"So where do you go on Fridays anyway?" Rory asked curiously leaning up against the locker next to Tristan's. It was two weeks later on a Friday, Rory was getting a ride home for her grandmother.

Tristan shrugged, "Around." He stuffed more books into his bad.

"Where's around?" Rory persisted.

Tristan turned and looked at her, "Mary, I know your going to miss me but you'll get over it someday, okay?" He closed his locker as Rory rolled her eyes.

"I am not going to miss you."

"Yes you will." Tristan walked down the hallway with Rory at his heels.

"Will not."

"Will too."

"Nope."

"Yup."

"We sound like four year olds, let's just stop okay?"

"You started it."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Okay, fine, jeez. I'll miss you, happy now?" Rory said defeated.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" Tristan asked.

Rory scowled at him, "You changed the subject, I always fall for that!" She said angered.

"I know, I'm good."

Rory stopped walking and turned to Tristan, she grabbed his sleeve to stop him. "Seriously though, what do you do on Fridays"

"Stuff." "What kind of stuff?"

"All kinds."

"Ugh! Tristan!."

"Okay, okay I'll tell you. You never stop do you?"

"Nope, so what is it that you do?"

"Itakecareofmylittlecousins." Tristan said in a rush.

"Huh?" Rory said confused. "What was that?"

Tristan sighed, "I take care of my little cousins."

"You do?" Rory's eyes widened. "I didn't know you liked little kids!"

"Well, I like these ones." Tristan began walking again.

Rory caught up with him, "Do you bring them places or something?"

"Yeah."

"How old are they? How many are there? What are their names?" Rory spat out questions. She had so many. This was a side of Tristan that she'd never seen before.

"Clara's eight, and so is Aden. They're twins." They reached his car.

"Oh! Twins!" Rory said excitedly. "I want to meet them!"

"Well, you can't." Tristan threw his bag into his car.

Rory looked hurt, "Why not?"

"You can't meet them today, next week." Tristan opened the car door and climbed in. "But right now you have to go. Your grandma's here." He pointed to Emily Gilmore's car which was down the parking lot.

Rory's eyes followed his fingers, "Oh, right! Okay, see you Monday." Rory ran to the car.

Tristan smiled as he pulled out of the parking lot, he was already looking forward to next Friday.

* * *

"Hey, babe. Wake up!"

Rory groggily opened her eyes, the sun streamed on to her face, warm and friendly. Home, she was home. "It's too early."

"Oh, come on! I want coffee and I just might leave without you!"

Rory flew up, "No, don't leave me!"

"Well, then hurry up and get dressed."

Rory watched Lorelai bounce around her room, "Mom?"

She turned to her, "Yeah?" Her blue eyes twinkled.

"Am I dreaming?"

"Yeah sweetie, you are." Lorelai sat on the edge of her bed.

"Oh." Rory stared at her mother, tears formed in her eyes. "But I don't want to wake up."

"You have to of course." Lorelai stood up. "I'm leaving, you're taking too long."

Rory scrambled out of bed, "No, wait I'll be ready in just a second."

"Too late." Lorelai walked out of the room.

"No! Don't leave me! Mom!" Rory ran out the door but her mom wasn't there. "Mommy, don't leave me!" Rory searched all of the rooms, but they were all empty. Tears steamed down her face, "Mom, mom!" She ran outside searching, only to find herself at her grandparents front door, not her own.

"MOM!!" Rory screamed as she flew up in bed. She looked around, her breath came in short sobs.

She wasn't home. There was no warm sunshine on her face, no bright blue eyes to wake up to, no smell of coffee wafting from the kitchen.

She wasn't home.

She began crying, holding her face in her hands. It was only a dream. Just a dream.

But it was so real.

Rory laid back down, still weeping, "Where are you?" She whispered into the cold dark room. "Come back, please, come back."