AN: Really, really, long chapter!!!!!!

Really, I'd just to thank everyone who's been reading and reviewing-you guys don't know how much this means to me. I just love coming home from a bad day and seeing a review. It's an ultimate high.

Anyways. Today's update is pretty long, but that's because the big news has arrived ( trumpets blaring )!

Otherwise, I, as always, own nothing. I'm using Dr. Hook ("Kingdom Hospital") on loan from ABC and Stephen King.

AN2: Scene changes are indicated by paragraph breaks.

"There's only us, there's only this..."

"Unnhhh…" Mimi rolled over. "Feel like complete shit."

Roger put his arm around her. "You've been saying that for the last week. Think about going to the doctor's sometime?"

She shook her head. "I don't wanna, Rog. What if-"

"Yeah, I know. Just get a check-up, okay?"

"Okay. You win. I'll make an appointment." She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"You know, if you wanna keep spending the night, why don't you just move here? Or I can move upstairs."

Mark shoveled some Cap'N'Crunch into the spoon. "I thought you and Dave wanted to live separately."

"I do. But, if you're gonna spend this much time with me, I think we should definitely move in together." Tara pushed a strand of highlighted hair back.

"You really wanna deal with that? I mean, every single day?"

"Depends. Still wanna live with Roger and Collins?"

"Can I get some time to think about it?" She nodded. "All right, I gotta go." Mark grabbed his stuff and went over to her. "Happy 25th. We still on for tonight?"

"You bet we are. The Life at six?"

"Where else? I'll see you then." He left. "Hey, Meems."

Mimi paused on her way to the kitchen. "Long time, no see, Cohen!" She turned to Tara. "Are you doing anything today?"

"Amazingly enough, no. Why? You going shopping or something?"

Mimi shook her head. "I wish. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, and I was wondering if- you could come along. You know, moral, sista support?"

"Sure, no problem. Hey, let's just make a day of it, 'kay?"

"Fine. I'll-" She paused for a second. "Oh my God, I fucking forgot. Happy birthday."

"Hey, it's fine." Tara smiled. Something told her that twenty-five was going to be a very good year.

Tara leaned against the wall. "Why do I always forget a jacket?"

Mimi looked up at her from the table, fingering the edge of her shirt. "Think you're cold? I'm getting pneumonia over here."

Tara laughed a little. Why she was, she didn't even know. She stopped suddenly.

The door opened. "Miss Marquez?"

Mimi looked over and smiled. "Hi, I'm her."

He reached over and shook her hand. "Dr. Hook. I understand you scheduled this appointment because over some complications in the last few days?" She nodded. "Miss Marq-"

"Mimi. Please."

"Mimi. Right. Your records show that you were diagnosed with AIDS in 1994, am I correct?"

"Hm-hm."

"And you've regularly taken AZT in that time?"

"Yeah. What, am I sick or something?"

He smiled at her. "We really don't know for sure, yet. I'm going to have one of the nurses here run some tests, okay?"

Tara watched him leave. "You know, for a doctor, he was kinda cute."

Mark scanned the different rings. Man, he was better off by getting something from those quarter machines. He didn't even have a hundred bucks, let alone five.

Maureen would have wanted one if she knew. She wouldn't have cared about the cost, if it was for her, she wanted it right then and there. Tara on the other hand-

"Mark?"

He turned around. "Oh my God. Joanne. How've you been?"

She smiled. "Not that bad. Got a new place downtown, and I've been promoted at legal aid."

"Yeah, Maureen mentioned something about you guys breaking up."

Joanne snorted. "Oh, that. I can't even believe you two lasted even a year."

"You guys made it through longer."

"Until that new girl moved in downstairs. Are you still together?"

"Well, there was a little trouble, 'bout a month ago, but yeah, we are." She started laughing. "What? What's so funny about that?"

"Mark, I've never pictured you as someone who really wanted a lasting commitment."

"Why do you think I'm in here, then?"

"Contemplating armed theft?"

"Oh my God, Tara. I hope I'm okay. I don't wanna die yet."

She rubbed Mimi's back. "It's problem just your nerves or something. You'll be okay."

