A/N: I have promised many readers that they will receive the Joan/Lorelai interaction they desire from this story. I admit that right now my story is taking a direction that most of you do not like. I also understand that Chris is being very heavily involved right now, but fear not, he is all part of the grand plan. Anyway, this chapter is for those of you craving the Lorelai/Joan interaction. I hope you enjoy. I will also try to add more interaction between them in upcoming chapters.

Lorelai and Chris stood outside the apartment. The sky was clear and you could see all the stars. You could also smell the leaves in the cool October air. They both gazed up at the sky for several moments without saying a word.

"Makes you feel pretty small, huh?" Lorelai asked.

"Not when I'm with you." Chris replied. "I feel like I'm the one on top of the world."

Lorelai giggled. "Can it, Romeo."

"You like it." Chris teased.

They both took their eyes away from the sky and onto each other. "Maybe, I do." Lorelai finally said.

"I had a great time today. And you definitely got the point across that Metallica is better than White Snake." Chris rubbed his arm. "I hope it doesn't bruise."

Lorelai smiled. "Yeah, well, that's what you get for trying to argue with a …" Lorelai's smile quickly faded.

"Girl?" Chris asked trying to fill in the blank.

"No." Lorelai said softly. "I was going to say Gilmore, but it just kind of crossed my mind… I shouldn't have that last name."

"It's your legal name isn't it?" Chris asked. "I mean, even if Richard and Emily weren't your real parents, legally on your birth certificate and all it said Gilmore."

"Yeah, I guess so." Lorelai replied. "Well, it's getting late. I should probably get inside."

Chris picked up on the hint. "Right. Umm… can I … would it be okay if I …." Chris rubbed the back of his neck. "Man, this is harder than I initially assumed."

"My number is 227 – 3690." Lorelai offered.

Chris smiled. "That was actually my second question."

"Oh? What was your first?" Lorelai stared Chris directly in the eye, not even taking a pause to blink.

Slowly, he leaned forward. His lips tenderly met hers. It was a brief kiss, short and sweet. He pulled away gently and let out a deep breath. "Can I kiss you?"

Lorelai, who had closed her eyes during the kiss, smiled. "Anytime."

"I'll call you tomorrow." Chris replied. "Goodbye, Lorelai Gilmore."

"Christopher." Lorelai replied.

Chills suddenly dashed down Chris' back. There was something about the way she just said his name that he never felt when anyone else said it. He hated being called Christopher, but the way this girl said it, it made him feel like he was a king. "Yeah?" he asked as he turned back around and faced her.

"Was it the best spaghetti you had ever eaten?"

"The best." He smiled.

Lorelai turned back and walked inside. She felt light and fluffy, like she was walking on air. She was starting to realize she liked Chris way more than she ever could have liked Luke. Chris was true and sincere. Luke was just a figurehead. Nevertheless, she still felt horrible and would make it a point to apologize to him when she had the chance.

Lorelai strolled down the short hallway to her bedroom. She jumped onto her bad and laid on her back looking up at her ceiling. She was beginning to progress in deep thought, when Joan walked in.

"He seems very nice." Joan replied with her toothbrush in her mouth. "I like him."

"So, do I." Lorelai replied. "He's so sweet."

Joan exited into the bathroom to rinse her mouth, she returned a few seconds later. "Just remember…" She began. "He's a guy… don't expect too much from him."

"I didn't expect anything at all from him. That's what's so great about it." Lorelai smiled. "I was actually mean to him when I first talked to him. I hit him on the arm earlier today. We got into an argument over bands."

Joan shrugged. "Some guys like to be kicked around a bit."

Lorelai laughed. "I suppose so. He's just so easy to talk to. And he helped me realize a lot tonight."

"He did?" Joan asked impressed. "Has he considered a degree in psychology?"

"Perhaps he should. He's a very good listener and excellent with advice. I told him about everything, and he completely understands."

"Everything?" Joan asked.

"Yeah, about me and you and Richard and Emily." Lorelai paused. "He says I'm above normal…" She added with a light laugh. "I thought he would think I was weird when he found out about my past, but he couldn't have been any sweeter about it."

"Lorelai, I don't think you should tell young men things like that." Joan said in a harsher voice.

"What?" Lorelai asked, not following Joan's train of thought. "I was just telling him about myself, about us and the things we've been through."

"Those things are personal. You barely know this boy. You shouldn't have told him those things."

"But…"

"What if he repeats it all over school? Are you ready for that?"

