Chapter Twenty-Six

The following couple of weeks passed in a blissful daze for Maureen. Mimi was finally released from the hospital at the beginning of that week, and though Roger wanted her to stay in their loft for a while, Mimi refused. She didn't want to be a burden, and she couldn't wait to get back to her own apartment. Roger stayed with her most of the time, which meant that Mark and Maureen had the loft to themselves. They spent most of their time together, as if to make up for all the long months apart from one another. When they weren't in the loft they were at Maureen's, spending some quality time with Collins.

Sometimes they went outside for long walks, mostly in the park, and Mark brought his camera along with them. Maureen loved these walks, but most of all, she loved spending her nights with him, cuddling against him, watching him asleep. Whether it was in Mark's bed or in hers, she always slept better knowing he'd be there next to her when she'd wake up. The weeks since they got back together were definitely the best time of her life. It was like when they started going out the first time, with all the excitement and the butterflies, only better. Everything was new, yet familiar.

"Maureen?"

Maureen's head snapped up to meet Collins' amused gaze. Shit, she was daydreaming again. She found herself doing that a lot lately. She smiled sheepishly at him. "I did it again, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did. And I think I'll just stop talking because you're not listening to me anyway. I get hoarse and tired for nothing." He didn't sound accusing, on the contrary. He obviously enjoyed making fun of her.

"I'm sorry, I promise I'll listen next time."

"Besides, I don't see what all the fuss is about. You'll see him in a couple of hours anyway," he batted his eyelashes jokingly.

"Quit it, Collins," she laughed, trying her best to give him a no-nonsense look. She had to stop. She knew that at some point, Collins would become annoyed and hurt rather than amused. Oh, shit, and here she was doing it all over again!

She smiled to herself and started humming along with the music from the living-room stereo, a Broadway Tunes' CD that Collins took interest in lately.

They were about to throw Mimi a welcome-back-party, and the guys were supposed to be there in about two hours. Collins and Maureen spent all morning shopping for groceries. For Mimi's sake, they decided on sandwiches and sodas, not pizza or other stuff of that kind. They bought cream cheese, vegetables and bagels and went back to their apartment to make the sandwiches. They did that for couple of hours, and when Maureen wasn't daydreaming they laughed and joked and sang along with the music in the background.

Maureen couldn't believe it was about to end. Collins would go to Jersey soon; he told them the previous week about that new teaching position he was offered. It would be painful for everyone once he left. Maureen thought she wouldn't be able to take it. They got closer since he moved in with her. Now she couldn't imagine her life without his newspapers scattered all over the living-room, his weird Regae CD's, his laughter echoing through the apartment whenever he watched his favorite comedy on TV, his…

"Maureen!"

Shit… "It wasn't about Mark!" she cried defensively.

Collins eyed her doubtfully. "Yeah… right, okay…"

"I swear! It wasn't!"

"Let's pretend I believe you," he smirked. "Look, I'll finish up here, that's okay."

"You sure?"

"Positive. We're nearly done anyway," he gestured towards the counter, where two dozen sandwiches mounted on a big plate. "Should be enough, I guess, even if Roger is around. AND we have some ice cream and tons of cookies you insisted on buying, so we're all set."
Maureen nodded. "Okay. I need to wash my hair anyway," she put her knife on the table and moved closer to Collins. She planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "I wasn't thinking of Mark," she said softly. Their eyes locked.

As if Collins could read her mind, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I'll miss you too, Reeney."

They stood like that for a moment before Maureen pulled away and went to her bedroom. It was better than bursting out crying in Collins' face, she figured.

Hairbrush in hand, she headed for her bathroom, where she turned the water stream on and adjusted the temperature until it was perfect- not too hot and not too cold. She stepped out of her clothes and into the shower, pulling the cow printed curtain, a New Year's present from Collins, close behind her. She pushed her head under the water stream as her thoughts drifted to three nights ago, when she and Collins made Mark watch Rocky Horror Picture Show.

In one of Mimi's last days in the hospital, through a conversation they all had, they were horrified to discover that he had never watched it. Maureen and Collins wouldn't hear of it. They were Rocky fanatics;they even went to watch it live several times, lingerie and all. Unfortunately, there weren't any live shows in their area, so Collins just rented the film and the three of them watched it in their apartment. Mark's reaction was priceless. He sat like a small child between her and Collins, and looked as if he didn't even want to be there. Truth be told, they didn't really ask him if he wanted to watch it, so he didn't have much choice. He watched the first part silently, but for the rest of the time he had a frightened expression plastered on, as if he was expecting something to pop out of the screen and grab him. Maureen and Collins did their best not to recite lines and sing the soundtrack but couldn't hold themselves back when it came to the Time Warp. They had to do the Time Warp again.

