A/N: Okay, so I finally got this up. I have had it done for a while, but I keep forgetting to put it up, don't ask me how because I honestly don't know. Anyway, its up now, so enjoy! And don't forget to read and review, thank you and have a nice day fake smile :)
Disclaimer: I do not own RENT, except the movie and the soundtracks, although I really really wish I did.

Chapter 13 – A real surprise

The glow that Benny saw on Maureen almost left him breathless. Everything they felt toward each other could be seen in the gaze they had upon one another. The sun shone in the window at the perfect angle to glisten on their sheet covered flesh. Propped up on his elbow, Benny had his hand protectively over Maureen's stomach, just staring at her incredible beauty.

"What?" she asked, staring back at him.

"I just can't get over how beautiful you are," he told her, watching the blush slowly creep up her ivory cheeks.

She brought her hand up and caressed his cheek with her head following to gently kiss his lips. Maureen started getting up, wrapping the sheet around her as she sat on the edge of the bed leaving Benny with the comforter. She looked around the room trying to locate all of her clothes, when she felt Benny's presence behind her and his arms slide across her waist.

"Don't get up," he pleaded, kissing her neck, making her lean into him.

Maureen's face instantly broke into a smile as she turned her face to meet his lips once again.

"We have to," she said between kisses.

"Why?" he asked, placing his forehead in hers, "why can't we stay like this forever?"

She intertwined their fingers as she lifted her head off his, "Because we promised Collins we would go to the Life Café for Kate's induction party."

Benny let out a deep sigh of faux distress, "All right."

Maureen gave him a quick kiss before getting off the bed. Keeping their hands connected, it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to get her clothes. She was getting ready to release his hand when she felt herself being pulled back toward the bed. As she landed on top of him, his lips took the opportunity to capture hers. Their tongues danced for domination, leaving neither the winner. Reluctant to break the kiss, Maureen did, knowing they had to get moving.

"You aren't going to make this easy, are you?" she asked him, staring into those dark pools.

Benny gave her a smirk, indicating that he wasn't. She smiled back as she crushed her lips against his again, forgetting for a moment about the Life Café and the party.

"I'm going to take a shower now," she said, ending the kiss and lifting herself from the bed and walking toward the door.

"Okay, I'll be here," he told her back as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Benny stared at the ceiling, trying to sort through the events of the last week and how drastic his life had changed. Maureen made him feel so alive and happy; he wondered how he ever made it through his boring life he had not even a week before. When he thought about what just happened, he knew that even though their relationship wasn't exactly going slow like they had planned, his mind and heart told him that it would be okay, they were going to last. His thinking soon made his eyes heavy and eventually close, causing sleep to overcome his body.

Maureen wrapped herself in her robe and walked into the bedroom, expecting to see Benny's smiling face. As she walked in, she was about to say something to him when she realized that he was sound asleep on the bed. Smiling at his light snoring, she tiptoed her way into the room to grab some clothes. She quickly got a pair of jeans, a red tank top, and a jacket and walked back into the bathroom to change and finish getting ready.

Ten minutes later she was ready to go and decided she better wake Benny up so they could get going soon. Walking toward the bed, she softly tried to get on the mattress without waking him up. Seeing that she had succeeded, she tried to shake him a little to get him to wake up, but all he did was groan and never open his eyes. Feeling defeated, Maureen decided she knew what would get him up. She started kissing his neck and face when she felt his arm wrap around her and he started to respond. Eventually lips found each other and Maureen's tactic had succeeded.

"How did you know that would work?" Benny asked her, trying to shake the sleep from his body.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just good," she responded, getting up and grabbing Benny's hands, dragging him with her.

"That you are," he said back, giving her a small kiss. "I should probably change unless this comforter is flattering with my body."

She laughed as he modeled for her. "Oh, it's flattering," she started, staring at his dark toned body, "but just not for public display."

"Oh, all right," Benny responded, grabbing his duffle bag and headed to the bathroom.

Maureen looked at the clock that hung on her wall; she noticed that it was 6:50, and they were definitely going to be late. She sat down on the bed, not really caring how late they were going to be. As with Benny, she couldn't help but to think how amazing her life had turned around in the last week. She felt happy again and maybe she was walking out of that everlasting tunnel. Benny brought something out in her that nobody had been able to and she had to admit it, she loved it. The way he could read her, the way he took care of her, his gentleness, and countless other thing he did made her heart scream, "This is it!" inside of her. She was so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't heard Benny enter the room again. Benny noticed Maureen staring at her hand attentively as if she were to draw every detail of them with her eyes closed in the next minute. He walked over to her and gently touched her cheek; he just had this urge to touch her. She jumped slightly at the contact, but looked up at him and smiled as she brought her own hand up to meet his. She got up and just fell into his arms. The smell of sandalwood oil filled her nostrils and she instantly felt safe.

"We should go," Benny whispered in her ear as he brought her closer to him, afraid to let go.

Maureen brought her head up and met with his eyes, her stomach dropping at the intensity she saw within them. Her lips guided themselves to his and they shared a soft kiss full of love and tenderness. She reached for his hand, finding that he was reaching for hers already. Breaking the kiss, Benny smiled as he rested his head on hers and rubbed his thumb across her ivory skin.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

Exhaling to try and clear her mind she nodded indicating that she was and they should go. Fingers intertwined, Benny guided them out the door and to the Life Café.

xxxxx

Ten minutes after seven, Benny and Maureen finally got to the party. They walked into the Café and everybody that hadn't already seen them, just stared. They couldn't believe that the Drama Queen and the Bulldog were walking into the Life Café at the same time and not only were they both alive, but they were holding hands. Maureen just looked at Benny and smiled, not having a care in the world that people were staring, all she cared about was him and them.

"Hey guys!" Mimi screamed, catching their attention and waving them over to their usual spot. "What took you guys so long?"

Benny looked at Maureen and Maureen looked back, their eyes locking and both trying to figure out something to say.

"We had things to do," Maureen managed to get out, before everyone got suspicious.

"Okay, now that everyone is here," Collins started, giving Maureen the eye for being late, "we can officially induct Kate, Mark's beautiful girlfriend, into the loving family we are. So raise your glass and toast to Kate, our newest family member."

"To Kate!" everyone said in unison.

Cheers and yells were heard from all over Life Café, and the party had officially begun. The door to the Café opened and suddenly everyone got quiet again, staring at the occupant in the doorway. Maureen looked at what everyone else was looking at, and couldn't believe her eyes. There stood Joanne in the flesh and blood.