Thanks for reading and the continued reviews. Again, I don't own anything RENT, but I do own Haylie. The song in this chapter is I Will Survive sung by Gloria Gaynor. Hope you like it! Keep reading and the reviews coming! I love reading them and knowing what you guys are thinking.
Mimi fiercely shook Roger. He jumped up, "What's wrong?" he asked franticly while grabbing his watch from the floor to look at the time.
"Mimi, its 7:30. Why the hell are you up?"
She laughed, "I had to pee." She shook her head, "But never mind that. You'll never guess what I just saw."
"What, the sunrise?" he joked.
"No," she slapped him, "Haylie leaving the loft."
Roger threw his head back in laughter and ran to the couch where he picked up Mark's camera. Mimi laughed as he fiddled with it, holding it upside down and mumbling obscenities as he attempted to turn it on.
"Yessss," he said before rushing into Mark's room, practically breaking the door open.
"Zoom in on Mark Cohen," Roger directed, "who has just gotten laid for the first time in, uh, a very long time. Tell the kids at home about it Mark."
Roger jumped onto the bed, thrusting the camera in Mark's face. "Get that thing out of my face Roger and put it down before you break it. It might also help to take the lens cover off."
"Oh," Roger laughed, "I did that on purpose. Wouldn't want to scare the viewers."
"Get out," Mark joked, pushing Roger off the bed. Mimi stood in the door way, trying to cover her smile.
"I'll let you sleep. Little Marky's had a long night," Roger mocked before shutting the door behind him.
Three hours later, Mark came out of the bedroom and went straight into the bathroom. Roger and Mimi were getting ready for their first doctor's appointment at the clinic.
Mark walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee. Roger patted him on the back. "So, good night?"
"Yeah," Mark smiled, "It was a good night." He emphasized and dragged out the good.
They were interrupted when Mimi came running out of the bedroom, throwing her arms in the air. "Roger, we're late already."
"Sorry, Mark, we'll continue this later. Mimi calls," he winked and ran out the door with his jacket still in his hands.
Mimi sat on the exam table. "I'm nervous Roger," she admitted. He rubbed her arm reassuringly.
"Everything will be fine. Let's just see what the doctor says." He stroked her hair as the doctor walked in.
The next half hour seemed like a blur to Roger, as he saw the tiny white figure on the computer screen. He could hear the heartbeat. He looked at Mimi beaming, having no idea what he was feeling. Suddenly, he thought about April and how he hadn't been her for this.
Mimi was exhausted. The doctors had told her that they wouldn't be able to tell if the baby had contracted HIV until nearly a year after it was born. They had decided together that they didn't want to know the sex, even though the doctor said she could tell.
Roger, of course, assumed that this meant it was a boy. He joked that it "took after him".
When they got back to the loft, Mimi went downstairs to her old apartment to pack up the last of her things, seeing that she would be permanently moving into the loft.
Roger sat on the sofa and picked at the duct tape holding it together, his head down. "Hey Rog," Mark walked over to his friend, "How'd it go?"
"As good as can be expected at this point. We won't know anything until after it's born though." Roger put his elbows onto his knees and his head into his hands.
"You ok? It's a lot to take in I bet."
Roger's head shot up and he began to pace. "Fuck Mark, I don't think I can do this."
Mark went to put his hand on Roger's shoulder, "I don't think you have much of a choice." He laughed, but Roger pulled away quickly.
"I can't be somebody's parent," his hand crashed into the wall, "What happens when I die Mark? This kid will hate its parents, just like I hated mine. And some father I am, sitting there the whole time thinking about fucken April."
The anger in his voice scared Mark. It was a side of Roger that he hadn't seen in over a year. His hands clenched in fists, as he paced the length of the loft, throwing and punching anything in his path.
"I told you Rog, I'll be here." Roger paced back and forth, throwing the pillow that was on the couch at the wall.
"Mimi's only been clean for a few months. What happens if she goes back? This was a mistake." He threw the already broken lamp into the wall. Mark shuttered as the glass shattered on the floor.
"Calm down," Mark said as the musician crumbled against the wall, "It'll all be ok."
Roger tried to hold back his tears, "What if she's not ok Mark? What if her body can't take it?"
