FEBUARY 3RD
"How was it?" Mimi asked Roger as he stumbled into the Loft.
The doctors had agreed to let Mimi go home, but they had strongly advised that she stay home and rest rather than go to big events like the rehearsal dinner.
"It was a bitch," Roger grumbled, kicking off his shoes off into a corner of the room. "Chad was all uptight about everything. Just being really bossy. Then again, I can't really blame him. He IS getting married in less than a week."
He paused, and then walked over to Mimi and wrapped his arms around her waist. "How've you been feeling?"
Mimi smiled. "Better. I didn't feel as sick as I did before. Probably because I don't have anything left in me to get sick off of," she said, making a face.
Roger sighed. "I felt really bad leaving you here alone."
"Don't worry about it," Mimi said softly rubbing her hand against his sleeve.
"Well, Mark's happy now. She surprised him at the dinner. Turns out she won't need to be leaving until March."
"That's good. I'm guessing Mark's at Jan's, then?"
"When is he NOT at Jan's?" Roger said, shaking his head.
Mimi laughed. "Well, now you know how he probably felt when you'd stay over at my place all the time."
Roger thought about that for a moment. "True," he said, slowly.
Mimi smiled and walked over to the couch, retrieving a list she'd written in her neat, loopy script.
"Look what I did while you guys were gone," she said, holding it out towards him triumphantly.
Roger took the list from her and eyed it closely. "Corey, James, Joy, Aimee. . . what is this, Meems?" he asked, frowning.
"It's a list of some baby names I came up with," Mimi said, standing on her tiptoes so she could look at the list over Roger's shoulder. "Do you like them?"
"I like the name Joy," he said. "But Meems, don't you think it's a little earlier to be thinking of baby names? I mean, you're not even three months yet."
Mimi shrugged. "It's never too earlier. Besides, I needed SOMETHING to do while you were out."
"You're right," he agreed. "Jeez, I would have rather stayed home with you though than go to the rehearsal dinner. You should have seen me and Chad going at it," he sighed.
"It's hard being a best man, isn't it?" Mimi crooned, beginning to massage his shoulders.
"It is," he murmured, closing his eyes.
"Well, whatever Chad and Karmine think, you're still MY best man," Mimi teased.
Roger smiled, taking her hands in his. "Maybe after the babies are born we can start thinking about our own marriage?"
Mimi's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean it?"
Roger nodded, still smiling.
"Oh, Roger," Mimi whispered, unable to help the tears from coming to the corners of her eyes.
"Hey, no crying," Roger chided, jokingly.
Mimi smiled. "Sorry."
"Besides, you're gonna be enough stressed out with those two inside you as it is."
Mimi groaned. "Don't remind me."
"So, what do you think we're gonna have?" he asked, rubbing her shoulders gently.
"Girls," Mimi declared. "I can't imagine having two mini-Rogers' around the house."
"I wouldn't mind having two miniature me's around the house," Roger said, thoughtfully.
Mimi shoved him over, playfully. "Please. I've got enough on my mind as it is," she laughed.
She got up from the couch to throw out the carton of yogurt that she'd eaten earlier.
"Hey, Meems?" Roger called after her.
Mimi turned around.
"What about Roger Davis Jr.?" he asked, wickedly.
Mimi smiled and shook her head and went back into the kitchen.
***
FEBUARY 10th
"FUCK!"
Mimi woke up the next morning to hear Roger's screaming.
Yawning, she pushed her blanket aside and carefully stood to her feet. She and Roger had both fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie late last night.
"What is it, Rog?" she called, walking into the bedroom.
"Pepper took a crap on my suit!" he cried, showing it to her. In the corner, the little dog cowered, with a defiant smirk on its face.
Collins and Frankie had left Pepper at the Loft while they visited Frankie's relatives.
"What happened?" Mark asked, yawning as he entered the room with Jan behind him, barely awake.
"That dumbass dog crapped right on the suit I'm supposed to wear to the wedding today!" Roger cried.
