'Oh thank God.' Rebecca ran over and pulled Rory into her arms. 'Let me look at you.' She pulled back, tears running down both of their cheeks and looked her over, instantly taking notice to how thin she was. 'Are you ok?' Rory nodded and she let out another cry. 'Yea? You're sure?'

'Yes.' Her voice was hoarse from crying and Rebecca pulled her back into her embrace. She held her for a few moments longer before pulling back again and kissing her on the forehead. She reached for Lorelai's hand and moved to her side.

Both women watched as Colin stepped forward, he stared at her while Rory's gaze became fixated on the ground. Without a word he walked forward and pulled her into his arms. He whispered something to her and after a moment her shoulders visibly began to shake and she reached up and wrapped her arms around him. They stayed that way for awhile before Colin sniffled and pulled back. Rory wiped her face with the sleeve of her shirt and Colin walked away from everyone and leaned against the back of his car. Tristan shifted a few yards away and Rory's gaze shifted to him then quickly down to the ground as she began to wring her hands. Jess cleared his throat and everyone looked over at him.

'Maybe we should – uh' He shifted nervously from one foot to the other.

Lorelai gave a nod of agreement and turned to Rebecca. 'We should call and let everyone know that'

'Yea.' Without another word they walked away.

Rory had to fight every nerve in her body that was telling her to run in the other direction and never stop. Slowly she walked over to Tristan who, without looking at her or speaking, slid to the ground. With his back against the porch wall, he was effectively hidden from sight. He stretched his arms out, resting them on his knees and bowed his head. Fighting the urge to run in the opposite direction, Rory slowly walked over and sat beside him. They were both quiet for a long time.

'I'm sorry.' Rory breathed. She wiped her cheeks again with her sleeve.

'I know.'

She shook her head and put her hand on his arm. 'Tristan look at me.' She touched his face with a shaky hand and he pulled away.

'I can't.' He sounded pained and slowly she pulled her hands away. He looked in the opposite direction and stared across the yard at a rose bush. It was completely bare and so dry that it looked as if it might catch fire any second, but he couldn't pull his eyes away from it.

'I understand if you hate me.' She said breathlessly and he could hear the held back tears in her voice.

'I don't.' He said almost sadly.

'You won't even look at me.'

'I can't look at you, because I know when I do I'll stop being pissed - because I'm just so damn relieved that your OK that I'll just' His voice broke and he stared hard at the rose bush.

'What?' She asked softly.

Finally pulling his eyes from the bush, he stared down at her hand that was pulling mindlessly at the grass. 'I'll tell you that it's OK, and that I forgive you.' Her hand stopped and she inhaled deeply. 'Even though that's not what I want to say.'

A few seconds passed and she began nervously pulling at the grass again. 'What do you want to say?'

'Everything they're not going to. It's not OK, and you – you fucked up.' She was crying again and it made him want to hold her all the more. 'You hurt everybody in your life that loves you. Had us all blaming ourselves, wondering what we should have done differently. I want to tell you that you pretty much – broke my fucking heart.' Forcing himself to stop talking before he said something he'd only end up regretting, he shook his head. He hadn't intended on talking about them, he'd decided that more then anything she needed her friend.

She let out a sob and moved to kneel in front of him, her hand rising to touch his cheek. 'Look at me?' He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. 'Please?'

Slowly his eyes opened and he let out a broken sigh. 'Damn it.' Instantly he reached for her. He skimmed his knuckles along the curve of her face, then wiped her tears away with his thumb. 'I thought I'd lost you.' He whispered and her tears fell faster.

'I'm so sorry. I don't know how to fix this Tristan. I don't think I can.' He wasn't sure is she was talking about herself or the situation. She shook hear head while looking down at herself. 'Look at me.' She pulled at the baggy hoodie and gestured to the even baggier sweat pants. 'I don't even know who I am anymore.'

'You're Rory.' He said softly but the answer sounded weak even to himself. She sighed and her shoulders fell, her entire body shrinking down into itself and Tristan felt his own body get heavier. 'We'll figure it out Mare.' He said softly while gently brushing his thumb over what looked like a healing injury on her bottom lip.

