Chapter 12

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A/N: Before I get started, I'd just like to emphasize that the Spanish in Chapter 9 was translated due to an online translator as posted in the author's note. I'm not fluent in Spanish, and I purposely staged the conversation between Mimi and her mother for authenticity purposes. I know it's not 100% correct, but that was the best I could do.

All right, now I know I said Mark and Mimi would be coming to Scarsdale in this chapter, but I decided to have them stick around the city instead. Yeah, I know, I can't make up my mind. ;)

I'd just like to give a huge shoutout to all my lovely reviewers that have stuck with me this long right now. I've been writing this story for almost two months already! I never actually intended it to be as long as I'm planning it to be now. Your reviews have meant so much to me, so if you're reading my story and are afraid to leave a comment, don't be! I love all comments, and constructive criticism is always appreciated. Here goes in no particular order:

Markys gurl, Kelby, Mlle. Kat, DevDev, Becca Black, Luna Corrona, Sunny Monster, Angel Of The First Degree, Emily, Eponine54, H2OAngel, RavenNat, Buffy, and crystal.

Thank you all once again. ;) If it wasn't for your reviews, I don't think I'd be as motivated as I am to keep writing.

Love, Mari

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Mark sighed. How was he supposed to tell his supposed best friend that 'No, Roger, we aren't coming to Scarsdale because this is something you need to do on your own?' Exactly.

"Mark? You still there?"

"Yeah. I'm here."

"So can you?"

"Well, I don't think that would be the best idea," Mark managed to say, holding his breath at Roger's response.

"What the fuck do you mean? Fine, then put Mimi on the phone. Mimi said she'd come…" Mark was surprised, seeing as Roger almost sounded desperate.

"You've been at your mom's for not even three hours yet. Give it some time. Talk to her. You need to tell her you're sick soon, Roger. Don't bring Mimi up there until you get used to the idea of being home."

"Mark. I want you guys here."

"Roger, I know you do, but you need to take this weekend to get readjusted to your family again. It's probably not as bad as you think, you know. I bet Lindsey's really happy to see you again," Mark added.

"Yeah, she is. Can you tell Mimi I love her?"

"Why don't you tell her yourself? She's lying right next to me. I'll see you Monday," Mark said, emphasizing the word Monday.

"Yeah, okay. Monday then. Put Mimi on?" Mark laughed and handed the phone to Mimi, who was sprawled out on the couch watching Jerry Springer. Mark shook his head and changed the channel. 'That's quality television for you,' he thought to himself before propping his feet up on the coffee table.

"Hey," Mimi spoke into the phone. "What's wrong? Separation anxiety?" she teased.

"Something like that. I love you."

"I love you too. I'm serious Roger, have a good time and I'll see you Monday. Monday," she said.

"Okay, okay. You and Mark need to stop hanging out so much."

"Aww, but I love Mark! Not as much as I love you though," she laughed. "Okay, I'm gonna go. I think that's Collins at the door. Love you," she said before hanging up the phone. Mimi and Mark both looked at each other as a knock at the door sounded again.

"I'll get it!" they both shouted out. Mark took off for the door, only to have Mimi jump on his back and wrap her legs around his waist.

"God Mimi, what have you been eating?" Mark joked.

"Hey shut up. Pregnant women are very sensitive you know," she laughed, playfully smacking his arm. "Door! Get the door!"

Mark flung the door open while trying to hold Mimi on his back at the same time. Collins was holding a bag full of groceries and a tray with three cups of coffee. He walked in and set the bags down on the kitchen counter, all the time shaking his head at Mark and Mimi.

"You guys are weird," he laughed. Mimi crawled off of Mark's back and ran over to the coffee. She lifted the lid and inhaled.

"Mmm, a cinnamon latte. Do you know how long it's been since I've had one of those?" she said, taking a sip. Mark shook his head and started unpacking the groceries.

"Thanks for picking these up for me, Collins. We really don't know what we'd do without you," Mark added.

"It's not a problem, but a Collins Appreciation Day would be really nice," he joked. "Okay, well I've got a class at two, so I better run. Dan says hi, and he really wants to meet both of you, so stop by later if you can." Mark nodded and turned back to Mimi after Collins left, who was curled up on the couch drinking her coffee. Mark started unpacking the groceries and scattering them in the various cabinets that were rarely used. He pulled out a package of spaghetti noodles and shook his head. He could attempt to make an actual dinner for once, realizing that he had been relying on the Life Café more than usual lately.

"Hey, we have spaghetti?" Mimi asked, still holding her coffee in one hand and pointing at the package of noodles in Mark's hand.

"What? Oh…yeah," he answered, shoving them into a cabinet. Mimi took a seat on a barstool and started watching him put away the rest of the groceries. Soda, beer, cereal, milk…

"Earth to Mimi," Mark joked.

"Huh? Sorry. Must have blanked out for a minute," she shrugged.

"You're feeling okay, right? I mean, you took all your pills this morning? AZT, iron, and prenatal?"

