AN: Just a little warning, this could be the last update for coupl of days. Back at uni tomorrow and my lecturers are breathing down my neck for TV stories and essays. Hope everyone is still enjoying the story!

photoboothromance: Thanks for the suggestions you'll see I put them to use soon enough!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, even the lap-top I'm using technically belongs to my mother!

Rory's lips were still tingling. The kiss had been innocent…hadn't it. Any kiss friends might share. But were they friends? They'd only known each other a few weeks. Perhaps the events in between had drawn them closer. But the kiss had definitely been innocent. She touched her lips again and smiled stupidly. No, no, no! She was not falling for Tristan DuGrey, his girlfriend; his sweet, perfect girlfriend had just been murdered. She was still confused, so was he. The police were hounding him; his friends had abandoned him. She believed him and that had thrown them headlong into all of this. So why, why did she feel as though her eyes were open for the first time in her life?

She needed to back off stay away for a while. Sure, she was probably all he had right now but he was clouding her judgement. She had to be smart about it. She fixed her uniform and hurried towards her class. The crowds were gathered around the notice boards in the hallway. Madeline grabbed Rory's arm and pulled her into the midst of the crowd.

TRISTAN DuGREY

The poster began;

ANGEL?

Below was a picture of Tristan and Liz dressed up for Junior Prom, holding each other's hands and grinning.

OR MURDERER?

Rory gasped at the picture of the body bag that had been driven away from the Chilton grounds that awful morning.

"Oh my God" Madeline breathed.

WE KNOW THE TRUTH.

TELL THE AUTHORITIES WHAT TRISTAN DuGREY REALLY IS!

AND GET HIM OUT OF CHILTON FOREVER!

"Alright, clear off!" Paris was barking at the teaming crowd as she tore down the posters. Rory jumped into action to help her pulling down the yellow and pink pages and stuffing tem in the bin.

"You're disgusting" Madeline told the seniors gathered around. "Up until now you all hung off him! You fucking parasites!" She grabbed a sheath of fliers from a freshman and tore them all in half. Jay pushed his way to Rory and took a sheet.

"Jesus Christ" She glared at him.

"Did you have anything to do with this?"

"What?"

"You heard me, you're in the cheer squad with Summer aren't you?"
"Rory…you know I wouldn't do this" She glared at him and threw her handful in the bin. Turning she saw Tristan watching impassively from the other side of the hallway. A freshman girl that was a part of the pack that had followed Liz and Summer tried to hand him a poster before she realised who he was and scuttled away. His eyes were glassy as they locked with hers.

"What's going on here?" Headmaster Charlston demanded and Paris handed him a poster.

"Just your average, garden-variety smear campaign" She snarled. Charlston's eyes widened.

"Who did this?" He demanded. He was met with silence. "Get to class!" He snapped and the students began to disperse.


Tristan was followed by whispers and stares for the rest of the week and had never been as glad to see Friday as he was then. Until, of course, his car wouldn't start.

"Fuck it!" He screamed as he kicked the wheel. What else could possibly go wrong in his life? At the start of the year everything had looked so perfect, he was confident about college acceptance, he and Liz had been perfect, he had never been more popular and now in three weeks everything had come crashing down around his ears.

"Car trouble?" Jay asked quietly and Tristan glared at him.

"Fuck off Hayden" Jay raised his arms in self-defense.

"Okay, I deserved that…but looks to me like you need a ride home" Tristan scowled.

"And, seeing as though I won't let my sister drive you, you'd better come with me" Tristan laughed ruefully but didn't look the gift-horse in the mouth, grabbing his bag and throwing it into the back of Jay's Jeep. He climbed in as Rory hurried up.

"Jay can I ride with…you? Tristan, hey"

"Hey"

"Sure sis, jump in" The three drove in silence mostly, Rory casting furtive glances all the while at her brother and Tristan. She didn't get it, last week Jay had hated him.

Headmaster Charlston had said in assembly that he hadn't been able to find out who had made the posters. Rory had laughed out loud then and Summer had glared at her. He had gone on to say that such uncharitable activities would not be condoned. Tristan had bee dignified throughout at least.

They reached Hartford and Tristan had to direct Jay to his house. He climbed out of the jeep and banged his hand on Jay's door.

"Thanks for the ride man" Jay stared straight ahead.

"No worries man" Tristan stared at Rory.

"See you at school Mary" He smirked and she blushed. Jay pulled out of the driveway.

"Why did you do that?" She asked. Jay shrugged.

"He needed a ride"

"I thought you were one of the 'Tristan's a Monster' boosters" Jay shrugged again.

