Chapter 3.4- Bird of Peace

            “Labor?!? Now? OhMyPlumbBob Whatdowedowhatdowedo?!?”

            “We get a car. We get in the car. We go to the hospital in that car.”

            “In a car? Do you have a car? Can you drive like that?!?”

            “NOOOoooo! I do not have a car! You do! And no I cannot drive while the little monster-Aaaaaurgh! GetthecarGetTheCar!”

            “Gottagetthecargottagetthecargottagetthecar-”

            Tilting her head slightly, Mariah watched his retreating back, almost wanting to laugh until another bolt of pain sizzled through her abdomen.

            “You can’t forget me you dolt! Hey! Roger! Hey!! You have to get me first!”

            Not listening, he kept running away until Mariah finally began to trudge off after him.

            Fortunately, he was only trying to pull up closer so she wouldn’t have to go quite as far.

            Unfortunately-

            “You do know the hospital is the other way, right?”

            “What?!? No! It’s- this is the-Aw, PlumbBob! Sorry! I was just parked facing this way and I swear-geez. Sorry! Can you hold it?”

            “I don’t have to pee, I’m in labor! There is no ‘holding it!’”

            In the end, Roger was able to screw his head back on and get them safely to the labor and maternity ward. A short eternity later, Andre’s daughter was delivered.

            Mariah was still a little dazed as she carried her tiny girl outside for the first time, ready to go home.

            Roger must have been feeling nearly the same as he insisted they take a taxi home.

            Watching him approach the waiting cab she had to fight back a grin at the look on his face. He looks so happy. This baby wasn’t even his, but here he was beaming, making sure the baby was taken care of, excited about it all.

            Entering the house while Roger paid the fare didn’t help Mariah’s thoughts any, either. He is such a great guy! Now he’d left his awkward teenage years behind he probably had girls falling all over him, I would too, if things were different, yet he was intent on sticking around for the sake of a tiny little baby.

            She’d known for long enough now that she would be doing this on her own, and it was high time she quit needing him to make sure she had a healthy social life. He needed a healthy social life too, one that didn’t revolve around her.

            “Little birdie!” She cooed back to her cooing baby, placing her carefully in the crib for a nap. “You’re going to be my little bird of peace aren’t you? Mommy’s peaceful little Dove. All mine.”

            She's beautiful,” Mariah still had one foot on the stairs. Looking over she saw Roger hadn’t left. He was sitting there with a starry eyed smile, exultant, exhausted. With a resigned sigh she flopped down next to him. Might as well see if she could cut the ties now.

            “Yeah,” she answered. “She is.”

            “You know, uh, I’m not at all ad-adverse to-to pretend-”

            “-Yeah, I know. And thanks, but I’m adverse to you pretending to be anything to her,” Mariah interrupted. Damn that sounded mean. And she hadn’t meant it that way. If he wanted to be a friend to Dove, that was fine. But that was also all she could let him be, and only if he meant it. He wasn’t a friend of Dove’s just because he worried about her mom. He absolutely would not be pretending to be her dad just to save Mariah.

            Beside her Roger stiffened, inhaling sharply. Damn Damn. She hoped he hadn't misunderstood.

            “That little girl upstairs? Has a dad. It might not look like it and maybe our little town won’t think of it that way, but I would like to introduce you to her dad,” Mariah attempted to explain. Straightening up she half turned and extended her hand. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Dove Sixkiller’s Dad. And Mom. And everything in between. Except for Aunt, because I’m sure Tibs will end up having a say in that once word gets around to her. Damn, I need to tell her, huh? She’s gonna kill me.”

            Roger looked perplexed as he took her hand a little too solemnly, shaking it, trying to hide the sadness behind his confusion. But Mariah could smell it coming off of him stronger than any cologne and was a little annoyed at his worry. This is the path she had chosen. He might not like it, he didn’t have to, but he would have to respect it. After all, it would be better for him to go ahead and move on now, live his life, find a girl, settle down.

            “There are other ways she could have a dad without anyone pretending to be anything,” he ventured.

