First of all, I would like to say that this is my first RENT story and probably will be my only one. This plot bunny has been floating around in my head for the past year and I finally decided to put it on paper since I've been having trouble with my other stories. I'm not exactly sure how this will turn out, and I will also not be using a beta unless someone really wants to volunteer or Tiggy decides to take it on along with all her own stories and the three I keep bugging her with. To be honest, I don't really know if this will ever be finished, but I'll try my best. This is mainly an experiment in a different fandom in the hopes that perhaps changing the scenery a little bit will help with my inspiration. I hope everyone likes this, and as always, I do love to know what people think.

Joanne sighed as she carried her luggage through the airport, struggling to push past the crowds of people to make it outside into the open air of the city. It was hard to believe that it had been almost two years since she had been in New York City. She took a deep breath and smiled; it was good to be home. Grasping her suitcase a little tighter, she hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to her new apartment. Her parents had made the arrangements for her, and her furniture and other possessions would be delivered in a few days. As the taxi sat in traffic, she gazed out the window and took in the scene of the bustling city. Seattle had been a wonderful change, but the dreary weather and her father's failing health had dictated her sudden move back to New York to take over her father's practice. She grinned; it was hard to remember why she had ever left.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times that I hate it when you flirt with other people right in front of me!" Joanne yelled as she stalked after Maureen.

"If you would pay any attention to me at all instead of your stupid work, then maybe I wouldn't have to," Maureen snapped back, her eyes blazing.

"It was an important phone call," Joanne said stiffly. "I'm sorry that I'm in the middle of a very important case, and I couldn't ignore it. But, that doesn't give you the right to immediately start flirting with the first person you see!"

Maureen groaned, "Ugh, I didn't do anything wrong. It's not like I slept with her or anything."

"You gave her our phone number!" Joanne bellowed, grabbing Maureen's arm and pushing up her sleeve to reveal smeared black digits on the pale skin. "And you let her write her phone number down on your arm. What am I supposed to think?"

"You should trust me!" Maureen yelled, throwing her hands up into the air as she stomped into the bedroom and slammed the door.

Joanne followed her into the room, "It's really hard to trust you when you continually throw yourself at other people whenever we leave the apartment!"

"I don't know what your problem is, but I'm obviously not good enough for you!" Maureen screamed hysterically as she pulled her suitcase out from under Joanne's bed.

"What are you doing?" Joanne asked, suddenly confused.

Maureen stalked over to her drawers and started to chunk piles of her clothes in the direction of her suitcase, "I'm leaving. I'm going to go and live at the loft, and if you decide that you want to trust me, then I might come back."

"Fine!" Joanne yelled. "Don't expect for me to beg for you to come back."

Maureen just ignored her and closed her suitcase; holding her head high, she left the room and slammed the door behind her as Joanne sat down on the bed. Another door slammed, and Joanne shook her head as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

Now it was easy to recall part of the reason that she had been so willing to pack up. It wasn't the worst fight they had had, but it had certainly been a defining point in their problematic relationship.

"Miss, we're at your place," the taxi driver said as he peered at her through his rearview mirror. "Or do you have somewhere else to go?"

"No, thank you," she said graciously as she handed him the fare and climbed out of the back seat.

She grabbed her suitcase from the trunk and walked up to her new building. It was in a different part of the city than her old one had been, but it looked nice. She pulled a small slip of paper out of her pocket and glanced down at the number on it to make sure she was headed to the right apartment. She walked over to the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator opened almost immediately, so she stepped into it and pressed her number before leaning against the wall.

She had debated for weeks over whether or not she should accept the job offer. It was a wonderful opportunity, but Seattle was so far away. She had called a few days ago to accept the job; maybe a change in scenery would help her focus on her work again. Maureen hadn't called since she had left, and Joanne had resisted the urge to call her, to ask her to come back. She knew that it was only her pride that kept her from reconciling with Maureen, but she couldn't handle another argument or another break-up. It was for the best that their relationship had finally fizzled out on its own, and there was no need to drag herself through the fire one more time.

She looked around at all the boxes and the covered furniture; her parents were going to send all of it to her once she arrived in Seattle. Her plane left in a couple of hours, so she grabbed her suitcase and headed out the door, looking around the familiar room one more time before she closed the door.

Collins, Mark, Roger, and Mimi were waiting for her at the airport. Mimi still looked too thin, but she was bundled up in a thick coat, so Joanne didn't worry. Roger was holding Mimi close to his body, and Mark was busily filming the people passing by as Collins watched.

"You didn't have to come see me off," Joanne said as she smiled.

Collins grinned at the sight of her and said, "Well, I wasn't about to let my favorite lawyer friend get away without a promise for free legal advice if I get into any trouble in the future."

"You had better behave yourself," Joanne reprimanded him gently. "Here is my new phone number and address. I'll call and check in every now and then."

Mark took the slip of paper from Joanne's outstretched hand and replied, "Thanks."

"Don't be a stranger," Roger said with a slight smile.

Mimi rolled her eyes and pulled Joanne into a hug, "Call me every week. I'm going to miss you so much."

"Take care of yourself," Joanne replied softly. "And, I'll miss you, too."

As Mimi released her, Joanne glanced around the airport as she sighed.

"She's not going to come," Collins said softly as he looked at Joanne.

"I didn't think she would," Joanne said bitterly.

Collins hugged her and said, "Don't worry about her. Just go and live your life, and we'll be waiting for you when you come back."

"Thank you," Joanne said quietly. "Oh, I'm going to miss my plane."

"We'll see you soon," Mark called after her as she rushed off to find the right terminal.

She turned and waved to them, grinning, before hurrying into the crowd.

The elevator doors opened, and she wandered into the hallway, counting down the numbers until she reached her door. Shifting her suitcase into her other hand, she fished through her pockets for her keys, smiling triumphantly when she pulled them out. She unlocked her door and slipped inside. She gazed around the empty room, laughing when she saw the mattress in the middle of the floor with a set of sheets and a towel sitting on it. Setting her suitcase down, she sat down on the mattress and closed her eyes. She was finally home.