A/N: Hey! Thanks to everybody who read and or reviewed the first chapter. I'm not really psychotic about getting reviews, so just as long as people are reading it, I'll be happy! Haha. Here's chapter two, which is a little longer I believe. Let's see who gets the singer of the chapter title this time!
Chapter Two: Here
Jason had come storming into the apartment, walking by Roger Davis, Mark Cohen, Tom Collins, Maureen Johnson and Joanne Jefferson, who were all running around trying to set up chairs around the small table that the large group of them would be eating around.
"Hey Joanne, how's the turkey coming along?"Mark asked Joanne Jefferson, a beautiful African American lesbian lawyer. She opened the small, dirty over, pulling out an oddly shiny looking turkey and poking it with a fork.
"It looks...edible,"she replied, examining it.
"Good enough!"Maureen Johnson, Joanne's equally gorgeous lesbian partner, and activist, cried. They were the two mothers of Roxie Johnson-Jefferson.
"I looks like we're short a chair,"Roger Davis, HIV positive rock star, said. His wife Mimi had died of AIDS one year earlier, and now he lived with his best friend and roommate since he had come to New York City, Mark Cohen, Mark's daughter, and his own son Jason Davis.
"That's okay, I'll find one around here,"Mark Cohen assured his friend. Mark was a small blue eyed man, with dark rimmed glasses and short blonde-red hair. He was a very talented filmmaker, filming documentaries of life in the East Village.
Tom Collins, HIV positive gay professor at NYU, broke down and began coughing terribly, as he tried to carry a chair to the table. Everyone quickly dropped what they were doing, running over to him. Collins had been getting sicker. The others all feared that AIDS had taken over his weak body, and that this may be their friend's last winter.
"You okay?"Mark asked his friend. Collins forced a weak smile, nodding.
"Yeah. It's probably just allergies,"he insisted. Collins always tried to remain as cheerful as he could, no matter what. He was the heart, the happiness, the bright side of the group. And they were all scared to imagine what they would do without him.
"This is going to be the best Christmas meal we've eaten at home!"Maureen said happily, trying to brighten the situation.
"Well hurry up, let's get eating before everything freezes!"Joanne urged.
"I'll call the kids up,"Mark offered, as Roger helped Collins over to the table. Mark walked out onto the fire escape, looking down at the three kids on the street below.
"Hey! Guys! It's dinner time, come on up!"He came back into the loft as Joanne was placing the turkey in the center of the table, Maureen got the plates, and Roger got the silverware.
"Hey Jason, it's dinner time,"Mark said, walking over to the small corner of the loft that belonged to Jason. Jason was rewinding some old film reels, examining them carefully. He looked up at Mark, who was grinning at him. "You filming stuff lately?"Jason nodded.
"Yeah. I've had a lot of inspiration lately, actually,"he said.
"That's awesome!"Mark said happily. Jason sighed.
"I just wish my dad could see it that way,"he said. Mark sat down beside Jason.
"He does, Jason. He really is proud of you, you have to understand that,"he said.
"No he's not. I'm not playing guitar like him, so he doesn't care what I do,"Jason sighed. "You know it's true."
"It's not,"Mark insisted. Roger had been very wrapped up in Becky's music lately, not sparing much time to think about his own son's filming passion. And Jason was feeling betrayed. "He loves you, and he supports you. Music is just his passion, you know that."
"Yeah...maybe I should learn to play better. Then he'd be excited about me too,"Jason mumbled. "But thanks for your support, Uncle Mark."
"Any time, Jase. Come on, it's almost dinner time,"he said.
"I'm not that hungry,"Jason said suddenly, looking scared and uncomfortable. Mark sighed. Jason had been very upset after Mimi's death, and he hated celebrations and family gatherings without her. He always tried to shut away...something Mark understood very well.
"Look Jason, I know it's hard to accept but...this may be...Collins's last...and well, it would mean a lot if you just came and ate with us for a little bit. Okay?"Mark asked. He couldn't bring himself to actually say it, but Jason seemed to get the picture anyways. He nodded.
"Okay. I'll be over in a few,"he replied, clutching the camera in his hands nervously.
"Thanks Jase,"Mark said grinning.
Roxie had come walking into the loft with her usual annoyed expression. She tossed her ballet bag into the corner, crossing her arms and frowning. She was just as beautiful as Maureen, with Joanne's curly, gorgeous dark hair...and a constant pout.
