Author's Note: See Disclaimer and Title in Chapter One. Hey guys. Thanks for all the great reviews. I got so many! Maybe I should take forever to update all the time. Just kidding, but really, those were some great reviews. Thank you to Angy for all her great reviews. I love to hear people's opinions. Sorry, this isn't a Luke and Lorelai chapter but don't worry. We're getting there. Obviously, from here on out a lot of it will be Luke and Lorelai because I think I have about 12 more chapters planned after this one. This is just a short chapter to further things along. Thanks to everyone who keeps reassuring me that it's okay. I'm very paranoid about my writing and lately I have been worrying about my descriptiveness so let me know what you think about that. Also, I did come up with that whole chapter in the diner, but all the diner lingo was real. I found it at a website about diner culture. I didn't realize that there was such a thing, but you learn something new every day. Well I look forward to lots of reviews again (hint hint)

On with the story . . .

Chapter 20: Confessions

"Lane?!?" The little dark-haired girl looked up. She looked worn and tired.

"Lorelai . . . hi" she said nervously.

"Honey, is everything okay? I thought you were at Yale with Rory?"

"I was, but a smart girl knows to leave before she's worn out her welcome." Lorelai could tell she was trying to be casual, but her voice shook.

"They kicked you out, huh?" Lorelai said sympathetically.

"I believe the words 'freeloader' and 'bum' were used."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"It's okay. Paris brings new meaning to the word 'crazy'. I mean I lived with Mama Kim and Paris still scared me." Lorelai smiled, glad the young girl still had her sense of humor.

"So what's the plan now?"

"Actually I was wondering . . . " Lane looked up at Lorelai hopefully.

"You can stay with me" Lorelai answered her. Lane looked relieved.

"Just until I can afford my own place." She promised quickly. Lorelai looked at her skeptically.

"Lane, I can't even afford my own place. You can stay as long as you need to, if you don't mind sharing Rory's bed until I can get Luke to help me fix up the junk room."

"Thank you so much." Lane hugged Lorelai tight. Lorelai felt so bad for her. Lane loved and missed her mother, but she just couldn't lie anymore.

"Anytime, honey" Lorelai said softly. She and lane pulled apart and stood awkwardly for a minute. "So, you hungry? After all that brainy food at Yale, you're probably in the mood for something greasy and covered in cheese, right?" Lane smiled.

"You actually have that?" she asked, surprised. Lorelai shook her head.

"No, but I knew I bought that phone for a reason."

Once the pizza arrived, both girls tore into it. Lorelai could tell just how much time Lane had been spending with Rory. Her appetite almost matched that of the Gilmore Girls.

"So, what did I miss while I was gone?" Lane said between bites. Lorelai thought for a minute.

"Nothing and everything" she answered. Lane looked at her questioningly. "You've lived here long enough. You know Star's Hollow doesn't follow the laws of time. Wait long enough and the cycle starts all over again."

"Like Groundhog Day?"

"Exactly, but our characters are much less realistic." Lane laughed and Lorelai continued. "Same old, same old. Kirk had another crackpot idea, Sookie almost chopped her hand off cooking, Miss Patty sexually harassed a man."

"Taylor annoyed Luke" Lane added.

"Everyone annoys Luke."

"Not everyone" Lane said smiling. When Lorelai looked at her strangely, she quickly asked, "So where were you tonight?"

"Annoying Luke." Lorelai tried to hide a grin at the memory. Lane had seen it though. "I'm helping out at the diner" Lorelai said casually. Lane's expression turned to one of worry.

"Luke needs help?" She felt bad for leaving and not telling him.

"He'll be okay. He's got me." Lorelai thought Lane had enough to worry about, without feeling bad about Luke too. At Lorelai reassurance, Lane looked relieved and a little bit disappointed. "But it is a step down from his previous waitress." Lorelai admitted and Lane smiled. They finished their pizza and started cleaning up.

"Have you talked to your mother?" Lorelai asked, carrying her plate to the sink.

"Not yet. Do you think I should? I'm not so sure she wants to hear from me." Lane was turned away from her, throwing things away, but Lorelai could hear the sadness in her voice.

"I think she does" Lorelai said softly. She searched for a way to help the girl. "Look, I know what you're going through. What you want is the total opposite of what your parents want. You've tried so hard to be what they want, but no matter what you always disappoint them. There just comes a point where you can't keep trying to force a square peg into a round hole." Lane looked at Lorelai as if they were kindred spirits. Lorelai had been able to explain the feelings that Lane had always felt, but never been able to describe. Lorelai saw the look on Lane's face, but rushed on, because she knew she couldn't let her make this mistake. "From a mother's standpoint I know without a doubt that she absolutely wants to hear from you. From a daughter's position, I know how great it feels to finally be free. And although I don't regret getting myself out of that world, I can tell you that if you don't at least try to keep the lines of communication open . . . well, that you will regret." Lane nodded. She stared at her hands, lost in thought. Lorelai could practically see the wheels turning in her head.

"You regret not calling Emily?" Lane asked after awhile.

"Well, right now, talking to her is exhausting, but I think if I had tried harder back then, things might be different now." Lorelai had never admitted that to anyone. Not even really to herself. That scared her. "But if you share that with anyone, even Rory . . . especially Rory, I will give Emily a mute Korean maid for her next birthday." Lane's eyes widened and she nodded emphatically. Lorelai yawned. "It's late, so we should get some sleep. First thing in the morning, call your mom and tell her what's going on. Then we'll go for some maple syrup-covered therapy at Luke's." Lane smiled gratefully.

"Thanks" she said, hugging Lorelai again.

"Night." Lorelai watched Lane walk into Rory's room and shut the door. She was actually grateful to Lane for showing up unexpectedly. Now she was so exhausted that even her recent thoughts about Luke couldn't keep her awake.