Hey everyone! I just want to thank those who took the time to review my story: Little Fish in a Big Pond, IWillBeThereWhereYouAre, and kitykat17. Thank you all very much! Reviews are what keeps me going. Anyway, here is the next chapter. So please R&R, and enjoy =]

Nessa

Chapter 2

Roger awoke to the sun streaming in though his bedroom window. It took him all of a few seconds to remember the events of the previous night, and he hurriedly checked to make sure Mimi was still breathing. When he made sure that she was indeed still alive, he breathed a sigh of relief. He carefully took his arm from underneath her and slid quietly out of bed. He bent to kiss the top of her head before tip toeing out of the room. He wanted to find something for her to eat, but knew without a doubt that there was nothing in the apartment. He sat down on the window sill and looked down at the street below. He saw a few people walking, but didn't really see them at all. All he was thinking about was Mimi. Mimi and how much time she had left. His eyes started to sting, but he fought off the tears. He would not start crying again. If he let them go, he wasn't sure the tears would ever stop coming. And he needed to be strong for Mimi.

He was deep in thought when there was suddenly a hand on his shoulder. He jumped up and turned around.

"Jesus Mark, you scared the hell out of me!" he said, putting his hand to his chest, feeling his heart beating rapidly.

"Sorry," Mark said, putting his hands up. "I didn't mean to frighten you. Just wanted to see how you were doing." Mark watched Roger for a moment. He saw his friends mouth turn down and the worry lines crease his forehead.

"I'm fine," he lied, knowing Mark wasn't going to believe him.

Mark thought about saying something, but thought better. He didn't want to argue with his best friend. Not now.

"Alright," he said carefully, not wanting to upset him any further. "Well I'm here if you ever need to, you know, talk." He looked at his friend seriously, and gave him a slight smile.

"Thanks," Roger said quietly, trying to return the smile, but failing miserably.

They stood there for a moment in silence, until they heard coughing coming from the bedroom.

"Mimi," Roger whispered, as his eyes widened. He turned and practically ran to his room. He saw her lying on her side, the coughs shaking her entire frame. He knelt next to her and rubbed her back softly. He wished that there was something, anything he could do. But he knew that nothing could save her now.

After her coughing subsided, she turned to look at him and smiled.

"Hey," she said coarsely.

"Hey," he said back, looking into her eyes. "How did you sleep?" he asked, figuring she hadn't slept very well at all.

"Not too bad." She looked at him, studying his face, and saw that he looked even worse than he had last night. Maybe it was because he had been so relieved that she was still alive last night that the worry hadn't had time to sink in. Whatever the case was, he looked down right awful, and she couldn't bear to see him like that.

"Roger," she said, thinking of what to say "Please don't worry about me."

Hs eyebrows furrowed as he regarded her. "What?" was all he could think to say.

"I mean it. We both know what is happening to me, and I hate what it's doing to you." She watched his expression go from confusion to anger, then back to worry.

"Mimi, I can't help but worry. When you're gone-" he cut himself off. What was he going to say? When you're gone there will be nothing left of me. No. He couldn't say that to her. It would hurt her to hear that. So he would lie, and try his best to pretend for her. He didn't want her..dying worrying about him. That was ridiculous. "I'll be okay," Lies. "It will be hard, and I'll never forget you or stop loving you, but I know that it's going to happen. So don't you worry about me, okay? I'll be fine." I'll be dead inside.

She looked at him for a moment before finally accepting what he said. She smiled up at him feeling pleased.

"Okay," she said, reaching out for his hand. He took it and gave it a tight squeeze before bending down to kiss her gently on the lips.

"I love you Mimi," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," she said, before kissing him back.

A few hours later there was a knock on the door. The person however, did not wait for someone to answer, and instead just walked in.

"Pookie it was nothing!" Maureen's voice practically yelled.

Roger rolled his eyes and laughed lightly. "Guess we know who it is," he whispered to Mimi.

Mimi smiled at him and laughed a little too. Maureen would always amuse her, no matter what.

"Rog, can you help me out there? I want to visit with them." She said, knowing he wouldn't like this idea very much.

"How about they just come see you in here," Roger suggested, knowing she wasn't going to agree.

"Roger, your room is way too small for everyone," she said, gesturing to his room, which had room for a bed and a stand.

He sighed in defeat and went to go make sure the couch was cleared off.

"What did Maureen do now?" he heard Mark say as he walked out of his room.

"She was flirting with the girl at the donut shop! We cant go anywhere without her talking to some other woman!" Joanne said exasperatedly.

"That's not true pookie! I don't flirt with them, they flirt with me!" Maureen said, trying to defend herself.

"Forget it," Joanne said, giving up. She knew she wasn't going to win this one. She looked up and finally noticed Roger was moving stuff off the couch. "Hey, how is she?"

At that, Maureen's attitude completely changed. She grabbed Joanne's free hand and squeezed it.

"Pretty much the same." He looked up at them briefly, before looking back down. He didn't want to start crying in front of them. "She wants to come out here to visit with you guys," he said, disapproval clear in his voice.

Maureen let go off Joanne's hand and took a few steps forward so she was standing right in front of Roger.

He set the last piece of Mark's equipment on the floor before standing up to look at her. Before he got a chance to say anything, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. He was a bit reluctant at first, but then hugged her back tightly.

"Thanks" he whispered, kissing the top of her head softly.

She let him go and took a step back, smiling up at him. "We brought donuts," she commented, looking back at Joanne.

Roger laughed a little and put a hand on her arm, silently thanking her. He took a deep breath, before walking back to his room to hey Mimi. He may not like the fact that she was using what little energy she had to come visit with people, but he knew it would make her happy. And really, that's all he wanted at this point, was to make her as happy and comfortable as possible. And with that thought in mind, he scooped her up into his arms, kissed her softly, and carried her out to see their friends.