Okay, I'm going to be evil again and kill off someone . . . or in this case, TWO someones . . . Don't kill me please!! It's all part of a grand master plan for this story!!

Disclaimer: I don't own, I RENT. Except for my Characters and Storyline! Those are mine!!

Death of Loved Ones

Mark and Jo were sitting comfortably together on the couch. It had been a year and two months since they confessed their love for one another. And two years since Mark was being held hostage by Ray Gutierrez. Life was good. Everyone was happy . . . until onhe fateful phone call came . . .

*Ring . . . Ring* "SPEAK!"

"Hello, I'm looking for Miss Josephine May . . ."

"Hello?" Jo had run over to the phone.

"Miss May?" the authoritative voice asked.

"Yes?"

"My name is Alberta Steinfeld. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your parents died in a car crash this morning."

"What?" Jo was shocked. Mark immediately noticed Jo's tone and quickly walked over to her.

"Miss May, I'm sorry to say this, seeing as you just found out, but your sister, Emma, survived the crash with only a few minor bruises." Alberta said.

"Oh, thank god." Jo sighed.

"However, according to your parent's will, you are to be the sole guardian of Emma. Are you willing to accept this role?"

Jo didn't need to think about the answer to that. "Yes, of course. When can I see her?"

"You may pick her up tomorrow morning, if you wish, at your parent's house."

"Okay, I'll be there at about 11. Okay?"

"Alright; thank you Miss May, I'm sorry for your loss." Alberta hung up the phone.

Jo hung up and turned to Mark who looked at her questioningly. Immediately, Jo started to cry.

"Jo? Baby, what's wrong?" Mark asked as she collapsed into his arms.

"My parents . . . died . . ." she choked out.

"What? How?"

"They were in a car crash . . ." Jo sobbed, "Emma survived . . ."

"Jo, what's going to happen to Emma?" Mark asked, suddenly worried for the 7-year-old's well being.

"She's going to live with us . . ." Jo said, "I know it's not the best setting for her but . . ."

Mark hushed her, "Shh . . . Jo, she's your sister. I understand." He comforted his lover.

Jo hugged Mark closer. "Thank you Baby . . . I don't know what I'd do without you."

"It's okay," Mark said, "We'll take good care of her."

"So, this is the agreement for custody of Emma." Alberta passed a sheet of paper across the table. "If you could please sign that, and I'll go get Emma." She left Mark and Jo alone in Jo's parent's house on the couch. Jo quickly signed the form and waited for her sister.

When Alberta brought Emma downstairs, the 7-year-old immediately ran to her sister. "Josie!"

"Emma!" Jo instantly stood up and embraced her baby sister. "Oh, sweetheart . . . are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

"I'm fine . . ." Emma said quietly. The small girl seemed a bit unemotional in light of what happened. This shocked Jo a bit.

"It's okay to feel sad, Baby Girl." Jo said reassuringly.

"I know." Emma replied solemnly.

"Okay," Jo hugged her sister again before looking to Mark.

"Are we ready to go?" He asked. Jo nodded and took Emma's hand.

"Where're we going?" Emma asked, curious.

"Home to the city, with Mark and his roommates," Jo said. "We're gonna live with them. Is that okay?"

"I guess . . ."

"Okay, let's go." The trio bid goodbye to Alberta before climbing into Jo's truck and driving back to the city.

When they got home, Roger, Mimi, Collins, Maureen and Joanne were waiting for them.

Emma immediately recognized: "Mimi!"

"Emma!" The Latina squealed. The two immediately embraced gleefully. "Chica, you've gotten so big!" Mimi exclaimed, taking a good look at Emma. "Have you been a good girl?"

"Uh huh," Emma said.

"Oh, good!" Mimi squealed again before passing the child to Maureen.

"Oh Emma!" Maureen exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "How ya feeling Hon?" she asked. Emma shrugged.

"I'm okay . . ." she replied almost emotionlessly. All the Bohos were shocked at Emma's tone. The girl's parents had just died and she was taking it surprisingly well! Something was wrong . . .

"Well, Emma, you remember Roger, Collins and Joanne, right?" Jo asked, pointing to each Bohemian respectively.

"Yup," Emma smiled shyly at the adults. "Mimi, Roger, Collins, Reena and Joanne,"

"Good; do you want to see your room?" Jo asked. Emma nodded and Jo showed Emma to her old room. "It's not finished for you yet but we're going to go buy paint and paint the room a brighter color." Jo said of the dark green room. "Would you like that?" Emma nodded vigorously.

"Mm hmm," she hummed.

"Okay," Jo said before calling back to Mark, "Baby, could you get Emma's suitcase?"

"Sure thing," Mark left the loft to go get Emma's suitcase from Jo's truck.

"Baby?" Emma asked, making a face. "You two have mushy, lovey-dovey love, don't you?" Jo stared at Emma in shock. The Bohemians laughed hysterically.

"Um . . . well . . . I guess . . ." Jo stuttered. Collins corrected her.

"She's right, Jo." He laughed, "You two are sickeningly sweet to each other."

"We are not!" Jo huffed.

"Yes you are!" All the Bohemians said at the same time.

"Ugh, whatever; you're just jealous of us, that's all." Jo shot back playfully.

Maureen scoffed, "Yeah, right; you two are worse than Joanne and I."

Jo simply rolled her eyes and turned back to Emma. "Are you hungry, Emma?" she asked her sister.

"A bit," Emma replied as Mark strode in with Emma's suitcase.

"How about we all go to the Life? My treat," Joanne suggested. Everyone agreed and they all headed out to the Life Café. When they arrived, they sat down and ordered their food which came quickly.

"So . . . is this a healthy place?" Emma asked, eyeing her veggie burger.

"Yeah, it is; but it's the atmosphere in here that counts." Mark said, picking at his seaweed salad.

The usual chatter resumed between the Bohemians. They talked about various subjects and made sure to watch their mouths around Emma. She didn't need to know the basic cuss words just yet . . .

After everyone left the Life, Roger, Mimi, Mark, Jo and Emma headed home with Emma fast asleep in Roger's arms. When they got home, Roger put Emma to bed and Mark, Mimi and Jo waited in the living room.

Roger walked back into the room, "God, that kid's a heavy sleeper." He said, sitting down next to Mimi on the loveseat.

"She must take after Daddy. He always was a heavy sleeper . . ." Jo said, willing herself not to cry at the thought of her Dad.

"I'm surprised at how well she's taking all this." Mimi confessed. It was true: Emma seemed unusually calm about this whole situation. After all, her parents just died! She should feel some sort of grief . . .

"I am too," Mark agreed with Mimi, "She has every right to be upset."

"But she doesn't seem upset. That's what bothers me." Jo said.

"I know Jo, but there's nothing we can do." Mark said, pulling his lover into his embrace. "She's just going to have to deal with her grief in her own way."

"I guess . . ."

"C'mon, let's go to bed." Mark beckoned as he stood up from the couch, pulling Jo with him. Jo placed a kiss on his cheek. The couple then bid goodnight to Roger and Mimi and went to bed.

Mark held Jo as she broke down and cried quiet sobs for her parents. Mark held her close and let her cry. He knew she needed this. It wasn't until much later, after Jo had cried herself to sleep, that he allowed himself to let sleep take him.

I'M SORRY!!! I HAD to kill off Jo's parents!! As I've said before, It's all part of my grand master plan for this story!! PLEASE REVIEW!!! I like to know what you think!!!