AN: You know who I love? Christy Carlson Romano! People, check out her MySpace. It's good stuff. She was Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, and something in another show I can't remember, and her voice is AWESOME! And being the dorky Disney channel fan that I am (is it weird I like both Lizzie McGuire and Rent? Yeah, I thought so), I am seriously excited about Kim Possible, Season 4. Yay! I know, I'm a dork. Oh well. I am a happy dork. So I'm doing a whole new perspective today – Collins! I hope this answers some questions about Dave. Thank you for all who reviewed! I know I posted at an un-Godly hour, and am now posting Sunday afternoon, so for all who actually R&R, double thanks! I also forgot to thank Born2Bbad last chapter – wow, five reviews in a row! Thanks! Ok, here's for my anon reviewers:

socogal – (snort) Really? Sorry. But you must its funny. Perhaps not so much to you. I'm sorry about the cliffhanger – it wasn't even supposed to be there. Part of the chapter was working, and finally I just cut it and added this instead. But like I said: no build, not as cool reveal. I almost spilled it – but I thought up a really cool reveal, and I just couldn't ruin it! Sorry! And that would work – both for Christmas. Hmmm. Sorry, dirty thoughts. I'm back! This is a very good idea. I wonder what Santa will think, though. Not exactly orthodox, is it?

Amber, you know... – Good. This is the purpose of my lovely cliffie. Yeah, virginity is most definitely not Abby's thing. Which I would feel would be spoiler-ish, but after last chapter, I don't think anyone will think that anymore! Good luck with your block.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rent. I do, however, own Dave and Abby. They are all mine to play with, and play with them I will! Hee.

New Friends, Old Memories

Collins reclined on the couch, watching his friends. Mimi and Dave were using the lower branches of the tree and some old ribbon from Mimi's club costumes to make decorations for the loft. Roger was learning to play Christmas songs on his guitar while grumbling (it had taken Mimi ten minutes and some dirty promises to do it at all). And Mark was ... pacing? Collins grinned a slow grin. "She's coming, man. Siddown."

Mark tried his best to look dignified. "What are you talking about?"

Collins snorted. "Please. If you keep doing that, you're going to end up in our apartment. Come here." He pulled Mark down onto the couch, got him into a chokehold, and gave him a noogie.

"Ok, ok! I'll stop!" Mark pulled away from Collins grinning in spite of himself. "Weren't you just saying how you owed us one for last night?"

"And we paid. Look. Tree. Now keep your skinny white ass there. Film something," Collins instructed in a mock serious voice as he got up to get something to drink.

He wandered over to the kitchen stopping to smile at Mimi and kiss Dave on the top of his head. Christmas brought up a lot of memories for him, as well as the rest of the group. Christmas was when he had met Angel. He leaned back on the counter and looked at the angel on top of the tree.

He still missed her, definitely. God, she was amazing. So vibrant. And giving. She had really been the love of his life. Without her, the group they had wouldn't exist. They really were his family, and he loved them. But he felt like there was a part missing without her.

He felt so guilty when he thought things like that. Dave had been amazingly supportive of him. Dave had joined Life Support Valentine's Day last year. He took one look at Collins, marched up to him and told him that they were going to be best friends. He didn't have AIDS, but his sister Lauren did, and he had decided she wasn't going to be alone on Valentine's Day of all days. So he had found out about Life Support from a friend, and had dragged her over there with him.

Collins had had no idea what to do. This dark, skinny, short Italian guy comes out of nowhere declaring that to him. He'd just nodded at him at the time, and sat himself down quickly between Roger and Mark, who were laughing at him. But somehow Dave had gotten under his skin. Within weeks they were friends, laughing together, relating stories about Angel and Dave's current boyfriend. Dave had worked his way into the group, but he'd always been closest to Collins. He always knew how to make Collins feel better when he thought about Angel, and he made Collins laugh. And Collins had sat up all night with him when his dumbass boyfriend had dumped him two days before his birthday.

It had been just three months ago. They'd been rooming together in Mimi's old apartment for the past few weeks. They were just sitting on the floor laughing about something. Collins didn't even remember what. And just as abruptly as he had announced their friendship, Dave pulled Collins to him and kissed him.

Collins was pulled out of reminiscing by Dave as he wrapped his arms (as far as they'd go) around Collins' waist. "Thinking about her again?" he whispered softly.