"Yeah mom, I did," she joked. "I was just thinking, I guess. Can I ask you something?"

"Yep, anything you want," Mark answered, pouring himself some cereal.

"Do you think I've changed at all, since well, you first met me?"

"Well, do you think have?" Mark asked, now adding milk to his cereal.

"Yeah. The things that really used to matter to me aren't that important anymore, like my job at the Cat Scratch Club, partying, drinking, drugs, and well, sex too. I mean, me and Roger have great sex—"

"I would hope so, since you both keep me up half the night," Mark laughed. Mimi blushed as she took another sip of her latte.

"…But I just feel like I mellowed out a lot. I have a great boyfriend who I love most of the time," she laughed.

"That's true. You guys haven't been fighting lately," Mark said through a mouthful of cereal.

"Ahh stop interrupting!" she giggled. "Like I was saying, now I'm going to be a mom. Me, a mom? That's a scary thought. I never used to want kids, and when I first found out I was pregnant it didn't really hit me yet, but now I think it finally has. Now there's just a lot to think about. I need to literally go out and start buying baby clothes, and bottles, and diapers, and all that corporate crap. I need a crib and a nursery theme. I need to find an obstetrician that I like, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to pay for everything. I haven't shown up at my job for weeks now, and I hate relying on Roger all the time. I don't think that's really fair to him, you know? I don't want him to think that he can't have fun, or go out with the guys, or play his guitar because he has to worry about me all the time."

"Mimi, do you realize how happy Roger is about the baby? I know he's more than happy to provide for you and whoever else comes along. You're not a hassle or a problem. He loves you. As for the money, I have an actual job now, and Roger has bartending, and Collins is always willing to help. There's Maureen and Joanne too. You're not alone, you know that right?" Mark said. Mimi nodded.

"Do you think we did the right thing by not going to Scarsdale?"

"Definitely. Roger's gotta do this on his own, and he knows that," Mark said.

"Yeah, I know." Mimi pulled at her pants a little, then stood up and pulled at them some more. Mark just watched her curiously and continued eating his cereal. "I think I've officially graduated to Roger's boxers and sweatpants. God, when did these things get so tight? I swear they fit last week," she complained, pulling at her waist and adjusting her tight jeans some more.

"We could go out later, if you're feeling up to it, and buy pants that'll fit you for awhile? Cindy used to buy those dancer's workout pants, you know the stretchy kind, when she was pregnant with Rachel. She swore by them. She loved sweatpants too, because she could wear them anytime, even when she wasn't pregnant," Mark suggested. Mimi smiled and nodded.

"Okay. Just let me know when you want to go. I still have my paycheck from last month that I haven't spent yet. I could probably get a few things for the baby too." Mark noticed how Mimi's eyes lit up every time she mentioned Roger or the baby.

That kid was definitely going to be loved.

*//

"I think we made out okay, considering we're about 200 dollars lighter," Mimi joked, dropping her three shopping bags on the couch before sitting down and propping her feet up on the coffee table.

"Yeah, we did. I feel kind of bad for that poor cashier. You sure gave her hell when she wouldn't give you 25% off the baby blanket set," Mark laughed.

"Hey, a discount's a discount. You don't mess with Mimi Marquez when it comes to shopping," she winked.

It was close to 4:30 when Mark and Mimi returned to the loft. After finding Lisa sound asleep in her room, they headed downtown to Macy's and a few other stores that Mimi swore by. Mimi ended up with five different types of sweatpants and stretch pants and a few shirts that Mark insisted on, considering he was tired of seeing her and Roger share clothes all the time. She spent over an hour in the baby department, finally settling on a few packs of unisex onesies.  Mark even made out with new clothes for work and a pair of shoes.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Are you kidding?! I had a great time. I want to live in the baby department. Next time I have to drag Roger along with me," she laughed. "I don't think he'd know what to do with himself." Mark walked over to kitchen and noticed a note stuck to the refrigerator with a magnet. Mark scanned it a few times before finally realizing that it was from Lisa.

Mark, Mimi, and Roger—

I don't know who's gonna read this first, but I'm staying with my friend Danielle for a while in Jersey. I guess I don't feel like I belong with you all, and I don't want to impose anymore than I already have. Mark, apparently I'm still kicked out of the house, even though when they showed up at the loft that day I thought everything was okay. I guess not. I'll be back soon, I promise, but I just need to get away for a little while to think some things through.

Love,

Lisa

"Lisa left," Mark shouted over to Mimi.

"What do you mean?" she asked, hauling the shopping bag to her and Roger's room.

"She left a note and said she needed to stay with her friend Danielle for awhile to clear her head. I don't know, something doesn't seem right about it. Why would she leave without saying goodbye or anything? That's not like her at all," Mark answered.

"I don't know. Maybe she just needed her space. Don't worry that much. I'm sure she'll be back soon enough. Did she leave a number?"

"Yeah, at the bottom. Maybe I should call?" he questioned.

