See first chapter for all necessary information. Again, "All I Need" belongs to Mat Kearney. This is the last chapter, and after much debate, I've decided that there will not be an epilogue. Thank you so much for all of the reviews, they have inspired me and have kept me going.

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Winter: The Realization That You've Never Let Go

She wakes up in an unfamiliar bed. And her body is hurting all over. Confusion sets in and quickly dissipates at the same time when she looks out the window. And she remembers it all: the screeching tires, the unbearable sound of metal crashing into metal. She wonders how long she has been here in this bed. How long it has been since the accident.

"Rory?" Her mother's worried voice breaks her from her thoughts. She looks up and sees Lorelai standing at the door. She wonders why her mother is not sitting beside her. She looks at the chair beside her and sees that it has recently been vacated. Blankets are on the floor, and a pillow lays in the seat. Her mother notices her look of confusion and only explains in one word. "He's outside. He told me you were awake."

She understands precisely who the 'he' is. Her estranged husband of almost two years. And then confusion sets in again. Why is he here? Does he still hate her? Is he here to end things once and for all? "Mom…" Lorelai silences her. She takes a seat on the bed beside her and holds her hand. Rory can only nod, understanding that worrying will not make her – or their, for that matter – situation any better. She takes a deep breath and looks up at Lorelai. Her mother looks like she has aged ten years over night. "Can I… can I see him?" Lorelai nods, and exits the room.

She looks outside and sees that it is snowing. She remembers her mother telling her before that magical things happen when it snows. She quickly decides that this is complete and utter bullshit. The thought is intensified when he walks into her room, looking much the same as her mother. Only it is not his facial features that make him look old and weary. It is his eyes – once a vibrant shade of blue like the sky, they are now dark, tired. And she thinks she even sees defeat in them.

February used to be her favorite month. Growing up she'd anticipated its arrival, counting down the days until Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day and, if applicable, even the leap years. Now, though, she hates the month with a complete and utter passion. She hates its big snow storms and its pretty ice crystals that it leaves on her car in the morning. She hates it for letting the groundhog see its shadow. And she hates it for making people fall in love and be completely and utterly oblivious to the other problems in the world.

"Hi." His voice is cold. The warm inviting tone, she decides, left around the time she did the night of her birthday. She thinks it's off somewhere in Hawaii, warming up because of the cold vibes they have been sending each other for the last year. She does not allow herself to smile at this thought, knowing smiling will only make things worse than they already are. She nods in greeting, slipping her left hand – amazingly still adorning her rings – into his. His ring is still there, too. Somehow, she sees this as a small glimmer of hope. "I've been worried about you."

She is not sure how to respond. Does she thank him for the concern? She has a feeling that if she does that, he will tell her he was obligated. She isn't quite sure what to say. She chooses to fill him in on her life. Even though she has a feeling he already knows. "Logan and I broke up."

"Congratulations." Not the response she was expecting. Granted, nothing about him has been expected. Everything with him has been one big surprise after another. She thinks back over everything they have been through, and realizes that it is because of this small fact, she fell in love with him. And she finally sees that it is not defeat, but exhaustion, in his eyes. He is tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of losing. Tired of being put through everything she has put him through.

She makes a mental pro/con list, though, because she does not want to have to fight. She comes to find, though, that her lists will not help her right now. This decision must be made out of passion, out of sincere want. Not out of an obligation. She has a feeling that he knows this, too. He has been the one contacting her. And she has been the one not answering. She sighs, and finally faces the simple truth: she has pushed him away, only to take him back and push him away again. She must make a decision quickly, because he will not be around forever. She makes a decision right then and there. She will fight for him.

"I'm sorry." She prays her voice is not as weak as she thinks it is. He nods, but does not say anything. She stops him, though. Lets a tear fall down her cheek before continuing. "For pushing you away. And for leaving. The first time and that night." She is not sure how to phrase what occurred between them, and goes for calling it 'that night' in the hopes that he knows precisely of which night she is speaking. He tries to say something, but she will not let him. This is her battle to fight.

"I was coming to see you." It was true. She was coming to see him to get the divorce papers. To make everything final. To be done with him for good. He studies her intently, and she forces herself to keep speaking. She decides to finally tell him the truth. To stop hiding behind the walls she has put up. "I wanted to make things right." And now, she will make things right.

Because she is tired, too. She is tired of running from him. Tired of doubting him. Tired of not believing him when he tells her he loves her. She is tired of missing him and missing the way they would talk and kiss. She is tired of not being able to make love to her husband every night, the way a wife should. He squeezes her hand gently, and offers her a smile. He goes to speak again, but she silences him.