And that was where Mark really got terrified.

She laughed aloud as she remembered his final statement as the credits faded away on the TV screen. Collins stopped the tape and both of them turned to face Mark, who stared at the screen for another second before he eyed them carefully. "That was… the weirdest film I've ever seen," he said eventually. She knew they'd never be able to convince him to watch it again.

She squeezed some shampoo into her hands and massaged it into her hair. She closed her eyes to prevent the foam getting into her eyes, and started singing one of her favorite Rocky songs.

She got to the chorus when a knock came at the door and put an abrupt end to her singing. The door opened a bit. "Maureen, I'm coming in," said Collins' voice, accompanied by a gust of cold air from her bedroom window.

What was he doing there? "What? Why? Give me five more minutes!" It was only Collins, but she hated when people interrupted her while she was taking a shower. Well, unless Mark was included under 'people', which was a whole different sto- Okay, DON'T go there, she warned herself.

Apparently, Collins ignored her protest. He came in and closed the door behind him. "You always say five minutes but you really mean an hour. That's why I lie and tell you the movie starts an hour earlier than it's supposed to."

So THAT'S why he does that! "Collins, get the hell out of here!" she laughed.

"Relax, I'm not gonna peek," he said as he opened something, which was most likely the medicine cabinet. Maureen kept listening. "Besides, I think I deserve to be in here. It's not my fault for what you've done… without even telling me about it! I thought I was your best friend!"

What she's done? What HAS she done? "Collins, what are you talking about?" she rinsed the shampoo off her hair slowly.

Collins snorted. "Oh, don't act like you don't know, girl! You did it again, that big IT that I told you to stop doing. And you're going to keep doing it again and again, and it's all for your own pleasure. Don't you think of other people?"

Maureen stared at the shower curtain in disbelief. He'd better not talk about what I think he's talking, she thought. "Collins, I don't have time for your preaching, the guys should be here any minute. Can we do this lecture some other time? It IS true that you're my best friend but still, I think it's none of your business what I do or when I do it."

Did he hear them that night when Mark stayed over? They were never too loud, they always kept in mind that Collins was asleep two doors down the hall. But then again, she wouldn't know if they were that night… not after she helped Mark get over his trauma from the film… But who was Collins to blame her it was all for her own pleasure? What did HE know anyway?

More rummaging noises, like he was looking for something in the cabinet. What the hell was he doing? "Hello? I think I should know!" said Collins. "We're not just talking about hand soap here, Maureen, this is genuine stuff, very special. You can't get the feeling it gives you anywhere else. And you just take it for granted!"

HUH? "Take it for granted? Collins, I'm NOT discussing this stuff with you, I have my limits! You ARE my best friend, but it doesn't mean I'm gonna talk to you about… about… THAT!" Exactly what I need, Mark knowing that I'm discussing our sex life with Collins, she thought bitterly as she snatched the conditioner bottle.

Collins huffed as if he disagreed. "Maureen, you're acting like a baby! We're both grown ups here, right? Besides, you're never safe with these things."

Maureen rolled her eyes as she massaged the thick cream into her skull and along her long hair. "Oh, so we're doing the safety lecture again? Come on, Collins, I can watch myself! As you well stated, I'm grown up, I know what happens if someone doesn't play it safe!" That was true. Both she and Mark were aware of the dangers and consequences of unprotected sex. It was enough that Roger, Mimi and Collins had AIDS, and they already lost April and Angel from the same reason. AND the last thing she needed was to get pregnant, which was a whole different story. "Gee, you sound like a dad, you know that?"

She heard the cabinet door close and another unrecognizable sound, accompanied by a noise of running water from the sink. A stream of very cold water made her jump back with a yelp. Now he was using her hot water?

Collins' voice was a bit strange when he answered, "It comes with age. And I don't think dads talk about this type of stuff, at least my dad never did."

"Neither did mine, but come on. Quit the lectures, Collins, I'm a big girl; we both are grown ups, we know how to keep it safe so don't you worry about it, okay?" Mark would absolutely DIE when she'd tell him about this conversation. First Collins tried desperately to get them back together, and now he was trying to give her the safe sex lecture! Unbelievable!

"Okay…" he said, then paused. "I'm just saying, be careful on how you screw, or else everything will be a mess. I mean it'll be white and gooey everywhere, know what I mean?"

Maureen's jaw nearly dropped. What was he trying to do? He said it so lightly, as if he wasn't talking about… about… "Collins, will you stop that? Come on, why are you still here? Not that it's any of your business, but I've never heard Mark complain, what makes you think that YOU can?" The last thing she wanted was to bring Mark into that weird conversation, but Collins didn't leave her any other choice. What they were doing was none of his goddamn business anyway.

