Authors note: I take no reviews as flames but appreciate the constructive and well thought out observations as much as the feeling driven ones. I also do take these differing views into consideration. A story is made better when people are invested. If you aren’t happy with a character or the way a favorite is acting at the moment – I know I’ve done my job. I live for and love the angst but I’m not above the happy either.

Although I see the big picture, because I know the reasoning behind some of the characters maddening behaviors, I realize sometimes that clarification is needed too.

Into every relationship a little rain must fall but if you wait out the storm there’s bound to be a rainbow at the end. This is the best advice a friend ever gave me and which I now pass onto you.

Story disclaimer: I don’t own the characters in my story; they are the property of the CW Network and the show Gilmore Girls.

It was hard to believe that he could feel this nervous – but he did.

Slowly Tristan took one last deep breath before ringing the doorbell. He was hoping he would have at least a few minutes to compose himself before the door opened, but luck was not on his side as it was immediately opened and he was face to face with her.

Rory- the girl who haunted his dreams on pretty much a nightly basis now.

Rory was having an equally hard time gaining her composure at Tristan’s unexpected appearance. He was literally the last person she had expected to see standing on her doorstep after their last conversation.

“What are you doing here?” Rory asked her curiosity mixed with disbelief that he was actually there.

That was a super loaded question – still he knew exactly why he was there so he might as well get it over with.

“I’m here because…I owe you an apology.” Tristan admitted.

“If this is about last night…” Rory started only to have Tristan intervene.

“Just let me do this please.” Tristan admonished.

Sometimes it bothered Tristan that she was so understanding about who he had become and how he had been treating her and just other girls in general lately.

He wasn’t a bad guy – just a lost one and so many things that he had done since their break-up had been solely to get her attention – to force her to rethink her decision.

“Okay…go on.” Rory said relenting now.

It was time to face facts though…Rory wasn’t affected by anything he did and he didn’t like who he was anymore.

Whether he liked it or not being with Rory had changed who he was and reverting back into his old ways and what she had called his “comfort zone” was only making him miserable.

And he was ready to admit that – to drop the act he’d been playing to hide his disintegrated heart.

Rory wasn’t coming back and he was ready now to move on – first he needed to fix things with her though.

“I’m an ass Rory and I think I pretty much proved that to you last night.” Tristan began.

He half expected Rory to tell him he was wrong but when she didn’t he continued.

“And I said a lot of things that I wish I hadn’t.” it was the truth and he needed her to know it.

“It’s fine.” Rory lied ready to call a peace treaty now. She hated fighting with him it was just too exhausting – so even though she was still upset with him it was better if he thought she wasn’t.

But he knew her too well.

“No…it’s not fine and you need to stop letting me off the hook. I can tell by your face that you don’t really forgive me.” Tristan replied.

Rory knew he was right and that she had been overlooking his faulty behavior in an effort to distance herself from the pain it ultimately caused – she’d been making it easy for him but maybe it was time to get a little “real” with him.

To get back to being pre-Tristan Rory – the girl who had refused to fall prey to his naked charm and mesmerizing draw.

“You called me a heartless slut – that’s kind of hard to forgive.” Rory offered now as proof that he might just be right about her not being fine.

“Yeah…about that –I had a lot to drink last night and that would be one of those things I wish I hadn’t said.” Tristan admitted shame-faced.

It felt good to let go finally…to speak her mind again.

“It doesn’t bother me as much that you said it – it bothers me that you believe it.” She told him her disappointment and hurt showing.

He knew that wasn’t entirely true – that it had been his pain talking.

He had a tendency of wanting to hurt her back when he felt she was being callous with his feelings and making out with Anders in front of him – well that had rubbed him the wrong way.

So yes – he had lashed out and yes he now regretted it.

“You know I don’t really believe that. It would make things so much easier for me if I did though.” He confessed.

“Why?” Rory asked bewildered by his comment.

Tristan wished for a split second that he had kept his mouth shut because now he was faced with the decision of lying to her or telling her the truth and the truth had not been his friend in the past.

But really he had nothing to lose now so he forged on.

If she was ever going to trust him again he needed to start being honest with her.

“Because then I could convince myself that you were just using Anders to make me jealous and not actually falling for him.

It was easy to see the pain etched on his face now and it killed Rory to know she put it there.

“I guess maybe I owe you an apology too.” Rory said realizing it for the first time.

“What for?” Now Tristan was the one confused.

It was long overdue but she knew she needed to say it – to admit to him that she’d been partly responsible for escalating this battle of wills between them.

“For Anders – I wasn’t expecting it to happen and I never meant to hurt you.” Rory said sincere in her regret.

“I believe you. Anders not so much – he just has this annoying way of being right there when I screw up and it’s always to his benefit.” Tristan said his discontent obvious.

“He’s not a bad guy.” Rory began.

“Please don’t defend him to me. If you want to be with him that’s your choice but I don’t have to like him or that decision.” Tristan said hotly.

Rory could see Tristan’s temper starting to spark so she immediately backed down. He was right – she didn’t need to be shoving Anders down his throat.

