Chapter 11

Legal Disclaimer- Old Fanficiton writers trick-there's no money to be made here. Characters are owned by others, move along, move along.

Authors Note- A little fluff, a little foreshadowing, and you asked for it…CHANG!

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Tom Collins sat on the bench outside the theater, grateful that the janitor let him in. It was cold outside, cold enough for a snowstorm, which Collins feared for their trip home. The recent making up with Benny had helped them fix the hole in the loft's skylight, but it was still a pretty damn cold place to sleep once it snowed.

He was waiting for Mary, who still had one last scene to finish before the director could release her. Collins had seen her briefly, her makeup and full costume a sight that he would never forget. Angel would have done it better, but the theatrics they were going for were a little too mild for her taste.

Angel. He had thought of her often and actually mused on how she would like Mary. She would love her not just for the girl's spunkiness, but for how she made Mark so goddamn happy. The boy had offered to come down with him when he finally woke up, but Collins insisted, mentioning that Mark did have to finish the project for Buzzline if they hoped to have heat for January.

Mark agreed reluctantly, knowing how Mary would love to see him, but Collins did remind him that she had to work and with him there, she might be tempted to break early. With him there, she could finish what she needed to then go to the dinner he had planned for all of them at the Life Café.

Collins saw her in the hallway of the theater, talking to an older man in an overcoat, who handed her a card. She looked like she thanked him and headed out.

Mary came out of the theater, changed, in her long black coat, ready to go. She was overjoyed to see Collins. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.

"What did that guy want?" Collins asked.

"Detective, wanted to ask me if I knew what Erin's boyfriend looked like, they don't have any pictures of him, since she broke up with him and threw them all out," Mary replied, "I never really met him, just saw him at a distance."

"He gave you his card?" Collins continued.

"Yeah, his name is Lenny Briscoe, told me to call him if I remembered anything about him," Mary replied, "Nice guy."

"Nice to know some cops can be good, You get it all out?" he asked as they headed to the door.

"Yeah," she smiled, "Thanks for coming down to meet me."

"You're welcome," Collins said, "I'm buying you dinner at the Life. Mark's gotta finish his project, and I think you could use some time away from the loft."

"As long as we keep it short," Mary said, "I have got to get some sleep tonight. They want us in early for opening night."

"I know," Collins said, "That's pretty usual, isn't it?"

"Yep," Mary said as they walked to the subway.

She turned to see the lights of Broadway starting. They were amazing to watch.

"Wow," she said, "I never really stopped to see how amazing that really is."

Collins smiled. He watched her reaction to the sight, the lights all starting up with their pretty glow.

"You're gonna be alright, Mary," he said, "This I am not worried about."

"God, I hope so, I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow," she began as they headed down the stairs, "I keep thinking I'm going to miss a point, leap the wrong direction, or fall."

"If you keep thinking it, it's gonna happen, so don't think it, just do it," Collins quoted.

"Who said that?" Mary asked, looking up at him, "Nike?"

"No," Collins laughed, "Angel said it."

"I wish I could have met her," Mary said, "I think we would have gotten along."

"I think she would have loved you," Collins replied wistfully.

Collins had given Mark time to stop at the café. He purposely made it earlier than the rest of the group, knowing how Mark gets when he edits. He also made sure that Mary got to meet someone who he knew she would love to meet. Chang.

Collins met Charles Chang when he came into his class to deliver Chinese food to one of his students. Their eyes met and that was that. Chang was very closeted to his family, who thought he should marry a pretty Chinese girl, have many children and work the restaurant. Chang had other plans. He was an art major at NYU with fashion experience and an idea of running from his families expectations. Collins helped him with that, but knew that he was fighting a family at the same time.

Chang's brothers and sisters knew he was gay, supported him, but never told the parents. They didn't need to know. It might just kill them. Collins respected the family decision, but it did hurt not to be included in Chang's family's celebrations. That's why he made sure that his time with his "loft" family was so special. He had love to give and he was going to give it the best he could for everyone.