"What?" he seemed surprised to hear Mark's name mentioned. And then, out of the blue, he added, "I didn't know Mark used Lancôme."

Maureen's hand, the one that was holding her hairbrush, froze halfway to her head. WHAT? "Collins, what the hell are you talking about?" What did Lancôme have anything to do with safe sex? Or with Mark, for that matters?…

More water sounds… "You know, he seems more like a Shiseido kind of guy."

She couldn't take it. Something was wrong, that conversation turned weirder with each passing moment. She stuck her head out of the curtain. "Collins, what are you-" she stopped abruptly as she noticed him hunched over the sink, rinsing something off his face. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

He turned to face her, his face dripping, and held an awfully familiar bottle in his hand. "Deep cleansing! A brother needs smooth skin too!" She stared at him shocked. "What did you think I was doing?" he added as he wiped his face gently with a small towel.

Maureen didn't really have an answer, so she sighed and disappeared behind the curtain again. "Don't you have your own bathroom?" she grumbled, "Why do you have to do it in mine?"

"I TOLD you, I needed to borrow your cream! Or take back what's legally mine, if you wanna be more precise… Weren't you listening to me?" He opened the cabinet again, obviously trying to find something else. What now, thought Maureen desperately. She hoped he wouldn't think of stealing her strawberry body mist just to piss her off.

"I WAS listening. I should have washed your mouth with soap for that. For God's sake, Collins, mind your own business, will ya? It's not our fault that you don't have sex life…"

Whatever Collins took out of the cabinet, he now dropped it into the sink. He sounded as if he was stifling a laugh as he said, very slowly, "Maureen… I wasn't talking about sex… I was talking about how you never take care of my cleansing products. How did you get that as sex?…"

Oh shit. Oh shit shit SHIT! So THAT was what he was talking about! Now she suddenly realized why the bottle he held looked so familiar… It was his new Lancôme facial cream wash, the one she took that morning and forgot to put back in place… again…

"Everything you said was just screaming sex!" she said defensively. She was grateful for that shower curtain. She was blushing madly. "Damn you, Collins…" she muttered as she washed the rest of the conditioner away.

"Sooo… someone's getting a little somethin' somethin', huh?"

She didn't need to look at him. She could tell by the sound of his voice that he had that wide stupid grin on his face. Her face turned impossibly redder. "Collins, STOP THAT right now!" Authority, control, don't let him win, she told herself fiercely.

Collins laughed. "No, it's too much fun." His voice sounded strange again. "What are you going to do about it anyway, Missy?"

Maureen shook her head, even though he couldn't see her. "I'm NOT talking with you about this!"

"Aww, come on Maureen, we used to talk about things like this! We used to never keep secrets from each other."

Maureen's head snapped up as she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, really? So I suppose you should have told me about hiding Mark's camera in your closet?" she asked casually as she turned the water off. She took one hand out of the curtain. "Towel please?"

But no towel was thrown away at her. Collins hesitated, then asked seriously, "You… you found Mark's camera?"

"Yes, I did. Care to tell me why you hid it?" Sudden chill ran though her. She shivered. "And bring over that damn towel, it's freezing cold in here!"

Collins sighed desperately, completely ignoring her request. "You can never keep your hands out of my stuff, huh? I should have known."

Why was he trying to get away with it? Did he think she wouldn't notice? She was getting impatient. "Collins, give me that towel this minute!" she called, sticking her head out of the shower curtain once more.

She shrieked, startled, as she caught sight of him. He stood there with her towel in his hand and light green finishing touch cream on his face. Their eyes locked. He looked at her seriously. "Maureen, did you give that camera back to Mark?"

She nodded. She couldn't understand why he was making such a big deal out of it, but she had no reason to lie. "Yes, I did. That night when Mimi got into the hospital." Her teeth started chattering. Collins didn't even seem to notice. From the corner of her eye Maureen located another towel, hung on the back of the bathroom door, completely out of her reach. Damnit.

Collins looked deep in thought as he started murmuring things to himself. "That's why… that must be…" he raised his head to face her. "Was there something on that camera? Something on that camera that got you guys back together?" he held the towel behind his back now. "Was that it?"

Maureen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Couldn't he see she was cold? "Collins, come on…" she sighed. "No, it wasn't what was on the camera, but you still didn't answer my question. Why it was hidden in your closet? When did you find it? Why didn't you tell Mark you had it all the time?"

He stood there silently, as if considering his next move. Then, with no further words, he dropped the towel on the floor and left the room hastily, closing the door behind him. Maureen stared at the closed door for a split second. Then the initial shock subsided, and she stepped out of the tub, snatched the towel from the floor and wrapped it around her. "COLLINS!" she opened the door and marched into her bedroom. He was nowhere to be found. "Collins, come here, that's an order!" she called, moving down the hall and into the living room. Her hair was dripping water all over the place but she didn't care. She had to find him.

