Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except maybe some future characters that I might create if I feel like it. It would be cool if I did own something of the show, especially two certain some ones. Tristan and Jess, damn those two are hot! By the way, I might use some movie-quotes in this fic, but I don't own them, so don't sue me!

AN: The time-frame is a little different. Everything you've seen in the show has happened but at a different time. Rory is still in Chilton when Tristan returns. They're in their senior year.

Title: Back to Where It Started

Rating: T

Summary: Tristan is back from Military School. Let's see what happens. Trory

Chapter 7: Thoughts and worries

Rory and Tristan were lying on the couch sound asleep with the TV still on when Lorelai came home from work around 5 pm.

"Rory? I'm back," she called out when she walked through the door. She was about to holler her daughter's name again when she walked into the living room when she saw them sleeping on the couch. Rory was on top of him while he had his arms around her as if he were protecting her from everything bad.

'They look so peaceful lying there together, sleeping. He seems to really care about her, but caring about someone doesn't protect them from everything. I've been around guys like you when I was growing up and hanging out with them never ended well. I want to trust you, Tristan, I really do. I just don't know how to, you remind me so much of Christopher and look at how that ended. I don't want her making the same mistakes I did and ending up pregnant. I can't forbid her to see him; I won't turn into my mother. I know I have to trust her to make her own decisions, hopefully the right decisions. I just don't know what to do here, she likes him a lot and that's what worries me mostly.' Lorelai thought to herself while she was standing there looking at them sleep.

Tristan stirring on the couch pulled her out of her thoughts. She watched him take in his surroundings, his eyes landing on Rory who was still sleeping on his chest. She saw a smile forming on his face when he noticed Rory lying next to him with her hair spread across his upper body. It was then that he felt someone watching him. He turned his head around and saw Lorelai standing there looking at them. He gave Rory a soft kiss on her forehead and gently moved out from under her without waking her up.

"Hi Lorelai. look, this wasn't what it looks like. We were just watching a movie and fell asleep," he whispered when he was standing in front of her.

"I know I already gave you the speech about what would happen if you ever hurt her, but can I just talk to you for a minute? I just want you to know my side of things," she whispered back. Tristan nodded at her as if to say 'sure'. "C'mon, we'll go take a walk and then go to Luke's to get dinner so she can sleep a little longer."

Lorelai wrote a note to Rory to let her know where they would be so she wouldn't worry and walked back out the door with Tristan following her.

"I know nothing happened in there, I believe you. She likes you a lot and I know you care about her. It's just…I keep thinking that something might go wrong, that you two will slip up and she ends up pregnant. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but she's only seventeen and I want her make something of her life before she becomes a mother. I want her to graduate and go to Harvard and graduate from there as well. I just want her to have the things I never had because of the choices I made. I want to like you, Tristan and I want to trust you, but I just can't. You remind me so much of Rory's dad and it worries me. I just don't want her to end up like me, pregnant and alone." Lorelai said as if Tristan weren't there and she was talking to herself.

"I know you're worried Lorelai, you have every right to be. I can't promise you that she and I will never sleep together. And I know something could happen and we might slip up, but even if something like that happens, I will be there to help every step of the way. I won't be like Rory's dad and just run scared. Like I said, I can't promise we will never have sex, but I can promise you that I'll never push her into something she isn't ready for. I will let her set the boundaries and I will respect those no matter what. I care about your daughter a lot and I would never intentionally hurt her. I don't expect you to trust me; I just want you to like me, even if it's just a little bit. You are the most important person in Rory's life and your opinion matters to her." Tristan said trying to explain his side of things.

Lorelai looked at him, her worries evident in her eyes. "You know, I may not like you yet and I may not like the thought of you sleeping with my daughter, but at least you're honest with me and you don't make promises you won't be able to keep. That goes a long way in my book, kid," They were standing in front of the diner now. "C'mon, let's get something to eat and take it home before sleeping beauty awakes," she said letting the conversation drop for now.

Tristan nodded in agreement and opened the door to Luke's. They walked and took a seat at the counter waiting for Luke to help them.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked concerned when he saw the worry clearly written across her face.

"I'm fine, Luke. Just thinking about the talk I had with Bible-Boy here. Now, I'd like two of the Gilmore Breakfast specials." Lorelai said.

"What do you want, Tristan?" Luke asked turning to him.

"I'll pancakes and some French toast, please," he answered politely, obviously scared of Luke.

"Where is Rory?" Luke asked curiously.

"She's still asleep, so we'll be taking the food with us," Lorelai said.

"Okay, I'll tell Caesar to wrap it up," he said in response while he walked away to gave Caesar their order.

After they had gotten their food they walked the short distance to the Crap Shack in silence.