Hey everyone. I'm really glad you all liked the last chapter but instead of wasting time writing comments to the reviewers I'm just going to get on with the chapter. Hope you like it- let me know what you think!

Disclaimer- I own nothing

Chapter 14- who are you?

Tristan could see her from here. She was sat on a wooden bridge her shoes next to her. She was dangling her toes in the water. On her lap was a book, she look totally immersed in whatever it was. He smiled as he watched her, she was so perfect.

"Hey" he said in greeting.

She didn't look up from her book, "Hey" she said back.

He sat crossed legged next to her "what you reading?" he asked conversationally. She turned to the cover so he could see. "Pride and Prejudice" he read "nice?"

"I've read it before" she said softly.

"They you're notes then?" he asked indicating the untidy little scrawls in the margins.

"No Jess put them there for me." She answered.

"Ex-boyfriend?" he asked

"No. He was Matt's best mate" she told him

"Was?" he looked confused.

"He was driving the car," she explained and a tear rose in her eye.

"Sorry" he hated being the cause of her being unhappy, and he'd brought the conversation back to Matt's accident again. He kicked himself mentally- over and over again.

"Don't worry about it," she said bowing her head over the book so he wouldn't see her wipe her eyes.

"So anyway, you want to go do something?" he asked

"I'm already doing something," she told him.

"But I want us to something together" he complained

"Well if you like I'll start again and we can read it together" she offered.

"Sure" right now he'd take what he could get. And if she wanted to read he wasn't going to stop her. He took the book from her and turned back to the beginning. He smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder and he began to read aloud.

Meanwhile in the hospital the doctor was speaking to a newly awakened Matt.

"You were in an accident, there's very little damage as far as we can see. You've woken up fine and your family we be so pleased to see you awake" the doctor smiled and walked out of the door.

"Family?" Matt said to himself.

Rory had fallen asleep, her head in Tristan's lap. He put the book down and sat stroking her hair.

"Hey" a voice behind him made him jump. He turned around. It was Rory's dad.

"Hi" he said

"How long she been like that for" Chris asked pointing to Rory.

"Just a few minutes. We were reading" he said and gestured to the book next to him.

Chris picked it up and sat down next to Tristan "It's her favourite" he said. "She's read it about fifty times. Matt had to buy her a new copy last year for her birthday because the old one was so totally battered. I don't know what she's going to do on her birthday this year if Matt doesn't get out of the hospital"

"When is it?" Tristan asked. She was the first girl he'd dated who hadn't dropped any hints about birthday presents. But he thought to himself, she's not exactly in the party mood.

"A week on Tuesday" he replied. "Look I don't want to sound like the over protective father but you'd better not hurt my daughter"

"I already got this speech from Lorelai, but don't worry. I have no intention of hurting Rory" Tristan said.

"Good" Chris replied "because I like you and I don't want to change that, and if you knew what was good for you neither would you"

Tristan understood the warning. But he also knew he had nothing to fear. Rory was the best thing to happen to him in years and he wasn't going to mess that up any time soon. He'd woken up this morning with a huge smile on his face. He only ever did that on Christmas. But with Rory he felt like all his Christmas's and birthday's had come at once and he'd got the best present in the world.

She stirred gently and saw Chris. "Dad" she said blurrily.

"Hey kiddo. I've got some good news for you, for all of us actually." He said smiling.

"What she asked"

"Matt's awake, and he's waiting for us" he said watching he face.

"You're kidding?" she asked. When Chris shook his head she jumped up so fast it made her dizzy and she had to sit down again. "Tristan, I'm really sorry to bail on you but could I go see him?"

"You've been worrying about him for days. Go see him, I'll still see you tomorrow at school right?" he asked. She nodded, threw her arms around him and kissed him, before turning and running as fast as she could towards her dad's car.

"Thank you" Chris said smiling at the boy, and then he turned to follow his daughter.

Tristan was about to leave himself when he saw the book still on the bridge. Well, he thought, at least I've got a conversation starter for tomorrow. He picked up the book and walked away.

At the hospital a flushed Rory walked into the ward, followed by Matt and Lorelai. "Where's Matt?" she asked the nurse she'd spoken to before "Can we see him?".

"Of course, but he's still very weak. The doctor says he's only to have one visitor at a time." She told them

Rory looked back at her parents "Yes you can go first" Lorelai said without Rory having to ask.

Rory walked into the room full of joy. It was the best thing in the world. She had her brother back. "Hey stranger" she said as she walked into the room, smiling like a cat who'd got the cream. He was sat up in bed reading a magazine. He looked up and smiled at her, he was about to say something when Rory threw herself into his arms and hugged him so tight. When Rory broke away from him his face was a picture of pure fear and confusion.

"Who are you?" he choked.

So let me know what you think, next chapter should be up tomorrow.