Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, so don't sue me… or I'll sue you first.

A/N: Hey there guys and gals! Thanks for all the reviews… they total OVER 400, now!!! I really appreciate all your support. Please keep them coming. Thank Christi for perfecting this chapter, I know I do!

Chapter 16: The White Dress, Stained Red

Previously:

Tristan stroked Rory's hair as they drove towards Stars Hollow. He saw a soft smile grace her lips when the car began driving along the familiar streets. Luke parked the car in the driveway of the Gilmore house, and Tristan lifted Rory effortlessly into his arms and carried her across the threshold. Luke grabbed Tristan's bag for him, and all four entered the house. Rory inhaled the familiar smell and took in all the familiar sights. When she left this very place, she was pregnant and on her way to tell her grandparents. Now, as she looked around the room, she was no longer pregnant, but she had gained something from the horrible experience. She knew she was strong enough to survive anything. It felt good to be home, again.

Saturday Night 9:00pm

Lorelai rustled through the linen closet to find some extra blankets. They were stacked six inches above her finger tips. She sighed, summoning all the strength she had left in her exhausted body, jumped, and made a grab for the blanket. Unfortunately, as she pulled the blanket, a Frisbee and four cans of silly string fell from on top of the blanket. Lorelai sighed, kicked the Frisbee and silly string back into the closet, and shut the door.

"Tristan, here's a blanket. There are plenty of pillows on the couch," Lorelai told him, which was her way of saying, 'You're sleeping on the couch. Period. No ifs ands or buts about it.'

"Thanks, Lorelai."

"Well, it's been a long couple of days," Lorelai said to the two teens, who were lounging on the couch. "I'm ready to go to bed. Tristan, will you help Rory to her room?"

"Of course," Tristan told his girlfriend's mother.

Lorelai sighed. "Good night, baby girl. Sleep well. Don't forget to take your medicine."

"Goodnight, Mom. I'll take my medicine."

Lorelai ascended the stairs and collapsed into bed without even change her clothes. She was dead asleep within two minutes. The stress of the weekend had taken its toll on her, and she took advantage of a good night's sleep. Downstairs, Rory and Tristan were just as exhausted as Lorelai, but they were stalling for the inevitable.

"I'm so tired," Rory told Tristan.

"Okay," Tristan replied and bent down to pick Rory up.

"No, just help me walk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Once I'm in bed, you can bring me my medicine."

"Are you in pain?" Tristan asked, concerned.

"A little, but I don't want it to get worse."

Rory slowly made her way towards her bedroom. She leaned on Tristan and felt more fatigued with each step. After what seemed an eternity, she reached her bedroom. Tristan helped her into her twin bed and pulled the covers around her. Then, he hurried into the kitchen and pulled out her prescription pain pills. After getting one pill out of the bottle, he filled a glass of water. By the time he returned to his girlfriend's room, Rory was already asleep. He hated to wake her up, but Tristan didn't want his Mary to wake up in pain because she didn't take her medicine.

"Rory, sweetie. Wake up."

"Noooo," Rory groaned.

"I know you're sleepy, but you have to take your medicine."

Rory opened her eyes, slightly, and grabbed her medicine and water. She quickly swallowed the pill, washing it down completely, before once again closing her eyes. Tristan smiled and leaned forward. He kissed her pink, pouting lips. Rory tried to remain conscious long enough to kiss him back, but it was futile. She dropped into dreamland, leaving Tristan to watch her slumber. He carefully stood up and turned her light off. Returning to the living room, he tested out the surprisingly comfortable couch. Just as he was about to unfold the blanket, he heard a noise. Sitting up, he listened intently for it to be repeated. Tristan didn't hear anything else, so he picked up the blanket again. Then he heard another noise, much clearer than before. It was Rory crying out. He leapt off the couch and hurried towards her room. When he reached her doorway, he saw that she was still asleep.

Rory sat in a beautiful meadow. Her long hair was in waves all down her back and there were white flowers in her hair. She wore a flowing white dress that fell just below her knees, and her feet were bare. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and a tiny pink bundle was snuggled in her arms. All her friends and family laugh and dance around her.

