Lori opened the door slowly, to see a girl standing outside. "Um, hi."

The girl smiled a little. "Is Josh here?"

Lori nodded. "Yeah. I think. But who are you?"

The girl grinned, holding out her manicured right hand. "Jenna Carmody. And you are…"

Lori smiled at her. "Lorelai Gilmore-Mariano."

"Gilmore. That last name sounds familiar. Oh! Are you Josh's sister? That's his sister's last name, right?"

"Uh, yeah. But he's not my brother."

Jenna looked confused. "What? But if your sister is his sister-"

Lori cut her off. "No, my half sister is his half sister."

"Oh, so you're his half sister! I get it now." The blonde girl giggled.

Lori groaned. "No, I don't think you do. Katie's parents are my mom and his dad. Mine are my mom and another guy. Joshua's are Tristan and the bitch."

"The bitch?"

"Yeah, it's what we call Joshua's mother."

Jenna frowned. "We being you and Josh?"

Lori shook her head. "Nah. As far as Joshua is concerned, his mother is God's gift to human nature. He thinks she can do no wrong. Everyone else calls her The Bitch."

Jenna nodded, as if she got it. "How long have you known Josh," she asked, prying.

Lori rolled her eyes. "Since birth. Unfortunately."

Jenna nodded. "Have you seen him naked?"

Lori gasped. "Uh, that's kind of a weird question."

Jenna shrugged. "Just wondering. He has the cutest ass though, doesn't he? And he's so nice. And his kisses are so hot!"

Lori shook her head. "Uh, hot? No, I'd go with ridiculously sloppy and possessive. And that's on a good day." She rolled her eyes to emphasize the point.

Jenna grinned. "But you've got to admit- he is hot."

Lori sighed, knowing this wasn't going to end any time soon. "Fine. I wouldn't say he's ugly."

As she said this, Joshua swaggered into the room. "Ah, ladies, I'll give you a few minutes to talk about what eye candy I am. Jenna, I'll be down in a few minutes and then we'll go to the movies, okay?"

Jenna nodded. "And Josh, we were also talking about what a great kisser you are."

Joshua grinned. "Well I know that and you know that but be fair to Lorelai. She hasn't exactly had a lot of experience yet. She's had an adolescent crush on me for years."

Lori narrowed her eyes at him. "Yeah, okay. I never said you were great. And DuGrey, aren't you forgetting something?"

"What am I forgetting, Gilmore?"

"Mariano," Lori said automatically. Although her father was no longer living, that didn't mean he wasn't still part of her. "And you're forgetting that Tristan said you had to stay home today. I get to go out. You get Sundays and Wednesdays, I get Mondays and Thursdays, and Andy gets Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, remember?"

Joshua frowned. "Damn." He turned to Lori with that puppy-dog look she had never been able to resist when they were younger. "Will you take my day? I'll pay you back."


Lori shook her head. "Nope. I have plans."

"Yeah, right. With who?"

Lori grinned. "Dane."

Jenna looked at her. "Dane Matthews? The quarterback?"

Lori nodded. "Uh-huh."

"You know Dane?" Jenna sounded a little too excited.

Lori frowned, not seeing where this conversation was going. "Yes, I do."

Jenna grinned. "How well?"

Joshua rolled his eyes. "As well as I know him. As in, 'the kid who sat on M&Ms in fifth grade and then asked us if we wanted to. The kid who went on her family picnic in seventh."

Jenna nodded, her attention still directed at Lori. "So, you know him well?"

Lori nodded. "Yeah."

Joshua was seething, not just from the lack of attention he was receiving but from the questions about Lori and Dane. He knew they were closer than Lori let on. "Jenna," he said quietly, "It's really none of our business. Come on."

Jenna held up her hand to silence him. "He's cute. Have you ever kissed him?"

Joshua rolled his eyes. "Yeah, she has. Can we go now?"

Jenna frowned. "How did you know?"

Lori glared at him. "Because he witnessed one of our kisses. After all, it was his idea." Joshua's stomach flipped at Lori's words. One of their kisses? How many times had they kissed?

Jenna grinned. "That's cool. So, are you, like, with him?"

Lori nodded. "Yeah, kind of."

