The time periods change in this story...it will say Flashback to notify you, and i will also post the date.
I own nothing!
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Bittersweet Memory
Chapter 1
June 25 2007
Joanne stood in her bedroom pulling a sweater over her head when she heard a yell from the living room.
"Mom!" her daughter called out.
Joanne straightened her sweater and emerged from the bedroom to see her 11-year-old daughter looking through a shoebox full of pictures.
"Yes Lilly?"
The girl looked towards her mom and held up a picture. "Who are these people?"
Joanne stood at the end of the living room and squinted her eyes to try and make out the faces. Shortly after Lilly pulled the picture down and studied it some more.
"The only people I recognize are Uncle Mark, Uncle Benny and Aunt Alison." Lilly replied. "And who is that chick sitting on your lap? Mommy will definitely not be happy. Also why isn't Aunt Lucy in this picture with you guys?"
Joanne walked to the couch and took the picture from her daughter's hand. She looked it over and memories flooded her mind. Joanne traced the figure sitting on her lap; it wasn't long until she was brought back into reality.
"MOM!" Lilly shouted as she took the picture back.
Joanne shook her head clear. "They're some old friends."
Lilly then turned the picture over and read the writing on the back. "Mark, Benny, Alison, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Angel, Honeybear, and I at the Life Café. Year 1992."
She turned the photo back over before looking at Joanne stating, "What the hell is a honeybear?"
"Lilly! Please watch what you say." Joanne said as she snatched the picture back.
"Sorry, I just want to know what a honeybear is." She said.
Before the lawyer could say anything the apartment door opened up and in walked Joanne's wife.
"Mommy, I think mom is cheating on you!" Lilly said playfully.
The brunette put her things down and joined them on the couch. "She is?"
Joanne shook her head. "I'm not cheating on you."
"Then can you please explain that chick in your lap?" Lilly asked.
Sarah sat down next to Joanne and took the picture from her. "She's cute, who is she? And who are the other people? Do you Benny, Alison, and Mark have another life?"
Joanne let a small smile spread across her lips. "You two ask to many questions."
"Excuse me for wanting to know who is getting all friendly with my wife." Sarah said while setting the picture back in the shoebox.
"It's a long story." Joanne said.
"It's a Friday night, know one has school or work tomorrow, and we are all free." Sarah said while eyeing her daughter. "Aren't we Lilly?"
Lilly smiled and nodded. "Yes we are mommy!"
Joanne sighed and fell against the couch. "Well I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on please, don't make me beg." Sarah said while reaching for the phone. "Or I can always call Mark, I know he will tell me."
"Don't call Mark." Joanne said. "I'll tell you."
The lawyer reached for the picture and gazed at it for a bit.
"Any day now." Lilly said.
"Well, those are my friends, and the girl sitting on my lap…
"Honeybear?" Lilly asked.
Joanne smiled. "Yes honeybear, who would also be known as Maureen. That would be my girlfriend…or I guess she was my girlfriend."
"And Aunt Lucy?" Lilly asked. "Why is she missing in action?"
"Mark didn't meet her until 1993." Joanne answered. "Almost a year after this was taken."
"Why haven't I met any of these people?" Sarah asked.
Joanne's eyes filled with tears. "They all had AIDS, well everyone except Maureen."
"Oh," Sarah said in a whisper. "Sorry."
Joanne shrugged. "It's okay, you didn't know."
"I'm not trying to make you anymore sadder, but if Maureen didn't have AIDS what happened to her?" Lilly asked.
Joanne stood up and walked over to the window letting tears stream down her face. Sarah slowly got up and walked behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"If you don't want to talk about, I understand." Sarah said.
Joanne wiped the tears from her cheeks and turned around. "No, I want to. It's about time I let it out."
Sarah interlaced their fingers and they both walked back to the couch.
"Wait before you start." Lilly said.
Before Joanne could say anything she felt her daughters arms wrap around her.
Lilly pulled away and smiled. "You just looked like someone who could use a hug."
Joanne laughed. "Thank you for that."
"Okay begin!" Lilly said. "Start off with Maureen."
Joanne nodded. "Maureen was everything to me, she saved me that year, in more then one way." She paused as she studied the diva in the picture. "It's been 15 years…"
"Try and remember it all." Lilly said.
Joanne shot her a glare. "It's been 15 years and I can still smell the perfume radiating from her skin…"
FLASHBACK
September 10 1992
Joanne stood in front of the mirror looking at her reflection with her mom smiling behind her.
