Part 13: Hi, Bye and A Naked Guy Too

"Ugh, I hate shopping week," Stephanie groaned as she put her book bag over her shoulder.

"This is the first shopping week we've had, Steph, how can you hate it?" Rory asked stuffing her book bag with necessary materials.

"I hate anything that makes me wake up early," Steph groaned sitting back down on her bed.

"You sound like Finn," Rory laughed sitting on her bed and putting on her shoes.

"Ugh, no talk of boyfriend right now, at least not without coffee in my mouth."

"Or Tristan's tongue," Rory laughed, causing Steph to smirk.

"You've been hanging out with us for way too long," Steph laughed, then groaned when she heard the knock on the door.

"Why isn't Paris answering the door?"

"Because she left early?" Rory asked as she left her room and opened the door to find her smiling mom on the other side.

"Hey," Rory said as Lorelai kicked a box into the room and grabbed the rolled up rug from its propped position at the door.

"Hey, you know what's great about you going off to college?"

"My newfound independence, my dreamy and oh-so-sexy boyfriend?"

"Oh no. My new batch of youth-oriented catalogs. For example, where on earth could I put this fabulous purple flower rug? It's so young and cool, but doesn't really go with my room, so..."

"My room," Rory said excitedly picking up the box, closing the door and following her mom into her room, where Steph was fixing her hair in the mirror.

"Hey Lorelai."

"Hey Steph," Lorelai greeted putting the rug on the floor.

"Oh! Fits perfectly!" Steph cooed as she lay on Rory's bed watching the rug being unrolled.

"I love it when my mommy misses me," Rory laughed putting the box next to Steph.

"The matching beanbag chair arrives next week," Lorelai said, emitting a high five from Rory and Steph.

"Score!" Steph laughed. "So what's in the box? Oh my god, are those cookies?"

"Marshmallow cookies!" Rory said sitting down and taking the cookies out of the box.

Lorelai smiled. "Sookie sent them, Luke sent some muffins and I got you a copy of the Stars Hollow Gazette."

"You don't have to bring that to me anymore," Rory said passing the cookies to Steph. "I subscribed."

"You subscribed to the Stars Hollow Gazette? The editor of the Stars Hollow Gazette does not subscribe to the Stars Hollow Gazette."

"I didn't want to get cut off from the town," Rory shrugged.

"I've got a good way to solve that," Steph said handing the bag back to Rory. "Keep getting these sent to you."

Lorelai laughed. "I'll tell Sookie her cookies are a rave here at Yale, she'll flip. Hey, you guys wanna grab coffee before I head back to the Hollow?"

"Can't," Rory answered.

"Why?" Lorelai asked with a huff.

"It's shopping week," Steph told her

"Isn't it always?"

"So true. Now, if only Tristan could get a hold of the concept," Steph murmured.

Rory rolled her eyes. "The first week of school is called shopping week. You get to try out as many classes as you want before you pick the ones you want to stick with for the semester. I picked over fifty classes I'm gonna try out, plus another ten I'm gonna squeeze in if I have time. They all sound completely amazing."

"She was up all night, reading Finn the class subscriptions over the phone," Steph said with a roll of her eyes.

"You do know that if you weren't so pretty, you would've gotten the crap kicked out of you everyday of your life, right?" Lorelai asked with a teasing smile.

"Walk us out?" Rory asked ignoring her mother .

"Because you need double the protection," Lorelai said as Steph laughed and grabbed one more cookie before following them out of the room. "Hey, what time is your first class?"

"Oh, you know, soon," Rory said evasively.

Steph rolled her eyes as Lorelai groaned. "Uh oh."

"What?"

"You're not gonna rush to your first class and get there like an hour early, are you?"

"No," Rory said quickly as they gathered their things.

"You are!" Lorelai accused as Steph laughed.

"I am not!"

Lorelai turned to Steph who was munching on the cookie watching as they argued in the common room. "When Rory started elementary school, she told me the teacher wanted to meet all the parents at 6:30 in the morning, so here I am, a naive parent, getting out of bed and getting dressed up, taking Rory to school at 6:30 when half of Stars Hollows isn't up yet."

"Taylor was up," Rory defended.

"Taylor is a freak of nature," Lorelai said. "And when we got there," Lorelai began again to Stephanie, "The school wasn't open yet."

"Sounds like Taylor isn't the only freak," Steph teased causing Rory to glare.

"I did that once."

"No, you got away with it once. You tried it every - Lorelai looked around the room with a frown.

"What?" Rory asked putting her book bag over her shoulder as she and Steph got ready to leave.

"My mother was here."

"What?"

"My mother - she was here. I can feel it."

"Grandma hasn't been here," Rory said, then turned to Stephanie. "Has she?"

Steph shook her head. "I woke up early, we had no visitors."

"Smell that?"

"Smell what?" Rory asked.

"The room, it smells like guilt and Chanel no.5."

"Lorelai, you're going a bit crazy without your coffee," Steph teased. "Nobody's come in this room, except for Janet."

"Janet?"

"Our new roommate," Rory filled in, "Came last night."

Lorelai looked around the room again and pointed to the coffee table. "You put the coffee table like that?"

"No," Rory said slowly.

"Ha!"

"We have two other roommates, mom," Rory said. "One of them probably did it. Now come on, let's go get your coffee."

"You guys seriously don't smell that?"

"If you don't want me to be early, let's get that coffee you wanted," Rory said pushing Lorelai out of the door. Steph closed and locked it as they waked to the coffee carts.

"I'm telling you my mother was in there," Lorelai said pointing to the room.

"You're saying that Emily Gilmore snuck in our common room at four in the morning when we were all asleep just to rearrange our coffee table?" Steph asked.

"Anything is possible with Emily Gilmore," Lorelai pointed out as they reached the line to the coffee cart. "So what class are you going to run off to, once we get to the front of the line?" Lorelai asked.

"Japanese Fiction." Steph told her.

"You're taking it too?" Lorelai asked.

"Rory conned me and Tristan into it."

"Tristan?" Lorelai asked.

Rory rolled her eyes. "You should hear what Steph is making him take."

"What are you making your poor boyfriend take?" Lorelai asked.

"You know that scene in Ghost?" Steph asked.

"The pottery scene?!?" Lorelai asked causing Rory to sigh.

"Great, get her started," Rory muttered.

"I told you everyone would know what scene I meant when I said that," Steph said as they ordered their coffees.

"We watched it the other night, with Finn and Tristan, and she wouldn't shut up about that damn scene," Rory said as they went off to the side to wait for their coffees.

"Anyway," Steph said, "I've always wanted to take a pottery class, so when Rory read that there was a pottery making class, I decided to sign me and Tristan up."

"This is going to be disastrous," Lorelai laughed as they reached for the coffee.

"How much do we owe?" Rory asked pulling out her wallet.

"Actually," the man behind the counter said, "Those two guys already paid for you ladies."

"Oh, cute guys?" Lorelai asked turning and smiling.

"Definitely," Steph smiled as she thanked the man and went towards her boyfriend.

Rory smiled as she and her mom walked over to the two talking guys.

"'ello love," Finn smiled kissing Rory lightly.

"Hey, I thought you and Colin were getting everything ready for tomorrow."

"I left the yacht when I felt like throttling Colin. Logan's with him," Finn smiled, then looked up at Lorelai. "Hello Lorelai."

"Finn, how are you?"

"I'm good now that I've seen Rory."

"You are the sweetest boyfriend," Lorelai smiled as he wrapped an arm around Rory's waist. Lorelai took a sip and smiled at Tristan. "Hey Bible boy."

Tristan smirked. "Lorelai."

"I hear you got conned into a pottery class."

"I hear I get laid after the class, so I think it's a good deal."

Lorelai laughed and drank her coffee as she looked back at Rory. "I'll leave you with your friends then, babe."

"You've got to go?"

"Unfortunately I've got paperwork to look over for the inn that does not yet exist."

"You'll get to pick your wallpaper," Rory said with a smile.

"Let's hope so! I miss having the money rolling in."

"The money was never rolling in," Rory pointed out.

"Yes, but I liked to have the feeling that one day it would start to roll in," Lorelai pointed out at which Rory nodded in understanding. "Call me later?"

"Yep," Rory said as they kissed their cheeks.

"I'll be back with that matching beanbag chairs. See you guys later. Finn, have a good trip."

"Thanks, Lorelai," Finn smiled as she left with a wave.

"Ror, we'll see you in class?" Steph asked.

"Yep," Rory nodded as Stephanie and Tristan left her and Finn alone.

"So, tonight is my last night," Finn said as they started walking slowly towards her class.

Rory groaned and leaned her head on his chest as they walked. "Don't remind me."

Finn smiled kissing the top of her head. "Logan is having dinner with his family, and Colin has plans, so I was thinking we'd have dinner together."

Rory looked up at him. "What about your sister and dad? Won't they want to have dinner with you on your last night?"

Finn shook his head. "I asked dad if I could skip dinner to have it with you. He said it was fine, as long as I had lunch with him and Shelb. I'm meeting them at twelve at some restaurant in Hartford."

"You sure? I don't want to be pulling you from your family, Finn."

"I'm positive. Tonight it's me and you."

"Really?"

"Really," he said kissing her lightly. "Now I've got to get going."

"So you only came to pay for my coffee?" Rory teased.

"And walk you to your first class," he pointed at the door, where students were already filtering in. "Have fun, it's college."

Rory smiled as she got on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "That's the best advice I've gotten all day."

"Good. I'll pick you up at seven."

"I'll be ready," Rory promised, kissing him one last time.

"Have fun," he reminded her with a smirk. She turned and smiled at him before walking into her class and sitting next to Steph and Tristan at one end of the table.

"So..." Steph smiled.

"We're having dinner tonight."

"You are so going to miss him," Steph teased as a guy sat across from them.

"I am," Rory smiled, biting her lip. She looked up and saw a guy staring at her from across the table. He had curly brown hair and a cute 'I want to pinch your cheeks' face. He noticed her looking at him and looked down.

"What's the male version of a Mary?" Rory whispered to Tristan who smirked.

"I have no idea, I'll look it up," he laughed and looked over at the guy she was referring to. He nodded. He did have the Maryness to him. He laughed to himself, now why didn't he think of that when he was in high school?

"Thanks, Ror, you've got my boyfriend thinking," Steph said with a tired sigh.

"It's a nice improvement from all the other days," Rory laughed as Tristan glared.

"Not nice."

"We're nicer than usual," Steph laughed pinching his cheeks as he glared at her. Steph and Rory giggled as they got out their notebooks, just as the professor walked in. Oh yes, this year would definitely be lots of fun, Rory thought as she got out a pencil and began taking notes.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"All right. Well, we have pottery in an hour," Steph said causing Rory to laugh.

"Why is pottery so funny?" Tristan asked defensively, causing Rory to cover her mouth.

"No, I'm sorry, Trist, it's just..." Rory let another giggle escape, causing Tristan to glare. "I just can't help but to think how whipped you are."

"Shut up," Tristan said.

Steph giggled. "I love how defensive he gets."

"I'm not whipped," Tristan said.

"Oh honey, yes, you are," Steph laughed. Rory made a whipping noise, causing Steph to laugh harder.

"Thats it, I'm not going to this stupid pottery class."

"Yes, you are," Steph said. "I've had this clay fantasy since I saw Ghost and I will get my pottery scene with my boyfriend, so go upstairs and put on that ratty white t-shirt you have hidden in your drawer and the jeans with the holes in the knees and meet me here in ten minutes."

"Fine," Tristan gritted out, emitting another whipping noise from Rory.

"You know, since you've been hanging out with us, you act differently," Tristan accused as he started his way upstairs.

"I know and I love it," Rory laughed as she and Steph made their way to their room.

Reaching their dorm, they saw a red headed guy, carrying his books towards the stairs.

"Russian Economics sucks," he muttered to them as he rushed up the stairs.

"I'll make a note," Rory said with a frown as they opened the door to their room.

"Looks like the stress of college life is already getting to some people."

"And it's only shopping week," Rory said as they walked in, only to stop.

"Whoa," Steph muttered.

"What is all this?" Rory asked. "Paris!"

Paris came out of her room with a book and a highlighter. "What?"

"What is all this?"

"What?" Paris asked looking up.

"This- The furniture, the couch, the chairs, the rug."

Paris looked around with a frown. "I don't know, must've been here when I got back, didn't notice."

"You didn't notice the massive entertainment center in our common room?" Steph asked.

"I've been reading up on my classes, Stephanie. Not all of us have daddy's money to depend on," Paris snapped as she went back to her room.

Stephanie was about to go after her when Rory held her back. "Don't bother, Paris isn't worth it at the moment."

"Tell me when she is, so I can put the massive beat down on her ass."

Rory laughed. "I will," she said just as her cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"I was going to wait until you called me, but my life isn't as long as yours. Did you sit on the couch?"

"The couch?" Rory asked confused, then placing the voice as her grandmother's.

"I didn't want to get it too soft because I knew you would be studying there as well as watching television and you would need a little bit of support."

"You did this?"

"Of course I did it. My granddaughter's a Yalie now. She needs to live like a Yalie."

"But how? When?" Rory asked bewildered as Steph led her to the bedroom. Rory sat on the bed, throwing her bag behind her as Steph went through the closet.

"I snuck in yesterday when you were in classes just to measure to make sure everything would fit. Then I had to butter up your dippy freshman counselor so she'd let the movers in." She heard Emily sigh as Rory put her forehead in her hand, shaking her head. "Did you look in the entertainment center yet?"

"No," Rory said getting up and going over to it to open the door. "Oh my..."

"That's a plasma TV with a VCR and a DVD player. There's also a five-CD changer and a turntable , and the whole thing is wired in 5.1 surround sound. Now I have no idea what that all means, but the man who installed it said to get...Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. It's supposed to be amazing."

Rory shook her head. "Grandma, did you not notice the TV I had in my room? You know, the one I share with Stephanie."

"I didn't go into the bedrooms, Rory, that would be an invasion of privacy," Emily said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Rory opened her mouth and closed it again going back to her room as Steph changed her shirt. "Grandma, this is all really sweet of you, but I have roommates, you know? And this might make them uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable about what?" Emily asked.

"Well, um..." Rory thought about it as Steph waved at her.

