Disclaimer – Don't own RENT or Aida. Belongs to respected owners – Jonathon Larson and Tim Rice & Elton John. 'Nuff said.
Italics are song lyrics
A/N: Just a random story idea I got while my Internet was down.
A/N 2: Mark will be singing Amneris' part; Roger will be singing Radames' part and Mimi will be singing Aida's part.
PART TWO
(title – A Step Too Far)
"July 21st, 2001, 9 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. Zoom in on my best friends Roger and Mimi Davis with their newest edition, Sonia Eileen Davis." Mark narrated quietly into his camera. Roger laughed and looked up from holding his daughter. She had been born just a couple hours ago and was peacefully sleeping in Mimi's arms. The doctor thought it best for Mimi to have a C-Section. Both Roger and Mimi had agreed that it would probably be best for Mimi, too.
"I wanna hold her now, Rog!" Maureen giggled, holding onto Joanne's arm. Joanne was holding her and Maureen's two-year-old daughter, Kat.
"Shh! Maureen! You'll wake her up!" Mimi whispered from the hospital bed. Roger was sitting in the orange hospital chair that was next to Mimi's bed. The others – Mark, Maureen and Joanne were either standing or sitting around the bed.
"Hi. I'm Dr. Henson and I'm here to check on mom and baby." A blond-haired female doctor informed us from the hallway. Mimi adjusted herself so that she was sitting upright in the bed. Roger held Sonia while Dr. Henson examined Mimi. The others looked on with curiosity. When it was Sonia's turn, Roger carefully handed the baby to Dr. Henson. The doctor smiled as she examined the little baby.
"Good news, Rog. She doesn't look a thing like you." Mark teased his best friend shortly after the doctor left. Roger laughed quietly and climbed into the bed so that he was sitting behind Mimi.
Maureen, Joanne and Kat left around eleven, leaving Mark, Roger and Mimi alone in the room.
As Sonia and Mimi slept, Mark watched the couple quietly whispering "I love you" to each other. Roger occasionally looked over at Mark and beamed at him. Mark sighed and looked out the window. Dark grey storm clouds were gathering in the west, but other than that, the sky was absolutely calm.
Mark:
It's so strange that he doesn't show me
More affection than he needs
Almost formal, too respectful
Never takes romantic leads
There are times when I imagine
I'm not always on his mind
He's not thinking what I'm thinking
Always a half a step behind
Always half a step behind
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Roger couldn't believe he was a dad. He had always wanted to be one ever since he and Mimi had first made love on their honeymoon. They had been careful and had used protection, but the condom broke, and things only got better from there.
Roger:
I'm in every kind of trouble
Can't you tell? Just look at me
Half ecstatic, half dejected
All in all I'm all at sea
Easy terms I thought I wanted
Fill me with chilling dread
You could never know the chaos
Of a life turned on its head
Of a life turned on its head
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Mark:
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Roger & Mark:
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
As she slept, Mimi felt her newborn baby suckling on her breast. She had to admit, it hurt like hell when Sonia first latched on, but then Mimi got used to it. She was glad that Sonia had a father like Roger to care for her.
Mimi:
I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Have I compromised my people?
In my passion and my haste
I could be his life companion
Anywhere but where we are
Am I leader? Am I traitor?
Did I take a step too far?
"Mark? Are you okay?" Roger asked after a while. He had woken up around one to take care of Sonia.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Mark croaked, adjusting his glasses. Roger smiled at him and sat down next to Mark, Sonia in his arms. She could've been Roger and my baby Mark thought to himself, shaking the thought out of his head.
"I'm gonna go to the cafeteria for some coffee. Do you want some?" Mark asked, standing up. Roger shook his head and kissed the top of Sonia's head before putting her in the hanging bassinet near Mimi's bed.
Mark put his hands in his pockets and headed to the cafeteria, fantasies of him and Roger playing in his head. He firmly shook his head – Roger has a family now – nothing to get involved with.
Mark:
It's so strange he doesn't show me
More affection than he needs
Almost formal, too respectful
Never takes romantic deeds
There are times when I imagine
I'm not always on his mind
He's not thinking what I'm thinking
Always half a step behind
Always half a step behind
Mark got his coffee and headed back up to Mimi's room. He knew that he and Roger could never be together, but it was nice to think about what could have been.