"I wouldn't. Let her stay there for a few days. Give her the space she wants, and just call to check up on her," Mimi suggested.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay."

*//

"Roger."

"Mmph?" Roger's head shot up from underneath the pillow. He blinked and noticed his mother standing at the foot of his bed, a smile on her face. "What time is it?"

"Almost 7:30," Sandra answered. Shit, it was almost 7:30? He had missed two doses of AZT.

"Shit, did I miss dinner?" he asked.

"Yeah sweetie. I told your sister not to wake you, because you looked exhausted when you first got here. I saved you a plate though. I can heat it up for you, if you want.

"Thanks mom," Roger answered, digging around in his jacket for his pills. He would have to wait until his mom left before pulling them out.

"Something interesting came in the mail today," she laughed.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" he shrugged. Sandra pulled out an ultrasound picture and handed it to him. Roger laughed when he noticed what it was.

"Yeah, I mailed this to you," he added. "I forgot about it."

"I see. So does this mean what I think it means?" she said. Roger looked at her in apprehension. She couldn't possibly be mad, could she?

"Well, yeah. I'm—well, my girlfriend and I, we're having a baby," he added. "I didn't know how to tell you, so I sent the picture. You're not mad, are you?"

"Mad? Sweetheart why would I be mad? This is wonderful! I'm going to be a grandma for the fourth time," she laughed, hugging Roger. "You haven't told me much about her. How far along is she? When is she due? Do you know if it's a boy or girl? Do you want a boy or girl?"

Roger shook his head and laughed.

"Okay mom, calm down. Her name's Mimi, and I've been with her for about a year and three months. She's two months pregnant, due sometime around the end of September, I think. We won't know if it's a boy or a girl until April, and I don't care what it is as long as it's healthy," he answered.

"Aww honey. I'm so excited! You should have brought her with you! I can't wait to tell the rest of the family!" she squealed.

"Yeah. Well, um, I better take a shower, so I'll see you later mom?"

"Sure thing. Just let me know if you need anything," Sandra turned for the door. "And Roger?"

"Uh huh?"

"I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks mom. I'm really happy too."

*//

"Okay Meems, what's on the menu tonight? Life Café or a sad attempt at spaghetti?'

"Spaghetti. I don't think I can stomach the Life tonight," she answered from the bathroom. She had just finished taking a shower and was already sporting a pair of her sweatpants and a faded black tee with 'The Pyramid Club' written on it.

"Okay." Mark glanced at the package of noodles hesitantly.

"Boil, cook, drain, eat," Mimi laughed, setting the pot of water on the stove. "It's not really that hard. Spaghetti's just about the easiest thing you can't screw up." She took the sauce and poured it into a smaller pot and set it next to the other pot. "Okay, give it about five minutes to boil, then add the noodles. I'll call Collins and Dan and see if they want to come up for dinner." Mimi headed towards the phone when she noticed someone knocking at the door.

"I'll get it!" she shouted over. Mark was still struggling with the noodles and Mimi breathlessly flung open the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Hi, um, I'm Jackie. I work with Mark at SFP. I was just wondering if I left my earrings here, maybe in the bathroom?" she said before stepping in. Mimi tried to stifle a giggle and decided she would play with Mark's head for a bit.

"Let me go get him for you," she added. Mark was now stirring in the noodles and watching them productively. She cleared her throat and smiled sweetly, remembering something about Roger saying how Mark had "scored" with Jackie the other night.

"Hey Mark, Jackie's here for you. That's the one that Roger was talking about, right? The one who you said was really cute? Didn't you say you wanted to get to know her better and eventually ask her out?" Mimi said loudly. Mark froze and dropped the wooden spoon into the pot and turned around, bright red. He ran out of the kitchen and found Jackie standing near the couch, laughing.

"Hi Mark," she said.

"Hey…Jackie."

"Well, I was out getting my prescription filled for my painkillers, and I couldn't find my earrings, so I figured that I might have left them in the bathroom when I took a shower here the other day," she said, just as red as Mark was.

"Yeah—o-okay, let me go check for you," he said.

"Thanks." Jackie tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Mark returned with a pair of silver hoops in his hand and gave them to her.

"They were in the soap dish over the sink," he added.

"I have a really bad habit of leaving them there at my place. Thanks again for letting me stay here that night. I really appreciate that. Okay, well I better get going because I have a rehearsal at 8, but I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah, I'll see you on Monday," he replied nervously. Mimi elbowed him in the ribs and motioned the word 'dinner', followed by some drastic hand movements. "Oh, hey, would you like to stay for dinner? It's only about 5 right now," he added. She turned and shrugged.

"Dinner would be great," she smiled. Mimi smiled as well, glad that her matchmaking skills had paid off.

"Collins? Hey, it's me. Do you and Dan want to stop by for dinner?"

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A/N: Okay guys, I'll be gone for ten days, but I'll have two new chapters ready to be posted. Take care everyone. 33

NEXT UP: What's up with Lisa leaving, and will Maureen and Joanne ever make up?