A/N: The court room scene is completely out of my head. I've never been in court, so I don't know how it actually goes. This is just coming from my mind. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and remember, reviews make me happy =)

Counting Stars

By: Gnome

Chapter Two: Welcome To The Dugrey Estate

Rory picked up her phone upon exiting the house, she dialed Louise's number.

Blair, her friend's fiancé, answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Blair?"

"Rory?"

"Yeah. Hey."

"Hi. How're you?"

"Um, well, I'm......breathing, so I'll be okay eventually."

"That bad, eh?"

"Yeah. Hey Blair, you know I love you and all but is Louise there by any chance?"

"Yeah. Hang on a sec." there were sounds of mumbling and moving around until she heard her friend's voice.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

"Hey. What goin' on, girl?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me. I did live with you for six years, so spill."

"Remember Jess?"

"How could I forget?"

"Yeah, well he's sort of..." she trailed off, knowing her friend would get it.

"No."

"Yes. He's visiting Luke."

"No way."

"Yes way."

"The nerve of that little-"

"Louise," she cut her off, laughing, "It's not like he cheated on me or anything."

"He still broke your heart."

"No, he didn't. He just....." she trailed off, searching for something to say.

"-hurt you." her friend supplied.

"Yeah. A lot. But it was mutual, so it's not his fault or anything."

"Hmm." Louise grunted, unconvinced.

"What?"

"Nothing. We're having a girls night."

She grinned, "Why?"

"Because. I'm getting your mind off of him. I'll call Paris and Madeline and you'll all come over to my house."

"I can't-"

"Have Luke come over and take care of your mom. You are not going to back out on me, Lorelai Gilmore." she said, obviously smiling.

"I don't know-"

"Tonight. I'll even come pick you up. Madeline will get the movies and Paris will get the food."

"What about Blair?"

"He can stay at his brother's for the night."

"Alex is going to kick my ass if he finds out that I couldn't come to work today but I somehow managed to hang out with you four."

"Hey, my soon to be brother in law can deal with it. Anyway, Blair has pull over Alex, and I have pull over Blair. Therefore, I have pull over Alex, and I say it's perfectly acceptable. So you have Alex's permission."

"Why thank you. What would I ever do without you?"

Louise laughed, "I have no idea."

NEXT MORNING

Rory walked into the joint offices that she shared with Alex Scott, brother to Blair Scott, and Louise's soon to be brother in law. He looked up as she entered, "You're late."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, here's a quarter. Go call someone who cares." she said, throwing her purse into her office.

He laughed, "Good night?"

She grinned, "The best. But I really couldn't come in. My mom shattered her ankle and-"

He cut her off, "Don't mention it, Slick." she laughed at the nickname, "But really, are you okay? My brother got dumped on my doorstep in the middle of the afternoon. You alright?"

Rory breathed in deeply, "I will be."

"What happened?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She smiled, "When did you become mister caring?"

He shrugged, "It grew on me. Now, stop avoiding the subject."

His partner smiled sadly, "Old relationship kind of came back to haunt me."

"Jess?" he asked. Damn he was good at that. He always knew what was wrong or whose fault it was. He also knew Jess. Blair, Louise, himself, his wife Claire, Rory, and Jess had often gone out together.

"Yeah. Jess."

"Well kid, you're gonna have to put on a brave face. We've got a case to fight and a jury to convince."

She nodded, breathing slowly and deeply for a moment, "Alright. I'm okay. Let's go."

He smiled, "That's my girl." before he lead her out the door.

COURTROOM

Rory looked over at Alex, nervousness in her eyes that only he could recognize. Everyone else in the room would mistake it for a look of triumph. The jury was in the next room, trying to decide the verdict. "How's it looking?" Lorraine, their client asked.

"Well, you have a good alibi, but so does he. I don't think there's enough evidence to convict you-"

"But there isn't enough to connect him to the murder either." Alex told her.

"I didn't kill her." she said, obviously very upset.

Rory nodded, "And I believe you. But it doesn't matter what I believe. It matters what the jury thinks."

"In all honesty Lorraine, we can't be sure what will happen."

"I was mad, but I'd never kill Marie. She'd been one of my friends for years. I'd never-" she fell silent as the jury walked back in, all looking solemn.

