Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to ASP and the WB.

Thanks again to all the reviewers, you make my day! =)

-Rory-

I move to get out of the car, and look over at him. He looks like a poor wet puppy. I can't leave him out here; he'll never make it home in one piece. I can't TAKE any more tonight.

"Uh, Tristan, it's raining pretty hard out here..." Way to state the obvious. He's just looking at me... "Um, maybe you should come inside. I wouldn't want to drive in this downpour."

"Um, yeah, I guess you're right. It should be over soon, anyway." Somehow I doubt it. And yet another crack of lightning. We haven't had a storm this bad in a while.

"'Kay." We both head to the front porch, now completely drenched and laughing at the situation. I unlock the front door and step inside.

"Mom? I'm home!" No answer. Weird. "Mother! There's a boy in the house!"

"Should I be here, you know, with your mom not here and all?" Who would have ever thought I'd hear those words out of Tristan DuGrey's mouth?

"Aha!" The answering machine light was blinking.

"Hey, you have reached the two Lorelais! Leave a message at the beep! BEEP! ... laughing Just kidding! beep"

"You have one new message:"

"I'm not even going to COMMENT on that message. I was just checking to see if Rory made it home all right. Give me a call." Grandma. I'll call her in the morning to tell her I'm alive. Where is my mother?

"Ohhhhh! She doesn't even know I'm home; I'm supposed to be at Grandma's all night." I muttered to myself. But that still doesn't explain where she is. Maybe the inn emergency was worse than I thought.

Tristan's just standing there, soaking wet. He takes off his jacket, and I motion for him to put it on the back of a chair.

"Let me call my mom real quick. Make yourself at home; The kitchen is that way, we have some leftovers and probably... water. If you're lucky you'll find a soda or two. After that, I'll try to find you some dry clothes." I pointed in the direction of the kitchen. He nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Where is the phone? Never mind, I have my cell in by bag.

Hopefully my mom won't be too mad I brought a guy home. "Ring, Ring, Ring" C'mon, pick up...

"Hello, Lorelai Gilmore speaking!"

"Mom, hey, I'm at-"

"...Well, her voicemail, anyway. Leave a message at the beep and I'll call you back if I ever get around to checking my messages. Bye! Beep" When did she change her message? I hate it when she does that. It's so annoying.

"Mom, I'm at home, where are you? Call me as soon as you get this!"

I'll get Tristan and me some dry clothes, and then try the inn. It's really cold in here! I walk to the kitchen and see Tristan staring into the fridge, a bemused expression on his face. "Find anything?"

He turns around, surprised. "No; were you aware you have yogurt in here that expired in 2000?"

"There's yogurt in there?" Who bought that? Oh, well. In the garbage it goes. "Anything edible, I'm starving."

"I know, they never serve anything good at those 'social functions.' Nope, nothing." Great. Pizza it is.

"Pizza?"

"Sure."

"All the toppings?"

"Sounds good." Great, now I actually have to find the phone. I start opening the cupboards.

"What are you looking for?"

"Phone."

"Of course."

Then it starts ringing. Hmm... sounds like the living room. I run in there and locate it under one of the pillows on the couch. Breathless now I say, "Hello?"
Dun dun dun... who was it? Dean? Jess? Lorelai? hmmm... okay, so not much of a cliffhanger, but a new chapter should be up within a week or so.