A/N: This is my first fanfic, so please review. I will try my best, but I had to reload this chapter, cuz it didn't come out like I wanted. Sorry! Thank you to those who reviewed the first version of this chapter. I'm sorry.

Disclaimer: All I own is subway girl, formerly known as Alia.


Mark was sitting on a train home when he saw her. It was mid-December and very cold. His fingers felt frozen into their infinite clutch on his camera. He was dejected, as per usual recently. It seemed like everyone had love in their life - everyone but him. Only Collins didn't. But he seemed happy, as though Angel's spirit were still there for him to love. Even people on the street seemed to be in love. Everyone had someone to put their arm around, a hand to hold. Mark couldn't help but capture this on film. But it wasn't like it used to be, his work. His spark, the joie de vivre was gone. He could always put a happy spin on sad things, find the light in the darkness. Now it seemed like it had been turned around for him. All his film was cheerless and cold.

It got boring.

He was consumed by this until the train lurched to a stop. He looked up suddenly, to see if there was anything or anyone to inspire him. He almost laughed at the notion. Until he saw her.

She had slightly longer than shoulder length brown hair streaked naturally with red. It was loose around her shoulders. Her dark, intense eyes were searching for a seat. Her profile was delicate but surprisingly strong. She was wearing only a raggedy brown sweater that fell halfway down her thighs, and knee boots. She had a scarf around her neck that trapped her hair under it. She was beautiful, that was what caught Mark's attention at first, but what kept it was the atmosphere around her. It was powerful, commanding, but not arrogant.

He felt like he just wanted to see her all day, all week, all his life. Just wanted to see her hair falling like that, like a halo, around her head. Just wanted to see that look on her face, one of amused almost frustration.

She was still looking for a seat. She was carrying a black messenger bag and looking slightly tired. Mark looked at the empty seat next to him and hurriedly shifted his own bag to his lap. She noticed the space and looked relieved at the miracle of finding a sitting space on the crowded subway - and with good reason. Standing would be no fun in her four-inch stilettos.

"Is anyone sitting here?" Her voice was fluid and musical with a hint of an accent he couldn't place. But his head didn't seem to be working properly right now anyway.

"Uhh . . . no." He sounded awkward to himself.

But she didn't seem to mind his apparent awkwardness. She took the seat. But somehow she managed to sit at the exact moment the train sprung forward. She toppled over, and right onto Mark's lap. They were both shocked. As the train settled into movement, she put herself back into her own seat, apologizing profusely.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry." She sounded sincere. "I'm such a loser. Only I could be that uncoordinated."

"You and me both." Mark replied, surprising himself. He usually nodded politely at these remarks from strangers.

"Oh, no, you've only seen a small sample of my clumsiness." she said, smiling. "I just broke my boot heel a minute ago and had to go back to my apartment and get new boots."

"Well, I can't say I've ever done that." Mark told her.

"Lucky you. I had a choice of walking with one flat, one three-inch hell, or going bareffot, which was akin to madness in this weather." She was funny.

"So you chose the first option, I'm guessing?"

"Yeah, I wasn't in the mood for frostbite."

They sat in silence, Mark grinning and her having a sort of private smile. Mark wondered what she was thinking about. Was it him? He hoped so. He fidgeted with his camera, trying to keep his hands warm. She noticed the camera.

"Oh, do you make films and stuff?" she asked. Mark's disappointment came flooding back.

"Yeah, I made one. A documentary."

"About . . ."

"The homeless. People with AIDS." The memory of the night he had finished it and had shown it to his friends was suddenly surprisingly strong in his mind. That night had been so full of emotions.

"Wow. Powerful stuff. What did you call it?"

"Today 4 U. It was the only decent film I ever made." Truth.

The train lurched to a stop again. The girl stood up.

"Oh, this is my stop. Are you staying on?"she asked. Yes. But for a moment he wished he could just get off, keep talking to her for another couple of minutes. But he couldn't. He nodded.

"Oh." she said. Was that disappointment? "Oh, well. Bye." She waved as she walked away. Then to his surprise, Mark found himself standing up, yelling out.

"Hey!" The girl turned, looked back at him.

"Yeah?" Mark hesitated.

"What's your name?" he asked. Oh god, that's not too stalkerish. But she just smiled, not noticing.

"I work at the Life Café. I just got a job there." she told him. "Ask for Norah."And with that she stepped off the train, leaving Mark alone again with his thoughts. He sat staring for a moment, then leaned back and smiled as the train set off.


A/N: How was that? Please review. You know you want to . . .