AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hope you guys like this chapter, I'm trying to figure out how I want to go about the rest of the story. But have faith in me, it will come. I didn't actually mean for this to turn into a MaureenJoanne fic (even tho it isn't) but that's just how the story came out. I'm kind of letting the story go where it wants to go for now, but I'll figure something out. I'm trying to turn this into an epic! ;)

Once again I DO NOT OWN RENT.

PLEASE READ, REVIEW AND ENJOY!

Italics are thoughts and memories.

Chapter Twelve

With Angel

The next morning Angel opened his eyes slowly and looked around the room, Collins was no where to be found. He knew that he couldn't sleep here, but would probably find a way.

Guess he went home.

The sun was trying to peek itself through the shades of his room and Angel smiled. "Good morning New York."

"Good morning Angel." said a male nurse as he opened the shade.

"Good morning." Angel said happily.

The nurse was quite tall almost Collins' height, with a dark complexion and hazel green eyes. He was handsome, but he wasn't Collins. The handsome nurse walked over to Angel, checking the machines "How do you feel today?"

Angel smiled "Just fine thanks, ready to get out of here."

The nurse chuckled "Breakfast first." The nurse went out of the room and came back pushing a cart with a tray on it. He opened it revealing some of the most bland looking food ever.

Angel's face grimaced "Oh God. What is that?"

The nurse laughed "That, is food Angel and you better eat or I'll have to feed it to you."

Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. No, I shouldn't, Collins wouldn't like that, or would he?

Angel put on his best flirtatious face "Why don't you?"

"Not today Angel, I've got a long shift ahead of me." He said as he looked at his watch. "But I'm going to trust you that you will eat, no matter how bland the food is."

Angel looked down at the plate "Can't I spruce it up or something? Do you have any salt or pepper?"

The nurse began to walk out of the room and he said doing his best French accent "Bon Appetite!"

"Thanks." Angel said rolling his eyes.

Since he figured it would be one of the last meals here he figured he should eat it anyway.

And when I get home, I'll make myself some real food.

The same male nurse came in again and looked at Angel "Angel you have a visitor."

"Thanks!" he said waving flirtatiously. The nurse rolled his eyes and opened the door for Collins who was holding six red roses.

"Baby! Are those for me!" Angel clapped happily.

"Of course my love." Collins said smiling.

Collins walked over to his lover kissing him. Angel took the flowers and smelled them. "Oh baby they're beautiful! Thank you!"

Collins sat in the bed next to Angel, kissing his temple "Your welcome my love. I see you were eating."

Angel and Collins both grimaced.

"I probably should close my eyes when I take a bite."

"Ang, you need to eat. Did you take your AZT?"

Angel sighed "No not yet. Why don't you take it for me?"

Collins laughed "Oh no you don't Angel Dumott Schunard, you take your medicine like a good girl."

Angel smirked seductively "Yes daddy." Angel took the pill out of Collins' hand and took it. "So did you go back to the loft?"

"Yep. Of course I walked into it seeing Mark holding Maureen as she slept."

Angel took a bite "I don't think Mark will ever get over Maureen, she's too fabulous."

"I guess, if you say so babe. I just don't know what they're gonna do."

Collins rubbed Angel's cheek with his finger wiping away some of the dried tears from the day before.

Taking a sip of orange juice "Well like I said, if they don't get their shit together I'm kicking everyone's ass. Even yours hunny. Angel Dumott Schunard is going to go on an ass kicking spree."

Collins looked at his lover "Why are you going to kick my ass?"

Angel grinned at the professor "Because it's cute."

Collins shook his head, kissing Angel's temple again "I love you Angel. Even if you are going to kick my ass, or kiss it."

Angel slapped Collins playfully "You would want me to kiss it."

Collins leaned back on the bed "Yeah. You're right."

"Collins!" Angel said laughing.

With Joanne

The lawyer had again managed to drink until she passed out. The play was a complete success last night and the Mayor himself wants to come see it this coming Friday. Joanne and Maureen would have to act like they were fine when they got interviewed tomorrow. Joanne hated to fake how she was feeling, but she would have to. Rehearsals started tomorrow afternoon and she knew she had to get herself together for the kids.

She woke up hunched over the toilet in the bathroom of her apartment. Joanne was seriously hung over, feeling like she had a brick that weighed a ton on her head. When she moved she knocked over a bottle, as she tried to get her vision back she picked it up to see what it was. "Whiskey." She muttered angrily to herself. She stumbled to get herself up and grabbed her head, she knew that her headache probably wouldn't go away for a few days.

"Maureen." She said.

The lawyer walked to the bathroom counter, looking into the mirror. Her eyes were severely sunken in and she looked like she got hit by a car.

Joanne cried out loud "God help me!"

As much as she didn't want to see anyone today, she needed to see Angel. After what happened yesterday afternoon, she knew that she had to apologize. She figured that they wouldn't let Angel out until later on this afternoon so she would go a while before then. Right now all she wanted to do was sleep. Sleep away all of her problems. Sleep away Maureen and her memory.

