Disclaimer: They are not mine. I own nothing but my ideas.

"A conclusion is simply the place where someone got tired of thinking." – Anon.

Your wit's too hot, it speeds too fast, 'twill tire.
Love's Labour's Lost, 2. 1

The rest of the flight passed by relatively uneventfully, if you excluded the ice cream and pillow fight fought and consequently lost by Finn against a bratty little boy sitting diagonally across the isle, Tristan sleeping blissfully while Rory drew him a moustache and goatee with her eyeliner, as well as complete her Yale Daily article and emailed her study groups for the class notes and homework assignments as well as arrange to have her homework handed in electronically over the course web pages.

Morning came, well I should say morning came in Singapore, and it found our beloved friends hurrying though customs then lured and bogged down by duty free liquor (Finn got Rory and Tristan to carry their max limits into Singapore) and presently found themselves waiting at the baggage carousels.

"Leave me alone." Rory was currently curled up on top of Finn's suitcase on the trolley and was in no mood to move.

"It's your fault for not sleeping RG." Finn complained. Now you're going to be such a kill joy when I wanted to go out and paint the town red."

At that Rory's eyes shot open. "Finnegan Aurelius DeBeers, you will not paint this poor town red. Can you imagine how long the clean up will take? Not to mention the price, and the face that you'll be black listed from yet another country. Need I remind you of the Maldives trip?"

"Relax Mary, I'm sure he's talking figuratively." Tristan sent Finn a knowing look and Finn readily agreed to whatever Rory said. Tristan had discovered Rory's use of his face as a palette when he brushed his teeth before landing and spent a good part of the descent uncovering whether there was photographic evidence of Rory's art work, but as of yet, had not thought of a fitting revenge.

"Oh," Rory's sweet side came back just as fast and unexpectedly as her outburst overcame her, "in that case sorry Finn, brain has not yet begun processing today. Our offices are currently closed until coffee is delivered."

Tristan gently nudged and goaded Rory's uncooperative form into an upright position. "Right, so luggage…check. Sleeping Beauty…check. Handsome prince…check. Court Jester…check."

"Hey mate, watch who you call a jester, you're not so funny you know." Finn snorted.

Tristan just smiled like one does when tolerating a petulant child. "So we're off. Everyone keep an eye out for Walter, he said he'd pick us up from the airport. Wait…let me rephrase that…Finn, keep an eye out for an elderly English gentleman. Rory, I know how much you enjoy your beauty sleep, but you want to help me out here? Left foot now right…fine, lean on me…" Tristan enjoyed that part. "Now left… that's right…no not right…"

As the trio walked out the doors to the arrivals hall they encountered a group of screaming girls and paparazzi with cameras. Tristan and Finn totally ignored the group and walked faster, Rory however was jolted awake by the bright flashing lights and the noise around her.

What's going on? As she looked around, her sleep filled eyes only noted the girls, the press and the pictures some girls held tightly to their breasts, the subject having blonde hair. She then looked up with curiosity at Tristan's hair.

Why on earth would they be all crazy like that? Tristan's not even looking at them, and I can't catch his attention. Tristan physically sheltered Rory from the press and the girls. He held her to him on the side furthest from the craziness and walked ahead at a clipped determined pace. I guess he's embarrassed to be seen with me, though I don't know why…maybe Logan's sloppy seconds are giving him second thoughts…. Rory had made so much progress over such a small time frame but given the opportunity her thoughts once more turned insecure and dark.

By the exit an elderly gentleman in his mid sixties waited. He immediately straightened his back and turned to greet the trio. "Master Tristan, I hope you had a pleasant flight with your companions." With that he turned to greet Finn and Rory. "Young Master, Miss, I hope you enjoy your stay in Singapore. I am Walter, a gentleman's gentleman, young Master Tristan's valet. Now if you will follow me, the car is waiting out front."

Poor Rory with her new plague of thoughts, allowed herself to be ushered into the car too wrapped up in her insecurities to notice a slightly famous actor Jensen Ackles exit though the same gate as she did moments ago, who stopped, signed photos and basked in the attention of his welcoming crowd.

Driving towards the apartment took only about a half hour in which they discovered how Tristan inherited Walter from his cousin. It seemed that all the Comte de Montpensier had a valet from Walter's family and Tristan had sent him and his wife to Singapore for a holiday when Tristan went to America. Along the way they passed some of the sights of the city. Orchard Road, the main shopping district, the private gated Istana, guarded residence of the prime minister, the former tallest building in south-east Asia and the Raffles Hotel. Tristan's apartment overlooked the Singapore Botanical Gardens, the orchid gardens he confided to Rory was his favourite place to sit and think when he visited.

Rory listened and looked half-heartedly at the view. I should have known. How can you be so stupid Rory, you're an ivy league student and you couldn't even tell his motives. Once a player always a player, now he just has a bigger budget and a better game, that's all. Still Tristan's voice lingered in her mind making her confused, but never lies…those hurt more than anything else could…

Rory was jolted out of her thoughts when the blast of humidity from the open car door hit her. A gloved hand waited expectantly to help her out of the car, but Tristan beat Walter to it. With a roguish grin, he grabbed her hand and pulled Rory out of the car and into his waiting arms. Walter raised his eyebrow at this unusual show of affection from his master. He's only ever this carefree with Alison…I wonder…

Tristan and Rory shared one of those timeless moments, in the sweltering humidity and after a twenty-hour trip, they shared one thought, one in awe and overwhelmed by love, the other in sadness and regret, (s)he has never looked more beautiful.

