Note: Thanks so much for all the positive reviews! Glad you guys are liking it. These next two chapters are a bit of a tangent in that it shifts focus away from Maureen/Roger/Mark, but it's just so we can have a lil Collins backstory and bring Benny back into the loop. Enjoy! And please keep reviewing!


Maureen took it upon herself to find Collins's family. They deserved to know what happened to them. He'd never mentioned family much, only a brother he mentioned from time to time. Maureen wasn't even sure he was a real brother. He called Mark and Roger his brothers too.

"Mo, I really wish you'd stop. You gotta take it easy."

"I'm fine, Mark."

"Will you at least lay on the couch with this stuff?" Mark asked.

She looked up from her spot on the floor and nodded with some reluctance. Mark knelt to pick up the box of papers and carried it into the living room. He set it beside the couch and hurried back to help Maureen.

"Pookie, I'm fine. I'm pregnant, not crippled," she said.

Mark ignored her and helped her along anyway. Maureen glanced outside and saw Roger sitting on the fire escape. After she was settled, a throw pillow propping her up, Maureen ordered Mark outside.

"Make sure he's okay."

"Maureen, one of his best friends just—"

"I'm well aware of what happened. I just don't want Roger doing anything stupid. He gets impulsive sometimes."

"Look who's talking," Mark said with a small smile.

Maureen rolled her eyes and leaned down to pick up the first few papers. She heard Mark step out onto the fire escape and sighed.

Two hours later, Maureen was still shuffling through papers. Her eyes widened as she read one. She sat up, swinging her legs down. Maureen dropped the paper in her lap and quickly skimmed over the next papers in the stack.

Maureen jumped up and went to the phone. Mark and Roger came in from the fire escape, both shivering.

"Hi Mu—Allison…Maureen…Yeah, yeah. Oh thank you….yeah, I'm excited too….boy…tossing around ideas….listen, Allison, I really need to talk to Benny. He around?"

Mark frowned and looked at Roger. The musician shrugged.

"Yeah, hey….look, I'm got a question and I want a straight answer. Was—is Collins related to you?...you need to come over. Now….the loft… Okay."

"You invited him over?" Roger asked with a groan.

"He and Collins were brothers."