Rory stood by the thick red curtain trying desperately to stay out of the cameraman's way. Every time she crept forward to get a better view, Marv would nudge her or give her a nasty look. He kept trying to get the perfect shot and, she always seemed to be in his way. The band had just taken the stage for its second encore. The lights were shining bright and flashing, and the crowd was on its feet. Tonight's show, as the series of shows before this night, was a huge success. It was a smaller arena, but it was completely sold out. In the past few years, their success had skyrocketed. They topped the charts and had a huge fan base. Rumors were circulating about another tour before this one was even over. But, for now, the band was on its last few shows of this tour. Then they would get a well-deserved break.

The lead singer took the mike and waited for the crowd to quiet down a little. "Thank you, Boston!" The crowd got rowdy again at his three words. They started chanting the band's name and screaming the lead singer's name. The lead singer turned to the rest of the band and smiled. He caught Rory's eye as he turned back to the crowd. She gave him a thumbs up. He winked in response.

"God, that was a good shot. The ladies will love that wink on a poster," Marv said more to himself than to Rory.

The lead singer began to speak again, "You've been a totally cool crowd. We love Boston! You all know we always end shows with the same song. It's time, folks. So... 'Goodnight Sweet Lanie'!"

Three quick raps of drumsticks started the song. The crowd exploded in sing-along with the band's most popular song. As the last chords were played, the lights in the arena went out. Safety guide lights flickered on immediately to light the way for the band to make their escape back to the dressing room. Rory stood back as they all ran past her before following them.

The band ducked the reporters in the hallway and slipped into their dressing room suite.  The suite had a large common area and three private dressing rooms so they were all safely in one secure area.   A massive body guard stood like a brick wall in front of the door. He nodded at Rory and opened the door for her.

"There you are! Thought we lost you in the dash in here!" Lane said.

"I am so pumped! That was a great show! Boston crowds are awesome!" Zack said.

"Shhhh...you will wake the children! They should not even be here. It took me forever to get them to sleep. Don't you wake them!" Mrs. Kim said to Zack.

"Sorry, ma'am. Thank you," Zach said sitting down on the couch with a beer. Brian was next to him puffing on his inhaler.

"Yes, sorry Mama.  And thank you again so much for bringing them. I'm so glad we got to have dinner with them here.  Since we had rehearsal all day, if you didn't bring them here, we wouldn't have seen them at all today," Lane said to her mother.

"Are you ok, Brian?" Rory asked.

"He's fine. He has to puff on that thing for a full five minutes after every show. So not rock and roll, man," Zack said shaking his head at Brian.

"Gil looks pretty rock and roll," Rory said looking at Gil making out with his wife in the corner.

Mrs. Kim also looked at them disapprovingly. "You boys go shower. We must go soon. It is very late."

"Mama, maybe you could take the boys back to the hotel. We were going to get something to eat. We are all starving," Lane said.

"Fine. I will see you back at the hotel," she opened the door and gestured to the body guard who called someone on his walkie talkie. Minutes later, two more body guards appeared to help Mrs. Kim to the waiting car. Lane kissed her boys and thanked her mother again. Then they were off to the hotel.

Zack and Brian decided showers did seem like a good idea.  They headed to their private quarters to cool down.  Gil and his wife had also disappeared.  Rory assumed they were in his dressing room celebrating another successful show.

Once alone, Lane flopped on the couch next to Rory. "That was really a great show. It may have been the best so far," Rory said.

"Well, you would know. You have watched the last eight shows!" Lane said. "They all tend to look the same from the stage."

"I have been bumming around, haven't I? I mean, not that being your groupie isn't cool or anything, but I haven't done much since the campaign tour," Rory said.

"You needed a break after that. It was a long time," Lane said.

"It was, yes. But I don't feel like I have accomplished much. Look at you! You are married. You have two beautiful kids. And you are the drummer of Hep Alien, one of the most popular bands in the entire country! You are winning awards, topping charts, and being super mom.  I have just been roaming aimlessly around for the past year or more, pretending to work here and there," Rory said.

"So what do you want to do?" Lane asked.

"I don't know.  I used to know.  I used to have so many dreams,"  Rory sighed.  "I just keep hoping something spectacular will happen for me."

"I don't want to get all tough-love on you, but sometimes you have to make things happen, Ror,"  Lane said gently but forcefully.  "You were such a go-getter in high school and college.  Sure, you got knocked down sometimes.  But everyone does.  You always managed to regroup, refocus, and excel in another way.  You really are just waiting around for something to happen.  It's just not like the Rory I know."

"You're right.  I'm not,"  Rory said.  She leaned back on the couch and said, "School was so easy for me.  I knew how to succeed there.  I thought I was so mature and knew what I was doing.  I didn't realize how sheltered I was until I was on that campaign trail.  It wasn't at all like I expected.  I didn't even really like it.  I didn't realize how easy I had it growing up."

"Yeah, well, kids seldom realize how cruel the world can be until they are thrown into it.  You remember how many labels laughed at us in the beginning,"  Lane said.  Then she smiled, "Bet they are kicking themselves now."

"Oh, I am sure of it!"  Rory said laughing. "But is anyone kicking themself for not hiring me?  Probably not.  You proved everyone wrong.  I haven't proven anything."

"What is it you want to prove, Rory?"  Lane asked.  "You don't have to prove anything you know.  You can just find something you want to do and be happy."

"I haven't been happy, truly happy, since my senior year of college.  I felt like I held the reigns to the world then,"  Rory said.

"Well, you kind of did.  I never really told you, but I was always jealous of you.  You had a great, handsome, loving boyfriend.  You were the Editor of The Yale Daily News.  You were about to graduate from an Ivy League school.  You had it all.  I always felt like the small town friend, a waitress that played in a band.  Then I was a waitress that got married and had two babies right away.  You never made me feel that way, I just did,"  Lane admitted.

"I never thought of you that way, Lane.  I always knew you would make it big.  You are so talented.  I knew it would happen,"  Rory said.

"You always told me it would,"  Lane said.

"You took a chance and fought hard to get where you are,"  Rory said.  "I threw it all away.  I turned down the love of my life because I thought I had so many important things to do.   And what have I done?"

"Rory, you aren't on your deathbed.  It's not all over.  Do what you want.  Take a chance.  Fight for something.  If you want a job, go do it.  If you want Logan back, fight for him,"  Lane said.

"You're right.  Well, maybe not about Logan.  I'm sure that ship sailed," Rory smiled regretfully.  "But, career wise, I need to get off my butt and really go after something.  I can't even imagine what my mom and grandparents are really thinking.  They have been so supportive, but I am sure they are disappointed."

"I doubt that they are disappointed.  Maybe concerned.  But, regardless, do this for you, no one else,"  Lane said.

"I guess i just have to figure out what 'this' is now,"  Rory said.

"You'll figure it out.  Something will spark your fire again and get you going.  You just have to start looking for something, keep an open mind," Lane said encouragingly.

Zack came out of the dressing room and flopped on the couch next to Lane.  "You ready to get some food, babe?  I am starving.  Anyone up for midnight tacos?"