Disclaimer: Don't own. Not affiliated with. Love them nonetheless.

Notes: This is sort of a filler chapter. As I mentioned before I've got a slight case of writer's block. But I do know what I'm gonna do for the next chapter. In the next serveral weeks or so it's crunch time for choir rehearsals so I may not be updating as often so I'll try to cram as much as I can now. I've got three solos to work on (yay for me...j/k), and one of them is part of a soprano duet (and I'm normally an alto). But hey, my director says I'm good enough for it (which came as a shock to me cuz there's this really great soprano in the class who auditioned for it), and he asked me to sing it. Okay, enough about my crappy life. Please read and review, and thank you for already doing so for previous chaps. I love all of you and thank you for all your support.

Plaid Pajama Pants

I couldn't sleep at all last night. All I kept thinking about was the fight between Roger and his mom. I've been wracking my brain wondering what happened after they left. I don't know much about Roger's dad 'cause frankly, I've never asked. I didn't think it was appropriate. And from the way things happened last night, it's probably a good thing I didn't. But I want to know now. I want to be sure Roger's okay.

I've been pacing around my room, constantly glancing over at my phone, hoping he'd call or something. I thought about calling him, but I don't want them thinking I was trying to butt in. That's the last thing I want to happen. But I can't help worrying about Roger.

"Mark," I hear my mom calling me from the bottom of the steps.

I open my bedroom door to answer. "Yeah mom."

"Phone. It's Roger."

I can't help but get excited. "Thanks mom. I'll get it up here." I close the door and rush to the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey Mark." He doesn't sound to happy. Something must've happened.

"Hey Rog, how're you doing? Is everything okay?"

I think I hear him sniffle. Has he been crying? "Not really."

There silence for a few moments before he speaks again. "My dad, he,"

"What is it Roger? What did your dad do? Did he hurt y..."

"No Mark. He didn't hurt me. But he wants me to live with him... in the city."

"But that would mean..."

"Yeah."

"Well, what does your mom think of this? She's not gonna just let him take you is she?" I don't want him to leave. Not while things are going well.

I hear him sniffle again, I think. "Well, technically she can't do anything about it. She doesn't exactly have custody of me. Neither of them do. They just agreed when he left that she'd be the one to raise me."

"That sucks. So what's gonna happen now?"

"I'm gonna have to go stay with my dad."

"That's not fair. Your life is here. Your friends are here. This is where you should be. Not there." Not without me.

"I know Mark, but there's nothing I can do about it. I have to go with him. Otherwise he could involve the courts, and that'd be a big mess."

This is where I decide to be bold. "Why did he leave in the first place?"

I don't hear anything for a whole minute. "Rog? You still there?"

"Yeah, sorry."

"No I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked..."

"No, it's okay." He pauses. It sounds like he's crying, but his voice holds contempt. "My mom told me he left when I was two because he couldn't handle the responsibilities of being a father. She told me they agreed that he'd be allowed to see me anytime he wanted, but he never did. Never made any effort whatsoever to see me. I figured he just didn't care about me. But then he pulls a stunt like this. I mean, after all these years of not a single word or anything, and he pops up unannounced wanting me to live with him? URGH!"

I hear a loud banging sound over the phone. "What was that?"

"Nothing, I'm just angry."

"I know Rog, but don't hurt yourself because of it. Please."

"It didn't hurt. I'm fine. Look Mark, I've gotta go. My mom's calling me. I'll call you later." He hangs up. Didn't even give me a chance to say anything else.

I sit on my bed flabbergasted at the situation. Roger's leaving. He's leaving... me. He can't leave, he just can't. It's not fair. Why now, all of a sudden, is his father wanting to take him? Why now, is he trying to be a 'father' anyway? He hasn't seen Roger in ten years, and now this? This is total bullshit. No this isn't just bullshit, this is completely fucked up.

"Mom," I walk into the living room where my mom's watching her morning soaps.

She looks up at me and just knew I wasn't having a good morning. "What's wrong Marky? Did you talk to Roger?" She mutes the t.v. and turns her attention to me.

"Yeah. His dad's taking him to the city." I sit beside her and lay my head in her arms just wanting to break down and cry right there. But I hold back.

"Oh my. I'm sorry to hear that sweetie." She comforts me as best she could, lovingly running her fingers in my hair. That's when I start to cry.

"Mom, he's my best friend. He can't leave. It's not fair."

"Well honey, sometimes these things happen, and there's nothing that can be done."

"But why mom? It's just not fair. Everything he has, everything he knows is here."

"I know hon, but there's really nothing we can do about it." I know she means well, but I wish she wouldn't say it like that.

"It's just not fair..." I trail off just crying softly in her arms.

"It'll be alright dear." She sits me up. "Tell you what, we'll make a special trip out there just so you can visit him."

My eyes widen from her suggestion. Is she serious? "Really? You promise?"

"How long is he gonna be out there?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask. But I can find out."

