Logan's POV

The group gathered together back at their table. All opting for one more drink before they hit the road. They congratulated both Logan and Jess on their wins, asking Jess who he was taking and when he was going, which he had no answer for.

"Hey, Logan," Colin said, drawing the attention of everyone.

"Yeah?"

"I think me and Steph are gonna stay in Hartford tonight, fly home. She's getting tired and the three hour drive isn't good for her."

"Can you get a room and a flight?" Logan asked, concerned for his friends.

"Already taken care of," Collin said smartly, sitting back in his chair.

"Well then," Logan said, raising his glass. "To a safe flight and a drink with good friends."

Everyone raised their glasses and then drank. They smiled and laughed as they bade Colin and Steph goodbye, making their way to the party limo. The taxi they'd called was parked conveniently next to the party limo so they stopped outside their vehicles.

"Pyle, hunny, I'm sorry we didn't even think of you," Steph said, holding her belly. "Do you want to come with us?"

Logan watched as Pyle glanced quickly at Jess. He was watching her intently to see what she'd say. Logan looked back at her as she looked back to Steph.

"No, I think I'm gonna ride this out," she said. "There's an empty room now, right Logan?"

"There sure is," he said with a smile. "And you're more than welcome to it."

"I'm so glad I don't have to worry about you now," Steph said a bit dramatically in Logan's opinion

"You don't have to worry about me," Pyle said, rolling her eyes and making Logan smirk.

"Well I don't have to now," Step said, smiling widely. "It seems like you're finally settling into our life just nicely."

They all boarded their vehicles and Logan opened a bottle of wine. He poured glasses for everyone and passed them around.

"So, Pyle, what did Steph mean?" Logan asked, sitting back down and looking across the aisle to Pyle. "What does she mean our life? I've known her and Colin for years and not only have I never heard from you, I've never seen you."

"Neither have I love," Finn said, stumbling onto the bus with a big grin before turning to Logan. "You weren't gonna leave without me, were you, Mate?"

"No, I thought you were going with Colin and Steph."

"Aren't they coming with us?" Finn asked, looking around the bus with a confused look on his face.

Tristan's POV

Tristan leaned over to Rory, his arm resting on the seat behind her and noticed she was staring into her wine glass instead of drinking it.

"I thought it was water to wine," he said. "Not the other way around."

"Huh?" she asked, looking up at him.

"The way your staring at that glass, makes me think you're trying to pull the Jedi mind trick," he told her, nudging her shoulder with his own.

"Oh, sorry," she said and finally took a drink.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked her, knowing already what was on her mind.

It hadn't gone over good, the confrontation with Francine. Yes, it had blown up into something she had specifically not wanted to happen. And now everyone knew what she was doing, in reference to the family names, but once again in a way she didn't want. In all the time he'd known his Mary, he'd only seen her like that one time before. That was the day she missed her test and snapped back on Paris and himself. He thinks that's the day he fell in love with her.

"What are you young lovebirds whispering about over there?" Finn asked, drawing them into the conversation.

"Nothing," Tristan said, sitting back and adjusting his arm around her, moving her a little closer to him.

"Ace, what happened tonight? Care to fill me in?" Logan asked, looking at Rory and making everyone else look at her too.

"I'd like to know what I missed," Jess said, speaking up.

Tristan looked at Rory to see she was staring straight ahead. He watched her for a second before realizing she looking somewhere specific. Following her gaze, he saw she was looking at Pyle. He couldn't understand why. As far as he knew there was no problem there. In fact he'd thought Rory liked Pyle but in that moment, he wasn't so sure.

"Mary?" he whispered so the others wouldn't hear.

"Everything ok Ror?" Jess asked, looking at the two of them. "What happened tonight?"

Tristan watched as Rory didn't even look towards Jess. She ignored him and kept her steely blue eyes locked on Pyle, who was holding eye contact but looked wary.

"Pyle," Rory said, not moving her head an inch. "I have to know where you have come from and why you are here?"

Tristan felt her move as she scooted to the edge of her seat. He moved to give her room, wondering where this was coming from just like everyone else was.

"Excuse me?"

"It's just bizarre to me," Rory said, looking around at Tristan and the other guys. "I mean, you appear, you barely tell us anything about you but you move in like it's nothing. Turns out your from this life, you know Steph."

"So?" Jess said and Tristan could tell he was angry.

Jess's POV

Jess didn't know what was going on with Rory. He had no clue what had happened at the stupid dance with her family. He was sure it wasn't good, he knew how her family and their society could be. However, that didn't give her the right to attack Pyle the way she was.

"Jess, stay out of this, would you?" Rory said, not taking her eyes off of her.

"Does it really matter that I knew Steph before you?" Pyle asked.

"Steph has nothing to do with this."

"Then what's up? You brought her up, you're the one with the agenda here."

Jess looked at Pyle. He could tell she wasn't angry but he couldn't figure out why. He was angry and it wasn't him Rory had her withering stare on. He'd teased her that he always wanted to see it but now that he had, he didn't think he'd tease her anymore.

