A/N:I don't own Gilmore Girls, Citizen Kane,or The Pros and Cons of Breathing by Fall Out Boy

Bury me standing under your window

With this cinder block in hand

Yeah, cause no one will ever feel like this again

And if I could move

I'm sure It would only be to crawl back to you

I must've dragged my guts a block

They were gone by the time we talked

Rory glanced over at Lane before pulling a shirt over her head. Her best friend's jaw was almost brushing the ground, her own shirt dropped to the floor and forgotten, "You're kidding, right?" when Rory's head poked through the top of the shirt she just shook it, rolling her eyes. "I cannot believe he said that. What a jerk."

"Yeah. Then he called me Mary again after I told him not to and we made the truce and everything." She ran her hands through her hair, pushing it out of her face, "I mean, what did I do to make his hate me?"

Lane bit her bottom lip, pulling half of her chest-length hair up, "Maybe it's easier for him."

Rory turned to face her, "What?"

She sighed, "Maybe it's easier for him to be a dick than to admit that it really does bother him."

She shook her head, "But it doesn't." she rolled her eyes, throwing a pillow against the wall in frustration, "And even if it did it would only be because he's possessive and someone else has me, not because he actually misses me." Lane turned back towards the mirror, laughing. Rory's eyebrow arched, "What?"

She watched her in the mirror and shook her head, "Either you two never make it to the bedroom or else he doesn't fuck you the way I did?" she laughed again, "Rory, how can you not think that's funny?"

The brunette shook her head, exasperated, "Lane, I cannot believe you!"

"What?" her laughter slowly, "Rory, come on, when you're not so pissed think about it. It was a good one." she turned back to the mirror and secured her hair with a black elastic, "Are you ready?"

She rolled her eyes and stood up, "Yeah."

PARTY

Rory's tan Landrover slid down the Black's street and she was forced to park in front of the house because of the number of cars. The two girls got out and Rory locked the doors before sliding the keys into her back pocket. She despised carrying around purses and absolutely refused to do it. They linked their arms together and walked up the driveway, still discussing her run in with Tristan in the hall. There were already half drunken Chilton students swarming the house and yard, and they let themselves into the front door.

Rory led Lane to the basement where she was positive at least one of their friends would be playing pool. And she was proven right when, upon entering the bottom level of the house, Baker was leaning over the side of the pool table and Jess could be seen with a stick. They walked over and Rory gave Jess a hug. "Hey."

He smiled over at two of his oldest friends, "Hey."

"Have you seen Blake or Adam?"

Jess hitched his jaw towards the stairs, "I think Blake's playing beer pong with Tristan."

She snorted, rolling her eyes, "Dork."

"And last time I saw Adam he was with them."

"Thanks." she flashed him her award winning smile and shrugged one shoulder before prancing out of the basement.

Jess smirked at her back before turning to a wide eyed Lane, "What the hell was that about?" he asked, laughing lightly. She just shook her head before grinning at her best friend. They never understood the twins.

Rory bounced up the stairs, her body probably consisting of 80 caffeine rather than water. She'd been drinking coffee all day and had recently become addicted to energy drinks because of Louise. She was probably frying her nerves, but didn't really care as she entered the dining room and spotted her brother, ex-boyfriend, and current beau. Her brother tossed the ping pong ball towards Tristan's cups. It hit the rim, but didn't get into the cup. He swore loudly and Tristan laughed, taking it out and landing it in one of Blake's. "Oh, bitch." Tristan smirked at him.

"Fuck you." The older twin smirked and picked up the cup, chugging it quickly before tossing it to the ground. They'd each started with fifteen cups, but Blake was now had three in front of him and Tristan had four.

Rory rolled her eyes and made her way over to Adam. She leaned up and kissed him gently,
"Hey baby."

He grinned at her, "Hey."

Rory turned to watch the two boys at the table. She shook her head, "Wow."

