Scene: Fi's apartment.

"Hey Fi, want to hurry up in there and not use all the hot water." Aaron called while opening the bathroom door to talk to the steaming shower where Fi was.

"Hold on."

"What?"

"HOLD ON."

"WHAT?" Aaron screamed still not understanding Fi, he walked over to the shower and pulled back the curtain where he found Fi lathering her hair. "Whatcha' doin'?"

"Baking a cake."

"Vanilla or chocolate?"

"Strawberry."

"Yummy."

Fi just laughed, "Okay now that you have seen me thoroughly nude would you mind shutting the door on your way out?"

"Nah, this is way too much fun."

"Why?"

"Blackmail."

"Loser!" Fi laughed while throwing a washcloth at him.

"Fine, but really hurry up; I need to take a shower too."

"Alright, I'll be done in ten."

Fi continued to massage the shampoo into her hair and began to softly hum a tune to herself. She did not even realize Aaron still had not left the bathroom and he stopped at the door when she began to sing. Aaron had always loved her voice, but especially when she sang a ballad. She rarely ever did, and never did so in front of people. He always caught her in her private moments and he knew she would throttle him if she ever found out that he did sometimes unobtrusively interfere in her special moments. He sat down on the toilet and continued to listen. The showerhead finally turned off, and Fi emerged with a long white towel wrapped around her body and one up in her hair. "Alright hot stuff, you're turn," she said with a wink.

"Thanks leave me any warm water."

"Nope, all of it's cold."

"You're such the congenial roommate."

"You live with a straight chick. Did you expect any better?"

"Shouldn't have."

"Just take your damn shower." Fi said as she grabbed her hair dryer and went into her room. About five minutes later, someone began knocking on her door. "Coming." She said still in a towel, but her hair was down and she was rubbing it with another dry towel. She opened the door to a back. "Nice back."

Roger turned quickly, "Hey ba--" He stopped talking when he noticed her "attire" she looked, if possible, better than every other time he had seen her so far. Most of the time, at least with Mimi, he would just say she looked great after a shower or in the mornings and sometimes not meaning it, but to him Fi looked gorgeous.

"You plan on entering or staying out in the hall?" Fi asked humored.

"Um, entering?"

"Good choice." Fi stood back and let Roger in. He took the time to look around the apartment. The walls had plenty of photographs, both black and white and color, as well as paintings in all types of paints. One painting really caught his eye, and he walked over to it to examine it at a closer range. It was a picture of the beach at night. The sand was almost a snow white, and the waters were black, almost warning like. The sky was a dark blue, and in it held a hundred silver stars and a sliced moon.

"That's really good." He said pointing to the picture.

"Thanks, the beach is really soothing to me. To me, it's where the world can just pass me by and I really don't care. Everything about it heightens my senses. The smell of the sea spray, the sound of the crashing waves, and the gorgeous beauty of it all."

"You're good with words."

"Huh?"

"Just that, you're good with words, most people fumble in what to say, but not you. You just...know."

"I try. Want something to drink?"

"What do you have?"

"Um Coke, Sprite, Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Milk, Orange Juice, Cranberry Juice, and water."

"No alcohol."

"Not tonight, no." Fi looked at the clock over the stove. It said 5:00. "Shit."

"What?"

"I have to be somewhere at 6 and it's already 5. I still have to dry my hair, put on my makeup, and all of that womanly preparation."

"Hot date?"

"Maybe." Fi winked and hoped her eyes did not give her away.

"Hm. Well I should go then, I need to be somewhere at 6 as well. Are we still on for tomorrow night?"

"Yeah, just come by sometime tomorrow with the time you want to go out."

"Alright."

"I'll walk you to the door."

"We do a lot of couple walking."

"I don't want you to get mugged before you get to the door."

"Who would mug me?"

"Okay, maybe not mug, but certainly some sort of an attack."

"By whom."

Fi laughed, then grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. She then opened it and said, "See ya later stud."

"Uh-huh."

Suddenly both became increasingly aware of how close they were to each other. Fi could smell his day-old cologne and see the stubble that began to form on his chin. After a few moments she looked away to her painted toes. Roger smelled the shampoo from her wet wavy hair, as well as the vanilla soap. He had an ache to kiss her, but could not decide if the moment was right or not. Suddenly Aaron called to Fi from the shower, and the moment seemed all but broken. She looked up at him again, smiled a soft warm smile and kissed his cheek. "Bye."

"Yeah, bye." Roger whispered and he turned to walk out the door. Fi lightly shut the door behind him. She leaned up against the door and sighed. After a few seconds she walked out into the living room, when another knock sounded on her door.

