You guyzzzzzzzzzz! I thought I was happy to get Mark and Roger together, but your reviews were like icing on the cake! Now I know why all these writers are so grateful to their reviewers…you guys are amazing. You give me something to look forward to! Keep 'em coming and I'll do the same. Enjoy! P.S. I 3 Erin…you're the greatest friend anyone could ask for…I'm proud to be your jerkface. P.P.S I'm eating a muffin as I write this…spooooky! lol

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Mark's POV

The body next to me is still covered in tears and sweat after the long, nightmare filled night before. Holding Roger, feeling him shake from sobs in my arms, makes me feel like we belong together. Like all this was worth it. His kisses were soft and tender, his fingers warm and calm on my body.

He smiles before his eyes even open, he's so sweet.

"Mornin'" He whispers, yawning loudly and pecking my cheek. My arms are wrapped around his entire body, hands hitched together at his stomach.

"Good morning." I'm mesmerized by his eyes, green pools of light beaming from his soul.

"Thank you for…"

"Don't…I was happy to help you."

"Still…the way you…I can't believe you would do that for me." Tears gather in his eyes, but he turns away, embarrassed to be seen crying.

"Rog, it's okay."

"No, I'm fine." He turns back and smiles, and I draw his chest into mine.

"You're better than fine." Our lips fit together perfectly, meshing as if they were two pieces of a puzzle.

"Stop being a smart ass. I could get up right now." He wipes the tears from his cheeks and begins to rise off the bed.

"What? All I meant was you're sexy."

"Oh, well…I don't know." He looks down at the sheets and twirls them in between his fingers. "Okay, if you say so." I seize the pillow beneath my elbow and hurl it at him. He squeals, laughing and flashing that oh-so-beautiful smile. "Now you're just being an ass."

He picks up his pillow and softly taps me with it.

"What was that? Were you trying to hit me?" I chuckle and he kisses the red mark he made on my chest.

"I was gonna actually hit you, but I didn't want to hurt you." His eyes are glazed over, and I can't help but kiss him. If only there were a way of expressing how much I really love him.

"Roger?" I run my fingers over the ripples in his hair, trying to straighten out the tangles. His lips kiss my chest, moving lower, lower, lower, to my belly button. Hands rise up to my arms, barely touching my skin, but just enough to make me shiver.

"Hmm?"

"Roger…" I moan this time, forgetting I had anything real to ask. He grips tightly to my hips as he runs his tongue along the inner part of my thigh. I feel like crying, screaming and laughing hysterically all at the same time. New realms of pleasure have been reached. "Roger…don't stop."

"Mark?" He takes his tongue off of me, and I quickly flip my eyes open. He sits between my thighs, looking contently down at me.

"Why did you stop?" I ask, sweat dripping off my brow.

"Because…I want to ask you something." His feet slide back and hang off the bed so he can lay his arms on my stomach.

"Okay. What?" He presses his lips to my stomach and sighs.

"Can…I mean is it too early?"

"For what?" I reach my hand over to lightly sweep his hair out of his face.

"I want to make love to you, Mark." He smiles lovingly at me. My immediate answer is yes, but then my mind becomes practical. He is HIV+.

"But…Roger, you have…"

"I know. That's why I want you to think about it." He moves his hand up to my face, tracing my lips, then the curves of my jaw.

"Okay. I will." For some reason tears come, streaming out of my eyes before I even realize they are there. I think it just hit me. Roger is dying. Before it wasn't as hurtful, him leaving me one day. But now, I have him in my arms, and I never want to let him go.

"Mark…it's okay. I'm fine." It's almost as if he knew why I was upset. He understands me better than anyone at times.

"I know. I just wish we could…without…" He hugs me tight, his body against mine under the sheets. He soothes me. Just the way he whispers, kisses, touches.

"Don't worry, Mark. Even if we can't, I'll still want to be with you." He rubs a tear away from under my eye and I sigh in relief and contentment.

"Me too." Our noses touch together, and his mouth hangs open, hungry for a kiss. I comply and lean forward until our lips press against each other. My hands lay firmly on his back, rubbing up and down, increasing speed with the passion of our kiss. We break for a moment, gasping for air before diving back in again.

"Woah, wait." He rests forehead on mine and whispers things I can't understand. "Mark…I can't…"

"What?" I'm in need of his touch, being so close to him without the feel of his breath on me is agonizing.

"I feel like I'm taking advantage of you. Forcing you to do something you don't..."

"I do. Of course I do."

"Are you s…"

"Positive." I bow my head, looking for his lips, but they aren't there. I open my eyes to see a huge smile spread across his face.

"I think I love you."

"I know I love you." We finally kiss, and a sigh escapes my mouth. I reach for his hand, locking our fingers together.

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Christmas Eve, 10 AM

Mark's POV

Making love. The words haunt me inside and out. My mind has been racing with the words ever since Roger uttered them in my arms. He hasn't mentioned it since but I know it's on his mind every time we kiss. Every time we make some sort of contact. I want it so bad, but there's so much that could happen.

Is it worth it?

I'm so sick of that stupid question. It's the reason I was denying myself Roger. I was denying a kiss everyday when I wake up, a sweet whispered "I love you" in my ear before I drift into sleep, and everything that comes with it. His hands covering me when I'm cold, his arms wrapped around me when I'm upset, his fingers in my hair when he's kissing me. All of it would be gone. And for what? Just so I can feel like I'm alive? I feel alive with him, even if I were dying. And who says I'll be HIV+ anyway? Protection will work. It has to. Otherwise the whole plan falls apart.

Sometimes Roger wanders around the house moping, as if he's hoping I'll give in just to make him happy. I would do that; it would make me happy too. But something in my head and heart won't let me. Something isn't letting me go through with it. Maybe when we're in the moment. Maybe then my heart and soul will let me do it.

"Mark?" Roger walks into my room, breaking my train of thought and all sense of responsibility.

"Yea?" I sit up, pulling my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

"Have you…what are you doing?" He hesitates and sits down next to me.

"Just thinking. About us." I close my eyes tight, trying to hold back tears.

"Marky, why are you?"

"Please Rog, don't call me Marky."

"I'm sorry." He looks hurt, sitting next to me and puts his hand on my face. "I didn't mean to make you cry."

"You didn't, it's just me. Me and my stupid overactive mind." I wipe the tears away and pull away from his grip.

"Hey, Mark. I didn't…I mean…"

"No Roger, I really want to." I sigh and tilt my head down towards the bed. "I desperately want to even. It's just, I'm so afraid."

"I get it. And we don't have to." His eyes are full of sorrow yet pride, I can feel how much he cares for me.

"What I'm saying is that…I want you to, Roger. I love you and I want you." His smile has never been so happy or full of joy.

"You're sure?" He looks about to burst. I wonder what the effect would be if I said no now. He would burst into tears.

"Of course." My lips are crushed by his, and before I can even sink into the kiss he's pulled away. His hands are familiar on my body, but the butterflies in my stomach aren't.

"Mark…thank you."

"For what?"

"For loving me." He stares deep into my eyes. That's the moment that I know I have made the right decision. "I…" I put my palm up to his mouth.

"Shhh…kiss me, Rog." He smirks tenderly before connecting our mouths together.

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Notes: oooooo what's going to happen? Lol. It took me awhile to write this chapter, and man, I was expecting it to be longer but I guess the part I have in mind will have to wait for chapter seven! I'll try to post it sometime over the weekend; hopefully I'll get two done over the weekend actually. Thanks for reading and reviewing, love you guys!