"Yeah, but I'm not even twenty-one yet. Fucking wonderful, isn't it? Twenty-one, legal, and on my deathbed."

"No one said that."

Mimi tried to smile a little. "Thanks, anyway."

Dr. Hook finally came in after what had seemed like hours. "Well? Am I dying?" she asked.

"Not exactly. Mimi, I've been going over these test results, and you're fine, as far as your immune system goes. But-"

"But what?"

"Well, unless I'm wrong, you're just about two weeks pregnant."

Mimi's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

"Meems! That's so wonderful!" Tara ran over and gave her a hug.

Mark sat down at own of his usual tables at the Life, trying to ignore the nasty looks that the busboys were giving him. He nearly laughed at the thought. Apparently, the owner hadn't gotten over Maureen's protest two years ago, plus the running IOU's from the loftmates. At this point, they could have been kicked out at any second.

"Evening, Mr. Cohen. This going on the tab?"

Mark looked up at one of the waiters. "Nah, I'm paying tonight. Can I get a beer?"

"Sure thing. Anything else?"

"Diet soda, please." Tara popped up from behind the kid. "And two dinner menus if you have them." She sat down, but not before giving Mark a nice, hard kiss.

"Hey. How was your day?"

Tara smiled at him. "Fine. Yours?"

"Well…You remember Joanne? The woman who Maureen used to live with?"

"Yes." She felt like strangling the guy. Number one topic never to discuss with Tara: Maureen Johnson and her former lovers. Especially anything that involved Mark "What about her?"

"Ran into her today."

What the hell was he doing?! Frankly, Tara really didn't even care about some woman Mark's ex-girlfriend dated. "Oh, um-that's nice."

"At the jewelry store."

"Hm." Tara tried to smile. She should definitely drop the subject, what did she care that Mark was in a jewelry- "You were at a jewelry store?!"

Mimi shut the door. Boy, what a day. After the whole doctor appointment, Tara had dragged her along for a massive window-shopping spree. Main targets: cute maternity clothes and baby stuff. "This is probably the easy part, Meems," Tara had said.

Now here was the hard part: telling Roger.

"Hey." Speak of the devil. Roger came over and started kissing her. "How was the doctor's?"

"Fine." No, it was not fine. God. She was gonna kill herself over this one.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah." Did she just nod?

He started rubbing her arms. "Sure you're okay, babe?"

God, just get it over with! "I don't know-Rog, I gotta talk to you."

"What is it? Did…you know…" Mimi shook her head. "Come on, what's wrong?"

"Roger, I'm pregnant, all right?"

"Mark Cohen, where in the hell did you get enough money for that?!"

Mark smiled. "Loan."

Tara took the little box from her. "Please tell me you didn't. And that you don't mean to. I mean, I still have to find a job, and, you know, I don't- and what about the loft?"

"Whoa, Tara, calm down, all right? A friend gave me some money, and said it was all on them, we don't have to pay them back."

"But, I mean, it's only been two months, and that whole thing with Maureen and, I need to get job, and, and…" Tara sat back and tried to process what had just happened. Oh, my God, Mark. Just…why?"

"To tell you the truth…I really don't know either." He put his hand over one of hers. "But I do know that I'm going insane about you, and I just know. You're her. You're it."

Tara bit her lip, trying to fight back tears. "You know, I've never been with anyone who's ever said that to me. Or, I haven't been with them long enough."

"So…do you?"

She nodded.

PS: YES!!! Mark and Tara are engaged! Mimi and Roger have procreated!! REVIEW PLEASE (especially if you want to see this thing happen. The wedding, I mean.)

PPS: Opening a mini-contest!!

While Mimi's and Roger's blessed event isn't occurring until May (Fic-Time), I still need names for said child!!! Boy and girl can be submitted. PLEASE TRY NOT TO MAKE A REFERENCE TO ANGEL. I love our deceased drag queen as much as anyone else does, but this is their kid (will make exception for middle name). Suggestions will be taken in REVIEWS. The winning name will be announced before the birth, but after the wedding.

THANKS!
H2O Angel