Friends

Forecast...

Tristan looked a himself in the mirror as he finished with his tie, it was strange to see the suit and the tie instead of the cargo pants and gray t-shirt, up until now he hadn't really felt like he was back in
Hartford and his old life, even the big campaign to save Paris was exactly like a formal
dinner at Military school this party was making it official he was back home and if he didn't screw up it would home for good.

Today for Tristan was the big day, he had done all the big brother and uncle stuff took John and Cathy out for the day, took Tessa for her first dance lesson with Miss Patty, which she had loved.

Tristan remembered how Tessa had reacted to Rory, Tristan smiled at how flabbergasted Rory had been when Tessa asked her if she was Snow white. Tristan knew he had embarrassed Rory further when he corrected his niece and called her the princess of Stars hollow. Tristan shock his head and thought it best to keep his thoughts of Rory on the back burner. Tonight he had to be the perfect son.

Tristan went out of his room, he could hear his mother yelling and giving directions, he smiled when he thought if his mother and the trouble she went throw getting this party together for him. Unlike the belief at school and the rest of Hartford the DuGray's were a very close family.

What has caused them to stop talking had been C.J.'s accident and then and all the crap he'd done a fall out was inevitable.

Tristan took a deep breath and made his way down stairs when he got there he
saw John fidget with is tie and Catharine swat his hands way. "Hey John, Kate how goes it?"

"Thank God you're here Tris tell Kate that a tie is not the same as wearing a pair of new shoes."

"It's new shoes that pinch John, not new shoes new shoes that pinch are ugly. I mean look at these what was mom thinking?"

"Your mother was thinking this is the first time both your grandparents and both sides of your family will be here. That is what she was thinking so spot fidgeting. Tristan your grandfather is in the library he wants to speak to you."

"Grandpa Julian or Edward?"

"Julian"

Tristan smiled meeting with his grandfather Julian always went well no matter what he did, he was the prodigal son.

Tristan quickly made his way to the library when he went in he saw his grandfather sitting behind his father's desk reading a newspaper he was in the room by himself which, which was strange to see the one thing Tristan always remembered about his grandfather was that he was never alone, he had
the charm and easy manner that drew people to him.

A lot of people said it was the same thing Tristan had to win over people even if they hated you.

"Hey."

Tristan quietly said as he went into the library.

His grandfather looked up from his paper.

"Tristan I must say the hair cut suits you I know your grandmother would like it something about being able to see your sweet face."

Tristan laughed at his grandfather's imitation of his grandmother.

"Now how about giving an old man a hug or you too cool for that?"

Tristan just shook his head and hugged his grandfather. When they pulled away Julian DuGray looked at his grandson with the same blue eyes and in a more serious tone said,

"It's good to see you again we missed you, with you gone there was no one to encourage the younger kids to play their little tricks and pranks. And a dance partner for your aunt Sarah I never missed you more then I did that day."

Tristan laughed at the horrified expression his grandfather now gave him.

"That bad huh?"

"My boy I had no idea that you were that good of a dancer I know she's my daughter but she was almost spastic."

"She does tend to take it out on your feet...so where is Grandma?"

"Oh...she's with your brother right now."

Julian saw his grandson grow ridged, Julian just shock his head and let out a deep sigh.

"Tristan this isn't doing you any good you have to talk about it."

"I'm fine."

"You are so fine that you broke into some man's safe."

"That wasn't about J.C."

"Oh...really then what was it about?"

The sarcasm dripped from the voice of the older man, and Tristan cringed he didn't know how his grandfather would take the little piece of information he was going to give him but he knew he'd get an ear full either way.

'Might as well set the record straight'

Tristan thought as he cleared his voice.

"The safe thing was more about me being an idiot and a there was this girl...I guess it didn't help that I didn't have J.C. to talk too."

"You nearly flushed your life down the toilet for a girl? Please tell me who she is it couldn't be just a girl it had to be the reincarnation of Aphrodite herself for you to do something so foolish."

Tristan just shrugged; so far what his grandfather had just said wasn't so bad he was currently preparing himself for the tare-down it never came instead he heard the rich and deep laugh of his grandfather.

"This is the best thing I've heard in years it seems you are your father's son. Now he'll understand what I went through and people ask why grandparents love their grandchildren?"

"I don't follow?"

Tristan asked bewildered at the response that he was getting.

"Tristan my boy ask your father how he meet your mother then you'll understand."

With a pat on his back the two walked out of the library and were greeted by a loud screech. All members turned to the offender it was a thin obviously die job blond.

"There he is my favorite nephew."

