AN: November 25th! What an amazing date! I don't know about you, but I can't wait! It's going to be a long exhausting Thanksgiving weekend between work and watching six hours of Gilmore Girls, but it will be fun! Anyway, on to the next chapter. It's the longest I've written in awhile. Enjoy!

Chapter 25: "Oh, this is amazing. The whole summer together in New York,"

"Guess what?" Rory asked Tristan as she jumped into his lap when she and Riley arrived back at Yale Saturday afternoon.

"What?" he asked her.

"I'm going to New York with you," she told him.

"What?" Tristan asked again, "How? The paper? You thought Mitchum was going to offer you a job there. You didn't turn him down for me, did you?"

"Yes and no. He offered me a job and I did sort of turn him down at first when I thought he was offering me a job here, but I guess he either heard about your job from Janlan or someone or overheard my conversation with Riley about it and he offered me a job at a paper in White Plains."

"White Plains, that's only thirty miles from the city so you'll stay with me and drive there everyday?"

"Yep, that's the plan."

"Oh, this is amazing. The whole summer together in New York," Tristan said with a smile before kissing her. He had removed her from his lap, laying her down on the couch as he kissed her neck when Riley came into the room at let out a groan.

"You know, I've never felt more ready for my own apartment than I do right now," he said.

"Sorry, Ry," Rory said.

"Yeah, sorry Riles," Tristan said.

"I take it you told him about the job," Riley said.

"Yep," Rory told him.

"And you're happy, I take it," Riley said.

"Ecstatic," Tristan told him.

"Good, so what will you be doing in New York anyway. Rory didn't say?" Riley asked him.

"Oh, one of my professors is conducting a summer workshop at Columbia. He asked me to join, but he is also designing a house for a friend of his and hired me to help with it," Tristan said.

"That's awesome man," Riley said, "So where will you guys be staying? You're not staying in a hotel all summer are you?"

"No, my Grandpa has a place in the city. He's a big Yankee's fan and it's right near the stadium," Tristan told him, "So it's only a couple miles from Columbia and like twenty miles or so from White Plains."

"And you're cool driving that everyday?" Riley asked her.

"Yeah, it's no problem," Rory said.

"Good. I'm happy for you guys," he told them, "But.."

"Aww, are you going to miss me Big Brother?" Rory asked.

"Maybe...Okay, yeah I guess I will miss seeing you everyday," Riley said.

"Well, that's what days off, Friday Night Dinner, and Sunday brunches are for," Rory told him.

"I guess. Alright, well we should get ready. The party starts in a couple hours," Riley said, looking at his watch.

"Right. I have to get back to my room. Pick me up in an hour?" Rory asked.

"Yep, see you then," Tristan told her, kissing her before she left.

An hour after she left Tristan and Riley's dorm, Rory was dressed and ready and just waiting for Tristan to come pick her up.

"Wow!" Tristan exclaimed when Rory opened the door, "You look incredible, Mary."

"Thanks, Bible Boy. You look pretty incredible, yourself," Rory said after greeting him with a kiss, "Is that a new suit?"

"Yeah, Stephanie insisted. She said since you and her were getting new dresses for the night, Riley and I needed new suits. She also made sure to get us shirts that matched the color of your dress," Tristan told her.

"We're going to Honor's engagement party, not the prom," Rory said, looking at Tristan light blue dress shirt beneath the light grey suit that match the color of her dress perfectly. It was the same light blue, a v-neck, sleeveless dress that hit just below her knees, "Let me just grab my shrug and my purse and we can go."

"It's eighty degrees out, do you really need a shrug? I'm already dying in this suit," Tristan said.

"Right now, no, but once we're out on the yacht and it gets moving, it could be windy on deck," she told him, grabbing her shrug and purse before taking Tristan's offered hand.

"After you," Tristan said, holding the door to the limo they were taking open for Rory to get in.

"Thank you," she said, sliding into the limo, seating herself across from Stephanie and Riley, "You look nice, Ry. That dress is gorgeous Steph, but I thought you were looking at a pink one?"

"I was, but then I decided that Tristan and Riley should match us and I figured Riley would prefer the lilac shirt to a pink one," Stephanie told her.

"You are correct. Thank you for going with the purple," Riley said.

"Technically it's lilac," Stephanie reminded him.

"I'm a guy, Steph. Purple is purple," Riley told her.

"Why do we have to match?" Rory asked.

"I don't know. I just thought it would be cute," Stephanie said.

"Well we do all look adorable," Rory said with a giggle as she accepted the glass of champagne Riley had just poured for all of them.

"To a great night," Riley said, raising his glass to all of them.

"To a great night."

After a quick, twenty mile drive to the marina, the four climbed out of the limo and made their way to the Huntzberger yacht. As they boarded, they noticed it was already getting packed with dozens of Honor and her fiance Josh's friends and a few family members. Mitchum and Shira Huntzberger were there, but along with the majority of the older family members in attendance, planned to leave before the yacht took sail.

