A/N: Here's chapter five, and we FINALLY get an Anthony Rapp song title in here! Haha. Just to let everyone know, I have this entire story pre-written, so my updates will generally be fast, unless I get too busy. If anyone wants me to slow down, just let me know! Thanks for all your comments.

Chapter Five: Look Around

The next day was Christmas Day, and everyone gathered again to celebrate at the loft, prepared for a day of exchanging gifts, laughs...and little did they know, surprises.

"Roxie! Come in from the fire escape, you'll freeze out there!"Joanne called to her daughter.

"There's no service in there!"Roxie whined, holding up her cell phone.

"You won't need service. You're not using that phone today,"Joanne said, walking over and snatching the phone from Roxie.

"But mom!"Roxie moaned.

"You can live for one day without this thing glued to your ear,"Joanne assured her. Roxie scowled, stomping into the house and flopping onto the couch, arms folded.

"Don't give your mother that attitude, missy!"Maureen scolded.

"You're ruining my life!"Roxie yelled back.

"Yeah, yeah, we're terrible mothers, who are paying for all your ballet lessons,"Joanne snapped, grinning a little as Roxie pouted.

"Hey Jason."Roger had joined his son, who was on his bed, messing around painfully with the guitar some more. "Are you...playing my guitar?"Jason smiled.

"Yeah. Becky's been teaching me some new stuff,"he explained.

"Really?"Roger asked, that gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Wow...that's great Jason!" Then he stopped, frowning. "But what about all your filming?"

"Oh, that's getting old,"Jason lied. He loved filming more than anything. It was like an escape for him. An escape from everything. You could hide behind the lense of the camera, but see the world so much closer. It was amazing. He could see why his Uncle Mark loved it so much. "I want to learn to play more music. Like you."Roger sighed.

"Jase, you're not just doing this because you think I'm giving Becky more attention than you, are you?"he asked cautiously. Jason paused. This was the downfall of living with your father's best friend.

"No. I really want to do this,"he insisted.

"Okay. If you're sure,"Roger said, standing up. He patted Jason's head. "Merry Christmas, Jason."

"Merry Christmas dad."

"Merry Christmas everyone!...and a Happy Hanukkah to Mark and Becky!"Aaron greeted cheerfully. When he wasn't met with the familiar perky strawberry blonde flying at him, he frowned, looking around the loft. "Where is Becky?"Suddenly the door came flying open again behind him, and Becky came bursting into the room panting. She had obviously been running. Aaron frowned.

"What were you doing, running from the cops?"he teased. Becky grinned.

"I went over to Paul's house this morning. I've been working on a song, and I had some inspiration last night that I had to go play,"Becky said, pulling off her hat and scarf.

Becky was an outstanding piano player. She had gained free lessons from Paul, the leader of the Life Support meetings, when she was seven. She had been playing since, still going over to Paul's house to play, considering there was no room for a piano in the loft. She had just begun composing her own music, much like her Uncle Roger. Unfortunately, she was so desperate to be like her own father that she kept forcing herself to try and film things like he did, and not spend time on what she loved, and really excelled at.

Becky was gifted in music, and Jason was gifted in filmmaking. But they were both trying so hard to be things other that what they were. They wanted to be their own fathers. Fate had other plans.

"And how is your song coming along?"Aaron asked.

"Amazing! I just had the biggest inspiration, it was incredible,"Becky said excitedly, hanging up her denim jacket.

"Well there's a Happy Chrismukkha for ya, huh?"Aaron teased. Becky smiled at him.

"Here, I got you something."She handed Aaron a package wrapped with old newspapers due to the lack of wrapping paper in the loft. Aaron hugged Becky.

"Thanks Becky,"he said. "I got you something too."He ran over to the large bag he and Collins had brought in, handing a package to Becky.

"Aw, thanks Aaron!"Becky replied. They both paused...then ripped their gifts open at the same time, laughing as they did so.

"A...book!"Becky said, trying her best to sound happy.

"A...scarf!"Aaron said, in the same tone. They exchanged glances...and quickly traded gifts.

"God I couldn't wait to read this,"Aaron said.

"This scarf is the best gift I ever bought,"Becky joked. And the two shared another laugh. Then Aaron spotted Roxie pouting over on the couch.

"Uh oh...frowner at three o'clock,"he said.

"You go cheer her up,"Becky said. "I've got someone of my own to take care of."

"Got a light?"Jason looked up from the guitar at the sound of Becky's voice. She grinned, sitting down beside him and holding up a small, red candle with a ribbon tied to it.

"Merry Christmas,"she said, handing the small candle to Jason. He smiled, taking it from her.

"Wow!"he laughed. "Becky this is great."

"It was just a cute idea I had,"Becky replied.

"It's awesome. Here, I have something for you too."Jason pulled out a small box, not wrapped at all. Becky grinned.

"Thanks Jase,"she said, taking the box. Jason watched as she carefully opened it.

Becky held up the beautiful silver necklace that had been in the box. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at it.

"Oh Jason..."she gasped. "It's beautiful! Where did you get this?"

"Oh, it was on sale someplace. I thought you might like it, and it was cheap so I got it," Jason lied, not wanting to tell Becky that he had spent all the money he had been saving up to buy a car on that necklace when he saw it in the store. Becky smiled.

