Lorelai ran from the diner and fell to her knees at her daughter's sobbing form. She silently pulled her daughter into her arms letting her cry. Letting her get it all out. Slowly Rory raised her eyes to her mother in an unspoken plea for her not to say anything. Rory didn't feel much like talking; there wasn't anything to talk about anyway. He doesn't trust her. There was no way around it. They silently got up and started their walk home.

"Alright," Luke began clapping his hands together, "Nothing to see here."

"I hope she's alright," Miss Patty whispered to Taylor as they exited the small diner followed by a crowd of fellow town's folk.

"I never trusted that boy the first time, let alone the second. I hope this is the end for good," Kirk said as he caught up to them, "not to mention that floppy hair," He paused. "Never a good sign."

Rory went through the next few days in blur as well, as many well routed escapes from the only boy she ever loved the only boy to hurt so horribly that it shook her to the core. She sat at her desk in History staring out the window at the falling snow. It was deathly cold that morning and her mother woke her up by opening her window. As Lorelai leaned out she had exclaimed 'It smells like snow'. Her mother always said good things happen in the snow. Rory would give anything to have a shift in the way her life had been going that past week, for something remarkable to happen to her in the snow. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the final bell announcing the end of the school day. Rory slowly gathered her notebooks still thinking about what her mother said. She didn't notice someone behind her until she spun around and rammed right into them.

"Sorry," she whimpered.

"Bad day?" Tristan asked.

"Bad Week," Rory replied hoisting her bag on her shoulders.

"Wanna talk about it?" Tristan offered. Rory almost said no but then she paused to think. She hadn't even really discussed anything with her mother, but all this stuff was partially about Tristan and some right to know. Before she think about it anymore she answered.

"Yes actually, if you don't mind listening that is," Rory smiled over at him.

"Coffee?" Tristan asked as they headed down the hall to their lockers.

"Do I even have to answer that. Come on, Tris. You know me better than that,"

"OK. Coffee than I'll take you home," Tristan said placing the last of his books in his locker.

"You can just bring me back here. There's a later bus into Stars Hollow," Rory disappeared into the depths of her locker emerging moments later with her physics text.

"I'll take you. It's know big deal really," Tristan led her to his car.

"So, what's up?" Tristan said after they had settled into a booth in a secluded corner of Starbucks.

"We broke up," was all Rory muttered before dropping her head on the table and rested her cheek against the cold wood.

"Idiot." Tristan said to himself before pulling Rory's head up off the table.

"He doesn't trust me. He found out about you being at my grandparents on Friday and acted liked we were getting married and then he said some cruel things about you and how you only wanna hurt me. Then he said I was naïve not to notice what you were up to. After a big argument we broke up and he told me if I was careful you hurt me and I said that no one could hurt more than he just had." Rory blurted out before Tristan could say anything.

"I would never hurt you, I promise. I know I have in the past but it was never intentional. I'm just an ass," Tristan reached up and wiped away a tear that slipped down Rory's cheek, "He was never good enough for you. You sold yourself short because you don't realize just how amazing you are."

"Thank You," Rory smiled through the falling tears.

"I'm serious. You are one of the most talented, kind, caring, beautiful, amazing girl, woman I ever met," Tristan suddenly stopped himself. Had he just said all that aloud? HE knew he had to stop before he said too much and scared her away.

"You're only saying all that because I'm upset, but thank you anyway. It means a lot," Rory placed a plutonic kiss on his cheek. Tristan sat shocked. He subconsciously reached and brushed his fingertips across the spot her lips just graced.

"Good Coffee," Rory said gulping the last bit of hers.

"Yeah," Tristan laughed as Rory headed up for another cup, "Unbelievable."

"I know and It drives you nuts. Come let's go, " Rory smirked then skipped toward the door.

"No you're nuts girlie," Tristan nudged her arm as her caught up with her.

"Home, Jeeves! " Rory laughed wildly as she pointed down the highway.

"Your wish is my command," Tristan smiled at her as she brought the warm coffee cup close to her. She took a long breath of it before gulping the entire cup down. Rory looked over her cup rim and watched Tristan making his way down the highway. Her face was hidden behind her cup as a smile played on her lips.

"Hey Luke, " Lorelai smiled mischievously as she entered the diner.

"Hi Lorelai, What can I get you?" Luke was unusually chipper that afternoon.

"The usual, and coffee," Lorelai plopped down onto the closet stool.

"Coming up," Luke said disappearing into the kitchen with no arguements.

"What?" Lorelai asked in surprise as she followed him into the kitchen.

"Amazed?" Luke asked.

"I'm not amazed, I'm shocked. I spend all day coming up with new ways to make you break and now you go and do this. What gives?"

"Nothing. I'm just happy," Luke smiled before ushering Lorelai out of the kitchen. Lorelai obliged and sat back on her stool.

"Ok you win today, but tomorrow we argue. Well unless I come in all sad and grumpy from a crappy day then you can be nice Luke again," Lorelai smiled.

"Here," Luke said setting a plate in front of Lorelai.

"Hey, since you're being nice Luke today I got an idea. You won't say no either, yay!" Lorelai grin grew like a child entering a toy store.

"Why am I frightened?" Luke asked.

"Come to dinner on Friday night with me and Rory?"

"Why? Isn't that at your mother's?"

"Yes, but you see the thing is. My mother is having the Dugrey's there again. And I need someone to entertain me."

"What about Sookie?"

"Luke, come on please?" Lorelai gave Luke puppy dog eyes and began to whimper.

"Fine, but you owe me,"

"Thank you," Lorelai smiled and began eating.

"Mom, come on, we're gonna be late again," Rory called from the bottom of the stairs. She stood a few inches taller with her heels. Her green dress fell gracefully at her knees leaving her slender legs to float out the ends. She looked a little younger and more innocent as she spun around making the dress flutter up like wings around her and her curled hair bounce on her shoulders. Tristan was to be at dinner again that night and she was excited.

"I'm coming. I'm coming. I'm coming. I'm coming. I'm coming" Lorelai said as she raced down the stairs, "I'm here."

"Finally," Rory spun to leave.

"You're mighty dressy. Any special person, I mean reason for?" Lorelai asked eyeing her daughter suspiciously.

"What about you?" Rory lifted an eyebrow at her mother ensemble as well. She wore a formfitting black dress with a plunging yet modest neckline.

"Shut up, we have to go pick up Luke." Lorelai skipped out the door with Rory close in tow. Rory merely give a knowing smile as she climbed in the jeep.