At the sound of the nickname her body jerked forward, her head falling to her knees and she began to sob quietly. As he pulled her onto his lap where she continued to cry into his chest, Tristan felt the dam inside of him break and silently, he cried with her.

-

'I still don't see why I needed to come.' Colin glanced at Jess's uncomfortable reflection in the mirror then back at the road.

'Me. Either.' Tristan grumbled while continuing to stare out the window.

'Rory wanted you to.'

'Yeah well maybe part of the problem is that you all give Rory whatever she wants.' He said offhandedly while looking out the window as Colin took the exit.

That caught Tristan's attention. Pissed off, he turned in his seat. 'You don't know anything about us.'

Jess looked at him for a second then gave a small nod. 'You're right. Sorry.' Taken aback, Tristan glanced at Colin then back to Jess who laughed humorlessly while shaking his head. 'Look. Man. I'm not one to talk. She told me to come and I'm here.' They shared a silent look then Tristan nodded.

'Great so your both Rory's bitches.' Colin taunted. 'Now can you please sit straight, I'm not trying to get pulled over.' Tristan rolled his eyes and sat straight. Colin glanced back quickly at Jess. 'And you, put your damn seat belt on.' Laughing, Jess complied. 'Now do you think you two can man up before we get there?'

'Shut up.' Tristan snapped. 'And if anyone's her bitch it's you. Bitch.' Colin shot him a look and Jess laughed.

They were silent the rest of the drive. When Colin pulled in behind Rebecca, Jess looked out the window at the house. 'Well shit.' He followed them out of the car and over to Rebecca's car. Rory was still sitting in the backseat, her hands over her face, crying. Lorelai was leaning in through the driver side door, talking to her. Rory shook her head.

'What's wrong?' Colin asked Rebecca.

'She's afraid of seeing everyone.'

Anger flared in Tristan's eyes. 'I thought you told them to leave.' He snapped at Colin.

'I did.' He snapped back before turning back to Rebecca. 'Who's in there?'

'I don't know. She was on the phone with Carmen and before they hung up she said we'll see you when you get here. She's been panicking since.'

Colin turned to Jess with panic in his own eyes. 'What do we do?'

Just as panicked, Jess shook his head. 'How the hell am I supposed to know?'

'I thought that's what you were here for, you know how to deal with these things.'

'Dude I'm an addict, not a therapist.'

Irritated Tristan pushed roughly past both of them. He glared back at Colin. 'Way to man up Colin.' Rory looked up, watched him as he jogged up the stairs, and disappeared into the house. A minute later he came back out, and jogged over to her door. Lorelai moved to let him by, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. 'It's your Dad and Emily.' She let out a shaky breath and took his outstretched hand. As she climbed out of the back seat she began to hyperventilate again. Tristan shut the door and moved her back against it. 'Hey.' She looked frantically at the people watching her worriedly, Lorelai looking like she was a second from having a panic attack herself. Tristan brought her face back to him. 'Don't look at them, look at me.' His voice was stern and he moved his hands to the sides of her neck. 'Breathe.'

She shook her head back and forth. 'Tris – I – I can't – I can't go in there. They – my Da – my Dad.' She was gasping and her hands moved up, locking around his forearms, her eyes frantic.

'Stop it. Look at me. Together. Breathe with me.' He inhaled and shakily she did to. 'Good. OK, again.' He took in another deep breath and slowly released it. They did it four more times, and slowly her breathing began to return to normal. She kept her eye's on his the whole time. He moved his hand up to cup her cheek, taking her hand with it. 'You can do this Mare.' He said softly. 'You and me OK?' Her damp eyes pooled again and she nodded. Leaning forward he kissed her quickly on the forehead and pulled back, taking her hand in his. 'Come on.' Neither of them looked up as they moved past the small group who were staring at them, all with different emotions on their faces.

Tristan led her up the steps, looked back at her questioningly, and she nods in response while tightening her hold on his hand. When they walk through the door the first person they see is Emily. She rushes to Rory and envelopes her in her arms. The action is so unlike her that Rory's eyes widen, and she squeezes Tristan's hand. After nearly a minute, Emily pulls away and holds her at arms length, looking her over.