The moment was broken by Rory's stomach, once again heralding a nervous silence as the travelling party plus Walter ascended the building in the elevator. When the doors opened on the 24th floor, a warm welcome greeted the tumultuous couple.

"My dear, you look positively thin." Remarked the plump woman barrelling towards Tristan at an amazing pace. How she managed to move so fast in her sensible pumps would remain a scientific mystery. "Come, all of you must be so weary from the travelling." As Tristan hugged her, he protested her assessment. "Nonsense," she continued, "off you all go, freshen up and when you're through, there's a spot of tea, bangers and biscuits fresh off the stove for you all." With that she heralded each person into their respective rooms and showed the guests to the baths. As she put her arm lovingly around Rory to lead her to her room, Rory cast a backwards glance at Tristan, obvious horror apparent on her face.

Rory mouthed, "Tea?" back at Tristan. Tristan took the opportunity to address the take-charge housekeeper, Walter's wife.

"Martha, I'm afraid I've been rather rude and forgotten introductions. Rory, Finn, this is Martha, my housekeeper, Walter's better half and the lady responsible for ensuring I eat a home cooked meal frequently. Martha, this is Rory Gilmore, my Mary and Finn DeBeers her friend."

At this Martha gave Rory a once over, reappraising her so to speak.

"And another thing." Tristan continued. "Miss Rory will take coffee with her breakfast, she's rather addicted to the beverage no offence meant to your tea Martha. You better prepare an entire pot for her, she can make it disappear faster than David Blaine."

After freshening up, Rory was lured from the soft bed with the down filled comforter that called her name throughout her "freshen" up time by the wondrous appetite enticing smells wafting from what she could only assume was the kitchen.

Approaching the kitchen, she heard Walter verbally giving Tristan the messages he collected from various answering services worldwide. Rory approaching the kitchen still hidden from the kitchen's occupants was just in time to hear Tristan's social messages.

"Miss Alison called, and asked why you neglected to inform her you were travelling here. She was rather annoyed that you neglected to invite her again and she reiterated how much she enjoyed her previous stay with you." Walter rambled, but then his tone changed to one of barely veiled contempt. "Miss Muffy wanted to know when you would be back in London and if you would accompany her to this years Black and White ball."

At this Tristan paled, not that Rory could see from his position. Tristan smirked and said, "Well, I'd be delighted," and proceeded to tie a pretend hangman's noose around his neck. "After the lovely time I had escorting her, she never wanted to leave the limo and stated she had other activities planned." With that said, Tristan hung himself with the noose.

Rory did a quick 180 turn and returned to her room. Of course Rory, she thought to herself, Tristan's got a girl on every continent. Miss Muffy of London, Miss Alice of America, and this is probably his love nest. He brought you to romance you into dropping your pants for him. Its no different than his jealousy card in high school. Rory began to bang her head not lightly on the wall. Stupid, stupid, stupid. You aren't a marriage girl. You're the fling before the marriage…or after even. That last admission slipped into Rory's conscious line of thought adding additional poison to stifle her happiness. Grave mistakes may not be thought of all the time, been reconciled and shelved away with the pain and uncomfortable feelings of guilt hidden, just to fall into your lap and open releasing the pain at the most inopportune times.

Finn blasted into her room. "RG darling, if you want to knock, one usually does so on the door, so one can enter the room after. As it stands, I've had to come all the way into your room, just to say 'come in!' to give you permission."

At this non sequester Rory just looked at Finn like he had truly lost his last marble.

"You were knocking on my wall." Finn replied completely nonchalant. "Now that I'm here I might as well tell you. Yale for the first time in history, has been closed indefinitely and for at least 2 weeks while the campus buildings are thouroughly searched for asbestos."

"Asbestos?" Rory exclaimed.

"It seems that the building inspector while checking the science labs found an open ceiling tile, and a rat or other small rodent escapee from the lab knocked some suspicious looking material down on the inspector's coat." Finn continued speaking as if this was not out of the ordinary.

Rory looked incredulous but signalled Finn to continue.

"Anyways luv, he checked some other neighbouring buildings including some dorms and found traces of asbestos. So, he promptly caused a scandal and closed Yale indefinitely until all traces of asbestos can be removed." Finn finished his story and started to buff his nails on his coat.

"Finn, why do I have a feeling this closure is just slightly too convenient?" Rory ventured.

"Well I suppose you would blame me…but how could I," Finn attempted to look angelic. "I was on a plane, and in your company, plus its never been done before. Never been attempted."

"Exactly.

"Exactly what?" Finn continued on his vague explanation, but could not continue, breaking into a slightly devilish grin."

"WE needed a break anyways, and the different school schedules didn't meet up perfectly for the fall event. So, it just worked perfectly. No one suspects a thing, the administration is incensed!" Finn confessed.

"Well, I guess it worked out for the best. I really couldn't imagine having to miss school." Rory offered. I really should have stayed at school than come to this illicit love nest.

Poor Rory's mind had been more affected by her absentee male influences more than she realized. To want to do anything for male approval, and to trust completely, just to dash and destroy all chance by her own treacherous imagination.

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A/N: A stepping stone chapter. We can't have all the pieces fall in place on the first try can we. What fun can be found in that? Please review, all the reviews put a smile on my face. I think I can realistically get 100 reviews before the 10th chapter. Please help with this goal. Have a good weekend to all my dear reviewers.