MARCH 7TH

"Is anyone home?" Roger asked, as he walked into the Loft.

"Meems? Mark? Jan?" he called, as he stepped blindly through the apartment, searching with his hand for the light switch.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" several voices chorused.

Roger grabbed onto the arm of the couch in panic.

"Hey, baby," Mimi laughed, walking up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek. "Happy birthday."

"You remembered."

Mimi gave him a weird look. "Of course I remembered."

"Happy birthday, Roger!" Mark declared, fitting a dinky party hat on Roger's head. "How does it feel to be old?"

"Twenty-five is hardly old, Mark," Frankie laughed from beside Collins.

"It is when you're going to be a father," Mark replied.

"Thanks guys," Roger grinned, ignoring Mark's comment.

"Oh, hold on, wait a sec!" Mark disappeared into the kitchen, returning a moment later with a lopsided cake balanced on a dish. "Maureen made this for you."

"Look, um, appetizing," Roger laughed, taking a closer look. The words, 'Happy Birthday, Roger!' were iced onto it in loopy pink letters. "What are those white things?"

"Um, marshmallows, I think," Mark said, suppressing a grimace.

Roger laughed. "This is great. Thanks, Mo," he said, turning. He frowned when he couldn't find her. "Where's Maureen?"

"She says she's feeling under the weather today, so she's resting at home. She baked the cake for you as an apology for not being here, and also as a birthday present." Mark paused. "I just think she really misses Joanne."

"It's such a pity they broke up," Jan said, frowning.

"According to Maureen they didn't break up . . . they're just taking quote on quote, 'Time off.'"

"Still, it's sad that they're not together right now."

Everyone was silent for a moment.

"Well," said Collins, breaking the ice. "The cake was Maureen's gift to you. Wanna see what the rest of us got for you?"

"Oh, um, sure," Roger laughed.

"This is from Frankie and I," Collins said, handing him a brown package.

"You don't need to go so slowly," Mimi laughed, watching Roger carefully remove the paper and tape.

"Alrighty, then," Roger said, ripping off the wrapping paper to reveal a flat white box. "Oh, guys," he laughed, as he uncovered the box.

"What is it?" Jan asked, looking over Mark's shoulder.

Roger lifted two pairs of baby booties out of the tissue paper. "Thanks, guys."

"Thank you," Mimi echoed, smiling brightly at Collins and Frankie.

"My turn," Mark declared, "It's from Jan and me." He handed Roger a plastic bag with the words, 'Customized T-shirts' on it.

"Oh, God, I don't want to know what it says on the shirt," Roger laughed, as he unfolded the shirt. It was black, with small white lettering on the front.

"I'm with the band," Roger read. "Well, not so bad."

"Look on the back," Jan piped up.

Roger turned the shirt over. In large letters it said '(So are my kids.)'

"You guys," Roger groaned, laughing.

"Jeez, is it your birthday or the babies'?'" Mimi laughed, plopping onto Roger's lap. "Here. It's not baby-related . . .but it could be after a while." She reached for an object in back of her. "I'm not good at wrapping or anything, so I just decided to give it to you the way it is," she said, placing a red felt-covered binder into his hands.

"Open it," she said, encouragingly.

Roger did.

"Aw, Meems," he exclaimed. Inside were numerous photographs of the two of them together.

"It's not just the two of us- if you go on farther, there's pictures with everyone else too," Mimi pointed out.

Roger turned to see pictures of him, Mimi, Mark, Maureen, Joanne, Collins and Angel at Christmas, New Years, Roger's gigs, and then random pictures taken around the apartment or in Central Park.

"This is great, Meems," Roger grinned, setting the book aside so he could pull her towards him, kissing her on the lips.

"Thanks," Mimi giggled, "I thought you'd like it."

"I'd like anything you gave me."

"Is that so?"

"Before you guys get any ideas," Collins cut in, seeing the lustful looks in both Roger and Mimi's eyes, "We're taking you out to dinner for your birthday. My treat."

"Collins, you do too much for us," Mimi exclaimed, standing up to lean against the arm of the couch..

"It's no trouble at all. Besides, Roger deserves it. It IS his birthday, after all."

"So, where are we going?" Mark asked, replacing Mimi's spot on Roger's lap.

"Oof! Mark, get off," Roger groaned.