"Oh, um, that sucks," Mark said, unable to hide a smile.
"It's not funny!" Roger groaned. "I can't go to the wedding with a shit stain on my pants!"
"We can take it to the dry cleaners," Mimi assured him. "You'll get it back just in time for the wedding."
"You want me to go call Maureen, since she's the only one with a car?" Jan offered.
Roger nodded his head. "Yeah. Thanks."
Jan turned to Mark. "I'll see you in a little while," she said, kissing him quickly on the lips.
Mark grinned, in spite of himself. "See you later."
Roger glared at Pepper, who was still hiding at the other side of the room.
"Bet you think you're real cute," he growled.
"Christ, Roger, it was an accident. Dogs have accidents all the time."
"Yeah, well it just had to happen on MY suit," Roger said, through gritted teeth. "That dog is out to get me. I'll bet you that when we're gone it'll tear up the fucking apartment."
"Rog, calm down," Mimi said, scooping up Pepper in her arms. "I'll use the baby-gate Mitch and Karen gave us to keep her in the kitchen, okay? Will that make you feel better?"
"I guess so," he grumbled.
Mimi nodded. "Okay. Come with me, sweetie, you're going to stay in the kitchen for a little while," she cooed to the dog as she took her into the kitchen.
Roger shook his head. "I don't know how you get attached to those things."
"You used to have a dog, remember?" Mark asked. "Muffy?"
"Yeah," Roger said, a small smile coming over his face. "I hated that name. Rachel was the one who named him."
"Remember when he took a dump right in your mom's Zinnias?"
"Do I," he laughed. "He's lucky that my mom didn't strangle him after that."
"So have you seen the outfits that Karmine picked out for the girls to wear?" Mark asked him.
Roger shook his head. "No. Mimi was too embarrassed to show me. She said it was all frills and bows."
Mark laughed. "Well, that's Karmine for you. I saw Jan and Maureen after they'd tried them on. It's not THAT bad."
"Is Joanne going to the wedding?"
Mark shook his head. "She had to fly to Chicago at the last minute for another one of her mother's hearings."
"Not again," Roger exclaimed. "Is Maureen real pissed about it?"
Mark shrugged. "She was pretty disappointed about it. But what can you do?"
Roger shrugged. "Guess you're right. So Joanne, Collins AND Frankie aren't going to be there?"
"Nope."
"That's too bad," Roger said, sighing.
"I'm back," Jan said, as she entered the room. "I gave the suit to Maureen and she's on her way to the dry cleaner's right now. You should have it back in about an hour."
"Thanks, Jan," Roger said, "You're a lifesaver."
"No problem," Jan smiled, clinging to Mark's arm.
"You ready for the wedding?" Mark asked her.
Jan nodded. "I've never been to one before."
"Really?" Mark said.
Jan nodded again. "Have you?"
"Twice. One was when my mom remarried, and the other one was my sister Cindy's."
"And the one you had with Casey Krawford in he second grade," Roger said, laughing.
Mark blushed. "Roger, that was SECOND GRADE."
"Don't worry, Mark, I'm not jealous," Jan joked, kissing him on the cheek.
"Well, okay," he laughed, kissing her back. "We'd better get ready for the wedding."
"Okay. I've got my dress back at my place, so I'll meet you downstairs at five?"
"Alright. Bye," Mark said, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek.
"Bye, Mark. Bye, Roger."
"Bye," Roger said, as she left.
"You ready to get all spiffed up, pretty boy?" Mark asked Roger, before sauntering out of the room.
"Who're you calling 'Pretty boy?'" Roger demanded, as he followed him out of the bedroom.
***
"Are you guys ready yet?" Roger yelled, from the living room. He turned to face the mirror in the front hallway, and ran his fingers through his bleached, gelled hair one more time.
"You look better in a tux than I thought you would, Davis," Mark joked as he walked in, fixing his tie.
"You don't look too bad yourself, Cohen," Roger commented, helping him with his tie.
