Thanks for all your reviews! Sorry to leave you on such a cliffhanger! ;) No need to wait anymore though as here's the next chapter. :D

Chapter 22

Paris looked up as Tristan and Jess rushed inside Rory's room. "Her eyes were twitching." She told them. "That's a good sign right? It shows that she could be waking up." She said.

Tristan went to his girlfriend's side and took hold of her hand. "Rory?" He said. "Rory, can you hear me?"

Everyone waited with bated breath but they all let out a huge breath when a groan came from Rory's mouth and her eyes started twitching again and gradually started to open.

"Rory.." Tristan said softly.

Rory looked over at him. "Tristan..." She said hoarsely. "Where am I?"

"You're in hospital." Tristan told her. "Do you remember what happened?" He asked, worried that she may be experiencing memory loss.

Rory was quiet for a moment and then her eyes widened. "The car..." She said. "The car flipped...and there was smoke..."

"Yeah we had a car accident. You passed out from all the smoke." Tristan said quietly.

"Katie and LJ..." She said.

"They're fine." Jess assured her. "They're both fine. Just got a few cuts and bruises."

Rory let out a sigh of relief knowing her siblings were safe. "And all of you..."

"We're fine." Jess said. "You...uh...you came off worse. You've been out of it for 4 days."

"Really? Wow..." Rory said.

"I should go call Luke." Jess said. He gave Rory a small smile. "It's good to hear you voice, cuz." He said softly.

Rory reciprocated the smile. "Sorry if I worried you." She said quietly.

"It's not your fault." Jess said. "I'll just go make the call." He glanced at Paris. "Coming?" He asked knowing Tristan would probably want some time alone with Rory.

Paris nodded and followed her out.

Rory watched them and then turned to Tristan. "Can I have some water?" She asked still a bit hoarse.

"Oh yeah, here." Tristan said, getting a plastic cup and pouring some water in it for her.

Rory drank a bit and then put it down. "I've really been out of it for 4 days?" She asked.

"Yeah.." Tristan said. "You..uh..inhaled an awful lot of smoke and it went into your lungs. The doctors said all we could do was wait."

"Wow.." Rory said quietly. She looked at her boyfriend. "I'm sorry if you've all been worried. I...I can't believe it's been 4 days since the accident. Seems like yesterday to me..."

Tristan sighed. "Tell me about it." He said.

Rory took hold of his hand. "Have you slept at all?" She asked.

"For a few hours today and the odd hour over the other days." Tristan admitted. "I couldn't ever get comfy in this chair." He said.

"You've been here every day?" Rory asked amazed. "Tristan..."

"I couldn't leave you." Tristan said. "I just...I couldn't." He said, swallowing a lump, not wanting to cry in front of her. "I should have done more to help you..."

"Tristan no..." Rory said. "I told you to get Katie and LJ out and I'm so grateful you did and that they're ok. You did everything you could. The flames spread fast and so did the smoke. It wasn't your fault."

Tristan just nodded but didn't meet her eye.

"Tristan, it wasn't your fault." Rory said firmly. "Ok?"

Tristan glanced up at her and saw her earnest look and sighed. "Ok." He said.

Rory gave him a small smile. "So how long does a girl have to wait to get a kiss?" She joked.

Tristan smirked and leant over to give her such a sincere kiss. "I love you so much." He said.

"I love you too." Rory said softly.

"Rory!" Lorelai exclaimed rushing into her daughter's room, with Luke and the kids hot on her heel. They had come as soon as they'd got Jess' call.

"Mom.." Rory smiled.

Lorelai rushed over and gave her a hug. "Oh hon, it's so good to see you awake. You have no idea."

"It's good to see you too. I'm sorry if I worried you. All of you." She said glancing at Luke as well. "Hi dad."

"Hey princess." Luke said softly.

Rory's heart swelled at her dad's childhood nickname for her.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm ok. Throat feels a bit dry but I've got water. My breathing feels better too." Rory said.

"Good." Luke said.