"It's a common room... common..." Steph said.

"It's a common room, grandma," Rory started catching Stephanie's drift. "It is common to all of us."

"Mmphm," Emily hummed, not quite believing her.

"Four of us live here. There are four of us who live here together and the common room... it's what we all have in common?" Rory finished lamely as she looked at Steph who hit her forehead on her hand. Rory shrugged. "What the hell was I supposed to say?!" She whispered harshly.

Steph just shook her head and went back to her search of pants.

"Oh, just show them how to use the remote. I'm sure they'll be fine with everything."

"It's just... I worry that by you giving me all these things, it kind of makes it my room."

"Exactly."

"What?" Rory asked, not quite sure where her grandmother was going with this. She looked at Steph who was holding up a pair of her old Chilton pants. "Wear those to sleep," Rory whispered.

"Right," Steph said throwing them behind her shoulder.

"Never underestimate the value of the upper hand, Rory," Emily said getting Rory's attention again. "You are in the real world now. Status matters."

"But grand-"

"Your grandfather and I are very proud of you. Enjoy the furniture. We'll see you on Friday."

"Okay, see you Friday." She hung up the phone and looked at Steph who was waiting for her to talk. "My grandmother broke into our room and furnished it."

"Well, now we know it wasn't just your mother's coffee withdrawal that had her smelling Chanel," she said as she held up a pair of sweats."What about these?"

Rory laughed,"Yeah, those are fine."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Sorry I'm late, son," Ronald said patting his son's back.

"It's not a problem, dad."

"Where's Shelby."

"She, on the other hand, left five minutes after you didn't show up,"

"Got distracted?" Ronald asked with a smirk.

"Some blue sweater or some nonsense," Finn smirked back opening the menu.

"You pointed it out, didn't you?"

Finn shrugged. "Might have thought she'd like it. What can I say, I'm going to see her when I visit mum later in the month. Might as well just have some quality dad and son time."

"I didn't know you carried black nail polish with you, son."

Finn chuckled as he decided what he wanted and put his menu down. "So, what made you late?"

"Paperwork," Ronald sighed, putting down his menu and rubbing his eyes. "Too damn much of it, if you ask me."

"If only we could all get by with just putting on a glittery dress and some heels."

"The world would be absolutely perfect," Finn laughed and told the waiter his order as did Ronald. Ronald sighed. "So last night?"

"Yep," Finn nodded.

"You planning anything special for Rory?"

"I was thinking I'd take her out on the boat, have dinner. If only I could convince Logan of the idea."

"Logan isn't fond of your sheila?"

Finn shook his head. "Nope, he's not fond of her at all."

"Why?"

Finn shrugged. "I'm not quite sure."

Ronald noticed Finn tense at the mention of his best friend not liking his new girlfriend. He knew that even though Finn was used to the one night stands, he was looking forward to trying the long distance thing with Rory, and he knew Finn would love every moment of it. Hoping to change the subject, he took a drink of his water.

"How was Rory's first day?"

Finn grinned, causing Ronald to grin in return. "She called after her first class, she said she had lots of fun. She thinking of keeping Japanese Fiction."

"Who does she want to be?" Ronald asked.

"Journo," Finn replied causing Ronald to nod.

"The next Katie Couric?"

Finn laughed and shook his head. "Christiane Amanpour."

Ronald nodded. "Maybe that's why Logan doesn't like her."

"Why?" Finn asked, wanting any type of reason to explain his best friend's behavior.

"Maybe Logan thinks she's using you to get to him, to get into the world of reporting," Ronald said.

"But she's not," Finn replied just as the food came. They thanked the waiter and started eating. "She's not."

"I know she's not, Finn," Ronald said, defending his statement. "I've met her and I saw how she looks at you. She's damn near tripping over her feet falling in love with you." Ronald smirked as he watched his son blush. "And you're damn near tripping over yourself falling in love with her. I never had doubts about either of your intentions."

"Then why would Logan?" Finn asked.

Ronald shrugged. "Maybe he's jealous?"

"Of?"

Ronald sighed. "Son, I have no idea."

"Colin said something about me settling down."

"And what do you think about it?"

"I think he's a few beers short of a six pack."

Ronald laughed. "Or maybe he's got the right idea," he shrugged. "Logan sees you finding a good girl, not just looking for a quick fuck, and actually liking it."

"I do," Finn agreed.

"Maybe he wants it? Maybe he wants it with Rory?"

"He's got too much dislike for Rory to want to be with her, dad."

Ronald shrugged. "Well, keep that in mind. Now are you ready to go tomorrow?"

Finn nodded, taking a drink of his water. "Yes, we've got everything ready."

"Do you have first aid kits?"

Finn laughed and nodded. "We've got at least seven. We've got the two the boat comes with, and I got five yesterday when I shopped with Rory. We got the big ones."

"Oh really?" Ronald said. "And what went into the decisions of the big ones?"

Finn laughed. "Rory said that if I cracked my head open again, I'd be walking around Fiji with a pink bandage."

"Smart girl," Ronald said, liking Rory more and more by the minute.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"What the hell is your problem?" Colin asked as Logan kicked one of his suitcases onto the deck.

"Nothing," Logan shrugged going into the saloon. "Just... working out some aggression."

"Then get a blonde," Colin glared, causing Logan to turn and glare back at him.

"You're asking about my problem? What the hell with yours? You've been grumbling all day about me. What the hell did I do?"

"'You're going to Yale? We're taking this trip for a reason, Finn'," Colin mimicked.

"It's true, isn't it? We're taking this trip to get away from school, yet Finn is going back."

"Because it's his girlfriend's first day. You know, Rory."

Logan sighed knowing he was being an asshole. He sat on the round corner couch and ran a hand though his hair looking up at the dark ceiling. "Yeah, I know."

"What is it with you not liking Rory?" Colin asked sitting next to him.

"I just don't like her," Logan said.

"She's given you no reason to not like her, Logan."

"She given me no reason to like her either."

Colin glared. "She's the nicest, most genuine person I've gotten to meet, and she's perfect for Finn. She's level headed enough to keep Finn from going crazy, but she's up for new things which keeps Finn interested. She's not going anywhere, Logan."

"Yeah, I get that, Colin," Logan sighed. "But I have my own feelings about her, and I can't help it if I don't like her."

"Yeah, you can't, but you can at least act nicer to her. And to Finn when he talks about her."

"Why do I have to suffer when it's his girlfriend?"

"'Cause we've had to suffer through your blondes," Colin retorted.

"Boys?!" They heard Finn calling from the outside.

"Saloon!" Colin called back, before turning to Logan. "It'll make the year easier if you at least pretend, Logan."

"Yeah, whatever," Logan sighed as Finn stepped into the saloon. "How was lunch?" Logan asked.

"Good," Finn said sitting on the coffee table next to them so he was facing them. "Dad and I talked. Made me promise to visit my mum sometime during the trip."

Logan nodded. "We'll plan it out."

"Great, uh... Logan?" Finn asked running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah?" Logan asked looking at his friend.

"It's our last night..."

"Yes, it is, we leave at two tomorrow," Logan nodded.

"Right, and well... you two have plans tonight, and I was wondering if I could..."

"Spit it out, Finn," Logan grumbled, causing Finn to sigh.

"I was wondering if I could bring Rory onto the yacht and have dinner with her here?" Finn said quickly, averting his eyes.

Colin looked over at Logan who seemed to be in shock.

"What?" Logan asked, blinking.

"I thought I'd bring Rory to have dinner here. I won't take her into your rooms, if that's what you're worried about."

"No, not worried, Finn." Logan looked over at Colin who nodded slowly. "Yeah, sure, why not? This is your home too for the next year, you've got every right to bring your girlfriend on," Logan shrugged and picked up his bag. "I'm going to go unpack." He went towards the back of the boat and out of sight.

"He's pissed," Finn said moving to sit next to Colin.

"He's just not used to having to think about girlfriends, Finn."

"Yeah, maybe it'll take some more getting used to," Finn sighed. "I'm going to go grab my bags, unpack and shit."

"Yeah," Colin agreed as he watched Finn walk out of the saloon, leaving him alone. Oh, this would be a very interesting year.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Rory grabbed the phone off the nightstand and went into the now newly furnished common room and sat on the couch. Stephanie and Tristan had just left for their pottery class with the promise that when they returned Stephanie would help Rory get ready for her night with Finn.

So having the free time, with Paris off at her class and Janet off running, she called her mom. She didn't wait long for an answer.

"They burnt my fries, forgot to give me an extra side of barbecue sauce, the Jeep is still making funny noises and I have to spend my evening making elf ears for Aaron Thompson's Lord of the Rings party, because without an inn to run we have to make money somehow, which means catering little kids' birthday parties," Lorelai said all in one breath.

"Grandma broke into my dorm and redid the entire common room in twenty five thousand dollars worth of furniture and stereo equipment, and oh yeah, I get to say goodbye to my boyfriend of two weeks because he's decided to go to Fiji for a year with his best buddies."

"You win," Lorelai said leaning back on the couch, putting her feet up on the table.

"It's unbelievable, You should see this place. I feel like I'm at Uday's house."

"Okay, tell mommy the whole story."

"Me and Steph come home and all the normal college furniture was gone and all this stuff was in here. "

"What'd your roomates say about it?"

Rory sighed "Paris didn't even notice it and Janet was off running."

"Running?"

"She a jogger."

"Oh, 'nough said."

"So I don't know what Janet thinks, but I have to hope she's pleased 'cause that girl's in shape and can kick my butt."

"Well, just make sure there's something she likes on TV when she gets home. Something soothing to runners - like something that goes in a circle over and over."

"This is bad. I asked her why she got me all this if I had the TV in my and Steph's room. And you know what she said?"

"No, what'd she say?"

"She said that of course, she didn't go into my room, that's an invasion of privacy."

"No way!"

"Yeah! I think had you seen my face, you would have found it comical."

"I think anyone would have," Lorelai laughed.

"She didn't even ask. She got rid of everything that was in here. What if some of the furniture belonged to someone and they wanted it? I don't know what she was thinking."

"She was thinking, "Rory's life - mine. Must cover in chenille."

"I can't believe she did this," Rory said shaking her head.

"Oh yes, you can."

"Excuse me?"

"Well, Rory, come on, it's my mother. It's Emily Gilmore. This is what she does. You've seen her pull stunts like this on me for years."

"Yeah, but that was you," Rory pointed out.

"I told you when you borrowed that money from her that this is what you were getting into," Lorelai sang causing Rory to open her mouth in shock.

"I can't believe you're gloating."

"I'm not gloating, I'm just saying that when you sleep with dogs, you wake up with an entertainment center."

"Fine, "Rory huffed. "So what do I do?"

"Well, you could come out and say, "Grandma, this furniture is very nice. I appreciate the gesture, but this is a dorm room and I cannot guarantee that the other people will love it as much as I do, and I worry about expensive equipment getting stolen, and it's just too much right now.""

Rory mulled it over and nodded. "That sounds good."

"Okay good. And then my mother will say, 'Rory, your grandfather and I are paying for you to go to Yale. We are enabling you to have this rarefied education and you're being ungrateful and small-minded, and I resent it. I am hurt on a level you will not be able to understand until you yourself have a daughter or a granddaughter, with that nice Australian man Finn."

"Mom!"

"And that daughter or granddaughter will cut your heart out the way you've just cut mine out," Lorelai continued. "And I hope that small veneer of independence that you've extracted from this incident is worth the complete and total alienation of grandparents who have done nothing but loved you and thought of only you." Lorelai frowned. "My mom's disapproval sure is long winded, isn't it?"

"I could keep the furniture."

"Yes, you could," Lorelai nodded.

"This is just great," Rory huffed again, looking at the common room.

"Hon, seriously, if you feel so strongly, say something. I just want you to be prepared, that's all."

"Yeah, I know," Rory sighed.

"And take heart in knowing that when it comes to controlling a person, my mother targeted my soul, my independence and my entire future. At least with you, she threw in an ottoman."

"I guess. By the way, Steph apologizes for not believing in your seventh sense."

"Seventh? I thought my Emily sense was my sixth?"

"No, your sixth is your sense of snow."

"Oh, that's right," Lorelai paused as she heard Rory sigh. "So Finn's last night huh?"

"Yeah," Rory said sadly. "He's picking me up at seven for dinner."

"Oh, where?"

"He hasn't told me. He texted me about an hour ago saying 'wear something sexy', but other than that, nada."

"What a charmer that boy."

"I like him," Rory smiled, leaning her head back against the couch.

"You do. I'm glad, babe. Finn is a good guy."

"Really good guy. I'm going to miss him a lot, though."

"It's to be expected. I mean you guys have been dating for such a short time and now he's going away for a year."

"We'll get through it. It'll be hard, but we'll get through it in one piece."

"You have a lot of faith."

"It's not faith, mom," Rory corrected. "It's trust."

"And love."

"What?"

"Oh come on, Rory. You're falling all over yourself for him."

"I am not!"

"You so are! You should have seen yourself this morning when you found out he'd been the one to buy you coffee."

"It just means I have him well trained, not in love with him."

"Whether you want to admit it or not, you are and you'll notice that soon. I think this is going to be the one time you say those three words first and have them said back to you with meaning, babe. Because he loves you just as much."

"Finn's been a playboy all his life. He decides to settle down, it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to love me."

"Not technically, but in this case he does."

"Mom!"

"Don't believe me. I don't care, he's not my boyfriend. I'm just stating what I see. I see that you look at him in a way you never looked at Dean or Jess. I see you act in a way that you never acted with Dean or Jess and you're happy."

"I'm happy, but not in love," Rory murmured, starting to think it over.

Lorelai shrugged. "Whatever, you'll see it soon enough. I'm going to go now, get started on those elf ears. Talk to you later?"

"Yeah," Rory whispered as she said goodbye and hung up. Was she falling in love with Finn?

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"What about this?" Rory asked pulling out a pant outfit from the closet and showing it to Steph and Tristan who were sitting on Steph's bed, Steph helping her get dressed while Tristan grumbled.

"No! You need something sexy! Something that screams 'do me'!"

Rory blushed, causing Tristan to smirk. "I haven't seen you blush in a while."

Rory shot him a glare before turning to Steph. "I don't want something to scream 'do me'. I'm quite happy being a Mary for the time being, thank you."