Joanne grabbed a bottle of water and stumbled toward the bedroom. Maureen's clothes were still all over the floor, and from routine Joanne stepped over them crawling on the bed.

"Fuck!" she cried. "Even the pillows smell like her!"

Joanne cried into the pillow, holding it. The pillow muffled her words as she smeared her face into it "Maureen! I love you so much. I love you."

With Maureen, Mark, Mimi, Roger

Mark was the only one up. He was always the first to be up.

A few minutes before Collins had come by before he went to see Angel to see if everyone was all right . . .

"Mark, I don't know how you feel about this but we need to get them back together or it's going to tear the whole group apart."

Mark looked down to the floor, not sure of how to feel in the first place. "I know Collins, I know. God why does everyone want me to do everything! Why do I have to be the one to save everyone, to watch everyone! Why can't I ever have someone! What did I do in this fucking world to deserve this?"

Collins looked at his friend, at a loss for words. He hated to see Mark in such a lonely state. He didn't deserve it. "Mark. I'm not trying to hurt you here man. I'm your friend, have been for a long time. Angel and I, we just don't want this group to go down the toilet. I thought you would agree with me."

Mark answered angrily "I do agree with you! I do care about the group I do. But when is the group going to stop and think of Mark? When is the group going to start to care about what the fuck I want for once!"

"Come on man, you know we all care a lot about you."

"Oh really? Then why is it that everyone comes back to me when their shit isn't going well? Why do I have to pick up the fucking pieces for everyone? I'm sick of that shit Collins, I'm fucking sick of it!"

Collins put the cigarette back into his mouth "Mark all I'm going to say is this: If you don't think that anyone in the whole group cares, Angel and I do." With that the professor grabbed his coat, the roses and walked out of the loft.

Mark took a sip from his coffee cup and sighed.

Why the fuck do I have to go through what I have to go through?

"Hey." Maureen'svoice was crisp, but also had a hint of hurt in it. "Good morning."

Mark adjusted his glasses as he turned around "Morning. Did you sleep well?"

Maureen brought the blanket was around her closer to her body to keep warm. "As good as that old couch would let me."

Mark's gaze went back out to the window as he slightly nodded. Maureen looked behind her to see if Roger or Mimi were up, she turned back stepping closer to Mark. "Look, Mark I really wanted to thank you for letting me crash here. That was very sweet."

Mark bitterly walked away from her carrying his cup "Oh you know me, always picking up everyone else's shit as they take it off."

Maureen looked at him confused "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Mark walked up to her so that they were face to face. "I'll tell you what the hell that means. That means that I am sick and tired of cleaning up after you Maureen. I did it while we were together and I'm doing it while you and the person that you cheated on me with are fighting. I'm going to concentrate on myself for once and try to live my life as best as I can. I loved you Maureen, you know what fuck it why lie I still do! What you did to me, was beyond fathomable. How can you walk around acting like everything is all right when it isn't? Why didn't you consider my feelings about it?"

Maureen didn't know what to say, she thought that Mark had dropped it a long time ago. "Mark, I thought that you were cool with this."

"How the fuck could I be cool with it! You wouldn't have given me enough time too! Just jumped at the chance to be with someone else because I wasn't cutting it. I wasn't good enough for you. I'll never be good enough for you." Mark slammed down the coffee cup on the table shattering it and cutting his hand. "Fuck!" He grabbed his hand, the blood running down his arm. Maureen pulled Mark into the kitchen turning the faucet on. The cold water made Mark wince a little until he could feel the temperature change. The warm water felt heavenly on Mark's hand as the blood rushed down the sink. Maureen grabbed a few paper towels and began to wipe the wound. "Oh Mark." She muttered.

"Ow Maureen, that hurts."

"Shhh. I know it does hold on I"m trying to help."

Mark snatched his hand away "I don't need anyone's fucking help, let go." The film maker walked over to a cabinet, grabbing a towel. He turned his head over his shoulder to Maureen "Don't bother knocking on the door, I don't want to be disturbed right now." With that he slammed the door closed.

Maureen wiped up the sink and walked over to the couch. She sat down, curling her legs underneath her for warmth. The performance artist simply could not understand why she affected people the way she did. It was certainly a curse and a blessing.

A groggy Mimi walked out of Roger's room rubbing her eyes. "Mo. You're up?"

"Yep. How are you girl?"

"I'd be better if Mark didn't slam the door so early in the morning. What happened?"

"Long story, don't want to talk about it."

Mimi walked over to the couch and sat down next to Maureen. She placed her hand out so that she could grab part of Maureen's blanket. The two friends wrapped themselves in the blanket, using each other for warmth.

Maureen looked out into the living room. "I don't know Meems, maybe I should just leave."

"No way chica, you're not leaving. We'll work this out, together."

"I feel like I'm such a burden on everyone, especially Mark."

"Oh no chica, he's just upset, but he'll be all right. But we're not letting you leave."

"We're?"

Mimi looked at Maureen. "Yup. Me, Angel, Collins, Roger, Mark and Joanne. We're not going to let you leave over this."

"Joanne. Joanne doesn't want me to stay."

