A./n: hello. I don't really have much to say. I'm sure that's fine with you… you guys are here for the story not my absent minded babble. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore girls. Sorry.

Chapter Eight: Home Sweet Home

They returned to Stars Hollow at about two in the afternoon. After watching the sun rise they had stopped for breakfast. Despite the fact that both had been up for more than forty hours straight, Tristan and Rory had been wide awake the whole trip.

"Are you sure you don't want to just take off somewhere else?" Tristan asked her. "You don't have to go back home if you're not ready to."

Rory sighed. "Its wrong that I'm avoiding this."

"I ran away and I'm living life in high style at the Hilton."

"Ah, but you have to live next door to my grandmother. My sympathies."

Tristan laughed. "I haven't had this much fun with anyone in years. Thank you Rory."

"Thank you. I really needed the trip. I really appreciate everything you told me about Bob and me." Not only that, but she was glad he wasn't pressing her to find out who "Bob" really was. He probably wouldn't take it to well that it was Dean, his favorite, friendly "Bag Boy."

"Do you remember rehearsing there for the skit in English?" Tristan asked, pointing to Miss Patty's as they drove by. "Remember how that creepy boyfriend of yours sat there the whole time, convinced that if we kissed the world would end. Please tell me you dumped that guy?"

"He dumped me. In the middle of a town function. It was awful."

"I'm sorry."

"I wasn't. He kind of figured out that I cheated on him. When he dumped me Jess was waiting for me."

"Sounds like you just had men lining up after you. How like me you were."

"Ah, but it wasn't all that great. Jess kind of turned out to be an ass."

"Aren't we all?" Tristan joked. "So let me get this strait, you cheated on Dean with me, and with this Jess guy?"

"I didn't ever cheat on him with you," she defended.

"Don't tell me you don't remember that party. The piano, the kiss?"

"I remember," She stated.

"So you cheated on him."

"We had broken up."

"When?"

"The night before."

Tristan smirked. My,l my, my, Mary. You are a little Magdalene."

Rory's mouth fell open in mock horror. "How dare you?"

Tristan laughed. "Well you cheated on him twice."

And with him, Rory wanted to say. But she kept that to herself.

"Am I close to your record?"

"Nowhere near it."

"What number are you at?"

"Stopped counting."

"Why, was your ticker broken? The numbers don't go up that high?"

"A skilled mechanic we have here. Are you studying mechanics at Yale?"

"If I were, maybe I would have known how to open the gas door thingy when we were at the gas station."

"Hey, this is a new car. I usually don't go for self-serve."

"Such a shame. Most girls would die for the image of Tristan Dugrey pumping gas, his tie completely gone, top buttons undone, and sleeves rolled up enough to accentuate his muscles."

"You take detailed notes," Tristan said, the smirk playing across his face again. "But I'm guessing you're not like most girls."

"We've already determined that. Stop here."

They pulled up in front of the Gilmore house.

"Thank you again, for everything. This has been the first time I laughed like this in days." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She opened the door to get out.

"If you're not sick of me, let's do something tomorrow."

"Call me," she said. She grabbed her purse and the shoes she had abandoned and closed the door behind her.

She walked barefoot across the grass, noticing how dry it was. She had to remember to turn on the sprinkler tonight. Her mom never managed to. She climbed the steps up to the porch, cringing at how loud the third one creaked. She felt as if she were sneaking in late, a completely ridiculous feeling since it was broad daylight and she was nineteen years old.

"Was that Tristan?" Lorelai asked.

Rory jumped in surprise. She turned to her left, noticing her mom sitting on the porch seat for the first time.

"Of course it was Tristan. Hey."

"Hi. Did you have fun?"

"So much. Tristan has changed so much, I couldn't believe how-"

"Did you use protection?" Lorelai interrupted.

"Excuse me?"

"You and Tristan?"

"We didn't- how could you?"

"How could I?" Lorelai asked, standing up. "Get in the house."

"What?"

"Get in the house. Babette probably has her binoculars out.

Rory ran into the house, her mother half pushing her.

"What the hell am I supposed to expect Rory? I come home less than a week ago to find you had just slept with a married man. And then you take off with some guy you hardly know and don't show up until almost 24 hours later."

"You knew where I was. I told you last night we were going out and I didn't know when I'd be home. And then I called you this morning and told you exactly where I was so that you wouldn't worry about me. And now you think I am sleeping with Tristan. What do you think I am, a whore? Just because I had sex once, you think I'm going to do it three days later for the hell of it? Because if you do, you really don't know me."

"You know, I don't know you Rory. All your life I had this image of you. But now you've proven me wrong. You've disappointed me."

"I'm sorry I couldn't have stayed your 'virgin saint' my whole life Mom. But that doesn't mean I slept with Tristan. We went on a road trip. That's it. I was responsible, I called you, I told you where I was. I see absolutely no reason why you should be mad at me now. I let you down? Well I'm sorry that your vision of me was so unrealistic. And I'm sorry that you don't trust me. What happened to us Mom? You used to trust me. Isn't it enough that I came to you and admitted that I slept with Dean instead of trying to lie about it? So why don't you believe anything I say anymore?"

"Because I've played this game Rory. I stayed out all night. I slept with guys. And I wound up with a baby and no high school diploma."

"But I've graduated high school. I'm not sixteen. I'm old enough to make responsible choices. And now I'm sick of standing here defending myself against the woman I thought was my best friend. Good night."

Rory stormed into her room and slammed her door. Lorelai went to the sink and started to wash the dishes noisily. In her room Rory cried, knowing how distant she and her mother had grown in less than a week.