"Yeah." he laughed, turning back to watch them, "This is their second round." He looked back down at her, "They're just a little tipsy."

Her eyebrow arched, not taking her eyes off of them, "Just a little."

"When did you get here?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Ten minutes ago." she answered as the crowd cheered. She looked over to see Tristan land the ball in Blake's last cup. The blonde still had two in front of him. Her brother swore before picking up the last cup and draining it.

Adam shrugged, "They're even now. Blake won the last one."

"Well hopefully they won't try a tie breaker. I don't think they'd be able to stand up."

Adam watched the two old friends stagger as they exited the room. "Or avoid alcohol poisoning." Rory grinned up at him before laughing and resting her head against his shoulder. He tightened his grip on her and pulled her into the livingroom. "Let's dance."

She groaned, following him. She hated dancing. "Adam. . . . ."

He pulled her to him, grinning as his forehead pressed against hers, "Rory. . . . . ." he twirled her around and pulled her back against him. She laughed, kissing him slowly and grinding against him to the beat of the music.

Tristan sat on the couch, watching Rory and Adam with narrowed eyes. She looked happy, but he knew she wasn't. She'd completely ignored him after second period. He knew he'd crossed the line, but hadn't been able to help it. She drove him crazy. . . . . . . . . talking about her relationship with Adam like that. Where did she get off being a bitch like that? He rolled his head in a circle, trying to relieve the tension. Each cup had been filled with half a beer, so he had fourteen in his system. Not the most he'd ever drank at once by any means, but enough to make him stumble when he walked and slur his words. He barely even noticed when some girl he vaguely recognized sat next to him. He glanced over at her, smirking, "Hey. . . . . Anna. . . " he trailed off, not positive that was her name.

She grinned, leaning forward. Well, if it wasn't she didn't correct him. "Hey Tristan. Welcome back."

"Thank you." he flashed her his brightest smile.

Fifteen minutes later they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. He ignored it at first, but after being kicked in the shin he decided to break his face from. . . . . . .Anne? Annie? Anna? Something. He looked up to whoever it was that obviously had some very pressing matter that held more weight than his drunken tonsil hockey. "Can I help you, Paris?"

She rolled her eyes, arms crossed over her chest, "Back to random chicks at every party, I see?"

Ann. . . . . . he wasn't even going to bother trying to think of her name. . . . stood, "I'll see you around Tristan."

He wiggled his fingers at her, grinning as she walked away. He turned back to Paris, "Why do you have the incessant need to disrupt my fun?" She rolled her eyes and he patted the cushion next to him, "Have a seat, darling." She just arched her eyebrows, hands on her hips. His head cocked back, "Fine. Stand. What can I do for you?"

She just shook her head, "Reverting back to the old days? You'd made so much progress."

"I wouldn't mind not having a random whore, but the person who made me make so much progress is just a little preoccupied." his eyes burned into hers.

She rolled her eyes, grabbing his hand, "Come with me."

He smirked, following her, "Paris, doll, Jess is one of my best friends, and while I would love to-"

She cut him off, "Enough, Tristan. You're drunk." she said, pulling him out the front door.

He snorted, "I wish."

She glanced over at him as she led him down the driveway and to the sidewalk that went all around the high end neighborhood, "What?"

He shook his head, "Nothing." He wasn't drunk. He could never get drunk enough to burn the taste of her out of his mouth. The feel of her skin from his fingers. The smell of her sweat from his memory. The sight of her with Adam from his mind.

Paris sighed as they started down the sidewalk, "I know you're not happy."

He glanced over at her, "Why do you say that?"

"Because I've known you since we were in diapers and I know when you're unhappy.

"I'm fine."

"Tristan, why are you doing this? You're just hurting yourself."

He shook his head, "Oh no. No I'm not. She's got that one under control."

"She might be hurting you, but you're not making it any easier on yourself."

"What are you talking about?"

"The drinking-"

"It's a party, Paris!"

