Disclaimer: Don't own RENT characters. Just renting them for fun.
Notes: Thank you fraulien and FruitBox for your reviews. I appreciate them very much. I've decided to try a third chap. So far I think it's going well. As I've said before, I've never really written Maureen so I hope I'm writing her to everyone's liking. I know exactly how I want to do this story and hope to have the chance to finish it.
Just so everyone knows, this takes place a few years or so after RENT. One of those things where Roger wants to make something more of his life. Now that he's found his song, he wants to make his mark. No pun intended. What better way than to raise a child with the man he loves right? I know it's a bit sappy now, but that's only cuz I've been writing some interesting... um, stories? Yeah... But there will be some angst, I promise. And more slashy goodness. Well thanks again to all of you for your support. Enjoy!
Chapter 3 - Pink or Blue
"Pookie, is the test pink or blue?" Maureen called to me from the living room. I wasn't anywhere near the bathroom, but what the hell. I'll get up from my bed, after barely waking from a nap to see if her pregnancy test is pink or blue.
"Maureen, it's only been two weeks. Will you be able to tell this early?" I asked, walking out of my bedroom sleepily, barely able to see anything in front of me. I rubbed my eyes then slipped my glasses on. I glanced around the loft and saw only Maureen. I wonder where Roger is. "What's the difference between pink and blue anyway, and what are you doing here?"
"Pink means no, and blue means yes. And I'm here because I thought you'd like to know the results when I did. I was supposed to start my period four days ago, and since I didn't, I figured it's as good a time as any to find out if we're going to be parents." She jumped up off the couch and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek. Ugh!
I wiped my cheek of her 'kiss' then wiped my hand on my jeans. "Thank you?" Not that I don't 'appreciate' you coming over and waking me up.
She rolled her eyes at me then grabbed my hand. "Come on. Let's go see if we're pregnant."
I yawned and wearily walked with her to the bathroom. She flipped the switch and my eyes automatically shut. "Oh that's bright." It's usually pretty dark in the loft and my eyes hadn't had time to adjust.
She ignored my complaint and picked up the stick sitting on the counter. I watched as her expression dropped from a cheerful disposition to a completely somber one. I wasn't sure however, if that meant it was pink or blue.
"Well? Is it pink or blue?" I found myself getting anxious. This one little stick could determine whether or not I would be a father. It all came down to this, and I couldn't wait to know.
I watched her gulp what looked like a lump in her throat. She could barely get the words out so she handed me the stick. I hesitated taking it from her, but I seemed to have had no control over my hand which yanked it from her own. I swallowed the lump that seemed to lodge itself in the back of my throat as my eyes gazed upon the stick.
"It's blue." I paused a moment as the realization sunk in. "It's blue! Oh my god Maureen, it's blue!"
"Okay, that's what I thought it was." She spoke as she came to terms with it as well.
"Do you realize what this means Maureen? I mean…" I nearly fell down from the shock and the sheer excitement I could feel building in the pit of my stomach.
"Yeah Mark. I'm… I'm…"
"We're gonna be…"
"Parents!" We somehow exclaimed at the same exact moment. I think I was much more thrilled about it than she was.
She kept staring at the bathroom mirror as if she was looking for something. She baffled me when she kept turning around to look at her butt, then she'd make this painful face. I wanted to laugh, but I had a feeling if I had, I'd be in a lot of pain. So I kept my mouth shut and laughed inwardly.
After about a good ten minutes I broke the ice again. "So who should we tell first?" I wanted to tell the world, but at the same time not tell a soul. Except for Roger of course.
She turned to face me, glaring right through me. I felt as if I was shrinking right before her eyes. Maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut. She sucked in a deep breath and I braced for impact. But instead of yelling, she remained calm. "I think we should just keep this to ourselves."
I shrugged, not sure what else to say or do. "Okay. But can I at least tell Roger? After all, he is the father too… sorta."
"Just Roger. No one else." She went back to looking in the mirror. She lifted her shirt poking and prodding at her stomach. She pinched a small amount of flesh and sighed.
"Maureen," I started. I wasn't sure if I should say what I was about to say, but I did anyway. "You look great."
Bad idea. She glared at me through the mirror. I could feel her eyes burning right through my skin. I practically ran out of that bathroom without so much as a second look. I decided I should make a break for it, so I grabbed my camera, my coat, and my scarf and made my way to the door.
"Maureen, I'm gonna go do some work. Just leave whenever…" I trailed off, walking out the door, not giving her a chance to object to my leaving.
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My walk back up to the loft seemed much longer than usual. My mind was racing. Thought after thought flooded my brain. Thoughts of what the future holds, of what to expect. If it'll be a boy or a girl. Names. Oh my god, what are we gonna call it…him…her?
"Roger," I called out as I entered the loft. "Rog, are you home?" There weren't any lights on, and it was already dark. I clicked on the lamp sitting beside the couch on a box, which hardly gave any light, but just enough to see. No one was there. Where is he?
"Roger," I decided to call out one more time. Still nothing. I walked back to the bedroom and he wasn't in there either. Where the hell could he be? I made my way back out to the living room and my eye caught a piece of paper resting on the table.
Hey Mark,
Over at Mo and Jo's. Meet me over there as soon as you get this.
-Rog
Hmm, what's he doing there? I thought he hated going there. I dropped the paper back onto the table and exited the loft.
And how did he get there anyway? I had the car. Did they come pick him up? Did he take the subway? What could he be doing there anyway? The last time we were there he told me he would never step foot into their place again. So why is he there?
It didn't take me long to get there. The next thing I knew I had pulled up to Maureen and Joanne's place. I parked and hopped out.
"Mark, you made it." I was greeted by a smile clad Joanne.
"Made it?" I was ushered in and my coat and scarf taken. I felt lost up until the point I walked into the living room.
"Surprise!" They all yelled at once. I'm startled to the point I jump back and scream. I certainly wasn't expecting it.
After regaining my composure I raised a brow at Maureen who only smiled at me. I guess she told everyone. But I thought…
"Hey, how was work?" Roger approached me kissing me on the lips lightly.
"The same as usual. Hey where were you earlier? I laid down with you for a nap and when I woke up, you were gone and Maureen was there."
"I had to pick up my paycheck. It's payday today, remember?"
Obviously not. "Oh, ok. I've had a lot on my mind since this whole thing, so I forgot. So what happened? Earlier Maureen didn't want to tell anyone, and now this? I'm confused."
"Who really knows with Mo. But hey, we're gonna be… oh fuck! We're gonna be parents." I laughed at him a little watching him realize that this was actually happening.
"Yeah. So what are we gonna name him or her?" It was the one thought that had been lingering in my mind.
His eyes opened widely. "Holy shit. This is really happening isn't it?" It took him a few minutes to get over the initial shock then continued. "I don't know. What do you think?"
I just shrugged. It's easier that way.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. We celebrated the fact that Maureen was actually pregnant. She gave me a runaround answer to why she decided to tell everyone. I'll never understand that woman. Or any woman for that matter. But the night was fun, although I felt like my mother, which frightened me to near death. I had to keep Maureen from drinking, with aide from Joanne, thankfully. And I had to keep Roger from drinking to much since he had to work in the morning. And I couldn't drink at all since I had to drive. But all in all, it was fun.