Keep Yourself Alive - Roger Taylor

96

I giggled lightly as Roger crawled after Lizzie, who was slowly beginning to scramble around the room.

They really were two peas in a pod, chasing each other around and laughing for hours. Roger does this really cute thing, where he tickles her tummy and she gurgles and laughs every single time.

She began to shuffle her bum along the floor, scrambling towards Roger who was sat next to her.

"Boo" He said out of nowhere, making he lean back in shock and fall over.

"Aw Rog!" I scolded, as she squinted her eyes together sadly.

She looked up at me and began to lift her arms up for me to pick her up.

"She only likes you when I've scared her" He pointed out, with an oddly proud manner.

"Rog, the fact that you know that proves to me that you scare her too much. Please stop" I chuckled, shaking my head at him before bouncing our tiny girl around in my arms.

Eventually, she giggled and began to gargle and push herself towards Roger again.

"For gods sake" I laughed, passing her back to him.

"She loves me more" He smirked, lying down with her lying on his chest.

When I noticed her eyes flutter shut, I smirked in victory.

"What?" He asked, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"She's drifting" I smiled.

"Drifting? No! Don't let her sleep!" He whisper shouted at me.

"Too late, have fun down there, doll" I grinned, standing up from my seat on the couch to grab a cuppa.

"Don't leave me" He whispered, knowing full well that if he moved, then Lizzie would begin to cry for ages.

"Sorry, cuppa? Oh no wait, you can't" I smirked, running into the kitchen to turn the kettle on.

"You're evil" I heard him grumble quietly.

However, he wasn't quiet enough as she immediately began to cry like a banshee. I let out a knowing laugh and let him bounce her back to sleep.

A few hours later, when Roger has finally bounced Lizzie to sleep, It was about lunch time and I decided to go and see Freddie.

"I'm off to Fred's, want me to say anything?" I asked, pulling my jacket over my shoulders and slipping on some Adidas trainers.

"Just the usual" He nodded, a glint of sadness in his eyes as he gulped a swig of beer.

"Love you" I said sadly, nodding and leaving him a kiss on the forehead.

However, that didn't satisfy him as he pulled at my cheeks to give him a more passionate kiss.

"I love you too, don't get too upset okay? He's a strong bloke" Roger nodded.

I reciprocated his action and then swung my bag over my shoulder lazily, leaving to jump into the car and drive off to Freddie's.

When I arrived I didn't even knock, I just stepped in and called out for my best friend.

"Mercury?, it's Rose!?" I shouted up the stairs.

I heard some voices coming from up the stairs and soon after the pattering of footsteps running down them.

"Jim" I smiled, looking up the stairs to see the familiar face that I'd helped Freddie to find.

He must have been going on sneaky dates without telling me, the bastard.

"Rose, it's lovely to see you again" He said in his Irish accent, walking down the rest of the stairs to give me a hug.

"You too, how are you?" I asked, pulling away and looking at the man in shock.

I hadn't seen him in what felt like years, when in fact it was only a few months.

"I'm great now, thank you. What about you? Freddie's told me all about little Lizzie" He smiled with a happy nod, holding my forearm as he spoke excitedly.

"Aw yeah, I'll have to bring her round for you to meet her. I'm sure Freddie won't mind" I smiled.

"Oh no, as long as you actually greet me when you come next time" He joked in the background, holding his chest in an overdramatic offence.

"Get over yourself, Bulsara. Just because Jim and I were friends at first sight" I joked, sticking my tongue out at Freddie.

"Never call me that again, and I am overjoyed that you two are friends, I'm only teasing you darlings" He laughed with a slight cough, pulling me into a hug.

"So when did this start then?" I grinned, following the two into the living room to join them for a chat.

"A few weeks ago, we hadn't really spoken since Live Aid because of my diagnosis but then I thought. Fuck it! If I only have a few months left I may as well share it with the people I love" Freddie shrugged.

"Can we say years please Freddie, months sounds too soon" I nodded, and he gave me a saddened glance and a nod.

"Yes, I suppose so" He agreed, taking Jim's hand in his, resting it on his lap comfortably.

"God, now I understand how lonely you felt when us lot were in couples" I teased him, shrugging my shoulders together as they shared their moment.

"Oh bugger off you, I wasn't lonely anyway. I had the cats" He grinned, just as Romeo ducked under my arm and snuggled into my lap.

"See, I'm loved by the animals... great" I laughed, stroking his head softly as he nuzzled further into my touch.

"I bloody love these cats though, they're adorable" Jim grinned, picking another one up as it strolled across their legs.

"I'm glad, because if you didn't like cats then you would not have been living with me at all" Freddie scoffed, his voice sounding more scratchy and hoarse than usual.

"You alright, Fred?" I asked worriedly, leaning forward to await the answer.

"I'm fine, what did I warn you about boring me with your sympathy darling?" He warned, and I nodded quickly before leaning back into my chair.

"Anyway, I fancy a nice long bubble bath. Anyone care to join?" Freddie asked with a grin, and a sudden happiness in his voice.