"Must be Mark." She said to herself. "Hold on." When she opened the door however, she saw that once again it was Roger. "Forget someth-" Her words were stopped. Roger had taken a step toward her, placed each hand on a cheek and pulled her face into his inviting her lips into a kiss. It was, in a word, perfect. As her lips began to move over his, he pulled her body closer to his, and deepened the kiss. After what seemed like a wonderful eternity the two pulled apart. Fi was breathless as she searched his eyes and in them she found something. She could not decide whether it was desire or regret, but they certainly held longing. Roger search Fi's eyes and found the same thing. Fi reached for his hand once again and stood on her tiptoes where she placed a single kiss on his lips. "I gotta go."

"Yeah."

"Bye Roger."

"Bye Fi."

Roger turned away from the closing door and proceeded up the stairs to the loft. When he opened the door he was greeted by an excited Mark. "Hurry up Rog, we got to be there at 6 and I'm meeting somewhere there too."

"Awesome, is it a 'she'?"

"Yes it's a 'she' and it is a gorgeous 'she' at that."

"Well I'm glad." Mark then proceeded to talk about his new found attraction, but all that Roger could think about was Fi and the kiss. Unknowingly he put his right index finger to his lip and gently rubbed it.

"Hello, earth to Roger...Roger snap out it." Mark clapped his hands in front of Roger's face.

"Huh, what?"

"You zoned out on me."

"Yeah I did, sorry."

"What's on your mind?"

"I met someone."

"You did? Tell me about her."

"Later. I need to get ready if we need to be there at 6."

"Okay, but I'm holding you to your word."

"You're such the hopeless romantic Mark."

"Shut up, you make me sound like a chick."

"You act like one."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Very mature conversation guys." Joanne stated when she walked into the loft.

"He started it." Mark and Roger said at the same time while pointing at each other.

"Do you think they share their toys?" Maureen asked while coming up behind Joanne.

"Probably not."

"He broke my ass, that's why I don't share with him." Mark stated.

Everyone winced, "Yeah, I remember that. I was your servant for a whole damn week." Maureen stated.

"You know you liked it, the bandage was a turn on."

"Yeah it was. Next time though, get shot or something and let me see the oozing blood that really puts me in the mood."

"Maureen..." Roger began.

"Yeah Roger?"

"Just shut up."

"Right. Okay guys lets get this show on the road. Where is Collins?"

"He said he had another date tonight. Anyone know who it is?" Mark asked.

"I do." Roger said, "His name is Aaron, he's an awesome fit for Collins."

"Well, I'm glad then."

"Okay let's go." Maureen stated, she was beginning to get antsy.

"Alright, hold on, I need to change."

Roger ran into his bedroom and hurriedly changed into some faded jeans and an old CBGB's sleeveless t-shirt. He then walked out of his bedroom into the living room where everyone was waiting.

"Ah, the gracious beauty queen is ready." Joanne stated.

"Of course." Roger said while doing a very bad curtsey.

~*~

Once the group had reached the film festival Maureen and Joanne left Roger and Mark to walk around. Mark constantly checked his watch and then realized he had not told Fi where to meet him. "Hey Roger, I'll meet you here back in ten minutes, ok?"

"Fine with me."

"Roger began looking around."

Mark then started off on his small quest to find Fi, it did not take long thought. He saw her by the snack stands talking to Collins and another guy. "Fi!"

Fi turned to look around and saw Mark waving at her. "Oh hey Mark." Mark had reached her by the end of her sentence. "Mark this is my best friend Aaron and this is-"

"Collins, I know him, we're friends, and used to be roomies. So, Collins, this is your new man."

"Yeah, cute huh?"

"Not the best to judge." Mark said.

"I resent that!" Aaron said in weak defense.

"I think you're cute," Fi said while hugging him and wrapping her leg around him.

"Fi, I'm gay, have you not realized that in the many, many years we have known each other."

"DAMNIT. Are you serious! Why wasn't I informed?"

"Sorry, thought the floral bedding gave it away."

Fi just shook her head and laughed.

"So Mark, how you doin'?"

"Pretty good, very excited about this."

"I'm sure you are Sparky. It is pretty awesome."

"Okay," Mark thought, "she didn't get the hint."

"Well hey, follow me, there is someone I want you to meet."

"Oh alright, I'll see you later then Aaron?"

"Probably not tonight."

"Gag me now."

"Love you too."

"Right. Bye"

Fi then followed Mark. "So who is this person I'm about to meet."

"Just my best friend."

"Cool."

That is when Fi noticed Roger, she quickly took a step behind Mark. She was horrified to see him here. Had he followed her? Mark then quickened his pace and before she realized it he was being pulled by Mark to the area in which Roger was standing.

"Please dear god don't let that be Mark's best friend." Fi whispered in a fervent whisper. That's when their eyes met. At first Roger was smiling, and then he noticed Fi and Mark's linked hands. She quickly pulled her hand out of Mark's grasp, but continued to follow him, her eyes locked on Roger's the entire time. When they reached the point where Roger was standing, he stopped Mark from any introductions.

"Hello Fi."

A/N: Reviews! They make my day.