Author's Notes: So yeah, sorry it took so long but RENT came out and I've now official watched every part of it including the commentary. Anthony if you read this, don't worry about your hair in that scene I couldn't tell a difference, Adam however, yea sorry Hun love the Bon Jovi look but you do look like your wearing a wig. Thanks so much to everyone that reviewed. Enjoy:

The Lights of Babylon Burn Bright:

Chapter 2: Gatsby in a Scarf

Roger let out a groan. Last night had been great; Maureen, Joanne, Collins, Benny, and Mimi had all made Roger feel as if he had never left. They were as close as ever. They had spent the night drinking, laughing, and enjoying the fact their family was together, at least most of their family. It had caused Roger pain that Mark wasn't there. Every once in a while someone would catch him watching the door waiting for Mark. Mimi had just squeezed his hand, Joanne and Collins had both smiled understandingly, Benny had looked like he was angry at Mark for not showing up, and Maureen, well Roger could tell it hurt Maureen just as much as it hurt him.

Roger went to rub his eyes when he felt something on his forehead. Ripping it off he saw it was a posted with Mark's familiar script on it. Roger sat up ignoring the headache he had and read the posted:

Fender is under the bed in a case

Acoustic is in the closet in a new case

Call in your Rx so that Hannah can pick it up on Friday

Be nice to Nancy, you made her cry, asshole

By the way welcome back

"Fuck you." Roger yelled crumbling that paper up in his hand throwing it. Who the fuck did Mark think he was. It was apparent that Mark had been in the loft sometime, but when? Roger tried to think clearly. What time had they gotten home last night around 3 and even then he and Collins and Benny had stayed up till 4 or 5 recounting stories of when it had been the four of them. Roger, Benny, Collins, and Mark, the Boho Boys, as Mark had called them on more then one occasion.

Roger laid his head back. Thinking, what the hell had gotten into Mark? Standing Roger turned to the kitchen entering it he found a bottle of water and a bottle of aspirins on the counter with the posted on it reading in Mark's familiar script… again:

Looks like you might need these. You three should really stay away from Stoli.

Fuuuuuccccccccckkkkkk: was all Roger could think. Mark knew that Benny and Collins had been here last night. What the hell, did Mark have the place bugged or something?

Roger sighed taking two aspirin and drinking the entire bottle of water. Turning back to the fridge he threw the water bottle. DAMN MARK AND HIS POSTED! Roger walked past the yellow piece of paper reading:

Take your AZT

Roger walked into the bathroom. A shower, that's what he needed. That's when he saw it, written in a female's handwriting and red lipstick:

Be here

There was an arrow that pointed to a post card. Roger pulled off the post card and read it.

Friday November 17, 1995

See men with nothing but a

smile and g-string

Show starts a 10:00 pm

In the Oasis

Babylon

Show this card and get VIP treatment

Mimi? No, red wasn't really her style and she would've just told him instead of leaving a note. Maureen, no Roger was pretty sure Maureen would've just dragged him along, besides Maureen was a lesbian now. She wasn't even bothering to claim she was bi-sexual anymore. Roger shrugged, he'd think about going.

By the time Roger got out of the shower he found Benny and Mimi sitting studying at the table. "Don't you two have lofts of your own?" Roger asked looking at them. Mimi looked up and flashed him a brilliant smile, "Yeah but you have a gourmet coffee maker and about ever type of coffee you could want."

Roger smiled, he liked Mimi like this. She was happy and proud. Her confidence didn't come from the fact she was sexually appealing, which Roger had to admit she still was, but from the fact she was proud of herself. Mimi had an inner glow to her.

And Benny, the man had done a one-eighty. He was no longer the pompous asshole he had been when Roger had left a year ago. He was calmer and a lot happier with himself. Benny had told Roger the split with Allison had been the best thing that had happen to him. Benny no longer felt required to make up for the fact he lived in poverty. And Benny had met someone, it was too new to really think it was serious but the person made Benny happy.

"What time do you have class?" Roger asked as he walked to his bedroom. "Roger you do realize it's two o'clock in the afternoon and we've both been to class right?" Mimi said giving him a look. Mimi already knew the answer; most likely Roger had just gotten up.

"Oh hell, I knew it was too early for me to be up." Roger groaned as if he meant it. Roger walked in his room. Pulling on a pair of clean jeans and a long sleeve flannel that he didn't remember owning; crawling under the bed he found his Fender in the exact place Mark had said it would be.

Walking into the living room he sat on the couch behind Mimi. "Mark was home last night." Roger said quietly. Mimi and Benny stopped their homework and turned looking at him. "What did he say? How is he?" Mimi asked quickly. "I don't know. I was asleep. He left me a note. A fucking note, can you believe that shit? Then I found this." Roger said handing Mimi the postcard that had been taped up in the bathroom.

