**Part 3**

"Pay attention now Rory. This is the Ellen Battell-Stoeckel Estate, home of the Yale School of Music. Some of the brightest musical savants call this their summer home."

"Classical music right grandpa?"

"That's correct Rory!" Richard beamed at his granddaughter.

"It is beautiful" Rory held on to her grandfather's arm as she took in the grounds before her. The expansive property looked like something out of a Jane Austen novel with its manicured green fields and ivy covered buildings. There was even a calm brook complete with a picturesque worn, stone bridge somewhere in the woods if the pictures she had Googled were accurate. As they followed the patrons filing in, they tried to ignore the massive tents and giant steel trussed stage erected for the concert and the imminent cacophony they were walking towards but Rory could easily enough imagine the locale empty as it would look on regular school day and see herself lost in the beauty of it.

"-in 1799, what do you think of that Rory?" Richard turned towards his granddaughter.

"I'm sorry grandpa, what?" Rory blushed at having missed what her grandfather had said.

"Richard, you're boring the girl" Emily started.

"No that's okay grandma," Rory looked apologetic, "I got distracted by how pretty everything is. You were saying grandpa?"

"Don't encourage him Rory," Emily took careful deliberate steps, "Really Richard, walking on the lawn. These shoes will not survive this!"

"I will buy you another pair dear" Richard deadpanned winking at Rory who stifled a laugh.

"I don't understand why they couldn't hold the concert indoors," Emily continued, "they have a perfectly useable concert hall! I mean this is a music school afterall!"

"It is being renovated grandma." Rory offered.

"Very good Rory!" Richard turned to Emily, "The Music Shed is finally getting the facelift it deserves. I've said it needed a new some spit and shine for years."

"Language Richard!"

Rory laughed

"First you insist on wearing that ridiculous sports coat to an evening affair and now your tongue! You'd think you were back in prep school!"

Richard looked down at his coat,

"The boy at Neiman's said this style was what the boys were wearing these days!"

"Boys!" Emily pointed out, "You are as far from boy as Rory is from grandma"

Richard humored his wife,

"Well if it bothers you that much, I'll just take it off…"

"Don't you dare!" Emily snapped predictably, "A man your age in just a shirt and tie is simply unacceptable. Why we will just say that…"

Rory tuned them out. They had been at it since she arrived at their house to get ready hours ago. Were Tristan here with her he would say something completely inappropriate and shocking like that her grandparents bickering was their own weird way of foreplay.

The randomness of the thought surprised Rory who almost slapped a hand over her mouth even though she had not said any of it outloud. Her overreaction made her giggle to herself and she masked her actions by using her raised hand to awkwardly push some hair behind her ear, her eyes wide to see if anyone noticed her acting funny.

Rory felt silly but she couldn't help it, it was Tristan. Rory could feel that he was around. She was quite positive that Tristan was watching her at that very moment and that made her feel very exposed. Self conscious suddenly, Rory smoothed down the skirt of her dress. It was a sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and a flared A-line skirt that ended well above her knees which Tristan was sure to take notice of. So she had dressed up for Tristan, it would be silly to pretend she had done otherwise now.

Lost in her own thoughts, Rory smiled recalling their last conversation where he'd tried to get her to describe what she was going to wear. Rory had given Tristan her number when she last saw him but had failed to get his in return, so when her cellphone rang with an unrecognized number Rory just assumed it was probably her mother calling from one of the inn's extensions.

"Hello?"

"It is so nice to hear your voice unguarded..."

Tristan's voice was soft and languid, what Rory imagined maple syrup over pancakes would sound like. If syrup could speak of course.

"Tristan" Rory squealed in recognition, her voice much in contrast sounding like a cornered mouse. Rory had been trying

on some things and the call had caught her only partially dressed, admiring her reflection on a dressing room mirror. Yes, Rory thought, cornered mouse fit.

"How are you?"

