Disclaimer: I still own nothing to do with Gilmore Girls.

Author's Note: Thank you for reviewing! You have no idea how happy you're making me!

Rory was exhausted, but it had still seemed like a good idea to talk Emily into letting her drive. She'd never seen her grandmother with a hangover before, but she was fairly certain that was part of her problem. At least she'd managed to talk to Lorelai before they left. She was grateful her mother would be there to meet them in Hartford, especially as Emily hadn't said anything about where she was staying or if Richard was still in their home. Rory had wondered about the practicalities but then decided she had enough problems of her own. Driving was as much as she could manage for now.

Lorelai had sounded a little upset by the latest development, although Rory guessed that after the test run at the Dragonfly, she wasn't really that surprised. Her grandparents' difficulties offered some distraction from Rory's own complicated life, and she was glad in a guilty way that Lorelai would also have something else to occupy her mind. She couldn't begin to explain to herself what was going on in her head, and would rather be spared the incessant questioning she expected from her mother. Lorelai wouldn't let it rest until it all made sense. Rory sighed. After Dean, just how her feelings about Tristan and whatever wasn't going on between them would ever make sense was beyond her. She glanced at her grandmother, who seemed to have fallen asleep, before switching the radio on. She needed something to keep her alert. Unfortunately it would have to do so quietly.

She was almost relieved when they reached Hartford, although of course that meant she was almost back in Stars Hollow to face an all-new horror show. Lorelai was almost hanging out of the window waiting for them.

She bounded out of the house to hug Rory almost before she could get out of the car.

"It's so good to have you home!"

"Really?"

"Of course really! Let me look at you!"

Rory allowed herself to be held at arms' length. Even her delight at seeing Lorelai couldn't quite disguise the fact that she looked worse than she had when she'd left. Then, she'd been tired and confused and upset. Now, Lorelai saw something different: something resembling defeat. She didn't have much time to contemplate it though, as her mother came round the side of the car.

""Hi Mom." She moved to embrace the older woman awkwardly, wondered why, even at a time like this, everything between them had to be awkward.

"Lorelai. Is Richard here?"

"Uh- no. I haven't seen him."

"Well, at least we'll be spared any unpleasantness for the time being." Emily strode purposefully into the house, leaving the others no choice but to follow.

She stopped just inside the door, taking in all the familiar sights of her home.

"You know how long I've lived here? Since I was married my whole life has been in this house. And now-"

Lorelai moved to put an arm round her but Emily gently pushed it away and walked up the stairs.

Lorelai stared after her for a moment and then pulled her daughter into the living room.

"Do you think I should go up there?"

"I don't know. Do you think you should go up there?" Rory was already suppressing a yawn.

"I don't know. I'm sure Mom would the correct etiquette for the occasion but strangely enough, dealing with divorcing parents must have been one of the lessons I skipped when I was growing up. Didn't think I'd need it."

She sounded sad. Rory wasn't surprised by that. The equilibrium of Richard and Emily's marriage was something Lorelai had counted on, even after everything they'd been through. It was something she probably even aspired to, no matter how much of their lives she'd discarded.

"Well, do you think she should stay here alone?"

"No!" Rory looked horrified at the idea. "It's too sad."

"Fine. I'll go and talk to her. But you have to be ready to come and help- we'll have to take her to the inn by force if necessary."

"The inn? What about home?"

Lorelai regarded her in disbelief. "At the inn she can have Sookie's cooking and Michel to fawn over her all day long. We have to live at home- and somehow I don't think Emily in this mood would be a very good house guest."

"I could stay here with her. If you want." Rory's voice was hopeful. That way she could avoid the gossip at home a little longer.

Lorelai shook her head. "No, I don't. I want you home, with me. The madness has gone on long enough already."

"True." Rory sighed. Staying here alone with Emily wouldn't be much fun. It wouldn't be like Martha's Vineyard, where there was some chance of escape with Tristan. Her eyes filled with tears. She wiped at them with her hand, frustrated by her seeming inability to stop them.

"Are you all right?" Lorelai was full of concern. "Maybe I should have told Luke- we could have run Dean out of town before you came back."

Rory managed a watery smile. "It's not him. I'm just tired, that's all. Go get Grandma and we'll go to Luke's for something to eat."

"Going right now!"

Rory laughed. It was good to see her mother acting like an over-excited teenager being allowed to see her boyfriend. Of course, maybe it was just the thought of the food.....

She stared around the room, hardly able to believe that soon it wouldn't be home for both her grandparents. How on earth had that happened? You'd think after so long together, they'd be past all the drama. If this was what happened to them, what chance did she have of a happy ever after?

Lorelai appeared a few minutes later, trailing a none-too-pleased Emily behind her.

"Rory, would you tell your mother I'm a grown woman and perfectly capable of spending a few nights alone in my own home?"

"I don't know, Grandma. You know how good Sookie's cooking is, and the Dragonfly's really nice."

