Mental notes:
flash backs will be represented in italic
Less dialogue than most of my stories
More happened during Rory's time at Yale
I love Trory )
Warning: Short chapters…
Feedback: would be beautiful
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"Rory," Lorelai asked, approaching her daughter, who was ready to leave the hospital, "what do you think your doing?"
Rory watched her mothers eyes fill with tears and she could only reply in silence.
"You dropped the charges?"
Rory could only nod.
"Why?" more tears…
She pondered this for a moment, "Because I know he loves me."
"He doesn't love you," Lorelai pleaded, desperately looking into her daughters blue eyes, "don't you understand?"
Silence…
"Come back home…you could stay with us," Lorelai begged, "please. We love you Rory- not him."
Silence…
"Please baby…"
Rory shook her head, and let the tears fall from her weary eyes. "I love him…"
Lorelai straightened her self, "Don't not use that as an excuse to going back to this fool, He'll do it again- I promise you that Lorelai Leigh Gilmore."
Rory wiped her tears…"He promised…"
"Don't you see by now the emptiness of his promises?" Lorelai tried pleading again.
Silence…
"I would have never thought you to be a fool Rory," Lorelai bit back bitterly; "I guess I was wrong."
Rory nodded, and began to walk away.
"If you go back to him right now- don't ever think you can come back to me… you will no longer be my daughter," Rory continued to walk away- painfully- tears cascading down her cheeks, "Rory…RORY!"
"I know that we've said some things that we didn't mean in the past," Lorelai said, "and I'm sorry for the things I've said. You'll always be my daughter…"
Rory bit back tears, and nodded. "I was just so in love with the idea of being in love- I lost it. I remember when he would send me flowers at work- or go all out with fancy dinning- the works, but it all came to an end when he knew I would never go anywhere. All of the magic and the passion faded, and I was more alone than when I started. After a while his words just started to strangle me- he didn't even have to use his hands…but I was so scared of having no where to run. Grandma' was disappointed, and I know that she would tell you. I just…had no where. And my main concern was Bella- he loved her- he still does- she had a father, you know? I couldn't take that away from her when she was so small, and not to mention I didn't think I could raise her on my own. Ryan was such a good father to her- a terrible husband- but a good father, and Bella needed that. But I cant take the abuse anymore mom," tears, "and I cant take the fact that it's been so long since you've smiled at me."
Lorelai brought her daughter into the millionth hug that evening, and said, "It's okay baby."
Rory wiped her tears, "and Tristan…he hates me."
"No he doesn't…"
"And you should see how Bella reacts to him, she loves him- already…it breaks my heart that they lost each other for so long," a shrug, "and now I don't even know if he wants to be apart of her life."
"Do you want him to be apart of her life?"
Rory sighed, "Yes."
Lorelai nodded… there was nothing else to do.
Meanwhile…
Tristan rode around- until he had no where else to ride to… he stopped in front of a familiar house, sighed and turned off his ignition.
It seemed like only yesterday that this house was his second home…
He got out of the car and walked up the steps…everything was so silent… almost strange for this part of town.
He buzzed the door bell, and waited for the familiar face of Lorelai to greet him…
Instead it was Rory.
"Uh…Hi," she mumbled awkwardly.
He frowned- silently wondering why she was answering her mothers' doorbell- a mother that she wasn't speaking to. "Hi…" he replied- lamely.
"Who is it?" Lorelai asked, coming into view. Her mouth formed an 'o' and she smiled warmly at a nerve stricken Tristan. "Tristan, come in…"
He didn't want to go in- didn't want to have to be in the same house as Rory at the moment, but his pride wouldn't let him leave. "Alright," he answered.
Rory moved aside as he walked past her, and into the kitchen. She shuddered at his familiarity and casualness of being in her house.
It was just strange.
Lorelai whispered something to him that Rory couldn't hear- before he yelled out, "I'm making a bowl of cereal," and completely disappeared into the kitchen.
It was just a tad bit weird that Tristan was more comfortable in Lorelai's house than her own daughter- just a tad.
Okay, who was Rory trying to fool? It was too strange for her liking, but she accepted it and sat down on the couch.
Lorelai sat beside her and flicked on the television. "This is just weird," she mumbled, and continued to flick through the stations.
Rory almost thought she didn't hear her mother correctly, but as she looked at Lorelais face- she could see the strain in it. "It's okay…"
"I just love him so damn much," Lorelai said, apologetically, "he's like a son, you know?"