"Good" Rory looked around the tiny room frantically, "I'm good"

"You sound distracted"

"No I'm fine" Rory held the phone to her ear with one hand while holding a shirt against her chest as if Tristan could see her through the phone.

"Is this a bad time?"

"No no no. I'm good" Rory dropped the shirt and tried for nonchalant, "So... How are you?"

Tristan ignored the question, "Did you grandparents invite you to the concert?"

"Yes"

"So tomorrow then..."

"Yes"

Rory was watching her reflection as she stood in the small room talking to Tristan. She was wearing a LaPerla underwired bodysuit which would put a considerable dent in her savings account if she bought it but had looked too inviting not to at least try on. It was modestly cut and deceptively demure. Deceptive because the smooth stretchy tulle hugging her body was completely see-through. Only a few details of delicate embroidery and silk kept her reflection from being overtly salacious. Rory loved how it made her long torso appear lean and taut and how sexy the peaks of her breasts hid behind the lacy parts. Her nipples weren't plainly out there but you could make them out if you tried. Tristan would be sure to try, Rory thought with a crinkle of her nose. Rory felt naughty being on the phone with Tristan as she turned this way and that imagining his reaction to what she was wearing.

Tristan heard a muffled voice in the background and then heard Rory call out "I'm good! Out in a minute!"

Tristan suppressed a chuckle,

"Are you in the ladies room?"

"No?"

"Are you sure?" He teased, "You sound different, as if you were in a stall or something. I would know you know."

"I am not," Rory rolled her eyes, "I'm at the mall with Lane."

"It sounds like you are in a stall" Tristan pressed.

"I am not in a stall," Rory sighed, "I'm in a dressing room."

"Oh?"

"I'm… trying on stuff"

"Stuff" Tristan calmly repeated.

"Yeah. You know, stuff?" Rory's scrunched up her face. Her ears felt hot.

"Red stuff?"

"Maybe"

Rory could just imagine the look on Tristan's face as he worked out the visuals she had fed him with that one slip and saw her reflection in the mirror blush. It started at her neck and travelled up her cheeks, her arms and the tops of her breasts followed. It was one thing being half naked while she spoke to him, but him knowing that she might be half naked was a completely different affair.

Tristan heard the indignation in her voice and pictured her pouting sexily as she said that. She often furrowed her brow and pouted when forced to admit something she didn't want to. His blood quickened,

"Oh..."

That little sound felt so warm in her ear, so full of desire that Rory couldn't help but close her eyes and let that little syllable echo inside her head.

"Let me see."

Rory's eyes snapped open.

"What?"

"Let me see," Tristan repeated, "Show me."

"What? No. How? No!"

"Take a picture with your phone"

Rory noticed her reflection go pale,

"You're crazy."

"I am going crazy suddenly, of curiosity. Really, this could kill me."

"Well… If you die then I am off the hook and don't have to go tomorrow."

"Are you pouting?"

"No!" She was.

"What if somebody sees it?"

Tristan had a response ready for that,

"Are you worried about someone hacking into your phone? Is Big Brother that interested in the secrets of the residents of Stars Hollow?"

Rory was ready too, "The picture would be in your phone. Can you not think of anyone who would be interested in the contents of your phone Tristan DuGray?"

Rory put emphasis on his last name.

"Huh…" Tristan answered after a pregnant pause, "Something worth thinking about Gilmore. Some other time, are you still trying on things? I can help you decide."

"Tough"

"I want to see you Rory."

Rory had stood her ground even as she felt her knees grow weak. Tristan saying her name like that did things to her. Delicious things.

"Sorry, I'll be out in a second!" Rory's train of thought was interrupted again by someone at her dressing room door, "Tris, I have to change"

Tristan pushed,

"Describe it to me then"

Rory clenched her free hand into a fist but bit back the smile forming on her lips. He was impossible when he got excited. A little boy with a new toy. Was she Tristan's toy? The thought made her swoon.

"It's red. Isn't that enough?"

"You wish Mary"

That got a chuckle out of her, and it helped her with what she needed to do,

"Bye Tristan!"

