CHRISTMAS DAY
"Welcome back!" Roger greeted Mark and Jan the next afternoon, as they entered the Loft.
"Thanks," Mark said, breathlessly, letting the two duffel bags drop to the floor.
"We're going to the Life later," Roger told him.
"Why? Do celebrate my homecoming?" Mark asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"Not exactly," Roger said, winking at Mimi, who smiled, knowingly.
"How was the Christmas party?" Jan asked.
Roger shrugged. "It was good. It wasn't the same without you guys, though."
"Aw, shucks," Mark joked.
Jan shrugged off her winter coat, and looked around the apartment. "Is Daisha here?"
"She went back to live with my mother," said Mimi. "Now that Joel's not there anymore, she has nothing to be afraid of."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you . . . have to go to his funeral?"
"My mother asked me if I wanted to go. I told her no," Mimi said, flatly. "She and Isabella went. They probably were the only people there. Joel's parents died when he was a kid."
"That's too bad," said Jan, quietly. "When was the funeral?"
"It was a week ago."
"So how've you two been anyway?" Mark asked, changing the subject. "Did you give each other your Christmas presents yet?"
"Yes," Mimi said, smiling warmly at Roger, who grinned back at her.
"How was it over there?" Roger asked, taking Mark's bags and placing them on the couch."
"It was fun. They're nice people," said Mark.
"It was fucking FREEZING, though," said Jan. "If you think it's cold here, you should see it over there. And they got like 3 feet of snow last night. Luckily, Mark and I left before it started to snow."
"Good food?" Roger asked Mark, who nodded, as Jan laughed.
"I nearly burst after dinner," said Mark.
"Well it wouldn't hurt you to eat that much regularly, Mark. You're all skin and bones anyway."
"I am not," argued Mark.
Roger looked at Mimi and rolled his eyes.
"So anyway, I wanted to drop of the bags and say hi to you two, and me and Jan are gonna head back to her place. We'll see you later at the Life Café?"
"Sure," said Roger.
"Bye," waved Jan, and the two of them left together.
"They sure are spending a lot of time together," Mimi observed, once the door had closed behind them.
"At least he's happy though," said Roger. "I haven't seen him this energetic in a long time. Not since he was with Maureen and even then, he wasn't as happy as he is now."
He took a Gingerbread cookie that Frankie had brought last night from the coffee table, and offered it to Mimi. "Want one?"
Mimi grimaced. "I can't eat that now."
"Sorry," Roger said, sympathetically. "How's your stomach been?"
"I was sick early this morning," Mimi admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were asleep, and I didn't want to bother you. Besides, morning sickness isn't uncommon or anything," she shrugged.
"So you're going to be feeling like this often?"
Mimi shrugged. "I guess so."
Roger sighed. "I'm sorry, Babe."
"It's not your fault," Mimi told him, nudging him with her foot.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I still can't believe it," he murmured, nudging his nose into her curly hair.
Mimi smiled. "I know," she whispered, squeezing his arm as he wrapped it around her chest.
"What do you want to call it?" he asked, lifting his head up.
Mimi shrugged. "Well we should wait and find out whether it's a boy or a girl first. I mean, I don't want to have my heart set on Beth or something and then find out it's a boy."
Roger made a face. "You want to call it Beth?"
"No, I was just using that as an example," Mimi laughed. "And stop calling it 'it.'"
"Well, I can't really call it a he or a she, now can I?"
Mimi sighed. "Just call it 'The Baby,' or something like that."
"Can I call it the fetus?"
Mimi made a face. "Why?"
Roger shrugged. "I dunno, it sounds cool. Maybe we should name the kid Fetus Davis?"
"Yeah, sure. Fetus. And what will it's middle name be, then?"
Roger whispered a name into her ear.
Mimi's eyes widened. "Ew!" she smacked his arm, playfully. "Rog, you're so gross."
Roger grinned, mischievously.