Tristan sighed and knew that in five second he would be lost in a cloud of perfume and pink and sure enough he was kissed, cheeks were pinched his head was rubbed and his back was patted his aunt didn't pull away until his uncle said in his usually bored tone.

"Rose why don't you give the boy some breathing room."

"Oh...ruin my fun why don't you I'm sure he doesn't mind do you sweetie?"

'Okay there is no way you can answer they one without getting one or the other angry so try diplomatic.'

Tristan turned to where his grandfather had been standing and saw that he wasn't there.

'He left me alone to deal with aunt Rose?!'

"I get it Aunt Rose really I do you love me I've been gone about a year but uncle Arthur is right I like to breath."

With an over the top roll of her eyes she turned her head towards her brother and said.

"You had to be my twin it couldn't have been Vi?"

With a slight huff Rose went looking for her favorite sister

Tristan then turned his attention to his uncle he was a tall man around six foot four but unlike his sisters who were all blondes weather natural or store bought he had dark hair almost black, and he dressed in the same manner blacks, grays, and browns nothing lighter. That is not to say the look didn't work quite the opposite it add to his already handsome features and gave him an imposing, powerful look.

"Thanks for the save uncle Ar."

His uncle snorted.

"Yeah and you're still the little suck up you've always been only in better shape this time around."

"You wound me."

Tristan said in lighthearted manner

"Whatever pretty boy."

The two shared a laugh both glad that nothing had changed between them. They shared a manly hug, with the whole shaking hand between them and arm patting the other guy on the back.

"So where Harmony? Cath has been dying to see her."

When he saw his uncle wince Tristan thought that maybe his cousin was with her mother.

"I know what you're thinking she isn't with her mother I almost wish she was worse she's with my half wit of a half brother."

"WHAT!!!!!!!!! When did this happen last time I checked she hated Damaris."

"Well it seems your grandfather hasn't stopped in his ways he screwed up my life now he's trying to get ruin my daughter's and Damaris I know I say it every time but what kind of name is that?"

"Actually the name means gentle one."

"You found out what is means?"

"Hay in this family it's good to have a baby book on hand what with the names you guys call your children."

A silence lapsed between the two each lost in their own thoughts. The silence was broken by the sound Violet DuGray.

"Hay Ar."

But even to Tristan's ears it sound nervous.

"Vi."

Both Tristan and Arthur looked at Violet the noticed how she was chewing her lip and ringing her hands together, the look was also shared by Rose who was standing behind Violet.

"Ar it seems that dad had pulled rank and well..."

"Just spit it out Vi."

The comment could have been mistaken for biting had it not been for the understanding and compassionate looking Arthur had as he addressed his sister.

"He's invited both Ashton and Verda."

Tristan heard a quick gasp and saw his uncle clench his fists, the muscle in his jaw working over time.

Tristan didn't say anything he just walked out of the room making sure that everyone else was with him, which meant his brother, sisters, niece and cousin who admittedly he hadn't seen till just then.

"Hey man I didn't see you there."

"I think it has to do with the fact that my mom was slowly sucking the life out of you so she can stay forever young."

"Dude you're ten you shouldn't be saying stuff like that give it another six years."

Tristan and Cordellia looked at each other, she raised her eyebrow in question as to why Tristan had raced them out of the room so fast, and in answer Tristan said.

"Grandpa Edward...Ashton...Verda."

"Ohhhh...god he's a pr..."

Cordellia was about to swear until she remembered that they had several young ears about them.

Tristan didn't understand his grandfather Edward unlike his grandfather Julian, Edward went out of his way to torment his children in particular his uncle Arthur.

But for him to invited both Ashton and Verda, was not torment it was cruel Tristan much like Cordellia knew the history between the three. It was a classic tale of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl and hard. Tristan thought of his uncle and knew how hard that must have been for him the man likes to be in control, and to fall in love is giving up so much control to one person it isn't even funny.

So from what he had heard both Arthur and Verda lived happily and lustfully for quite sometime, this worked out well because the woman in question was friends with the two most important women in his life his sisters. Picture perfect not so fast along comes the illegitimate son who blames Arthur for the life he lives and the lack of money and so he and the love of his uncle's life have an affair.

'Ahhh...the soap opera that is my family and their love lives or is it a Greek tragedy considering that Uncle Ar never really dated or had a serious relationship afterwards he has a daughter yes but that was through the terrible idea of friends with benefits not the benefit he was thinking of but there you have it...well it looks like the forecast for this party is cloudy with a chance of rain oh...whom am I kidding it's going to flood...well at least Rory will be here.'

To be continued...

A/N the backstory is for the coming drama you know the drill spice it up and make sure the party goes boom. And I promise it will so please update and tell me what you think.