(A/N: Thankies for the wonderful reviews and comments. Here's the next one.)

(Disclaimer: I rent.)

CHAPTER FIVE: WOULD YOU LIGHT MY CANDLE?

Joanne stayed with us for two weeks before Maureen convinced her to move back in. It was official, however. Maureen Johnson was pregnant. In those fourteen days I learned several things. First, our one bathroom is not enough for four people. Second, I learned that Joanne was bordering on obsessive-compulsive. I was more than grateful to help her move her things back across the town and was extremely relieved when it was just Eva and me again.

A few weeks after Joanne left, Eva and I were sitting at home on a stormy Friday night when the power went out.

"What just happened?" Eva asked.

"Just the elecricity." I said. "We'll be okay."

"Should I find some candles?" she offered.

"There are a few in the cupboard over there. I'll get the matches."

"Ow!" I heard a thunk. "Over where, Uncle Mark? I can't see anything!"

"Above the telephone." I called over my shoulder as I headed into the kitchen. While digging through a drawer, there was a knock at the door. I found my way over after lighting a candle. A woman stood outside.

"Hi," she said, nervously. "Sorry to bother you, but my power's out next door and--I couldn't find a match."

"Do I know you?" I asked. "Oh! How rude of me, you look like you're freezing! Come inside!" I pulled her in by the arm. "Sorry."

"Thank you, and no you don't know me. I live next door. My name's Emily--Emily Carson." she extended her hand for a handshake and I took it timidly.

"Nice to meet you, Emily." I said.

"And you are?"

"Oh---I'm Mark Cohen."

"Mark Cohen?" she said thoughtfully. "Don't you work for that sleazy Buzzline show?"

"Uh...yeah, I used to anyway." I said uncomfortably.

"Oh, where are you at now?"

"ABC." I told her.

"So," she said. "You wouldn't happen to have a match, would you?"

"Oh! Yeah, here." I pulled out a match and lit the candle she held. In the bleak light I could tell what she looked like. She was gorgeous. In one word; breathtaking.

"I found the candles." Eva reported, coming around the corner.

"Oh, hello." Emily said.

"Hi." Eva mumbled, lighting her candle and disappearing again.

"Your daughter?" Emily asked.

"No, my best friends' daughter...My niece."

"Babysitting?" she asked, moving to the middle counter and turning her back to me while she shielded the candle's flame.

"Uh...no." I said, rubbing the back of my head. "I'm her guardian. Her mom died when she was a baby. Her dad died last November. Her dad was my best friend for thirty years."

"Oh, I'm so sorry." she said, sounding concerned.

"Well, we get along." I said.

"Oh shoot--the candle just went out." she said nonchalantly. "Can you re-light it for me?" she added sweetly.

"Yeah, sure." I said, striking another match, lighting the wick and blowing out the match. "Well?" I asked.

"Yeah?" she asked, leaning in close. "Ouch!" she jumped suddenly.

"Did it get you?" I asked. She nodded, sucking on her finger. "Come here, we'll run it under some cold water." I took her by the hand and led her over to the sink.

"Thank you." she said softly.

"Well, you play with fire you're gonna get burned." I laughed.

"Apparently." she smiled.

"Your candle's out." I noticed. She groaned, frusterated.

"You want me to--" I began awkwardly.

"Would--would you?"

"Of course." I lit another match and lit her candle yet again.

"So, when did you move in?"

"Uh, late November, early December." I said, nodding.

"Well, I'm glad we could finally meet." she laughed.

"Me too..." I agreed. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment.

"Well, goodnight." she said, heading for the door. She was outside for two minutes before there was another knock.

"It blew out again?" I asked.

"No, I think that I dropped my keys." she said frantically. "They're my only set! Are they on the floor?" she dropped to her knees and I watched her search for awhile, noticing that she was even more attractive from this angle. "You know, I got voted best ass on campus in college." she said suddenly.

"What?" I asked, shocked by her random comment.

"You're staring again."

"Oh no--" I stuttered. "I mean, you do--have a nice--uh...nevermind." I could have shot myself.

"Help me look!" she said, ignoring me.

"Oh, right." I dropped onto the floor next to her and felt around until I found something."Oh here!" I said, finding the keychain.

"What's that?" she asked "Did you find them?"

"Uh, no. False alarm. My watch--lost that earlier." I laughed nervously and slid the keys into my pocket, patting myself on the back. Even the pretty boy front man, Roger, couldn't have been this smooth. She held her candle high, but was too preoccupied with finding her keys to notice me blow out the flame from behind her.

"Hey! What'd you do with my candle?" she said, turning on me. I hopped up onto the counter and shrugged, playing innocent.

"That was my last match." I lied.

"Oh well. Our eyes will adjust." she said. "Thank God for the moon."

"Yeah, the moon's great." I nodded. She jumped up next to me and slid her hand under mine, almost by accident. "Cold hands. " I gulped.

"Yours too." she whispered. "Big. Like my father's." she added before enthusiastically pulling me off the counter. "You wanna dance?"

"What? With you?" I stuttered.

"No," she laughed. "With my father." I smiled at her joke and she leaned forward. I swore she was about to kiss me, but instead she ran her hands down my chest and around to my back then pulled the keys out of my pocket. She waved them in my face before disappearing out the front door, a playful smile plastered on her face when she glanced over her shoulder at me.

"Uncle Mark, what was that all about?" Eva asked, appearing again.

"Emily Carson--she's our neighbor." I said.

"Right." Eva said, nodding. The lights flickered and came back on.

"We have power!" I cheered.

"Goodnight Uncle Mark." she said blankly, then blew out her candle.