A/N- I wanted to use this update to thank all of you, our wonderful reviewers! Also, I wanted to draw your attention to Rent one-shots, written (separately this time) by Fae and me, so check them out! Fae's called Forget Regret and it's already on the site, mine is called Breaking and I'll post it very soon (soon as in the next few days… or hours… lol) so stay alert! Keep reviewing! Thanks everyone!

And now back to our story, today it's Maureen's turn…

Chapter Six

The water was streaming down her hair, taking shampoo and shower gel down the drain with them. Maureen was screaming the lyrics of an old rock'n'roll song as she washed the soap out of her long hair. She was completely off key but didn't really care. She LOVED singing in the shower and fuck everyone else. It had the best acoustics there. Whenever she had a gig somewhere she would lock herself in the shower for hours to rehearse. It drove Mark crazy, it drove Joanne crazy even more, but she didn't care. They knew nothing about show business. She was a performer. And she always knew best, whatsoever.

Somehow, she was able to hear the doorbell through the sounds of running water and her own voice. She turned off the water and snatched a towel to wrap it around her. It wasn't a big towel but Maureen decided it covered enough of her. Besides, she thought as she wrapped her hair in another towel, she knew who it was, and knowing him, he wouldn't even care.

The doorbell rang again and Maureen raced to the door, leaving a trail of wet footprints in the hall. As she suspected, her best friend in the whole wide world was standing on the doorway. He looked as handsome as ever, and his concerned expression changed into a big smile as he saw her image in her tiny towel.

"Collins!" she cried joyously and launched herself into his arms, wet towel and everything. Since he hadn't been given the chance to say something, Collins let out a short soft laughter and wrapped his arms around Maureen in a big brotherly hug. He was not at all shocked by her welcome, on the contrary. It was usual Maureenish behavior, and after listening to her weird message he was actually relieved to see her as energetic and as cheerful as always. He was not even bothered by the way she looked greeting him.

Finally, Maureen let him go and pulled him inside the apartment.

"I heard your message," he started and looked at her seriously. "You scared the hell out of me, girl , what happened?" Maureen just snorted, closed the door shut and headed to her bedroom to get dressed. "Is Life good with you?" She heard him ask as she closed her bedroom door.

"What? Why?" she shouted back as she loosened her hair from its toweled cage.

"Cause I wanna talk, and I wanna take you out, so I'm asking if Life is good enough!"

"Yeah, sure, okay!" She had just realized that she hadn't left the apartment ever since Joanne left. She was home for three days. She NEEDED to get out. Thank goodness for Collins, she thought. "Give me like five minutes!" The sound of the TV was her only reply.

She went through her clothes and tried to dry her hair at the same time. She chose jeans and one of Joanne's dress shirts. It was not her usual transparent and revealing style, yet, she always wanted to wear that shirt but didn't risk getting caught by her lawyer lover. Luckily, Joanne just forgot about it when she was there two days ago. It didn't even have a decent cleavage, thought Maureen as she checked her reflection in the full length mirror in the closet, if you bottomed it all the way up, which of course she didn't. A girl must have some respect to her reputation, she decided. She left the three top bottoms open and rolled the shirt's sleeves up to her elbows. She wasn't in the mood for make-up so she just slipped into her leather boots, took her bag and went to the living-room.

"Here I am!" she stated, flashing her diva smile at him.

Collins turned the TV off and got up from her couch. He took a long look at her unusual appearance but said nothing. He followed her to the door. "How is it that you always promise you'll be ready in five minutes and then it always streches into 30 somehow?" he teased and wrapped his arm around her waist. Maureen just smiled as she locked the door behind them.

They walked to the Life Café in silence. It was a 15 minutes' walk from Maureen's. She walked silently, lost in thoughts, still clinging to Collins' waist, and tried to ignore the side glances that he kept sending in her direction when he thought she wasn't looking.

Soon they got to the café and chose a small table for two at the far end. They sat across from one another just as the waiter came to pick up their orders. Both men raised a surprised eyebrow when Maureen asked for coffee instead of her usual Cosmo. Of course she noticed them, it was hard not to, but she acted as if she didn't. Collins asked for a coke and the waited nodded and left with their orders.

