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 note:

-flash backs will be represented in italic

Warning: Short chapters…

Feedback: would be beautiful

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Rory closed the door behind her, and let her body fall against it. She slipped down, and stared at what seemed like a whole lot of nothing. She wiped a tear that cascaded down her cheek and buried her head in her knees.

"Kiddo', is that you?" Lorelai asked, coming from the kitchen.

Rory pulled her head up, and let her mother see her.

The older Gilmore sighed, and kneeled down, positioning in front of her daughter. "What happened?"

A whole new set of tears burst from her big blue eyes, and she hiccupped a couple times before saying, "he left."

Lorelai wiped the tears away to the best of her ability, and frowned at her broken child. "But what happened?"

"He-," she started, and looked away, "said that he was done with playing games, and he needed time to clear his head. We had a nice talk…" she trailed off, nodding in honesty.

"So, why are you crying?" Lorelai asked, confused.

"Because he loves her Mom…"

"Who, who does he love?"

"Bella," Rory sulked, and wrapped her arms around her knees. "He loves her so much."

"Kiddo', excuse me if I'm mistaken, but is that not a good thing?"

"It is," she nodded softly.

Lorelai shook her head, and wrapped her arms around her daughter, "everything is going to be just fine," she whispered.

"Mommy?" a tear stricken Bella stood not more than three feet away, "why are you crying?"

Rory wiped her tears, and smiled sadly at her daughter, holding out her arms she said, "Come here, baby."

Lorelai moved away slightly and watched.

Bella ran into her mothers arms.

"I know you don't understand what's happening right now munchkin, but Mommy will explain the best I can," Rory pulled back and cupped the child's face, "how about over some ice cream?"

The little girl smiled, and gave a slow nod.

-&-

"Tristan?" a voice came over the other end of the phone. "It's late."

"Sorry, grandpa," the blonde muttered, running his fingers through his hair.

"I assume that you are in Georgetown as we speak?"

"How did you know?"

"Something brilliant called Caller ID."

Tristan chuckled slightly, and sighed. "I couldn't sleep."

"I figured," his grandfather replied with a sigh. "Why are you in Georgetown?"

"Because it's where I live," Tristan stated in a matter-of-factly tone.

"Don't play stupid with me," the older Dugrey ordered, "where's Rory?"

"She's in Stars-hallow."

"And where is my dear great-grandchild that I haven't had the pleasure to meet yet?"

"With her mother…"

A sigh, "So, I'll ask one more time- why are you in Georgetown?"

"I don't know," Tristan sighed, closing his eyes.

"Did you and Rory get into a fight again?"

"Sort of, but we cleared it all up."

"Okay?"

"I just needed some time to think things over."

"What is there to think over?" his grandfather said out of frustration, "you missed a great deal of your daughters' life, and now you have the chance to make it up, but you need time? Be a man Tristan- stop running from your problems…"

-&-

"What do I have to do?" Ryan asked into the phone, running the shower water. "I'll do anything to see that this situation goes my way."

"It's going to be difficult, Rory is the natural mother," a lawyer friend sighed, and continued, "and Tristan is the father."

"Don't ever say that again," Ryan growled.

"It's the truth; maybe you should except that and move on with your life. I was thinking that it would be easier to win you visitation rights instead."

"No, Bella is my child and I refuse to let her be raised by a whore and a military freak."

"His background is clean ever since he left years ago," another sigh, "and Rory's record is the cleanest I've ever seen. I'll help you- I've been your friend for eleven years Ryan, but I can't guarantee anything. Do you really want to destroy face? I mean, what will your family think of this nonsense?"

"I don't give a shit about what they want or what they think, I'm getting my child back if I have to do it the right way or the wrong way…"

Defeated, the voice said, "Okay, well at least let me help you try and do this the right way, but remember there are no guarantees."

"Whatever…"

"Oh, and Ryan?"

"What?"

"She is never coming back to you," the voice warned, "not after this and not after seeing Dugrey again. They were so love sick in college it was disgusting. Love like that never goes away."

"If you weren't my friend Huntzberger, I would kill you."

-Click-

Done…

Wanted to spice things up!

Thanks for the wonderful reviews…