Chapter 7:

Collins stood in front of the mirror in him and Angel's room. He adjusted the collar on his red polo. He took a deep breath. "You can do this. She'll say yes." Angel came out of the bathroom, with a towel around his waist.

"You look guapo!" She said wrapping her arms around Collins' waist from behind.

"Gracias." Collins said laughing and turning to face her. They quickly kissed and Angel grabbed some clothes from the closet and got dressed, and then put on her wig and makeup.

"I'm ready!" She sung, popping out from the bathroom. She was wearing a purple tank dress, with a high waist and a sparkly silver belt, and a thin black sweater over it, with her signature black heels.

"You look great." They left the apartment and walked down the street to the restaurant. Collins gently fingered the ring in his pocket.

Meanwhile Back at the Loft:

Mimi was straddling Roger's lap as they kissed on the couch. KNOCK! KNOCK! Someone was at the door. "Mhmm." Mimi moaned. "I think we should…" Roger deepened the kiss. "Get the door." He deepened it again. She wound her finer in a strand of his hair. KNOCK! KNOCK! "Mhmm." Mimi moaned again, jumping off of Roger and quickly adjusting her clothes and hair before opening the door. "Mama, Padre?" She asked.

Mama, Padre?! Roger thought to himself. Mimi's Mom and Dad!? After everything she just told me they show up!?Oh God what if they hate me?!"

"Hello Marcella. Long time no see dear." Mimi's mom, Tanya said. Mimi's blood was rushing to her head it had been such a long time. Mimi was a spitting image of her Mom, who had gained a little weight, but filled her yuppie yellow sundress well.

"Hi." Mimi said out of nerves.

"Well Marcella, aren't you going to invite us into your home?" Her father, Antonio asked.

"I told you when I was 5 Dad, it's Mimi not Marcella."

"And why is that, are you ashamed of being named after your Abuelita, my mother?"

"No Dad, I just.."

"Let's not talk about that now." Tanya interrupted. Mimi nodded and opened the door wider, allowing her parents in. Roger awkwardly stood up and eyed Mimi's parents. "And Mimi, who is this?" Her mom asked.

"Oh, Mom, Dad this is my boyfriend Roger. Roger, my parents." She said sensing Roger's discomfort. Roger politely shook hands with Mimi's parents

"It's nice to meet you." He said shyly.

"Oh Roger, you have some of Mimi's lipstick on you!" Tanya said giggling, licking her finger and wiping it off for him. Both Roger and Mimi turned beat red.

"So what are you guys doing here?" Mimi asked.

"What, is it so strange when parents come to visit their estranged daughter after nearly 4 years?" Antonio asked. Mimi rolled her eyes

"I wouldn't exactly say estranged."

"Well you never call."

"Neither do you. And out of the 3 of us who are the 2 that can afford international calls? Yeah, that's you guys." "Excuse us, I need to talk to Roger." Mimi said grabbing Roger's hand and pulling him towards the bedroom. "I'm sorry." She said desperately as she leaned against the door.

"It's okay Marcella." Roger said smirking and kissing her.

"Mhmm. ah pero usted hace no usted piensa que Mimi es mucho más atractiva?"

"I have no idea what you just said. But it sounded very sexy."

"UGH! I want you so bad right now! I'm sooo horny!" Mimi squealed. Roger cracked up.

"A little sexual frustration, eh?"

"Fuck! Why'd they have to even come here?"

"Fuck?" Roger asked, smiling and wiggling his eyebrows. Mimi kissed him

"I love you. I mean it Rog, don't let them intimidate you or make you feel like you're not good enough, or just pretty much ignore everything they say!" She giggled. He kissed her nose.

"I think my ego can handle it." They opened the door and headed out.

Angel and Collins:

"Well Thomas, that was delicious!" Angel said twirling down the street, she tripped and Collins caught her.

"Ang, I need to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"Angel, usted es mi mundo. Vivo para el amor que usted me da. Yo no sé lo que prescindiría de usted. Nunca tenga adoré alguien que la manera te quiero. Usted adora la vida y lo vive lleno fuera. Usted ha traído y me ha enseñado tanto. ¿Favor de me se casa?" Angel brought her hand to her mouth. Collins was proposing! In Spanish! Angel didn't know what to say….

"Can I get you guys something to drink?" Roger asked.

"We'll both have water, thank you Roger." Tanya said. After they were all seated on the couch the interrogation began.

"Roger, where do you work?" Antonio asked.

"I'm ugh in a band, as bad as that sounds. But we play gigs every week, and we have a manager, he actually got us into this big competition in a few months, for some insane cash prize. So ugh, I take care of Mimi." He said confidently.

