He crept back into his bedroom around six the next morning. He had showered at work so he wouldn't wake Rory, but she heard him come through the door anyway.
"Hey," she said, struggling to focus her tired eyes to read the clock.
"Hey, I didn't want to wake you." He said. She shook her head and patted the bed next to her.
"You must be exhausted." Tristan didn't say anything as he crawled into bed next to her. Sensing immediately that something wasn't right, she watched his face for a moment. "That bad huh?" She asked, surprising Tristan.
"We lost two, house fire." Without asking for details, Rory kissed his forehead and ran a hand through his hair. She wrapped her arms around him, but he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Rory watched him and thought about the way he looked when he came home. She had never seen him look weak, tired, lost. She felt a surge of emotions at the sight. She wanted to take care of him and she certainly wanted him to be okay.
OOOOO
Tristan slowly stirred awake around eleven. Five hours of sleep wasn't enough after two rounds of sex and one of the hardest nights he had ever had at the hospital. There had been a house fire and the dad, who worked the late shift, had come home around midnight to find his house on fire with his wife and two kids, four and six, inside. Everyone inside had died from smoke inhalation. Tristan had to tell the father his entire life had disappeared in a few minutes. Rubbing his eyes, he figured that Rory had probably left. He sat up and walked out into the kitchen. He was starving. Sitting in the kitchen reading the Sunday Times, she smiled as he walked in.
"Good morning."
"Hi."
"Did you sleep okay?" She asked. He nodded as he kissed the top of her head.
"I wasn't expecting you to still be here." Tristan said. "You should have woken me up sooner."
"After the night you had? I don't think so. Besides I've gotten a lot done." She said, getting up and going to the coffee maker.
"Really?"
"Uh-huh." She nodded. She poured him a cup of coffee. "Eggs?" She asked.
"Um, sure." He said as she pulled a pan out of the oven.
"What about bacon?" She offered, putting it on the plate before he could answer.
"Ror, did you raid my kitchen?" He asked, still half-asleep.
"I just thought you would like some food when you woke up. I was starving and I didn't even go to work."
"Thank you." He said as she handed him a plate. "Dear God…these are delicious. Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"You're welcome. And you don't want to know." Was all she said as she sat down next to him. He glanced at her. "Logan." She confessed.
"Ah. Well, he did a damn good job." He said with his mouth full.
"I'll tell him you said that." She rolled her eyes as she picked her paper up. "What's your section?" She asked.
"What are you done with?" She nodded to a pile down the table.
"Oh, and Sports." She said, throwing it on the done pile. "Waste of paper if you ask me." He smiled as he shook his head.
"Paper elitist." He muttered.
"Yes. I am. In fact, I'm wondering where the Hell your Hartford paper is, Mr. New York Times."
"Do you get the Times?" He asked her, knowing the answer was yes.
"Not the point. I went out and got you one." She said.
"Why?"
"I wanted to check on the final copy of my article. The editor has a tendency to promise us certain spots, but when the paper comes out…" she waved the rest off with a flick of her hand.
"You write for the Hartford Gazette?" She nodded. "I didn't know that."
"Well, if you got the paper you would." She said.
"Hand me it. I want to read it."
"Read what?"
"Your article."
"Right now?" She asked. He stared at her. "Fine." She said, handing him an open section of the paper. "So are you feeling better?" He nodded. "You looked like you had been hit by a truck when you got home."
"Well, it was that kind of night. I'm sorry if I woke you up." She shook her head.
"Don't worry about it." She said again. "In fact, if we ever wanted to repeat last night again, I'm would have to get used to it." She said with a wink. He smiled at her.
"Would you want to repeat last night…tonight?" He asked her.
"You just woke up." She said with a laugh.
"So."
"Yeah. I would like that." She fought the grin that was spreading across her face.
"Okay then," He said as he leaned in and kissed her. She pulled away with a sigh.
"You do that really well." She whispered before kissing him again.