"I thought I'm supposed to be the one helping Mark with his tie," Jan laughed, all decked out in the frilly dress that Karmine had chosen for them to wear.
"Only I have the honor of helping Marky dress," Roger teased. He turned to face the bedroom. "Meems, are you ready yet? We need to leave now!"
"I'm coming!" Mimi yelled from the bedroom. "You better not laugh."
They heard her footsteps as she approached them.
"Stop smiling," she snapped at Mark.
"Sorry, Meems, it's just . . . I've never seen you so, you know . . ."
"Girly?" she guessed.
"Yeah."
"I think you look hot," Roger grinned, pulling her towards him.
"You would," Mimi laughed.
"You guys all ready to leave?" Jan asked them.
Mark grabbed his video camera from the hallway table. "Yup."
"Let's go," Roger declared, and the four of them went downstairs to meet Maureen, who was waiting for them by the car.
***
"You nervous?" Roger asked Chad, moments before he went out to stand at the altar to wait for Karmine.
"Uh, no . . .yes," he admitted.
"Don't be. You two make a great couple."
"Thanks, Rog," Chad said. "I didn't mean to be such a dick at the rehearsal dinner."
"Don't worry about it," Roger said. "Just go out there and make Karmine a happy bride."
Chad grinned. "You sound like a football coach."
"Hey, why not? One, two, three, HUT!"
Chad laughed, as the organ music began. "Hey, we've gotta go out there now."
"Alright. After you."
"Oh, shit. I hope I don't start crying," Maureen declared, as Karmine began to walk down the aisle.
"SHH!" an old relative hissed from behind them.
"YOU SHH!" Maureen snapped.
"Maureen, quiet!" Mimi whispered, as she watched Roger and Chad at the altar.
"Karmine looks beautiful," Jan said to Mark, as she passed them.
"She does," he agreed.
"Maybe some day that can be the two of us," she winked.
Mark chuckled nervously, not sure whether she was joking or not.
Finally, Karmine approached the altar, and she and Chad turned to face the priest.
He cleared his throat and began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate. If anyone should show just cause, why they may not be virtually joined in virtual matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace . . ."
Mimi's mind wandered as the priest's calm tone droned on. Could that really someday by her and Roger? She wondered. Once the babies were born, he'd said. God, she couldn't imagine herself as a bride. It wouldn't be a large ceremony, just a few small close friends and family. And she could wear her mother's old wedding dress from when she'd married Mimi's real father . . .
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest declared.
Mimi looked up. Roger had given Chad and Karmine the rings, and now Chad was pulling Karmine's veil away from her face, and was kissing her.
Mimi heard Maureen sniveling next to her.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said, and the guests began to applaud, politely.
Roger turned to look back at Mimi, and smiled when she caught his eye.
"God I am SO fucking tired," Mark declared as he, Jan, Roger and Mimi entered the Loft again.
"Did you get it all on tape?" Roger asked him.
Mark nodded, holding up his camera. "Yup."
"What time is it?" Jan asked, aloud.
Mark checked his watch. "It's almost two."
"Christ," Mimi murmured, leaning against Roger.
Roger turned to her and kissed her forehead, nuzzling his nose into her curly hair.
"You ready to hit the sack?" he asked.
"And get out of this dress? YES," she said, making Roger laugh.
"Well. We're going to go to bed as well," Mark said, taking Jan's hand. "See you two lovebirds in the morning," he said, winking, as he and Jan disappeared into Mark's bedroom.
"It's weird," Mimi said, as Roger yawned. "I feel like it's OUR wedding night."
"Does that mean we get to have a honeymoon?" Roger asked, eagerly.
Mimi laughed. "No, but you can carry me to bed all the same."
"No problem," Roger said, carrying Mimi into their bedroom, frilly bows and all.
a/n: I realized after I posted this that I had Jan in the chapter.and if you've followed carefully you'll know that Jan was supposed to be at an aunt's funeral. So I quickly threw that thing in about Jan not having to leave until March. *Is a jackass* Review!