Mimi sighed, and laid her head back against one of the couch pillows. "When do you think we should start shopping for baby furniture?"
Roger shrugged. "We can't do that unless we know the sex. We can't bring home pink furniture for Fetus Davis if he turns out to be a boy, right?"
"Roger, I am NOT calling our baby Fetus Davis!"
***
"Hey, Seb," Roger greeted the waiter at the Life Café, as he, Mimi, Mark, Jan, Collins, Frankie, Maureen and Joanne entered the restaurant.
"Do you guys EVER eat anywhere else?" Seb exclaimed, as he pulled out eight menus from the counter behind him.
"If we ate anywhere else, you wouldn't have any customers left," Maureen laughed. "Ow!" she complained, as Joanne gave her a kick.
"Don't be rude to him," Joanne hissed.
"I wasn't, I was only kidding. You know I was kidding, right Sebby?"
"Right, Maureen," Seb sighed. "Follow me," he said, as he led them to a table.
"So, it'll be the usual again? One Tofu Platter, three cheeseburgers, one Miso Soup, one plate of spaghetti . . ."
"And a partridge in a pear tree," Mark interrupted him.
Jan giggled.
"Actually, Seb, could you make it four cheeseburgers?" Mimi asked him, as the group all gave her weird stares.
"What? I'm hungry," Mimi said, leaning back in her seat.
"Alrighty. I'll be back with your grub in a minute or two. Adios," Seb stuck his golf pencil behind his ear, and went over to another table.
"So is there a reason you summoned us over here?" Collins poked Roger in the shoulder. "Or were you just hungry?"
"Yes, Mimi and I have something to tell everyone."
"They're getting married. I KNEW it!" Maureen whispered to Joanne, who put a finger to her lips.
"Not exactly, Mo," Roger laughed, overhearing her. "We just wanted to bring you all together so we could tell you all at once- Meems, do you want me to tell them or do you want to?"
"I'll tell them," Mimi smiled.
The others waited, impatiently.
"Well, you all know I went to the doctor a few days ago so he could see how my arm was doing. And I'd been feeling a little under the weather lately, so I asked him to run a few extra tests."
She slipped her hand through Roger's and squeezed. "And, well, what he found out was, that I'm pregnant. Roger and I are going to have a baby."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Then, Maureen broke the silence. "CONGRATULATIONS! I can't believe it! You're having a baby!" she squealed, rushing out of her chair to hug Mimi tightly.
She placed her hand on Mimi's stomach. "This is so great! Do you know what you're having?"
"No, not yet," Mimi laughed, amused by Maureen's reaction.
"Congratulation, Davis," Collins exclaimed, punching Roger lightly in the arm.
"Thanks," Roger beamed.
"So . . . when did you and Roger . . . you know, conceive it?"
"Maureen!" Joann exclaimed, unable to keep from laughing.
"Sorry. How far are you along?"
"Three weeks and four days," Mimi said, proudly.
"Oh! Almost a month! Only eight more months to go!"
"God, don't remind me," Mimi pretended to groan.
"Congratulations, Roger," Mark placed his hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"Thanks, Mark," Roger smiled.
"May I propose a toast?" Collins inferred, standing to his feet.
"Yes. Yes, a toast, of course," Maureen said, scrambling for her water glass.
Collins took his glass and stood on top of his chair.
"Careful, Collins," Frankie whispered.
Collins rose his glass, as did the others. "To Roger and Mimi," he said, "May they have a healthy . . ."
"Fetus?" Roger inquired, earning a light slap from Mimi.
"A healthy baby," Collins continued, "And, oh, hell, congratulations, you two! Cheers," he added, taking a sip from his glass.
"Cheers," the others chorused, and did the same.
"So, Roger, how does it feel to know you and Mimi can't make whoopee for another eight months?" Mark asked, jokingly.
"Mark!" Jan exclaimed.
"It sucks, royally," Roger joked.
