Authors Note: This is a really long one…so pull up a seat. I just couldn’t stop writing.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. The characters belong to the writers of Gilmore Girls and its WB affiliates.

 

Story summary: Lorelai and Rory are forced to face the inevitabilities of life where the men in their lives are concerned. Chris has a surprise for Lorelai…and Tristan gives Rory something to think about.

 

 

INT: GILMORE GIRLS HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Lorelai is sitting in the living room…flipping channels looking for that one show that just begs to be mocked, when there is a knock at the door. Lorelai switches off the television and goes to answer the door. As she passes the mirror in the front hallway she checks out her reflection, pulls down her t-shirt which reads “Hell on Wheels” and opens the door.

 

LORELAI: Christopher? What are you doing here?

 

CHRISTOPHER: I Know this is stupid Lorelai…but I couldn’t stop thinking about Rory and I was fairly close…so…

 

LORELAI: Really? How close is fairly close?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Rochester.

 

LORELAI: So not really close by any stretch of the imagination…well maybe by American Airlines or Delta…but not car close. So what you’re really saying here is that you pretty much hopped a plane the next day to be here. You Christopher Hayman are a doll!

 

CHRISTOPHER: How many times do I have to tell you Lorelai Gilmore…it’s Hayden. Good thing you never did take my name.

 

LORELAI: Yeah…whatever. Come here so I can give you a big Stars Hollow huggin!!

 

Lorelai wraps her arms around Chris and gives him a smooch on the cheek. Chris smiles and hugs her back.

 

LORELAI: I was just about to pop some popcorn and watch the boob tube. Care to partake?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Yeah popcorn sounds good.

 

LORELAI: Actually I was lying about the popcorn part…we don’t have any…but I’m so doing the couch potato thing and would love it if you pulled up a sofa with me.

 

CHRISTOPHER: How could I resist?

 

LORELAI: Yes…resisting would only cause me to torment you with useless facts until you gave in…smart man.

 

CHRISTOPHER: You never change.

 

LORELAI: And what would the world be like it I did?…I shudder to think.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Exactly…the world would be one big Groundhog Day without your zest for life.

 

LORELAI: Yes…I am zestfully clean.

 

Lorelai turns the television back on and cuddles up next to Chris who puts his arm around her. It is evident by the ease in which they share space that these two people really enjoy each other.

 

INT: LUKES DINER-NIGHT

 

Rory and Dean are sitting at a table getting ready to order. Dean is reading the menu when Rory’s cell phone rings. Rory grabs it out of her coat pocket and looks at the number….not recognizing the number she answers it.

 

RORY: Hello?

 

RORY/TRISTAN: INTERCUT

 

TRISTAN: Rory…it’s me.

 

RORY: (really uncomfortable) Uh huh.

 

TRISTAN: Can you talk?

 

RORY: No…not really. Can you hold on?

 

TRISTAN: Fine.

 

RORY: (to Dean) It’s Lane…so I’m just going to take it outside. Okay?

 

DEAN: Okay…but what about your order?

 

RORY: I’ll take a cheeseburger and some onion rings.

 

DEAN: Ooh…big onion breath.

 

RORY: Right…fries and to drink…

 

DEAN: I know coffee.

 

RORY: Right. I’ll be right back.

 

Rory steps outside the diner and takes her phone off hold.

 

RORY: Hello?

 

TRISTAN: Hi.

 

RORY: This is really a bad time Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: I know…I just needed to talk to you.

 

RORY: Don’t you mean you knew I would be with Dean and you just needed to see if you could get me into trouble?

 

TRISTAN: Why do you always have to assume the worst?

 

RORY: It’s your pattern Tristan. You don’t get what you want from me so you try and make me miserable.

 

TRISTAN: I don’t want to make you miserable.

 

RORY: Then why are you calling?

 

TRISTAN: Because…I…

 

As Rory is talking to Tristan, Lane comes walking past her…Rory panics and freaking out pushes Lane to the ground dropping her cell phone in the process.

 

TRISTAN: (falling on deaf ears) Miss you.

 

As the cell hits the ground it breaks...disconnecting Tristan.

