Sorry it's been a bit of a wait, I have no excuses I just suck.

Previously…

"So Luke will be staying with you?" Richard asked temporarily. They still hadn't found out if they were dating or not.

"Yeah, but I will sleep on the sofa. It's just so Rory doesn't have to worry about her during the night." Luke said.

"Well that seems practical." Richard said. Richard knew his daughter and he knew she was stubborn. He also knew that it would take a lot to get her to agree to some help but he realized that Luke was probably the only person she'd accept it from. Mainly because Luke wouldn't let her say no.

Emily just stood there and gave them a forced smiled. She really wanted to help, but she also wanted to get to the bottom of this man's relationship with her daughter.

On their journey back to the mansion, The Gilmore's were quiet but Emily's mind was not. Her thoughts were all over the place, she was happy and overwhelmed her daughter finally awoke and equally glad for Rory too, she was a little sad that Lorelai didn't want her help, not that she had offered it… yet, but more annoyed this Luke man was intervening with her daughters and granddaughters life once more. She was uncertain of him, as a man, Emily thought Luke had good morals and was very kind, he knew what he wanted, what he valued and it showed in his character, but as a man suited for her daughter, she couldn't possibly approve... could she?

She was grateful for his help and despite her longing to be in that position to help her daughter, she knew Lorelai wouldn't let her, not that that was going to stop her helping in one way or another. But the same question kept burning in her mind over and over, what was the relationship status between Lorelai and the diner man? In the past she had seen them act like more than friends especially listening to Lorelai's stories week after week which almost always included a mention of Luke. She had seen them act like jumped up school teenagers too shy to make a move but figured that something was there, through to an old married couple who know every in and out, up and down, best and worst of each other and still deeply in love. Not knowing which one of these frustrated her.

The silence in the car was broken by her husband's voice, "penny for your thoughts my dear?"

"Hmm? Oh Richard… it's nothing, was just thinking about Lorelai, that's all" she replied not so convincingly.

"You mean Lorelai… and Luke", he stated, it wasn't a question. She just looked at him, how did he know? He could read her like one of his books in his grand study and it amused him that she hadn't figured it out by now. "Oh come now Emily dear, I've known you for a very long time, I know that is what you are thinking about."

She sighed in defeat "I am just not sure about him, I don't know what is his and Lorelai's relationship and I am not sure I like it."

"Oh Emily, we mustn't think of that, not right now anyway, we should just relish in the fact that Lorelai woke up today and from what we can tell she is going to be OK. Besides Luke comes across as a kind, decent, strong back-boned man and I am for one, appreciative for all his help over the past month and for what is to come. Whereas if you look at Christopher, whom I know you're fond of, you told him almost immediately after the accident about Lorelai, but he only came just today and stayed less than five minutes. So please, my dear, do me a favor and not think about it anymore this evening." He says, lifting her hand to his face and placing a kiss on said hand whilst keeping an eye on the road.

"I suppose you're right, I'll try my best".

Over the week, well nearly two, after Lorelai waking up, both Gilmore girls had many tests to overcome. Rory was caught up in studying for her sophomore year's final exams that were only weeks away, just one step of reaching her goal to the ivy leagues and Lorelai's were all about her one current goal of being able to go home. She was never one for being able to sit still, and found herself itching beyond belief to leave the sterile walls of Hartford memorial.

She had had a few rounds of physical therapy in attempts to gain her strength back but she was limited with her leg, mainly having to focus on upper body and core exercises, only doing merely minutes of walking exercises with a great deal of help gripping the parallel bars, and one thing she was sure of, Gilmore's don't do exercise! She thought the doctors were being over careful and that she didn't need the full body exercises but once she arrived and began she was surprised with how her body had grown weak over the past 5 weeks.

Nonetheless Lorelai, as always, was determined.

Rory was walking out of school on a Friday afternoon in high spirits because her mom was doing well and getting closer to finally coming home. She had been studying hard, preparing for her first round of Chilton finals, she was feeling confident about them, her spirits were high because of her mom, Paris was too occupied studying to torment her, Luke was just being the Luke she loved and things with Tristan seem to be good.

