Finding Rory

Chapter 26: The Calm?

Tristan and Rory had dressed after their shared shower and walked out of the bathroom in a fit of giggles. Rory was trying to tickle Tristan as they walked to the stairs, and deciding to give her a taste of her own medicine, he threw her over his shoulder began tickling her.

"Tristan, stop! Put me down," Rory giggled.

"No way, Mare! You're in for it now," Tristan warned her teasingly.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and pinned Rory underneath him on the couch. He held both of her hands in his and used his free hand to tickle her. They were both laughing loudly when they heard someone clearing their voice.

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed, clearly startled by her mom's sudden appearance. "I didn't know you were home."

"Well, I am. I see you two are having fun," Lorelai said with a frown.

Tristan stood up and helped Rory off of the couch.

"We are," Rory replied as she glanced at Tristan. "Mom, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Tristan Dugrey. Tristan, my mom, Lorelai."

"It's nice to meet you, Lorelai. Rory talks about you all the time," Tristan said warmly, holding out his hand to her.

Lorelai looked at his hand a moment before hesitantly extending hers to take it. "It's nice to meet you as well, Tristan. I've heard a lot about you."

The three adults stood there awkwardly looking at each other for a minute before Rory finally broke the silence.

"So, we were going to go to Luke's and grab breakfast. You want to come?" Rory asked her mom.

"Sure, that would be great," Lorelai replied.

"Alright, we'll just get our shoes on and then we'll be ready to leave," said Rory.

Rory and Tristan walked into her room and shut the door behind them. Tristan could already see the tension returning to her body.

"Just relax and try to enjoy this time with your mom, Mare. I'm here with you; everything will be okay," Tristan reassured her gently after they'd put their shoes on.

"I know, Tris. My relationship with my mom isn't supposed to feel like this. She would get so furious with my grandma for trying to control her, and now she's doing the same thing to me," Rory whispered.

Tristan pulled her into his arms and wrapped her them around her tightly, holding her until he felt her relax and exhale. He then pulled back just far enough so that they could make eye contact.

"Remember what we said - you make your own decisions now. Okay?"

Rory closed her eyes and relished the feeling of safety and acceptance she felt in his arms, trying to store it up so she could draw from it during the inevitable icy reception they would get from Lorelai Gilmore.

"You're right," Rory agreed. "Alright, let's go get breakfast."

Tristan kissed her on the forehead before releasing her from his arms and taking her hand. He wanted to ensure that she knew that they were in this together, regardless of what Lorelai threw their way. They walked back into the living room to find Lorelai waiting for them.

"You guys ready?" Lorelai asked when she saw them.

"Yep, let's go get breakfast," Rory said with a forced smile. In truth, she was anything but ready for this breakfast. She didn't trust her mom to behave.

They all walked out to the door to head to Luke's together, and Lorelai was the first to break the silence.

"Tristan, I didn't think we were expecting you until closer to lunchtime today; what time did you get here?" she asked.