A flash of green from behind the couch… She chased him there, but Collins was faster. He got away from her, jumping over a cushioned chair, and disappeared in the hallway.

In a hurry, Maureen forgot one very important fact. Collins was much taller than her. She toppled over the chair and crushed to the floor with a scream. She heard the door to Collins' bedroom being closed and locked. DAMNIT!

She pulled herself together quickly, got up, tightened the knot in her towel and hurried back to the hallway. "Collins, you are SO going to regret this!" she shouted, banging on his door. "I won't leave you alone until I get an explanation! You'll stay there and… and… and STARVE to death until you tell me everything!" Okay, so it came out a bit less convincing than she meant, but she hoped it still had the effect.

Or not… "All right…" he said. "I've got crackers in my desk's drawer!"

Maureen rolled her eyes. "Collins, you're such a baby! Come on, get out of there!" she banged on the door again. "I'm gonna break it!"

From some reason, he found that threat amusing. He laughed. "I'd like to see you try!"

"I'm calling Mark, he'll kill you for hiding his camera from him!"

"You can't blackmail me! I've done worse to Mark, he'll love me no matter what!"

"Well, I don't know how much he loves you after trying to play Cupid, but I do know that he loves ME, and I think I know what he'll do if it's me against you!" she retorted half heartedly. "Come on, Collins, you said we're grown ups so act like one and get out of there. Face your mistakes!"

She heard footsteps, and a key turning in the lock. A very offended Collins stood on the doorway, looking at her in a way he never did before. "I know my mistakes," he said, his tone cold and stern. "And don't you talk with me about who he chooses over who. Why did you think I tried so hard getting you guys back together? So I could get his everlasting love? I wanted YOU to have it, Maureen, so don't you even play that card." He sighed, as if he couldn't believe he had just said it, then left the door open and went to sit on his bed.

Maureen hesitated for a split second before she slowly followed him inside. She didn't even mean what she had said; it was a joke! Apparently, not a really good one. Collins seemed to be really hurt. He had never used that tone while speaking to her, not to mention that look… She dreaded that look. He used it to berate countless of students; she even witnessed several cases of that, but it was the first time he used it on her.

She sat next to him, suddenly serious. The game was over. "Collins…" she said softly. "I'm sorry." He said nothing. He couldn't even face her. She hated it when she made him upset. She sighed. "Collins, come on, look at me." A shiver went through her. She was freezing cold but suddenly it didn't matter. Might as well catch pneumonia, maybe that's what I deserve, she thought bitterly.

Collins turned to face her. His expression was blank behind the green goo that was slowly drying on his skin. "You should have told me you'd given the camera back, that you went through my things."

Maureen lowered her head, suddenly feeling very guilty and ashamed. "I didn't do it on purpose. I wanted to ask you about the camera but I completely forgot about it when Mimi-" Lame, lame, lame. She sighed and looked at him. "You're right, I should have told you. But that still doesn't explain why you kept it."

Collins had hard time answering, it seemed. He opened his mouth to speak, but soon closed it again, as if he wasn't sure what to say. Finally, he returned her look. "I… I didn't think you were ready for it. I didn't think he was ready for it. It was safer with me."

Now she was puzzled, and somewhat embarrassed. Did he watch it? Did he know the truth all along and kept it from them? "Ready for what? How did you know what was on it?"

"I didn't, but it all fitted together like a puzzle. Mark was here last when you both found each other in bed, and his camera was left behind. I mean, who knew what was on that camera. People do a lot of stupid things when they're under the impression of alcohol and I thought it would be too much. You guys were already pissed off at each other enough." Maureen watched him intently as he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. "Besides, this meant for Mark… focusing on other priorities, like relationships. I thought maybe being without his camera would open up his eyes a bit more, which is strange because I encouraged him to film to see the world through different perspectives…" he chuckled a bit.

Maureen smiled, and took Collins' hand in hers. "I'm sorry I took it without telling you," she said honestly.

Collins eyed her carefully. "You're not mad?"

"More embarrassed than mad," she laughed softly as she remembered their conversation in the bathroom earlier. She sneezed suddenly, making Collins jump back with a start. "And cold. Care to lend me a T-shirt?"

The doorbell rang, startling them both. "Uh oh, the guys are here. Fuck. You're half naked and I've got glop all over my face…"

They heard the front door creaking open and glanced at each other in terror.

"I thought you locked it when we came in!" whispered Maureen.

"Hello? I was holding all the bags, YOU were supposed to lock it!"

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Maureen recognized Roger's voice immediately. "Yeah, we'll be right there, guys!" she called, then looked seriously at Collins. "Let's keep this thing about Mark's camera between us, okay? I won't tell Mark that you had it if you won't tell."

