A/N: Alright, so this chapter went a lot smoother than the last one. I'm having a lot of fun writing this story and I want to thank all the fans of this story, you guys make me keep writing. Hugs to all the people that review every chapter, makes me feel good and want to continue it. So keep reviewing and I will keep writing!
Disclaimer: I do not own RENT, although it would be amazing to be as genius as Jonathan Larson and come up with something like that.
Here is chapter 8, enjoy!

Chapter 8 – Telling the Bohemians part 2

It was ten minutes to noon and Maureen was still trying to find something to wear when she and Benny met up with Mark. Her room looked like a tornado had just touched ground, with clothes spread everywhere.

"Maureen?" Benny asked through the door, "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," he heard her reply.

He opened the door to find Maureen standing in front of her full length mirror with an outfit held up to her body. Benny looked around at the numerous shirts, skirts, pants, and shorts that had found a home on the carpeted floor.

"You have been in here for a half an hour and this is all you have accomplished?" Benny asked, his eyes still scanning the room.

"I can't find anything I want to wear," she told him plainly.

"Why is it so important?" he wondered.

"Because I haven't seen Mark in a while and I want to look good."

"Oh," Benny simply said as he turned to go back to the living room.

Maureen quickly grabbed his hand before he could get away, "You know it's not like that."

Guilt washed over Benny for even thinking that Maureen still had feeling for Mark. She had told him numerous times that it was totally over between them, and that her feelings toward him were gone.

"I know, it's just going to take me a while to get used to dating someone who is still friends with their ex's," he told her, pulling her into an embrace just so he could hold her.

"We really need to get going if we are going to get there at noon," Maureen stated, wiggling out of his arms and grabbed the outfit she had laying on the bed.

Benny walked out of her room to let her change and went to bathroom to clean himself up a bit. He heard the door to the bedroom open and the click of heels walk past the bathroom and get muffled on carpet. Deciding that he was going to look as good now as ever, he exited the bathroom to met Maureen in the kitchen. She was putting silverware away when she heard Benny come up behind her. Turning around, she was met with a soft kiss that couldn't have been more perfect. When the kiss ended, all they could do was smile at each other, knowing that their relationship was going to stand strong.

"Are you ready?" Benny asked, intertwining their fingers.

"Yeah," she whispered, breathless by the kiss they had just shared.

Benny led her out of the apartment, where they hurried to Life Café in hopes of being just a few minutes late.

Hands still clasped, they made their way into the café to be stared at be all the eyes of the staff of the place. They all knew by the display they had a year ago after Maureen's performance at the 11th street lot that they were enemies; now a year later they walk in there hand in hand. Although he was not staff, Mark noticed the extra person Maureen had brought with her and stared at them as they came closer. After he picked up his jaw off the ground he sputtered out a quiet "hey," when they approached the table. Forgetting who he was with, he felt a nugh in his side. His brain remembered why he was there, and he quickly introduced his date.

"Oh, sorry," Mark stuttered, noticing the annoyed look on the woman's face that sat beside him, "Maureen, Benny, this is Kate, my girlfriend."

Both Maureen and Benny smiled at her and said their greetings. Mark's brain still hadn't quite comprehended what was in front of him and the words came spilling out as a long jumbled word, "Howdidthishappenandwhendidthishappenwithoutmeknowingaboutit?"

The couple that was standing in front of him decided that they better sit down because it was going to be a long night. Kate glared at Mark when she heard a hint of jealousy in his voice because she knew about Mark and the fact that he was still not totally over Maureen.

"You know," Benny started, "Mimi and Roger asked that same thing yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Mark asked, "How long has this been going on?"

Maureen and Benny looked at each other as if to count the days off each others faces.

"Two days," they said in unison.

"Oh," Mark began as he watched Maureen's face contort into a wince as if he were going to explode and her face was going to be hit by the remains of his body, "Well, congratulations you guys, that awesome."

Maureen's face broke into a smile when she got his acceptance; not that she needed it, but it was nice to know that her ex-boyfriend and more importantly, friend was behind her in a new relationship.

Benny and Mark exchanged handshakes and Mark got up to hug Maureen.

"It's really great. I'm happy for you," Mark whispered to Maureen before releasing her and sitting back down.

"So, Kate is it?" Maureen asked her before thinking of something to strike up a conversation. Receiving a nod from the thin blonde woman that sat kiddie corner from her, she racked her brain for something to say. "How did you meet Mark?"

"Well," Kate started, glancing at Mark, who smiled back at her, "he was filming for his documentary on HIV and AIDS on Broadway, and I had just got off work at Fiddler on the Roof. I saw him and saw the emotion he put into his work, and we got to talking. We ended up here at Life Café and he told me all about Angel and about how AIDS had deeply affected him and his friends. As we talked more, we found to have more and more in common and he asked me out to a formal dinner, and I accepted. The rest is history."

Maureen grinned at the other woman, "Aww, how cute. Mark, I didn't know you were such a stud."

At the comment, Mark's face flushed chrisom as he swatted Maureen on the arm. All the rest of the group was laugh at them and Benny decided against piping up with a comment.

The four of them ordered food and decided to have lunch and talk about what was going on in each other's life. Kate and Maureen really hit it off because both loved the stage and singing. As they all got ready to go, Mark pulled Maureen aside.

"I really want to tell you that I wasn't being sarcastic early, I am truly happy for you," he whispered, making sure their conversation wasn't overheard.

"Thank you Mark, and I'm happy for you too. She's great," she told him, her eyes falling on the blonde that was talking to Benny while she waiting for Mark to be ready to leave.

"Yeah, she is."

"Babe, are you ready to go," Benny interrupted.

Maureen smiled at him, "Yeah, let's go."

She grabbed his hand as she turned back toward Mark and Kate, "We should do this again sometime."

The couple standing in front of her nodded their heads as they exchanged goodbyes. They four of them walked out of the café and the couples parted in opposite directions.

Maureen walked backed to her apartment with her hand in Benny's knowing that she only had one more person to tell, and it could be the hardest. Collins.

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