AN: This chapter contains swear words. Just a warning. Also the word, 'napkin' appears an awful lot. Bear in mind, every time I typed that word, I added a 'g' out of habit and had to delete it. Grrrr. Too many '-ing' words in the English language! Read on!

Rory and Tristan walked arm in arm into the dining hall.

"Dean!" Rory spotted Dean by the beverage table and ran over to him, leaving Tristan by the door.

"Surprise!" said Dean, giving Rory one of his bear hugs.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have school?" Rory asked.

"Nope. Teachers strike," Dean explained, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Was that Tristan I saw you with just now?"

"Yeah, but don't be mad. We're just friends," Rory assured him. She wanted to quickly change the subject. "Hey, did you bring me any coffee?"

"Two thermoses full. Compliments of your Mom and Luke," said Dean.

"Well, come on. Hand them over. Where are they?" Rory demanded.

Dean laughed at her eagerness.

"They're in my ute. Hang on, I'll go get them."

"Well, I'll come with," Rory offered.

"No, no, that's okay. I'm a big boy. You stay here and get something to eat. I'll be right back," said Dean giving her another hug before guiding her in the direction of the buffet table.

Tristan witnessed the exchanges of affection. He sighed, knowing he would have to be the bigger man, for Rory's sake. Dean was fast approaching.

Dean braced himself for whatever verbal spells and punches Tristan was going to throw at him.

"Hey man, how's it going?" Tristan asked.

"What?" Was Tristan actually being nice?

"Listen, man. I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot. Totally my fault. I'm a dickhead. Major phallic symbol on my head, here," Tristan joked. Dean showed no response, except for a look of shock that was plastered on his face, so Tristan continued.

"I'm sorry. I was jealous that you had Rory," Tristan explained.

"And now?" Dean asked.

"Well I'm STILL jealous…but she's happy with you. And that's all that matters, right?"

"Military school's done wonders for you Triscuit," said Dean, smiling for the first time at Tristan.

"That it has, bag boy," Tristan replied, but there was no longer any hostility in the name-calling. "Hey, just so you know, you don't have to worry about me cracking onto your girl anymore. I respect her decision to be with you…and I hope you'll learn to trust me with her." Tristan cringed at the words he never thought he would hear him say, let alone mean.

"So you still like her, huh?"

"Oh yeah!" They shared a laugh.

"I can live with that," said Dean, good-naturedly. "Why don't you go keep Rory company while I get her coffee?" Dean suggested.

"I can do that," said Tristan, shaking Dean's hand. Dean gave one last laugh of disbelief, shook his head, and went to get the coffee.

"Don't eat the roast beef, it smells funky," Tristan advised, taking a place next to Rory in the buffet line.

"Talking about all things funky, what were you and Dean talking about?" asked Rory.

"Global warming."

"Spill," Rory ordered.

"We're…friends now." Tristan overtook her in line and picked up some tongs. "Is this Greek salad?"

"Woah! Hang on a sec! You cannot just drop a bombshell like that and then go and talk about salad. What happened?"

"Well we made a deal," said Tristan using his serious tone of voice. "We're going to share you. That way everyone's happy."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I get you Sunday through Wednesday; Dean gets you Thursday to Saturday. I get more days but Dean gets Saturdays. I'd say that's fair, wouldn't you?" he asked in all innocence.

"What?"

"I'm kidding. You sure are gullible." He grabbed a napkin and went to find a seat.

Rory shut her gaping mouth, grabbed a bread roll and followed him.

"I did so NOT believe you just then," said Rory slamming her tray down next to his and taking the seat next to him.

"Um, this is the Merlet table, Rory," Tristan pointed out.

"So? It's America, I can sit where I please, and I want to sit with you," said Rory, her face flushed from indignity. "I'm no fool, I knew you were kidding."

"Yeah, okay Mary," said Tristan, hiding his smile with his napkin.

"Shut up and pass the salt."

Dean paused at the doorframe and looked on as Rory smiled at Tristan. His obvious love for her was epitomised by the way he acted so gently around her, their heads huddled so that the rest of the world was blocked out. Dean smiled as Rory snatched a sausage from Tristan's plate while he bent down to retrieve his napkin. For once Dean wasn't jealous of their apparent closeness. He did envy their friendship and easiness with each other, which had somewhat, disappeared from his own relationship with Rory over the past few months. With a sunken heart he realised what he would have to do.

AN: Hmmm, what is Dean up to????