Collins was about to answer but was cut off abruptly by Mimi's voice, "Maureen? Is everything okay, chica?"

"Yeah, I'm not dressed, give me a minute!"

Footsteps down the hall… they were coming closer. Maureen and Collins, in perfect unison, looked around the room for a place to hide. A knock came at Collins' bedroom door, and they looked at each other wide eyed. Shit.

"Collins?" asked Roger as he opened the door. He gaped as he caught sight of them. "Whoa, woops! Didn't know we were that early…"

Collins looked at Maureen, then at Roger. "Excuse us?"

"You guys help each other get dressed or something?" he asked, grinning goofily.

Since she was a bit shorter, Mimi tried to peer over his. She gasped as she caught a glimpse of Collins' green face and Maureen's nearly naked form.

Maureen frowned. "Do shut up, Roger." Then she realized that something… someone was missing. "Hey, where's Mark?" She could feel that Collins was rolling his eyes behind her back.

"He said he was going to drop by later, said he had some work to finish," said Roger. "I told him that would be alright." Then he stopped and looked at her, as if he needed approval. "It's all right, isn't it?" he asked, suddenly uncertain.

Maureen couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, but at the same time, she knew it must have been something important, or he wouldn't have stayed behind. "Yeah, sure," she said.

"Oh, but let me present the wonderful Mimi Marquez!" Roger's grin widened as he looked over his shoulder, took Mimi's arm and gently pushed her forward. "She's BAAAACK! And looking fantastic!" he announced proudly.

Maureen smiled as Mimi stepped into the room. She did look well. She was still skinny, but definitely in better shape than she was in the hospital. She had on jeans and a red tank top. Her beautiful untamed curls were streaming down her shoulders. "Rog, stop it," she protested then looked more closely at Collins before she burst out laughing. "Collins, what is this gross thing on your face?"

"It's not gross, it's Lancôme!"

"You'd better wash it off, it was on way after the seven-minute limit," laughed Maureen. "I'm gonna get dressed. I'll be right with you guys." She left Collins' room and entered hers, closing the door behind her. She heard Roger make a remark about staying in that towel, but chose to ignore it. She changed quickly and joined Collins, Mimi and Roger in the living room a few minutes later.

An hour later, the four of them were sprawled all over the room with their food and drinks as Collins entertained them with some new jokes he happened to hear somewhere. They were in the middle of wild laughter when the doorbell rang. Maureen's heart lifted. She ran one hand through her still damp hair, trying to give it shape. She hoped Collins wouldn't catch her doing it, or he would tease her endlessly about it later.

He didn't. "It's open!" he called, still laughing hysterically.

The door was opened and Mark stepped inside. "Hey guys. I brought a friend," he said smiling. Someone entered right after him. Maureen recognized him instantly, and her eyes narrowed.

"ALEX!" Roger cried joyously, jumping off the couch towards him.

Collins was finally able to control his laugher. He smiled. "Alex… long time, no see."

Alex smiled and waved. "Hey everyone." Roger approached him and smacked his back playfully. Alex returned the gesture.

Maureen frowned. From what she last remembered, he was a total jerk. Worse than what Roger was when she first met him. Back at the time when she and Mark started going out, Alex was the drummer in Roger's band, and Roger's best friend, besides Mark of course. Roger and Alex always reminded her of the two grandpas from The Muppets' Show. They were inseparable, always laughing and doing stupid, immature things that they found terribly funny for some odd reason. They used to tease Mark mercilessly about… well, basically about being Mark, but, while in Roger's case, it was clear that he loved Mark as if he was his own brother, Alex was much more cruel. Maureen didn't like it. She couldn't understand how Mark kept up with someone as intolerable as Alex Meyers; he had never answered back, nor did he try to defend himself from Alex's insults and mockery.

And now, for some unknown reason, he was back into their lives, and standing in her apartment. She knew they all expected her to welcome him and be nice, so she decided to swallow her pride, for Mark's sake. She got up from the cushion she was sitting on and approached them. "Alex. It's been a while," she said quite coldly, trying her best to sound nice, though she couldn't stand the guy. He nodded in return, but said nothing. She turned to face Mark, and her features softened instantly. She flashed him a sweet smile. "And you. It's been too long…"

Mark took her hand and brought her closer for a kiss, ignoring Alex and Roger's concert of nasty remarks. He pressed his forehead against hers, and returned her smile. "You doin' okay?" he asked quietly.

"Missed you a little, but I'm doing great." She wanted to ask what was he thinking, bringing Alex there, but thought better of it.

"You make me sick," stated Roger.

She turned and shot him a glare. "Shut up, Roger." She smiled devilishly at Mark before kissing him again.

