Author's Note: It's been so long since I wrote last for any of my stories that I had a dream about this one last night and I saw the scene so clearly and so I'm going to try and recreate it until it drives me nuts. Thank you for those of you who have stuck around for this update and to those who are new to the story, reviews make the updates come sooner! :) Love you all!

~P.

Previously on THE MOUNTAIN:

DAY FIVE

Darkness had fallen and Tristan was still nowhere to be found and panic was gripping Rory. She didn't even want to think about what might be wrong. Had he said there were mountain lions in the area? She shook her head to derail that train of thought and took a deep breath. Zipping up her parka and sliding on her hat and gloves she found the flashlight labeled "Emergencies" and clicked it on. She stilled herself and put her hand on the door when it came flying open towards her and as it whacked her, almost comically, in the head the wood Tristan had gathered flew all over the threshold and she fell somewhere towards the middle of it.

"Rory?" His confused tone came through despite his chattering teeth. He helped her stand upright, but held her hand despite her efforts to escape and lick her wounds.

"Rory? Are you okay?" He started looking around, panicking. But when he saw nothing but the tears in her eyes his eyebrows knitted together. He pulled her closer to him and rubbed his gloved hands up and down her arms, trying to comfort her.

"It's dark." Her voice was even quieter than normal and he almost missed it and then it hit him like the wood he'd been carrying. He'd scared her. She had been scared for him. Even if it was because she was worried she'd freeze to death alone out here, she was worried for his well being. He pulled the gloves off his hands and put them on either side of her face and kissed her like he never had before.

"I'm here and I'm never going to leave you for too long, I promise you that Rory Gilmore." When she smiled up at him he kissed her again.

"You did what?" Loreali's voice was beyond raised, rage burning in her blue eyes.

"Ms. Gilmore, if you would..." Charlston's voice only seemed to make it worse.

"You can both go to hell! You will get her home!" At their hesitation, she continued in a voice as cold as her eyes. "Like yesterday." She exited the room, slamming the door behind her. She needed to get to Luke's.

"Luke!" Her voice rang across the diner and then she saw his head pop out from behind the wall of the kitchen. His face went from clear irritation to concern and he ushered her upstairs where she cried on his shoulder and told him what they'd done to her little girl.

"Rory?!" His voice rang out in confusion when he woke up alone and he wanted to puke at the concern dripping from his voice. He pulled the sheets closer to his chin to ward of the chill of the empty apartment and the loss of the one person he loved and heaved a heavy sigh pulling out his cell phone from the nightstand.

DAY TEN

It had been five days since that first night they slept in each other's warmth, since he had kissed her like he'd love her forever and he'd made no further advances. He would dissapear for hours at a time telling her he'd return soon with more fire wood to keep them warm while she explored the house. So this is what being a housewife is like huh? She thought and she wondered how her Grandmother did it, the sitting and waiting.

He'd come back and smile at her and start the fire again and they'd settle in by the fire and sleep. Even though she wasn't tired she'd lay there restlessly snuggled into him for warmth if for no other reason than that. She told herself that warmth was all it was.

Tonight she lay in their zipped up shared parka with her back facing him to avoid what would be an interesting conversation if she found the guts to speak her mind.

"Rory?" His voice was soft and washed over her.

"Hmm?" She was almost too cold to speak, she hadn't completely warmed up yet.

"I'm glad you're here with me. It makes it bearable having you here." He paused for a moment. "Is that horrible? I should be wishing you were home, safe and warm and away from all of these horrible things but" His voice lowered even more before he continued. "I'm so happy it's you."

She turned over on her back to face him and he moved quickly to accomadate her.

She looked into his eyes and she saw that same look and she her original reply was forgotten. "I'm happy it's you too." She whispered to him.

He closed his eyes and drank in her answer. When he opened them again his eyes were a dark grey, clouded with emotions as he touched her face softly. His eyes took her face in as he ran his fingers along her features. When he met her eyes again and saw her smile sofly to him in the flickering fire light he thought she'd never looked more beautiful. His hand wrapped around the back of her neck and brought her lips to his, forcefully closing the distance between them as he poured all he was feeling into that kiss. Rory responded with all the fevor in her body. She had never been kissed this way, and she thought she might like it. He slipped his tounge out to touch her lips, begging for permission to taste her, the one thing he hadn't done yet. She gasped at the sensation and he took the opportunity, pulling her closer than ever to him, rolling her onto her side facing him giving him better access to her mouth. He moaned at the feel of her tongue and she responded by pushing closer to him. He broke away when breathing became a neccessity, their breathing coming rapidly.

"I could do that forever." She blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to understand and then all thought went out the window when he kissed her again.

DAY ELEVEN

When Rory woke up Tristan was gone and she was colder than normal. The fire had burned down, he never let the fire go out.

"Tristan?!" She called out to him, panicked. She was met only by silence.

"Tristan!?" She tried again. She stood up and quickly zipped up her parka and slid her socks and shoes back on and called out for him again. Where had he gone? Why had he left her here alone? He promised!

The door opened and she whirled to face the intruder and saw his face, lips and nose almost blue. She flew into his arms and tried to hide the tears.

"Rory, baby... What happened? Are you okay?" She shook her head no against his chest and he held her tight. "Baby, you're gonna have to give me something more to go on here, I don't understand." He surveyed the room. "Where's the fire Rory?" His voice was laced with concern and she just hugged him tighter. She mumbled something he didn't quite catch. "What baby? I didn't understand."

"You were gone." She whispered to him, still locked in his embrace.

"Oh Mary..." His voice was sad and quite. He looked into her eyes, forgetting about the cold and kissed her like his life depended on it. "Maybe one day you'll trust me." He kissed her cheek and moved out of the doorway to start the fire. That was the last thing he said to her all day and night and he was gone again when she woke up the next morning leaving Rory confused and alone...

A/N: Hope you liked it! :)