AN: Ouch. I guess this teaches me a lesson. Never go away again. Also, if I do, I should not update when nobody else is awake. Oh well. Too late to do anything about it now. I must remind you guys one more time that Veronica Mars has its season finale tonight, and it's totally worth seeing. I can't wait. YAY!

Now that that's out...

Guess what? I'm in Footloose! It is SO MUCH fun. The music is all upbeat, and I'm doing it at my outside of school theatre group, so the people are so much better. It's awesome! Also, now my choir's singing "For Good" from Wicked. Mr. Schmidt is officially the world's best choir director.

Mk, so thanks to those that reviewed! Here's the anons:

EAmphetamine – HA! That was great! Thanks! And I think it should be mentioned that musicians are just as poor as us struggling actors, singers, dancers, and writers.

BohoGirl – I hate studying for this stupid thing! I seem to have no implicit memory and will have to rely on my explicit memory, which I suspect will result in me having amnesia as soon as I get in the testing room. Ha! I do know this stuff. Ok, I was looking at the book the whole time, but the fact that I used them correctly is a good sign. I understand what I'm reading! If they give me two more weeks, I may actually memorize it. Dude! Freaky! It's fun when stuff like that happens. I like good-guy Benny, too. I always saw him in there, just waiting to break out. I know! I don't do many parties with my flute, but every time I sing at anything, it's all they want me to sing. And I'm a girl! Grr that song! I know the feeling. Thank God one of my exams was English – no studying required:D

Disclaimer: Yes. I'm Jonathan Larson's ghost incarnate. My daddy's Willy Wonka and my mom's Elphaba, if you're curious. Wouldn't that just be the most screwed up kid ever?

Morning Surprises

Abby was awakened by singing. And not particularly good singing. This was joined by two people with better voices, but still. It wasn't a particularly good way to start the morning. She moaned slightly and buried her head further into Mark's chest.

"What the hell is that?" Mark murmured, annoyed, without even opening his eyes.

She giggled at his grumpiness, even though she'd been feeling the same way just moments before. "I think Benny tried to sing, and Mimi and Roger decided to encourage him." Her voice was muffled by his skin, but she made no effort to move. She took a deep breath, almost trying to inhale them. It was almost unfair that people could be happy like this.

"Benny sings?" This warranted some attention, though apparently only to the extent of opening one eye. "I thought Mimi and Roger were fighting."

She finally drew back a little, but only enough so he could see her when she smiled up at him. "When aren't they? As if it ever lasts."

Mark cocked his head to listen better and his eyes widened with disbelief. "Are they singing 'Celebration'?"

She listened for a second too. "I actually think they are."

"Who spiked Benny's drink with happy pills?" questioned Mark in an awed voice.

"Who cares? As long as he isn't depressed today." She bit her lip, remembering what day it happened to be. "Speaking of which ..." She leaned up to capture Mark's attention with her lips. After they broke from their slow leisurely kiss, she whispered, "Happy Valentine's Day."

Mark reached behind her head and pulled her back to him. A few minutes later, he let her go and replied "Happy Valentine's Day."

Abby looked up at him happily, feeling that rise of feelings she always felt when she was near him. She couldn't believe that she'd almost lost him a month ago, and that she'd woken up next to him nearly every day since. She'd been afraid for him for about two minutes before he reminded her that if no one else, he knew he had to be careful. Even now, she'd be afraid for him, but she'd forget about it the moment she kissed him. It was selfish, she knew, but she couldn't help it. She felt like she had to imprint herself on him before she had to leave him.

Thinking about all this, but not (in that way that when you think of something often enough, you don't have to remember all the things you think about in reference to that particular topic to know the general gist of your thought flow, and its usual conclusion), Abby told Mark in a completely serious and heartfelt voice, "I love you."

Mark got an odd look in his eye that made Abby both giddy and nervous at the same time. He ran his hand through his hair, looked down at the bed, then back up at her. "Do you want to move in with me?"

Abby's mouth dropped open. The only thought she was able to formulate out of her shock was, I really didn't see that coming. Which she really hadn't.

