Story Title:

One Night Stand

Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue.

Author:

Brokie

Author's Note: This fic is so weird. This chapter is a little shorter and more serious than the first two. Chapter 2 was supposed to be serious as well, but that lasted about until Collins started arguing with himself and that was it. Except for the end, which was so sugary and sweet I'm going to be flossing extra for weeks. :-)

Chapter Title:

Incest and Apologies

Rating:

PG. It's pretty much harmless.

Chapter Description: Mimi comes to the loft with some news of her own.

»Roger«

This feels way too perfect. We're practically cuddling on the couch and even though I know we shouldn't be doing this, even if it's not supposed to mean anything, I still don't want him to let go of me. At least I'm not getting any more.. interesting thoughts like I got when Mark told us to "have fun." Those are bad thoughts, and I should push them out of my head and think about Mimi.. perfect sexy Mimi who never smiles enough anymore, and when she does, I can't be sure, but I don't think it reaches her eyes. It wasn't supposed to be like this, of course, it was supposed to be forever and happily ever after, even though in our case forever is a short time and it's not even happy between the screaming matches anymore.

I sigh and Collins rubs my shoulder gently.

"You okay?" he murmurs.

"Yeah.. just thinking."

"About Mimi?" he asks.

"Uh huh. And you."

"What about me?"

"About how—about last night. And this morning. And how I'm so"—I'm interrupted by a yawn—"tired.."

"Here, why don't you lay down and take a nap," he says softly. I feel like I'm about five years old, but I don't really care because I'm already half asleep. He lays me down on the couch and starts to get up and leave, but I grab his arm.

"Stay with me 'till I fall asleep?" I beg.

"Masculine and pissed off, huh?" he inquires with a teasing smile.

"Please?" I whimper, putting on my best 'lost little boy' look. I can already see his resolve cracking.. and sure enough, within seconds he's sitting on the edge of the couch, rubbing my back.

"Hey Collins? Do you think last night should count as incest, because you're acting so much like my mom right now?" I ask him. He thinks it's pretty funny, but I don't really understand why..

"You're not very awake, are you?" he questions when he finally stops laughing.

"Nope. That feels nice."

Then my eyes slip closed and I don't have the energy to open them again. He says something I can't understand but I'm too tired to ask him what he means.

I'm awakened by the door being unlocked. I open my eyes as Mimi walks in, looking nervous. When she spots me on the couch, rubbing my eyes and sitting up, she smiles, but it's not an "I love you so much" smile, it's a "please forgive me" smile. I stand up.

"Hi."

"Hey, Rog," she says softly. "Listen, I think we need to talk."

I nod. "You wanna sit down?" I ask, gesturing toward the couch.

She comes over and sits, but she doesn't curl up and get comfortable like she usually does. She looks restless, and like she's trying to stay as far from me as possible. I settle down in the middle of the couch and look at her. She's biting her lip and staring at the table. I glance down and notice that the coffee mugs are gone.

"So," she finally begins, "About yesterday. I'm sorry I got mad over a stupid thing like you leaving your boots on the floor."

"I'm sorry I left them there and I'm sorry I yelled when you asked me to move them," I answer. She still avoids my gaze. "That's not all, is it?"

"No, it's not," she sighs. "Um.. I went to the Life Cafe last night. I had a few drinks, and I didn't go home alone."

I stare at her for a few seconds and I realize that for once, I'm not getting that surge of jealousy I should be getting, because I don't think of her as mine anymore. I don't think I have in a long time.

"That's kind of ironic," I say softly, "because I went to a bar last night. And I didn't go home by myself either."

She looks stunned for a moment, but then accepting. "Okay. I—thank you for not getting angry at me."

"Thank you, too."

"I just have one question. It wasn't Mark, was it?"

I stare for a second, trying to laugh but being unable to muster up the energy to do so. "Oh, no, definitely not. From what I've heard he went home with some girl named.. Sarah? Sally? Sherry? Something like that."

"Oh."

"Mimi, this isn't working, is it."

"This? You mean us? No.. I don't think it is."

"You don't smile anymore. You're not happy. I'm not either."

She shakes her head. "So, what now?"

"I don't know. We're breaking up, aren't we?"

"Yeah."

"Okay.. I'm sorry, Mimi. That I cheated on you. That it isn't going to last forever."

"Things like this never do," she answers, and I can tell she means that good things never last, so I nod and manage a smile.

"Roger? Would I, um.. would I want to know who it was?"

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. "You probably wouldn't, but I do think you deserve to know. I'll tell you if you want me to."

"I want you to."

"I don't want you to get mad at them. We were both drunk. It wasn't his fault."

"I won't get mad. But—his?"

"Yeah. It—Mimi, it was Collins."

A look of shock slides across her face and she raises her eyes to look into mine.

"I.. wow, this is.. unexpected, to say the least. I guess it really doesn't matter now, anyway. Don't worry, I'm not mad, I just.. you two? Really?"

"Yeah," I reply with a wry little smile. "We came back here from the bar and things just kinda happened. Was yours.. was it someone I would know?"

"No, I wouldn't think so. I'd never met him before at least. His name was Chris."

"Oh. Okay."

The silence that follows is far too long and uncomfortable for my taste, so I'm glad when she has the courage to break it.

"Well, as.. awkward as this is, I've gotta be going," she tells me.

"Alright, I'll see you.. well, sometime soon," I say.

"Okay, bye then. I hope everything works out with Collins."

"Thanks. Bye."

She gives me an unsure smile, picks up her bag, and leaves quietly. I sit on the couch for a few minutes, trying not to think, before grabbing my wallet and heading out the door as well.

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