Title: Will It Be Me?
Author: Megan Faye
Rated: Teen/R
Disclaimer: I don't own Rent or NBC's Kristin. And yes, I know that Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel aren't sleeping together, and they never have or will. This is fanfiction only!
Maureen had cleaned the apartment as though an obsessive compulsive neat-freak lived there. Mark's Alcove even had new sheets on the bed. She smiled as she looked around at the place, proud of herself. She even picked up dinner from an Italian place near her auditions that afternoon.
"Maureen, sweetie, we're home!" Called the soft voice. Maureen smiled to herself, looked in the bathroom mirror once more before she stepped into the living room.
"Hey, baby!" Maureen said as Kristin kissed her cheek.
"Maureen, this my mom, Jeannie Yancy."
"Hi," Maureen said, reaching out a hand.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Maureen Johnson," Kristin started. "My girlfriend."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Yancy."
"Charmed." Jeannie breezed past, leaving Maureen's open hand. "I liked your other apartment better."
"I thought you were going to be supportive."
"And then I saw the neighborhood you live in."
"Mom, I love the people here, I love Maureen, and I love you. I found a church that can accept my relationship, and I'm happy." Her mother sighed.
"I'm trying, honey. I was hoping for more grandchildren-"
"It's not impossible. My cousin, Kate, and her life partner have three children." Jeannie shot a glare at her. Kristin held her breath as Maureen set her jaw.
"I don't believe I asked you."
"Hang on a minute here. You are Kristin's mother, and I am her girlfriend. The last thing we should be doing is fighting. I won't fight with you. Not in Kristin's home. Not in my home. Either we learn to get along, or I can hail a cab for you. There will be no fighting. Not in this apartment." Her voice was soft, but very commanding, and almost daring.
There was dead silence for a few moments.
"I like a girl who knows what to believe in." Kristin let herself breathe.
"Mama, we set you up in the guest alcove."
"I'm going to the corner to pick up milk," Maureen said, pulling on her jacket. As soon as the door slid closed, Kristin pulled her mother into the alcove.
"Mom, I would like you to know one or two things. These pictures are very precious, and they are irreplaceable. She's the only one in this picture who is still alive. Joanne," she started, pointing to the slim black woman; "Joanne was her life-partner. She died of cancer ten years ago. Mark was hit by a truck about two years ago. Angel and Collins were partners, and both died of AIDS. Angel got it from an ex, and Collins got it from a blood transfusion in the eighties. Roger and Mimi were together, and they also died of AIDS. He got it from his girlfriend, who got it from a needle, and Mimi got it from a man she dated before Roger."
"Kristin, are you two going to be safe?"
"Maureen doesn't have AIDS. She's never done drugs through a needle, hasn't been with anyone since Joanne died, and before Joanne, it was Mark. Only Mark. She was tested when she went to donate bone marrow to Joanne, and is completely clean. She was a big flirt, but never.......never went to bed with her flirty friends. Joanne was always paranoid, because Maureen cheated on Mark with Joanne." Kristin's mother rubbed her forehead and sat on the bed. "We're honest about our mistakes."
"And you can be happy with her mistakes?"
"I'm happy with her, Mom." Jeannie wrapped her arms around her daughter.
"This isn't the life I wanted for you, baby girl. But I don't get to make the choices for you. Kristi, I do not like this, and I want you to be with a man.
But if this is your choice, if this is what you know in your heart is right, I can be supportive."
"Baby," Maureen called into the apartment. Kristin's eyes sparkled as she smiled at the sound of Maureen's voice.
"I finished making the salad, and the lasagna is ready."
"Thanks. Milk?" Kristin pulled three glasses from the drying rack and
Maureen started pouring.
"Do you have a glass of wine?" Jeannie asked.
"Oh, I quit drinking as a New Year's resolution, and since Kristin doesn't either, we don't keep any in the house," Maureen said, glancing over her shoulder. Kristin's mother smiled. "Kris, why do I feel like I just passed a test?"