Anything else she could've thought or said was interrupted by Roger bursting through the door. "Oh God, aren't you two up yet?" Roger asked, rolling his eyes. He didn't wait for an answer before smirking at Mark. "You have to get out here. Benny's in love."

Mark's gaze lingered on Abby's eyes a moment longer, searching for an answer. But Abby none to give him. Sensing this, Mark sighed and dropped his eyes. "Yeah. I'll be out in a second."

Roger, being Roger, didn't notice the odd vibe in the room, and barreled out just as suddenly as he barreled in, crying "Tell me who!" Mark didn't look at Abby as he quickly put on the clothes closest to him. He practically ran to the door and out of the room.

Even though Abby felt she and Mark should talk about this, she was perfectly content to let him go. She was still processing.

She sat up in the bed and pulled his pillow over to her. It smelled like him, mostly soap and a little aftershave. Did she even have to think about this? It was only her past relationships screwing with her head right now. Mark and Abby weren't exactly the normal couple. They'd meshed from day one, and they'd been going at light speed ever since. Plus, it wasn't as if she hadn't been spending all her time here anyway. It was just a question of moving her remaining stuff from Maureen and Joanne's, and she'd be with Mark as much as she could be. In fact the only thing that she could even come up with that was a problem was the fact that his mattress was nearly not big enough for the two of them, and they could fix that, especially now that she was working a couple more nights at a different club, as well as the odd wedding with Benny's band. She grinned joyfully and clutched Mark's pillow tighter. She was going to be moved in with Mark. Officially. She buried her head in the pillow and shrieked joyfully.

A minute or so later, she walked happily out into the loft and sank onto the couch with a dreamy sigh. Mimi came over and looked her up and down. A knowing smirk made its way to her features. "Girl, what has that boy done to you?" she tutted, hand on hip.

"Nothing," Abby reported sublimely. After a moment of thought, she added, "and everything."

Mimi gave her a stern glare. "You know you're not getting away with that, right?"

Abby nodded, then smiled a little. "Mark asked me to move in with him."

Mimi waited for a moment, then added, "And you said yes," as if there was no other answer to the question. Which, of course, in Abby and Mark's case, there really wasn't.

Abby giggled a little, surprising herself. "He really didn't give me a chance to."

Mimi opened her mouth and Abby finished quickly, "But I completely intend to as soon as I can."

Mimi laughed and handed her some coffee. "Well, your boy went off with mine to follow Benny and see who his mystery girl is. I'm thinking they'll lose him in about five minutes."

Abby peered up at her. "Benny has a mystery girl?"

Mimi's smirk widened. "Some chica he met at the wedding last night. He's head over ass for her already, and he won't tell us her name. Said something about 'jinxing it.'" She sighed and dropped down next to Abby and told her sadly, "It's almost as if he doesn't trust us." She grinned wickedly, ensuring that Benny wasn't entirely in the right.

"This is the best Valentine's Day ever!" Maureen exclaimed as she vaulted over the couch and bounced happily on Abby's other side.

She reached for Abby's coffee, but Abby moved it away, shaking her head. "No coffee for you, Mo. You are never allowed coffee again."

Maureen rolled her eyes. "I'm that bad!" Mimi and Abby both raised their eyebrows. Maureen scowled back at them. "Then fine!" She got up off the couch and looked down at them. "I won't tell you what I was going to tell you." She sauntered to the door, opened it, and paused. "Oh. Except to tell you this." She smiled evilly. "I know who Benny's new girlfriend is. And it's good. It's really, really good."

She exited and slammed the door, leaving Mimi and Abby on the couch with twin gaping mouths and the same burning curiosity.

AN: Hee. Ah, the cliffhanger. Why is it good? Well only REVIEWING will help you find out! I may not now what the ratio is now, because my calculator was stolen, but I know this: it's very, very bad. Like 300 people read the last chapter, and over 700 more read various other chapters, and I only got four reviews. Therefore I warn you: review!

I'm sorry this is going up late again, but that darn studying got in the way. Wish me luck! And I swear, Harry Potter will be updated! Soon! I promise!

Love? Hate? Review!