"ARGH!" protested Roger. "Don't be afraid, Alex, this sort of thing is usually temporary… usually… come on, man, where's that Alex we all know and love?"

"I'm just a bit stunned by these two," laughed Alex, gesturing Mark and Maureen. Then he seemed to notice Mimi, who was sitting on the couch. Maureen recognized the naughty sparkle in his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't changed much. He turned to face Roger, and winked at him. "Aren't you going to introduce your friend?"

Roger frowned. "Hands off, she's mine," he warned, but couldn't prevent the smile that appeared on his face as he looked fondly at Mimi.

Collins snorted. "Just introduce her, you jerk."

Roger shot Collins a look, and approached Mimi. "Alex, this is Mimi. Mimi, Alex is an old buddy of ours."

Mimi laughed. "Yeah, I realized that." She looked at Alex, who was slowly approaching her. "Hi Alex, nice to meet you," she held out her hand for a shake.

Alex took her hand and kissed it. "The pleasure is all mine, Mimi."

Maureen rolled her eyes. So typical. "Stay away from him, Meems," she advised.

"Okay, okay, enough Romeo," said Roger, eyeing Alex who was leering over Mimi.

"Nice bag, Mark," said Collins all of a sudden, "Been shopping?"

It was then Maureen noticed a peculiarly looking bag that Mark was holding in his other hand, the one that wasn't holding hers. Collins and Roger started teasing him about going into a pornography shop. Mark seemed uncomfortable, even a bit nervous, with their questions. He couldn't even look at her as he stammered something not very convincing about buying film reels and changed glances with Alex.

She didn't like it. Why was he hanging out with Alex again all of a sudden? He couldn't fool her. He was obviously up to something. When she tried to get it from him, he started that silly football game with Alex to which Roger soon joined in. She desperately tried to chase them, but they were way too fast for her. When she finally got hold on one, he would throw the bag over her head to the other. At some point she didn't even care about the bag; there was something in Alex's expression that irritated her. She knew this obnoxious spark from years before. It was like he knew she wanted to know what was in the bag, and he was about to do all he could to prevent her from getting it. She just felt like grabbing the damn bag and smacking him endlessly with it. She hated him so much.

Eventually she was completely out of breath. Instead of stopping their stupid game, it actually urged the bastards to move on. She glowered at Roger, who became a complete jerk once he hooked up with Alex again. She felt defeated and tired, so she tried to change tactics, but even that didn't work. She failed miserably in being seductive. It felt like she and Mark changed roles; now she was the one being seduced. She had to believe him that there was nothing in that bag. What else was she suppose to do? He looked at her so honestly, of course she trusted him. Besides, why would he lie to her?

Well, if she was about to lose, she would do it with some dignity. "If it IS pornography, I'm going to kill you," she whispered before she pulled him for a kiss. Then she pulled away and went into the kitchen to get coffee for everyone.

She had just closed the cupboard's door when a voice came behind her, startling her. "I can help you with these if you want."

Maureen turned, surprised. Alex's voice carried unfamiliar kindness. She eyed him carefully, trying to figure out what he was up to. "Sure. I mean, if you want to." She handed him a box of double stuffed Oreo's and nodded towards an empty plate on the counter. She put some water in the kettle for coffee. "I didn't know you were in town," she said casually. She preferred having a light conversation over an embarrassing silence. Anything was better than silence.

Alex glanced at her and smiled. "I never left," he said, then continued what he was doing.

Maureen shrugged and pulled out some tea bags for Mark and Collins. "You know, tea cleanses the body, but it has just as much caffeine as coffee, just in case you were trying something healthier." Alex shrugged. "It's an old myth."

She raised a surprised eyebrow. Hearing that from someone like Alex, who always favored alcohol over anything else, was very strange. "Since when do you know so much about the differences between coffee and tea? You work at Starbucks or something?" she couldn't help but be sarcastic.

Alex didn't seem to mind, though. He laughed. "Just something I picked up… you know, around."

"Where's 'around' exactly? I mean, you just disappeared on us, no one seemed to hear from you for months. Roger, Mark and you were always so close…"

"Yeah, and I thought that April would never commit a suicide," he said bluntly, as if he didn't even care that she did. "Funny how life goes, huh?"

He didn't even show up to April's funeral, she suddenly remembered. Was that possible that he hadn't changed a bit, that he was still the same insensitive jerk he was three years ago? She felt that she resolved all her issues with April by now, which was why she was bothered by the lightness his tone carried. He sounded like he didn't really care about her death, or about how devastated his best friend was afterwards. She narrowed her eyes. "If you find AIDS and death funny, yeah, you're probably right. I shouldn't be surprised, I guess. You always lived your life as if it was comedy. I wouldn't expect you to change that much," she said as she opened a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Alex hesitated, as if he was thinking about what she had just told him. Then he looked straight into her eyes. "You know, Maureen, I have this philosophy. You laugh through life, you get on with it, you die. Right? And all that's left on your grave stone is the year you were born, dash, then the year you died. Those numbers… they don't matter. What matters is what you do with the dash. I laugh. I try to make everyone laugh. That's what I want people to think of when they see my dash," he stopped, and looked at her seriously. "And if you think I'm the same person I was three years ago, you're wrong."