            Nodding, Mariah pretended to inspect the backs of her hands, trying to buy time she knew she couldn’t afford. She needed to tell him she didn’t expect him to stick around, needed to let him go.

            She couldn't find her voice though. What words did you use to say something like that? How could anyone say it without feeling like they were doing more damage than good?

            “You shouldn’t have to do this totally alone. Besides, he ought to be paying you for the keeping of your little girl-”

            “-No. No, he shouldn’t. Because that would mean he’d also have rights to Do-”

            “-He does have rights to-”

            “-No he does not.”

            “It takes-”

            “-One! It took one lousy time! It took him almost no time to get what he came for before turning around and forgetting about me. And when he did that he forfeited-”

            “-The law-”

            “-Screw the law! And screw him!” She had no idea she was on her feet.

            “He’s made it plenty clear he wants nothing to do with MY baby. And dammit Rog! She doesn’t deserve that swine! She shouldn’t have to live down my stupid mistakes. I might have screwed up her beginning pretty badly, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of being both her dad and her mom. I took care of my mom, and I can take care of Dove too.”

            “I’m not saying you can’t raise her on your own,” Roger reached up, taking one of her hands and pulling her back onto the couch. “I know you are more than capable of taking wonderful care of her all by yourself. I wanted you to know that you don’t have to do it alone.” Blushing furiously Roger ducked his head, encasing her hand in both of his.

            “Oh, Rog!” Mariah melted instantly wishing he felt the same way she did all while wishing oh, so hard that nothing would ever change between them. “You’re the best friend anyone could ever have, but I’ve got to do this on my own.” She kissed his shoulder before laying her head down on it. “I’m so glad you’re still my friend.”

            “Yeah,” Roger replied, sounding surprisingly miserable to Mariah. “I’m still your friend.”

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          I know there is no 'wrong way' in most Sim neighborhoods as the roads are laid out in circles for the most part, but Roger really did go the longest way around he could. It amused me.

            I would also like to take a moment and point out that I really didn't intend for the "Can you hold it?" bit to be in here so soon after another blogger used it in the same context. This has been written and waiting on me to finish photo editing things below for over a month now.  Perhaps the muse that suggested it to me was tired of waiting and passed it on elsewhere. ;)

            Dove Sixkiller is an Artistic Genius. If you catch her with headphones on, Geek Rock will be blaring in her ears. She's a sucker for a plate of crepes, and thinks Hot Pink is the queen of the color wheel. Dove is also a very special sim to me. Her birth marks the 10th generation of her family. Yes, she is the 4th generation of my Random Legacy, but Helen (Blue) Sixkiller was the 7th generation of a NIF challenge I'd been doing. So, you get a sneak peek at her as a YA. I will reveal further WHY I'm showing her now in a few chapters. ;) And of course I'm making you suffer through the rest of the family. I've never made it through 10 generations before so it's a big deal dammit. <3 (Note- This does Not represent each and every child, or even life loves or romantic partners. It's simply the genetic donors of the next generation.)

Chapter 3.3- Mystical Psychic Power of Electricity

            “I got one, Rog!” Mariah’s sang out triumphantly. “Get over here! Come look.”

            It had been quite some time since Roger found Mariah pregnant, grieving and alone in her home and the pair were now nearly as inseparable as they were during their childhood. The renewed closeness hadn’t happened overnight, or even after several days.

            “Exercise is good for the baby, right?”

            “Shut up and dance.”

            The renewed closeness began with the interest Roger took in Mariah’s pregnancy. He devoured pregnancy books one after another and even begged to attend a birthing class with Mariah. To her relief, he didn’t throw her a baby shower. He merely threatened to.

            “I swear, you’re killing me on purpose,” grumped Mariah as Roger snickered. “I thought we were playing as a team!”

            “If this were a team game don’t you think we’d be sitting together?” he returned with a grin.

            Having Roger around again meant Mariah was once more venturing out of her house. She’d pretty much locked herself inside out of grief and shame and he’d noticed that. First, he asked her gently to go places with him. In frustration with her continual negatives he’d finally forced her to join him for outings. Soon enough her reluctance dropped away and she wanted to pick what they would do those spring afternoons.

