oh my gosh, i'm so very sorry it has taken so long for me to update this. hadn't realized how long it has been. but i did make this one a longer since you were all so patient and it took so long. i hope you like it.

(Maureen's POV)

I just stood there for a second, which seemed like a lifetime, watching as Kristin had her hands all over my girlfriend's body; her lips pressed firmly against Joanne's. What in the hell? Is this woman asking to be killed. Because that's exactly what is going to happen to her.

I rushed over, pushing Kristin away from Joanne and right into the wall. And without missing a beat, my fists started pounding into her face. I could faintly hear Joanne yelling for me to stop and even felt her trying to pull at my arms, but somehow they just continued to pound into Kristin. Somehow my hands weren't even hurting; the adrenaline was too much. But I could see the blood and bruises already appearing on Kristin's face. I then felt Joanne's arms completely engulf me, pulling me back towards her, holding me tightly against her. My body gave in, collapsing, thankfully Joanne was there to hold me up. I watched as Kristin's body slid down the wall. She was bleeding from her nose and mouth and both of her eyes were already bruised. I turned around in Joanne's arms, now just crying into her shoulder.

"Baby, I'm sorry," I cried, "please don't hate me." I had let my temper get to me; but I had seriously had enough of Kristin. She had pushed me far enough and I snapped. But I had tried telling her to back off, so did Joanne…she just wouldn't listen so then I just did what I knew would make her stop.

"Shh," Joanne was rubbing my back, still holding me just as close to her body, "I don't hate you baby, I love you," she reassured me. "It's ok." I slowly looked up into Joanne's eyes, those gorgeous brown eyes staring right back into mine. "I love you," she whispered; which caused me to genuinely smile for the first time tonight.

"Your ass is mine Maureen Johnson," I heard from behind me. I slowly turned around to see Kristin slowly standing, staring at the blood on her hands. "I'm pressing charges," she firmly told me. "And after that Joanne won't be able to have you even if she wanted you." My heart sunk at the realization of what Kristin was telling me.

"I do want her. And nothing is going to happen to her." Joanne fired back. "Come on baby, we are going home." Joanne said as she reached down grabbing hold of my hand leading me out of the restaurant.

This has to be without a doubt the worse dinner I've ever had.

(Joanne's POV)

Once we had made it home, I helped Maureen into bed and got her some ice for her swelling hands. She was still a little shaken up by what had happened and even more what Kristin had told her. I tried to reassure her that nothing was going to happen to her, that I wouldn't let it; that Kristin was nothing but a bunch of talk…that nothing would stick in court even if it got that far. Honestly I knew though that if Kristin did press charges and pushed it that Maureen could face some charges…maybe some fines or even some minimal jail time, but no problem I could post bail for her and hopefully keep her out. I honestly doubt Kristin will press charges though; she's a lot of talk when it comes to stuff like this.

I laid next to Maureen cuddled up beside her until she feel asleep. I quietly got up, walking into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of wine and curling up with a book on the couch. So much has happened that I couldn't sleep. I was wide-awake and needed to escape reality for a bit…the reason for reading. However, it wasn't working very well. I just kept thinking about seeing how upset Maureen had gotten. Kristin's words hurt her so bad…and I hated Kristin even more for that. I should have never taken Maureen with me. I should have just handled Kristin on my own. Maureen didn't deserve that. We have literally just got back together and I have her dealing with my ex-girlfriend. I kept hearing Kristin calling Maureen a bitch and a whore. Maureen has obviously not been truly happy for the past five years…according to her, because I wasn't with her. And now she has me back and look what I've caused…she is still now unhappy. She's having to put up with so much shit because of me. I wonder if she feels it's worth it. "I am worth it to her," I said quietly out loud.

"You're worth the world to me," I turned around to see Maureen standing behind me. Our eyes locked gaze as she slowly walked over towards me, bending down beside me. "Joanne I love you and I'd do anything to stay with you," she said grabbing hold of my hands, gently kissing both my hands, her eyes never leaving mine.

I sighed, "I'm sorry baby."

"For what?"

"For making you put up with Kristin. For putting you in the middle of our fight."

"Joanne, I want to be there for you, I want to help you. I love you." She smiled as I moved over allowing her to sit beside me on the couch. "As long as I get you."

I leaned towards her, gently kissing Maureen's lips. Upon releasing her, I leaned my forehead over to lean against hers, "I love you so much Maureen Johnson," I whispered.

"I love you too," she responded, kissing me as she pushed me onto my back on the couch, laying on top of me. Our hands began roaming and everything that I was worried about only 20 minutes ago was immediately pushed aside. All my attention on Maureen and her hands and her lips and her curves and her eyes and her all.

(Maureen's POV)

For the past week, things between Joanne and I have been beyond perfect. We haven't heard from Kristin so that in itself was good. But Joanne and I were constantly happy…somehow even if we argued. And that's another thing, we argued but never fought like we used to. Our whole relationship was so romantic, so sweet. I spent every day thinking about her, wanting to be near here, thinking how I could make her happy, how I could let her know how happy I was, how much I loved her, how I was thinking about her.

