A/N: Okay, so I've got more for you! I'm so excited. I love being able to update and I think I finally have a way that updates will start coming slightly faster. I won't guarantee it until I've worked it a bit more. Just know, it is my aim. I hope you like this chapter. Some major background info is here. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from GG...

December 25, 1988

Merry Christmas Maddie!

This really is the most wonderful time of the year!

I was dreading it to begin with. Not being in contact with family during the holidays can really bring a girl down. And it affected me more this year than I ever thought it would. I mean, last year at this time I was still in touch with my dad and although our relationship was strained, we still had a relationship. Will I ever have a relationship with him again? Any kind of relationship? Has it been ripped apart so badly that we'll never be able to repair it?

Will the answers ever come?

I don't know. But right now I can't dwell on those questions. They'll just get me down again and I'm so tired of being down. I've enjoyed the last several weeks of being happy and carefree and I'm not going to let myself get sucked back into depression.

I'm allowed to be happy right? I say I am so that is going to be it.

I like being happy. I like feeling like I'm apart of a family. A real family. One that actually cares about each other more than just what they are doing.

Now, don't get me wrong, I know my parents care about me, love me even. But they were never good at showing it. It was all stiff hugs, expensive presents, and the 'support' they provided. I use the word support lightly.

Anyways, William has really taken me in as one of his children, and I've never felt so grateful. It also helps that Rory has taken to William so quickly. We went to the hardware store a couple days after I had lunch with him and Mia so he could meet Rory and it was love at first sight.

Rory is so cute around him. She always wants to see 'Grampa Will,' and he doesn't mind it at all. It also seems that being in with the Danes' family as kept me out of any rumor mills by coming into town again. This town seems to respect William Danes in a way I've never seen before. It's amazing. Even Taylor has the sense enough not to cross William.

It's rather funny all in all.

Anyways, about two weeks after Thanksgiving Liz Danes arrived back in Stars Hollow and I finally got to meet her. She's great. I'm really having a great time getting to know her and becoming friends. We've got a lot in common. Hello, the obvious of being both teenage mothers. Now, granted she's got a couple years on me, but still it's a similar experience. Now, granted, she had the support of the town, her family, and even at first the father, but I admire her. She's been through a lot.

At least I knew that Chris didn't want anything to do with Rory from the beginning and not after a year of living together in a different city than my family. Okay, so maybe I'm not giving Chris enough credit. He did propose, several times, but after I told him no, a lot, he bailed. (Haven't heard from him in awhile. Actually I can't remember the last time we heard from him.)

Jimmy didn't leave Liz until about a month ago. He's a jerk too. I swear, the guys in my generation are all assholes. They don't care about anything but themselves and getting some. Am I being stereotypical? Yes. Do I care? No. I'm not sure I'll ever find a guy to settle down with.

I'm not sure I even want to.

But it doesn't matter. I'm fine being single. I'm fine raising Rory on my own. I'm fine only having Rory. Is it my dream?

No.

I always had this dream as a little girl that I would grow up and marry a nice guy who loved me more than anything in the world, have lots of kids, and grow old together in a farmhouse in the country. I'm okay having that dream tweaked though. Dreams don't always come true.

Though it would be a nice change of pace.

I couldn't be having a better time than learning about my new 'family.'

I was looking through some old photo albums tonight with Liz while Jess and Rory were enjoying some classic Christmas cartoons. Liz told me a lot about her mom, Leah. William and Leah had one of those fairytale like romances. They were from Stars Hollow, grew up together, and were best friends.

Then right before they were to start at Stars Hollow High as freshman, Leah's parents moved her across the country to Seattle were her dad had gotten a new job. They were both heartbroken and promised to stay in touch, but after six months of writing faithfully they started growing distant and the letters dwindled. Leah then returned years later to go to school here in Connecticut, at Yale, and made a point to contact him again by visiting William.

They were married about two years later. Leah finished college, commuting everyday. Luke, their oldest, was born close to their sixth anniversary. Liz followed two years later.

That is when the story grew sad. Leah was diagnosed with a rare blood disease when Liz was five and underwent countless treatments with no response. Liz was eleven when Leah passed away. It was all William after that.

William did a good job with his kids. Well, at least with Liz, she's the only one I know. Luke, from what I heard, is the all-American boy. Good grades, great at any sport he attempted, and excelling right now at business school. I'm sure I'll meet him eventually, but he didn't come home for Christmas. William was upset about that, I could tell. He won't admit it, but he was. It makes me think that Luke isn't as good as everyone says he is. I don't want to judge...

Sometimes it is hard though. I say all this stuff about not wanting to be judged myself and yet here I am judging someone I've never met and only heard wonderful things about. I should give him a chance huh? Yeah, I will. No more judging Mr. Perfect until I meet him.

Oops, I just did it again. 'Mr. Perfect?' I really need to practice what I preach. I'm going to start being more careful about that. I'm going to be twenty one in just a few months; it's good to be mature.

I'm glad that Liz is staying around Stars Hollow for good. It will certainly make life more fun for me and Rory. Rory now has a friend that she adores and so do I. I have a good feeling that Jess and Rory will be like William and Leah. Best friends throughout their childhood and into adulthood. I won't comment about the possibility of their 'future.' It's too early to make any guesses there. I like to imagine the chance though. I want Rory to have the world. I'm going to make sure she knows that too.

Speaking of Rory, she is learning to read. She's only four I know, but she's taken to it easily. I'm so proud of her. Jess is too. I'm telling you they hate to be apart. Liz is watching Rory while I'm at work now. She comes and picks her up in the morning and I pick her up in the afternoon. It gives both Jess and Rory a chance to have someone to play with and learn with and Liz enjoys having something to occupy her thoughts and time. Most of the time they hang out with William in the hardware store or in the upstairs office or in the town park. I'm glad that Rory is getting a chance to have a somewhat normal childhood.

I'm so thankful for William and Liz. My life has certainly taken a turn for the better.

I can't help but be happy right now, Maddie. Things are good. I honestly didn't think they'd ever be this good again.

I'm glad I was wrong.

I'm even fine admitting I was wrong. This, for me, is a big step. I guess I really am growing up huh?

A/N: So...I'm anxious to find out what you are thinking. Please leave me some reviews...they really are craved!