A/N: hey everyone! it's Mimi (aka Roger Davis' Song of Glory) updating my two chapters - yes, i said TWO. there's only one more chapt. after this before the end of the story - so that means that we need more REVIEWS!

A/N 2: we're now accepting anonymous reviews, so don't be afraid to review!

CHAPTER THIRTY- ONE
(chapter title – Girls Day Out)

As soon as Mark and I returned home from the doctor's office, I told Maureen that she could go home.

"What was your appointment about?" she asked.

"I'll tell you later." I told her, brushing the tears out of my eyes. She nodded, stood up and hugged me.

"Oh, Owen and Sara are taking their naps in the nursery." Maureen informed me, getting her coat and walking out the door. I nodded and felt Mark wrap his arms around me.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I will be. I just need some time alone." I told him, going to our room and closing the door. I didn't mean to sound rude, but I just wanted some time to myself.

I couldn't believe that I had HIV – just like Mimi, Angel, Collins and Roger. Mimi had passed away the week before, so that was hard on all of us, especially Mark and I. I sobbed into my pillow, knowing sooner or later, the virus would take hold of my immune system and there would be nothing that I could do.

"Mar? May I come in?" Mark asked a few minutes later.

"Yeah." I answered, brushing the tears out of my eyes. He sat next to me on the bed and held me close. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. He stroked my hair and rubbed my back and whispered soothing words in my ear.

A moment later, I broke away from him and went to the phone. I called Kris, Joanne and Maureen. I got their answering machines, so I left them a message to meet Sara and I at the Life Café in half an hour. I then walked back to the room and changed my clothes – I put on a yellow T-shirt that said 'I Heart Geeks' in red block letters (Mark had gotten it for me for our anniversary) and blue jeans. I then went to the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth. While I did all that, Mark went to check on the twins to see how they were doing.

"Mar? What are you doing, babe?" Mark called from the nursery.

"I'm getting the girls together to tell them about my doctor's appointment." I told him, coming out of the bathroom and joining him in the nursery. He was changing Sara while Owen still slept. I smiled and gathered my son in my arms. At birth, he weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces and was twenty inches long. He now weighs 10 pounds, 5 ounces and is thirty inches long.

"You're a big boy, aren't you?" I told him, tickling his tummy. He cooed happily as I continued to talk to him in baby talk. Just then, the phone rang. Setting Owen down, I went to answer it.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver.

"Hey Mary. I just got your message and is it okay if I bring April with me?" Kris asked.

"Sure. I'm bringing Sara with me anyway." I told her.

"Great. Oh, guess what?"

"What?"

"I'm pregnant again!"

"Congrats Kris! I bet Justin's happy."

"He's thrilled."

"I bet. How far along are you?"

"Second month."

"You're gonna be a great mom, Kris. Of course, you have April, so I know that for a fact." I just loved to tease her.

"Very funny, Mar." she said sarcastically. I laughed at that.

"See you in half an hour."

"Sounds good. Can't wait to see Sara."

"She's getting bigger each time you see her."

"Okay, Justin needs me, so I'm gonna go."

"Okay. See ya at the Life."

"Bye Mar! See you soon!"

"Bye Kris! Congrats again."

"Thanks." With that, she hung up. I hung the phone up and went to the nursery. Mark had Sara dressed in a pink T-shirt with a picture of a white horse on it and baby blue jeans. On her feet, were white tennis shoes.

"Mark! She looks adorable." I told him, taking Sara from him and putting her in her carrier.

"Thanks." He kissed my cheek and playfully tugged my ponytail. I laughed and headed out the door of the loft.

"Is it okay if I invite Justin over? We can have a guys day in since you're going out with the girls." Mark pointed out.

"Sure. That's fine, babe." I told him, blowing him a kiss and walking out the door.

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Sara and I were the first ones to arrive at the Life. The hostess led us to a booth in the back of the restaurant and handed me a menu.

I heard the bell above the door jingle and saw three figures walk in. I smiled and stood up, waving my hands in the air to get their attention.

"Hey Mary! Hi Aunt Mary!" Joanne, Maureen, Kris and April chorused. I greeted each of them and got Sara out of her carrier so that they could take turns holding her.

Joanne and Maureen sat across from me as Kris and April sat next to me. There was a wooden high chair nearby, so I put Sara in that so we could look at her while we ate. The waiter came, took drink orders and brought the drinks to us.

"So, Mary, where are the boys?" Maureen asked, looking around.

"Actually, Maureen, I wanted to tell you girls first before I told the boys – I mean boy. Mark already knows." I answered, taking a sip of my water.

"How did your appointment go?" Joanne asked. I told them what happened and that now all of us – Mark, Owen, Sara and I – had HIV.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry." Joanne told me, reaching across the table and squeezing my hand lightly. I squeezed her hand for a bit and wiped the tears out of my eyes.

"That's awful!" Kris chimed in, digging in her purse for a tissue. She handed it to me and I dabbed my eyes with it.

"Are you gonna be okay Aunt Mary?" April asked. I looked at her and smiled. I really didn't know what to tell her.

"I should be, sweetie. As long as I take my AZT, I should be fine." I then went on to explain what AZT was in terms that a three-year-old would understand.

"Oh. Otay!" April said, taking a sip of her chocolate milk. I smiled at her – that's gonna be Sara and Owen in three years – if they make it that long I felt tears in my eyes as I thought about diseases that would harm my twins. Shaking my head, I enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with my friends, knowing that they would stick by my side, no matter what happened.