CHAPTER 9
WEEK LATER: DORM
Rory opens the door grinning when she sees Sark, "I didn't know you were coming." She pulls him into the suite.
Sark kicks the door closed pulling Rory close, "I'm only here for a few hours. I talked Jack into letting me have a brief stopover."
"Where were you this time?"
"Japan. Long story." He kisses her.
"Mmm" Rory smiles "Miss me?"
"You have no bloody idea how much."
WHILE LATER
Rory rests her chin on her arm as she looks at Sark, "I'm going to see Mom this weekend."
"Don't you go most weekends?"
"True" Rory agrees "but this time it is going to be even more interesting than past visits."
"How so?"
"Still want me to visit this summer?"
"Of course darling but if you don't want to stay the whole summer that's fine."
"I was thinking kind of a shared custody summer vacation thing."
"How so?"
"Half the month with you. Half the month in Stars Hollow. So hence the shared custody issue. You get me half the month, Mom gets me the other half."
"It might be a little more interesting for you that way. How do you think Lorelai will take that?" He asks running his fingers through her hair.
Rory sighs, "Lets just see. Maybe she'll take it well." She shrugs
"Rory"
"I know I'm 20... old enough to make my own decisions. Its just... getting on a Gilmores bad side... not good."
"I think my side is a little worse love... we shoot at each other when mad."
"Good point. My Mom just calls me the Devil Child when mad."
"I'm sure Lorelai will take it well."
"I guess I'll just have to see." Rory smiles "So how's everything?"
"Good. Still living. No major damage."
"Behaving with everyone?"
"As much as I can." Sark shrugs "Arguments occur of course."
"Of course."
"How are your classes going?"
"Good. Learning a lot."
"That's what college is for."
"Yep. And my brain is getting full."
"I don't think that is possible." Sark muses
"Maybe not but it feels full."
"Poor baby." Sark says sympathetically.
"Don't be all fake sympathy."
"I'm not."
"Better not" Rory warns
"Never."
Rory sighs resting her head on his chest.
"What's wrong?"
"I like when you're here."
"I like being here."
"Wish you didn't have to leave."
"Well I have too."
"I know." Rory mumbles then groans as her phone rings. "Can you grab that?"
"Sure." Sark grabs the ringing cell phone and hands it to Rory.
Rory flips it open, "Rory"
"Hey Rory"
Rory pulls away from Sark sitting up, "What do you want Dean?"
"Can we talk?"
"No we can't."
"Come on Rory"
"The last conversation we had your wife told the whole town we were sleeping together. And what did you do? Stood by and didn't say one word. No sticking up for Rory anymore... let Lindsey say whatever she wants when she didn't know anything."
"Lindsey and I..."
"I don't care Dean. Having problems talk to someone else... just don't bring me into this." Rory hangs up then looks at Sark who is watching her.
"He still calls?"
"First time I've spoken to him since he told me Lindsey's pregnant."
"Come here" Sark pulls her down beside him.
Rory tucks her head under his chin, "I'm staying out of his life."
"I know."
"I love you." Rory mumbles
"I love you too." Sark kisses her head.
Rory lifts her head looking at him she smiles, "Nothing stupid OK? Dean's not in my life anymore."
"I know. Good thing I'm not the jealous type."
"Oh you aren't?"
"No."
"Good because you don't need to be." Rory smiles as she strokes his cheek.
"Sometimes I wonder how I ended up with someone like you."
"Because you make me laugh. And you make me think." Rory brushes her lips across his, "And you adore me."
"More than I ever thought possible."
"You never thought you'd fall in love?"
"I never gave it much thought." Sark admits
"What? Falling in love?"
"Love in general. I always thought love was for weak people."
"And does loving me make you weak?"
Sark smiles "Not at all... it makes me feel... normal... like every other person rather than someone who is known for destruction and death."
"It bothers you doesn't it... that people see you like that"
"For the first time in my life... yes... and I have no idea why. Perhaps it has to do with you... you seeing me like they see me."
"You've never given me any reason to see you like everyone else does."
"What if one day I do?" Sark asks softly. "What if I prove everyone right?"
"Don't let yourself." Rory shrugs "I know that you're a good guy... maybe the reason I see it is because you've never had to show me the side everyone else has seen."
"You do bring out my good side." Sark agrees with a smile. "I didn't really know I had one before you."
"Oh I'm sure you knew it was there."
"The first time I saw you, you were standing at your locker trading insults with Tristan. I saw the annoyed look on your face when I first heard him call you Mary. You were annoyed... yet amused."
"It mostly annoyed me." Rory admits. "I kissed him once."