"I think you just did," Kristin whispered, touching her arm for a moment before bringing the milk to the table.
"Kristi, I haven't seen your room yet." Jeannie placed her dishes in the sink and looked around.
"Full tour; This is the kitchen and dining room. You've seen the living room and Mark's alcove." Kristin led her mother to the lone bedroom, with its small bathroom.
"Is this yours or hers?"
"Ours." Jeannie stared at her daughter a moment. "Mom-"
"I assumed you had your own room, Kristin. I knew you lived together, but you share a room? A Bed? No!"
"But Mama," Kristin started.
"No." Jeannie turned on a heal and stormed into the alcove. "I can be supportive of this to a certain point. You, living with a woman. You, in love with a woman. But you are living with her, sharing a bed, and you are not married!"
"It's not-"
"You have a church, get married there. Married, joined, something with a freakin' ring! As long as that finger is naked, YOU SHOULDN'T BE!" She picked up her bags and started for the door. "Kristin, this can't happen. I can not support this. You need to be whatever is the equivalent of married if you are going to live here the way you are." She turned and left the building.
There was a long silence after the door slid shut with a loud thud.
"We could-"
"Maureen," she warned. "We are not getting joined to please my mother." Kristin sank onto the couch. Before she could let the first sob escape, Maureen's arms were around her. She cried into Maureen's shoulder.
"I was only going to suggest that we could go to your church on Sunday, and ask advice from the minister there. I'm certain that he's dealt with couples in our situation before."
"Really?" she sniffled
"Really. I'll even wear a skirt."
Tyrique, Tommy's bicycle messnger, knocked on the office door. When Aldo called him in, he glanced around the office.
"Where's Kristin?"
"Eh, her mother's flying in tonight," Aldo said, sitting at Tommy's desk.
"Meeting Maureen?" the black man asked.
"Yeah."
"Oh, that's not gonna go well. I can tell you that right now," he said. "I know how my mama would react. And this ain't going to be pretty. Give these to Tommy." Tyrique put a packet of papers on the desk.
"Thanks," Aldo said, opening the packet as Tyrique left. He flipped through them, only looking up when he heard the door open. "Tyrique dropped these off for you.
"Perfect."
"Tommy....we gotta talk."
"About?"
"About my brother."
"What about him? Come to think of it, I didn't even know you had a brother."
"I don't."
"So you lied to Kristin?"
"Not entirely. I lied to you." Tommy stared at Aldo for a moment.
"You're gay?"
"March in the parades and everything." Tommy stared at Aldo again. "I haven't officially come out yet, but I'm gay, have a boy friend, and we're pretty happy together. I want you to meet him."
"You're gay and you didn't tell me?"
"Look, it isn't easy-" Aldo started.
"I'm your best friend. You didn't trust me?"
"I didn't trust me, Tommy! I just met Jack last summer, and we started
dating two months ago. It's getting serious, and I really.....I care about him,
Tommy."
"So, what? Dinner? Lunch tomorrow? When do I meet this guy?"
"You're cool with this?"
"Aldo, you're like a brother to me. How could I be okay with Kristin, and not okay with you? If anything, Kristin is a little bit more to wrap my head around. Even after three months, I just have a hard time with that. I totally didn't see it coming, you know? She's too...Goody-goody to be a lesbian." Aldo shrugged. "I don't know why it is confusing. I'm happy for her, I just can't figure it ....I can see it."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Aldo asked defensively. Tommy thought for a moment.
"You're better at shopping than most guys."
"Hey! Watch it!"
"This from the guy who picks out most of my suits?" Tommy asked.
"Whatever."
"So, when?" Tommy asked, opening his calender.
"He's on a business trip in Seattle right now, but he'll be back in a couple of weeks."
"Fine. I still say the shopping should have given it away months ago," Tommy said, glancing over at his friend.
Author's Note: Sorry I'm posting a little slow; life is in the way. Thanks to my Beta for her patience! I-Stalk-Espinosa-xo, you helped so much! uRock.