Note: I don't own RENT or the Game of Life…which is the best game ever. Although Star Wars Life is a close second. Sorry this took a bit long but now the chapters are coming to me pretty fast. And as always thanks for the reviews, they really keep me going and motivated. Much love!

Mark watched Angel in fascination as she picked up a fine sharpie marker and attempted to give the pink little peg a skirt. Roger was counting his Game of Life money and frowned, "Boy my life sucks. Sure I got like fifteen kids…two damn cars full but I can't even afford them!" He exclaimed throwing down the money on the board.

"Someone's a bit…tense?" Collins noticed, his arm firmly attached to Angel's waist as she gave the peg hair similar to her favorite wig. When she finished she smiled deeply and placed it in Collins' orange car. A few kids were in the backseat of the game piece along with a blue peg at the wheel. Angel immediately picked up the blue peg and attempted to give it a goat tee.

Roger sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "It's just a stupid game anyway. I mean no one can have that many kids." He got up from the floor and went into the fridge grabbing a soda can.

Mark tilted his head, "Angel, what are you doing?" She smiled brightly and pushed the blue peg close to Mark's face.

"See he looks like Collins! I even made his cap." She said with a giggle putting him back in the car picking up their first daughter to decorate. Collins smiled deeply at her, they had just told Roger and Mark the good news. Mark spent a good twenty minutes hugging Angel then hugging Collins then hugging Angel and so on and so on. Roger just looked away, which blew some warning sirens in Collins' head. There was something going on, Roger didn't even kid him about finally getting the guts to ask her out. Collins knew he

would have to corner Roger eventually…but…Angel was being too cute. Normally, boyfriends would be put off by Angel's sudden decision that they would get married and have four little pegs of their own. But it didn't bother Collins in the least, that's what he dreamed his life would be in the future. And he was invigorated to know that Angel felt the same way.

"Do you mind if our daughter has curly hair?" She asked him biting her lip as if it was a question of life or death.

"Sure why not." Collins said with a chuckle, "Your gonna get more marker on your finger than on those tiny things." Angel just shrugged not seeming to mind but dropping the pink peg.

"Oh Mark, I can do you!" She called out taking out his peg and scribbling a pair of glasses on it. Collins carefully picked up the daughter she dropped and put her back in the car. Note to self, don't let Angel carry our first daughter, Collins thought.

Mark just eyed her and spun the spinner. He moved his blue car along the track, "Dammit! Why do I always end up on the tax space!" He groaned counting out the money, "My life sucks, too." Roger sat back down sipping on the coke looking out into space.

Collins looked at him concerned, something was definitely up. Mark left him wide open for a friendly put down. There were so many options. There was, "yeah I've been telling you that for years" or "well you suck too"…more snide comments then Collins could imagine. But Roger didn't say a word he just stared out into space.

Angel spun for her and Collins clapping her hands when they reached there, "We get to go on a cruise!" Collins frowned his mind going back to the game.

"Sadly Angel, we must pay for that. And may I remind you…" Collins held up the few bills they had left. Angel sighed and put her head on his shoulder.

"Well…it's nice to dream." She wrapped her arms around Collins' one arm and closed her eyes. Collins looked down at her and smiled.

"So does that mean you guys are bust?" Mark asked pointing to their life tiles, "You cash those in." Collins shook his head gently looking back down at Angel.

"I think that we're good." Angel snuggled closer to him.

Mark pulled the pegs out of his car deciding the game had outplayed its worth. He sighed deeply, "I need a girlfriend." Collins eyed him and Mark held up his hands, "I know, I know. Boatloads of babies and soul mates, I know."

"Soul mate?" Roger asked and then laughed bitterly, "No such thing." He got up from the floor and pulled out a packet of cigarettes. "I'm gonna go smoke." Collins figured this could be his opportunity, they were the only two who smoked. Angel just wasn't really crazy about it and Mark sneezed anytime nicotine got close to his face.

"I'll come with." Collins said starting to get up kissing Angel's head as he did.

Roger mumbled, "A personal smoke. And then I'm off. Night, guys." He headed up Mark's basement stairs. There was complete silence in the room. Collins sat back down giving Angel a worried look. Mark started to finish up cleaning the game looking spent.

"We need to talk to him." Angel said quietly making sure to make eye contact with Collins and Mark. "He can't go on living his life like this. If he does he's going to end up alone and unhappy. We have to talk to him."

Mark cleared his throat, "I'll try on my own." Collins raised his eyebrow.

"You ain't gonna…explode on him?" Collins questioned knowing that Mark had a lot of pent up emotions that would only complicate the Roger issue.

"Yeah Markie, I think Collins is right." Angel said staying Mark's busy hands and putting away the board game herself, "I think this needs to be a group effort. So we can keep an eye on each other, too." Mark shrugged relenting to the idea although it was clear that it wasn't exactly what he wanted. Angel closed the lid of the game and went to go put it in the game cupboard that the Cohen household had.

"Sorry to run out on you Mark…but I gotta go walk Angel home and still get in by 12." Collins said getting up from the ground.

