A/N: So I hope you guys are enjoying this story! Everything's been going really good so far, so I'm trying to keep up with you people!
I don't own Rent… or Mark… darn it… Oh, sorry. Here ya go!
The black velvet sky had left a small gap between its clouds for the moon. It was chilly outside, and Maureen cuddled up next to Mark as they walked. He held on to her tightly, also feeling cool. "Don't worry Mark," she said softly. "You're doing great."
The calm, peaceful air brushed against Maureen's face, blowing her hair lightly. Mark smiled down at Maureen, who returned the smile.
Mark looked away and continued to walk. Only Benny's voice broke his thoughts. "I'm hoping you're not intending on dancing on the tables again." He said in a drawling voice.
Roger playfully smacked him as the Life Café came into view. "Shut up, Benny. Don't act like you've never stood up, danced on the table, and acted like a total idiot before."
Benny shook his head "Nope. I got nothing." They walked into the café and sat down at a table in the corner. Maureen sat on Mark's lap, and Mimi just laughed.
"Do you have to do that everywhere we go?" the dancer queried, sighing tiredly. Maureen raised an eyebrow. "Got a problem?" she asked, but her frown disappeared, and a smile replaced it. "Just kidding," Maureen scoffed as she turned to face Mark.
"So… when are the kids getting here?" Roger asked, pulling Mimi onto his lap. Mark blushed a little, but Maureen didn't look the least bit embarrassed. "Roger- do us a favor and shut up, for once." Collins and Benny laughed, and Joanne and Michael, exchanging smiles.
Maureen turned around again, her back facing Mark's chest. She leaned back and he wrapped his arms around her slender stomach. Mimi glanced around the café, and noticed some people were staring at the two, smiling.
"You guys!" Mimi whispered fiercely. "People are staring!" Maureen slipped off her "boyfriend's" lap and onto the seat beside him. Mark slipped his hand into hers under the table unperceived. Maureen's eyes drifted up to him and she grinned. Mark returned the grin, his eyes shining behind his thick, dark glasses.
Suddenly, the waitress appeared and took their order, and Collins looked slightly distraught. Roger apparently saw this.
"What's wrong, Collins?" Roger asked apprehensively. Collins looked up. "Oh, nothing." He said, glancing around the room. Roger nodded, but knew what was going on inside Collins head.
Angel.
Angel was Collins lover who had died, exactly 11 months ago. Roger realized that Collins was thinking when they had all met Angel and Mimi, when all the friends had had a little get together.
Roger glanced up at Mark, and Mark, thinking up a storm, grinned. Roger had almost realized what he meant and his jaw dropped as Mark helped himself up onto the table.
He looked around the room, all eyes on him. Summoning up his courage, Mark took a deep breath and began to speak:
"Sorry to interrupt everyone, but… "He looked down at Maureen, gaping at him. "I would like to make a toast to our dear friend Angel, on the anniversary of his death."
Maureen looked at Mark as if seeing him in a whole new light. Mark had never been that brave to stand up on a table on the middle of a restaurant, and toast something. She smiled and handed him his glass. "To Angel." Maureen murmured.
Mark nodded. "To Angel." He repeated. Mimi and Roger did the same, as well as Collins and Benny. Joanne toasted to Angel, but Michael had something to say.
"I don't know who Angel was, but, for the anniversary of his death…" he raised his glass. "To Angel." The friends grinned as the other the other people in the café also did the same. Once everyone was done, Roger stood up on the table.
"And I would like to dedicate tonight to my friend Mark here-" he put an arm around Mark-" And his new girlfriend Maureen." Roger gestured to Maureen, who also got on top of the table.
Roger jumped off the table, pushing the two together, and then it happened.
Maureen had almost fallen, but Mark caught her, and his lips caught hers. She wrapped his arms around his neck, and he did the same around her waist. She pulled him closer, so her hands were now cradling his head.
A few people wolf-whistled, including some guy in the back who shouted "Way to go Mark!" Roger cheered, and Mimi just laughed at her friends' publicity. Benny and Collins couldn't help but cheer, but Joanne looked slightly heartbroken.
She covered her expression with a smile, and Michael squeezed her hand.
After a few, long moments of lip locking, Maureen and Mark pulled submerged. Maureen laid her head against his chest, and Mark felt his heart skip a beat.
It was the moment he was waiting for. It was a dream come true- but it wouldn't last forever. Mark smiled, as if shocked, but Roger noticed a proud feeling brewing up inside Mark as he beamed to the restaurant, people still cheering.
The cheers eventually died down, and the two jumped off the table, still holding one another, and Mark felt as if he had come back to New York after being on vacation in Hawaii for a week.
Mark seemed to be drifting off into his own world, when he came back to reality.
"I'm guessing you want me to let go now." He laughed nervously, but Maureen's reply made him feel good, a nice, sincere…
"No… I don't…"