A/N: And so begins the magical countdown to Christmas Eve! You'll be happy to know that this year I actually have all of my fic DONE beforehand and will be able to post it in a timely fashion. If I didn't write you your own fic- I'm sorry! But the final chapter will be for EVERYONE whose ever read or reviewed or just that I love with all my heart so no worries. THIS one however is for Vikki, because I started with her last year. Happy holidays! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own emotion, I reeeeeent! (I don't own Rent either, to be clear.)

One

It isn't a coincidence that Roger recognizes the smile on Mimi's face.

It is a coincidence, however, that two years ago a shivering form finally stumbles and ends up flat on her ass on the icy pavement at the boots of a wild, redheaded beauty on her way home from her shift at some sleazy bar called CBGBs.

Normally, April could care less about some teenager without a parka falling all over herself on the street in the middle of the brutal New York winter. Normally, April is strung out at this time of day on something or other, and she couldn't give less of a fuck about anything but not today. Today she worked late, had a drink with the lead singer of an admittedly really shitty band and she's feeling pretty good about herself. Good enough that she decides no, she doesn't need a hit- she never needs them anyways, she just craves them and if you don't like it you can just fuck off- and yeah, maybe she could lend some poor sophomore across the street like a Good Samaritan.

Believe it or not, April wasn't always a devilish fox of a woman in a short skirt and bright red lipstick. She can remember being this girl, all big, frightened doe eyes and unwittingly beautiful surrounded by strangers her first day in the city. And as long as she was in such a good mood she might as well kick off this one's transformation.

"Hey, you." Okay. So maybe being nice wasn't exactly her forte. The girl was just going to have to take what she could get. And she looks like she's going to, too, because she scrambles up to face her with an expression that spoke volumes of trepidation. "Don't go anywhere."

God, she sounded like a rapist. Next thing she knew she would be luring her into an alley.

April shook her head, bemused. How strong was that beer, again?

"What?" The little Latina has edged nervously closer, leaning in to hear her. She has snow in her dark hair, impossibly long and thick and curly and if April had been some creepy rapist lurking in an alley she could have seized it and yanked her into the abyss with hardly a moment to scream. That'll be her first piece of advice, she decides. Haircut.

"Are you lost or something?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

Hesitant, the girl shakes her head- she doesn't look very sure of herself. April resists the urge to roll her eyes.

"No, really," she sighs, shifting her weight as an icy wind nearly blows her away. Mmm. Maybe she is a little tipsy. It's all fine then that she isn't driving. "If you need directions, I can show ya around."

"I- I'm Mimi," the girl blurts, looking incredibly anxious. In a city like this, she has a right to be. She can't be more than fifteen. She peers up at April with huge brown eyes, flexing her gloved fingers in front of her. She's fidgeting like an elementary schoolgirl and April wonders if she even has any idea how brightly he immaturity is glowing, apt to attract all sorts of predators. It's a good thing she ran into her. "I don't really- I mean… I do live here…"

"Ran away?" That would explain a lot. But Mimi shakes her head, curls bouncing, biting one of her full lips. They're enough to attract April's attention- she's been over her little phase for months, but Mimi is just so corruptible and it's tempting. If she didn't have a rock star waiting in the wings in all of his hair-gelled glory, she would probably have to take her home.

"No… Um." Swallowing, she looks down at her feet bashfully. Her mumble is barely audible. "Kicked out."

A sudden surge of sympathy threatens to overwhelm April. She schools her features, grimacing at her and patting her head. "Damn. Not the best night for that."

She shakes her head, eyes still lowered as if she's ashamed. April has to wonder what a girl like this could possibly have done to piss her parents off that much. Or maybe she did run away and she just doesn't want to admit it. Anything is possible. She supposes it must be the good mood talking, but the compulsion to extend the invitation is too strong to resist.

"Well. Come on then." She wraps an arm around her tiny waist, still bemused by the sheer innocence of a girl with this kind of body. Mimi stiffens, but she allows herself to be lead. She looks slightly up to meet April's eyes.

"What are you-"

"I can't just let you freeze, can I? It's Christmas." She smiles, half a smirk, half more seductive than she really intended. Mimi's huge eyes get bigger.

"Oh… thank you…"

"Don't mention it." Shrugging, April pulls her closer and veers onto Avenue B. "My apartment's kinda shitty anyways."

Mimi watches her shoes as they walk along the slushy sidewalk, smiling to herself in relief, disbelief. She'll pay her back, she vows to herself. Someday she wants to be just like the girl with the red hair who took her in on Christmas Eve. Her confidence, her attitude. She wants to memorize it all for future reference.

And most of all, she'll remember that smile.