"You didn't tell me about a competition." Mimi said brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

"I forgot, I just got caught up with everything." She nodded.

"So, how's college going Mimi?"

"Dad you know I'm not in school."

"Oh yeah, you're my only child that's not so it must have slipped my mind." He said obnoxiously.

"I'll go to school when I'm ready Dad."

"Well I'm ready to pay now." Roger looked at her confused, sure he wanted her to have a good future, with a college education, like him but she had never expressed interest in school.

"Roger, where did you go to school?"

"New York University."

"Major?"

"Music."

"How old are you?"

"25." Antonio practically spit out his drink.

"A 5 year age difference?"

"Yes Dad."

"How's withdrawal Mimi?" Tanya asked genuinely.

"Over. Way over, Roger helped me."

"So you two have been dating for a while."Antonio said.

"A year and about 3 months." Roger answered.

"You were okay with dating her while she was still on drugs, you must be very understanding." He replied.

"Yeah, well if I wasn't I'd be a hypocrite. I've been clean 2 years."

"Oh congratulations!" Antonio said in a very rude tone.

"Dad if you have a problem you can leave." He put his hands up in defeat.

"This is a very edgy home. Not a very suitable home for little Mimi and Roger's running around." Tanya observed. Roger practically spit out his water.

"Little Mimi and Roger's. Yeah.." He said.

"Well surely you two have discussed your wants for the future together. Mimi always wanted children, didn't you darling?" Antonio asked. Mimi nodded. That's when Roger understood. Mimi's parents didn't know about her HIV.

"And Roger, don't you want to make our daughter happy?"

"Yes sir."

"You're 25 son, time to get serious. No more screwing around late night drinks with the band, or tattoos, time to get focused." Roger nodded tensely.

"Mimi have you spoken with Bianca lately?" her mother asked.

"No, not since I told her I couldn't make the wedding."

"Which was very rude of you by the way." Tanya said.

"I had to work." Tanya shook her head.

"How about any of your other siblings?" Mimi shook her head.

"Marcella, I don't understand why you isolate yourself from us." Tanya said.

"Why is it always me isolating myself. Maybe I'm alienated by how much you two have changed since Dad's company took off, maybe I don't want to see Bianca because she's always better than me, maybe I don't want to see Rico, or Andre, or Alessandra because they'll judge me just like you do!" Mimi yelled. Roger put his hand over hers.

"Now just because Bianca lives in that mansion married to a doctor and has her business degree it doesn't make her better than you. Just more in a better direction." Antonio said snootily. Mimi rolled her eyes. Mark walked in at that moment, camera under his arm.

"Mark, these are my parents, Mom Dad this is my roommate Mark." They all waved and Mark ran off to his room.

"So Marcella, you run away to live in the East Village to follow your dream of being a ballerina, you're dating a musician, and living with a let me guess, struggling filmmaker in a grungy loft. You're living one big old cliché and soon Marcella, its novelty will wear off!" Antonio accused.

"No it's not a novelty!" Mimi yelled back.

"You're an ex druggie, please Mimi this is all one big old fairy tale! What's next!?" Antonio screamed. Just then a beeper went off. Roger and Mimi's heads both shot up.

"Yours." Roger whispered. Mimi nodded and got up to go take her AZT.

"Mimi what is that dear?" Tanya asked. Mimi took a deep breath.

"It's my AZT Mama. I have HIV." A moment of pure silence echoed throughout the loft. Roger looked at the floor.

"YOU BASTARD!" Mr. Marquez yelled lunging towards Roger "You gave it to her didn't you!?" He cried, grabbing Roger by the shirt collar and shaking him. Roger pushed him off.

"No Daddy, he didn't! Please. It was the drugs." She said.

"Roger honey, are you…"

"Yes Mrs. Marquez. I am too."

"I don't believe you Mimi! You're just a poor, skanky, class-less piece of trash." Antonio said. "You're dating this druggie, selfish, poor cheating jerk, who only likes you for your body! You're both dying, and waste your lives away! We know where you work Marcella, I always knew you'd turn out to be a whore!" He screamed. That's when Roger lunged at him. He grabbed him by the collar now and threw him against the wall.

"I dare you to disrespect her one more time." He growled.

"Oh c'mon pretty boy. I'm not scared of you. You'll be dead soon anyway." Roger ran towards him and punched him 3 hard times in the stomach.

"ROGER! DAD STOP IT!" Mimi cried.