"Rory, you have to admit, it's strange. There's a lot there to say he could have done it"

"Except any hard evidence" Jay nodded.

"I don't think it's smart for you to get involved with him"

"I'm not involved with him"

"Rory, you couldn't be any more involved with him. It's just that there's some types of people I can't protect you from" Rory sighed.

"And there's some times when you can't protect me Jay. You're my brother, not my guardian angel. Let it go" He shook his head slightly.

"But I am glad you did this today…thank you"


Things were still strained between Rory and Lorelai. Lorelai had found out about the posters and had brought it up over dinner at the Gilmore's.

"It was disgusting" Rory said decidedly.

"But I can see their point" Lorelai interjected.

"Excuse me?"

"The kids who did it, I can understand why"

"Why mom?"

"Because they're scared! I'd be scared too in their position"

"Of what?"

"Of the boy who may have murdered that girl"

"Lorelai, there's no proof of that!" Emily cried, scandalized. "The DuGrey's are a very upstanding family" Rory nodded, glad of her grandmother's support however dubious it may be.

"He hasn't been charged, he's not been named a suspect!"

"Oh Rory, I don't want to have this fight again"

"Too late mom, too late"

She lay in bed thinking about it. Why was she so sure of his innocence? Did it all boil down to that one moment in the coffee shop? Or was it more personal…was she falling for him? For a boy broken in every way you could be? She wanted to save him, wanted to build him back up and maybe, maybe somewhere, have him look at her one day, they he'd looked at Liz. It was crazy; she'd never felt this way before, never fought with her mother over a boy. Never not spoken to her brother. Never snuck out at night. Yet that's what she was doing now. She had slipped on jeans and a singlet with a light jacket over the top. She made her way out to the driveway. She'd take her mother's Mercedes. The car started silently and she thanked god as she pulled out of he driveway. Hitting the road she flicked the lights on. She knew how to get to his house; she'd memorised it the day before. And even though it was Saturday she knew he'd be home…and that his parents wouldn't be. She pulled into the driveway and turned off the car engine. She ran to the front door and rang the doorbell. It took him a while to answer the door. When he did he stood before her in only a pair of jeans, towelling off his hair. She tried not to let her eyes roam overhis torso, mtnally slapping herself when they did.

"Mary?" He asked incredulously.

"I almost expected to see Summer running off laughing when I opened the door" Rory didn't smile, and neither did he. He stepped back to let her in and she walked into the hall. In silence she followed him upstairs to his suite. He pulled on a wife-beater and stared at her.

"I don't know why I'm here" She mumbled.

"Why are you here Mary?" He took a step closer to her and she swallowed dryly.

"Why are you here?" His voice was barely above a whisper now. She looked away so he reached for her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Why are you here?" He asked her again.

"My eyes are open" He stared at her and she went on, "it feels as though I've been asleep for so long, never sure, always following. And then you came along and everything happened to turn my world on its head. And now it feels as though I've opened my eyes…for you. I want to know you; I want to know everything about you. To be able to explain you and things you do. I want to be here for you, no questions asked" He was now standing over her.

"What are you saying Rory?"

"I…I don't want to just be the girl who talks to you in the hallway…I want to be your friend" He laughed.

"You're an idiot" She looked offended.

"What do you mean?"

"Only you, Mary, would show up in a guy's bedroom at…" He checked his watch, "in the middle of the night, and ask to be friends" She blushed and he touched her cheek.

"I don't know what I would've done without you and Gellar lately, Mads as well. We were already friends" She looked up at him.

"You know…you're not such an asshole" He laughed.


They lay side-by-side on his bed later.

"What do you want in life?" Rory asked him. He sighed.

"I used to want to finish high school, go off to college…to Harvard, study Law, get married you know…the usual around here"

"And now?"

"Now I want to find him…I want to find whoever killed her"

"Are you angry?"

"I don't know…"

"You love her"

"I always will to some degree. They say you never get over the people you loved and she was the first person I ever loved"

"How would you find him?"

"I have ideas" Rory pulled herself up on one elbow and looked down at him.

"Do you know who did it?" He shrugged.

"There was this guy…a guy that she was with when we were on a break…he was...obsessed with her"

"And you think he could have…?"

"I don't know, I'll find out though. I'm going to find him"

"Alone?" He shrugged.

"I'll go with you…"

"Rory..." She leaned over him.

"Stop fighting me Tristan...I'm just being here for you. Don't fight it" His eyes had darkened as he looked up at her. Slowly he reached up to cup her cheek, bringing her face down to his, as their lips met they heard the sirens.

Tristan looked out the window as the squad cars came to a screeching halt in the drive.