"It's too bad Christmas already passed," Frankie said to Mimi. "I would have brought you guys stuff for the baby."
"That's okay. Thanks anyway, Frankie."
"We're still gonna get you guys gifts for the baby, don't you worry," Collins said, grinning.
"Thanks, Col," Mimi smiled.
"Here we are," sang Seb, as he brought a tray piled with food to the table.
"Thanks, Seb," said Maureen. "Guess what?"
"You're never coming back?" Seb said, half-joking.
"Nope. Mimi's pregnant!"
"Oy vay," he said, pretending to look horrified.
"You can at least congratulate them," Joanne laughed.
"I am. Congratulations, you guys," Seb said to Roger and Mimi. "You'll tell the kid all about your wonderful waiter, Sebastian, won't you?"
"Of course," said Mimi.
Seb grinned. "Great. Ta-ta," he said, as he set the food down and left.
"So THAT'S why you're getting a burger," Maureen said. "Roger, you better start stocking the fridge with yogurt and pickles."
"Yeah, right. I hate pickles," Mimi said.
"Meems, you're pregnant. Pretty soon, you're going to be eating EVERYTHING."
"I can't wait," Mimi groaned. "I guess I'm going to have to start buying maternity clothes too."
"Well, at least it's an excuse to get you gifts," Jan joked.
"You shouldn't be needing maternity clothes until you're about four months along," Collins told Mimi.
"You'll still be gorgeous anyway, Meems," Roger said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Thanks, Rog."
"We'll still love you, even if you start to outgrow the Loft," he joked.
"Don't be mean," Mimi whined. "I don't see any babies coming out of YOUR vagina anytime soon."
Roger blushed, as the others laughed.
"Speaking of babies," Mark said, suddenly, "Karen's supposed to be having her baby in a few days. I ran into Mitch the other day and he said that she's a few days late."
"Really? I'll have to call him to see how she's doing," said Roger.
"How long have you known?" Frankie asked Mimi.
"Only a couple of days. But I had a hunch that I was before that, since I'd been getting sick in the morning."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Frankie said, with a sympathetic smile.
Mimi shook her head. "Don't be. You're not the one who got me pregnant," she laughed.
***
"Well, well. Alone again," Roger said to Mimi, once they were back in the Loft. Mark was staying at Jan's place for the night again.
"Don't try anything funny now, Rog," Mimi laughed. "You know we can't do anything until after the baby's born."
"That SUCKS," Roger whined.
Mimi laughed, and rolled her eyes. "I hope this kid turns out to be more mature than you," she joked.
"Why? I'm mature," Roger protested.
Mimi giggled, as she kicked her shoes off. "Pretty soon my feet are going to swell up," she said, staring down at her toes.
"It'll be fine, baby," Roger said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well, at least it'll only be for a few months," Mimi said, shrugging.
"That's the spirit!" Roger said, poking her in the side.
Mimi giggled.
"I wonder if this kid's gonna look like me," Roger wondered aloud.
"God forbid," Mimi joked.
"That's it!" Roger picked her up over his shoulder.
"Roger!" Mimi shrieked, kicking out at him.
"Say uncle," Roger joked, tugging on one of her toes.
"Roger, don't be an ass, put me down."
"Say it!" he said, as he began to tickle her foot.
"Okay! Uncle!" she squealed, and he stopped.
Roger looked behind him, to see her head dangling over his shoulder. "You tired?"
"Yes," she admitted.
"Right-O. Let's go to the royal bed chamber then, shall we?"
"We shall."
Roger carried her into the bedroom, where the two silently changed into their nightclothes, and slid into bed.
"Meems?" Roger whispered to Mimi, once he'd turned out the lights.
"Mmm?"
"I'm really happy for us."
Mimi rolled on her side and smiled at him. "So am I."
"Night, Babe."
"Night, Roger."
a/n: Yeah, that was sappy. Anyway, we got BEBE! Whooooooot!
