Note: The song is called "To Be With You." I can't remember the original artist, but I think it's by Mr. Big. I think. The version that I'm listening to is the one sung by Westlife.
Chapter Twelve
Six years later…
"Here comes the bride," sings Madison. "All dressed in white…"
"Come here!" Avery says as she chases her daughter up and down the aisle. When she is caught they both begin giggling.
"Tickle monster! Tickle monster!" screams Madison. "Help me!"
"Maybe I can help," says a deep voice.
Avery freezes when she looks up.
"Stay away! Don't touch her! Don't touch me!" she shrieks at him.
"Mommy!" cries Madison, as Avery swings her out of reach of him, but in the process bangs her knee against the pews.
She swings her around so that her tiny body is resting in her arms and Madison's face is snuggled into her chest.
"Don't come near us," Avery warns him as she turns to leave the church.
He begins to say something, but is cut off.
"I don't want to hear it."
333
"You look beautiful mom," Avery tells Rory. "I can't believe that you and Tristan are getting married after all this time. It used to give me hope, once upon a time…"
"Oh," Rory's face looks fallen. "I forgot to tell you that Tristan invited Nathan to the wedding and he accepted his invitation."
"I know," Avery says. "We saw him."
"He knows that Madison's his daughter, you know. Tristan told him."
"I could only imagine that he would," replies Avery. "But that doesn't mean he gets to be a part of our lives."
"Tristan would like him to be."
"Tristan doesn't get a say in what happens. He was the one that kept us apart. So, even though I love him, he doesn't get to tell me whether Nathan gets to be a part of our lives or not. I choose. And Madison chooses. Not Tristan and definitely not Nathan."
"If you want it to be that way," Rory tells her daughter skeptically. "But don't you think that Madison deserves a father?"
"Don't guilt trip me," Avery says angrily. "He hasn't been around for six years. He missed out."
"You still love him," Rory tells her softly. "And he still loves you."
"Don't tell me who I love!" Avery shouts.
The door opens and Luke pops his head in. "What is going on?" he asks in concern.
"Nothing," we say together. But Madison's squirming in my arms must have proven otherwise.
"Avery," Luke says seriously, "Your mother only wants the best for you and for Madison."
"I know," Avery says shamefully, "but Madison is my whole life. I can't live without her."
"Nobody is asking you to," Luke tells her sagely. "We are only asking you to consider her well being in the process. She needs a father."
As Avery walks down the aisle she struggles to smile even though all she can think about is the man who is standing in front of her. Not her soon-to-be-stepfather, but Nathan, her soon to be stepbrother and Madison's father. She feels herself tripping over the carpet with her heels, but leans to the right and places her hand on the back of the pew to steady herself. Tristan's smile falters a little when he sees her about to fall, but resists the urge to run to her side to help her. Avery continues walking and when she reaches her destination she giggles quietly with her soon-to-be stepsisters who are her fellow bridesmaids. But she refuses to look over at Nathan who is standing beside his father, acting as best man.
There is a hush in the room as the wedding march starts and Rory begins to walk down the aisle with Luke.
"Grammy's pretty!" comments Madison as Rory walks by her.
Rory stops and gives her granddaughter a kiss on the forehead. "I love you sweetie."
"I love you, Grammy."
Avery watches this exchange with pride.
Lorelai whispers something in her ear and she giggles. The whole crowd laughs with her, except Nathan.
Avery is sitting with her daughter at the dinner table when Nathan sits down beside her.
"Don't…"
"Just listen," he says. "You never called me when she was born." He nods at Madison.
"I didn't think you deserved to know," Avery says angrily.
"I'm her F-A-T-H-E-R," Nathan spells out.
"Yes. But you aren't her D-A-D-D-Y," she replies.
After the first dance her mother and his father walk over to them.
"Congratulations!" they tell them as they both give them hugs.
"You know," Tristan says deviously. "You should dance together. Now that we're family."
"I don't…"
"Alright," Nathan responds as he gives her his hand.
"I don't…" Avery tells her mother.
"Go on…" her mother encourages. "I'll watch Madison."
"I've seen pictures of her," Nathan comments as he intertwines the fingers of her right hand with his.
"Good for you," she says with disinterest.
"I'm trying to be friendly. I'm really trying."
"I could care less," Avery says as she rests her head on his shoulder.
"I've missed you."
"Do we need to go through this all night? You aren't going to meet your daughter."
"I just…I want us to be a family."
"She already has a family."
"She needs a father," he argues.
"What if she already has one?"
"Oh yeah, like who?"
"May I cut in?" asks Adam.
A week after Nathan leaves for Europe
"Avery?"