"Well when you do we'll plan on making the trip out there, alright dear?" She smiles at me, warm and sweetly. I've never seen my mom like this before. She's being really nice, and very understanding. Maybe I should be a little nicer to her from now on. Who knows, maybe someday I'll need her help, and she'll be there for me.

"Who is it?" I hear Cindy yell as she traipse to the door. I jump out of my seat from the dining table and rush to the door to see who it is.

She opens the door to reveal Roger with a backpack hanging from his shoulders.

"Roger, what are you doing here?" Not that I don't want him here, but it's surprising.

"Surprise." I hear my mom say from behind me. I turn around and give her a confused look. She just gives me a little wink. Did she just do something really cool for me?

Roger steps inside and Cindy closes the door. I'm still confused. "I don't understand..."

"Well, I spoke with Joyce earlier and after she discussed it with Roger's dad, they agreed he could stay here, just tonight, before he leaves in the morning."

"Wow. Thanks mom. That's so cool." I give my mom the biggest hug I could muster. When did my mom get so cool?

"You're welcome dear." She hugs me back. "Why don't you go finish your dinner Mark. And Roger, have you eaten yet?"

He doesn't say anything. He just shakes his head.

"Well, why don't you join us." He nods, but still doesn't say anything. We walk back over the table and continue our meal.

After dinner, Roger and I make our way upstairs to my room. He drops his backpack on the floor by the door and plops on my bed. He doesn't seem very happy to be here. "Rog, are you okay? It seems like you really don't want to be here."

"Peachy. Can't you tell?" His tone is one of anger, and plenty of sarcasm.

"You don't have to get all pissy with me. Jesus Rog, I didn't do anything to you."

"I'm sorry." His tone softens. "It's just everything that's been going on. You know, my dad wants me to stay up there for the entire school year. And if everything works out, he wants me to stay there for high school. Marky, I don't even want to go for five minutes let alone a whole year."

What? The entire school year? High school? No, this can't be happening. As I'm wallowing in my own thoughts, I hadn't even realized Roger was crying.

"Mark, this... I don't want to go. I don't want to leave my mom here alone, or leave my friends, my band... Marky, I don't want to leave you." He wraps his arms around my shoulders and holds me closely. It took me by surprise, I totally wasn't expecting it.

Here he is, the toughest boy I had ever known. The one who would pick on me mercilessly just to get his kicks, even though it wasn't all that bad. Actually it was always fun. I more or less gave him the ammunition for it. And I got him back a few times. Not to mention his bad-ass persona everyone at school knows, the one who acts like he's got everything under control. The one who never takes shit from anyone. The one who stood up to his other friends, to everyone, for me... the little nerd of the school everyone teased because of this god-damned hair cut my mother made me suffer with. The one...

I clung to him even tighter. I realized I was crying too. Realized that I may never see him again. Except maybe occasionally. But that's just not good enough. He has to be here. So I can see him everyday. So there'll always be someone to be there to keep me from getting my ass kicked because someone didn't like me, or thought I was to nerdy. I can't lose him, not after all we've been through.

We cried most of the night while just holding each other. He would be leaving first thing in the morning, heading to New York City. Our lives are being torn in two. It's all happening so fast. If only we could run away. But where could we go? How would we get around? We're not even old enough to get jobs, or drive, let alone attempt to make it in the real world. I guess we'll just have to live with this and hope for the best.

We didn't get much sleep last night. When we saw the sun slowly peeking in the early morning sky, it was almost a magical moment for us. We shared a few last kisses after wiping the tears from each other's eyes. I have never been more in love with him until that very moment. I think he wanted to tell me he loves me, but then again that could just be wishful thinking. Oh well. We promised to write each other as often as possible, and to call each other at least once a week.

I gave Roger a pair of plaid pajama pants I had gotten for Christmas last year that were way to big for me, since I didn't know what else to get him. And since winter was just around the corner, and Roger isn't normally one to wear p.j.'s, I thought these would be perfect. That way he could 'sleep' with me every night in bed. He told me it was the best gift he's ever gotten, and smiled that cute smile at me. It would be the last time I'd see it until I see him again. I'll definitely miss that.

Both his parents came to pick him up a little later that morning, after we had breakfast. I had the unfortunate opportunity to meet the man who was taking Roger away from me. It was amazing though, Roger's the spitting image of that man. Now I know where he gets the height from. But I still think he gets his good looks from his mom. And he definitely got his smile from his mom. His dad has this gruffy look about him.

It was a very heartfelt goodbye for me. I cried the entire time. Roger however, was to angry to cry. You could tell by the look on his face he wanted to tear into his dad right then and there. I can't blame him. Not in the least. If I had Roger's strength and ability I'd want to deck his dad too. I watched from the window in the living room as the car Roger sat in took off until it was out of my sight completely, then I sat down on the couch and sobbed quietly.

I hope you all like it. Thank you fraulein for all you wonderful reviews. You rock hardcore m/. And for all the rest of you, thank you also. Love you all very much.