Note: This is the second to last chapter and since I've decided that I will continue…te he yay, some things will not be completely resolved. You'll see. Though I must warn you in advance the sequel won't be as…happy. I don't own RENT nor the song "Wonderwall" by Oasis though I prefer the Ryan Adams version. For some reason I think Roger is a Ryan Adams fan. (eats waffles and ice cream with strawberries)

"So Rog…how's life?" Collins asked randomly as Roger started up the car. His friend was driving him away from Scarsdale High as they had finished their finals.

"Um. Ok." Roger said not fixing any sort of meaning to Collins' words, figuring he was trying to start up any type of conversation.

Collins nodded and looked at his hands for a moment before saying quietly, "You and me. We have a talk long overdue. You wanna have it?" He asked wondering if Roger would refuse him. Push him away. That's what he had done to Mark for all the years he knew him.

"What is there to talk about?" Roger asked deadpan.

Collins sighed rubbing his face, "You know what I mean. Mark, April, Mimi, Angel…me. How are you?"

Roger wrinkled his nose as if he was disgusted, "You guys were hurt. Not me. There's nothing wrong with me."

"No I mean." Collins sighed again trying to figure out a way he could put it, "Angel told me that you beat the shit out of a kid at school the first day back."

"Yeah so?" Roger shrugged turning the car, "He had it coming to him."

Collins watched his stone face, "And that you had a crying fest after making the kid bleed. I don't know Roger…I wanted to make sure you were ok. We've never really had a talk alone. Not since before April died."

"Passed away." Roger whispered correcting Collins' word choice.

"I'm sorry." Collins mumbled, "Passed away…" He let his words fade as well as his intentions to have a talk with Roger. If this was how he was going to act, Collins wasn't going to pull Roger apart to admit his feelings. It would only get the rocker angry that he had dug so deep.

Roger didn't seem to mind the quiet that settled in the car. There was nothing to talk about. He was still walking, talking, making it through the day. What else did Collins want from him? A pouring out of how he was feeling every moment of everyday? That was stupid. People get hurt but they move on. Roger wasn't the one who was behind the knife. He was ok.

They sat listening to Roger's music in silence.

And all the roads we have to walk are winding

And all the lights that lead us there are blinding

There are many things I would like to say to you

But I don't know how

Said maybe

You're gonna be the one that saves me

And after all you're my wonderwall…

Roger cleared his throat shifting in his seat, "I'm ok."

Collins turned to look at him carefully, "Just ok?"

"I mean…how many months has it been. Four months? And I'm not crying at night anymore. I'm talking to you guys." Roger said, "You know…I'm fine."

"But you still…" Collins started hoping to get a bit more from his friend.

Roger leaned on arm out of the window his other laying on top of the wheel, "I still…do you think I'm betraying her? Of course I'm not. I broke with her before she passed away so…" He stopped glancing over at Collins begging for an answer.

"With Mimi?" Collins shook his head, "No. You're not betraying April. Like you said…you ended it. And Roger…I know you like Mimi more than you did April. That's not something you should be ashamed of."

"But she killed herself." Roger whispered turning onto Collins' street.

"She did. That wasn't your decision. It wasn't you that made her do it. You should be happy with Mimi. Be happy with her." Collins said hoping that Roger would follow his advice, "You gotta live this life to the fullest. You can't live in the past."

Roger snorted pulling the car over to the sidewalk, "That's easier said then done."

"Ain't that the truth." Collins said unfastening his seatbelt. "And the kid…"

"LeRoy?" Roger asked and without a response he continued, "I'm not gonna say I was completely in the right. But he was an ass….said something bout you. So I beat him. Probably more than he deserved. I had a lot of stress and LeRoy's face was my punching bag. I'm ok with it… I know it won't happen again. I know I won't turn into my father." He mumbled quietly turning off the engine but allowing the music to continue playing.

"I thought it might be something about me." Collins said quietly. He never wanted to start any violence. Sure he'd fight in self-defense but never for any other purpose. He hated to think that he caused his friend to do such violence. At the same time he knew that Roger dealt with pressure very differently than himself.

Roger smirked, "You think it's always about you don't you?"

"Course." Collins said automatically, "Who else is worth all the trouble?" He winked at his friend and opened the car door, "So you sure you're gonna be ok?"

Roger paused for a moment and said, "If not I know who to call."

"Angel?" Collins asked with a grin.

"Yeah…probably." Roger joked, "You need help getting in? I can set up the wheelchair for ya." He asked pointing to the Collins residence ahead. His friend looked up at the house and shook his head.

"I'll only be a minute." Collins said grabbing crutches and shutting the door behind him.

