AN: When it rains it pours, another chappie for you!!!

...Is he everything to you?

Rory sat passively while Louise worked on her hair, pulling it back into a sleek up do so that her fringe fell across her eyes. Outside the window the day was grey and Rory could sympathise with the weather. She felt Louise squeeze her shoulder gently.

"Your hair is done"

Rory looked into the mirror of the dressing table and smiled softly at her reflection.

"It's beautiful, thank you Louise"

Louise drove her home to Stars Hollow that afternoon, telling her she'd meet her at the party.

Rory was laying out the dress she'd chosen when her phone rang. She smiled as she answered it.

"Hello Princess"

"Princess?" Tristan asked with a chuckle and Rory smiled again.

"Well 'Evil Tristan' doesn't seem so apt anymore"

"I'm glad…"

"So what time are you picking me up?"

He paused, the truth was he'd been calling originally to cancel their date. He had been furious the day before when she'd told him about her "hot date" with the Icon and even moreso when he saw them in the car park. After having a night at home to stew over it he had come to the decision that he was still Tristan DuGrey, especially when he was back here, and no girl could do that to him. But something in her voice stopped him.

"Tristan?"

"Uh…six thirty. I'll be there at six thirty"

"Ok"

She placed her cell phone down on her dresser and let her eyes fall to the photograph that had been blown up and framed in a blue glass frame. She smiled sadly, wondering if she would forever be pulled this way and that by the emotions of that time. They looked so young, she thought, although it was only taken just over a year before. It had been taken at Chilton, in the carpark, before they left for the weekend on a road trip to the beach. Rory concentrated on herself, her body framed in St. Jimmy's arms and his head resting on her shoulder, both of them grinning. Finn was lounging next to them, Madeling sitting on the bonnet of Louise's car, Louise standing next to her. The Icon was standing to the side of Finn, and beside him was a smirking Logan. Rory had only kept the photograph because it reminded her of the good times, but now…

She felt a presence in the room and turned to see Lorelai leaning in the doorway.

"Your hair looks great kiddo"

"Thanks mom, how are you?"

"I'm good…what about you though? You were a million miles away just then"

"More like a million hours away"

Lorelai nodded understandingly.

"What time is the boy picking you up?"

"Six thirty" Rory replied.

"You'd better get ready then"

The party was an annual affair thrown by the Hamilton's. Rory didn't know the reason, she just knew that the invitation arrived every year.

The Hamilton's were relatively new on the Hartford Social scene and as such seemed to feel they had to throw more spectacular parties each year.

They usually had themes and this years, thankfully, was "old world glamour". The year before had been "A night aboard the Titanic" and Rory had gone home wearing an inflatable life vest and loudly telling anyone who would listen that she was "dressed in her best and ready to go down as scheduled". Finn had teased her about it for months.

This year she had opted for a recreation of Charlize Theron's 1930s inspired, orange Vera Wang gown that she wore to the Oscar's after The Cider House Rules came out. Over it she wore one of her grandmother's furs, a huge, heavy thing that trailed all the way to the ground.

So when it was taken from her by the maid at the Hamilton's, Tristan still hadn't seen her gown and had to suck in his breath when he did. The orange set off her milky skin perfectly and contrasted with the blue of her eyes. Not saying a word, he offered her his arm and led her into the ballroom.

Rory gave the room a perfunctory scan, spying Louise and the Icon by the bar. She smiled gently, the kid cleaned up good. Gone was the requisite beanie and he had managed to tame his blonde curls back. He looked so handsome in his dinner suit. Speaking of handsome, she smiled up at Tristan. Where the Icon looked every bit the gentleman, Tristan looked somewhat rumpled, but it worked on him. He had made no effort whatsoever with his hair which was as mussed as it ever was and his tie was slightly askew. But she liked that look, that look of not really caring, as though life were too important to be restricted by what you're wearing to a party that evening. He looked as though he'd driven fast all the way there, with the window down and the wind whipping through his hair.

She squeezed his arm and asked if Luna was coming that night. He shook his head and told her they still hadn't had word from the gulf and she hadn't felt up to coming out that night. Tristan greeted an associate of his father's coolly and while she was standing next to him, Rory felt an arm being slung around her shoulder.

"Hello love"

"Hey Finny," She said warmly, hugging her friend.

He leaned his head into hers.

"Are you okay after last night?"

She stiffened in his embrace.

"Yes" She replied tightly, she knew he wouldn't believe her, and she knew she had been a mess until she'd finally fallen asleep. But she had to be ok, it was the only way she was going to get through the latest developments.

