AN: Wow so it has been an age since I updated this story. I'm not sure why, I don't think I felt as strongly about it as I did about For You but I'm back on track with my ideas for it. Thank you so much to absolutely everyone who has left reviews and has wondered when in the world I'm going to update.

A special thank you and dedication to Becca G: Pour Vous

Disclaimer: Sadly nothing has changed and I still don't own Gilmore Girls.

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Does he make you cry? Does he know the way you feel?

When Lorelai arrived home from dinner with Sookie she found Rory sitting curled and mute on the porch. She was the first to concede that she was no expert at reading her daughter anymore but it didn't take a genius to realize that Rory had slid into one of her dark moods. Lorelai sat down next to her. Rory acknowledged her mother with a slight incline of her head towards the older woman, the longer strands of her hair brushing Lorelai's thigh.

"Kiddo"

"Mom"

"What's up?"

Rory shrugged and brushed her hair back from her face, showing off pale cheeks that caused something in Lorelai's chest to tighten.

"What was it like?" Lorelai asked before she had the time to stop herself.

Rory showed no sign of being shocked by the question, so long unasked. Instead she looked out towards the town. Lorelai had almost given up hope of an answer when Rory finally spoke.

"At first I wished I hadn't been there but…but now…" She took a deep, quivering breath, "Now I'm glad that I was, that I had that last chance. It something the other's didn't…something that The Icon and I can share as well."

Lorelai looked out past the front yard as well, leaning in towards her daughter, neither noticing the increasingly crisp air.

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Once Lorelai had left for the morning, Rory threw the bed-covers off herself and made her way into the kitchen after changing into a hoodie and a pair of loose jeans. When Lorelai had come in to wake Rory up Rory had claimed illness. And, as she did that so rarely, Lorelai let her have the day off school and had called Finn to let him know not to come.

After pouring herself a coffee she wandered into the silent living room that always seemed cold on days like this, lifeless. She sat on the couch and flicked randomly through channels, ignoring the homework she could have been doing.

She wished she could say that the afternoon before had been a mistake, and in some ways it was, but it was a mistake that she and The Icon had made over and over since that night so long ago that wasn't really all that long ago. Despite all their promises and the closeness of their little gang, she and the Icon were the ones that understood each other the best. In the beginning, when it had first happened, it was this wonderful thing, like they'd found something to fill up the part inside both of them that was empty. It was only with the clarity of hindsight that Rory could see she was emptier than ever.

It took her a while to register the sound of the doorbell. She rolled her head to stare at the door, as though she couldn't quite understand where the distant noise was coming from. Finally, still gripping her cooling coffee, she shuffled towards the door.

Strangely she wasn't surprised to see him there, an apologetic look written all over his face. She cocked her head, watching him, waiting for him to say something where in the past she would have already been mid-babble.

"You weren't at school"

Tristan's voice sounded strange to himself, like a child's.

"This I know," Rory replied with a wry smile. "You'd better come inside"

He let out a deep breath and followed her into the kitchen.

"I don't know why I'm here" He began as she poured him a coffee.

"Why are you here Tristan?" She asked levelly, coolly.

He gazed at her.

"To apologise?"

She laughed.

"Really?"

"I don't know, it just…it felt right…to come here"

Rory handed him his unasked for coffee and leaned against the bench.

"I snapped yesterday" She said.

"I know"

"You were being an ass"

"I know"

He sighed and took a sip of his coffee.

"What class are you missing?" Rory asked.

"History…I'm devastated" He replied dryly and she smiled as she stared out of the window.

The dim sunlight was filtering through the window but all she could see was darkness and then a burst of bright light, voices and then she back in that damned bedroom on the bare mattress, her jeans still unbuttoned and her skin cold beneath the flimsy bra.

"Rory"

She could barely hear Tristan's voice as he crossed to stand in front of her.

"Rory" He repeated, more urgently this time. He slowly lifted his hand to brush his fingers against her cheek. "What happened to you?" He whispered.

She closed her eyes tight and turned her face to meet his, praying the tears wouldn't escape as she felt his lips press against her own in a kiss she knew would leave bruises all over her. She felt his arms encircle her waist and pull her closer to him and then all she could feel was him, after all, it was a nice idea.

AN: I know it wasn't a very long chater and for that I apologise but know that the next one will definitely not be as damn long in coming!!! Please R&R!!!