Disclaimer: Don't own anything.

~*~

Four days later, Rory sat on the porch with her mother, eating ice-cream as they watched people walk by. Rory barely touched the ice-cream in her bowl, Lorelai watched her by the corner of her eyes... curiosity hit her quickly. "Ror, what's wrong? Wrong ice-cream flavor?" Lorelai asked, setting her bowl down.

Rory shook her head, somewhat distracted as her eyes kept straight ahead "No," she then looked at her mother "Nothing's wrong," she told her, unconvincingly.

"I've been your mother for what? 25 years? I know when something's bothering you," Lorelai responded, letting her dark hair fall to her face.

Rory sighed miserably "Tristan and I spoke yesterday evening... he told me that I've been becoming distant... I'm just wondering what it means."

Lorelai lay back in her seat to get more comfortable. "Oh, alright... well, you are starting to avoid him you know."

"I am not!" Rory protested, her cheeks turning pink.

"Yes you are... you've been at the house 24-7 when you should be with your husband at home."

Rory chewed on her bottom lip "I'm just thinking..."

"About?"

"Stuff."

"Can I suggest one thing to you?" Lorelai asked her daughter, who sat uncomfortably in her chair.

"Sure."

"Go home, go home to your husband... he probably misses you."

~*~

Rory opened the door, finding the living room light open. She walked slowly- almost cautiously to the room. Rory smiled sadly as she came across Tristan, who slept peacefully on the couch. Rory placed her purse on the coffee table, she stopped suddenly... just watching him... she felt guilty. He was right, she had become distant... she left the house at every opportunity... why? even she didn't know. Bending down slowly, she placed a soft kiss on his lips before whispering "Tristan, baby... wake up."

Tristan's eyes opened slowly, rubbing them from sleep... he slowly sat up "Anything wrong?" he asked, his voice hoarse and tired.

Rory smiled faintly "No, nothing's wrong... you just fell asleep on the couch..."

"I was waiting for you..." he yawned sleepily.

The guilt started to built up inside of her... taking his hand to hers... she kissed him softly "Let's go to bed."

Blinking continuously, Rory didn't feel sleepy... she could feel Tristan's sleeping body beside her... his arms wrapped around her protectively. Closing her eyes, she tried to sleep... realizing she couldn't... she slowly lifted Tristan's hand from around her body... cautiously slipping out of bed. She walked downstairs... giving into her craving for a large piece of strawberry cheesecake. Walking to the kitchen... she opened the fridge door... once realizing that there was no cheesecake, she shrugged as she took out a block of cheddar cheese.

Tristan followed his wife down the stairs. Smiling, he approached her... he sat beside her. Both said nothing... both content at the silence that had filled the house. Rory offered him the cheese... he laughed as he shook his head. Rory put down the block of cheese... standing up "Let's go back to bed... the craving for cheese is gone," she whispered, taking his hand... she lead him upstairs.

Both immediately stopped as they heard noises coming from outside... Rory's eyes widened as she noticed a shadow walk by the kitchen window. She held onto Tristan's arm tightly. She looked up at Tristan, Tristan nodded "I'll go check it out."

"I'll go with you," Rory whispered softly... following her husband closely.

Tristan opened the front door... walking out slowly. He immediately shivered... now realizing that he had forgotten to slip on his shirt before going downstairs. He felt Rory urging him to continue walking. He continued to shiver... and he continued walking... "I can't see anything," he muttered to himself.

Rory immediately handed him a flashlight "I grabbed it on the way out," she replied.

Tristan switched the flashlight on... looking around... he heard footsteps coming from the back and immediately hurried to follow it. Rory followed Tristan... her hand on her stomach... as she slowed down "A pregnant lady cannot be allowed to be doing this... exercise won't do me no good... I'm still a house" she mumbled to herself over and over again.

Rory stopped immediately after Tristan had stopped. All was silent. Rory noticed Tristan had found something... the light from the flashlight shone in one particular direction. Rory stepped beside him, her eyes widening. "Rylee?!"

~*~

"What am I doing?" Rylee asked herself. She stood there... in front of the house... her entire ensemble black. She walked around the house several times... hoping to spot an open door... and open window... anything. She tip-toed around the cement driveway... hoping the sound her heels were making wouldn't wake anybody. She couldn't enter the house... there was no opening... nothing. "This is no use..." she rolled her eyes.

Rylee jumped up, once she heard the door open. She ran behind a tree... watching. She gulped loudly as she saw two figures. Assuming one was Tristan and the other Rory. She felt nervous as the two walked closer to where she was... taking of her high platform shoes... she decided to run. She continued running, until she became out of breath. Hearing them coming closer... she swore to herself.

She frantically surveyed her surroundings... looking for something to hide beneath, under, over..., just as long as they did not see her. Breathing heavily... she hid behind the rose bush...crouching down... biting her lip from screaming out in pain as the thorns brushed roughly against her face.

She covered her face as the bright light his her eyes. Prying them open, she caught sight of Tristan... her heartbeat had increased... She stood up, looking like a lost, scared animal... who had just been caught. Rylee held her breath... as she felt her knees giving out. Rylee looked Tristan up and down... his shirtless body... the muscles... her breathing had become irregular.

Rylee's frown became evident... as her eyes landed on Rory. Noting the surprised look... the shock on her face, she inwardly smiled.

She heard her name come from her lips... and put on the best frightened face she could manage.

~*~

Rory had made Tristan put on a shirt after noticing the looks Rylee had been giving him. Tristan kept quiet... he barely said anything. Rory did most of the talking.

Rory inhaled slowly "Okay, tell me again... as to what you're doing... sneaking around my house in the middle of the night."

"I told you, I needed to give Tristan something," Rylee replied, she seemed calm.

"And what would that be?" Rory asked, her arms folded across her face. Her anger building up inside her.

"A message... nothing that you should be concern about."

Rory looked up at Tristan... her eyes meeting his "Could you please get me a glass of water?" she asked him, as she tried to hold the anger in.

Once Tristan disappeard into the kitchen, Rory's attention returned to Rylee. "You have some nerve... coming here... to MY house... and make up all this bull. What are you really here for?"

Rylee enjoyed watching Rory angry... she found joy and pleasure from it "I'm not lying Rory," she smiled "I'm telling the truth."

"You know, I don't think you are... are you stalking my husband?" Rory asked, laughing sarcastically "Because, it sure seems like it... you sneaking around our property... I bet you were looking for some open window, huh? You sure are one pathetic soul Rylee..." she replied dryly.

"What makes you think I'm stalking Tristan?" Rylee asked, inspecting her manicured nails.

"Oh... let's just say that it's this feeling I have," Rory remained still "Now you better get out of my house."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll call the police... and--"

"Go ahead Mary... call them..."

"What did just you call me?" Rory asked loudly, as she slowly started to let her anger out.

"You heard what I said..." Rylee smirked.

"Rylee, it's best if you leave."

Both females head's turned... seeing Tristan standing there, a cup of water in his hand. Rory walked over to him... taking the drink. She drank hungrily... "I-I- how did she know?" she whispered to herself. Feeling hands on her waist, she looked up... just in time, Rylee was walking out of the house. Rory hugged Tristan tightly.

~*~

*eek* I was writing really really fast... excuse the spelling or grammar mistakes. R/R