"Ok…and you look hot!" He told her before motioning he was heading for the bar.

Rory turned back to Tristan who was watching her closely.

"What's wrong?" he asked her, noticing her hard set face.

"Nothing" She replied, trying to appear airy.

"Right"

He was struck again by the angles to this new Rory, her features were almost pointed at the moment, set hard against the world, like a mask, like the masks he'd seen on his friends, on his parents, on himself. A mask he never thought he'd see Rory Gilmore wearing.

She leaned in closer to him.

"I need a drink" She whispered.

It was a sit down dinner and the Icon took a seat next to Rory, with Tristan at her other side. She was getting angry with him, here she was on a date with Tristan and she couldn't even have a conversation without the Icon butting in or making an observation.

"Can I speak to you outside?" She finally whispered to him.

He raised an eyebrow but followed her out of the ballroom. Tristan followed them with his eyes, something forming in the back of this throat and his eyes narrowed. Louise watched him coolly, wondering what Rory was getting herself into.

"What's up?" He asked as he leaned against the wall.

"What's up, Angus, is that I am on a date. Ok? This isn't a group night out, I am here with Tristan."

"So?" He asked, looking bored.

Rory scoffed at him.

"So? So stop butting in! Stop monopolosing me! I'm trying to enjoy my date! It's not my problem if you can't deal with that!"

He rolled his eyes.

"Oh please Rory? Monopolising you? Who do you think I am? My brother?"

She stared at him in horror before recovering.

"No Angus, trust me…you're nothing like him"

The Icon's eyes flashed and he grabbed her arm, she winced as his fingers wrapped around her pale flesh tightly, biting into her.

"I'm sick of this Rory!"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Let me go," She hissed, her voice calm but cold in a way she'd never spoken to him before.

He shook her.

"I'm sick of having to save you Rory!"

She laughed coldly.

"Save me? What are you talking about? Let me go!"

He shook her again and she looked up into the narrow slits of his eyes, the warm murky green had turned cold and they flashed in anger and for the first time Rory felt frightened.

"I'm sick of saving you! From Logan, from Renny! I'm not going to do it again with him!" He spat.

Rory tried to twist away from him, her arm beginning to throb where he was holding her. Finally she stood still and in a calm voice, addressed him.

"You're hurting me, let me go"

His eyes widened momentarily and he dropped her arm. She rubbed it absently and stared back up at him.

"I have never asked you to save me, that's your white knight complex," She told him, "I have never needed saving. I think we both know what you're real problem with Tristan is"

With that she turned on her heel and stormed back into the ballroom.

Louise watched her friend as she walked calmly back towards the table. To outsiders Rory looked the picture of elegance and refinement but Louise could see that something was wrong and she noticed the Icon had not yet come back.

Rory took her seat next to Tristan.

"Is everything alright?" He asked her quietly.

She nodded and smiled wanly at him.

"Fine"

Rory stared blankly at the crowd as she danced in Tristan's arms. He was a good dancer, not that she was surprised. He held closely, confidently and she found she didn't have to think about the steps or where her feet would go next. She remembered the night she had danced at a party like this with St. Jimmy.

She was wearing red, the colour of passion, she had chosen it because she felt that passions had been awakened in her over the past couple of months. Her hair she had left down, curling softly and framing her face. Renny had told her how beautiful she looked when she had met him at the door.

She looked up when a shadow fell across her, into his smiling eyes. He offered his hand, and she took it, feeling as though once she did, she'd never let go. He led her onto the crowded floor as the string quartet struck up a new number, "Lady in Red". Rory laughed.

"You did this, didn't you?"

He didn't answer, just smirked at her and she laid her head on his shoulder. Taking her hand tightly, he spun her away from him and then back into him, completely ignoring the timing of the music or the accepted dance steps. She laughed and threw her head back, knowing everyone was watching them but not caring anymore as her hair streamed behind her. The gang watched from the sidelines, watched them together, knowing they were watching something important, something that would change them all.

"Are you still with me?" Tristan asked wryly.

Rory smiled absently.

"I am"

But she wasn't, not really, she was a million hours away, as she had told her mother earlier that night. She started when she felt him touch her chin, tilting her head up to his as he pressed his lips against hers, trying to bring her back to him.

She let him kiss her, wanting to feel something that she hadn't felt for a long time. Across the room two blondes scowled at the couple.

AN: Please R&R and let me know what you're thinking. Alot of people have told me they have theories, I'd love to hear them!!!