"Mimi, are you ready girl?" Gina asked as she opened the door to the loft.
"Yeah, gimme like 2 minutes." she shouted from her room with the door open.
"Where's Mark?" Gina asked looking around not seeing him.
"He went up to the film store. He needed more film." she said coming out of her room putting her earrings in.
"Oh. Yeah, he did use a lot between the wedding and yesterday morning." Gina said laughing.
"He was up half the night editing and stuff, so expect an invitation to view it soon." Mimi said grabbing her jacket and pocket book.
"Are we ready?" Gina asked as Mimi nodded and they left the loft.
"Hi Gina Davis and Mimi Marquez. Mimi's here for a check up and I would like to get a drug test and an HIV test please?" Gina said as they walked up to the receptionist.
"No problem ladies. Just have a seat and someone will be with you shortly." the receptionist told them pointing to the waiting room.
"Are you nervous?" Mimi asked taking her jacket off as she looked over at Gina.
"No, I just had an HIV test done last month and everything was fine. I'm only doing it to show my parents that I'm OK and maybe they'll leave us alone." Gina said setting her pocket book on the floor between her and Mimi.
"Miss Davis, if you could follow the nurse to the lab she can draw your blood and get started on your tests. Miss Marquez, if you could follow the nurse to the examining room, the doctor will be in shortly." the receptionist said looking up at the ladies.
"Thank you." Gina said picking up her pocket book and following the nurse.
"Miss Davis, when was your last period?" the nurse asked as she rolled Gina's sleeve up.
"2 months ago. I've been planning a wedding and taking care of a friend, so I've been a little stressed out. And it's Mrs. Davis. I just got married the other day." Gina said smiling up at her.
"Oh congratulations. Has your husband been tested for HIV?" the nurse asked preparing to draw the blood.
"Yes. He's HIV positive that's why I'm coming in. I mean, we're always careful. Always. I just want to make sure. I get tested every other month anyway." Gina answered looking away. She always hated having her blood taken.
"And do you have reason to believe you've been drugged without your knowledge?" she asked inserting the needle into her vein.
"No. It's a long story. I'm clean, I just would like a drug test done." Gina said avoiding the complicated details.
"And do you have reason to believe you might be pregnant?" the nurse asked filling another vile of blood.
"No. I mean like I said my husband and I are always careful because of the HIV, so no I don't think I'm pregnant." Gina said looking up at the nurse.
"Well Mrs. Davis, condoms are a great prevention for HIV, but as far as pregnancy goes, it's not really as effective as other forms of birth control." she said putting a cotton ball to Gina's arm.
"Are you serious?" Gina asked a bit surprised.
"We'll do a pregnancy test, just to make sure." the nurse said smiling down at Gina.
"Thank you. Is it alright if I go in the examining room with my friend. It's her first check up in a little while and she's nervous." Gina said standing up as she put her sleeve down.
"No problem. Miss Marquez is in examining room 2." the nurse said pointing to the green door. "I'll come in and get you when I run that test." she said patting Gina on the shoulder.
"Thank you." she said walking to the exam room in a daze.
"Hey chica. What's the matter? You are pale as a ghost." Mimi said hopping off of the examination table.
"The nurse said that condoms work great for preventing HIV, but they're not that good at preventing pregnancy. She said I might be pregnant." Gina said sitting down slowly bringing her pocket book to her body.
"Oh chica, that would be great. You and Roger having a baby." Mimi told her excitedly.
"She's running the test now. She said she'll let me know when it's done. What if we are? Will the baby have HIV because Roger has it? What about the other night? I mean, I drank a lot. Oh my God, Mimi, what if I am? I mean I never thought about having kids, unless it was with Roger and now I'm with Roger. I mean, we're married, so I couldn't be more with him. Oh my God." she said as Mimi knelt down next to her.
"Calm down Gina. Are you OK?" Mimi asked caressing her shoulder.
"You're right. I mean, she's only running the test. It could be negative. But is it bad that I want it to be positive?" Gina said looking up at Mimi.
"No it's not bad. You and Roger love each other so much. You deserve to have a child. No one could love each other more than you two do." Mimi said pulling her into a hug.
"Mrs. Davis, can I speak to you outside for a moment?" the nurse said as she opened the door.
"You can tell me in front of Miss Marquez. She's my best friend. It's OK." Gina said as she and Mimi both looked up at her.
"Well, I would think you'd want your husband to be the first to know that he's gonna be a father." she said smiling as Mimi jumped up and hugged Gina.
"Thank you, but as you can see, there was no keeping this from her very long." Gina said smiling as her eyes filled up with tears.
"Congratulations Mrs. Davis. You can use the phone in here to call your husband, if you want." the nurse told her beginning to shut the door.
"Oh, my husband is HIV positive. Will that effect my baby?" Gina asked looking up at her.