The judge looked over at them, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

One woman stood up. "Yes, we have." Rory breathed in heavily, gripping Alex's arm under the table. "The jury has reviewed all the evidence, and finds Lorraine Thronton to be innocent of the murder of Marie Stanton. Furthermore, we find Ivan Thronton to be guilty of murder in the first degree."

The judge nodded, "I sentence Ivan Thronton to twenty five years in the county prison." he hit his gavel on the stand, "This case is dismissed."

Lorraine let out a deep breath, smiling widely and Rory grinned, shaking Alex's hand, "Looks like we once again make the best team." Alex said quietly.

Rory grinned, "As always."

He turned to Lorraine, "Congratulations."

Alex shook her hand and she smiled, relieved, "Thank you so much. For a little while there I thought that the evidence was pointing to me."

Rory looked at Alex, "Well, for a little while it was."

"I think he planned it out."

"I'm sure he did. But the only thing that matters is that you're safe and he's going to be locked away." Alex said, smiling warmly at her. They exited the courtroom and Alex opened the car door for Rory. She smiled, climbing in, and he went around to his own side, getting in as well. They drove for a few minutes until he said, "For a while I thought she was going to plead guilty."

"So did I." Rory confessed, glancing at him.

"Do you think she was?"

"I honestly don't know. She seemed sincere."

"But don't they all?"

She nodded, "Yes they do."

"So, tell me more about what happened yesterday."

She shrugged, "Jess came back."

"Why did it upset you so much? I thought the break up was mutual."

"It was. But, I'm not sure. I never stopped loving him."

Alex nodded, "I know."

She looked over at him sharply, "How do you know?"

He grinned, "Rory, I've known you since you became a lawyer. I've worked with you everyday for almost a year. I know you. After you and Jess ended it, you weren't happy. I could tell. You're like my little sister. It was obvious to me that you missed him."

"Hmm. I should learn to be more mysterious."

He laughed, "Get right on that."

------

Rory collapsed onto her mother's couch that night, exhausted. "Hey babe."

She looked up, "Oh. Hey mom."

"How was the big bad real world?"

She shrugged, "I'm getting used to it."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

Lorelai nodded to an envelope on the coffee table, "Look at it."

Rory tilted her head to the side and picked it up, "What is it?"

"Read it."

Misses Lorelai and Lorelai (Rory) Gilmore are cordially invited to an evening of dinner and dancing at the lovely home of Janlen and Melody Dugrey to celebrate the graduation of their grandson, Tristan Derrick Dugrey, on the evening of November 5, 2009, from Eight o'clock P.M. to Midnight. (Dress formally, please)

Sincerely yours,

The Dugrey Family

Rory looked up at her mother, "How did they get our address?"

"My medical records, I'm guessing. Are you going?"

Rory shrugged, "Maybe."

"I think you should go."

She grinned wryly, "Why?"

Her mother shrugged, "Oh, I dunno. It looked like fun."

Rory rolled her eyes,. "Right. Four hours of talking to high society. I know that's how I want to spend my Saturday night."

"Go for me?" Lorelai pleaded.

"Why do you want me to go so much?"

"No reason."

"Tell me."

"Seriously, it's nothing."

"Why?"

Lorelai shrugged, "I just think that maybe you need to get your mind off of Jess."

"My mind is so not on Jess."

"Yes it is, don't lie."

"I'm not lying."

"Oh, you are so lying."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too, just admit it or we'll be going at this all day."

"I have time."

Lorelai sighed, "Just consider it, okay?"

Rory shrugged, "I'll think about it."

SATURDAY

"I can't believe that I let you talk me into this." Rory said, trying to put on her second shoe as she went down the stairs, nearly resulting in breaking her neck, but she caught herself. She sighed, getting to the bottom of the stairs and slipping on her other white heel, "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes, "No. Because I was lying the first eight times you asked me."

Rory looked at her, unamused.

"Yes, I'll be fine." Lorelai said, sounding much like a child. "I can take care of myself for one night, like I've been telling you all day."

