Allie was lying on the misshapen couch, staring at the ceiling. She began to sing under her breath, an audition piece she was hoping would land her a lead role.

"In sleep he sang to me,

In dreams he came.

That voice which calls to me,

And speaks my name…"

"Whatcha singing?" Roger asked, parading sleepily into the room. Allie sat up.

"Phantom of the Opera. Auditions are in a month." Roger came over and sat next to her.

"Um, should you like, do this? Isn't it hard, with the baby and all?" Allie shrugged.

"I need to put my Julliard education to good use." Roger let out a low whistle.

"You went to Julliard?" Allie nodded.

"Yep. Probably the best times of my life. I was so surprised when I got in…but excited, because I needed it."

"You needed it?" Allie hesitated before answering. She didn't like to talk about her past much.

"My parents didn't really approve of my dream to be on the stage, so they kicked me out, and I moved to New York. If I had not have gotten in, then I would've had to go back to my parents' house." She sighed. "God, I hate them." Roger laughed.

"Your parents? Me too." Allie looked at him funny. "I mean, I hate mine. They always wanted me to become some business man or something. Now most of my family hates me. Well, except mom." Allie turned and rested her elbow on the top of the couch.

"What'd you do that would make them hate you?" He shrugged.

"Besides bumming off my best friend, playing in a band for a living, and becoming a junkie? Gee, I have no idea." She laughed nervously.

"A junkie?" He nodded. "You did…"

"Heroin." Allie nodded as well.

"Uh huh. Smart." Roger's expression challenged her.

"Right, like you've never done any drugs?" She shook her head.

"Nope."

"Really?" She nodded.

"Really! I never did drugs!" Roger shrugged.

"Wow, I always pegged you for a stoner." She punched him on the shoulder.

"No, I was never a stoner! But I was a party girl in high school." His eyebrows raised.

"Oh…now we're getting somewhere." She rolled her eyes.

"Uh no. Let's talk about you! Come on, I just told you about my past…" Roger sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

"What is there to tell? I bet your life is more interesting than mine." Allie moved to sit on her knees.

"Ok, how about this," She picked up one of Mark's crossword puzzles and crumpled it up, "I make this paper ball into the kitchen sink, I get to ask you anything." Roger shrugged.

"Ok, you're on." Allie smirked and tossed the crumpled ball with ease straight into the sink.

"Did I mention I was on the basketball team?" Roger groaned.

"No way! I get to do the same for you." Allie smiled maliciously.

"I have a feeling this is gonna be a long night."

0o0o0o0o0

"How many siblings do you have?" Roger asked, taking a piece of popcorn from the almost empty bowl.

"4. 3 brothers and 1 sister." After running out of newspaper, they resorted to anything they could find lying around, so Allie ripped off the cover of a Playboy magazine and threw it in the sink.

"I was reading that!" Roger remarked, as Allie threw a kernel at him.

"How about you? Any brothers and sisters?"

"An older brother and a younger sister." She nodded her head.

"Ah, a middle child! Me too." Roger landed a washcloth into the overflowing sink.

"Favorite singer of all time?" Allie thought for a second.

"Billie Holiday." Roger shook his head.

"No way, I can't even deal with that." Allie gasped.

"What? She was an AMAZING singer!" Roger shrugged.

"She's not rock. That's my problem."

"I hate to break it to you Rog, but your not really rock either."

"Excuse me? I am the pinnacle of rock! The essence! Here, I'll go get my guitar." He hopped over the edge of the couch and disappeared into his bedroom, leaving Allie to laugh at their immaturity. The entire room was filled with crumpled papers and empty beer and water bottles. Roger reentered the room with his Fender and began belting some Led Zeppelin while accompanying himself on the guitar. Allie gave up and started to sing with him, when Mark walked in the door.

"Hey, back from…what the hell?" He looked around the loft, and at Roger and Allie's guilty faces. "What are you guys doing?" Allie hopped up.

"Oh, um, we were…"

"Getting to know each other better." Roger finished for her. After he did, Roger and Allie began laughing insanely.

"Oh boy." Mark replied, taking off his jacket. "I'm going to take a shower."

0o0o0o0o0

"Allie, can you get the phone?" Roger called from his room, as strange guitar rifts came from his room.

"Can't the machine pick it up?" She replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"I guess. Is there coffee?"

"Yeah, come get it." The phone rang one last time.

"Hi, you've reached Allie, Roger, Mark-

And sometimes Collins-

We're busy right now, but-

Busy? We're just standing around a little black machine-

Roger, shut up!"

Allie winced as this played.

"We really need to change that." Roger shrugged.

"I kind of like it."

"Hello, Miss Sutherland? This is Dr. Bennett's office, reminding you of your ultrasound appointment tomorrow morning at 9:30. Please let us know immediately if you are unable to make it." Allie looked at the calendar.

"Damn, that's tomorrow?" Roger nodded.

"Apparently."

"Shit!"

"What?" Allie turned around with her back to the counter, facing Roger.

"Mark has work! He promised he would take me…now what am I supposed to do?"

"I'll take you…" Roger started.

"I can't go alone, I have an alone-phobia. Um, maybe Mary Anne?"

"I can go with you…"

"Andy might do it, if she's not working…"

"Allie!" Roger cried, causing her to shut up.

"What?"

"I can take you." She flung her arms around his neck.

"Really? Oh my gosh, you're the best!" He laughed shakily and put his arms around her waist. She pulled away, but kept her arms around him. "Seriously, thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me." He shrugged.

"It's no problem. I want to." She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"You want to come with me to find out the sex of mine and Mark's baby?" He squinted his eyes.

"Well, no, I want to help you, since you're alone-phobic or whatever."

"Humph." She leaned forward and rested her head on his chest. "Did I say thank you?" She asked, finding comfort near his heartbeat.

"Yeah, you did."

"Well I meant it. Thank you." They were silent for awhile, just standing with their arms around one another.

"Allie…" Roger broke the calm silence. She looked up at him, seeing as she was good head and a half shorter than he was.

"Yeah?" She spoke softly, almost whispering. Roger took a deep, resisting breath.

"You're welcome."

0o0o0o0o0

A/N: How many of you were hoping for a reconciliation? I was! I surprised even myself! Anyways, this was a very unplanned chapter…it essentially wrote itself, I had little to do with it. It really just morphed into a fun chapter. Up next: Is the little Chiquita a girly or a muchacho? You'll see!