Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except for their kids which aren't even entirely mine. They're my friends.

A/N: Anything with (brackets) around it is an action anything italicized is a camera movement.


Mark POV

Only four of us survived. Collins was the first to go after Angel; he died just over eleven years ago. Mimi was the next to go only three years ago. Maureen and Joanne are together, Joanne still gets jealous easily but Maureen's learned to tone down her flirting; they adopted a baby girl, Leah, who's know 17. Roger's coping; when Mimi died he was left with their fifteen year old son Brad who was miraculously born without aids. Than there's me I stopped hiding behind my camera, when I did I saw everything that I had been missing. That's also when I met my wife Lauren; we've been married for 16 years now and have a daughter, Christi, who's also fourteen. I still live in loft just like I did 20 years ago, although now it's legal and we have power, Roger lives the floor below in Mimi's loft.

December 24, 2010

7pm eastern standard time

(No specific point of view)

Maureen and Joanne's house

Joanne: Come on Maureen honey we have to get to Mark's

Maureen: I'm coming, you can't rush perfection

Leah: Mom, you said we'd leave an hour ago

Maureen: Fine, I guess I'm ready

(Mark's loft, Lauren, Roger and Mark are sitting on the couch with Brad and Christi sitting on the floor)

Roger: Where are they?

Mark: You know Maureen, she's a diva

Brad: Why do we have to wait for them? Can't we eat already?

Lauren: Their our dinner guests we can't start with out them

Brad: Fine Mom

(Maureen, Joanne and Leah walk in)

Joanne: I told you they'd be waiting for us

Maureen: Pookie, we're only an hour late

Brad: Can we eat now

Lauren: Sure, let's all go sit down

(They all crowd around the metal table with there being just enough seats to fit everyone)

During dinner everyone's looking happy with plates full of food

Roger: So Maureen finally given up the dream of actually making a change in the world?

Mark: Roger, don't start this tonight

Maureen: No it's fine, and no I haven't given up like some people

Joanne: I thought we agreed this was going to be a nice civilized dinner

Christi: I'm just going to go eat over there, some where

Brad: I'll join you

Leah: Oh what the hell, I will too

Lauren: Not so fast this is a family dinner so we will all eat together

Christi: But dad!

Mark: (shrugs) listen to your mother

Christi: But daddy! (Gives puppy dog eyes)

Mark: Fine, but you know that won't work on me forever

Christi: Thank you daddy

Leah: Let's go!

(Kids stand up and go out on the terrace)

Lauren: Mark!

Mark: What?

Lauren: You totally undermined me there

Mark: She gave me the look! What was I supposed to do?

Lauren: Let's not get into this with guests here

Roger: At least she talks to you

Maureen: I propose a toast! To all that couldn't be with us today Angel, Collins and Mimi

Joanne, Mark, Roger, Lauren, Maureen: Cheers!

Goes to the group of teens sitting out on the terrace

Leah: You ever think how much your dad truly hates Maureen, I wonder why

Brad: Leave it to my dad to hold a grunge for way to long

Christi: Probably has something to do with her having dated my dad

Leah: Probably

Christi: How's senior year going Leah?

Leah: Ok, Joanne wants me to apply to all these colleges when I'm not even sure what I want to do

Brad: At least your mom's don't walk around the house all day still trying to find their "song"

Leah: Be nice Brad he's still going through a rough time

Brad: and I'm not as well, I can't deal with this anymore, I'm out of here

(Brad starts climbing down the stairs that swing down from the terrace is about 3 levels down when Christi catches up)

Brad: What?

Christi: I wanted to see if you were ok

Brad: Do I look ok?

Christi: Fine, I get the message I'll leave you alone

Brad: I'm sorry; it's just hard for me

Christi: I'll go if you want

Brad: No it's fine I could use someone who can listen

(Leah leans over railing)

Leah: Are you guys ok down there or do I have to get the rents?

Christi: We're fine; we'll be up in a minute

Leah: Ok!

(Leah goes back to sitting)

Christi: Everything ok now?

Brad: I think it will be

Goes to adults still bickering at the table

Lauren: Well maybe if you didn't always give her, her way you wouldn't be blind to what she does!

Mark: Oh now I'm blind!

Lauren: She's failing half her classes! But you just care if she's doing what she wants so you won't be like your mother!

Mark: Don't bring my mother into this!

Maureen: It's not my fault you gave up on your music when Mimi died

Roger: I'm trying to raise my son all by myself and I didn't just give up on

Maureen: You don't appear to be doing that great of a job

Joanne: I'd like to see you try to do better

Maureen: What's that supposed to mean?

Joanne: You act like your Leah's friend not her Mom

Roger: Ouch!

Mark: EVERYONE STOP!

Roger: Its 9 now why don't we get the kids in

Lauren: I'll go do that

(A minute later all the teens come in)

Maureen: Are we leaving now pookie?

Joanne: If Leah doesn't mind

Leah: Let's go

Mark: Are you guys going to meet us at the life café tomorrow for our usual Christmas/Chanukah dinner?

Joanne: As long as I can drag both of them away from their presents

(Everyone slowly leaves the loft saying their good-bye's as they do)

Christi: I'm just going to get some air

(Christi walks back out onto the terrace only to find Brad had climbed back up onto it.)

Brad: Hey, I hope you don't mind my Dad just started to freak out at me about my responsibility and all this other shit

Christi: Its fine, I know world war three is about to erupt between my parents so

Brad: Here we are

Christi: I wish I was as lucky as Leah she just has the rest of this year than she can leave, for however long she want, to where ever she wants, she can get out of this hell hole and never come back if she wants

Brad: That's never going to happen, you know her, you know that she'll stay here, she's what hold Maureen and Joanne together

Christi: Do you ever think our parents just stay friends to cling onto some little piece of when they were younger?

Brad: Why else would they still hang out together

Christi: It's so cold out here (shivering)

Brad: Here, have my coat, you need it more (places coat on Christi)

Christi: Thanks

(They both look up and hold a long gaze)


A/N: Please review, any suggestions of how I could improve this would be appreciated.