"I don't deserve it," she says. She takes a deep breath, in case he is the one to turn her down this time. "But do you think there's still room for me in your life?" Now, she does not care how her voice sounds. She is sure that it sounds needy, clingy, too pathetic. But she doesn't care. Because she wants him back in her life. She wants him to be back in this hospital again with her someday, holding her hand like he is now and encouraging her for one more push as she delivers his children. She wants him to hold her every night. She wants him to be her husband again. She wants her life back.

She looks up at him, studying him and not knowing what he will do. She prays he will tell her yes, but she is still bracing herself for if he says no. Because she deserves a 'no.' She does not deserve him or any type of happiness with him. She is partially relieved, but still preparing herself for a rejection when he smiles at her. She smiles back, trying to mask the fear that has set in. It is only when he presses his lips to hers, softly, gently, that she feels relief completely wash over her. His thumb grazes over her knuckles, and he kisses her forehead softly. His voice is soft, but finally warm as he answers her. "You aremy life."

She smiles at him, tears spilling gently down her cheeks. He wipes them away gently, and kisses away a few. He kisses her softly, and she makes room for him in her bed. She melts into his arms. Finally, after nearly a year, she has made a wise decision.

It is winter, and she realizes that magical things really do happen when it snows.

--

He has been in sheer and utter panic for the last few hours. He has been sitting beside her bed telling her he loves her and praying for her to wake up since that morning. It is two in the afternoon when he sees her open her eyes. And he goes to get Lorelai. He stands out in the hall, waiting for mother and daughter to talk. Waiting for Lorelai to come out and tell him he can go back in there. Now that she is awake, though, he is unsure.

He knows if he goes back in there, she will only send him away again. The thought of being rejected again by her is overwhelming. He cannot stand it. He doesn't want to lose her again. He refuses to be hurt again. He starts to walk away when Lorelai tells him he can go see her. After a small debate, he decides to go in there and see her. He puts on his cold exterior, for fear that this will be the final time he sees her. He decides that if she rejects him again, he will send her the papers. They have been signed for months, but he has still held out hope for them.

She thanks him, and he awaits her to tell him to leave. He is not a stranger to the ways of Rory Gilmore. She has always been polite, but to the point. He will not let her politeness fool him into thinking that they still have a chance.

He studies her, though, and sees she is debating telling him something. He still keeps his guard off. Telling her congratulations when she tells him she has broken up with the blonde prick. He knew that, though. He knew she broke up with him the night they slept together. Lorelai had informed him of this. He wonders what the hell she has been doing since then, but knows that she has been busy with her job. A CNN overseas correspondent. He fights the urge to tell her he is proud of her. Because he knows that doing so will bring his guard and his resistance to her crumbling down.

He still studies her. Waiting for her to tell him to leave. He will not leave until she tells him to. She is contemplating something. He can tell because she is biting her lip. She opens her mouth, and he prepares to walk. But his preparation is cut short. "I'm sorry." He sees a tear slip down her cheek. He suppresses the urge to brush it away. She looks up at him, and he keeps his eyes on her. Waiting, waiting. "For pushing you away. And for leaving. The first time and that night." He wants to tell her it's okay, but she silences his him again. "I was coming to see you."

He knows why. She wanted the divorce papers. She, like him, wanted the sadness to be over. Wanted all the sadness and madness to end. "I wanted to make things right." He decides right then and there that he will give her this opportunity to make things right. He is unsure if this means he will stay or go. He wants her to decide that. He wants her to decide to fight for him. Because he cannot fight for her anymore. He is too tired and weary to keep battling for her heart. He squeezes her hand, he needs her to continue. Because this is her decision to make.

"I don't deserve it, but do you think there's still room for me in your life?" The question catches him off-guard. Did she really think he didn't want her? That he was going to let her go? That he would push her away? He hopes that his smile answers her. She smiles back, but he sees the doubt and confusion in her eyes. He sees the fear that is being poorly masked behind the barriers she is tired of putting up. He decides the only way to answer her is, quite literally, with his lips. Brushing them over hers, he sees the relief in her eyes. He grazes his thumb over her knuckles and for the first time feels that relief, too. He relishes in the fact that he can really touch her now, and takes advantage of it by brushing his lips over her forehead. She is still his. He can still do this with her. He decides then and there that it is the greatest feeling in the world.

"You are my life," he tells her. And she is. She really, truly is. His life is back. His reason for waking up everyday is back. His happiness, his bliss, his entire world is back. And he cannot even think of a greater feeling than climbing into the bed with her. And feeling her melt into his arms. She is his again. She is finally his again.

It is winter, and he will never let her go again.

And if all we've got is what no one can break
I know I love you
If that's all we can take
The tears are coming down
They're mixing with the rain
I know I love you, if that's all we can take
…
A pool is running for miles on the concrete ground
We're eight feet deep and the rain is still coming down
The TV's playing it all out of town
We're grabbing at the fray for something that won't drown