Roger nodded turning the music up, "Ok. I'll drive around the block til you come out." He moved to turn the engine on again.

Collins knocked on the side of the door, "Save the environment and walk around the block." He instructed not giving Roger another chance as he hobbled off with the crutches. Letting out a groan, Roger got out of the car.

"I'll meet you back by the car, man. Good luck." Roger said waving to Collins.

"Yeah I'm gonna need it." Collins said making his way to the front door and pushing the door open. "Mom?" He called out into the house. What he was afraid of finding was his mother passed out on the ground. Their parting hadn't exactly been a nice one. And he wanted to mend it…as much as one could. "Mom?"

"Thomas?" Mrs. Collins came out of the kitchen in her bathrobe still even though it was three o'clock in the afternoon. "I didn't…I didn't think I would see you again." She slowly stumbled towards him and held out her arms. Collins leaned down to hug her gently.

"I'm not staying long. Wanted to talk a bit if that's ok." Collins said carefully.

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Collins pulled back from him, "You didn't leave the hospital early did you?"

Collins shook his head, "No. I got out today."

"Why aren't you staying?" Mrs. Collins asked her eyes filled with hurt. Her son noticed that her pupils were not dilated…at least that…was a relief.

"Mom…" Collins started biting his lip, "I wanna help you. Help you get off of the drugs. We can go to meetings together over the summer. I could drive you to a rehab center if you want-"

"Why aren't you staying?" She repeated finding little patience for what could "help her".

Collins paused for a moment and then said, "I can't stay. You scared me that night. I know you didn't mean it…I can't be around you when you're high, Mom. I don't know what you're gonna do."

Mrs. Collins crossed her arms and looked away, "I never would hurt you on purpose."

"I know you wouldn't. By mistake, though? Do you even remember that night?" Collins asked, "Do remember what happened?"

"Pieces…" She admitted refusing to look at her son, "I would never do that to you again."

"Were you using when you were pregnant with me?" Collins asked quietly.

"What?" Mrs. Collins seemed taken aback by the possibility.

"Or was it when I was a baby? High school? When Mom?" Collins questioned her, "How many times was I home alone with you when you were fucked up?"

Mrs. Collins grit her teeth letting her anger wash over her, "I never would have done it if I thought you would be effected."

"But Mom I was effected. I lay in the hospital for three days without my mother beside me." Collins answered back trying to pull in his emotions, "Doesn't this make you realize you should quit?"

"Why should I? If you aren't going to live here anymore." Mrs. Collins snapped back walking towards the stairs, "It's the only thing that makes me feel besides you. And if you leave me-"

"I don't want to leave, Mom. But if I stay…I can't risk you shooting up. If you say right here and now that you'll never use again that you're done…then I'll stay. I'll bring my bags in and we'll talk some more. Talk about what we can do." Collins said. It was what he hoped for, but his memories told him that the chances were slim of that ever happening.

"What difference does it make?" Mrs. Collins whispered her hurt coming through, "What does it matter if I started before you were born? My dealer even said to me that it might cause birth defects…maybe they d-" She stopped that thought process and shook her head, "Proved that wrong."

Collins closed his eyes slowly, "Do you want to stop now, Mom? Or do you want me to leave?"

"Why would I give up the one thing that has never failed me?" Mrs. Collins asked without any emotion. Collins stared at her in awe. She was hurt he was not going to stay. That "they" hadn't taken him away, but he was leaving her of his own free will.

"If there is anyone who has failed the other…it's you Mom…" Collins stated, "I'm not gonna let this go. I hope you know that. I'm gonna call you. And try to get you off…cause even though what happened…you're still my mom."

Mrs. Collins turned her back to him and climbed the stairs without a word to him.

Collins watched his mother fade into the upstairs of the house. "Bye Mom." He whispered turning around and leaving the house.

Leaning on the car, a cigarette in hand, Roger waited patiently for his friend and opened the door for him when he came. "How'd it go?" Collins took the cigarette from Roger's hand and inhaled. "That well, huh?" Roger mumbled helping Collins into the car and closing the door behind him. He ran to the other side and drove off.

"Don't worry. You'll get to her." Roger said trying to be as encouraging as possible.

"As long as she doesn't OD first." Collins mumbled.

Roger leaned over and patted his shoulder. "Come on…I'll take you to your happy place." He said with a deep smile on his face. Collins let a smile creep onto his face as well.

A few minutes later, Roger pulled up to 26 Zilch Avenue. He popped the trunk and went to get all of Collins' bags as Collins struggled to get out of the car with the crutches. Sure he was still supposed to use a wheelchair, but Collins had little patience for it. Dawson came out of the house with Andrea on his heels.