"Oh Rory, your baby is beautiful," Lane said.

"Thank you, Lane."

"I want to hold her," Miss Patty pleaded.

"No, I want to hold her, sugar" Babette laughed.

"I want to hold her. I want to hold her. No, I want to hold her," everyone yells, circling around her.

"You can all hold her!" Rory giggled.

Suddenly, the sky turned gray and rain began to fall from the sky. All her friends and family left her side. Even Tristan. Rory felt a little sad, because a second ago everyone wanted to hold her baby and now she was alone. Well, not alone; she still had her little baby girl. Rory smiled and rocked the baby. As she coddled the baby, she noticed something. The baby's face started to melt with the rain. Rory tried to cover up her face with the blanket, but it didn't work because the blanket was liquefying as well.

The baby turned into a red puddle of goo that ran all over Rory's perfect white dress. Rory began to scream, but no sound would escape her mouth. The rain washed the remains of her baby everywhere, and the meadow changed to Stars Hollow. Rory walked through the streets and everyone stared at her and pointed.

"Baby killer! Baby killer! Baby killer!" they all chanted.

"No, I didn't mean it. It's not my fault. Please stop saying I'm a baby killer. I'm not a baby killer. I didn't mean to do it. I didn't mean to do it. Stop. Please stop!" Rory screamed.

Tristan heard her yelling those horrible things and knew that it didn't matter how much Rory claimed that she didn't blame herself; she still believed that she was truly at fault. Tristan sat on the edge of her bed and slowly tried to ease her back to reality.

"Rory, hon. Wake up. Mary, you're having a nightmare."

"It wasn't my fault. Tristan please, not you too. I didn't mean it."

Tristan was taken aback. He wanted to kick his dream-self's ass for saying that. He shook Rory, now. She had to wake up. There was no way he would let her continue in this horror. Rory opened her blue eyes and they were wide with terror. She let out a breathless scream and grabbed Tristan's shoulders. Rory buried her head in his chest and let the hot tears slide down her cheeks as she relived her nightmare.

"I was-and then you-the baby-blood everywhere-awful-I-I," Rory cried incoherently.

"Shhh," Tristan soothed. "It's okay. It'll all be okay. I'm here, and I'm going to take care of you, Rory."

"Will you-stay wi-th me?"

Tristan's heart broke when he heard Rory's timid plea.

"Of course. I'll never leave you, Rory. You have to know that I'll do anything for you."

Rory let out a few more choked sobs into his shoulder before falling back into a deep, peaceful sleep. Tristan carefully laid Rory back on the bed and settled in beside her. His exhaustion quickly caught up to him, and he joined Rory in dream world.

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Sunday Morning

Lorelai opened her eyes and groaned when she saw light. Her body was still fatigued, and her head pounded from caffeine withdrawal. Slowly, she sat up and blinked repeatedly because she forgot to take her contacts out the night before. She climbed out of bed and stumbled downstairs to check on Rory. Lorelai paused when she reached the empty couch that had obviously not been slept on. The blanket was still partially folded, and the pillows were still propped up on the arm rest. Lorelai cautiously approached Rory's bedroom door. It wasn't closed- definitely a good sign. She pushed the door open and saw the couple embracing one another on her daughter's bed.

Lorelai left the room and sat down on a kitchen chair and thought about the situation, rationally. Both are fully clothed, and it's not like Rory could even have sex in her condition. They aren't doing anything wrong, and as much as I want to have control over their lives, I have to face the fact that in some respects, Rory is an adult now. She's mature and responsible… except for the whole pregnant thing. Then, her irrational mind kicked in. But she's my baby, and he's the one who broke her! If it wasn't for him, Rory would still be my virgin daughter who doesn't spend the night in dance studios. She wouldn't have gone through this horrible miscarriage.

