Finally finished the last chapter. Merry (late) Christmas!
It was three o'clock on Christmas afternoon and the friends had just finished their Christmas dinner. Not that they could afford the traditional dinner, but it was food and it was Christmas so they decided it counted.
As soon as the last person had finished eating (Collins) Maureen shouted "PRESENTS!" making Mark get his camera ready.
"You've been overly excited about the presents for weeks." Joanne commented confused. She knew Maureen had a tendency to be very enthusiastic but this was far more than normal. Something wasn't right here.
The presents had all been placed underneath the tree which was really a collection of twigs which had broken off some Christmas trees (with a little help from Maureen and Collins). Maureen decided to spin a bottle to see who would unwrap their present first and it fell on Mimi. She found her present under the tree and knew it was from Angel from the handwriting on the label. She loved the skirt- the night time shade and the gold stars sewn on it were so her.
"This must have taken you ages!" She exclaimed seeing how many sequins Angel had hand sewn onto the fabric. Then she wrapped Angel into a tight hug. "Thank you" she whispered.
"No thank you." Angel countered back to the first friend who had ever accepted her. "Now go try it on. I've been waiting to see you in it."
Mimi rushed to Roger's room to get changed and soon returned wearing the tight skirt which made Roger wolf whistle and Maureen cheer her. Obligingly Mimi turned round and wriggled provocatively until Roger groaned and pulled her down on his lap.
"Let's save that 'til later" he muttered never having been one to share.
"Spin the bottle sexy!" Maureen called to Mimi earning herself glares from Joanne and Roger.
Joanne was sure the bottle had landed on her, but Maureen nudged it slightly so that it fell on her.
"This is so cool Collins!" Maureen cried as she tore the paper off her present to reveal her 'Anarchy Set.' She put the cow hat on straight away and began mooing, then discovering the cowbell she started hitting it in time.
"Do you have any idea how nice it's been not having the cowbell?" Joanne groaned at Collins. hands over her ears. "She used to be so loud when she was practising."
"I have Angel's loud drum practising." Collins countered quickly, then realising he'd probably said the wrong thing added "but I love it. I love seeing that passion in Angel."
"And I love that passion in Maureen." Joanne responded quietly loving how much Maureen's eyes lit up.
Collins was the next to open his present and quickly downed some of the stoli before passing it round the group.
"What's this?" He asked looking at the sheet of music.
"It's a song I wrote for you." Roger replied. "I'll play it to you."
"I thought I was your muse." Mimi teased pretending to be jealous.
"You've got competition." Collins told her whilst winking at Roger and pretending to come on to him.
"Do you want to hear this song or not?" Roger asked, so Collins backed off because he really did want to hear it.
Roger picked up his guitar and began to sing to a slow country tune.
"For this Christmas I could buy my friend a bottle of Stoli, a box of Captain Crunch, some dope to smoke or a brand new coat. A knitted beanie, a checked shirt, some meatless meatballs or a philosophy book But none of these really show I care."
Then the song picked up for the chorus.
"But the anarchist will never do what he's told. Unless it's a request by a certain drag queen with style. Then he'll turn into putty in her hands. He's always been one to melt at a sunshine smile."
Angel had a massive smile at these words. Collins tried to pretend it wasn't true, but his protests were stopped by his friends assuring him he was putty in her hands. Reluctantly he agreed after seeing Angel making big eyes at him and he kissed her.
"What can you buy for someone so great? He's true to his friends and true to himself. Always calm and always cool. As suave as Bond, James Bond is Collins, Tom Collins."
Maureen groaned loudly as Collins did his James Bond impression.
"But the anarchist will never do what he's told. Unless it's a request by a certain drag queen with style. Then he'll turn into putty in her hands. He's always been one to melt at a sunshine smile.
If anyone needs help you know he'll be there. He'll cheer you when you're down, calm you when you're mad. He's someone you know you always can trust- unless it's to catch the keys you've thrown down."
The group all joined in for the next chorus picking it up quickly.
"But the anarchist will never do what he's told. Unless it's a request by a certain drag queen with style. Then he'll turn into putty in her hands. He's always been one to melt at a sunshine smile.
So I just want to say from us all. Where would this group be without you? This family would be far too wild… and sober so on behalf of us all:
Actual reality. Act up. Fight Aids!" Everyone shouted the last words together before applauding the song.
"You described him perfectly!" Maureen exclaimed whilst Angel kissed Collins telling him how much she loved him. Blushing Collins spun the bottle and it fell on Mark.
At first when he opened his present Mark was speechless; he simply gaped at the lenses he had wanted for so long.
