One year later…

Mark Cohen sat perched on the windowsill of his loft, looking out into the city.

Christ he thought I'm 35. Just in time for my mid-life crisis.

Asha Cohen shuffled out of the bedroom she and her husband shared. She walked over to Mark, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You're up awfully early for a change," she said sleepily, kissing him on the forehead. "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks," he replied half-heartedly, not sure whether he should be celebrating or realizing his life was slowly ending.

Asha walked over to their hot plate, heated up an old pot of coffee, and poured cups for both of them. She pressed a warm mug into Mark's icy hands, and sat on the other side of him.

"Who's all coming to my 'surprise' party?" Mark asked grimly.

Asha giggled. "It wasn't my fault you and Maureen had a vodka night and she blurted it out." Mark rolled his eyes. "Mo, Jo, Collins, and Benny are definitely coming-"

Mark spat out his coffee. "Benny? As in Benjamin Coffin III??"

Asha nodded. "I know. Apparently, he's back in town. He remembered about your birthday, and called here. I had to offer him to come. Sorry, dear. Anyway, Mel and Allie are going to try. Mel's not sure she's up to it."

Mark nodded sadly. Roger died only about a month ago. Although everyone knew it was coming, the Bohemians were devastated. None more, though, than Melanie. All of them had spent many late nights over at her apartment, comforting her sobs.

She was getting better, but she was still in a haze of depression. Mark never saw her very often, but when he did, she didn't ever look him straight in the eyes or smiled.

Mark spent the rest of the day sitting there. He reminisced about the past year or two, and everything that had happened to them. It doesn't matter how old we get he chuckled to himself a million things happen to us.

Just before leaving, Mark dug around in his chest of drawers, and pulled out his trusty, old camera. He bought a digital one a long time ago, but somehow he was still attached to this one. Blowing off the dust and checking to make sure it worked (it did, miraculously), he tucked it into his jacket.

Insert line here!

As Mark entered the Life Café, he was happy to see Maureen, Joanne, both whom had flown in from Los Angeles for the occasion (Despite Maureen doing everything she possibly could, including a full-frontal sex show, she couldn't convince her publicist to keep her in New York), Collins and Benny sitting comfortably in the chairs.

Mark took off his scarf, and sat next Collins, Asha on his other side. As he chatted with his friends, Asha laced her fingers with his underneath the table. Mark still got a bubbling rush whenever she did that. Their marriage had been hasty, but the perfect decision. The two had only become closer.

The doorbell jingled, and a rush of late November air filled the little restaurant. Pink-cheeked and huffing from the cold, Melanie briskly walked in, gripping tightly on Allie's hand, who was more than aggravated at having her mother drag her to parties she didn't want to go to.

Mark grinned from ear to ear, to which Melanie returned. To see her so strong after that hard month was incredibly rewarding.

"Hey, Markie," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "How's the birthday boy?"

"Old," he grumbled, crossing his arms.

Everyone chuckled

As the waiter gave everyone a large, frosted glass of beer, Maureen tapped her fork against it.

The entire room fell silent.

"So, I'm not going to make a big speech or anything, but I just want to let Mr. Birthday Boy over here that we all love you. Otherwise, we wouldn't have left warm California or go outside in the freezing cold to be here. Happy Birthday, Mark."

"Hear, hear!" Collins cried.

Everyone in the restaurant raised their glasses, and took a long swig.

When Mark set down his glass, he climbed on to the table, spread out his arms, and with a little laugh, began to sing.

"Dearly beloved, we gather here to say our goodbyes…"

THE END

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading!

Hope you liked it.

Review, please.

Sorry for the incredulously long updates.