Rory then smiled at her siblings. "Hey you two! You ok?"

They both nodded and LJ climbed up onto the bed so he could snuggle with his older sister.

"Are you going to be ok?" Katie asked worriedly. "Now you're awake, you're going to be ok right?"

Rory smiled. "I'm going to be just fine." She assured her younger sister. "Come here. Your sister needs a hug." She said holding her arms out.

Katie smiled and rushed into her embrace. "I'm glad you're better." She said quietly.

"So am I." Rory said. She glanced around at everyone there. "So any goss?" She asked.

A few hours later, Rory was waking up from a nap. She squinted her eyes open and smiled as she saw Tristan sat on one side of her watching the small tv in her room. She then heard movement from her other side and glanced over and was surprised to see Jess and Paris sitting close to each other, holding hands and laughing together. She found herself smiling when she saw Jess quickly peck Paris' cheek with a kiss.

"I have missed a lot." She said, causing everyone to turn to her. She smirked as Jess and Paris jumped apart looking guilty. "So I'm guessing this was something recent?" She asked.

"What was?" Jess asked.

"You and Paris. Unless you were secretly together before the crash and just hid it well." Rory teased. Tristan chuckled from her other side which caused her to whip her head round to him. "You knew?" She exclaimed.

"I only found out today!" Tristan said putting his hands up in surrender.

Rory turned back to Jess and Paris who were looking embarrassed. "So?" She asked.

"It only happened today." Jess gave in knowing they had been busted. "It was..uh..just before you woke up." He said.

"We were going to tell you." Paris added glancing at Rory. "We just...We want to take it slow. You know me, not exactly the most experienced in relationships. I..uh..want to make sure I make this work..." She admitted, glancing over at Jess giving him a small smile which he reciprocated.

"Yeah we were going to tell you, I promise." Jess said.

"Oh relax, I'm only teasing you." Rory had to smile at their nervousness. "I'm happy for you." She said. "Both of you." She smiled at Paris.

Paris relaxed and returned her smile. "Thanks." She said.

"Yeah...thanks." Jess ducked his head.

The following morning, Rory was discharged from the hospital and was allowed to go home which she was very happy about. Tristan kept her company during the day while her parents were at work and Katie, LJ, Jess and Paris were at school. Tristan had been given special dispensation to take the day off to be with Rory. The school had been told about what had happened and Jess and Paris had said that they would make sure Tristan got their notes.

"I'm so glad to be home." Rory sighed and she snuggled into Tristan on the couch in the living room at the Crap Shack.

"I'm glad that you're home." Tristan said.

"You know, you really didn't have to skip school for me." Rory said. "You've already skipped days because you were at the hospital with me."

"I've only missed two days because of the weekend and I've been catching up." Tristan said. "Besides, I wouldn't have been able to concentrate."

Rory sighed. "You really didn't have to sit with me every day." She said. When Tristan tried to say something, she interrupted before he could. "But thank you. It's nice to know you were there." She said softly.

Tristan smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Nowhere I'd rather be." He said.

"So..uh..do you know what I've missed at school?" She asked.

Tristan chuckled. "Ah I knew there was an ulterior motive to you wanting me to have gone to school." He joked.

"I just want to be prepared!" Rory defended herself.

Tristan chuckled. "Don't worry, school nerd. Paris made really detailed notes for you. I mean who's best for that sort of thing?" He smirked.

Rory laughed. "Paris." She said. "Definitely."

"You'll be all caught up in a day, I know you. So stop worrying and just rest today ok?" He said.

"Ok." Rory smiled, snuggling back into him, leaning her head on her shoulder. "This is nice." She admitted.

Tristan smiled. "Yeah it is." He said softly, putting his arm round her and pulling her even closer. "Promise me, you won't scare me like that again. Ever." He said.

"I promise." Rory said softly.

Sorry about the shortness again. I promise the next one will be longer! I hope you liked it! Please keep your reviews coming. I love reading your comments! :D