"So you're not going to send him a farewell he's going to remember?" Steph said disappointed.

Rory laughed. "It's like I'm going to sleep with you, not Finn. And I'm not sleeping with Finn. Or you," Rory quickly amended.

"What I would do to see that," Tristan smirked, causing Rory and Steph to glare at him.

"Comments like that get you kicked out of my bed for a good while, Tristan," Steph smirked, causing Tristan to blanch.

"Keeping mouth shut."

"Whipped," Rory coughed, causing Steph to giggle.

"How 'bout this?" Steph asked, pulling out a dress. Rory turned and looked at the dress and smiled.

"Perfect!" Rory said standing up and touching the dress. "Where were you hiding this?"

"Back of the closet."

"Well, lucky for you I've got the perfect shoes for this," Rory smiled biting her lip. "Can I..."

"Remember the whole what's mine is yours, what's yours is mine."

"You guys are going to fight over that very soon," Tristan laughed.

"We're girls, Tristan, we don't fight about things that are that petty." She rolled her eyes and turned to Rory. "You go get showered, I'll get the outfit ready and I'll do your makeup and hair."

"All in an hour and a half?" Rory asked surprised.

"If you go take a shower now, yes!" Steph laughed pushing her out of the door, handing her a robe and towel before closing the door. Steph turned to her boyfriend who was highlighting a passage in the book, before going to the bed and jumping on his back.

"Oomph," Tristan groaned turning to look up at his girlfriend. "Yes?"

"Where's Finn taking Rory?"

"What do you care?" Tristan asked, grabbing her arms and pulling her from over him to under him in one swift move.

"Have I told you how much I love that you went to military school?"

"Every time you see my chest," Tristan smirked. "Now, why do you want to know?"

"And such a nice chest it is," Steph purred, running her fingers down the hem of her shirt, while running her tongue over her teeth.

"Nice try," Tristan smirked, causing Steph to pout. "Why do you want to know?"

"'Cause it goes into the decision of how to do Rory's hair. Up if it's outdoor, so that the wind won't blow her hair in her face and down if it's indoor. That way she looks pretty."

"Leave it down," Tristan said kissing her softly.

Steph hummed softly kissing him back. "Why?"

"Guys like it when their girlfriends leave their hair down."

"Oh really?" Steph smirked nipping his lips.

"Yes, really," he laughed.

"And why's that?"

"'Cause it lets us do this," Tristan said moving his hand to grip her loose hair, pull it back roughly exposing her neck, and moving down nipping the pale white column. Steph giggled.

"That is a hell of a reason," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck and letting him do what he wanted. It was the least he deserved for putting up with pottery.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Can I come back in now?" Tristan asked, knocking on the door.

"Why are you even here?" Paris asked, her arms crossed over her chest.

Tristan turned and stared at the blonde. "Uh... my girlfriend sleeps here," Tristan said pointing at the closed door behind him.

"And do you normally sleep where your girlfriend sleeps?" Paris asked with a glare.

"When I get laid, yes," Tristan smirked.

"You live upstairs, not here. We don't need you taking up space."

"Are you calling me fat, Geller? 'Cause you could stand to lose a few."

"Tristan!"

Tristan turned and saw his girlfriend glaring at him, Rory looking at him in shock.

"You don't say that to a girl," Steph said. "Even if she deserves it. Now go to your own room!"

"But you said..."

"I know what I said, but then you called Paris fat."

"She called me fat first!" Tristan yelled.

"Um... sorry to interrupt your foreplay," Rory said, "But my hair..."

Steph glared at him. "Get in here."

"You just said..."

"Tristan, get in here!" Steph shouted at him going back over to Rory. Tristan sighed before closing the door and lying on Steph's bed.

"Don't ever leave me out there alone with her again," Tristan told Steph who smiled.

"Rory had to change."

"I've seen her in a bikini," Tristan pointed out. "Underwear and a bra cover more than that damn bathing suit did."

"Are you playing protective big brother now?" Steph asked teasingly as she grabbed the curling iron and wrapped a strand of Rory's hair in it and held it.

"I'm just saying," Tristan said.

"Bikinis and underwear are different, Tris," Rory said.

"How?" Tristan asked.

Steph rolled her eyes. "Boys are so dumb sometimes."

Rory laughed as Steph let the strand uncurl lightly from the curling iron and fall down Rory's back before taking another strand of Rory's hair.

"So where's Finn taking me?" Rory asked. Tristan smirked.

"I can't tell you, you know that, Mar."

"Come on, I want to know if I should take a sweater."

"No," Tristan said. "I'm sure Finn will keep you warm," he smirked.

"You're fine," Steph said. "Finn would have told you."

"One thing that he did ask me to tell you is to take overnight clothes," Tristan said.

"What?"

Steph stopped and looked at Rory who seemed to be panicking. "Oh sweetie, I'm sure he didn't mean like that."

"What?" Tristan asked.

"But what if he expects..."

"He doesn't," Steph said fixing the last curl and starting on the makeup. "He knows you, Rory, he knows that you're not one of his many. He's not going to push you into anything."

"Oh," Tristan said.

"What oh?" Rory asked looking over at him, causing Steph to smudge the eyeliner.

"Dammit, Tristan, stop distracting her," Steph hissed at him as she grabbed her cream and wiped the smudge away. Grabbing Rory's face in between her thumb and forefinger she placed her in the right place before starting her work again.

"Mar, he doesn't want you to pack because he wants you to sleep with him. It's just a 'in case' thing. Steph has to pack whenever going out with me."

"But that's because you guys do sleep together."

Steph smirked. "There's that, but before I slept with Tristan, I still packed. When I go out with Colin, Logan and Finn, I still have to pack. It's just a precautionary, Rory."

Rory sighed and nodded. "All right."

"Now relax or your face is going to wrinkle," Steph ordered.

"How do you live with her?" Rory asked Tristan, who smirked. "She's so bossy."

Tristan smiled over at his girlfriend as she put eyeshadow on Rory. "I love her, it's enough for me."

"And I give him the best sex he's ever had," Steph said, smiling over her shoulder at Tristan and winking.

"That is probably the sweetest thing I've ever heard," Rory said with a laugh.

Half an hour later Rory was slipping on her heels as Steph packed an overnight bag for her. She didn't have classes till noon and that class only lasted an hour, giving her enough time to go to her class and then to bid farewell to Finn. Standing up, she went to her dresser and put on the necklace with Finn's class ring and let it fall leaving it hanging over the top of her dress.

"All right, how do I look?" Rory asked turning.

"Fabulous, Rory darling," Steph said with a fake English accent. "Finn will die."

Rory breathed in, excited for the night. They heard a knock on the door. Seeing that Rory wasn't going to move, Tristan got up and answered it. Opening the door, he smirked as he watched Finn fidget.

"Hey Finn."

Finn smiled up at him. "Hey DuGray, she ready?"

"Yeah, just finished. Come on in."

"You the doorman now?" Finn teased as he walked in. He was wearing black dress pants with his nicest black shoes. He had on a white shirt that was left untucked and the first two buttons were unbuttoned, his hair was slicked back instead of its usual disheveled self and his fingernails were clean of its black polish.

"You clean up nice, Rothschild," Tristan smirked.

"Thanks," Finn said, about to run his hand through his hair. He cursed softly and put his hand in his pocket. Tristan smirked. Just as Paris walked back out of her room, the door opened and another blonde walked in.

"Oh, cute boy," she said with a smile.

"Hands off," Paris glared. "He's Rory's boyfriend."

"I'm Janet. The new girl," she said sticking her hand out. Finn took it, shaking it.

"Finn, Rory's..."

"Boyfriend, I got it," Janet smiled. "Rory, your boy's here."

"Thanks, Janet, I'll be right out," Rory called as Steph walked out of the room

"I'm off for a run, I'll be back later," Janet winked at Finn before leaving the dorm.

Steph handed Finn the overnight bag. "She's freaking out," Steph told him.

"Why?" Finn asked, instantly worried.

"About the overnight thing."

"Oh," Finn said, this time giving into the temptation and running his hand through his hair. "I'll explain it to her when we get there."

"Where are you going?" Steph asked, wrapping her arms around Tristan.

"Like I'd tell you," Finn scoffed.

Paris sighed. "I should probably tell you that I'm not afraid to kick your ass if you even attempt to hurt Rory."

"Wow, an actual emotion other than anger from Paris Geller. Hell has indeed frozen over," Tristan said sarcastically.

"God, you guys are annoying," Rory said leaving the room and grabbing the clutch purse from the couch. "Ready?" She asked Finn.

Finn took a minute to take her in. She was in a strapless light pink dress that fell just above her knees, an inch of tulle covering her knees from sight. The layer above the dress was covered in an intricate design that caught his eye. A light pink sash was tied just above her waist. The dress hugged her in all the right places and added to her beauty with her curled hair and the smoky color that surrounded her bright blue eyes.

"You look wonderful, love," Finn said taking her hand and bringing her closer to kiss her softly.

"You don't look half bad yourself, Rothschild," she smiled.

"So I'm guessing that with blondies here and you two leaving that you haven't heard?"

"Heard about what?" Rory asked.

"First party of the year is on our floor," Steph smirked, then turned to Paris. "See, I'm informed."

"Really?" Rory asked. "When was this decided?"

"Since one girl said 'free keg'," Tristan smirked, causing Finn to laugh.

"Ah yes, back to school keggers, I remember them well."

"Technically, it's to celebrate the first week of first week of classes, but I'm anticipating the themes quickly degenerating to "hey, walking works -- let's drink. The important thing is that this party, the first party, is going to be on our floor. Our floor," Paris explained.

"Yes, you've made it clear that it's going to be on our floor," Rory laughed, as Finn hugged her tighter. "So what's your point?"

"I want to open our door."

Steph winced. "Come on, Paris, I just wanted to spend one night with my boyfriend in a room all alone. Who knows when I may have this chance again."

"Next week when you kick me out of the room," Rory laughed.

"Leaving our door open is a perfect opportunity to solidify our social standing at Yale, Stephanie. It'll virtually guarantee invitations to every other party thrown this year, and we'll get our faces in people's heads."

"If you want to 'solidify out social standings' and guarantee invitations to parties, have you thought about being nice to people?" Steph asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The socialization process of college is vitally important. The connections we make here can last a lifetime. They can alter the course of our future. That's how important it is to open our door!" Paris yelled.

Steph looked at her wide eyed. "Have you seen who we are, Paris? We already have connection ups the wazoo!"

Rory giggled. "Did you just say wazoo?"

"Shut it, Rory, not helping," Steph said glaring.

"Come on, Steph, what's the big deal? Just open the door. Knowing Geller, she'll get tired of people going through her stuff in twenty minutes and shut it," Tristan told her.

"Easy for you to say, it's not your dorm," Steph said looking at him.

"All the dorms upstairs are opening their doors too. Mine included. I'm just smart enough to lock my bedroom door."

"Tristan smart, that's an oxymoron," Paris laughed, causing him to glare.

"I'm trying to help you, Geller, so I'd play nice."

Steph sighed, then looked over at Rory and Finn who were listening to the conversation. "What are you two still doing here? It's Finn's last night! You're listening to this stupid conversation when you could be spending alone time together. Unlike us," she sighed.

"So we can open it?" Paris asked.

"We can open the damn door."

"Good, now I've thought about some wonderful themes for our roo-"

"No themes, Paris."

"But..."

"No themes or I'm closing the door."

"Fine, no themes. I can live with it."

Steph turned to Finn and Rory who were smiling at the scene and gave a frustrated sigh. "Will you two leave already!

"Fine, fine," Rory said as Finn bid goodbye to Tristan and led her out. She closed the door, just as Pairs tried to convince them to set a theme for the room. Finn led her to the parking lot where his SUV was waiting. Opening her door, he helped her up.

"So where are you taking me?" She asked before he closed the door.

"Not telling," he smirked as he threw her bag in the back and closed the door. He went around to the other side and got in.

"You're mean to me," Rory said as he closed his own door.

"Absolutely awful," he humored starting the car and leaving the Yale parking lot. Rory looked out the window as Finn drove. "We can come back, you know."

"What?" Rory asked turning to look at him.

"If you want to go to the party, we can have dinner, then come back."

Rory raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like a party person?"

"No," Finn said changing lanes.

"I don't want to go to the party, Finn. I could care less about the party. Plus you can rest assured that Steph and Tristan are going to drag me to parties, so that I can get out of the room and away from studying and experience college."

"That's good to hear, just be sure to stay away from Robert."

"Robert?"

"Annoying bugger, you'll know him if you meet him," Finn said making a turn towards the marina.

"I'll stay away," Rory laughed, looking at the window again and noticing the yachts that were docked. "Where are we?"

"The marina," Finn said parking and getting out, pocketing the keys. He went over and opened the door, took her hand and helped her out, before getting her bag and closing the doors and locking them. He held onto her hand and led her to the yacht.

"Freedom, who named it?"

"Logan. It's his dad's, but he got to name it," Finn said as he gripped her hand as he stepped on the gangplank leading to the yacht. He led her slowly up and helped her on, so she wouldn't lose her balance in her heels.

"Come on," he said to her, "I'll give you a tour."

The yacht had five rooms,or as Finn had said, cabins. Each with a full size bed, except for one that held twins. Those were on the lower level. then there was the living room, or main saloon, which was furnished in soft browns that mixed with the cherry paneling of the walls. It was well equipped with an entertainment system that would make any man cry at the wonders of it.

There was an outside patio that had half circle seating that surrounded a table. Finn said that it was mostly used for breakfast and lunch, then led her to the sun deck where another table was set, a chair on each side of the table. He told her that at night it was more romantic to use that table, especially out at sea when near the land, because everything was seen. She'd made a crack about how three boys had this romantic setting and wouldn't be able to use it most of the time.

Rory noticed that he was like a kid at Christmas as he showed her around, proudly showing her the rooms as if they were his new toys.

"Let me go drop off your bag in my room and we'll start dinner, all right?"

Rory nodded and watched him go down the stairs to where he had told her the rooms were. She stayed in the saloon and sat on the couch looking around.

