A/N: hi everyone, thanks for your reviews! They make me really happy so please keep them up! Here is part 2. This fic may be a bit confusing to read because it has 3 parts, each from a different POV, but i promise it will all make sense at the end of it. I hope that once you'll read the three parts together things will be a bit more clear. Read on, you guys. Feedback is more than welcome :)

Part 2

She hurried up the stairs and along the hall. She entered the first room she located open, and closed the door behind her. She turned around to take a look at the room. It looked pretty much like the one she had just stormed out from, only a bit smaller, and minus the billiard table. There were book shelves all over, and a fireplace with no fire. There was a sofa along one wall, and three leather armchairs in front of the fireplace. The room had a magnificent view to the gardens. She knew from her father, an old member of this club, that it was famous for its rose gardens. She remembered wandering around down there as a kid when her parents were busy with their friends, playing Bridge or whatnot. She lingered near the window for a moment, just observing the flowers, calming down. Then she noticed a familiar figure that was making its way through the bushes until it got to a bench that was hidden behind them. She huffed in discontent and pulled the heavy curtains over the window.

She had crossed the line. It was final; they were through. She had never felt more humiliated. How could she do that? How could she say all those things, in front of all those people? How could she flirt with someone else on the day of their engagement? She shouldn't have been surprised, she knew. Actually, she was surprised that they got that far with that charade. She was so certain that Maureen would back away at some point before all that, before their actual party that made things official. It wasn't a big secret that she flirted with anyone and anything in her closest radius, so it was really only a matter of time. But why the hell did she have to do that with all those people around? With her parents right there?

She didn't want to see her ever again. She didn't want to hear from her. As far as she was concerned, her relationship with Miss Maureen Johnson was history. She definitely had enough of it. She just needed to get her life back on track, that safe, familiar track of work and routine. Everything seemed to be so peaceful up until the moment Maureen stormed into her life. More or less the same way she had just stormed out of it. Why did she always have to be so damn full of drama?

She remembered that first night, the first time they met. She had just won an important case and went out celebrating with her colleagues. She really didn't feel like going anywhere that night, being stressed and tired because of the trial and all that, but somehow they managed to drag her to a recently opened bar that was very close to their office. Maureen was their waitress. There was something about her. She couldn't tell exactly what it was, but it was there, and it kept her distracted all evening. Eventually, when they left, she stayed behind her friends and slipped her a piece of paper with her phone number. She had never done anything like that. She wasn't sure what made her do it that time. Pure impulse, possibly. It was so unlike her.

Maureen smiled. That slow, seductive smile that could drive anyone crazy. She carefully folded the piece of paper and stuck it into the cleavage of her black tank top, giving her a wicked wink. It took her a couple of days, but eventually she called. They met in a coffee house close to her office and talked for hours. They had nothing in common. Only that strong attraction to one another. It seemed to be enough.

She first met Mark on Christmas. Up until then she only heard of him. Maureen broke up with him the month before and moved in with her. Although she was kind of afraid to meet her lover's ex, Mark turned out to be a really nice boy. He really didn't look like someone Maureen could keep up a relationship with for so long. Actually, and she hated to admit it at first, he was very much like her.

She wasn't sure if he told her everything he did because he was jealous and heartbroken, or because it was the truth. Was Maureen really that unfaithful? If she was, how was it possible that he stayed with her for such a long time? She knew they were together for over a year. Maureen seemed to be a kind of a flirt, but what harm was in flirting? Could it be that Mark simply was awfully paranoid? Should she believe everything he said about Maureen, or should she just forget about it?

But she couldn't forget about it. Ever since that Christmas day, Mark's warnings kind of haunted her. She started noticing things, small things, she didn't notice before. Maureen loved her, she was sure of that, but she just couldn't stay focused on their relationship. She flirted endlessly when they hung out in bars and clubs, but it never got too far, mostly because she was always around, making sure she wouldn't do anything foolish. But there were times when she couldn't stay on guard, like that one time when they had their appointment with Alexi at Buzzline. She knew Maureen flirted with the secretary only to piss her off, because she was forced to stay behind, but she was still furious with her about doing it. She really wasn't sure how the whole issue of commitment came up that day. She surely didn't expect Maureen to accept it so peacefully. She should have known better. Her behavior during the party was the last straw. She couldn't do the Tango anymore. She was sick and tired of it.

Take me, baby, or leave me. This threat, because obviously, this was what Maureen meant it to be, repeated itself over and over in her head like a broken record. Could she really leave? It surely didn't feel as if she could. It felt more as if she was losing either way. Well, maybe not losing, exactly, but she surely wasn't winning either way. It felt strange. She wasn't used for losing. Not in her own personal life anyway.

