Rory started to roll over in bed, when she came into contact with something. She sat up quickly, looking down to see Tristen sleeping next to her. Suddenly, everything that happened last night came back in a flash. The party, Tristen kissing her, her running away, coming over to his house later that evening.

She closed her eyes and her fingers went to her lips, remembering the kiss. Opening her eyes, her gaze fixed on Tristen. The way his blond hair fell across his forehead made her want to brush it away. She resisted the urge and slid away carefully, so she did not wake him.

She slipped out of bed and stood up slowly. Quietly, she crept across the room to the table and found her clothes. Picking them up, she slowly moved across the room. Her hand closed around the doorknob and she started to open it when she heard Tristen speak

"Were you going to leave without saying good bye?"

She turned to see him sitting up in bed. She knew that he must have woke up when she slipped out of bed.

"Tristen…I…. I didn't…. Want to disturb you."

He climbed out of bed and walked over to where she was. She backed up, not sure what he was going to do or say. He held out his hand.

"Rory, we need to talk about last night."

"I have to get home."

"Just a few minutes, then I will take you home."

"I…I really have to go."

Before he could get another word out, she opened the door and slipped out, closing the door behind her. He opened the door and ran down the stairs as she slipped through the door. Running outside, he saw her car pulling out of his driveway. Slowly he walked back in the house, closing the door.

Rory pulled into her driveway about 10 minutes later. She parked the car and leaned her head against the steering wheel. Before she could stop herself, the tears began to fall.

Finally when she felt like she couldn't cry anymore, she lifted her head. After wiping the tears away with the back of her hand, she opened the door and climbed out of the car. Slowly she walked across the yard to the back door. She unlocked the door and walked inside.

"Good morning."

Rory looked up to see her mom standing by the counter. Before she could stop herself, she dropped the clothes she was holding and ran to her mother. Lorelai wrapped her arms around her sobbing daughter and led her towards the living room. They sat down on the couch.

"What happened?" Lorelai whispered

Rory looked up at her mother, fresh tears in her eyes.

"Tristen."

"Did he hurt you?"

"No."

"Then what happened."

"I messed up mom." She whispered, pulling away from her mother.

Lorelai watched as Rory stood up and moved towards the door. Chris was just coming in the room as Rory walked out.

"Hey Ror."

She walked by, not responding. Chris walked over to the couch and sat next to his wife.

"Did I miss something?"

"I wish I knew."

Rory walked upstairs and into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She walked over to the dresser and picked up a picture frame. Slowly she walked over to her bed and sat down; her eyes fixed on the picture of her and Tristen from a Christmas party last year.

"Tristen…I'm so sorry." She whispered

She lay down on the bed, clutching the picture to her chest. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes as she lay there, staring up at the ceiling. Slowly her eyes began to close.

Rory woke to someone knocking on the door. Turning so she was facing away from the door, she said

"Go away mom. I don't want to talk about it."

The door opened slowly

"Mom, don't you listen I just want to be alone."

"Its not your mom." A familiar voice said

Rory turned over to see Tristen standing in the doorway. She sat up, still holding the picture.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you." He said, "I need to know why your ran away."

Rory looked down at the picture in her hands. She and Tristen standing in front of a fireplace at her grandparents house, their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling for the camera. How she wished they could go back to those times.

"Rory?"

She looked up to see his standing near the edge of her bed. He sat down, reaching for the picture in her lap. As he studied the picture, he said

"I remember this from last Christmas. We had so much fun that night."

Looking up, his eyes met hers. He saw the fear in her eyes.

"Rory, what's wrong? Please talk to me."

"I…I don't want to lose you." She whispered

"Lose me? You're never going to lose me."

"Tristen, we kissed last night." She said, "You told me you love me."

"And I do." He said, "Last night was the best night of my life. I don't think I will ever be able to describe what I felt this morning when I saw you sleeping next to me."

"But what happened when its not new and fun. What happens when you get tired of me…of us? We've been friends since we were kids Tristen. I don't' want to lose what we have in exchange for a few months."

"What if I want this? I want us to be together Rory." He said, "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm not promising that it will be perfect be we owe it to ourselves to find out. All I am asking for is a chance."

Tristen leaned forward, his arms slipping around her. Slowly he pulled her towards him, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. Bending his head, he pressed a kiss against her forehead. She pulled back, looking him in the eyes. He saw fresh tears in her eyes…only this time they were tears of happiness.

"All right." She whispered, "I love you Tristen DuGray."

"And I love you Lorelai Leigh Hayden."

Slowly they leaned towards each other, until their lips met. It wasn't a kiss filled with passion or lust but one filled with the promise of a true love found.

The end.

Hope you all enjoyed my little story. Remember to read and review. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed.