I don't own any of the characters or IP associated with Repo! The Genetic Opera. It's all property of Zdunich/Smith/Bousman.

No Pavi in this one! But he'll be back soon enough...

They had met at their usual table in the secluded back corner of the VIP section of an upmarket hotel a few blocks from GeneCo towers. It was one of very few venues in the city that was scrupulous enough to never allow journalists or photographers within the building unless at the specific request of one of their guests and afforded a privacy that neither of them were able to achieve in public places unless they were disguised. Marni usually relished the attention of the press and Mag tolerated it, understanding the benefits of keeping a high public profile. Rotti was powerful enough that no publication would dare to be derogatory about his fiancée or spokeswoman. Today, however, the subject of their discussion warranted a privacy that few places could offer.

Mag had known for a few days that all was not right with Marni. Although her friend hadn't said anything specific, they had hardly seen each other in over a week and Marni had become quiet and secretive, almost paranoid in her behaviour. At her request, Marni had come to meet her to explain, over drinks, what was going on.

Through most of a bottle of wine and no small amount of tears, Marni had confessed that she had been having an affair with a young doctor who had recently been recruited to GeneCo's medical research division. Mag had met him briefly at the introductory dinner and drinks evening for the new intake and had noticed Marni lavishing far more attention on him than any of the other new staff, almost to the point of flirtation, but she had pushed her concerns to one side, assuming that if Marni had been attracted to anybody else, she would have had the sense not to overtly favour them in the presence of Rotti. Marni had started sleeping with him on a regular basis soon after that evening and in spite of her attempts to remain detached she had increasingly grown to care about Nathan Wallace.

Mag was amazed that Marni had managed to keep this concealed, both from her and from Rotti. He kept a phenomenal amount of data on all of his employees and surveillance was omnipresent in the staff areas of GeneCo.

Mag examined her friend for a long, silent moment as she considered what she had just heard. "This won't end well."

"I know, it sounds crazy, even foolish. But I didn't choose for this to happen and now I don't know what to do."

"Do you love him? Nathan, I mean?"

Marni bit her lip and looked down into her wineglass, her eyes brimming "I do. More than anything."

Mag sighed heavily "and what about Rotti?"

Marni shook her head "I don't know. I don't want to hurt him, but I don't think I love him any more. I did, once, but not now, not like I used to."

"Have you said anything to him yet?"

"I've extended the engagement. I told him that I always wanted a summer wedding. It's only bought me a few months but it's some time to decide what the hell to do now."

"You need to be prepared for him not taking this very well. He's not a man who gives up what he wants easily."

"I know that." Tears spilled down Marni's cheeks but she brushed them away furiously "this is all such a mess."

"What will you do? Where will you go? I mean, this is your home, our home." Marni's presence in GeneCo Towers had been a major factor in Mag's decision to relocate and work for Rotti in return for her sight. The prospect of being left there without her closest friend and ally was not an appealing one.

"Nathan lives about a mile East of here. He inherited his parents' estate a few years ago. It's huge and it's beautiful. We could be really happy there. And it's close, really close, you and I could see each other almost as much as we do now."

Mag sighed "It sounds like you've already thought this through, maybe even made your mind up. What do you want me to say? I'm not going to tell you that you've not done anything wrong, somebody is going to get very, very hurt because of you, whatever happens now. But you're my best friend and I will support you in any decision you need to make to be happy. Even though, on a selfish level, I would rather you stayed here with me." She smiled and took her friend's hand. "Whatever you do, I'm here for you and will back you up. You're right, you've made a huge damn mess and it's not going to be easy to put right, but it's not the end of the world."

Marni gave a weak smile and nodded. "I know. Shit, this is scary."

"But it's going to be OK, it just might take a while."

"Thank you, Mag, I really don't know what I'd do without you."

"Oh please, you're a big girl, you don't need my blessing for every decision you make. But you know I've got your back. I always will."

Marni dried her eyes on her sleeve and sighed. "That's quite enough of that. Can we focus on getting drunk now, please?"

Mag smiled wickedly and gestured to the barman to bring over another bottle of Chianti.