Disclaimer: If I told you that I owned Tristan, Jess, and Dean would you believe me? I didn't think so.
AN: I have been dreading writing this chapter ever since I posted the last one. It's one of the hardest ones I've had to write so far. I hope it's okay. If it's not, don't hesitate to tell me you hate it. Before I forget, I changed the name of the story. I didn't think the last one suited it. I like this one better.
Rory looked out the window watching the plane descend. She had spent two days agonizing over every reason why she shouldn't go. But when it came down to it she could only think of one reason to go. Tristan wanted her there. That was reason enough. She would deal with everything else as it came. She knew it would be awkward, and she didn't do well in those kinds of situations. She was afraid she would say or do something stupid. She just hoped she would make it back to New York without losing her sanity. She felt something brush against her hand and she looked down seeing a small hand interlacing their fingers with hers. Rory smiled as tears welled up in her eyes. Maddie was another reason she was going. If she wanted to get closer to her she would eventually have to meet Rachel's family. She just wished it wasn't so soon.
Tristan turned to look at them. He wished he was sitting next to Rory, but Maddie had insisted on being in between them. He now understood why. The little girl wanted Rory to know that she didn't need to be scared. She was doing it to comfort Rory and erase her worries. The pilot came over the speakers saying that they would be landing in a few minutes. Everyone made their way back to their seats in silence. Maddie held Rory's hand as they landed. They made their way down the isle a few minutes later. Rory walked through the tunnel with Maddie on one side and Tristan on the other. She was nervous. What if they hated her? What if they didn't think she was good enough to be in Maddie's life? Tristan tightened his grip on her hand and she looked up at him.
"Don't worry, they'll love you."
"How do you know?"
"Because you make me happy. And you're all Maddie talks about when she talks to them." He said smiling down at her.
That made her feel better. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad after all. Maddie started jumping up and down then let go of Rory's hand. She ran into the arms of a woman who Rory assumed was her grandmother. Tristan led her over to them and the woman smiled. She didn't say much as she took Rory in. Which made Rory nervous. It made her feel like she was under a microscope. Tristan wrapped his arms around the woman while Maddie pulled Rory closer. Rory knew the woman was waiting for her to say something. Why did she have to be the first one to say something?
"Nina, this is Rory. Rory, this is Nina Taylor." Tristan said wrapping an arm around Rory's waist.
"It is so nice to finally meet you." Nina said with a smile.
Rory nodded not knowing what to say. Tristan looked down at her then pulled her closer to him.
"She's a little nervous." He said with a reassuring smile.
"I can understand that. It's not everyday that you meet your boyfriends deceased wife's family. Now is it?" Nina said with a smile.
Rory let out a small laugh then smiled. Things were going to be just fine.
XXXX
Jess took one last look at the brownstone before closing the door. He was doing something he never thought he would do. He was getting married, how had that happened? And he was going to be a father? Who in the right mind had decided that he could be trusted with a kid! He shook his head in wonder. He might have been scared, but he was ready for whatever happened next. The cabbie turned in his seat looking at Jess expectantly. Jess ran a hand over his face with a sigh.
"Where to?"
"JFK." Jess said slouching down in the seat.
He was leaving the place that felt more like home than any other place ever had. He was going to Atlanta; that was home now. Home was wherever his family was. His family, he couldn't get over that. He was going to be a family man. Was the world going to come crashing down on him? He looked out the window at the passing scenery. Nothing happened, he smiled knowing everything wouldn't come crashing down on him.
XXXX
Rory took in her surroundings. The house belonged to Nina's son; Rory couldn't remember his name. She had met so many people that all the names were clashing together in her head. Tristan came up to her and handed her a drink. She smiled in gratitude then sighed.
"Whose house is this again?" She asked with an impish grin.
"It's Frank's. I know, too many people at one time. I had the same problem."
"Did you feel bad?"
"Yeah. It'll get easier." He said wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Nina watched them from across the yard. She had heard stories about Rory for as long as she could remember. Stories of unrequited teen age love, and insistent badgering on Tristan's part. She could believe it, he had done the same thing with Rachel. But could she really be okay with them being together? She saw how happy Tristan and Maddie were now that she was in their lives. Nina smiled getting the answer to her question. She just hoped Tristan was smart enough to hold onto her. She stood and made her way over to them.