"Rory, Riley, good to see you both again," Mitchum said when they went up with Stephanie and Tristan to greet him.

"You, too, Mitchum," Rory said, "That's a beautiful dress, Mrs. Huntzberger."

"Oh, please, dear. Call me Shira," she told her, "Thank you. Yours is quite lovely, too."

"Thank you," Rory said.

"Uncle Mitch, Aunt Shira, good to see you," Tristan told them, giving his aunt a kiss on the cheek and shaking his uncle's hand.

"You, too son," Mitchum said, "I'm hearing good things about you from your grandfather. Are you excited to spend the summer in New York?"

"Very excited," Tristan said, placing an arm around Rory's shoulder, pulling her close to him, "And thank you. I'm glad someone other than my grandfather understands me."

"While I understand that he may be upset, your father can't possibly be surprised you didn't want to follow in his footsteps. You've been drawing things and building houses out of Lincoln Logs and Lego's since you were a boy," Mitchum said.

"I remember that," Logan said, coming up behind them, catching the end of what Mitchum said, "We fought all the time because kept stealing my Lego's from me."

"Well, I needed more to build a bigger house," Tristan replied, "Good to see you cuz.

"You too. Ace," Logan said, giving her a brief hug.

"Logan, it's been awhile," Rory said, "How have you been?"

"Good, busy, but good," he said, "Come on, I'll introduce you to Honor."

"Sure. It was nice to meet you Shira. Mitchum, always nice to see you," Rory said, taking Tristan's hand as they followed Logan to meet his sister after others said their goodbyes to Mitchum and Shira.

"Honor, there are some people I want you to meet," Logan said, placing an arm around her shoulder and kissing her cheek as he interrupted her conversation with her future in-laws.

"Excuse me for a just a minute," Honor said to Josh's parents, before whispering a thank you in Logan's ear.

"Anytime," he told her, "Now, sis, I'd like to introduce you to a couple of my friends. Tris and Steph you know of course. But, I'd like you meet Rory and Riley."

"The Gilmore-Hayden twins," Honor said, shaking their offered hands, "I've heard a lot about you. Thank you for coming."

"Thank you for having us. Congratulations," Rory told her.

"Yes, thank you and congratulations," Riley said as well.

"Thank you. I'd introduce you to Josh, but I think he's off hiding somewhere until his parents leave. They keeping hounding us with questions about the wedding details," Honor said, "I should get back to them. Have fun everyone. We'll catch up later.

For the next few hours they enjoyed a nice quiet evening on the Huntzberger yacht as they sailed around for a bit, just off the Connecticut coast. They ate and danced and when the yacht docked at midnight they went back to Yale. Sunday morning, Rory and Riley were up early so they could got to Stars Hollow to pick up April before going to Hartford to get Jay and going to the Hayden's for brunch.

"Thank you for inviting me to brunch," April said.

"It's no problem," Riley told her.

"I'm excited to meet a judge, but also to see his library. Rory said it's huge," April said.

"It is and he has everything. Fiction, nonfiction, biographies, novels. You name it, Straub Hayden has it," Rory said.

"Cool, I can't wait," April said, "Hey, wait a minute. They live by Jay?"

"No, why do you ask?" Riley asked her.

"Because this is the way to Jay's house. Is he coming with us?" April asked.

"Yep, is that okay with you?" Rory asked.

"Yeah, it's great. I know he's excited to meet Judge Hayden, too," April said, "Do you think we can see the treehouse?"

"I'm sure we can arrange that," Rory told her.

After picking up Jay, they drove to the Hayden's where their grandparents and Christopher were awaiting their arrival for their weekly brunch.

"Hey, Dad," Rory said, giving him a kiss on the cheek when she walked into the living room, "No Gigi?"

"No, honey, sorry. She's getting over an ear infection she we figured it was best she stayed in Boston this time," Christopher told his daughter.

"Aww, bummer. I hope she feels better. Give her a kiss for me," Rory said.

"I will," he told her, "So, you must be April."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Hayden," April said, shaking his hand, "This is my boyfriend, Jay."

"Jacob Parker, sir, but everyone calls Jay. It's nice to meet you," Jay said, shaking Christopher's hand, "Thank you for having me."

"Of course. And please, both of you, call me Christopher," he told them.

"Is Grandpa in his study?" Rory asked.

"I believe so, dear," Francine told her, "Can I trust you to drag him out without getting stuck in there yourself?"

"I can try," Rory told her with a smile before going to the study to pry her grandfather away from his books.

"So, April, Rory tells me you're really into science," Straub said as they sat at the table enjoying their brunch.

"I am, Judge Hayden, very much," April told him.

"Please, I haven't been a judge in a long time, Straub will be fine," he told her.

