Disclaimer: Rent isn't mine

A/N: I just realized something: I said in Chapter five that Marli's agent's a guy and then said that Arielle, a girl, is Marli's agent in the last chapter. So here is how I'm going to fix it. The guy is her senior agent. He's basically the chief agent and meets with people and stuff. Arielle is a junior agent; she's basically the guy agent's bitch. Ok, I'm surprised no one noticed that it was messed up. I'm not sure if that's how it happens in talent agencies, but for the sake of my story it does. I kind of want to know if they really have senior and junior agents, though. If you know, put it in your review please. I know I got some reviews for this chapter, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. Keep reviewing, Por Favor.

Now:

CHAPTER NINE

On Christmas Day, Mark decided that the remainder of the night before, after Alexandria had shown up and ruined his moment with Marli, had been quite disastrous. Mark had been so surprised, and frankly scared shitless, by Alexandria he nearly dropped Marli from the dip he'd been holding her in. Then, being a drama queen, Alexandria said a few colorful words in French and ran off crying. Then Mark had to explain to everyone why she'd been so upset, which resulted in Benny laughing uncontrollably, Marli with mixed emotions and virtually everyone else in the room utterly confused.

Later that night, he had a fight with Marli. She yelled at him in all directions about what had happened with Alexandria. Did he like Alexandria more? Of course not! Even when they were dating, he never liked her. Well, then how come he almost dropped Marli when he saw her? Because he was scared half to death. They then made up…oh yeah, did they make up. They made up right through to Christmas Day.

So maybe that last part wasn't a disaster. Actually, he decided, that was really nice. But the rest of it definitely qualifies, don't you think? Point is, he here back to the scene of the crime, right in front of Marli's Christmas tree. The caterers had cleaned up while Marli and Mark were fighting, so it wasn't quite the same, but it still brought back terrible memories.

He didn't know why he cared about Christmas so much, after all, he was Jewish. Then his sister married a Catholic guy and all the sudden everyone celebrates Christmas in the Cohen household. Which was far from the reaction Mark would have expected. He would've expected his mom to disown his sister and call her the goy-married person forevermore. He hoped this meant he could marry anyone he wanted, thinking of Marli as the thought came up. It was a little soon to think about that, isn't it? But he and his sister are a different story.

He saw Marli walk through the door in her robe, long golden hair flowing down her back and she looked like an angel. "Hello darling. Sleep well?" He winked at her. They had hardly done much sleeping

She giggled that perfectly irresistible giggle of hers that could light up a room with a single fragment. "Yes, I did sleep very well, thank you very much, Mr. Cohen. Merry Christmas." She kissed him so powerfully it knocked him over. They we making out and too busy to hear the door unlatch and to hear anyone walking in.

"Marli, I found your spare key. I need to talk to you come out now!" Then, Alexandria Lawrence directed her attention to the floor, where once again, she had managed to snag a front row seat to the Mark/Marli kissing show. They stopped and Marli got up and composed herself, praying to god there would not be another fiasco like that of last night.

Mark was doing the same. You know, Alexandria, normal people call to talk. And if they show up at someone's apartment uninvited, they tend to knock first. Alexandria, the Park Avenue Princess, apparently did not know etiquette. Which surprised Mark greatly, seeing as she spent years in charm schools and such, as well as having some of the biggest socialite parents on the radar.

Marli talked Alexandria on the side. He could catch a few bits and pieces: Mark, college, dating, serious, whore, don't barge in, etcetera. Mark imagined the conversation in his head.

Once, Marli had successfully kicked Alexandria out. She came over to Mark. "You realize people always interrupt us when we're kissing?" She ran a spare hand through his hair before leaning into his chest. He had to admit that he'd liked that; he'd liked it a lot.

"Yeah but it could be more awkward. Just think if Alexandria walked in a few hours earlier then she could've walked in on something…else." It was not a subject they generally talked about. Mark blushed just a tiny bit, hoping that Marli found it adorable.

"Yeah, that's true. Oh, look at the time!" She exclaimed, not wanting to discuss Alexandria anymore. "Your friends will be over for brunch in a half an hour. We have to get ready."

Marli had already taken a shower, so Mark headed off to do the same. He had practically moved in with Marli, in her lush Upper East Side apartment, although he did go back to the loft sometimes. He showered and got dressed just in time for everyone to show up.

Marli love spending time with Mark's friends, even Maureen now that she learned to hold her tongue. They had some sort of an understanding. And besides, she was really funny which brightened the whole group of them up.

Marli was genuinely surprised when Roger started asking about the movie. After all, wasn't he going to propose to Mimi today? So wouldn't talking about the movie steal his thunder? Maybe not. They chatted about the movie and everyone seemed to be quite excited about it.

