Chapter Seven: Mother's Child

Jason was attempting to get out Musetta's Waltz on his father's guitar that evening, when Becky came home.

"Hey Becky,"Roger greeted as she walked through the door.

"Hey. Where's my dad?"Becky asked, putting her school bag down on the floor.

"He went out to get some milk,"Roger replied. "Where have you been? You missed dinner."

"I know, I'm sorry. I went to Paul's house,"Becky replied. Roger grinned, nodding.

"How are your piano practices going?"he enquired.

"Great. Paul suggested that I take up a third instrument. He's looking for a cello teacher for me now,"Becky admitted. Roger grinned.

"That's my girl,"he teased, patting her head. Jason felt a small fire burn inside him as he watched his father's excitement.

"Oh! I almost forgot, I'm going with the school Jazz Band to the Berklee Jazz Festival next weekend,"Becky added. Roger's entire face lit up.

"No way! I went to the Berklee Jazz Festival when I was in high school!"he cried.

"I know. You hold the record for being the only member of the New York City Jazz Ensemble to win the Outstanding Musician award there,"Becky recalled. Roger grinned proudly.

"Well good luck. I'd come if I could, but we've been pretty swamped here lately..."

"Don't worry about it,"Becky assured him. Roger smiled, patting her back one more time.

"Well, there's leftover pizza in the fridge if you're hungry,"he explained as he flipped through a pile of old magazines and newspapers on the counter.

"Okay,"Becky replied, pulling off her scarf and her coat. Jason watched her carefully... and his fingers slipped on the guitar strings, making a horrible sound.

"Hey, careful Jase,"Roger called over, examining a newspaper from several years earlier. Jason quickly snapped out of his day dream, returning his attention to the guitar.

Later that night Becky joined Jason on the couch.

"Why did you have to be such a jerk to Sam earlier?"she demanded right away. Jason sighed.

"Good-night Becky..."he muttered, about to get up.

"Jase, come on. Sam's never done anything to you,"Becky insisted.

"He's related to Benny, isn't that enough?"Jason snapped back.

"Benny's never done anything to you either,"Becky pointed out.

"You know what he's done to my father, to my mother!"Jason replied.

"Yeah, he paid for her rehab when she was sick, and helped us pay for her funeral service two years ago,"Becky stated. Jason sighed.

"He's scum, Becky,"he persisted.

"You can't judge him like that when you don't know him, Jason,"Becky returned.

"I know who Benny was,"Jason said.

"Don't judge him on who he was. And don't judge his son on who he was either,"Becky demanded. She sighed. "Sam's a really nice kid going through some hard times. His parents are getting divorced and his mom didn't even want custody. He's feeling bad enough as it is, and you're not helping. If you'd just give him a chance I really think you'd like him."Jason stared at Becky.

"Fine. I guess I could give the guy a fair chance,"he decided. Becky smiled.

"Thanks Jase,"she replied. She and Jason were now sitting face to face, staring into each other's eyes. Jason wanted to give in to his desires, he wanted to just lean over and kiss her, hug her, and Becky wasn't making things any easier, by leaning in towards him as well...

"Hey guys!"The two leapt apart as Mark came through the door. He spotted them and grinned. "I'm sure you two are up studying,"he teased. They both forced awkward laughs, making sure to get as far apart as possible. Mark noticed this as he pulled his coat off, and frowned. "What's going on?"

"Nothing!"Jason and Becky both cried out at once. Mark laughed a little, carrying the milk over to the fridge.

"Okay, that didn't sound suspicious,"he said sarcastically, placing it in and walking back over. "What's up with you two?"

"Nothing. We were just talking,"Jason insisted.

"About what?"Mark pried.

"Just...some kids at school,"Becky replied.

"Are you having problems?"Mark asked, concerned.

"No,"Becky said quickly.

"Well, if you need to talk-"

"Okay dad,"Becky interrupted, obviously wanting to get off the subject.

"Thanks anyways, Uncle Mark,"Jason added.

"Sure,"Mark said, turning away. Though a strange idea had just crossed his mind...

Mark joined Roger in the room that they now shared. They had once had separate rooms, but Becky and Jason had taken over Mark's old room, so Mark moved in with Roger. Roger was sitting on his bed, strumming on his guitar, when Mark entered, sitting on his own bed, sighing deeply. Roger stopped, looking up at his friend.

"What was that?"he asked.

"Roger, have you ever...well, have you...ever thought about Jason and Becky?"Mark asked suddenly. Roger frowned.

"What do you mean? Of course I've thought about them,"he said. "Is this about Jason and the camera thing, because-"

"No, no. I meant, have you ever imagined them, you know...together?"Mark continued. Roger stopped, staring at Mark.

"Did you catch them doing something?"he demanded right away. Mark shook his head.

"No, I just walked in on them 'talking', and they both got really weird. And that's when it occurred to me. I mean, they're teenagers, living together..."

"They're like brother and sister! They could never feel that way,"Roger insisted.

"Not necessarily. I mean, just because they've known each other forever doesn't mean they can't develop other kinds of feelings for each other,"Mark replied.

"Well even if they did, it would be pretty risky for them to be together,"Roger pointed out.

"Oh!"Mark exclaimed. "Well I don't even want to THINK about them doing anything like that in the near future!"Roger laughed.

"She's still your little girl, huh?"he asked. Mark grinned, nodding.

"Yeah, I guess she is,"he agreed. "But Jason is still your little boy too."

"No. He's Mimi's little boy,"Roger replied. "I don't think he even wants anything to do with me."

"Roger, don't say that, of course he does. He's your son,"Mark insisted.

"Then why does he always push me away? He never opens up to me, he never wants to talk, or hang out or...or be a family!"Roger was aggravated and upset, and Mark hated to see his friend like that.

"Jason does want you two to be a family, Roger. He's just scared without Mimi,"Mark insisted.

"Scared of me?"Roger snapped.

"No, scared that he'll have to forget her if you two become a family without her,"Mark explained. Roger stared at Mark.

"How do you know all this? Has he talked to you?"Roger asked.

"No. I know from experience,"Mark replied. "Why do you think I always locked myself away with my camera after Angel died? I didn't want to move on without him. And Jason doesn't want to move on without Mimi. He's doing just what I did, Roger."

"Well, what helped you to decide to move on?"Roger asked.

"I met Kate,"Mark replied, a dark look suddenly coming across his face. Roger stopped, looking at Mark sympathetically. "Jason will find something better."

"Mark, you couldn't have known about Kate..."Roger began.

"I should have known,"Mark growled. Roger sighed. He knew his friend would never really be able to forgive Kate for leaving him, and especially not forgive himself for trusting her. That's why all his heart went to Rebecca. Kate had scarred Mark's heart, and Roger would always hate her for that. Mark let out a deep breath, the dark glare disappearing, and his regular tired but content face coming back. "But I got Becky. And that's all that matters,"he decided.

"Yeah. She's something special,"Roger assured his friend. Mark smiled.

"I don't know what I'd do without her,"he confessed.

"Let's hope you'll never have to be without her,"Roger said.

"Or Jason. He's strong, Roger,"Mark stated. Roger smiled too.

"Yeah. Just like his mother."

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my best friend ever, Pools-of-sorrow, and her mom. I love you both, and I always will! 3 3 3