A/N: Ok, this is a Angel coming out story!

Disclaimer: I do not own RENT. I wish I did, it would have been awesome. But I gotta give kudos to J.L.

ONE-SHOT

Do You Love Me?

I walked into the living room from upstairs to find my Mom and Dad on the couch, watching the ten 'o' clock Spanish programming. I sigh a shaky, anxious breath and stood in front of them, blocking the T.V. "Move outta the way son, you're blocking the T.V." "Mom, Dad, I needed to ask you something." Dad turned off the T.V. I paused, unable to continue with my plan, now that I had their full attention. "What? You're eighteen, so formulate a sentence, and spill it, Angelo." My Dad said irritated. I mentally cringe at that name. I took a breath. 'Okay, I can totally do this.' I thought to myself. "Do you love me?" I ask nervously. "Of course sweetie. Why wouldn't we?" Mom said soothingly. "Okay, well please listen, before you do or say anything, okay?" My hands started shaking, so I stuffed them in my jeans.

"What if I was moving, would you love me? What if I told you I lied to you, would you love me? If I told you I never had a girlfriend, would you love me? What if I had secrets, would you love me? How deep does you love for me run? Does it shimmer across the top, or does it go bone deep? What if I told you I didn't like girls, would you still love me? What if I told you- told you that I- I liked boys in-instead of girls, would you love me?"

I stutter, my Dad's glare boring into me, my remaining confidence leaking out. But I have to continue, I have to get this off my chest. "Does your love for me embrace me as I really am, or does it reject me because of what I am? If I told you that I was gay, would you love me? If I told you I dressed in women's clothing because it felt right to me, would you still love me? If I told you that I wasn't Angelo, but Angel, would you love me? If I told you that all I just said was true, would you still love me?"

"If I told—my voice halted and a tear slipped out my eye as pain erupted in my face, as my father punched me in my jaw. "ALEJANDRO!" my Mom yelled at my Dad, but I could see in her eyes, see that she was disgusted too. I winced as another impact from my Dad's fist punched me again on my cheek. I wince in pain, and another tear slips through my closed eyes. I stood there taking the pain, as he grabbed my arm roughly, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were alive with hate and something I knew well: homophobia. I just didn't expect it coming from my Dad.

"I WOULD NEVER LOVE A FAG LIKE YOU! YOU'RE NOT ANGELO, YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER FUCKING FAIRY! I COULD NEVER LOVE SOMEONE SO WRONG AND FILTHY AND DISGUSTING!" my Dad yelled at me, squeezing my slim arm in his hand til it hurt, before letting me go.

I looked at him with tears in my eyes as I said to his face, "What if I told you that I'd love you no matter what? What if I told you that I'd love you whether you accepted me or not? But I see now, Dad, that your love for me only shimmered on the top, never really bone deep. Your homophobia preventing you from really loving me, as I am. I love you. Goodbye."

I walked out of the front door, closing it behind me. The wind blew and cooled and dried my hot tears. The wind blowing through my red jacket. I walked down the street until I could no longer see the house. I was free. Angelo Rodriguez Dumott, the secretive, unwanted, fake person of a human being, was no more. Here, at this very moment began Angel Dumott Schunard, the fun-loving, out in the open, gay and proud drag queen. A person who loved everyone and anybody. 'World, get ready cause here I come' I thought to myself as I turned the corner, determine to move on, through heartbreak and trials life may give me, cause there's no day but today.