"You look beautiful." Her mom said.
Joanne looked at the hideous blue dress and made a face. "I hate it! It makes me look like I'm 80."
Her mom just shook her head as she walked to the dresser to grab some earrings. She came back and held out the earrings for Joanne. "You look fine, now put these on."
Joanne huffed as she grabbed the earrings from her mom's hand and stuck them in. "I don't even want to go out on this date."
"Why not? You've been dating Jessica for the past ten months, and I'm pretty sure tonight is the big night." Her mom replied.
Joanne turned and crossed her arms. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm going to dump her tonight."
Joanne's mom frowned. "No you're not, if my daughter is going to be gay then she is going to date someone to my liking!"
"Mom I'm 23 year's old I can pretty much do whatever the hell I want now. And I don't want to marry Jessica!" Joanne shot back.
Joanne's mom grabbed Joanne by the collar and pulled her close. "Listen here Joanne, Jessica is a doctor and makes good money, now you will accept her ring like the happy little girl you are, and live a nice rich life like me and your father."
"But I'm a pretty good lawyer I can make my own money. I already live on my own in a pretty nice apartment." Joanne said.
The grip on Joanne's collar got stronger. "I don't care if you were the queen of the world, you will marry this girl and try to at least live a normal life. You already embarrassed me enough by coming out, so you are going to do me this one favor and marry the doctor, and by giving me sweet little grandchildren!"
Joanne pulled away and fixed her shirt, she was luckily saved by the doorbell.
"I'll go get it." Her mother said.
With a smile her mother was gone, which left Joanne alone in her old room with a tear stained face.
Ten minutes later Joanne slowly walked down the stairs to see a blonde talking to her mom.
"There she is." Her mother said.
"Hey baby." Jessica said.
"Hey." Joanne said as she finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jessica held out her hand. "Ready to go?"
Joanne took her hand and nodded.
"I'll bring her back to her apartment tonight. And I'll do my best to try and keep her safe in the process." Jessica said with a cheesy laugh.
Joanne's mom laughed. "Joanne don't forget to call me tomorrow."
With that the door was shut behind them.
Once they were in the car and on there way, Jessica turned down the radio.
"So you've been giving your mom a hard time?" She asked.
Joanne gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me Joanne, your mom tells me how you treat her, and I just want to let you know, if we ever get married there will be no way in hell you will get away with treating me like shit. Your mom is going to be my mother in-law so if I hear about you acting out again, don't be surprised if I step in."
Joanne looked towards her girlfriend. "Are you serious?"
"Don't make me have this talk with you again!" Jessica said as she reached down and turned up the radio.
Twenty minutes later they made it to the restaurant. It wasn't long before they were seated at a table and their food had been ordered.
"Why are you so quiet?" Jessica asked.
Joanne took a bite of her food and shrugged. "I'm not in a talkative mood tonight."
Jessica took another bite of food before she announced she was full and headed for the bathroom.
Joanne let out a sigh of relief once she left. She then rested her elbows on the table and put her head in her hands.
From a distance Maureen had watched almost the entire date. She honestly had to say she kind of felt sorry for Joanne. She looked so sad, and even though she was with someone she looked lonely. So Maureen decided she would change that.
Maureen took money from one of her customers then set off to make a drink. Once she was done she wondered over to Joanne.
"Hi!" Maureen said in a chipper voice.
Joanne peeked at the women through the cracks of her fingers. When she noticed the beauty she pulled her hands away and took in the full sight.
"Uh hi." Joanne said.
Maureen set down the drink. "Here you look like someone who could use a strong drink."
Joanne looked at the drink and looked back at Maureen. "I think I need more then one drink."
Maureen giggled and stuck out her hand. "I'm Maureen, I've been working behind the bar all night. And I must say, it made me kind of sad to see such a pretty girl frowning."
Joanne just blushed as she shook Maureen's soft hand. "I'm Joanne."
Maureen then looked up and noticed Jessica walking back towards the table. "Well it looks like your date is coming back, have a nice evening."
Before Joanne could say anything more Jessica sat down across from her.
"What's with the smile?" Jessica asked.
Joanne just shrugged and picked up her new drink.
During dessert Joanne would occasionally glace at the bar to see what Maureen was doing. There was one time when Maureen caught Joanne staring so she gave her a wink, which got Joanne through the rest of the date.
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AU MoJo fic...with the other boho's...even Benny! I decided to make him and Alison nice in this story... so until next chapter!