Maureen was shocked for a moment. Philosophy and Alex were two completely opposite terms, as far as she was concerned. And then there was this accusation in his tone. She looked at him coldly. "Well, you seem to be the same. So far you didn't even try to prove me wrong so why would I think otherwise? Laughing through life is a great thing, but come on. Is that what you want people to remember you by eventually? Don't you wish for more? Don't you wanna be someone?" Man, when did she start sounding so much like her parents… or Collins?…

"I AM someone," said Alex. "I'm the father of a beautiful four-year-old. That's all that matters."

That statement caught Maureen completely off guard. She stared at Alex, jaw dropped. "You're… you're WHAT?" A four-year-old? It's been three years since she had last seen him… Something didn't seem to fit. Thousands of questions were whirling through her mind, but she didn't dare asking them aloud. Was he a father back then and she never knew? And if he was, how was it that they didn't know? Was it someone they knew?

Her reaction seemed to amuse Alex, who held out his hand for a shake. "Alex Meyers, father of beautiful Jacob Meyers, Caucasian, two feet three inches, adorable as a button."

He wasn't kidding. God, he wasn't kidding! Maureen stared at him completely shocked. A father! Alex Meyers, of all people! "How did it happen?" she asked quietly, and dared to look at him.

He flashed a mischievous grin. "You know me, I'm irresistible."

Maureen sighed. "Alex, come on. You said you've changed, now prove it. I'm serious."

"I have a kid, how much proof do you want?" He paused and took his wallet out of his pants' pocket. He pulled out a small photo and handed it to her. "That's him."

Maureen took the photo and smiled instantly. The boy who looked back at her was indeed adorable. He looked exactly like his father. His toothless grin melted her heart. "He's beautiful," she said as she handed him back the photo. She hesitated, then carefully smiled. "I guess I should apologize," she added, suddenly embarrassed. Up until she had seen the picture, she still believed he was trying to fool her.

"Why?"

"Because I just jumped into hasty conclusions, I've never thought you could possibly change…"

He was grinning again. "So, what, now you're assuming that I'm a good father?"

"Well, are you?" she shot back. "I mean all these girls parading in and out of your bedroom… or are you no longer doing that kind of stuff?"

"It's hard to get back into that world. Ever since Jacob… he's changed me. He means the world to me. But I still try to have fun… Well, as much fun as I can get," he smiled.

Maureen returned his smile. She felt herself soften. He had changed. He had proven her wrong.

"So how is it that you met Mark today?" For some reason, it was still bugging her.

"Roger teaches my son guitar. Ever since Jacob found out I played in a band, he wanted to do something too. Sadly, he didn't want to take up the drums," he frowned, then laughed softly. "So unfair."

She laughed as well. "Well, you should be grateful he didn't. Drums are noisy, especially if you don't know how to use it… but you should know THAT," she teased, smiling sweetly.

Alex stuck his tongue at her. "Ha ha!"

Before Maureen could respond, a piece of Oreo found its way into the cleavage of her black tank top. Surprised, she raised her head to face Alex, who burst out laughing at his hit. "Hey! Do not throw cookies in my kitchen!" she warned but couldn't stop smiling as she shook her tank top in a hopeless attempt to get rid of the cookie's crumbs.

Alex's face wore an innocent expression. "I only threw ONE," he said. He grabbed a chocolate chip cookie, broke it to two halves and launched one of them into her hair.

"Alex, STOP! I just washed my hair an hour ago!" she laughed. What a waste of very good cookies, she thought, just as he threw the other half at her, completely deaf to her protests.

She snatched a cookie, and raised her arm to launch it at him as revenge. He quickly grabbed her wrist, bringing her closer for a kiss.

Her heart stopped as Alex's lips touched hers. He didn't try to deepen the kiss or anything, and she didn't kiss him back, but he didn't seem to mind that. They just stayed like that for a moment before he pulled away and waited, watching her intently.

She eyed him carefully. "What was that for?"

He flashed a devilish smile. "Did you like it?"

She let out a short, nervous laughter, then gave him glare of disbelief. "What do you think?" she asked eventually, as lightly as she could, and added, "I won't fall for you, honey, I have my guy, remember?"

