Disclaimer - don't own RENT. Belongs to respected owner.
Italics are thoughts.
A/N: I was reading some RENT stories and I got some inspiration for this story.
Summary: AU: Mimi has died during childbirth, leaving Roger alone to raise their daughter. Not as cheesy as it sounds, trust me. Rated M for Roger's mouth. Eventually Mark/Roger.
Rating: M
Genre: General
Every Ending Has A New Beginning
By Sirius Black Luver
CHAPTER ONE
(chapter title - Birth)
Roger Davis anxiously paced the length of the waiting room. His wife, Mimi Marquez-Davis, had just gone into labor and was screaming at the top of her lungs.
"I never knew labor could be so painful." Collins spoke up. Roger looked over at his friend and smiled lightly at him.
"Rog, you better go make sure Mimi's okay." Mark said, putting his magazine down. Roger looked down at the floor as Maureen came up and pushed Roger towards the delivery room door. Joanne was busy with her and Maureen's three-year-old son, Scott.
"Mo! I'm going!" Roger told her, looking up and running to the delivery room where Mimi was. Stepping inside, he ran to Mimi's side and kissed her forehead.
"Roger! This hurts!" Mimi grunted, sweat pouring down her forehead.
"I know, baby, I know." Roger soothed, getting a wet washcloth and brushed the sweat from Mimi's forehead. Roger squeezed her hand tightly as she continued to push the newest addition to the Bohemian family into the world.
Finally, after fifteen hours of intense labor, Roger held his new daughter - Sara Elizabeth Davis - in his arms. Mimi, unfortunately, didn't make it. She died shortly after Sara was born.
"Can we come in?" Joanne asked, adjusting Scott's position in her arms. The three-year-old had fallen asleep.
"Sure, come on in." Roger whispered as the rest of his friends - Collins, Mark and Maureen came into the room.
"Boy or girl?" Mark asked, walking over to Roger.
"Girl - Sara Elizabeth Davis." Roger had tears in his eyes.
"She's beautiful." Mark whispered, looking over Roger's shoulder.
"Thanks. Mark, I can't do this." Roger told him, sobbing.
"Um, guys, could you give Rog and I some time alone." Mark asked the others. They nodded and walked out the door.
"Rog, what do you mean you can't do this?" Mark inquired as he sat down on one of the recliners.
"I can't fucking do this - I can't be both of Sara's parents." Roger answered, sitting down in the rocking chair in the corner.
"Rog, yes you can - I've seen how good you are with Scott. You're a great dad." Mark reassured Roger, motioning that he wanted to hold Sara. Roger sadly nodded, stood up carefully and brought Sara over to Mark.
"She was my everything Mark! Why the fuck did she have to die?" Roger asked. He was upset and angry at the same time, making Sara scream at the top of her lungs. Mark soothed the baby before turning his attention to Roger.
"Rog, remember what you said to me after Angel died two years ago? 'Every ending has a new beginning'?" Mark asked.
"Yeah? So?" Roger inquired.
"Well, remember that and live by it."
"Mark! I'm a fucking musician! I have fucking work I need to go to every fucking day of my fucking life! I can't take care of a fucking baby!" Roger screamed. Sara started crying again.
"Roger! Please lower your voice! You're scaring the baby." Mark glared angrily at Roger and went to take care of Sara.
"Sorry Mark. I didn't mean to scream like that." Roger told his friend. He looked over at the bed - Mimi's body had been taken to the morgue a few minutes before everyone came in.
"It's okay, Rog. You'll get through this - I mean we'll get through this." Mark assured his friend. Walking over to him, he placed Sara in Roger's arms and walked out of the room to join everyone in the waiting area.
"You're pretty cute." Roger told Sara as he sat down in the rocker and gently rocked her back and forth. She continued to cry, but softly. This little baby was his to take care of, love and cherish until she was old enough to move out of the loft. She was the perfect mix of him and Mimi - she had his blond hair and light complexion. She had inherited Mimi's brown eyes - such a beautiful little baby.
"Mmm." Sara cried softly.
"Shh, it's okay little one." Roger soothed as he rocked her.
"Waaaah!" Sara cried a little louder.
"You're okay, sweetie. Daddy's here." That felt weird Roger thought to himself as he held his baby closer to him. She made a cute little whimpering noise and Roger couldn't help but laugh.
"Mr. Davis?" a doctor asked, coming into the room. Roger nodded and carefully stood up and put Sara in the bassinet in the far corner of the room.
"I'm Dr. Washington." the doctor introduced himself.
"Roger. Roger Davis." Roger said.
"I know - we ran some tests on your daughter and I hate to say it, but she has HIV." Washington told him.
"I know. Both my wife and I have it."
"Oh. Well, in that case, how's she doing?"
"Who? My wife or daughter?"
"Your daughter - what's her name?"
"Sara. Sara Elizabeth Davis." Roger fought back tears - this baby was supposed to be raised by both him and Mimi - not just him. Washington walked over to Sara who was fast asleep in the bassinet and gave her a quick check-up. Standing up, he smiled and exited the room. Roger went back over to sit with his daughter.
"Roger?" Joanne knocked on the door. Roger looked up at the lawyer. She, Maureen, Scott, Mark and Collins made their way back into the room.
"Hey everyone." Roger whispered, standing up and picked Sara up from her bassinet and handed her to Collins. Roger then went and sat down on the now empty bed and buried his face in his hands.
"Rog? What's going on?" Mark inquired, walking over to Roger and sat down next to him. Roger shook violently as he sobbed. Mark looked up at the others and sighed.
"Roger, I'm sorry about what happened." Mark whispered in Roger's ear, holding him close.
"If I hadn't forced her to have a baby with me then she'd still be alive. Keep that thing away from me." with that, Roger stood up and walked out of the delivery room, not really caring where he went.
"ROGER DAVIS! STOP RIGHT THERE!" Mark called just as Roger was about to get into his car.
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT COHEN?" Roger shouted.
"I WANT YOU TO GET THE FUCK BACK HERE AND APOLOGIZE!" Mark yelled, walking over to Roger.
"Bite me." Roger growled.
"Gladly if you don't get your ass back in there and apologize to everyone." Mark was getting annoyed with his friend.
"Fine!" Roger huffed. He slammed the car door and stormed back to the delivery room. Mark sighed and followed him, just to make sure everything was gonna be okay.
Every ending has a new beginning
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart
Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see
