The next morning Lorelai let Rory sleep and she walked across the street to a payphone. She dropped in the quarters and dialed the elderly home."

"Hello, Sunny Days Home for the Elderly. This is Cindy. How may I help you?"

"Hello, Cindy. This is Lorelai Gilmore. I applied for a job yesterday and-"

"Lorelai! The one with the pretty blue eyes?"

"Um. Yes?"

"You got the job! Ted, Aaron and Grace were thrilled with your interview."

"Great, when can I start?"

"You can come by in an hour to get your scrubs and work schedule. We can also start training if you'd like."

"Cindy, that would rock. I'll be there soon."

"Bye Lorelai."

"Bye."Lorelai hung up the phone and sprinted back to the car. She flung open the trunk and shook Rory awake from behind.

"What?"Rory moaned.

"Wake up! I got the job! I got to get over there!"

"You got it?"Rory sat up, excited.

"Yes! Get some clothes and lets change!"

The two of them changed in the beach public bathroom and Lorelai did her makeup. They drove to the elderly home and Lorelai parked. Rory looked at her.

"What should I do?"

Lorelai bit her lip, "Come with me. We'll see what Cindy thinks."

"Who?"Rory jogged to catch up.

"Lorelai!"

"Hey, Cindy!"

"Come on back here with me and we'll get your things. Karen, cover the desk and phones. And who's this?"Cindy gestured to Rory.

"Oh, this is my daughter. I don't want to leave her alone and I don't have a sitter."

Cindy smiled, "What's your name?"

"Rory. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Rory. Tell you what, you can hang out with me and Karen until your mom figures something out."

Lorelai sighed with relief, "Oh thank you, Cindy."

"No problem. Here we are. Now what size pants do you wear? Small, medium, large?"

"I'll try medium."

"Pull them on over your jeans."Cindy gave her a pair.

Lorelai pulled on the light blue scrub pants."They fit perfectly."

"Great. Then the top is the same size. We'll provide you with three tops and two pairs of pants. We'll need you to wear white tennis shoes also. I see you're wearing some now but that's required so don't mix it up later on."

"Got it."Lorelai folded the other outfits and gave them to Rory to hold.

"Here's your schedule and a booklet on standard procedure. Study it. Learn it."

"Got it."

"And finally your I.D. tag. Come over here and we'll get your picture. Sit, sit."

Lorelai sat on the chair and smiled.

Cindy sat at a computer and snapped the picture then began typing, "Full name and birthdate?"

"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore. April 12, 1968."

"Okay. That'll be printed in a minute. If you lose it, it's ten dollars for a new one. So hang on to it."

"Oh, I will."

Cindy sighed, "Okay, now. I guess I'll introduce you to your supervisor and you can get started. Rory, come with me. We have a full library in over there or the cafeteria is over there. You can roam around if you want but if doors are closed, don't go in."

"Got it."Rory headed straight for the library.

Cindy had taken Lorelai's extra scrubs and book for her, "I'll keep these behind the counter."

Karen spoke up, "Lorelai's card is ready."

Cindy grabbed it and slid the clip on it. She clipped it to the hem of Lorelai's shirt. "Follow me."

Lorelai followed Cindy to a smaller office with a small employee lounge off of it. A tall bony woman sat at the desk.

"Donna, this is Lorelai. She's the new delivery girl."

"Great."Donna smiled, "I'm your supervisor. You're basically an assistant to the nurses in whatever they need. I'll call Olivia in and she can give you a rundown on all the medicines and the patients you'll need to cover."

"Great."Lorelai nodded and tried to keep up.

"Go sit in there. She'll be a minute."Donna pointed to the lounge.

"See you later, Lorelai. Don't worry about Rory! She'll be fantastic."Cindy disappeared and Lorelai took a seat.

The day seemed to fly by even though she spent most of it sitting down. Olivia was a fellow assistant who would be helping Lorelai out.

She showed her all of the medications, where they were, what they were, etc. Then she showed her what to do if someone wanted something to eat or drink and where extra blankets and pillows were.

Then they did a walk through and Lorelai learned a bit about some of the patients. Who to steer clear of and who likes to talk. She felt like it was a lot to learn and her training wasn't over. The next two days she would be following Olivia around, shadowing her job.

Lorelai finally waved good-bye and headed out to find Rory.

