A/N: Wow...I totally forgot I had this story...I thought I would continue it!
Chapter 5--To San Diego
It was weird for Roger to be traveling alone for the first time in three weeks, since returning to New York City. He had gotten use to Chanel's company and was sad that she wasn't accompaning him to San Diego to find Mimi or Benny. But, she needed that extra time with her dad and Roger was a man on a mission.
Roger booked a room at the Radisson, which was very unusual for a mega rockstar, but he didn't care. It would do, even if he was still a nobody like he once was. After checking into his room, he drove all around the city to find the address that Alison gave him. After at least six hours, Roger finally found a cute little yellow house with a red chimney. He didn't even look at the address. A little yellow house with a red chimney was something Mimi always wanted and talked about.
He did it. He found his true love: Mimi Marquez.
Roger walked up the brick steps and knocked on the red, painted door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A curly haired Afro-Latina answered the door. It was her.
"Hello?" The girl asked.
Roger was speechless. It was her. It was Mimi. His Mimi. She looked good. Very good. She was beautiful. Amazing. Radiant. And very built for her age. He needed to say something before he scared her.
"Mimi...its me...Roger..." that was all Roger could say at first.
"I know who you are. You're famous now. Congradulations," that was all Mimi could say.
"Do you remember, Meems?" Roger asked.
"How could I forget? For years I couldn't get you out of my mind...and then you become famous on me," Mimi said.
Roger chuckled and so did Mimi.
"Sorry for that...I'm sorry for everything," Roger said.
Before Mimi could respond, a voice came from inside the house.
"MOMMY!!" the voice called.
Roger saw a little boy run up to Mimi and grabbed her legs. He had brown eyes, brown hair and olive skin. He looked like a little Hispanic kid from Venezuela. He looked like Mimi.
"Le dije permanecer adentro!" Mimi said to the boy in Spanish.
Roger couldn't understand her at all.
"Sorry, Madre," the Boy said.
Mimi smiled and looked at Roger.
"Sorry...this is my son...Antonio," Mimi said.
Roger's heart stop. Mimi had a child. A child living inside the house of her dreams. In her favorite city. That could only mean that she of course had the man of her dreams...and that wasn't Roger. It was someone else.
"Mimi...I'm here for a reason..." Roger said.
Mimi picked up Antonio and help him. He looked about six years old. Too old to be holding but oh well.
"Rog, I know why you're here," Mimi told.
"You do?" Roger asked.
Mimi noddered her head.
"I do...and my answer is no..." Mimi said.
"No?" Roger repeated, very confused.
"No...I'm not...taking you back," Mimi let out.
Roger took a breath of relief. Mimi couldn't be anymore wrong.
"Mimi, I'm not here for me...I'm here for...Mark," Roger said.
Mimi crunged her eyebrows.
"Mark? Our mailman?" Mimi asked.
Roger wanted to slap her silly.
"No...Mark...the filmmaker...our friend from New York?" Roger tried to ring a bell.
Mimi thought for a moment...and then-
"Oh, Mark! How is he? He was a sweetie!" Mimi said, happily.
"I know...and he's why I'm here," Roger took a deep breath. "Meems, he's dying."
Mimi stared at Roger for over a second. It was so quiet that Roger could hear his own heart beating.
"What? He's dying? How? When? Whe--is he--what? I-" Mimi didn't know what to say.
"He's still in New York. He has bone cancer. He only has a few months. His daughter, Chanel, is all who lives with him. She and I are granting his last wish-" Roger explained.
"What's his last wish, Roger?" Mimi asked.
"To see his old Bohemian friends again...you...Benny...hell I think he'll even hope for Maureen!" Roger said.
Instead of remorse, Mimi had a look of disgust on her face. She put Antonio down.
"So, you think you can just leave your home and do this last big request for Mark? Did it ever occur to you or Mark that we are all leading our own lives now?" Mimi questioned.
Roger was shocked at what Mimi said.
"He's dying, Mimi. We were his best friends...he just wants to see us all one more time," Roger told.
"We were his best friends, Rog. Things change. People change. I don't think I can. If it wasn't for Mark dying...you would never have come right?" Mimi continued to question.
Roger put his hands on his hips.
"Why are you acting like this? Have you changed so much that you can't even go see a dying friend?" Roger asked in his own digust.
Mimi wiped her lips with her hand and went on.
"I have a son. I have a lovely home. I have a great job as a dance teacher at the Danceworks company here. I have a husband who I love very much. I can't just leave," Mimi told.
"Meems, its just one more time. I know you have your own life. I do to. A wife, Tamara, who I love. And....what about this husband?" Roger asked.
"Turn around and see for yourself--" Mimi said.
Roger turned to see a blonde man with green eyes walked up the steps. He was wearing a brown leather jacket and cackies. He looked like Mark, but was far from dorky. He looked built enough to play eight high school sports at once.
"Hey!" the man called.
"DADDY!" Antonio called.
Antonio ran to his dad and his dad picked him up.
"Hello, there!" The man greeted Roger and held out his hand. "I'm Jason, Mimi's husband."
Roger shook his hand.
"Wow, you're Roger Davis!" Jason said. "Was I interupting you and Mimi?"
"Aw, no...no...I was just on my way out," Roger said.
"I bought your new CD! Will you sign my copy?" Jason asked.
"Sure," Roger said.
"Great! I'll run in and grab it real quick! Don't want to keep you waiting!" Jason said and ran back into the house.
Roger looked at Mimi. She spoke first.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way. I'm booked with dancing and Antonio and--" Roger cut Mimi off.
"You have a kid, Mimi. You have AIDS...how could you?" Roger asked.
"It was an accident. The doctor was shocked too. I was going to get an aboration but Jason stopped me. He said that weather the child was healthy or not...he'd take care of us. He loves us, Rog," Mimi said.
"Do you love him?" Roger asked.
Mimi didn't answer. Just stood there.
"When you come up with an answer...don't bother to come see Mark. A dying man whose daughter is about to be orphaned doesn't need a friend like you," Roger said.
"Rog...I'm sorry-"
"Don't! I don't know what happened to you the last fourteen years! I know time changes...but what about love? Maybe not for me...but for Mark! And Chanel...her mother died by just seeing her family in Lebanon! And now her father is dying before her eyes! We know how that feels! SHAME ON YOU!" Roger shouted.
As Roger walked away, Mimi yelled back-
"YOU FORGOT TOO! YOU LET GO TOO! OF MARK! APRIL! ZALFA! BENNY....ME!" Mimi shouted.
Roger never stopped her kept walking and left inside a cab. Mimi stood alone until Jason came out with his CD.
"He didn't sign my CD..." Jason was disappointed.
TBC