"I'm sure she's worried about the same thing. Let's clean this mess up before Mimi gets here." The two men stood up and picked up the pieces of the broken lamp.
"So," Roger started still tremblilng, "Things working out with Haylie?"
"We're going out tonight," Mark said quickly, "I like her a lot."
"Good," Roger put his arm around his friend's back, "Get out while you can before you need to change diapers." Mark didn't laugh back, but instead punched Roger lightly in the stomach.
Mimi walked in with two boxes, "Will you boys help me? I'm going to rest." She put her hands on her hips and marched into the bedroom, dropping the boxes in front of Roger. .
"Let the hormones begin," Roger spat putting his hand to his forehead. Mark laughed before Roger's arm hit his head, "Don't forget you live here too."
Roger picked up the boxes and slowly opened the bedroom door. He put the boxes down next to the bed and slid next to Mimi, snaking his arms around her. She was already asleep. He tried to erase from his mind the fact that this may be a very long, difficult pregnancy.
He knew nothing about babies. He didn't know about formula or potty training. He didn't know about colic. He certainly didn't know about pregnancy. He did know, however, that he loved Mimi. He knew how much this baby meant to her. As he stroked her shoulder and slowly drifted to sleep, he started to realize how much the baby meant to him.
"Roger. Roger," he heard pressing his eye lids shut, "Wake up." Mark. Good old Mark.
"What time is it?" Roger asked groggily, slipping out of bed and putting the blanket back over Mimi.
"God, you've been like a cat. All's you do is nap." Mark joked as they shut the door to the bedroom. "Maureen and Joanne just called. They want us to meet them at the Life Café in an hour. They have news too."
"Let's hope they're not having a baby too," Roger laughed, picking up his guitar and tuning it quietly.
Roger sat looking out the window, perched on the sill. He plucked out an unfamiliar tune, which caused Mark to smile. Mimi came out of the bedroom and laid on the couch, taking in Roger's tune.
Mark walked over to Mimi, "So, the doctor's went well?"
She smiled up at him, "Everything looks good right now. They're putting me on some new meds and keeping me on my AZT. It's basically experimental, but they're hopeful." She shrugged.
"We're going to the Life Café for dinner at seven." Mark said, retreating to the corner to edit his film from the day before.
Roger set his guitar down, "I'm gonna go shower baby," he said leaning over to kiss Mimi.
"Good idea, you smell," she joked as he peeled his tee shirt off and threw it at her before going into the bathroom.
Mark shot him a look, "Would you mind keeping your clothes on," he said.
The bathroom door creaked open and Roger stuck his head out and added, "Oh, Maureen and Joanne have big news too."
She laughed at him as the door swung shut again. She went in the bedroom to change. Mark was getting anxious by 6:45 and Roger was just getting started on his hair. He heard the blow dryer turn on, slightly laughing that his roommate styled his hair, and ran into the bathroom.
"No time for that pretty boy, we're gonna be late." Mark frantically screamed, pulling Roger out of the bathroom. Mimi stood at the table laughing at the scene.
Minutes later, Roger emerged from the bedroom, his hair still wet at the tips.
The group sat around the table at the Life Café, a scene that was strikingly familiar to the one the week before. The group ordered drinks, with the exception of Mimi, and ate their dinner.
As usual, Roger and Collins had already had about five rounds of beer each and Mark was feeling giddy after two glasses of wine. He leaned over and kissed Haylie's neck, but she shooed him away giggling.
Joanne hit her glass with her fork and spoke, "Today I found out that I got partner at a law firm, and I start next week" she paused to rub Maureen's shoulder. The group clapped and cheered as Joanne hushed them by clanking her glass again, "In Seattle."
The cheering stopped and each person had a confused look on their face. Maureen to a big sip from her wine and gulped before adding, "And I'm going with her." She quickly kissed Joanne and she wrapped an arm around her waist.
"But, but," Mimi said, a tear rolling down her cheek, "you won't be here for the baby. I'll miss you guys so much. You're my family." Roger pointed at her and laughed at the fact that she was crying. She gave him a less than pleased look before rightfully slapping his forehead. He rubbed it and gave her a pout.
