AN: I'm hoping this chapter is historically accurate. I'm not sure if the places mentioned here were around in the early 1990s. But, for the sake of this fic, let's say they were.
In an unrelated story, my profile now has a link to my photobucket account, where I keep my RENT pics, including cast pics and, my personal favorite, a Roger/Mimi shrine. (I love that couple, can you tell?)
Shortly after Emily had left for work, Roger and Mimi took Penny to the park for lunch.
"So, Penny, you like hot dogs?" Roger asked.
"Who wouldn't?" Penny replied. "I mean, besides Uncle Collins, who doesn't eat meat anyway?"
"Right. What do you like on yours? Ketchup, right?"
"And mayonnaise." Roger blinked in shock.
"Mayonnaise? On a hot dog?"
"Yeah. Mom always eats hot dogs with ketchup and mayonnaise. I thought it looked gross until I was four, but then Mom gave me a taste of hers, and now I love it."
"And I used to give Mark grief about eating sauerkraut on his hot dogs," Roger muttered, shaking his head. "How about you, Mimi? The usual?"
"Naturally." Roger smiled and went up to the vendor for three hot dogs. Penny's ketchup and mayonnaise, one with ketchup and mustard for Mimi, and a chili cheese dog for him. As soon as he had all three, he went back to enjoy the meal with Mimi and Penny. As they were eating, Roger slowly became aware that someone was looking at him. But the more Roger tried to ignore the person, the more the stranger moved closer to get a better look
"Can I help you?" Roger groaned, finally getting annoyed.
"Davis?" Roger looked up in surprise, finally recognizing the person.
"Robbie?"
"Aw, da-n, buddy!" Robbie cried. "I thought that was you! Took me a while to recognize you. You look so different with your hair long like that!"
"Ha. Oh! Mimi!" Roger turned to his girlfriend. "This is Robbie, one of my old band mates."
"Sh-t, Roger," Robbie smirked, eying Mimi. "She is FINE!"
"Back off, jerk! She's mine!" Roger snarled in mock anger.
"Okay, okay. Just kidding around, man!" Robbie laughed, seconds before noticing Penny. "Hey, who's the minor? I know she ain't yours. She's too old, unless you were holding out on us."
"Naw. She's our friend's kid. We're just watching her for a bit," Roger explained. "So, how've you been?" Penny and Mimi sat back, giving Roger some respectful time to catch up with his old friend.
"By the way, buddy. You still play?" Robbie asked.
"You know it."
"Well, then. Are you going tonight?"
"Where?"
"Wait, you didn't hear? Today at 5, over at Bar None, man! It's an all-out battle of the acoustics."
"What's that mean?" Penny asked.
"It means, little missy," Robbie explained, "that people from all over the city are coming together to compete in front of some major record company. Roger, you really should go down with you guitar. If you haven't lost your touch, you'll be a shoe-in."
"Robbie, I can't go down to a bar tonight," Roger shook his head. "I'm babysitting. You can't take an eight-year-old to a bar."
"Oh, right," Robbie's face fell. "Sorry, Davis."
"Forget it," Roger sighed as Robbie started to walk off. "Thanks anyway, buddy."
"Roger, you can't pass up this chance!" Mimi cried after Robbie had left. "This could be your big break, baby."
"Come on, Meems. You and I both know a bar is no place for Penny."
"So, you go down to the bar, and meet us at the Ben and Jerry's on 23rd Street when you're done!" Mimi offered.
"Yeah, Mr. Roger!" Penny added. "Go knock 'em dead!"
"You… you guys mean it?"
"Mr. Roger, I don't want you to give up something that means so much to you just because of me," Penny grinned. "I'll be fine. Mimi will still be with me, remember?"
"You heard her, Rog! Go on!" Mimi urged, wrapping her arms around his neck, placing a quick kiss on his lips. Finally, Roger relented.
"Oh, alright. You've convinced me. As long as you promise to be waiting at Ben and Jerry's for me."
"Promise. Now, get going!" Roger grinned widely, and gave Mimi a quick kiss before heading back to grab his fender, and then hurry over to Bar None.
"Come on, Penny," Mimi smiled down at the little girl. "Let's go get some bread crumbs to feed the ducks, okay?"
"Yeah!"
AN: Next chapter will go back and forth between Roger at Bar None, and Mimi and Penny just having fun together. So, until next time...