            One of her first choices was a movie, some sci-fi-ish secret government agent flick that was the latest in a series. Roger had been highly excited about it, but regretted letting her go with him as she’d sat in the theatre snorting over the plotline. As the movie wound up she’d given up all pretense, openly heckling the screen as tears of laughter ran down her cheeks.

            He’d ‘retaliated’ by taking her to the nicest place in town to eat, where she had insisted on eating outside after one of the old biddies passed them to enter, making barely veiled comments about Mariah’s giant belly blocking her path.

            “Really,” Roger soothed. “It’s not about you so much as you really were kind of taking up the whole doorway. She was very rude about it though.”

            “Oh, don’t side with her. It’s because I’m pregnant without a ring on my finger, I know it,” Mariah scoffed into her pie. Cherry pie. This pie ought to be slathered in chocolate. She needed chocolate. Like now. Maybe Roger could order some chocolate cake and share… Ooooo! Chocolate cake and a lasagna. And a pickle! Yes! That sounded fantastic! But first, pie.

            “If you want a ring on your finger we could remedy that,” Roger said leaning forward, voice barely more than a whisper, his eyes sparkling in the candle light.

            “It’s a joke, Mariah,” Roger rolled his eyes as Mariah choked on a cherry, the heat on her cheeks visible. “You know no one is looking at your hand when they aren’t able to tear their eyes off your glowing face.”

            She just wasn’t sure he actually was joking, or if the compliments weren’t sincere. Roger had been strangely intense lately. It had put her off at first, but now she kind of liked this more confident, assertive Roger.

            He’d insisted he get to choose their next outing too, since Mariah made him eat outside in the cold. His choice? Bowling. Hers?

            “I’ve already got a bowling ball inside of me, I am not chucking one down that lane! Pool! Come play pool!”

            “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you over the LAME coming from your general direction. I came here to bowl!”

            They ended up compromising with skeeball instead. And Roger insisted on another chance to pick where they ended up since she’d again stymied his plans.

            “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mariah snorted.

            Today, they were at the Love Day festival for its final day in town.

            “I am not,” Roger scoffed back. “And you promised that you’d do whatever I wanted and I want to see what that Love Tester is all about.”

            “We’re not a couple!” blushed Mariah. Blushing? Really? It was Roger, her very best friend! Blushing was for love sick puppies and people with crushes and oh dear PlumbBob, were her arms tingling even? “That thing is for couples!” she hissed.

            “Last time I counted we are two sims and two sims make a couple of sims,” he insisted, giving her a gentle push. “Love Tester. Now. Go.”

            “Really?” She’d whined once more, refusing to give in gracefully. “It’s not like this thing can actually do anything. It’s just a randomizer connected to a sequencer connected to little colored light bulbs that you pay to activate.”

            “And we’re going to activate it,” he answered, shoving coins into one of the slots. “You promised.”

            “I’m just going to laugh at the result. Unless it’s one of the blue bulbs down there. You know that right?”

            “And? You said it yourself, we’re not a couple,” his voice was suddenly low and cold. Mariah shrank into herself a little, frowning. She hadn’t meant to upset him.

            Her stomach sank, strangely disappointed when the first set of bulbs lit up after they squeezed the… Well, Mariah didn’t want to say what it was but she sure knew what it looked like.

            About to take her hand off the… the thing to gloat when she felt Roger touch her elbow and her stomach cartwheeled again, goosebumps erupted from where his fingers rested making her shiver.

            “It’s not done yet,” he whispered, his face so close to hers she could count his lashes. She hadn’t been expecting him to be so close and she caught her breath, her eyes dropping to his lips as she bit her own. “Let the mystical psychic power of electricity finish.”

            Mariah turned back to the machine, cheeks still aflame, hoping he hadn’t seen through her. Slowly, slowly, the colored bulbs lit up one after the other, climbing higher.