As she reached the front gate, suddenly she stopped. She saw Dean standing by his car. Feeling ambushed and anxious she slowly approached him, not knowing why he was looming there after so long without contact. Sure she had seen him around town, it's a small town and he works in the only market but neither had uttered words since the firelight festival.

She didn't know what to say to him only wanting to know the logistics of his visit. "What are you doing here?" Rory asked.

"I heard about your mom waking up. It's great." He said giving a coy smile.

"Um thanks. Yeah she's coming home soon, hopefully." She said.

"Oh that's good. Look I am sorry I haven't talked to you since that night but after everything with your mom, I just wanted to give you some space Rory. I knew you would be suffering with everything that happened but I missed you Rory. I should never have broken up with you and I am so sorry." He said cautiously coming close attempting to place a hand on her shoulder.

Rory was shocked and as soon as she felt his touch she recoiled two steps back. "Dean….I can't…." She said.

"Why not?"

"I just can't… now's not the time…"

Just then, Tristan came walking over, he had seen the Sasquatch known as Dean and felt the need to see if Rory was alright or if she needed his help. "Hey Rory, are we still good for later?" He asked.

Dean's eyes narrowed. "Oh I see! You're going out with him now!"

"What? No- " she said but Tristan cut her off.

"Hey farm boy how's it going? Milk the cows today? Feed the chickens?"

That irritated dean even more, "Dude, not that it is any of your business but I am from Chicago!"

"Chicago huh? Well just looking at yeah I can tell where they got inspiration for the sears tower then." He said goading him.

"Tristan stop" Rory said grabbing his arm pulling him slightly away form dean, it wasn't exactly a demand but she didn't want a fight to break out.

Dean noticed this simple action, and he was pissed "Wow Rory, you must have moved on quickly! Geez! No wonder you couldn't tell me you loved me!" He said angrily.

"I'm not going out with Tristan!" Rory said getting upset. "And you can hardly talk! You were kissing a cheerleader the day after we broke up!" So much for you saying you loved me!"

"She threw herself at me! I pushed her off!"

"Whatever, Dean! We're over!"

"So that's it then, how long did you even wait before running into his arms!" he said jabbing a thumb into Tristan's direction, Rory's eyes followed where he was pointing but she wasn't look at Tristan she had noticed a crowed had formed around the trio, and she wanted out of there.

"How many times do I need to say it, we are not together! And I need to go. I'm meeting Luke at the hospital." She said. She turned to Tristan. "I'll see you later."

She began walking off but Dean wasn't finished "You expect me to believe you two aren't together, what are you doing later huh? Meeting up at his mansion or just using the back seat of his car? Like mother like daughter right?" Well that certainly got her attention, Dean knew Rory wasn't that kind of girl he was just angry and the words just spilled out.

Rory stopped and turned back to him, now she was angry "What. Is. That. Suppose. To. Mean!"

"It means, nobody has a kid at 16 without having a reputation!"

Everyone in the crowd gasped at this, they knew of Lorelai's age when she Rory and didn't think much of it knowing Rory what Rory was like and they had heard about Lorelai from Madeline and Louise. Before Rory could retaliate, Tristan's fist came in contact with Deans jaw bone, all hell was about to break loose but everyone began to disperse when they heard a staff member demanding what was going on and Rory just had to walk away quickly before she was caught up with interrogations by Charleston.

Rory got to the hospital all upset, her mind was confused and angered by dean and Tristan, it was a proper teenage dilemma, well not dilemma but she was in desperate need for a vent session and hopefully gain some wise advice... she really needed a talk with her mom.

She walked the overly familiar hallways and went to the normal room her mom had laid in for nearly two months but froze when she found the bed empty. She started to panic, she was breathing short and rapid and felt like she was choking, her eyes were welling up and she felt like she couldn't hear anything. Where was she? What's happened? Before she could help it, tears were well and truly running down her face. She ran out of the room and saw her mom's nurse who she had had many talks with in recent times.

"HEY!….my mom!...where is she!" She demanded.

The nurse saw the state and stood coming out around from her station attempting to try calm Rory down. "Woah, woah, woah, Rory, what's wrong?"