Rory hung up the phone quickly before he tried to stop her. Rory pushed a strap off her shoulder to remove the bodysuit then caught her reflection in the mirror. There was a smile on her face she almost did not recognize and a look to her eyes that surely only Tristan ever saw. Rory bit her lip, then cursing Tristan's name to herself she fixed the strap back into place, picked up her phone and took a picture. Quickly and without a second glance to the picture less she lose her nerve she pulled up her call log and found Tristan's number, her pulse raced.

After quickly hitting send Rory stuffed her phone in her bag and hurried to pay for her purchases and left to find Lane. It wasn't until after she had dropped off her friend back at her house with promise of sultry details later that she thought to see if she had missed any calls from her mother. She noticed an unread text message from Tristan waiting instead.

Rory's eyes sparkled when she saw it simply read,

-Whatever it costs, buy it-

The thought of which made Rory smile again.

"Rory?" Emily's eyebrows furrowed.

"Grandma?" Rory returned to reality wide-eyed, cheeks burned

red with embarrassment.

"You have the silliest grin on your face, is everything alright?"

Rory thought quickly,

"I was just thinking how much mom would love this place!"

"Yes…" Emily studied Rory's face for a second then looked up. The sun was quickly setting and sconces and incensed oil lanterns were being lit giving everything a very festive glow.

"I suppose you are right," Emily's voice softened, "It is a very pretty sight."

"Though nowhere near as pretty as the sight of the two of you" Tristan materialized seemingly out of nowhere, two white long-stemmed roses in his hand.

"Tristan!" Rory failed to hide her surprise. He looked radiant in a fitted shirt (no coat, Rory noticed) and straight gray slacks that looked silver in the light and brought out his eyes in a dazzling way.

"Oh aren't you a doll!" Emily smiled a warm genuine smile.

"Tristan" Rory repeated feeling a lump in her throat, "I was just… I mean, what a surprise to see you here! Grandma, grandpa, you've met Tristan before."

"For the ladies," Tristan handed Emily and Rory each a rose, then stood straight before offering his hand to Richard, "Sir."

Richard's shook Tristan's hand firmly, "Good evening young man, it is DuGray is it not?"

"Yes it is sir" Tristan's smile never wavered. Rory felt like the earth beneath her feet wanted to crumble under her but she couldn't tear her eyes away. She noticed her grandfather's eyes light up.

"Is your grandfather Janlan here as well? I haven't seen that old goat in ages!"

"Sure is sir, though these days he answers more to Pop-pop."

Richard chuckled heartedly, "Pop-pop! Oh the wiles of getting old! I must tell the boys. Emily look! Some of the old Whiffenpoofs over there! I just knew they would not miss this, and look! Sport coats, not a suit or tie to be seen. Emily come, help me remove this bow tie."

Richard walked away but not before giving Tristan a courteous nod and Rory a warm and conspired wink. Emily blanched,

"Tristan dear, you'll be a lamb and keep Rory company won't you?"

"It would be my pleasure"

"Rory? You'll be okay by yourself for a bit? Your grandfather

seems to be bent on traumatizing me tonight. Something to drink perhaps? You look a little flushed."

Rory giggled, "Sure grandma. Go. I'll be fine"

Emily turned, "Propriety Richard!"

Tristan and Rory stood still watching her grandparents go. The silence between them grew thick with awkwardness. Rory's palms grew damp. Around them the fields buzzed with laughter and shouts of patrons reconnecting but Rory heard nothing but the sound of her own breathing.

"Well…" Tristan finally broke the silence after a while and turned to fix his blue-grey eyes on hers. A smirk on his lips slashing the tension,

"That was almost too easy."

**End of Part 3**

A/N - I was stuck on this chapter for a while and wasn't sure if I would even pick the story back up but then I heard of Edward Herrmann's passing. I loved his character so much. I silently wished I had a grandfather like him. I only hope I did him justice in this little fic. I hope you enjoy it.