CHAPTER SIX
(chapter title – Two Funerals In One Day)

Roger, Sara, Christopher, Tiffany, Maureen, Joanne, Mark and Jennifer were seated in the front row of pews on a beautiful July afternoon – the sun was streaming in from the stain glassed windows and everything was really beautiful.

"I remember the first time I met Collins." Roger was saying. "I had just met my best friend, Mark, and we were heading home from a gig I had played at, just walking and talking when this man the size of a bull elephant comes up to me and introduces himself as 'my biggest fan' and picks me up and hugs me." Roger laughed to himself before continuing. "He was always there for me – my withdrawal, April's death, Mimi's death, Sara's birth and a whole lot other things that I possibly can't list off the top of my head. He was the sweetest man I had ever met and he's going to be missed by all." With that, Roger went back and sat down next to Sara on one side and Mark on the other. Sara stood up and went to the front of the stage.

"Uncle Collins came into my life when I came home from the hospital. He held me for hours at a time, telling me stories and singing to me. My favorite stories that he would tell me were of my aunt Angel, who I never got to meet. I'm sad that uncle Collins is gone, but I'm happy that he'll be in heaven with my mom, Mimi, and her best friend, Angel." Sara quickly walked back to her seat and buried her face in Roger's shoulder. He stroked her hair and soothed her, telling her it was okay to cry.

Mark, Jennifer, Christopher, Maureen, Tiffany and Joanne each said a little something about Collins. After they finished, the adults went to sit down as Sara stood up and walked over to Jennifer. The four kids were going to sing a song called I'll Cover You, co-written by Sara, but written by Roger. It had been Collins' and Angel's song when they were alive, so it was only right to honor them with their special song.

"Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover
I'll cover you, yeeah..." Christopher started.

"Open your door
I'll be your tenant
Don't got much baggage to lay at your feet
But sweet kisses I got to spare
I'll be there and I'll cover you-ohhhh..." Sara joined in.

"I think they meant it
when they said you can't buy love
Now I know you can rent it
a new lease you were my love
on life, all my life" the two of them sang in unison.

"So with a thousand
Sweet kisses
I'll cover you" Jennifer and Tiffany sang.

"If you're cold
And you're
Lonely" Sara and Christopher sang.

"With a thousand
Sweet kisses
I'll cover you" Jennifer and Tiffany sang.

"You've got one
Nickel only." Sara and Christopher sang.

"With a thousand
Sweet kisses
I'll cover you." Jennifer and Tiffany sang.

"When you're
Worn out
And tired." Sara and Christopher sang.

"With a thousand
Sweet kisses
I'll cover you." Jennifer and Tiffany sang.

"When your heart
Has expired." Sara and Christopher sang.

"Oh lover
I'll cover you." Jennifer and Sara sang.

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six
Hundred minutes." Jennifer sang.

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Seasons of love." Tiffany sang.

"I'll cover you!" Christopher sang.

Once the kids were done singing, there was a burst of applause from everyone in the congregation. The four of them bowed and took their seats. Roger looked at his daughter, tears in his eyes.

----------

"I'm proud of you, Sar." Roger told his daughter, kissing her on the cheek as the group exited the church.

"Thanks, dad." Sara smiled up at him. Just then, Roger's phone rang.

"Hello?...Okay, Paul. We'll be right there, thanks for telling me. Bye." Roger hung up the phone and turned to Sara just as Mark, Christopher, Jennifer, Tiffany, Maureen and Joanne joined them.

"Who was that, Rog?" Mark asked.

"Paul – Susan from Life Support passed away this morning." Roger told the group. He had gotten to really like Susan – talking to her at Life Support about living with AIDS and growing up in New York.

"Oh my goodness. I'm sorry, Rog." Maureen pulled Roger into a rib-crushing hug. Roger felt tears stream down his cheeks, but he didn't care. Eventually, he pulled out of Maureen's hug and walked away from the group.

"Roger!" Mark hurried after him and eventually caught up. The two men yelled at each other for a bit before Roger stormed off in the opposite direction. Mark sighed and walked back over to the group.

"Where's dad going, uncle Mark?" Sara asked.

"He-he needs some time to himself, Sar, so he's going to the cemetery to be with your mom and Angel. He'll come home, don't worry." Mark told her, pulling her into a hug. Sara smiled up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

----------

Roger was heading to the cemetery to be with his Mimi and with his Angel. That's were he always went whenever he felt upset or depressed. He immediately walked over to Mimi's grave. Thank God the tombstone writer made her a new headstone Roger thought to himself, crouching down in front of Mimi's tombstone which now looked like this:

Eileen 'Mimi' Rosario Marquez-Davis
1970-1995
Measure Your Life In Love

"Hey beautiful." Roger started, knowing that she couldn't hear him. "I just came down here to say that my two good friends are gone from my life forever – Susan, remember I was telling you about her? And Collins, of course. Sara's taking it really hard, but I know that she'll pull through." Pause. "I think about you everyday and how much I miss you. Sara's looking more like you with each passing day. It's kind of like having a mini you around the loft." Pause. "I told her she could get a dog, so she's excited about that. If she gets a girl, she's naming it Musetta, but if she gets a boy, she's naming it Fender. Creative, huh?" smile and pause. "Well, baby, I better go, but I don't want to. You're the only person – besides Mark and Sara – who understands me and what I'm going through. Give Angel my love and make sure to give Katie, Collins and Susan a hug from me. Love you, babe." With that, Roger got up and walked back to the loft, taking his time.

--------

"I'm limited
Just look at me
I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Chris
So now it's up to you
For both of us
Now it's up to you..." Sara sang.

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good." Christopher sang.

"It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind of the sea
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you." Sara sang.

"Because I knew you." Christopher sang.

"I have been changed for good." The two of them sang.

"And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for." Christopher sang.

"But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share." Sara told him, smiling slightly.

"And none of it seems to matter anymore…" they told each other.

"Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood." Sara sang.

"Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind of the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood." Christopher sang.

"Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better." They sang in unison.

"And because I knew you..." Sara sang.

"Because I knew you..." Christopher sang.

"Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good." The two of them told each other. Christopher then pulled Sara into a hug. Sara smiled and hugged him back.

------

Meanwhile, Roger had stepped into the loft and went to his room without another word. Christopher and Sara watched in silence as Roger came into the loft, closed the door, walked to his room and slammed the door to his room.

"Daddy?" Sara went to Roger's door and knocked on it. Mark put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

"Let's leave your dad alone for a bit, okay Sar?" Mark suggested. Sara sighed and walked over to where Jennifer and Tiffany were watching a movie. Christopher then did something amazing – he went over and sat on the couch with the three girls. Mark smiled and filmed the four of them sitting there – Collins would've loved to see this Mark thought as he filmed.

A/N: don't own the lyrics to I'll Cover You (Reprise) and For Good. belongs to respected owners. 'nuff said.