"WHERES MOM! She isn't in her room, she is always in that room! She's being doing well! Where is she?" Rory panicked, her breathing was erratic and her body was shaking, and the nurse recognized it as a panic attack.

"I'm sure there's an explanation. I will go and find out. Just try and calm down, just try to take deep breaths." The nurse said sympathetically.

Luke then appeared and saw Rory in tears. "Rory?" He said rushing to her side, enveloping her in a concerned hug "hey, hey what is wrong?" he saw the nurse standing there and looked at her for an explanation whilst Rory shook in his arms.

The nurse saw his look and explained "she came and saw her mom not in her room, and it looks as if she is having a panic attack."

"Oh, well where is she? Is everything alright, I was here at lunch and she seemed fine" Luke asked

"Oh yeah, she's just spent the last few hours having more tests done, and in physical therapy and then she needed to have an updated CT scan, she should be back anytime now."

"You hear that Rory?" he said rubbing calm circles on her back as if she was 5 years old, "She's just getting looked over for one last time before she's allowed to come home. She's fine, I promise" Luke comforted her.

Rory let out a big breath. "Oh…" She said quietly still shaking as her sudden attack died down. She sat down feeling embarrassed. "I should have realised. I just saw she wasn't there and I freaked out…"

"It's OK. It's natural. Here drink this" The nurse said handing her some water. "She should be out soon. Are you OK?" she asked, it was a common reaction from family members who have experienced what Rory had, and she had admired how well Rory had handled things thus far. She noticed her uniform and knowing the time of the year she thought Rory had been over exerting herself with studying and being with her mom, not really finding time to take care of herself by sleeping or eating properly, so of course she was going to go off eventually.

"Yeah, I am fine, just a lot has happened so…" she trailed off

"It's OK, I understand, I have to get back to my station, but Luke is here with you. Let me know if you need anything."

Both Rory and Luke gave her an appreciative smile. "So Rory, be honest with me, is everything OK? You seemed fine when I walked you to the bus stop this morning." Luke questioned.

Rory sighed. "Dean showed up after school, and he and Tristan kind of got into it a bit" She said.

"Dean? Oh, I thought you hadn't talked to him for a while?" Luke said.

"I hadn't. He was waiting outside school for me though and I couldn't avoid him. He told me he was glad mom was better and then he went on to say he'd missed me and he shouldn't have ever broken up with me." Rory said. "But then Tristan turned up and Dean went mental assuming we were going out and saying all sorts. It was horrible to be honest" She said sadly. "I just needed to talk to mom and then I came and she wasn't here…"

"Well what did he say?" Luke asked, he still didn't like Dean and now he had caused Rory to be upset.

"It's not worth repeating but basically he thinks I ran straight into the arms of Tristan after breaking up with him and insinuating… you know… and then said 'like mother like daughter'"

"What! He said that to you? God wait until I see that punk!"

"Luke, calm down, it's fine, I don't think he meant it, he was just angry I guess… besides Tristan already took care of it." She said, saying that last part with a smirk.

Luke nodded. He then looked up. "Hey look! There's your mom." He said seeing her mom being wheeled down the corridor.

Rory looked up and ran and hugged her. "Mom!" She said.

"Hey sweets!" She smiled, but then she noticed the red puffiness in her daughter's eyes and the tracks of tears down her face. "Hey, sshhhh… babe what's wrong?" she said rubbing her back.

"Oh I just had a bad day and I really needed to talk to you, but I came here and you were gone, and I got scared, guess I just freaked out thinking something happened to you"

"Aw hon, nothing's happened, its OK I am here"

"I know, I was just being stupid."

"You? Never! So what happened at school that made you have a bad day?"

"Oh I will tell you about it later, are you coming home soon?" Rory asked.

"I don't know I hope so." She smiled.

"How does tomorrow sound?" Said the doctor who came in hearing the end of that conversation.

"Really!?" Said both Lorelai's with Cheshire cat grins.

"Yeah really? Is she ready for that" Luke said apprehensively, as much as he wished she was better so they could start their relationship properly, he didn't want to push her too fast.

"Luke, don't rain on our parade!" Lorelai said, she was too eager to get back to her life.