            Passionate. That top little red light blinked back at the silent pair. At first, she’d felt slightly giddy, her cheeks burning (again,) her neck warm, anticipation creeping down her spine, a sense of triumph filling her brain, her heart leapt with joy. Then she heard Roger take in a slow deep breath and fear, doubt and disappoint suddenly burbled up in her. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with Andre’s baby, her mother had just died, she was barely old enough to qualify as an adult, she had bills to pay, she was due any moment now, she didn’t have a job yet, Roger was her best friend and how could she get his hopes up to something that would surely be nothing more than a disappointment to him, why would he want her anyway, she didn’t know he liked her like that, how could he like her like that, she was being stupid and hopeful and gullible, she was an idiot and needed to spare him from the drudge that was her and her soon to be child. She was a moron.

            “Bathroom, b-baby, bladder,” she grunted before he could say anything, waddling away as quickly as she could, refusing to look behind her.

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            “I-Don’t-Want-Any-More-NEWSPAPERS!” Growled Mariah, the newspaper girl had put up her hands in defense.

            “You’ve paid for it, ma’am! I’m just supposed to deliver them!”

            “Then why are you asking questions?”

            “I just wanted to know about your-”

            “I don’t like questions! They make me angry and when I get angry?” She reared back as Roger came around the corner, fresh off his shift.

            “I get very Very angry!”

            “Please! Just call the office and cancel your subscription like you’re supposed to!”

            “I have! And you’re still here asking endless questions about things that don’t concern you! Delivering newspapers I.Don’t.Want!”

            “AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! I’m going to eat you if you ever come back! Get out of here! Why are you standing there? Run little girl RUN!”

            Cackling as evilly as she could Mariah watched the poor, prying little girl run away shrieking her head off. Mariah had indeed cancelled her subscription several weeks ago and yet the girl still came. And every day she rang the bell when she delivered, and then tried to ask endless questions about the baby and when it would be here and, worst of all, where was the daddy. Today was the final straw.

            “And don’t Ever come back!”

            Mariah was still laughing when she finally spotted Roger.

            “Really?” Roger asked.

            Batting her lashes, Mariah pouted at his frown.

            “She’s been annoying me! And she won’t go away. Trust me she deserved-”

            “-Don’t even try to tell me she deserved that!” exploded Roger. Mariah didn’t believe it though. If he only knew what the girl had been doing.

            “Oh, Roger-”

            “-No! You don’t get the right to drive away a child like that!”

            “But she’s been a pest and around at all times and asking tons of questions-”

            “So you send her on her way without giving her nightmares and a complex! You are about to be a mother! It’s time you think like one!”

            “Did you ever think that maybe kids just ask a lot of questions and don’t get what’s okay to ask and what’s not? Did you think that perhaps the message didn’t get relayed to her that you cancelled your subscription? Did you think that her parents could actually report you for that when she runs home and tells them? Did you want to be arrested?”

            “No-I didn’t-I just-OOooooh!”

            “What, so you get it now?”

            “No, it’s not-OOoooww-”

            “So you don’t get how it’s not okay?”

            “It’s not that,” Mariah panted. “Rog, I’m in labor!”

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            Yeah, yeah cliffy. But- Roll Reveal!

            The Miscellaneous Fun roll is!

            No Strangers

            Hence why she’s chasing off the nosy newspaper girl. I’m not going to have many opportunities of ‘showing’ in story how that’ll play out other than Mariah doesn’t like to have people ask questions about her and likes her privacy, so you get that reveal now. Lol. Also, it's to kind of show that little mean streak and temper she still has.

            For those who follow my simblr and saw the gif of Mariah and the 3 wise guys at night: she went into labor like 5 different times since, for the life of me, I couldn't remember to put in the pregnancy controller to get everything shot. That take just happened to make me giggle with the 3 synchronized sims.

            Also, the next chapter is kind of a part 2 to this one. I’d originally intended for them to be one chapter, but there was a little too much going on to leave it as one long chapter. I promise a baby in the next one, for sure. ;)

Chapter 3.2- How To Ask Nicely

A small warning from me- Language Language little lady. Emotions are running high and so my characters are a little more profane than usual.

