Author's Note: Whew. Here is Chapter Four. Sorry about the delay. I wish I could use school as an excuse. I don't have any excuse. Just ... Lazy. I forgot. Haha. But, at last. Here it is. Thanks for paying attention still! Your reviews make me smile. This chapter is essentially fluff. Cutesie fun stuff. And, thanks to my wonderful Krissy for letting me use her name as one of the characters. Enjoy the fluff! It won't last long. Enjoy!
Chapter Four:
Mark and Roger are happy. They have never been happier, in fact. At least, not in a long time. Mark closes his eyes and sighs happily. He enjoys the feeling of Roger's arms around him as they snuggle on the couch. The two of them don't speak now; there is no need for words. Somewhere inside they think that, if they speak, something will be ruined. Of course, Mark and Roger know better, but it does not stop them thinking it.
Roger yawns in a content and lazy manner. He runs his hands through Mark's hair, and presses his cheek against the filmmaker's hair. He wonders why they haven't done this sooner, and a small smile plays on his lips. Mark notices and looks at Roger curiously. Roger just shrugs, and places a small kiss on Mark's lips. This is the first kiss.
Mark's heart flutters, and Roger's stomach flips. It is a motion that happens in unison, although neither men know this. The kiss is small, and yet it is perfect. Their lips move together, soft and warm. Mark and Roger pulls apart, touching their noses together and sharing a small, knowing smile. The phone rings, and their attention is stolen away from each other.
"SPEAK"
"Really, Mark, honey," says Mrs. Cohen through the answering machine, "you have to change that message." Mark and Roger grin slightly at each other. "I just wanted to call and say that I think we should meet up for lunch. Julie's got a wonderful daughter, Kristine, and I think you'd really like to meet her –"
Mark picks up the phone.
"Hey, mom … Yes ... I'll answer sooner next time ... About lunch … No, no … I'd like to go … Yes, mom … Well, I have some things to do around here. I need to catch up with everyone. And Maureen wants to see me about something … Alright … I'll see you tomorrow … Bye." He hangs up the phone.
Roger looks at Mark with a slightly disgusted face.
"Do you really have to go see Maureen?" he asks.
"No," Mark replies. "I needed to say something to get my mom to leave me alone for the day, didn't I?" He smiles a bit.
Roger rolls his eyes in amusement. That was typical of Mark.
"So, what are you going to do today?" The guitarist raises one of his eyebrows. "You'd better not be thinking of running off somewhere to film something. I've gone a month by myself in this loft. Don't think I'll be letting you off that easy."
"Actually," says the filmmaker as he moves back into his original position of snuggling Roger, "I was thinking of staying in today. Just you and me. To get used to this."
"Well, I'm certainly not one to complain." Roger grins, wrapping his arms around Mark again.
He nuzzles Mark's neck softly, and Mark laughs in response, pushing the guitarist away gently. Roger simply pouts, but soon he is laughing as well. Mark leans over and kisses Roger on the nose. The guitarist makes a face. Mark laughs once more and gets up.
"What are you doing?" One of Roger's eyebrows raises in suspicion. "You're not running away again, are you?" He gets up as well.
"Why would I be, Roger?" Mark rolls his eyes in amusement. "I'm getting my jacket." He sees another suspicious look cross Mark's face. "Relax, Rog! I'm going for a walk. Would you like to come with me?"
"… I suppose I could do that." Roger grins and puts on his jacket. "Where are we going?"
"I don't know." Mark shrugs once his jacket is on. "We could go to Central Park?"
"Sounds like a plan." Roger links his arm with Mark's, pulling him close, and walks out of the loft.
--
By the time Mark and Roger get to the park, their socks and shoes are soaked. March is fast approaching, and with it, Spring. This means that slush is becoming abundant. It is almost impossible to avoid. Mark is annoyed by this, and Roger takes advantage of it by making Mark walk through as much slush as possible. He finds it amusing.
