A/N: This is a short chapter, because the next part can't be cut up and divided. Also, it adds suspense! Ooooo! Spooky Fingers!
It was November 25th when it happened. A month away from Christmas.
Mimi was in the kitchen, making some macaroni out of a box, when all of a sudden, she collapsed.
She wasn't found until about half an hour later, when Mark came home from work.
Mark quickly took her to the hospital, and called Roger, Maureen, and Joanne. For the fourth time, they were at the hospital regarding a friend.
Roger was dumbstruck. He just couldn't believe it.
The doctors said that the virus was finally acting. Even though it didn't come into effect this early, the baby had caused her to become weaker and the disease took its chance.
She wouldn't have long to live.
And the baby didn't even have a chance.
Over the next few weeks, Mimi deteriorated. Fortunately, the girl was in a hospital close to home, so everyone could visit her often. The group didn't want to think about what was going to happen…this much loss in just three years…
The baby continued to develop and be healthy, which surprised the doctors. Perhaps the baby wasn't infected, or her friends suspected that it was her strong will that kept it going. Maybe she could survive this after all.
One evening, Roger was sitting beside her bed as she slept. Her breathing was slow, peaceful. And Roger played his guitar quietly to soothe her mind.
-Mystery-
ROGER: You die…you live…
You get…you give…
You share…you take…
You love…you hate…
Life's full of mystery;
But if you don't jump in you'll see
That you missed out, you've wasted life
If you don't deal with both good and strife.
Even if it doesn't last
And fades…fades into the past;
It happened, just remember the time
When there wasn't a reason, there wasn't a rhyme.
Why do things like this occur?
How can we really be sure
That this fits in the grand design
And eventually it will work out fine?
How? Why? When? Where?
Why the hell isn't life unfair?
We don't know what's up, we're left in the dark
How much time do we have to leave our mark?
Why do things like this…occur?
How can we really…be sure
That this fits in the grand…design
And eventually it will work…out…fine?
Roger finished the song and Mimi sighed in her sleep peacefully.
He smiled, ran his hand along her face, and left the room.
Mark and Amy continued to see each other, despite Mimi's ongoing illness and pregnancy. They grew very close, and soon Amy had joined the 'family.' Everyone loved her, much to Mark's relief, and Maureen didn't tease her…too much.
Maureen and Joanne had started little Angelina in preschool in September. The girl was blossoming, becoming an intelligent and cocky young girl, taking after both of her mothers. Mimi loved it when Angelina visited, and the spunky little kid brightened everyone's day.
On the first of December, Mimi took a turn for the worse. She was having trouble eating, and had to be fed through a tube. Roger took a bedside vigil and stayed with her as long as he could.
One morning, the doctor spoke privately with Roger.
"Her baby has matured enough that we could perform a c-section. We could induce labor, and remove the baby before she…"
"She's not going to die," Roger said strongly, almost fiercely.
"Sir, the probability of her surviving is-"
"Don't give me any damn odds!" Roger yelled, standing up, "She will be fine! And the baby will be too!"
Unfortunately, Roger was wrong.