One Man, Two Lives Destroyed

Summary: AU She can think of many reasons to explain to her daughter why her fathers not around – just none of them are the truth. MCxMJ MMxRD JJxOC ADSxTC

Note: Sorry about the short chapter again. Since school has started we haven't have a lot of time to finish up with this story. For us this chapter is a tear jerker! It will get happier so don't worry! Thanks to all who reviewed! Love you all!

Co-writer and editor: xI'll Cover Youx

Disclaimer: WE DO NOT OWN RENT!

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Chapter 17

"Oh James, sorry I didn't recognize you… How is your day with the guys going?" Maureen questioned as he reached down for her hand. He drew her closer to him and kissed her lightly.

"It was nice, but I'd much rather be here with you."

"Well I'm going out with the girls for awhile, so that will just have to wait." Maureen smiled and gestured to Mimi, Angel, and Joanne who was now really embarrassed about wearing what Angel had picked out for her. James smiled at them and then said good-bye to Maureen and turned around to go off with Roger and Collins.

The girls started walking towards the club.

"Maureen, I don't want to point this out but it seemed that you didn't want to see James." Angel commented and Maureen just shrugged. Mimi looked from Angel to Maureen.

"Well I think James is great, he's sweet and he's smart and he's just everything you've ever wanted. I would die to marry a guy like that."

"Hey Mimi, you're forgetting about Roger!" Angel noted and Mimi giggled.

"I was kidding, I love Roger the way he is." Angel patted Mimi lightly on the arm and then looked at Maureen who was walking in front of them.

"So Reen… What's bothering you?" Angel questioned and Maureen just shrugged as she shoved her hands in her jacket pocket, "Oh c'mon honey, you can tell us."

"I don't really feel like talking about it." Maureen simply said and walked a little faster. She stopped at the entrance of the club and then walked into the club. She didn't like being here anymore and she didn't like that when this was over she was going to back home get everything ready for tomorrow and then get married to somebody who was not Mark. She gazed longingly at the hospital and decided to enter it.

"Mo! Where are you going?" Angel cried out and followed her into the hospital. "Mo? Mimi, what's she doing?"

"I have no idea, let's follow." Mimi said and ran across the room to where Maureen was. She was talking to the nurse who was pointing her in a direction. Maureen nodded and thanked the nurse and quickly walked off in that direction. Mimi stood where she was for a second then ran to follow Maureen. She walked towards the hallway that Mark's room was in. She saw Maureen turn into one of the rooms. Mimi walked towards the room and leaned against the door-frame. Just as she thought.

Mark's room.

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"Mark… I'm so sorry for not visiting for a long time; I've just got a lot of my mind. I'm getting married Mark and you'd love him. He's everything that you are just different. I miss you Markie, I miss you so much. It hurts to think about how I lost you so tragically and I never got a chance to tell you that I loved you… God Mark, I don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't know if I can keep thinking about you when I'm suppose to think about James instead."

She breathed in deeply.

"That's why I'm here Mark. The nurse said that you're not looking good at all and that the doctor was going to call me and your mother and father. Your parents already said that it was alright and they were coming down to be with you… In your last moments."

Mimi pondered what this meant. She looked at Maureen who was clutching onto Mark's limp and pale hand. She ran her other hand over his face as she finished her thoughts.

"They're going to take you off of life support the day after tomorrow. Your parents decided that it was for the best. You're not getting any better and the doctors said that you could be in a coma for at least forty more years. You wouldn't want that Mark, nobody would. Natasha, Mary-Grace, and I are going to miss you terribly but I don't want you to be tortured anymore. It's not fair. I love you so much Mark and just know that this is for the best."

Mimi gasped as she heard what Maureen was saying, "Reen! Are you sure?" Maureen turned around and smiled weakly as she let go of Mark's hand.

"It's for the best Mimi, I can't hold onto false hope anymore." She dried her tears and stood up, "I would like to go home though."

"But tonight is suppose to be your night." Mimi said and Maureen shook her head.

"I don't' want to have fun anymore, I want to go home to Natasha and Mary-Grace." Mimi sighed and gave up, she couldn't argue with Maureen anymore.

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"Natasha, honey are you awake?" Maureen questioned as she entered Natasha and Mary-Grace's room. Mary-Grace was already curled up on Maureen's bed. Natasha blinked twice at her mother before speaking.

"Of course Mommy, the light is on. You know I can't sleep with the light on." Natasha put down her book and smiled, "I'm glad you're back." Maureen sat down at the foot of Natasha's bed and smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I am too."

"But aren't you a little early?" Natasha asked and Maureen nodded as she choked back some tears.

"I didn't want to stay out too late, did I? I have two children waiting for me at home." Maureen said and ruffled Natasha's long brown hair that had been pulled into pig-tails. "I have to live up to my duty as your mom. I shouldn't make Sara watch over you two all the time."

"Aw Mom! We're not that bad."

"I know, I know, but still." Maureen said and laughed, "I came home for a reason though. I have to tell you something."

"What is it?" Natasha questioned her voice un-even and worried. Maureen held up her hands to stop any questions that Natasha was about to lay on her.

"Don't say anything yet, I just want to tell you what happened."

"Alright," Natasha said, "I'll listen."

"I went to the hospital today to visit your father. They said that he wasn't going to wake up for about forty more years and that'd it'd be wise to just let he go because there was no point of keeping him alive for that long. Your grandparents are coming out for when they're letting him go. I'm going to be there with him, but Natasha you can't come."

Natasha didn't say anything. She had tears in her eyes.

"Natasha, it's going to be alright, James will be your new dad."

"But I don't want a new dad! I love Daddy the way he is! God Mom what is your problem? You're killing Dad and you're not even going to let me say good-bye to him?"

"Honey, it'll be too hard on you, please try to understand, I'm doing this for the best-"

"No you're not! You're doing this for yourself! You're not thinking about Mary-Grace or me, you're just thinking about yourself and that's stupid! I'm not going to let you kill Dad just because he won't wake up for another forty years! I'd wait to end of my life if he would just open his eyes!"

"Natasha, let me explain-"

"No! No! Get out of my room! Get out! I hate you!" Natasha screamed and backed away towards the wall. She grabbed a pillow and buried her head into it. She sobbed into the pillow. Maureen didn't even try to coax Natasha. She stood up numbly and walked out of the room. She closed the door and heard a pillow thrown against it. She cringed and walked towards her own room.

"I hate you!" Natasha screamed and clutched the blanket that was on her bed. She looked at the picture of Mark and sobbed even harder, "Daddy! Come back to us please… Before it's too late."

End of Chapter 17

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