Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. School is out and I don't have the internet a t home. So it took me a while to make it to the library. This is going to be a long chapter. Thank you all so much for supporting this story and RENT: The Real Story As Seen By A Non-Believer. It means a lot to me.

Chapter 7

Early that next morning, Roger and Mark were lying in their bed talking about the adoption and how they were going to go about introducing Ana to their friends.

"Well she's already met Maureen, so everyone else should be easy to introduce. Mo's the craziest one we know." Roger said.

"That's true," Mark agreed. "What time are we all meeting tonight?"

"Mimi said everyone would be there around six. So we probably should leave around four thirty. Do you know if Mimi is bringing Darren?" Roger said.

"She probably won't" Mark said sadly.

"It's just kind of weird that we haven't met him in the year and a half they've been engaged." Roger reasoned. "I mean Mo, Sara, and Joanne have met him. Why not us?"

"Think about it Roger. He probably doesn't like you very much because of the whole you leaving Mimi thing. And the fact that we are together can't be helping him like us any better." Mark said.

Before Roger could reply to that they heard a strumming of chords from Anastasia's room. She was playing the song that she played for them when they had first met her. Roger found himself smiling.

"Having that girl is the third most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me." he said.

"What are the first two?" Mark wanted to know.

"Well meeting Mimi was the second best. She's the one who helped me come out of my depressed funk."

"Oh and I suppose she did it by herself did she?" Mark said jealously.

"I was getting to you sweetie." Roger assured him with a smile. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Without you I would probably be dead by now. I love you so much Mark."

"And I love you too. Even if you are a crazy self absorbed musician." Mark said laughing.

"Well you're a greedy filmmaker who has to have every thing his way or else." Roger retorted.

Mark responded to that taunt by giving Roger a deep kiss. Roger smiled and kissed his love back. They were disrupted by a knock on their door.

"Yeah?" Roger called.

"Good morning guys!" Ana called back brightly. "You want me to fix you some breakfast? Pancakes are my specialty."

"That sounds great." Mark called as Roger nibbled on his ear. "We'll be down in a minute."

"Or thirty." Roger whispered in his ear and continued to nibble.

"Rog," Mark groaned. "You know we can't do it as much as we used to because there is now a child in our house." his protests were growing weaker and weaker as Roger started kissing his neck.

"I know we can't have as much fun as we used to, but that doesn't mean I can't make you crazy a bit before breakfast." Roger responded with a evil grin.

"You," Mark said biting back a moan, "are the anti-Christ."

"And that makes you love me more." Roger said climbing out of the bed, and heading for the shower.

"You're right, it does." Mark concurred, going to join him.

They made it into the kitchen about twenty minutes later and saw that Ana had fixed them a wonderful breakfast.

"Wow an accomplished musician and a cook, I'm impressed." Mark said coming to hug Ana, who blushed at the praise.

"So" Roger said grabbing a plate. "Today is very special day. It's the second Saturday of the month and that means it's time to go to the Life Café. Maureen told you about the Life didn't she?"

Ana nodded as she chewed a piece of pancake.

"Well every second Saturday me, Mark, Maureen, Mimi, her friend Sara, Collins, Joanne and her daughter meet at the Life to catch up. So today you will get to meet all of your new Bohemian family." Roger explained.

"Sounds like fun." Anastasia said. "Are we going to dance on the tables like you guys used to?" she wanted to know.

"Uh, if Maureen and Roger have too much to drink, we just might." Mark answered. Roger lightly punched Mark on the arm. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Why don't you get that Ana?" Roger suggested. "You are officially a resident of this house and all."

Ana ran to the door and opened it. There was a black man standing there with two kids at his side.

"Do Mark and Roger still live here or have they skipped town again?" the man asked good naturedly.

"They're still here." Ana said shyly. "I'm Anastasia Avia Davis, their new daughter."

"Oh wow." Collins said. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Collins."

"Oh yeah. Maureen told me about you. Come in." She moved aside so that they could enter. One of the kids turned to Ana and held out her hand.

"Hello." she said. "My name is Jaylah Gabrielle Johnson-Jefferson. Maureen is one of my mothers."

"I heard about you too." Ana said shaking her hand. She turned to the other kid. A young man with red hair. "You must be Jaylah's new friend Arty." she said.

"That's right." Arty said somewhat shyly.

"Mark, Roger. Collins is here." Ana called loudly. The boys came around the corner to greet their friend.

"What's up man?" Roger said giving him a hug. "Hey Jay. And who is this?"

