A/N: I got this idea from 'Tina's Challenges' (from the awesome tina101, of course.) Seriously, people, she rocks. And I'm not just saying that because she gave me an idea for a story. Her fics are really great.

I'm not going to tell you too much about the fic yet. I'll see you in the ending author's note! To the story! Away!

I flew through the door, praying Maureen was asleep. I wanted to tell her, I really did. It could wait one more night, right? I crept to the couch and sat, but shot up immediately when I felt the two feet that I was sitting on.

"Baby, where were you?" Maureen's tired, half-asleep voice asked me. "I tried to wait for you, but I fell asleep."

"Don't worry about it," I whispered. "Go back to bed."

"No, Joanne. Come here." I sat next to her, she wrapped her arm around my waist. "You've been doing this a lot lately. What's going on with you?"

I didn't know what to say.

"Joanne, are you seeing someone else?"

That broke my heart. The guilt is eating me up. "I would never do that to you, Maureen. You know that. I love you."

"Well then where are you going almost every weekend?"

"You really want to know?"

She nodded. I sighed.

Flashback:

"Joanne Nicole Jefferson, will you marry me?"

Marry her? Did I hear right? I hoped my mind wasn't playing some kind of sick, twisted joke on me. They say that these things happen during the Oscars, too. Nominees think that their name gets called, rush onto the stage, scream their acceptance speech, then walk of the stage only to find out five minutes later that they didn't win. I wanted this so bad, I couldn't afford to have my mind turn on me now.

"I-I'm -- What did you say?" I choked out. I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

"Joanne," her voice quavered, "marry me."

I smiled. She looked so beautiful. Her hair framed her face in the most elegant way, falling just past her shoulders, and the lighting of the small cafe reflected in her eyes, making them sparkle. In her hands was a small box that held a silver ring with a single diamond in the middle. She held it up to me from her position on the floor, on one knee. Her smile was hopeful, and her eyes were wet, which got me teary, too.

By this time, the entire cafe was watching us. She had taken me to a pretty nice place, and there were people there who weren't paying good money for good food to see one girl propose to another. These people looked mildly horrified, and were getting their things together to leave. Others, though, seemed much happier for us, and were smiling and occasionally, if I looked their way, gave me a little nod, or thumbs-up sign.

"Are you serious?" I still wasn't convinced. I knew that I was going to say yes, then I'd hear the sound of my alarm clock, wake up, and roll out of bed to go to work. I needed to know that this was real.

"Joanne, I know this is going to sound really cliche," she paused as I laughed and wiped my eyes. "I love you. I love you so much, and love is when someone can't live without someone else. I don't just want you in my life, I need you in my life."

"Oh my God," I whispered. The waterworks had started up again. "You really are serious, aren't you?"

She nodded. I stroked her cheek, unable to keep the huge smile off of my face. I kissed her deeply, and slowly, I found my voice.

"Yes," I cried, "Sarah, I'll marry you!"

End Flashback.

"JOANNE, YOU'RE SEEING SOME SARAH GIRL BEHIND MY BACK?" Maureen screamed.

"Mo, Baby, no," I said, stroking her cheek. "I'm not seeing Sarah. We were ... we were very serious at one point, more so than you and I, but we've been separated for a long time now. I despise the woman."

"Oh." She looked up at me with huge, innocent eyes. "Well, then, what the fuck are you doing?"

"I'm seeing a girl named Tonya." Bad phrasing on my part.

She shrank back. I could feel the icy stare she was giving me in the darkness, and I knew she was crying. "You said you loved me."

"Maureen, Tonya isn't any kind of affair," I explained. "Tonya is my daughter."

A/N: I don't think I did a very good job of explaining what's going on. Joanne basically has a daughter from a past relationship, and Maureen just found out. I hope you like the idea … review please.