Note: Okay this one's a bit long, but I wanted to get a lot in here. Don't worry, our Bohos will all be together soon...maybe...

Mimi looked up at the jingle from the door. A blonde man with glasses had entered.

"Hi," she said with a smile. Pretty cute, she thought.

"Hi. I'm here to pick up some pictures. Name's Cohen."

Mimi nodded and turned to the cabinet. She popped up a minute later with a packet. "Mark Cohen?"

"That's me," he said, pulling out his wallet.

Mimi smiled and took the money from him, noticing the ring on his finger. Damn, that figures, she thought. Cute ones were always taken.

"And here's your receipt," she said.

"Thanks…sorry, what's your name?"

"Mimi."

"Mimi, thanks. I'll see you around."

Benny sat on his desk. "Okay, so why are you all here?"

The students exchanged a few puzzled glances. A timid hand went up. Benny pointed at the hand. "Um…because we're scheduled to be here?"

Benny smiled. "Okay. Why else? You," he said, pointing to a girl in the front.

"Because the class is required."

"And why is it required?"

"Because…um…history's important?"

Benny nodded. "True. History is important. Why?"

"Because we learn from it," a voice towards the back said.

"Yes! Exactly. History is important because we learn from it. Anyone think of an example?"

Collins closed his notebook and went to the window. Angel's arms slipped around his waist.

"Hey, baby," he said.

"Hey yourself."

"You ready?"

"For what?"

"Goin' out."

"Out? Collins, I've got class in two hours and—"

"Just lunch baby. You'll be back in time."

Angel smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "Okay. Well, yes, I'm ready."

"Good, let's go."

Mimi smiled as she approached the table at the Life Café. "Hi, my name's Mimi and I'll be your waitress. Can I get you started with anything to drink?"

"Mimi? Mimi Marquez, right?"

"Yes," she said, looking up from her notepad. "Professor Collins! Hi!"

"Hey girl. Drop the 'professor' outside of class though, all right?"

She laughed. "Okay."

"Mimi, I'd like you to meet my Angel."

Angel held a hand out. "Angel Dumott Schunard."

"Mimi Marquez. It's nice to meet—wait, oh my God! Angel Dumott Schunard? I love your designs!"

"You've seen them?" she asked, blushing.

"Yeah! I love them! I can't wait to see the new line."

"Thanks, honey."

"No problem."

"Marquez! Work, not social hour!" the manager yelled.

"Oops. Sorry," Angel said.

Mimi rolled her eyes. "Oh don't worry about it. He just likes to hear himself. But can I get you guys something to drink or do you need a minute?"

Roger headed downstairs to the teachers' lounge. He waved to the students who called out to him and sighed when he finally reached the lounge.

"Long morning?" Benny asked from the table.

"Yeah. Hate first days." Roger went to the fridge and pulled out the lunch he'd stashed there earlier in the day.

"Yours or Maria's?"

"Both. I tell you who her teacher is?"

Bennynodded his head and took a sip of his Diet Coke.

"Maureen...That's incredible."

"Yeah, no shit."

"That why you were running late?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Talkin' to her?"

"Oh, no. Actually I couldn't because we were already running late."

"Wow…"

Roger opened a can of Coke and took a sip. "Incredible, huh?"

"Been a long time, man."

"Yeah…I didn't realize how long until it dawned on me that she didn't even know I have a kid."

"Damn," he muttered, shaking his head. "That is way too long."

The door opened again and a man entered. "Hey. How are the two most popular teachers in school?"

"Why do I get the feelin' we're being roped into something?" Benny asked.

"Because you are," Brian laughed.

Roger groaned. "What?"

"I need you two to be chaperones at the homecoming dance. It's in a month so you've got time to clear the schedules."

"This isn't gonna be something we can talk our way out of, is it?"

"Nope."

"Fine," Benny muttered.

Roger shrugged. "Fine. I'll just have to get a sitter."

"Great. Knew I could count on you guys."

The final bell rang and Roger sat back at his desk, waiting for the room to clear. "Okay, now don't forget to pick up those books for class!" he called.

When the students were gone, Roger gathered his things and headed out to the car. He'd been distracted all day, wondering if Maria was okay, if she was enjoying her day. And Maureen being her teacher had definitely thrown him for a loop. He thought Mark and Maureen had settled in Scarsdale. Apparently not, Roger thought as he pulled up in front of the school. He rushed in amid the other parents waiting to pick up their students.

Maria sat at a table towards the back of the room coloring. Maureen stood by her, waving off the students and assuring parents that their children had all had a good first day. Roger hung back, watching Maria. A few of the students waved goodbye to her before leaving. A couple even stopped for hugs. Maria smiled contentedly and continued working on her picture. She'd gotten that from April. Roger couldn't draw to save his life, but Maria was happiest with her crayons and paper.

"Hey there, pretty lady," Roger said, stepping up to her as the room cleared.

"Daddy!"

Maria leapt from her chair and flung her arms around him. Roger scooped her up into his arms. "Hey there, beautiful!"

"Did you miss me, Daddy?"

"Of course! I missed you so much, I didn't know what to do!"

She giggled and hugged him again. "I missed you too, Daddy," she whispered.

Maureen smiled, watching them. She waited for Roger to set her down. He turned to her, grinning.

"How was she?"

"Great. She absolutely loves to draw pictures."

"Tell me about it," he laughed.

"She's so friendly too. The other kids were just naturally drawn to her."

"Social butterfly like her mother," he said.

"Daddy," she said, tugging his sleeve.

"Hang on a second, honey. Let me talk to Mrs. Cohen."

She sighed and pouted, but waited patiently.

"It's been way too long, Roger. We should have dinner. I know Mark would love to see you again."

"You think so? Man, I don't know how we all lost touch for so long."

"Me either. You have any plans tonight?"

Roger thought for a minute before shaking his head. "No, nothing."

"Good. You're coming over for dinner. You and Maria, if it's all right with both of you."

"Oh we wouldn't want to impose…"

"Roger Davis is concerned about imposing? Even when it involves free food?" she teased.

Roger laughed. "Hey! It would be great to catch up with you and Mark…"

"Good. It's settled then. Hang on, I'll jot down some directions for you."

"Okay."

As she scurried off to her office, Roger knelt down to Maria. "Thanks for waiting so nicely, honey. That was very good."

"Can I show you now?"

"Sure. Show me what?"

"Here," she said, spreading out a small stack of papers. "These is my pictures."

Roger smiled at the carefully formed scribbles. Stick people with carefully drawn out identifying details. "Wow, Mar. These are really good. What's this one?" he asked, pointing to the first one.

"That's me. And that's Mrs. Cohen teachin' me."

"Very good."

She pointed to the next drawing. "And then this one's you and Uncle Benny and the kids in your classes."

"And how about this one?"

"That's you and me. And there's your guitar. And there's Mommy up in heaven."

"Beautiful," he said, smiling sadly at the haloed stick figure at the top of the page. She'd added giant loops that he presumed to be angel's wings.

"And this one's just you and Mommy." Roger had to blink back tears.

"Those are awesome, honey."

"Do you liked 'em?"

"I love them," he said, pulling her into a hug. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Daddy."

"And guess what?"

"What?"

"Well, you remember how I told you Mrs. Cohen and me are friends?"

She nodded.

"She and her husband want you and me to go have dinner with them tonight. How does that sound?"

"That sounds fun! She's nice, even though she's kinda silly sometimes."

Roger laughed. "Yeah, that's how she's always been."