They decided to bury April as soon as Roger was released from the hospital. Collins arranged it all. They went from the hospital to the cemetery. The minister presiding over the funeral mumbled a few traditional prayers and asked if anyone wanted to speak.

"I think we can take it from here," Mark said.

The minister nodded, understanding their need to grieve and eulogize April on their own. Maureen stood between Roger and Mark. She clung to Mark's arm, her head on his shoulder. One hand, though, clasped Roger's. He stood, eerily calm, staring at the headstone.

Collins stood closest to the stone and cleared his throat. "Anyone want to say anything?"

Roger took a step forward and let go of Maureen's hand. She turned in towards Mark, arms locking around his waist. He held her close, his hands brushing over her dark curls. He watched Roger shake off Collins's hand.

"April…baby… I—God, April….why the hell….I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything I ever did wrong…I'm sorry you got….that I couldn't fix it…. I'm sorry you felt like this was the only way out. I'm sorry. I'm just…I miss you so much, babe. I-I'm sorry. I just…I love you. I'm sorry that I love you."

Maureen tried to step towards him, but Mark held her back and shook his head at Collins. Roger needed to say whatever he was going to say.

"I'm sorry that I loved you. I'm sorry that I listened to you and tried the drugs. I'm sorry I didn't love you enough to make you get help."

At the last part, he broke off in sobs. His shoulders shook but he put a hand up, warding off Collins. The professor moved to Mark and Maureen. Mark slid Maureen's arms from his waist and passed her to Collins. She cried into Collins's chest, hardly realizing he wasn't Mark.

Mark went to Roger. The rock star shoved his hands away.

"Rog, come…"

"No. No, just leave me alone. Don't touch me…"

Mark persisted. Roger's legs buckled beneath his sobs and he fell to the ground. He tried to push Mark away again.

"Roger, it's okay. It's okay," Mark said through his own tears.

Roger shook his head, pulling his knees to his chest. "It's not okay. It's not. She's gone, Mark….she's gone…"

"I know, man. I know."

"I don't want to die," he whispered.

Mark's arms pulled Roger to him. This time, he didn't fight, but rather collapsed against Mark's thin frame.

When they returned to the loft, Roger went straight to his room. Nobody followed him; Mark had scoured the apartment and rid it of any trace of drugs.

"What if he goes back?" Maureen asked.

Collins shook his head. "First few months are hardest. We'll make sure someone's always with him. Make it a condition of not going to regular rehab."

Mark hesitated, staring at Roger's closed bedroom door. "Collins… I don't know…how are we going to…"

"We can do it. I'll take time off from work. I've got enough in savings to miss a few weeks, if they don't want to make it vacation time. And Collins, you've got a break coming up, don't you?"

"Yeah. I gotta go back next week for finals but then everyone's home for summer."

Mark nodded slowly. "Okay, but we have to agree on this. All three of us. No drugs whatsoever. Nobody gives him so much as an aspirin without telling the other two."

Maureen and Collins nodded.

"And if he so much as touches drugs again, real rehab. No matter what the cost," Maureen said.

"Rog, come here a sec," Collins said.

Roger emerged from the bedroom. His eyes were red and swollen from tears. He went towards them slowly, studying each one's expressions. "What?"

"You serious about being clean?"

"Course."

"For real, Roger?"

He nodded.

"We're going to make sure you're never alone. I can take time off work. Collins only has another week left of the term and then he's home too."

"There's going to be some rules," Mark said. "First, no drugs. Period. None. You so much as touch anything, your ass will be in rehab so fast you won't know what hit you. Even aspirin. You got a headache? You tell us. One of us will give it to you."

"Okay."

"And no being alone. Someone will be with you at all times, obvious exceptions being the bathroom and shower," Maureen said.

Roger hesitated, but nodded. "And…and you guys….you'll help me?"

"Of course we'll help you, baby," Maureen said.

"All of us will," Mark said.