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After the show, Rory hopped over the barrier then helped Lee over, deciding to use the performers' exit so as not to be bothered on the way out. Plus, Annie and John would probably be just outside and he could introduce them to the love of his life.

Rory chuckled softly, listening to Lee. He was happy she'd enjoyed herself, making a mental note to bring her to another show or just have her come watch him train the horses sometime. As the exited, he waved at John, the other man sitting on a barrel just outside and smoking a cigarette. Annie wasn't too far away, sitting on a crate and drinking water from a bottle.

"You'd better get o'er here, boy, an' let me hae a look at you an' your bride-t'-be," Annie called, spotting her brother walking up. She stood up, one hand on her hip, and it was very clear she was a tiny thing, just a little shorter than Lee was.

The boy gave a sheepish smile and headed over to her. He gave her a hug then looked back at his girl. "Lee, this is me oldest sister Annie an' tha's her husband John."

Annie came over and looked up at Lee. "So, you're th' girl Mum an' Da said managed t' capture me brother's heart. You're skinnier than I imagined."

"It weren't nothin'. Should keep you two warm while you're makin' babies all winter," Annie teased, not noticing--or maybe not caring--that Rory was blushing all the way to the tips of his ears at the comment. "Mum said you two wis away visitin' your folks. When'd you get back?"

Rory went to sit with John, the two chatting quietly. The older man offered a cigarette, but Rory declined with a shake of his head, though he did take a swallow of the beer John offered from his own bottle.

"Rory made friends? There's a first," Annie said, looking over at her brother, who was pointedly ignoring her in favor of talking to her husband. The woman looked back at Lee. "Guess you're pretty good fae him if he came outta his shell tha' much."

"Outsiders donnae really ken t' our traditions or superstitions, it's true, but Rory's ne'er really been tha' confident around others," Annie said, looking over at her brother and husband, the two men laughing over some joke or other. She looked back at Lee. "This is the happiest I've seen him since before them outsiders flayed th' skin off his back. Whate'er you're doin' t' him, keep doin' it."

Annie looked at the girl, raising an eyebrow. "Surely you two spoke some before deciding t' be a couple, eh? He was quiet, shy, very sad. I think he got in a state o' depression after th' abuse an' just wis ne'er able t' shake it. He wis very lonely. W' ne'er really thought he'd find anyone t' settle d--John, you give him one more beer an' you'll be sleepin' in th' stables t'night."

Both men grinned sheepishly at the threat, Rory handing the bottle back to his brother-in-law.

Rory glanced up at her with a smile that quickly faded when he saw the glare, his expression changing to a more guilty "what did I do?" look. He looked back at John, listening to the man tell him some story about his nephew.

Annie shrugged a bit. "Maybe you two are soul mates. It happens, you know. I heard Keagan's halfbreed an' his wife are soul mates. Or maybe you're just a good enough person t' put up wi' Rory's issues. Just watch fae when his confidence falters. He's not used t' bein' in a relationship o' any kind outside o' family, so he's prolly gonna second-guess himself a lot."