"We have company" He announced dryly. Rory crossed to where he stood.

"Oh my God…what now?" She keened. She followed Tristan as he pounded down the stairs, talking to his lawyer on his cell phone. The lawyer would be there in ten minutes. Tristan opened the door to the genial face of Detective Corry, Rory hovered behind him.

"Mr. DuGrey…we meet again" Tristan didn't say anything.

"May we come in and ask you a few questions?"

"We'll have to wait for my lawyer to be present" Tristan answered through gritted teeth. The detective smiled broadly and stepped past Tristan. He stopped when he saw Rory. She stared up at him.

"I'm Detective Corry"

"Roy Gilmore-Hayden"

"Ahh, a pleasure to meet you" She didn't say anything as Tristan led the officers to the parlor. His lawyer, Mr. Jenkins, arrived a few minutes later.

"Mr. DuGrey…we have received an anonymous tip that Miss Belmont was having an affair?" Tristan laughed.

"From Summer Roberts, I assume?"

"I said it was anonymous"

"Just like the posters" Roy whispered and the detective turned to look at her. She fell silent again.

"Were you aware that Miss Belmont was having an affair?"

"How can I be aware of something that wasn't happening?"

"Mr. DuGrey, were you, or were you not questioned over an attack on a Mr. Justin Bellevue in June last year?"

"I was"

"And why did you fight with Mr. Bellevue?" Tristan met the detective's stare.

"Because he and Liz had been seeing each other"

"She had been cheating on you?"

"No…we weren't exclusive"

"Yet you were angry?"

"Of course"

"Only with Mr. Bellevue?"

"Yes"

"Why's that?"

"Because he tried to force her to…"

"To have sex with him?"

"Yes" Rory was shaking her head slowly. Detective Corry checked his notes.

"And you…smashed a beer mug on his face?" Tristan hung his head.

"Yes"

"Did you do anything else to him?" Tristan shook his head and when he raised it he looked straight at Rory. He knew what he was about to say would shake her confidence in him.

"I…I burnt him, put my cigarette out on his cheek" Rory's hand flew to her mouth and she tore her eyes away from Tristan's. The detective nodded.

"And you have been questioned over a knife incident?"

"Once"

"And that was earlier this year?"

"Yes"

"You pulled a knife on a young man in the streets of Hartford?" Tristan nodded.

"Yes"

"Where are you going with this detective?" Mr. Jenkins interjected.

"I'm simply establishing a history of violence in Mr. DuGrey and a motive" Tristan stood to his feet suddenly and the detective jumped a little in his seat.

"How can you say that?" He cried, anguished. "I loved her! I loved that girl!" Mr. Jenkins grabbed his arm and pulled him down where Tristan huddled in the chair, his facea mottled red.

"Are you charging him?" The detective met Mr. Jenkins' cool stare but shook his head.

"Not at this point, no"

The interview ended and Mr. Jenkins left, telling Tristan not to worry. Tristan closed the door and turned to Rory. She backed away from him and his heart plummeted.

"Mary" Her eyes, they were strange. Filled with…what? Fear? God, don't let her be afraid of him.

"Mary I'm sorry…you shouldn't have been here for that" She didn't say anything and he moved closer to her. She backed up further but hit the wall. Her eyes were panicked for a moment. He stood over her, pinning her against the wall.

"But now you know the truth" She swallowed.

"And what is the truth Tristan?" He laughed coldly.

"That the only thing keeping me from being charged is my surname" She breathed an audible sigh of relief, but the strange look in her eyes didn't go away.

"Mary, Mary, Mary" He traced his finger along her jaw line and she stiffened. His eyes softened as they met hers.

"Please Mary, please don't do this. Don't be afraid of me…I couldn't bear it if you believed them" She looked up at him. She was scared she realised, but at the same time, another feeling, a stronger feeling. A confidence that everything would work out if she just stopped listening to her head. She touched his wife-beater, pulling him closer to her until they pressed together. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.


It was 5 a.m. before Rory left Tristan's house. They had sat up, with mugs of coffee, talking, just talking, abou everything except that kiss that almost was in his bedroom.

"Who's Justin Bellevue?" She asked him. His eyes darkened.

"Liz and I…before we were really together, we were just dating. She met Justin at a party, he wasn't from Hartford, he was from upstate. They went on a couple of dates but I wasn't happy about it and she agreed to break it off with him" He stopped and took a sip from the mug cupped in his hands.