"Mark? God, he's such a loser," he teased, but she could tell he didn't mean it. "Thanks, Maureen," he added, unusually serious.

"For what?"

"For not slapping me when I kissed you," his eyes sparkled as he looked at her honestly. "I miss that." Their eyes locked, and Maureen broke away from their gaze first. She was beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable having that kind of conversation with someone she considered as a complete jerk fifteen minutes ago. She turned away, busying herself by making coffee for everyone. Alex was quiet for a moment, then said, "You know what I just realized?"

She turned to face him again. "What?"

A wide, stupid, evil grin nearly cracked his face when he took one step back. "I kissed a lesbian," he said, and raced back to the living room with his arms high in the air. "SCORE!"

Maureen forgot all about the guys' coffee as she snatched a small towel from the counter and chased Alex into the living room, where everyone still looked puzzled by his statement. "HEY! You won't get away with it, Alex!"

"What's going on?" asked Mark.

"I kissed a lesbian!" repeated Alex excitedly. Maureen shot him a glare.

Mark looked stunned. "You did WHAT?"

Was he trying to ruin her relationship after everything she's been through to get it back? "Alex, SHUT UP!" she said just as she grabbed his wrist. YES! Mimi and Collins had to move and sit someplace else as she dropped Alex on the couch and tried to strangle him with the towel she still held. "Say you're sorry, Meyers…" she threatened, but couldn't stop laughing. Then her eye caught a more effective weapon. She snatched a stuffed pillow from the edge of the couch and threw the towel on the floor.

"Mark, your girlfriend's killing me!" Alex managed to squeak, hopelessly waving his arms as best as he could.

Mark didn't seem to listen. He still looked stunned by what Alex had said earlier. "You did WHAT?" he repeated.

"Mark, he has a kid! I think she's really gonna do it!" called Roger, somewhat panicked, from behind her back. She smirked and moved the pillow closer to Alex's face.

"Admit it, Maureen, you liked that kiss!"

"I could have slapped you right there, now I wish I did! Just say you're sorry or I'll kill ya! Think of your poor kid, spending the rest of his life with Roger as his father!"

Alex looked horrified by the idea alone. "Anything but that!" he begged.

"Hey, wait a minute!" said Roger. No one seemed to listen. Maureen glanced at him, then looked back at Alex.

"I'm sorry Maureen, I'M SORRY!"

"Louder, I can't hear you!"

"I'M SORRY OH MIGHTY DIVA! I have forsaken thee now get your hands off me!"

Better. She smiled sweetly at him but didn't remove the pillow from his face. "And?…"

"And what?"

"And YOU'LL NEVER SAY THESE THINGS AGAIN! Or you'll regret it!" She threw the pillow in his face, laughing. "You're so pathetic, Meyers…"

Alex sat up, coughing. He took couple of deep breaths as if to gather some lost oxygen, then looked at Maureen, who was standing again. He stood up as well. "You're so lucky you look the way you do… just don't come crying to me when you sleep next to Mark and all you can dream about is me."

"You know I've been pretty quiet, don't make me get up," commented Mark, who was sitting across from Alex on an armchair.

Maureen smiled victoriously at Alex. "Be afraid. Be very afraid," she advised him.

Suddenly he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. His arms tightened around her waist as he leaned her back expertly for a kiss. "Oh, I'm very afraid," he said teasingly after their lips parted.

"Hey, come on," Mark protested and was about to get up, but Roger restrained him.

"You know Alex, he's always been an asshole," he said, glaring at Alex.

"Don't you just love it?" asked Alex as he helped Maureen straighten up again. She just stared at him. She couldn't believe he had just kissed her again, and in front of MARK of all things! What was he THINKING?

"You need to get laid," she said. Alex winked at her and snaked his arms around her waist again, completely ignoring the shock on Mark's face. "Hey, hands OFF, honey!"

Surprisingly, it was Roger who reacted first. He moved closer to them and released Maureen from Alex's death grip. Then he jokingly grabbed Alex by the collar. "Alex, I didn't want to do this…" he started, then dragged Alex to the couch that was now occupied again by Mimi and Collins. "Just sit there and shut up."

Maureen moved closer to the armchair where Mark was still sitting, and looked at him carefully. "Hey, HE started it, you know," she said softly, looking down at him with innocent puppy's eyes.

Mark hardly smiled as he replied, "I know." Then, with no warning, he grabbed her hand. Maureen lost her balance and toppled forward. She landed in his lap, laughing. "MINE," he stated, staring at Alex with a huge smile as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her impossibly closer.

"He's always been possessive," remarked Alex quietly, but loud enough for all of them to hear it.

"Oh yeah," agreed Roger.

Maureen chose to ignore them as she lost herself once again in Mark's eyes, before she leaned forward to kiss him, completely deaf to a new choir of protests.