"How was it?" Mimi asked Roger as he stumbled into the Loft.
The doctors had agreed to let Mimi go home, but they had strongly advised that she stay home and rest rather than go to big events like the rehearsal dinner.
"It was a bitch," Roger grumbled, kicking off his shoes off into a corner of the room. "Chad was all uptight about everything. Just being really bossy. Then again, I can't really blame him. He IS getting married in less than a week."
He paused, and then walked over to Mimi and wrapped his arms around her waist. "How've you been feeling?"
Mimi smiled. "Better. I didn't feel as sick as I did before. Probably because I don't have anything left in me to get sick off of," she said, making a face.
Roger sighed. "I felt really bad leaving you here alone."
"Don't worry about it," Mimi said softly rubbing her hand against his sleeve.
"Well, Mark's happy now. She surprised him at the dinner. Turns out she won't need to be leaving until March."
"That's good. I'm guessing Mark's at Jan's, then?"
"When is he NOT at Jan's?" Roger said, shaking his head.
Mimi laughed. "Well, now you know how he probably felt when you'd stay over at my place all the time."
Roger thought about that for a moment. "True," he said, slowly.
Mimi smiled and walked over to the couch, retrieving a list she'd written in her neat, loopy script.
"Look what I did while you guys were gone," she said, holding it out towards him triumphantly.
Roger took the list from her and eyed it closely. "Corey, James, Joy, Aimee. . . what is this, Meems?" he asked, frowning.
"It's a list of some baby names I came up with," Mimi said, standing on her tiptoes so she could look at the list over Roger's shoulder. "Do you like them?"
"I like the name Joy," he said. "But Meems, don't you think it's a little earlier to be thinking of baby names? I mean, you're not even three months yet."
Mimi shrugged. "It's never too earlier. Besides, I needed SOMETHING to do while you were out."
"You're right," he agreed. "Jeez, I would have rather stayed home with you though than go to the rehearsal dinner. You should have seen me and Chad going at it," he sighed.
"It's hard being a best man, isn't it?" Mimi crooned, beginning to massage his shoulders.
"It is," he murmured, closing his eyes.
"Well, whatever Chad and Karmine think, you're still MY best man," Mimi teased.
Roger smiled, taking her hands in his. "Maybe after the babies are born we can start thinking about our own marriage?"
Mimi's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean it?"
Roger nodded, still smiling.
"Oh, Roger," Mimi whispered, unable to help the tears from coming to the corners of her eyes.
"Hey, no crying," Roger chided, jokingly.
Mimi smiled. "Sorry."
"Besides, you're gonna be enough stressed out with those two inside you as it is."
Mimi groaned. "Don't remind me."
"So, what do you think we're gonna have?" he asked, rubbing her shoulders gently.
"Girls," Mimi declared. "I can't imagine having two mini-Rogers' around the house."
"I wouldn't mind having two miniature me's around the house," Roger said, thoughtfully.
Mimi shoved him over, playfully. "Please. I've got enough on my mind as it is," she laughed.
She got up from the couch to throw out the carton of yogurt that she'd eaten earlier.
"Hey, Meems?" Roger called after her.
Mimi turned around.
"What about Roger Davis Jr.?" he asked, wickedly.
Mimi smiled and shook her head and went back into the kitchen.
***
FEBUARY 10th
"FUCK!"
Mimi woke up the next morning to hear Roger's screaming.
Yawning, she pushed her blanket aside and carefully stood to her feet. She and Roger had both fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie late last night.
"What is it, Rog?" she called, walking into the bedroom.
"Pepper took a crap on my suit!" he cried, showing it to her. In the corner, the little dog cowered, with a defiant smirk on its face.
Collins and Frankie had left Pepper at the Loft while they visited Frankie's relatives.
"What happened?" Mark asked, yawning as he entered the room with Jan behind him, barely awake.
"That dumbass dog crapped right on the suit I'm supposed to wear to the wedding today!" Roger cried.