Joshua groaned. "C'mon, Jenna. Lets go now."

Jenna sighed. "One minute." Turning back to Lori, she grinned. "So, who do you like more? I mean, you've kissed the two hottest guys in the school, and maybe all of Connecticut. So, who do you like more?"

Lori glanced at Joshua quickly. Turning back to Jenna, she grinned as well. "No contest, Dane is much better. In every way."

Joshua glared at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Lori smiled. "You suck in and out of bed."

Jenna paused. "Oh, wow. You've slept with him. I didn't believe it. Um, wow. Does he really?"

Lori nodded and Joshua responded in indignation, "I do not! The only problem is Lori, uh, has trouble. She's not exactly skilled."

Lori glowered at him. "Oh, Rhett, you wound me so."

She had switched into the old defensive technique so quickly that Joshua was left stumbling. "Oh, Scarlet, you, uh, you have to admit that it isn't all me."

Lori turned around and stormed back into the house. Over her shoulder, she called, "Jenna, you'll have to go home. I don't want any witnesses to this murder."

Jenna's eyes widened. "Oh my God, will she really murder you?"

Joshua laughed. "Uh, no, I don't think so. But you probably should go anyways."

"So, how do you think the kids are?"

Tristan turned to Rory, who lay lazily on the twin bed across the room, looking over at him. "Good. Well, as good as can be expected."

Rory nodded sleepily. "That's good."

Tristan sighed. "They start school in two days."

"I know."

"I hope they remember about it." Tristan grinned over at her, but she missed the joke.

"Oh, we should call to remind them." She reached for the phone, but Tristan stood up, grabbing her arm.

"Rory, you already called the house three times in the last hour. They're the same as they were last time."

"I know. I'm just worried. I mean, what if something bad happened? What if Amanda got worse?" She stood up quickly, and Tristan had to take a step back so her head didn't hit his. As he did their eyes caught. Rory licked her lips. Tristan watched. "Um, uh, Tristan?"

Tristan looked at her, looked right into her eyes. As he did, he saw the emotions running through her eyes. Fear, passion, hesitancy, worry. Slowly, he brought his hand to the side of her face. "Those are all what ifs," he mumbled, "They won't happen." She looked up at him, her eyes roaming over his face, resting on his lips. Her eyelids grew heavy and sensuous. He stepped towards her and closed the distance between their lips. She responded to him immediately, her hands clinging to the soft fabric of his shirt. His hands tangled in her hair. Her knees were shaking and she looked as if she was about to fall. "I love you, Rory Gilmore-Mariano," he whispered, as they broke apart.

Her name brought her smashing back to reality, the reality that she was the widow of Jess Mariano, still grieving on some level. To get involved with Tristan would only be leading him on. She knew this. She pulled away from him and sat down on her bed. "Don't say that, Tristan," she scolded. "You don't mean it."

Tristan knew she wasn't ready, knew he shouldn't have said anything. But he was disappointed in her response. He hadn't expected her to say 'I love you' back, but he hadn't expected to be told off either. "I'm sorry Rory."

Rory smiled. "It's okay."

"I missed you so much, Lori." Katie sat on her big sister's lap, smiling broadly up at Lori. "I love you."

"I love you too, Katie." Lori hugged Katie, happy to see her. She hadn't seen her little sister in almost two months, and she had missed her so much.

Katie smiled. "I missed all of you. I missed you and Caleb and Jacob and Jessie and Andy and Amanda."

"We all missed you too."

Katie bit her lip. "Amanda didn't."

Lori frowned. "How can you even say that? Amanda missed you a lot! Why don't you think she missed you?"

"She hasn't even talked to me."

Lori sighed, tightening her arms around Katie. "Amanda's sick, Katie. She can't talk to me either. She sleeps a lot now, Katie."

Katie pouted. "Will she be okay?"

Lori blinked away the tears that threatened to spill. She didn't know. "Yes, Katie, she'll be okay."

Katie smiled slowly. "So, she'll be able to teach me how to swim like she promised?"

Lori paused. "It's up to Amanda, Katie. If she still wants to teach you, she will. But she might be too tired for a while, even after she gets better."