"Here lemme help." Dawson offered to Roger taking a few bags. His sister rushed over to Collins helping him up the curb and eventually up the stairs.

"We fixed up a nice room for you." Andrea said with a gentle smile, "Angel has been working on it more than her finals. Sybil has been having a cow."

Collins chuckled leaning on the girl for support, "That's my girl." Nick was there waiting the doorway waving.

"Cawllins look!" He pointed to his teeth, "More fell out!"

"Whoa! You're gonna be a millionaire soon, buddy." Collins said to the little boy.

Dawson pushed his way through with Roger close behind, "Yeah then maybe he can lend me some money. This whole college thing is more than I can handle. You know how much they ask for one class? It's insane. Public school is free-"

"Not really…taxes." Collins pointed out, "And you go to a private school." Dawson shrugged as if it was useless information. Andrea rolled her eyes and helped Collins up the stairs.

"Don't bother." Andrea grumbled, "Welcome to my life." Roger stopped next to Dawson and pushed open the door to Collins' new room.

"Here you are." He said going inside with the bags.

Collins stopped at the doorway. The one half was the filled with the familiar pink and stuffed animals. The other side which used to be navy was now a deep purple color. A large book shelf was sitting in the corner and his bed was covered with a black bedspread and teal throw pillows. But the centerpiece of the whole room was a picture which hung between Angel's and Collins' area. He recognized it as the painting that he bought Angel. Only a half of it was completely intact but it was connected to a new canvas which had a striking similarity to the original painting. Collins looked down at the corner and saw the signature of two A. Schunards.

"Nice…" Collins had to say.

Angel popped her head into the room, "Glad you like it. You don't mind the purple?"

"Not at all. It's royal." Collins smirked opening his arms to Angel who gladly hugged him.

"Well…I'll leave you two alone…I gotta work on my new room…the basement. I gotta start painting." Dawson explained heading for the door and volunteering Andrea with his hand on hers.

"You haven't started yet!" Angel asked, "We got you that paint days ago."

Dawson shrugged and pulled his sister out of the room. "Nice to have you!" Andrea called to Collins. Roger smiled a bit and nodded to the couple as well.

"I better head home. Night you two." Roger turned but paused as Collins called out his name.

"I forgot something." Collins said, "Be nice to Mark would ya?"

Roger smirked, "Aren't I always?" He left the room leaving Angel and Collins alone.

"How's the tummy? And the mummy?" She asked quietly leading him to his new bed.

"Tummy is ok." Collins said peeling off the jacket with Angel's assistance, "Perhaps that's what's left of the morphine in my system. As for my mom…she was difficult." With some effort, Collins lay down on the bed careful not to move too many of his stomach muscles. Angel slipped next to him propping her head up with her good hand.

"She's not stopping is she?" Angel whispered. Collins shook his head holding back a few tears.

"I'm not gonna give up…but I can't be living there…right?" Collins asked her some desperation in his words. A voice in his head was telling him that he was abandoning his mother when she needed him the most.

Angel pressed her lips to his forehead and then said, "No. You can't. You can't risk getting hurt, love. Even if she was going through withdrawal…with your health lately it wouldn't be safe. So stop second guessing yourself. You did the right thing. We'll keep trying to help her, but she won't quit unless she wants to." Slipping the cap off his head, she kissed his head. "I'm happy you're here."

Collins relaxed as she kissed him closing his eyes, "I can't believe that you're parents are letting us share a room."

"They like you for some reason." Angel giggled, "And they trust us. My dad said no loud sex though." She shook her head, "My family is a piece of work."

Collins reached out with his hand to run it through her hair, "I like them. Where are the ninjas?"

"Locked up in their room. They're off limits until you get better." Angel said turning to head and kissing Collins' palm.

"Are you off limits until I get better?" Collins raised his brow.

She laughed shaking her head, "I was given no warning…but I think we should take it easy cause of your wound and…I don't want my parents banishing you to the basement like they did with Dawson." Angel situated herself so she was holding Collins in her arms.

"That would be tragic." Collins mumbled sighing in contentment. Sure life was shitty. But he was pretty sure that it was better with Angel laying next to him.

Angel grinned, "Indeed…Collins?"

"Yeah?" He mumbled his lips searching for her kisses.

"I realized something just now." She whispered in his ear snuggling closer.

Collins turned his head slightly to kiss her forehead, "And what would that be my Angel."

"Your dream." She answered. Then Collins understood it as well. The first night he visited Angel's home he was lying in Dawson's bed, which was now his. And he dreamt that Angel was holding on to him as if they held each other many times before. Now it was real.

A deep smile spread across his face, "A dream come true." Angel kissed his cheek gently.

Post: Ack! One left! Next Chapter: Graduation.