Author's Note: slaps self on wrist I am SO sorry for not updating this sooner. Life got hectic and I got writer's block. I actually wrote this chapter eight times and I hated it each time. I was going to reveal something in this chapter, but I ended up deciding against it. It just felt too rushed. Trust me, you'll find out and soon. Collins is back and there's definitely some fun stuff in this chapter. I'm really glad I didn't post it until I liked it, because I like this chapter a lot. I hope that you do, too! As always, I heart reviews!

Disclaimer: Everything and everyone except for Josh, Mason, and Cheyenne belong to the wonderful and talented Jonathan Larson!

Mark threw his arms around his friend. Collins laughed and hugged him back. "Where the hell have you been Collins?" Mark asked, pulling back.

"I just needed some time alone with my Stoli and my Angel." he said, smiling slightly. Mark nodded his understanding.

"Mimi's getting clean. She and Roger are up in the loft." Mark told him. Collins grinned.

"Angel would be proud of her." Mark grinned. "So, why are YOU out here screaming at the sky? Can't handle the two of them? That doesn't sound like you." Mark's smile faded.

"Roger and Mimi I could handle. In fact, I'd take withdrawal any day. My sister showed up at my door. Her husband, Josh, was beating her. And apparently, he tried to hit one of the kids. She ran and came here. Then, about an hour ago Josh showed up. I told him Cindy wasn't there, but he didn't believe me. He said he'd be back." Mark confessed. He felt better now that Collins was here. Collins could fix anything...and even if he couldn't, he'd try his hardest.

Collins had started steering him back towards the apartment. "Wow Mark. That's...intense." Mark chuckled. "But, why are you so upset over this? Just Cindy being back wouldn't have you screaming at the top of your lungs."

Collins always could read Mark like a book. Mark shrugged his shoulders. Quickly, he changed the subject. "Come on, come back to the loft with me. You can meet everyone and see Mimi. I know Mimi would love to see you, she's been asking about you."

Collins caught the reluctance to answer. He realized something bad was going on, but he wasn't going to push Mark. Mark liked to think he could handle everything himself. Usually he could, if it involved others. When it came to himself, he had a hard time solving his own problems. It was Angel who had taught him that. He also learned that if you pushed Mark just enough, at the right times, and then were there for him, he'd open up and tell you what was bothering him. It was complicated, but it was Mark. Collins followed Mark the couple of blocks back to the loft. Collins shook his head and grinned. "Same old loft. At least some things never change."

Mark grinned, too. They trudged up the stairs and entered the apartment. Cindy sat on the couch, watching over Mason who was coloring in a coloring book on the floor. She also held Cheyenne, trying to keep her quiet. The door to Roger and Mimi's room was still closed. As they walked in the door, Cindy looked up, curious.

"Hey Cindy. This is Collins. Col, this is Cindy, Cheyenne and Mason." Mark introduced. Collins smiled and waved at Cindy and got down on the floor with the little boy. He had stopped coloring to look up at Collins.

"Hey little man. How's it going?" he asked, settling himself on the floor. Mason just looked at him. "What are you coloring?" Mason pointed to the book, still not sure if he could trust this big man. "Oh man! That's great! And you used all my favorite colors! Blue, green, and red!" Collins smiled a huge smile at him. Mason smiled one equally huge back.

"Blue, green, and red are MY favorite colors, too!" He said, in only the excitement that a kid could have. "I'm trying really hard to stay in the lines, but sometimes it's hard."

Collins examined the picture. "I think it looks better that way." He declared.

Mark grinned, shaking his head. He came and sat down next to his sister, taking the squirming baby from her. "Are Roger and Mimi still in the room?" he asked her. She nodded. "I'm going to take the baby out for a while. Get her some fresh air. Is that okay with you?" he asked. Cindy hesitated.

"Mark...if Josh is around..." she faltered.

"Josh doesn't know Alphabet City like I do. We'll only go to public places, and if we need to make a quick exit, I know all the short cuts." He assured her. She still looked worried. A squeal turned them both towards Collins and Mason. Collins was now standing up. He was holding Mason, who was upside down and laughing like crazy.

"I'll go with Mark and we'll take Mason here. It'll due you some good to have some alone time. And it'll due them some good to get out of this loft." He flexed the arm that he was not holding Mason with. "Me big strong man. Me protect Marky and kids."

They all laughed and Collins turned a bright red Mason upright. Cindy agreed to let them take the kids outside. Mark and Collins bundled the kids up and headed outside. Mark carried Cheyenne and Collins held Mason's hand. They headed towards a local neighborhood park that had some playground equipment. Mark placed Cheyenne in a baby swing and Collins helped Mason on to a big swing. The boys pushed the little kids. A woman with a small child came over to them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to say, it's so great that they let you guys have kids. You guys look like such great dad's." Mark and Collins looked at each other, trying to hold back laughter.

"Excuse me?" Collins asked.

"Gay couples. I think it's great that you guys can have kids! And these two are just adorable!" She said.

"We're not gay..." Mark said. He looked at Collins who shrugged his shoulders, still snickering. "Well, he is, but I'm not. And these aren't 'our kids'. Their my niece and nephew." he told her, somehow keeping a straight face. She turned bright red, muttered an apology and hurried away. The boys dissolved into laughter. "So Dad, you think we should take the kids home?"

"Yeah, Dad. Let's get them out of this cold weather." Still giggling, they each carried a kid back to the apartment. Right before they entered the building, a man stepped out of an alleyway.

"So, you haven't seen my kids, Mark?" He said. Mark stopped dead.

"Josh."