Joanne had found her own apt now. She was living in the West Village now. Which wasn't too far from my place, but it wasn't may place so it was too far. However, we still saw each other at least once a day. And quite often one of us would spend up spending the night at the other's place. I found out though by her neighbor that the apt building was only a month-to-month lease…so it gave me some hope that we wouldn't have separate places for too long.

(Joanne's POV)

I was sitting at my apartment waiting on Maureen to get there. We were suppose to be having a pizza and movie night together. Then I'm figuring she'd stay the night…at least I was hoping she would stay the night. I had found an apartment with only a month-to-month lease; I didn't Maureen this because I didn't want to give her any sort of false hope of us moving in together soon. But I could already tell after this month, I'd be asking Maureen to find a place with me…because I hate the nights she's not in my bed.

Kristin hasn't called me but once since the whole ordeal at the restaurant. It was only two days later. She was calling because she was wanting to press charges on Maureen for basically kicking her ass. Maureen had pretty much dismantled her face. Both of her eyes bruised and her jaw and nose both broken. Damn my baby is a strong bad ass. Kristin only agreed to drop the charges if I would meet her for dinner, just me. And against my better judgment I agreed. I just wanted to get this whole situation over and done with. So I went and met her just last night. I told Maureen I was working; it was the first time I had lied to her since she had come back into my life. I hated myself for it. But I truly thought it was the best for us if I dealt with it on my own and we moved on.

"Thanks for coming Joanne," Kristin politely greeted me as I walked into the restaurant in the midtown that she had chosen.

"What do you want Kristin?" I was trying to remain calm, but I just kept replaying in my mind what had happened at our last meeting.

"Ok, so listen please. I want you back. I love you with all my heart and soul Joanne. We are so good for each other. I thought we had the perfect relationship. During all the time we were dating you never mentioned still having feelings for Maureen. The only thing you have mentioned about her was how much you hated her and how much she had hurt you. So how could you so quickly run back into her arms? And just leave me, the girlfriend who never hurt you, who never cheated on you, or flirted with anyone else. I always put you first in our relationship…I was always thinking about you and how to make you happy. Didn't I make you happy?" she sat across from me, nearly in tears. She was pouring her heart out to me.

"Kristin," I sighed, "as much as Maureen did hurt me, I love her. And just for the record I don't think she ever did cheat on me…ever. She's so passionate about everything…especially me. And that's what makes me so drawn to her, her energy, her love for life and me. I know she'd do anything for me."

"So would I," she interrupted.

"But for different reasons. Maureen does things for me to do it because she feels it. You do things because you feel as though you have to or need to so that I wouldn't be unhappy with our relationship. Maureen loves me in the most honest ways."

We both just sat there in silence for a while. I think she was actually realizing that I wasn't coming back to her…I hope she was anyway. Our dinners came and still we barely spoke to each other. Our bill finally came and she quickly picked it up, telling me it was her treat.

We both walked out of the restaurant; standing on the corner just staring at each other, neither sure of what to say. But I finally got the nerve to bring up what I wanted to the entire evening.

"Kristin, what are you going to do about pressing charges?"

She stared at the ground, "nothing. I probably deserved it," she laughed. "I'm sorry Joanne," she looked back up at me. "I truly do hope that you and Maureen make it this time. And she better take care of you," she playfully joked, "or I'll come after her."

I smiled at her, leaning over hugging her, "thank you Kristin."

"I'll always love you Joanne," she lightly kissed my cheek pulling away from me. "Goodbye." And with that she hailed a cab and was gone.

I decided to walk home that evening. True it was quite a long walk, but I needed to clear my head and it was nice out, so I didn't mind. I couldn't believe she had just let it all go like that. But in some sense I guess it didn't surprise me so much…Kristin was typically, until more recently, always very calm and level-headed about situations. I was truly going to miss having her in my life…after all she had been my life for the past three years.

"Hey baby," I softly said as I answered my phone. "Where are you?" I asked.

"I'm home, I know you said you had to work but I missed you. Just wanted to call and say I love you," Maureen's voice was so sweet. I absolutely loved hearing her tell me she loved me.

"I love you too baby."

"Earth to Joanne," I heard Maureen yelling as she sat down the pizza and movie on the table. "Joanne!"

"Oh hey. Sorry." I stood up, grabbing hold of her, kissing her hello. "What movie did you get?"

"I got Dirty Dancing."

"Baby, we've seen that a million times," I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"I know," she smirked, "that's why I got it. Figured if it was a movie we've seen we wouldn't mind missing out on part of the movie." She got this huge smile on her face as she pulled me close against her, firmly pressing her lips against mine. This was perfect and how it was suppose to be.

so what did you think? liked it, hated it...tell me. so i'm thinking next chapter will be the last chapter. just a guess...but probably will be. thanks for reading.