Clearly he was a sore subject and it was time to segue away from the virtues of Anders.

“If you want to come in I’ll get your keys for you.” Rory said desperate for a change of topic now.

“Sure.” Tristan said taking a reluctant step inside as Rory moved inward to allow him access and then left to get his keys.

It felt foreign to be back in the house with her. Living with her and her mom for that short while it had almost started to feel like he belonged – it didn’t feel that way anymore and it made him sad to realize that.

Coming back from her bedroom, Rory held out her hand to show she had the keys now.

“Here you go.”

As he reached out for them he took Rory’s hand into his at the same time. It was just a small contact but it felt so intimate – so personal.

And they both were a little startled by the rush of feelings it caused – both sets of eyes immediately locking on the other in silent communication.

It was their bond and it was still holding on strong – refusing to die.

“I don’t suppose you could give me a ride to the beach to get my car?” Tristan asked hopefully as he reluctantly dropped her hand.

Quickly Anders request of no one on one’s with Tristan sprang to Rory’s mind and just as quickly she shoved it out. She owed Tristan she was after all the reason his car was still at the beach.

“I could always call our driver if it’s too big a problem.” Tristan said picking up on Rory’s reluctance.

“No. It’s no problem. I just have to go get my wallet and keys.” Rory stated heading for her bedroom even as she spoke.

She thought about calling Anders to let him know, knowing even as she didn’t do that, that she would probably end up regretting her decision.

“Okay…ready.” Rory said dangling her keys as she headed back into the front hallway.

Tristan smiled. “I really appreciate this.”

“You’re welcome.” Rory said smiling back at him now.

For the first time in a long time it didn’t feel awkward with him and she was relieved.

It wasn’t a super short drive to the beach in Hartford but Rory felt confident now that she could maintain a civil conversation with Tristan and that made her happy – almost giddy in fact.

As for what Tristan was thinking – he believed the drive there would be the perfect opportunity to broach the other reason he had come to see Rory – to ask her to be his friend – but still he was nervous.

And she immediately sensed that as she drove towards Hartford with him sitting in the passenger seat beside her.

“Is everything okay with you?” Rory said alluding to his tense position and obvious distraction.

“Yes…no. I uh…I need to ask you something.” Tristan blurted out before he could change his mind.

It was an ominous statement and it made her more than a little nervous now.

Still her curiosity always got the best of her “What is it?”

“Were you serious about being friends with me?” he asked as he felt the heat rise to his cheeks.

Rory thought back to the previous night and what she may have said. It had all been so jumbled in her mind being in that car with him. It had been hard to concentrate on any one thing and she could see herself back pedaling to friendship when he’d pushed the issue into a more physical plane.

Still…if he really wanted to be friends – well that would be great.

She really missed being able to talk to him.

“I was.” Rory said confidently even as the nagging doubt on how Anders would view this turn of events began creeping in.

“Good…because I think we should be friends.” Tristan said giving the idea a seal of approval.

“I do too.” Rory seconded.

“Friends then…”

“Only…I don’t want to hear any Anders details if you don’t mind.” Tristan amended.

That seemed fair.

“And I don’t want any “girl of the week” conversations either – so it’s a deal.” Rory said putting the final touches on their friendship pact.

Yet another moment of truth was looming and Tristan knew he needed to start this friendship with full disclosure if it was going to work.

“Right…in the spirit of friendship…I think there’s something you should know.” Tristan began his reluctance to continue transparent.

He didn’t need to say it though she could read it in his eyes – so she said it for him.

“No more “girls of the week” – just Presley.” She wanted it to be a question but it wasn’t it was a fact.

Suddenly the mood in the car took a downward spiral with that revealing bit of info.

He had hurt her with his honesty and he mentally berated himself for it even as he verbally tried to gloss over it.

“I thought you’d be more disappointed by all the different girls rather than my decision to settle down with one.” Tristan said in explanation of his behavioral change.

Rory wondered how much information was too much but her heart spoke before her head could help her decide.

“I’m not really a fan of either. I just want you to be hap…” She couldn’t finish her sentence it just rang too false in the car.

She didn’t want him to be happy with Presley – that was easily the last thing she wanted. She knew it was selfish though letting her jealousy keep her from wanting what was best for him.

“Don’t beat yourself up – I don’t want you to be happy with someone other than me either.” Tristan said finishing the unspoken thought that passed between them.

The mere thought of Rory moving on and eventually sleeping with Anders gave Tristan a knot in the pit of his stomach.

It was a confession that left the awkward reality of their situation staring them in the face. A reality they thankfully didn’t have to deal with right then as Rory drove into the parking lot of the beach and parked beside Tristan’s car.

A car which now had a ticket placed underneath its wiper blades.

Getting out of Rory’s car Tristan walked quickly over and pulled the offending ticket from its resting place to look at it.

“Apparently there is no overnight parking allowed.” Tristan said looking at Rory now.

“I’m sorry.” Rory said as she joined him by the side of his car.

“Don’t be. This parking ticket probably saved me from a DUI. I owe you.” Tristan said admitting how much worse it could have been if Rory hadn’t cared enough to stop him.