"Oh, um, that sucks," Mark said, unable to hide a smile.
"It's not funny!" Roger groaned. "I can't go to the wedding with a shit stain on my pants!"
"We can take it to the dry cleaners," Mimi assured him. "You'll get it back just in time for the wedding."
"You want me to go call Maureen, since she's the only one with a car?" Jan offered.
Roger nodded his head. "Yeah. Thanks."
Jan turned to Mark. "I'll see you in a little while," she said, kissing him quickly on the lips.
Mark grinned, in spite of himself. "See you later."
Roger glared at Pepper, who was still hiding at the other side of the room.
"Bet you think you're real cute," he growled.
"Christ, Roger, it was an accident. Dogs have accidents all the time."
"Yeah, well it just had to happen on MY suit," Roger said, through gritted teeth. "That dog is out to get me. I'll bet you that when we're gone it'll tear up the fucking apartment."
"Rog, calm down," Mimi said, scooping up Pepper in her arms. "I'll use the baby-gate Mitch and Karen gave us to keep her in the kitchen, okay? Will that make you feel better?"
"I guess so," he grumbled.
Mimi nodded. "Okay. Come with me, sweetie, you're going to stay in the kitchen for a little while," she cooed to the dog as she took her into the kitchen.
Roger shook his head. "I don't know how you get attached to those things."
"You used to have a dog, remember?" Mark asked. "Muffy?"
"Yeah," Roger said, a small smile coming over his face. "I hated that name. Rachel was the one who named him."
"Remember when he took a dump right in your mom's Zinnias?"
"Do I," he laughed. "He's lucky that my mom didn't strangle him after that."
"So have you seen the outfits that Karmine picked out for the girls to wear?" Mark asked him.
Roger shook his head. "No. Mimi was too embarrassed to show me. She said it was all frills and bows."
Mark laughed. "Well, that's Karmine for you. I saw Jan and Maureen after they'd tried them on. It's not THAT bad."
"Is Joanne going to the wedding?"
Mark shook his head. "She had to fly to Chicago at the last minute for another one of her mother's hearings."
"Not again," Roger exclaimed. "Is Maureen real pissed about it?"
Mark shrugged. "She was pretty disappointed about it. But what can you do?"
Roger shrugged. "Guess you're right. So Joanne, Collins AND Frankie aren't going to be there?"
"Nope."
"That's too bad," Roger said, sighing.
"I'm back," Jan said, as she entered the room. "I gave the suit to Maureen and she's on her way to the dry cleaner's right now. You should have it back in about an hour."
"Thanks, Jan," Roger said, "You're a lifesaver."
"No problem," Jan smiled, clinging to Mark's arm.
"You ready for the wedding?" Mark asked her.
Jan nodded. "I've never been to one before."
"Really?" Mark said.
Jan nodded again. "Have you?"
"Twice. One was when my mom remarried, and the other one was my sister Cindy's."
"And the one you had with Casey Krawford in he second grade," Roger said, laughing.
Mark blushed. "Roger, that was SECOND GRADE."
"Don't worry, Mark, I'm not jealous," Jan joked, kissing him on the cheek.
"Well, okay," he laughed, kissing her back. "We'd better get ready for the wedding."
"Okay. I've got my dress back at my place, so I'll meet you downstairs at five?"
"Alright. Bye," Mark said, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek.
"Bye, Mark. Bye, Roger."
"Bye," Roger said, as she left.
"You ready to get all spiffed up, pretty boy?" Mark asked Roger, before sauntering out of the room.
"Who're you calling 'Pretty boy?'" Roger demanded, as he followed him out of the bedroom.
***
"Are you guys ready yet?" Roger yelled, from the living room. He turned to face the mirror in the front hallway, and ran his fingers through his bleached, gelled hair one more time.
"You look better in a tux than I thought you would, Davis," Mark joked as he walked in, fixing his tie.
"You don't look too bad yourself, Cohen," Roger commented, helping him with his tie.