"Since when do you care about respecting your curfew?" Mark asked with a pout. His puppy dog pout, Collins had to avert his eyes. He always caved in with Mark's puppy dog pout.

"Since my parents have decided I'm off to gay bars every night sleeping with random men and starting on many illegal drugs.." Collins mumbled rubbing his face.

"Is that what they think?" Angel asked raising her eyebrow and slowly walking back to him.

"No clue, they don't talk to me…but I don't wanna push it." He explained rubbing his face again. Frankly, Collins was kind of surprised that they even let him stay in the house. He assumed that because of the way he mouthed off, he would be banished from the Collins' family portrait forever. And as much as he wanted to say that he didn't want to be apart of the family anymore…he did. When it came down to it, they were the ones who created him. That was something Collins couldn't ignore.

"They still aren't talking to you?" Angel asked watching his eyes.

"No…silent treatment extrodinare." Collins said with a deep sigh. It wasn't like he wasn't used to it. His mother barely talked to him as it was but at least she seemed somewhat satisfied by his presence.

"Well…" Angel started to say taking his hand gently, "Maybe I can change that." Collins' eyes went wide. Sure Collins wanted to announce to the world that he was in love with Angel, the best looking lady in the universe, but his parents? They were still getting used to the idea of their son being gay…unleashing Angel on them…

"If you introduce yourself as my boyfriend I think that could get them talking again Angel but…I doubt it would be pleasant talking." Angel walked up to him and kissed him gently.

"Don't worry about it. Angel's here to fix everything. Ok, I can't make your parents understand completely, but I'll start chipping away at them. Don't you worry." She kissed him again, "And Collins don't drool between kisses it's not very becoming." She said with a laugh and smacking him gently on the chest.

Mark chuckled a bit but tried not to for Collins' sake. Collins wiped his mouth and frowned, "I did not drool!"

"It was emotional drool…" Angel said stopping suddenly searching for something. "Sweetie?" She asked apparently trying to give Collins a pet name, "No that's kinda…innocent."

"And I ain't innocent?"

Angel laughed, "How about…darling? Think that fits."

Collins smiled and nodded putting his hands around her waist, "Fits like a glove."

"Not like my pretty gloves!" Angel said with a deep smile. As soon as Collins and Angel had finished up on the lawn the day before, she put them away in her hope chest. Angel explained that she would only wear them on special occasions like her mother saved her pearls. They weren't as expensive, but Angel held them dear.

"Gloves?" Mark asked, "Ok it's official you two are dating, I don't get your inside cuteness things….or dirty things now that I think about it."

Angel blushed and Collins laughed, "It's the pure glove type Mark, not the 'no glove no love ' type of glove." Mark sighed in relief he couldn't deal with condom talks at the moment. Angel giggled and patted Collins' chest.

"So…tell me about your parents." Angel said putting her hands behind her back as she walked Collins home. Collins shrugged putting his hands deep into his pockets.

"I don't know…ain't much to tell. They hate each other, they hate me…you know your normal family." He said looking off into the distance, jumping when he felt something warm in his pocket. Angel had slipped her hand inside and interlaced her fingers with his. Collins looked over at her and smiled gently looking back at the ground.

The two of them stayed quiet for a few moments just listening to the breeze and the muffled sounds coming from the surrounding houses. Angel's eyes darted back and forth on the ground. Collins tilted his head knowing she was thinking, he was about to ask her what was on her mind but then she whispered, "I love you…I know it won't replace your family troubles but…I do. I love you." Angel's eyes lifted to meet Collins, blushing slightly. Collins could tell by the slight blush on her cheeks that she wasn't expecting anything back. Perhaps a "I like you" or "isn't this a bit soon". Angel took her hand out of his pocket and let it hang at her side. Her eyes were looking straight ahead.

Collins stepped in front of her holding her shoulders carefully. His deep brown eyes now meet hers. Carefully, he pulled her into a hug.

"I love you, too. And I'm not just saying that because you said it first…I really do. It's good to know I'm not alone in the whole…love thing." Angel breathed in deeply and hugged him back.

"It is…" She murmured as Collins kissed her on her forehead. It was such a chaste act, but Collins was sure that he felt heat leave his body and enter Angel. She shivered against his skin although she wasn't cold. Not in the least.

Reluctantly, they parted although their hands stayed clasped together as they walked.

"So..." Angel sighed blinking a few times, "Your parents…tell me something. Something I can use."

Collins looked around the area as if he was going to find the answer on his neighbor's lawn. And oddly enough, he did. Collins pointed to a flower.

"My mom loves the smell of lavender." He said to her. Angel nodded and dipped down to pull the lavender out by the roots of the garden. Collins held back a giggle, "Angel, I don't want my neighbors disowning me either."

Angel slapped him gently, "You're parents haven't disowned you, don't talk like that…and…" She looked back at the garden biting her lip, "I'll make it up to them somehow." Collins traded her hand for her waist.

