A/N: Okay, this chapter is a flashback chapter so we get the backstory on all the kids. I think you'll be able to figure this out, but the past is in italics. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Three: Once Upon a Time

Tom Collins was walking home from NYU late one night. He had had a teacher's meeting that had run much later than he had expected. He was walking along the freezing sidewalk quickly. He couldn't stay out in the cold this long...it was below zero. Suddenly he heard sobs. He stopped, turning into an alley off the sidewalk.

There sat a small infant boy, not more than eighteen months. The boy was in nothing but a diaper, and was sobbing miserably, his tears practically freezing to his cheeks. Collins looked around for any signs of family to this small boy...but there was no one in sight. He knew he couldn't let this child stay out in this weather. He walk over, lifting the infant into his arms.

"Hey buddy...shhh...it's okay. I'm gonna help you,"he assured the baby. The boy stopped crying as Collins held him. Collins walked quickly to the loft, and sprinted up the stairs to Mark, Roger and Mimi's apartment. Mimi was about eight months pregnant at the time with she and Roger's first child, and Collins knew they would have some baby supplies. He pounded on the door until Mark answered. He frowned at Collins and the crying infant.

"Collins...what are you doing?"Mark asked, rubbing his eyes and putting his glasses on.

"Look, I found this kid alone out in the streets. He's freezing, I couldn't let him stay out there. Do you have any baby clothes or formulas or anything we could use to take care of him for tonight?"Collins asked. Roger and Mimi had been aroused by Collins' pounding, and Roger was now coming over.

"Uh, yeah! Yeah, we do...come on in,"Mark invited, stepping aside for Collins to enter.

"Collins?"Mimi said through a yawn.

"Yeah...I found a homeless kid freezing on the streets. He needs a place to stay for the night,"Collins explained again.

"We just bought a crib the other day,"Roger said. "I'll set it up for him to sleep in."

"And I'll find some of the baby clothes we got,"Mimi added. Mark was already in the kitchen, cooking some formula.

"Shh...it's okay,"Collins hushed the baby, who was holding onto him tightly now. "We're gonna take care of you tonight."

But it wouldn't just be that night. Collins, Mark, Roger, Mimi and Mark's girlfriend at the time, a waitress named Kate, had done everything to try and find the boy's family. But there was no record, no trace...and no one was coming to claim him. Collins kept the boy at his place, calling him Aaron. He bought clothes, food and a bed for him. After a few years, Collins made the decision to legally adopt Aaron, when no trace of a family was ever located for him. Aaron became Collins' son, and from then on, grew up with Tom Collins as a father figure.

Next to come into the picture, of course, was Jason.

Roger was pacing the waiting room anxiously. Mimi had gone into labor and been rushed into the hospital while he was at a gig, and Maureen, of all people, had gone into the delivery room with her in his absence. Now Roger was with Mark, Kate, Joanne and Collins and little Aaron in the waiting room. Mimi's pregnancy was high risk due to her AIDS, and it was a possibility that she could die during child birth, or shortly after, so nerves were running high around the room. Suddenly the door came flying open and Maureen came dashing out. She looked nervous at first, which sent a scare through the whole group.

"Maureen, what happened? Is Mimi okay?"Roger demanded, running over to her quickly. Maureen smiled.

"Roger...you have a son!"she announced. "And Mimi is doing fine."The group all immediately began laughing and cheering, letting out sighs of relief. Roger went running into the room, where Mimi was laying on a hospital bed looking exhausted but content. The nurse was holding a small, screaming baby, wrapping it in a blanket. Roger ran over to Mimi, hugging her tightly.

"You're okay..."he said. "Thank God you're okay!"Mimi hugged him back.

"Roger...we have a beautiful baby boy,"she croaked tiredly. The nurse smiled, handing the baby to Mimi gently. She and Roger looked down at their son happily.

"He has your eyes,"Mimi commented, as he stroked the baby's head gently.

"But he'll have your smile. I can tell,"Roger assured her. The doctor had entered the room, grinning at the couple.

"Congratulations, both of you,"he said kindly. Suddenly he looked grim. "But we must inform you that your son is HIV positive."Roger and Mimi both nodded sadly.

"Yeah...yeah, we knew he would be,"Roger muttered. The doctor nodded.

"Just making sure you understood. I'll leave you two alone now,"he said, walking from the room. Suddenly, there were shouts heard in the hallway.

"No! Please! Excuse me, stay out of there! No visitors! Sir! No camera's in the delivery room!"The gang came bursting into the room, Mark with his camera glued to his face.

"There he is!"Collins said, holding Aaron up to see the baby.

"Baby!"Aaron cried.

"Here we are, January 16th 1992...Roger and Mimi are now the proud parents of their first son,"Mark explained, filming the baby as Maureen craned her neck to see around him.

"What's his name?"she asked excitedly. Roger and Mimi looked at each other.

"Jason Dumott Davis,"Mimi announced. Collins grinned.

"You guys..."he said, trailing off. And Jason Dumott Davis joined the bohemian family.

