Author's Note: Wow it's been a long time. My play is opening in three weeks. ::looks at schedule and faints:: So yeah, that's pretty much my only excuse for the lack of updates in the last week. That and my new Wicked fic which is taking a lot more energy than I expected. ::glares at uncooperative characters:: So yeah. Please forgive me and enjoy this chapter. And go read my new fic please!

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Chapter 34: New Beginnings

July 9th

8:11 PM

The Loft

"Are you sure about this?" Mimi asked as Roger struggled to unlock the door of the loft. The large box in his arms was making it difficult, along with the fact that the lock had rusted in the recent rain.

"Yes, I'm sure," Roger muttered, his voice tense with concentration. He shifted the box under one arm and jiggled the key. "I think Mark must've had the locks changed on me."

Mimi frowned.

"Roger, you know he wouldn't do that…"

Roger rounded on her, glaring.

"Like hell he wouldn't. He's already made it clear enough he doesn't care."

"Roger, look. I don't want to fight. This is between you and Mark."

Roger sighed heavily.

"Yeah, I know. I just wish…why can't things just be normal again? I don't know what I'm gonna do when Mark leaves…"

"Well, you can start by telling him that," Mimi suggested.

The lock made a disturbing crunch noise, and the door swung open a crack. Roger swung the box back into his arms and kicked the door open wider, then walked in. He set the box down on the table and inhaled deeply, suddenly realizing that he'd missed the old musty smell of the loft.

"What do you have in that thing, anyway?" Roger asked, pointing at Mimi's box.

"Clothes."

"God, I never thought clothes could be that heavy," Roger muttered, massaging his arms.

"Whiner," Mimi laughed. "You know you're glad to have me back."

Roger grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Yeah. I could do without your clothes though…."

"Pervert."

Roger kissed her and she slid her hands up under his shirt, rubbing his back. Roger moaned softly and buried his face in her neck.

They were interrupted by the sound of the lock crunching a second time and the door opening. Roger looked up just in time to see Mark and Aimee walk into the darkened living room. Mark stopped short as he caught sight of them.

"Well. Uh…welcome back, I guess."

"Yeah." Roger muttered grudgingly, looking at the floor.

"I'll uh…take this…display…to mean that you had a good trip?" Mark said awkwardly.

Aimee elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ow."

"Yeah," Mimi answered, disentangling herself from Roger's arms and going over to give Mark a hug. Roger glared at her but didn't say anything. "It's good to be back."

"Does that mean you're moving back in?" Aimee asked.

Mimi nodded.

"Yeah. At least for the time being."

There was an awkward silence after that, in which Roger started trying to tear up the tape on Mimi's box and Mark searched for something edible in the kitchen.

"So…how were things here while we were away?" Mimi asked finally.

Mark's face fell at that.

"Bad."

"How so?" Roger asked, suddenly interested.

"Tom is sick." Aimee said softly. "Really sick."

"What happened?"

"I…don't really know. He said he wasn't feeling well and then all of a sudden he started coughing and then just…passed out. He's in the hospital. The doctors say…he doesn't have much time left."

"How long?" Roger asked.

"Six months. A year, maybe."

Roger sighed and looked around the loft, his eyes searching for some unknown target.

"Are you still going to leave?"

Mark sighed, then nodded.

"God, Mark, how can you do this?" Roger asked, suddenly angry.

"I have to, Roger. My being here isn't going to change anything. If I take the grant, I'll at least have a chance at making some kind of difference."

"Depends on who you care about," Roger muttered.

"What?"

"It makes a difference to me whether or not you stay."

"Roger, don't do this," Mimi said quietly.

Roger turned and glared at her, then turned back to Mark.

"Do you even care that you're abandoning me?"

"Roger…" Mark said softly, "I can't deal with this right now."

He turned to Aimee and took her hand, turning her towards his bedroom.

"Come on, help me pack."

The two retreated into the bedroom, leaving Roger staring after him. Roger sighed deeply and sat down on the couch.

Mimi followed him over and sat down beside him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.

"Roger…"

"I can't take any more of this, Mimi."

"I know, love, I know."

She ran her fingers through his shaggy blond hair.

"You and Mark just need to talk about this calmly."

"I know. I just feel like…everything's falling apart."

"Maybe. Or maybe it's just a new beginning."

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::Re-Reads chapter:: Ugh. Sorry about that…I'll do better next time, I promise. Review anyway? ::looks pitiful::