A/N: I apologize for the delay in updating… I had finals and then I had checking out of my dorm and coming home to deal with, and then of course catching up with all my friends I don't often get to see. Finals went well, by the way… not that anyone was wondering… or cares… lol. Here's the next chapter.

Mark's POV

There was a time not too long ago when I would have been ecstatic to find Maureen knocking on my door, apologizing for the way she treated me and pleading for me to let her stay here. Now I'm not so sure how I feel, but I guess that doesn't really matter, because the girl standing in front of me so little resembles my ex-girlfriend that I almost didn't recognize her.

I guess the immense effort of micromanaging every aspect of her life, combined with an obvious lack of nutrition, had to take its toll on her sometime. Her face is gaunt, and the circles around her eyes make her appear as if she's been on the losing end of a fistfight. Good thing she has an oversized sweatshirt on, because if I could see her ribs protruding (as I'm sure they do), I might just go off on her. In any case, she looks so tragically undone by her own denial that I can't possibly refuse her request.

"Come in, Maureen. I'm sorry it's not warmer in here…" Her teeth are chattering, and she's hugging her arms to herself tightly, like she's holding on for dear life. Well, of course she's cold, its winter in New York and she has no body fat left to keep her warm.

"Why do you need a place to stay? Is everything ok? Did something happen with Joanne?"

"Joanne kicked me out. I disgust her. She doesn't love me anymore." Maureen states matter-of-factly. I raise an eyebrow.

"She kicked you out? When?"

"Six nights ago. After my protest and the riot and everything."

"SIX nights ago? Where the hell have you been staying?" In my worry, it comes out harsher than I intended. She flinches and I immediately regret my tone.

"At a hotel… but I'm running out of money. I just need a place to sleep. You have every right to hate me, but if you let me sleep here, I'll chip in some money for the power bills or whatever. I promise I'll stay out of the way… please, Mark? I won't eat any of your food or anything."

I almost laughed at that. I think I'd be more willing to let her stay if she asked permission to consume the entire contents of our kitchen. She's waiting for my answer; her eyes are begging me to take pity on her.

"Well, I should probably ask Roger… but I think it will be ok. At least for a little while. I'm sure you and Joanne will work things out sooner or later."

She manages to flash me a small grateful smile, but I can see the difficulty she has with just that small gesture.

"So… where can I sleep?"

"You're going to sleep now? It's only 7:00. Don't you want dinner or something first?"

"Oh, um, I ate already. Late lunch. Early dinner. One of those. I'm just really tired. So, sleeping arrangements? I'll take the couch if that's what you want." I can tell she's lying. Its almost like she's too exhausted to come up with the intricate fabrications she used to spew off at me about her "meals," right down to the serving sizes. I study her for a moment, but she won't meet my gaze.

"You don't have to sleep on the couch. If you're really that tired you can go lay down on my bed… we'll figure something else out later."

"Thanks, Marky." She croaks. "You're a lifesaver."

She picks up a small suitcase and starts toward my room.

"That all you brought?"

"Yeah."

"Ok… have a nice nap…" I say doubtfully.

I hear her close the door and I heave a great sigh. No more deaths in this apartment, not on my watch. Joanne's out of the picture, so it looks like its up to me to "fix" whatever's wrong with the impossibly stubborn and self-destructing Maureen. Fuck.

A/N: This is the last update for about two weeks probably, because I am going to Israel and I don't come back until the 26th of December. Everyone have a great holiday!