A/N: Yeah I'm back with another story. I know that it's been a while for all of you faithful readers since I've updated but I have an excuse. I JUST STARTED COLLEGE! Well about three weeks ago, but still. Anyway here's a new one.

There's Beauty in the Breakdown

Summary: It's September 11 and though they aren't hurt, the tragedy affects all the bohos, especially Roger. When their mother is killed in the attack, it's up to the rocker to take over raising two girls who turn out to be his.

Chapter 1

It was about five in the afternoon on September 11, 2001. The loft's small television had been tuned to the local news channel all day. There had been at least three people glued in place watching it all day. Now most of them were too emotionally spent to watch anymore. Mark had gone to the store to buy food with Maureen leaving Angel, Collins, and Joanne in the loft. Collins was on the fire escape, smoking a joint while Joanne napped on the couch. Angel was crying in the corner. The only time she had shed more tears was when Mimi had passed away a year before. No one knew where Roger was. He had stormed out of the loft in a huff right after the first plane hit.

They all found it hard to believe. The Twin Towers were gone, and along with them went so many lives. It was truly baffling to the minds of our favorite bohemians. Even Maureen was subdued. At a quarter past, Collins re-entered the loft and turned the television off. He went over to Angel and wrapped her in his strong brown arms. The drag queen wept on his shoulder.

"All those poor people." She sobbed.

"I know, Ang. I know." Collins soothed, rubbing her back. He held her and let her cry until she fell asleep against him. A few seconds after which, the loft's front door slid open. The professor looked up to see Roger coming in flanked by two blond girls, one as tall as the musician, the other barely reaching his knees. Collins cocked an eyebrow at him. "What the fuck?" he mouthed.

Roger held up a hand. "Mark?" he whispered.

"He went to the store with Mo."

"No we're back." Mark commented from behind Roger. "What's going on?"

Roger eyed Angel and Joanne who were sleeping peacefully. "Let's go in the hallway." He suggested. "I don't want to wake them up."

They all trooped out and walked a little ways down the hall. Mark looked with interest at the two girls. It was a mark of Maureen's tiredness that she hadn't noticed them yet.

"Oh my God Roger, is this them?" Mark asked when they were far enough down the hall.

"Yep, this is them." The rocker replied.

"Who is them?" Collins demanded. "Am I the only one who has no idea what is going on? Who are these girls Rog?"

"Collins, Maureen, these are my daughters."

That perked the diva right up. "Holy fuck, since when do you have daughters?"

"Uh since…how old are you Danni?" Roger mused.

"Sixteen, Dad." The tall blond girl answered.

"Since sixteen years ago then." Roger deduced. "One is April's and mine and the other is the result of a crazy night I had with April's sister Elizabeth." At the sound of her mother's name the little girl let out a sob and Roger bent down and scooped her up. "I know Liz. I'm going to miss her too." He turned to his friends. "Elizabeth worked at the Trade Center and she didn't make it."

"I'm confused." Collins admitted.

Roger sighed. "Then let's go back in. I only want to explain this once."

He led them back in, still holding his little girl, with the other one close in his heels. Collins woke up Joanne and Angel and quickly filled them in. Soon everyone was attentive and ready to listen to what Roger had to say. He sat down in the chair by the couch still being flanked by the girls.

"Alright, pay attention. About a month after I met April, she got pregnant, and yeah it was mine. No one knew because you al thought that she was away finishing a year of college then. Really she was with her mother and sister getting ready to have her kid. When the baby was born, April gave her to Elizabeth. Then when April…died, Elizabeth kept the kid and I went to see her periodically. Usually after a visit to the doctor so no one would think anything was up. Ten years later I got really trashed with Elizabeth and we ended up making a kid that night."

"So your daughters are sisters and cousins at the same time? That's fucking creepy Roger. Only you could make something that incestual happen." Maureen interjected.

"That's not incest Honeybear. Let him finish." Joanne hushed.

"Mark knew that I had daughters and he knew who they were by, but I never let him meet them. And I didn't tell the rest of you guys, or…Mimi because I wasn't expecting to to have to actually raise them. But Elizabeth died today in the attack, so they've got no one else. Since they are legally half mine, I guess it's my responsibility now."

"The poor girls." Angel cooed. "So they're staying here now?"

Roger nodded. "They'll be sharing Collins's old room." He sighed tiredly. "I guess we should do introductions now." he brought the older girl forward first. She has long straight blond hair and deep emerald eyes. She was about as tall as her father, but had April's build rather than Roger's brawn. "This is Danielle Aprillis Ericsson. She's sixteen. And this," he continued, bouncing the younger girl on his knee. "Is Lizette July Ericsson. She's six." The girl still had tears coursing down her face. She had curlier hair than her sister and her eyes were more aqua than green. "Girls I'd like you to meet my friends."

Mark smiled genuinely at them. He was so proud of Roger for stepping up and handling his responsibilities. "Hi, I'm Mark Cohen. I live here with Roger and I guess we'll be getting to know each other better really soon." He said.

"Mark is my best friend you guys, so be nice to him. He's also your godfather Danni. But we'll talk about that later." Roger interjected.

Collins went next. "You can just call me Collins." He told them. "Me and your dad go way back, so I'll be around a lot."

"And I'm Angel." Said the drag queen from her seat in the professor's lap. "I'm madly in love with Collins so I'll be around just as much as he is. I also always have candy."

Maureen giggled. "Yeah she does and I always have beer, or tequila, or wine, or something fun. Oh I'm Maureen by the way." She spouted out quickly.

Joanne rolled her eyes. "Maureen you can't give any of that to Roger's daughters. You know better than that." She turned to the girls. "Hello, I'm Joanne, and for some strange reason, I'm madly in love with Maureen so-"

"So she's a workaholic and you'll never see her." Maureen jumped in. "But I'm blissfully unemployed, so I'll be here and we can hang out!"

"Moocher." Collins faked coughed into his hand.

Maureen flipped him off. "Whatever Collins, at least I didn't have my lover buy me a fucking coat and end up living with him for 'a thousand sweet kisses.'" The diva teased.

Roger rolled his eyes and looked at his daughters. "Ignore them. Mark, Angel, and Joanne are the most sane and normal people around here. Ask them if you ever need anything. Stay away from the other two."

"Hey! I am perfectly sane." Collins protested.

"Col, you're having an argument with Maureen about who is the bigger moocher. That's insane."

"Arguing with Maureen period is insane." Joanne muttered. "Sorry Roger, but I've got to leave now. I have a huge case to handle tomorrow and I know that all this madness from today is only going to make life harder for me."

"No it's fine Jo, I understand. I'll see you tomorrow. Say bye to Joanne girls." Roger said.

"Bye," they chorused.

"I'll meet you at home Pookie." Maureen told her girlfriend. "I want to talk to Roger's little cuties for a while."

Roger's beeper went off just then. Mark gave him a look, and the rocker rolled his eyes. "I have to handle something right now. Mo can you keep them company for a while?"

"No prob Rog!" the diva agreed.