Chapter 2

Joanne knocked on the bathroom door, slowly it opened and Joanne walked into the bathroom where Maureen was leaning over the sink with her head down.

"Honeybear?"

"Is he gone?" Maureen quietly asked with out looking up.

Joanne walked in further, and placed a hand on Maureen's shoulder, but the diva flinched and pulled away. "Maureen?"

"Why…why did you invite him here?"

"I was only trying to-"

"Help?" Maureen asked, her head finally shooting up revealing a tear covered face. "You didn't help!"

I'm sorry…he seemed like a nice enough guy." Joanne stated.

"I don't want him here again." Maureen said firmly. "He is never to step foot in this apartment, or apartment building for that matter. You know what I don't want him even walking on the sidewalk in front of our building!"

"Maureen sweetie, what's wrong?" Joanne asked. "Did he do something-"

"I don't want to talk about it." Maureen cut her off, while brushing passed her, making her way into the bedroom.

Maureen stopped and turned around just in time to see Joanne enter the room. "I don't want him in your office either Joanne."

Joanne's face fell with concern, she never seen Maureen have so much hatred towards someone before. What was even more troubling was it was Maureen's own father.

"I don't even want him talking to you." Maureen stated.

"I can't really stop a man from doing anything…it's a free country Maureen."

"Well try!" Maureen said tightly.

"Maureen please tell me what's wrong…" Joanne said as she stepped closer, noticing her girlfriend was slightly shaking.

Maureen shook her head and then climbed into bed. "I'm tired."

Joanne sighed and watched as Maureen pulled the covers over her head; clearly Joanne wasn't going to get any answers from the stubborn diva, so she let the topic rest for the night and crawled in to bed next to Maureen.

It was the middle of the night when Joanne awoke to Maureen whimpering. Her body was tensing up, and tears were slowly coming out from her closed eyelids. Joanne quickly reached out and tired to wake Maureen.

"Maureen sweetie it's just a dream." Joanne calmly said.

"No…" Maureen whimpered.

"Come back to me…" Joanne said.

Maureen all of a sudden jolted awake, her eyes darting everywhere.

"Maureen?" Joanne said with concern. "It's okay you're with me."

Maureen looked towards Joanne, sweat glistening her body. "Jo?"

Before Joanne could ask any questions Maureen began crying and lunged herself towards the lawyer, her fingernails digging into Joanne's flesh, her face buried in her neck.

"It's okay." Joanne soothed while rubbing comforting circles on her back.

Eventually Maureen cried herself to sleep, her body curled against the lawyers. Joanne laid awake, she had never seen Maureen act like this, not in the entire three years they have been dating. Joanne could only assume it had something to do with Maureen's father, so if Maureen wasn't going to talk she was going to find out for herself.

The next day after work Joanne walked up the stairs to Collins apartment, the one person who knew Maureen better then anyone, and who has known her the longest. When she reached the door Angel welcomed her in with a bright smile, and led the lawyer into the small living room where Collins sat.

Collins stood up and gave Joanne a hug; they each took a seat when they pulled away.

"I'll go grab some drinks." Angel said and left the two alone.

"So what do you need to know about our lovable drama queen?" Collins grinned.

"I want to know about her father." Joanne said.

Collins' eyebrows knitted in confusion. "You already know him. I thought you meet both of her parents. Remember Maureen was mad because you three got a long so nicely."

Joanne nodded, but then shook her head. "Her real father."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Collins seriously said. "The entire time I knew Maureen I only ever met the one guy, the guy you met, her only father."

Joanne shook her head again. "That's not her real father. Her real one showed up at my work yesterday. He then came over so he could see Maureen after a long fifteen years, but when he showed up, Maureen freaked out and slammed the door in his face."

Angel walked in just in time to hear the story, his face full of confusion. "Wow…you think you know someone."

"I just don't understand why she didn't tell me about him." Joanne said. "Do you think Mark would know?"

Collins shrugged. "I don't know. I mean she tells me everything, every, everything. And if she didn't tell me, or you, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't tell Mark."

"I thought you and Mo were friends since the day you were born?" Angel asked with a small smile.

"It feels like it." Collins smirked. "But I didn't meet Mo until high school, grade ten. That was ten years ago, you said she hadn't seen her father in fifteen years. None of us knew Maureen fifteen years ago."

"Why won't she talk to me about it?" Joanne asked with fret. "She seems so scared all of a sudden, and I feel so helpless."

"You'll figure it out sweetie." Angel assured her. "Just give her time."