Rory rolled her eyes, "How do I look?" she twirled in a circle. Rory had on a spaghetti strap white dress that was tight down to her waist, and flowed down to right past her knees in an airy skirt. She had on a little makeup and her hair looked fuller than normal, flowing over her shoulders in waves. She was wearing silver hoop earrings, silver rings on her thumb and middle finger of her left hand, and on the index finger and ring finger of her right hand, several thin silver bracelets on both wrist, and a necklace on a thin silver chain with a diamond on the end in the shape of a heart. Luke had given it to her for graduation.

Lorelai grinned, "Do I even have to make the pretty stick comment?"

Rory looked at the clock,

"No time. I'm already late." she kissed her mother on the cheek, "Bye. I love you."

"You too. Be safe."

"I will." she called as she sped out the door.

DUGREY ESTATE

Rory pulled up in front of a huge estate, following the direction of a few men dressed in uniforms who were standing along the driveway. She pulled up in the front, and a valet took her car, handing her a card in return. She made her way to the door and glanced at the man standing in the doorway with a clip board and a pen. He glanced up at her, "Name?"

"Rory Gilmore."

He checked his list, scrunched his forehead, and looked up at her, "I'm sorry your name isn't on my list. I have a Richard and Emily Gilmore, Lorelai Gilmore" he glanced back down, "Twice in fact, but no Rory-"

"She's with me." Rory looked up and was relieved to see Bradin.

"But her name isn't on the list-"

"She's Lorelai, but doesn't go by that."

He nodded, obviously knowing better than to argue with this man, he stepped out of the way to reveal an enormous marble foyer filled with women in long evening gowns and men in suits. Rory inhaled deeply and glanced over at the doorman. He bowed slightly, "Welcome to the Dugrey Estate."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, walking inside slowly. Bradin held out his arm and Rory linked her arm through his. He smiled slightly, "Glad you could make it."

She nodded, trying to look comfortable, "Thanks for inviting me."

"Well, I figured if you were anything like your mother, you'd add some much needed color to a boring party."

She smiled sheepishly, "I'm afraid that I'm not much of a party girl."

He shrugged, "We'll see." and he smiled at a young brunette woman, walking over and kissing her lightly, releasing Rory's arm. "Rory, this is my wife, Cassidy. Cass, this is Rory Gilmore."

The woman smiled warmly and genuinely, "Nice to meet you Rory."

"You too." Rory returned the smile, shaking her hand.

They stood, talking for a few moments until a young man, probably a few years younger than her, walked over and said quietly in Bradin's ear, "McGees, three o'clock." the doctor grimaced, looking to his direct right, and sure enough, an older couple was making it's way over. The man who'd just walked up couldn't been mistaken for anyone other than a sibling of Bradin. Same messy hair, although it was obviously tamed for the event. Eyes a beautiful shade of emerald instead of sapphire, and a fit body, although he was a few inches shorter than his brother. He glanced at Rory and, not having time for pleasantries, linked his arm through hers as if he was escorting her, the way Bradin had been previously. "Look busy." he whispered. And Rory, confused, but feeling like she'd very much like this family, started talking to Cassidy.

Sure enough, the couple interrupted them, "Bradin! How's the medical business?" the man asked, clapping him on the back.

Bradin shrugged, "Well, Mr. McGee, you know, people get an infection, it's out fault, people aren't cured, it's our fault, people die, it's our fault."

Rory grinned, "Well, at least you have your new slogan."

Bradin stuck his tongue out at her when the McGees turned away from him to look at her. She just grinned at him. "And who is this, Airin?" the woman asked the man at Rory's side. "New girlfriend?"

He turned to look at her, shooting a million watt smile that looked so familiar. Rory had a sudden flashback of a blonde sixteen year old boy pushing her against the lockers on her first day at Chilton. The exact same smile in place, offering her his notes. If her breath hadn't caught in her throat and her mind hadn't suddenly stopped, she would have realized that he was begging her to answer for him. When she didn't move, he nudged her with his elbow gently, snapping her out of it.

She turned to the old woman smiling, "Rory Gilmore. Emily and Richard are my grandparents." she'd learned in the past eight years since she'd been introduced into society that she might as well include her lineage in the introduction, because it was always asked.

"Lorelai's girl?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am. She couldn't make it though, a few days ago she shattered her ankle."

"Oh, I'm sorry, how did she do that?"