Emily huffed.

"Besides, Mom, I think Dad must have let the staff go in the meantime." Lorelai attempted to press home the advantage.

"That man really has no idea of propriety!"

Rory caught her mother's eye and both tried not to laugh. "I'm not sure that's right, Mom, but let's go. We'll bring you back over tomorrow if you like."

"Well, all right, if nothing else will please you." Lorelai looked surprised at the ease with which she'd won in the end. Emily eyed her sharply. "What are you waiting for?"

"Nothing. Come on!"

Rory stared at all the familiar sights of Hartford as they drove back through the town. The front of Chilton brought back more memories than she was ready for. She saw in her mind the moment she'd run into Dean's arms and told him she loved him, told him she hated Tristan. Looking back now, she wasn't sure any of that had been true. How different would it have been if she'd turned those words around? Of course, she hadn't had any reason to, not then. Just a really good, confusion-fuelled kiss.

Probably she'd just have been another conquest, instead of a whole world of could have been. Her whole relationship with Tristan, fragmented through time and space, was all about bad timing and stupid choices, on both their parts. Words that shouldn't have been spoken, kisses that shouldn't have happened, kisses that hadn't that should........If Dean was the relationship that couldn't be, Tristan was the one that wouldn't. She could still see the look of shock in his eyes when he realised she'd slept with a married Dean. She thought she'd seen something else, too- maybe censure, maybe disillusionment. Things she wished she hadn't seen because they'd brought her only sadness and hurt.

She wished she could see him again, found herself staring at every silver car, wishing him inside it. As they passed a gas station, she could have sworn she saw him but the image was gone when she blinked. She shook her head. She didn't need to start hallucinating.

Half an hour of silence later they were at Luke's. Rory glanced at her mother inquiringly and saw the look of panic flicker across Lorelai's face. Emily still didn't know about Luke. Was this really the right time to tell her mother she was dating the diner man?

"Why are we stopping here?" Emily's voice was querulous.

Lorelai grimaced, then made a hasty decision. This would give Emily something new to grumble about. It might even unite her and Richard.

She got out of the car. "Because we need to eat. And if we eat here you can meet Luke. At least, you've already met him, but we weren't going out then."

Emily looked horrified. She wasn't sure which piec e of information to deal with first.

"We're going in here to eat?"

"Yes, we are. So get out of the car and come on."

"And you're dating-" She paused to stare at Lorelai.

"Yes, I'm dating Luke. Now, come on!"

Rory, who had been looking hesitant too, scrambled out at her mother's command.

"Been practising giving orders in my absence?"

"It's the Dragonfly. I've been trying really hard to keep Michel in check. Glad it has another purpose," Lorelai returned.

The three walked into the diner, now facing Luke's look of panic. "If I'd known you were bringing your mother here I'd have changed," he muttered into Lorelai's ear as she reached up to kiss him hello.

"Into what exactly?" she answered sarcastically, laughing.

"Are displays of affection allowed between the clientele and staff?" Emily asked waspishly. She felt as though she was being expected to deal with far too much at once today.

"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Gilmore," he said through gritted teeth. "And you, Rory. How are you? What can I get you- apart from the coffee?" He added as he saw her start to smile.

"Can I have my usual with the coffee?"

He nodded resignedly. "You know, a few vegetables wouldn't kill you. You look like you could do with them." He gave up. "You know, it's really good to have you back."

"It's nice to see you too."

The food arrived after much deliberation on Emily's part. Fortunately there weren't many other customers to stare at her or gossip about Rory's return. Apparently there were enough though, for word to spread and the diner started to fill upas they ate dessert.

Rory was glad, in a masochistic way, to get it over with. There were a few cold hellos and a lot of whispering, much to Luke's confusion.

"At least we brought you some extra business," Lorelai whispered as he refilled her coffee.

"Remind me to ask you what's going on later," he muttered back.

They were distracted by Lane bursting through the door.

"Rory! I heard you were back!"

"How?" Rory asked as she jumped up to hug her friend.

"How do you think? You can't keep anything quiet in this town. Can we talk now?"

"What about Mrs. Kim?"

"She's out at a church meeting. I have time."

"Mom?"

"Go, catch up. I'll take your grandmother to the inn."

"Thanks. And thanks, Grandma. For everything."

Lane chattered until they reached Rory's house, then contemplated her friend curiously, her head tilted to one side.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm checking to see if you look different."

"Of course I don't look different- why would I look different?"

"You know-" Lane scrunched up her nose, looking slightly embarrassed. "Do you feel different?"

Rory sighed. "Yes, I do. Mostly I feel guilty and sad and- I miss Tristan."

"What?"

"I miss Tristan."

Lane was confused. "I know you saw him again, but what happened? What does he have to do with anything? How does he get to be a bigger story than sleeping with Dean?"

"I don't know- nothing happened." Rory smiled softly, sadly. "But he is."