"I know this place." Benny said looking at the postcard. "What is it?" Roger asked. "The hottest gay club in Manhattan…" Benny said looking up at Roger. "WHAT!" Roger said. "I know this handwriting." Mimi said looking at the note on the mirror. "Nancy!" Mimi snapped her fingers. "This is Nancy's handwriting; she must be telling us where we can find Mark this Friday." Mimi said.

Roger sat stunned; he'd known Mark was bi-sexual but to be slapped in the face with it like this. He knew he had to go, if only to see that Mark was okay.

Friday came too quickly for Roger's taste. Hannah had come by with Mimi and Roger's prescriptions. She had fussed that Roger was too thin and had made him eat a huge meal. But Hannah was growing on Roger, he secretly thought that he was the reason Mark had chosen Hannah. She reminded Roger of his Grandma Jersey.

Hannah had great stories of when she was in her early 20's in the 60's. Yes, Hannah reminded Roger very much of his wild Grandma Jersey. Mark had met Roger's Grandmother when she'd come to town to find Roger and give him a piece of her mind for leaving so suddenly. She'd fallen in love with the fact that Roger had found Mark. She said that Mark was good for him, he'd keep Roger grounded and as long as Roger agreed to room with Mark as long as he lived in the City she wouldn't say another word about it. Roger had been deeply saddened when he had lost her to Cancer but glad that she had never known what was killing her. It made it somehow easier.

That night Roger sat in Mark's room staring at his closet when Maureen found him. Roger smiled, Maureen was a stunning woman but she looked down right wicked in her pink satin baby doll dress that came mid-thigh and combat boots that came to her knees.

"Embracing the Lolita look?" Roger teased. "I look fucking cute. Unlike you, how long have you been standing in front of Mark's closet?" Maureen grinned. "Everything I own is grunge." Roger muttered. What the hell was he suppose to wear. He didn't go clubbing anymore, and besides that, his idea of clubbing was going down to a hole in the wall or the Catstratch Club.

"You go take a shower and I'll pick something out for you to wear tonight: something that you'll look hot in." Maureen promised.

Roger would never tell Maureen but even he had to admit he looked good. He wore blue jeans that fit in all the right places but were extremely comfortable and a black v-neck ribbed sweater that clung to his body and abs. Maureen had pulled out a pair of shoes by some new designer named Kenneth Cole that Mark seemed to really like. Mark had six pairs of his shoes. He and his friends stood outside the club listening to the techno/new wave music that rang threw the speakers and spilled out into the street.

"So exactly what do we do?" Roger asked looking at the group. Mimi took the postcard out of Roger's hand and walked up to the bouncer handing it to the man. "Tracey will take care of you." The bouncer said motioning for a tall blond in a white crop top and black patent leather pants to come over. Roger's head did a double take when he realized that "Tracey" was a drag queen. Roger looked around the club as the queen led them threw it to a room that had fogged glass.

"Welcome to the Oasis the show will start in about 10 minutes. If you need anything just ask you servant boy Justin." Tracey said as the group sat around in a large pit style couch. Tracey motioned to a guy behind them that couldn't have been more then 19 standing in black spandex boy shorts and no shirt. "Justin here will get you anything you need." Tracey said then left. "What can I get you to drink?" Justin said coming around.

Five minutes later Justin came back with enough alcohol to kill a horse. When Roger went to reach for his wallet Justin informed them that it was all complimentary as they were VIP guest.

The lights turned blue and a man in complete drag walked out. Roger had to admit that this guy put Angel to shame. The queen introduced himself as Lady Godiva Cumsalot, after making a few jokes he started the show. Roger had caught himself starring at some of the men as they stripped on stage for tips. They were gorgeous, some of the hottest men Roger had ever seen. After about four or five strippers the queen came out and the lights in the room turned red. Roger laid back against Mimi's chest with his back. Mimi wrapped her arms around Roger's neck resting her chin on his head.

"Now, for our final act, now this man is doing this as a personal favor to me so ya'll better be nice. He hasn't done this in about six months but he was soooo loved when he did do this that he's come back for tonight's performance. Please welcome to the stage, MARKY!"

The music was vaguely recognizable to Roger as Red Light Special by some girl group Mimi listened to. Roger sat straight up as Mark, his Mark, walked out in satin red p.j.'s. His hair was longer, gone were the glasses and Mark looked comfortable on stage as he slowly took off his clothes. Roger could feel stirring in himself. One he wasn't comfortable with. Roger recognized it a nausea, he'd only been joking when he thought of Mark whoring himself out. But know Roger knew. Now Roger knew how Mark was paying for everything. He was a stripper, what else had Mark gotten himself into.

