Chapter 7

Silly

Mark and Roger didn't really get anywhere. Roger told Mark how seeing Mimi had gone. It killed Mark to suggest to Roger that he go sleep out in the living room with the baby. Because he wanted to stay cuddled to his chest all night. Cuddled to him forever. Roger had nuzzled lovingly into Mark's ear before sitting up.

"I think it'll be better for Boo to have some company anyway. Just in case he wakes up…," Roger was cut off as Mark gently took a hold of his head and placed a kiss on his lips. They pulled away and there was a small awkward silence before Roger spoke again, soft and playful.

"You're not making this any easier on me."

"On you!" Mark cried. "What about on me? This is killing me Roger."

"Hey shhh!" Roger silenced Mark with another kiss, Mark pushing him away slightly. "You're going to wake up the baby."

"And your going to have to make a decision," Mark snapped. Instantly regretting it, he pushed Roger over locking his lips on to his for the third time.

"I…can't…I just…I love Mimi…and I love you…and I just…," beating around the bush as best he could, Roger ran his cold hands up underneath Mark's shirt and felt him moan gently against his mouth.

"Stop it Roger," Mark hissed, reluctantly tugging away from Roger's touch. "I'm not going to do this…,"

But the words were weak and pitiful and only gave Mark the urge to shove his tongue into Roger's mouth. And he gave in and was soon on top of the songwriter, his hands scrambling around Roger's body as if unsure where to touch him first. They pulled away after a few seconds, panting and staring into each others eyes.

"What are we doing Roger?" Mark asked gently, crawling off of him. "What are we doing?" Roger shook his head, closing his eyes and running his hand through his hair.

"I don't know."

"Hey you guys?"

Mark and Roger both jumped, seeing Collins at the door. He was holding the baby in his arms, rocking him slowly back and forth as the tiny boy wailed in his arms.

"He…he won't stop crying."

It was a side of their friend that Mark and Roger weren't used to seeing. The lost, vulnerable side of Collins that he had only let show around the time Angel had died. Roger got off the bed almost instantly. He held his arms out and took him from Collins.

"It's alright boy-boy. What's the matter?" he held Boo close to his chest and he whimpered gently.

"He's probably hungry," Mark yawned and stood up. "I'll go make him a bottle."

"Put some of that rice cereal stuff in it too," Roger called sitting at the edge of the bed still cradling the baby. "It makes his belly full."

"Okay," Mark had to smirk a little. Collins looked between Roger and the baby and Mark before ultimately deciding to follow his friend into the kitchen.

"What's going down Mark?" Collins asked in a low voice as Mark took a plastic blue bottle from the sink and set it on the counter.

"What do you mean?" Mark asked almost too quickly.

"I mean with you and Roger? What's going on with you guys? Are you together? Are you not? What? You have to keep me informed on these things Mark," Collins gave a gentle chuckle.

"I don't know," he admitted gently sticking the bottle in the microwave. "I don't know what's happening." Mark and Roger had always been able to trust Collins with what they were doing. He was the only one that knew about their secret. But it hadn't been at their own will that he had found out. It had been another accident. Another slip up of the new lovers parts…

Roger was positive that he had never been in love with another male before. And up until recently he had no clue that he was in love with Mark. Had no clue that the tightening in his chest anytime his best friend would touch him wasn't just his imagination. The feelings weren't like the ones he felt with Mimi. These were so…intense and seemingly had come out of no where. He started feeling excited about seeing Mark when he came home.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and Mark was busying himself with his camera, unsure where he wanted to go today. Roger was sprawled out on the sofa, shirtless, strumming a random chord on his guitar. His forehead was slick with sweat and he was slightly irritated with the heat. The heat being barely 80 degrees. He had been shuffling around in his room most of the morning trying to tidy up a bit. Because all of a sudden he felt self conscious about his mess.

He found himself staring at the back of Mark's head as he ran a cloth over his camera. Silly Mark and his silly camera and his silly head of silly blonde hair. Roger couldn't stop his hand. It was as if it was moving in slow motion in front of him, acting independently from the rest of his body. His hand gently began to stroke the back of Mark's neck, twirling the little tail of hair at the very end around his finger. Mark's shoulders reflexively hunched a little as he let out a tiny squeak of surprise at the gentle touch. He turned around to look at Roger.

"Yes?"

Roger smirked, now walking his fingers along the filmmakers shoulder.

"Are you really going to leave me? For your stupid camera?"

Mark blushed a little.

"My camera isn't stupid Roger."

"Yes it is stupid if it takes you away from me," he rolled over on the couch so he was lying on his belly, his arms now tucked underneath him. Mark blushed again, this time at Roger's words. They had only admitted what they were doing a few weeks ago. Mimi still wouldn't see Roger. Mark felt on the rebound and knew that once Mimi came to her senses he would probably be scooted aside again. He went back to his camera and Roger let out a sigh, poking Mark in the neck. He squirmed a little before switching around again.

"Roger what?" he whined. "Leave me alone." Roger laughed, enjoying the little entertainment he was creating for himself.

"This tickles huh?" he poked Mark near his collarbone and he let out another squeak.

"Roger!"

"What else tickles?" he asked teasingly, poking Mark in his side and finally wrestling him closer to him.

"Roger quit it!" Mark cried embarrassed at the little giggles that were escaping his mouth. Silly Mark and his silly ticklish sides and his silly silly camera and his silly little giggles. He was able to tear away from him and scramble to his feet.

"You're terrible!" he panted, frustrated. Roger rolled over so he was again on his back. He laughed.

"You're cute."

"Roger...," Mark sighed in defeat, sitting down on the little sliver of space left on the couch. He was so confused.

"Yes Mark?" Roger grinned a silly grin up at him.

"Just…I…kiss me?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Roger pulled Mark down into him and pressed his lips roughly up against his. Mark let out a muffled moan as his tongue discovered new territory inside his friends' mouth.

"Hey hey hey," Collins slid open the door of the loft, his normal jovial self. "HEY!" he yelped once he caught sight of his friends, tangled up together on the couch. Mark shot of off Roger in an instant and was quickly back up on his feet. Roger sat up, looking irritated at the interruption. Collins looked between the two. He had a brown paper bag in his arms, what Roger knew was probably filled with alcohol. He started to laugh hysterically, setting the bag down on the coffee table. Mark looked sheepishly at his feet and Roger let out a small groan. Collins tried collecting himself, wiping at his tearing eyes with the back of his hand. He lost himself in another fit of laughter.

"Aw…shit guys."

Silly Roger and his silly Mark.

Silly Mark and Roger and their silly silly mistakes…