A conversation.
Judith stood on the Girardi's porch, knocking softly. It was nearly Midnight, but she could see the soft glow of lamplight through the window on the door.
Joan nearly dropped the carton of ice cream she was holding, startled. Who would be her this late? If it was for her dad, he'd already be awake and down here. As it was, he'd probably be down in a few minutes. Joan slipped to the front door and her forehead furrowed as she opened it and saw who it was, "Judith...?"
"Hope you don't mind an overnight guest." Judith didn't quite meet her eyes as she stepped inside, setting her suitcase down.
Joan shook her head and wrapped her arms around her friend, "Judith...you're always welcome here..." she picked the suitcase up, "Let' s go upstairs..."
Feeling exhausted, Judith followed Joan up the stairs and into her friend's bedroom. She shut the door behind them and dropped onto the bed on her back, closing her eyes.
Joan hesitantly crawled onto the end of the bed, "So...what's...going on?"
She was silent for a few minutes. "You ever watch Jerry Springer?"
Joan frowned a bit, "Not regularly...I mean, I've seen it..."
"Well basically it's about really screwed up families--like mine."
Joan frowned, "I know...things aren't always good between you and-and Bill and Fran but..."
"That's an understatement," she muttered.
Joan looked at her, "What's wrong, Jude? Please..." she was scared by the pain she saw in Judith's eyes.
"Let's just say if me, Bill and Fran were to go on Jerry Springer, we'd be on that episode titled "What happens when you learn your father is not your father which is why he's hated you his whole life, and your real father is your mother's abusive first husband you never knew about.' "
Joan looked at her for a moment stunned and then wrapped her arms around her friend. She didn't know what to say.
Wordlessly Judith rested her head on Joan's shoulder, closing her eyes.
Joan closed her eyes, "What happened?"
"You rememeber that family tree project we had to do in history?"
Joan nodded, "Yeah..." she'd hated that project, had hidden it from her dad because she'd put her uncle Richard on there.
"Well, let's just say Bill and Fran weren't exactly helpful, so I went digging through the attic and found my birth certificate."
Joan nodded a bit, "And...I take it...Bill wasn't on there?"
"No, he wasn't. So I confronted them about it. And Fran told me the whole story." There was more than a touch of bitterness in her voice.
Joan hugged her tightly again, "Oh, Jude...I'm so sorry..."
"Yeah, well." She shrugged.
Joan thought she might cry, "There is no 'yeah, well'...Judith...no matter how many problems you guys have had...Family is family...And I can't even imagine how much it must hurt to find out that someone you thought was supposed to be there for you..." she shook her head, "No matter what problems, it was still like, they were your parents, you know? There is no 'yeah, well' when it comes to that."
"You make it sound like we're the Cleavers. Trust me when I say Bill was more than happy to know I finally knew the truth and he no longer had to pretend like I was his biological kid."
Joan looked at her, "So? Forget Bill...this is about you...Like I said...as much as you may have had issues with them...Judith, I'm not trying to say you're close to Bill like I am with my dad, but...you still thought he was your dad...That means something...even if yours wasn't perfect...on some level...I know you thought that...they'd always be there. That Bill would always be there..."
"Screw 'em both. I don't need either of them."
Joan looked at her, "Yes. You do. That's why it hurts so much. Because, however much you fight it? You do need them...You don't want to, but you do..."
Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back rapidly, refusing to let them fall. "In one year I'm outta here. I just gotta figure out how to get through the next twelve months."
Joan touched her cheek, "And where will you go?" She didn't like the prospect of losing her friend, of having her leave.
"Where are you going to college?" Judith asked.
Joan shrugged, "I don't know...I was thinking state college..."
"Which isn't in Arcadia. So we could just...go together and get an apartment."
Joan smiled a bit, "Maybe...Mom's kinda reluctant...wants me to live at home...Commute. It's only a twenty minute drive..."
"Well, then I'll figure something else out."
Joan looked at her, "You...could come here..."
"Yeah, I'm sure your parents who already have three kids are looking for another one, especially one as screwed up as I am."
Joan looked at her seriously, "Judith...they love you just like another kid..." she sighed, "We don't have to figure it out right now...But I'm not going to lose you...I *can't* lose you. So don't disappear on me, okay?"
"I won't," Judith said quietly.
Joan nodded and briefly wondered where her parents were. Usually Will was a light sleeper. She bit her lip, "I'll grab a sleeping bag. You take the bed."
"Well unless you're a bed hog, we could share."
Joan smirked, "Look who's talking," she teased.
Judith smirked back. "Your bed's bigger than mine."
Joan stuck out her tongue.
Grinning, she swiped one of Joan's pillows and socked her with it.
Joan gasped and grinned then picked up the other one smacking her friend.
Grinning, their pillow fight continued until they both collapsed on Joan's bed in giggles.
Joan hugged her, "Night, Judith."
"Night, JoJo."
Joan flipped off the light and closed her eyes, falling asleep quickly.