"You did?"
Rory nods "Not one of my best moments in life." She laughs. "I think it surprised Tristan almost as much as me."
"Why didn't you ever tell me that?"
"I'm not sure why. I just never thought of it. And let me point out you've never talked about the women you were involved with."
"Because most of them would probably kill you if they knew about you." Sark muses. "The others were rich, spoiled debutantes who were either engaged or married."
"Is there anything in your life you regret?" Rory asks curiously.
"Not really." Sark answers. "As I see things regret is a waste of time."
Rory rests her head on the pillow meeting his eyes, "When I first saw you know what I thought?"
"What?"
"'Great another spoiled rich guy.'"
"And did I prove you right or wrong?" Sark asks amused
"Both. I realized there might be more to you." Rory smiles brushing her fingers down his cheek. "I was right... you might be rich and spoiled but you do have a hidden softie side."
"If anyone knew that... I don't think I would live it down." Sark says dramatically.
Rory laughs "Don't worry I won't tell."
"Good. I have to save my reputation somehow." Sark says with a laugh. He watches Rory shift to straddle him. He looks her over smiling at the sight of her wearing a camisole and panties. 'That's my Rory... not much for overt seduction... but she is still damn sexy.' He watches her touch his scars, "What's going through your mind?" He asks curiously.
Rory looks at his scars thoughtfully, "You have a lot of scars." Rory looks at him. "How did you get them?"
"Different ways" Sark shrugs
"This one?" Rory touches a jagged scar on his upper chest.
"Knife fight."
"This one?" Rory touches a smooth scar on his upper arm.
"Bullet. Alison had to dig it out." He sees Rory wince. "Didn't hurt" he assures "I have a high pain tolerance."
"Still" Rory kisses the scar.
Sark sits up pulling Rory close he rests his forehead against hers, "I adore you."
"I know." Rory grins
"Hey"
Rory kisses him "Love you too"
HOUR LATER
"I will call you soon."
Rory nods
"Good luck. Tell Lorelai I said hi."
"I will." Rory sighs "Be good."
"I will." Sark kisses her forehead. "I'm sure she will take the news fine."
"I hope so."
Sark opens the car door for Rory once she is in he closes the door watching as she starts the car.
LATE EVENING: STARS HOLLOW
"So how's school?" Lorelai asks as she and Rory sit on the couch after eating.
"Going good. How's the Inn?"
"Business is up. Sookie is coming up with a new menu and Michel is as charming as ever."
Rory smiles "Of course."
"So how are things between you and Julian?"
"Fine. He bought a townhouse in town."
"Wow... that's big."
"Yeah. He's out this way every so often so he thought why not buy a place"
"Rory are you and Julian... you know... sleeping together?"
"Mom I haven't asked if you and Luke are."
"But I'm the Mom... you are the Rory."
"Mom" Rory groans
"Oh my God... you are aren't you?" Lorelai exclaims
"I'm not saying anything." Rory says firmly.
"Rory"
"Nope." Rory shakes her head.
"Oh fine. So how is he doing?"
"He's good. Said hi." Rory looks down, 'Now or never.' "He asked me to spend part of the summer in LA with him."
Lorelai looks at Rory startled, "So what did you say?"
"I said yes."
"Rory you've spent every summer the last few years away from Stars Hollow." Lorelai says
"It won't be for the whole summer Mom."
"Rory"
"I'm not asking for permission Mom... I decided to go. But the thing is I was thinking about splitting the months up between each place. Like two weeks in LA and two weeks here."
"Rory are you sure about going?"
"I like him Mom." 'OK truth is I'm madly in love with him but she doesn't know that.' "I just want to get to know him in his own world."
"Rory"
"Come on Mom you like him... I think even more than Dean. And you definitely like him more than Jess."
"True. I just worry"
"Trust me Mom Julian isn't going to let anything happen to me."
"Alright if you want my blessing than go... but you are telling your Grandparents. I am not going to tell them... Emily will blame me."
"I'll tell them. Besides they like him."
"Go... enjoy the California sun. Bring me lots of presents."
"Of course." Rory hugs her Mom.
"You really like him"
"He's a good guy." Rory smiles
"So what will you do in California?"
"A lot of sleep and sun." Rory muses
"And?"
"I haven't figured the rest out." Rory shrugs
"Beaches, fun... a hot guy." Lorelai sighs. "My baby's growing up"
'Wait til you find out how grown up I am.' Rory thinks as she listens to her Mom talk. 'Alls good. What else can go wrong? Well Mom finding out before we tell her wouldn't be good but Julian says no one knows.'
TBC…
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