Roger:
I'm in every kind of trouble
Can't you tell? Just look at me
Half ecstatic, half dejected
All in all I'm all at sea
Easy terms I thought I wanted
Fill me now with chilling dread
You could never know the chaos
Of a life turned on its head
Of a life turned on its head
Mimi had woken up and was taking care of her daughter while Roger slept in a squishy armchair in the corner.
Mimi:
I am certain that I love him
But a love can be misplaced
Have I compromised my people?
In my passion and my haste?
I could be his life companion
Anywhere but where we are
Am I leader? Am I traitor?
Did I take a step too far?
Did I take a step too far?
The next morning, the incision the doctor had made to get Sonia out, became infected, leaving Mimi with the worst pain in her life. Roger spent all day with her, leaving Sonia in Mark's care.
By mid-afternoon, Mimi's pain had become so severe, the doctor prescribed her some painkillers. She didn't know what was going on – usually there was no pain after the surgery.
Evening came and along with Mimi's pain, she had developed a fever. Roger, fearing that the baby would catch the fever, had Mark take care of her for the rest of the day.
"Mark. I need to talk to you." Roger told Mark around eight thirty that evening. Sonia had fallen asleep around seven after her feeding.
"Sure." Mark whispered, standing up and set his magazine down. Roger led him out of the room and walked to the elevators. He then pressed the 'down' arrow and waited for the elevator.
"What's wrong, Rog?" Mark inquired after a while. Roger shook his head, tears forming in his emerald green eyes.
The elevator came and the two men stepped inside. Roger pressed the button for the cafeteria and took in a big breath.
"Roger?" Mark asked, putting a hand on Roger's shoulder, but the rocker shook it off.
"Mark." Roger started, his voice cracking. "I don't know how to say this, but-" Roger stopped to wipe the tears out of his eyes and take a moment to find his voice.
Yes! This is the moment I've been waiting for for so long Mark thought, but then noticing Roger's face, Mark had a feeling that wasn't what Roger wanted to talk to him about.
"I can't believe it." Roger said as they entered the cafeteria. Mark looked at his friend, confused.
"What's wrong?" Mark repeated his question from earlier.
"Mimi died." Roger sobbed. Mark drew in a breath. He couldn't believe it.
"Rog, I'm so sorry." Mark apologized.
"No, you're not. You don't know what it's like to lose someone you love." Roger sobbed. Mark grabbed a napkin from nearby and handed it to Roger. Roger dabbed his eyes and blew his nose before throwing it away in the garbage.
"Who's with Sonia?" Mark wanted to know.
"My mom." Roger whispered. Mark nodded and led his friend to a table in the back of the cafeteria.
"What time did Mimi-" Mark couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Two hours ago." Roger answered, burying his face in his hands. Mark could feel tears come to his eyes.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mark asked.
"Y-you could help me look after Sonia." Roger told him. Mark nodded and reached across the table, taking one of Roger's hands in his. He slowly caressed his thumb over Roger's knuckle. Roger didn't seem to notice – or care.
"I would like that." Mark told him, half smiling.
"Thank you. Mimi would've appreciated it." Roger said, wiping fresh tears out of his eyes.
"I'll always be there for you, Rog. You know that." Mark told him, blinking the tears out of his eyes.
"That really means a lot to me, Mark." Roger said, standing up, Mark following right behind him.
-----------
Mimi's funeral was three months later and everyone was there – her family, her friends and everyone in between.
After the funeral, Roger was holding Sonia in his arms – showing her pictures of her mom when Mark came up behind Roger and rested his head on his shoulder, gently nuzzling him. Roger shook his head and walked away. A hurt expression spread across Mark's face. He knew that Roger needed time to get over Mimi's death before he jumped into another relationship.
---------
A year had passed and Roger was on the roof, looking up at the sky. Sonia was down for the night and Mark had fallen asleep around eight. Roger looked at his watch – a quarter to eleven. Sighing, he walked down the stairs to the loft and slid the door open. He then went to his and Mark's room, removed his clothes and climbed in next to Mark. The two of them had been committed in July of this year and were enjoying every minute together, hoping that they would be together forever.
A/N 3: don't own the lyrics to A Step Too Far. belongs to respected owner (Sir Elton John & Tim Rice). 'nuff said.
