Disclaimer: Amy and Daniel Palladino, along with the rest of the WB, own Gilmore Girls. "Holiday" is owned by The Kinks.

A/N: This holiday selection is consideration of my everlasting affection toward Memorial Day. I happen to like this chapter and hope you do as well. This is a bit AU, or it will be after the season finale, because I like my Rory somewhat innocent and without her daily intake of crazy flakes. As always, thank yous are at the bottom.

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The hot sun warmed Tristan's skin as he climbed out of the chilly water. Logan had taken them to a lake in upstate New York. They'd been there for a few days and would be leaving tomorrow. Despite the semester being over, many people had trips already planned.

"Tristan, old boy!" Finn yelled from the other side of the beach. "Jet ski's free!"

"Thanks, Finn!" he called back, grabbing his lifejacket from the edge of the boat. The last thing they needed was the Coast Guard stopping one of them and realizing exactly how intoxicated they happened to be. "Care to ride with me, Mar? I promise you won't fall off if you hold on tight."

Stephanie, who was laying right next to Rory, giggled at the double meaning but quickly stifled her laughter with her hand. She and Rory were lying on the back of the boat reading, though their material was vastly different- Rory was re-reading David Copperfield and Steph had a Cosmo. However, Rory was in charge of the mustic and she had to guard her territory. She didn't want to risk Finn trying to freak with her again to "Candy Shop."

She smiled sweetly at Tristan. "No, thank you."

"Are you sure?" he pressed. "We could race Colin and Stephanie."

"In your dreams," Steph muttered. "I'm not messing up my tan with a stupid lifejacket."

"Again, no, thank you. I'm good," Rory assured him.

He smirked. "Suit yourself."

As he sauntered off, Stephanie put her magazine down and turned onto her back. Eying Rory critically, she said, "You're wearing a one-piece and you're in the shade? At the rate you're going you'll never get skin damage. You should come into the sun with me before you get any smarter and realize that alcohol doesn't actually repair your liver like Colin told you."

Rory put her book down. "Either you're trying to permanently alter my health or you want to talk."

"Unfortunately for you, it's the latter," Stephanie quipped. "I'd like to talk about your intentions with Logan and/or Tristan."

"Logan and Tristan?" Rory questioned, surprised. "You haven't been trying to repair your liver in excess, have you?"

"No, I'm legally sober. Just two lemonades for me." She sat up and pulled her long hair into a bun. "You never mentioned that you knew my cousin."

"You never mentioned that you had a cousin," Rory countered. "Does he come to all events?"

Stephanie sighed. "He used to, but he transferred to Princeton after his first year. We mostly see him on the holidays now."

"Finny, I never saw him," Rory mused.

"You two don't exactly have the same majors," Stephanie pointed out. "Nor did you run in the same circles."

"How long have you all known each other?" Rory looked out on the water where Tristan and Finn were playing chicken not too far from the beach.

Stephanie clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "Another story for another time; I do believe I asked you to state your intentions toward Logan and my cousin."

Rory sighed. It didn't seem as though she was going to talk herself out of this one. "You knew my intentions toward Logan. However, I have no idea what you're talking about with Tristan."

"You're too smart to play dumb. You can't honestly tell me that you've never noticed the way he looks at you."

"We went to high school together!" Rory exclaimed. "We hated each other, we always fought, and he was constantly tormenting me."

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm aware that you two went to high school together. Poor boy wouldn't shut up about you, Mary." She added extra emphasis to the name for intended effect.

Rory thought about this. "Say, hypothetically speaking, he does like me," she started slowly. "That doesn't mean anything. I'm happy with Logan, and even if I wasn't, I'm not interested in Tristan."

"Yeah, he's a bit of a prick," Stephanie admitted. "But he doesn't like you."

Rory's jaw dropped. "Then what was the meaning of all of that?"

Stephanie cackled. "To piss you off. I'm mean like that."

"Am I sloshed or did Stephanie finally admit what we've known all along, that she's a bitch?" an incredulous voice chimed in.

"Shut up, Logan," Stephanie growled.

"Make me, Stephanie," he mimicked back.

She sighed and pushed him. He flailed backwards off the boat and into the water. His head appeared moments later. "You're dead!"

"Whatever." She jumped up, walked to the front of the boat, and hopped onto the beach.

Rory got up to talk to Logan. "Need help?"

"If you'd be so kind, Ace." He held his hand out to her. However, as soon as she grasped it, he pulled her in. She came back up sputtering.

