[A/N: This will be my last update before I move. I thought I needed some comic relief, so here it is. It's kind of fluf-ish. Oh well. See if you can find the hidden line from an Idina Menzel song and the hidden Wicked scene. Those who guess correctly get virtual Diet Coke.]

Collins had decided that everyone would go out to dinner at the Life Café in honor of Kelly, the new addition to their group of friends. Mark was sitting on the floor getting his camera ready for the event when Maureen came stomping into the living room.

"Damnit!" She sighed loudly. "Mark, do I look fat?"

"Um. . .no. . ."he said, giving the obvious answer.

"You're lying."

"What am I supposed to do? If I say no, you accuse me of lying. If I say yes, you go off on a tangent about how fat you supposedly are." Maureen gave him a look that could kill, so Mark quickly added, "Not that you're fat. Not at all. Besides, pregnant women are supposed to be a little. . ." he chose his words carefully, ". . .rotund."

Maureen threw her hands in the air. "Rotund?! Oh, that makes it sooo much better! Really!" She struggled with the zipper on the back of her leather pants. "I'm getting too fat for these. . .urgh. Mark, will you zip this for me?" She turned around so her butt was practically in his face.

Mark yanked at the zipper trying not to look down. Too late. "Maureen. . .is it normal for pregnant women to wear thongs?"

"Is it normal for white people to wear dreadlocks?" she replied sarcastically. "I'll go find someone who appreciates my underwear."

"Who? Roger? Mimi won't be too happy about that." Maureen slugged him. "Feel better now?"

Maureen laughed. "Yes, actually I do."

Mark lifted her despite Maureen's screams with surprising strength and dumped her onto the couch. "So do I."

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

Mimi stood in front of the bathroom mirror trying to put up her hair. "I'm leaving the party early," she told Roger, who was washing his face.

"I thought you didn't have to work tonight."

"I didn't. But since I was gone yesterday I'm coming in tonight for a few hours." Mimi gave up on her hair and left it as it was.

"I'll miss you." Roger slid his hands around her waist.

Mimi turned around and kissed him. "Then my welcome home kiss will be even better then, won't it?"

Their small smooch soon turned into a much longer one. Roger leaned against the door with Mimi practically on top of him, but he accidentally put his hand on the doorknob and they went tumbling out into the living room.

"Ow. . ." Roger said from the floor. Mimi giggled hysterically from on top of his stomach and gave him yet another kiss before getting up.

Mark and Maureen stared blankly at them. "So that's why they call it 'falling' in love," Mark muttered. "Come on, you two lovebirds. Collins and Kelly will be here any second."

----------------------------------------------------- "So you're Maureen," Kelly said as they all squished into a booth at the Life Café.

"That would be me."

"I hear you're into theatre. I've been trying to make in on Broadway for the past few years."

"Oh really?" Maureen appeared interested, and soon they were engaged in an in-depth conversation leaving the others clueless.

The rest of their meal involved Mimi practically beating Roger to death with a menu. Mark filmed the french-fry fight that followed.

"This is like old times," Roger made the mistake of saying. Both Collins and Maureen grew slightly quieter for the rest of the night remembering those who were absent. The uncomfortable silence was only interrupted when Mimi left for work.

"We knew you'd show up," Marcie smirked as Mimi entered the dressing room. "You look nervous."

Mimi slammed her bag onto the table and sat down ignoring Marcie.

"Don't worry. At least they'll enjoy it," Marcie went on. "Maybe as much as Roger would. . ."

Mimi could feel herself turning red with rage. "Marcie. . ."

"Yes?"

Mimi held her breath to keep from saying anything she didn't want to. She pulled out the boa usually worn with her costume.

"You won't be needing that," Marcie commented with a smirk. Before Mimi could let out a reply, Bud came banging on the door.

"Mimi! Get your ass out here! You're on!"

Suddenly Mimi was being shoved through the crowed hallway backstage. "Bud, I can't do this. . ."

"Too late."

With one more push she was on the stage with the glare of a spotlight in her eyes. She could barely make out Bud racing to the back of the club to watch. The music began and Mimi danced just as usual. Soon she began to relax and feel the music. The plans of removing her clothes were forgotten.

"Take something off," Bud was mouthing to her. Mimi kept dancing. It looked like the vein in Bud's forehead was ready to burst. She saw him quickly scribble something on a piece of paper and held it up. Mimi squinted and read, "You're FIRED" in bold letters.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath between dance moves. Her fingers closed around the zipper on the back of her shirt. "Do it for Roger," Mimi told herself over and over in her mind. Somehow she couldn't picture Roger wanting her to do this, but they needed money. She needed to keep a job. It was a necessity. But why did Mimi still feel so uneasy?

"Don't be ashamed! Show us watcha got!" a voice called out in the crowd. Murmurs of agreement seemed to echo throughout the men in front of the stage.

Mimi couldn't think. There was no right or wrong. There was only that light blaring in her eyes with the music blasting behind her and a crowd full of men hungry for a glimpse of something hidden. And because of her love for Roger, Mimi decided not to hide it any longer.

[Please don't hurt me!]