AN: Some people might think this is moving a bit slowly, but I want it to be relatively realistic. I don't to say "So Liz died" and then pick up six months in advance so Tristan and Rory can be together because he's like "completely over it" by that stage.
Kat86: There's plenty more drama ahead for Tristan's who's not officially a suspect yet! Stay tuned!
Nk-number1actress: Thank you so much and the reason I update so fast is that I usually pre-write my stories, or at least the first few chapters and from then I fly on.
Bookluv16: I didn't want to go down the road again of having Tristan head over heels for her, or anyone else for that matter. It seems to me, that in ever Trory every guy wants the girl but I wanted to diverge from that.
Disclaimer: I don't own GG – duh!
The funeral was the next week, after the autopsy had been completed. It was being held at Chilton in its Chapel on the Wednesday. Rory told Lorelai when she and Jay called home on the Saturday night.
"Would you like me to be there?"
"Would you?" Rory asked quietly.
"Of course babes, I'll be there Wednesday morning at nine".
She arrived on the dot. Rory and Jay met her in the Debelar building car park. The biggest surprise was that Christopher was with her. The twins were used to him being pretty much absent in their lives. He was a great father, just, when he was actually there.
"Dad!" Rory cried, running to him. He hugged h.
"Are you okay honey?" She nodded.
"It wasn't even like I knew her that well"
"Oh baby, baby don't do that" She looked up at him, "Don't ever apologise for the way you feel" She nodded and h kissed her head. Lorelai was the soberest Rory had seen her since they moved back and Emily and Richard suggested weekly dinners. Louise and Madeline were standing alone out the front of DuGrey building. Rory saw them, so did Lorelai.
"Isn't that your roommate?" Lorelai asked. Rory knodded, Lorelai took her arm and crossed to where the girls were standing. Louise was biting her lip, trying her best not to cry. Lorelai didn't say a word, instead she just hugged Louise.
"You poor kids" She murmured as she pulled Madeline in as well.
The funeral was beautiful, just like Liz. Rory sat, straight-backed with the other Chiltonites. Liz's parents were in the front pew. Her mother was stunning, tiny like Liz, cultured. Her father was handsome but much older than his wife. Rory looked around for Tristan and saw him in between Jay and Finn, the only Chiltonite with his shoulders slouched. She kept her eyes trained on him. Summer took the podium and made a speech, so did Bronwyn, and Matt. What about Tristan? When the funeral ended Matt, Finn, Jason, Mike, Liz's uncle and her father carried the coffin on their shoulders as though it was feather-light. What about Tristan? She wanted to scream. She watched him filter out with the others; she hurried through the crowd to catch up with him. She fell in to step beside him as he trudged toward the coffin; she was being buried in Hartford. He looked down at her but didn't say anything.
"Who's that?" Lorelai asked Jay.
"That's Tristan" Jay replied, worry evident in her voice.
"The boyfriend?" Lorelai exclaimed, concern clouding her eyes. She didn't like the stories about this boy.
"Aren't you going to the burial?" She asked him quietly as the crowds dispersed around them. Tristan shook his head.
"I'm not wanted there" He whispered as Liz's mother glared at him from the window of her car.
"But she was your girlfriend"
"And the girl they think I killed" Her breath caught, they hadn't spoken since the day in his room. She'd given his laundry back to Jay. But she'd never expected his first words to her to be these.
"They know you couldn't" He turned his eyes on her and she was shocked. They beautiful blue eyes had become black chips.
"Oh Tristan" He softened and grasped her hand, bringing it up to his cheek, kissing her palm like he did that day as Lorelai watched from a distance.
Rory refused to go to the burial as well.
"I'd rather stay here" She told her mother. "We're having the wake here tonight" Her mother nodded as they sat on her b.
"Honey"
"Mmm?"
"Was that Tristan today?" Rory looked up.
"Yes" She dead panned.
"I think that perhaps you should stay away from him"
"Why's that?" She asked a warning in her voice.
"Honey," Lorelai began, obviously conflicted by what she was having to say. "That boy, he, he's still being questioned"
"He's not a suspect mom"
"Only because his family could afford to get him off"
"Mom!"
"Rory you have to be realistic. You've never bee around kids like this. If they don't get what they want they take it"
"Even a life mom?"
"You don't know this world. I've seen these people get away with everything!"
"Mom! You don't know Tristan!" Rory jumped to her feet.
