AN: A huge thank you to the two readers I know I have, and who I love and who keep me want to post these chapters. It's amazing, these stories have been in my head for so long now, nearly two years and to see that story coming to an end is incredible.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own GG.
It was the last party of the season, the Gilmore's End of Summer Party. Theo and Rory were upstairs in Rory's bedroom with Lorelai. Theo was in the bathroom fixing her hair, they had been to the hairdressers that afternoon and she had had it stripped and dyed back to closer to it's original colour, a rich medium brown with golden high-lights. Nobody had seen it yet apart from Rory and Lorelai. It was pulled back from her face but spiralled loosely down her back. She sprayed the curls once more with hairspray and smiled at the banter coming from Rory's room. She had made up with Lorelai when she broke up with Logan. Not because she thought that that was the proviso for them going back to the way they were, but purely because as old as she got, and how varied the hurts she experienced, Rory realised she still need her mommy, always would. And Lorelai had been there with open arms. Richard and Emily had been thrilled at the reconciliation as well of course, so the party was a double celebration.
Theo popped some more lip-gloss on and stepped out into the room. Lorelai was already wearing her dress, a simple spaghetti-strap bright pink sheath dress with her hair piled on top of her head and a chiffon wrap in the same colour. Theo had helped Rory choose an apricot two-piece dress. The skirt was calf-length made of layers upon layers of apricot tulle with a wide beaded satin sash that matched the beaded satin bandeau top and off set her eyes. She was running around now though in the top and a pair of shorts so she didn't crush the skirt. She sat down on the couch to lace up the apricot ballet slippers she was going to wear. It would be a rainbow ball, Emily had requested, at Lorelai's behest, no black or white dresses or ties.
"We're celebrating mom! There has to be colour" And for once, Emily had loved the idea, even enough to invite Luke who was somewhere in the house getting ready with Richard. The party was starting in twenty minutes. Theo smiled when she thought of the dress hanging in Rory's closet in a black suit bag. Nobody had seen it yet. She had designed it herself; taking after her mother in that respect, and a local seamstress had made it up. She knew it would be a success.
"Come on Gilmore, move your ass," Theo said, slapping her butt as Rory hopped from one foot to the other. Rory squealed and swatted her away.
"Says you who hasn't even put on h shoes"
"At least I know how to do mine up" She retorted and Lorelei laughed.
"Well guys, I'm going to go and find my fiancé" Theo smiled when she heard that word, what a relief not to have to say it anymore.
Theo was still angry with Nate for not listening to her when she had told him she didn't want to go out that night, yet here they were in the restaurant of the country club. When the waitress had arrived he had tried to order for her but she had cut in.
"I'll have the Greek salad thanks," She told the waitress with a finality that let Nate know he didn't need to order for her that night. When the waitress was gone she turned to Nate.
"We need to talk"
"I know, the wedding, do you want to get married h? Or perhaps we could just elope, away from my father," He laughed. "Seriously though, here or maybe in Paris?" The waitress arrived with their drinks.
"I didn't mean about the wedding?"
"What then?" He asked, taking a sip of his scotch before adding, "you'll need to get your hair re-done soon honey, your re-growth is showing" She sputter in shock and flicker of anger ignited in her stomach.
"Nate I'm not happy"
"What do you mean? We're getting married!"
"Exactly and I'm the quintessential blushing bride" She retorted.
"You're stepping into dangerous waters Theodora, you're sounding like the old you" His voice was raised.
"Would that be such a bad thing?" She hissed as the other diners turned to stare. For the first time in his life though, Nate didn't care about causing a scene.
"What are you trying to say Theo? Where's you're engagement ring?" She opened her purse and retrieved the small scarlet box, setting it in front of him. The realisation hit his face and a lump formed in her throat. He turned scarlet as she spoke.
"I'd like to say that I don't know what I've been thinking for the past year Nate, but some of it was good, some of it was really good. It was just never me" She tried to cover his hand with hers but he recoiled as though she wielded a knife.
"You fucking bitch! Don't you dare pity me!" The other diners gasped and started to chatter. She stood to her feet.
"I told you I didn't want to go out tonight Nate, I didn't want to do this in public" She told him calmly before she stormed off.
Rory watched Theo; she looked so calm, so happy, so much like the Theo Rory had missed so much. She had broken it off with Nate four days before. The rumours started racing within minutes of Theo fleeing the country club. Louise had called Rory gabbling excitedly; asking for the real story and Rory had climbed into her car and sped to Hartford to confront Theo. When she'd gotten there she'd found Theo and Katherine sharing a bottle of champagne in the conservatory. Her parent's were delirious with the news, they'd been so worried but now they finally had their daughter back.
