Author's Note: This is the last chapter I believe. I hope you all like it. I think it's a pretty good piece of writing. I hope you all agree.
Chapter 9: Hell of a Year
Whenever something is perfect you know it's going to take a turn for the worst. Rory was happy…everything in her life was so perfect that even she knew it wasn't going to last forever, nothing ended happily except for movies and books. This was real life. They dated for almost officially six months when a tragic accident tore the two of them apart.
It had been the night of their graduation when the accident had happened. They had gone to a party at Madeline's house—the place where they shared their first kiss. They fought over something stupid; so stupid that Rory couldn't even remember what it had been about. Tristan had been pissed off at Rory and took off in his new Mercedes he had gotten just for his graduation. Rory had been worried no doubt about that, Jess was there luckily because the idea of getting him and Paris together had worked. Rory begged him to help her find Tristan and for once in his life he hadn't been the sarcastic bad-boy rebel. They had been driving for over an hour and Rory was worried, she was crying and Jess was trying his best to calm her nerves when they saw the accident. Tristan's car was in a ditch and was on fire. The sight of flames would be embedded in Rory's mind forever.
So, here she was in the hospital waiting room hoping that nothing had happened to Tristan. She dissolved into tears again wondering if their fight had been the last time she would ever see him again.
"Rory!" Lorelai Gilmore cried out as Rory launched herself into her mother's comforting arms.
"Oh mom!" she wailed leaning into her mother.
"Everything's going to be okay, I promise,"
"It's all my fault," Rory sobbed.
"Don't say that," Lorelai said softly holding onto Rory tightly.
"We got into this stupid fight…I don't even know what about. If I hadn't gotten him so mad then maybe he'd be okay,"
"Rory, listen to me. This isn't your fault,"
"If he dies…" she trailed off while choking on a sob.
"He's not going to," Lorelai said firmly hoping for her daughter's sake that Tristan was going to be all right. "I love him so much,"
"I know you do honey. I'm sure he knows too,"
"Miss Gilmore?" the doctor interrupted the mother-daughter moment. Rory bravely tore herself away from Lorelai and smoothed out her dress. "Yes?" she replied calmly.
"He's asking for you,"
"He is?" Rory's eyes shone brightly with hope and the doctor nodded.
"He's still very weak though,"
"Thank you," Rory said softly glancing at her mother who encouraged her to go see him.
"Good luck babe," Lorelai whispered settling into a chair. Shakily Rory made her way to his door. Room 218. She smiled faintly at the last two digits. Eighteen was his lucky number, her hand rested on the doorknob and she turned it pushing the door open. Tristan lay there, his skin looking deathly pale and she choked on a gasp. He looked terrible and it was all her fault.
"Mary," he said softly.
"I'm so sorry," Rory murmurs more to herself then to him.
"What are you sorry about? It's my own fault,"
"No it's not. If we hadn't fought…"
"Come here," he said softly as she approached the bed.
"You scared me so bad Tristan," Rory said as she took his hand in hers.
"I didn't mean to," Tristan replied weakly.
"I love you,"
"I know you do…it was my fault, I'm the one who overreacted about you not going to Harvard," So that's what they had been fighting about.
"Why did you get so upset about it anyways?"
"I didn't want you throwing away your dream of going to Harvard just because of me,"
"It's not just because of you, silly. I'll be closer to mom and Stars Hollow not to mention the best coffee around, you're just a bonus,"
"That's good," Tristan replies laughing lightly until it turned into a coughing fit.
"That doesn't sound good," Rory, says concern filling her voice.
"I'm fine Rory,"
"You sure?"
"I'm not an invalid,"
"You're lucky. I thought you were…" Rory's voice then cracks and the tears come falling down.
"I'm here aren't I?"
"Yeah, you're pretty damn lucky I hope you know, DuGrey,"
"I know, Rory. You have no idea. I wanted to ask you something though,"
"Okay…what's up?"
"Will you do something for me?"
"Of course…do you want something? Want me to get a nurse? Some juice? How about a blanket?"
"Rory shut up," Tristan said smiling at the beautiful girl before her.
"What the hell do you want," Rory said turning impatient at his rudeness towards her.
"Go find my suit jacket, the one I was wearing today and bring it here,"
"I'll be right back," Rory promised kissing him quickly on the lips before leaving the room.
"So?" Lorelai asked expectantly. "He'll be fine. He's the same stubborn person before the accident,"
"Where are you going?"
"I have to go get his suit jacket for some reason. I'll be back,"
"Oh my god," Lorelai mutters hurrying into Tristan's room.
"You're asking her aren't you?" Lorelai asked sharply.
"Hi Lorelai,"
"You are aren't you!"
"Yes,"
"Oh kid…you're the best,"
"I take that as yes I can ask her,"
"Of course but be careful with her okay? She's really shaken up over you,"
"I know. I'm going to be fine though,"
"Get better soon Bible Boy,"
"I will Lorelai,"
Five minutes later after many arguments with the hospital personnel and then three times getting lost Rory was annoyed now. This was ridiculous after the worrisome hours she had spent in this hospital all ready and he was sending her on a wild goose chase. The jacket clutched in her hands she hurried back to his room, not without a stop to the coffee vending machine.
"Crappy coffee," Rory muttered as she hurried past Lorelai.
"Rory turn around for a second," Lorelai said causing her to stop.
"What?" Rory asked turning around. "Don't move," Lorelai cautioned pulling out some lipstick.
"Mom, I don't think Tristan cares what I look like right now,"
"Don't be so sure of that,"
"Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Maybe," Lorelai teased surveying her daughter's face one more time.
"Can I go?"
"Beautiful…flash me a smile," Rory flashed a fake grin at her mother. "Atta girl,"
"Whatever Mom," Rory called out pushing Tristan's door open with ease.
"Hey," he greeted and she nodded in response. "What's wrong?" Tristan asked and she sighed.
"I'm tired…I got into a fight with some of the nurses…I got lost and there's crappy coffee,"
"Sorry," Tristan says weakly as she hands over the coat.
"There better be a good reason for this DuGrey," she spat out bitterly.
"Oh there is, believe me," Tristan promises gazing at Rory.
"Out with it," Rory demanded.
"Would you do anything for me?" Tristan asks taking her hand as she settles into the chair beside his bed.
"Of course,"
"Will you do something for me then?" he asks and she looks at him oddly.
"As long as it has nothing involving me getting your pants back too,"
"It doesn't," Tristan assures pulling something out from his jacket pocket.
"Then what is it?"
"Rory Gilmore…" he pauses as she gasps when he opens to box. "Will you marry me?"
"It's beautiful…" Rory murmurs. "And your answer is…?" Tristan asks hopefully.
"What do you think?" Rory asks smirking at him as she kisses him.
"Yes then,"
"My mother knew about this didn't she?"
"Since you ran off to get my jacket,"
"I'll be right back," Rory hurries back to the waiting room to see an expectant Lorelai.
"Let me see that ring," Rory shows her ring off to Lorelai.
"Babe! You're getting married,"
"I know!" Rory squealed.
"Go back to Tristan, okay?"
"Okay," Rory says grinning one last time at her mother before heading back into Room 218.
"This has been one hell of a year Tristan,"
"Oh?"
"You came back, I was the lead of a play, I fell in love with the least likely person and I'm getting married…thank you,"
"All in a day's work Gilmore," Tristan replies before Rory meets his lips for a sweet yet everlasting kiss.
"Thank you for this year…it's been the most amazing one in my life,"
"For me too Mary, me too,"
THE END!
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed it…I wasn't sure how to end it but I like the way it's ended. And another fic is done! WOO HOO!