Here's the last chapter. I'm sorry I killed Mimi, but it was my intention the whole story. I hope it didn't ruin it for too many of you! I'll probably take a break before posting the first chapter of the new story, which as I said, we be a pre-Rent story and mention most of the things that lead up to this story. I hope you like the ending!
Someday We'll Know
He could tell that it was her without opening his eyes. On his back, with his hands behind his head, he felt her crawl over him slowly. Her legs hooked underneath him as she sat across his lap, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
He let out a soft moan as her lips brushed against the sensitive skin, and he ran his hand along her back. Roger lifted her chin and brought their lips together as she wrapped herself tighter around his strong frame.
Mimi smiled into his mouth as her kisses trailed over his neck and chest, running her hands underneath his tee shirt. Suddenly he felt her do something unexpected. "Baby, what are you doing?" he asked as she tickled his sides. He tried to contain his laughter, but was truthfully somewhat annoyed.
He felt himself being shaken, and he finally opened his eyes. He was looking up at the blue September sky, his view obstructed by his grinning five year old. Suddenly, he was out of his bedroom and laying on a blanket in the middle of the park.
"Daddy, you were drooling," she laughed as he yawned and scratched his head. He smiled for a moment, thinking back to the reality of his dream, and sat up, taking Dani in his arms.
"Yeah," he said matter of factly before kissing her cheek.
"Were you dreaming about Mommy?" Dani asked quietly, getting away from Roger's grip.
"What? Why would you say that?" He was shocked as to how perceptive she was and suddenly prayed that he hadn't been moaning out loud as he had been in the dream.
"You always call Mommy baby when you talk to her at night before you go to bed. I can hear you." Roger smiled and scooped the small girl back up in his arms, slightly embarrassed.
"You're my baby," he said pressing his nose into her face, making her giggle.
Mark watched through the camera lens as Dani sat in Roger's lap, her hands over his as he played her a song on his guitar. September 2, 1996 Eastern Standard Time. Close on Roger. She sat on him, beaming, in total awe of his ability to make the music come from the weathered instrument.
Mark looked back at Roger, who had his chin resting on top of his daughter's head as he played her song. He was smiling. He looked nearly the same as he had five years earlier. Slightly thinner, you could see his cheeks starting to cave and Mark noticed his ribs sticking out when he came out of the shower. His arms, though still strong, no longer were the same. His hair was still long and blew in the warm breeze. Mark smiled and set his camera down, kissing Maureen on the cheek as she sat beside him.
"Do you miss Mommy?" Dani took his hand and played with his fingers.
"I'll always miss Mommy, baby," he said bringing her chin up as he once did with Mimi. He saw his beautiful five year old's face scrunch up, her eyes glazing over. "What's wrong sweetie?"
"Daddy, I miss Uncle Collins," she cried, suddenly giving into her tears, and wrapping her arms around Roger's neck. Mark and Maureen were sitting on a bench in front of them. Roger shook his head at Mark when he instinctively rose from his seat at the sight of Dani in hysterics.
"Shh, baby, please don't cry. You know how much I hate it when you cry," he said running his hands through her long, wavy brown curls. "He wouldn't want you to be sad."
"Yes, he would. I didn't keep my promise," she said as Roger wiped her cheeks with his thumb.
"Promise?" he asked, genuinely interested.
"He said it was my job to take care of you now that he's gone. He said that he didn't want you to be sad because of Mommy. I did a bad job," she continued to cry.
"Baby, Uncle Collins was wrong." The five year old gasped at her father's reply, which caused Roger to hide a laugh. "You do the best job at taking care of me."
Roger rolled onto his back and lifted his daughter over his head. She kicked her legs, causing her flip flops to fly off and hit Maureen. Her long hair tickled his face as he held her out above him as he looked into her piercing green eyes.
"I think you'll be lonely when I go to school Daddy," she said as he laughed as he put her back down.
"I'll be fine, sweetie," he laughed, fixing the pink clip in her hair.
"Maybe we should have another baby. I'm getting pretty big, and I think you'll be sad all alone all day."
Roger smiled and looked down at Dani, "Dani, you know we talked about babies." He suddenly dreaded her growing up, and he may not live long enough to have that talk with her.