 

A very surprised Lane is sprawled on the sidewalk out in front of Luke’s.

 

LANE: Ouch! What did you do that for?

 

Lane starts to get up but Rory pushes her back down to the ground.

 

LANE: You had better start explaining why you are making me one with the concrete.

 

RORY: I’m sorry Lane…it’s kind of a long story.

 

LANE: I’m listening…with the one ear that isn’t smooshed into the ground.

 

RORY: Ok…quick run through and then you have to crawl out of here…back the way you came. Date with Dean…phone rings…it’s Tristan…told Dean it was you…end of story. So you see why you can’t be here?

 

LANE: I thought you were breaking up with Dean tonight.

 

RORY: Change of plans…another long story. I’ll fill you in later. Now go quick before Dean sees you. Please?

 

Lane starts crawling away.

 

LANE: Sometimes Rory….I’m not sure why we’re friends. So much give, give, give and no take.

 

Rory looks around for her cell phone and finds it lying on the sidewalk broken. She sticks it back in her pocket.

 

RORY: Great. I’ll put that on your tab Tristan.

 

Rory walks back into the diner and sits down with Dean.

 

DEAN: So how’s Lane?

 

RORY: She’s fine…just some boy problems.

 

INT: GILMORE GIRLS-NIGHT

 

Lorelai and Chris are watching “Leave it to Beaver” while eating a bag of jujube’s  that Lorelai found in the back of a cupboard.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Remind me why we’re watching this again?

 

LORELAI: Because it satisfies the mocking quotient.

 

CHRISTOPHER: You still do that?

 

LORELAI: I still do a lot of things you taught me.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Ooh…don’t want to go there.

 

LORELAI: Since when? Oh that’s right the *Sherry* years have come upon us.

 

CHRISTOPHER: So…truth Lorelai. You don’t really like Sherry do you?

 

LORELAI: She’s  a great gal Chris…no complaints.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Okay…you are so lying. Come on Lor…it’s Chris here, you can tell me the truth.

 

LORELAI: Oh right, yeah…like I did at Luke’s the last time you were down here…yes…that was a rousing, but yet embarrassing and somewhat unsatisfying success.

 

CHRISTOPHER: How many more times can I apologize for that?

 

LORELAI: Really never enough…who ever said honesty was the best policy needs to update the policy handbook…add an addendum or something.

 

Lorelai starts to get up off the couch, but Chris grasps her arm and makes her sit back down on the sofa facing him.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I love you Lor. That’s never going to change. You and Rory are always going to be an important part of my life. When you told me…what you told me….I got angry because well…your timing sucks.

 

LORELAI: You can see where I have a problem categorizing that as an apology…right?

 

CHRISTOPHER: This is better than an apology…this is a long overdue explanation. Remember when I came back and told you that I wanted to marry you and be a family with Rory.

 

LORELAI: Chris…

 

CHRISTOPHER: No…let me finish Lorelai. You shut me down…told me I would never be responsible enough to be a husband and father.

 

LORELAI: Not still holding that against me are you?

 

CHRISTOPHER: No…you did me a favor. I left here determined to prove you wrong. You kicked me in the keester and it worked.

 

LORELAI: Keester…good word.

 

CHRISTOPHER: The truth is Lor…I changed for you…and for Rory too…but mostly for you. So I could come back here and be a part of your lives. So I could claim that one moment in my life that I wasn’t going to regret. And it worked…I got a great job, I bought the car…I was becoming that guy that you wanted me to be.

 

LORELAI: Why do I get the feeling that next part of the story is like your happy ending…but my Grimm’s Fairy Tale?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Grimm’s Fairy Tale?

 

LORELAI: You know those spooky fairy tales that always had the moral at the end…the moral to the story this time being…”Don’t hang on to the past hurts. I should have seen it when you came back to town Chris…but me being me…I didn’t. I still wanted to assume the worst of you…you have always had this ability to make me crazy and I let that override what was really going on.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I’m not blaming you for us not working out Lor. I never gave you any reason to assume the best. I was always out the door whenever the going got tough…and when you wouldn’t marry me…it really pissed me off.