"Have you guys ever been to Jo's Pub?"

"No."

"It shouldn't be that far a walk . . . do you all mind?"

"No," Mark and Roger both said together. Mimi and Jan shook their heads.

"We'd better leave now," Frankie said, glancing at her watch. "Our reservations are for eight oh clock. It's almost seven thirty."

"Reservations? You DO do too much," Roger laughed.

"Think nothing of it. Grab your coats, and let's go."

***

"Bubbly, anyone?" Mark asked, once they had all been seating.

"What?" Roger asked, confused.

Mark retrieved a bottle of wine from a paper bag and dangled it by the neck in front of Roger.

"You with a bottle of wine, of all people," Roger laughed. "Where'd you get that?"

"Jan and ran into a store really quickly on the way here," Mark said, grinning sheepishly.

"Well, then, don't taunt us with it, give it here," Collins commanded.

"You and your wine," Frankie said, shaking her head as Mark handed the bottle to Collins.

"Shouldn't Roger have the first sip? It IS his birthday, after all," Jan said, winking at Mark.

"Oh, if you insist, groaned Collins, as Roger retrieved the bottle from him.

"Is it any good?" Mimi asked, snuggling against Roger's shoulder as he took a swig from the bottle.

Roger swallowed and made a face. "It's bitter."

"The bitter the better," Collins said, motioning for Mark to return it to him.

"You're going to be so drunk by the end of tonight," Frankie laughed as she watched him.

"Me? Never. I am you guys' designated driver . . . so to speak."

"That doesn't speak for much," Mark snickered.

"I heard that," Collins said, taking another swallow.

"Let's save it for the rest of us, shall we?" Roger laughed.

"Yeah, the rest of us are waiting," Mimi said.

"You guys are ALL going to be stoned by the end of the night," Jan teased.

"Do you guys know what you want?" asked a waitress as she approached their table.

"Ummm . . . you guys know what you want?"

"I'll have a small platter of Sashimi," said Jan, glancing at the names of the Sushi on the menu.

"I'll have a Caesar Salad," Frankie added.

"Anything else?" the waitress asked, when the others didn't say anything.

"You guys hungry?" Roger asked the others.

They all shook their heads.

"I ate my way through the refrigerator today," Mimi grinned, sheepishly.

"Thanks for sharing," Mark said.

"If you were pregnant, you would too."

"Okay, um, no I guess- just a Heineken, please," Roger said quickly, feeling himself blush.

"Alcoholic," Mimi teased, once the waitress had left.

"Sticks and stones," Roger replied, kissing her neck.

Mimi giggled. "You wanna dance?"

"Dance?"

"Yup. See the people dancing over there? By the band?" Mimi said, pointing.

"Oh."

"You guys want to come?" Mimi asked the others.

"Surely," Collins grinned, standing up to take Frankie's hand.

"You two coming?" Roger asked Mark and Jan.

Jan glanced at Mark. "Um, I'm not really much of a dancer," she said, blushing.

"Neither am I," Mark admitted.

"Do you just want to stay here?"

"Sure."

"Your loss," Roger shrugged, as Mimi tugged impatiently on his sleeve.

"I only danced in public once," Mark said to Jan, watching the others on the dance floor. "My High School dance. The most humiliating thing in the world."

"I know what you mean. I used to take ballet, and we'd have recitals- I HATED it, though. I used to dread going to them. And my mom had signed me and April up for three classes a week."

"That bites," Mark said, making a face.

"Tell me about it. I was finally kicked out because the instructor saw I wasn't trying at all," Jan laughed. "I don't regret it one bit."

"I don't blame you."

"Aw, look how cute they are," Jan exclaimed, referring to Roger and Mimi dancing together. Roger had his hands around Mimi's waist, and Mimi, who stood barely up to his shoulders had her head nuzzled against his arm. Roger was running his hands through her long curly hair.

"Ten bucks they're both drunk by the end of the night," Mark said, watching.

"You're horrible," Jan laughed.

Mark shrugged.

"We miss anything?" Frankie asked, as she and Collins slid back into their seats.

"That was fast," Jan observed.

"Yeah, well. The dance floor was getting a bit too heated for us," Collins said, winking at Frankie.

"Besides, I wanted my salad," Frankie said, grinning.

"And I wanted the wine," Collins joked.