Before her brain could finish its duel, she heard a tapping coming from the front of the house. The tapping stopped, so she went back to mulling. When she heard it again, she decided to investigate. Once she was in the living room, she cocked her head and listened intently. The incessant tapping was coming from the front door. Why didn't whoever was on the other side of said door just ring the doorbell? An aggravated Lorelai opened the door, but her obvious annoyance subsided when she saw Luke standing there with bags of food.

"Hey Lorelai. I thought you guys could use some breakfast. I didn't want you to have to walk all the way down to the diner and then all the way back here. That just didn't make any sense, so uh I just thought I should bring you some food."

"Oh Luke. That is so sweet. Thank you," Lorelai said sincerely.

"So, uh, how's Rory doing. You know, after the, you know."

"I don't really know. We went right to bed when we got home last night. And when I woke up, I found out that they slept together all night. In Rory's bed."

"What!" Luke exploded. "Where is the punk, I'll kill him."

"Luke. Stop. I mean, I've been rationalizing it in my head. They already have had sex," Lorelai reasoned.

Luke groaned, "Don't say that. She's still the little girl I made mashed potatoes for when she got the chicken pox."

Lorelai attempted a laugh, but Luke saw that it didn't reach her eyes. "As much as we wish that were true, Rory's all groan up. And as much as we hate it, that boy is in her life, now. Rory lost their child. Not just hers. He will forever be connected to her because of that."

"Yeah. I guess you're right. Well, uh, I'm going to go. Let you get back to-yeah, good luck with that."

"Thanks," Lorelai remarked, sarcastically while taking the food from Luke.

Lorelai shut the door and returned to the kitchen just in time to catch Tristan sneaking out of Rory's room. Tristan quietly shut the door before turning around to wind up face to face with Lorelai Victoria Gilmore. Tristan almost pissed in his pants when he saw her stony face, but he stood his ground.

"She had a nightmare."

"I didn't say anything," Lorelai remarked, her tone completely unreadable.

"But you were-and the staring."

Lorelai finally threw the guy a bone. "Tristan, dear, my goal in life concerning your relationship with my daughter is to make you as uncomfortable as possible."

Tristan heard the humorous tone in her voice and felt a wave of relief. At that moment, he heard the familiar Bare Naked Ladies song playing. He ran to answer his phone and ignored the snide remarks Lorelai made about his choice of ring tone. Tristan glanced at the caller ID and saw that Billy Cranson was on the phone. He inwardly groaned. Sure Billy was his friend, but all the guy ever did was party and sleep with as many women as possible. Tristan used to be like that, but ever since he found out that Rory was pregnant, his attitude had changed. Lorelai intently eavesdropped on Tristan's end of the conversation.

"Hey Billy."

"Hey man! Where were you, yesterday?" Billy asked.

"Why?" Tristan nervously replied, wondering if there was any way Billy could have found out about Rory.

"Dude, you sound tense."

"I am, a little."

"Then you should have come to my party, yesterday! Where were you?"

The party! Tristan mentally slapped himself. Billy had told him about his bash Friday afternoon, before the awful dinner. Before the hospital. Before his baby died. Tristan snapped himself out of his thoughts and pulled an excuse out of his ass.

"Sorry man, I had a hellish weekend of my own and I totally spaced."

"Well you better not totally forget about next weekend," Billy stated.

"Uh, well."

Billy groaned, "Is it your new girlfriend? You can bring her along. She's smoking hot."

"Thanks dude, but that's really not Rory's scene."

"Oh my God, then why are you dating her?"

"Uh…" Tristan began, not sure how to answer that.

"Oh, I got it! She must be a great lay," Billy joked.

"Shit Billy! Don't ever talk about her like that."

"Okay, okay. Damn, what's your problem?"

Tristan sighed, "Nothing, okay. I'm just really tired."

"Then go take a nap. Call me as soon as you return to your normal charming self and tell me you'll come to my party," Billy complained.

"Billy, comrade, whining is not your most attractive quality."

"Shut up, dickhead," Billy remarked while hanging up on Tristan.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I tried to lighten up the end because of all the angst at the beginning. Please review.