"Welcome back!" Roger greeted Mark and Jan the next afternoon, as they entered the Loft.
"Thanks," Mark said, breathlessly, letting the two duffel bags drop to the floor.
"We're going to the Life later," Roger told him.
"Why? Do celebrate my homecoming?" Mark asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"Not exactly," Roger said, winking at Mimi, who smiled, knowingly.
"How was the Christmas party?" Jan asked.
Roger shrugged. "It was good. It wasn't the same without you guys, though."
"Aw, shucks," Mark joked.
Jan shrugged off her winter coat, and looked around the apartment. "Is Daisha here?"
"She went back to live with my mother," said Mimi. "Now that Joel's not there anymore, she has nothing to be afraid of."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you . . . have to go to his funeral?"
"My mother asked me if I wanted to go. I told her no," Mimi said, flatly. "She and Isabella went. They probably were the only people there. Joel's parents died when he was a kid."
"That's too bad," said Jan, quietly. "When was the funeral?"
"It was a week ago."
"So how've you two been anyway?" Mark asked, changing the subject. "Did you give each other your Christmas presents yet?"
"Yes," Mimi said, smiling warmly at Roger, who grinned back at her.
"How was it over there?" Roger asked, taking Mark's bags and placing them on the couch."
"It was fun. They're nice people," said Mark.
"It was fucking FREEZING, though," said Jan. "If you think it's cold here, you should see it over there. And they got like 3 feet of snow last night. Luckily, Mark and I left before it started to snow."
"Good food?" Roger asked Mark, who nodded, as Jan laughed.
"I nearly burst after dinner," said Mark.
"Well it wouldn't hurt you to eat that much regularly, Mark. You're all skin and bones anyway."
"I am not," argued Mark.
Roger looked at Mimi and rolled his eyes.
"So anyway, I wanted to drop of the bags and say hi to you two, and me and Jan are gonna head back to her place. We'll see you later at the Life Café?"
"Sure," said Roger.
"Bye," waved Jan, and the two of them left together.
"They sure are spending a lot of time together," Mimi observed, once the door had closed behind them.
"At least he's happy though," said Roger. "I haven't seen him this energetic in a long time. Not since he was with Maureen and even then, he wasn't as happy as he is now."
He took a Gingerbread cookie that Frankie had brought last night from the coffee table, and offered it to Mimi. "Want one?"
Mimi grimaced. "I can't eat that now."
"Sorry," Roger said, sympathetically. "How's your stomach been?"
"I was sick early this morning," Mimi admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were asleep, and I didn't want to bother you. Besides, morning sickness isn't uncommon or anything," she shrugged.
"So you're going to be feeling like this often?"
Mimi shrugged. "I guess so."
Roger sighed. "I'm sorry, Babe."
"It's not your fault," Mimi told him, nudging him with her foot.
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I still can't believe it," he murmured, nudging his nose into her curly hair.
Mimi smiled. "I know," she whispered, squeezing his arm as he wrapped it around her chest.
"What do you want to call it?" he asked, lifting his head up.
Mimi shrugged. "Well we should wait and find out whether it's a boy or a girl first. I mean, I don't want to have my heart set on Beth or something and then find out it's a boy."
Roger made a face. "You want to call it Beth?"
"No, I was just using that as an example," Mimi laughed. "And stop calling it 'it.'"
"Well, I can't really call it a he or a she, now can I?"
Mimi sighed. "Just call it 'The Baby,' or something like that."
"Can I call it the fetus?"
Mimi made a face. "Why?"
Roger shrugged. "I dunno, it sounds cool. Maybe we should name the kid Fetus Davis?"
"Yeah, sure. Fetus. And what will it's middle name be, then?"
Roger whispered a name into her ear.
Mimi's eyes widened. "Ew!" she smacked his arm, playfully. "Rog, you're so gross."
Roger grinned, mischievously.