The silence continued. Maureen and Joanne sat back down, picking their food with their forks, waiting for someone to break the deafening silence that had come over the room.
"Come on guys," Collins laughed, "It's only a plane ride away. We love you guys and we're all really excited for you aren't we?" He gestured for the rest of the group to join him in his congratulations.
"Congratulations," Mark added, his arm around Haylie, who had been very quiet all night.
Collins rose from his chair and threw his arms around Joanne, "Gonna miss you fools." He turned to Maureen, "Come here," he caught her in a giant hug.
"You've been like a big brother to me since I moved here. What am I gonna do without you around?" Maureen pulled the big man into a tighter hug.
The group retreated back to their seats and Maureen turned her face to wipe a tear from her eye. "Where'd Roger go?" she asked before sitting back down. She turned to see Roger standing on the bar, microphone in hand.
"Maureen, Maureen, Maureen," he started, twirling the mic in his hands, "I'll tell you what you guys will do without us." He paused, and nodded to the bartender.
He began to sing, his mic in one hand and a beer bottle in the other. He shook his butt in their direction and strutted back and forth on the counter.
"At first I was afraid, I was petrified," he started. Mimi burst out laughing, along with Collins who was now swaying to Roger's voice.
"Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with good bye? You think I'd crumble. You think I'd lay down and die? Oh no, not I. I will survive," Roger sang, stumbling over his own words.
Despite the looks from annoyed customers, Roger's song continued. The group laughed as he shimmied up and down the bar, taking swigs from his bottle occasionally. Suddenly, the somber atmosphere diminished and they were all dancing around the table, admiring Roger's less than graceful dancing. By the fifth verse of "I Will Survive" Mimi tugged him off the counter.
"Come on, Mr. Rock Star, it's time to go home," Mimi said taking the beer bottle away and tugging at his arm.
"Baby, be quiet," she said hushing her, "I wasn't done my song yet."
She kissed him to silence him. "Wooh," she said leading him out the door, "I'd get drunk just smelling you." They both laughed. Mimi put her arm around a pleasantly drunk Roger. She smiled, thinking back on how cute he had been up on the bar, making Maureen's tears disappear, shaking his hips, flipping his long hair, swinging the mic from its cord.
Roger flopped onto the couch when they got back to the loft. "Night baby," Mimi whispered to him, "Thanks for making everyone feel a little better tonight." She touched his hair and smiled before walking back to the bedroom.
"Does that mean you love me?" Roger chimed from the tattered couch. His lips curled into a devilish smile.
She ran back over to him, leaning over the back of the couch. He reached his arm out and placed it on her stomach, which he swore had grown since yesterday. "Maybe," she joked.
"Oh come on, you know you love me." He laughed, looking around to notice that they were alone. Did Mark leave with Haylie? Where was Collins?
"Something like that," she laughed, pulling him up and bringing him to bed.
He collapsed into the bed and kissed Mimi's forehead. "I guess I just might love you guys too." It took Mimi a minute to realize what he was talking about. She smiled when she realized he meant the baby.
"We both agree that the feeling's mutual," she laughed, ruffling his hair, "Come on, go to sleep. You've had a long night, especially after your performance."
"Oh admit it, you loved it. I was really good," he laughed. He heard the loft door open and the sound of staggering footsteps giggling their way through the loft.
"Sounds like Mark's home," she said, "And by the way, I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time. Thank you, Daddy." She smiled up at him, only to see him flash her a fake pout in disappointment that she hadn't taken him seriously. She loved when he was so proud of himself.
Then he thought about what she had called him. Daddy. Especially after his HIV diagnosis, he never thought he'd hear that word.He pulled her closer, remembering that in a little more than five months their lives would be completely changed. In five months, he'd be married with a baby. Earlier that day, the thought scared him more than anything. Hell, it still scared him. He remembered first meeting Mimi, never anticipating how quickly he'd be able to fall in love with her. Suddenly, for the first time, Roger Davis felt himself get a little excited for the uncertainty and let his doubt slip away.
That was a pretty long chapter. Also, I'm not exactly sure about HIV positive mothers, so I'm keeping Mimi's meds pretty general and I'm not going into too much detail about that. As I said before, your reviews are loved and appreciated!