She could definitely see Finn living on the yacht for a year, having a blast and just looking for the next adventure. She on the other hand would probably go stiff crazy. Probably read a book after book, then keep asking if they were there yet to pass the time. And seeing as Logan already hated her, she doubted that would get her on his good side.

Finn came back up and smiled taking her and and bringing her up to stand.

"Come on, I'll show you the dining room." She bit her lip as he led her out of the saloon, and towards another room. He opened the door and let her walk in. She sucked in her breath.

"Like it?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist

"Wow," she murmured, putting her hands on his as they rested on her stomach. The dining room was medium in size, but it didn't take away its beauty. It had a shelf with the crystal plates and glasses, then a table in the center. The table was set for two, with two candles lighted, a rose sitting at the center. Finn moved away and dimmed the lights slightly.

He walked over to her chair and took out her seat, she sat and he pushed it in. "I'm going to let the cook know we're ready."

"The coo-" She stopped noticing that Finn was already out of the room. She shook her head. This was supposed to be his goodbye night, yet he was making it a night she wouldn't forget.

He came back with Colin trailing after him. She bit her lip as she noticed Colin was dressed up in a tux, with a bow tie. Finn sat down with a smirk.

"Cider?" Colin asked politely.

"Yes please," Rory smiled. He poured her the apple cider, then filled Finn's glass. "So, Colin, how much is Finn paying you to serve us food?"

"What are you talking about, paying?" Finn asked. "Colin is doing this out of the kindness of his heart."

Rory raised an eyebrow and looked at Colin. "How much?"

"Like Finn said, kindness of my heart."

Rory scoffed. "How much, Colin?"

"A guy can't do something nice for his two friends?"

"I know from Steph that you had a date tonight, how much?" Rory asked as Finn squirmed.

Colin coughed the amount, causing Rory to frown, then to look at a squirming Finn. "How much?"

"Three..." Colin coughed again, causing Finn to stand up and push him out.

"Bring out the food, Colin."

Rory smiled at Finn. "You shelled out three thousand dollars for Colin to serve us food?"

"It was worth it," Finn smiled as he sat down again.

Rory shook her head and took a sip of her cider as Colin came back in and set down the plates of fillet mignon and Portobello mushrooms before turning to Finn.

"Is my job done or do you really need help with dessert?"

Finn was about to respond when Rory cut him off. "You can go, Colin."

He looked at Finn who sighed and nodded.

"Great. See you guys tomorrow," Colin said as he walked away.

"He still needed to bring out dessert," Finn said.

"I'm sure you can manage that, Finn," Rory told him, looking down at her dinner. "This looks really good."

"I'm glad," he said. They ate in a comfortable silence, keeping the topic light.

"My grandmother broke into my room."

"She did not?!" Finn laughed.

"I'm serious. Did you not see the new things in the common room?"

"I thought Steph and you had gone shopping," Finn said with a shrug. "What happened?" Rory then explained to him the highlights of her day and how Emily Gilmore did a makeover on their common room resting her hand near her plate. Finn covered it with his, running his thumb over her knuckles. Neither noticed that he had done it, or that Rory curled her fingers over his hand.

They switched topics to what Finn planned to do after the trip.

"Though my dad isn't pushing me into the hotel business, I want to try it out, see what it's all about, so my dad's arranged for me to run a fairly new hotel in Rome. It'll sink or swim, depending on what I do."

"Really? That's a lot of responsibility."

Finn nodded. "Yeah, it is, but I'm hoping that if I do good, I'll like it enough to maybe do that after I graduate. But I want to do it this summer. I'll be right off my trip from Fiji and restarting Yale after that. So I want to at least experience it this summer."

"It'll be different if it's next," Rory said, understanding what he meant.

Finn nodded. "Very. My dad's doing negotiations with the owners now for him to own it by the start of June. He'll keep it from going under until I get there mid-June. Then it's my job to do what's necessary to keep the hotel afloat."

"It doesn't scare you? That if you do bad, you might not be cut out for it?"

Finn shook his head. "Not at all. I'm grateful that my dad is giving me this opportunity. And I love the fact that I'm choosing to do it, and not being forced into it, like Logan'll be later on in his life. I get to decide now if I like the job or not."

"Your dad is cool."

"The coolest," Finn agreed as they ate the rest of their meal in comfortable silence, Finn's thumb still running along her knuckles.

"That was so good," Rory said pushing her plate away and taking a sip of her apple cider.

"It was," Finn nodded. "Do you want dessert here?"

Rory shrugged. "Do you want to eat it somewhere else?"

Finn nodded as he took her hand and led her out of the dining room and outside. "Are you cold?"

Rory shook her head. "I'm fine."

"I'll be right back then." He left her outside, going towards the kitchen. Rory leaned against the railing, looking down onto the water splashing against the yacht. They'd stayed docked, for that she was grateful. She wasn't sure if she got seasick and she wasn't willing to find out. But looking out into the vast sea, she faintly saw the lights of New Haven and had to love the view.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning she saw Finn holding two glasses filled with chocolate mousse in one hand. He gave one to her and she smiled.

"Mmm, chocolate," she said putting the spoon in her mouth.

"Thought you'd like it," he said as he leaned against the railing, his back to the view. "Steph said you were freaking out about the bag," he said looking at her.

Rory frowned. "The bag?"

"The overnight bag."

"Ohh," she blushed. "Just a little," she admitted.

"Nothing is going to happen, love, not unless you want it too."

Rory smiled at him. "I know, and it's not that I don't want to. I'm just not ready."

"I know and I respect that. And I'm not expecting you to jump into bed with me, just because it's my last night."

"Then the overnight bag?"

Finn smirked. "It's a rule."

"A rule?"

"You never know what we might do, it's best to pack an overnight bag. Steph always packs an overnight bag."

"So when going out, always pack?"

Finn nodded. "It's safer that way."

Rory smiled as she finished her mousse. "So is it safe to say that I'm sleeping here tonight?"

Finn smiled into his mousse, before he took the final spoonful. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, that's nice. I just wish you could have told me beforehand, instead of having me freak out."

Finn smiled. "I'll tell you next time, how about that?"

"Sounds good," Rory smiled as he took her glass and set it on the table.

"Come on, there's still something we have to do."

"What, before we get to sleep?" She teased.

Finn smiled at her before taking her back inside, going into the saloon, then to the stairs that led to the bedrooms. "Whoa, where are we going?"

"My room," he told her as he started descending the stairs.

"For?"

"The surprise. We're also sleeping down there, I'm not sleeping on the couches."

Rory bit her lip before letting him pull her down the stairs. She noticed the carpeted floors and three doors, then the hall that turned left, which she assumed led to the other two rooms.

"This one is mine," he told her taking her to the first door near the stairs. He stopped in front of it. "Close your eyes."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"I don't have a blindfold handy," he teased. "Now close your eyes."

Rory sighed and did as he said. "This is a big step in our relationship, I don't close my eyes for every guy I meet, you know."

She heard Finn laugh. "Well, I'm glad you trust me." He opened the door. "No peeking."

"I promise," she said covering her eyes with her hand as well. She felt him get behind her and put his hands on her hips as he walked her into the room. He stopped her and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"You can open them now," he whispered into her ear, causing a shiver to work its way up her spine. Taking her hand down, and opening her eyes she gasped.

He had set little mini candles all over the surface of the room, the lights were off the only source they had were the flickers of all the mini candles.

"This is amazing."

"Not done yet," he whispered. He walked over to the built in desk in the corner of the room and opened the laptop sitting on the top. She watched as he moved the mouse, waking up the screen then pressing a few buttons. Slow music filled the air. She laughed recognizing the song, "Voyage to Atlantis" by the Isley Brothers.

Rory laughed as he walked over to her, putting his hands on her hips. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer as they danced slowly.

Can I go on my way without you

whoa... how can I know

if I go on my way without you

whoa... where would I go

set sail with me

misty lady, set my spirit free

new love to find

and though I leave another behind

"This is an unbelievably corny song," Rory laughed, pulling back to look up at him.

Finn smiled back down at her, kissing her lightly. "I don't download corny songs for just anybody though."

"I'm glad," she whispered, laying her head back down on his chest.

I'll always (come back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

She's my lady, now and ever

Whoa...how can I know

Can we go all the way together

whoa... let it be so

So we'll say our last goodbye

And we'll make it this time

Hey... ho.. set sail with me

to a paradise beyond the sea

Rory felt tears make their way down her cheeks. Though the song was so unbelievably corny and she could just imagine Finn sitting at the computer listening to all the songs that contained the words 'come back to you' and had some reference to the sea, she couldn't help but feel a sense of truth to the song.

He was leaving her and she wasn't going to see him for a year. She'd only hear his voice, over the phone, and she knew from the conversations they'd had when he'd been at the Vineyard and she in Stars Hollow that it wasn't the same as having him holding her hand and smiling at her when they talked.

"Don't cry, love," he whispered holding her tighter. "We still have eighteen hours left."

She gave a slight nod, biting her lip.

Atlantis (is back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

Atlantis (is back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

Atlantis (is back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

Atlantis (is back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

Atlantis (is back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

I'll always (come back to you)

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hey, having a good time? I'm Paris Geller, suite five. It's open. It's got a candle - perfect for some deep conversation. Prepare two to five subjects to discuss so that the conversation doesn't lag and totally ruin the vibe. Party on!" She walked over to Steph who was talking with a brown haired man with a frown. "So I did a survey of all the rooms," she said cutting the guy off mid-sentence. "And by far, ours is the best."

"Great," Steph said, trying to return to her conversation with Robert.

"Three is too cluttered and four has developed a weird smell."

"Uh huh," Steph nodded as Robert gave Paris an annoyed look.

"Two was a contender for awhile until I started telling everyone that the girl who lives there was wait listed. You know, I'm gonna get out there and mingle, this is a great party."

Steph looked at her as she walked away, then back to Robert. "I'm sorry, Robert, without Rory here I have no way to shut her up."

"Yeah," Robert said with a roll of his eyes.

Steph refrained from hitting the guy. She'd never liked Robert, but he was a friend of Colin's and a member of the Life and Death Brigade, a secret Yale society that privileged students of Yale were inducted into. Steph was one of the new members this year. Without Colin, Finn and Logan to lead them, Robert had taken the role, much to her dismay.

"As I was saying, induction will begin towards September with our first stunt. There are three others on the list."

"Tristan?" Steph asked. She was going to join the LDB either way, but it would make it easier to go on trips if Tristan was going with her, and she didn't have to lie to him. She hated lying to him and refrained from doing it unless it was for his own good.

"He's on the list as well, he is a DuGray, Stephanie."

"Of course," she said with a roll of her eyes.

"And of course Lorelai Gilmore."

Steph frowned. "Rory?"

Robert shrugged. "The list read Lorelai."

Steph sighed, knowing that with this being Rory's first year, she was going to focus more on the academic part of school than the extracurricular. And without Finn there, she'd have no representative there for her. Steph and Tristan knew half of the members of the LDB solely because they'd grown up in that environment, and Colin had taken her to one of the events when she'd been visiting Yale during her senior year and she'd gotten to meet the other half. But Rory wouldn't know anyone and it would be uncomfortable.

"Don't induct her yet."

"What?" Robert asked surprised.

"Rory," She shook her head. "Lorelai, don't induct her yet. Wait until next year."

"Who are you to give me orders, McCrea?"

"I'm Colin's cousin, Robert, so drop the attitude. Don't induct Rory just yet. She didn't grow up in our world and doesn't know the first thing about the LDB. When the time is right, she'll be inducted, but not now."

Robert glared at her. "I have to talk this over with the elders. She's a Gilmore, Steph, she's supposed to be inducted freshman year."

"I understand that," Steph winced, Rory was the great-grandchild of one of the founders. It was her right along with Steph's and Tristan's to be inducted this year. "And as the great-grandchild of the McCrea founder, I'm telling you not to ask her this year."

"You're not a member yet, Stephanie, just remember that," Robert huffed before turning and walking away.

Steph stared at him, before feeling hands wrap around her waist. She leaned against Tristan's chest and let out a breath, relaxing against him.

"Roberts an ass, babe, don't let him get to you."

"I'm not, just..." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I so do not want to be at this stupid party anymore."

"Then kick everyone out. It's your room," Tristan told her.

"Yeah, but Paris is having fun, and who am I to ruin her dreams of being popular with this crowd?" She said waving her hand to the drunks that were filtering into the common room.

"You're the nicest, hottest girl that I've ever gotten to date."

"Hmm, well, you are privileged, it's only fair that you get the best," Steph teased, leaning up and kissing his chin, before taking a drink of her blue plastic cup that was filled with the cheapest beer she'd ever tasted. LDB parties were so much better than this. Hell, sub parties were better than this and that only consisted of ten to fifteen rich kids, and a bottle of stolen scotch.

"Okay! Everybody out!" Steph turned to see Paris storming into the room kicking people out of the dorm. "This room is closed! Take your gross beer," Paris yelled pointing towards the keg in the middle of the room, "and your inane conversations somewhere else. MOVE!"

"What the hell?" Tristan muttered as everyone filtered out. As the last person left the room, Paris slammed the door closed and glared.

"Paris sweetie, you okay?" Steph asked, looking at her.

"If campus police come, tell them the bastards deserved it," Paris defended as she stormed into her room and slammed the door.

Steph looked at Tristan who sighed. "I'll go see what happened."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Do you want to change?" Finn asked as he stopped the song.

"Yeah," Rory nodded, walking over to her duffel bag and pulling out the pajamas Steph had packed for her.

"I'll go change in the bathroom," Finn said pulling out a pair of sweats from his dresser. "Leave you here."

Rory bit her lip, looking at the pajamas Steph had packed for her. It consisted of short shorts and a tank top, the shorts being the one less revealing. "Um, Finn."

"Yes, love?"

She stopped and turned to him. "Could you help me with my zipper?" She pulled her hair up and moved it to one side, giving him a glimpse of her bare upper back. She heard Finn walk over and his fingers move down the path of her spine, before settling on the zipper and pulling it down slowly, his thumb tracing the trail of pale skin as he bared it. He pulled it all the way down, then hugged her back to him, kissing her neck.

"You're a tease, love."

"Hmm," she smiled before turning her head to kiss him, holding the dress up. "Only with you." He nodded, pulling her closer to kiss her better, only to have her pull back. "One more thing before I change."

