Note: Okay, so I haven't abandoned my other stories, but this is a lil plot-bunny that just wouldn't go away. It's a look at preRENT life. This first chapter is actually a prequel. Subsequent chapters begin in 1982 and work forward towards Maureen meeting Mark.

Roger picked up his notebook and headed for the fire escape. Mimi saw something drop to the ground. She leaned down and grabbed it.

"Babe, you dropped—" she stopped when she saw what the picture was. "Why was there a picture of Maureen in your notebook."

"Give it back."

"Why?"

"Because it's mine."

"Why is there a picture of her in your notebook?"

"Mimi, just give it back."

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"No."

"Then what the hell is this doing in your notebook?"

Roger clenched his jaw, refusing to answer. Mimi turned to Mark. "What the hell is this doing in his notebook?"

Mark shrugged. "How should I know?"

He crossed from the kitchen to the living area and looked over Mimi's shoulder at the picture. It was old. From before he'd met Maureen. He shook his head frowning. "I've never seen it."

"Tell me what's going on or I'll call her and ask her what the hell is going on."

Roger sighed. Mark saw a tired sadness in his eyes that he hadn't noticed before.

"If you want to know, she has to be here too."

Mimi nodded. "Fine."

"Give me a minute," he said, picking up the cordless phone.

Roger waited until he was in his room with the door shut before dialing.

"Hello?"

"Maureen, it's me. You and Joanne need to come over now."

"Something wrong?"

Roger sighed. "Mimi found a picture."

"So?"

"She found one of the pictures," he said carefully.

Maureen gasped. "You mean…you mean…"

"Yeah."

"We'll be there in ten. Call Collins and Benny. I'm only going through this once."

"Okay."

He hung up and called Collins's apartment. Benny answered. He was staying with Collins until the divorce was finalized and he could find a place of his own.

"Ben, we need you and Collins to come over now."

"Okay. Why? What's goin' on?"

"Everyone's fine. There's just something that I have to tell you guys. Something Maureen and I have to tell you guys."

"We'll leave now."

"What the hell is going on?" Joanne asked.

"Everyone sit down," Roger said.

"Why is my boyfriend carting around pictures of you?"

"Meems, calm down," Collins said. He eyed Roger and Maureen, his eyes a mix of confusion and mild amusement.

"I'm sure there's a logical reason for this," Mark said.

"There is."

"Yeah," Roger said, "see, um…the thing is…that picture that Mimi found…it's from, uh…okay, a while back…"

"We were married."

Collins started to choke on his beer. Mark patted his back. "I must be losing my hearing. Sounded like you said you and Roger were married."

"We were."

"And this was some drunken thing that happened and then you got divorced, right?" Mimi asked.

"No," Roger said, his voice getting defensive.

"We got married the week after my eighteenth birthday and we were completely sober," Maureen said.

"Honeybear, just how long were you two together?"

"We dated for two years and were married for almost four."

"Why the hell didn't you tell us?"

Maureen looked at Roger.

"It's…we didn't know how to…"

"Easy. You say, 'Hi, I'm Roger. This is my ex-wife, Maureen,'" Mimi said.

"It's not that simple," Roger said.

"Why not?"

"What?"

"Why isn't it that simple? What aren't you telling us?" Collins asked.

Roger swallowed and sighed. Maureen's arms were crossed in front of her and she wouldn't meet anyone's eyes.

"Well?" Benny asked.

Maureen shook her head, tears in her eyes. "I can't do this."

"We have to," Roger said quietly. "You promised…you promised if they ever found out—"

"And we both know promises mean a hell of a lot to you."

Roger winced. "Maureen…"

"It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"I know."

"Fine. We'll tell them everything."