Rory opened her mouth, almost laughing. She didn't know how to answer. Surely she shouldn't say that her mother had greased the kitchen floor and tried to ice skate. She looked up at Bradin, who had grinned upon this question being asked, he was waiting to see how she'd answer. Rory looked back to the woman, "She was cleaning and the floor was wet. She slipped."

"And broke her ankle?" Mr. McGee asked, unconvinced.

Rory nodded, "Yes. It was a nasty fall. There were........socks involved," she said uncertainly, "Yeah, so, she couldn't really catch herself." the couple was looking at her as if she were a little loose upstairs. She nodded, "Yes, well, I'm not exactly sure. He was her doctor, so you could ask him."

They nodded, turning to Bradin. He looked at them as well, "The way Lorelai fell, her ankle absorbed all of her weight and, as a result, shattered it."

Mrs. McGee, nodded and quickly said, "Um, yes, of course. Oh, is that Abigail and Joshua Norton? We really should go talk to them," she wasn't very good at being discreet, "Well, we'll see you children later." she obviously didn't realize that none of them were quite children anymore. The woman shuffled off, pulling her husband behind her.

The man beside Rory turned to her, extending his hand, "I'm Airin Dugrey."

She smiled, shaking his hand, "Rory Gilmore."

He kissed her knuckles gently, "Hello Rory Gilmore."

She laughed lightly, "Hello Airin Dugrey."

"So, how do you know my older brother?" he asked.

"We went to school together.....I think." she said uncertainly.

He laughed, "You think?"

Rory grinned, "Well, Bradin said that he got sent away Junior year, and I came to Chilton halfway through my Sophomore year."

"Ah. I see."

"Old McGee keeps staring at me. Nicole Lanten is following me around, asking me if I'm currently single, but not without pointing out that her granddaughter's gastric bypass surgery has had amazing results. And I've been holding the same glass of this disgusting champagne for half an hour." someone said, joining their group.

Rory turned, freezing as she finally connected the name to a familiar face. The man standing in front of her could only be the man of honor. He was a few inches taller than Airin, but a bit shorter than Bradin. He had on a crisp, obviously personally fitted black business suit, and a deep red tie. His hair was light, seemingly dyed from the sun. His blue eyes were clear, but looked as if they held a secret, like he knew something no one else did. But he looked tired, you could tell he'd had a long day. And he looked just as surprised to see her. From the look on his face, she looked familiar to him as well.

Bradin took it upon himself to make introductions. "Rory, this is my brother Tristan. Tristan, this is Rory Gilmore."

He nodded, grinning and holding out his hand, "Rory, lovely to see you again."

She put her hand in his, grinning as he kissed her knuckles, "You too."

He just laughed, "Yeah right."

"What?"

"Nice to see me? It's amazing to see me." he said playfully.

She rolled her eyes, "Now all the memories are coming back to me."

"It has been seven years." he said, looking her up and down.

"Oh, was this one of 'the girls'?" Airin asked, rolling his eyes, slightly disgusted.

Tristan shook his head, "I don't think so."

"One of what girls?" Rory asked, looking at his younger brother.

"One of those girls that he-"

"Airin, not here." Tristan cut him off, and Rory turned to see that the muscles in Tristan's jaw were tight.

Airin looked down, "Oh, yeah, sorry." you could tell that, even though he was obviously very confident, Airin had grown up with two older brothers. She could tell that they got along well, but he knew which tone of voice meant that was enough and he still knew to listen to them.

Tristan shook his head, "Just......don't."

"Okay." he said quickly.

Cassidy glanced across the room, "Bradin, there are my parents. I have to go be nice."

Bradin nodded, "Bye Tristan, Airin. I'm glad you came Rory."

Cassidy smiled, "It was nice to meet you, Rory."

"You too." she said.

"We should get together sometime. Away from these losers." she said, glancing at the three brothers around them.

"Hey. I resent that. I am not a loser." Tristan said, pointing a finger at his sister-in-law.

She grinned, "You're in denial."

"I am not."

Airin nodded, "We aren't losers we're just-"

"Socially retarded? I know, it's okay." she said, smiling at them.

"Okay, they've spotted us. The Nortons are moving in. Let's go talk to your parents." Bradin said, pulling his wife away from the others.

"Oh, I see how it is, we're unloved, thanks. That feels real good." Tristan said to their retreating backs.