Collins looked at her for a second, then asked, "So, Maureen, how are you doing?" His tone was casual, yet Maureen's eyes narrowed. She looked at him suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" she asked carefully, her tone as suspicious as her look. How the hell can he read me so well, she thought.

"Nothing," he smiled, "just making a light conversation… or have you forgot how to converse?" he added gently.

She raised one questioning eyebrow at that. "Light conversation? Yeah, I think I can still manage that… so how was the seminar?" she asked, matter-of-factly.

Collins smiled. "Great, reminded me how much I loved teaching, and it was refreshing to see students so eager to succeed in this living hell we call our world." He looked at her intently. Maureen felt as if he was observing her. She hated when he did that, he could always read through her like an open book. He was the only one who was able to do that. He had that affect on her, she became so unusually soft and docile when he was around. She didn't feel like she had to be in control because she knew that if Collins was there, he'd have enough control for both of them. His presence alone was comforting, as far as Maureen could tell.

"Are you doing all right? Any… protests? Commotions? Maureen Johnson riots?" he joked.

Maureen laughed bitterly at that. "No, nothing of that kind," she added softly and laid her hands on the table.

Collins' hands were huge compared to hers, she noticed, as he took her hands gently in his. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Maureen let out a desperate sigh and dropped her head on the small table, over their joined hands. If he even knew how many things she needed to talk about… She felt so tired, too tired to retell the weekend's events. So she said nothing, and he didn't put any pressure on her.

She had to raise her head though, as the waiter came back with their drinks. Maureen wrapped her hands around the coffee mug, which spread a comforting heat.

Collins sipped his coke silently. He looked at the entrance, then back at Maureen. "Warm morning, huh?" he remarked, observing her shirt.

Maureen wasn't sure whether he meant it as a compliment or as a criticism, so she decided that being on the safer side was always better. "Something wrong with this shirt?" she asked defensivly, "Because I thought you'd be pleased that I finally fitted myself into Tom Collins' style." She had always thought that Collins was one of the most stylish men on the planet. The fact that he was her best friend made it even better. She felt proud walking next to him on the street, as if his sense of style somehow rediated over to her too.

Collins smiled at her implied compliment. He took her hand in his again and gave it a little squeeze. "Thanks, Maureen, but Mark seems to be giving me a run for my money, that is, if I had any…"

Maureen pulled her hand away abruptly as he mentioned Mark's name. Her haste reaction made Collins shift slightly in his seat, and Maureen realized her mistake just then when he gave her his intent look again.

"Ah, I see…" he said slowly, not breaking eye contact.

Maureen said nothing. She cursed herself for pulling her hand away so quickly. Of course Collins would notice, he notices everything, she scorned herself.

"So where does Joanne fit into all this?" added Collins carefully.

Maureen hesitated. Then she looked into his eyes and said, as calmly as she could, "Joanne dumped me."

Collins didn't look shocked. In fact, he didn't look surprised at all; he seemed to have been waiting for it. Am I the only one who didn't even see this coming? she desperately asked herself.

"I'm guessing it's for good?"

Maureen felt the tears that started gathering in the corners of her eyes already. But she didn't want to cry, oh no, she had enough of that during the weekend. So instead she nodded and took some napkins to wipe the tears away.

Collins gently moved her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry, sweetie, I know how it feels to lose someone dear to you." She knew he was thinking about Angel. Sweet Angel, how she missed her sometimes. They all did. "Do you want a drink?"

Maureen shook her head. "No… no, I don't…" She was determined not to touch alcohol ever again, or at least until she would realize exactly what happened with Mark in her apartment on the weekend.