"Fair enough," Rory said, nodding her head and sitting back again. "Do you know Francine Hayden?"

"Your grandmother?" Jess asked in shock, looking over to Tristan to see if he knew what was going on.

"My father's mother. Do you know her?" Rory repeated, watching Pyle closely.

"No. I can't say that I do," Pyle answered her after a couple of minutes and Jess let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"How do I believe you?" Rory asked.

Pyle sat back. "You trust me."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Rory, what's wrong with you?" Jess asked, unable to stay quiet anymore. "I've never known you to be so cruel."

"I'm not being cruel, I'm protecting myself. I can't trust anyone anymore. You think I'm happy with that?" Rory asked, finally tearing her eyes off Pyle and turning to him.

He could see tears in her eyes but they hadn't fallen yet. Her usual expressive eyes showed a steel gaze he'd never seen before. It made him wonder what he'd missed, consumed with his own things as he'd been.

"Mary, what's this about?" Tristan said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You heard her, she's not going to let the lawsuit stop her. She doesn't like me and she doesn't want me to disgrace the family. She doesn't trust me. Therefore I can't trust anyone I don't already know and trust. Because how do I know they aren't out to get me? It's happened before. We still don't know where Bridget is."

Jess just watched as Rory went on one of her rants and realized she was cracking from all the pressure. He hadn't noticed and she'd seemed fine when he did pay attention but he realized now she was hiding it. He'd been a bad friend and cousin lately, making him feel bad.

"Ror, I'm sorry," he told her truthfully.

Logan's POV

Logan watched the scene unfold before him and grew angrier. His Ace was a wonderfully, kind, loving, giving woman and he was lucky she was his friend. He didn't like seeing her lost like this because of Francine. He thought Bridget was no longer a problem and it ticked him off to know she was still around after all his warnings. He wanted to do something to make things better but he had no clue what that was. He felt helpless and he hated that.

"You know she really can't do anything, right?" he said, finally speaking up.

"You didn't see her," Rory said, turning to look at him. "You didn't see the hatred in her face."

"It doesn't matter," Logan told her. "She can't do anything. Tell her DuGrey."

"We can get a restraining order and put her threats in the lawsuit," Tristan said, pulling her closer to him.

"I'm sorry Pyle," Rory said, looking bat at the girl who'd sat quietly as everyone focused on Rory.

"It's ok. You're going through some stuff. I get it. Been there, done that."

"Still, I'm sorry," she said as they felt the limo come to a stop.

"I think we're here," Logan said, looking out the tinted window at the Dragonfly Inn.

"Finally," Jess groaned as he hopped out of the car.

They all followed suit and Logan watched as both Jess and Pyle lit up a cigarette. Tristan and Rory made their way inside and Logan walked over to Jess and Pyle.

"Mind if I?" he asked and Jess handed his pack over.

"Got something on your mind?" he asked, watching Logan light up and hand the pack back.

"I just feel so helpless with Ace. She's going through a lot right now and I wish I could help."

"I know what you mean," Jess said in agreement.

"What's going on? Can I ask since I got brought into and I'm standing right here," Pyle asked, looking between both of them.

Logan and Jess looked a one another and they both shrugged.

"It is only fair," Jess said with a shrug. "We are going to be working together."

"True but I'd feel better if it was Rory's decision to tell her story. Betraying her trust wouldn't be smart. You heard her," Logan said, finishing the cigarette.

"Yeah, but after what she did to Pyle," Jess said and Logan could see he was irritated.

He couldn't help but think Jess had it bad for this girl if he was blinded on where his loyalty should lie. He'd known Rory longer, he should have been on her side as far as Logan was concerned.

"I'm a big girl Jess, I can handle it," Pyle said. "Besides, I can't necessarily blame her. Sounds like she's been through a lot and I know how these people can be."

"Doesn't make it right," Jess said in a mumble. "These exact people are supposed to know better."

"They know better," Logan said. "They just don't care."

"How do you handle that?" Jess asked, obviously frustrated.

"I left," Logan and Pyle said at the same time.

The three of them stood quietly, thinking to themselves. Logan was glad he wasn't in the same situation as Ace. However, he had a situation all of his own. He was going to have to face his mom and sister sooner then later. And he was going to need to talk to his dad.

Rory's POV

Rory and Tristan checked in quickly, hurrying to their room. She hadn't said a word to him but he'd understood and wrapped her in a protective embrace. In no time they were in a room and she sat on the bed.

"Do you want some coffee?" he asked her and she could hear the concern in his voice.

She shook her head no. "I need my laptop but we didn't bring it."

"I'm sorry Mar."

She jumped up suddenly and walked over to the desk that sat opposite the king size bed. She opened the little drawer and took out the Dragonfly Inn stationary. She grabbed a purple Dragonfly Inn pen and turned to Tristan.

"I'm gonna take a bath."

