"The grass is wet," Mimi observed, as she and Roger walked further into the park.

"So? Wet is good," joked Roger, giving her a light push.

Mimi fell on her butt.

"Damn it, Roger, my ass is all wet now," she complained.

Roger put on a goofy smile and plopped down on the soggy grass beside her.

Mimi shook her head. "You ass."

Roger stuck his tongue out.

Mimi giggled, and he leaned in to kiss her.

"Baby, people are watching," she murmured, as he kissed her neck.x

"So?" came his muffled reply.

"So, I'd rather do this somewhere where there weren't fifty people watching."

"Meems, this is New York," he laughed, pulling her back down beside him. "Wherever we go, people are going to watch us."

Mimi sighed, giving in.

"Get a room!" someone yelled, a few moments later.

Roger sat up and gave the guy a dirty look. "Get a girl!"

"Roger?"

"Mitch?"

"Hell, it IS you! How are you, Roger?"

"I'm great! God, I haven't seen you in so long!"

Mimi pulled herself to a sitting position. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Oh, sorry, Meems. Mitch, this is my girlfriend Mimi. Mimi, Mitch."

"Hi," Mimi said.

"Mitch was my roommate at college."

Mimi frowned. "You went to college?"

Roger blushed. "For like four months. Then I dropped out."

"Oh."

"Well, we all have our little secrets, don't we?"

"I know I do," said Mitch. "So, Roger, how've you been? Where do you live now?"

"Same place."

"Still living with Mark?"

"Yup. And Mimi moved in with me a couple of months ago. What about you?"

"Well, I got my degree in English, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. You remember Karen Harber?

Roger nodded.

"We're married," Mitch declared, proudly. "I proposed to her the day after graduation."

"That's great, Mitch. Have you guys settled into your own place?"

"Yeah, we got an apartment a few blocks from here. Karen would have come with me to walk, but she's tired, you know. Pregnancy can do that to you."

"She's pregnant? ALREADY?"

"It's never too early," Mitch said, grinning. "She's about almost six months along now. The ultrasound showed that we're gonna have a girl."

"Congratulations!" Roger exclaimed, truly happy for him.

Mitch beamed. "Thanks. So, you and Mimi have any kids yet?"

"Not yet," Mimi said, as Roger blushed.

"It's the shits, I'll tell you. I mean, once Eva's born, it'll be all worth it, but Karen's been feeling pretty shitty, you know?"

"No, I wouldn't know," Mimi said, smiling.

"Well. Sometimes I wish I was the one who was pregnant instead of her, so she wouldn't have to feel any pain."

"How sweet of you," Roger said, rolling his eyes. Mimi nudged him, gently.

"So what are you doing this weekend, Roger? If Karen feels up to it, maybe we can all meet up somewhere."

'Well . . . I've got a gig with the guys coming up this weekend at CBGB's."

"No! You're still with the Hungarians?"

"Guilty."

"It's a commitment, huh?"

"It's no problem," Roger said, shrugging.

"What time is it going to be at?"

"It's on Saturday, at eleven. I don't want you to have to drag Karen over if she doesn't want too, though. She probably won't even remember me."

"Sure she'll remember you! And it's no problem bringing her, I'm sure she'd love to come. It'll give the baby something good to listen to in the womb, won't it?"

"Yeah, sure," Roger laughed.

"Great! I'll see you then! It was great bumping into you, Roger. My other roommates were boring as hell."

"I'll bet," Roger said, laughing.

"See you Saturday! See you, Mimi."

"Bye," Mimi waved, as he left.

"He was nice," Mimi said, after Mitch had gone.

"Yeah. The two of us were CRAZY. I mean, I was only at NYU for four months, but we had quite a reputation, I must say."

"You got into NYU?" Mimi asked, impressed.

"Yup. English-Literature."

"YOU? English literature? I didn't even know you could read!"

"Shut up!" he pretended to be hurt. "I could recite a mean version of Romeo and Juliet in my day."

"Can I be Juliet?"

"Sure."

"Wanna know something funny?"

"Hit me."

"I was Juliet once in a high school play once."

"You're shitting me."

"No!" Mimi was laughing, "I swear, Rodge! I was Juliet and this guy named Zach Greene was Romeo. He was on the football team, AND he was in drama club."

"How the hell'd he manage that?" Roger asked, amazed.

Mimi shrugged. "No idea. But he was a damn good Romeo."

"Not as good as me, right?"

"Well, I wouldn't know. You'd have to recite some Shakespeare in order for me to decide."

"Maria, Maria, where art thou Maria," Roger swooned, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her back down to the grass with him.

"Don't call me Maria," she snapped, smacking his hand playfully.

"Sorry. Maria CONCHITA."

"ROGER!"

"Jeez, testy. I like Mimi anyway. It's more lyrical. You can use your name to write a song."

Mimi blinked. "Are you drunk?"

"Mimi, Mimi, you make me dreamy, your skin is creamy, and when you're in my bed, it's STEAMY."