"Yes, but you've been drinking every night since you got back. Don't think I don't know." He rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything and she continued, "The drinking. The girls. The fighting."

"Fighting?"

"With Rory in the hall today. Oh, and way to play dirty, Tristan." she didn't sound mad, but actually kind of impressed.

He turned to look at her, "She told you about that?"

Paris smirked, "No, I, along with half of the Junior class, saw you push her against the lockers in the middle of the hall this afternoon." He just looked ahead of him, emotionless. "I asked her about it and she just said that you were being a dick."

He nodded, "Very kind of her."

"What did you say?" He shook his head. Looking forward as they walked. He might have been an ass to Rory about her sex life with Adam, but he had no idea if she'd slept with him or not. His bet was on yes, simply because they'd been together for eight months. He hoped to God they hadn't, though. That would have killed him. More than hearing her tell him that she hated him. More than seeing her with Adam. Knowing that someone else had touched that part of her would have killed him. "Tristan, come on, what'd you say?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "A lot of stuff."

She bit her lip, linking her arm though his, "Tristan, hurting her because it's easier than fighting for her isn't going to help you."

He shook his head, "I can't fight for her, Paris."

She looked over at him, "Why not?"

He stopped, "What good would it do? We can't be together. You know she's the whole reason I had to leave." he looked up at the moon, shaking his head, "If I fight him for her it would only be to lose her cause I'd be on a one way to North Carolina and I'd never come back."

"Well you two talk an awful lot for two people who know they shouldn't."

He shook his head, "I can't help it, Paris. I'm drawn to her. It's like no matter how much I want to hate her for all this, I just can't. No matter how much we piss each other off or hurt each other we always wind up together. In the hall, in class. I mean, even at lunch out seats wind up being next to each other." He shook his head, "It's not on purpose, it's like we just can't not talk." he sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets, "And then half the time when we do talk we wind up yelling and hurting each other and then we're back to square one."

Paris bit her lip, not looking at him, "Well you guys can't keep going along the way you are."

"Then what do you suggest?"

She shrugged, walking again, "I don't know. All I know is that you two need to do something because if you keep fighting like this it's gonna break all of us apart."

He closed his eyes before following her and wrapping his arm around her comfortably, "I know."

NEXT NIGHT

Rory sat in the ballroom of the Roberts' home. Yes, that is correct, a ballroom in the house. She'd rarely been to houses from the people in society that were this nice or showy. At the moment she was at a table with Louise and Paris, watching as people danced. Dinner had already been served and the guest of honor's brother had already made the toast. Now it was just dancing for another hour and a half and then they could go. Adam was with his father and being forced to talk business. He shot her a small smirk from across the room and she grinned, looking away. And her gaze fell on Tristan. He was with his grandfather Janlan. The one he said had asked about her. The two Dugrey men were conversing with Baker, his father, and Louise's father. The two teenagers had their hands down in their pockets and were obviously listening intently. That was something about Tristan, every time his grandfather spoke, he listened. Really listened. He cared what the old man had to say. He loved his grandfather, Rory had always known. He was the only member of Tristan's family that he really loved.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt her mother's fingers clench around her upper arm. She looked up to see her grandmother leading Lorelai through the floor. She dragged her daughter out of her chair. "What are you doing?" she whispered, following them because she was forced to.

"Bringing you with me so I don't kill my mother." she replied through gritted teeth.

"What was that, Lorelai? You really must speak up." she turned and saw her granddaughter, "Oh Rory, how nice to see you."

She smiled, ripping her arm from her mother's death grip, "Hi grandma." She turned to her mother, speaking quietly, "Where are we going?"

"We're making the rounds." she said airily, mocking Emily, who didn't hear. And so she was dragged around the room to talk to people who remembered when she was 'this tall' and lowered their hand until it hovered around their knee. But then her family had moved to Stars Hollow and they hadn't seen her again until last year, and oh, how she'd grown. She was beautiful, just like her mother and grandmother. She listened to the practiced compliments politely, nodding and thanking them when it was appropriate.

