Disclaimer: I so don't own rent!

A/N: Wow it's been awhile, huh? I'm so sorry this took forever but I have been SO busy. Besides, I found it extremely effective in the review department. So yeah, that's pretty much about it. I haven't really decided what I'm going to make happen with Maureen yet. I figure I'll just kind of let whatever happens as I write happen. I was going to make something happen, but I'm not sure if it's too scandalous so I don't think I will, but then again, you never know with me. And right now I'm listening to the NYTW songs, which I happen to like a lot. All the characters are so different in that one…I may have to add some of the characterization to this story. Problem is, my favorite is how open about his love for Maureen Mark is in the version and in this story, he never really loved Maureen anyway. So yeah, enough of my rambling…

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

One week later, production began on the film. Marli had hired an assistant to keep her from stressing too much. Her name was Heather, a student at NYU desperate for an internship in film. Actually, her eagerness was amazing. She did everything Marli told her to and was probably one of the best things to ever happen to the job of overseeing production of your script.

Just the day before, she and Mark officially told everyone about the babies. For the most part, everyone was supportive, if not happy. Her parents scoffed a bit, but then decided that it would be fine, just as long as they got married soon. Marli agreed, of course. Other than that, everything went rather smoothly.

Also, the mystery of why Maureen was at Dr. Morgan's was solved. Turns out she was pregnant as well. Apparently, Joanne wanted a baby so they had a certain unnamed person get Maureen pregnant. And that line was not to make anyone guess, they seriously hadn't told anyone. It seemed a bit odd that they weren't telling anyone who the father was, but it was a bit of a "Don't ask, don't tell" situation. Not that people weren't curious, they totally were, it just wasn't necessary at the moment to know. Everyone else had quite enough to get on with.

It all worked out really well, once Marli thought about it. All their babies would grow up together and become best friends. They'd all go to school together and play soccer together and all that jazz you always dream about your friends' kids doing with yours. It worked out in the most amazing way possible. They'd all be around the same age and everything.

None other than her amazing fiancé, Mark, all of a sudden brought Marli out of her thinking. "Hey Mar. How are you feeling?" He set a cup of decaf tea in front of her. She smiled weekly.

"I'm okay, I guess. Heather's been doing everything hard for me, so I've had way too much time to think about everything. It's a bit…aggravating."

"You have to keep the assistant, babe. It's bad if you get stressed and you know it. Okay?"

"Okay, I know. How has the directing been going?"

"Amazing. All the actors are so amazing and willing to work. I love capturing it all on the camera. I love how I can make everything my way, even though I'm going by a script. It all just feels so perfect. Like this is the job that was made for me."

Marli smiled. Seeing him like this was too cute. He had a childish excitement, quite like when you take a four-year-old to Disney World "Yeah."

"Okay, babe, I hate to leave you, but I have to get back from work. Oversee soon. Give Heather a break or something. I want you to see me in action. 'Kay?"

"Yeah, okay. Promise. I think I might take a nap in the trailer." Yeah, they gave the screenwriter and director a trailer, mostly so the could relax on set. "What scenes are you working on?"

"We're only set to work on two: The opening scene, and the scene where Connor and Mallory first meet. Things are working a lot quicker than expected, though, so we could be out earlier than we thought. Get some rest, do some rounds. We should be done. I love you." He gave her a kiss and then rushed off to continue working. He never failed to make her smile and to make her heart melt into a puddle. He was all hers. She smiled to herself once more.

Then, as if solely to ruin everything, the phone rang. She sighed and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Marli? It's mom."

There was still so much to be learned from Mark. Such as screening her calls. "Hello Mom. What's up?'

"Marli, darling, we need to talk about this wedding. We want you to get married before you start to show. And since you're having twins, there isn't much time. Now daddy was able to pull some strings and get the country club in a month. Does that work for you? Oh and I was thinking you could wear pink. Jeremy, as in my designer, offered to make your dress quickly. Oh and sweetheart? I was thinking maybe I could come up there to search for bigger apartments with you. I mean, you need four rooms now, not three."

"Mom, chill. I have to talk to Mark about wedding stuff. Remember him? He's my fiancé! And our apartment will be fine for a while. The babies are going to share a room when they're, well, babies. We can worry about new apartments when they're old enough for their own rooms. Jeremy can make my dress though. Just as long as he doesn't do sequins and sparkles and such. And I was kind of thinking…maybe a small beach wedding would be nice. After all, neither of us wants a big wedding or anything."

"Marli Camille Ryan! You will get married at the country club! You will look for a new apartment!"

"Mother, you cannot control my life. I'm not a baby anymore! I can take care of myself! Okay? I am at work right now. I will talk to Mark later and get back to you. Okay?"