"What, do you want me to help you take the blasted dress off?" Finn smirked. "Because I'm very good at that."

"I have no doubt that you are," Rory laughed. "But I was actually wondering if you had some pants I could borrow."

"Pants? Didn't Steph pack you some clothes to sleep in?"

Rory eyed them, causing Finn to look over at where she was looking. He groaned as he saw the short shorts, putting his forehead on her bare shoulder. "Stephanie is trying to kill me."

Rory laughed. "Probably."

Finn pulled back, trying to keep his eyes away from her bare back and crossed over to his dresser pulling out a pair of sweats and throwing them on the bed. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said leaving the room, causing Rory to smile at his discomfort.

It felt rather empowering to know that she could cause that type of reaction from Finn. She'd never gotten the sense of having womanly wiles with Dean or Jess. And with Finn it felt like she was the sexiest girl he'd ever laid eyes on. Shaking her head from her thoughts, she quickly changed, folded her dress carefully, and draped it on top of her duffel bag.

Looking around the room, she noticed that it looked like any average room. It had a king size bed, with dark green covers and two built in night stands on either end. There was a closet on her right with a dresser across from it, which she assumed was bolted to the wall, so that the movement of the boat wouldn't topple it over.

In front of her was a built in desk, with a black swivel chair, Finn's computer sitting open with the screensaver running. She bit her lip before sitting at his chair and watching the slideshow run. It was pictures of the summer. Picture of Tristan and Steph, her and Finn, along with picture of all of them. She noticed that there weren't many of Logan though.

Moving the mouse, she noticed that his music program was open. She scanned the titles. 'Yeah Yeah Yeahs' to 'The Scissor Sisters' were one his music list. He had random artists like the oldies groups 'Cinderella' and 'Poison', but also 'Red Hot ChilIi Peppers', but he mostly stuck with the indie bands. Rory smiled at his eclectic taste. Lane would love him for his music, she thought as she minimized the program and got on the Internet.

She smiled over the fact that his homepage was Google. Feeling curiosity get the best of her, she typed his name into the search bar. not surprised when there were pages upon pages of results. Clicking on the Wikipedia result, she bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"What are you looking at, love?"

Rory turned to see Finn closing the door to his room, wearing his sweats and nothing more. She restrained the blush, having seen him bare-chested numerous times over the summer.

"I Wikipedia'd you, Eugene."

"Oh lord, does it really have my middle name in there?" Finn asked. Rory moved off the chair so that Finn could sit down. She was about to stand next to him, when he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her down to sit on his lap. She arranged herself so that she sat across him, her feet hanging off the arm rest, her arms around his neck as he scooted in and took over the computer.

"'Finnegan 'Finn' Eugene Rothschild was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Ronald and Roberta who are now divorced. He is the second child following Amelia Jay Rothschild, and is followed by Shelby Isabella Rothschild," he read. "Finn is currently attending Yale... blah blah blah."

Rory chuckled as he went back to the search engine. "What are you going to look up?"

"Well, you looked me up, now I'm going to look you up."

"Oh come on, I'm not on Wikipedia, who would want to know about me?"

"The Gilmore obsessers of the world of course," Finn smirked as he typed in her name. Rory watched as Wikipedia did in fact come up with results on her name. Finn clicked on and started reading the blurb about her along with an old family picture of her, her mother and grandparents in the corner "'Born on October 8th 1984 in Hartford Connecticut Rory Gilmore is the only daughter of Lorelai Gilmore and the first born daughter of Christopher Hayden and the first granddaughter of Emily and Richard Gilmore. She attended Chilton Academy, graduating valedictorian and is now attending Yale, her grandfather's alma mater."

"Oh god, how do they know all that?"

"You've got stalkers, love," Finn teased. Moving the mouse to the edit, Rory watched amused.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm editing this, love."

"Oh?"

Finn began to type and Rory laughed as she read it out loud. "'Rory is currently dating sexy Australian god, Finn Rothschild."

He then went back to his own, clicked the edit button and typed on the bottom of his.'Finn Rothschild is currently dating sexy Stars Hollow princess Rory Gilmore.'

"You're crazy."

"Only for you."

"And cheesy."

"But a good cheesy."

"A very good cheesy," she agreed, laying her head back on his shoulder. Finn stroked her arm as he leaned back in the chair looking down at her, her eyes fighting to stay open. He fought with himself before asking quietly.

"Why haven't you asked me to stay?" Her eyes opened slowly, before her blue ones met his green.

"What?" She asked, keeping the quiet of the conversation.

"Why haven't you asked me to stay?"

She moved her hand to stroke his soft cheek and smiled. "Because I know you would."

"Rory-" he started, before she cut him off.

"No, hear me out. We both have little doubts about this long distance thing, but we're both willing to try it and looking forward to the experience. How selfish would it be if I asked you to stay for me. Because I doubted our relationship that much."

"I could always take the trip next year."

"But not with Colin and Logan," she told him. "It's too late for late registration and I know that you don't want to do the hotel job until this summer and either way that's in Europe so you'd have to leave either way. So tell me, what would you do?"

"I could enroll for next term."

Rory sighed. "If it's what you really really want to do, deep in your heart, you want to stay and go to school, then go ahead. I'm not going to stop you, but just make sure it's really what you want to do. Not because of me, but because of you. Because who knows when you'll get to experience Fiji with your best friends again."

Finn sighed, leaning his forehead against hers. "You're too damn wise for your own good."

"Personally I would love to see you everyday, but I know that you have to take this trip and that you've been looking forward to it since you, Logan and Colin came up with the idea. So who am I to stop you?"

"My girlfriend," Finn murmured.

"Yep, girlfriend, not wife," she laughed. "I really have no say over your free will, Finn, just like you have no say in mine."

"You have a tiny say," Finn said putting his forefinger and thumb close together.

"Hmm, I guess you have a tiny say in mine too," she said mimicking the motion.

"You're a good girlfriend, love," Finn sighed resting his cheek on her head.

"And you're a good boyfriend."

"The best?"

"Mhm, the very best," she said snuggling closer to him.

"There's a way for you to see me everyday, you know."

"I'm not going to Fiji with you, Finn."

"Now there's an idea, but no." He moved the mouse on the laptop, and reached behind it to bring out a small black object that connected to the computer, if clipped.

"What is that?"

"A webcam," Finn said, closing the Internet and opening another program. She watched as he fixed the camera so that they both showed up on the screen clearly. She moved her hand and watched the screen mimic.

"It came with a headset. It's meant for video conversations." He leaned down under his desk and came back with a box and gave it to her "It's not the same, but it'll help."

Rory looked at the box before putting it on the desk, grabbing his face and kissing him. "It's perfect," she whispered before kissing him again.

Finn groaned as his hand found the curls of her hair, gripped and pull back to change the angle of the kiss. His hand flung out and found the top of the laptop, closing it, before picking Rory up and laying her down on the bed.

"I'm not sleeping with you, Finn," she whispered, running her hands through his hair.

"I know, love, but there's so much we can do in the fourteen hours we have left."

Rory smiled. "Shut up, Finn, and kiss me."

"Mmm and demanding, I like it," Finn murmured against her lips, before kissing her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Steph rolled over, groaning. "Did you hear something?"

Tristan groaned, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You're tired, and you know that when you're tired, you hear things. Go to sleep."

"I heard something, Tris," Steph insisted, moving his arm away and putting on her pajama pants and tank top. She grabbed Rory's robe from the hook and pulled it on.

"Are you seriously going out there?" Tristan asked, rubbing his eyes and leaning up on his elbows.

"I heard something, Tristan," Stephanie said leaving the room, only to hear Tristan sigh and follow her. Putting on his sweats he reached the door before her and opened it. Steph walked out, only to gasp. "Oh my god."

"That's a naked guy," Tristan pointed out.

"Thank you, obvious boy," Steph said walking over to him, Tristan behind her. "How do I wake him up?"

"I don't know. I don't have experience in waking naked guys up. Hey, I know, we can have sex in the hall and your screams can wake him up."

Steph glared at him. "That was so inappropriate for this time of night," Steph told him. She lightly pushed him with her foot. "Hey, naked guy, wake up."

The guy groaned and looked up. "Hi."

"Hi," Steph said as Tristan nodded.

"I'm on the floor."

"You were sleeping, man," Tristan said.

"I have no clothes on."

"No, you don't," Steph said.

"I'm in the floor, I have no clothes on, and you're a girl, so I must be..."

"On the wrong floor," Tristan finished.

"Oh boy."

"Where's your room?" Steph asked.

"I think up. Are we on the first floor?"

"Yes," Steph nodded.

"Then up. Any idea how long I've been here?"

"No," Steph shook her head.

"So you have no idea how many people have walked by while I..."

"Sorry, man," Tristan said. "Steph woke up when she heard a noise. We just came out here to see what it was."

"Great. Now for the rest of my time at Yale, I'm gonna be 'the naked guy'."

"I'm sorry," Steph said. "If it makes you feel better, Tristan's referred to as 'military boy'."

"Steph!" Tristan glared.

"Just trying to make him feel better," Steph muttered.

"You know what's really great?" The guy said, bringing their attention back to him. "Tomorrow, when the 'naked guy' nickname starts spreading around campus like wildfire, I'm gonna be in my third hour of throwing up."

"Well, it's been really quiet out here for a while now." Tristan said with shrug. "So there's a chance that no one but us saw you."

"Oh yeah?"

"And we promise not to say anything," Steph said crossing her fingers behind her back. She was soooo telling Rory.

"And if there's a chance that you could refrain from, you know, being naked again in the wrong hallway at the next party," Tristan said "Then there's a chance you might get a completely different nickname, like, 'the never naked guy."

"You two are very kind," he said starting to get up.

"Whoa, hold on there, cowboy," Steph said turning around as Tristan did as well. Steph took off Rory's robe and handed it to him. "Here, you can borrow this, it's my roommate's."

"Thanks," he muttered. She heard the rustling of him putting on the robe. "I'm good." They turned back around to see him in the short blue robe. Tristan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

"Weren't you two in my Japanese Fiction class today? You were sitting with a brunette."

"Rory," Tristan said. "She's the owner of the robe."

"Thought so. I'm Marty."

"Stephanie, and my boyfriend Tristan."

"I won't remember that tomorrow. So I should probably try and find my room. And my pants, 'cause that's where I kept my keys."

"So pants first?" Steph asked.

"Right, pants first," Marty muttered walking towards the stairs

"Wait, you're Marty?" Tristan asked. "Martian Rodgers?"

Marty turned and nodded. "Yeah."

"You're one of my roommates," Tristan said. "I'll go get you the key, we'll put out a search and rescue party for your pants tomorrow." Tristan laughed as he went back to Steph's dorm room to get his key.

Marty nodded, leaning against the railing.

"She has a boyfriend," Steph said.

"What?" Marty asked surprised looking up.

"Rory, we saw you staring at her today in class. In case you were interested in her, she has a boyfriend."

"Oh, I wasn't, I'm sorry," he said caught off guard, just as Tristan came back. Tristan handed him the key. "Thanks."

"Welcome," Tristan nodded.

Marty started climbing up the stairs with a shake of his head. "Yep, I'm officially stupider than my brother. I never thought that would happen."

Tristan reached for Stephanie's hand and took her back to the dorm room, closing the door and making sure it was locked.

"He likes her," Stephanie whispered as they walked back to the room.

Tristan frowned. "What?"

"Marty, he likes Rory."

"Who doesn't?" Tristan laughed as he fell back on the bed and brought Stephanie down with him. He wrapped his arm around her waist and covered them up.

"No, Tristan, I mean romantically."

Tristan scoffed. "Come on, Steph, the guy stared at her in class. It doesn't necessarily mean he likes her like that. It means he might be a bit stalkerish."

"Tristan!" Steph laughed hitting his arm.

"But doesn't mean he likes her. Now go to sleep, we've got an early class."

"Fine," Steph sighed, closing her eyes. "But I still think he likes her."

"Sleep now," Tristan ordered.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Turn it off," Rory groaned, as the piercing sound of the cell phone echoed around the room. Finn reached over and threw the phone across the room. It hit the wall, then muffled as it landed in Rory's clothes.

He pulled Rory closer, causing her to rub her cheek against his chest, her fingers running down his side lightly, before pushing him away. "I have to go."

"No, no, you don't," he said pulling her closer and covering their heads with the covers. "It wasn't your phone that woke you up, it was the bell outside announcing a new boat. Happens every night."

"Look at you, playing Romeo," Rory laughed. "'Twasn't the lark, twas the nightingale.' Never took you for a Shakespeare fan."

"Stay and you'll find just what I'm a fan of."

"You wish," she laughed, pushing him off her and getting out of bed before Finn could pull her back in. She grabbed her jeans and shirt from her bag and went to the adjoining bathroom to change.

Finn laid back in bed, resting his head on his arm and staring at the white ceiling. He couldn't believe that he was actually leaving Rory for a year. He had no doubt that their relationship would survive. They clicked like he hadn't clicked with any girl before. He never knew what it meant to have chemistry with a person, until he had kissed Rory, then fully understood the chemical reaction bubbling in his belly that gave him the feeling of floating.

God, Rory was right, he was cheesy. But when their lips met, he literally saw the fireworks everyone talked about. Hell, she made him hard with just a look and he'd never had that happen to him ever.

"I'll be back before two," he heard her say. He looked up to see her walk, well, hop out putting on her Converse.

"Skip class and stay with me," Finn said. He'd also never pleaded with a girl he had yet to sleep with, or ever, to stay with him.

"I wish I could," she said putting the borrowed sweats on the edge of the bed. "But I have to go to this class."

He nodded as she grabbed the box with the camera and put it in her bag. He got out of bed and went over to his laptop, sitting down and opening the CD drive as she went back to the bathroom. He took out the burned disc he'd been playing when they'd danced, grabbed a sharpie from his drawer and quickly wrote a title on it. He bent down, sticking the CD between her clothes so it wouldn't break, then zipped the bag back up.

"Oh shoot," he heard Rory say as she came back out from the bathroom, pulling her hair into a ponytail.

"What?" Finn asked.

"How do I get back to school? You drove here and you can't leave," Rory told him. He'd told her last night that he, Colin and Logan still had some last minute things to do on the boat and he was in charge of staying on the marina.

