Disclaimer - I own nothing of RENT and the song, Gather the Family. Both belong to their respected owners. 'Nuff said.
Italics are lyrics
A/N: I was in choir last night and thought that this song would make a great story. I will update VIVA La Vie Boheme - I'm just having some writer's block with it.
Summary: AU: Roger writes a song inspired by his family - aka the Bohos. Angel lives. Takes place in 2007.
Genre: General/Family
Rating: K
Roger sighed and put the end of the pen to his lips. He had spent all day writing the perfect song - it was a song about family - his family. He looked over at Mimi playing with their two-month-old son, Nathan. He still couldn't believe that he was a father.
"Hey, Meems. Do you have a minute?" Roger asked. Mimi looked up from her playing and nodded, bringing Nathan with her. The infant was a combination of his parents - blond hair and brown eyes. He had lighter skin than Roger.
"Sure. What's up?" she inquired, plopping herself down on the couch next to her husband.
"Can you listen to something I wrote?" the musician asked. Mimi nodded and placed Nathan on her lap.
"Gather the family
Here we belong
And a welcome, good stranger, come in.
Our voices together all singing one song
And it's here that the future begins." Roger crooned.
"Roger, that's beautiful." Mimi told her husband. Roger smiled and kissed the top of her head then looked down at his son. The baby had been diagnosed with HIV and the doctor only gave him less than a year to live, which devastated the couple.
The next day, Mark, Maureen, Joanne, Benny, Collins and Angel were over for coffee and conversation when Roger disappeared into the bedroom he shared with Mimi and returned with his guitar. He handed everyone sheets of paper with the verses and choruses of Gather the Family - the title of his new song - on it. He had worked half the night writing it, but he had taken a nap that afternoon so that he would be ready for his friends that evening.
"Hey everyone. I just handed you pieces of paper with my new song on it. We'll sing it once through, then I'm going to divide you into groups - Mark, Benny and I will be verse one; Joanne, Maureen and Mimi will be verse two and Collins and Angel will be verse three. Here we go." Roger told his friends, strumming his guitar. It turned out that everyone did a great job singing. Once they were through singing the song, Roger nodded his head for everyone to sing again.
"Our ancestors came from away, far away
From a thousand traditions and kin.
What we all share together as we stand here today
With a chance to start over again." Benny, Mark and Roger crooned. They repeated the chorus and stopped singing so that the girls could sing their part.
"Our measure of worth's not in power or gold.
The greatest truth comes from the heart.
It's how we take care of the weak and the old.
And this is a place we can start." Joanne, Maureen and Mimi sang.
"Gather the family
Here we belong
And a welcome good stranger, come in.
Our voices together all singing one song.
And it's here that the future begins." the eight of them harmonized.
"And so, like a forest, our roots hold the past
As our branches reach into the sky.
Let our gift to our children be family that lasts
And a future to which they can fly." Collins and Angel sang.
They repeated the chorus, everyone smiled at each other, walking toward the middle of the loft and put their arms around each other's shoulders.
"Gather the family
Here we belong
And a welcome good stranger, come in.
Our voices together all singing one song.
And it's here that the future begins." the eight of them sang, gently swaying from side to side.
All of them seemed to be thinking the same thing - they were happy to be together.