A/N: Almost there… this one is for my boyfriend Zac, whom I occasionally write things for and probably shouldn't because he doesn't want to read them. Anyways. I still wish him a merry Rentmas and I'll try to be happy this year. I love you bear.

Disclaimer: Roger and Mimi and alla dem are still very much not mine.

Eleven

Curls swinging into her face, Mimi bends over to peer beneath the dumpster at a pair of glowing yellow eyes. She coos, coming closer and crooking a finger at the bedraggled creature.

"Oh, commere sweetie." She makes an enticing noise, crouching down and trying to look as non-threatening as possible.

It's freezing. The thing is so tiny and helpless, there's no way it'll survive the night without her. And around here, Mimi doubts that anybody else will be stopping and taking the time to lure it out and give it a home, at least for the night. It's up to her. She inches closer, careful not to move too quickly and scare it off. The kitten shrinks back against the brick, hissing as fiercely as it's little orange body can manage when it's shivering like that.

"You poor thing," she murmurs, finally getting on her knees and reaching beneath to scoop it out. It wriggles in her grasp, squeaking in alarm, little ears laid flat against it's head as she tucks it into her coat pocket and strokes it's matted fur, getting back to her feet.

"I'm going to give you a good home," she promises, receiving several strange looks from passerby. "And some milk, and a bed…"

MERRYRENTMAS

It takes Roger longer than he's proud of to realize that his girlfriend is talking to somebody else.

"Oh, aren't you just so cute, look at you."

"I prefer sexy," he claims, glancing up from his guitar with a smirk. It slides right off of his face when Mimi completely ignores him, continuing to coo at whatever it is she's got cupped in her hands.

"Yes, yes you are," she assures it, stroking with one finger. Unbearably curious and kind of sort of wanting her attention, Roger sets his guitar aside- he wasn't getting anywhere with that anyways and they all knew it- and creeps forward, wary. His first thought is that she's caught an alley rat and brought it home with her, opening his mouth to protest, but then he catches sight of it's tiny face.

Pink nose, yellow eyes, fire-colored fur. It mewls pathetically, swatting out a little orange paw at Mimi's curls and she giggles, kissing the top of its head.

"I'm allergic to cats." He frowns, stepping back, bristling automatically. God damn it. Does she even know how long it's taken to get Mark to give up on the dream of ever having a pet in this godforsaken pit they call a living space? No, she doesn't, and she obviously doesn't care, sticking her tongue out.

"Roger, he was freezing. I wasn't just going to leave him there." She hums happily, stroking the frightened animal's dirty fur. Roger cringes.

"I hope you plan on washing your hands after you put that thing back where you found it." He's never been very subtle; hands on his hips, he stares her down with what he thinks is an impressive glare. It's not. It might have scared Mark but Mimi is made of tougher stuff and she only rolls her eyes.

"I'm not taking him back," she says firmly, and that is that. Mimi never backs down once she's made her mind up about something. It's both infuriating and endearing, sometimes more of one or the other. Today, it's aggravating him to no end. He plugs his nose.

"Get that furball out of here. I'm allergic! I could die!"

"No you won't." She sees right through him, snorting. "I know you, Roger. You just don't like animals."

"I like animals," he protests, still glaring daggers at the baby cat in her hands. "Just not asshole animals. Cats are dicks."

"Well so are you. You'll get along fine," she deadpans, smiling with those full lips and even when she's making him crazy he still wants to kiss her. This whole love thing isn't new to him but he's rusty, and it still takes him off guard once in a while. The fact that it's Mimi doesn't help at all seeing as she's the most puzzling woman he's ever met, and that includes April. She continues as if he isn't busy trying to reorganize his thoughts. "I was thinking of naming him after you."

"I don't even like that thing." He's nearly pouting now, knowing that there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that he's going to win and arguing anyways. "I don't want it coming to my name."

"It's a cat, Roger." Exasperated, she allows the little monster to gnaw on her finger. Despite himself, Roger thinks that's actually sort of cute… and gross. "They don't come when you call them."

"And yet you still have to clean up their shit," he mutters, crossing his arms and tapping a foot. "Get it out. Before Mark sees it."

"He's just a baby- what about Mark?" She raises an eyebrow and Roger inwardly curses. He forgets sometimes that Mimi doesn't know everyone the way he does, especially not Mark, who once brought home a pregnant cat and made Roger help him find "good and loving homes" for all six of the kittens. (and only after he'd gotten himself all worked up at the thought of separating them from their mother) If she figures it out, there's no way they'll ever get rid of the thing. Mark'll probably crochet the thing a bed.

"I heard my name!" The filmmaker peeks out from the hallway, glasses crooked on his nose. He's been cooped up in his room all day working on some project or other but when his eyes zero in on the kitten in Mimi's hand Roger knows all hope is lost.

Mimi grins as he inhales sharply, bee lining straight for her and taking the baby gently into his hands. "Oh my God, he's so little. We need a bottle!"

As Mark starts to babble excitedly, rushing back to his room where he just knows he has all of the old cat stuff lying around somewhere, Mimi leans into her boyfriend's side with a smug look on her face. He tries to scowl, but her lips meet his and he smiles involuntarily, arms curling slowly around her waist.

"I guess I won't chuck it out of the window… Merry Christmas," he eventually mumbles, almost having to pretend to be grumpy. She giggles, burying her face in his chest.

"You love me."

"I do."

"You're going to be a great daddy-"

"Don't push it."