NOVEMBER

CHAPTER 10

Sorry about this taking so long to post. I had a case of writer's block for this chapter, and unfortunately it took me a few days to get out of the funk. I've been busy with my job and school and all the great stuff. But, I found out some good news today: I might be going to Italy for two weeks with my best friend and my other friend. We're doing this exchange student program, so I'm pretty psyched about that.

Enough rambling, read and review!

X0X0

Mari

Jen woke up the following morning to an empty—and freezing loft. She didn't know where Roger was, and didn't hear Mark shuffling around in the kitchen to make coffee. She slid the sheets off her legs and pulled up her pajama pants.

Her ankle was puffy, swollen, and black and blue. Just perfect. She sighed and stood up, limping out into the kitchen. There was a fresh pot of coffee already made, so she took advantage of it and poured it into a mug.

"Hey, you're finally up."

She looked over and found Mark taking off his coat. "Yeah. Unfortunately."

Mark frowned at her and took a seat on the barstool across from her. "Not a good day?"

Jen laughed and tossed her empty sugar packet into the garbage. "Maybe not a good life."

"Want to talk about it?"

Jen nodded. "Actually, kind of. I would have probably started talking to myself if you haven't come in," she joked.

"Couldn't have that, could we?" he laughed at her. "So lay it out on me. I um, heard you and Roger arguing last night. Everything okay?"

"I guess. I don't really know. It's just awkward, you know?"

"Like those morning after silences, where no one knows what to say to the other person? Basically where you argued the night before and you both are still trying to patch it up?"

Jen sipped her coffee and nodded. "Pretty much. How much did you hear last night?"

Mark sheepishly grinned. "All of it. I was up late trying to finish some shit for work and, well—"

"It's okay. I mean, you can go around and think I'm a whore too, if you want."

"Roger doesn't," Mark said. "And I don't. I saw you there last night. I was with Maureen, Joanne, and Collins, and Roger came in with the guys after practice."

"Oh great. So pretty much everyone knows now."

Mark sighed. "Yeah."

Jen sighed and looked to the side, focusing on the cabinets. "It's not like I'm a stripper—because I'm not. I just dance for money. I don't strip. Stripping and dancing are different. I could if I wanted to, I guess, but I don't want to. I keep my clothes on. I don't take them off. Actually I probably shouldn't even still be dancing, because—fuck, whatever."

"It's okay Jen."

"He told me he loved me the other night."

Mark took a sip of his own coffee and nodded. "And? Did you say it back?"

"Yeah. But I can't figure out if he's just saying it because he really does, or because he feels like he has an obligation to. Like is he in love with the present me, or the old me, before Abby?" she asked.

"Have you talked to him about it?"

Jen laughed. "Sure, I'll just walk up to him right now and ask him which of me he's in love with. I'll come off sounding like a schizophrenic."

Mark grinned and shook his head at her. "I don't think so."

Roger opened the loft door and was about to slam the door behind him when he heard Mark and Jen talking in the kitchen. He heard his name being thrown around a few times, and instead of announcing his presence, he hung back and decided to listen. Okay, so eavesdropping was wrong, but at this point he didn't care. If it was the only way to get Jen to talk, he'd take advantage of it.

"So who were April and Mimi?"

Roger rested his head against the doorframe and listened, wanting to hear what Mark would say, but at the same time, afraid of his answer.

"Well um, I'm not sure I should be the one to talk about them, but you have a right to know, and unless you want to talk to Roger about it—" Mark paused. Jen shrugged and her eyes beckoned him to continue. "Okay. April and Mimi were old girlfriends of Roger's."

"Both junkies?"

"Yes and no. You might remember April, actually. Short with brown wavy hair—"

"Mmhmm. He brought her around here a few times. Claimed they were just friends and everything."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Um, where'd Roger go?" Jen looked up from her coffee cup.

"He went to get breakfast, I think. He wanted to get you something to eat before you got up."

She nodded slowly and bit her lip. "Okay. Well I'm gonna go lay down, but thanks Mark, for listening at least."

"Anytime."

As Jen walked back into Roger's bedroom and closed the door, Roger reopened the loft door and kicked it shut with his foot. It slammed loudly.

"Lucy, I'm home!" he hollered over to Mark. He set a bag of bagels on the counter and grinned at him.

Mark just stared at him. "What's your problem?"

"Nothing. You and Collins should open up a practice."

Mark continued starting at him. "Um. Well, we couldn't pass for doctors. Joanne's the lawyer."

"Never mind."

"Yeah…right. Jen's in the bedroom, and next time you want to eavesdrop, make it less noticeable."

"What are you talking about?" Roger asked innocently.

"You always kick the door shut and say the same line, Lucy I'm home. Then you come in and start grinning like an idiot."

Roger picked up the bag of bagels and headed towards his bedroom. "Bite me."

"Ask Jen."