"Are you ok?" he asked and she smiled at the concern and care written on his face.

Rory walked over to him and laid her hand on his cheek. She gazed into his eyes and smiled. "I'm fine. I just need some time. I'll be ok, Tris, I promise."

She sat in the bath and leaned on the side of the tub with the stationary pad and pen. She wrote furiously, filling up the pages as she poured her heart out. It was somewhere on the fifth page that she realized she'd stopped talking about her family and their issues and started talking about her relationships.

Once she felt spent from all the words that poured out, the pad was almost full. Her hand was cramping as were her legs and she had no idea how long she'd been in there. She stood up, groaning, and climbed out of the tub. She walked into the room and found Tristan passed out on the bed, still dressed and facing the bathroom.

"Aww," she said and went for her cell.

She took a couple of pics before she set the phone down and changed. She climbed into bed next to him and covered up with the extra blanket she grabbed. She was out before she'd truly laid down.

She stayed in that position until a loud thump woke her up and she rolled off the bed. She cried out when her elbow hit the bed post and that's when she heard laughter on the other side of the door. It was then she also realized Tristan was gone.

"I'm gonna murder you," she grumbled as she stalked over to the door as the laughter got louder.

Rory threw open the door to find all three guys standing at the door. They were all holding something and laughing. Logan was in front with two gigantic cups of coffee. He was laughing so hard he was doubled up like he had to pee. Jess was behind him with two bags of food. She could tell from the smell it was tacos and she had to fight not to smile. Tristan was behind them with a sheepish smile. She couldn't see what he held.

"Tacos," she said, taking the coffee from Logan. "I'm not hungover."

"We weren't sure," Jess said with a shrug.

"That's where I come in," Tristan said, stepping forward. He held a box of pop tarts and a single red rose.

Unable to resist any longer, she smiled at the three of them and stepped aside for them to enter. She kissed Tristan and then looked behind him, wondering where Pyle was.

"She's busy in a writing coma," Tristan whispered in her ear, knowing where here mind was.

"Seems to be going around," she muttered, shutting the door as she thought back on the pages she'd wrote.

"You ok?" he asked, looking at her with the look that made her knees go weak and all she could do was nod.

"Hey Ror," Jess called out, getting her attention.

"Yeah Dodger?" she asked, walking over and setting down one empty coffee cup.

"Why were you so hard on Pyle last night?"

She sighed and flopped on to the nearest chair. She took a big drink and enjoyed the warmth rolling down her throat.

"Residual grandmother aftermath," she said finally, looking him square in the eye.

"She was a pain worse than I'd seen," Tristan said, moving to stand behind her. "And I've seen quite a bit of the dark side of that place."

"That's still not fair to Pyle," Jess said in a defensive and surly tone she knew well.

Logan's POV

"Hey," Logan said, interrupting before they could start an argument or something. "We need to be getting back to New York. That's why we woke her up, remember?"

"And that was a lousy way to wake me up," Rory grumbled but had a smile on her face.

"Got you up didn't it?" Logan asked and when she glared at him, he added, "Success."

"You're still a butt faced miscreant," she said, smiling widely at him and making him smile with her words.

"At least I don't sniff books," he said, passing on his favorite memory.

"Hey," both Rory and Jess said in indignation.

Both Logan and Tristan started laughing and it wasn't long before the other two joined in. They chatted as Rory gathered up her stuff, opting to stay in the oversize sweatshirt and pants she'd thrown on before answering the door.

"You need to get Pyle now," Logan said, turning to Jess.

"Already texted her," he said, holding up his cell as it went off with a guitar riff

Logan waited while Jess read it. He watched Tristan carry his and Rory's stuff to the door and sat it down. That was something he did but it hadn't felt as natural as it looked, watching them.

"She's already outside," Jess said, slipping his cell into his back pocket. "I'm gonna take my stuff down now."

Logan nodded and watched Jess leave the room. He turned back to the others.

"You guys ready?" he asked.

"Sure are, do you know if Mom's around?" Rory asked him with a smile.

"Sure don't, Ace."

"That's alright, I'm gonna go find out," she said, before shooting a look back at Tristan and then leaving the room.

"What was that all about?" Logan asked, looking at the other blond man in the room.

"She's peeved I didn't wake her up sooner so she could give out proper good byes," Tristan explained as he grabbed the bags.

Logan could tell he was hurting when he hefted Rory's bag after hefting his own but he never blinked. Logan opened the door and let Tristan go first since his stuff had already been taken down. He followed behind watching as the man carried the bags without blinking but Logan could see sweat beads appear on his brow.

Authors Note:

I'm so terribly sorry about how long this chapter took. I don't think it's good enough but I wanted to get you something thing before it was too much longer. I hope you're still with me. Hopefully the next one won't be far behind. I think I'm back. I make no guarantees but if things keep going the way their going, I'm all yours again.

So let me know you're here and what you think. Promise the next one will be better. As always, thanks from the bottom of my heart.

D5