Collins nodded, giving the angel on the tree one last glance. Then he suddenly grabbed turned around, grabbed Dave, and set him on the counter. He gave him a devious smile, then kissed him slowly and thoroughly. He took his face away from Dave's and murmured, "Did I say Merry Christmas yet?"

Dave smiled back at him. "Not yet," he informed him quietly.

"Well, Merry Christmas," Collins told him, then kissed him again.

"Hey!" They broke apart to see a wickedly grinning Mimi standing right next to him. "Not now, Collins. We're making Christmas decorations now. You can do that later."

Dave gave Collins a rueful look and a last peck before sliding off the counter. He trailed after Mimi dejectedly. "You're only doing this to me because I did it to you yesterday in the car," he protested. Mimi just turned back and smiled at him.

Collins chuckled. Yeah, today was a day of memories. But he wasn't the only one with stuff to remember. Roger had to be thinking about Mimi's near death last year. However, from the looks of him, the only thing he was thinking about right now was getting Mark, who had taken Collins advice a little too well and had his camera shoved in Roger's face, away from him. "Mark, get that damn thing out of my face or I'll break it I swear." He had a serious tone, but he was obviously trying very hard not to laugh.

Mark looked at him over his camera and blinked innocently. "Oh, you can't do that. I'd be forced to stuff peanut butter in your guitar."

Roger opened his mouth for a comeback, but Mimi interrupted them both. "Enough, you two. Neither of you is breaking anything. If Roger has no guitar, he can't play at the bar. If Mark has no camera, he can make no more small-time films or wedding videos. That leaves me paying all the rent that is sure to come from that new company." She glared at the two of them. "That. Will. Not. Happen. Got it?"

Mark and Roger's eyes widened, and they nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am!" Mark assured her.

Roger put his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "You know we were just kidding baby," he told her in what he clearly thought was a charming voice.

It seemed to work. Mimi glared at him and said "You'd better be," but accepted his kiss when he gave it. And kept accepting it for the next few minutes. Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. There was Dave smiling evilly. "What?"

He shook his head mournfully at her. "Come on, sweetie. You can do that later." He held up the decoration he was currently working on and added with overdone cheerfulness, "because right now we're making these lovely Christmas ornaments!"

Mimi muttered some bad words in Spanish as the rest of the loft laughed. Mark picked up his camera and panned the loft again. "December 25, 1 pm. Eastern Standard Time. Just a few hours into Christmas, and everything is already crazy. What can make this insane holiday even crazier?"

Suddenly the door burst open. "Merry Christmas, everybody!" chirped Maureen as she waltzed in with a bag on each arm, Abby and Joanne in tow.

"I spoke too soon," Mark said under his breath. Roger, who was sitting by him laughed.

Maureen gave them a look. "What's so funny?"

Mark shook his head. "Just saying the holidays wouldn't be complete without some drama, Mo."

She smirked at him. "Hell, yeah!" She flung her arm around Abby. "You should see what the two of us can do together." She turned to her cousin. "Remember that time you tipped over the Menorah and nearly set the house on fire?"

Abby told her heatedly, "If your parents can let it go, so can you. I was only eight." Collins, who was standing right by them, heard her add under her breath she added pleadingly, "Please do not do this in front of Mark. Get me back later."

Maureen grinned at her. "Oh, this is only the beginning." She looked over at Mimi and Dave. "Ooo! Decorations!" She scurried over to them.

Collins went up to Abby. "I don't think we've officially met. I'm Collins."

She shook his preferred hand. "Not when you were sober, anyway. Abby."

He laughed. "Yeah, I know. You're the little girl that's got our Marky jumping." She blushed. "So what the hell'd you do to make Maureen mad at you. That's never a good idea, you know."

"I know." She grinned slowly. "But it's not a good idea to get me mad either."

Collins laughed again. Mark was certainly going to have an interesting time with this one. But as he watched her sit next to him, and saw how they both lit up as they started to talk, he knew that she wasn't going to be like Maureen. Good. Mark deserved that. Collins looked at the angel on the tree watching over them. "Merry Christmas, Angel," he whispered, then went to go sit down next to Dave.

If anyone had looked right then, the way the light was shining on the angel, it looked as if it had begun to smile.

AN: Well, that's the end of my fic. Hope you enjoyed it.

Just kidding! (Dodges more rotten fruit.) Well, I hoped you liked it. I wasn't sure if I would even finish it today. But I did. Yay! Love? Hate? Please review!