Disclaimer: I do not own Rent.

Maureen looked at Mark shocked by what he was asking. Her red, puffy eyes looked like they were deviding whether or not this was real. She certainly was not expecting this so she exclaimed, "What!"

"I want you to come to New York with me."

"Wait, are you talking to me?"

"Um...yeah. You're the only one here so yeah I am talking to you."

"Wow, um..."

"You can stay at the loft with me, Rog, Reeny, and Collins. The loft is actually pretty nice now that we always has heat and electricity. Plus, it looks nice inside now, too. Please, Maureen." Mark looked at her pleadingly.

"Um, sure. You know what? That would be great."

"Glad you think so." Mark pulled her close and gathered her into a kiss. This was the best both of them had felt in a very long time. After they relized the movie ended they both decided they needed to get to sleep, but before Mark could leave to go to his hotel Maureen suddenly said, "Mark, please don't leave. Will you stay here tonight?"

This is what made Mark truly aware of how much she needed someone. Her face looked vulnerable and unsure. He wished he could wash all that away from her and have her see how truly wonderful she is. He decided to stay there and just sleep in the sweats he was wearing. "Of course I will stay."

Maureen came out of the bathroom in a navy blue tank and light blue boy shorts and climbed into bed next to Mark. It made her smile that he was comfortable enough to sleep without his shirt on around her. When she first met him he was so shy about that. Now here he was only in gray sweat pants. She cuddled into him and rested her head on him. Mark looked down and saw how tired she looked. She fell asleep within minutes while he just sat and watched her. His eyes wondered back to her scarred arms and he saw some recent cuts. He traced all her scars with his thumb. It killed him to know she was most likely doing this to herself. He really wished she could see herself as he saw her. "I will have to ask her about that when we get back to New York. I am afriad if I do it here she will decide not to come with me. I need her to come with me. If I ruined her coming I would not be able to live with it. I have to listen to what Collins told me before I came. Don't make her rush into telling you what has been going on these past five years. She needs time. It was obvious she has not been too happy here. Well at least tomorrow morning we can plan on when to go home."

He fell asleep with thoughts of her in his head.

-The morning after-

Maureen woke up first since she heard the oh so sacred coffee pot. She looked up and saw Mark and smiled. She rolled slightly on top of him and brushed her hand against his cheek. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. He grabbed his glasses and slid them on. Then mumbled, "Good Morning."

She giggled and rested her head down on his chest. She looked into his eyes for a second and then looked away quickly. Then she left the room to make breakfeast. Mark was left there wondering what the hell that was all about. He got up and found her in the kitchen and walked up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. The only thing she did was become more stiff. This made Mark nervous and wonder what was wrong and if she was having second thoughts about New York. He made her body turn around and saw what exactly she was doing. She had a razor to her arm and tears sliding down her face. Mark just pulled her closer and grabbed the razor from her. He picked her up and carried her with him onto the couch. He had her sitting on his lap and didn't make a sound, but she was still crying. He just held his embrace tighter. She whispered, "I'm sorry Mark. You deserve better than this. I'll just stay here."

Mark looked at her like she was insane. "No Maureen, you are coming with me. End of story. Theres no way I will let you go again. I love you too much."

"Don't say that."

"What, I love you? Well guess what? You are going to have to learn to live with the fact that I, Mark Cohen, am hopelessly in love with you, Maureen Johnson."

" You don't mean that."

"I know very well how I feel. You are the only girl I have though about since the first time I have met you."

"Mark...please. You can't love me."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I don't deserve you! You deserve some girl who is prettier and smarter! Not me! Look at me I'm a wreck!"

Mark just looked at her for a second and then said calmly, "Which is what I want. I don't want some girl who is perfectly together. I want you. You're interesting and full of surprises. Your smile makes me smile. I want you back in my life. Please Maureen. I need you. I need something good in my life and as great as Roger and Collins are I need you! Maureen, don't listen to your insecurities because quite frankly they are crazy and don't know how great you are. Listen to me! Trust me! Come with me. Maureen, you are amazing and I need someone amazing like you. And if you say you are not amazing I will have to kidnap you and drag your white ass back to New York."

"I'm really sorry. I'll come, but you will regret it. I am not the girl you need."

"Maureen just don't right now. I know you better than you know yourself. I see the things you don't. Just please trust that I love you."

"I'll try. I really will try. And Mark?"

"Yes Maureen?"

" I love you, too. Never stopped and I don't think I ever will."

Mark just grabbed her and had her sit in his arms while a few silent tears slide down his pale cheeks. He kissed her soft forehead and hugged her close to him. His hand rubbed her back softly to comfort both of them. He could not believe how tortured she looked when he told her she was amazing. She just let herself collapse in his arms that very moment and whispered she was sorry yet another time. Maureen looked up and wiped Mark's tears away. She look like an injured puppy when her fingers made contact wth his face. She was trying so hard to resist the temptation when he kissed her. At first she tried, but eventually gave in to his kiss. Mark couldn't seem to get close enough to her and just kept holding her tighter and closer. She pulled away and looked confused for a second. Mark looked at her pleadingly. When he gave her that look she hugged him. She sighed, "I don't know how you do it."

"Do what?"

"I will be feeling like the worst thing to ever happen then you do that and I feel amazing."

"You are amazing. You just don't see it."

"See that! You really do need someone else though. You deserve that. I will be around until you change your mind though."

"Well I won't be changing my mind though. I have waited six years to have you back."

"Alright. So what do you want for breakfeast?"

"Eggs and pancakes and toast and you."

"Dirty!"

"Exactly."

"Okay you do eggs and I'll make the pancakes."

"Alrgiht sounds like a plan, Maureen."

"Okay Markie."

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you call me Pookie just for today?"

"Um sure...but why?"

"I missed it."

"Mmkay Pookie."

They gathered all the things they needed to make their breakfeast and made their breakfeast in pretty much silence until Maureen got a fun idea while getting milk out of the fridge. She grabbed the bottle of chocolate syurp and squirted some on Mark.

"MAUREEN!"

With that Mark grabbed the strawberry syurp and pour some on Maureen. Maureen leaned over towards Mark and looked into his eyes for a second and then quickly turned away. She went back to the pancakes so they wouldn't burn while Mark made more eggs. As soon as everything was ready they decided to eat breakfeast in the living room. Maureen looked up at Mark and started laughing. He looked at her and then questioned, "WHAT?"

"There is chocolate...on your pretend...eyebrows," she panted between laughs.

Mark looked at her like she was insane until he started laughing along with her. After they finally got over their laughing fit and finished eating Mark knew exactly what he wanted to do. He led Maureen to the bedroom and started kissing her passionately. Soon the kiss got very heated and clothes magically slipped away. This was the first time in six years Mark had ever felt truly alive.