Here's my second fic ever, be kind. Could be more than a oneshot, not sure yet. I've always loved the character of Mimi and I love her in just about every pairing. It's great she's finally getting some good storyline now, I'm still hoping Farah Fath will continue her contract and won't leave in February. Anyway, on with the story. I hope you enjoy it.
Maybe Phillip was right. Maybe she shouldn't judge him too quickly or harshly for taking Claire from Shawn and Belle. He wanted someone to love, someone to be loved by. Phillip's heart may have turned cold from his time in the military but underneath he knew he was the same person. She knew it, too. Phillip wasn't the type of person who could be alone; he thrived on love and companionship. The short time he'd been with Chloe before the Brady debacle had shown all of Salem the first glimpse of the real Phillip Kiriakis, the caring, sensitive Phillip. Mimi had come to treasure this Phillip as the best her close friend could be. She missed him when he left, but she knew his reasons for leaving. Phillip wanted a family and if he had to make the military his new family, he would. He needed to feel needed. She got that. Still, she missed the kindred spirit she could sometimes find in him.
Mimi knew that growing up hadn't been easy for Phillip. Kate and Victor could barely stand each other for most of his early years. She'd always felt a closeness with Phillip because of this. Having Bonnie for a mother had taken its toll on her. She could recognize someone with trust issues a mile away. She could also recognize someone who had never been through the uncertainties of a rocky childhood. Throughout school, Shawn and Belle just never understood the problems Phillip and Mimi faced. Their parents had overcome most of their big obstacles before they were born. Their parents were happy and in love. Shawn and Belle would never find their parents fighting, ruthlessly slinging verbal barbs at one another. They were never afraid that they'd come home from school with one parent or both packing to leave forever.
So in all honesty, she could understand Phillip's motives for taking Claire. When Rex left, all she wanted was someone to be there for her, to need her, to choose her. She'd looked to her old pal Shawn D. And for a time, he'd answered her call for love. All jealousy issues concerning Belle aside, she really did think she'd been in love with Shawn. She'd thought she could be all he needed and wanted in a wife. There was always one thing she couldn't be, though…Belle. Mimi wasn't stupid or clueless to the fact that Shawn still had feelings for Belle. She'd just thought she could make him not care so much, push Belle to the back of his mind and herself to the forefront. She lied and manipulated in order to get him to love her and need her. She'd done everything Phillip had accused her of. She'd done it willingly, believing it was for the best. Maybe that's what Phillip and Victor were thinking in taking Belle and Shawn to court. Victor was trying to make up for the pain he and Kate had caused Phillip since the day he was born and Phillip was trying to make a home for himself, a home he'd never had but wanted to make sure Claire had. They were both trying to make some rights out of a lot of wrongs. She couldn't fault them for that. God knows, she'd do the same with the mistakes she'd made if given the chance. What Phillip and Victor were doing wasn't right, but it didn't feel all wrong after she talked to Phillip either.
Mimi was no expert, so she wouldn't pretend to know all the answers to life's questions, but maybe both parties could be a little right in this scenario. Maybe she could understand where they were all coming from. Maybe she could be the voice of reason in a chorus of bias. Maybe she could convince Phillip not to leave the country with Claire. Maybe she could make Shawn and Belle understand Phillip's point of view and help them not hate him so much. Maybe the best of intentions could make a difference.