            Well, Watcher. Roger wasn’t supposed to grow up. He was supposed to be her little playground friend forever.

            Mariah tried to find traces of the gawky teenager in the man standing before her, but without glasses on and his hair combed it wasn’t easy. Then it hit her, while she was studying him, he was studying her.

            With his mouth hanging open his eyes kept resting on her belly, widening, making him draw deep breaths before he’d shake his head a little, blink, and bring his eyes back to hers briefly. Then, again, they’d fall. And then he would gasp a little once more. Blink. Shake his head just barely. Flick his eyes back up. Repeat the process once more, this time letting his gaze linger on her bulging waistline a little longer, and a little longer the next.

            For the first time ever she stood before him and he was judging her. Her best friend could finally see who she really was.

            “Now you hate me, too!” Mariah wailed. Her sobs shattered the growing tension making Roger jump.

            But she didn’t care. She could see the judgment; he didn’t have to say it aloud. The worst of it all was she knew she deserved it.

            “Are you alright?” Roger’s voice was barely louder than her crying.

            “No! Does it look like I’m alright? Nothing is alright!” Wiping her eyes, she noticed that he’d put one arm around himself and that his shoulders were hunched forward. It was a gesture as familiar as her own face in the mirror, and she knew what it meant.

            “Oh, my Watcher now I’m scaring you!” Hiding her face from him, she whimpered into her arm.

            Standing in confusion, she could hear his odd gasps and groan from across the room. He was trying to say something, but kept stopping himself. Now she’d confused him too. Great. What a great meeting. What a fabulous time we’re having. He’ll never want to see me again.

            She’d half decided to run to her room to spare him from looking at her when she felt an arm slip around her waist.

            Grateful for a kind human touch Mariah immediately leaned onto him, abandoning her thoughts before.

            “He was just there, I’m so. So. Stupid. I mean, protection? Why? Where was my brain? They warned us about this in school,” babbled Mariah between sobs. “There are movies about this shit on tv even! That girlie stupid channel designed to scare the living Watcher out of you to make sure you stay vigilant and on your guard, and to make you a feminist, and a weak one at that. Movies! They always fall for it. And I did too! Stuuuupid!”

            Roger let her babble as he tried to lead her to a seat in the room, shushing her when she threatened to become hysterical.

            “Look at me,” she continued, cradled in Roger’s arms. “Here we are, barely out of high school. My mom is gone. I should be living my dreams out! Not about to have his baby.”

            “Whose?” Roger’s voice was a low rumble.

            “Andre Parker’s,” Mariah dissolved into tears once more just saying that piece of shit’s name.

            “I didn’t know.”

            “Of course you didn’t know,” a little of Mariah’s fire returning. “No one knew! What kind of idiots do you think we were? Kelci might have broken up with him and then he might have lost his scholarship to Simvard. That bastard. That bastard!”

            Again she dissolved into tears and Roger waited for her to calm down once more.

            “How long?” Roger’s arms tensed a little as he asked.

            “Almost 8 months,” Mariah gave a half smile. “She’s really active too.”

            Frowning momentarily, Roger had to think for a moment before he figured it out. She thought he’d asked about how far along she was.

            “A girl?”

            “Yeah,” she answered as her hand absently rubbed her stomach. “She’ll be beautiful I think.”

            “Well, yeah,” Roger tried to quip, but it fell flat.

            “A beautiful little girl without a daddy,” Mariah’s voice quavered again, her grip of his arm tightened.

            “No Andre, huh?”

            “No,” she sniffed. “I wrote to him. I told him. Months ago. I just got a letter back, but I could hardly understand what he was saying. But he sent money, and I think he-”

            “He wants nothing to do with you or her?”

            “No- yes. I mean, he’s kind of suggesting-but-no-ye-yes!”

            This time Roger allowed her to cry. He held her without attempting to calm her or interrupt the outpouring of emotions.