 

LORELAI: You were sixteen Chris.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I may have only been sixteen Lorelai…but I loved you…and it hurt. You went from being the center of my world to non-existent practically overnight. I thought I would never get over losing you.

 

LORELAI: You know why I left Chris…and I called you when Rory was born. You could have come then.

 

CHRISTOPHER: You didn’t want me to.

 

LORELAI: I didn’t not want you too. I never told you to stay away…you did that all on your own. But hon…this is such ancient history…the wounds are healed. You need to know that I have absolutely no regrets. You may have contributed to this huge major change in my life…but I loved you like I have never loved anyone else. I wouldn’t want to change any of what we shared…what we still share with Rory. So where is all this melancholy coming from?

 

Lorelai grabs the bag of jujubes and pops a couple in her mouth.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I asked Sherry to marry me.

 

Lorelai practically chokes on the jujubes in her mouth.

 

LORELAI: Did you say….marry you? Sherry…big teeth…doesn’t like me Sherry?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Sherry likes you.

 

LORELAI: Sherry doesn’t know me…and hey…news flash…she doesn’t want to get to know me. She just wants to be Rory’s play pal. And why do you think that is Chris?

 

Chris starts to say something and Lorelai interrupts him.

 

LORELAI: (cont) I’ll tell you why…because she thinks I don’t matter to you and she knows Rory does.

 

CHRISTOPHER: She told you that?

 

LORELAI: Well…no not in those exact words…but I saw it in her “big deer in the headlight eyes.”

 

CHRISTOPHER: You’re overreacting Lorelai. Big surprise.

 

LORELAI: Oh…I get it now. You didn’t come here for Rory…you came here to break the good news about you and Sherry. God why do I keep putting myself through this? It’s still just all about you Chris.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Lorelai you’ve got this all wrong. I did come here for Rory…but mostly I came here for you. I didn’t want you to find out through Richard and Emily about the engagement.

 

LORELAI: Why should you care about how I found out?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Because I would be upset if I found out you were getting married…I was upset. But then I found Sherry and things changed…you’ll find someone Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: You think I’m upset because you’re marrying Sherry? On the contrary…thrilled for you…really. I’m sure you’ll have a great life with the stepford wife, white picket fence and two kids…one boy, one girl…Sherry wouldn’t have it any other way…oh except maybe twins…again one boy…one girl.

 

CHRISTOPHER: If you’re not upset…why is your nose flaring?

 

LORELAI: My nose is NOT flaring thank you…I have a slightly larger nostril on one side.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Maybe I should go.

 

LORELAI: Yes…maybe you should.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I’ll be back tomorrow to talk to Rory.

 

LORELAI: Great let me know what time…so I can make myself otherwise occupied.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I thought we could all go to dinner tomorrow night.

 

LORELAI: You thought wrong…it’s Friday night we are going to my parents.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I thought you could get out of them for emergencies.

 

LORELAI: If one comes up I’ll let you know.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Tell me one thing Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Yes?

 

CHRISTOPHER: Are we ever going to be able to fix this thing we’ve got going on between us? I need you in my life.

 

LORELAI: You’ll be fine. You have Sherry.

 

CHRISTOPHER: She’s not you.

 

LORELAI: She’s your choice.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Why do I have to make a choice? I’ve only had three woman in my life who really meant anything to me…Sherry is one…Rory is the second and you Lorelai are the third.

 

LORELAI: Huh…I remember when I use to have first place…now I’m a paltry third.

 

CHRISTOPHER: You will always be the first girl I ever loved. You were my first in so many ways.

 

LORELAI: Get out…you had plenty of girls before me.

 

CHRISTOPHER: Yes…I did…but you were the first girl who ever really got to me.

 

LORELAI: Ditto. This is why it should be easier for you to understand why losing you to Sherry…it matters. I always thought we’d have a second chance Chris. I never wanted to believe any different. I knew you and Sherry were getting close…I guess I just wanted to believe that I would be the one you came back to in the end. It’s hard to let that go.