"Yes, she is actually" stated the doctor "your recent tests and scans came back the best we've seen, and your PT is happy with your progress and is making arrangements to work with you at your home every second day so you only have to come in once a week for a full progress testing, You're out of the woods Miss Gilmore, but there is still a journey to go, remember that."

"I will but going home sounds awesome, I am so ready to blow this Popsicle stand" Lorelai declared.

Her doctor had to chuckle at her jovial vernacular, "I bet you are, well I best see to my other patients, but congrats on how well you are doing, it's good to see you motivated, it's not exactly common with post-comatose patients" and then he left the room, leaving the family celebrate over Lorelai's impending homecoming.

Later that evening after visiting hours has finished for the day, Luke and Rory arrived back at the crap shack, they were tired, the past almost two months suddenly had caught up with them since they were told of Lorelai's release the next day, so they were tired… but elated.

A soon as they walked through the door, Rory had headed for the phone, she felt it was her duty to inform her grandparents that her mom was coming home tomorrow afternoon, in case they had stopped by to visit, also Emily would have her and Luke's heads if she wasn't updated. To Rory, Emily sounded happy that Lorelai was well enough to come home, but still she wanted to help, which she fully intended to do and now she had a date and time her plan could be set in motion.

Rory got off the phone and settled down on the couch with a book while Luke was cooking dinner in the kitchen when the doorbell suddenly rang and Rory went to answer it. "Oh hi!" She said surprised but happy to see Tristan. "I wasn't expecting you until a bit later."

"Yeah I know, sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were OK after everything with Dean and I figured you'd be here as soon as visiting hours were over." He said.

Rory smiled. "Thanks. I'm fine. Come on in, have you eaten? She said bringing him in.

Luke then came out from the kitchen when he heard voices. "Tristan." He said acknowledging the teen.

"Hey Luke." Tristan nodded.

"Are you staying for dinner?" He said.

"Sure if that's no problem?" Tristan said.

"No, no problem at all." Luke smiled.

Rory smiled, glad that Luke liked Tristan, well actually his friendly nature for this evening was due to the shiner Tristan had put on Deans face, saved him from having to do it himself and being charge for assaulting a minor.

Rory took Tristan to her room, she could tell he wanted to talk, and to do so in private. She thought back to Dean's accusations and honestly she didn't really know if anything was happening between them but during the past month, she had grown to really like Tristan. He was a completely different person to the guy who hassled her every day at school.

"So are you OK really? Dean shouldn't have shouted at you like that, and he especially shouldn't have talk about you or your mom like that, no one should." Tristan said as they sat on her bed.

"Yeah, I just wasn't expecting to see him and hear him saying things, particularly those things, I never thought he would go there. But then I got to the hospital and had a panic attack, but now I am feeling happy because mom is being discharged tomorrow, so it's been an eventful few hours."

"Oh wow that's great Lorelai is coming home…Wait you had a panic attack? Because of dean-"

"No" she quickly cut him off "when I got there mom wasn't in her room and I just freaked out, like something just suddenly hit me, that I had almost lost her" Rory looked down but then chuckled and looked back at Tristan. "I must have looked a state!"

Tristan chuckled. "But you're OK now?"

"Yeah I'm OK." She confirmed, looking at him. "What about you though? Are you OK?"

"Oh yeah, I am fine" he said no so convincingly.

"You didn't get in trouble for hitting Dean did you?"

"Please, like I would get into trouble for that, He was trespassing on school grounds and it was outside of school hours, besides anyone around us would have done the same thing."

"Yeah thank you by the way… for defending mine and my mom's honor, Luke thanks you too" she said giving him a small smile, which he returned, but she still noticed something was bothering him."

"Any time, what can I say I like being the hero." He said to which they both chuckled at. But the silence grew upon them again.

"So are you going to tell me the truth" she asked which he looked confused at. "Tristan tell me what's really bothering you?"

He grimaced at the thought of telling her what was really on his mind, but he needed to try anyway. "It's just something you said earlier, at school… You kept saying we aren't together, and I know we're not, but…" he trailed off

"But what?" Rory was curious as to where this was going.

