A/N: I don't know what to say here... huh. I don't know... just... review at the end. They make me happy.

Disclaimer: I own the plot, nothing else.

Summary: Tristan's and Rory's marriage is starting to fall apart. What can they - or someone else – do to save it?

A/N 2: Now, on with the story. PS. Thanks for all the reviews for the 7th and 8th chapter. I love you guys!

Chapter 9: Accusations

Rory walked to school that day. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She didn't feel sick. And she sure as hell didn't want to be sick.

So she just decided to go to school, and go from there.

"Hey you guys, the bell has rung," she stated as kids shuffled into their assigned seats. "I just want to apologize for yesterday. I was way too hard on you, and I had no right to be. I was mad at... other things."

She looked around the class and she saw that they all knew who that other was. So she moved on. "If you can please pass up your homework, I will get it."

The students quickly took their 500 word essays out and handed them to the person in front of them.

Yup, this was going to be a long Friday.

¤

Rory didn't get home until late. Around 9 PM, to be a little more specific. But when she did get home, she immediately went to her room and changed into some more comfortable clothes.

When she went downstairs, she wanted to get something to eat, so she started to go to the kitchen.

She walked in the dining room on her way, and saw him sitting in the chair at the front.

"What are you doing here-" she started to ask, but he cut her off.

"Where've you been?"

"At work."

"Is that it?"

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he replied coolly.

"Yes, there is, you're acting... different," she looked into his eyes. She backed up at what she saw. They were completely dark and cold.

"I just want to know why you have been late these last couple of nights."

"I do work you know. And how do you know I've been late, you've been too caught up in your work lately," she told him snidely.

"I've asked the maids. They say that you don't come in until at least 7."

"So, I told you, I work."

"Oh, I don't think so."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then what do you think I've been doing?"

"I think that you've been mixing some business with pleasure."

Rory's face turned to an 'unbelievable/sympathy' look. "What are you talking about?"

"I didn't think anything at first, but now I'm not so sure."

"Tristan, you're talking crazy! What are you thinking?" Rory had started to cry.

"You know it; I know it; everybody knows it Rory! I wasn't enough for you, or what?"

Rory didn't know what to say. What could she say? He was her everything. And now he wanted to convict her of cheating on him.

She started to back away from him and walk the opposite way of which she came in.

"Where are you going?" Tristan had asked when she started to walk away from him.

"I can't deal with this right now. I'm going to go spend the night at Mom's."

And she didn't say anything else. She just got some extra clothes and exited. She couldn't handle it. She was overcome with dozens of emotions, and she didn't know how to grasp it all.

So naturally, she went to mommy.

¤

"Rory, what are you doing here?" she asked, after she opened the door.

Rory sniffed her runny nose, due to the crying she did in the car. "Mom? Can I sleep here for tonight?" she sniffed again.

"Yeah," Lorelai moved and let her in. "What's wrong?" she asked as they both took a seat on the old couch.

"Everything, Mom, everything," she said, bursting into tears. Lorelai took her in her arms and comforted her.

When Luke came down the next morning, to go to the diner, that's how he found them. He gently shook Rory up.

"Mm, what time is it?" she asked.

"Almost 5:30. Come here, I'll make you some coffee in the diner."

Rory nodded her head and left with Luke in her PJs as they walked to the diner in the cold. Not a word was spoken on the way there, but Luke gave her his jacket when he saw her shiver.

As they got in the diner, he didn't switch the sign, leaving it still 'Closed.' He started the coffee machine as Rory took a seat at the bar. Luke took a seat behind the counter. "What's up?"

"I don't know... everything's falling apart," Rory started to cry, "I don't know what to do."

Luke held her hand as she cried and whispered soothing words to her.

"Maybe you both need some time apart from each other. Maybe this weekend, you can go down to your cottage in Maine, and just be alone. I think you are just spending too much time together."

"I guess you're right Luke. How'd Mom get so lucky to get you?"

"I think it's the other way around," he smiled at her.

A/N: Well, that was a little longer...? Review please.

!Paige!