Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Gilmore Girls, actors, characters, plots, etc, that would be the wonderful people at WB. Although if I did, I'm pretty sure they'd be some big changes coughChadcough. Anyway if you do feel inclined to sue me, some people have strange urges and we must accept them for who they are, I'm currently flat broke so all you will get is a used textbook, on organic chemistry.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Chapter 20She woke, naked and alone, in an unfamiliar bed. For a second she started, unable to remember how she had gotten to where it was she was. She calmed herself just enough to examine her surroundings. She lay in the middle of a seemingly vast bed of dark blue satin sheets. There was a desk to her right, covered in stacks of paper and books. Speaking of books, it was like her version of literary heaven. She doubted that she had ever seen so many books outside of a library. There was an armchair to her left, a neatly folded pile of clothes sat on it, it took her a second to realise they were her clothes, plus a dark blue bathrobe. Sliding out from underneath the covers, she slipped the robe on, it felt new and fluffy, the tag still dangled from the sleeve. Glancing about the room once more, the bedside table caught her eye and just as had happened not that long ago, there was a note on it.
"Rory, I had to go out for a bit, but I'll be back soon. Make yourself at home. – Tristan," It read.
She was about to place the note card back down when impulsively, she turned it over, what was written on the other side made her smile.
"Mary."
--
Tristan definitely knew how to treat a girl right. Other than the robe, she found a matching towel, toothbrush and mini-bottles of shampoo and conditioner in his bathroom and after getting over the slightly weird, slightly erotic thoughts in her head involving Tristan and the bathroom, Rory took a long hot shower. Feeling invigorated, she decided to thoroughly investigate Tristan's room. The photos pinned to a notice board drew her attention first. A couple of photos of Arabelle and Janlen, one of Tristan and two guys in military uniforms, from military school, Rory surmised, a few photos of people around their age, his college friends and even a photo of Paris. On the bedside table there was a some-what tattered-looking copy of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Taking the book, Rory made herself comfortable in a chair by the window, deciding to pass the time with an old favourite.
--
It felt like hours passed before Tristan returned to the room.
"I see someone's made themselves quite comfortable," Tristan commented, noticing her curled up in the armchair.
"Where did you go?" Rory asked, just quietly she had been a little worried about his absence.
"Where exactly do you come down on the whole fooling around before a match thing?" he asked.
She blinked in confusion, he was quoting 'Wimbledon' and talking about sport, completely over her head.
"You had a match this morning?"
"No, close."
She paused considering.
"Oh, gosh, you had an exam!" she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry, I didn't think. And we – and you – exam – "
"Rory, it's okay," Tristan interrupted laughing gently, "Actually, I think you might have helped, I think that was my best exam. I might just have to keep you around!"
Pulling a face she launched a cushion at him, which he ducked easily.
"I see you found everything to your liking?" Tristan asked, effecting a slight British accent and tilting his head towards the robe she was still wearing.
"Yes, thank you. You didn't have to go to the trouble, especially since you had an exam."
"Actually I got the RA to bring the stuff over."
"RA?" Rory asked worriedly, images of a strange guy walking into the room while she was sleeping flitted through her mind.
"Don't worry, the RA's a girl," Tristan added, seeing her concern, "Do you really think I'd let some guy in here like that?"
"No, well, for a second," Rory admitted.
"It's okay, anyway, Emma, the RA brought the robe in and the shampoo and stuff as well, I wouldn't know the first thing about those things."
"Thank you, Tristan," Rory replied a little overwhelmed at his thoughtfulness.
"So anyway, I got you a present," Tristan said, going to his closest.
"Oh you didn't have to do that," Rory protested.
"Ahh, but I did," he smiled handing her a large box wrapped in gold tissue paper.
She opened it carefully, trying not tear the tissue paper more than she had to. Inside dark blue box, lifting the lid carefully, she found more of the tissue paper and nestled inside was the dvd gift set of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, "I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And it's autographed too!"
"Yeah, I was going to give that to you when came to Yale, but I kind a forgot. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry."
"There's more," Tristan said, tilting his head towards the box.
Pushing aside more tissue paper, Rory found a Stanford sweatshirt.
"It's probably a better fit and it's newer too," Tristan explained, "Plus I can have my t-shirt back now."
"Sorry about that," Rory replied pulling a face.
"It's okay, really. I think this one's more your size anyway."
She went to put the box down when she heard something rattle inside, she looked at Tristan quizzically, but he just smiled.
"There's more?" she asked, a little stunned.
"Maybe," he shrugged nonchalantly.
Once again she reached inside coming up with a black velvet box, inside was a silver charm bracelet.
"I can't accept this," Rory protested, pressing the box into Tristan's hands.
"Well, what am I going to do with it? It's not like I can wear it," Tristan joked, he took the bracelet from her and slipped it around her wrist, "Take a look at the charms, Ror."
She wanted to refuse the gift, but curiosity got the better of her and she did as he suggested. Placed at even intervals around the bracelet were a tiny book, a piano, a heart, an 'M', a coffee bean, a pen, a safe and a globe.
"The book, because you love to read, the piano for where we had our first kiss. You have my heart, M for Mary, a coffee bean because you-know-why, a pen for the future journalist and a safe because that's what kept us apart," Tristan explained, "And the globe, because we both want to travel the world."
"I really can't accept this. I mean I have nothing for you."
"I've got everything I could ever need right here," Tristan replied with a gentle smile.
"I think I'm in love," Rory breathed softly.
"I know I'm in love," Tristan whispered back.
--
Over three years had passed since that fateful night in New York that had brought so many changes to Rory's life. In that time, Lorelai and Luke had married, had twin boys and couldn't be happier.
After a fiery start to their relationship, Paris and Finn were engaged. They were planning their wedding, but progress was impeded by constant arguments followed by wild make-up sex.
Tristan's ex, Ivory found love with Tristan's former suitemate Chris. Ivory also made a glittering transition from modelling to acting and is now a multi-award-winning actress and has just started a environmental conservation foundation.
That night in New York, Rory had predicted Tristan's future, she had been right about everything, except that it was Logan's not Tristan's future. Logan and Amy married and exactly nine months after the wedding night, they had a bouncing, baby boy. Within a month following the birth, Logan began an affair with his personal assistant, partly in celebration for being handed the reigns of his father's company.
And Rory and Tristan? Tristan took her to the ends of the earth, but tonight they were in New York once more. Rory didn't know it yet, but in a hidden corner of Central Park, surrounded by thousands of red roses and hundreds of candles, Tristan waited for her and burning a hole in his pocket is a diamond ring.
The end.
--
AN: Does anyone remember how Rory says that she won't go out with Tristan 'barring a safe or a piano' falling on her head? I always thought that was telling since their first kiss was at a piano and Tristan got sent away for messing with a safe.