Disclaimer: I don't own I RENT.
A/N: Review if you want. Flames don't bother me and they will be ignored.
Maureen Johnson grabbed Joanne Jefferson's hand just before her lover walked out the door.
"Pookie, I'm sorry. I was just being friendly, please don't leave me again" said Maureen, the only thing hiding her heartache was her incredible acting skills.
"And if I stay, you'll do it again and again. I don't need this, Maureen" said Joanne, pulling away from Maureen
Maureen was speechless for once in her life, she just stared at Joanne. She was nothing without that beautiful woman in her life, nothing made sense without her. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep, she couldn't live. Why did she get herself in these situations? She didn't have to flirt back with that waitress; she could've just ignored her. She could feel her heart breaking with every breath she took.
Joanne couldn't believe what she was about to do. Was she really going to leave the woman she loved so much behind? Yes, because she had too for Maureen's sake. She only pretended to be mad so Maureen wouldn't see how much pain she was in. It wasn't because Maureen was flirting again that made her want to leave, she couldn't stand to be there when Maureen found someone new. She didn't want to be there when Joanne found someone better. She didn't want to know she wasn't good enough for Maureen. Joanne was leaving for Santa Fe tomorrow, and she wasn't telling anybody.
Maureen knew what she had to do to make Joanne stay. She had to tell her how she really felt about her, remove the secure mask she always wore and reveal her heart to Joanne.
Joanne's hand was on the doorknob, and she was turning it when she felt Maureen's hand on her shoulder.
"Joanne wait-"she said, gripping her shoulder.
"What?" she asked, turning around
"Joanne, I love you" the pain that Maureen had struggled to keep hidden broke free. She was openly sobbing as she looked at Joanne. "I'm nothing without you, please Joanne- I love you. You mean everything to me"
Joanne stared at Maureen, her own eyes overflowing with tears. And it was then that she realized Maureen would never be perfect and neither would she. But she was willing to forget that. And all it took was three words
"I love you too Maureen" she whispered and kissed her girlfriend.
"You're not leaving?" Maureen asked a couple of minutes later after the kiss ended.
"No, I'm not. I can't bear to even think about life without you and I'm sorry I'm so paranoid. I just can't stand the idea of you finding someone better than me, I can't stand not being good enough for you" the lawyer said as she wrapped her arms around Maureen.
"Pookie, you'll always be good enough for me and it's my fault. I shouldn't have flirted with that waitress. I'm sorry" she drama queen whispered as she pressed herself against Joanne
Joanne ran her fingers through Maureen's messy hair, sighing contently at the feeling of her lover's body against her own. "Maureen?" she whispered, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Yes pookie?" said Maureen, looking up at the lawyer.
Joanne couldn't believe she was about to ask Maureen this. What if things went wrong like last time? What if Maureen didn't really love her? No. Maureen did love her, or she wouldn't have said she did. Joanne wanted this more than anything. She wanted Maureen more than anything.
"Maureen. Will you marry me?" she asked, a fresh river of tears flowing down her cheeks.
Maureen was momentarily lost for words. She stared at Joanne, her heart pounding and her mind racing. "Y-Yes" she said, her voice choked.
Joanne looked into Maureen's eyes, her own were glistening with tears of joy. She held Maureen closer to her. She could honestly say she had never been more happy or more in love than she was now.
