A.N: So, this is totally awesome because I haven't updated in like a hundred years. I wonder if anyone still reads this… but I have no intention of giving this story up until I finish it. That means at least four more chapters I should think. I hope people are still enjoying and reading this story and my apologies for the extreme lateness.

"Good Morning, Marky!" Maureen said cheerfully as she bounced into my – excuse me, Maureen has been living with us for about 3 months now - our room.

I groaned and yawned, "Mo, what time is it?" I asked exhausted.

"7:05 am," she replied, happily.

"That is way too early to be out of bed, Maureen," I complained.

"You're not out of bed, silly!" Maureen said, as she climbed under the covers with me, curling up and resting her head on my chest. "Now, I'm in bed, with you."

"And now it's a good morning," I smiled, leaning forward to kiss her. "I love you," and as the words left my lips I realized that it was the first time I've said it in the six months that we've been dating; though certainly not the first time I've thought it.

Maureen's eyes widened and then her face broke into the widest most beautiful grin, I had ever seen, "Oh, Marky! I love you too!" We kissed again, my hands running through her hair, hers wrapped around my neck.

A few hours later, I left my room, closing the door softly, so I wouldn't wake Maureen, who had fallen asleep in my arms. I was all smiles, as I glanced at the clock and then around the loft. Collins would be out looking for a job by now, and Benny had become an intern at a big business man's building…but Roger… well, Roger and April should be getting up right about now.

Actually, now that I think about it, I don't remember either of them coming home last night… or for the past few nights as a matter of fact. I rack my brain trying to remember the last time Roger and I had had a conversation. It had seemed like ages, in fact, the last few times I remember him coming home, he had been high… and I was starting to get worried.

It wasn't like before. Roger was almost always high now, and April was always high with him. I wondered if there was a big problem, but it was Roger. Roger had always been capable of taking care of himself; in fact, I didn't need to look out for Roger. Rather, I usually needed him to look out for me.

Just as I made myself a cup of tea and sat down on the couch, Roger walked out. He didn't greet me, just walked out onto the fire escape and lit a cigarette. "Well, good morning to you too, Roger. How're you? I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I muttered to myself, looking in his direction.

April stumbled out of Roger's room moments later; she at least threw me a small smile and a wave before joining Roger on the fire escape. I watched as the two kissed, passionately. I wished I had had my camera prepped for that moment. But it wasn't that big of a deal, I was sure there would be more passionate kisses for my camera to catch between the two.

Oh, how wrong I was.

"Marky, boy, nice to see you, without Mo attached to your lips," Collins greeted me, where he found me in the same position, about half an hour later.

"Shut up!" I muttered flushing, "Hey, Collins. What's up?"

"Nothing new, we're still hungry, broke and jobless," Collins informed as he sat down beside me.

"So, things are good then?" I joked.

"As long as we have each other, things are good," Collins mused, and then we settled into a silence that should've been comfortable, but I felt like something was truly wrong. It shifted around a little, finishing my tea, which had long since become cold and placing the mug on the broken coffee table in front of me.

"Mark… I have something important I need to tell you. Something I need to tell everyone." His deep voice cracked into a higher pitch.

"Oh, God, Collins, what's wrong?" I asked immediately concerned for the big man who now looked so small.

Collins took a deep breath and shut his eyes, "I can't tell you now, I just can't. I don't want to repeat this story a hundred times, see if you can get everyone together tonight, for dinner, at the Life… it's my treat."

"But Collins, I thought you said we were broke," I stated, "I'm sure you don't need to do this…"

"Mark, I've been putting what little money I have away since the first doct- since I first suspected something was wrong. I need to do this, but I need you to do a big favor for me. " Collins pleaded, " Please."

The sadness in Collins voice broke my heart, word by word, "Of course, anything, Collins, anything."

"I want it to be your responsibility to get everyone to the Life Café tonight – that means, Benny, Maureen, AND April and Roger. No one can be left out. Understand?" And with that Collins stood and headed towards the door of his and Benny's room.

"I'll do my best, Thomas." I said, feeling the need for the first name.

I knew things were serious when Collins didn't berate me for using his first name.

The first thing I did was call Benny at work. I didn't know when he was supposed to be home, but I knew that this was an emergency. I glanced at the number he had scribbled hastily onto the pad that sits beside the phone. I dialed the number and hoped that it would be Benny who answered and not someone else.

The phone rang a few times before a familiar voice said, "Benny speaking, how may I help you?"

"Relax, Benny, it's Mark," I said, "I have some important news."