"If you can call it a job. You're sister, Alicia, she has an MBA and works just under the CEO of her company."

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT ALICIA, MOTHER! And why must you feel the need to say her name? She's the only sister I've had since I was sixteen, mother! Hillary's not here. And I miss her just as much as you do. But you can't go on acting like she's still alive because that makes it hurt even more for me! Okay? And my job, it is a real job! And I make a hell of a lot more then your precious Alicia does! Now I will call you later, after Mark and I settle things. I don't want to hear your voice until I call you. That means no unexpected calls. I won't answer. If anyone answers, it will be my assistant. She keeps stress away from me and as far as I'm concerned, you ARE stress. Okay? I can't have any extra stress on me now. Mom, I love you, but if you don't stop controlling my life, I'm going to have to stop talking to you. 'Kay? Love you, talk to you later." Marli hung up before her mom could say anything else.

Shooting finished about two hours early. They decided to wrap it for the day. He took Marli for dinner after it was done. They went to the Life Café and met everyone else there. It had been a while since they all had hung out.

They were, as usual, the first to arrive. For some reason today, they were unusually quiet. That rarely ever happened, since Marli hated silence. But today seemed different; she wasn't making any efforts to break the silence. In fact, she was near falling asleep on his shoulder. He could tell there was something wrong with her.

"Marli? What's wrong? Are you feeling ok?"

"What? Yeah, I'm fine don't worry about it. Just a little tired, that's all." His Marli was many things, beautiful, smart, talented, and amazing among them. However, a good liar wasn't.

"You're not telling the truth. Something's bothering you. I can tell. Spill."

She sighed heavily and he could tell she didn't want to talk about whatever was going on. "It all started when my mom called this afternoon—"

"Hey guys. What's up?" It was Roger and Mimi who had finally decided to grace Mark and Marli with their presence.

"Hey. Nothing much. You guys?" Mark was a bit aggravated at them for interrupting what Marli was about to tell him and it showed in his tone.

"Oh we're amazing." Mimi was very dreamy in her tone and he couldn't figure out for the life of him why. She definitely wasn't back on drugs, she better not have been.

"Yeah," Roger cut in, "we just came back from the doctor's."

"Oh really?" Marli was all of a sudden interested. "How'd it go?"

"It went great. We got all the prescriptions for the medicines so the baby won't be infected; well probably not anyway, it's not always 100-percent effective. And they did everything to check up; they said the baby's healthy. And Roger, made them assure us that there weren't twins." Mimi gave a small giggle.

"Wow. That's so great you guys."

"Yeah, it really is," Mark agreed with Marli.

"So when are you due?" Marli was very curious to find out.

"Oh, September, what honey?" Roger turned to Mimi with a questioning look. "September fifteenth. Right?" He turned back to Mimi, who nodded.

"Wow. The babies are going to be born so close to each other."

"Yeah. It's a crazy thought. Soon, we're all going to be parents. Marli and I, you two, Maureen and Joanne…"

As if on cue, Maureen and Joanne were next to arrive, just as Mark said their names. "Hey there!" Maureen sounded like a little girl, totally unlike the bitchy drama queen she usually was. Maybe being pregnant would somehow make her calmer and less of a bitch. Somehow, Mark doubted that…highly doubted that. Nothing had ever made her change her personality…nothing!

"Hi guys. Sit down. Whom are we waiting on now?" Mark really wanted to eat.

"Collins and Daniels," Joanne replied, disinterestedly. Apparently, Collins had hit it off with Daniels, although he'd never love him the way he loved Angel. They had a lot in common. They both had a passion for philosophy, they both had just lost their lovers to AIDS and they were both infected as well. The relationship, though they did seem to care for each other, was more one of coping. Personally, Mark was extremely happy that they had found each other. They could help each other deal.

Finally, they arrived, a full half-hour late. Dinner was fun, as always, full of food and laughter, and for the non-pregnant people, alcohol. By the time they left it was close to closing time. Everyone left the restaurant laughing and holding hands.

Marli and Mark had to catch a cab uptown. Except, just like after their first date, they couldn't catch a cab for the life of them. So they walked the very familiar path back to Mark's old loft and asked if they could crash there for the night. They ended up all having a slumber party. It was fun and all, but one thing was still bothering Mark: What the hell was Marli about to tell him before Roger and Mimi showed up?

A/N: Yay! Finally a new chapter! Wow, I'm all excited. I'm not sure if I should make the next chapter jump ahead to the wedding or go on to Marli telling Mark about her conversation with her mom. What do you think? Opinions are, as always, greatly appreciated.