Roger's stomach turned as he watched a group of horny men fawn over Mark has he danced. He had to control his temper when a woman got on her knees in front of Mark licking his abs. Roger could tell Mark's abs were well defined, Mark even sported what Roger always called "the cut."

Mimi pulled Roger to her as Mark slowly made his way over to them. She knew Mark couldn't see them for the dark of the room. She only hoped Roger could control himself as to not embarrass Mark at what apparently was his job now.

Mimi was seething though, how dare Mark degrade himself like this just to put her threw school. Mark was too damn good for the lifestyle of a stripper. God she'd give him a piece of her mind when she got him alone.

Maureen was in shock, she'd imagined hundred of horrible things. But this, Mark stripping, had never even crossed her mind. She watched his face as he approached them. She knew the minute he realized who they were. His face turned a new shade of red but his smile grew large as he moved to them.

Mark didn't exactly know how they got there. But there in the VIP section sat Mimi, Benny, Maureen, Joanne, and of course Roger. Mark could tell they were shocked but he had to continue. He couldn't just stop in the middle of the song. He searched each face till he found Benny's. Benny had a grin on it; he wasn't pre-judging Mark just found it incredibly amusing. Oh Mark knew how to wipe that grin off Benny's face.

Mark stepped on the couch dancing in nothing but his g-string. He could tell that Mimi was pissed and was having to hold Roger down. Maureen looked hurt and Joanne's face read nothing but shock. Mark gagged Collins' face, the anarchist was mad or upset, and he just had the look of worry in his eyes. Collins' eyes grew large as Mark straddled Collins' lap and started giving Collins' a lap dance. Mark had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing when he heard Collins mutter in his ear, "I've never had a thing for scrawny white boys. Now get off me."

Mark winked and then nodded at Benny whose grin was wiped off his face and sat scowling. Mark crawled off Collins and made his way back to the stage to finish the number.

Roger sat in the loft staring at the clock. 5:30 in the morning and still no Mark. Roger had forced everyone to go home after they left the club. They had waited for two hours to see Mark but he had never come out.

Roger's coffee had gotten cold around 5 but he didn't care. He couldn't get the image of Mark dancing around out of his head. How had it gotten to this? Was Mark so desperate that he'd turned to a life that he'd worked so hard to get everyone else out of? Roger's head snapped as the door to the loft made a soft noise of unlocking. Roger held his breath as Mark walked in.

Mark looked good in jeans that seemed a bit big but hugged his waist and hips. He wore a blue ribbed sweater that matched his eyes, and a new coat. Roger had to smile at the navy and white scarf that Mark still wore around his neck. He watched as Mark walked in and softly dropped his stuff on the kitchen table. He held back a laugh as Mark jumped at the sight of Roger sitting on the couch.

Mark had expected Roger to be asleep when he came in. But there he was staring at Mark; guess now was as good a time as any. Mark smiled, "Hey Rog."

"Hey Rog…" That was all Mark could say, Roger thought. Roger had just seen Mark dance half naked in a room full of horny men and all Mark could say was "Hey Rog."

Roger didn't realize he'd thrown the coffee cup at Mark till he released it. But honestly Roger didn't give a fuck. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Roger screamed.

Mark had ducked out of the way in time to miss the coffee cup. He knew Roger was furious. "It's not what it looks like Roger." Mark sighed. "Not what it looks like, not what it looks like, IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR WHORING YOURSELF OUT." Roger yelled. "Will you calm down and I'll explain." Mark said. Roger sat back down on the couch.

It started about two months after you left. I hated Buzzline and wanted to leave but we needed the money. Then I got a call from my Uncle Anthony. I don't think you got to meet him. He's currently disowned from my family." Mark said. Mark grinned at Roger's raised eyebrow, "He's gay." Mark explained. A look of dawning came over's Roger's face. "Anyways, Anthony called and he and his lover have decided to move to Canada. He wanted me to take over his business." Mark said. Yes, Roger liked this idea; a nice quiet desk job was exactly what Mark needed. "I wasn't too sure originally but anything seemed better then Buzzline, so I did. I took his business." Mark said.

"Then exactly how did you become a stripper?" Roger asked. "Stripper, No, no, no, I own Babylon." Mark said.

Author's Closing: I love Babylon from Queer as Folk so yea that's the idea behind it. As far as the OASIS room think the Rose Room in Studio 4 in Dallas. Anyways. I hope you liked it. I hope to put chapter three up soon. No day but Today.