"Guess you can't," Finn smirked.

"Finn," Rory warned.

"Kidding, love." He walked over to his dresser, got the keys to his car and handed them to her. "Take my car."

"You're kidding?"

"Nope, I'm not leaving the marina until we set sail. Logan and Colin are bringing what we need. So you take the car, won't do me any good in Fiji anyway."

"You sure?"

"Positive," he said placing the key in her hand. "Now go before I keep you here."

Rory grabbed her bag before kissing Finn. "I'll see you in a few hours, okay?"

"I'll keep the anchor down until you arrive."

Rory laughed as she kissed him one last time before leaving the room. She climbed up the stairs, smiling and jingling the keys in her hand as she came to the main saloon.

"Hi."

She looked up to see Logan at the bar with a bottle of scotch in his hand. "Oh, hi," Rory greeted politely.

He put the bottle down on the shelf behind him, before coming around the bar to stand a few feet in front of her. "What are you still doing here?"

Rory raised an eyebrow. "I had dinner with my boyfriend."

"And you slept here?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah, I slept in Finn's room."

Logan smirked. "Giving Finn a goodbye to remember, huh?"

Rory opened her mouth before closing it, forming her thoughts and shaking her head. "I'm not like one of those blondes you hang out with, Logan. I don't open my legs for any guy that happens to take an interest in me."

Logan glared. "You have no right to criticize the girls I go out with."

"You're right, I don't," Rory agreed. "But I do have a right to defend myself and next time it won't be verbally."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Finn tried going back to sleep, but with the scent of Rory's shampoo on his pillows and an annoying buzzing from the corner of the room he couldn't will himself to sleep. With a sigh, he pulled himself up and went towards the buzzing, tracking it down to the corner of his room, near his desk where there was a pile of clothes he'd worn last night. Moving the clothes, he found Rory's cell phone, lighting up, buzzing and ringing some girly tune, then going quiet.

He picked it up and left the room hoping to catch Rory before she left. He reached the stairs, when he heard voices up above. Climbing them slowly, he reached the top and found Logan and Rory talking. He hid behind the wall listening.

"Yeah, I slept in Finn's room."

He could hear the smirk in Logan's tone when he said. "Giving Finn a goodbye to remember, huh?"

"I'm not like one of those blondes you hang out with, Logan. I don't open my legs for any guy that happens to take an interest in me," Rory told him offended.

"You have no right to criticize the girls I go out with."

"You're right, I don't," Rory agreed. "But I do have a right to defend myself, and next time, it won't be verbally."

"Are you threatening me, Gilmore?"

"Offend me again and we'll find out." Rory shook her head. "I have no idea what I did to make you hate me, Logan, and I have the feeling that neither do you. So when you get a clue, call and tell me, so I can stop."

"Hopefully, this trip'll knock some sense into Finn," Logan muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rory asked, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at him.

Finn took that moment to interrupt, having heard enough. "Rory, love?"

Rory turned. "Finn?"

Finn stepped closer to her. "You forgot your phone. It's been ringing."

"Oh." She walked closer to him. As she took the phone, he wrapped his arms around her waist and brought her closer. "Some would think that you left your phone down there on purpose."

"Maybe," she said. "I really have to go," she whispered.

"I know," he whispered back.

She bit her lip, before looking up at him, resting her hands on his chest. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to be sorry for what he said."

Rory shook her head. "He's just looking out for you."

"I'm old enough to look after myself," Finn said, just as her phone began to ring again. She looked down and answered, still in Finn's arms.

"Hey Steph... Really? That's great! ...of course it's awful that his grandmother died, Steph, I'm not that insensitive... Yeah, I'll go pick Lane up, she wanted to say goodbye to Colin... Yep... see you later... bye." She hung up and looked back up at him. "My class got canceled, the teacher's grandmother passed away."

"Then you can stay a while longer?" Finn asked.

Rory looked over her shoulder where Logan was stocking the bar muttering to himself. "I'd better not. I'm going to go to Stars Hollow for a while. Lane wanted to come down and I told her I'd pick her up if I had time and now..."

"You have time," Finn nodded. "All right."

"I will see you later though." She leaned up to kiss him, prepared to pull back, but Finn, having other plans, held her in place, kissing her deep and hard. She knew in the back of her mind that he was proving a silent point to Logan, but not willing to push him away, she pulled him closer. He pulled back and rested his forehead on hers.

"Still not going to stay?"

"No!" She laughed. "Bye."

"Bye," Finn smirked as she left. He made sure she was gone before turning to Logan, who had his arms crossed over his chest. Finn mimicked the pose. "If you say, or do, or I hear that you've said something about Rory that was offensive in any way, Logan, I will pull out of this trip."

"Finn..." Logan started.

"No." Finn said shaking his head. "She's my girlfriend, Logan. Just like I've accepted your many bedmates, learn to accept Rory. She's here to stay, and if you're not happy about it, tell me now and I'll pack my things and get off the yacht."

Logan's jaw ticked, before nodding. "Fine."

"Fine what?" Finn asked confused. "Fine as in 'I accept her', or fine as in 'I'll throw your bags off myself'?"

"Fine, I accept her," Logan muttered.

"Good," Finn nodded. "Now I'm going to go watch my girlfriend figure out how to drive my car," Finn nodded as he left the room, leaving an upset Logan behind.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Rory sat in Finn's car, putting the key in the ignition and making sure she knew where everything was before backing up carefully. She did not want to break his car. She looked in the rear view mirror to see Finn leaning against the railing smirking, before turning and going back inside.

Pulling onto the freeway she thought about what she'd heard Finn tell Logan. That if Logan said anything bad about her, he'd come back. With one remark, Finn was willing to almost break a friendship that he'd had for years for her. And she didn't know how to feel about it. She knew she would never break off ties with her friends for a guy.

Lane always came before boyfriends and always would, same now with Steph, Tristan and Colin. Though she had the luck that they were her boyfriend's best friends and they liked her, and Lane had given best friend approval of Finn, she didn't have to worry about it. But Logan, he was the odd ball.

Logan had decided not to like her for some unfathomable reason. And with him not liking her, Finn was willing to ditch one of his best friends for bad mouthing her. And truth be told, she wasn't quite sure how to feel about it.

Turning on the Stars Hollow exit, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind and parked the car in front of Luke's where she was sure her mother would be for breakfast and hopefully Lane. Grabbing her phone, she got out of the car and jogged across the street, locking the doors behind her and walking into Luke's.

"Morning Rory," Luke greeted as she walked in.

"Morning Luke," Rory smiled. "My mom here?"

"She ran to the costume store, something about elf ears."

"What about Lane?"

"Haven't seen her," Luke said. 'Take a table. I'll grab you and Lorelai breakfast."

"You're being really nice... Why?"

"No reason," Luke said going into the kitchen, just as Lorelai walked in with her bags.

"Hey kiddo, what are you doing here? I thought you had a class."

"I did, but the teacher's grandmother died and it got canceled."

"So why aren't you spending more time with Finn?" Lorelai asked sitting down. "I'd think you would, being his last few hours and all."

"He's going to Fiji, mom, not the electric chair. And Logan showed up."

"Oh, what was that like?" Lorelai asked intrigued.

"Well, there were some words shared."

"Like?"

"Like if he ever insulted me again, I'd hit him."

"What'd he say?"

"He implied that I slept with Finn. I told him that I wasn't like the girls he dated and then the threatening came in. And then Finn broke it up before I followed through."

"Aw, sweets, that sucks."

"Yeah," Rory shrugged as she took out her cell phone.

"So tell me about last night, what'd you two do?"

"I was actually about to call Lane, so she could come over and I could share with her too."

"I'd do it now, while Luke's distracted," Lorelai said as Rory dialed the number.

"Hello?" Lane answered quietly.

"Lane?" Rory whispered.

"Oh, thank god it's you."

"What's wrong?"

"My mom has been getting calls from the Seventh-day Adventist college all morning."

"Why?" Rory asked.

"I wore a bracelet. They saw, now they're talking about the proper action to take... save me."

"We're at Luke's. I was about to tell mom about my date, come over. And bring those CDs for Colin, I'm taking you to New Haven with me."

"Oh thank you, thank you. I'll be there in two minutes, maybe even less." Rory laughed as she hung up.

"She's coming."

"She's going to New Haven with you?"

Rory nodded, pocketing the phone. "She wanted to give Colin some CDs. Apparently they talked when he came with Finn last week, and they had the same taste in music, and she promised to let him borrow some that he might like. I told her that if I had time, I'd come pick her up before they left."

"Aww, she likes him."

"I think so too," Rory said. "I bet that by the end of the year, she and Colin are together."

"I give it a month," Lorelai said with a laugh as Lane came in, carrying a stack of CD's.

"All right, I'm here and I'm not going back home until late night, when my mom is too tired to lecture me."

"Mama Kim too tired to lecture you?" Lorelai asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Good point, can I never go home?"

"You can stay with me until it blows over," Lorelai laughed, then turned to Rory who was smiling. "Now on to the date!"

"Okay, well..." Rory began, giving them the details of the date, starting with dinner and Colin wearing the tux and serving them dinner, to her and Finn slow dancing in his room, the entire thing about the camera and how Finn had told her that she would be able to see him near every day with it, to waking up and Finn playing Romeo.

"Oh my god! That is sooo sweet!" Lane cooed. "And the Isley Brothers, corny, but got to say he's got taste in romantic cheesy songs."

Rory laughed. "I told him that, then ended up crying."

"Aw, my baby loves her guy."

"I don't love Finn," Rory laughed. "I just really, really, really like him."

"And you're really, really, really going to miss him," Lorelai told her, rubbing her hands as Rory looked at the table. She watched Rory nod slowly, before realizing her daughter was crying. "Aww sweets, I didn't mean to make you cry," Lorelai teased as she and Lane scooted closer. Lane rubbed her back smiling, as Lorelai hugged her. "You two are going to be fine."

"I know," Rory nodded. "I know, doesn't stop me from missing him though."

"I've never seen you like this for a guy. Not when Dean left for two weeks for his grandmother's house, and not when Jess left," Lane said.

Rory shrugged. knowing that what Lane said was true. She'd never acted like this with her other boyfriends. She'd never cried over them when they left her for a few weeks. She'd never felt that sinking feeling deep in her stomach, of knowing that she was going to have to watch them leave. Yet with Finn, she was dreading it. She was dreading having to watch him leave from the marina and not being able to go with him or have him stay with her. She dreaded not being in contact with him for a year.

Though she knew it was going to work, both she and Finn had invested so much in their relationship as of late to let it just drop. And they were both looking forward to trying the long distance relationship thing, she couldn't help but feel the sadness and not being able to touch him, hold his hand, kiss him. God, not kissing him for a year was going to be the hardest, she thought, wiping her eyes.

"You okay now?" Lorelai asked.

Rory nodded. "I'm fine. Now where is Luke with our food?"

"Have you noticed him acting weird?" Lorelai asked.

Rory nodded. "He offered to grab us breakfast and he has yet to come with it. That was almost half an hour ago."

Lorelai shrugged as she stood and looked for the diner owner. "Oh Luke!" She sang as she went behind the counter.

Lane smiled then turned back to Rory. "So whose car?"

"What?"

"The big black gas guzzler, whose is it?"

"Finn's," Rory laughed. "He's staying at the marina until they leave, and I had no way to get back to school, so he told me to take his car."

"That is a very cool car," Lane said.

"Isn't it?" Rory laughed as she looked at the CDs Lane had brought with her. Five minutes later, Lorelai came back with Luke carrying food at tow. He set it down in front of them and got them coffee, then went back to helping his customers.

"Where was he?"" Rory asked.

"Just outside," Lorelai said as she looked over at Luke, then back to her daughter.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hey guys!" Steph greeted as she and Tristan stepped on the yacht.

"Colin is out buying some last minute things with Logan, it's just me, love," Finn said as he stood up from plugging in the entertainment system. "What are you two doing here?"

"Came to say bye," Tristan said as he scanned the titles of the games they were taking with them to keep them entertained.

"I know that," Finn laughed. "But you two are an hour and a half early. Rory's coming in about half an hour with Lane."

"Lane?" Steph laughed as she sat on the couch.

"We have our theory that she and Colin might have a thing," Finn smirked as he sat next to her, Tristan still looking at the games and movies.

"He had a date last night," Steph pointed out.

"Came back early." Finn told her. "Said he wasn't interested."

"Are you serious?" Tristan asked taking a seat.

Finn nodded. "Said it was the most boring date he'd been on. Something about her not knowing who The Sparks were," Finn smirked. "He's starting to compare the girls."

"That's hilarious," Steph laughed.

"Another one of us settling down. I think that'd probably kill Logan," Tristan said, causing Steph to nod in agreement.

"I heard him and Rory arguing today," Finn muttered. Steph and Tristan turned to him.

"About what?" Steph asked.

"Rory slept here last night. And before you ask, nothing happened. We made out, that's about the extent of how far things went between us last night, and we slept. She left this morning rushing to her class and she ran into Logan. Logan assumed that she had slept with me in the biblical way and Rory defended herself, and things just got out of hand. I stepped in before Rory slapped Logan, but I think had I not, it would have gone that far."

"Jeez, Logan really does not like her, does he?" Tristan asked, surprised by his friend's actions. Logan had never shown any hostility towards Steph when he had settled down with her. But then again, Stephanie was Colin's cousin and they'd all known each other since they'd been kids growing up.

But then, he'd also never shown any hostility towards any of the girls Finn and Colin went out with. Even if they weren't girlfriends, Logan had always been welcoming to new girls. What caught him most was that while Logan was all for new adventures, he didn't support the one Finn was taking.

Sure, it wasn't necessarily a treasure hunt for the LDB that led to them jumping off something dangerous, but Finn had never had a girlfriend, and now with Rory, he was willing to go to Fiji and not even think of touching another girl because of her. And that was probably the biggest risk and adventure any guy Finn's age could take.

"I just want to figure out why," Finn sighed. "And what I can do to get Logan to think differently. Or what Rory can do. I feel bad that she has to go through it."

"It'll be fine, Finn. Maybe during your trip Logan will realize just how serious you are about Rory and let it go."

Finn nodded. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed, love."