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"Then send her home!"

Roger opened the bedroom door. Jen was sitting on the bed, her cell phone pressed against her ear and her other hand holding her foot. She looked up at him when he entered and gave him a small smile.

"Mom. If she's running a fever, then bring her home and stop bitching at me about it. Fine. I'll see Dad in half an hour then. Okay. Bye." She tossed the phone back in her bag and looked up at him again.

"Everything okay?" he asked, setting the bagel bag on his dresser.

"Abby has the stomach flu, so my dad's driving her back here. They should be on their way."

"Ouch, poor kid. Is she okay?"

Jen shrugged. "How would you feel if you had the stomach flu?"

"Good point."

"Um, I don't think you should hang around her. How's your track record with catching communicable diseases?"

He started laughing at this. "Well, considering I have HIV, not that great."

Jen clamped her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, I can't believe I said that. I meant, shit I'm sorry. I meant—"

He kissed her on the forehead. "Nah, it's okay. I know what you meant. I'll risk it."

"Roger, no."

"She's my daughter too."

Jen stared up at him. "I know, but—"

"Just let me wing it. If you really want to ship me off somewhere, you can, but I don't want you getting sick either," he added.

"I guess there's no sense in arguing with you, huh?" she said.

He grinned at her. "Nah, there's no such thing. I win all the time."

"Oh, is that so?" she said as he kissed her again, this time on the lips. Pretty soon they were fully making out, until the doorbell rang and Roger kicked her ankle.

"Ow! Fuck!" Jen shouted, her eyes welling up with tears.

Roger looked down. "Oh shit, I'm sorry! I didn't see your foot—shit, let me get you some ice for it."

"Yeah, I'll get the door." Jen hobbled over to the loft door and opened it.

"Hi honey," Mr. Walsh greeted. He gave Jen a quick kiss as Abby shuffled in miserably. "She's got a fever, and we've been giving her fluids, so she should be okay for a little while. I've got a shift in about an hour, but I'll be on call all night so if she gets really dehydrated then bring her in, okay? I'll either be in my office or in surgery all day."

"Okay. Dad, you remember Roger?"

"Oh yeah. Hey Roger, it's been a long time."

"Yes sir, it has," Roger added, returning Mr. Walsh's handshake.

"Okay sweetie, give Grandpa a kiss and feel better."

Abby gave her grandfather a small hug and kiss. "Bye."

"I'll see ya later Dad," Jen added. She gave him a final kiss on the cheek and shut the loft door. As she did so, Abby burst into tears.

"Mommy my tummy hurts real bad," she cried, tugging on Jen's shirt.

Jen picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. Roger followed with a glass of juice.

"I'm sorry baby. Do you want to take a bath? Watch a movie? Lay down?"

"No."

"Then what do you want to do?"

Abby rubbed her eyes. "Throw up."

Roger tried to hide a smile as Jen looked up at him and shook her head. "Do you have to throw up?"

Abby nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. Just make sure you make it all in the toilet and not over the floor," Jen reminded her. "Go sit outside. I don't want you to get sick," she said to Roger.

"But—"

"But nothing. Park your ass."

Abby giggled at this. "Park your ass Rog! Park it!"

Roger laughed and kissed the toddler's forehead. "You feel better, okay? And maybe later if Mom's not being mean you can come and lay down with me."

"Uh huh."

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Half an hour later, Abby was finished in the bathroom and Jen led her outside and into the living room. Roger was sitting on the couch, a can of soda in one hand.

"Roger, can we go lay down now?" Abby asked, climbing onto his lap.

He grinned at her and picked her up, resting her against his hip. "Sure. As long as Mom says it's okay."

Jen shrugged at the both of them. "Not with both of you giving me those innocent faces," she laughed. "Abby, just don't breathe all over Roger, okay? He can't get sick sweetie."

"Why?"

"Because—um, he's a big, whiny baby when he's sick, and we don't want that, do we?" she laughed, kissing Abby's cheek.

"Come on, do I get one?" Roger asked, grinning at Jen and pointing to his cheek.

"No."

"Too bad, because you get one," he said, leaning in to give her a kiss. Abby covered her eyes and buried her face in Roger's shoulder.

"Ew. Gross."

"Come on kid, let's go get some sleep," he added, laughing.

Abby yawned and nodded. "My bed?"

He nodded and carried her into her "room". Unpacked boxes were still stacked in the corners, toys were in another corner, and stuffed animals were all over the foot of her bed. A lamp was set up on her nightstand, as well as a Pink Panther nightlight. "I don't think I can fit," he grinned as she crawled onto her bed.

"Yes you can." She slid over and patted the tiny space designated for Roger. "There, silly."

Roger squeezed himself onto the bed and Abby rested her head on his chest. "You know any stories?"

"Umm—" He looked helplessly at Jen, who was standing in the doorway watching them with a smile on her face. "Maybe Mom could help me make one up."