"It's gorgeous Jason. Thank you so much,"she said, hugging him tightly. Jason felt a strange tingling feeling in his stomach.

"Thanks for the candle,"he said as Becky pulled away.

"I feel bad I didn't get you something special now,"Becky admitted.

"This is special,"Jason assured her. Becky laughed a little.

"Thanks for at least pretending, Jase,"she replied. "I'm gonna go help dad and Roger with the presents. Sit next to me at dinner, okay?"Jason nodded.

"Sure thing,"he promised. And Becky walked off. Jason sighed, watching her go and strumming a familiar chord on the guitar...

"I should tell you, I should tell you..."

"You okay, honey?"Aaron asked, sitting down on the couch beside the ever-pouting Roxie. She merely scowled.

"I don't want to be here at all. As if last night wasn't bad enough, now I have to spend another whole day with my the two moms from hell!"she whined.

"Come on Roxie, your moms really aren't that bad,"Aaron insisted.

"Try living with them,"Roxie retorted.

"It's Christmas, Roxie. Enjoy it while we're all still together,"Aaron said. Roxie sighed.

"I will..."she assured him. Aaron grinned, patting her head.

"I know ya will,"he teased, getting up and going to join his father.

It was certainly a wonderful Christmas for the gang, as they ate, talked, and exchanged gifts. Then there was a knock at the door.

It was about 6:00 at night. The group all exchanged glances. Mark got up and walked over to the door, opening it slowly.

"Ho ho ho."They gang was all shocked to see Benjamin Coffin III standing there in their doorway, a teenage boy of about fifteen behind him.

"Benny?"Collins croaked.

"Merry Christmas to all,"Benny greeted.

"Ahem,"Mark hinted.

"...and a Happy Hanukkah to Mark and family,"Benny added. Benjamin Coffin had not been seen in the East Village location very often over the last seventeen years. The last time he had been there was only briefly, for Mimi's funeral. Benny did not have the best history with the group, though they had moved on from some deeper past differences. Yet it was still surprising to see him and his son there, on Christmas Day, at the loft.

"What brings you down to the East Village on Christmas?"Collins questioned.

"Actually, I'm afraid it's bad news that brings me here,"Benny admitted. "I just heard recently, and I figured I should tell you as soon as I could."

"Doesn't Alison mind that you're down here?"Mark asked. Benny took a deep breath.

"No,"he replied. He sounded annoyed.

"So what's this news that you couldn't wait to tell us?"Maureen demanded.

"The apartment is being destroyed. All the tent cities in the area too. Cyberland is not organizing this, but they are supporting it. I, however, am refusing to back it. I wanted to clear everything up so you wouldn't get the wrong idea when you heard,"Benny explained.

"That's it? Just so we wouldn't get the wrong idea! We're losing our home and all you care about is us getting the wrong idea!"Roger shouted furiously. Collins put a hand on Roger's shoulder, hushing him. Benny sighed.

"I came to warn you,"he insisted. "You have three weeks before the destruction crew comes. I can help you move out, find a place..."

"Benny, we can't afford a place,"Mark pointed out.

"You guys are acting as if we're letting this happen!"Maureen cried suddenly.

"What are we going to do, Maureen?"Mark asked, sounding exasperated.

"Fight! We've never let this kind of thing happen to us before!"Maureen insisted.

"I've been trying to fight this case for a week so far, and it's not looking too good,"Benny explained.

"There may not be anything you can do, Benny. But I'm not letting our home go down without a fight!"Maureen declared.

"Mom! Cut it out!"Roxie groaned, embarrassed in front of Benny's son, who was watching, amused, from the door.

"I'm sorry I have to bring this news to you on Christmas. But I wanted you to know. I'll do all I can. I'm filing a suit against them, and I'm hoping to bring them down before anything can happen,"Benny assured them.

"You're filing suit?"Joanne repeated immediately. Joanne had not been getting much work lately as a criminal justice lawyer, and was not making the kind of money she had been. So she jumped at any mention of a possible job.

"Yeah, I am,"Benny replied. Joanne whipped out her card, handing it to him.

"Give me a call later. We'll talk business,"she assured him. Benny nodded.

"Sounds good. Sam and I will be in the area for the holidays anyways, so we can talk," Benny said, referring to his son.

"Alison too?"Roger assumed.

"No. Not Alison,"Benny replied, getting the annoyed tone again.

"Why? What's up with you two?"Maureen asked.

"We're taking some time apart,"Benny replied. "I'll see you later. Come on, Sam."And Benny marched out of the loft. Sam waved to the group, and ran after his dad.

"I pity that kid,"Roger grumbled.

"Come on, man. Benny's really trying,"Collins insisted.

"Yeah, somehow I doubt that,"Roger snapped.

"Roger...it's Christmas."In those two words Collins did much more than just state the holiday. And the others knew it. Roger nodded.

"What are we gonna do?"Mark asked softly, sitting down on a chair.

"We're not going to let this happen!"Maureen insisted. "I'm staging another protest. No one can stop me!"

"And if this protest doesn't work?"Mark asked skeptically.

"Let's not think like that,"Collins decided. "Let's enjoy as much of this holiday as we can now."

"Yeah, let's watch another one of Uncle Mark's movies! Or one of Jason's!"Aaron said, trying to bring the conversation back into a more lighthearted air. But the atmosphere in the loft that night was far from lighthearted.