Author's Note:Eee. Chapter two is up! This a lot faster than Ithought it wouldbe. Hehe. Mind you, I've had great motivation for it. I don't think there's really much else to say about this chapter ... There is a small beginning to the slash. That is, the door opened so I just have to make Mark and Roger walk through it. I don't want to say anymore until the end, though. So I don't give it away.Oh ... I realize there is a lot of Roger in this chapter. I'm going to try and make the next one have more Mark. Oh! And, I'm still hunting for a title. Eep. I'll find one soon!

Read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter Two:

Mark has been gone for a week. It has been odd for Roger. He still isn't used to not having a routine. He wakes up, he eats, he takes his AZT. From there, he is lost.

Roger has gone out a lot in the passed week. He's visited Collins many times. He occasionally considers visiting Mimi, but he always decides that he shouldn't. After they're very loud and very harsh break-up a few months before, they have lost any hope for even friendship. Roger has visited Maureen and Joanne, even Benny. He hates being alone.

He is walking through Central Park. Roger has always liked Central Park, especially in the spring. It's only February. He pushes his hair (which Maureen has somehow convinced him to color a few shades darker than his natural color) out of his face and shoves his hands in his pockets.

The guitarist finds himself thinking more often than usual. His thoughts are uncontrolled, and they run together, making Roger frustrated. He cannot write when he is frustrated. He misses Mark. He wonders why Mark isn't back yet.

A few days ago, Mark had phoned, just like he said he would. Roger wasn't home. Mark left a message. Roger wrote it down because he was afraid of deleting it before it really sank in. It has. Roger has practically memorized the message by now. He recites it to himself as he leaves the park.

"Hey, Rog. It's Mark. Just want you to know that I'm alright and I made it to Scarsdale without any problems. I …" Roger pauses for a moment, forgetting the next bit. He quickly remembers and continues. "I still don't know when I'll be home. Don't forget to take your AZT. If you need any money for food there's some under my mattress. And I realized something on the bus ride. Everything makes a lot of sense to me now. Rog, I love you."

Snow begins to fall gently as Roger heads home.

--

Mark has not tried to call Roger again. He does not know how Roger reacted to the message, and as much as he is dying to find out he cannot bring himself to do it. The fear of rejection is too strong.

As for himself, Mark is not as shocked about loving Roger he thinks he should be. To him, it makes sense. It is not that he has lusted after the songwriter, but it is more about the affection that he as acquired for Roger. After all, Mark has known for Roger for ten years. He has been a close friend of Roger's for seven years. He has lived with Roger for five years.

Mark supposes that he has loved Roger for all of these years. Now he needs to sort out everything else.

Mark sits up on his bed. His mother (who had been ecstatic to see her son) has put him in his old room. He reaches to his window to open the curtains, and he stares outside. The filmmaker cannot resist running outside to capture the scene on film. Out on the street, Mark breathes in the fresh air and starts his camera.

Giant snowflakes are floating lazily to the ground. They contrast sharply with the crisp black night and blanket the street and surrounding houses. Soft pools of light from the streetlights add a finishing touch of elegance. It is as though God has given life to a painting. Mark makes a snow angel on the sidewalk.

At this moment, he feels truly free of everything.

--

Roger splays out on the couch. He has been home for hours. It is nearly midnight. Boredom has finally gotten the better of the guitarist, and Roger runs a hand down his face to keep from throwing a cushion. His eyes wander to the phone. Is it possible for Mark to phone this late? Roger doubts it. He closes his eyes and thinks about the filmmaker for the millionth time this week (Roger figures that he has never thought so much about another person before).

Mark loves him. Roger was, of course, surprised to hear this. Who wouldn't be? Roger has gone through all sorts of memories, looking for a clue or a hint or something. He has found nothing. It doesn't make sense. It makes Roger asks questions. More specifically, it makes him ask a question. Does Roger love Mark? The answer is yes, and Roger isn't bothered by that.

He was not able to pinpoint why he always feels a pang of loss when he thinks about the day Mark left for Scarsdale. He knew it went far deeper than friendship. Now he knows. He also knows why he disliked seeing Mark with Maureen (or anyone Mark was interested in), and he knows why he has always been drawn to Mark. What he wants to know is if he has always loved Mark.

Roger wants to phone the filmmaker. He sits up and picks up the phone, and then he puts it down. It is too late. He'll phone Mark in the morning. Roger yawns and goes to his room.

The moment he steps into his room, Roger is chilled. Since he first moved into the loft, his room has always been the coldest in the winter and the hottest in the summer. Despite his best efforts, Roger cannot do anything to make the room more comfortable. He shivers as he changes into his pajamas and he looks at his bed with his eyebrows raised in consideration. Roger goes into Mark's room.

Mark's room is nearly as cold as Roger's. This doesn't bother the guitarist, though. Mark has thick blankets and a comfortable mattress. Roger snuggles into the bed. He makes a mental note to sleep in Mark's room more often.

Author's Note: Now I can say what I wanted. I realized there are a lot of stories where, when these two realize they love each other, one of them (usually Roger) or both of of them kind of ... Freak out, you know? I just thought it would be nice for once to have them accept it, and understand that this is what it is.

As for what you can expect for the next chapter ... Like I said, hopefully more Mark. I'll really try, but no promises! And, our boys will be reunited. That's all I really know for sure. Please review! It makes me write more!