Guess what chapter this is? Hold on… Check the title. XD

Disclaimer: I don't own the RENT characters.

--Chapter 21, sequel to the missing chapter--

-Collins' POV-

Thanksgiving weekend is certainly more fun with Angel around. My parents usually force me to do family things, like camping or visiting relatives. So it's cool to have someone to hang out with so I don't die of boredom. This year… it's a trip to the aquarium with my cousins who are in town.

Normally the aquarium is okay… I kind of lost interest when I got to high school age, but maybe this time it'll be more fun. And hopefully we won't have to hang out with my dorky little-kid cousins the whole time.

Angel is really excited. Apparently she likes the aquarium. A lot. She has to be dressed up again, because my cousins and aunt and uncle have already met her and think she's a girl. Oh well. I don't mind, and I don't think she does either.

"Come on Collins! Get your lazy ass out of bed and get ready for the aquarium!" She bursts into my room way too early in the morning, already fully dressed and ready to leave. I suspect she drank coffee, and if my mom or dad gave it to her I will kill them- as if she isn't already peppy enough, now she's going to be on a caffeine high.

"Angel, it's 7 in the morning. Can't I sleep a little longer?"

"NO! We're leaving at 9, so you have to be up and have some breakfast! Come on, I'll make scrambled eggs!" She runs out of the room and I can hear her go down the stairs. Grumbling still, I get out of bed and grab some clean clothes. I shower and dress and go downstairs to find a plate of scrambled eggs and toast and a cup of coffee waiting for me.

"Ang, I don't drink coffee."

"You should. You might be less grumpy in the morning!" She does a twirl, making her skirt poof up and her scarf swirl around her. I have to laugh, and I take a sip of the coffee. It's not… that bad. The toast is much better.

Soon we're in the car with my parents, on our way to the aquarium. Angel's practically bouncing out of her seat, and I regret drinking the coffee- now I can barely sit still. I'm not nearly as bad as she is, though- I'm just awake now. We meet my cousins and their parents at the ticket booth, and Angel starts a game of tag with the young kids. I groan as she outruns them in heels, hoping she won't trip and break her neck.

"Stop running like that, Angel, or you'll fall and kill yourself!" I shout. My youngest cousin, Cody, tries to tackle me, and soon Angel joins in and I'm knocked onto the ground. We collapse in a heap, laughing so hard we can barely breathe. My parents just sigh and get the tickets. We go inside, and Angel is suddenly in awe. She gazes around the large entrance room and starts giggling when she sees a huge tank of silver fish swimming around.

"Look Collins! Fish!" She grabs my hand and starts to run in that direction. I manage to stop her for a minute so I can tell my parents where we're going.

"Mom, Dad, we're going to go look at the fish. When should we meet you guys?"

"Let's all meet in the food court around noon for lunch." My dad suggests. We agree, and Angel runs off towards the silver fish, leaving me to catch up on my own.

-Angel's POV-

Saturday is the best day to go to the aquarium. Or anywhere, for that matter. I'm so excited! We get to see the fishies!

"Collins look! They have a special exhibit for fishies that live in reefs! Like clownfish and sea anemones, and all that stuff!" I grab his arm and we start walking in that direction. I gaze in awe at the fish, completely oblivious to the fact that they're being watched.

"Angel, are you okay?" He asks at my sudden silence. "Hello?"

"I'm fine. Look at the fish… so happy and carefree… You know, when I was little I wanted to be a fish. So I could be free to swim around for ever and ever."

I look over at Collins for his reaction. He's looking into the fish tank, smiling. I can't help but smile and squeeze his hand. He blinks and looks at me.

"I get that. Totally. Is that why you like the aquarium?"

"No. I like the aquarium because sometimes, if you're lucky, you can see one of the sharks eat something." I laugh evilly, and get a blank stare in return. "What?"

"That's slightly disturbing… but funny. Is there lots of blood?"

"Depends. I've never seen one eat a seal or anything, and fish don't bleed. So I guess not." I shrug. "They don't want to scare the little kids."

We make it through a few more exhibits before noon, and we walk back to the food court to find Collins' family. It takes a while, because of all the screaming children and crowds of people. Maybe Saturday isn't the best day for going to the aquarium…

-Collins' POV-

We eat lunch with my family in the food court. I get us both veggie-burgers and fries, and Angel insists that we share a piece of chocolate cake for dessert.

"So these are veggie-burgers? Like made out of vegetables?" She looks at it like it's from another planet.

"They taste the same. Just put some ketchup on it."

"Maybe. If you close your eyes. And ketchup is for the fries." She takes a bite of the veggie-burger, chews thoughtfully, and nods her head. "Okay. It's edible." When we finish lunch, my parents insist that we take my cousins to see the jellyfish and seahorses. Even though we've already seen them, Angel quickly agrees for us.

