Chapter: 3

Sixteen Years Old

Roger sat on the couch grumpy. It had been six years since Roger had admitted his love for Mark to A.J. Ever since that night she had gotten annoying: always pushing Roger to tell Mark but never telling Mark herself.

Now Roger was pouting, he didn't like this idea as he watched A.J. get ready for her school Valentine's dance. She was too young for a date and as far as Roger was concerned she was showing too much skin for her age.

Benny had helped pick out the blue party dress saying it matched her eye color perfectly. Roger had to admit it did but it was still too short and too slinky. He didn't care that she was 16 and legal to drive a car. And he didn't care it was 2008 and that kids were dressing much more provocative. His little girl didn't need to be one of them. Mark never would've let her go dressed like that; too bad Mark was at the stage finishing his rehearsal.

"Alright Roger here I come, be HONEST." He heard A.J. say as she opened the door. She walked out in silver strapped shoes he recognized had once been Maureen's. Her dress was beautiful on her, ocean blue that came just above her knees and fit her body showing just a little cleavage of her breast. When had she developed those? Roger asked himself.

Her straps he had to admit were tasteful, wide enough to cover her bra straps but thin enough to show her shoulders and compliment her long neck. A.J.'s makeup was tastefully done in silver and blue her strawberry curls done in tight spirals.

"You look like Maureen." Roger spoke. "Really," A.J. asked. "Yeah, I never realized till this moment how much you look like your mother. Minus the dark red, you get your strawberry from you dad. Otherwise you're Maureen at your age. You look beautiful munchkin." Roger said standing and pulling her into a hug. "Thank you Roger." A.J. said. Roger could hear the tears in her voice.

The loft door swung open as Collins and Benny walked in. "I told you she would look like an angel." Benny said as both he and Collins hugged A.J. telling her how beautiful she looked.

Ten minutes later Roger heard Mark before he saw the door swing open and in walk Mark with an aggravated look on his face. But then he stopped, Mark looked at his daughter.

"My god you look like your mother." Mark whispered. "Hi Daddy," A.J. whispered walking over to Mark wrapping her arms around his waist. "What am I going to do? You grew up on me and now here we are. Just please remember to be careful A.J. And avoid anything that has to do with cows jumping over the moon." Mark said kissing the top of her head. The group laughed.

A tentative knock was heard on the loft door. Mark opened it to reveal a young man about Mark's height with a white shirt and tie, jeans, and a leather jacket on. "My God she's dating Roger." Collins muttered in Benny's neck. "I heard that." Roger said glaring at Collins. But Collins was right; this kid looked just like Roger fifteen years ago.

"Hey Shawn, I'll be right back I'm going to get my purse." A.J. said speeding off to her room. "Hi I'm Shawn Hardy." The young man introduced himself to Mark. "Hi Shawn I'm A.J.'s father. And those are A.J.'s uncles." Mark said.

Collins looked at the young man and spoke, "You do speed? X? Smack? Or Drink?" Shawn's eyes grew wide. "No, no sir." Shawn sputtered. "Good," Benny said, "Cause if your lying we know people." "And we know where to hide your body so it'll never be found." Roger finished for the group. "Yes, yes sir." Shawn said growing pale.

"11 o'clock Shawn, and we know what high, drunk, and fucked looks like." Mark said sternly as A.J. walked out of her room. "Bye Daddy, bye guys." A.J. said kissing each on the cheek and then taking Shawn's arm leaving.

"Well, our work here is done." Collins said standing up. "We're going to go enjoy our Valentines Day. You two have hot dates tonight?" Benny asked. "Yeah, cause I so have the time." Mark said sarcastically. Benny looked at Roger, "Only with a clock and if that kid's late a 45." Roger answered. "You two have got to get out more." Collins said taking Benny's hand leading him out of the loft.

Roger looked at his watch, 10:14 p.m.; Shawn had exactly 46 minutes to get A.J. home. Roger then looked at Mark who was chewing on his pencil at the end of the couch. Mark's birthday was today and he had mentioned it. Roger shook his head, knowing Mark he probably forgot it was his own birthday. Roger put down his Fender and walked to his room picking up a three red wrapped packages.

Mark sat on the couch, a pencil in one hand, his script in another. "Hey I got you something." Roger said handing Mark the present. "You didn't have to." Mark said. "Everyone else may have forgotten your birthday, including yourself, but have I ever?" Roger asked sitting next to him. He handed Mark noticing the blush that warmed Mark's cheeks. He had forgotten!