After fifteen or twenty minutes she let her gaze wander around the room. They were now with one of Richard's old business partners and his wife, the guest of honor and his brother, and Tristan's grandmother. She noticed that Janlan's wife made a point to speak to her, smile at her, lay a delicately aged hand on her arm. She wondered why his grandparents were so kind to her when his parents hated her.

Just a few moments ago her father had whisked away her mother, claiming that he hated to steal her but Mr. Nelson was dying to catch up with Lorelai. So she'd been left alone with her grandmother, but didn't really mind at all.

Now they were discussing how fast time seemed to go by and Rory was dazing out. She looked around the room, her eyes falling on her grandfather Hayden who was now in the circle with Tristan and Baker. Her gaze fell on the blonde and he looked up, feeling her. Their eyes locked. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, her arms crossed over her chest. The shadow of a smirk hooked the corner of his lips, but it wasn't full blown. Wasn't noticeable to anyone but her. She ran her right hand through her hair, pulling it out from behind her ear. His grandfather said something to him and he kept eye contact with her for another moment before looking at the old man.

"Rory?"

She felt herself flush and turned to her grandmother, "Yes ma'am?"

She laced her arm through her granddaughter's and they left the small cluster of people after bidding farewell, "Come on, keep moving. We still have a lot of people to talk with."

She sighed and followed the older woman. How did she always get pulled into these things? She glanced around the room, trying to spot Adam when they stopped. She looked at the group in front of her and was met with only male faces. Including two her own age. She cringed inwardly as her grandmother positioned her right next to Janlan Dugrey. She spoke to him without disrupting the conversation of the entire group, "Hello Janlan, how are you this evening?" she asked, taking his hand.

The old man turned to look at her and grinned, "As well as ever, Emily. And yourself?"

"Never better."

He turned to the young girl next to him and his grin widened, "Ah, and I'm graced with a beauty I haven't had the pleasure to see in far too long." he took Rory's hand and she smiled at him, surprised, but glad that he remembered her, "How are you, Rory?"

"I'm wonderful, Mr. Dugrey. How was your birthday? I'm so sorry I missed it."

He waved his hand as if it was nothing, "Nothing to apologize for, darling. It was wonderful though, thank you for asking."

Baker's father addressed her, "So, Rory, I hear you're in the class presidency with Baker."

She turned to him, "Yes sir."

"Vice president?"

"Yes."

"That's a lot of responsibility."

"At times, but usually I just have to sit back while Paris dictates."

Baker's father laughed lightly, "The Gellar women are very strong willed, aren't they?"

She smiled politely, "Only in the best way, Dr. Haulk." He smiled, agreed, and turned to Strobe to discuss golf at the club tomorrow. Rory chewed the insides of her cheeks, not listening to her grandmother and Janlan discussing the charity dinner for something or other. She looked up at Tristan and Baker, who were standing next to each other in the circle. Baker had been pulled into the discussion between his father and her grandfather and wasn't paying attention to her. She thought he didn't know she was looking, but his eyes darted towards her and he smirked, then winked before shaking his head minutely. She tilted her head, her eyes narrowed in confusion. His grin widened and he returned to the conversation involving golf. She shifted her teeth, releasing the insides of her cheeks as her gaze fell on the blonde next to him.

It shouldn't have surprised her that he was watching her. . . . . his eyes fixated on her face as a smirk graced his perfect lips. She bit her lip, sliding behind his grandfather. Instinctively, the man moved closer to Emily so they could carry on their conversation easier. She slid in between the grandfather and grandson and faced the younger, arms folded over her chest, "Can I help you?"

His grin widened, eyebrow arching, "Is that an honest offer?"

She just shook her head, she'd walked right into that one, "You never change, Dugrey."

