I'M BACK! Oh my gosh! I am soooooo sorry that I haven't updated in forever! Please forgive me, life and school just got super crazy but here I am! Enjoy the chaper, I love me some reviews! :) Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own RENT.

Turn This House Into A Home

Chapter 19: Lucky

Lily POV

I smiled finishing up the painting I was working on. Mark was out and Beth was napping. It's been a week since we left the hospital and Beth has been perfectly healthy, happy baby girl. After washing my hands and changing my clothes, I headed toward her room when the door opened quickly. I spun around an my eyes widened at the sight. Collins and Roger were both on either side of Mark, who held his hands over a bloodied face.

"What happened?" I got over my inital shock as they helped Mark sit down on the couch.

"I'll get some towels...," Collins ran to the kitchen. Mark stayed quiet.

"I was upstairs when I heard shouting outside...Collins and I ran downstairs. Mark was just lying there...Someone jumped him." Roger pulled Mark's hands away from his mouth and nose. "Put our head back man." I winced taking in the sight, it was odd seeing his without his glasses. Blood was dripping from his nose and from a cut in his lip. A large bruise was forming on his cheek and his jaw was scraped a little. Collins hurried over with a rag fillied with ice and a wet towel. Mark still said nothing.

"I'll do it." I took the make-shift ice pack and held it to his face. He winced. "God, who did this? Did he take anything? What he look like? Does anything else hurt?" I fired off questions, concerned.

"I didn't see his face..." Mark averted my gaze and took the rag out of my hand. "He didn't take anything...I'm fine."

"Like hell you are." I took a towel from Collins and wiped some on the blood of his face. "Collins can you please get me the first aid kit...its in the bathroom." He nodded and left. I reached over to Mark again but he turned away from me. A little pang of hurt went through me, Roger noticed.

"Mark let us help you..." Roger started.

"I just got my ass handed to me, Roger!" Mark glared at his friend. He was embarressed?

"Exactly, so don't you dare push us away now! I know your angry, we'll figure this out, ok?" He tried to keep calm.

"You both have no idea how this feels!" Mark looked up at both of us. Suddenly I was angry.

"You forget who your talking too!" I finally shouted at him. The room went quiet as his face changed. I let out a shaky breath. "You feel weak...you feel stupid because you let it happen..." I stopped suddenly.

"Lily, I...dammit...I'm...I wasn't thinking-" He stumbled over his words.

"I know..." I took another breath holding tears back. I'm stronger now.. Collins enter then with the first aid kit. Cries rang through the loft. I jumped in surprise and ran off to comfort Beth. Picking her up I rocked her slowly. "I'm sorry sweetie..." I quieted her and walked out as Collins and Roger finished patching Mark up. I sat down on a chair opposite the couch and held Beth close to me.

"Your going to be fine." Collins put a bandage on Mark's cheek. Mark met my gaze.

"I wish I could tell you guys who did this. He was wearing all black and a mask. He didn't even take anything. I was walking up to the building and suddenly I was on the ground...Luckily I didn't have my camera with me. The ass broke my glasses though...I'll find my spares later..." Mark finally said.

"It's weird...he jumped you and didn't take anything..." Roger thought for a moment. "Why would anyone do that?"

"New York, New York..." Collins shrugged. I let a small smile appear on my face.

"At least your ok..." I looked down at Beth. Her vibrant blue eyes looked up at me. I smiled at my little girl and gave her a kiss. She giggled and whatever tension in the air went away.

"We should go, Mimi is probably wondering were I am. I'll see you guys later, stay safe. Mark you heal up." Roger and Collins said goodbyes and left. I stood up and moved next to Mark on the couch and handed Beth to him.

"We can't seem to catch a break..." I gazed at his face. He looked up from Beth.

"Life is definitely never boring." He agreed. "I'm sorry." He blurted out.

"I'm sorry for yelling..." I apologized too.

"I think we both lost our cool earlier." I nodded in agreement and put a hand carefully on his cheek. He leaned into my touch.

"I still...can't believe this..." I eyed the bruise on his face. "I can't think of anyone who would do this but Travis..." I thought for a moment. "No, he couldn't have escaped...we'd know about it..." Mark nodded. A knock interupted us. I opened the door to see Brittany standing there with a handsome man with brown hair and green eyes. He seemed to be around my age. "Hello." I greeted her.

"Hi, I found this outside and I think it belongs to Mark." She smiled and held out Mark's scarf.

"Yes, that's his." I took it from her as Mark walked up with Beth then.

"Oh my gosh? What happened?" Brittany stared at him.

"Some guy jumped me outside. Thank you for bringing this up." Mark replied.

"No problem...your ok right?" Mark nodded. Brittany turned to the man next to her. "Oh sorry, this is my boyfriend, Luke."

"Nice to meet you too." He smiled and shook our hands.

"And who is this beautiful girl?" Brittany smiled at Beth as Mark handed her to me.

"Our daughter Beth." I said. Footsteps rang through the hall as Mimi, Roger, and Collins came down.

"Mark! They told me what happened! I'm sorry!" Mimi hugged Mark.

"Its fine." Mimi turned from Mark to our new neighbors.

"Hello." She smiled warmly.

"Mimi, Roger, Collins; these are our new neightbors...Brittany and Luke. They moved in a week ago." They all greeted eachother. Collins spoke after shaking Luke's hand.

"We're about to go to the Life Cafe, want to come with?" He asked.

"Sure! We'd love too!" Brittany replied. We could use a little time away from the lofts, I thought. Mark grabbed Beth's stroller and baby bag.

"Lets go." Roger spoke, and we left. It was a warm day today, which was really nice. The sun felt good. Beth coo'ed happily in her stroller. The conversation was light on our way to the life. Luke was really nice, he and Collins were in a conversation. Brittany seemed nice, she was talking with Mimi; but she kept sending me odd looks. I shook my thoughts away as we entered the Life. We sat down at a large table and order our drinks.

"So Brittany...why New York?" I asked nicely

"I always loved the city and it was a nice change from the suburbs. Luke and I really like it so far. I got a job at that corner CD store." She put a hand on Luke's leg, he automatically started to brush her hand away but stopped suddenly. That's weird..." Luke helps out at the local university." She continued.

"Really? We might be seeing a lot of eachother then on school days. I'm a proffesor there." Collins smiled.

"It'll be nice to have someone there who knows the school. Got lost yesterday." Luke chuckled.

"Yeah, you get the hang of it soon enough." Collins replied. The afternoon went by quickly and soon we left for home. Everyone seemed to be getting along fine. We said our goodbyes and parted ways. I put Beth to bed and left for the bedroom.

"Goodnight love." Mark pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

Night..." I sighed and fell asleep.