"Hey Roger, Mark and I were wondering if you're up to the challenge of doing a few songs for the soundtrack?"

"Am I ever? I thought you guys would never ask!" He said in mock girlish excitement. "Seriously though? Of course I will! Wow this is a dream come true!"

After the eventful brunch they went to open the presents that Mark and Marli had gotten them. Collins got books and a sweater. Maureen got a leather jacket that Marli had definitely picked out for her. Joanne got some suspenders that Mark picked out and a book. Roger got a book to write songs in from Marli and Mark, as well as a new guitar that was sent over by the producer. Mark got a new camera from Marli ("I know you love your camera, but now you have two!") And Marli got a very pretty necklace from Mark. Mimi got a sound system, so she could dance around the loft and make up her own routines, from Mark and Marli.

Finally, everyone thought gifts were done, but they were wrong. Roger pulled out a very large box and handed it to Mimi. She opened it and there was another box. This little game continued until she got to the center, where there was a tiny black velvet box. She opened it, and there was nothing inside. Then she looked up and there was Roger, on one knee and holding the ring that he had saved up for a year to buy. Mimi just squealed and nodded. Roger and Mimi were engaged.

Marli smiled. The proposal had been rather cliché, but it was too sweet. She loved engagements. They were a celebration of love, but they also depressed her. They made her think about when she was getting engaged which often led to the age old question of what you did wrong not to be engaged yet. She always had to tell herself it would be soon. But now, she thought that she really meant it. Now that she was with Mark, she knew he was the one.

Other than that, she was genuinely happy for Mimi and Roger. They deserved to be happy. After all, they don't have as long as she did and they made every second count. In that way, she was sort of jealous of them. They lived like they were dying, maybe because in a way, they were. But it just kind of made Marli feel like she wasn't living life to it's fullest.

Mark was dealing with the aftermath of Roger and Mimi's engagement. It wasn't like he wasn't happy for them, he really was. It just got him thinking. This could be him and Marli a year or two from now. And it's just very…woah! They were all really growing up now. And they couldn't stop it. But Mark didn't want to, anyway. He liked the way things were currently going.

Marli sent him out to buy some champagne to celebrate. He went to the store where she always bought hers and he got a bottle of the champagne Marli favored. Then at the liquor store, he saw Benny.

"Hey Mark! First time I've seen you without Marli in quite a while. Oh, champagne, what's the occasion?"

"Oh, hi Benny. Roger and Mimi got engaged, so Marli sent me out to buy more champagne. Apparently we drank it all last night."

"Roger and Mimi are engaged? Good for them. Tell them I say congratulations and send them my love." Benny looked at his watched and then sighed. "Listen, if I'm not home soon Alison is probably going to kill me. Talk to you later Mark?"

"Definitely. Bye."

And as Mark walked off he realized that Benny was genuinely happy for Roger and Mimi. Probably more for Roger then for Mimi, given past events, but happy nonetheless.

Mark got to the apartment building and went up. Outside the door sat Alexandria. "I've been waiting for you, Mark." She said coyly and sneakily.

"Alexandria. Why are you here? Go away!'

"I'm here to do this," she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Mark. To him it felt utterly gross and not right at all, definitely not the way it felt with Marli. With Marli, it felt like everything in the world was right, even for that moment. With Alexandria, it felt like some girl trying to get revenge on her college roommate for taking the guy she liked. Which is exactly what it was. After a few seconds, he managed to push Alexandria off of him, but it was already too late.

Standing at the door in blatant horror was Marli. "Marli, I didn't do anything she was waiting here by the door and threw herself on me. You must have seen yourself, I pushed her off of me! Marli, I love you!"

"How…could…you!" Marli shouted at the top of her lungs, obviously not caring what a scene she was causing. Soon enough all of Mark's friends were watching.

"Marli, baby, it's not my fault. She forced herself on me. Let's talk about this." Mark was getting desperate, after all he needed Marli.

"Later, not now. Sorry, Mark. Don't stay here tonight go home."

For the first time in their seemingly perfect relationship, Marli and Mark had fought. Screw Christmas, it only brings bad things. Hanukkah, it is! Bring it on Jew boy!

A/N: So you all probably hate me right now. But before you curse at the screen realize that there's a reason this story was written, and it's probably not to make you guys upset, so hang in there. I hate Alexandria just as much as you do. Speaking of whom, can you think of any good nicknames for her? Because it's such a pain to write that big long name all the time and it's annoying me…a lot. So in conclusion, things will get better; I just figured it was necessary for them to fight in order to make it seem more real. Don't be mad at me! And anyway, this is going to act as a catalyst for more events in the story, so hang in there. Don't give up on me, good things will come of this, I promise.