He nudged her with his shoulder lightly, "You're not so different yourself."

Rory laughed and opened her mouth to say something else, but was interrupted as Tristan's grandmother came over. Of course, she suggested that the two of them dance because she just loved this song and she never got the opportunity to watch her grandson put his ballroom lessons to good use. They both started to decline, but when Emily, Janlan, and Strobe encouraged them, they were forced to oblige. Baker snorted with laughter lightly and both glared at him. He held his hands up apologetically before laughing again.

Tristan sighed and grabbed Rory's hand, leading her onto the floor. "Tristan." she hissed, grabbing his other hand into her free one. "I don't know how to ballroom dance. I took lessons from Miss Patty when I was like, eight, but I don't remember anything."

He squeezed her hand encouragingly, "Just follow my lead." Her eyes were wide and every muscle in her body was tense when they stopped on the floor. He rested his left hand on her waist and took her hand with his right. She laid her right hand on his shoulder and he locked eyes with her, moving slowly at first as he counted for her while they moved.

Eventually bits and pieces of it came back to her and she was able to move with him so that she didn't completely ruin the dance. He was an amazing dancer, though. She knew that he'd taken years of etiquette, cotillion, and ballroom dancing, but hadn't been aware that he actually paid attention. But he could lead her, amazingly because she had absolutely no rhythm. Of course when she'd told him that before he'd smirked, winked, and told her that he begged to differ. Maybe she couldn't dance, but she certainly had rhythm.

"Head up." he said quietly. She looked into his eyes to see that he'd been watching her closely. She hadn't even realized that she'd been looking down. He really was an amazing dancer. Her thoughts trailed off as she stared into his eyes, both of them with straight faces. Neither of them found any amusement in their current situation. She didn't get it. It was like one day they could be horrible to each other and say everything they knew to hurt each other, and then the next day they were fine. Nothing weird. Nothing awkward. It was confusing, and she hated being confused.

Tristan could tell that she was deep in thought, and he grinned, she looked so cute whenever she was running away with a thought. She blinked as he grinned. "What?"

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She laughed, "Oh-" he twirled her out and brought her back, "-nothing important. Just that it's amazing how you can actually lead me with my two left feet."

"You're not that bad of a dancer." she just gave him a look and he laughed lightly, "Well you're not horrible."

She laughed, rolling her eyes, "Thanks."

"But see, that's why you're lucky to be a woman, you just have to follow and look gorgeous."

"Oh no, I have to do everything you're doing, but in heels."

He rolled his eyes, "Poor Ginger."

"Arrogant Fred."

Tristan just looked down at her for a moment before laughing and shaking his head, "Touche." She smiled as he spun her around once more before the song ended. He nodded, smirking, "Well Miss Hayden, thank you for the dance."

She grinned, nodding her head as well, "Thank you." she hooked her arm in his as they made their way back to their grandparents. Their grandmothers were watching them with a mix of awe and surprise. Their grandfathers were nodding softly, watching the couple closely. Louise had joined the group and was on Baker's arm, both of them watching Rory and Tristan closely, looking at them with an emotion neither could place.

They stood in silence for a moment, everyone in the group looking at them. Emily shook her head slowly, "Rory, darling, I didn't know you could dance."

"I know a little, Tristan can lead anyone, though."

Emily turned to the blonde and smiled, "Tristan, you're a wonderful dancer."

He smiled charmingly, "Thank you, Emily."

Rory felt fingers curl around her elbow and turned to see that Louise had snaked her way over to her. "Excuse me, can I borrow Rory for a second?"

The two older women nodded their consent and Rory smiled politely as her friend pulled her from the group. "What?" she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

"First off, I didn't know you could dance. Very good. Second: you have serious damage control to do." she said as they made their way to the other side of the room.

"Damage control?" she asked, confused.