'Are you OK?' Rory tries to reply with the usual yes, but when she looks in her Grandmas eyes the word stops short and her eyes pool. Emily breathes shakily and nods. 'Your Grandfather will be here in a bit. So, um' The word um, coming from her mouth had Lorelai, Rebecca and Rory's eye's all widening. Emily opened and closed her mouth before tears filled her eyes and once again she pulled Rory into her arms. Slowly, Rory let go of Tristan, and wrapped both of her arms around her grandmother.

'It's OK Grandma. I'm Ok, I promise. I'm back now.' When they pulled away, Rory looked over at her mother and saw that she was covering her mouth with her hand and crying.

Emily moved aside and Rory turned to Carmen who smiled gently and pulled her into a hug. Rory breathed a sigh of relief and held on tight. Neither of them said anything, and after awhile Carmen turned her head and placed a light kiss on her forehead before releasing her.

Steeling herself, Rory blindly reached for Tristan's hand again then turned to her Father. 'Dad I' She began but he cut her off.

He stood a few feet away, one hand in his pocket and the other clutching his phone. 'Are you OK?'

His voice was even, and she felt like disappearing into herself. All she could muster was the smallest of a smile before nodding. 'Yes.'

'Good. Then maybe you can explain to me what the hell you were thinking?'

'Chris!' Lorelai bit out but Rory turned and shook his head at her.

'What Lorelai? It's a perfectly reasonable question!' He takes a step forward and Rory closes her eyes. 'I would like to know what exactly she thought she was proving, embarrassing me, and this family, by running away like a rebellious child.' He bit out the word like it was the worst insult that could ever be given.

Rory turned her face into Tristan's chest, and noticed how rigid he'd become. With her anger just barely repressed, Emily tries to calm the situation. 'Christopher, I don't think now is the time.'

His attention cuts to her, and he moves his head back looking as if she'd just tried to convince him that the sun was green. 'Really Emily? You're going to try and give me advice on teenage runaway's? It's your daughter's actions that gave her the idea in the first place. Same age, same town.'

Emily's eye's widen and she looks as if she might murder him. Before she can respond Rebecca lets out an amused laugh. 'And both trying to get the fuck away from you.'

His eyes burn with anger as his attention snaps to her. Rory lift's her head from Tristan's chest, tears running down her cheeks. She catches Jess watching her Dad, his jaw set to stone and knowing his temper, her stomach drops. Looking around the room though she doesn't know who might punch him first. Rebecca seems to be the best bet at the moment.

'What are you even doing here? Did you here about the reward money or something?'

'Oh did Daddy give you an extra big allowance this week?'

He shakes his head at her, like she's the biggest waste of time he's ever had to endure. 'You can leave now.'

'I'm not going anywhere.'

His jaw squares, his anger just barely being reigned in. 'This is my house, and my family. You're not welcome near either of them.' She lifts an eyebrow tauntingly and he takes another step forward. 'I said leave my property.'

'Actually, I think you should go.' Everyone looks at Colin who's sitting on the stairs staring at the ground. Rory sucks in a sharp breath at the furry clear on his face. He looks angrier then she's ever seen him. She pulls away from Tristan, but he tightens his hold on her and pulls her back to him. He knows just as well as she does, what Colin want's to do. What he doesn't know is what might happen if he does.

Christopher raises his eyebrow looking almost amused. 'Excuse me?' He turns to face him fully, one hand still in his pocket.

Colin looks up from the ground, no sense of fear in his eyes. 'I said, leave.'

Christopher pulls his hand from his pocket, and it's balled into an angry fist. Colin stands up meeting him at eye level. 'You better watch yourself son.' He warns and Colin's jaw twitches in anger.

'Don't call me that. Your actual son didn't even want to be your son.' He snaps with disgust heavy in his voice.

Rory holds her breath as Christopher stumbles back a bit and Lorelai nervously steps forward a hand over her stomach. 'Colin.' He glances at her, apology in his eyes, and in that brief second Christopher swings at him. Rory screams out to him, and he manages to dodge just in time. On instinct he swings back, his fist connecting hard with his uncle's jaw. Lorelai stumbles back against the front door and Rory turns back, crying into Tristan's chest again.

