This is set immediately after the movie ends when Mark finishes showing off his film for the family.

Mimi seemed to be acting completely healthy again, which was impressive for someone who had stopped breathing only minutes before. Roger was still worried sick nonetheless.

"Mimi, are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"Roger, please. I'm fine ok! Can we just celebrate Christmas and get on with out lives?"

"It's just… I've lost you twice already, I'm not willing to do it again. I just want to make sure your going to"

Mimi cut him off immediately with a passionate kiss, one the two had not shared since New Year's day 1989 before Roger found out about her seeing Benny.

"be… ok." The last words almost didn't find their way out of Rogers mouth. He was a little stunned and shocked at how suddenly the bond between him and Mimi re-established itself. Although he came back to New York for her, Roger assumed that it would take weeks, maybe even months to get Mimi to forgive him for everything he had done. A smile crept onto his face, and he returned the favor.

"Awww… now ain't that cute!" Collins sobbed. Mimi's life probably meant almost as much to Collins as it did for Roger. Collins had already lost Angel, and losing another member of the family may have been too much for him to bear. It was obvious to all the others in the room that Collins was still thinking about what Mimi said. He knew Mimi had seen his lover; the speech was so Angel-esque Mimi may just as well have plucked Angel from heaven to be with them for a few more seconds. Collins snickered to himself at this thought. Nothing would ever be the same without her. Nothing at all.

Maureen, being her usual high-energy self, despite all the events that just happened, broke the peaceful silence.

"Hey! The lady said we should celebrate. Party Time!"

"Maureen, No. Mimi has been through way too much. She really needs to take it easy for awhile. Can't we all just go home and celebrate Christmas with a nice group brunch at the Life Café in the morning?"

"Joann, do you always have to be such a spoil-sport?" Maureen countered. She was exceptionally good at getting her way in the end and she knew it. That party was going to be held that night, and Maureen was going to use every ounce of her power to make it so. Joann could easily see where this conversation was going to end up and therefore gave up on the entire matter. She rolled her eyes back into her head and slouched back onto the countertop.

"Mimi, you do want to have a party right?"

"Of course Maureen. I wouldn't have it any other way"

"Ya see baby. All you have to do is ask the girl and she'll tell you what she wants. Brunch at the Life Café. HA!" Maureen's playful side came out. Joann had been with her long enough to know that she was joking… maybe… hopfully.

"Comon guys, I know you have alcohol around here somewhere, just bust it out and let the good times roll!"

"Who said we were going to have the party here?" Mark shot. The last thing he needed right now was a drunk drama queen, a lawyer, a slightly depressed gay ex-roommate, and two lovers reunited for the first time in months, parading around in his house like there was no tomorrow. There was, in fact, a tomorrow, and Mark wanted to be able to enjoy his Christmas instead of having to fight a massive headache for half the day.

"Oh, Pookie please? There isn't anywhere else to go this late in the evening, and the daylight is going to be here before you know it." Maureen knew Marks reasoning. She dated him for long enough to know him inside and out. But then again, he must know her inside and out. This was going to be a close battle, but she wasn't going to give up yet.

That word again… "pookie". It burned Mark up inside every time he heard her say it. He knew right then and there that the point of fighting the case and long been gone, she was going to get her way eventually.

"Fine then, but you owe me big for this. Add this to the Mark-has-gone-way-out-of-his-way-to-do-things-for-you-list. Right under 'Fixing Equipment for Protest' and 'Getting Protest Broadcast on the News' would be a good place for it." That little twinge of sarcasm would really set Maureen off. She won the bigger battle and got what she wanted, but the smaller internal victories far outclassed the big victories for Mark.

"Just promise me you won't have anything to drink."

"Roger, I'm not being stupid. I know my limits."

"Heh… sometimes I wonder" Roger muttered under his breath.

"Wha'd you say?"

Roger and Mimi engaged in a comical argument for about 5 minutes before another passionate kiss from Mimi interrupted it. She had missed Roger so much during his absence, and wanted to make up for as much time as she could right here, right now, on Christmas Eve.

Maureen immediately found the load of stuff Collins brought and dug everything out with surprising speed. Joann rolled her eyes again and walked over to get a drink. Roger and Mimi continued making out on the countertop as if they were the only two people in the entire world. Over in the corner Collins was laughing so hard it was a wonder he could still breath. Mark tried for awhile to enjoy the festivities with his friends, but found it a little too difficult to do so without drinking a lot. Drinking games seemed to be one of Maureen's specialties, she concocted a new one out of thin air about every 5 seconds. Mark finished what was left in his cup and went to sleep on the couch while it was still vacant. He could still hear the ruckus in the background, but his day had been long and tiring searching for Mimi all day. He was glad she was home, and couldn't wait for Christmas day to come by. It was almost like a new year already.