“Well then – I guess your welcome.” Rory said still unable to release all her guilt.

Guilt that only escalated as Tristan realized something else.

“Oh come on.” He said exasperated as he noticed for the first time as he fully circled the car that all four of his tires had been flattened.

It looked as though someone had tried to remove them and been unable to due to very expensive locking lug nuts – revenge had been the puncturing of all four tires.

Tristan knew his dad would not be happy.

“This is my fault. I’ll pay for them.” Rory offered knowing even as she said it that the cost of four new tires for one his daddy’s foreign cars would be setting her back money she didn’t actually possess.

“Stop it. You are not responsible for this. This is all my stupidity.” Tristan reminded her even as he opened his cell phone and dialed.

Rory wasn’t sure who he was calling but she knew she wasn’t going to leave him stranded again so she waited until he finished his conversation.

Hanging up his phone he turned to her. “I called Triple AAA and they are sending a tow truck.” He informed her.

“I’ll wait with you.” Rory offered.

“You don’t have to…they said it would probably be over an hour, but thanks for offering.”

She knew she should probably go, but she wasn’t ready to let go just yet of the new friendship connection that they had forged.

“I’m not stranding you here again.” She said point blank.

“I’m hardly stranded.” Tristan started to point out but sensing her real desire to be there quickly backed off.

“Fine. I recognize your determined stanch. “He said as he reached out his hand to her.

Rory hesitated a minute before placing her hand in his and giving him silent permission to lead her.

“Where are we going?” She asked not really caring in that moment.

“I thought we could go down by the water.” He said even as he headed down the sand pulling her lightly behind him until she was finally in step with him.

Rory sighed inwardly at the familiar heady feeling that being close always evoked.

As they reached the shore he sat down on the last bit of dry sand and pulled her with him to watch the waves.

It was an easy silence that loomed between them as both tried to process the moment.

“This is both great and weird.” Tristan finally said.

“Weird?” Rory mimicked.

“Yeah…I don’t really know how to be “just your friend.” Tristan admitted.

“It’s not like we ever really had that before, we sort of skipped right over that step.” He reminded her.

It was true they hadn’t. They’d gone from uneasy animosity on her part into betraying her boyfriend and then straight into dating. She’d been a Tristan groupie without ever realizing how she’d gotten there.

She’d fallen for him just as hard as anyone else only she’d been lucky enough to have him fall for her too. Most girls hadn’t gotten past the surface attraction phase.

Just her – well her and Presley now.

“What’s going in there?” Tristan said lightly rubbing the top of her head to indicate her brain.

It was contact that sent that indescribable rush of pleasure coursing through her so she had to try hard to concentrate.

“I want to ask you about Presley.” Rory said practically choking on her name.

“You do?” Tristan said looking at her surprised now.

“Yes.”

“Okay…ask away – to be fair though if I answer questions about her you might have to do the same regarding him.” He couldn’t even say his name it was still just too raw a wound.

“I’ll do my best.” Rory promised sensing even as she said it that this was really a necessary conversation they were about to have.

The not knowing was what caused the strife and pain.

Rory tried to decide what a friend would ask – but instead opted for what she really wanted to know.

“Do you love her?”

It was a huge first question and Tristan was more than a little surprised she wanted to know the answer.

An answer he wasn’t really even sure of himself.

“Way to start with a knock-out punch.” Tristan chided stalling a little before answering.

“Okay…the answer is…I don’t know. I mean…yes of course I love her as a friend, she’s been in my life for a long time and she and I did start out as friends – but the kind of love you’re talking about…?”

“That’s more complicated and something I’m not sure I’m up for.” He admitted.

“Then why are you with her?” Rory quizzed.

“Not so fast…it’s my turn now – same question.” Tristan stated.

“Do I love him?” Rory asked?

“No…I know you’re not in love with him. I want to know why you’re with him.” Tristan clarified.

Rory was pretty sure Tristan wasn’t going to want to hear this. “Because I care about him.” She admitted reluctantly.

Man the truth sucked thought Tristan as her words put another irreparable hole into his heart. He was pretty sure it resembled something similar to Swiss cheese now.

Still he’d asked for the answer – he’d just hoped it would have been way more superficial than that.

“So why did you decide to make things work with Presley?” Rory questioned now that it was her turn again.

“Because you changed me into a one woman guy and if that woman isn’t going to be you…” he said his voice trailing off now knowing finishing that sentence would be sure fire trouble for the both of them.

“Because I care about her.” He quickly amended.

It was back that uncomfortable silence. A silence that said so much as they left the things they wanted to say unspoken.

It was enough for right now to know that they weren’t aimlessly connecting with people to hurt each other – there really were honest feelings there, feelings that worked now to mask their true desires – and to bury their magnetic need for each other.

Moving on was going to take a lot of work but it was no longer going to involve innocent bystanders.

Both Presley and Anders were well versed on the risks of being with them and the consequences involved.

Fate had a funny way of flipping the magnet of attraction between Tristan and Rory – it wasn’t a matter of if it would happen….only when.