Katie nodded. "Okay. Did you miss me? And Julie and Christopher and Joshua?"

"I missed you a whole lot. And missed the others too."

Katie brought her hands to her hips. "You're lying."

Lori paused. "About what?"

"You didn't miss Joshua. You hate him."

Lori grinned. "I don't hate him, silly. I'm just not happy with him right now. He did a lot of bad things the last time I saw him."

"What did he do?"

Lori sighed. "It's not for you to worry about."

Katie had laid down across Lori's lap, and after a few minutes passed, Lori was sure she was asleep. She shifted, trying to get up without waking her sister. Katie shifted and mumbled, "He doesn't hate you either."

Lori froze. What? That couldn't have been about Joshua. Could it have been? Lori walked silently from the room, not knowing Josh had heard their whole conversation.

"Can I help you?" The voice was polite, and energetic, so clearly it must be a new maid. She had an accent, and even if Lori had never heard anyone of her nationality speak, she would have known it was French. Mr. DeWitt had a thing for French maids.

"Um, yes, can I speak to Katia?" Lori paused waiting for the inevitable question.

"Katia? Katia who?" The maid sounded anxious and stressed out.

Lori laughed. "She goes be Kat. Um, your employer's daughter." Lori never said master, like her friends referred to the help's employer. She thought it sounded to degrading.

"Oh! One moment!"

The call was transferred and a moment later, she heard her best friends voice. "Hello?" As always, Katia sounded confused.

Lori laughed. "Hey, Kat. It's me."

She heard Katia breathe a sigh of relief. "Oh, Good. Hey, Lori."

Lori frowned. "You sound stressed. What's wrong?"

Katia groaned. "Brian called. Again."

Lori rolled her eyes, even though Katia couldn't see her. "Katia Rose Schafer, what do you expect? You went out with him for like, ten months, and then you just dump him out of the blue! Of course he's going to call."

"It wasn't just out of the blue." Katia's voice was growing defensive.

"Okay, then. What was it?"

Katia sighed. "He- he kissed Tina."

Lori gasped. "What! Tina McGovern? Why? What the hell is wrong with him? Tina's…Tina. Wait- did she tell you this? Because you know you can't believe a word out of that bitch's mouth."

Katia moaned. "No. I saw it."

"Oh."

Katia sighed again. "Lori, will you come over?"

Lori nodded, once again forgetting Katia couldn't see her. "I'll be right over, Kat."

Lori frowned as she opened the door to Katia's house. Katia stood waiting for her at the entrance, tears in her eyes. Katia had a flair for the dramatic, so Lori wasn't very worried. What worried Lori was that Katia had car keys in her hand.

"Kat, you lost your license. You aren't allowed to drive." It was true. Katia had been pulled over days before for driving drunk. When Katia had said she was a Schafer, the cop had suddenly stammered, 'Uh, I won't report this if you promise to not drive for the week.' It wasn't surprising. Katia's father owned the company that provided the policemen's uniforms and weapons.

Katia shrugged. "Yeah. I don't care. I'll do whatever I damn well please." Out of all of Lori's friends, Katia was the wildest, and the most impulsive. Lori had known Katia since she was seven, when Katia was the quiet, overweight girl that sat in the back of the class. But Katia had lost that weight, and along with it, her lack of confidence. Katia was wild, and threw the wildest parties. Lori knew if she hadn't been friends with Katia before the change, she never would have been friends with her.

"Um, at least maybe I should drive."

Katia laughed. "Lori! Live a little! We are going to the mall, whether you like it or not." Throwing Lori a sharp look, she added, "And I'm driving."

The two walked into the Schafer's garage, and Katia walked over to the Porsche in the corner. Lori coughed, trying to cover her surprise as Katia opened the door. "Uh, Kat, that's your dad's car."

Kat sighed. "Lori, Lori, Lori. When are you going to learn? My father does not rule my life. I'll do what I want. You should loosen up. Take control!"

Lori groaned. "Uh-huh. Fine. But Kat, what are we going to the mall for? We already have clothes. Plus, our school has a uniform."

"Lori, there are guys at the mall. Hot guys. And you need them more than I do and I know I need them. So, lets go."

Lori rolled her eyes. "I think I need a nice little break from guys. There's enough living with me at the moment."

