This is a nice, really weird and random, long chapter that should answer your questions about Collins having AIDS and giving it to Joanne and the baby and whatnot. Enjoy! (Anything in italics is the dream and anything bold is what Collins is thinking)

That night, Collins had a weird dream…

"Whoa," Collins said to himself, "Where am I?"

He was falling, slowly at first and then faster and faster. He landed roughly on a heap of sand.

"Ow," he muttered, standing up and rubbing his sore butt and scanning the area. He was on a beach of some sort, but everything was basking in a reddish hue, making the rippling water look like blood.

"Thomas Andrew Collins," a voice said, "I'm so happy you've arrived. We've been waiting for you."

"Oh Collins!" another voice squealed happily, "I've missed you so much!"

Collins turned around. "Angel!" he yelled, giving his favorite drag queen a hug, "It's so good to see you!"

"Don't I get a hug?" the voice said sarcastically. That's when Collins noticed the heavily cloaked figure standing beside Angel.

"Who are you?" Collins asked.

"Demon."

"We've been sent to help you," Angel said, "An Angel and a Demon. Good and evil. We'll figure this out honey, don't worry."

"Wait," Collins said, "What are we sorting out?"

"The baby situation," Angel answered.

"Ah. What about it?"

"Don't you remember Thomas?" Demon asked, "You've got AIDS."

Collins paled. He'd forgotten about that when he'd agreed to help out Joanne. "Shit," he mumbled, "What am I going to do about Joanne then?"

"That's why we're here baby," Angel answered, "That's why we're here."

Three chairs appeared in the sand and each person took a seat. A little bat-like creature appeared also.

"Who are you?" Collins asked.

"I'm Larry, the host." The creature answered.

"Host?"

"Yeah," Larry said, "Let me explain the rules. This game is called 'Fate'. We have one angel, Angel, and one demon, Demon. There are three rounds to this game. Each side, good and evil, will present one point and you'll choose the better one. If Angel wins, you'll be free to help your friend, Joan or whatever it was, have the baby and it will be healthy and AIDSless. However, if Demon wins, the baby, if you even decide to have it, will have AIDS and die very early in life. Now, Mr. Collins, no cheating. You can't just always pick Angel's point because you like her better. That's why you're going to wear this hat. It'll tell us which point you agree with more. Okay?"

Collins put on the hat that Larry just handed him. "Okay."

"Angel, will you begin round one?" Larry asked.

"Certainly," Angel replied, "Point one on the good side. Collins, your time on Earth is short. You know it yourself. I know everyone was sad when I died, I saw them being unhappy. If you have this baby, it'll be a little reminder of you so that when your time comes, the world won't be Collinsless."

That's a pretty good point, Collins thought to himself, I bet Angel's passing would have been easier if we'd had a little, living part of him still left.

"Demon," Larry said, "Counter Angel's point."

"Death, Thomas," Demon said, "Babies die. Maybe not immediately, but they do. And even if the baby is AIDSless, that doesn't mean it won't die, even if it isn't from disease. And most of your Bohemian family has AIDS. They're going to die. That kid will have to witness the deaths of the people she or he cares about most."

That's a pretty good point to, Collins thought to himself, But there will always be the little things to remind us. And death is a part of growing up. Eventually we're all going to die.

A little buzzer went off and a white light started flashing.

"Angel wins this round!" Larry called, "Now, onto round two! Demon, you start."

"You have no money," Demon said, "You could barely support eight people back in New York and you were all full-grown adults. A child needs food and nourishment, something you won't be able to provide without being hungrier than before."

"Angel, counter his point," Larry instructed.

"We always managed back in New York," Angel insisted, "We found ways to get food. And if someone needed it more than others, we gave it to them, no matter how much they resisted."

Angel's point is a good one, Collins mused, But I think Demon's is better.

A buzzer went off and this time a black light flashed.

"Demon wins this round," Larry announced, "So, whoever wins the next round wins it all! Angel, you start."

Angel pondered for a moment. "Hmmmmm…" she said thoughtfully, her eyes lighting up with an idea, "Joanne and Mark and no doubt going to survive the longest. And when you're all gone, they're going to be down in the dumps. That kid will help them pull through. They'll survive for the child, it'll remind them of past friends because the kid was there with them."

Collins smiled, She's right. Mark and Joanne need this.

"Demon, it's your turn," Larry said.

Demon's eyes twitched. "I…I can't think of a good response," he muttered.

"That's a round forfeit on Demon's part. Angel wins the round and the game!"

Collins and Angel cheered, sharing a hug and a sweet kiss.

"Thank you baby," Collins whispered sweetly in her ear, "Now Joanne and the baby can be okay."

Angel opened her mouth to speak, but before she said anything…Collins woke up.

"What a weird dream," Collins mused, "But good all the same."

And with that, Collins fell into a dreamless, happy sleep.