Felicity tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She caught sight of Mark, Maureen, and Joanne, and smiled as she approached the trio.
"Felicity?" Mark asked.
"Yes. You're Mark?" Mark and Felicity shook hands.
"This is Maureen and Joanne." Felicity shook Maureen and Joanne's hands.
"Nice to meet you," she said politely. Mark was glad that she had been raised with some manners.
"Well, why don't we go inside and get something to eat instead of standing out here?" Joanne suggested.
The foursome was seated at a small table in a corner by the window of the diner. A perky waitress came by, and took their drink orders.
"God, I wish they sold alcohol here," Maureen complained as soon as the waitress left.
"No alcohol Mo. Benny's going to be at the show tonight, and if you're completely wasted, he won't let you use the space again," Joanne said firmly. Maureen rolled her eyes.
"Benny lives with a stick up his ass now." Felicity laughed even though she didn't know who Benny was.
"I'm sorry," Joanne said to her. "Maureen doesn't know how to hold her tongue."
"It's coll. So you're my Mother's-"
"Partner. I've put up with her for a little over 12 years; right after you were born we met. I'm surprise I haven't gone insane yet." Felicity and Mark both laughed while Maureen pouted.
"That's cool. And you're a lawyer right?" Joanne chuckled this time.
"You certainly ask enough questions!"
"I like to know who I'm with."
"Yes, I'm a lawyer. It's really good that you ask questions. If you're anything like Maureen, you won't be afraid to hold back your questions."
During dinner, Felicity asked Mark and Maureen, "Have you found someone to adopt me yet?" Mark and Maureen looked at each other.
"We were talking, and we might be able to adopt you. Joanne's actually working on it for us," Mark replied. Felicity's face lit up right away.
"Really? That would be awesome!"
"It might take some work though," Joanne began. "Your parents gave up all their legal rights when you were born and they gave you up. For them to get you back isn't completely unheard of, it's just a little unusual. I have to get my hands on a little more paperwork, and we can get started."
"How long will that take?" Mark asked. Joanne paused to do a quick calculation in her head.
"About a month, give or take a week or two." A smiled was now plastered across Maureen's face when Joanne said this.
"Really Pookie? It'll be that quick to get custody?"
"I said, 'give or take a week or two', Maureen."
"So it could actually be sooner right?" Joanne rolled her eyes; there was no getting through to her was there? Felicity smiled, her Mother was so optimistic.
As everyone left the diner, Maureen asked, "Pookie, did you bring my outfit for the performance tonight?" Joanne groaned.
"I left it at home, sorry honey." Maureen swore under her breath, and Joanne pulled out her cell phone. "I'll call someone, and ask them to bring it by the performance space."
"Don't call Roger and Mimi, they wanted to spend some time together before the show," Mark said. Joanne stopped dialing, and cleared the phone number before dialing again.
"Angel? It's Joanne," she said into the phone. "It went good. I actually have a huge favor to ask you. I left Maureen's outfit in a bag at our place. You will? We'll be at the tent city in half an hour. Thanks! Bye." Joanne hung up her phone, and turned to Maureen. "Angel's going to drop your outfit off at the performance space." Maureen nodded, and went back to her conversation with Felicity.
Alphabet City was a whole new experience to Felicity. She looked around in complete awe. She had never been exposed to such an area of New York City before.
"Keep up Felicity," Joanne said as the foursome walked down the filthy street. "The performance space is right here." Past the groups of homeless people outside the performance space was Angel leaning casually against the door with a brown paper bag in hand. She was wearing her signature black platform shoes and bob wig, black tights, a hot pink pleather skirt, and her red jacket.
"Thank you so much Angel!" announced Maureen as she threw her arms around the drag queen.
"Anytime." Angel caught sight of Felicity, and her face lit up. "You must be Felicity. I'm Angel." Angle extended her hand. Felicity smiled weakly, and shook it.
"Felicity Carlisle. It's nice to meet you."