"No. As long as you continue to use condoms, your baby will be perfectly healthy." the nurse told her happily as Gina stood up.
"Thank you so much. I'm gonna call Roger." Gina said still smiling.
"You tell that boy, way to go." Mimi said wiping tears from her eyes.
"Roger Davis please... It's his wife... Yeah, hi Johnny. Is he around?... Thanks... Hey sweetie... no we're still in here. I just have to tell you something... yeah that too, but no. Um Roger, sweetie. I'm pregnant... I just found out... Yeah, I think they're pretty sure, they did the test thingy and everything... I love you too sweetie... No, everything is fine. As long as we're careful, the baby will be fine... I know sweetie... I love you too Roger. OK bye." Gina said hanging up the phone crying.
"So, what'd he say?" Mimi said bouncing on the examination table.
"He's happy. Really happy." Gina said wiping her eyes.
"Oh shit." Roger said quietly as he sat in the chair in Johnny's office.
"What is Rog?" Johnny asked offering Roger a cigarette.
"That was my wife." he said taking the cigarette but not lighting it.
"Is everything alright?" Johnny asked puffing on his marlboro.
"Uh yeah. She went to the clinic for an HIV test. She does it every other month, and she's probably negative because we're always careful, but they told her she's pregnant." he said monotone still holding the unlit cigarette.
"That's great Rog. You just got married and you're gonna be a father. Congratulations kid." Johnny said jumping up and going around the desk to pat Roger on the back.
"Yeah, I'm gonna be a father." he said looking up at him half smiling.
"What's the matter kid? Don't you and Gina want kids?" Johnny asked sitting next to Roger.
"Yeah. I mean, yeah we used to talk about it when we were in high school. You know when she got out of school and we'd get married and move here so I could follow my music and we'd have a couple of kids. But when we broke up, I gave up on getting married and having kids because it wasn't gonna be with her. And now I'm with her again and we just got married and now we're gonna have a baby. I just never thought it would happen. You know with my HIV we have to be careful." he told him with tears forming in his eyes.
"Well Roger, you know condoms don't always work that well as a birth control." Johnny told him smiling at him. Isn't this a good thing?" he continued putting his hand on Roger's shoulder.
"Yeah, it's a great thing. I'm gonna be someone's dad." Roger said smiling at him.
"Yeah you are. Congratulations Rog." he said patting him on the shoulder. "Why don't you take the rest of the day off and be with your wife?" he told him getting up.
"I couldn't. I mean, I had off the last two days." Roger said standing up wiping his eyes.
"Sure you can. Hey everyone, Davis is gonna be a father, so he's gonna take the rest of the day off to be with his wife." Johnny said swinging open the door as he shouted across the garage.
"Congratulations Davis." various men said in unison.
"Thanks. Thanks Johnny. I'll see you Monday." Roger told him smiling as he left to go home.
"Well Miss Marquez, you are healthier than I've seen you. Keep it up. You're doing very well. Just come back here in one month for your refill." the doctor told her as he left the exam room.
"Thank you doctor. Come on chica, you ready?" Mimi asked hopping off of the table taking Gina's arm.
"Yeah, I'm ready." she said still in shock. "Mimi, I'm pregnant." she said quietly stopping Mimi at the exam room door.
"Yes you are Gina. Now let's go home." she told her smiling before throwing her arm around Gina as they left the clinic.
"I'm gonna go home and lay down for a little while, is that OK?" Gina said as they stopped at Gina and Roger's apartment door.
"Of course it is sweetie. I'll cook dinner tonight for everyone. A celebration. Congratulations." she said smiling at her before pulling her into a hug.
"Oh my God." Gina said happily collapsing on the couch crying in her hands.
"Baby, are you OK?" Roger said coming out of the bathroom drying his hands on a towel.
"Roger." she said quietly jumping up to hold him.
"I'm here Baby. Are you OK?" he said caressing her head.
"I am now." she said squeezing him tight.
"What's the matter?" he asked pulling her away and she was still crying.
"Nothing. I'm just scared. Remember the miscarriage I had senior year?" she asked as he wiped her eyes with his thumb.
"Yeah, how could I forget. It was one of the worst days of my life." he said sadly.
"Remember how much we wanted that baby?" she asked him crying.
"Yeah, I do. We were gonna get married and raise the baby. I was so scared that day." he said crying now.
"Roger, I need you." 17 year old Gina said on the phone she was crying.
"Baby, what's the matter? Are you OK?" 18 year old Roger asked sitting up on his bed.
"My stomach is cramping really bad and I'm bleeding. Please, Roger you have to come over and get me." she said crying more this time.
"Baby, I'm coming. I'll be there in 3 minutes. Hang on Baby." he said hanging up the phone and throwing on sweatpants.
