Chapter Title: Ever The Same by Rob Thomas. I swear this song is addictive; I've had it in my head for the past week. It's a good thing I like it.

Fall on me

Tell me every you want me to be

Forever with you forever in me

Ever the same

"What do you mean you're married!?"

"Chill Mariano. I don't want all of California to hear." Tristan said with a sigh.

"Does Lorelai know?"

"Rory wants to wait until we get back to tell her."

Jess shook his head as he sat down at the table across from Tristan. Tristan had called him that morning and asked him to meet him. When he didn't see Rory he knew something was wrong. But he wasn't ready for the bomb his best friend had just dropped. The fact that Rory wasn't ready to tell her parents spoke volumes. Tristan had called his mom and Janlan the next morning. One week later things still hadn't been settled.

"Maybe it would help if I talked to her." Jess said breaking the silence.

"You don't mind?"

"Where is she?"

"At the hotel across the street."

"She doesn't know you're here?"

"She was still sleeping when I left."

"Go drive around for an hour. I'll call you if I need more time. One thing you need to know. If you want to get into San Francisco there's only two ways in. Take the bridge. Not many people use it. And don't get lost. Not even I can help you if you do." Jess said before standing up.

XXXX

Rory had woken up not long after Tristan had left. She was drying her hair when someone knocked on the door. Jess stood outside leaning against the railing. She stuck her head out the door thinking Tristan wasn't far behind.

"He'll be back later." Jess said pushing off the railing.

Rory opened the door to let him in. She sat on the bed while Jess sat at the desk. She didn't know what to expect. She had a feeling that he had come to lecture her though.

"What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't. The alcohol was."

"And now you have doubts."

"No. I'm scared."

"You should be. You have to face your mom. I'd be scared too."

"It's not just my mom. It's my dad, and my grandparents too."

"They can't expect you to be perfect." Jess said shaking his head.

Rory knew Jess was right. But now she had to own up and be an adult. Ever since she had started dating Tristan things had been turned upside down. She wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

XXXX

Jess was gone by the time Tristan came back. He opened the door silently once he saw Rory lying on the bed. She turned to face him as the door clicked shut. Her eyes met his as he made his was to her. He knelt in front of her brushing hair out of her eyes. She grabbed hold of his hand before he could pull away. Their fingers intertwined as she brought them to her lips. She kissed his knuckles as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." She said choking back a sob.

"For what?" Tristan asked furrowing his eyebrows.

"For doubting us." She said meeting his gaze.

Tristan sighed as he stretched out next to her. He wrapped his free arm around her as she held tight to his hand. She buried her face in his chest as she tried to calm down. He rubbed her back as she let out a ragged breath. He may be insensitive at times, but Rory could never say that he wasn't there when she needed him.

"Are you okay?" He asked pulling away to meet her eyes.

"I'm fine." She said wiping her eyes.

She reached over him to grab her cell phone. He put a hand over hers giving her a questioning look.

"I have to call my mom and my grandparents."

"What about your dad?"

"Lets work out one milestone at a time."

Tristan laughed as Rory sat up. She called her mom first hoping she was in a good mood.

"Crapshack."

"Hey mom." Rory said with a smile.

Tristan held onto her free hand giving her confidence.

"Hey you!" Lorelai yelled into the phone.

"I need to hear with that ear." Rory said cringing.

"Sorry. So are you on your way home yet?"

"Not until tomorrow."

"That won't leave us much time to spend together before you leave."

"About that."

"What?"

"Tristan will be with us."

"You haven't gotten tired of him yet?"

"Here's the thing--"

"You're not pregnant are you?"

"Not that I know of."

"Then what--"

"I'm married."

Silence filled the line as Rory waited for her mom to say something. She heard a chuckle followed by a snort.

"Mom?" She asked turning to give Tristan a worried look.

"That was a very bad joke to play on me. But it was funny." Lorelai said once she had composed herself.

"I wasn't joking."

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore that is enough." Lorelai said sounding serious.

"She used my full name. She's never done that before." Rory said pulling the phone away from her ear and looking over her shoulder.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Tristan asked looking concerned.

Rory shook her head as she put the phone back to her ear.

"Mom?"

"I'm still here. When did you get married?"

"Last week."

"You waited a whole week before you told me!?"

"I wasn't ready to deal with it."

"And now you are?"

"Jess talked some sense into me."

"Jess knows?" Lorelai said with a gasp.

"Tristan told him."

"So how much did you have do drink before you went through with it?"

"I don't even know."

"Let's hope this doesn't happen every time you get drunk. We don't need you having husbands scattered across the country."

"That's the last thing I need."

Lorelai laughed as Tristan let go of Rory's hand. He gestured towards the door letting her know he was going outside.

"Well, I've got to hand it to you kid. Your grandmother is going to throw a fit. Can I be the one to tell her?"

"Mom!" Rory said with a laugh.

"Can I at least be there when you tell her?"

"As long as you behave."

"I'll be a good girl mommy, I promise."

"You're hopeless." Rory said with a sigh.

"And you're Mrs. Bible Boy."

"It's Dugray. You're going to have to learn that."

They talked for a few more minutes before Rory said that she had to go. She'd tell her grandparents when she got back. That was a lecture she needed to deal with in person. She walked out of the room to see Tristan sitting on the stairs. She sat next to him laying her head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders pulling her to him. He kissed her forehead as they watched the traffic on the street below them. They had a lot of explaining to do. But they would get through it together.