"Really? What's going on?" Benny asked.

"That's the thing, I don't really know, Collins asked us all together tonight at the Life Café, what's the earliest you can make it?" I asked, biting my lip.

"If I tell my boss, Mr. Gray, it's an emergency; I should be able to get to the Life… by 7." Benny answered.

"It is an emergency Benny," I said sadly, "See you tonight."

I walked back into mine and Maureen's room, since it was a better option than facing April and Roger who were still on the fire escape. I knelt down in front of Maureen, who was lying on her side, her curls tumbling across the pillow and her face, her mouth slightly ajar.

I tucked a few loose curls back behind her ear, and kissed her forehead, "Wake up Mo," I said quietly.

Maureen's eyes opened, "Hi pookie," she smiled at me, then asked, "Wait, what's wrong?" she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

I took her hand in my mine, "Okay, how do you always know?"

"Oh, pookie, it's written all over your face," Maureen said, "So tell me what's going on."

"Collins wants all of us at the Life tonight, apparently, there's some very very important information,he needs to tell us…" I said, gloom resonating from my body.

"Then, we'll be there for him," Maureen said, "No matter what, baby."

I sighed as I walked back into the living space – Maureen right behind me. "I'll tackle April," she volunteered.

"And that leaves me with Roger," I state, "Thanks, Mo, I really appreciate this."

We both stood silently watching the couple, who still stood together on the fire escape, "Ladies first?" I offered.

"That must mean you then," Maureen teased, as we both procrastinated doing the unavoidable.

Maureen dragged April by the hand down the ladder of the fire escape, and I watched as Roger put out another cigarette and dragged his sorry ass inside.

"What's up?" Roger asked nonchalantly.

"Rog- you might want to sit down for this," I told him, "It's really important."

Roger snorted, "Whatever," and he flopped down on the couch as I stood in front of him.

"Roger, listen carefully, I cannot stress to you how important this is, Collins wants us ALL together at the Life tonight, he has something really serious to say." I explained.

"I will try to be there, if I can, I kind of already have plans…" Roger trailed off.

"Fuck, Roger, really? Collins is our best friend, is getting high really more important than anything he has to say?"

Roger snorted again, "Yeah, whatever, it's probably just to meet his latest fling, the new "one""

I fumed, then I did the unbelievable, I drew back my arm and punched Roger square in the jaw. His eyes widened and he raised his hand to touch the spot where I had hit him, other than that, I was pretty sure I hurt more than he did.

"Fuck you Roger. I can't believe what you've turned into," I whisper viciously as Roger stared at me in shock, "You used to be the guy who would do anything for his friends, and now, god damn, now you can't even have a serious conversation. You have a fuckin' problem man. Get over yourself." And I walked away, back to my room, where I hoped that Roger wouldn't have one of his mood swings and I would be safe.

"7pm Eastern Standard Time, waiting for Collins at the Life Cafe" I paused to crank the camera again, cursing as my newly bangaged hand got caught for a moment on the crank. "Pan across the table for four instead of six, Roger and April are nowhere to be found, and Collins is sure to tell us something important."

"Mark, would you put that thing away?" Benny complained, as he shifted nervously in his seat.

"I can't help it, Benny, I'm concerned,"

"We're all concerned pookie," Maureen said, "But you need to put that camera down and sit with us, okay, baby?"

"Okay, Mo," I answered as I take my seat beside her and wrap an arm around her shoulders.

Collins entered then, his face stoic but grave. "Let's eat first," he decided, and we all placed our orders and ate in the melancholy atmosphere that surrounded us.

As we all picked at our plates, I finally decided the tension had to be resolved, "Collins, tell us what the hell is going on."

Maureen and Benny nodded in agreement. Collins stood, "So today, I found out some bad news," he paused, "Really bad news."

"What is it Collins?" Maureen asked, fretful about the man she had grown very close to.

Collins sighed, "Well, do you guys remember, Jerry?"

We all murmured our acknowledgement. "Well, I got a call from him a few weeks ago, turns out he's HIv+… and now I am too."

Silence radiated about us as we all tried to process the shock. Benny stood to shake Collins hand and Collins pulled him into a hug. Maureen made a small noise, and I turned to see tears streaming down her face. I stand up and drew her into my arms, her tears soaking into my scarf and shirt.

"Collins," I spoke first, "We're all going to be here for you, in whatever way you need us to be. Okay?" Collins nodded and he and Benny walked over as we all hugged each other. "We're here for you." I repeated.

R&R