Mimi sighed, and laid her head back against one of the couch pillows. "When do you think we should start shopping for baby furniture?"
Roger shrugged. "We can't do that unless we know the sex. We can't bring home pink furniture for Fetus Davis if he turns out to be a boy, right?"
"Roger, I am NOT calling our baby Fetus Davis!"
***
"Hey, Seb," Roger greeted the waiter at the Life Café, as he, Mimi, Mark, Jan, Collins, Frankie, Maureen and Joanne entered the restaurant.
"Do you guys EVER eat anywhere else?" Seb exclaimed, as he pulled out eight menus from the counter behind him.
"If we ate anywhere else, you wouldn't have any customers left," Maureen laughed. "Ow!" she complained, as Joanne gave her a kick.
"Don't be rude to him," Joanne hissed.
"I wasn't, I was only kidding. You know I was kidding, right Sebby?"
"Right, Maureen," Seb sighed. "Follow me," he said, as he led them to a table.
"So, it'll be the usual again? One Tofu Platter, three cheeseburgers, one Miso Soup, one plate of spaghetti . . ."
"And a partridge in a pear tree," Mark interrupted him.
Jan giggled.
"Actually, Seb, could you make it four cheeseburgers?" Mimi asked him, as the group all gave her weird stares.
"What? I'm hungry," Mimi said, leaning back in her seat.
"Alrighty. I'll be back with your grub in a minute or two. Adios," Seb stuck his golf pencil behind his ear, and went over to another table.
"So is there a reason you summoned us over here?" Collins poked Roger in the shoulder. "Or were you just hungry?"
"Yes, Mimi and I have something to tell everyone."
"They're getting married. I KNEW it!" Maureen whispered to Joanne, who put a finger to her lips.
"Not exactly, Mo," Roger laughed, overhearing her. "We just wanted to bring you all together so we could tell you all at once- Meems, do you want me to tell them or do you want to?"
"I'll tell them," Mimi smiled.
The others waited, impatiently.
"Well, you all know I went to the doctor a few days ago so he could see how my arm was doing. And I'd been feeling a little under the weather lately, so I asked him to run a few extra tests."
She slipped her hand through Roger's and squeezed. "And, well, what he found out was, that I'm pregnant. Roger and I are going to have a baby."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Then, Maureen broke the silence. "CONGRATULATIONS! I can't believe it! You're having a baby!" she squealed, rushing out of her chair to hug Mimi tightly.
She placed her hand on Mimi's stomach. "This is so great! Do you know what you're having?"
"No, not yet," Mimi laughed, amused by Maureen's reaction.
"Congratulation, Davis," Collins exclaimed, punching Roger lightly in the arm.
"Thanks," Roger beamed.
"So . . . when did you and Roger . . . you know, conceive it?"
"Maureen!" Joann exclaimed, unable to keep from laughing.
"Sorry. How far are you along?"
"Three weeks and four days," Mimi said, proudly.
"Oh! Almost a month! Only eight more months to go!"
"God, don't remind me," Mimi pretended to groan.
"Congratulations, Roger," Mark placed his hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"Thanks, Mark," Roger smiled.
"May I propose a toast?" Collins inferred, standing to his feet.
"Yes. Yes, a toast, of course," Maureen said, scrambling for her water glass.
Collins took his glass and stood on top of his chair.
"Careful, Collins," Frankie whispered.
Collins rose his glass, as did the others. "To Roger and Mimi," he said, "May they have a healthy . . ."
"Fetus?" Roger inquired, earning a light slap from Mimi.
"A healthy baby," Collins continued, "And, oh, hell, congratulations, you two! Cheers," he added, taking a sip from his glass.
"Cheers," the others chorused, and did the same.
"So, Roger, how does it feel to know you and Mimi can't make whoopee for another eight months?" Mark asked, jokingly.
"Mark!" Jan exclaimed.
"It sucks, royally," Roger joked.