            “I think I’d like to lay down for a little bit,” whispered Mariah once her tears had been spent. “I just need a nap. For a little while. But don’t go. Please? At least until I’m asleep. Just stay until I’m asleep please. It’s such a comfort to have you here with me.”

            And so he’d sat on the bed with her curled around him from behind and held her hand until she’d fallen asleep.

            Her snores were soft and regular before her hand finally went limp and he dared to stand. For one moment he allowed himself to watch her slumber. It was something he’d always hoped to do and now he finally could it was too painful to do for too long. Just like how for several teenaged eternities he'd longed to touch her tenderly, and now he'd at last been able to have her in his arms she'd blubbered about that asshole the entire time. Did she even realize that he'd held her?

            Once he’d closed the door his eyes fell on the letter lying on the table. The letter. She’d mentioned writing to Andre and said she’d just received his reply.

Mariah,

            I received your letter, thank you for not attempting to call. You were right that I’m extremely busy right now. It would have also been very indiscreet.

            As to your situation, I don’t understand how you could possibly think that I should be there to help you with it. This is a very important time for me and I can afford no distractions.

            I also thought I’d made it very clear that what we shared, which was fun while it lasted, is over. I can’t raise a child I don’t want (and have never wanted) with a woman I am no longer involved with.

            Enclosed you should find enough simoleans to cover the expense of getting it taken care of. If you are struggling since your mothers passing and truly have no one, as you say, then this is best. I’m sure you’ll agree.

            I really feel I should say this again: this is the end of our correspondence. I wish you the best in your life and endeavors as I hope you do mine. But it’s time for you to move on.

            Best wishes,

                        Andre

PS- Also, I won’t need to tell you to please keep it quiet even in town so my parents don’t find out. I’m sure you want to avoid scandal as much as I do.

            Roger flung the letter to the ground, not caring about putting it back on the table. Putting his foot on it he glared at it for a moment, grinding it with his heel before bolting out the door.

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            The gym in the basement at the station was stark, and it was mostly avoided by the members of Appaloosa Plains’ Police Force. They generally preferred gyms with better air conditioning and equipment, which made it perfect for Roger right now.

            Ignoring the other Rookies to the force behind him, Roger lashed out at the hanging heavy bag wishing it were Andre. On one of the hits, pain exploded in a knuckle. He’d forgotten to wrap his hands and now paid the price. But he didn’t care.

            He didn’t care. Jab

            He didn’t care. Uppercut

            He didn’t care. Left Hook

            Dammit he did care!

            What the hell? What was she thinking? She was supposed to be his! And here she is pregnant? When he’d first realized she was he was disgusted. What was wrong with him for that? He shouldn’t have felt that way. Even now though, he almost felt like he didn’t know her anymore. It was like he had no idea who she was. Had he ever really known her? How could she have allowed herself to be put in such a position with that schmuck? His Mariah was scrupulous in her actions, terrified someone would pay too much attention, or would notice her and ask questions. Well, she’d for sure get questions now! And just how long had this been going on?!?

            Why isn’t the bag moving like it should?

            “Hey, killer,” his partner popped up from behind the bag. “The chief called me down after you terrified a couple of people. We all like Biff and would rather you keep him in one piece. That or the chief is going to make you replace him.”

            Taylor Mattell had been on the force for several years already. She’d also been a great partner for the first grueling two weeks he’d been on a beat.

            “The heavy bag you’re attempting to pull down with your fists of fury? We call him Biff. Also, you’re throwing those punches pretty wildly. Seriously, man. Focus! And the yelling doesn’t make you hit harder.”

            Not in the mood for banter, Roger gritted his teeth.

            “Let go of the bag, Taylor,” he growled at her.

            “Hmmm, that wasn’t a very nice way to ask,” She gripped the bag a little more tightly. “So, no. I’m not going to let go of it. How about I show you how to ask nicely?”

            Roger’s eyes were slits.

            “I’ll take that as a yes, then. Hey, Roger! It looks like something is up, partner. Would you be so kind as to tell me what’s wrong? Please?”

            Instead of answering, Roger continued his glare.