Collins looked surprised to hear that but he said nothing about it. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Maureen let out a long, sad sigh. "She… she said she had enough, that she couldn't do it anymore… and it was such a shock because I really don't have any idea why she did it all of a sudden," she said honestly. She felt relieved telling it to someone. The fact it was Collins made her feel even better. "It just seemed so unfair because, well, you know how much I've changed for her, what I've risked, what I've sacrificed!" While she was saying that, she suddenly realized why she was crying the entire weekend. She didn't cry over Joanne or their breakup, but over the things she sacrificed to make their relationship work. She gave up a lot for Joanne, above all things, she became a lesbian for her, and frankly, Joanne stayed pretty much the same. Her life didn't change, at least not in the same drastic way Maureen's did. And suddenly she couldn't help but wonder, maybe everything she did wasn't enough. Maybe that was why Joanne left.

Collins held her hand tightly in his. "I know, sweetheart, breaking up is never an easy thing."

Maureen wanted to ask if he told the same thing to Mark after she dumped him, but didn't dare.

"You know… I know it wasn't just me, I'm sure you must have had that feeling that… Joanne was not the one all along," he said quietly. She lowered her head. He couldn't possibly think that! Collins raised her chin to face him. "What I mean is, can you really imagine Maureen Johnson living with a tired, sneaky lawyer for the rest of her life?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she managed a small smile. Now as he said that, she definitely could not imagine it. "The thing is…" she hesitated. Should she tell him the whole story? She still wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. "Oh, Collins, my life became such a fucking mess through this weekend…" she sighed miserably, holding back tears.

"You'll get yourself together," he promised, handing her some more napkins. "We're in hard times, I'm still healing. Now I don't know how long it'll take you to heal, but you're strong. You've always been tough. What if I take you somewhere later?" he suggested gently, caressing her cheek, "Would you like that?"

"I'm not much in the mood," she answered, shifting uncomfotrably in her seat. She had to tell him. She couldn't hold it in any longer. "You see… there's another thing… that happened… during the weekend," she said and glanced at Collins. By the look on his face, she knew he had already put two and two together.

"This have anything to do with Mark?"

Maureen slowly nodded. "But first you must promise that you won't judge me, or reach to hasty conclusions," she said sternly.

He looked offended, but she knew he wasn't, really. "Now, Maureen. You know me better. Would you ever expect anything rash from me?"

"No, of course not. I'm just saying… because lately people keep surprising me… they say things I've never expected them to say… oh, forget it, I'm just rambling."

"People can say things they don't mean under great deals of stress," said Collins and smiled, lost in a memory. "I mean, once I told Angel that she looked terrible as a blonde, even though I knew damn well she looked hot! I bet you do the same but I still love you. You know you're not unloved, right?" he was rambling. She couldn't stay concentrated though. Her mind was occupied keeping her secret behind locked lips… until she couldn't hold it any longer.

"I slept with Mark," she said suddenly. She felt better already.

Collins' ramble stopped at once. "What was that?"

"Do I really have to say that again?" she asked, desperately. Was he joking?

Collins chuckled slightly. "I just… want to hear it again. I didn't quite hear it the first time," he said in a strange voice, as if he was trying really bad not to giggle.

Maureen frowned. She didn't believe a word of it, but she was too tired to argue. "Fine. I slept with Mark," she repeated.

Collins had a big silly grin across his face. "It's about time."

Maureen stared at him, completely taken back by his reply. She expected shocked silence, or a lecture on morale, or something, but she surely didn't expect that.

"Excuse me?" she asked, totally confused.

Collins laughed softly. "Maureen, you're quite the drama queen, and I don't doubt that you're a good actress, but you have so much to learn. Now I've been around and about so long, I pick up these things." His calm tone suddenly made her very angry.

"What things? What are you telling me, Collins? That you… PREDICTED this thing would happen?" she asked, shocked.

Collins laughed again. "Perfectly stated. Predicted: as in educated guess. I didn't just pull things out of my ass, honey. I mean, the Joanne thing… I couldn't figure that out as much, but you… don't you notice yourself flirting with him?" he looked so pleased with himself, Maureen felt like slapping him... maybe that would take that grin off his face. She was absolutely horrified by what he had just told her.

"FLIRTING? With MARK? Oh, for God's sake, Collins!" she said, her voice gradually raising.