"Thank you sir," April said, "I really like biology the best. I like looking at the world around us and observing things, breaking them down into their smallest forms."

"You'll have to take a look at my book collection before you leave then," Straub told her, "I'm sure you'll find several books that will interest you."

"Oh, I plan to. Rory's told me you have everything," April said.

"I don't know if I have everything, but most things. And feel free to borrow whatever you like," he told her.

"Thank you," April said.

"So, Jay, what interests you," Straub asked.

"Well, I'm not as into biology, chemistry, or other sciences as April is," Jay said, "I do better in math and English."

"Any interests outside of school? Do you play any sports or are you in any groups or anything?" Straub asked.

"I play the piano, actually. I've played since I was four, I think. We moved around a lot when I was younger, but we always had a piano so even in a new place it felt like home right away whenever I sat down to play," Jay said.

"Have you done any recitals or anything?" Francine asked.

"No, I'm not really into playing for a large crowd or anything. I mostly just play for me," Jay said.

"He is really good though," April said, "He played for me once when we were at his house a few weeks ago."

"I could play something for you, if you'd like when we're done," Jay told Francine, "You have a beautiful piano in the living room."

"Thank you, that would be lovely," Francine told him.

The rest of the morning was spent enjoying their meal with a few questions being asked to Jay and April about Chilton and to April about her trip earlier in the year to Yale. Rory and Riley also discussed their summer job plans with their father and grandparents. After they had finished and their plates were cleared, everyone gathered in the living room for Jay's little performance.

"Okay, well since it's spring," Jay said as he sat down at the piano with everyone sitting around him on either the couches or chairs and began to play, his fingers moving quickly over the keys, hitting each note with perfection.

"Oh, Jay, that was lovely," Francine said when the piece was completed after they all finished applauding him, "Vivaldi is one of my favorite composers."

"Mine, too, Francine," Jay told her.

"So, how about we take a walk outside before we check out the books," Rory suggested.

"Oh, right the treehouse," April said, "You'll love it Jay. Rory said it's really pretty."

"Can't wait," Jay said, holding his breath slightly, preparing himself for what he was about to do.

"Relax, man," Riley told him, placing a hand on his shoulders, "It's going to be fine."

"You're sure?" Jay asked.

"Positive," Riley said.

"Wow, it really is beautiful out here," April said as the four of them walked into the Hayden's backyard and she took note of the different plants and trees, "I definitely have to come back when I have time to study all these flowers."

"I'm sure you'll be welcome to come back anytime you want," Rory told her.

"Oh my, that treehouse is gorgeous," April said once they arrived and she got her first look at it.

"Wait until you see the view from inside," Riley told her.

"Oh, shoot," Rory said when they were all standing at the ladder that led up to the treehouse.

"What?" April asked.

"I left my phone in the house and Tristan is supposed to call me," Rory said, "I'll just be a minute, go on up."

"Okay, Riley are you coming?" April asked when she saw he had turned away from the treehouse and was watching Rory walk back to the house.

"What?" Riley asked.

"Are you coming up with us?" April asked.

"No, you go ahead. I just remembered something I need to talk to my Dad about," Riley said, "I'll be back in a little while."

"Okay, whatever," April said as she climbed the ladder of the treehouse, "Oh, my!"

"You like it?" Jay asked, following her into the treehouse and taking in the flowers and candles that were set up all around before hitting play on the CD player Riley told him about.

"Jay, what is all this?" April asked as the treehouse was filled with the melodic sounds of piano piece she had never heard before, "Is that you playing?"

"Yes. I wrote it for you," he told her, taking her hands in his, "Dance with me?"

"It's beautiful," she told him, resting her head on his shoulder as he twirled them in a circle in the small space, "Does it have a name?"

"April's Melody," he said, earning a light laugh from her, "I know not very creative, but I wasn't sure what else to call it."

"Well, whatever you call it, I love it. Thank you. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me," she said, lifting her head from his shoulder to give him a kiss, deepening it for a minute before he pulled away and looked into her eyes, "What?"

"April I need to tell you something," Jay told her.

"Everything's okay isn't it? You're not moving again are you?" April asked.

"No, I'm not moving. In fact, I'm pretty sure we're staying right here until I graduate," Jay said.

"Good, so what do you need to tell me?" she asked.

"I love you," he said.

"What?"

"I love you, April Nardini. I know we haven't been together for very long, but I love you and I wanted you to know."

"Wow, I...I don't know what to say. No one's ever…"

"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. I didn't tell you to get you to say it back or to take our relationship further or anything. I've just been thinking about it for awhile. You're so beautiful, and kind, and perfect. I couldn't keep it anymore and I just had to tell…."

"I love you, too."

"Really?"

"Yes, Jacob Parker. I love you, too," she told him before he crashed his lips to hers, kissing her with all the love he has.