            “Okay,” Taylor kept one arm around the bag and slid around to see him better. “You asked for it. I’m going to use my super logic skills and act like the detective I hope to be one day. Yesterday, you were worried about your girl when you found out about her mom. So I talked you into going to see her. You also took the morning off.  So I’m guessing you went to see said girl and things didn’t go well. Am I right?”

            “What happened, killer?” Taylor pressed. “She didn’t dump you did she?”

            When he still didn’t answer, her face fell a little.

            “Aw, man! I’m so sorry! She did dump you didn’t she?”

            “No,” he finally answered her. “She’s pregnant.”

            “You dog!” Taylor’s face lit up again. “You never told me you two had been gettin’ it on! A baby! Congrats, Daddy!”

            “It’s not mine,” he said a little louder than he’d intended. Saying the words aloud hurt like hell.

            “Oh,” she said. “Shit. So… Shit.”

            “She wasn’t my girl, Taylor,” another punch to his gut coming out of his own mouth. “She’s never been more than my best friend. I just-”

            “No, no,” Taylor quickly said. “I’m the one who assumed, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. It’s just- you talk about her all the time-”

            “-Because I wanted her to be my girl,” interrupted Roger. “That’s why I talk about her so much. I’ve loved her since we were little kids.”

            “It’s okay to want someone. It’s not okay to obsess and them to not want you in return,” Taylor frowned a little. “Does she know? That you love her I mean.”

            Roger shook his head, softly hitting one fist against the heavy bag.

            “Roger, get your sweaty head off of Biff. Nobody wants to see you making out with him, and he is not a suitable substitute for a real girl,” Taylor grimaced.

            Groaning, Roger stepped back.

            “Don’t be like that! Go fight for her! Win her back from the asswipe boyfriend who stole her from you!”

            Roger winced. “There is no boyfriend.”

            “Husband then! Fight that-”

            “-There is no one,” he admitted, knowing that would only fuel Taylor. “It’s just her. Her parents are dead, the father has a girlfriend he’s not going to leave, he doesn’t want anything to do with it. It’s her and her alone.”

            “Really?” Taylor refused to let up. “That’s even better! Now you can go in and be her knight in shining armor! That’s just what every girl wants! She needs you now. So you go in and tell her just how much you’ve loved her and for how long and plant a nice big kiss on her lips.”

            Roger’s head pounded. She made it all sound so easy when it was anything but. If it were easy, he would have been able to do it years ago, before any of this ever happened in the first place.

            “No,” Roger finally interrupted. “No, I don’t think I will.”

            Flexing her fist a little, Taylor raised her brows, inviting him to explain.

            Roger huffed in exasperation, putting a gloved hand on his hip.

            “She doesn’t want me. If she did she wouldn’t be having someone else’s baby, would she?”

            “Does she know?”

            “What do you mean does she know?”

            Taylor mimicked his stance, pouting and with a hand on her hip. Seeing that she thought he was being stupid he dropped his arms.

            “Really. What do you mean ‘does she know?’”

            “I mean, does she know how you feel? Have you told her? Have you said those three little words?”

            Roger just stared.

            “Alright, Romeo. Lemme spell this out. You need to go and tell her, because we can’t read minds. This is coming from a chick who likes chicks, so I really know chicks and how chicks work.”

            He didn’t like it. There was a lot still left to chance, but what else was he supposed to do? Maybe Taylor was right. Maybe Mariah didn’t know and he’d been the one wasting his own time.

            Dammit, she was right. And it was time Mariah knew. His resolved formed Roger looked back at Taylor and nodded. He would fight for the girl he loved.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

I know that was really long and way overdue. Sorry. And yes, it is indeed a girl. 

And please forgive the boxing poses. I know he was hitting that heavy bag way too low, but if I put his hand too much higher you couldn't see his face. So artistic license won.

Huge thanks to Gemly_Teddie for Taylor Mattell, her generation 3 co-heir. I needed a cop and there was Taylor! Readymade and a cop to boot! She’s so cyoot! And I had a ton of fun putting her in here.