"Roger, who was that? Where are you going at 3 in the morning?" Mrs. Davis asked standing in Roger's doorway as Mr. Davis stood behind her.
"I think Gina's losing the baby. I gotta go. She needs me." he said crying as he grabbed his keys and ran towards his bedroom door.
"Oh my God, Roger. That's horrible. You better take her to the hospital." Mr. Davis said patting his son on the back as he and his wife moved out of the boys way.
"I am. I'll call you when we know what's going on." Roger said still crying as his father grabbed him into an embrace.
"It'll be OK son. Hang in there. She's gonna be fine." he whispered to him as Mrs. Davis stood near them with her hand over her face crying.
"Thanks dad. I gotta go to Gina. I'll call you guys later." Roger said wiping his eyes as he ran out of the house.
"Roger. Oh thank God you're here. I think I'm losing the baby." she said crying as she sat on the steps of her porch.
"I know Baby. I'm gonna take you to the hospital." he told her helping her up.
"But Roger..." she said letting her sentence fall as she fell into Roger's arms.
"I know Baby. I got you. I'm gonna take care of you. It'll be alright." he said putting her in the front seat of his car.
"Roger, I don't want to lose our baby." she said crying into her hands.
"Baby, don't worry about that right now. I just want to make sure you're alright." he said as he put the car in gear and drove to the hospital.
"Well, I'm afraid it's gonna happen again. Roger, what if I have another miscarriage? I'm scared." she said as he pulled her into his arms.
"Gina, Baby, you can't think like that. You just have to relax." he told her stroking her hair.
"I know. I just never expected this. I guess all those feelings from then came flooding back to me." she said holding him tight.
"Me neither. It's quite a shock isn't it?" he said smiling as tears fell from his eyes.
"Yeah, to say the least. Roger, I'm pregnant." she said holding his arms.
"I know Baby." he said smiling down.
"We're gonna have a baby. A healthy baby." she said laughing.
"Yes we are." he said holding her to him again.
"Wait. Roger, why aren't you at work?" she asked pulling away from him wiping her eyes.
"Johnny gave me the rest of the day off to be with you. He was really cool about it." Roger said wiping his own eyes.
"That was nice of him. We have to call your mom." she said as he caressed her face.
"Yeah, and we gotta tell everyone." Roger said as Gina turned to grab the phone.
"Well Mimi already knows. She was with me when I found out." Gina said dialing Roger's mother's phone number.
"I figured she was there." Roger said laughing.
"Yeah, well... hi mom. It's Gina... no he hasn't come back. Listen mom, I have news... Roger and I are having a baby... I'm serious, I just found out... Thank you... yeah, he's right here... OK I love you too. She wants you." Lisa said handing the phone to Roger.
"Hey mom... yeah I'm gonna be a dad... it's great. I always knew I was gonna have kids with Gina... no she's fine. It's possible to get pregnant and not contract HIV... I'm sure mom... If you want, but it doesn't make a difference one way or the other... Maybe they'll accept me if they knew, or they could just come and make our lives more hell. I don't know. Baby, do you want my mom to tell your parents about the baby?" Roger asked taking the phone away from his mouth.
"No, I'll tell them. I'm sick of hiding out." Gina said caressing Roger's leg.
"Did you hear her?... OK.. I love you too mom... OK bye." he said hanging up the phone. "Are you sure you want to talk to them?" Roger asked looking at her.
"Roger, I'm not hiding out anymore. I am living my life the way I want to and if they can't accept that, then they are gonna lose out not only on a daughter but a son in law and a grandchild too." she told him dialing her parents house.
"As long as this is what you want." he said caressing her back.
"It is... Mom, it's Gina... yes I'm fine and no, I don't. I am home. Did dad tell you I married Roger?... Mom, I didn't call to argue with you. I just called to tell you something and what you do with this information is up to you. Just know that I am not leaving Roger and never will. We have loved each other for all these years and that's not gonna change. Ever.. No mom, I am clean and safe... Mom, I'm pregnant... yes I am keeping the baby and I'm gonna raise this baby with my husband whether you and daddy like it or not... fine. That's all I called to say. Goodbye." she said hanging up and looking at Roger.
"Are you OK?" he asked sweeping her hair behind her ear for her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. She doesn't want anything to do with me or the baby if I insist on being with you. So fuck her. I don't need them. I have my family right here." she said smiling and holding Roger.
"I have to tell everyone." Roger said kissing her passionately.
"Well, I was gonna lay down for a little while. I've had a very busy morning Does my wonderful husband want to join me?." Gina told him as she began to get up and go into the bedroom.
"I'm sorry, Baby. I'm too wired. I'm gonna go upstairs and tell Mark. I'll call everyone else from up there so I don't disturb you. I love you." he said taking her into his arms again and kissing her.
"I love you too Roger. So much." she said burying her head in his chest before pulling away and going into the bedroom.