She sighed. Impossible. No matter how hard she tried to clear her mind off Maureen, she just couldn't do that. Her thoughts just kept drifting away to her. There was no way she could shake her off. It felt as if Maureen was everywhere. She took over her completely. She owed her mind, her heart, her soul. Would she ever let her go?

She wondered if that was how Mark always felt. They never spoke about it; she didn't dare asking, and he didn't dare speaking with her about her lover. But nonetheless, it was obvious that he still had feelings for Maureen. Anyone could see that. Was that how it started for Mark when Maureen left him? Was that how she would eventually to end up?

She had no idea what she should do next. Should she try and kick Maureen out of her life? Did she even want to? No matter what had just passed between them, so couldn't deny her love for that crazy, melodramatic diva. It was impossible to hate her. Could she possibly change her? Did she even want to change her? She loved her the way she was, she really did, but she was just impossible at times. She wasn't used being out of control. Apparently, so did Maureen.

"Kitten?"

She turned at the sound of the familiar voice. Her father stood at the doorway, looking concerned. She didn't even hear him when he got there. "Hi Daddy."

He entered the room and closed the door behind him. He sat on the couch and looked at her enquiringly. "Is everything okay? People have been looking for you."

"I'm okay, I'm just…" her voice trailed off. She sighed. She knew she could tell her father everything. They were always so close. She knew that he adored her. So did her mother, but she could be so damn over-protective sometimes, it drove her crazy. Mark laughed at her once, when she was complaining about it. He said that it sounded so much like his own mom, that maybe she was secretly Jewish.

As if feeling her uncertainty, he smiled and patted the seat beside him. "Come here, Kitten, sit with me."

She did as she was told and sat beside him on the couch. She laid her head on his shoulder. She was tired and upset. Why did it have to end up like that? Why couldn't her life turn out the way she wanted for a change?

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really, Dad."

"Alright, so we'll just sit and enjoy the silence," said her father, only half jokingly.

She didn't feel like laughing. "How could she do that?"

Her father looked at her seriously. "Maybe she was scared."

"Of what?"

"Maybe it was the first time she realized what she was doing, once she saw all those people. It might have made her fears surface. Maybe she's not ready."

She frowned. She hated it when he talked as if he was at work. "Dad, don't use this terminology on me, I'm not one of your patients."

"All I'm saying, Kitten, is that maybe you just have to give her time to get used to the idea."

"She had enough time to-"

"It will never work unless you compromise. This is exactly what I thought would happen the first time your mother and I met Maureen."

"Yeah? Well, it could have been nice if you warned me before I got myself publicly humiliated," she said bitterly.

"I thought it would be better for you to handle things your own way. Having one over-protective parent is enough," he said winking. She laughed in spite of herself. He looked at her seriously. "Maureen is wonderful. But just as you need to be in constant control over your life, so does she. You'll just need to find a way to work this out."

"Maybe," she shrugged. She wasn't even sure if she wanted anymore. Maybe she should just forget it. Well, try to forget it. Maybe Maureen was just not the right one for her.

As if he felt her sudden lack of confidence, her father took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze. "Don't give up on that, Kitten. Not if you feel this is right."

"I don't know how I feel anymore," she confessed. It felt strange. Sure, she could tell her father everything, but she was never that open with him regarding her feelings and relationships. It just felt kind of awkward.

He shook his head. "You're just confused. But I'm sure you didn't move from love to hate that quickly. You two just need some time apart, to think it over. Give her time, Joanne." He caressed her cheek gently. "I'll give you some time to think about it. Do you need a ride back home?"

"Yeah, that'll be great." She thought about asking him how was Maureen, but then she thought better of it. Maybe they did need some time away from one another.

He got up. "Alright, I'll come to get you when we're leaving. One of your friends gave your jacket to your mother."

"Okay. Thanks."

He looked at her for a moment, and smiled slowly. "Everything will be okay, Kitten," he said, leaning to kiss her forehead.

She returned his smile, but only barely. "I hope so, Daddy."

When the door was closed and she was alone, she slowly moved towards the window. She drew back the curtains and looked out. Maureen was still sitting there, on the bench in the garden. It looked as if she didn't move since she noticed her when she first looked out. She had her hands on her knees and her head between them. Not too far from there, the guys were leaving. They didn't seem to know Maureen was close by; that is except for Mark who turned to look back. Roger stopped walking and turned to give him a look, but Mark just shrugged and said something she couldn't hear. He hesitated for a moment, and then followed them out of the club's grounds.

Her gaze followed them until they disappeared from her sight. Then it shifted back to Maureen. It was strange to see her like that. She looked defeated, weak, vulnerable. She looked real. Exposed from drama. Suddenly she saw her lover in a whole new light. Somehow, she seemed less diva and more human. This was the side she always knew Maureen had, but never was able to uncover it.

Maybe her father was right. She just had to give her time. Everything would be okay. Take me baby, or leave me. Now she knew she wasn't going to leave.