Abby smiled. "Yeah! Come on, you can fit Mommy!"

Jen laughed and walked over to the bed. "There's no room. Roger's too big."

"So?"

"Alright, you win." Jen pulled herself onto the bed and rested against the foot with all the stuffed animals. She put her feet in Roger's lap and propped a few stuffed animals behind her head.

"I like the feet in my lap," he winked at her. "How about hands instead?"

Jen tossed a stuffed polar bear at him. "Stop being a pervert. Not in front of your daughter."

Abby giggled. "What's a pervy-ert?"

"Nothing honey, it's just what your Daddy is," Jen laughed. She stopped when she noticed the look on Roger's face. Abby was sitting up and staring at the both of them.

"Roger's my daddy?" she asked. "Really?"

Jen looked at Roger, who started smiling at her. "Yeah baby, Roger's your daddy."

"Really?" she practically squealed.

"Yes really," Jen laughed, tickling her feet. "Roger's your Daddy, and I'm your Mommy. And then you have Uncle Mark and Uncle Collins, and Aunt Maureen and Aunt Joanne."

"And Aunt Michelle and Uncle Bobby," Abby reminded her.

"Yup, you got it."

Abby looked up at Roger. "So you're my daddy, huh?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"I asked Santa for a Daddy this Christmas. How come you're early? You're not supposed to be here for another trillion days!"

Roger started laughing. "Well I guess I got here early. You could always send me back."

"Nuh-uh. You're not going anywhere. Nope, no way Jose."

"Good." He kissed her forehead and pulled her blanket over her.

"Mommy you're a good shopper. Roger's a fun daddy. He's got a guitar."

Jen smiled. "Thank you baby."

"So what do I call you?" Abby asked. "Roger or Daddy?"

Roger shrugged. "You can call me whatever you like."

"Okay. Cause I like Daddy better than stinky old Roger."

Jen started cracking up and Roger grinned. "What's wrong with my name?"

"Nothing. It's stinky."

"Okay." He grinned again and handed her the polar bear.

Abby yawned again and took it from him. "Can I get that story now?"

Roger and Jen nodded at the same time. "You start," Jen said, poking Roger in his side.

"Okay. Once upon a time, in a far away land called Scarsdale, there was a prince by the name of Roger. Roger was a very handsome prince—"

"Oh please," Jen laughed, rolling her eyes.

"Ahem. Roger had a magical guitar and a best friend named Prince Mark. Prince Mark and Prince Roger used to roam through the forest all day and think up adventures. Then one day, Prince Roger and Prince Mark were heading to Prince school and bumped into a beautiful Princess named Jennifer. Jennifer was the hottest princess in the entire land of Scarsdale. Unfortunately for Prince Roger, Princess Jennifer hated his guts those first few months in Chemistry and English." He smirked at Jen before continuing, who stuck out her tongue at him. "Prince Roger finally got up the courage to ask her out on a date, and to his surprise, Princess Jennifer accepted."

"Then what happened?" Abby asked.

"Then Princess Jennifer and Roger fell in love and moved to the magical land of New York City. After living there for a few months, Princess Jennifer was stolen away by a huge, ugly, dragon with a mole—"

Jen started laughing again and Abby giggled. "A mole?"

"Yeah, a mole," Roger laughed. "The dragon's name was Benny. Benny finally gave Princess Jennifer back to Prince Roger and they fell madly in love, because Princess Jennifer was hot stuff. Prince Roger knew he had to get her off the Princess market, and fast. Then about nine months later after they were married, they had a beautiful and smart daughter, Princess Abby."

"That's me!" Abby whispered, half asleep.

"Yup. Princess Abby then lived happily ever after with her Mommy and Daddy in their loft palace with Prince Mark and they never heard from the evil dragon again. The end."

Jen smiled at him as he finished. Abby's eyes were shut, and her chest was rising and falling steadily. "Nice story telling skills."

"Thanks." He leaned over and gave her a kiss, running his hands up and down her back. "So she figured it out."

"She did."

"You think she'll be able to handle it?"

Jen laughed. "Are you kidding? She adores you."

"Good. Because she really has grown on me."

"Yeah. You've kind of grown on me too." She stood up and hobbled over to the door, motioning for Roger to follow. He planted a final kiss on Abby's forehead and followed Jen out into the living room.

"How about some ice for that ankle?" he asked. He pulled a package of frozen carrots out of the freezer and slammed it against the counter.

"Shh. You'll wake her up," Jen smiled. "And nice ice, by the way."

"Yeah, well, you know how it is. Living like starving artists and all."

Jen wrapped her arms around his stomach. "Oh is that so, Mr. Davis."

"Hell yeah, Miss Walsh. Lemme see that ankle," he added, picking her up and carrying her over to the couch.

"Charming."

"Who?" He looked around and then pointed to himself. "Me?

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