Mark looked at the three packages, "Any particular order?" Mark asked. "Go largest to smallest." Roger answered. Mark opened the largest present. "Roger! Where did you find this?" Mark exclaimed. In the large box was a video camera the same model as his original. "You'd be amazed at what pawn shops keep now a day. Collins told me that you sold it just after Maureen and Jo died to have extra cash for A.J. I was looking for a camera for you and went into the same pawn shop. The shop keeper remembered me from my glory days and he told me that he had kept your camera because he knew you'd be back some day." Roger finished his story with a smile.

"If this is starters I hate to see what the next one is. You're gonna have me crying like a girl." Mark laughed. He opened the next picture, "Oh Roger." There in the box sat a picture frame with a picture that had been super imposed. It was A.J. as a baby with himself, Roger, Collins, Mimi, Benny, Maureen, Joanna, and even Angel around the bassinet." Mark eyes filled with tears. "Hey, no crying yet." Roger said.

He handed Mark a red envelope. "This, if it works, is a guarantee that you'll never be alone." Roger said. Mark looked at Roger in confusion as he opened the last present. Pulling the letter out Mark began to read.

Dear Mr. Davis:

We at the medical department of New York University are pleased to invite you to participate in a research study in anticipation of our Food and Drug Administration patent on CR-128. A drug that has in fact cured 100 cases of the A.I.D.S. virus. If you could please respond back with an acceptance or denial of the position we'd be appreciative.

Sincerely,

Dr. James T. White

Head of Research and Development

New York University

Mark stared at the letter and then at Roger. "A cure: He thinks they found a cure." Mark asked tentatively. Roger nodded "He's already cured 100 cases with my same strain." Roger smiled then continued, "I've met the people he's cured. They told me their stories. I already accepted my position in the treatment." Mark launched himself at Roger hugging him. "This is the best gift you could've given me." Mark pulled back looking at Roger. Roger could feel Mark's breath on his face. His breath was sweet from the sweet tea he'd been drinking. It had a hint of mint from his toothpaste.

Roger felt Mark brush the hair off of Roger's forehead. Roger closed his eyes as Mark started to lean in to kiss him. Roger felt Mark jump back as the loft door banged open with A.J. screaming, "I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT YOUR REP!" she then proceeded to slam the door shut.

"Dad, Roger!" A.J. jumped and looked guilty. "Sorry, about the language, I didn't expect you home yet." A.J. said looking down. Roger looked at the clock read 10:30. Roger then looked at A.J. who looked ready to cry.

Mark looked at his baby girl dumb founded, what was he suppose to do. It was times like these he wished Maureen or Jo or Angel or even Mimi was here to help. Mark felt Roger stand walking over to A.J. he hugged her and stroked her hair whispering, "Go get a shower I'll make some special coco we'll get Uncle Collins to beat him up." Roger whispered as A.J. buried her face in his shirt crying softly. Mark heard a watery laugh come from A.J. at the idea of Collins beating anyone up.

Mark's daughter went to her room. Soon Mark heard the shower running. Mark watched as Roger put water on to boil. He then pulled down a bottle of rum and hot chocolate. Roger looked at Mark, "Call Collins and Benny on his cell tell them to pick up pizza, chocolate, and a comedy." Roger said. Mark nodded picking up the phone.

Twenty minutes later Mark and Roger sat on the couch with A.J. between them her head lying against Roger's chest her feet behind Mark's back. Collins and Benny were curled together on the large chair.

"Next time, I tell Uncle Collins what to pick." A.J. said speaking for the first time since she'd come out of the bathroom looking once again like Mark's little girl: make-up gone, her curls flying wildly behind her she looked like his lil' angel again.

"Roger, how many times have we seen A Touch of Pink?" A.J. asked. "Too many, Collins she's got a point." Roger answered. "Shut up. He's cute and this movie is hysterical." Collins said. "Whatever." Roger said standing. "I'm going to go smoke." Roger said walking out of the loft's window.

Lighting a cigarette he looked at the street below. He heard the window open as Mark walked out. "You'll have to quit that shit if this works. Your excuse of I'm dying anyways won't work any more." Mark said. Roger laughed then looked at Mark. "Rog, about what happen earlier." Mark started. "Another time, another place: we've always had lousy timing Mark." Roger said his smiling fading. "I want to try it Roger. I really do." Mark said taking Roger's hand. "And we will, just not right now. We've got A.J. to think about and with this new treatment. There's so much going on. Let's just not think right now: maybe someday." Roger said kissing Mark's hand.

A.J. watched the two men she considered father, "Are they ever going to get their heads out of their asses and tell each other that they love each other?" A.J. said. "A hundred bucks says they'll do it by the end of the year." Collins said. " Nah I give it six months." Benny said. "I'm in, I give it my graduation night. I'll be 18 by then and they won't worry so much about me." A.J. said.