"Hey, Lorelai. How'd today go?"Cindy asked. Karen seemed to have already left and Rory was no where in sight.

"Good. Good. Um, before I get Rory, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"When is payday?"

"Oh not till the end of the week. Every other Friday."

"Oh."Lorelai must have looked upset because Cindy spoke up.

"Why? Are you in a jam?"

Lorelai bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

"Lorelai, I won't say anything. You can trust me."

Lorelai sighed and leaned forward. "We still don't have anywhere to live and we have no food or gas money. I don't know what to do, Cindy."

Cindy rolled her eyes, "You'll come with me, of course. Rory is a doll and so are you. You girls will stay with me for as long as you need to."

"Cindy, I couldn't."

"But it's your only option. I don't mind. Really. It'll take you a while to get enough money to get an apartment and I don't mind. I have plenty of money. Don't tell anyone but I was a trust fund baby."

Lorelai's jaw dropped, "Me too."

"You are?"

"Were. I left that lifestyle."

"I did too but my trust fund still kicked in when I turned twenty seven."

"Not me. It's gone. Believe me, I checked."

"I'm sorry. Now, go get Rory while I clock out. She's in the library."

Lorelai walked in and found Rory sitting in an armchair with her nose in a book. She came up behind her and leaned down near her ear, "Good book?"

"Ah!"Rory shrieked and threw the book in the air.

An elderly lady looked over, surprised.

"Sorry Mrs. Hennesey!"Rory waved apologetically and picked up the book. She put it back on the shelf, "Mom!"

"Sorry, Sweets. Couldn't resist."

Rory laughed, "So I have a question."

"We're staying with Cindy for a few weeks."Lorelai answered. She knew the question.

"Wow."Rory pondered this.

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah. I like her. She let me read all day and said if I want, I can just come here everyday."

"So, how did you know that lady, Mrs. Hennesey?"Lorelai asked as they went to meet Cindy.

"Oh, we ate lunch together. She's really nice. She says I remind her of her great granddaughter. We're eating lunch again tomorrow."

"Well, that's nice."

Cindy was by the door, smiling and waiting, "You girls ready? You can follow me. I'm the white Grand Am."

"Got it."Lorelai got in the Jeep and she and Rory followed Cindy to her apartment building.

It was near the beach but not right on it. Rory was staring through the buildings and across two streets at the ocean.

"Later, babe."Lorelai whispered to her and they grabbed their boxes and followed Cindy.

"Okay, I'm up on the eleventh floor here. Apartment 11A."

In the elevator Cindy explained everything, "It's pretty small but has two bedrooms and bathrooms. I use the master bedroom and it has it's own bathroom. You two can share the guest room and the other bathroom in the hall. The guest room has a queen size bed so you'll have to share. I'm thinking of ordering pizza for dinner. That okay?"

"Yep."Lorelai and Rory answered in unison.

"Great. Here we go. Go on in your room. The open door right there. I'll call."

"Thanks, Cindy."Lorelai smiled at her.

"Anytime honey. I was in your place once. Minus the kid. I couldn't get a man if I wanted one."

Lorelai shook her head in disbelief and followed Rory to the room.

"It's nice."Rory sat on the bed."Comfy."

"We're so lucky, Ror."

Rory grinned, "I know."

"It shouldn't have to be like this."Lorelai's eyes watered and she sank onto the bed.

"Mom?"

"I shouldn't have done this. If I weren't so stubborn we could go home. My parents would take us back in, I know it. Oh god, Rory. What did I do?"Lorelai was sobbing now and Rory closed the bedroom door.

"Mom, what are you talking about? I thought your parents died."

Lorelai shook her head, "I lied Ror. I lied to you. Oh my god, I lied to you. My baby. I'm so sorry. So sorry."

"Mom, please tell me what's going on."

"Oh Rory,"Lorelai sobbed, "They were so horrible. They yelled all the time. They hated me for getting pregnant and refusing to get married. I tried to stay there for as long as I could but I couldn't last, Ror. I left. I packed us up and in the middle of the night, we left. I'm sorry I lied. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I couldn't have left you there. You deserve better than this. Than me. Than staying with someone who's practically a stranger. I'm sorry honey. I'm sorry."

"Mom, you lied?"Rory was trying to ignore her anger and be sympathetic but she couldn't quite manage it. She was only ten.

