Author's note: Please don't flame! This is my first attempt at Rocky fics, so I'd appreciate constructive criticism!
Prologue
Roger looked up from his guitar when the door to the Loft burst open. He had finally stopped expecting his Mimi to burst through the door, but his heart still leapt into his throat every time someone entered the Loft. He expected it to be Mark, or Maureen with yet more problems with Joanne (Roger's typical response to their constant fighting was along the lines of "It must be nice to have someone to fight with," which usually shut them up), or Collins, back from his generally constant post at Angel's graveside. What he didn't expect was for someone from a moment in his past to waltz back into his life.
He composed his expression into his usual poker face as the red-haired girl stood in the doorway of the Loft, looking around nervously. Finally, it dawned on Roger what she was waiting for. He almost laughed at his own stupidity. Three months around your closest friends tend to suck polite manners right out of you! he thought. He smiled tentatively at the girl. "Please, come in. Um, excuse the mess. Two guys living alone without a woman around tend to not care about cleanliness. If you can find it, there's a chair. You should sit. You look pale. More than normal."
She nodded. "Roger…"
He wasn't paying attention. "Columbia, why did you come here? That night…I wasn't thinking. I just needed an escape. But I've finally got my life back in order."
Columbia looked at the floor. "I understand that you'd rather I not be here. But you have to understand that I'm here for a purpose. Coming here was a huge risk. I didn't even know if I'd find you. And yes, this is about that night."
Roger paled. "I didn't…you know, infect you, did I?"
"No. Don't worry. I'm negative. But the reason I got checked was because about a month after you left, I started getting nauseous all the time. I was sick, and tired, and in misery. Magenta dragged me to a doctor. He tested my blood, and that came back negative, but there's something else." She couldn't meet Roger's eyes. "I'm pregnant, Roger. About four months now."
Roger's jaw dropped. Pregnant? She's pregnant? But…no…she can't be… "How do you know it's mine? It could be Frank's."
"Because you're the only person I've slept with in over a year. Trust me, it's yours." She finally looked at Roger. He had his eyes clenched shut, and he was pale. "Roger!" Columbia placed an arm around him. "Roger, are you okay?"
Roger barely heard her over the swirl of memories attacking him. He flashed back suddenly to that night over four months ago, shortly after Mimi's death.