A/N: So...this is it. Mark's fate is to be revealed. Oh, I only hope it's good enough. Enjoy!

The first week was hell. Though I guess it was better than being homeless. I didn't know anyone there, nor did I plan to get to them. Everyone was divided into large groups and put in to huge stone empty rooms that became our living space. I took my foam mattress into one of the corners away from everyone. I felt like I would go crazy for a bit, but after we were given things that made me feel more at home, it changed. Like extra blankets that I attached to some old hooks on the walls to make a sort of tent. And a pen and paper so I could still try to write songs. As the weeks went by I tried hard to forget things. I had for the most part become a hermit again. I sat in my little tent, chilled to the bone by the cold December weather, and wrote. It was sad but that was my life. Until one morning.

I was just waking up, eyes still not open when I felt something hit my foot. I groaned and did nothing, and was hit again.

"Hey, wake up." A voice called. I knew that voice, but why would he be here of all places? I wiggled out of my cotton fortress to see Benny looking down at me. I was shocked. "Let's go for a walk." He said as if we were still good friends.

"Why, on Earth-"

"Just get dress and come on. Trust me." I looked down forgetting that I was only in pyjamas.

"Fine." I said, making it clear that I was not happy about this.

"So, how are things?" He asked when I joined him outside.

"Well lets think, I'm living in a homeless shelter, how the fuck do you think things are?"

"Mimi's been asking about you."

"Wonderful." I rolled my eyes.

"She doing well, she'll be in treatment a bit longer though."

"Benny, not that I don't want to hear you go on about my Ex, why that hell are you here? You finally starting to feel bad about making your friends homeless?"

"Well, yes."

"Yeah right." I started to walk away back towards the shelter. He grabbed my arm.

"No, Please. Look." He dropped some keys into my hand.

"What are these?"

"Your keys, to your apartment."

My jaw dropped.

"But, your just, what about-"

"Rant free."

"Why the change of heart?" I said in disbelief.

"I made a promise, and we've gone different ways, but you were one of my best friends."

"Wow, I can't believe this. But what about our stuff?"

"I was just bluffing to get you out, I never touch your stuff." This floored me as well.

" Thank you." I almost killed me to say that.

"It's not just me I had some convincing."

"Mimi?"

"Mark." My heart fall again.

"I saw him the other day, and I just couldn't-"

"I don't want to hear about him." I thanked him again and left it at that.

It was dusk when I walked through the door and fall to the floor overjoyed that I was not longer in the shelter. I spent the rest of the night rejoicing and spending time with my guitar, playing late into the night until my fingers were throbbing. What I looked forward to most was sleeping in my own bed. But when I put my head down on my pillow I started to cry. I was home. But home wasn't home without Mark. Later I thought of looking for him. But no, if Benny saw him, wouldn't he tell him? Maybe he chose not to come back. My thoughts darted back and forth about Mark, until Christmas Eve morning when I got a call from Collins saying they were back in town and going to drop by that after noon. I waited and waited but nothing. Nothing until that night, Angel came in looking panic stricken...

I couldn't move for some time. Mark could have just left me on the street, left me to fen for myself. But instead he went in my place. God, this was my fault. He could die, die and it would be because of me. I looked at Mark. He was starting to shake more violently; he looked to be in pain. God no. Please no. Not now, this wasn't happening. I sprang to me feet, sat on the bed, and throw away the blankets so that I could press him to me.

"Mark," I stared down at him. "You can't die." I shook and tears started to spill. "You shouldn't even be here. This is all my fault and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. And I wish," My mind was racing it was hard to get out everything I wanted to say. " I don't know, I wish I didn't treat you the way I did. You did so much, and I," I was crying so hard I could barely talk. "I didn't notice or care and I should have. I love you. More than anyone, but I didn't...do what I should have. I was wrong. But you need to wake up, for me. You'd do anything for me. Just do this, I'll never ask for anything again. I know you probably hate me by now. I don't blame you, but you can hate me. You can never speak to me again after tonight, but please you have to wake up. I," The words stuck in my throat, the words that came straight from my soul, the words I had been trying to say for so long. I press him to me again, leaned my head on his shoulder and cried "I need you. I've always needed you. I just- I can't do it without you. I'm not strong enough, you're the strong one, we both know that. I would die without. Mark...don't leave. I love you and I need you."

I cried wordlessly until I notice that he had stopped shaking; He'd stopped moving all together. I pulled away and shook him a little. No response. My hands went to his neck and chest, feeling and feeling for a heartbeat. Tears blurred my vision I kept feeling and found nothing. I pulled my hand away. My heart throbbed, my head was spinning. I started to wail. I screamed his name over and over letting out my anguish. I held him, sobbing hysterically.

Suddenly I stopped. I felt something. The slightest bit of a shift. And then a groan, the sweetest most beautiful groan I had ever heard. I looked down at him, his lips were open, his brow furrowed, and eyes flickered open. Then shut tight again. But I started to weep with joy.

"Wh-what..." His eyes opened half way, trying to fuscous on what was around him. I put his glasses back on him.

"Mark?" My voice didn't sound like my own.

He looked at me.

"Roger?" he voice was soft and slow. "Where...are we?"

"We're home. We're in my room."

"Why," he looked right at me for the first time. "Why are you here?"

"I found out where you really went. If I had known I would have come sooner."

"No." He shook his head and groaned again.

"Are you okay?"

"Roger, I'm-I'm so tired. Everything just hurts ..." I held him tighter.

"Angel and Collins will be here soon with a doctor, don't worry." He closed his eyes again.

"Mark, please try to listen." His weak eyes looked at me, trying to stay open. "I'm sorry, sorry for everything, if I could take everything back I would. This is my fault, I know nothing I can say could make it alright. But if you could forgive me-"

"It's okay," he smiled a little.

"I'm sorry." I repeated .

"I forgive you." This made me cry harder. I was overcome with joy, love, happiness; I kissed him hard but he pulled away. Did he not feel the same?

"Don't, I could be sick, you-you could catch something."

I laughed still unable to believe his devotion.

"Roger!" I heard the door fly open and more voices.

"I'm in here!" More tears came and I kissed him again.