"Jerk!"

He laughed. "You look cute wet."

She just splashed him, so he splashed her back. They continued like that until he kissed her. After that they just treaded water and talked, occasionally kissing. Finally, Logan asked, "What are you doing this summer?"

"Now you're asking?"

"I'm slow on the uptake," he joked.

"I'm getting a job in Stars Hollow."

"Stars Hollow," he repeated. "I don't think your mom likes me too much."

"She doesn't like any of my boyfriends at first. Don't worry about it. In fact, she hated Dean at first, but by the time we broke up she liked him more than I did," she informed him.

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

She splashed him. "Not like that! He did chores around the house."

"So you're saying that if I do chores your mom won't mind if I visit?"

"Have you ever done a chore in your life?"

"Well, no," he admitted. "But I see people do them on TV all the time. How hard can it be?"

"You're spoiled."

"You're pretty." With that he kissed her.

She pulled away suddenly. "Wait, you want to visit me over the summer?"

He chuckled. "Just kiss me, Ace."

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Later that day, after almost everyone had left, it had become much quieter. So quiet, in fact, that Finn, Logan and Rory were able to fall asleep in the back of the boat. Logan and Finn were on the seat practically on top of each other while Finn's hand hung down on Rory's stomach, who was on the floor.

Stephanie and Colin were sitting up in the bow. She had her head laid on his shoulder. Tristan had gone back to the resort for more booze and dinner.

"What do you think they see in her?" Stephanie whispered after a lull in the conversation.

"Who?"

"Rory. Tristan, Logan and Finn. What makes her so special?"

"You're jealous," Colin teased.

"Am not!" Stephanie insisted. "Just curious. I'd like a guy's point of view on the one, please."

"Fine," Colin sighed. "She's innocent, fresh. At least, that's what Finn likes about her. She challenges Logan. And I don't know about Tristan."

"And what about you?"

He put his arm around her. "I like my girls bad."

She giggled. "And rich."

"And blond," he added. "Besides, you love me."

"Fuck yeah!"

"Is that a promise?"

"You're dirty."

"Hello, Ms. Pot? My name is Mr. Kettle," he replied in a goofy voice.

She threw her head back and laughed. "Why don't you ever act like this around anyone else?"

He shrugged. "No one else is worth it. Besides, Finn and Logan have seen me be silly."

She grinned. "You just said silly."

He groaned. "Shut up."

"But you did!"

"How old are you, five?"

"Yes," she replied indignantly, adding, "Pedophile."

"I'll show you," he growled, tickling her sides. She shrieked and shrunk down in a futile effort to escape until she was lying down on the seat. He got on top of her to tickle her better and she tried her best to push him off of her.

"Am I interrupting, or is this a group thing?" Finn asked from behind them.

Colin jumped up and Stephanie slid back up to a sitting position. "That wasn't what it looked like?" she offered weakly.

"Yes it was," Finn replied knowingly. "However, we all do it. And Colin is drop-dead sexy." He came up behind Colin and wrapped his arms around his waist, kidding his neck. "And Stephanie, gorgeous sweet Stephanie, I guess this means I win the bet." He jumped onto the beach. "Any more booze?"

Stephanie shook her head. "Tristan went for more."

"Is that him?" Finn pointed out to where Tristan was about half a mile away.

Colin nodded. "I think so."

"Sweet salvation!" Finn yelled, jumping into the water. He began frantically swimming toward the jet ski. Within minutes the two had met up just outside of the cove. Tristan helped Finn on, but as soon as Finn was securely on he pushed Tristan off and sped up to the beach.

"Was that necessary?" Stephanie asked Finn dryly when he got to the beach.

"Sacrifices must be made to appease the gods of drinking."

"You know, Finn, the porcelain god isn't an actual god," Colin dead-panned.

"Blasphemous!" Finn cried.

"What is?" Logan asked, joining them on the beach. "Did Finn sacrifice Tristan again?"

Stephanie pointed out to the water. "See for yourself."

"Why's he just bobbing there?" Logan questioned.

"I left him with a beer," Finn admitted.

"And you just decided to leave him out there?" Stephanie demanded, a bit annoyed that Finn would do this to her cousin.

"He'll come in when he's ready!" Finn defended.

"He's not a dog!"

"That's to be debated."

Stephanie heaved a heavy sigh and got on the jet ski to rescue her cousin. When she got out there, Tristan was just floating and drinking his beer. "Need a lift?"