"Adam. He was watching you two the entire time with his jaw sweeping the floor." she nodded to the curly haired boy and continued pulling Rory, "You might want to explain that it was your grandmothers' idea." she whispered as they came to Adam, who had yet to completely close his mouth with the aftermath of his shock. Louise pulled her arm from Rory's and patted Adam's shoulder quickly before turning. She shot her friend a weak smile before walking away.

Rory looked up at Adam, shifting her feet self consciously. "Hey." she said quietly.

He looked up at the dance floor, "What. . . . " he trailed off.

"Our grandparents asked us to."

He looked down at her, shaking his head slowly, still disbelieving, "I thought you hated him."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because two days ago you were complaining about what a dickhead he is."

She bit her lip, "I don't hate him."

Adam swore, running his hand through his hair before looking her in the eye, "Do you want to be with him?" She looked him in the eye as well, flexing her fingers. No one had asked her that one yet. She clenched her hands, biting the insides of her cheeks as she shook her head slowly. She couldn't force herself to say it. "Do you really want to be with me?" he asked quietly, his eyes boring into hers. The pressure of her teeth on the inside of her cheeks intensified as she nodded slowly. She didn't know why she was doing it. Maybe because he was safe. Maybe because she really cared about him. She wondered if Tristan was hurting, if he was confused. She wanted to look over at him, but wouldn't allow herself to. He was killing her. Adam watched her uncertainly before speaking softly, resigned, "Okay. Do you want to take a walk?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking away, "Yeah."

Tristan watched them walk out and swore under his breath. He hated her sometimes. The way she made him feel. . . . . .like maybe she really cared, and then she'd leave with her boyfriend. He didn't know who was hurting worse, but she was killing him. She kept trying to forget. Kept trying to act like they'd never meant anything to each other, and as he watched her walk out, he knew she'd never be able to do it. He turned away from the door. He didn't even want to know. It was bad enough that she was still with Adam, but he would drive himself crazy imagining what they were doing.

THAT NIGHT, DUGREY'S

As soon as the front door closed Tristan's mother turned on him, "What the hell was that?"

He turned to look at her lazily, "What?"

She shook her head, tossing her purse on the table in the foyer, "Tristan, I thought we discussed this. You are not to have anything to do with the Haydens."

He rolled his eyes, "Mom, our grandparents are friends and we were both with them. They wanted us to dance together. It was harmless."

"Tristan," she said mockingly, stepping closer, "I told you not to. It doesn't matter what your grandparents say. They're not the ones who have the authority to say whether you live in Connecticut or North Carolina." His jaw clenched, but he didn't say anything back. She rounded on her husband, "Arthur, talk to your parents."

His nose wrinkled, "Why?"

"Because they constantly undermine us when it comes to Tristan. They know perfectly well why he was sent off and yet they insist on throwing the two of them together."

Tristan cut in, "It's because they know the whole idea it stupid-"

She turned and cut him off, "Tristan!" he stopped and she stepped closer, "I told you, do not get involved with the Haydens again." he rolled his eyes and she put two of her fingers under his chin, forcing him to look at her, "Listen to me." he locked eyes with her. Identical shades of blue. It'd been generous of her to give them to him, "Stay away from Lorelai Leigh Hayden. I don't care what your grandparents tell you to do or ask of you. I understand that in school you've been put in a group project together and one teacher has asked her to tutor you. I understand that. I don't care, but let it go beyond schoolwork and you'll regret it. You've always brushed off my threats and punishments and your grandparents have always ignored my wishes. I'm tired of it. If I hear anyone saying that you two have gotten back together or you're giving her any special attention and they can prove it to me, you will have a one way ticket to Riverside Military Academy in Georgia. You won't be going back to North Carolina and you will be graduating high school in the south." he stared back at her, emotionless, "Understand?" He didn't reply. "Tristan?" she said softly.

"Yes ma'am."

She patted his cheek lightly, "Good."

"Can I go to my room now?" he hissed, swallowing the lump in his throat.