"Cousin Tom! Look at that one! It's pink like my shirt!" My cousin Chelsea squeals. Cody grabs the end of Angel's scarf.

"Why aren't any of them… this color?" He yanks on it again and I see Angel wince.

"That's red, Cody. Red. Now please let go…" She tries to get it away from him, but instead he runs towards Chelsea and Angel has no choice but to follow. I laugh and chase after them.

"Cousin Tom, it's a seahorse!" Chelsea squeaks. "That one's blue and brown, like Cody's shirt!" I look into the tank and see several blue-and-brown seahorses.

"Yep. That's a seahorse."

After about ten more minutes of squealing, jumping, pulling of scarves, and naming colors, we go to the exit. My cousins run out the door to find their parents, and I'm given a moment alone with Angel. I take the end of her scarf and examine it.

"Slightly stretched, with peanut-butter stains. Those'll come out though."

"Collins, it's okay. I don't care. I love little kids. I think I want kids someday…" She says thoughtfully. "What do you think?"

"Um… Well, I'm certainly not as good with children as you… but I think I would want to have kids someday. Yeah…"

"Cool!" Angel giggles, pulling me towards her for a kiss. We both laugh and walk out the door into the sunshine. My parents are waiting, and tell us that my cousins had to leave. We just shrug and apologize for not being there to say goodbye.

"So did you two have fun at the aquarium?" My mom asks.

"Oh, yes. It was very fun. Thank you for taking me with you!" Angel smiles brightly and does a little curtsy (she's been practicing so she won't fall over). My mom thinks this is adorable, and she hugs Angel.

"Sweetie, it's so nice having you around. You're always so helpful and polite! I don't know why your father won't take you back."

The ride home is mostly silent, except for a few comments from my father about work and stuff like that. We get back in the early afternoon, and Angel heads upstairs almost immediately. I hear her door close, and I'm suddenly worried.

"Ang? Are you okay?" I knock on her door softly. From inside I hear a muffled sound, like… crying. Dammit. "Angel, honey, open the door please?"

"No." I hear something hit the door, and I suspect it's a pillow. The bedroom doors don't have locks so I could just open the door… but I think that would be offensive to her, so instead I sit down against the wall next to the door.

-Angel's POV-

My father.

Mi padre.

That bastard who kicked me out for being myself and now won't take me back no matter how much I apologize. I can't even think about him right now. It's not like I mind living with Collins and his parents, but I feel bad sometimes that they have to take care of me. Not that they would accept if I offered to pay for anything, or whatever.

Collins… god, if only I could show him how much he means to me. I want to spend the rest of forever with him, and only him… but what if he doesn't? He does love me, I know that… but I can't help but worry. After all, this is the best thing that's ever happened to me- and I usually screw everything up. That's the whole reason we moved, after all.

But that's another story. I bet I hurt his feelings when I snapped at him… I should apologize.

It's been about twenty minutes since then. I stand up and walk to the door, moving the pillow I threw earlier. I succeed in my attempts to open the door silently, and I find Collins sitting with his back against the wall right by the door. He fell asleep…

He's adorable when he's sleeping. The look of complete peace on his face, the gentle and steady rise and fall of his chest, and how he sometimes snores a little bit- just adorable. I should wake him up, at least to get him to somewhere more comfortable than the floor. I sit down next to him, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Tom, sweetie? Wake up…" He shakes his head slightly and shrugs my hand off of his shoulder. Well fine then! I decide to try a different tactic. I lean over and kiss him, gently, and he immediately kisses me back. "Hey!" I say as I pull away from him. He starts laughing.

"Gotcha!"

"You weren't even asleep!"

"Well, I was… I woke up when you came out here. I'm sorry, honey. I just wanted a kiss…"

"You got your kiss then. I was just going to come out here to say… I'm sorry for hiding in my room like that. I was just… thinking about my dad. And then I was thinking about you…" I blush slightly. "I just don't want to sound corny or anything… Because I really mean it and-"

"Angel, what is it? You can tell me anything." He looks at me, and I can tell he's being truthful.

"Thomas Collins, I love you more than anything. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, ever. I mean it. And… I just wanted you to know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don't want to lose you." I'm in tears by the end of that, and he pulls me towards him to hug me.

"You know I love you. And… I want to be with you, too. Forever. You know… you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life, too. Why were you afraid to tell me?"

"I thought you wouldn't feel the same…"

"Don't doubt yourself, Angel. You're amazing. How could I feel anything else?"

We share a small, amazing kiss, only noticing afterwards that Collins' mom is standing on the stairs watching us and crying happily.

Well this is the sequel to the chapter that is, but never was. Or will be. Hope you liked it! And you know that I love reviews to death… SO if you review, I'll give you a cookie that Angel baked! She made them just for you reviewers. -winks-