Avery looks around the grocery store for the person who said her name.
"Adam?" she asks in surprise.
"Yeah."
"Oh my god, how have you been?"
"Good, good. I heard what happened between you and Nate."
She looks upset. "I'm sorry Adam. If it's any consolation, I really liked you."
"Oh no," he says. "I'm not upset. I really liked you too. But I'm happy for you, if you're happy for yourself."
"I am," she says quickly. "At least I think I am."
"So, what do you have on your shopping list?" Adam asks, changing the subject.
333
"How?" Nathan looks angry. "How could you?"
Nathan's breathing became laboured and his fists were clenched.
"Nathan," Avery hisses. "Not here. Not at our parents' wedding."
"HOW-DARE-YOU!" Nathan hisses back at Adam and punches him in the face.
"Nathan!" Avery screams as she tries to pull him off Adam.
When Luke pulls Nathan away she leans down towards Adam's level. "Adam, are you okay?"
A few minutes later Nathan was leaning against a pillar of the reception hall watching Avery and Adam dancing when his father comes up to him.
Tristan looks pained. "I think you better leave."
"What!" Nathan exclaims.
"You're kicking me out in favour of that whore's daughter?" he hisses incredulously.
"Don't call Rory a whore, you ungrateful…" Tristan says as he grabs his son's wrist.
"Let me go!" Nathan shouts. "I'm leaving."
As he walks out he shouts to the crowd. "I hope you have a happy life!" he says with sarcasm.
The day Nathan leaves for Europe
The doorbell rings at the Gilmore home at six am.
"Christ!" Lorelai swears as she opens the door.
"Oh," her face falls, "it's you."
"Don't look so happy to see me," replies Tristan.
"So I'm guessing you're here to see Rory?"
"No…um…I'd like to talk to Avery."
He hears rustling in the kitchen and a minute later, holding a cup of hot tea asks, "Who is here at this hour?"
"Oh," Avery says as she sees Tristan. "It's you."
Tristan laughs because he can see more Lorelai than Rory in Avery.
"What do you want?" she asks curiously.
"Do you want to go for a walk, with me?"
"Not particularly."
But Lorelai nods at her to get dressed and go for the walk. She is also curious as what he has to say.
Rory wakes up right before her daughter leaves for her walk. Yawning she asks, "Where are you going young lady?"
"I'm going for a walk with Tristan."
Rory nods in absent-minded reply and kisses the top of Avery's forehead. "I wouldn't tell your father."
Rory walks by Tristan to stand beside her mother in front of the door.
"Good morning Tristan," she says, albeit chilly.
"Good morning Rory," he says warmly. "Come on Avery," he says as he wraps his arms around her shoulders.
"I'm not…" Rory starts when she sees her daughter is uncomfortable.
Tristan turns around. "Is something wrong?"
"Can you take your arms off of my daughter?"
"Sorry," Tristan tells Avery. "Are you sure this walk is okay with you?"
Avery nods in response.
In March at Princeton
Dear Avery,
I've really missed you. My father wrote me last week that you had our baby. I'm sorry that I couldn't come home to be with you. I have exams in two weeks and I really need this time to study. I know this sounds like excuses, but my father really expects me to get into medical school. I hope you understand. Please give my love to our little girl. Tell her daddy loves her. I'll try to make it home as soon as possible.
P.S. Please write me if you've received any of my presents. I'd really like to see you again.
Love,
Nate
Avery is about to read the letter when she hears Madison screaming from the other room. She sticks the letter in the bottom of her underwear drawer and promptly forgets about it.
She picks up Madison and cradles her in her arms.
"Shh…mommy loves you…shh…" but she knows that this love might not be enough.
Two weeks later…
Dear Avery,
I haven't heard from you and I've kind of given up on our correspondence. My father sent me a picture of Madison. She's a beauty, just like her mother. I think in the long run she'll be better off without me. Plus, I've met someone at school. Her name is Samantha and she's a Psych major. She sort of reminds me of you. She's a brainiac. I think even you would appreciate that. She doesn't know about our daughter and I think I'd like to keep it that way. You understand, don't you? If there is anyone special in your life and you'd like me to give up my parental writes, just call, okay? I'll think about it. I still think about us sometimes. I still love you.
Love,
Nate
Avery is sitting with her mother and grandmother when the letter arrives for her. She is just staring at it in confusion when they ask her whether she is going to read it.
"I'm not sure I care for what he has to say."
"Won't you regret it if you don't?" asks Lorelai.
"Maybe; maybe not."
Lorelai looks at Rory who in turn looks at Avery.
