"Are you happy about staying?" Tristan just looked at her not wanting to answer with the wrong thing.

"Of course, I mean I wanted to be with you and not away from you."

"What about your mom?"

"She understands; she's the one who told me to stay."

"Why?"

"She says there's something special about you and me and that if I throw that away she was gonna disown me. That's why I think she brought me back from Military School. She didn't want me to end up like my father."

"But I thought you hated your father?"

"I dislike him strongly. But it doesn't matter because he's always away on business so he'll hardly be here. Why are you worrying if I'm okay?"

"Its just that at dinner when my grandmother brought up the divorce you seemed a little upset."

"I'm just tired of talking about it. Its like everyone is comparing me to my father."

"Do you think you're like you're father?"

"I hope not."

"Why?"

"My father has a soft spot for cheap whores and booze. I can't remember a time when he wasn't cheating on my mom. I don't want to be like him."

"Oh."

"I'm not gonna cheat on you." He closed the gap between them. She rested her head on his chest as he held her. "God this feels so right."

"I know." She wrapped her arms around him; she couldn't remember a time when she didn't feel safer. She looked at her watch and gasped. "I have to go."

"Could you stay here?" He asked the vulnerability showing in his eyes.

"I'll call my mom." She excused herself and called her mom. "Hey mom um….this is gonna sound weird but Tristan needs me and I can't leave him. So is it okay if I stay the night?"

"I guess for just this once."

"Thank you mom." Rory hung up and walked back and they walked into the house. They went into the living room and watched a movie.

After the movie ended Rory turned to Tristan, she couldn't believe how much he has changed since Military School.

"Tristan?"

"Yes?"

"What happened in Military School?"

"What do you mean?"

"You changed so what happened?"

"Oh, well um…..nothing I just grew up."

"Come on Tristan."

"This is gonna sound really cheesy but I guess it's because you weren't there."

"What are you talking about?"

"When I left it was the end of the world for me."

"What?"

"That day when Dean came to school and we were arguing, you said you hated me and to be honest that broke my heart. That's why I broke into the safe because I knew that I would be shipped off somewhere away from you. Granted I could've just said that I wanted to go but I was stupid. Then I got to Military School and my friends showed me that the way I was living my life wasn't good."

"But I didn't mean to say that."

"But you did, that's the past. I mean we can't change it we just have to learn from it."

"How can you be so nice to me?"

"I love you, that's how."

"What?"

"I can be nice to you because I love you and I always have."

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Don't worry about it." She stood up and left. He just looked at the door until he finally decided to go after her.

She drove home tears in her eyes. She didn't care about anything but how she was in love with him but couldn't say it after what he told her. She was a heartless person and didn't deserve to be happy.

When she got home she slammed the door shut and ran into her room shutting the door behind her. She fell back on the bed and crying harder than before. Lorelai heard her daughter come in and rushed downstairs, it was 3 in the morning and she was staying at Tristan's. She put her hand on the knob but stopped when she heard Rory crying. She needed to be alone.

She turned and started towards the stairs when she heard a knock on the door. She looked through the glass and saw Tristan standing there. 'At least he didn't break up with her.' She thought to herself as she opened the door.

Tristan nodded and walked towards her room. He too heard her muffled cries but took a deep breath and walked in. Rory just looked at him as he sat down next to her.

"Why'd you leave?"

"I don't know."

"I'm sorry if I said something that upset you."

"No you didn't say anything. I don't really know why I left. I mean I love you too but after everything you said I just felt bad."

"Well you shouldn't fell bad. That was a year ago and a lot has changed since then. We've both grown up." He leaned down and kissed her.

They fell asleep just in each other's arms knowing that things were gonna be okay at least for now. Tristan was sleeping peacefully when he woke up to the vibration of his phone.

"Hello?" He asked half-awake.

"Tristan, I need you to come to the hospital."

"What's wrong?" He asked fully awake now.

"It's your father."

"I'm on way." Rory was awake now and looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"My father's in the hospital I have to go."

"I'll come with you." She got up and threw on her shoes and ran out the door with him. She forgot to write a note but called and left a message. When they got to the hospital they ran to his room where Tristan stopped dead in his tracks. Rory gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"What's wrong with my father?"

"He had a heart attack behind the wheel and got into a bad accident. There was a young woman in the car and she's okay."

"There was a young woman in the car?"

"Yes she's down in the cafeteria."

"Do you happen to know her name?"

"Yes, her name was Melinda Dugrey." Tristan's face went ghost white. He just looked at the doctor then to the door and back and forth. "Well I'll be back later to check on your father."

"Tristan what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He shook his head and sat down next to his father. Rory just stood there not knowing what to do. Tristan motioned her over where she stood behind him. Soon the young lady, Melinda walked in.

"Hey baby brother." Tristan's head shot up and gave her such a icy look.

"I'm not your brother. You were a fuck up on my father's part."

"Really people would say that about you. I mean you're the reason that dad here left my mother."

"So you're blaming me for your mother's mistakes?"

"Yes I am."

"It is not my fault that my father didn't love your mother. So just go back to the corner you came from."

"Why don't you go back to your whores and alcohol?"

"Guys stop!" They both turned towards Rory who look furious.

"Who's this, your recent whore?"

"She is not a whore. Don't you ever speak about her like that!" He yelled.

"Tristan relax." Rory put her hand on his arm.

"Yeah Tristy listen to your whore."

"Bitch, no wonder my father wanted nothing to do with you."

"Both of you stop it!" They all turned to the door where both of Tristan's grandfather stood. "I don't want you two being nasty towards each other and Melinda don't speak of Rory Gilmore like that. Tristan be nice to your step-sister."

"Yes sir." They said in unison.

"Hello Rory how are you?"

"I'm fine sir and how are you?"

"Old. Now what's wrong with Michael?"

"Well we were on our way to lunch when he had a heart attack at the wheel and then the car crashed into a light pole and now here we are."

"Tristan how are you holding up?"

"I'm fine."

"No you're not." Rory said seeing straight through Tristan's façade.

"She's right, now son what's wrong?"

"The divorce and now this, when am I going to get a break?"

"I know son. I promise everything will be okay." They all just looked at each other and Tristan just held onto Rory as they waited for the doctor.

"Everything's gonna be okay." Rory whispered into Tristan's ear.