Disclaimer: Still don't own them. I only have pocket change.
AN: The first part of this chapter is a little random. I was hyped up on soda again…sorry! In this chapter you will find the age-old discussion of who's hotter. Because I can see Lorelai and Rory doing that.
Rory walked into the house that she called home for twenty-one years. Not much had changed. Even after expansion in '05, the twins got Rory's old room after she left. The spare room had become her mom's sewing room. She had left Tristan with Luke. She knew he would be okay. Luke had told her thought Tristan was a good guy.
"Any guy who can raise a daughter on his own has to be a good guy." He had said earlier that day.
He had taken her by surprise. But his opinion mattered; it mattered a lot. Rory smiled thinking about Tristan's reaction when she told him. He had been speechless, and yet he looked so proud.
Her mom was in the living room watching TV when she walked in.
"Hey." She said sitting down next to her mom.
"Shh!" Lorelai said not looking at Rory.
Rory's eyes narrowed when she realized what she was watching.
"Mom, why are you watching a ten year old episode of a soap opera? Again?"
"Don't make fun of mommy." She said not looking away from the TV.
"He's not coming back, give it up. He's on another show now mom."
"But I love him on this. Eric Brady why did you have to leave! Damn you Jensen Ackles!"
Rory rolled her eyes wishing she had thrown away the tapes years ago. She got up and went into the kitchen. The back door opened and Luke and Tristan walked in.
"Hey." She said setting down her coffee cup.
"Where's your mom?"
"You don't wanna know."
"Is she making the boys be apart of it?"
"Thankfully no, they're asleep. I wasn't so lucky."
"See if I keep any dirty secrets on you." Lorelai said from the other room.
"Throw away the videos she is watching. There are six I believe."
"What is she watching?" Tristan asked sounding confused.
"She's not watching, she's drooling."
"Shut up Pacey lover!"
"Shh! I've liked him way longer than you've liked Jensen." Rory said coming back into the living room.
"You wanna grab a beer? This could take a while." Luke asked putting his jacket back on.
"Why?" Tristan asked sounding confused.
"Because, they are arguing over Jensen Ackles and Joshua Jackson. Who's hotter, who's a better actor… you get the point. It could take a while."
"What about the boys?"
"They'll sleep through it."
"Yeah lets go." Tristan said nodding his head.
As they left they heard Lorelai say something about the show Dark Angel and Rory mention something about the movie The Skulls. The conversation went on for another half an hour before they brought the junk food.
"Remember when you wanted to be Joey?" Lorelai asked as they watched Dawson's Creek.
"Yeah, and Lane wanted to be Jen. She got grounded for a month when her mom found us watching it." Rory said shaking her head.
She always won the argument. Jensen might be hot, but Joshua is hot and funny. Rory had only laughed during Supernatural… frequently. She had lost count of how many Joshua Jackson movies that had made her laugh. It felt good to be right.
It was late when Luke and Tristan came back. Dawson was still on but the girls were passed out. Luke talked Tristan into staying the night.
"The couch pulls out into a bed. I get up at four. So don't try anything, please. I don't want it to be weird." He said shaking Lorelai.
She stumbled up the stairs as Tristan picked up Rory. Luke pulled out the bed and got it set up. A few minutes later Tristan laid Rory down. He was getting situated under the blankets when Rory laid her head on his stomach.
"I thought you were asleep." He said rubbing her back.
"I was, but the smell of your cologne woke me up. It's nice." She said sighing.
Tristan smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. He could get used to this.
XXXX
Rory woke up the next morning feeling someone's arms around her. Her eyes snapped open coming in contact with someone's chest. Someone's very well defined chest. She slowly turned her head and held back a gasp when she realized it was Tristan. Was she that out of it last night? And to make matters worse they were in her mom's house. The last thing she remembered was watching a season of Dawson's Creek she had kept in the movie collection. She had made an ass out of herself in front of him. She inwardly groaned hoping she could get out of his grasp without waking him up.
Tristan tightened his grip as he felt her move away. Rory looked up in surprise when he opened his eyes. He looked at her then yawned.
"I know I'm not Jensen Ackles or even Joshua Jackson. But I figured I was better than nothing." He said giving her an evil smirk.
"Spawn of Satan." She said pushing him in the chest.
"That hurts Mare. Right here." He said placing a hand over his heart.
"You don't have a heart."
"I know I don't. A certain little girl has it." He said pulling her back to him.
"I was wrong, I take it back." She said kissing him on the neck.
"Thank you." He said kissing her forehead.
Rory settled back into his arms. She might as well enjoy it while it last. She closed her eyes with a smile on her face as she ran his hands down her side.
Tristan wished they could stay in bed all day. But he knew he had to go see him mom today. He had talked to her yesterday and asked her to meet him at the country club his parents had belonged to for years.
Tristan and Rory walked through the dining room of the club hand in hand. He had grabbed her hand to help her out of the truck; and hadn't let go since. He saw his mother sitting at a corner table. She looked different than Tristan remembered. Her hair was almost silver now, but she still looked young for her age. She was thinner, and looked genuinely happy when she saw him.
Olivia Dugrey stood when Tristan and Rory walked over. She took in her son. He hadn't changed much. He was taller, but he still looked like the eighteen year old she remembered.
"Mom." Tristan said sitting down.
"I was surprised when you called."
"Someone made me realized I wasn't being rational." He said squeezing Rory's hand under the table.
"I'm just glad you want me in your life again." She said with tears in her eyes.
Tristan nodded looking over at Rory. He hadn't even introduced her yet.
"Mom this is…"
"Rory Gilmore." Olivia said finishing his sentence.
"You're with the D.A.R." Rory said as it dawned on her.
"Yes I am. We met a few years ago."
Rory nodded wondering what would happen next. She felt out of place, but she knew Tristan wanted her there.
"How is she?" Olivia asked breaking the silence.
"Maddie's great. I have pictures, recent ones." He said pulling the out of his suit pocket.
Olivia looked through them with a sad smile. She had missed out on so much; but she hoped that she could make up for that.
"How's dad?" Tristan asked taking her by surprise.
"I wouldn't know. I left him four years ago."
"When I moved to New York?" He asked letting it sink in.
"Around then. I wanted to tell you, but I wanted you to see me because you wanted to. Not because you felt obligated."
"What happened?"
"He got sloppy, one of his girlfriends wanted him to leave me for her. So she came by the house and told me the truth."
Tristan shook his head in frustration. He made plans to bring Maddie to Hartford for Christmas. Rory was right, he felt better now that he had talked to his mother. He would have to take her advice more often.