Mimi shook her head and applauded. "I see Pulitzer prizes in your future."

"I've got a bunch where that came from. I don't know where I put them though," he said, pretending to think.

"You dork."

"Loser."

"Love you."

"Love you too."

"Roger, you're sitting on my foot."

"Sorry."

Mimi laughed. "It's okay." She snuggled beside him, not caring anymore that the damp grass was soaking her clothes.

"You think Maureen and Joanne or Collins and Frankie have as much fun as we do?"

"What about Mark and Jan?"

"Are they . . . okay?"

"Well, Mark just went back over to Jan's. I think the whole thing of me going out with her sister before she died sort of freaked her out."

"Yeah . . ." Mimi couldn't think of anything else to say.

"I hope they're okay."

"Me too."

Roger sat up suddenly, as he struggled to change the subject.

"Meems, are you hungry?"

"No. Why, are you?"

"No."

Mimi gave him a weird smile. "Roger, if you're not comfortable discussing April in front of me, I understand."

Roger shrugged. "Well you knew her too. Or a different side of her at least." He sighed. "She had a good heart."

"I know."

Roger leaned forward, kissing her neck. They lay there for a moment. Suddenly, Mimi sat up. Roger leaned on his elbows, looking at her.

"What is it, Meems?"

"I just wanted to do something all of a sudden."

"If it's something illegal, we can't do it here. Especially not with all these people watching."

"Not THAT kind of thing!" Mimi exclaimed, laughing. "I wanted to visit my mom."

Roger was silent for a moment. "How come?"

"She's my MOTHER, Roger."

"I know, but the only time I ever heard you even talk about her was tonight."

"I know. And it made me miss her a lot. I'm really happy that Isabella and Daisha are so close now, but I'd like to see my mom again too. I haven't seen her in five years."

"So you want to go visit her?" Roger asked, sitting up so that he was leaning against her.

"Yeah. I mean, it'd have to be when Joel's out working or something. Isabella probably knows when a good time to go is." She glanced at Roger, shyly. "Would you go with me?"

"Of course I would," he said, nuzzling her shoulder. "You really have to ask?"

Mimi shrugged. "I always thought family reunions were boring."

"When you've got people like Isabella and Daisha in your family, Mimi, your family's NEVER boring."

Mimi laughed.

"So we've got a full schedule now," Roger said. "The gig's on Saturday. Maureen's gallery opening is on Sunday. When do you want to see your mom?"

Mimi shrugged. "Anytime is fine. Soon, if possible. Not tomorrow . . . maybe two or three days from then? I want to surprise her, also. I don't want to let her know I'm coming. Besides, if I call in advance, I'm afraid Joel would pick up the phone."

"Okay," he said, gently. "I'd be with you anyway, though. You know I'd never let anything happen to you."

"I know."

They began to kiss again, more passionately, and suddenly Mimi pulled away for a moment.

"Roger," she said, giggling, "I think our bedroom would be a more appropriate place to finish this."

"Quite right, milady."

"So you're resorting to Shakespeare again?"

"Just as long as you'll be my Juliet."

Mimi smiled. "I already am, Romeo."

Roger stood to his feet and held out a hand, pulling her up off the ground. "Shall I escort you home in your royal chariot, milady?"

"Sure," she said, realizing too late then what he was about to do.

"Roger!" she shrieked, as he picked her up off the ground.

"What? It's faster this way."

"I have two feet- I can walk!"

"If you say so," he sighed, putting her down.

"Just wait until we get home, though," she said, winking at him.

"Oh, happy dagger!"

***

"Wow," Jan breathed, leaning over the side of the bed to grab her bathrobe, which was crumpled on the floor.

"Hoooooo," Mark said, letting out a whoosh of air. "That was fun."

"It was," Jan agreed.

"What time is it?"

Jan glanced at the clock hanging above her bureau. "Nine-thirty."

"Already? JESUS!" he quickly put a hand to his mouth. "I mean um, shit!"

"You don't use the word 'Jesus'?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mark shrugged. "I'm Jewish."

"Aw, my mother always told me she wanted me to date a nice Jewish boy!"

Mark blushed. "I don't know about nice."

Jan laughed. "Well, you'll always be nice in my book. Except on certain occasions."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"I should head home," Mark said, pulling his shirt back over his head.

"You want me to come with you just in case Cary shows up again?"

"Why? You gonna beat him up for me?"

Mark hid a smile.

"I told you, I've got a black belt in karate."

"So? I know Kung Fu," Mark said, in his best corny Japanese voice.

Jan rolled her eyes and laughed.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked, as he slid his pants on.

"If that's the soonest time," she said, smiling.

"Okay." He finished tying his shoes, and leaned forward to kiss her on the lips.

"And Mark?" Jan said, just before he left the bedroom.

"Yeah?"

"Keep the Kung Fu to a minimum, okay?"

"Aw. Alright. See you tomorrow, my Karate Queen."

Jan laughed again. "Okay. Goodnight."

"Night," Mark whispered, quietly shutting the bedroom door behind him.