Tristan looked at the calendar in disbelief. It was already his 18th birthday! He couldn't believe how fast time flew it felt like just yesterday he was turning 15. He remembered that that was the first time that his parents weren't around for his birthday. Of course in their true style they left the master card and told him to just charge what he wanted but he couldn't really charge for his parents to be home. It always seemed that they didn't care or that he wasn't important enough to fit in their busy schedule. But this year was different his father would be around but not his mother. She was off in Milan with her new boyfriend Richard or whoever it was this month. It was like she was trying to show Tristan's father that she didn't need him to be important. Tristan was just excited that his father was home and throwing him a "coming out" party of sorts.

Tonight was the formal introduction of Tristan to society and his acceptance to Yale for the fall semester. Rory had decided that she would go to Yale but not to follow Tristan but because they had a wonderful journalism program. That didn't matter to him; all that matter would be that he would be there with her.

His father had woken him up early by letting Rory come screaming Happy Birthday into his room and throwing confetti at him. His father just laughed as Tristan cursed for being up before noon. Then Tristan's father gave him the master card and told him to send it wisely. This didn't make Tristan sad in one bit because at least this time his father was giving it to him and not some butler. Tristan smiled at his father and walked out of the house with Rory.

Once he shut the door he pinned Rory to it and kissed her passionately. She had been away for Spring Break with her grandparents and mother in New York City and he missed her like crazy.

"I missed you Mare."

"I missed you too Tristan." He kissed again as he pulled her body closer to his. "Happy Birthday."

"It is now that I have you back." She blushed and kissed his cheek as they walked to the car. "How was New York?"

"It was amazing! Tristan it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and Central Park was amazing."

"I think you've fallen in love with the city."

"I have." He started the car and they pulled out of the drive way. "Now where are we going?"

"Well I've decided that I'm going to spend half on my money on me and the other half on you."

"No Tristan its your birthday money."

"So I get to choose what I do with it. Just let me shower you with the gifts that you deserve because next year it won't happen."

"Let it be known that I'm not happy about this." He pulled into the mall parking lot and parked his car. They got out and joined the hustle and bustle of the mall. They walked around laughing and eating for hours. Finally when they had enough shopping Tristan dropped Rory off at her Grandparent's house to get ready for the party and he returned to his house where everyone was busy at work. The staff ran around setting up for the party that night while Tristan's father and uncle sat in the living room laughing over Tristan's baby pictures and their memories. It made Tristan smile that they were laughing and talking again after they had a falling out months ago.

"Tristan come here son!" His father called and Tristan swiftly walked in the smile still plastered on his face.

"What's up?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm proud of you. You've done a fine job since coming back from Military School. You've stayed out of trouble and have proved to me that you are a fine young man."

"Thank you."

"Now I have one last gift to give you." His father stood up and walked over to the bookcase and pulled out a small box. "Your mother would want you to have this." He handed Tristan the small velvet box which Tristan opened slowly. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring shimmering in the light. Tristan furrowed his browns and looked up at his father.

"What is this for?"

"Its for you when the time is right to propose to the girl of your dreams."

"Why are you giving it to me now?"

"Your mother and I feel that you have found that special girl for whom your heart beats for. I'm not saying that you have to do it tonight but you might want to keep it in mind before you might lose her. I can see the way you look at her Tristan and I feel somewhat responsible for you two not being together sooner." His father's gaze fell to the desk.

"You shouldn't feel responsible because it was all my fault; I screwed up to get away from her. She was too much for me to handle last year. I was too in love with her that I had to get away. You only did what was right for me and I thank you for that." Tristan looked up at his father right in the eye for the first time since he has shipped him off away. His father's gaze softened as they stared each other down. It made Tristan laugh because his father was trying so hard not to smile and failing miserably. The three men soon burst into a fit of laugher for quite some time before Janlen came into the room silencing them. Danielle, Tristan's grandmother soon followed after him with a huge box in her hands.

"What's so funny?" She asked seeing the smiles on her sons and grandson faces.

"Nothing grandma."

"Liar." She eyed her sons carefully before Tristan gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Here Tris, this is for you."

"Grandma you shouldn't have."

"Yes I should've, its your 18th birthday." Tristan opened the big box to see a set of keys and a book.

"What is this for?"

"Those are the keys to your new car so you don't have to share with your father."

"We don't share cars."

"He drives your car or one of them, this car is his own." Tristan was stunned and just fell into the chair next to him.

"Thank you." Was he could mutter before standing up and exiting the room to get ready for his party. He fingered the box in his pocket and turned around in search of his grandmother. 'She always knows the right thing to do.' He thought to himself and he searched the house and finally found her in the library reading a book.

"Hey Grandma can I ask you something?"
"Sure honey what's on your mind?"

"Well see you know about my girlfriend Rory right?"

"Oh yes the lovely granddaughter of the Richard and Emily, what about her?"

"Well dad gave me this." He handed her the box and she knew exactly what is.

"Oh yes you father told me he was going to give this to you today. I think you're trying to ask me if you should ask her tonight or not." He nodded. "Well honey if you can't picture your life without her then yes I would do it tonight but not in front of everyone."

"Thanks Grandma." He left the room shaking his head at her advice. 'I'm too young aren't I?' He thought as his most brilliant idea popped into his head. He ran to his room and quickly showered and dressed. He stood at the top of the stairs listening to the loud chatter below him all one name seemed to be on their minds Melinda. She had officially moved in with him days after his father came home from the hospital and Tristan had actually grown fond of having her around. When he was having problems with Rory or just had questions like their anniversary she was there to listen.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Hartford Society, I formally introduce you to Tristan Lucas (I don't know his middle name) Dugrey." Everyone clapped as Tristan made his way down the stairs. He locked eyes with Rory on his way down and soon swooped her into his arms and onto the dance floor.

"You look amazing." She blushed under his gaze as they moved along the dance floor with such grace his father couldn't help but feel proud. Melinda and her mother stood off the side and they locked eyes.

"Tristan look at your father." Rory and Tristan looked at his father who looked so tenderly at Melinda's mother Rachel.

"It seems that they might still have feeling for each other." He twirled her off the dance floor and they set out on a walk.

"Rory I have to talk to you."