"You're just trying to distract me from reading your article." He said as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"Is it working?" She raised an eyebrow hopefully. He pulled away with a thoughtful countenance.
"No." He smiled briefly before putting the paper in front of him.
OOOOO
Since their weekend-long date two weeks ago, Rory hadn't actually seen Tristan. She had got him on the phone once or twice a week, but between their two schedules, it was nearly impossible. She was starting to wonder whether or not this relationship was actually going to work. It's pretty hard to date someone if you never see him. But then she would think back to the weekend at his house and sigh. It was a fantastic weekend.
She shook her head, dissipating the memories. She needed to focus. She was packing to go home to Stars Hollow this weekend for a serious movie weekend and time with her mother, whom she also hadn't seen in a couple of weeks. Luke was going on a trip to visit April and Lorelei didn't want to be alone for a week. Rory had promised to come for the weekend, shortening Lorelei's alone time, at least a little bit. She was just about out the door when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me." Tristan said.
"Hi, you." She smiled.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Driving to Stars Hollow, why?"
"Oh, no reason, I just finally had a night off so I figured we could do something." She sighed.
"We suck at this game." She said, sad that she was going to be missing him yet again. He laughed.
"We'll figure it out eventually. I promise."
"I hope so, this is getting ridiculous. I should have time to see my boyfriend." Tristan smiled at the word. They hadn't declared anything about their status, but he was glad to know that they didn't have to. "Hey! Why don't you come out to Stars Hollow?" She offered.
"Really?" He said, skeptically.
"Yeah, I mean, we were planning on watching some movies, discussing you at length, but that can be postponed." She teased him.
"No, you go spend time with your mom. Have a girl's weekend. I'll catch you next week."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He laughed. "You'll have much more fun without me. Call me later."
"Okay. If you change your mind…"
"Bye Mare." He said with a laugh.
"Bye." Putting her bag in her car, she tossed her cell phone on the passenger seat and started the car with a smile.
OOOOO
Lorelei came running up the front porch steps faster than she ever had.
"RORY!" She cried, pushing her way through the front door.
"Kitchen!" She cried back.
"We won!" She said, holding up a copy of a magazine.
"The crazy award?"
"We were voted the Best Small town Inn on the East Coast!" She squealed.
"WHAT?!" Rory said, grabbing the magazine from her mother.
"Oh My God! I have to call Sookie." She said scavenging for her cell phone in her purse.
"This is amazing! I'm so proud of you guys!" She said, rereading the article.
"Sookie. Put down all flammables and go out back." Rory laughed at her mother's instructions. "I'm serious. Are you sitting down? Away from anything that could harm you or the inn? Okay, ready? We were voted the Best Small town Inn on the East Coast by Hospitality magazine!" She held the phone away from her ear as Sookie screamed.
"Go over there." Rory said.
"I'm coming over. Don't move until I get there! Okay, bye."
"Go out and celebrate, I'll go to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa alone." Rory said. "This is a special occasion."
"Are you kidding? They would never forgive me for it if I missed it. I'll just run over there and meet you in Hartford." She picked up her purse and headed for the door.
"Mom," Rory handed her the magazine.
"Right, magazine. It's just a window to your future, kid." She said as she smacked herself in the head. With a smile, Rory waved her out the door.
OOOOO
Cursing the horrible traffic due to an accident on the freeway, Rory pulled into the driveway of her grandparents' house late.
"Rory, you're late. Where is your mother?"
"Traffic was terrible. And she's coming separately. She got some very important news and I won't share it with you, but it's fantastic." Her cell phone starting ringing and with a look from Emily, she opened it quickly.
"Hello?"
"Rory Gilmore?"
"Yes,"
"This is Hartford Memorial calling, there was an accident involving your mother,"
"Accident?"
"She's just come in and requested that we call you."
"Is she okay?"
"Yes, she'll be fine."
"Okay, I'll be right there. Thanks."
"Rory, what's wrong?"
"Mom's been in an accident. She's in the hospital." She cried as Emily's face fell.