 

Chris leans in and gives Lorelai a hug…she reciprocates and the tears begin to flow.

 

CHRISTOPHER: I’m so sorry Lor.

 

LORELAI: Me too.

 

Chris leans back a little to wipe the tears out from under Lorelai’s eyes. He looks at her and smiles before leaning in to give her a tender kiss.

 

CHRISTOPHER: You will always have my heart Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Want to come back in? We can pretend we are at a drive-in and throw stale jujubes at the television.

 

CHRISTOPHER: A Drive in would have pop corn.

 

LORELAI: Let it go Chris.

 

Later that same night Rory walks into the house with Dean in tow. She sees her mom and dad on the couch asleep snuggled in each others arms.

 

RORY: (whispering) I was going to invite you in…but maybe we should do it some other time. I don’t want to wake my parents.

 

DEAN: (also whispering) We could go in your room.

 

RORY: (stunned) My room?

 

DEAN: It was just a suggestion.

 

RORY: No…I’m sure it’s fine. We can go in there and…talk.

 

DEAN: Right…talk.

 

Rory and Dean head into her room and shut the door. Dean immediately takes Rory into his arms and begins kissing her. Uncomfortable Rory steps back.

 

RORY: Bad idea Dean. If my mom catches us I’m toast. And we’ve all seen what she does to toast.

 

DEAN: Right. Sorry.

 

Dean goes over and sits down on the bed. Rory sits beside him.

 

DEAN: Rory…can I ask you a question?

 

RORY: Sure.

 

DEAN: Are we okay?

 

RORY: Why would you ask that?

 

DEAN: Well…I want to believe it’s just my imagination…but you’ve been really distant lately…and today at school I find out that you lied to me about why you were staying after school. You could have told me you had detention Rory…I would have understood.

 

RORY: I should have. I’m sorry. So let’s forget about it.

 

DEAN: Now I have to wonder why you lied though. Were you embarrassed?

 

RORY: That’s right. I was embarrassed. So let’s kiss now! Enough talking.

 

Rory leans over and begins really kissing Dean to try and get him off the topic at hand. Which works just as Rory planned until Dean really gets into it too and lays Rory down on the bed, as his hands start to roam Rory lets Dean take a few liberties…but when he moves his hands underneath her sweater Rory bolts up.

 

RORY: Please Dean…stop. Maybe it’s better if you go now.

 

DEAN: I’m sorry Rory…I thought you wanted me to…progress things.

 

RORY: I know…I’m just not ready…I’m sorry.

 

Rory looks like she is on the verge of tears and Dean takes her into his arms.

 

DEAN: It’s okay Rory…you don’t need to be upset. So it wasn’t the right time…big deal. I still love you just the same.

 

Deans heartfelt confession make a guilty Rory begin to really cry.

 

INT: LUKE’S DINER-DAY

 

Rory and Lane are sitting at a table. Luke comes over to take their order.

 

LUKE: What’ll it be? And don’t say coffee.

 

RORY: It’s definitely a coffee day…Please Luke?

 

LUKE: You say that everyday…only usually with an older side-kick. Is your mom sick?

 

RORY: No…my dads in town. They were still asleep on the couch when I left this morning…after taking a twenty out of her purse of course…with which I can gladly pay you today for a steaming cup of the “Joe.”

 

LUKE: Keep your money. Joe ain’t visiting this table today.

 

RORY: You are a heartless man.

 

Luke turns around and starts heading back to the counter…Jess sneaks over and hands Rory a cup of coffee. Just as Jess gets the coffee to her and gets out of sight…Luke comes back over and starts quizzing Rory.

 

LUKE: So…your dad stayed overnight?

 

RORY: Yeah. It was really cute…they were all cuddled up on the couch together.

 

LUKE: How close would you say they were…cuddled?

 

RORY: So to what do we owe this curious nature?

 

Rory starts drinking her coffee.

 

LUKE: I’m not curious…not at all…it’s your mom’s business…and probably Miss Patty’s by now too. Hey…were did you get that coffee?

 

RORY: What coffee?

 

LUKE: Jess!

 

Luke takes off to find Jess giving Rory and Lane a chance to finally talk.

