Author's Notes: Thank you all for supporting this story. I loved writing it. It's one of my shortest pieces but I really think it's one of my best. Thank you again for all your support. Please review and let me know what you think. And if there's anything I can do to make this better. This is dedicated to all those who lost their lives and to those who survived.

Mark coughed as he climbed the stairs towards the cries above him. He took the stairs two at a time. He knew from the sounds the building was making he had limited time. He found the door to the 18th floor opening quickly. Bodies were everywhere. He could hear the screams of people calling for help. He found a woman, not much older then he was. He kneeled by her.

"I'm going to get you out." Mark whispered to her. "No... No it's too late take Angel." Woman said. "Angel?" Mark looked confused till the woman opened her coat. Laying there was an infant. The child looked at Mark and his breath was taken away. She had brown eyes and a black tough of hair. "Please, take Angel and save her." The woman begged. Mark picked the child up and saw why the woman was saying it was too late. Threw her stomach was a piece of shrapnel. "I swear I'll make sure she's okay." Mark promised the woman. "Thank you Mark." The mother said taking her last breath. "Take care of my Angel." Mark whispered closing the woman's eyes.

The building began to shudder. "I've got to get out of here. I can't die on him. Roger would never forgive me." Mark thought to himself and he cradled the baby heading for the door. Running down the stairs he saw the firemen running in.

Mark thought of how brave they were, not thinking for a moment of their own safety they raced in.

Opening the door to the outside he heard it: the sound that would be heard around the world.

Mark ran as hard as he could protecting the baby angel from the ash and remains that crashed around him as the South Tower came tumbling down. He tucked and covered Angel in his jacket. "I'm going to die and Roger will never know how much I love him." Was the only thought that ran threw Mark's head. Roger, his secret love, his angel of music, his one regret, he thought back to the moment he realized he loved Roger.

Flashback:

"You're cereal is going to be wasted if you keep looking at it."

Mark hadn't heard Roger come out of his room. But he knew the minute Roger was in the kitchen. That's when it struck him, Mark always was aware of where Roger was. Mark could sense the musician, know his moods, know his thoughts, he knew everything about Roger. "Oh my God I love him." Mark thought dumbly. In that moment he realized why no girl or guy was ever good enough for him. Why Mark would rather sit in the loft on a Saturday night with Roger then go out with Maureen or Collins trolling for guys and girls. He didn't need to. He had his perfect guy in Roger.

Mark turned and looked at Roger, Mark felt his heart trip over it's self at his image. The semi long hair, the forest green eyes, the ugly plaid pants that Roger made look good, the way his long graceful fingers wrapped around the coffee mug he now brought to his full lips.

"Huh?" was all Mark could get out. "Your cereal, you're going to waist it if you keep looking at in." Roger said with a smirk. "What's up with the deep thoughts?" Roger asked looking concerned. "Nothing, nothing, just thinking about my film and Mims, I was just hoping she's alright." Mark lied. "What did I tell you about Mimi? It's her fault not yours, stop thinking about it, I've got to go get guitar strings later you coming?" Roger asked. "It is my fault and you don't have to get the strings, I picked them up yesterday when I picked up your meds." Mark said half thinking of what was coming out of his mouth. "You're my hero, it's starting to get cold and I really didn't want to go out." Roger said grinning kissing Mark's temple.

Little kisses like that weren't abnormal for the two of them. It reconfirmed their need for human contact, or that's what Mark use to think, now, now Roger's kisses and touches sent him a flame. How was he ever going to control this growing lust and love from his roommate?

"Are you sure you're okay?" Roger asked. "Yeah, promise." Mark said with a smile and then just to make sure Roger didn't catch on Mark said the three words that always made Roger get that face of disgust, "Take you're A.Z.T."

Present

When the dust was semi settled Mark stood up. There were emergency people everywhere. He could hear crying as he turned to look at what had once been the proud Twin Towers. Staring at them he knew his life would never be the same.

The baby in his arms gave a small whimper. Mark looked at her, "I couldn't save my Angel all those years ago, I'm glad I got a second chance." Mark said carrying the baby to the nearest emergence medical technician.

Roger looked around at the devastation that had once been the South Tower a sob breaking out of his throat. Damn Mark, he thought, damn him for being so good. For always doing the right thing, damn him: Roger felt his friends join him, Collins helping to support him. Joanna comforting Maureen who was sobbing loudly, Benny stood dumbstruck at the sight in front of him.

Collins looked around at what used to be Manhattan all he could think about was Angel. Collins then looked down at Roger, he was broken: how was Collins ever going to convince Roger to keep surviving with Mark being taken from him so violently. But then Collins was struck by Roger's voice, "Live in my house, I'll be your shelter. Just pay me back with one thousand kisses. Be my lover and I'll cover you." Roger looked up at Collins tears flowing from his eyes. Collins pulled Roger into a hug and continued where his friend left off, "Open your door, I'll be your tenant: Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet, but sweet kisses I've got to spare I'll be there - I'll cover you" Collins felt Maureen's slim hands slide up his arm to his shoulder. Behind her Joanna stood holding Maureen's other hand. Collins her Maureen's sweet voice added to his, "I think they meant it when they said you can't buy love. Now I know you can rent it a new lease you are, my love, on life – On life, I've longed to discover, something as true as this is."

It was then they heard the voice coming out of the dust. "So with a thousand sweet kisses I'll cover you. With a thousand sweet kisses," Collins looked up there was Mark. Dirty, worn looking, Mark who stood with tears as in his eyes looking at his friends: Roger pulled from Collins moving towards Mark. Collins heard in the background Maureen, Joanna, and Benny continuing to sing, "525,600 minutes, 525,600 minutes." Collins grinned at the two men.

Roger could hear his friends, he could hear the cries of anguish and the sounds of the building that was once the North Tower cracking and moaning, but his only thoughts were of Mark. His beautiful Mark who had lived threw hell and came back to him. Grabbing Mark's face Roger brought it to his in an earth shattering kiss.

Mark heard them before his saw them. Then time stopped for Mark when he saw his friends and his grieving love. He was going to be okay. They were there for him. They loved him. He could face hell and come back and his family was still there for him. He watched knowing the minute he could he would tell Roger he loved him. But he never got the chance.

Roger pulled him into the kissed he longed for, for so long. And in that kiss Mark was told everything he ever needed to know. Roger loved him, Roger was his soul mate, and till death finally did part them Roger would be there beside him: his lover and his friend.

September 11, 2001 was the day the world stood still for Americans. Lives were lost in the thousands. Hearts were broken that would take years to mend, wars would be started, the lines between right and wrong began to blur for a country. But for Mark and Roger, September 11 meant the beginning of their life together. Mark stayed in contact with Angel's father and was an active roll in her life. Several years later Roger and Mark made the trip to San Francisco to become married, legally. Then Maureen and Joanna blessed Roger and Mark with the gift of a child of their own to raise. A beautiful girl they named September.

Closing Notes: I hope you like this, it took me several tries to get threw the chapter with out crying. I dedicate this entire story to those both living and those who died in September 11. I hope you feel I did this justice, both the event and the characters. My heart goes out to New York City and it's people. You're amazing thank you for being so strong. Be true to yourselves and always hold close to your hearts:

No day but today.

Love,

Cherry