"Hey Mimi, is Mark home?" Roger said storming into the loft.
"Congratulations daddy." she said getting up to hug him. "No, he must be out filming. What are you doing home from work?" she said excitedly.
"Thanks Mimi. Johnny gave me the rest of the day off to be with Gina. Actually, I was in shock. But don't tell Gina. I don't want her to think I'm not happy. Because I really am. It is just the last thing I expected." Roger said as the loft door opened.
"What's the last thing you expected?" Mark asked as he came into the loft.
"Mark, sit down." Roger said smiling at him.
"Why? What's up? Why are you not at work? Did you get fired?" Mark asked setting his camera bag down by the door taking off his coat.
"No I didn't get fired. Just sit down." Roger said as Mimi sat down on the couch.
"OK, I'm sitting. Now what?" Mark said pushing his glasses up.
"Gina's pregnant, man." Roger said excitedly.
"Is it Mimi's?" Mark asked jokingly.
"No dumbass, it's mine." Roger said as he jumped on the coffee table in excitement.
"You're gonna be a father?" Mark asked looking up at him smiling.
"Yeah man, isn't it wild?" Roger asked jumping on Mark.
"That's great Rog. I'm really happy for you." Mark said laughing as he hugged Roger.
"Thanks Uncle Mark." Roger said laughing and then jumping on Mimi for another hug. "Hey Auntie Mimi." he said happily.
"Nice to see it finally hit you Roger." Mimi said laughing as the door opened again.
"So it's the father of my child making all the noise so I can't sleep." she said smiling at the sight of Roger so happy.
"I'm sorry Baby. I just told Mark and I don't know. It just hit me that we're having a baby." he said jumping off of the couch and putting one arm around Gina's back and one on her belly. "Hey my baby. You are gonna be so loved." he said to her stomach as Mark, Gina and Mimi laughed.
"Did you call Collins, Joanne and Maureen yet? No." she asked laughing as Roger knelt on the floor caressing her belly.
"Not yet. Mark just got home. Hey baby." he said talking to Gina's belly again.
"Maybe you should call them sweetie." she said caressing his head.
"Good idea." he said getting up and running to the phone and dialing Collins work number as everyone kept laughing.
"Congratulations Gina." Mark said getting up to hug her.
"Thanks Mark." she said watching Roger.
"Hi is Professor Collins in?... thank you... Collins man, you gotta get out early... because you're gonna be an Uncle and we're gonna celebrate... yeah she found out this morning... How far along are you baby?" he asked.
"6 weeks." she answered laughing.
"6 weeks man... yeah, I know... are you coming home?... OK just try... thanks man... OK bye." he said hanging up the phone. "He's gonna try to get out early. Baby, do you want to call Maureen and Joanne?" he asked looking over at Gina, who was sort of laying on the couch on Mimi.
"She fell asleep." Mimi whispered caressing Gina's hair.
"She was beat, huh?" Roger said going over to make sure she was alright.
"Yeah, long morning." Mimi whispered looking up at him. "She's gonna be fatigued because of the pregnancy. It's normal Roger. Nothing to worry about." she continued seeing the concern on her face.
"I know. I just can't help it." Roger told her as he went over to the phone to call Maureen. "Mo, hey it's Roger... No I'm at the loft. Listen I have something to tell you... no I didn't get fired. Why does everyone keep asking me that? Gina's pregnant... I'm serious. 6 weeks... this morning. She went to the doctor to get an HIV test and that's when they told her... I know, we're gonna celebrate so get over here... No I'll call Jo... because I'm the dad and I get to tell everyone myself... she's sleeping. She's fatigued from the pregnancy. It's normal... OK I'll see you in a bit... Love you too. Bye." he said pressing flash before calling Joanne. "Joanne Jefferson please... Hey Jo, it's Roger... I'm great. Listen after work come straight to the loft OK?... Well because we're celebrating me becoming a father... I'm serious. Gina found out this morning... she's 6 weeks along...OK. I'll see you then... I love you too. Bye." he said hanging up the phone.
"So you're gonna be a dad. Never thought I'd see the day." Mark said approaching him.
"I know. I always figured my chance was gone when I left Gina. She's the only one I ever wanted kids with and then when we got back together, and I just thought me being HIV positive would prevent us from ever having kids." Roger said with a tear falling from his eye.
"I know Rog. But you got a second chance with Gina, so why wouldn't you get a second chance with this too?" he asked him quietly as he took Roger's arm.
"Um guys, a little help here. I gotta pee." Mimi said quietly as to not wake Gina, who was laying on Mimi's shoulder.
"Sorry Mimi. I got her." Roger said sweeping his wife up in his arms and bringing her back downstairs to their apartment and putting her in bed before laying down with her and falling asleep. His wife in his arms.