Not long after Jason was born, the group was struck with tragedy. They learned that Mark's girlfriend Kate was a heroine addict. She was constantly shooting up in the bathroom of the loft, using all of Mark's money to buy drugs. Roger and Mimi were furious, and would not, could not, have Kate and her drugs in their home, especially not with the baby. Mark begged Kate to get help, he offered to help her, he promised to stay with her through everything as long as she got off the drugs. But Kate wouldn't do it. Then one morning, she was gone. She left town without a word to anyone, and no one heard from her for months afterwards. Eight months to be precise. Then one day, while heading out to work, Mark received the shock of a lifetime...
"I'm going out to film a bit. I'll be back later!"Mark called to Mimi and Roger. They were both wrapped up in taking care of ten month old Jason, as Collins chased the now walking Aaron around the loft. Mark walked down the stairs as usual, and opened the door to the apartment, about to step out, when he saw a baby carrier outside the door...with a little baby in it. He stopped, looking around. No one was around. The baby was sleeping, but there was a small piece of paper tucked into the carrier beside it. Mark pulled the paper out, opening it. It read:

'Mark,

This is your daughter. She was born two months ago, on August 6th. Her name is Rebecca. I had to leave when I found out I was pregnant. I'm sorry Mark. I thought I could take care of things myself. But I can't. I can't stop the drugs. And I can't take care of this child. I'm leaving her here. She will be better off with you than with me.

--Kate'

Mark's hand was shaking as he finished reading. He looked down at the baby in shock...and re-read the letter. He sat down beside the carrier, unable to stand. This was his daughter. It couldn't be...but it was. What was he going to do? How could he care for this child? How could this be his child? He, Mark Cohen, a father? How could Kate do this to him?

Then the baby woke up, sneezing. Mark really looked over at the baby for the first time. It was little, very little. She actually kind of looked like him in a way...

Rebecca. His daughter Rebecca. Could it really be? The baby looked up at Mark, and reached out her little hand. Mark couldn't help but smile back. He extended his finger to her, and she latched on, looking up at Mark as if he were some kind of god. Mark laughed a little. This was his daughter. And he had to keep her.

The others were all shocked to learn the news of Mark's daughter. Maureen and Roger were enraged at Kate for leaving him flat like that. But Mark, strangely, wasn't mad. There was nothing he could do about Kate, and he knew that. All he cared about now was making the best home for Rebecca. Aaron was thrilled to have another new baby around, though it was difficult for the others to afford to raise a third child. But Mark did all the work for his daughter. There was no doubt that Mark Cohen would be anything below an outstanding father.

The last to join the growing family, of course, was Maureen and Joanne's daughter Roxie. Aaron was four, Jason was three and Rebecca was two...

"Okay Maureen, what is so important that you had to come make us stop looking after our THREE kids to come listen to you?"Mark demanded, as he, Collins, Roger and Mimi all sat before Maureen and Joanne. Maureen looked very excited.

"Okay, as you all know, Joanne and I have been married for two years now,"Maureen began.

"Are you reminding us?"Collins teased.

"Usually at this point, married couples start to think about starting families, right?" Maureen continued. The others were all staring at her curiously now.

"Yeah...but Maureen, you guys can't-"Mimi began.

"Well, not on our own,"Joanne jumped in.

"A few months ago, Joanne and I had our DNA mixed together into little tubes that would be babies. And last week, we went back to the clinic and they did all kinds of weird things to me...and now I'm pregnant!"Maureen announced happily. Everyone gawked at her.

"Oh God..."Mark moaned.

"Wow...er, congratulations guys!"Mimi said, trying to sound polite. Collins let out a hearty laugh.

"You two never cease to amaze me!"he said.

"Another baby, daddy?"little Aaron asked Collins.

"You betcha!"Collins laughed.

Nine months after that shocking announcement, little Roxanne Johnson-Jefferson was born. Aaron became the official older brother to the kids, and Roxie the official baby. They all became close as sisters and brothers, growing up together, living together...

Then came the fateful day, thirteen years later, when Mimi was rushed to the hospital.

"Jason...you're mother wants to see you,"Collins said as he and Aaron walked out of Mimi's hospital room. The group was all gathered in the same hospital where Jason had been born...though they weren't excited this time.

Jason took a shaky, nervous breath. He wasn't sure he was ready for this. Suddenly he felt a hand slide into his. He turned to see Rebecca, now called Becky.

"I'll come with you, if you want,"she assured him. Jason nodded, and Becky lead him into Mimi's room together.

Roger was sitting beside her bed, head down, holding her hand and obviously crying. Mimi smiled weakly when she saw her son.

"Jason..."she said. Jason walked over to his mother, taking her other hand. "Jason honey...I love you."Tears streamed down Jason's cheeks as he heaved sobs.

"I..love..you..too...mom,"he sobbed. Mimi shushed him.

"Shh...it's okay, babe. You have so many people who care about you...you'll be okay," she assured him. "I love you. Both of you,"she whispered, barely audible, to Roger and Jason. And then her grip weakened, and her eyes closed, her breath stopping. Roger and Jason were both still holding onto her hands, as Becky stood beside Jason, tears running down her cheeks. Then Collins, Aaron, Mark, Joanne, Maureen and Roxie entered.

"Mom, is she...?"Roxie whispered to Joanne. Joanne nodded, her eyes filled with tears. They were all crying. Mark came over to Becky , pulling her into a hug. Collins wrapped his arm around Aaron's shoulders. Maureen and Joanne hugged, each placing a hand on Roxie's shoulders. The bohemian family was now slowly decreasing...

That was two years earlier, in October, very close to the time that Angel had died. The kids had never known Angel, but their parents all made sure to take the time to remember her life with them as they all sat there around the dinner table on that Christmas Eve, happy for what time they had left together as a family.
A/N: Sorry for so much drama there! I really usually don't write drama like that, but I felt that was a necessary scene. I'm also sorry for all the author's notes! I need to shut up!