"It's too bad Christmas already passed," Frankie said to Mimi. "I would have brought you guys stuff for the baby."
"That's okay. Thanks anyway, Frankie."
"We're still gonna get you guys gifts for the baby, don't you worry," Collins said, grinning.
"Thanks, Col," Mimi smiled.
"Here we are," sang Seb, as he brought a tray piled with food to the table.
"Thanks, Seb," said Maureen. "Guess what?"
"You're never coming back?" Seb said, half-joking.
"Nope. Mimi's pregnant!"
"Oy vay," he said, pretending to look horrified.
"You can at least congratulate them," Joanne laughed.
"I am. Congratulations, you guys," Seb said to Roger and Mimi. "You'll tell the kid all about your wonderful waiter, Sebastian, won't you?"
"Of course," said Mimi.
Seb grinned. "Great. Ta-ta," he said, as he set the food down and left.
"So THAT'S why you're getting a burger," Maureen said. "Roger, you better start stocking the fridge with yogurt and pickles."
"Yeah, right. I hate pickles," Mimi said.
"Meems, you're pregnant. Pretty soon, you're going to be eating EVERYTHING."
"I can't wait," Mimi groaned. "I guess I'm going to have to start buying maternity clothes too."
"Well, at least it's an excuse to get you gifts," Jan joked.
"You shouldn't be needing maternity clothes until you're about four months along," Collins told Mimi.
"You'll still be gorgeous anyway, Meems," Roger said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Thanks, Rog."
"We'll still love you, even if you start to outgrow the Loft," he joked.
"Don't be mean," Mimi whined. "I don't see any babies coming out of YOUR vagina anytime soon."
Roger blushed, as the others laughed.
"Speaking of babies," Mark said, suddenly, "Karen's supposed to be having her baby in a few days. I ran into Mitch the other day and he said that she's a few days late."
"Really? I'll have to call him to see how she's doing," said Roger.
"How long have you known?" Frankie asked Mimi.
"Only a couple of days. But I had a hunch that I was before that, since I'd been getting sick in the morning."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Frankie said, with a sympathetic smile.
Mimi shook her head. "Don't be. You're not the one who got me pregnant," she laughed.
***
"Well, well. Alone again," Roger said to Mimi, once they were back in the Loft. Mark was staying at Jan's place for the night again.
"Don't try anything funny now, Rog," Mimi laughed. "You know we can't do anything until after the baby's born."
"That SUCKS," Roger whined.
Mimi laughed, and rolled her eyes. "I hope this kid turns out to be more mature than you," she joked.
"Why? I'm mature," Roger protested.
Mimi giggled, as she kicked her shoes off. "Pretty soon my feet are going to swell up," she said, staring down at her toes.
"It'll be fine, baby," Roger said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well, at least it'll only be for a few months," Mimi said, shrugging.
"That's the spirit!" Roger said, poking her in the side.
Mimi giggled.
"I wonder if this kid's gonna look like me," Roger wondered aloud.
"God forbid," Mimi joked.
"That's it!" Roger picked her up over his shoulder.
"Roger!" Mimi shrieked, kicking out at him.
"Say uncle," Roger joked, tugging on one of her toes.
"Roger, don't be an ass, put me down."
"Say it!" he said, as he began to tickle her foot.
"Okay! Uncle!" she squealed, and he stopped.
Roger looked behind him, to see her head dangling over his shoulder. "You tired?"
"Yes," she admitted.
"Right-O. Let's go to the royal bed chamber then, shall we?"
"We shall."
Roger carried her into the bedroom, where the two silently changed into their nightclothes, and slid into bed.
"Meems?" Roger whispered to Mimi, once he'd turned out the lights.
"Mmm?"
"I'm really happy for us."
Mimi rolled on her side and smiled at him. "So am I."
"Night, Babe."
"Night, Roger."
a/n: Yeah, that was sappy. Anyway, we got BEBE! Whooooooot!