Mark's eyes grew wide. "He really does?" He asked Collins, a bit shocked by this news. "Does Angel know?" He asked softly.
"No, and I am NOT going to tell her, unless it gets serious." Collins told him and sighed. "So, I need you to get her out of the house, so that I can talk it over with him." He asked Mark softly. "Please Mark…"
"Just don't do anything stupid. The last thing I want is for Angel to be hurt." Mark said, warningly.
"I'm not stupid Mark, I would never hurt Angel.' Collins said, a bit aggressively.
"What about me?" Called a higher male voice from the hallway. Angel reappeared with a tray of mugs, all full of hot chocolate.
"Well," Collins started, and smiled at her sweetly. "Mark told me he wanted to bring you out tonight." He told her. Angel bent down gracefully, and set the mugs on the coffee table, and she took one for herself.
"Oh really now?" Angel asked in her curious voice. "Just me?" She asked, sitting in the middle of the other men.
"Yeah…you know, why not?" Mark asked her. He wasn't so good at improvising as Collins was. Angel giggled.
"What's the occasion?" Angel asked him, and batted her eyes. Mark looked at Collins for help.
"Uh…well…I don't know…just for fun." Mark said nervously, and Angel squealed, as she turned to Collins.
"You had better watch out mister! Markie might just steal me away." Angel told him, and kissed his cheek.
"If he does, I'll probably kill him." Collins chuckled, and sipped his hot chocolate. Mmm, no one could pour hot water into hot chocolate power with fluff on the top like Angel could. Mark laughed lightly, and sipped his cocoa.
"So, where are you taking me?" Angel asked him, taking a nice warm gulp.
"Guess out to eat, and wherever else you might want to go. We just don't hang out as much as we should." Mark told her, and smiled.
"Oh…" Angel cooed, and giggled. "You're so sweet." She told him. "Well, I'd love to go out with you tonight baby." She told him sweetly, and grinned, sipping her cocoa.
"Great…so when do you-" Mark began, but was cut off by Collins quickly.
"-Now. It's getting kind of dark, and I would want you two to freeze." Collins quickly added. "Besides…I want Angel for later." He said, and growled lightly in Angel's ear, and she squealed.
"Oh STOP it!" She shrieked, and smiled at him. "Don't worry baby." She said, and nuzzled her nose with his. "We won't be too long. But Lord knows how much fun I can be." She giggled, and stood up. Mark smirked at her.
"Yes, we ALL know Angel." He said, and stood next to her. Collins then stood up, and cleared his throat protectively.
"You take care of her now." Collins told Mark, as if this were a date between his daughter and her new boyfriend. "Don't stay out too late."
"I'll have her back safe with you no later than ten o'clock sir." Mark told him, and smiled proudly, wrapping an arm around a hysterical Angel. Angel joined in the game, and wrapped her arm around Mark's shoulder, and Collins made a protective face, though she wasn't sure if it was fake or not.
"I'll be fine daddy." Angel smirked at him, and made a sly face. That was obviously an inside joke between the two, because Collins blushed and Mark stared at the two in complete confusion. Mark cleared his throat, and smiled at the two.
"Well, we should get going, before something too weird happens." He said a bit nervously. Angel playfully hit him.
"I'm going to go get my coat, I'll be back." She said, and walked to her room. Collins sighed, and watched her, and plopped down on the couch.
"I can't believe I'm doing this…" Collins grumbled, and Mark sighed.
"It's not your fault Collins. You have no control over the way the heart works." Mark told her. "Just keep her in mind, and make sure that you protect her from whatever happens." He said, and Angel walked into the livingroom with her coat, and stopped in her tracks when she heard Mark. She listened intently.
"I know, I know…and the last thing I want to do is hurt her. I'm just stuck, that's why I have to talk to him alone. I can't have her here." Collins said, remorsefully, and Angel looked at the two very confused.
"Well, I'm glad to help." Mark told him, and smiled. Angel didn't want to hear much more of this. Not with Mark there. She thought she figured out what might be going on, and she wouldn't have wanted anyone to see her actions when she confronted Collins about it. She walked in, her heels clicking, giving the men warning that she was coming. Mark stood up immediately, and smiled at Angel. "There you are, I thought you got lost." He smirked, and Collins stood back up. Angel smiled, but it was small, trying to re-group for Mark's sake.
"Hey, don't shoot me for wanting to look good." She told him, and smirked.
"You already do look good.' Collins told her, and kissed her sweetly, and Angel smiled.
"Why aren't you the suck up?" Angel smirked at him, and took Mark's hand. "I'll see you in a bit honey." She told Collins, and walked out the door, flashing Collins one last look before she and Mark left her apartment. When they did, Collins sat down, and held his head in his hands, and picked up the phone, regretting ever leaving Angel's side last week.