A/N: Thanks for everyone who read and reviewed the first chapter. And thanks to David for proofreading!

Chapter 2 – An explanation

"Hey Lane?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you keep an eye on April for a while? I have to go to the bank for half an hour or so."

"Sure no problem."

Luke turned to face his daughter. "I have an appointment at the bank. Stay inside the diner and listen to Lane. I'll be back as soon as I can. Okay?"

"Okay." April didn't mind at all. She thought this was the perfect opportunity to ask Lane about her dad and Lorelai. When she saw his reaction to the boots yesterday, she saw how much he still loved Lorelai. She heard the stories where she was as miserable as he was, and she thought that she could fix it. She knew that most kids wanted their parents together, but April knew that her mom and Luke weren't right for each other. Besides, she had never seen her parents together. They had broken up long before she was born, even before her mother found out she was pregnant with her, and she accepted that a long time ago. Of course, when she was younger she asked her mother questions about her dad. 'Why do other kids have a daddy and I don't?' No matter how young she was, she knew how uncomfortable her mother was answering that question. After a while she just stopped asking. Until she got older and wanted to find her dad. She was lucky to have the help of her uncle then.

When she was sure Luke was gone, she turned to Lane. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why did my dad and Lorelai broke up?"

Lane felt uncomfortable right away. "You should ask your father."

"Yeah, right. You know how he acts when someone brings her up. I'm only 13 and I would like to live a little longer."

Lane smiled. "It was complicated."

"But I thought they were happy."

"No. Lorelai wasn't happy for a long time. I don't know about Luke though. I think it was just too much for him -- finding out about you, the engagement. Just everything together."

"So he broke up with her?"

"No, she broke up with him."

"Why? Didn't she love him?"

"Oh she did. She still does. She just…."

"She what?"

"She wasn't happy."

"Why not?"

"Because your father stayed away from her. Even though they were engaged, he didn't share everything with her. She asked him to marry her, but after she planned the wedding, he asked her to postpone it. And in the end she stopped believing it would ever happen. I think at some point the bomb exploded and it went wrong."

"Then why's my dad so sad? And why is she sad? I mean, she is sad right?"

"She is. They both are." Lane thought for a while. "Look, they both made mistakes. I know you want to fix it, but I'm not sure if it can be fixed."

"Why not? They love each other. I know they do."

"I know. But maybe… maybe love isn't enough."

"I don't think I understand."

"Even when you love someone, that person can make you unhappy. Sometimes you just have to let go."

"But why?"

"You'll understand when you get older."

"So you would give up on Zack without a fight?"

That confused Lane. "What do you mean?"

"Let's say Zack wanted to start a new band, or gets the chance to become a part of one of the most famous rock bands. Would you let him go?"

"He would never do that. We have our own band."

"Let's say he would. He starts touring and will be home one week a year. Would you let him go?"

"I would do anything to stop him. I guess."

"So, why did Luke let Lorelai walk away?" She had to get back to the point.

Kirk, who was sitting next to April at the counter, decided it was time to put in his two cents. "Because Lorelai cheated on Luke with Rory's father."

"What?" April looked at Lane.

"Sometimes when you're hurt you make mistakes. Lorelai asked Luke to marry her. But she made the mistake to push him when she did. She asked him to elope and gave him an ultimatum. Now or never. And of course Luke needed time to process and didn't really reply at all, from what I've heard. So Lorelai walked away, believing it was over. She went to Christopher for comfort, and nobody really knows what happened there, not even Rory."

April processed what she heard. "So that's why Luke's so mad at her. But, is Lorelai with this Christopher guy now?"

"No, from what I've heard they had a big fight and Lorelai never wants to see him again. And Rory hasn't talked to him in months either."

"So, what's the problem then? I mean, Lorelai wouldn't just cheat on him right?"

"No, she wouldn't."

"Lorelai wasn't happy for a long time. We all knew it, except Luke. I mean, I don't think he knows what happened at your wedding Lane."

"What happened at your wedding?" April looked curiously.

"Lorelai got drunk and gave a heart-breaking speech. We all knew that she was afraid her wedding would never happen, that she already gave up on it."

"Where was Luke?"

"He was with you. Chaperoning your school trip."

"Oh…" She thought for a while. "It's all my fault, isn't it."

"What? No. None of this is your fault."

"But if I hadn't walked into Luke's life, this wouldn't have happened. I hear the talk around town, Lane. I know that people blame me for what happened. They were about to move in together, until I showed up."

"Listen to me. This is not your fault. Both Luke and Lorelai made mistakes. That has nothing to do with you."

"But it feels like it does." She turned to face Kirk, hoping to get his opinion.

"It's when it all started. They were happy before."

"Kirk." Lane looked at him angrily.

"What? It's true."

"Get out."

"But.."

"Just go Kirk. You finished your food. So just leave us alone."

"But I have nowhere to go."

"I don't care."

The look Lane gave him said enough, so Kirk hurried outside.

"He's wrong. You're not to blame for this. They made the mistakes all on their own. If it wasn't about you, it would have been about something else. They don't talk. They try to protect each other and that's wrong."

April nodded, not completely convinced.

"Don't blame yourself okay. They did it all on their own."

"Okay." She was lost in thoughts for a few minutes. "Do you think it can be fixed?"

"Maybe. If Luke sees that Lorelai's not the only one who made mistakes. I don't think he sees what he did wrong. He was so busy with himself, that he didn't saw how hurt she was. Maybe if he can see that…"

"So, if he would have been at your wedding and heard Lorelai's speech, that would have helped?"

"Maybe. But I don't think she would have gotten so drunk if he were there."

"That's not the point. You have a wedding video right?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Do you have Lorelai's speech on it?"

"They cut it out. Lorelai was so embarrassed. She didn't want Luke to know. The whole town covered for her."

"I guess that was nice, but it didn't help them. How about the original tape?"

"I still have it."

"Then show it to Luke."

"I'm not sure if he would watch it."

"Then I'll make him. Can you get me the tape?" She begged Lane with her eyes.

"I'll go get it. But you have to promise me you stay here in the diner and do nothing your dad doesn't want you to do, okay?"

"Okay. I promise."

"Caesar, I'll be back in five minutes."

"Okay."

Lane ran towards her house where she had to look for the tape for a few minutes, then she ran back. She was happy to see Luke wasn't back yet when she came back.

"Here. I'm not sure where on the tape it is. I just hope Lorelai won't be mad at me."

"I'll go upstairs to see it first. But from what you told me, I think this can be just what he needs to see."

"I hope so. But you can't go upstairs. He told me to keep you down here."

"It's okay."

April hurried upstairs and ignored Lane's yelling for her to come back. She put the tape in the VCR and pressed play. She saw Lane in a weird gown, and Zack dressed alike. She hit the stop button and then fast forwarded a while. After 45 minutes she hit the play button again. She saw Lane and Zack dancing. She was wearing different clothes now. A short white dress.

She fast forwarded another ten minutes and saw Rory on stage when she hit the play button. She knew she was close. She watched Rory's speech. Then she saw how Lorelai climbed on the stage. Tears almost filled her eyes when she saw how heart-broken Lorelai looked. She stopped the tape at the point where Lorelai walked to the microphone and turned off the TV. Now all she had to do was make sure Luke saw it.

T.B.C.