"Rory," Tristan whispered. He rested a hand on her shoulder. Rory turned from her book, and looked around the library before letting her eyes land on Tristan.

"Yes?" she inquired with a grin. The grin soon retreated from her lips when she noticed the glint of sadness in Tristan's eyes. He had bad news.

"Your Mom," he paused and swallowed deeply before beginning again, "Your Mom and my mom. And your grandmother are here."

"What? Why?" Rory eyed him suspiciously.

"I, umm. Just come to the Headmaster's office with me," Tristan gestured toward the door as Rory began packing her things into her yellow backpack.

"Is something wrong? I mean something has to be. I mean for my mom and grandma to get in the same room voluntarily," Rory joked as she stood offering Tristan a weak smile. He merely offered her his hand, which she took graciously, and led her down the hall.

"Rory," Lorelai rushed over to her daughter and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'll let you talk," Headmaster Charleston excused himself.

"What's going on?" Rory uttered as she noticed the tears in her grandmother's eyes.

"Well, you see," Emily began but stopped abruptly as her sobs began to wreck her body. Rory pulled her grandmother into to a hug hoping someone would explain.

"Your grandfather and my husband are in Europe as you know," Cecile began seemingly unaffected by whatever was going on, "and they were in a car accident."

Rory's breath was caught in her throat as she drank in the news.

"We leave in a few hours to go to France," Lorelai explained.

"Well let's go. We have lots to do, packing, and" Rory exclaimed bounding for the door.

"Honey," Lorelai caught her arm, "You aren't going."

Rory stopped in her tracks stunned. A thousand questions were on the tip of her tongue but the words wouldn't come.

"Your Grandpa will be ok, he's a survivor," Emily offered as she bit back her tears.

"What is wrong exactly?" Rory asked.

"Well, He's in critical condition after smashing into the windshield and suffering a second heart attack," Lorelai explained as her mother got up to leave the room. The truth was hard to gulp down as Rory crumbled to the ground. Tristan looked to his own mother ready for the news of his father.

"How's my old man?" Tristan tried to laugh. Although he wasn't around much and Tristan didn't like him much he was still his father. Whether they liked it or not.

"His seatbelt saved his life and he only suffered minor injuries from what I understand but he isn't stable enough to leave the hospital," Cecile explained calmly as she glanced down at her manicure.

"I guess I'm staying home as well?" Tristan glanced back to his mother who only nodded.

"Can we at least see you off at the airport?" Rory asked suddenly as she sniffled.

"Of course," Lorelai smiled sadly.

"Alright, now I should be home in a couple of days. I didn't get to make any arrangement for you so you are on your own," Lorelai kissed Rory's cheek.

"My own?" Rory asked frightened. She had never been by herself for more than a day.

"Well, technically not because well we do live in Stars Hollow. You know all the numbers. Luke is just down the street. Lane's there. Babette and Maury are next door, but be careful," Lorelai hugged her daughter tightly before adding, "Tristan is always a phone call away too."

Rory smiled as she looked across the terminal at Tristan who sat with his mother staring straight ahead. She felt sad for him. His life was cold and she felt horrible that she was glad her life wasn't cold and that her family though unique was loving and special.

"Do you have everything?" Rory asked her mother.

"Yes." Lorelai replied annoyed. Rory had asked her that question twenty times in the past five minutes.

"Flight Number 102 to Paris is now boarding"

"That's us Lorelai" Emily exclaimed grimly as she got up and grabbed her carry-on.

"Bye Rory, you be good, you hear me. I'll call you when we get in and give you an update on grandpa." Lorelai explained then kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Bye mom, Love ya" Rory hugged Lorelai.

"Take good care and We'll be back before you know it, grandpa and all," Emily smiled as she kissed her granddaughter cheeks "and keep an eye on that boy," she whispered. Rory smiled in return.

"Goodbye Tristan, take care." Cecile said as she hugged him stiffly and headed towards the boarding entrance.