"But… Rory" He said staring into her piercing blue eyes "I really like you, OK… And I am glad we've become friends and gotten closer over the past couple months, but I guess when you said those words to Dean, something just hit me I guess…. It's stupid, I'm sorry, I should go." He said rushing to stand up, she had never seen him this flustered.

"Wait Tristan!" she stopped him standing up too facing him, looking him in the eye "It's ok, it's not stupid, I've been thinking about it too recently… and I think I…" her thoughts were lost as gravity forged them closer and closer until his lips collided softly against hers…

They were suddenly interrupted by Luke knocking on the door to say dinner was nearly ready, which caused them to jump apart immediately.

"Thanks Luke! We'll be right there!" Rory called through the door with a red face.

"So is Luke going back to his place after tomorrow?" Tristan asked.

"Nah, not for a while, he's going to help look after mom. I hope he doesn't go home for a while actually, it's nice having him around, and he doesn't have anybody else so it will be good for both of them, well that's what I think anyway" Rory stated.

The next day, Rory had spent most of the time restless, she couldn't wait to see her mom and bring her home, she decided to clean as best as she could. Around Lunchtime Luke came back from the diner to head back to the hospital bringing Lorelai some food and some comfy clothes, that were far better than the scratchy paper-like gown she had been forced to wear.

The doctor was going over every possible detail to Luke, Rory and Lorelai, in order for her to continue her smooth recovery. She mustn't work for at least another 3 weeks due to her head injury then after that she could try a few days a week so long as she took it easy and stayed off her leg. Until then she had to remain on bed rest, or stay in her wheel chair at least till she was strong enough to use crutches. The doctor started mentioning her diet, which should be watched over instead of normal carefree one she had been living on. It wasn't till now Lorelai had said anything.

"What about coffee, can I have coffee!?" she asked

Luke stood there, arms folded, eyes rolling "No Coffee!" he declared.

The doctor as well as every nurse and orderly in that wing had learnt the hard way about his patients coffee addiction so he found the banter between Luke and Lorelai amusing. "You may have some coffee, but do not – and I mean DO NOT have anywhere near as much as you were having before the accident, not at first anyway, try mixing in some decaf too."

Lorelai sighed in frustration "ergh fine, I'll take what I can get."

"Good, so that should be all then, you have all the plans for the therapy sorted, you know when your next appointments are and all the warnings to take it easy and still rest, so I will just get the discharge papers and let you get dressed and we should be home free."

"YES! Let's gets discharging!" Lorelai said thrusting a fist in the air.

Soon Lorelai was driving through stars hollow, looking at everything and everyone in attempt to reconnect the place she loved and had been absent for nearly 2 months. They pulled up outside the crap shack and she smiled longingly at the place she called home. She noticed the ramp hooked on to her front porch and couldn't help feel indebted to Luke once more. Once everyone was inside everything looked as if she remembered, except one thing…

"What the…?" Lorelai said shocked, looking at Luke and Rory.

"It wasn't me, it wasn't here when we left. It must have been…." He started.

"My mom… this screams Emily all over" Lorelai sighed.

What they saw was a rented hospital bed in the middle of the living room, it was an electric one that you could adjust the heights, making it easier for Lorelai to get in and out of bed, but it wasn't her bed, that she had missed.

"We did need one though, to be honest." Luke said.

"I guess… but I was so looking forward to you carrying me upstairs and tucking me in every night" Lorelai said.

"I bet you did" he replied gruffly.

"Think of it this way mom, you're closer to the TV, kitchen and both me and Luke, since he will be on the couch and refuses to sleep in a perfectly good bed upstairs." Rory said.

"Hey Rory we already discussed that, but you're right, this will be easier on all of us, so thank your mother when you get the chance."

"Fine, I suppose it will do" she said, giving in.

Luke helped her over to the sofa and sat her down, Rory had hired some movies to have a long overdue movie night, and soon they were all eating and having a really nice evening. Rory watched the normal banter between her mom and Luke and she smiled. She had missed that so much and she was so happy her mom was finally home. They can finally move on with their lives, and Luke and Lorelai could properly begin their relationship, even if she was bed ridden still.

Bit long, bit of filler, Bit of douchey Dean... so REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! XX