Characters:
Angel: electrakitty 74

Collins: sflynn

Mark: camera2spar

Roger: onedaymorelm

Angel stopped, tugging on Collins' sleeve. "Hey, honey. Don't you think we ought to bring something to your friends for making them wait?" Angel looked up at the building (Mimi's building, incidentally). "I mean, I can't wait to meet them, but shouldn't we go and get something for them first? There's that little grocery around the corner. Let's stop there just for a second. I think I should get to play Santa for your friends." She grinned at him, pulling him gently in the direction of the corner grocery. "Don't worry, I've got plenty of money. I'm buying."

-----

Collins allowed himself to be led in the direction of the grocery as it struck him again how very little he knew about Angel. He again found himself smiling as he realized that of the little he knew about her what was apparent was how giving she was. Since they had met, she continuously amazed him with her generous nature, this trip to the grocery being yet another example. She really was wonderful, he thought, keeping a firm grip on her hand as they headed to the store.

-----

"Ok honey, you know them better than I do. You shop, I'll watch. Don't worry about money, I've got plenty." She opened her purse and showed him a wad of cash.

-----

Collins blinked. It had been a long time since he'd seen that much money. He wondered where she'd gotten it, but didn't ask. It wasn't really his business, and he figured she'd tell him if she wanted him to know.
He started down the nearest aisle and his stride faltered a bit. It was terribly school-boyish, but he had a huge desire to impress Angel. He somehow thought the fact that he and his friends we connoisseurs of Alcohol and breakfast cereal wouldn't quite do the trick. He scowled for a moment, staring blankly at the stock in front of him, then changed his mind.
Angel wasn't the type to judge anything so insignificant. Mind made up, he made a beeline for the cereal aisle and the Cap'n Crunch.

-----

Angel followed, still hand in hand with him. She smiled a little, inwardly, as she watched him choose food for his friends. After the cereal aisle, they went straight for the alcohol aisle, then for coffee and bananas. The last thing they bought was a carton of cigarettes. Back on the street, they ran across a guy selling firewood in bundles.

-----

Collins stopped and quirked a brow in question at Angel. She had said not to worry about money, but it was the right thing to do to ask. It was bound to be freezing in the loft and he knew a bundle or two of firewood would come in handy.

-----

Angel smiled, understanding his expression immediately. She bought two bundles of the firewood, overpaying the man for it. When he tried to give her change, she replied only "Merry Christmas." Holding both bundles in one hand, she took Collins' free hand again with hers.

-----

Angel's hand firmly in his once more, Collins headed for the loft at a leisurely pace. Never before had he found as much joy in something as simple as a walk. He knew they should be hurrying, but couldn't seem to bring himself to speed up. When they got to the building, he led Angel through the door and up the stairs to Mark and Roger's door. He then turned to her, "Would you like to come in with me, or wait so I can tell them about you?" he asked, wanting her to be comfortable.

-----

At his suggestion, Angel's grin became wider. She bounced at the prospect of a grand entrance. "You go first. . .I'll wait 'til just the right moment."

-----

Collins returned the smile, traced her cheek with his free hand and opened the door, calling "Merry Christmas!" as he entered the loft.

-----

As soon as he had disappeared through the door, Angel allowed herself to lean against the wall, hand to her cheek, still feeling his fingers there. She sighed as her heart fluttered in a way she had disallowed while in his presence. Idly, she wondered how she'd know when she was to make her entrance.

-----

Mark looked up from his place on the couch. "Collins?" He jumped up, wide eyed and excited to see his friend. A big smile crossed his face as Mark pulled Collins into a hug. Roger should be around here somewhere. Wouldn't he want to talk to Collins? It took Mark a few minutes to think clearly. He noticed Collins was carrying a lot of food.

-----

Collins set his supplies down as he returned Mark's hug, wincing a little and glancing around the loft for Roger. As he stepped away he grinned broadly and said "Take that," indicating the items he'd bought. Looking around once more, he asked "Where's Roger?" He really wanted both of his friends to meet Angel, and would be heavily disappointed if that didn't happen.

-----

Mark shrugged. "I have no idea." He said. Mark took some of the food out of Collins' arms. He raised an eyebrow. He knew Collins never had any money, even when he had a job. He walked over and put it all on the counter. He looked at Collins. Seven months...He looked...different. Like he was glowing. He definitely looked happier than he had when he left. "You steal this?" He asked bluntly.

-----

Collins couldn't help grinning at that as he shook his head. "Nope," he said casually.

-----

Roger came down from the roof holding his fender guitar. He noticed a guy dressed as Santa Claus was standing in front of their door. Awkwardly, he tried to say hello. "Um...hello, sir...miss...you," Roger said.

-----

Angel grinned at the long-haired young man stammering in front of her. She usually got at least a little pleasure from watching people try to figure out how to address her, but today she found the whole situation hilarious. She stepped out of his way and let him go into his apartment. "See you soon, sweetie."

-----

"...okay..." Roger walked past the awkwardly dressed...person... and into the loft. 'Did it...she...he...yeah, it, call me sweetie?' Roger wondered to himself.
"Hey, Mark. There's..." he sighed. What was he supposed to say? A woman? Man? It? 'Just forget it.' Roger thought. "Oh, hi," he stammered, seeing Collins standing with his roommate. In their hands they held small plastic cups and on the coffee table sat a bottle of Stoli. "Stoli, nice. Are we celebrating something? Did you get the teaching gig at NYU?" Roger pretended to spike his interest. He needed to show Mark he was starting to come back from his year of withdrawal. Now was the perfect time to prove it without having to leave the house.

-----

Mark gave Roger a look. "I still think he stole it." Collins' criminal record was...less than perfect. Mark put everything on the table. "Well wherever you got it, thanks." It was very rare that they got to eat or drink like this. "Santa came early." He joked.

-----

Collins laughed. "You have no idea," he said, thinking of Angel patiently waiting outside. He looked at Roger. "Oh, hi," he mocked lightly, going to the younger man for a proper hug. As he stepped away, he said, "I did get the teaching gig," in answer to the earlier question. He grabbed the bottle of Stoli and some cups. "That didn't pay for this, though. Neither," he eyed Mark, "did I steal it. This, boys, was bought and paid for," he went on as he poured shots for all of them. "With actual money," he added, grinning broadly and handing out the drinks.

-----

Mark exchanged a look with Roger. Bought and paid for? Since when did those words ever come out of Collins' mouth. Collins was the king of pickpocketing and shop lifting. It was rare that he ever had money, even when he had steady jobs. So...someone else must have bought it. "Well then where did you get this stuff Collins?"

-----

Collins thought he'd never ask. Setting the bottle aside and hurriedly clearing the other things out of the way, he grinned broadly. "Our generous, talented and lovely benefactor's name," he said, going to the door and pulling it open, "is Angel Dumott Schunard."

-----

Never one to miss an entrance, Angel quickly prepared herself as she heard Collins approach the door. She had already designated one hundred dollars for each of Collins' friends. She fanned out those bills quickly, ten ten dollar bills in each hand. She sauntered in and posed for them. "Good evening boys." She said, grinning coquettishly and handing Roger and Mark each a fan.

-----

Mark's eyes went wide as a woman in a Santa outfit sauntered into his loft and handed him 100 dollars. When she opened her mouth and got closer to him, he saw that she was not really a woman, but a drag queen. Mark looked from the money to Collins to the drag queen. Angel...Collins had called her Angel. She seemed like one. He smiled. The relationship between the two of them was obvious. Mark was glad Collins had finally found someone. He wondered if Angel was...

"Where the hell did you get all this money?"