Tristan shrugged. "Sure, why not? Hold my beer?"

Stephanie took the beer, but before he could get on she pushed him back in and held his beer over the side threateningly. "Don't screw this up for them. For Logan, for Rory, anyone."

Tristan was thoroughly confused. "Don't mess what up?"

"Them! Their relationship!" Stephanie cried, exasperated. Was she the only sane one in the group? "Do you promise?"

Finn looked from the beach horrified as Stephanie wavered, tipping a little out. "No!" he shrieked, holding out his hands.

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" Logan mused to Colin.

"Knowing Stephanie? Anything that's pissing her off at the moment," Colin answered.

"I'm going with Finn."

"Hey!" Finn cried, finally tearing his gaze away from Stephanie and Tristan as they bickered and glaring at Colin and Logan.

"Why would Stephanie be pouring out Tristan's beer if she was pissed at Finn?" Colin questioned with an eyebrow raise.

"Why are you asking me? I'm not the one going out with her."

"I'm not going out with Stephanie," Colin argued.

"They were having sex while we were asleep," Finn informed Logan.

"We were not having sex while you were asleep, we just talking."

Finn smirked. "Talking? While on top of her?"

"Who was on top of whom?" Stephanie asked from behind them.

Colin cringed. "How long have you been there? And can you tell Logan and Finn that we weren't having sex?"

Stephanie looked deeply offended. "Are you trying to tell me that I wasn't good?" Her bottom lip quivered.

Tristan covered his ears. "I'm not listening. I think I'll go Picasso myself in the boat."

"Try not to get blood on the carpet," Logan warned.

Tristan rolled his eyes and jumped into the boat. "Yes, mom."

Logan nodded approvingly. "That's the exact answer I was looking for."

As the four continued to bicker about Stephanie and Colin, Tristan sat down next to Rory. He got close up to her ear and whispered, "I know you're not asleep."

Her eyes flew open. "How'd you know?"

"You could sleep with those insane freaks screeching at each other?"

She laughed. "Nothing is ever subtle with them. Do you mind not alerting the media as to my current state of awake-ness?"

"And pass up the opportunity to make myself look as crazy as possible?"

"Or as creepy, as it would look like you were talking to my prone form," Rory offered.

"Count me in." He smirked at her. "So you and Logan Huntzberger, heir to the famed Huntzberger fortune."

Rory acted shocked. "That's where he got all his money? And here I was under the impression that he owned an underground fighting ring."

"Careful, he may try to sell you soap," Tristan warned jokingly.

"I'll watch out for any tell-tale signs that he may be trying to manipulate me with body wash," Rory mockingly promised.

"That's all I ask," Tristan joked. "But seriously, how are you and Logan doing?"

"We're good."

"Can you say that again, but this time with a more monotone voice?" Tristan replied sarcastically.

"What, would you like me to do an interpretive dance and a puppet show for you?" Rory shot back just as sarcastically.

"No, but I wouldn't argue if you wanted to give me a lap dance."

She rolled her eyes. "No dancing of any kind on my part."

He snapped his fingers. "Damn."

"Out of curiosity, why do you want to know how Logan and I are doing?" she inquired.

Oh, yeah, she was a reporter. He'd almost forgotten. "Natural curiosity, I suppose," he lied. "I just don't want to see Logan hurt."

"Because I go around hurting people on a daily basis," she replied sardonically.

He ran a hand through his wet hair. "Just forget I said anything." He shook his head, getting her wet.

She squealed and ineffectually held her hands up to shield herself from the water droplets. "Tristan!"

"Rory?" Logan called out. "You awake?"

"Jig's up," Rory whispered conspiratorially.

Tristan stood up and held his hand out to help her up. "Well, my dear, are you ready for dinner?"

"Always." She smiled at him as he pulled her up, then turned to grin at Logan.

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Special thank yous to everyone who reviewed: reader, megan, LandonLover, GTHoneybunny, PenguinDynasty, royaleve, jemma, smile1, Lovelock79, RavenEcho, Gilmoregirl, HappyNoodles, KarahBella, mar0506, cinemagal, sara, Amanda, tickle582, elle, jmarit17, KeitaWolf, TSOHoneybaby, Fancyeyes(Happy belated birthday!), crissy, princetongirl, Alicia Jo, OTHlover04, Colleen, Robin2.

This is dedicated to Bookworms for her never ending support and always listening to my random rants and mental breakdowns, and for always helping me.