So, I got three reviews telling me to update soon, so I did my best. Hope you enjoy!

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"I don't know, who should I call first?"

"Mark, Baby, just pick a name and call their number."

"I don't know, maybe I should call Benny first, make sure they all still have the same number."

"Alright, but after you call him, we should probably go eat some real food." Mark dialed the number. One ring, two rings.

"Hello, this is the Coffin house, Alison Grey-Coffin speaking."

"Hi, uh, is Benny there?"

"May I ask who's speaking?"
"I'm an old friend of Benny's."

"One minute, I'll get him for you."

"Hello?"

"Benny, hi, um, it's Mark."

"Mark? I thought you had left New York?"

"Only for a little while. Anyway, do Roger and Mimi still have the same phone number? Or better yet, is Maureen's number the same?"

"Yeah, they all have the same number as when you left. So, how long are you back for?"

"As long as I'm welcome. Thanks, bye."

"I take it that their numbers haven't been changed?" Paige inquired.

"Nope. You ready to eat?"

"You are hungry, right?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Sure, so...where to?"

Mark thought a moment, Not the Life, that has too high a potential for running into someone... "How about a little Italian place I know of?"

"I'll be happy with anything but airline food."

"Great; however, I'm going to change into something warmer. It's easier to walk than anything else in this city."

"I'll change too then."

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After finishing their meal, they made their way back to the Hilton Hotel. About a block away, Paige bumped into another woman on the crowded sidewalk, sending her to the ground.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Paige apologized quickly.

"Don't worry about it," the woman said standing up. "It just hasn't been my; Mark? Mark Cohen is that you?"

"Maureen?"

"It is you, oh my God, MARK!" Maureen said with a squeal. "What are you doing back here, Roger thought you had left for good when you didn't come back for Christmas two years ago! It's so good to see you again!" Maureen latched her arms around Mark's neck.

Paige smiled, waiting for Mark's reunion with Maureen to come to a pause. It was evident that Roger and Mimi hadn't shared the last letter with Maureen.

"Maureen, I'd like you to meet my fiancé," Mark said when Maureen had released his neck. "Maureen this is Paige, Paige, this is Maureen."

"Hi," Paige said extending her hand.

"You look familiar; have we met before?"

"Not to my knowledge. Perhaps you've read one of my books,"

"Oh my God, are you Paige Williams?" Paige nodded. "I love your books! When is the next one coming out?"

"When ever I finish writing it. I've been pretty busy planning our wedding." Paige leaned her head on Mark's shoulder.

"Aww, Mark, it's just like you to marry a writer." Mark blushed to a tomato red.

"Then Roger and Mimi showed you my letters?"

"Yeah; when Roger found out though, all hell broke lose, again."

"Damn it, I should have known."

"How long are you both here for?"

"As long as we're welcome; we don't have anything planned back in San Francisco, do we?"

"No Baby, you've avoided helping me pick a wedding date, so no Mark, we don't have anything planned.

"Oh fuck, speaking of plans, I'm supposed to be meeting Joanne for dinner. Bye!""Well, that was interesting," Paige said, looping her arm in Mark's.

"That's Maureen."

"I should base a character on her. Do you think she would mind if I did that?"

"Please, Maureen would probably boast about it."

When they got up to their room, Paige slipped into a comfier sweater and a pair of pajama pants and curled up on the bedside opposite of Mark. "What are you being troubled by now?"

"How is it you always know when something's bugging me? I mean you've been able to know every since we met."

"I'm an observer. Now, why don't you tell me what's up?"

"I'm just concerned about how Roger's gonna react. I mean, we've been friends ever since grade school." Mark smiled at the memory. Roger had punched the bully that had been threatening Mark right in the gut; true, all three were sent to the principle, but for the first time in Mark's memory, someone had stood up for him. Until now. Mark's smile quickly faded back into a frown. "Maybe I should call and talk to Mimi first."

"Okay, well why don't you call now?"

Mark picked up the phone and dialed the loft's number. One ring, two rings, three rings, "SPEAK!" Mark chuckled inwardly. "Hi, uh, it's Mark. Look, I know Roger must hate my guts, but I'm back in New York, and uh, well I'd like to have lunch with you tomorrow. I'll call back later, bye." Mark hung up the phone.

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The Loft

"Who the fuck does he think he is?" Roger stormed. "He fuckin' leaves for God knows where, sends us only a couple fuckin' letters, and comes back expecting everything to be spec-fuckin-tacular!"

"Roger, baby, please calm down!" Mimi pleaded. "Give him a chance. At least he did write, which is more than I can say from when you left."

"Completely different scenario."

"REALLY?! Well, you're just going to have to get over yourself! I want to see him and meet his fiancé."

Roger was bewildered at what Mimi was saying to him. Rare was the occasion that Mimi yelled; the way she usually showed disappointment was with silence. Roger heaved a great sigh and went up to the roof to think. Mimi stayed inside and waited for Mark's call.

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"What time should I call them back?"

"Eight, it gives them an hour and a half."

"What are you writing now?"

"A muse hit me with an idea. Mark, can we watch one of your films, from when you lived at the loft?"

"Which one, I only brought TODAY 4 U, and NO DAY BUT TODAY."

"TODAY 4 U, please." Mark put the VHS in the VCR, and sat next to Paige on the bed. She leaned her head against his chest, and he stroked her long, wavy, strawberry blonde hair. Together they watched bits of Mark's past from that fateful year.

At eight, Mark picked up the phone and dialed the loft. One ring. Two rings.

"Hello?"

"Hi, uh, this is Mark. Did you get my message?"

"Yeah, where and what time do you want to eat lunch?"

"How about the Life Café at noon?"

"Sounds good, I'll pass the word onto Maureen and Joanne, and Collins. See you tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow at noon, at the Life Café?"

"That's right. What do you want to do with the rest of the night?" Paige's eyes twinkled mischievously in response.

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So there you have it, chapter two! Winter Break started today, so I should be able to update somewhat frequently, but I make no promises! Please let me know what you think! Diva