"He came to Hartford again and called her. She didn't tell me, but they went on another date, to a party she didn't think I'd be at. I was supposed to be in New York with Matt. But the trip was cancelled at the last minute so we went to the party. She was really embarrassed about it. About me seeing them there together, but it was okay until…well, Matt came to find me, Liz was in tears, hysterical. She said Justin had tried to…you know" Rory nodded.

"And I just…I snapped. I mean, that was the girl I loved. It was just after that night that we got together exclusively"

"Was he the guy you were talking about before? About finding?" Tristan nodded silently.

He walked her to the door and leaned against it.

"Thanks Mary…for everything…" She smiled at him and h tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Unconsciously she tilted her head to prolong the contact but he drew his hand away. When she looked at him he was blushing and had stepped back.

"I'll see you soon" She told him, feeling like and idiot and jogging across to the car. As she backed out of the drive Tristan sighed. He wouldn't do it again, he refused to do it again. He would never again love a person more than they loved him, he'd rather be alone.


The lounge room lamp was on when Rory got home. She crept into the room to switch it off and jumped when she saw Lorelai sitting on the couch.

"You're grounded" Se said quietly. Rory didn't say anything.

"Where have you been?"

"With a friend" Her voice was like a child's, small, meek.

"You were with him" It wasn't a question.

"Yes"

"God Rory! Why do you persist with this! You've never acted like this before! You're out of control!" Rory stopped herself from laughing just in time.

"Yes well going to visit a friend is extreme, isn't it mom?"

"Don't you dare speak to me like that! And that monster is not a friend! He's dangerous!"

"You don't know him!"
"I don't know you! Not anymore! Where did my daughter go?" Rory put her hands over her ears.

"You are going to listen to this Rory!"

"No!"
"If I find you're with him again I will call the police and then he'll be in more trouble than he already is" That was what did it, that was what hit home. Rory fell silent and Lorelai looked defeated anyway.

"Go to bed"

"Mom…"

"I said go to bed" Rory turned and made her way to her room. Jay met her there.

"I don't want to talk about it Jay"

"Why are you being like this Ror? Are you and he…?"

"No"

"Well then why? You've never been like this" She turned to him as she opened her bedroom door.

"He needs somebody to believe in him and stand by him and last time I checked, there were no other applicant's for that role" She said quietly.

"I'm going to bed"


A little while later there was a knock on the door. Rory sat up in bed as Lorelai let herself into the room. Rory sighed and Lorelai raised her arms in self-defense.

"I just want to talk…sanely" Rory snorted.

"Since when have you and I ever talked sanely mom?" Lorelai shrugged but laughed as well.

"Can I sit?" She asked quietly, patting the edge of Rory's bed. Rory shrugged and Lorelai sat down.
"I'm sorry…about downstairs. It's just that I was looking in on you and your brother and you weren't there. I panicked, and I know that you think this boy is innocent…" Rory opened her mouth to interrupt but Lorelai held up her hand.

"Let me finish…but I can't help - as a mother when this has happened – imagining you dead in a gutter somewhere. You have no idea how relieved I was when I heard the car in the driveway. How far my heart sunk when I thought it could have been the police…" Rory's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry mom" Lorelai was silent but held her arms open and Rory crawled into them like a baby.

"You really believe he's innocent don't you?" Lorelai asked.

"I really do mom"

"But you barely know him" Rory shook her head.

"That's what you don't understand mom…I don know him. I knew everything I needed to do in one moment" Lorelai raised her eyebrows and Rory sighed.

"We went to a coffee shop, a bunch of us, from school and Liz and Tristan were there. There just this moment when he looked at her…it was like she was the only person he'd ever laid eyes on. I've never seen anyone look at another person like that mom. He loved her, he still loves her, probably even more than she loved him. He couldn't have done anything to hurt her. I know that" Lorelai looked dubious.

"I just want you to be careful…not be alone with him, certainly not sneaking out at night to be with him"

"Okay"

"Okay?"

"Yes, okay, I won't sneak out again. But I still have to be there for him mom. He's all alone, his friends deserted him, his parents are overseas, his…"

"His parents are overseas!" Rory nodded, his eyes huge and crystalline. Lorelai shook her head sadly.

"I'm his friend mom…and I believe him…and there's things I might do, like tonight, that you won't understand. But they're only because I'm standing by him" Lorelai listened, and nodded.

"Just be careful baby"

AN: As you can see, Lorelai is starting to come around even if she stll still doesn't believe Tristan's innocence 100. And for anybody wondering about Tristan, as much as he can feel an attraction to Rory, he doesn't want to go there just yet. But hey, he's a teenage guy so don't despair, there'll be plenty more action even if he's resolved there's no gonna be. Don't forget to hit that review button!