"This is my new friend Arty. He is the ice-cream vendor's son and we have a argument going."

"About what?" Ana asked.

"About whether Roger's recent music is better than the music from the Well Hungarians." Jaylah responded.

"And what is your opinion Arty?" Roger wanted to know.

"I think the Well Hungarians were better." Arty said. "My parents have some of your old tapes from back then. I love them."

"Well thank you. I personally thought we sucked back then." Roger said with a smile.

"You did baby." Mark put in with a grin.

"Okay you two, that's enough. There are children present. Maybe you can act like adults for a while." Collins scolded with a smile. "Besides I want to hear all about Lady Anastasia here."

Ana blushed. "Well," she said. "I'm twelve years old, I like to read and write and play the guitar. I also can cook a bit and I like to dance even though I'm not very good at it. I've never been to a real school. We always had tutors at Adam Anthony, so I don't have very many friends. Above all I'm just happy to be here."

Collins laughed at the young girl's formality. "Lady just be cool. We are all very laid back in this Bohemian family. You don't have to try to impress anyone. Just be yourself."

Ana nodded her understanding, glad that all of Mark and Roger's friends seemed to be so nice. Then there was another knock on the door.

"Jeez, what is this, a house party?" Roger complained as he went to open the door. Standing outside was Sara.

"Hey Rog." She greeted. "I know we are supposed to be meeting at six at the Life, but I'm here because Mimi sent me. Can you, me and Mark talk in private?"

"Sure Sara. Come on in. Collins is here with Jaylah and her friend. Oh and now you can meet our Ana." Roger said.

When they came into the living room where everyone else was Roger went over to Ana and said: "There's another friend we want you to meet. This is Sara, she is a new addition to our family, but she's welcome all the same. Sara, this is Anastasia."

"Nice to meet you Ana." Sara said. "I'm sure we will get along just fine." Then she turned to Collins "What's up Collins?" she greeted him.

"Nothing, I'm cool. What's up with you Sara, why are you here so early?" Collins said back.

"I just need to talk to Mark and Roger and then I'm headed back to the city. Mimi and I have a dance class at three and then we'll be heading to the Life." she responded.

Mark and Roger got up and led Sara to the idea room so they could talk.

"What's going on Sara?" Mark inquired when they had gone in and shut the door.

"Oh my God. So much is happening like you wouldn't believe." Sara said. "First of all Mimi thinks she might be pregnant."

"What!" Roger exclaimed. "But she's not even married yet. And what about her HIV? She can't bring a child into the world with that."

"I know, I know." Sara said. "But there's more. She twisted her ankle two weeks ago right? So we went to the doctor one day while Darren was at work. He was just supposed to check her ankle, but when he heard that Mimi was HIV positive he checked her white blood cell count. It's low you guys. Way low." Mark and Roger were speechless. So Sara continued. "She made me promise that I wouldn't tell Darren, but I thought I could tell you. Anyway, Darren knows that she might be pregnant so he's not letting her out of his sight."

"What do you mean she might be pregnant? Hasn't she gone in for the tests? Can't they find out for sure?" Mark asked worriedly.

Sara sighed. "I tried to get her to go back to the doctor but she won't. All she keeps saying is that that's what killed Angel. That Angel had to keep going back to the doctor and finally she got sick of it and died."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Mark exclaimed. "If Angel hadn't gone to the doctor she would have died sooner. Mimi's just making excuses."

Roger was still silent. He secretly agreed with Mimi about not wanting to go to the doctor. But that didn't mean it made sense.

"Since Darren won't let Mimi out of his sight that means he's going to be at the Life tonight. That's the real reason Mimi sent me here. To warn you about that." Sara was saying.

"Oh." Mark said, knowing exactly what Sara was talking about. Roger on the other hand had no idea what she meant.

"Why are we being warned about Darren?" He wanted to know.

"Because Roger." Sara explained gently. "Darren really doesn't like you. The fact that you're um, well." she couldn't finish.

"Married to a man?" Roger finished for her. "he hates me because of that? He's never even met me."

"Well there's also the fact that he thinks you sold out and left Mimi in her time of need to go make music that he says no one even likes." Sara continued.

Roger just stood there gaping at her.

"So that's all I wanted to say. I guess I should get going now. See you guys in a few hours." with that Sara left.

Mark looked over at Roger who was still speechless. "Roger, sweetie?" he tried but Roger shook his head and opened the door, strode to the bedroom and slammed the door behind him.