She nodded, waving her hand towards the stairs, "By all means. Go."

He jerked away from her and headed towards the stairs, passing his father who just watched the interaction, emotionless. Tristan closed his eyes as he started upstairs. And people wondered how he'd turned out this way.

THAT NIGHT, HAYDEN'S

The guys were all asleep while Rory and Lorelai sat on the couch in the livingroom, watching Citizen Kane. She couldn't focus on the movie, though. She needed to tell her mother she wasn't a virgin. Sometimes she hated being so close to her family. She could get away with anything, but her conscience would never let her rest. They watched as Charles fired Jedediah and Rory bit her lip, closing her eyes as she turned to her mother, "Mom."

"Yeah sweetie?" she asked, keeping her eyes on the television.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked, pausing the movie.

Lorelai's eyebrows furrowed together as she looked over at her daughter, "Of course. What's wrong?"

She bit her lip, "Mom, I. . . . . " she trailed off, shaking her head, she had no idea how to say it.

"Ror?"

"I'm not a virgin."

Lorelai's eyes widened as her head cocked back, "Oh." obviously that hadn't been what she'd expected to hear, "Oh." she nodded slowly, trying to find something to say, "You were safe?" Rory nodded mutely, "Okay, good." she said awkwardly, turning her body to face her daughter, "When did this happen?"

Rory inhaled deeply. She wasn't freaking out. That had to be a good sign. "A while ago."

"Oh." she watched her daughter, looking over her face, "So then you and Adam?"

Her head snapped up to her mother, "No."

Lorelai nodded, "So then it was Tristan?"

"Yeah."

She bit the insides of her cheeks, "Before he left?" Rory looked up at her mother, confused. Lorelai went on, "I mean, it hasn't been since he got back?"

"Oh." she shook her head slowly, "No. It was before he left for Military School."

Lorelai nodded, exhaling slowly, "And he was good to you? He was gentle?"

Rory nodded slowly, "Yeah, mom. He was really gentle."

Lorelai looked over at the coffee table, "I figured you had." she looked over at her, "And you and Adam?"

Rory shook her head, "No."

"Are you going to?"

Again she shook her head, "No."

Lorelai nodded, "Okay."

Rory pulled her legs to hr chest, "You're not mad?"

"What difference would it make if I was?" Rory cringed and Lorelai sighed, "I'm not mad. I wish you would've told me sooner, but I'm not mad." She played with the hem of her shirt, "But you were safe, right? You used a condom?"

Rory ran her hand through her hair, "I'm on birth control."

"How?"

"There's a teen-"

"Aces." her mother cut her off, nodding slowly.

Rory nodded, her mother had probably used the same clinic when she was a teenager. It wasn't free, but they never contacted your parents. "Yeah. Aces."

Lorelai looked her square in the eye, "Birth control won't prevent an STD. Does he get tested?"

Rory nodded slowly, "Every six months."

"You two didn't date for six months. Did he sleep with anyone right before you got together?"

She rested her chin on her knee, "No. And he got tested a month after we started dating. It just worked out that way."

Lorelai nodded slowly, visibly resigned, "Okay."

Rory looked up at her shyly, "So then we're okay?"

She smiled gently, wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulders, "We're okay."

I hate the way you say my name

Like it's something secret

My pen is the barrel of the gun

Remind me which side you should be on

Oh, I want to hate you half as much as I hate myself

But you know that I could crush you with my voice

Stood on my roof and tried to see you

Forgetting about me

Hide the details

I don't want to know a thing

I wish that I was as invisible as you make me feel

A/N: Filler chapter. Yes, yes, I know: are they ever getting together? Well of course they are,
do you guys know me and what a trory freak I am? But think about it, if you'd been hurt like that, would you just have jumped back into his arms within a week? Hopefully not. But don't worry, they'll get back together. I've known exactly what was going to happen in this story since before I started writing it like, three years ago. Never fear, it'll all work out in the end.