Theo was quiet now though, standing in front of the mirror putting on the diamond studs her grandparent's had given her for graduation from high school.
"Are you worried about seeing him?" Rory asked quietly. Theo froze.
"I didn't want to hurt him Rory. He's not a bad guy, he was just bad for me"
"I know you didn't, but you've spent the last couple of years trying to keep people happy and you're a testament to how that fails" Theo smiled wanly and they hugged. Emily tapped on the door and entered.
"Girls, the guests will be arriving in the next few minutes" They both nodded. "It's wonderful to see you Theo…" Getting the feeling that her grandmother was about to bring up Nate, Rory shot her a warning look and she retreated.
"Well, this is it hon" Theo announced as she crossed to retrieve her dress.
They stood on the stairwell holding hands. The crowd seemed to turn to see them. They were both resplendent in their dresses. But Theo, she dazzled. She style she had designed was skin tight around her breasts, torso and hips before a full a-line skirt fell to skim the floor. The fabric was sensuously soft and filmy in silver. It was almost transparent, like dragonfly wings. The bodice had additionally had added onto it strips of a silver, wiry substance whish feathered around her décolletage and hips. Paired with simple black strappy heels and the diamond earrings she was a vision. Tristan's mouth went dry as he approached her, only seeing her. They found each on the dancefloor and moved into each other's arms as the orchestra Emily had hired played Pachalbel's Cannon.
"You're a mystery to me you know" He told her. She smiled.
"Oh fuck of" The danced slowly, staring into each other's eyes for three songs without realising it until Rory cut in as Nate appeared.
"Will you dance with me?" He asked, unsure of himself and staring at the floor. She took his hand.
"You've changed your hair back"
"Yes"
"I thought we'd dance like this on our wedding day. You were everything I wanted"
"And that was everything I can't be anymore" They danced silently, Nate never looking at her properly while the others watched on until the music faded away, and, with it, so did she.
Tristan smiled wanly at Rory.
"I'm going to go see how she's doing" Rory nodded. She was tired. She hadn't been sleeping since the break-up. She had been so angry at first, she had simmered, alone, all afternoon in that damn apartment but by the time he got back, there was just a sadness. It was the idea, she realised now, the idea of what they could have been. She'd imagined she'd seen love in his eyes when he looked at her, even if he wouldn't say it because that made the ideal seem closer to her than the moon. She shook her head as if trying to clear it of the thoughts of him. She and Theo, what a pair. They'd both had that idea, the idea that they could change the boy and the man they fell for. That for some reason, all the teen movies hadn't lied and players did fall in love.
On the other side of the party Lorelai watched her daughter as she quietened. The laughter died on her lips and her doe eyes glazed. The mother in her sighed inwardly. She had been elated despite the sadness in her daughter's voice that this fling was over. Rory had been turning into someone Lorelai didn't recognise. She drank, she partied, she skipped lectures and handed in essays after their due date, first Dean and then the…incident with the yacht. Logan had been taking her baby away from her and Lorelai had hated him. She didn't know what Rory had seen him. He was the same selfish, arrogant, spoiled brat that had filled the halls of Chilton and made Rory's life a living hell. Sure he was real easy on the eyes, and he had that cheeky grin, and he had spoiled her rotten. But what could he offer her? A highly paid position as Trophy Wife numero uno? Lorelai wanted more for her daughter. What she'd failed to think about, was what Rory wanted, and now Rory was hurting.
Rory sighed, she was sick of smiling and greeting people. He hadn't even called her, hadn't tried to talk to her, or apologise. Only that one call out to her as she fled the apartment. Finn approached her, champagne flute in hand. He proffered it to her but she shook her head.
"I don't feel like drinking tonight," She told him quietly and he just nodded, slipping his arm around her shoulders.
Tristan found Theo standing on the steps leading to the dance floor.
"Are you alright?" She turned to him and smiled weakly, but it was at least a real smile.
"Of course"
"Want some company?"
"Not just yet honey, there's something I have to do"
AN: Originally, the story ended here and went straight to an epilogue. But not anymore, all thanks to sparxx27, I have added another two chapters. Stay tuned for Chapter 15 and remember to R&R. Also, I want to know if people would like to see me publish the other installment's of the trilogy, the first; set in Chilton and the second set in the future.