Christopher wipes the blood from his mouth and he laughs. 'You just made a huge mistake.' Without so much as glancing at Rory, he walks past Emily and Carmen, Jess and Rebecca, he stops when he comes to Lorelai at the door. Not paying her any attention he turns back to Colin. 'You better say your goodbyes now kid. You just got yourself a one way ticket out of here. As soon as your mother hears about this she's'

'Which part?' Lorelai asks, her voice hard. He looks back at her and she stands straight, unflinching. 'The part where you attacked her niece and he defended her? Or the part where you tried to hit her son and he defended himself?' His eyes flash with worry momentarily before he reaches for the doorknob. Lorelai stops him. 'Oh and just so we're one hundred percent clear. This is my house, and my family, and until I decide otherwise, you're not welcome near either of them.' His eyes lose all anger and he stares at her for a moment trying to gauge whether or not she's serious. Swallowing, he moves his gaze to Rory who still hasn't looked away from her hiding place in Tristan's arms. Then without another word he walks out the door.

As soon as the door shuts, Rory pulls away from Tristan and walks over to Colin who sits back down on the stairs looking at his hand. She sits beside him and looks at it. 'Are you OK?'

Laughing nonchalantly he nods, clearly not OK. 'Yeah.' When she cries harder he pushes her shoulder with his. 'Hey at least I didn't get suspended this time right?' She laughs, then wraps her arms around him.

'You're an idiot.'

'Yeah, I've been hearing that quite a bit lately.' When she pulls away he looks at Emily and Lorelai who are staring at him with their arms crossed over their chests. It's eerie how alike the look. 'I'm really sorry.'

'For what?' Rebecca shouts giddily while moving away from the window where she'd been watching Christopher pull away. 'That was freaking awesome!'

'Rebecca Marie Knight!' Emily scolds and Rebecca's shoulders fall in an almost childlike response. 'You should not be encouraging these children to believing that violence is the answer to all of life's problems.'

'You're right. I apologize.' When Emily looks back at Colin, Rebecca winks at him.

He laughs for the briefest second before finding Emily's eye's on him once again. 'Although, I believe that this was a time where it was in fact the only solution we were all silently in agreement upon.' She finishes with a small smile and Colin chuckles. 'Though,' Her face goes stern again and he sobers. 'perhaps we should work on choosing our words more carefully.' She give him a meaningful look, and he looks to Lorelai.

'Aunt Lore.' She shakes her head cutting him off.

'I know.' With a clearing of her throat she lifts her chin. 'Are you OK?' He nods in response and she nods back. It takes a moment but the tears start to fall and she pulls him into a hug. 'Thank you.' After letting him go she reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind Rory's ear. 'I love you kiddo.' Crying, all she can do is nod back. Lorelai sighs and takes her hand. 'Come here.' She pulls Rory to her feet but doesn't need to pull her into the hug because Rory collapses into her sobbing. Lorelai tightens her hold on her and begins to cry with her, pulling her back down to sit on the stairs. Everyone around them shares a look, and then one by one they follow Carmen into the kitchen to leave them alone.

After a few minutes Lorelai pulls away, pushes Rory's hair out of her eyes. 'I'm sorry babe.'

Shaking her head, Rory wipes her cheeks and smiles. 'Mom, it's'

'No it's not. We've got to stop doing this Rory.'

'Doing what?' Her smile drops when her Mom touches her cheek with the back of her hand.

'Smiling, and pretending like it's all OK when it's not. We've been doing it your whole life, and look at where it's gotten us.' She looks at the door sadly. 'What I said to your Father – it's up to you if you want to'

'Mom.' Lorleai looks back to her and the heartbreak in her eyes makes her own heart shatter into another million pieces. Rory just shakes her head.

'Yeah. OK.' She squeezes her hand and then wipes her eyes. 'But this is it Ror. No more running away.' A new wave of tears burn in her eyes as she looks at her. 'From either of us.' Rory looks surprised for a moment and then her eyes widen in a way Lorelai hasn't seen since she was a little girl. So unbelievably sad.