Cassidy turned around and blew him a kiss before laughing. They stood for a moment, no one saying anything. Airin looked around awkwardly, "Um, okay, well, I'm gonna go out on the balcony. I'm dying in here. See you later Tristan. Rory, it was nice meeting you."

"You too." she said. He nodded to them, walking away. "Anyway...." Rory said, trying to break the tense silence that had fallen over them, "How long have you been back?" she asked Tristan.

He looked down at her, "I got back this morning."

Rory looked surprised, "And they're throwing the party tonight?"

"Yeah. Jet lag sucks ass."

She laughed, "Tell me about it."

Tristan grinned, "So, tell me Rory, what have you been up to?"

"Well, I went to Yale and got a degree in law."

"Really? Did you always want to be an attorney?"

"No, actually. I wanted to be...." she trailed off, shaking her head, "I don't know, actually, I just wanted to be something. important."

He smiled, "Everybody does."

She nodded, thinking, "I guess they do."

"Did you have any idea for a profession?"

"I wanted to be a reporter or something. You know, someone who does the research, someone who knows what's going on."

Tristan nodded, "Yeah. I know what you mean. So, how did you go from being a reporter to being a lawyer?"

Rory shrugged, "It just happened. I mean, law school just seemed like the way to go. Plus Louise Grant's boyfriend, Blair has a brother who's a lawyer, and I'd gotten into a few arguments with him, and in the end we always had to do a draw because neither of us would give in. He kind of gave me all the reasons and I made a-" she stopped, talking about her pro con lists weren't a good idea, if she hadn't been so caught up and unsure of what to say, she would have noticed Tristan grinning. "I thought about it, and my mother decided that it was the way to go, so I figured I'd never get bored, and then when I graduated, Alex, that's Blair's brother, offered me a place as his partner, which I never expected because I just graduated a few months ago and he'd had a private business, but had combined practices with one of his father's associates and they were a big company before he took me on as a partner, and I was so shocked because he turned down a lot of experienced people for me." she took a deep breath, biting her lip, "And I'm really.....talking a lot."

Tristan shook his head, still smiling, "No, no. It's cute."

"Cute?"

"Yeah."

"I'm twenty-four years old and my babbling is cute?"

"Yeah."

She shook her head, rolling her eyes, "You're such the charmer."

"I know." he noticed Rory looking at all the couples dancing. He held his hand out, "Want to dance?"

She smiled, placing her hand in his, "Way to avoid the subject."

He laughed as he pulling her onto the floor, "I know." he rested one hand on her waist and took her other hand in his.

Rory glanced around at the people one more time before looking up at Tristan, "So medical school?"

He looked down, "How'd you know?"

"My mom broke her ankle last week. Well actually, she shattered it and they had to put in pins. Your brother was her doctor. That's how I got invited to this whole thing."

"Ah."

"Yeah. He just looked really familiar, but he figured that I was mistaking him for you. So he mentioned that you were graduating from med school and your grandparents were throwing this party for you when you got home. He asked if I wanted to come and I got the invitation the other day."

"Well, he just told you everything, didn't he?"

Rory smiled, "I guess so. So, how did you decide to become a doctor?"

Tristan shrugged, "Family thing. Me and Bradin always agreed that we'd go into business together one day, so when he graduated from high school we talked about it and decided we'd either be doctors or lawyers. Everything else was too boring." Rory grinned at this addition. He was like a little kid, everything was too boring. "So when our grandparents and Cassidy's parent joined together for the hospital in Hartford, we decided medical school was best."

She nodded, "So, how have you already graduated from medical school?"

He shrugged, "Graduated from high school early, went through summers, worked my ass off, skipped my fourth year, and graduated early."

"Damn." was all Rory said, wide eyed.

Tristan chuckled lightly, "Such intelligence from the mouth of Hartford's finest."

Rory shook her head, "It's just, wow, that sounds like something Paris Gellar would say."

"You know Paris?" he asked.

"Yeah. She, Louise, Madeline Lynn and me all shared a suite through college. Paris and Madeline were room mates, and me and Louise were room mates. We still keep in touch. I talked to her earlier this week."

"Really? She was here earlier, but had to go. Her sister was going into labor."

"Oh, Madison had the baby?"

"Yeah. Or, probably not yet, but she's in labor anyway."

Rory smiled, "I'll have to call her later."

