I made it to chapter ten, yay! Hahaha. Anyways, enjoy, review please, no flames! Thanks a lot, I love ya'll!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Rent! X(

Turn This House Into A Home

Chapter 10: La Vie Boheme

Lily POV

I woke up the next morning, still in the clothes I wore yesterday. Getting up and heading to the bathroom, I noticed my eyes were still red and puffy from crying yesterday. I showered and dressed for the day. How am I going to face him today? I left my apartment and slowly went up to their loft. I hesitated for a second before knocking. Surprisingly, Mark answered.

"Can we talk?" I asked softly, before he could say anything. He nodded and took my arm, leading me past Collins, Roger, and Mimi in the living room. I waved to them as I entered his room. Mark shut the door and I sat on the edge of his bed. He sat next to me and waited for me to speak.

"Mark, I-," I stopped. My hands shook nervously, I looked down. He took my face in his hands.

"Talk to me Lily…" He pleaded. Tears stung my eyes then.

"Cindy told me that I wasn't good enough for you."

"What? She-" I cut him off.

"No, let me finish. She said, your better then all of this and you need someone better to be with. But, I think she's right." Tears rolled down my face. "I don't deserve you, Mark." I pulled my face away from him. I lowered my head trying not to sob. Mark got down in front of me, taking my face a again.

"Don't you dare believe my sister, she doesn't know what she saying. I love you Lily, I wont you. I don't want anyone else but you." He looked me dead in the eyes. I wanted to kiss him so badly then, but I quickly stood up pushing him away.

"I c-can't…" A sob went through my body. "I need to go." I rushed out of the room toward the door. Roger caught my arm as I passed him.

"Lily…what's going on?" He asked worried, I pulled away from him and went back to the door. Mark tried to follow.

"Lily, please…don't leave" He reached out to me. I opened the door and backed out.

"I'm so sorry." I began to run down the stairs. I heard Marks protests echo through-out the stairs as I got outside. Then I kept running.

Mark POV

She left…Suddenly I was angry. Damn it Cindy!.

"Mark, what just happened?" Roger asked concerned. Collins and Mimi watched from the couch, both worried.

"My sister, that's what happened…" I grabbed the phone and furiously dialed her number.

"Hello?" She answered.

"How dare you!" I quickly replied.

"Mark? W-what's-"

"How dare you talk to Lily like that! You had know right Cindy!" I practically yelled at her.

"I told her the truth, now maybe you'll come to your senses. Get away from all that! I just want you to be happy!" She said harshly.

"I AM HAPPY!" I yelled. "…or at least, I was." I sighed. "Look Cindy, we never saw eye to eye on things. But, trust me. You don't know best….stay the hell out of my private business and don't ever talk to Lily again…" I slammed the phone down and collapsed into a chair, putting my head into my hands. "Shit…" I looked up at my roommates, who stared back at me in shock. Maybe I should start explaining…

Lily POV

Cold air hit me, drying my tears. I stopped running tired, noticing I was in the park. I let out a heavy sigh and sat down on a nearby bench. What have I done. I thought about the hurt look on Mark's face. I looked at the view I had from the bench. The cemetery. Some time went by, I thought about leaving but, I sat there trying to clear my head. The park was actually pretty peaceful compared to the loud streets nearby.

"Hey stranger…" I spun around and saw Collins behind me. He had on the leather jacket Angel gave him and was carrying some flowers.

"Hey…pretty flowers." I eyed the daisies he held.

"Thank you, is this seat taken?" He motioned to the empty spot next to me on the bench. I shook my head and he sat down.

"How is-..?" I looked down.

"Mark told us what happened." He said simply.

"I figured he would…I really hurt him Collins. That look in his eyes as I left…" I said sadly. "What happened when I left?"

"He had a little chat with Cindy over the phone." Collins stated. "He defended you Lily. He isn't mad at you…not one bit."

"Why? I hurt him…" I trailed off.

"You and I both know it's not your fault. We've all met Cindy, she isn't…the easiest person to be around…" Collins laughed a little.

"I guess not…hey, just what are you doing here?" I asked quietly.

"I was going to visit Angel, do you want to come?" He stood up.

"O-oh, u-um. I don't know…" I replied. He took my arm and smiled.

"Sure you do…I can introduce you two." He escorted me through the tombstones till we stopped at Angel's. I looked to the grave sadly, from what everyone has told me Angel really did seem like and amazing person to have as a friend. "I miss you…" Collins trailed off setting the flowers down. He ran his had across the tombstone wistfully.

"La vie boheme…," I read the last words on the stone. Collins took my hand and put in on the tombstone.

"Lily Foster, meet Angel Dumott Schunard." He said formally then smiled and took a step back. I ran my hand over the soft stone.

"Hello Angel…" I felt and odd chill run through the air. Your here now aren't you? "It's an honor to meet you." I said genuinely.

"Angel would have loved you." Collins smiled in thought. I turned to him.

"Really…" I trailed off as he nodded and look to the stone.

"We should get back, I think you have a certain filmmaker you want to talk to." He smiled knowingly. "See you later Angel. I love you, always." With that we walked away and back to the lofts.

"I wish I knew what to say to him…" I said to Collins on the way back.

"It'll be fine, that boy loves you." He put a comforting arm around me.

"How is the wedding planning going?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Mimi and Roger have actually been getting a lot done between both their work schedules, Mimi was talking about doing bridesmaid dresses with Maureen, Jo, and you soon."

"S-she wants me to be a bridesmaid?" I asked astonished.

"Don't look so surprised, girl." Collins chuckled.

"That's really sweet of her…" I smiled .

"You, my girl, have been totally accepted by our little posse," He laughed.

"I like the sound of that, having a real family…" I stated, touched.

"Yeah…," He agreed. Back in the building, we noticed Mark wasn't in their loft. "He's probably on the roof now." I nodded and thanked Collins with a hug, before going up the roof and sure enough, Mark was there, looking over the city. The sun was almost set by then.

"Hey…," I said sheepishly. He turn startled then relaxed quickly when he saw me.

"Hi…," He took and hesitant step toward me. I threw myself into his arms then.

"Mark…I'm so sorry, I hurt you. I shouldn't have listened to Cindy. I love you so much…" I took his face in my hands. "Please, please forgive me…?"

"Nothing to forgive hon." I kissed him deeply.

"Collins said you called Cindy…" I stated after we pulled away.

"Yeah, I was so angry and I basically told her to back off, I could have handled it a little better, but she really has no say in our relationship, Lily…," He replied, I simply nodded.

"Hey, I want to show you something…" I took his hand and walked him into my apartment. Opening the door to my studio, I led him in. "This is were I'd go to escape, I'd come here and paint for hours on end. I've seen your films, so I thought it's only fair if you should see my paintings…" I watched Mark look around at finished and un-finished paintings. He studied them, until a large one caught his attention.

"Is that…?" He looked at one that had eight people in it.

"Yeah, it's us." The painting wasn't close to being finished but you could make out the faces of Roger, Mimi, Maureen, Joanne, Collins, Angel, Mark, and myself, all sketched in charcoal. We were in the Life Café sitting around the table, having a good time.

"It's amazing Lily…and you put Angel in it, Collins will like that." He studied it.

"Yeah, I kind of met Angel today…" He turned to me confused. "Collins found me in the park and we got to talking. He took me with him to Angel's grave."

"Oh…I see, that makes more sense." He nodded.

"You know, I just thought of a name for this painting…" I smiled that the thought.

"What's that?" He asked.

"La Vie Boheme…," I got closer to him and pressed my lips against his.