Disclaimer: You already know this.
Rating: I don't plan on making anything over the top for this fic. So we'll just say, at the most, it'll be NC17. But I doubt it'll get too crazy.
Authors Note: It's my first Rex/Mimi (Rimi, if you will) fic so go easy on me. I would LOVE some reviews, so please, if you've got a few seconds to spare, indulge me. :)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rex DiMera stepped out of his black car and stared up at the apartment building he had wrestled the decision at facing. He closed the door and slipped his keys clumsily into his back pocket. He stood there for a moment, staring at the building with an almost nauseated expression, occasionally scratching his chin or running his hands through his hair. He was almost certain that he was not ready for this. Even after years of time to stabilize his emotions and clear his mind, he still felt confused and small when he passed the sign welcoming him to Salem.

"I don't even know what I'm going to say." he mumbled to himself as he turned around to face the car and put his elbows on the hood. He exhaled deeply and drummed his fingers on the painted metal. "Mimi... Mimi ..." He tried saying her name in a different tone, "Mimi. I'm back."

No, that was just lame.

You can't keep stalling, he thought to himself before hitting the hood once more and turning back towards the building. It's not going to be a secret for long that you came to town, and she's going to wonder why you came to visit and didn't see her. Well, maybe she wouldn't, but ... she wouldn't like it.

"Okay." he said, almost too quiet to hear, and braced himself as he stepped up the stairs and pushed open the doors. He took no hesitation as he went to the front desk to find out which room Mimi Lockhart was residing, and took the elevator as soon as the room number left the woman's lips.

------

Upstairs in her loft, Mimi was noisily making lunch for herself. Shawn had left to mail a few letters about ten minutes before and she was preparing a meal for him for when he got back. Even though she never spoke, her mood was portrayed sufficiently through her constant clanking and dropping of kitchen utensils as she made a chicken caesar salad. She clearly had not forgotten the encounter between Shawn and Belle, and evidently also was not willing to forgive and forget anytime soon.

The thing was, it wasn't the kiss itself that bothered her. It was how it made her feel. It reminded her how alone she really was, and how even though Shawn continuously reminded her that he loved her and she was the one he chose, she couldn't help but know that he could never really be hers. Something about this whole ridiculous charade made her feel like no matter what she did or how hard she tried, she always seemed to miss something in every relationship she got involved in.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a soft knock rapped on her door. Figuring it was Shawn and sighing contemptuously, she stopped washing the lettuce, turned off the tap and wiped her hands on the towel beside the sink. Another, more confident knock sounded twice, and she called out "Coming!" in an irritated voice.

On top of the drama, she was also not a morning person.

------

When Rex heard Mimi's annoyed "Coming!" he took a step back, rethinking whether or not he should continue with this. After a moments consideration, he decided he was making a mistake and turned around to quickly duck to the stairs before she opened the door and found out who her visitor was. Unfortunately for him, as he did, the door opened and Mimi's blank face peeked past the door to greet Shawn. She paused, confused for a second to see the back of a brunette walking away, but the pause was short as realization dawned on her. She opened the door wider and stared, stepping out into the hall. Her eyes grew wide.

"Rex?" she asked in disbelief, practically yelling.

He stopped, looking down and almost facing her. He raised his eyes and stayed where he was, trying to figure out what to do. The stairway was only a few feet away. Would he turn around, or run for it?