Mark Cohen sat at the usual tables, waiting for the gang to show up. Collins simply stated everyone should try and get together for a little dinner, to catch up and have fun. Mimi had agreed instantly, knowing that fun was just what she needed. Roger knew he would be there after rehearsal, while Joanne and Maureen would be there as well. Currently, Mark was alone, but this Asian guy just entered the place, looked around and noticed Mark.

'Great,' Mark thought, 'He probably wants to take one of our chairs.'

"Mark Cohen?" he asked, sitting across from him.

"Yeah?" Mark's replied.

"I'm Charles Chang," Chang said, looking at him with a smile, "Collins' boyfriend?"

"Holy shit, hey," Mark said, shaking his hand, "About time we met, how are you?"

"Great, any sign of Collins yet?" he asked, "He told me that he was going to pick up Mary and bring her here."

"Same thing he told me," Mark said, "its wild. I only met her two weeks ago and I feel like I have known her forever. I have to admit I'm a little jealous that Collins is picking her up. I should be."

"No, you shouldn't," Chang stated, "Collins told me her story. You need to finish your film, Mark, then, you guys can celebrate and if anyone knows how to celebrate…"

Chang's sentence was interrupted by Collins' arrival. Mary was laughing at one his jokes when they entered and she saw Mark at the table. Mark lit up, so happy to see her laughing. She smiled when she saw him, walked up to him and kissed him fiercely. Mark returned the kiss, his frame of reference only on her.

The semi-filled café applauded. Mark blushed furiously as he broke the kiss.

"So, how was your day?" she asked, laughing with the crowd.

Collins' grin made him laugh. Mark never would do anything like that in public, so it was fantastic to see him actually doing something Roger would do, have a life. Mark kissed Mary again and took her hand. She squeezed it in reply.

"Interesting, how about you, you go home again?" Mark asked softly, meaning the stage and not her actually dorm.

"Yes," Mary said as they sat down, "It was perfect. Tomorrow night is going to rock."

She looked at the Asian smiling at her.

"You must be Chang," Mary said, "Collins has told me so much about you."

Collins settled in next to Chang, gently putting an arm around him.

"Hopefully all good, Mary," Chang replied, "Thank you for inviting me tomorrow, I'm looking forward to it, I have only seen Chinese ballet and to see an American classic is one I really want to see."

"We have a great show for you, Roger got the sneak preview," Mary continued, "I'm sorry you weren't there, Mark, but I wasn't going to wake you up."

Mark sighed. It sucked when he woke up alone that morning, but Collins had told him how nervous she was so it helped that his friends took up the slack. He was rested, though, and ready to help her in any way possible. He also knew that the loft crowd was giving them both space to work on their relationship, which he had to admit was nice to say. Relationship.

'Shit, Maureen leaving me for Joanne really did mess me up emotionally,' he mused.

"Earth to Mark," Mary asked, touching his shoulder, "What do you want to order?"

Mark jumped when she touched him.

"Sorry," Mark laughed, "Soup, tea, and a sandwich."

The waiter wrote it down and walked away. Ever since his Buzzline job, he at least got more respect when he came in. He could now pay. Although he did occasionally like to not pay for his tea.

"So, did you finish it?" Collins asked.

"Almost there," Mark replied, "I have to run through some more footage, then, it should be ready. I was hoping to premiere it tomorrow after the ballet, if you're up to it, Mary."

"Sure," Mary replied, "You cut all day?"

"Yeah, and some of last night," Mark said, "I'm surprised you didn't hear me. I know Collins didn't."

"Every once and a while I did," Collins answered, answering the question he knew Chang was going to ask, "The couch I'm sleeping on is in their living room."

"Sorry, it's hard to keep that moviola quiet," Mark replied, "I did try though."

"I'm not one to stand in the way of art, Mr. Filmmaker," Collins teased, "I hope this one brings you the same happiness as the last one."

Mark glanced at Mary. Their eyes met. Hers shone while his sparkled.

"Collins," Chang said, putting his hand on his thigh under the table, "I think it already has."