"Neither do you!" Lorelai retorted. "You've only been here for a couple of weeks! God the boy lied about her being in the room, and then he lied about the times!"
"He didn't do it!"
"Rory I want you to be careful…and I want that boy out of here"
"Shouldn't you and dad get going?" Rory asked dismissedly. Lorelai looked as though she'd been slapped before standing up.
"You might think you know the world Rory, but you're more innocent than even you know. You see the best in people, you always have, even when it's just not there" Rory stayed silent, turning to look out the window to the grounds where Tristan was standing alone.
Her parent's left and she changed into jeans and a sweat-shirt and went looking for Tristan. He was lying on the soccer field, his arms under his head.
"I think you should go to the wake" She said, standing at his feet. He closed his eyes as though pretending she wasn't there.
"Tristan"
"I'm not going Mary, give it up" She sighed.
"Come with me" He opened his eyes.
"Why
are you doing this…being so good to me?" He asked quietly, his
voice barely above a whisper.
"You helped me for no good reason,
I think you have a very good reason to need help, and I have a good
one to give it" He shrugged and let her take his hand, pulling him
to his feet. Mrs. Schultz, her house-mother was helping with the wake
preparations. Rory almost snorted, she didn't know how Chilton
expected to enforce his ban. She snuck Tristan in and led him up to
the top level of DuGrey building, taking the elevator so they
wouldn't have to see Liz's floor. She brought him into her room.
"What am I doing here Rory?"
"Spending time with a real person" She answered simply. He sat gingerly on Louise's bed. She turned on her CD player.
Tristan watched her impassively as she chose something to wear to the wake, finally settling on a plain black pencil skirt, black knee-length boots and a cream v-neck ruffle-fronted shirt.
"I wanted her to stay the night" He said, his voice clear and Rory turned.
"Why didn't she?" He shrugged.
"She had homework to finish. I told her it was our day off but she just laughed and said I had to get used to her not having enough time for me in Senior year" He closed his eyes and Rory crossed to him, standing in front of him, her hand on his shoulder.
"I told her I'd never get used to that and she just smiled this…amazing smile" His eyes were dreamy, not black like that afternoon. "…my breath caught…right here," he touched his collarbone. "Then she pulled her hood up, kissed me and jogged off…I never thought I'd end any story about Liz with and I never saw her again" Rory knelt in front of him and put her arms around him, he buried his head in her neck and pulled her close. They didn't pull apart until the door slammed. They turned to see Louise who was backed against the door.
"Tristan?"
"Lollie"
"What're
you doing here?"
"We're just hanging out" Rory replied
firmly. "In fact, I'd better go change before the wake, Louise,
can you keep Tristan company?"
Tristan and Rory walked towards the grand hall together, at the last minute she tried to take his hand but he pulled it away. She nodded and they walked in together. The hairs on the back of her neck bristled as the people gather turned to watch. Photos of Liz were everywhere and Rory noticed this was where Tristan's eyes flicked and a beatific smile kissed his face so she smiled too. The room was silent but it took him a while to notice. It wasn't until Summer came towards him, her eyes red from crying.
"What the hell are you doing here?" She was screaming. Tristan suddenly grasped Rory's hand.
"Summer…" He began.
"No!" She screamed, "You don't get to talk Tristan! She's dead, she's dead because of you, you killed her!"
"Summer…" Rory put in.
"And you, you don't even want to know what I think about you traitor!" She spat as Ms. Schmidt rushed over to try and calm the situation. The rest of the people just looked at their feet. Mrs. Schwartz led the hysterical Summer away.
"I want to leave" Tristan whispered.
"You don't have to"
"I really have to leave" He hissed.
"Okay, okay, we'll go" Rory whispered, her hand on his arm as they walked out together. Jay followed them.
"Rory!"
"Yes Jay?"
"Where are you going?"
"To the Senior's common room for a coffee"
"Alone?" He eyed Tristan who laughed coldly.
"What are you worried about Hayden?" He asked as he placed his hand around the back of Rory's neck, his fingers wrapping around her throat gently. He leaned forward as Jay narrowed his eyes.
"It's late, I think we should all go to our rooms"
"We will" Tristan said easily. Rory shivered at his hand on her neck but let herself be led to the common room by him.
AN: Let me know what you think. I've got a pretty clear idea of where I'm taking this but I'm always open to suggestions.