"I bet you she does. She loves you Maureen."

"Everyone that seems to love me doesn't even want to speak to me."

"I'm speaking to you and come on chica, you can't say that you haven't helped them feel that way. Everything is 50/50."

"I just hate the fact that I've acted like such a bitch these past few years of my life."

"Forget Regret Maureen. Forget Regret."

Mimi decided to change the subject, there was no use of her drilling on Maureen right now. Angel would probably take over when he got home. "So you goin' to see Angel today?"

"Yeah, I gotta go apologize."

"Girl, you know Angel loves you. She had already forgiven you yesterday. Angel doesn't hold grudges."

"I know. What time were you going to go?"

"Probably in a couple of hours, I'm going to bring her some clothes. I'm sure she'll be dying to put her old self back on."

Maureen lightly chuckled "I bet."

"When Angel gets home, we'll all go to the Life and party!"

"On that, I think I'll pass."

"Yeah right Maureen." Mimi would hear none of it. She got up and walked toward Roger's bedroom door. "I'm going back to bed for a few hours. You should get some sleep too."

"Thanks Meems."

Mimi walked inside the room closing the door.

Maybe I should call her. No, she would hang up in my face. But, maybe I should try.

Maureen walked over to the phone, slowly picking it up. She dialed the number to the apartment and heard it ring.

Here goes nothing.

Joanne answered extremely hung over. "Hello?"

"Pookie?"

The lawyer's voice perked up just a little. "Maureen?"

"Hi pookie."

"Maureen what do you want. I'm busy."

"No, you're not pookie, just listen to me all right."

"What is there to say Maureen?"

"I wanted to apologize."

There was a silence on the other end. Joanne wanted to tell her the same thing but her stubbornness took over.

"Wanted to apologize for what Maureen?"

"For what I said, for hurting you."

"I see."

"I'm serious Joanne."

"Yeah, I was too."

Immediately Maureen wanted to tell her off, but she didn't she had to fix this.

"Look I called to apologize and tell you how much I love you. I know that what I did to you was wrong, in fact all the times I have done that to you were wrong. I take you for granted and I don't want to do that anymore. I want us to work, not to be the couple in the group that fights 24/7 it's no way to live."

Maureen was absolutely right. There wasn't any reason why they couldn't try again. But Joanne was still skeptical about Maureen changing herself for someone. She rarely did it, but when she did she never went back to those old ways.

Joanne sighed "I love you too, Maureen. I just, I want to lay some ground rules before I decide to try again."

Maureen put the phone down for a second and wept, she didn't think that Joanne was going to even accept her back.

"Okay, what are they?"

"I love you Maureen so much, but there are some things that I just WON'T put up with anymore. The yelling at my in public places is not working for me at all. I can't handle that anymore, it's unnecessary."

"Okay, I won't do that."

"And lastly, I don't want you to flirt with anyone, any more."

"But I-"

"Are you going to listen to me or not?"

"I'm listening."

"Okay, I know you've been really good about it the past few months but I just wanted to let you know that I do notice it and I appreciate it. I'm just saying that I want it to continue."

"Of course pookie."

"Maureen, do you promise to keep these things for me?"

Maureen felt a little silly doing this over the phone, but hey it was this or nothing.

"I promise Jo, I promise."

Joanne sighed into the phone "Okay." The lawyer couldn't believe it was done just like that.

This was way too quick. Am I making the right decision?

"Pookie, I'm coming home right now."

Joanne felt her stomach turn and ran toward the bathroom. As she hurled into the toilet, she could hear Maureen calling her.

"Joanne. Hello? Are you there? Joanne!"

After the lawyer had wiped her mouth with a paper towel, she grabbed the phone realizing how long she had Maureen on hold. Surprisingly she was still there.

She said sickly "Maureen?"

"Hey! What the hell happened?"

"I don't feel well at all. I need to go throw up again."

"Again! Pookie I'm coming home all right, hold on."

Joanne hung up the phone, and began to hurl into the toilet. I guess a whole bottle of Gin wouldn't be very well with an empty stomach.

Maureen hung up the phone and jogged over to Mark's door.

"Mark, I know you hear me. I'm going home. I'll see you later all right? And, I'm sorry again."

"Fuck off Maureen Johnson."

Tears fell down Maureen's cheek as she heard those piercing words from Mark who usually didn't talk to her of all people like that.

She tapped the door, nodding her head "Bye Mark."

With Mark

Mark sat in his room looking at old pictures of him and Maureen when they were together. They were happy, content and ready to start a new life together. Back then, Mark felt like he could take over the world as long as he had Maureen by his side. Until he lost her. Mark's world was shattered when she left him, which is why he has so much resentment toward her. He often blamed himself for their breaking up. Maybe he wasn't hip enough for Maureen, or spontaneous enough. Even though Mark was attractive, intelligent and funny he still couldn't find a person that would fill his void of loneliness and keep him from tearing himself apart from the inside out. He was tired of telling himself that one day she could come along, one day he would fully be happy, one day he wouldn't have to watch his friends be happy that he could truly be happy along with them.