"Avery, sweetie, your twenty now and you haven't had a night out in almost a year. Why don't your grandmother and I look after Madison and you gather up some of your friends and go out on the town?"
"Who am I going to gather up? All of my friends have left town for school."
Lorelai has a eureka moment and exclaims, "You two go out and I'll look after Madison. I think she misses her great grandma. Anyways, you guys need some bonding time. So go karaoke or something. Have fun. Oohh…do something impulsive!"
"I don't think we really fit in at a karaoke bar, especially since neither of us can actually sing. We'll probably get booed out of the place and get thrown rotten tomatoes."
"Oh, come on, we'll have a ton of fun."
"I think I'll pass mom."
"You're no fun!" Rory pouts.
333
Almost immediately from the time they enter the bar a waitress is asking what they want to drink.
"I'll have a long island ice tea and my daughter will have…" Rory cuts off.
"A diet coke, please."
"Awesome. Coming right up," the waitress replies.
The tables were all set up in a semi circle around the karaoke stage. There was even a DJ!
"Next up, a warm welcome for a new timer, Mr. Nathan Dugrey!"
"Oh my god!" Avery began to hyperventilate. "Did you…did you know?"
"Honey, I didn't. I swear," Rory says in concern. "I promise."
Nathan gets on stage and is smiling down at someone from one of the first tables.
"Sammy, this is for you babe."
Rory looks sympathetic. "Do you want to leave?"
Avery is staring transfixed. "No," she says with determination. "Let's hear what he sings."
Nathan clears his throat, and whispers something to the DJ.
"Right on."
The first strains of music are greeted with complete silence.
Hold on little girl/show me what he's done to you/stand up little girl, a broken heart can't be that bad/when its through, its through/fate will twist the both of you/but come on baby, come on over, let me be the one to show you
Avery sees that he only has eyes for his new girl. He looks happy. He looks young and carefree. He doesn't want a child. He shouldn't have a child. He's only twenty.
She sees Tristan sitting next to Nathan's new girlfriend. He whispers something to her and she blushes.
I'm the one who wants to be with you/deep inside I hope you feel it too/waited on the line of greens and blues/just to be the next to be with you
Nathan looks up for a second and sees Avery. He isn't sure at first, but his voice falters anyways, and he continues to stare at her as he sings. He sees her look away from him.
He realizes he must have really hurt her.
His father twists in his chair to look around the bar. He sees Rory and Avery sitting in the back. Avery's head is resting on Rory's shoulder and it looks like she is wiping away tears.
Tristan feels terrible because Rory tells him about this place last week, and knowing full well that she is bringing her daughter here today also brings his son and his son's new girlfriend.
Build up your confidence so you can be on top for once/wake up, who cares about little boys that talk too much? I've seen it all go down/your game of love was all rained out/so come on baby, come on over, let me be the one to hold you
Tristan is staring at them when Rory feels someone's eyes on her. She sees him and while holding his gaze glares at him. It's a you-know-full well-what-this-glare-is-about.
He whispers to Sam that he sees a friend and that he'll be right back. Sam looks back to who Tristan has seen and is surprised to see a middle aged woman and a girl who couldn't be any older than herself or Nathan.
I'm the one who wants to be with you/deep inside I hope you feel it too/waited on the line of greens and blues/just to be the next to be with you
"I can't believe you'd bring him here!" hisses Rory angrily.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"You should tell that to my daughter. You're the reason her heart is broken."
Avery stands up and wipes her eyes. "You know?" she says with confidence. "I feel like singing."
Why be alone? When we can be together baby/you can make my life worth while/I can make you start to smile
Avery walks up to the DJ with confidence and asks him if she can sing next.
"Of course!"
She starts shaking badly. "Is this your first time?"
She nods yes.
"Well, its his first time too," the DJ nods towards Nathan and remarks, "he's not so bad so I'm sure that you won't be either."
"Thanks."
When its through, its through/fate will twist the both of you/so come on baby, come on over, let me be the one to show you
Nathan's eyes follow Avery as she walks up to the DJ.
He thinks that no good can come of this. She is getting back at him.
I'm the one who wants to be with you/deep inside I hope you feel it too/waited on the line of greens and blues/just to be the next to be with you
He finishes his song and jumps off the stage.
"Hey you!" he says happily at Sam as he kisses her.
"Hey you, too."
When he sits beside her Sam asks, "So whose the babe with your father?"
He groans inwardly. This cannot be good either.
Just to be the next to be with you…
The DJ takes the stage. "Tonight your in for a treat folks. We have not one, but two newbies here to sing for your pleasure. I am proud to introduce to you, Ms. Avery Gilmore!"