Mark laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Just look at them," Jan commented again, still watching Roger and Mimi.

"You sure are fixated on those two," Mark said.

"They're just so perfect for each other."

"So are you two," Frankie said, taking a bite of her salad.

"Did we miss anything?" Mimi asked, as she and Roger returned to the table.

Mark shook his head. "Nope. We were just watching you two."

"Oh, great," Roger laughed.

"I need a drink. Send that bottle over here," Mimi commanded.

"Are you sure it's okay? I mean since you're pregnant and everything," Mark said.

"I'm pregnant, not crippled," Mimi declared, taking a swallow straight from the bottle.

"Eww. Cooties," Roger said, nuzzling against her shoulder.

"Want some?" she asked, offering it to him.

"No thanks."

"Your loss," she shrugged, taking another sip.

"Is our bet still on for the night?" Jan whispered, jabbing Mark in the side.

Mark laughed.

***

About an hour later, Frankie and Collins had left again to dance, and it was quite obvious that Mimi had had too much to drink.

"Let's dance," she declared, reaching clumsily for Roger's hand.

"Um, okay," Roger said, shooting Mark a 'Help me' look before letting Mimi drag him away.

"So, is this the best birthday ever? I mean I know you've had a lot . . . but is this the best EVER?" Mimi drawled.

Roger saw that she was unusually shaky and wobbly as they danced, slowly.

"You're drunk," he informed her.

"No I'm not," Mimi said. Almost on cue, her knees buckled lazily, and Roger grabbed her arms before she could fall over.

"Oops," she giggled.

"Meems, I think you should go home and lie down."

"Lie down? Look at the party boy! Pooping his own party!" Mimi declared, and then began to giggle as if that were the funniest thing in the world.

"Come on, Meems," Roger said, pulling her along gently.

"No," Mimi mumbled, struggling to break from his grasp. Finally she did, and then soon tripping over her own feet in the process. She landed in an awkward sitting position.

"Fuck," she groaned, s

"Are you alright?" Roger exclaimed, kneeling down beside her.

"I'm fine," she insisted, using his shoulder to push herself up. "Ow," she said, when she set her left foot down.

"Is everything alright?" Collins asked, as he and Frankie rushed over. "We saw Mimi fall."

"My foot hurts," Mimi grumbled, seeming to be slightly sobered up.

Collins knelt down beside her to feel her foot, gently.

"It may be twisted. Or sprained," he said, as suddenly jerked her foot away in pain.

"Shit," Roger groaned. "Oh well. We were just planning on leaving anyway.

"I'll tell Mark and Jan," Frankie offered.

"Thanks," Roger said, helping Mimi stand to her feet.

"Do you want me to call you two a cab? I don't think she'll be able to walk back home. Especially considering the fact that she's pretty drunk."

"I am not," Mimi argued.

"Yes, I think that would be the best idea. Thanks, Collins."

"No problem," he assured him, getting up to hail a cab.

"Come on, Meems," Roger urged her gently. "We're going home."

"Did I fuck up your birthday?" she groaned.

"No, you didn't. You just had a little fall."

"Little fall . . ." she echoed.

Collins motioned for them to come from the door, and Roger half dragged and half carried Mimi to the waiting cab.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Collins said, as Roger slid in besides Mimi.

"Alright. Thanks, Collins. Tell the others I said goodnight."

"Alright. You take care," Collins said, closing the cab door behind them.

"You owe me five bucks," Mark said to Jan, as they got their coats to leave.

"Why five?"

"Because only one of them got drunk."

"You are such a dick," Jan laughed, punching him on the shoulder, playfully.

***

"Tomorrow morning's gonna be fun. I'll have a hangover on top of morning sickness," Mimi groaned, as she slid into bed, wearing an old T-shirt and a pair of Roger's boxers.

"You'll be fine," Roger assured her, kissing her on the cheek. "Just go to sleep. You'll feel better."

"Alright. I'm sorry I fucked up your birthday.

"Meems, you didn't fuck it up at all. If anything you made it more exciting."

Mimi grinned, weakly. "Happy birthday, Rog."

Roger laughed and kissed her other cheek. "Thanks, Meems."

a/n: Er, yeah . . . ironic thing is that I wrote this chapter through new years, and even though it's not New Year's in the story, Mimi's still drunk. Hehe. Review!