AN: I'm sorry this took forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, my computer's being really stupid, it's got like a spyware bug or something, so that's why I haven't updated in like the longest time. That's all I need to say, thank you!

I own nothing.

Bel didn't remember coming home, or that Roger and Mimi pounded Paul with a ton of questions, or Paul calling for a taxi. That's how tired she was.

The dreams, on the other hand…

No, not dreams. Memories…

"Read me this one!" Isabel, age three, held up the book to Mimi. "Please?"

"Okay, okay." Mimi pulled her little sister closer on the couch. "Beauty and the Beast." One could hardly expect that this Mimi, a bright, happy fourth grader would later grow up to be the self-proclaimed "Feline of Avenue B." "Once upon a time…"

Bel hugged her worn bear as she huddled next to the door. Mimi didn't come home on time, and Curtis wasn't happy about it. She and Mimi never called him Dad or Papi or anything. He was just another of their mother's boyfriends- only that Coquina Maria Marquez wanted to marry him.

The door downstairs slammed. "Sorry, missed the train, couldn't find change to call, g'night," Mimi said rapidly and started pounding her way upstairs.

"Hold it, Michaela." Mimi cringed. She hated being called that. "You, young lady," Curtis said, "are in deep trouble."

Bel opened her eyes a little bit. Mimi, now sixteen, was throwing clothes into her suitcase. "Mi?"

Mimi turned around. "Bel, go back to sleep."

"Mimi, what's going on? Are we going somewhere?"

Mimi bit her lip. Bel may have been nine, but she was still too young to known some things. "No. I'm going away."

"To Tia Theresa's?" Bel asked, regarding their favorite aunt, who continually doted on the two girls.

"No, not there. I'm going away for a long time."

"You'll visit, right?"

"Maybe." Mimi grabbed a bracelet off of her dresser. "Bel, I may not be back for a long, long time. But I'll come back. I promise."

Dave and Collins opened up the loft door. "Can you believe that Cindy said that to us?" Dave said, laughing.

"Yeah, it was kind of funny. It's been so long since I've seen her, too, and- Dave, you all right?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. Come on, my sister's brutal for getting us up this early to drive back home. Let's get some sleep."

Only Dave wasn't all right. Because the second he had opened the door, he had smelled something that wasn't exactly pleasant for him. And while it was faint, that smell held too many bad memories for him.

Collins once asked why Dave hated him wearing cologne occasionally. His excuse was that the smell "cheapens a person." The real reason, however, was just too painful.

Maureen walked, muttering silently to herself for staying out all night with no extra cash. It used to be cocktails at the Clit Club (and occasionally getting some cock with the tail on nights when Joanne refused to go out), and clubbing all night.

Now sometimes it seemed clubbing was the only thing to do.

Maureen opened up her wallet. Five bucks. Her stomach rumbled, and she wanted pancakes all of the sudden.

At the same time, a small slip of paper fell out of her hands. Picking it up, she read the scrawled name and number on it. Alex…oh yeah. The cute blonde from Upper Manhattan.

"Pancakes definitely sound good," Maureen whispered, a smile growing on her face.

Roger gripped his guitar. Shit, why the hell was he sweating so much? Was he that afraid he'll fuck up? It's not like he had a week-that guy Theo managed to get him at least two hours in the studio.

Speaking of the devil, Theo was on the phone, apologizing for missing his band practice. And raving on about how great Roger used to be.

Really he shouldn't be getting that kind of flattery.

He felt a pair of hands wrap around his waist. "Nervous, Rog?" Mimi smiled up at him.

"You really want me to record this? I'm mean it's kinda private, and-"

"It's the song. I know this is gonna be it for you." Roger tried to smile at this but all he felt was like throwing up.

The door opened up and a guy, who looked only a few years older than Roger came in. "Mr. Davis?"

"Yeah, um, that's me. Call me Roger."

"Mike Jones. I'll be the supervising technician today. You ready to start?"

Roger's mouth immediately dried up. "Yeah. I'm ready."

Bel woke up to pounding headache. God, she hadn't felt this bad in weeks. What happened last night was a complete blur. "Mi?" she moaned.

Her sister didn't show up, but at least Dave was there. "Bel? Do you need anything?" he asked.

"A bottle of aspirin and some rum to chase it down with." This better had not be a fucking migraine; otherwise, she would have torn someone's balls out.

Dave came back with the aspirin, but with water instead of the liqueur. "What in God's name were you doing last night?"

"I. Was. Out." She had left a fucking note, she wasn't that fucking stupid. Didn't anyone read it?

"With?" Dave was worried that Bel might have done something really stupid.

Like have gotten herself-

"No one! Can't I have a little privacy?!" She shot a menacing glare at Dave, who then decided get himself out of there.

Women, he decided, showed their true selves at times like that.

PS: Okay, mini-disclaimer about this whole Bel's boyfriend Paul thing: I originally intended Paul to be Tara's ex as well who just happen to be a homophobe and had beaten Dave after Tara dumped him (Paul). But then I decided that bringing him back was a really stupid idea, so let's just say that there's another guy named Paul. I don't know why that's his name. Blame my Kingdom Hospital obsession, the bad guy's name's Paul, too.

REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!