Today was Halloween. The day of Angel's funeral had arrived at last.

Collins sighed and looked in the mirror. He was dressed in his best suit, buttoned up to his neck, complete with laced, shiny black shoes and stiff black coat. His hands compulsively clutched the coat Angel had bought him all those a months ago, the day they first met. It was worn in and hardly kept him warm anymore, but he couldn't bear to rid himself of it. It killed him a little to even consider it.

A knock on the door startled him, and he jumped a little. "Come in," he said shakily, too afraid to speak louder lest his voice crack. He couldn't bear to lose it. Not now. Not yet. If he couldn't hold it together now, how would he ever get through the funeral?

Mark poked his head into his apartment. He was dressed in his casual street clothes, looking much sadder and contemplative than usual. But everyone's attitudes had changed since last week.

"Hey, Collins," Mark said softly, stepping inside the room and closing the door behind him.

"Hey man," Collins mumbled back, staring blankly at the wall ahead of him. It was still so fresh in his mind - the uncontrollable shaking, the shuddering breaths, the last dying heartbeats fading away to nothing...

"You okay?"

Collins sighed. "Yeah. I'll be fine...eventually." Mark hesitated, then stepped forward and enveloped Collins in a hug. Collins returned it a bit awkwardly seeing as how he was a couple inches taller and about a hundred pounds heavier, but he was grateful all the same.

They broke apart, and Mark studied Collins closely for the first time. "Collins...what are you wearing?"

He frowned, and looked down at himself. "What?"

"You look like a fuckin' penguin," Mark said blatantly.

Collins paused for a moment, and then broke out laughing. "You really think so?"

"I know so," Mark said pointedly, raising his eyebrow at the philosopher. "Why are you wearing that?"

"Well, I figured I might as well look nice. I mean, it is her...funeral." He bit his lip, fighting back tears. Saying it made it so much more real. He hoped he would be able to hold it though the ceremony.

"So? I know you hate suits, so why are you wearing it? You won't impress anyone, especially her. She would want you to be comfortable, you know."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

Collins sighed, and looked down at himself again. "I really do look like a penguin, don't I?"

Mark smiled. "Yeah, you do."

Collins laughed again, and hugged the coat clutched in his hands tighter. "Alright, I'll change. You're right, she wouldn't want me to try and be something I'm not. She knew how much I hated dressing up. Almost as much as she hated runs in her stockings."

Mark chuckled and gently took the coat from Collins. "Go change. I'll wait for you and we can walk over together. I'm sure everyone is already there."

He nodded, and turned to head to his bedroom. He hesitated, and turned back to Mark.

"Hey. Um, thanks man."

"For what?" Mark frowned.

Collins shrugged. "For everything, man. For being there. For caring. A lot of people would have left their dying friend to their own devices. But not you man."

Mark blushed. "Um, thanks I guess." They shared a smile, and Collins turned to his bedroom, leaving to go change. Mark sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck. No one knew how much all of this was tearing Mark apart, watching all his friends die. Angel was only the first. Soon after, he knew Collins and Roger and Mimi would follow. The only questions would be when, and who?

But for now, he had to be there for Collins. And when his time came, Mark would be there. Mark, the rock. Mark, the shoulder to cry on, the one to turn to.

He only hoped he would be as strong when eh was the last one left.

FIN.