Disclaimer: see Ch 1

Pairing: Trory

A/N: Well, here it is finally, the next chapter. Sorry about the delay, but my dad is having surgery tomorrow and will be in the hospital for the next 2 weeks so it's been crazy. Thank you to everyone who reviewed you really push me to be a better writer.

" Finally!" Rory thought as she walked through her apartment door later that night. It seemed like she hadn't been home in a week. In reality it had only been a couple of days, but still if felt like forever. She tossed her keys on the table next to the door and walked over to press play on her answering machine.

"You have 29 new messages"

"Wow" she said with a smile " ain't I popular"

She listened to the play as she searched her refrigerator for something edible. Most of the messages were from reporters trying to get stories and info about her cases that she had had that week. There were a couple from her mom and one from Lane, but the last one captured her full attention, as she froze still bent over looking in the fridge.

" Rory, its Paris. Tristan's mom told my mom that he was a hostage in a bank in

Raleigh. I figured you probably heard about it and wondered if you'd seen him. From what I hear his law firm is doing great since they moved from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. Anyway – you should look him up- it's not like you couldn't us a friend. OK- so now that I used up all of your recording tape I'm gonna stop babbling and hang up. Call me later, bye."

"Well," Rory thought, "Typical Paris; get right to the point without so much as a how are you doing. News sure does travel fast in Hartford these days."

She grimaced as she looked at what she was pretty certain was rice and some point in it's existence but was currently unrecognizable as food or anything remotely edible. Finally she gave in, picked up the phone and ordered a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza. She hung up the phone and went about doing some laundry while she waited for the pizza to arrive.

"Finally!" Tristan said as he wearily shut the door to his apartment. It had been a long all day meeting with Mr. Fox and he was exhausted. He hung his keys up on the hook by the door, pressed the play button on his answering machine and collapsed on the couch.

"You have 3 new messages"

" 3 messages in 14 hours, wow I need to get a life." He said aloud to himself.

The first and second messages were from his parents reminding him that he was expected in Hartford for His cousin's wedding next month.

'Yeah, OK' he thought 'like I would voluntarily subject myself to that kind of torture ever again.'

But it was the second message that made him shake his head in surprise and amusement.

" Hi, Tristan. It's Paris. Gellar. From Chilton? I was just calling to see how you were doing. You're mom told my mom who told me about the bank holdup thing, and I was calling to see how you were holding up and stuff. Did you know that Rory Gilmore lives in Raleigh too? You should call her or something- it's not like you actually have a life to keep you busy or anything from what I hear. But anyway, I hope you're doing good- and I'm glad you didn't get shot or anything. I'll hang up now. Oh! And happy birthday. Bye."

"Wow," Tristan said, " that was interesting." He shook is head as he hauled himself off the couch to see what he could find in the kitchen to make for dinner. He made a mental not to himself to have his secretary get Rory's number for him the next day.

Later that night, both fell into their respective beds, exhausted, weary and instantly fell asleep but both had similar thoughts as they drifted off…should I call her/him?

Rory was in the small cramped room that was the office of her and three other negotiators pacing back and forth trying to decide whether or not to call Tristan.

'Just do it' she told herself. 'Just pick up the phone and call-how hard can that be?'

She walked over to her desk, sat down and picked up the phone, dialing the number she had already memorized from staring at. Her hands were shaking slightly as the phone began to ring; she suddenly wished no one would answer and she could leave a message on his machine (A/N does anyone else do that, or is it just me?)

"Thank you for calling Dugrey & Sullivan, this is Kyla. How may I direct you're call?"

"Um, well," Rory stammered " I'm calling for Tristan Dugrey?"

'Jeez Rory' she thought 'get a grip already'

"I'm sorry ma'am, but Mr. Dugrey is in an important meeting with a client right now and he cannot be disturbed. Would you like to leave a message?"

"Yes" Rory replied " Just tell him Mary called." She left her cell number for him to call back and hung up the phone.

'There' she thought ' I did it.' As she ran out the door to answer another page she fleetingly wondered when he would call back

Tristan finally emerged from his meeting 2 ½ hours after Rory had called.

"Any messages, Kyla?"

"Yes sir" she replied "One from your mother- she said she'd call back, two from a Mr. Eaton regarding a case and a call from someone named Mary. She didn't leave her last name or say why she was calling, but she left her cell number. Oh! And I have that number you asked me for. Rory Gilmore- 252-321-2278."

Tristan's heart jumped when he heard her name. She had finally called and he had missed it. Oh well, he'd just have to call her back.

"Thank you Kyla. I'll be in my office if any more calls come in"

"OK."

" Thank you, and for future reference- should Mary or Rory call back no matter how busy I am put her through, OK?"

"certainly"

With that Tristan went back into his office, leaving Kyla to wonder who this Mary woman was, what she had to do with Rory and why her boss deemed them both so important to interrupt him at any time.

Meanwhile Tristan sat at his desk and quickly dialed Rory's cell number, swiveling around in his chair to look out his large picture window.

She picked up on the third ring.

"Gilmore"

"Mary"

"Oh. Tristan. Hi."

"Hi. It seems you called and I was unavailable- I'm returning your call."

"oh, well that's –good- OK. So, yeah, how are you?"

Tristan smiled at her flustered babbling. "I'm good and yourself?"

" Oh, good, you know busy and stuff; no sleep, but that's where Larry comes in handy."

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Tristan frowned at that " Larry being….?"

"My coffee maker, sorry! I just get so used to talking to my mom- I forget that everyone doesn't name all of their appliances.."

"Interesting" he said chuckling " What time does your shift end today?"

" Umm… a little under and hour barring another page."

" I was wondering if you'd like to meet me for coffee around 5? We could talk, catch up, what do you say?"

" Coffee?" she said gleefully " do you even need to ask that question? I would bathe naked in fire ants if it included coffee- OK well maybe not NAKED, but you get the picture."

" Indeed I do, a little too clearly I think." He said " There's a little coffee shop on Main St. ' Buzz Buzz Buzz' is that good?"

" Oh, I love that place. I go there all the time. That sounds great."

"Alright, good. So I'll see you there at 5?"

" Five it is"

"See you then Rory"

"Kay, bye Tristan"

And they hung up. Both feeling completely opposite emotions. Rory nervous and apprehensive because she knew "catching up" meant answering questions she didn't like answering. Tristan on the other hand was flying high on a happy cloud. He couldn't wait until five so he could see her again.

He looked at the clock 3:30 PM. 'The rest of the day is going to drag' he thought as he began reviewing the file for his nest meeting. Five o'clock couldn't come soon enough.

OK! So tell me what you think! Review review review! I promise in the next ch. They will meet and you will find out partially why Rory became a negotiator.

­­­­­­­­­­­