"Hey!" Colin greeted, coming into the main saloon. "What are you two doing here?"

"God, we can't say bye to our three best friends?" Steph asked standing up and kissing his cheek.

"Finn, your girlfriend's here," Logan grumbled coming in after Colin. "And she brought her friend."

Colin smiled as he went back outside.

Finn smirked. "I give it an hour," he laughed before walking outside to greet Rory. He got off the yacht following Colin as Rory and Lane shut the doors to his car and walked over to him.

"Hey, you made it," Colin smiled at Lane.

"Um... yeah," she blushed looking down and tucking hair behind her ear. "Rory told me she had some free time and that I could lend you those CDs."

"Oh right," Colin nodded.

"Um... Lane,." Rory said. "The CDs are in the car."

"Right, I'll get them," Lane said as she opened the car door, and leaned down to get the stack of CD's she was going to loan to Colin. Finn smiled at Rory as he took her hand to bring her closer. Lane closed the door and handed Colin half the stack as she held on to the other half.

"Why don't we take these to my room? I'll look through them in case I have some of these already."

"Oh, all right," Lane nodded.

"Come on, I'll show you the way," Colin laughed as he led her to the yacht.

"Oh my god, I'm going into a boy's room," Lane whispered to Rory, who laughed as she watched her best friend follow Colin.

Lane followed Colin into the main saloon, where three other people were sitting. One she knew from Rory's description when she went to Chilton. The others she could only guess who they were.

"Lane, I don't think you've met everybody."

"I know Tristan," Lane said. "He came to Stars Hollow once."

Tristan frowned. "Wasn't aware you saw me."

Lane laughed as she readjusted the CDs in her arm. "Trust me, everyone was talking about the rich blonde guy that dropped the flour in Doose's market. And the fact that Dean walked around town for a good twenty minutes to calm down."

Tristan laughed. "Good to know I riled him up."

Lane laughed. "And I'm guessing you're Steph, the new best friend."

"Oh god, no, I'm just... a Yale buddy. Not replacing you I swear. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. I'm going to have to talk to Rory about that. You so had dibs on her first."

"Steph, she was kidding," Colin laughed.

"Oh. Well, you still have dibs."

"Good to know," Lane laughed. "And don't worry about it, I know Rory's happy to have a friend at Yale. Sucks I can't be there with her though."

"She misses you too," Steph smiled.

Lane smiled back, then turned to the blonde guy, looking bored. "And you must be Logan."

"Rory's talked about me?" Logan asked surprised.

"Not really," Lane shrugged, siding with her friend on Logan being an ass. "Um, Colin, the CDs?"

"Right," Colin said. "I'm taking Lane to my room, just call me when we're ready," he told Logan as he led Lane to the stairs that led to the room. Once they disappeared, Steph smiled.

"I like her."

"I don't," Logan muttered.

"That's only because she doesn't like you," Steph told him, before looking at smirking Tristan.

"Colin so likes her," Tristan said with a laugh.

Logan shook his head and looked out the window to see Rory and Finn climbing the stairs to the upper deck. He just wanted to leave, dammit.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"It's so pretty out here," Rory whispered as they sat at the half circular patio table, under the cover, looking out at the ocean and the view of New Haven.

"Mhm," Finn said as he sat down next to her and pulled her to his side, kissing the top of her head. "Imagine it, at night, in the middle of the ocean, just you and the stars and the moon."

"Aw, I'm dating a poet. Never dated one of those," Rory teased, kissing him lightly. He pulled back and laughed.

"I'm excited."

"I'm glad," Rory said, leaning against his side once more and putting her feet up, tucking them underneath her.

"Not worried?"

"Should I be?" She asked looking up at him. He looked back down at her and hugged her, burying his face in her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought him closer.

"You have nothing to worry about," he whispered. "Nothing. I may be leaving for a year, but nothing will change."

Rory bit her lip to keep from crying. "I know."

He looked at her before kissing her lightly. Rory put her hands on either side of his face, caressing his cheeks as he kissed her softly. "Tell me to stay," he whispered.

He knew he was contradicting himself. but the more he thought about, the less he liked the idea of not being able to kiss her for a year, not being able to hold her. Not being able to just touch her cheek and have her smile up at him. In the month that they'd been dating, they'd reached the point to where he didn't think he could go the year without seeing her face to face.

"I wish I could," she whispered to him. "I wish I could tell you to stay, and get to see you everyday, but like I told you last night, you know I won't."

He laid his head on her shoulder. He was so lucky to have her trust him enough to let him go to Fiji for the year. He felt her run her fingers through his hair, resting her head on his shoulder as she held him. God, how he wished she was selfish. How he wished she would beg him to stay, telling him she couldn't go a year without him. And though he knew that all that was probably going through her at the moment, the urge to ask him, she never would.

He turned his head and kissed her neck softly, mumbling against her neck the three words that he never thought he would say to a girl. Luckily for him, she didn't hear them, or if she did, she didn't say anything.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Lane was sitting on the floor of Colin's room as he went through his stacks of CDs. She had to admit, for a rich guy he had good taste. He knew all of her obscure bands that not even Dave had known about, and Dave had been one of the biggest audiophiles she'd known. But Colin had him beat.

"Oh, this one!" Colin said, taking a CD from his rack.

"'TV on the Radio," Lane laughed, handing it back to him. "Downloaded and hidden under a floorboard."

"You're killing me here, Lane," Colin laughed, putting it back.

"Face it, Colin, anything you have, I've had for ages."

"Sinatra live in concert."

"Korean bootleg," Lane told him.

Colin sighed as he sat down next to her. "Years of me buying obscure CDs to impress the ladies and I meet the one that has them all."

Lane smiled shyly and shrugged. "I like music."

"Definitely nothing wrong with that," Colin smiled at her, then at the stack of CDs she'd brought him that he didn't have. "I'll send these back to you when Finn sends Rory a box."

"Oh, it's no problem," Lane said. "Keep them as long as you want."

"No, they're your CDs. I just want to upload them to my computer, then I'll send them back. I'll make sure of it."

Lane smiled. She'd never met a guy like him. He dressed like a rich kid and somewhat acted like an uptight jerk, like Rory had described him, but when she had talked to him in Stars Hollow, and how he'd apologized for the breakup that wasn't even his fault, and talking to him now, she couldn't help to see what Rory saw in him.

He was a total audiophile. She didn't think anyone other than his friends knew just how extensive his knowledge of bands and music was in general, the fact that his room on the yacht was covered with CDs and the fact that a lot of his DVDs that he had in boxes that he had yet to unpack were all of different bands in concerts.

"How many people know of your closet love of music?" Lane asked, looking at him.

Colin shrugged. "Probably just close friends. Finn, Logan, Tristan, Steph and Rory. And, well, now you." He turned to her. "What about you? How many know of your floorboard habits?"

Lane laughed. "Everyone except my parents, and I'm keeping it that way for as long as I can."

"Really?"

"All of Stars Hollow are co-conspirators in my floorboard plans. Once, me and Rory devised a plan for me to get a CD that I ordered. And we involved Michel and Kirk."

"The concierge and the weird guy that was working at the beauty store?"

"Yeah. Michel refuses to take part in anything that involves us anymore after that. Saying we're evil children."

"Your town is really weird."

"That's 'cause you haven't lived there. I could easily say that Hartford society is weird."

"It is," Colin agreed. "Trust me, society isn't as fun as you think it is."

"Never thought it was fun," Lane laughed. "But at least you've got good friends."

"Yeah, I guess," Colin said, still smiling at her.

She was so different. Definitely not the normal girl he usually went out with. He knew that with Lane he could talk to her about any band and she'd know it. Or if she didn't, she wouldn't shrug off his excitement, she'd be just as excited as he was. He liked it.

Taking a risk, he leaned in and kissed her softly.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Steph watched as Logan looked at his watch for the umpteenth time that hour. Looking at her own, she noticed they had five minutes until the guys left.

"Logan?" Steph called, getting his attention.

"You guys need to leave," Logan said looking at her.

"I want to talk to you before you break up what going on upstairs and down." Steph said, getting out of Tristan's embrace and walking over to the bar where Logan was leaning.

"What do you want, Steph?" Logan asked irritated.

"Leave the guys alone," Steph said. "Don't push them to do things that they don't want to do."

"What are you babbling about?" Logan asked.

"She's saying that if Colin and Finn don't want to partake in whatever plan comes into your head, don't push them to do it," Tristan said, looking over at his friend.

"They'd willingly join anyway," Logan said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Maybe you haven't noticed lately," Steph said, "But you're the only bachelor on this yacht."

"What are you talking about? Last I checked, Finn was the only one with a girlfriend."

Steph scoffed. "Trust me, by the time we get off this boat, Colin will be so far gone that it won't take him long to commit to Lane."

"You're kidding, right?"

Tristan smirked. "Rory told us that they hit it off when Colin went to Stars Hollow."

Logan frowned, not even knowing that Colin had even stepped foot in the small town.

"Yeah, Colin lowered his standards and went with Finn two weeks ago. He talked to Lane and they've been talking ever since. He was the one that invited her to come today. Not Rory, Colin," Steph said. "So leave Colin alone. And the same with Finn. Just because they're not single anymore doesn't mean they're not the same guys that you've known all your life."

Logan checked his watch. "It's time to go," he muttered before going towards the stairs that led to the bedrooms. He pushed what Steph had said to the back of his mind before opening Colin's door. He watched Colin pull back from Lane and glare at Logan.

"Jeez, knock!" Colin said before standing up and going to the door. Logan blinked. Was Colin doing what Logan thought he was doing. "What do you want?"

"Time to go," Logan muttered before turning and going back up the the main saloon. He saw Steph with her arms crossed over his chest, a gloating smile crossing her lips.

"They were kissing, weren't they?"

"Shut up, Steph," Logan said as he went out the saloon and up the stairs to the top deck. He saw Finn and Rory kissing at the table. Coughing, Finn pulled away and looked over his shoulder.

"What?"

"It's two," Logan told him before turning and walking back down, Steph's words surfacing to his mind.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Colin watched Logan go back upstairs. He shook his head before closing his door and turned to see Lane looking at him wide eyed.

"You..."

Colin smirked. "I..." He prompted.

"You kissed me."

"I believe I did," Colin nodded.

"...Wha... Why?"

Colin shrugged. "'Cause I wanted to. And I like you."

"You... like... me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I'm a small town Korean girl who wears glasses, goes to Seventh-day Adventist college and hides her music and band t-shirts in her closet and floorboards. And you're..."

"I'm..." Colin smirked.

"You're so far out of my league."

"I really don't think so."

"But..."

"Lane, I just wanted to kiss you," Colin said, leaning against his door. "Just to see what it felt like I guess."

"And?"

"And I liked it," Colin shrugged. "I'm not asking for a relationship. I mean I'm leaving in a few minutes, and you're here, and..."

"It wouldn't work," Lane whispered.

"Not saying that. I'm just saying, why rush into it?" He shrugged before walking over to his desk and grabbing a piece of paper. He wrote something down and handed it to her. "That's my number and my e-mail if you ever want to talk," he said. "I have a good cell plan, so you won't get charged a lot for calling. And well... e-mail, the modern world's miracle."

Lane smiled. "Maybe we should head up."

Colin nodded, not quite sure what to make of the response, but led her out of the room and back upstairs.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Finn watched as Logan's back disappeared down the stairs, before turning and kissing Rory again. "Not too late to beg me to stay."

"Get off," she laughed pushing him away.

"I would you know."

She looked at him and shook her head. "I'm not asking."

"You could."

"Finn!" She laughed. "If I asked you, Logan would hate me more."

"He doesn't..." Finn looked at Rory's raised eyebrow and sighed. "I hate this."

"It's not your fault he doesn't like me, Finn. It's just Logan's prerogative. I can't change it and why should I? He obviously has it set in his head that I'm the devil incarnate."

"Ah, but you're anything but," he whispered, kissing her softly.

"Come on, let's go down."

"My pleasure," he leered before Rory pushed him towards the end of the booth, her following after him. They walked down the stairs and met in the saloon, just as Lane and Colin came in too.

"So I guess this is goodbye," Steph said biting her lip before going to Colin and hugging him. "Please, don't do anything stupid. I may hate you, but you're still family."

Colin smiled and hugged his cousin. "Love you too and I promise."

"Call me if you ever need a wire," Steph said. "I'll have the money there in no time."

Colin laughed. "I think you should be talking to Finn about that. He's the one that usually gets us arrested."

"Once!" Finn said. "I did that once!"

"And boy, do I want to hear that," Rory laughed before going over to Colin as Steph let go and hugging him. "So what's the consensus?"

"I'll let Lane tell you," Colin whispered back.

Rory smiled and kissed his cheek. "Take care of him?"

"Promise," Colin nodded as Steph hugged Logan and Tristan and Lane said goodbye to Finn.

"Do you think you could talk to..."

"I'll try, but he's got it in him, Rory. I just don't know how to change his mind."

"Thanks, Colin."

"It's not a problem," he said hugging her again. "You're good for Finn and Logan's an idiot for not seeing it."

Rory squeezed her eyes shut as she pulled away and smiled, opening her eyes again. "You're a really, really good friend, Colin."

"Same goes to you, Rory."

She looked over at Logan and they gave each other a nod, knowing it wasn't any use pretending with their group, everyone knowing how they felt about the other.

Rory watched as Lane walked over to Colin and whispered to him, and Steph and Tristan went back to Logan, leaving Finn alone. Walking over to him she grabbed his hand, he looked down and led her out of the saloon, just outside the door so they could have a bit more privacy.

Leaning against the railing, he brought her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. She titled her head up as he leaned down and kissed her making sure it was different from the ones they had shared up on the top deck which had been sweet and light.

He moved one of his hands up her back, running his fingers through her hair, letting the silky coffee strands glide though his fingers. He licked her bottom lip knowing that she would open her mouth and grant him the access that he craved. She nodded, one more kiss. Just one more, for him to remember before he left.

Rory held on to him for dear life as he kissed her. He knew that not only was he trying to remember the kiss, but he was giving her something to remember too. Taking advantage of it, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling back and hugging him, biting her lip to keep from crying. He hugged her back desperately, tightening his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck.

"Tell me not to go," he mumbled against her neck. "Please, god, give me a reason not to go."

