Finding Rory

Chapter 28: Better Memories

A/N: I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the amazing Linda Prosser for all of her work on this story. She's come up with most of the story line, keeps me organized, gives me feedback and puts up with my ADD tendencies, and cracks the whip when I'm not productive enough. I literally could not do this without her.

And as always, Ashley Wheeler rocks my world with her ninja proofreading skills. I can't get any errors past her, thankfully! Leave them both a thank you in the comments.

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Tristan looked around Rory's bedroom to gauge their progress. They'd packed all of her clothes and personal items, but packing her books had turned out to be quite the task.

"Geez, Mare. I knew you always had a couple of books with you in highschool, but I never realized that you were this much of a book hoarder," Tristan teased as he closed up yet another box of books. "I'm not sure there's room for you and all of your books in the pool house."

Rory looked up at Tristan in mock outrage and shook her head.

"Tell me you didn't just go there, Bible Boy. I love you, but don't ask me to choose between you and my books," Rory smirked.

"Hey, I'm smart enough to know better than to ask you to make that choice - I'd lose out for sure," Tristan chuckled.

The two couples descended into laughter and continued packing up the remaining boxes of Rory's books so that Jess and Tristan could finish loading them all in their vehicles for the trip to Hartford. After the last box was packed, Rory stopped to look around her now-empty room.

"Wow. It feels so surreal - even though I haven't lived here full-time for a while, I've never seen it this empty. I've always just traveled with what I needed, and this was my home base for everything else," Rory said quietly.

Tristan walked over and wrapped his arms around her, Jess and Rebecca slipped out of the room to give them some privacy.

"You still okay with all of these changes, babe? I know it's a lot," Tristan said.

Rory nodded and looked up at him.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm completely sure about what I'm doing," Rory insisted.

"Good. I'm really proud of you, you know? You've been working really hard to change those things you didn't like in your life."

"Well, I have the most amazing man by my side, helping me every step of the way," Rory whispered before reaching up to kiss him.

"I'll always be right by you to help you, Mary," Tristan responded quietly.

They stood there, enjoying the feeling of being in each other's arms for a few minutes, before Rory broke the silence again.

"So, Mom asked if we'd get everything for an official Gilmore girls movie night tonight. Is that okay?" Rory asked uncertainly.

"Of course. What do we need to get?"

"Rebecca and I can get snacks, and you and Jess can go to the video rental store and pick out a movie. Then we'll order pizza and Chinese and we'll be set," Rory said happily. It meant a lot to her that Tristan was trying to make the best of things while they were in Stars Hollow, even if Lorelai wasn't making it easy.

"Sounds good. We should probably get going if we're going to be back before Lorelai gets home."

Tristan and Rory walked out to the living room to find Jess and Rebecca, and they all set out through town. On the walk to Doose's, Jess and Rory told Rebecca and Tristan all about Jess's hoodlum days. They regaled them with stories of the chalk outline in front of the market, the mysterious disappearance of Pierpont, Babette's gnome, and the infamous swan beaking. By the time they arrived at Doose's, they were all laughing hysterically over Jess's less-than-upstanding teenaged years in the Hollow.