Disclaimer – Don't own RENT or Aida. Belongs to respected owners – Jonathon Larson and Tim Rice & Elton John. 'Nuff said.

Italics are song lyrics

A/N: Just a random story idea I got while my Internet was down.

Summary: AU: Two people love Roger, but who? MC/RD & MM/RD. Set to the song A Step Too Far from the musical, Aida. Takes place 10 years after the movie. Two-shot.

Rating – T

Genre – Romance/Angst

PART ONE
(title – Introduction)

Mark's POV:

I can't believe it's been ten years already and so much has happened. Three months after Mimi's near death experience, Collins passed away suddenly. It wasn't expected or anything. We – Roger, Maureen, Mimi, Joanne and I turned to each other for comfort and support after Collins passed on.

Benny, on the other hand, that's a whole different story. About four months after Collins' death, Benny was out driving and was killed in a hit-and-run accident. That was two deaths within seven months of each other.

I know what you're thinking – this is going to be a depressing story, but it's not. There are many happy things that happened. For instance, Mimi and Roger got married in the spring of 1999 were I served as Best Man and Mimi's sister was the Maid of Honor. I have one word about the wedding – beautiful. We were all worried that Mimi and Roger wouldn't make it this far, but by some miracle they did. To add to the happiness, Mimi is expecting her first child in the spring of next year. They even asked me to be godfather to their unborn child. I was touched when they asked and of course, I told them 'yes'.

Maureen and Joanne have been together for five years now and are in the process of adopting a little girl from Russia named Kathryn or Kat for short.

Back to Roger and Mimi, I have to admit something to you – I'm a little jealous of them. I've been in love with Roger since we met in 1985 through April and Maureen. In 1987, April slit her wrists after she found out that both she and Roger had AIDS. I was with Roger through his withdrawal and everything before he met Mimi. That's where our story begins...