~~~**~~~

Chapter 14: With or Without

February 12th

6:43 AM

The Loft

Roger awoke with a start to the sound of Mimi throwing up in the bathroom. It took him a moment to register what was going on, then he sat up and stumbled to the bathroom, pushing open the door with one hand and shading his eyes from the light with the other.

She was kneeling in front of the toilet, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, her cheeks wet with tears. Roger fell to his knees beside her, gently pulling her hair back out of her face and laying a hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" Roger asked anxiously, "What happened?"

Mimi shook her head, swallowing hard.

"I'm fine. I feel better now."

"You sure?" Roger asked, helping her to her feet.

"It's nothing."

Roger watched her nervously as she washed and dried her face and pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail. Mimi turned and walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch. It creaked loudly and she gave it a wary look.

"You're up early," Mark observed from his seat at the kitchen table.

"Yeah," Roger muttered, still watching Mimi as though he was afraid she would disappear.

"Um. . .okay," Mark replied, "Did something happen?"

"No." Mimi answered immediately.

"Yes." Roger answered simultaneously.

"Wow." Said Mark, looking back and forth at one of them and then the other. "Anyone wanna let me in on this?"

Mimi looked at the floor. Roger walked over and sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Roger, leave me alone," Mimi muttered, shoving him off.

"Why? Tell me what happened."

"*Nothing* happened. I just wasn't feeling very well this morning."

"Mimi, if you're sick you need to go to the doctor."

"Thanks, Mom," she muttered, standing up.

"Mimi, I'm serious."

"Roger, stop babying me!"

"Guys!" Mark broke in, "Do I get a clue here, or do I have to watch you two turn my apartment into a war zone without even knowing what you're fighting about?"

"Mimi's sick and she refuses to tell me why." Roger accused.

"And Roger can't seem to grasp the concept that *nothing* is wrong and I want to be left *alone.*"

"Why won't you tell me?"

"Because it's none of your business and I'm not ready to tell you yet!"

"Why?!" Roger shouted, suddenly suspicious. "What did you do?"

"Nothing! Just leave me the hell alone, Roger!"

"Fine!" Roger shouted, "Fine, I will!"

He turned and walked into their room, slamming the door behind him.

Mimi sat back down on the couch, sighing loudly. After a few seconds, they heard the sound of Roger tuning his guitar through the closed door.

"You want to tell me what's really going on here?" Mark asked, peeling a banana.

Mimi looked at him thoughtfully.

"Promise you won't tell Roger?"

Mark laughed.

"Yeah."

"Promise you won't freak out?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I'm pregnant."

"WHAT?!"

"You said you weren't gonna freak out."

"But—you're—"

"Yes, Mark, pregnant. You know when you have sex with a guy and all of a sudden there's this thing called a baby growing in your stomach?"

"I know what it *means*," Mark insisted, blushing.

"Good," Mimi smiled sweetly at him. "Because you're gonna need to."

"What are you going to do?"

"Keep it, of course."

"You're—nevermind. . .when are you going to tell Roger?"

"I don't know."

"You're going to have to."

"No, really. Got any thoughts on how?"

"No. . .not really. . .I mean, do you want me to talk to him?"

Mimi looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

"Okay," Mark agreed, looking timidly at the closed door to Roger's room.

He walked over and knocked lightly on the door. When there was no response, he opened the door and walked in anyway.

Roger was sitting on the bed, playing what sounded like random chords on his guitar and humming along.

"Rog?" Mark said anxiously.

"Go away."

"Roger, let me talk to you."

Roger turned around, set his guitar down and flopped onto his back. Mark shut the door to the bedroom and sat down on the side of the bed.

"So?" Roger said impatiently.

"Mimi. . .um. . .she's. . ." Mark trailed off and shrugged.

"She's what?" Roger demanded, "What did she tell you? Is she with Benny again?"

"No! Nothing like that!"

"Then what!"

"She's. . .pregnant. . ." Mark mumbled.

"What?"

"Pregnant!"

Roger gaped at him.

"Close your mouth, you look like a fish."

"But. . .she's. . ." Roger just stood there sputtering.

"Yes, pregnant. Go talk to her."

"No."

"Yes!" Mark pushed Roger toward the door.

Roger stumbled out into the living room, refusing to meet Mimi's gaze. She stood up and faced him her hands on her hips. Mark gave Mimi an encouraging smile.

"Umm. . .hi?" Roger offered.

"Hey." Mimi laughed softly.

"So you're. . ."

"Yeah."

"How long? Are you sure? Have you been to the doctor?"

"Eight weeks, yes I'm sure, yes I've been to the doctor."

Roger took a deep breath.

"O. . .kay. . .what are you going to do?"

"I want to have it, Rog."

"But Mimi. . .how. . .I mean, it's not even safe!" Roger voice was starting to shake as the realization hit him.

"I don't care, Rog."

"Mimi, you're not strong enough. Face it. You're not. And where are we going to get the money?"

"I don't care, Roger. I 8am* strong enough. And we'll find the money somewhere."

"I won't let y you!" Roger shouted suddenly. "You don't know what y you're saying!"

Mimi regarded him coolly, looking him straight in the eye.

"Roger, I'm going to have this baby. With or without you."

~~~**~~~