"Earth to Mark." Roger teased snapping his fingers in front of Mark's face making him blink and look at Joanne.
"How did you know these were the ones I wanted?" He asked her in amazement.
"I stalked you." She replied seriously.
"Pookie! I didn't know you had it in you!" Maureen exclaimed making Joanne come clean.
"Okay I didn't mean to stalk you, but when I went in the shop you were already there drooling over them."
As Mark gave her a grateful hug he whispered "you must have gone quite abit over the budget."
"You deserve it." she answered softly failing to hold back her slightly pitying smile. But for once Mark was oblivious falling in love with his new lenses.
Roger was next to open his present and was equally shocked by what it was: it was the exact same rare poster of 'Mute' that he had burnt by mistake except it was signed by all the band.
"Where did you find this?" He asked Mimi stunned. She explained about overhearing a customer at the Cat Scratch Club and admitted that she had been going to buy it when Roger and Mark caught her with the drug dealer.
Suddenly Mimi's cutting response to The Man came back to Roger: "Some things in life are more important than your drugs and they give me a far better high."
"So you were talking about…" He questioned her wanting to be sure.
"You." She confirmed looking him straight in the eye. "It made me certain that even though I love the feeling I get after taking drugs and I know how incredibly hard it is for me to give them up, I love you more and I really want to quit. You're too special to me for me to lose you over an addiction."
"I love you too." Roger replied holding her tightly to him. They stayed silently holding each other, thankful to have someone they loved so much.
The others let them have some moments of quiet together until Maureen got bored and instructed Angel to open her present. Unsure Angel glanced at Mimi who gestured for her to go ahead.
"This is just what I wanted!" Angel cried happily opening the red lipstick.
"I know. I'd recorded you talking about it." Mark exclaimed as Angel eagerly pulled out a compact mirror and began applying it. "It's meant to be good quality and smudge proof." he continued making Collins' ears prick up.
"I think we ought to test that." Collins suggested fake innocently.
"Sure." Angel replied sweetly. "Would you pass me that piece of paper please?"
"I'm not sure that would be the best way." Collins responded.
"You should test it on your sleeve to make sure it won't rub off on your clothes." Mimi advised unable to hold back a smile.
"No, still not a good idea." Collins gave her a look.
"Here, use a tissue." Roger offered.
"Oh just kiss her!" Maureen exclaimed annoyed. She couldn't wait until it was time for Joanne to open her present.
"I knew there was a reason why you're my best friend." Collins smiled at her. "You always have the best ideas." She simply rolled her eyes in return.
"Come here baby." Collins drawled pulling Angel into his arms and kissing her. As he drew back he picked up her compact and checked his reflection. "It didn't smudge." He declared.
"I'm not sure that was a very thorough test though." Angel said thoughtfully starting to lean in towards him again. "We ought to do repeat tests" and then she whispered in his ear so only he could hear "and test it in other locations." Collins gulped.
"You can test it all you want in your own time." Maureen burst out pushing them apart. "But now it's time for Pookie to open her present." And with that she shoved the last present into her surprised girlfriend's hands.
"Well I think I can guess who this is from." She said smiling at Maureen. When she opened the present to find the ring Joanne couldn't believe what she was seeing: she actually had to blink a few times to make sure her eyes were working. Was this really what she thought it was? Then she wondered if she was reading too much into this. After all Maureen might have just seen a ring she thought her girlfriend would like and not thought about what it stood for.
Maureen had to smile at the uncertainty in Joanne's eyes. "Oh Pookie, you always overanalyse everything." She said softly which was in itself a miracle and made Joanne realise Maureen was being serious.
"So you really mean it?" She asked wanting to be certain.
"Yes" Maureen confirmed. "I want commitment Joanne. You're the only person I've ever been with who I've truly loved." Angel and Roger both looked subtly at Mark to see how he was coping, but after the excitement of the lenses he wasn't taking it too badly. "I know I can't help flirting with other people, but it doesn't mean anything. It's you and only you that I want and I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
By now Joanne was tearing up, but managed to say "I want that too." Her voice choked with emotion.
Maureen knelt down and placed the ring on Joanne's finger, before Joanne used that hand to pull Maureen to her feet and into her arms.
"Tomorrow I'm going to get you a ring too." She promised loving the idea of Maureen wearing a physical sign of their love- she did have a possessive streak when it came to Maureen.
Later that night as Maureen lay asleep in her arms Joanne looked at her hand loving the way the ring looked on her finger: it looked so right there. She knew this ring meant a new stage in their relationship signifying a certainty in their future together and as she softly kissed the top of Maureen's head she knew she couldn't be happier.
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