 

LANE: So…details. And leave nothing out…this is better than the soap operas I  am completely forbidden to watch.

 

RORY: But yet still manage to see.

 

LANE: Don’t change the subject…I was cleaning sidewalk grime out of my hair all night…and my favorite jeans will never be the same from all that crawling…I deserve an explanation. Why did you decide not to break up with Dean?

 

RORY: Because I was wrong about Tristan…he’s not this great guy I thought he was…he’s just this guy who was good at making me believe he was a great guy.

 

LANE: All right…I understand that…but what about the major fireworks between you two. Was that all in your imagination too?

 

RORY: Unfortunately no. But I can’t let him ever know that or he will have the advantage.

 

LANE: So just exactly when did the word “truth” lose all meaning to you…I mean you’re lying to Dean…and Tristan and even to yourself.

 

RORY: I know I’ve been a horrible friend lately Lane…but I could really use your support on this one. I want to do the right thing…but I also don’t want to hurt Dean…and I do care about him.

 

LANE: But he thinks you love him.

 

RORY: I’m just confused. I don’t think I know what love really is anymore. Maybe I’m too young to be in love. But if I break up with Dean before I really know…I just want to give our relationship a good chance.

 

LANE: Fair enough. So I will support you on this…but I need you to do me a favor too.

 

RORY: Sure. Anything.

 

LANE: Henry is giving me another chance…he invited me to the Valentine’s Dance at Chilton.

 

RORY: Congratulations! How did you get your mother to say yes?

 

LANE: She has to meet him…and quiz him for like an hour…and I have a strict curfew.

 

RORY: That’s not too bad.

 

LANE: There is one more thing.

 

RORY: What?

LANE: We have to go in a group or with at least one other couple.

 

RORY: Perfect I’m sure Henry has a lot of friends she’ll approve of.

 

LANE: I told her we were going with you.

 

RORY: Why? I never even mentioned it to you. Probably because…I’m not going.

 

LANE: I know…but she was on the verge of saying no…so I reached for a straw and that’s what I got.

 

RORY: So you want me to go to Chilton’s Valentine Dance?

 

LANE: Yes!! You can ask Dean and we can all go in the limo together.

 

RORY: I don’t know Lane.

 

LANE: Please Rory…I did the Army crawl for you. You owe me.

 

RORY: Fine. I’ll ask him…but I can’t make any promises…our last Chilton Dance wasn’t exactly a rousing success.

 

Lane gives Rory a big hug.

 

LANE: Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. We will have the best time you’ll see.

 

RORY: Again…not holding my breath.

 

Lane looks out the window and sees Dean heading into the diner.

 

LANE: Now’s your chance.

 

Lane quickly gathers up her books and gets ready to head out the door.

 

LANE: (cont) Let me know what he says.

 

Dean heads towards Rory’s table

 

DEAN: Hey Lane.

 

LANE: Dean…I’ll see you later Rory. Bye.

 

Lane heads out the door as Dean sits down.

 

RORY: Morning.

 

DEAN: Yeah…so how are you?

 

RORY: I’m fine…I was just a little over emotional last night. I’m sorry.

 

DEAN: Don’t be sorry. I’m fine. I really don’t have a lot of time before I have to be at school. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

 

RORY: A little embarrassed but otherwise…lets not talk it to death…deal?

 

DEAN: Deal. So I know you have dinner at the grandparents tonight…so I’ll see you tomorrow?

 

RORY: Sure…but before you go there was something.

 

DEAN: Yeah?

 

RORY: Well I know the last time we went to a dance it wasn’t so great…but see Lane is going to the Valentine’s Dance at Chilton and she really wants me to go too. So anyway…do you think you would want to go to the dance with me?

 

DEAN: Another Chilton Dance?

 

RORY: I know…it’s for Lane.

 

DEAN: Ok…but if that punk Tristcuit tries to ignite me again…this time I’m taking him down.

 

RORY: You have my permission…but I’m pretty sure that won’t be a problem this time. Tristan is otherwise occupied at the moment.