She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, a million reasons popping up in her mind.

I'll miss you too much.

I need you.

I need to see your smile everyday.

I need to feel your hand in mine.

I need to feel your lips against mine.

I need you to hold me.

I'll miss you too much.

She pulled back and dug around in her jean pocket until she produced a chain.

"What is it?" Finn whispered.

"Proof for all the Fiji sluts that you have a girlfriend," she said with a watery smile as she slipped the chain around his neck. "This is my class ring. I dug it out from my jewelry box this morning."

Finn smiled, playing with the smaller, more delicate ring. The band was so much thinner than his was, it was simple and silver, with her class year on the bottom of the band and her birthstone sitting at the center.

"My name's on the inside. It just says 'Rory', my full name didn't fit."

"It's perfect," Finn said, hugging her again.

"As cute as this is..."

Finn looked up and saw Logan standing near the door. "I know, Logan."

Logan shook his head before going back inside as Stephanie, Tristan and Lane came out, followed by Colin. They left the yacht, walking them to the car.

Rory handed Finn the keys to his car, but Finn gave them back.

"No, Steph is going to give us a ride back to Stars Hollow," Rory said trying to give the keys back.

"Use the car, love," Finn said.

"What?"

"Like I told you this morning, it's just going to stay here until I come back," he shrugged. "I'll be happier knowing that it's being used and not just sitting here rusting."

"I don't feel right driving your car. What if I get pulled over or something?"

"Don't worry about it. I'll call my dad, tell him everything and he'll make sure that if you do, it's not going to cause problems. You won't get arrested for Grand Theft Auto, and if you do, my dad has good lawyers, trust me," he teased.

"Finn," Rory sighed.

"Take it. I'm not going to argue with you right now about something so silly," he told her firmly, putting the keys in her hand. "If you don't want to use it, then at least do me the favor of taking it to Yale and parking it with your car."

Rory sighed and nodded. "Okay."

"Okay, now hug and kiss me goodbye and tell me you're going to miss me and my sexy body," Finn said, trying to lighten the mood.

Rory smiled weakly as she hugged him and kissed him lightly. "I am going to miss you, you know that. As for your body... it's not all that great."

"I know you're lying for the sake of not being distraught, so I'll let it slide," he said, kissing her one last time, before letting her go.

"Ready?" Colin asked, backing away from the group.

"Not really," Finn muttered, running a hand through his hair and following Colin back to the the yacht. Rory bit her lip as she leaned against the car. Steph and Lane went over to her and wrapped an arm around either of her shoulders, hugging her as she cried.

Finn climbed onto the yacht and watched as Steph and Lane circled around Rory. He knew she was crying. He knew she'd been trying hard not to cry when they'd been up talking on the top deck. He could tell by the way her lip quivered and how she bit her lip and closed her eyes shut, hiding her face in his neck so he couldn't tell.

"Those are some damn good ladies we're leaving" Colin said as he felt the yacht lurch into motion.

Finn squeezed his own eyes shut as Colin patted his shoulder. "Yeah," he choked out.

"It's hard, isn't it?"

"Feels like my heart's ripping out, mate. Not a very fun feeling."

Colin nodded getting the drift as they started out of the marina. They'd hired a captain to take them to Fiji, then they'd pay to fly him back out to the States and travel themselves. They were risk-takers, but they weren't that willing to get lost at sea.

Logan walked up to them and leaned against the railing, watching the marina fade. "Well, looks like we're starting on our year of fun."

Finn looked over at Logan with a shake of his head, before pushing off the railing. "I'll be in my room," he muttered. "Call me when we get to Fiji."

Colin smirked. Fiji was two weeks away. Knowing Finn, he would probably stay in his room till then, only coming out when nature called or he was hungry.

"What's up with him?" Logan asked.

Colin shook his head. "You really are an ass, Logan."

Logan stared after Colin as he too went downstairs to his room. "What the hell did I do?"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hey Mar, you okay?" Tristan asked as he rubbed her back.

"I've never felt this way," she whispered. "Never. I didn't think it'd hurt so bad."

"Your boyfriend just left, sweetie, you're not going to see him for a long time. I mean of course it's going to hurt. It felt that way when me and Tristan parted ways in the summer when we went back to different schools and didn't see each other for months."

"Months and a year are different, Steph," Tristan whispered. "At least we knew we'd see each other over breaks."

"Breaks!" Steph squealed.

Rory looked up, wiping her eyes, noticing the yacht was completely out of view. "What?"

"Breaks! We have a two week Spring Break!" Steph said excitedly.

Lane frowned. "I'm lost."

"Hello, I'm a McCrea, Tristan a DuGray! Rory, you're a Gilmore!"

"I know our last names, Steph! What does Spring Break and our names have to do with anything!?" Rory asked, confused.

"Rory, we can get plane tickets to Fiji. We just have to ask Colin where they'll be in April."

"What?" Rory asked.

Tristan smirked. "Yeah, I could go to Fiji for Spring Break, beats out Florida."

"Come on, Rory, do you really want to wait a year to see Finn?"

"Of course not... but..."

"Look, you don't have to say yes now, but I mean, April. Sort of cuts down the year a bit."

"Eight months," Lane told her. "It's better than 12."

"It's a single digit," Tristan put in.

Rory smiled. "Spring Break then."

Steph squealed and hugged Rory. "Spring Break!"

Tristan smiled as he saw Rory's spirits lift at the prospect of seeing Finn sooner than she had expected. She was so oblivious at times to her own feelings that he bet his entire inheritance that while Finn was already aware that he loved her, Rory was still fighting it.

The losers she'd gone out with sure did do a number on her, if she didn't want to love someone who loved her so unconditionally back.

"Come on, let's get back to school," Tristan said.

"I have to take Lane to Stars Hollow, I'll meet you back there," Rory said wiping her eyes.

"Sweetie, you don't have a car."

Rory smiled as she held up the keys to Finn's car. "Finn is letting me drive his car."

Steph gaped."Oh sweetie, Finn is so in love with you."

Rory frowned. "Why would you say that?"

Tristan smirked. "Because Finn doesn't let anyone drive his cars. Hell, I don't even get to touch the keys to his car, let alone get the privilege of sitting in the driver's seat."

"I'm sure..."

"Don't even try to argue with it, Rory," Steph smirked. "Finn doesn't even let his sister drive his car. Feel honored."

Rory smiled. "I do," she laughed. "I'll see you guys back at school."

"Bye Lane," Steph said as Tristan echoed.

"Bye guys," Lane waved as she got in the SUV, Rory getting in the driver's seat. She waited until Steph had pulled out, before pulling out herself.

Lane bit her lip, knowing Rory wanted to avoid the subject of love. She decided to leave the discussion for another time. Instead she blurted out, "Colin kissed me!"

Rory swerved before braking, "What?!" shocked by Lane's outburst.

"Colin kissed me!" Lane blurted out again, covering her mouth.

Rory looked over at her best friend with wide eyes. "Are you serious?"

Lane nodded, her mouth still covered.

"Colin... he kissed you?!"

Lane nodded again.

"Lane! Tell me more!" Rory groaned. "Oh god, I feel like I'm in 'Grease'."

Lane smiled as she uncovered her mouth and she told Rory everything that had transpired in Colin's room.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Rory drove down the Hartford streets in Finn's car. She had to admit, this car was definitely more comfortable than the car her grandparents had given her. Of course she wasn't going to tell them or even drive his car to her grandparents' house again. The only reason why she was driving the car now was because... okay so she didn't really have a reason other than it still smelt like him and she was missing him horribly.

He'd only been gone five hours and she already felt different without him there. On the ride back from New Haven to Stars Hollow, Lane had told her everything that had gone on in Colin's room that led up to the kiss. Rory gave it till the end of the month for Colin to make it official with her best friend.

Then Rory had filled her in on the going-ons at Yale, including all of what had happened with her grandmother sneaking into her room and buying her furniture. She was forever grateful her friend hadn't pushed the love subject.

As much as she liked Finn, she still wasn't ready to admit, that she'd fallen in love with him over such a short time. Hell, they'd only been dating roughly a month. And yet here she was, ready to tell him. She'd been dying to tell him before he left. But it just seemed too soon and she didn't know if he felt the same way.

Shaking her head out, free of thought, she took a sip of her coffee as she parked behind her mother's Jeep. She'd been thinking of it the entire time she'd been getting ready for dinner and half the trip to Hartford. She, Rory Gilmore, was going to stand up to her grandmother and tell her to butt out!

She got out of the car with her coffee, and shut the door, locking it and putting the keys in her purse.

"Nice car," Lorelai greeted as she pushed off the car.

"I decided I'm going to do it."

"Do what?" Lorelai asked confused, knowing they weren't talking about the car anymore.

"I'm going to go in there," Rory said pointing to the house. "And I'm going to tell grandma that she's going to butt out of my life!"

Lorelai raised any eyebrow. "Mmhmm." She leaned forward, "Can I..." She sniffed Rory's coffee, causing Rory to pull the liquid away.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm just checking," Lorelai said straightening. "So you have soberly decided to confront my mother?"

"Yes," Rory said nodding the affirmative.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Lorelai asked, not sure it was a good idea. If Rory did go through with this, it had a ninety nine point nine percent chance it would blow up in her face.

"Yes," Rory said keeping her stance.

"All right," Lorelai sighed. "Then I support you one hundred percent."

"Thank you," Rory smiled as they walked towards the door.

"Just make sure you wait for the right moment."

Rory looked at her mother in disbelief. "Oh, the right moment is now. The right moment arrived in a big pink hat full of feathers screaming 'notice me because I am here!'"

"Well, if it was wearing a hat..." Lorelai trailed off as she rang the doorbell. The door opened to reveal Emily Gilmore.

"There they are," Emily greeted.

"Hi, mom," Lorelai greeted as they walked in, taking off their coats.

"I tell you, this day has been an absolute circus. I misplaced every single thing I needed - my grocery list, my ticket for the shoe repair. It was a nightmare." She walked over to the bar. "What will you girls have?"

"Wait for the moment, wait for the moment," Lorelai muttered to Rory as she took a seat.

"Grandma, I have to talk to you about something," Rory told her, making a quick list of things she was going to tell her grandmother and making sure she had valid points to back them.

"Yes, Rory, what is it?" Emily asked looking at Rory. Rory froze opening her mouth and feeling all the thoughts disappear. Her eyes widened a tad, not sure if she could do it anymore. This was Emily Gilmore, queen of guilt, after all. Thankfully her grandfather walked into the room at the precise moment she was going to back out, saving her the embarrassment, and ridicule her mom was sure to serve her.

"I have an announcement," Richard said happily. "I am going into business with Jason Stiles."

Lorelai frowned and tilted her head back to look at her dad. "Who?"

"You've met him. The Stiles boy," Richard said, knowing that Lorelai would have known him as a girl.

"Oh," Lorelai said as clearly the thought of who they were talking about came to her mind. "Digger."

"Nobody's called him Digger in years, Lorelai," Richard frowned ."And yes, I just got off the phone. We're going to get together later and hash out the details," he said proudly.

"Richard, that is wonderful," Emily said happily, knowing that good would come out of Richard talking to the young man.

"I didn't know you were looking for a partner, dad," Lorelai said.

"He wasn't," Emily told her. "Jason came to him."

"That's right," Richard nodded. "He said he wanted to strike out on his own, he wanted to work with the best and he wanted to screw over his father."

"What?" Lorelai asked shocked.

"Oh, excuse me, Rory," Richard said as Rory gave a small smile and sat next to her mom.

"You never told me about this," Emily accused.

"Well, I was a bit surprised at the beginning, but I have to admit that when he told me that part of his motive was revenge, I was intrigued. No, I was tickled," he laughed. "I thought it was wonderful. What a wonderful world we live in that the son of my enemy hates his father and that I benefit from it all." He paused and gave a mischievous smile, that one could see on a young boy up to something. "It's downright Elizabethan."

"I don't think this is funny, Richard."

"No, no, I suppose not. However, I can't stop smiling." To prove it, his smile grew bigger.

"I don't think you should go into business with this boy," Emily said changing her stance on Jason.

"Oh now, Emily," Richard chided.

"He's obviously very troubled," Emily argued. "You certainly don't need to hand over your business to a troubled youth."

"He's 37 years old, Emily."

"Yes, he's 37 years old, and all he can think about is how to get back at his father. I just don't understand that kind of thinking," Emily said, trying to wrap her mind around the situation. And anyway, she could talk her husband out of it.

"Well, you know Floyd," Richard said, talking of Jason's father, "Is a horrible man."

"He is the boy's father. He raised him. He clothed him. He fed him. He does not deserve to be paid back for all of his love and devotion like this," Emily said, getting more troubled by the second.

"Why are you getting so upset?"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"Oh Emily, be reasonable."

"I never liked that Digger in the first place," Emily said shaking her finger at him. as she left the sitting room.

"Oh Emily, come back here," Richard called following her.

Lorelai turned to Rory, "Bwak bwaaaak bwak," she clucked, sounding like a chicken.

Rory glared. "It wasn't the right moment," she defended.

"Bwak bwawaaaak bwak."

"I was about to when grandpa came in. He interrupted and now grandma's mad, so I'm sorry if it seems to you like I chickened out, but I didn't and now it's just gonna have to wait."

Lorelai nodded. "Mmhmm... Bwak bwwwak Bwak!"

Rory rolled her eyes as she heard her phone vibrate. "You know, I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Bwak!"

Rory rolled her eyes again as she took out the cell phone and flipped it open, finding one new text message. Opening it, she smiled sadly when she saw it was from Finn. Four simple words had her biting her lip from crying.

I Miss You Already.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

AN: This chapter took me forever to write, solely 'cause I wanted to write the goodbye scene well and I'm hoping I pulled it off. But I wrote it and finished it at 3:37 am! and it's 72 pages long! God, that's a lot even for me. But I know that a lot of the future chapters will range this size. I just hope to get them out quickly.

I hope you enjoyed! And I hope that the 72 pages was worth the wait. And I would like to say now that if convos sound eerily familiar it's because they do NOT belong to me, but to ASP. I use a lot of the transcripts for the story and try my best to add the twist. Hope I did that right to.

Next chapter... in the works lol.

Kassandra!