"Antonio recórtelo en este momento si no!" Tanya yelled. Mr. Marquez hit Roger with a side hook to the face and Roger was about to give it right back to him when he saw Mimi's pleading eyes. He put his arm down and shoved Antonio instead.

"I think you should leave." He said firmly. Antonio smirked as him and Tanya began walking out the door, right as Collins and Angel walked in. Antonio took one look at the couple, and Angel in drag

"Waste of space faggots." He mumbled as he pushed past them and him and Tanya left.

"Guys I'm so sorry, please don't listen to them." Mimi said.

"No problem Mimi chica!" Angel said, throwing her arms around Collins' neck. "We're getting married!" She cried showing off her ring.

"Oh Congratulations!" Mimi wailed smiling as she ran into Angel's arms and then Collins. Roger gave them each a big hug and congratulated them.

"Wanna come celebrate with us?" Collins asked.

"Oh we would, but tonight was a little tiring. Especially for Rog, being my hero and all." Mimi said leaning into Roger's chest smiling as he kissed her head.

"Besides, you guys should probably do that celebrating on your own." Roger said chuckling.

"Perv!" Mimi shouted gently pinching his side. Collins and Angel both laughed,

"Well we'll see you tomorrow at Mo and Jo's right?" Angel asked.

"Why?" Roger asked.

"Oh God he doesn't know. Maureen's having a funeral for the dog. Attendance is mandatory." Collins said raising his eyebrows.

"Oh God, you've got to be joking." Roger said, running a hand through his hair.

"Aw, I remember when my puppy Scooby died." Mimi said pouting. Mark came out of his room and joined in the conversation.

"Did I just hear about a funeral for a dog?" He asked.

"Oh yeah!" Roger said. Mark rolled his eyes. That's when they realized that Mimi was crying softly.

"Baby what's wrong?" Roger asked.

"I miss Scooby." She whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Rooby rooby rooo!!" Mark howled making them all crack up.

"Goodnight guys." Roger said, closing the door. Roger, Mimi, and Mark spent the rest of the night on the couch, watching movies.

"It may be cliché but it's so worth it." Mimi thought to herself , grabbing Roger's hand, and resting her head on Mark's shoulder. She took a deep breath and sighed. "I love you guys." She said.

"Aw Meem- a – lee we love you too!" Mark cried jumping on Mimi in a big hug. Roger laughed as Mimi tickled Mark to tears and then joined in a big old group hug. "So Meems, you wanted to be a ballerina?!" Roger asked tickling her, planting a big sloppy kiss on her lips while Mark pulled a Maureen and dramatically pretended to barf. Roger pulled him up in a huge brotherly hug, as they sat watching more TV, Mark and Roger with their arms flung around each other and Mimi's head in Roger's lap, her feet in Mark's. Then he grabbed her foot and tickled it as more laughter exploded.

"Definitely worth it." Mimi thought again.

The next day at the Johnson-Jefferson Household:

"P, p, p, Pookie!" Maureen wailed, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

"Yes Maureen?" Joanne asked.

"Do I look okay?" She asked. She was wearing a tight black sleeveless dress with black tights.

"You look great Honeybear." Joanne said. She was wearing a black suit with a black top. They both sat on the couches in the living room, Larson's ashes were sitting on the coffee table. First Benny and Allison arrived, then Collins and Angel, then Hannah, and then Mark, Roger, Mimi, and a redhead that Mimi introduced as her new friend Lilith. They were all respectfully dressed in black. Maureen made them all gather around the coffee table. While she talked about Larson.

"My goodness, he was such a good dog! Only (sniff) only the good die young." She wailed, sobbing into Joanne's shoulder, who was rolling her eyes while Roger snorted and laughed along with Mark, Benny, and Collins. Mimi elbowed Roger in the gut.

"UGH!" He groaned.

"Don't be so god damn insensitive Rog." She said rolling her eyes. After Maureen was done sobbing and speaking, she made everybody go around and say kind words about the deceased, beloved pet.

"Hey, at least Angel didn't kill this dog!" Collins said, as everybody cracked up except for Allison who playfully pouted.

"Hey to help lighten the mood in a way that everybody will be happy about…" Roger began, looking at Allison. "I believe Angel and Collins have some exciting news." He said, taking a sip of his coke.

"We're getting married!" Angel squealed. Everybody cheered and congratulated them, and then toasted to them. Then they watched TV. Whatever show they were watching had these obnoxious twin 6 year olds driving their parents out of their minds. One of them finger painted their entire living room.

"My god, the last thing I want right now is a kid like that." Benny said raising his eyebrows and downing the rest of his beer. Everybody chuckled, except for Allison who merely looked down at her hands.