"Rory, I'm sorry! I can't stand this. You need better. I'm sending you back."

"What?"Rory's jaw dropped."No! You can't!"

"I can too. I'm going to get enough money for a plane ticket and send you to them."

"You can't. They'll ask where you are and I'll tell them."Rory said defiantly.

"Rory!"

"I swear I will."Rory glared as tears pooled in her eyes, "Mom, I'm not leaving you!"

"Yes you are! Yes you are, yes you are! I'm saving enough for one plane ticket and extra money to get the heck out of here! I'll put you on the plane, call them and tell them you're on your way and to meet you. Then I'll drive somewhere where you guys can't find me. You need them, Rory. You need better than me."

"No!"Rory shrieked and ran out of the bedroom. Lorelai heard the apartment door slam as well and she rose.

Cindy met Lorelai in the hallway, "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing Cindy. She just found out I've been lying. She'll be back. She's down at the beach."

"Lor, I'm going to go find her, okay? Stay here. It's getting late and dangerous for a ten year old."

"Okay."Lorelai sniffled.

"There's tissue in the bathroom and the pizza money is on the table by the door. Make yourself at home, Honey."

Cindy left and Rory sank into the couch in the living room. She noticed a phone beside it and picked it up.

She information."Name?"

"Christopher Haden."

"City?"

"Hartford."

"712-244-4363."

"Thanks."Lorelai quickly dialed the number.

"Hey, you've reached Chris. I'm out but leave a message!"

The answering machine beeped and Lorelai sniffled into the phone, "Chris? Chris are you there? Pick up...Guess you really are out. This, this is Lorelai. I, I really need you, Chris. I'm scared and Rory is mad at me and I'm so alone. I don't know what to do, Chris. Please. I'll call again soon. Please answer. I need someone who cares. I know you hate me for leaving but please don't be mad. I need you. Bye."

She hung up sadly and took another deep breath. It was her last resort. She didn't know what to do.

"Hello, Gilmore residence."

"Can I please talk to Emily or Richard?"Lorelai whispered.

"Who's calling."

"Oh, Sylvia."Lorelai heard Emily's voice in the background, "Give me the phone. Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Mom?"

Emily's breath caught in her throat, "Lorelai. Oh my god. Where are you? Come home this instant! Richard! It's Lorelai! Pick up."

"Mommy, I can't come home."

"Lorelai,"Emily sighed, "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it. We may be angry with you for leaving but we want you home."

"No."Lorelai shook her head even though Emily couldn't see it.

"Lorelai, please."Emily begged.

"Hello? Lorelai?"

"Hi Daddy."Lorelai whispered.

"Lorelai,"Richard sounded ready to cry, "What's wrong? Come home."

"I can't, Dad. I just don't know what to do. This is so hard."

"Come home, Lorelai. Your mother misses you. I miss you. Everyone does."

"I can't. I just can't."

"Please, let me speak to Rory."Emily begged.

"She's out."

"Out where? Where do you live, Lorelai?"Emily asked, "We'll come get you?"

"Lorelai,"Richard interrupted, desperate to keep Lorelai listening, "Lorelai, listen to me."

"I'm listening."

"Do you need money? I'm going to start an account for you. Call again tomorrow and we will give you the account number. You can get as much as you need. We want to take care of Rory."

"I can't."She whispered again."Bye daddy. Bye mom."

"Lorelai!"Emily shrieked into the phone, "Don't hang up! Lorelai! Lorelai please!"

Lorelai hung up to the sound of Emily's tears and her own began again. She couldn't bear going back. It would be the same thing all over again and then forever they would nag her about how she tried to leave but couldn't make it on her own. No, no. She couldn't go back. Not now, not ever. All she could do now was wait for Cindy to bring Rory back.

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Jess's A/N: Wow...I didn't even know this is where I was going with this. I suddenly had her call Chris and her parents? Crazy stuff, right? Hey, review and let me know what you think. I kind of want to change it from a Javajunkie to a Balcony Buddy now. Hmm... Lorelai and Luke verses Lorelai and Chris. I can't decide. Let me know.

Kaycee's Note- So, I don't know about you all, but I really loved this chapter. It was really emotional and slightly different than some other stuff I've read. Review and let Jess know what you think! I read her all of the reviews and they make her verrry happy!