"What?" he asked defensivally. "I don't believe you haven't noticed! He flirts back, but I don't think he notices either, he's so awful at it." Collins had an amused expression on and that annoying grin that refused to leave his face.

Maureen was not at all amused. "Read my lips, Collins, I DO NOT flirt with Mark! Have you lost your mind? He's my goddamn ex, and after this weekend I want nothing to do with him ever again!"

"You don't mean that." At least that wiped the grin off his face, she thought. "And keep it down, you're causing a commotion," he added, then stopped suddenly, and smacked his head with his hand, "What am I saying?"

Maureen frowned but looked over her shoulder to check if anyone paid any attention to them. The place was nearly deserted, and the people who were there didn't seem too bothered about it. She used to say that she didn't cause commotions, she WAS one. And usually she didn't give a damn what everyone else were thinking, but it was her private life they were discussing. She turned back to Collins and lowered her voice, just in case. "The hell I don't mean it, Collins," she snapped. "I don't want anything to do with him."

Collins gazed at her for a moment, then smirked. "Prove it."

Maureen's eyes narrowed. "How?"

"I'm going to the loft later because I need to catch up with the rest of the guys anyway, and I need to talk with Mimi. Come with me, flirt with Mark, and we'll just see how much you don't want him," he said, looking straight into her eyes.

Maureen shook her head. Absurd, does he really think I'll go for it?

"I won't flirt with him just to prove my point. I won't go so low, and I won't make a fool out of myself considering the fact that he made it very clear that he didn't want anything to do with me either." Her eyes were burning with determination.

Collins watched her sipping her coffee, than leaned back in his chair. "Maureen… You're not… afraid, are you?" he asked playfully.

"Me? Afraid?" she snorted. "Did you forget who you're talking to?"

"Then come to the loft with me," he asked , his tone becoming serious once again.

Maureen shook her head stubbornly. "No, I won't! It'll be too humiliating, we don't even remember what happened there."

The silly grin rematerialized on Collins' face. "You remember ONE thing," he joked.

Maureen frowned. He found the whole thing very amusing, while she felt as if her life were collapsing upon her, just because of that one damn night.

"Besides, the Maureen I knew never denied a challenge. Could it be… no, my Maureen, you're not… turning into one of them, are you? One of the normal girls?" and then he turned serious again. "Don't turn into one of them. One thing I love about you is that I've never met anyone like you," he said gently.

Maureen looked away. She was touched by what he had just said, by his honesty. No one ever said something like that to her before. Mark tried, in his impossible dorkish ways, she was sure, and Joanne always tried to turn her into one of these normal girls. Collins just loved her the way she was, and knew exactly how to make her feel better. She loved him for it. Should she do what he asked her? She wasn't sure she could. She WAS afraid. But she couldn't tell that to Collins. She looked at him, and hoped the fear was well reflected in her eyes.

"I just… can't do it, Collins," she said quietly and looked away.

As if he sensed her pain, he nodded. "All right, sweetie," he said gently. "But promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise you'd always know that I love you, and that you'll always love me in return. We don't have anyone else but each other now, do we?"

Great, now she was about to cry again. She took Collins' hands in hers. "I promise, I will, I'll always love you, Collins, how can you even doubt this?" Suddenly, she knew exactly what she had to do. She nearly kicked herself for not thinking about it before. "We DO have only each other," she said, looking at him, "so why don't you move in with me?"

Collins took a moment to consider, than a beautiful smile lightened up his entire face. "I'm already there and packed," he said and leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "Tonight's good?"

And that's when it happened. Maureen felt a slow smile making its way across her face until it settled on her lips. Her first real smile in three days. "Tonight's great."

"Perfect," said Collins and smiled at her, obviously relieved by the change in her mood. The silence between them was cut abruptly with a noisy group entering the café. As she always did, Maureen turned over her shoulder to see who had just came in.

Her gaze locked with Mark's, who was standing there along with Roger and Mimi. For a moment she was paralized. Then she slowly removed her gaze, hoping that Collins didn't notice her doing it.