"Tristan, could I talk to Rory?" Nina asked from behind them.
"You going to interrogate her? She doesn't deal under pressure." He said with a smile.
"I'll keep that in mind." She said returning his smile.
Rory and Nina walked to the edge of the yard and turned down a path. They walked in silence, which made Rory nervous. Nina was the first one to speak.
"I wanted to talk to you about Rachel. I know Tristan told you a little about her. But he tends to push out the bad memories. I figured you had a right to know." She said putting a hand on Rory's arm.
Rory nodded letting her know she could continue.
"Rachel was very special to Tristan. She was his whole world. You remind me of her, she was very insistent that she wanted nothing to do with him. And he went to great lengths to prove himself to her. Which I'm pretty sure he did with you."
Rory nodded remembering Tristan when they were in school
"He could never come right out and be honest with me. He was a real jerk at times."
"He changed when he realized Rachel wasn't going to change her mind. If he had done that sooner I wouldn't have Maddie. And I'm not saying that to upset you. But I thank you for being so unrelenting and for standing up for what you thought was right."
Rory nodded again, knowing if she had let up just the little bit when she was younger things would be completely different.
"When Rachel told me she had fallen for him I doubted him. I know better now, but I saw a change in my daughter. She was happier than I had seen her in a long time. Their relationship moved relatively fast. She found out that she had Leukemia just before she met Tristan. And from the time they started dating until the day she died she lived like everyday was her last. And she took Tristan on the ride along with her. He did a lot of growing up in the two years they were together." She paused with a sigh.
They stopped and stood under the shelter of trees.
"After Rachel died Tristan lived with me. I had never seen anyone so emotionally closed off. It took him a year to finally open up to me. But when he did, all of his pent up aggression came flooding out. My husband and I had pretty much been raising Maddie for the past year while Tristan went to school. He came home for the summer and one night he let it all out. It all came out at once, and I was lucky he didn't use me as a punching bag. He was that upset. Tristan and my husband had to patch quiet a few holes in the wall the next day though." She smiled remembering the moment.
Rory had stayed pretty much silent through it all. She was letting it sink in. Why was Nina telling her this? Most woman wouldn't be so understanding of a woman moving in on her granddaughter's father. But Nina seemed different. She honestly wanted Rory and Tristan to be together.
"My grandbaby likes you. That says something. She's never been excited about the woman Tristan dates. But you're all she talks about. If you two get married, I have all the confidence in the world that you can take of them." Nina said with tears in her eyes.
Rory looked up in surprise. Had she heard her right? She was okay with Rory being a part of Maddie's life. Rory let out a surprised laugh as they walked back to the house. She couldn't believe how normal that had been, it hadn't been awkward at all.
XXXX
A few days later Tristan was walking down a courthouse hall when his cell phone rang. He stepped out onto the street as he opened his phone.
"Yeah?" He said knowing who it was. He had been dreading this conversation ever since he came home.
"Hey baby bro." Megan said making him cringe.
"You know I hate it when you call me that." He said sounding annoyed.
"I'm going to ignore that last comment. How did things go this weekend?"
"You get straight to the point don't you?" He asked with a groan.
"It's the only way I'll get information out of you. So are you going to tell me? Or do I have to bug you some more?"
"Things went fine."
"Fine? Is that all?"
"No, they tried to burn her at the stake. Yes things went fine!" He said in frustration.
"Don't you yell at me. I'll reach throw this phone and strangle your ass!" She said with authority.
"You're mean when you're pregnant!" Tristan whined.
"And don't you forget it. Spill." She said in a threatening tone.
"Nina told her the whole story. And everything is fine."
"You mean Nina told her about the year from hell? Everything?"
"Yeah."
"And Rory didn't run away screaming? Damn, Gilmore's tougher than I thought." Megan with a grunt.
Tristan stifled a laugh, if Megan only knew. The conversation went on for a few more minutes before Tristan hung up. Things had definitely changed in their relationship. They had gone to the next level without either of them realizing it. He could handle that.