Rory gave a soft- weary smile and nodded, "its okay."
"I'm going to go check on my granddaughter," Lorelai said, getting up from the couch and disappearing into the next room.
Rory scratched at her hand- nervously, and sighed before getting up and heading into the kitchen.
Tristan sat at the table, sandwich in one hand, and newspaper in the other.
She smiled shyly, and poured herself a cup of coffee
Tristan chewed his cereal in silence, contemplating the last time Rory and him were in Lorelai's house…together.
Rory felt way too uncomfortable- but it was only obvious that she would. Her ex-lover, who was her only Child's father- that didn't know until a couple days ago- was in her mothers' house, eating cereal.
It was mind-blowing.
Rory seemed to be using that word a lot lately.
Her head began to take on a horrible migraine and she felt a little tired. She wanted to say something to him- let him know where she was going, but instead she just left the kitchen without a word.
He looked after her- his heart breaking over and over, and continued to eat his cereal.
&-
Lorelai walked in the living room, and Rory stared at her.
"You okay?" Lorelai asked, coming over to sit near her daughter.
"I'm a little tired," Rory confessed with a shrug.
"Go up to my room and get some sleep- I'll wake you up in a while."
"You sure?" Rory asked- trying not to be a hassle- after all she hadn't been in this house for years.
"Yeah," Lorelai smiled warmly, and touched her cheek.
"What about Bella?" Rory asked- still worried.
"She's still sleeping, and besides I want to spend time with her…"
Rory accepted her mothers' words and started up the stairs.
&-
A couple hours of talking, and Tristan sighed. "I don't know," he admitted, and Lorelai could only nod. "Things have changed."
"I understand…" she accepted this.
Silence…
"Oh Sugar-Honey-Iced-Tea," Lorelai hit her forehead and stood up, "I have to go pick up my daughter at Sookies."
Tristan stared at the older woman, and smiled softly. "So go…"
Lorelai nodded, and grabbed her coat- almost out the door, calling, "Bella's sleeping in the next room!"
Tristan almost missed what she said, but didn't. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back on the couch cushion. He only opened his eyes when he felt a hand on his leg.
Little Bella was staring at him.
He sighed in relief, and said, "Did I wake you up?"
"No," she shook her little head, "Nana Lorelai did- she screams loud!"
Tristan chuckled, and moved over on the couch- so she could join him. "Do you want to watch T.V?"
Bella yawned, and nodded softly.
Tristan flicked through the channels until he reached Disney, and watched the little girl's eyes gleam.
His little girl…
It was almost too unreal.
And suddenly in her presence- he felt the urge to breathe, because he couldn't.
How could a person so tiny- make him feel like he needs to walk on egg shells?
She yawned again, and then turned to look at a staring Tristan. "You know my nana?"
He could only nod.
"Where's my mommy?" she asked softly.
He shifted uncomfortably and said, "Sleeping upstairs."
The little girl frowned, "daddy always makes her sleep."
He furrowed his eyebrows, and asked, "Why?"
The little girl shrugged- smart beyond her years- "he screams at her louder than my nana screams!"
Tristan wanted to ask more…wanted to pry, but he didn't have to.
"He made me mad," she reddened, and sulked, "because he hit her…and great-Grammy always told me that boys can't hit girls- the law says so."
Tristan watched tears swell up in the little girls' eyes, and wanted to hold her. He couldn't believe that his daughter was subjected to a domestic relationship between her parental figures.
He wanted to kill Ryan.
And kill Rory for letting Ryan lay his hands on her.
Bella continued, "And he doesn't like Nana… but I tell him she's the best Nana- I tell him all the time."
Tristan frowned
"I only get to see Nana when mommy drops me off at great-Grammy's house."
"Well I'm sure you will see more of her now," Tristan responded, talking to her like the mature little girl she was.
Bella smiled, and wrapped her arms around him. "Will I see more of you to?"
At first he tensed up, but finally he gave in to her warmth- and wrapped his arms around her tiny body. He closed his eyes, and breathed in her scent. "I hope so Bella- I hope so."
Without letting go of him she spoke, "Mommy said that you're the person who I'm just like… I have your nose and your smile…"
He couldn't say nothing- all he could do was fight back tears.
His little girl…
And Rory watched this from the top of the stairs- tears glistening in her eyes…she sighed, and went back into her mothers' room.
Done…
Please review!
Note: I know it's weird that their in the same house- both unwilling to swallow their pride, but work with me here!