When they got to her house Tristan still didn't say anything, but he seemed more together than before.
He sat his bag in a chair near the sofa, and eyed the room for a bit.

Rory checked to make sure her mother had mother woken up and was running around Stars Hollow looking for her, then went back to the fragile looking boy on her couch.

" Okay, well then, I guess you can have the couch, it's really comfortable. If my mom wakes you up in the morning, tell her to come talk to me, and don't tell her your name. She knows too much about you. Just tell her to talk to me. Okay?"
He nodded, setting down the bag he brought. Before she went back to her room she heard he say,

" Goodnight Rory. Thank you. For everything. I mean you didn't have to come here, or to bring me to your home..."

" But I did." she whispered cutting him off. Turning around she shook a finger at him
" Now go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow. Then we can work everything out, alright?" She tossed him two blankets, and a pillow from the closet.

" Yeah, okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." He said sinking into the sofa.

" You said that already." she threw over her shoulder as she closed her door. Rory fell to the bed, dead beat tired. she curled into a ball and thought about what the boy two rooms over must be feeling.

****

Lorelai threw the clock across the room and moaned as she got out of bed. she took the fastest shower in history and, feeling more awake made her way across her room and then downstairs.

" Good morning fuzzy purring clock. Hello Sunshine. Hello stairs. Hello strange guy sleeping on my sofa." Lorelei did a double take and tapped the strange guy on the head.

" Excuse me strange guy, what are you doing on my couch?" He turned and looked up at her.
`Oooo, he's cute. where'd he come from, a Gap magazine? It's like they're tring really hard to make me subscribe.' she would have laughed had this not been so serious.

" Um, I'm supposed to tell you to talk to Rory. She said she'd take care of it." He muttered sleepily. " Okay strange guy. Thank you muchly." She said, while walking toward her daughters room.

" Not a word."

" What?" She turned to look where the voice came from. The young man was now sitting up and looking at her. She looked him over again, taking in his tussled blonde hair, and expensive pajamas. 'Really cute, If Rory's not dating him I might, or at least Mrs. Patty.'

" Muchly. It's not a real word. 'Thank you strange guy' is also not very endearing, and could wreak my ego." He rubbed his head, like it hurt a little and leaned against the arm of the sofa. 'Smart too?'

" Who are you?" She suspiciously approached him, wondering again why Rory had let him in to the house.

" I'm not supposed to tell you." 'Oh, dun dun dun...' She thought giddily

" Why not?" He sighed settling into the couch more fully.

" Cuz' you probably think I'm evil." She had moved back over to where he was.

" Why would I think that?"

" Because, My name is Tristan DuGrey." The scream was loud and crisp.
Rory sat straight up in bed. She immediately feel bag to her pillow groaning, and rolling her eyes.

" He told her his name."