Disclaimer: don't own RENT. Belongs to the wonderful Jonathon Larson. The only things I own are the Bohemian kids.

Italics are thoughts, flashbacks, songs and memories

A/N: this story idea came to me from out of the blue. Hope you all enjoy!

Summary: AU: meet the next generation of RENT kids. Takes place in 2006.

Rating: M

Genre: Romance/General

How Do You Measure A Year?
By Sirius Black Luver

CHAPTER ONE
(chapter title – Getting To Know You)

RENT kids:

Chelsea (Chel for short) Michelle Davis (18) – Mimi and Roger's daughter. Very goth and keeps to herself. Oldest of the Bohemian kids.

Andrea (Andi for short) Elizabeth Davis (18) – Mimi and Roger's daughter and Chel's twin sister. Very perky and loves everyone – no matter what the circumstance.

Adam Michael Cohen (16) – Mark and Maureen's son. Looks exactly like his dad, but has his mom's spirit.

Nichole (Nicki for short) Kaitlin Jefferson (14) – Joanne's adopted daughter. Has dark brown hair, blue eyes and a sparkling personality.

Elizabeth (Lizzy for short) Brooke Collins (12) – Collins' adopted daughter. Has blond hair, hazel eyes and is very shy.

Taye Edward Coffin (10) – Benny and Alison's son. Looks exactly like Benny.

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"October 31st, 2006 – zoom in on everyone getting ready for Halloween. Well, not everyone…" Adam put down his dad's camera and walked over to his friend, Chel. She was staring out the window of the loft and stroking the ends of her long black hair. She had been thinking about her mother – Mimi Davis. She had passed away shortly after her twin sister, Andi, was born. Her dad, Roger, had been raising her, along with every other damn kid that ran around in the loft.

"Chel? You okay?" Adam asked, making Chel jump.

"God Adam! Don't scare me like that!" Chel absolutely hated it when people snuck up on her.

"I'm sorry." Adam apologized. Chel rolled her emerald green eyes and continued to stare into space. She really didn't like Halloween – it was just another damn holiday to get all excited about.

"Chell!" Andi, her twin sister called, bouncing up to her and wrapped Chel in a hug.

"ANDI! GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!" Chel yelled, making everyone in the room stare at her.

"Chelsea Michelle Davis! Go to your room!" Roger commanded. Roger only called Chel by her full name only if she was in major trouble. Chel muttered a few dark words and stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her. Roger sighed and turned his attention back to the black and orange streamer he was hanging.

"Roger. Andi was just being nice to Chel and obviously, Chel didn't appreciate it." Collins spoke up. He was sitting on the couch with Lizzy, Andi and Mark watching one of the movies in the Scary Movie series.

"She could have handled it differently." Roger huffed, catching himself before he completely fell over.

"Okay, I hope all the kids are ready to go to haunted houses and the annual haunted hay ride." Maureen chirped, coming into the living area dressed as a black cat. Roger snickered at the costume – it had been the same one she had worn on New Year's Day in 1989.

"Maureen, I can't believe that thing still fits you. What'd you have to do – use Crisco?" Roger teased. Maureen rolled her eyes and gave Roger the finger.

"Okay, everyone. Let's go!" Maureen called. Just then there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Mark said, getting up from the couch and slid the door open. Joanne and her daughter, Nichole – Nicki for short.

"Hey Joanne! Hi Nichole." Maureen greeted them, hugging both of them at the same time. Nicki broke free from the hug and went to sit with Lizzy. The other girl smiled and patted the seat next to her.

"Who all is coming with me to take the kids to haunted houses and our annual haunted hay ride?" Maureen inquired, looking hurt that no one had answered her question.

"I'll go, Mo." Roger spoke up.

"Me, too." Mark said.

"I'll stay here and hand out candy." Collins informed the group.

"I'll go, Maureen." Joanne told her, smiling. The two women used to date before Maureen got back together with Mark.

"Kids? You ready?" Roger inquired.

"Yes, dad! I'm coming!" Andi piped up, bounding over to Roger. She was dressed as Glinda from the musical, Wicked.

"Let's go kids!" Maureen motioned the kids to follow her.

"Chel can't come – she got an attitude with her sister, so she's staying home." Roger informed Maureen. She nodded as Mark, Collins, Joanne, Andi, Lizzy, Nicki and Adam headed out the door.

"I'll watch her, man." Collins offered, not looking away from the TV.

"Thanks, Col." Roger smiled and closed the door behind him.

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A short while later, the phone rang. Not really wanting to answer it, Collins sat back and relaxed on the couch.

"Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeak!" Roger and Mark's voice rang throughout the loft.

"Hi Mark. Hi Roger. You boys really need to fix that damn answering machine. Anyway, why I'm calling is because Alison, Taye and I can't make it – Taye caught a cold and both Alison and I are watching him. So, say hi to everyone for us and I guess I'll see you guys on Thanksgiving. Peace." Collins smiled and shook his head – Benny had finally stopped being such an ass and had come to his senses.

"I miss you, Angel, girl." Collins whispered to the heavens. "It's been sixteen years today since I lost you. Seems like yesterday that we first met." Collins sighed and thought back to when he and Angel first met.

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"Oh my God! Are you okay, honey?" a voice called in the darkness.

"I'm afraid so." Collins answered, looking up at the person sitting before him.

"Did they get anything?" the person – a boy about twenty-three or twenty-four asked.

"I didn't have any money, but they took my stuff." Collins told the person. The boy started to wipe the blood off of Collins' face.

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm fine." Collins said, smiling slightly.

"I'm Angel." The boy said. Angel? Collins thought.

"Friends call me Collins – Tom. Tom Collins." Collins introduced himself.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Angel told Collins, helping him stand up.

"Ow." Collins moaned, caressing his broken ribs.

"We sort of have to hurry – I have a Life Support meeting to go to." Angel said, taking Collins' hand in his.

"Life Support?" Collins questioned.

"Yeah, it's for people with AIDS. People like me." Angel told him, looking down at the ground.

"Me, too." Collins said, smiling.

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Collins felt tears in his eyes as he remembered that day when he had met his Angel. She certainly was an angel indeed Collins thought to himself. Standing up, he started to walk towards the refrigerator when he heard a soft crying sound coming from the bedroom that Chel and Andi shared. Confused, Collins headed to the door and knocked quietly.

"Go away." Chel's voice sounded from the other side.

"Chel? It's your Uncle Collins. Can I come in?" Collins asked. He stepped back as the door slid open. Chel was standing in the doorway, clad in her usual black clothes and her spiked choke collar.

"What do you want?" Chel asked, wiping her tears away.

"I was thinking since the others are gone and I need some company, would you like to do watch a movie?" Collins inquired.

"Can't. I'm grounded, remember?" Chel reminded him, crossing her arms over her chest. Collins sighed, smiled slightly and walked back over to the couch. He knew that if he left Chel alone for a while, she would be okay.

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Meanwhile, the others – Roger, Andi, Maureen, Mark, Adam, Joanne, Nicki and Lizzy were having a fun time. They had already been to three haunted houses and were driving to the haunted hay ride.

"Daddy? Can I ask you something?" Andi asked, pulling Roger aside.

"Sure, sweetie." Roger told her, nodding for Maureen and the others to get the tickets for the haunted hay ride.

"What's up?" Roger asked his daughter as soon as the others were out of hearing range.

"Why doesn't Chel like me?" Andi questioned. Roger sighed, put an arm around Andi's shoulders and led her to a hay bale near the entrance of the large barn.

"Chel does like you, honey. She just has a different way of showing it." Roger told her.

"Really dad?" Andi asked. Roger nodded, smiled and stood up just as Mark, Maureen and the others walked over to them.

"Everything okay?" Mark asked his best friend. Roger nodded and followed the kids to the hay ride.

A couple minutes later, everyone was squished in the tractor that was pulling the ride – Roger, Maureen, Mark and Joanne were in the front while the kids were in the back of the ride. They heard the kids scream every so often, but they knew that they were just having fun.

"You okay, Rog?" Joanne asked as the ride continued to move down the trail.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about – things." Roger told her, laughing at a silly looking pumpkin suspended from the branches above their heads. With one swift movement, the pumpkin came down, nearly making Roger pee himself. He smiled as Mark wrapped an arm around Maureen's shoulders and whisper loving words in her ear. Maureen laughed and playfully shoved Mark away.

"At least someone's having fun." Roger muttered, turning and looking at the kids sitting in the back. They were laughing and joking when all of a sudden, they screamed. Someone in a Freddy Kruger mask and chainsaw had jumped onto the back of the wagon.

"Rog, it's a fake chainsaw. The kids are fine." Maureen told him, giggling as Mark trailed kisses up and down her neck. Roger smiled and rolled his eyes – it seemed like everyone around him was head over heels for someone. He hadn't dated anyone since Mimi passed away eighteen years ago. Sighing, Roger smiled and tried to enjoy the rest of the hay ride.

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Ten minutes later, the hay ride ended and the Bohemians piled into their respected cars and drove to the loft, where Collins and Chel would be waiting their arrival.