"Bye Tristan, keep Rory company for me please?" Lorelai asked as she embraced the boy. She turned back one more time and walked into the plane.

"Bye" Tristan and Rory said as they waved goodbye.

"Do you wanna see them off." Tristan asked.

Rory turned from the window of the airport with tears, "Do you mind?"

"Hey, why so glum?" Tristan asked as he walked up next to her.

"I've never been left by myself before for longer than a night. My mom is gone for a week, maybe more. I know I'm just being retarded by crying but I can't help it," Rory said as another tear ran down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and continued, "Oh, I'm being so stupid."

"No you're not. It's ok to be scared." Tristan said as he wrapped her up in a hug.

"Thanks, Tristan" Rory said as she pulled away to watch the plane take off.

Tristan watched her stare out the window. More tears leaked out of the corners of her ocean blue eyes. He really felt sorry for her but didn't know exactly what he could do or say to make her fears subside. He too had an empty house to go home to but that was not unusual in his case actually it more comforting to him than a house with people on it; More normal for his household.

"Okay, we can go now." Rory said as she took Tristan's hand and began to lead him toward the exit. Tristan was a bit startled by the gesture but then realized why she did as they entered into the crowd of people.

"So you'll pick me up around 6." Rory confirmed with Tristan. They were going to the biggest blowout party of year.

"Yeah. Yeah. Be ready! I'm on my way," Tristan said as he hung up.

Tristan arrived while Rory was still pawing through her drawers in search of something reasonable for the night's event

"Where's the fire?" Tristan asked as Rory threw some clothes on him and the bed.

"There's a fire?" Rory asked now rooting through her closet and not really paying attention.

"There's no fire, you dork." Tristan said, "Why are you so worried about what to wear. I thought Rory Gilmore was no such woman"

"I wanna look nice, is that a crime?" Rory started as she sat on her bed and starting to pick up assorted clothes and hold them in front of herself, "I haven't been to a party since Madeline's and I'm thinking of giving this whole social thing a go."

Rory held up another outfit as Tristan started to speak, "That doesn't match. Although it's a nice thought, I can assure that after a few of these things it gets old and boring and well, outright annoying." Tristan declared, Rory held up another outfit, "Perfect."

Rory headed into the bathroom to change and called over her shoulder "Whatever you say. You're guru, right?"

"That I am. A good one too. The epitome of debutante life. I am a social God. A shining example of High Society Hartford," Tristan chuckled.

"Sure." Rory said as she stuck her head out the bathroom door holding a toothbrush in-between her teeth.

"Hey Rory." Tristan said, as Rory was about to duck back into the bathroom.

"Yeah?"

"What's with that white stuff all around your mouth?" Tristan asked as he chuckled under his breath.

"Get out of here, Rambo" Rory yelled as she threw her shoe at him.

"I'm almost ready," Rory stated emerging from her room in the deep red dress that fit her curves well and hung loose at her knees. Her hair was swept up in a classy messy bun and her make-up was light and natural,.

"I'll be right back." She announced as she disappeared again.

Rory grabbed her shoes from the living room. She attempted to put them on as she headed to her room to get her necklace. She stood in front of her mirror for five minutes trying to clasp her necklace.

"Hurry up, Rory. I told you to be ready!" Tristan yelled as her entered the room.

"You also told me 6 o'clock not 5:00. Which was the time you got here," Rory retorted.

"Here, let me get that," Tristan said as he pushed hair away from her neck and quickly clasped her necklace. Her turned her around and fixed the necklace so the pendant hung right in the crease of her collarbone. They both stopped for a second when their eyes locked. Rory quickly broke the gaze and grabbed her bag. She smiled over at Tristan meekly. The whole friends thing was killing because everytime she looked at him the same thoughts entered her mind. Running her finger through his tousled hair and kissing his red, swollen lips. She snapped out of her thoughts as Tristan held her coat out toward her.

"You look nice tonight," Tristan commented to Rory as they headed out of Stars Hollow.

"Thank you," Rory replied as a small smile creep onto her lips.