"He won't…" Lorelai quickly replied, starting to become defensive.

"And why wouldn't he?" Joan asked.

"Because, Chris isn't like that."

"Lorelai, please, do not let some guy come in and change your views about things. You have to think for yourself and realize who you can trust and you can't…"

"He wanted to know!" Lorelai interrupted. "He wants to know about me, who I am and where I come from. Why should I keep it a secret, I'm not ashamed."

Joan sat down on the bed. "I'm not ashamed either." She clarified. "I'm just concerned is all. Personal matters should stay personal until you're sure that you can share them with someone."

"But that's what I've been trying to talk to you about this whole time!" Lorelai's temper was beginning to flare. "You said to let things be and everything would fall together. To be myself and not try to figure out everything."

"But I didn't mean for you to tell a strange boy our personal information…" Joan corrected. "And lower your voice, and change that tone." She added sternly. "You don't have to speak to me that way."

"You sound like Emily." Lorelai scoffed as she jolted from the bed.

"Don't call her that…" Joan replied softly. "She was your mother."

"No, you're my mother. She's just a woman who couldn't have children so she took someone else's."

Before Joan realized what she was doing she had stood to her feet and was standing only inches from Lorelai. "Don't you dare say such a thing about Mrs. Gilmore! She was a fine woman. She loved you as much as anyone could."

"As much as you?" Lorelai asked as she folded her arms neatly across her chest.

"Yes... As much as me."

Lorelai looked away from Joan. She knew couldn't ask this question and look her in the eye. "Why didn't you try to take me back?"

"Because, I knew you would have a better life there."

"Well, I didn't." Lorelai mumbled. "I was miserable."

"I don't believe you were miserable, Lorelai. You really should stop being so dramatic."

A wave of tears violently rushed to Lorelai's eyes. "I wanted to runaway and never return." Lorelai said through clenched teeth. "When my mother was alive I hated her, after she died, I hated my father. Then I find out they're not even my real parents."

"Lorelai…"

"I'm not being dramatic…" Lorelai's tears began to escape. "I can't figure out who I am!"

Joan's harsh walls began to crumble. "Sweetheart, please don't do this to yourself…" Joan placed her hands on Lorelai's shoulders.

"You tell me to be myself, and when I try, you tell me that I shouldn't have. For once in my life, I felt I had things figured out. I had hope again… and now I feel like I've made an even bigger mess."

"Lorelai, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"Who am I Joan? Am I your daughter?" Lorelai asked as more tears fell from her eyes. "Am I Gilmore? Do I belong with you or do I belong in Hartford?"

Joan pulled Lorelai in and hugged her tightly. "You're mine. You're my daughter, and you belong with me." She answered. "Never question that." Joan felt her own eyes begin to water. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those things. I'm so sorry…"

Lorelai began to sob, as her shoulders gently moved up and down. "I just want all of this confusion to go away."

"I love you so much, Lorelai." Joan said softly. "Please know that."

"I do…" Lorelai's muffled voice replied through tears and Joan's night shirt.

Joan placed Lorelai at arm's length. "You are Lorelai Gilmore." She said with certainty. "And you've been blessed more than you realize. You've had two mothers who love you with all of their hearts."

Lorelai wiped at her tears and sniffled. "Chris said that if I wanted something to happen, I should make it happen. Take control…." Lorelai paused for a brief moment. "I want things between us to be wonderful."

Joan replied, "Lorelai, I think things are already wonderful between us. You're the best part of my life. You always have been."

"But things are different now." Lorelai continued. "I want to call you my mother. I want everyone to know who you are. I've been trying to decide for weeks who I should refer to as my mother, and it has to be you. I was afraid of feeling guilty, but now I realize that there's nothing to feel guilty about."

"Lorelai, you don't have to say this. I told you that you could call me anything that you want. Joan is fine, I don't mind being called…"

"No." Lorelai interjected. "You're not Joan… you're not the maid … or the cook… you're my mother. I need you to be my mother."

"Is that what you've been worried about?" Joan asked. "Sweetheart, I will always be your mother. I only suggested you continue to call me Joan if it made you feel more comfortable. Look, I know that this is confusing and very emotional." She paused. "Why don't we give it a try… you can call me mom and we'll see how it sounds and works."

"I've called you that a few times at school." Lorelai replied, her tears drying. "It sounded okay, but felt a little strange."

Joan smiled. "Well, Rome wasn't built in a day."