They walk into the park laughing. Roger places a small kiss on Mark's lips in apology, and twines their fingers together. Mark puts his free hand in his pocket and leans into Roger. He wishes he brought his camera. Central Park has always been one of his favourite places to film, and he loves the artistic possibilities of it in-between seasons. Roger flicks him in the head.
"You're thinking of your camera," Roger says.
"I am not." Mark rubs his head a bit.
"You are too. You've got that look in your eyes. I've seen it too many times."
Mark just looks at Roger with a frown, and Roger ruffles Mark's hair. They continue their walk in silence until they come across a bench and sit down. Roger puts both of his hands in his pockets and leans forward, looking at the ground.
"So …" he says after a while.
"Hmm?" Mark looks at him for a moment before leaning back, looking up at the sky.
"Just … This. We haven't really talked about it, have we?"
"I wasn't aware we had to." Mark looks back at Roger. "Do we have to talk about it?" He frowns at Roger.
Roger looks at Mark and mimics the frown.
"I don't … I don't know. I don't think so."
"Then why worry about it?"
"It just seems … Sudden. Doesn't it seem sudden?"
Mark looks uneasy.
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?"
"What? No! I … Of course, not."
"Alright then." Mark looks back at the sky.
Roger places a hand on Mark's knee.
"I love you."
Another silence overtakes the two bohemians. Mark's eyes close for a brief moment, and a small smile lights up his face. He's never been told that before. Well, at least, not by someone other than his family or by his friends. His stomach does a few large flips.
Roger watches Mark. He's told many people that he loves them, and he's always meant it, but this is something else. Something he can't put his finger on. It's never been so easy for him to tell someone that. With Mark, it's different. He takes his hand off Mark's knee.
"I think it's going to rain, Rog."
"What?" Roger frowns. He snaps out of his thoughts and blinks a bit.
"I said," Mark repeats, "I think it's going to rain."
Before Roger could make his reply, he felt an icy drop of water land on his nose.
"Huh. Look at that." Roger stands and pulls Mark up with him. "I think this means we should get back to the loft."
Mark nods in reply. He leans into Roger again and they leave the park.
--
Mark and Roger race up the stairs to the loft. Not only are their feet soaked now, but their entire bodies are soaked. They walk into the loft and look at the rain pouring outside.
"I'm freezing."
"Really, Roger? You don't say?"
Mark laughs, and gets a light punch in the shoulder. He takes off his jacket and goes into his room to get some warm clothes. Roger does the same, and they both emerge in pajamas and blankets. They join on the couch, and the phone rings.
"SPEAK."
"Mark, pick up the phone. It's your mother."
Mark groans and picks up the phone, hitting Roger in the arm for smirking.
"Hey, mom ... Yeah … Maureen's doing good … Dinner? Well …" He looks at Roger slightly and then the kitchen. "Yeah … Sure … As long as you don't expect us to pay … An hour? We'll be ready … Bye." He hangs up the phone.
"What's this I hear about food?" Roger asks.
"My mom wants us to go out for dinner with her, Julie, and Julie's daughter, Kristine. And I said yes. And they'll be here in an hour."
"Hmm … I suppose we'd better get ready." Roger stands up, kissing Mark a bit (he likes kissing Mark). "I claim the shower."
"Fine …" Mark sighs a bit. "You always get the shower first."
"Because I'm quick enough to claim it first." The guitarist smirks and leaves his blanket on the couch. He walks to the bathroom.
"Hey … Roger?"
"Yeah?" Roger turns in the doorway and looks at Mark.
"Love you, too." Mark smiles at him slightly and goes into his room.
Roger waits for Mark's door to close before a wide grin spreads across his face.
Author's Note: The fluff is intoxicating. Hope you liked that chapter (review even if you didn't!). Next chapter we meet the "problem", otherwise known as Kristine. I've got each chapter vaguely planned now. Hoorah! Stay tuned for chapter five!