"Hey Roxie! Merry Christmas,"Mark greeted kindly. Roxie turned to him, offering a small smile.
"Hey Uncle Mark,"she replied, making it clear she would rather be anywhere else in the world as she joined the others at the table. Right behind her came Aaron. Mark grinned even wider at the sight of Aaron. Everybody loved Aaron. He was every bit his father...and Collins wasn't even his biological father.
"Hey Uncle Mark!"Aaron greeted before Mark could even say anything. He walked over, hugging Mark tightly(he already towered over him)
"Hey Aaron! How's school?"Mark asked.
"Great. Senior year's a blast,"Aaron replied.
"How about college applications?"Mark enquired.
"I just applied to NYU,"Aaron replied proudly.
"Oh, great! Your father doesn't happen to have any say about if you get accepted or not, does he?"Mark asked. Aaron laughed.
"Unfortunately, no,"he replied. Mark patted Aaron's back, as Aaron joined the others at the table, greeting everyone with a hearty hug and a 'Merry Christmas'.
Next through the door was Mark's own flesh and blood, Becky. Camera in hand, she walked over to her father, hugging him.
"Happy Hanukkah, dad,"she greeted.
"Merry Christmas, Becky,"Mark replied. That was always a joke between them, the fact that they celebrated both. "What were you doing all day? We missed you at Life Support."
"I was with the Harrisons most of the day. I figured the least I could do was hang around with the kids for a bit to make their Christmas better,"Becky explained.
"That's great, Becky,"Mark said, patting his daughter proudly. "But don't forget to be careful down there around this time, you know how sick people can get..."
"Yeah, I know, dad,"Becky assured him, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry about me."Mark grinned at his daughter.
"You get any good footage today?"he asked her, motioning to the camera.
"No...all I got was Jason mad at me again,"Becky sighed.
"You seem to do that a lot lately,"Mark commented.
"Yeah...maybe I should just learn to back off,"Becky said.
"Hey, a true filmmaker never backs off,"Mark assured her. She grinned at her father as he patted her shoulder. "But...you do have to put that away while we eat dinner,"he said, motioning to her camera.
"Okay,"Becky agreed, walking over to her bed, next to Jason's in the small room they shared. He was putting the guitar away as she came over.
"Hey Jason...look, I'm sorry about filming you earlier. I didn't mean to-"she began.
"Forget it,"Jason shrugged. He had been angry because Roger had spent the whole morning gushing about Becky's guitar playing. And so he had taken his anger out on Becky. Now he realized his error, and felt bad.
"Are you sure?"Becky asked. Jason looked up at her, and offered a smile.
"Yeah. It's Christmas,"he said. Becky smiled too as she put away the camera, and they walked over to the table together.
"Hey, here's our musician!"Roger greeted excitedly, rushing over and wrapping Becky in a big hug. She laughed, hugging back, and Jason scowled to himself, backing away...and right into Aaron.
"Hey Jase! I haven't seen much of you lately,"Aaron greeted, hugging Jason. Jason's scowl faded as Aaron patted his back. Aaron had that affect on people.
"Hey Aaron. How's it feel to be a senior?"Jason asked.
"Pretty good!"Aaron said, laughing as he took his seat in between his father and Jason. Jason sat beside Roger, who sat beside Mark. Becky took her seat next to Mark, Maureen on her other side. Roxie was in between Maureen and Joanne, and Joanne was beside Collins. The group all sat together in their squished but happy circle.
"Well...we've survived yet another trying year in our poor, starving life as some of the few remaining bohemians in the East Village. As the doctor's keep reminding Roger and I, it's a medical miracle we've lasted this long. But let's just take this moment to remember those who have gone before us. Angel...Mimi...we miss you both. We hope that your Christmas up there will be just as happy and plentiful as ours down here,"Collins said. Jason was fighting back tears. Aaron saw this, and placed a large, calming hand on his shoulder. Jason grinned at Aaron. Mark smiled at Roger, who was letting the tears stream from his eyes.
"Amen,"Collins finished. "Now...let's eat!"Everyone began digging into the small meal that Joanne and Maureen had pulled together. The room was filled with eating, talking and laughing for that night, as they were all grateful that they were together...and remembering how they came together.
Okay, I realize how unrealistic it is that Roger and Collins would still be alive now, but I couldn't kill off two main characters like that! Then I'd have to make Benny a central character...ew...Haha, poor Benny. Next chapter should be up soon, thanks for reading!