Joanne looked at her watch and said, "Mo, you should probably get changed. Mark, could you help me make sure the sound system works?" Mark shrugged.
"Sure, why not?" he said.
"I'll see you all later after the show, bye!" Angel announced as she left.
"Here Felicity, you can come with me," Maureen said as she began to pull Felicity to a side door.
"Umm, I guess I'll see you both later," she called over her shoulder.
Maureen led Felicity down a dimly lit hallway to a sole door at the end. Maureen opened the door revealing a room with a single table and mirror. She tossed the paper bag Angel had brought on the table and sighed.
"So Angel's a-" Felicity started. Maureen laughed.
"Drag queen. You know, girl trapped in a guy's body type thing. She's damn proud of it, and Mimi's proud of her too."
"Mimi?"
"Angel's
best friend. She and Collins would defend Angel, but Angel
would beat anyone who gives her grief about it to a pulp."
"God, I've lived such a sheltered life. Hey Mom, I mean Maureen, have you ever wondered what life would have been like if you had kept me?" Maureen seemed startled when Felicity called her "mom". She was far from a motherly figure, and everyone knew it.
"Whenever I got in a fight with Joanne for some reason. Also, on your birthday, and when I saw a Mother and daughter together." Maureen turned around, and quickly changed into her deep green shirt. She pulled on camouflage pants, and her black combat boots. She did a quick turn for Felicity.
"How do I look?"
"You look hot!" Felicity stopped. Both girls burst out laughing. "I can't believe I just said that about my Mom!" Maureen swung her arm over Felicity's shoulder.
"I'm a cool Mom though, so you can say whatever the hell you want about me; jus so long as it's good."
Felicity broke free of Maureen's grip, and stood in front of the mirror staring at her reflection. Maureen wrapped her arms around her daughter, and kissed the top of her head softly.
"What's wrong sweetie?" she asked quietly. Felicity quickly wiped away her tears.
"As long as I can remember, I've been shuttled from place to place," she said. "To suddenly have my real parents is a little surreal. Most kids aren't this lucky."
"I hope you're not getting all emotional on me. Ask Joanne, I wear my emotions on my sleeve." Felicity smiled, and gave Maureen a hug. "Come on, I'll take you out to Mark for the show."
Maureen's shows were becoming increasingly more popular. The performance was set to start in forty-five minutes, and the area was already about half full. Mark was talking to Joanne who was operating the spotlight again.
"You ready for the show baby?" Joanne asked from her perch when she caught sight of Maureen. Maureen shrugged.
"Guess so. Are we going to the Life tonight?" Mark shook his head.
"They deserve a night off. We'll be twice as loud next week to make up for it," he replied. "Besides, we have Felicity with us."
"Oh no, I don't mind going out after the show tonight!" Felicity exclaimed eagerly.
"I don't think so young lady. Your foster parents wouldn't like it," said Mark. Felicity began to pout.
"But you're my real parents!"
"Doesn't matter. You're just like your Mother when you pout."
"Watch it mister," Maureen said firmly.
Joanne called down,
"Mo, you better get backstage. I'll meet you after the show.
Love you."
"Love you too." Maureen waved and retreated
backstage. Just as she left, Collins, Angel, Roger, and Mimi all
arrived. Felicity took a deep breath. She was about to meet the
rest of her parents' friends.
A/N: Guess what! I have a title for the sequel to Hey Mister, She's My Sister! Thanks to Laurel Ducky who, yet again, helped me with the title. It's called In Truths That She Learned, and it's my next fan fiction to work on. The votes are in, and my decision made about ITTSL, and if you don't like it, and you didn't vote, that is so not my fault you should have voted! Much love, this story has a few more chapters left. Any ideas to the sequel to Off-Camera (called Off-Set, thanks to you guessed it…Laurel Ducky) are gladly welcome. I'll give you one hint; it involves a new "project" of sorts. Guesses are also welcome (I find them entertaining). Much love, and until next time!
Tina101