"I'm sure you will…" He slowed down in front of his house. Having Angel right there next to him made him realize something that he never realized before. His house was huge. Although his mother never worked a day in her life, his father's job paid well. It also helped that his grandparents gave most of their stock shares to their children before they left for Florida. But it wasn't just it's size that really bothered him, it was the fact Angel's house was the same exact size. However, Angel's house was full to the brim with people singing, playing, talking, just living. Collins' house, however, was more of a mausoleum. His parents moving from room to room, not living. Just being.

"Nice house." Angel commented noticing the "Collins" monogrammed on the mailbox. She pointed towards the house, "The bay window…always wanted one of them." Collins looked up.

"That's mine actually. My room. It's…it's nice." Collins said with a nod starting to feel himself get nervous. Almost immediately Angel kissed his cheek.

"You'll be fine. C'mon. Time to shock your parents into speech patterns." Angel said with determination picking off the roots of the lavender. Collins laughed shaking his head finding new confidence in himself, although he had to wonder how Angel knew him so well. He pulled out the keys from his pocket and opened the door slowly.

"Mom? Dad?" It was the same drill every time. They would be there but they wouldn't answer. When Collins got what he expected he motioned for Angel to come in. She was now straightening her wig and flattening down her skirt which had gotten a little wrinkled from sitting on the floor.

"You look fine." Collins whispered to her before moving further into the room, "Uh…Mom, Dad…come here I…I want you to meet someone." He glanced back at Angel looking worried. She winked at him, and he knew it would all be ok.

Collins' father dragged himself into the room his paisley tie still tied tightly around his neck even though he left work hours ago. Collins' mother came down the stairs her eyes on Angel right away. Angel glanced over at her and smiled deeply.

"Umm…" Collins started to say, his father crossing his arms and his mother staring at Angel, "This is Angel. We're together." Collins' mother did an about face on the stairs but stopped when Angel called out.

"Wait! Wait! Mrs. Collins, I brought you some lavender." Angel said going up a few stairs to meet her, "Tom told me that you liked them." She handed the lavender to her with an innocent smile. Collins' mother stared at the flowers as she had Angel a minute ago. Skeptical and unsure. But then she took them from Angel's hand.

"Thank you." She muttered before walking up to the bedroom and shutting the door quietly. Angel watched her and called up the stairs, "Nice meeting you, Mrs. Collins."

Collins' father shook his head, "I can't believe this. It isn't bad enough that you are gay now you have to go after transvestites, too? I mean couldn't you at least have dated a closeted kid who dressed like a straight-"

"Dad!" Collins yelled his hands in his fists, "Don't tell me who or who not to love." Angel came down the last few steps and placed her hand on Collins' shoulder calmly.

"Love?" Collins' father scoffed, "You don't know what love is. You're eighteen."

Collins stood his ground, the hand on his shoulder was giving him even more strength, "I do know what love is. Now I do…and I know I'm young. But I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Angel's stared up at him her eyes wide. He really did love her, it wasn't just a dream.

Collins' father shook his head again turning away now and heading for the kitchen. Collins let out a sigh knowing that would be the only verbal conversation he would probably have with his parents for weeks. Angel circled Collins so they were now face to face.

"You really mean all that? Everything you've said tonight?" She asked him quietly.

Collins nodded cupping her face, "I do. I mean it all." Angel titled her head towards his hand nuzzling it. Closing her eyes for a moment she smiled.

"Well…it could have gone worse." She whispered to him lifting up her head and heading to the door. Collins walked with her his hands in his pockets again.

"Yeah I suppose…not much screaming. And you got my mom to talk which is a revelation." Angel smiled and looked up the stairs.

"I think she just needed something nice for a change…not that you aren't nice!" Angel replied holding her hands out worrying he would take it the wrong way.

Collins chuckled leaning his back against the wall, "So…I'm just nice?" Angel giggled a bit before kissing him slowly, her bottom lip lingering on his top.

"Among other things." She murmured in his ear. With that she winked at him and opened the door, "See you later, darling…no…" She sighed in the doorframe, "I don't think I like it. I need a good pet name for you. And a label too. You know Mark's cute one and Roger the hot one…your…" After a few minutes of thought she shrugged, "I'll get back to you." Collins pulled himself from the wall although he felt like he could stay there forever just remembering their kiss.

"You do that." He said with one quick peck on the cheek. Angel raised her eyebrow,

"And that's the official goodbye kiss I get on your porch?" She put her hands on her hips faking her disgust, "My my Thomas Collins I'm-" Her words where stopped by Collins' lips impacting her own. Her arms lifted to wrap around his neck while Collins' hands gripped her waist. Their lips parted to allow their tongues to explore each other. Pulling back both of them blinked trying to make their eyes focus on each other through the haze.

"Better?" Collins asked her with a smirk.

"MMmmm…" Angel said letting her hands linger on his neck for a moment. "I better go…goodnight Collins." She let her hands fall and strutted away from him. When she reached the sidewalk she started to skip and let out a squeal. Collins watched her fade into the darkness a deep grin on his face.

"Goodnight my Angel."

Post: So not my fav chapter but hey they can't all be jewels. Next Chapter: Mark plans his birthday blast with a few surprises. Benny brings Collins a message from Robbie. More April/Roger action all well…I didn't realize how much of their relationship would be under the surface but that seems to be all they will allow.