"I thought I'm supposed to be the one helping Mark with his tie," Jan laughed, all decked out in the frilly dress that Karmine had chosen for them to wear.
"Only I have the honor of helping Marky dress," Roger teased. He turned to face the bedroom. "Meems, are you ready yet? We need to leave now!"
"I'm coming!" Mimi yelled from the bedroom. "You better not laugh."
They heard her footsteps as she approached them.
"Stop smiling," she snapped at Mark.
"Sorry, Meems, it's just . . . I've never seen you so, you know . . ."
"Girly?" she guessed.
"Yeah."
"I think you look hot," Roger grinned, pulling her towards him.
"You would," Mimi laughed.
"You guys all ready to leave?" Jan asked them.
Mark grabbed his video camera from the hallway table. "Yup."
"Let's go," Roger declared, and the four of them went downstairs to meet Maureen, who was waiting for them by the car.
***
"You nervous?" Roger asked Chad, moments before he went out to stand at the altar to wait for Karmine.
"Uh, no . . .yes," he admitted.
"Don't be. You two make a great couple."
"Thanks, Rog," Chad said. "I didn't mean to be such a dick at the rehearsal dinner."
"Don't worry about it," Roger said. "Just go out there and make Karmine a happy bride."
Chad grinned. "You sound like a football coach."
"Hey, why not? One, two, three, HUT!"
Chad laughed, as the organ music began. "Hey, we've gotta go out there now."
"Alright. After you."
"Oh, shit. I hope I don't start crying," Maureen declared, as Karmine began to walk down the aisle.
"SHH!" an old relative hissed from behind them.
"YOU SHH!" Maureen snapped.
"Maureen, quiet!" Mimi whispered, as she watched Roger and Chad at the altar.
"Karmine looks beautiful," Jan said to Mark, as she passed them.
"She does," he agreed.
"Maybe some day that can be the two of us," she winked.
Mark chuckled nervously, not sure whether she was joking or not.
Finally, Karmine approached the altar, and she and Chad turned to face the priest.
He cleared his throat and began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate. If anyone should show just cause, why they may not be virtually joined in virtual matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace . . ."
Mimi's mind wandered as the priest's calm tone droned on. Could that really someday by her and Roger? She wondered. Once the babies were born, he'd said. God, she couldn't imagine herself as a bride. It wouldn't be a large ceremony, just a few small close friends and family. And she could wear her mother's old wedding dress from when she'd married Mimi's real father . . .
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest declared.
Mimi looked up. Roger had given Chad and Karmine the rings, and now Chad was pulling Karmine's veil away from her face, and was kissing her.
Mimi heard Maureen sniveling next to her.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said, and the guests began to applaud, politely.
Roger turned to look back at Mimi, and smiled when she caught his eye.
"God I am SO fucking tired," Mark declared as he, Jan, Roger and Mimi entered the Loft again.
"Did you get it all on tape?" Roger asked him.
Mark nodded, holding up his camera. "Yup."
"What time is it?" Jan asked, aloud.
Mark checked his watch. "It's almost two."
"Christ," Mimi murmured, leaning against Roger.
Roger turned to her and kissed her forehead, nuzzling his nose into her curly hair.
"You ready to hit the sack?" he asked.
"And get out of this dress? YES," she said, making Roger laugh.
"Well. We're going to go to bed as well," Mark said, taking Jan's hand. "See you two lovebirds in the morning," he said, winking, as he and Jan disappeared into Mark's bedroom.
"It's weird," Mimi said, as Roger yawned. "I feel like it's OUR wedding night."
"Does that mean we get to have a honeymoon?" Roger asked, eagerly.
Mimi laughed. "No, but you can carry me to bed all the same."
"No problem," Roger said, carrying Mimi into their bedroom, frilly bows and all.
a/n: I realized after I posted this that I had Jan in the chapter.and if you've followed carefully you'll know that Jan was supposed to be at an aunt's funeral. So I quickly threw that thing in about Jan not having to leave until March. *Is a jackass* Review!