A/N: Here we are: the point of no return. The big drama I've been promising. I wasn't going to update so quickly to build a little more suspense, but I decided to give you all a special Valentine's Day present. Even if you don't consider it a happy gift...

Disclaimer: All I own are a few Hershey's kisses!

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An hour later, the whole group except for Mark and Collins went out to visit the cemetery and shop around a little. Mimi dragged Roger along to look at a toaster for their apartment, but Mark begged off on the pretense of developing some film. Everyone knew he also wanted to keep an eye on Collins, who had been forbidden to leave the couch after yet another coughing fit. Mimi and Anna had already decided that if the report from Mark was not good when they returned, Collins was going straight to the hospital.

Now Collins rested quietly on the couch while Mark went about his work. The apartment was unnaturally quiet with only the two of them out. Drunken calls and celebrating could be heard from the street, however, reminding both men how their Christmases had been spent in younger years.

"Mark," Collins said softly.

"Yeah?" Mark turned from his work.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure…" the filmmaker pulled up a chair, noting with a pang of concern the pasty pallor of his friend's face, "You okay?"

"I'm getting worse," Collins admitted, "I think I may die soon. Tonight."

Mark felt his eyes unwillingly fill with tears. Where did this sissy emotional reaction come from? He struggled to speak normally. "Maybe not. You know, people have made miraculous recoveries from relapses like this. You see it all the time on TV. They're sick one minute, and the next, all better. This is sorta like that time Mimi got really bad. I guess it came quicker for you because you're older. Then she got better and she's been mostly fine for sixteen years! So you may get better, too, and then-˝

"Mark," Collins said gently.

Mark swallowed. He knew he'd been babbling, but in a stupid way, it made him feel better.

"I don't want you getting all upset right now," Collins instructed, "God knows I'm emotional enough for the both of us. But I told the truth when I said I wasn't scared of death anymore."

"Where are the others, they should be here!" Mark said, jumping up, "I'll call Joanne, tell them all to come back!"

"No!" Collins said sharply, stopping Mark in his tracks, "Mark, I don't want them to come and fawn over me. I just want to die peacefully, like Angel did, with only me there. You're my best friend; I'm glad you're here, but the others don't have to be."

"But they'd want to say goodbye," Mark said meekly.

"And they'll have time, at the funeral. Mark, just let them know from me that I care about them. That's all that matters."

"Okay," Mark whispered.

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Two hours later, Collins lay on the couch, alone in the room. Mark had retreated into his bedroom, on call if Collins needed him. But Collins wouldn't call Mark. His breathing was coming in shallow breaths, but he wasn't going to call his friend in to see his death.

A stab of pain and a tightening of his chest muscles made him gasp. A heart attack? He felt himself losing consciousness as his surroundings melted together and turned black. A glow ignited ahead above him (though now it seemed like he was standing up, so it was really in front of him), filling his mind with a sudden unexpected cheerfulness. Then Angel stepped into view. She was glowing and beaming at him.

"A-Angel?" he stuttered, finding he felt no pain in speaking.

"That's right," his lover said, reaching out a hand, "Come on, honey. It's your time to join me."

"But the others-˝ Collins began.

"-will have to go on without you. They'll be okay. Come."

So Collins took Angel's hand and left his body, walking forward as the glow encompassed them both just seconds before Mark reentered the room.

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A/N: So...Collins is dead. Sorry to all Collins fans (I am one, too!), but I felt it was needed to add to the story. Decided this chapter was a good update for the holiday of love because Collins gets to be with Angel now. I have an announcement to make, too. Two people are going to die in this fanfic. One is dead - who will the second be? Happy Valentine's Day! Review!