Katia raised her eyebrows. "Who, Andy? He is cute."

"That's my brother!"

"Yeah, but he's the only one around your age that you live with."

Lori shook her head. "Uh-uh. I'm at Tristan's right now. So The Annoying One is living with me as well."

"Josh? Josh DuGrey? God, lets skip the mall and go to his house."

Lori shook her head. "Uh-uh. This is my break from him."

Katia laughed. "A break? From God? Why?"

"Will you please not call him a god," Lori whined.

"Well, it's the truth. He is one hot guy. Too hot to be human." Katia nodded, her decision made. "Lets go to his house."

"Err, no. I don't want to go."

"Lori, my mind is made up."

"Oh, this is just great."

Joshua watched the two girls as they entered the drawing room, smiling. "Hi, Lorelai. Can't get enough of me?"

"Bite me, DuGrey."

He leered at her. "Gladly. On one condition. Promise you won't just tease me. I know you're a tease, Gilmore-Mariano."

Lori blushed, like he knew she would. "Go to hell, DuGrey."

"Oh, it's hot there. But not as hot as it could be if you spread your legs for me." He watched with amusement as the embarrassment drained from her face and anger filled it.

Her friend gazed at him. Katia, he thought her name was. "I will," she said, her voice flirtatious.

Joshua grinned. "You should take the cue from your friend, Gilmore."

Lori was fuming. Turning to Katia, she said, "Katia, will you just stand outside for a minute. I don't want any witnesses to a particularly brutal murder." Katia nodded and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. Turning back to Joshua, she started in. "DuGrey, what the hell is wrong with you? I'll never sleep with you. Not even if I was paid to."

Joshua leaned back against the wall, an easy grin spreading across his features. "So you won't be a prostitute. Will you at least strip for me? I'll pay a good price."

Lori glared at him. "No. I'd never even kiss you. I hate you!"

Joshua grinned. "Ah, and that is what your mother said to my father when they were about our age."

"And look where it got them."

"Three illegitimate children. And I'm sure they've slept together more than twice."

"Damnit, Joshua. I hate you. I really do. I wish you'd just stay out of my life. For good. God, I wish you were dead."

Joshua frowned. "No, I do believe that's a threat against my life."

"It was."

"Oh." Joshua watched in ostensible indifference as Lori stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her as she left.

"So, you are both aware that this treatment is still in the tentative stages?" The doctor looked from Rory to Tristan, making sure they both understood.

Tristan spoke. "Yes. We understand."

"Then I'll need to know the potential patient's history."

Rory spoke softly. "Amanda has had leukemia for the past year. She hasn't responded well to any treatments. Her blood type is rare so a bone marrow transplant is improbable. She is extremely weak, only receiving nourishment through intravenous tubing. Neither of us can donate. This stem cell transplant sounds like it may be her last chance."

The doctor nodded. "And if we find a donor, Amanda will be able to withstand the surgery?"

Tristan nodded. "She's a survivor. She'll make it."

The doctor nodded. "Make an appointment for a meeting two days from now, on Tuesday. I'll have time to provide you with information then."

Tristan and Rory smiled at the doctor. "Thank you for your time," Tristan said as he escorted Rory out of the office.

Katia plopped down on Lori's bed, staring at her. "So, what's going on with you and Josh?"

"Nothing." Lori's voice was angry.

"Nothing? I know I was away for about half a year sophomore year and I know something happened between you two then. But what happened?"

Lori looked at her. "I went out with him."

"No! Are you serious?" Katia's voice held disbelief and a bit of jealousy.

Lori nodded. "Uh-huh. We went out almost the whole time you were gone… but we broke up."

Katia bit her lip. "Why? If anyone could tame the wild beast, it would be you."

Lori sighed. "I didn't try hard enough, I guess."

Katia frowned. "What happened?"

Lori shook her head, trying to stop her thoughts. "Nothing."

Katia shook her head. "You're lying."

Lori nodded. "Yep. But just drop it, okay? I don't want to talk about it. I made some of my biggest mistakes during that time."

Katia nodded, even though she still had questions. She knew her best friend couldn't handle talking about whatever had happened. She just wondered why.