Author's Note: HOLY COW. I AM SO SORRY FOR THE HORRIBLY SLOW UPDATE. I really don't know what happened here. BUT! Here it is! The final chapter of Civilian. The reviews were great, and I'm so glad it was such a popular story. I don't want to keep you from it any longer, though, so here it is. Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWELVE: I'm With You

The calm and the storm, and forever yours
And I'm with you

--I'm With You

Tonight is going to be perfect. Roger has made sure of that. He's gone out to get food, cleaned up the loft, and even bothered to put on clean clothes for once. He finishes setting the table, and looks around. Something is missing. Candles. Searching through every drawer, Roger turns up nothing. He frowns. Perhaps Mimi has some.

Roger does not particularly want to see Mimi. He hasn't seen her for a long time, and he's not sure if she'll be friendly towards him. By the time he starts worrying, it's too late to go back to the loft. He's already knocked on the door. Mimi answers, and a smile instantly lights up her face.

"Roger!" She hugs him. "Long time no see."

"Er … Yeah." Roger frowns, returning the hug.

"I saw one of your band's shows the other day. You've gotten pretty good."

"Why didn't you come say 'hi' or something?"

"You and Mark looked a little too inseparable. I didn't want to impose."

Roger blinks, a hesitant smile forming on his lips. He wasn't sure what "a little too inseparable" implied. He shifted his weight.

"Yeah … Could I get some candles?"

Mimi's eyebrow rises slightly.

"I suppose." She gives Roger a look that says she has a feeling what they're for, but says nothing. She disappears into her apartment for a moment. Roger stands there nervously. He keeps checking the stairs to see if Mark is home yet. Mimi reappears and hands Roger a few candles.

"Don't bother returning them," she tells him. "I'm sure you'll need them again."

With a little wave, and one her usual smiles, Mimi closes the door. Roger stands there for a moment, registering the exchange. The door downstairs opens. It snaps Roger back to attention. Mark is home. He hurries up the stairs.

--

Mark walks into the loft and is greeted by quite a surprise. The loft is clean, the table is set (complete with candles), and the lights are down. He takes off his jacket, taking in everything. Roger springs up from the couch, and stops immediately. He's a little unsure suddenly.

"Roger, what's all this?" Mark looks at him.

Roger shrugs.

"I figured it'd be nice for us to … You know, have a proper evening together. Other couples do it."

"I never thought you had this in you. I'm impressed." Mark walks over to the table. "Mr. Romance." He grins in Roger's direction.

"Hey, give me some credit. I don't see you making romantic gestures towards me." Roger goes to the table as well, pulling Mark's chair out for him. All self-doubt leaves him.

Mark laughs and sits down. He looks at the food in front of him.

"Oh, Chinese food. Very romantic, Rog. Nothing says 'I love you' more than a clogged artery."

"Look, do you want this or not?"

"Sorry, sorry."

Scowling only slightly, Roger sits across from Mark. The two start eating in silence. After a moment, Roger puts down his food.

"Mark." He looks at Mark. "This is official now, isn't it?"

"What is?" Mark asks around a mouthful of rice.

"You and me dating. We're not Mark and Roger anymore. We're Mark and Roger."

"I thought that was obvious by now." Mark watches Roger.

"Yeah, I know. But I've fucked up with a lot of relationships over the years, and --"

"Don't worry, Roger." Mark gives the other man a reassuring smile. "I'm not going to kill myself, and I'm not going to sleep with one of our friends. I've dealt with enough of your fuck ups to know what to do in an emergency situation."

The rest of the dinner is finished with awkward silence. When they stand up, Mark turns to leave. Roger stops him.

"Isn't this the part where I'm supposed to walk you home?"

"Roger, what the hell are you --" Mark sighs, and smiles. "Fine. Walk me home."

Roger grins and takes Mark's hand. He leads him around the table and to the door of the loft. He stops and grins a bit more.

"So, do I get a good night kiss?"

Mark laughs. He feels ridiculous doing this. Regardless, he leans up and kisses Roger. When the two part, he gets a slight gleam in his eye.

"Would you like to come in for some coffee?"

Roger smirks and leans against the door.

"Won't your roommate be bothered by you bringing strange men inside?"

"My roommate probably has his own strange man in there right now."

"Well, in that case, I would love some coffee."

Mark mimes opening a door for himself and Roger. Roger "steps inside" and looks around.

"Nice place you got here. Classy. I like it."

"If I had known I was going to have company, I'd have cleaned it up a bit." Mark rolls his eyes in amusement and goes to get some coffee.

Roger plops himself down on the couch. He stretches a bit, and watches Mark. When the coffee is placed in front of him, he ignores it and chooses instead to kiss Mark. Mark returns the kiss gladly, and pulls away after a moment.

"Roger …"

Roger looks at Mark, his heart sinking. He was so sure that he and Mark were finally going to get passed the kiss and cuddle stage.

"As much as I like our couch, I'd much rather continue this in the bedroom. I have a feeling it'll be more comfortable that."

Roger blinks and grins. He gets up and pulls Mark up as well. Mark laughs at Roger's eagerness, and the two make their way to Mark's bedroom. Their arms wrap around each other almost instantly, and, as they fall on to the bed, Roger knows that this is something that he can get used to.

Author's Note: I hope you liked it. As it stands, this is it. However! Should Adam Pascal release another CD, I'll be more than happy to make another sequel.