"Hey, I can't quite remember, you were that last person I talked to before I left for Military School, right?"

Rory thought for a second, "I think so, I'm not sure. We were doing something-"

"A project, right?"

"Yeah. And for some reason I had to kiss Paris."

Tristan's eyes widened and he erupted into laughter, bringing stares from the couples surrounding them "You kissed Paris Gellar?"

She hit him lightly, "No. We didn't actually kiss. It was just supposed to look like we did." she though for a moment, "Of course there was that one time on spring break when we actually did-" she stopped, eyes wide at what she'd just said.

Tristan was grinning, "What happened on spring break?"

"Nothing."

"You and Paris kissed on spring break?"

"No."

"You know, for a lawyer, you're a horrible liar."

"We didn't kiss. We....." she tried to think of a word, "went to a club, and there were those twins, and Madeline and Louise said that girls kissing got you into places, so we just wanted to see what would happen if we touched lips, it was not a kiss, though."

Tristan shook his head mockingly, "Oh, of course not."

"It wasn't!"

He shook his head, unable to stop he laughing. "Oh, that's great."

Rory rolled her eyes, "You're such a guy."

"Well, considering."

"Shut up."

"Nice one, Gilmore."

"Hey, I just figured third grade behavior on your part deserves third grade comebacks on mine."

He smiled, the laughter subsiding, and he pulled her back to him, dancing again, "You have to admit, though, the image of you kissing Paris is hilarious."

"No, it is not hilarious. I was supposed to be kissing a guy, namely you. I just can't figure out why. But you weren't available, so we had to improvise. And about the other thing, there was alcohol involved."

He shook his head, "Nice job improvising. And I would have loved to be there."

Rory shook her head, smiling slightly, "Thanks. This'll annoy me to death. Why were we supposed to kiss? What was the project?"

Tristan shrugged, "Paris will remember. She never forgets anything."

Rory nodded thoughtfully, "I'll have to ask her."

"So, I meant to ask you, Law School is like, seven years, right?"

"Yeah."

"How did you graduate already?"

"I went for the summers."

"And that explains it."

"Yeah. Paris, Louise, and Madeline did too."

"How did you get those two to go through summers?"

"We explained that going in the summer would help them graduate sooner, besides, they'd forget everything over the summer."

"Nice thinking."

"Thanks." the song ended and they smiled at each other.

"Thanks for the dance." he said quietly.

"Thanks for asking." she said. A bell rang and everyone looked to the kitchen entrance. The chef was standing in the doorway, but he disappeared in a second. Rory looked up at Tristan. "How does this thing work?"

"I think they put out place cards."

"Oh." she said, slightly disappointed, and she was sure she sounded it. There were probably upwards of two hundred people here. There was no way they were near each other.

They walked into the dinning room, following everyone else, and Tristan said to her, "I think my grandmother put me over here." he nodded towards one of the right corners.

She nodded, "Okay, um, I'll go find where I am."

She started to walk away, but Tristan's voice stopped her. "You know we could always switch you card with-" but he was cut off when Cassidy walked over.

"Rory, where are you going? You're at the table with us." she winked at Tristan and he scanned the room to see Bradin dropping a card that had most likely come from their table on a plate across the room.

Rory saw it as well and smiled. "Okay. Thanks."

"Just didn't want you to go all over the room when you belonged with us."

Rory smiled and followed her to the table, followed closely by Tristan. "So, who was really supposed to sit here?" she asked, mouthing 'Thank you' as Tristan pulled her chair out for her.

Bradin shook his head, "Rory, you were supposed to sit here. If you're asking who our grandmother mistakenly placed here, it was Donna Charitin."

Tristan's nose wrinkled impulsively, "I would have hung myself. And hour and a half of hearing about how she can get the 'all natural' look for only half of the normal cost." Rory grinned, rolling her eyes, she'd really like it here.

The tables seated twelve. Placed at theirs were the three brother, their 'dates' (Cassidy, Airin's girlfriend Vanessa, and Rory), their parents, and all four grandparents. When Melody Dugrey sat down and saw Rory talking to Tristan, she opened her mouth to say something about how she was at the wrong table, but caught the warning glances Cassidy and Bradin were sending, and she stayed quiet, watching her grandson and this young woman she didn't know.