 

DEAN: Good. I was getting sick of his completely transparent attempts to steal you away. It’s about time he got his own girl…more power to him.

 

RORY: So I should probably go before I miss my bus.

 

DEAN: Ok.

 

Rory gathers up her backpack and coat and heads out the door of the diner. She walks over to her bus and gets on…she starts scanning the crowd for a seat and is surprised to see Tristan. She walks over and sits in the empty seat next to him.

 

RORY: What are you doing here?

 

TRISTAN: I’m riding the bus.

 

RORY: Why are you riding the bus?

 

TRISTAN: Car’s broken.

 

RORY: And what about Daddy’s Bentley or the rolls or better yet the Limo?

 

TRISTAN: I only get the limo on special occasions. Which is the perfect segue into the next topic.

 

RORY: This should be interesting.

 

TRISTAN: I was hoping you would consider going to the Valentines dance with me…before you say anything…let me finish…I know things are really horrible between us…you hate me…I probably deserve it…but I can’t imagine going to the dance with anyone but you.

 

RORY: What about Cassidy?

 

TRISTAN: I’m talking about us Rory…you and me…not Cassidy. I was hoping we could just go to the dance and maybe try and work things out from there. I don’t think we’re a lost cause…not yet anyway. So lets grab this opportunity and try and figure out what we both really want.

 

RORY: I can’t go with you Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: Can’t or won’t?

 

RORY: Can’t…I already invited Dean.

 

TRISTAN: You’re going to the dance with Dean?

 

RORY: Yes. He is my boyfriend.

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…so you keep reminding me.

 

RORY: It wouldn’t have worked Tristan…you have to believe that.

 

TRISTAN: You could cancel…tell him you changed your mind. He would never need to know.

 

RORY: I could…but I’m not going to. I promised myself that I was going to give my relationship with Dean a chance, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve lied to him enough already.

 

TRISTAN: So you’re not scared to have me and Dean in the same room?

 

RORY: It’s a risk…but I believe you when you tell me you don’t want to hurt me…if you told Dean everything…that would hurt me.

 

TRISTAN: So I’m just suppose to sit back and watch you and Dean together?

 

RORY: It was inevitable Tristan. I can’t not invite Dean to dances or school functions.

 

TRISTAN: I wish I could remember why I was so determined to be with you. Because right now…I wish I’d never met you.

 

RORY: That’s not fair. I never asked for you to pursue me relentlessly. I was perfectly happy hating you. You changed my life too you know. You’re not the only one suffering here.

 

TRISTAN: If that was how you truly felt…you would have left Dean ages ago. I’m afraid I have to face facts here…you never really felt the way I did.

 

RORY: Yes…I did. Tristan you have this unbelievable hold over me…but I have to step back before I get burned. And I’m not the girl who can keep doing this in secret. It’s eating me up inside lying to Dean. He deserves a lot better than that.

 

TRISTAN: Well you’re not lying to him anymore. So you should feel better.

 

RORY: I hate what I’m doing to you Tristan. I think you deserve better too.

 

TRISTAN: You’re right…I do.

 

Tristan leans over and begins kissing Rory…she doesn’t want to kiss him back…but she can’t help herself…no matter what her head is telling her…her heart belongs to Tristan. As Tristan continues kissing her tears begin rolling down Rory’s cheeks…Tristan stops kissing her and just looks at her as the tears keep coming.

 

TRISTAN: The only thing that is inevitable Rory…is us. You can keep trying to deny what’s going on here…but you’ll always know the truth…and if Dean’s a smart guy…there will come a time when you won’t have to tell him…he’ll just know. Because you can’t give your heart to two people Rory...someone will always end up losing. I just don’t happen to think it’s going to be me.

 

Rory looks at Tristan and buries her head in her hands…ashamed. Tristan puts his arm around Rory and pulls her closer to his chest and tries to comfort her which only starts a fresh batch of tears.

 

RORY: (softly into his chest) I hate you Tristan.

 

TRISTAN: That’s wishful thinking Rory.

 

Tristan pulls her even tighter and kisses the top of her hair…snuggling tightly next to her he smiles.