"Well, Uncle Mark is your best friend, right?" she asked and Roger nodded. "Best friends are supposed to share. Maybe he can let you borrow Auntie Maureen. She's a girl. Then you won't have to be sad when I go to school." Roger held his side to contain his laughter. It was apparent by Maureen's huffing that she had heard the comment as well.
The moment was interrupted by Roger's beeper. He leaned over to grab his jacket and pulled out two small bottles. "Here you go sweetie," he said putting a small pill in Dani's hand and giving her a bottle of water.
She made a face when it went down. "I really don't like those pills, Daddy. They're gross."
"I know, baby, but you need them," he was suddenly saddened and swallowed his own pill, looking back at Mark and Maureen on the bench. "Since you start school tomorrow, why don't we do something really special?"
"Like what?" she asked as he pulled her up and started rolling up the blanket.
"Anything you want. Tomorrow's your day," he said as she ran up to Maureen. Maureen took her by the hand as Dani whispered in her ear.
Roger walked over, placing the blanket in Mark's bag and raising an eyebrow. The two girls plotting never resulted in anything good. Even though most of Roger and Maureen's conversations consisted of bickering, he was thankful that Dani had some sort of female in her life.
Roger went to speak up as Maureen began to walk away with Dani. "Calm down, Rog. It's girl business." Roger paused for a moment, confused. "Bathroom," Maureen said again rolling her eyes and continuing to walk.
Mark put his camera in his bag. "What was Dani upset about?" he asked.
Roger sighed and rubbed his hand over his face. "She started asking about Mimi, and got upset about Collins again. She suggested that Maureen and I have a baby," Roger laughed, trying to smile through his thoughts of Mimi.
"Roger, you knew she would start asking questions eventually. You've always done a good job of keeping Mimi a part of her life," Mark paused, hoping he wouldn't regret what he said next, "And maybe she's right Roger. You should start getting back out there. Dani's not a baby anymore. It's been five years, and its okay to move on."
"Mark," Roger quickly retorted, "I don't need anyone else." Mark didn't respond with any more than a nod as he put a hand on Roger's shoulder.
Dani came running back, Maureen following, with a hotdog in her hand. "Maureen, it's almost dinner time," Roger scolded as he watched the young girl bite into her hotdog.
Maureen laughed and crouched down to Dani's level, "How could I say no to this face?" Maureen and Dani pouted, sticking out their bottom lips. Roger rolled his eyes.
"Did you think about what you wanted to do?" Roger asked, wiping the mustard from his daughter's face.
"Yup," she grinned, "Can we really do anything I want?" Her eyes sparkled at the endless possibilities.
"That's what I said, isn't it?" Roger asked excitedly.
"I want to go to the hairdresser," Dani said smiling.
"You just got your hair cut, silly," he said leaning down to meet her eyes. She put her hands in his wavy blonde hair and pushed a piece behind his ear, slightly laughing.
"I know, Daddy. I want you to get a hair cut." Roger gulped, remembering that he had told her that she could do whatever she wanted. He looked up at Mark and gave him a crooked smiled, as if asking for help.
"Don't look at me, Rog. You told her she could do what she wanted." Roger rolled his eyes at Mark's remark. Mark, who was still laughing, wrapped an arm around Maureen and leaned in to kiss her.
Roger flung his daughter over his shoulder, giggling and kicking out her legs. "If that's what you really want to do," he said reluctantly.
The group continued to walk down the crowded city street; Dani hanging over Roger's should and making faces at Mark and Maureen who followed close behind. She embodied so much of Mimi's spirit and was able to make anyone instantly smile. She had eased all of Roger's fears. She had helped him grow up. He was no longer a bitter, troubled man who hid from reality. Dani had forced life upon him again, just as Mimi once had years ago.
Maureen winked at the little girl, silently thanking her for her choice in activity for the afternoon. She hadn't been kidding when she told Roger that they were taking care of
'girl business'. He should have known that girls gossip in the bathroom. They had been trying to get Roger to cut his hair for the past two years with no luck. They knew that he wouldn't have been able to say no to his daughter.
Roger was so busy blowing raspberries into his daughter's stomach that he didn't notice when the filmmaker slipped a five dollar bill into the wide eyed five year old's small hands.
I hope you liked it. I actually went back and added the dream at the beginning because a lot of people said they wanted Mimi to come back. Thanks to everyone for your reviews and I hope you read the new story too. It should be up within the week.