Part II - Words of a Song:

Mimi sat uncomfortably in her seat on the plane. In a few hours, she would touch down on the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. She had just walked away from her life. Her family, her friends, her education, and most important, the man she loved. Checking her watch, she was sure he was home by now. She was also sure that he had found her letter and read it. Secure, if not the least bit broken inside, with the knowledge that he would hate her, it made her decision to leave the right one.

"At least now, Shawn, Belle and Claire can be a family." - she muttered to herself; her voice carrying the bitterness and sadness she felt. "Just like they always wanted."

"Oh, Mimi!" - Belle squealed as she wrapped her friend in a bear hug. "Everything is so perfect." - Mimi smiled; Belle Black could see the joy in anything. Not that this wasn't a joyous occasion. Belle moving into Brady's old loft, while she moved in next door with her boyfriend Rex was a great thing. For not only their independence, but also it signified how things would always be. Belle and Shawn together, and Mimi and Rex together.

Mimi looked around the spacious loft before turning back to Belle who still had a huge smile plastered on her face. "This is great, Belle." - Mimi said. "You and Shawn here, with me and Rex across the hall. We're happy with the men we love and we're close together. Just like we dreamed when we were kids."

"I know." - joy radiated from Belle. "I can just see Shawn and me starting a life here. Someday a family." - Belle melted into the thought.

"That's what you've always wanted, Belle." - Mimi said aloud. "A family with Shawn." - though she was sure she didn't have any left, a tear slipped down her cheek. "Now, you'll have it."

"Excuse me?" - came from the person standing next to her seat. "Mimi?" - Mimi looked up into a pair of deep green eyes. An automatic smile came to both of their faces and Mimi stood up to hug her acquaintance.

"Jason." - she whispered as she molded her body to his.

Taken back by her softness, her need of comfort, Jason held her back a little and looked down into her eyes. When he saw the tears fighting their way through, his smile mutated to a concerned frown. Though she tried a smile to appease him, she knew he had noticed a change in her. They might not have seen each other for years, but one of Jason's most hated traits was that he would read people like a book. It was probably why he was so hated in high school. Just by looking at a person, he knew what would hurt them the most.

"Come on, sit down." - he helped her into her seat by the window again and took his next to her. "Want to talk about it?"

Shaking her head, Mimi choked back a sob. It came out as more of a bitter laugh when the sound escaped her parted lips. "Not really."

Jason nodded. He had grown up considerably since the last time they had seen each other. He had finally had enough of his own bullshit when he went away to college and his games cost him the chance at love. He had buckled down and gotten into medical school, which was where he was returning to on the island. Even without his training, he knew her well enough to leave her alone. Mimi was the type of person to have to understand her feelings before she could speak them. She would tell him. It would just take time.

"So, are you headed to St. Croix or Miami?" - Mimi asked him, trying desperately to get her mind off her troubles.

"St. Croix." - Jason answered and noticed now how Mimi fixed her eyes upon him. She noted the tan. His body, while always athletic, was lean and toned. She smiled when she saw the lazy smile. The distant gleam that used to be cast in his green orbs was no longer there. His eyes, while still dreamy, held determination. "I've lived there for…well, since we graduated high school."

"You went to college on an island?" - Mimi laughed. "I bet it was hard to concentrate."

Jason laughed softly. Mimi noticed how mature he seemed now. "It was. My first semester I ended up on academic probation." - his amused smile reached his eyes. "But then I found this really great study partner and buckled down."

Mimi studied him curiously, an eyebrow hitched. "Pretty girl, huh?" - she challenged.

"Beautiful." - Jason admitted with a laugh and drew one from her as well.

"So what happened between you and Miss Study Partner?"

"I used the wisdom she imparted on me and did the best thing I've ever done."

"What was that?" - Mimi asked, slightly intrigued.

"I married her."

At that, Mimi laughed loudly. "I'm sorry." - she apologized. "I'm just having a hard time seeing you so…"

"Grown up?" - Jason supplied.

Nodding, "Yeah." - her smile faltered a little. "It's a little hard to see you as you are now. I'm still waiting for you to pull my hair or something. I know that's wrong of me, people do change, it's just…I don't know. I'm sorry." - Jason smiled at her and she knew she was forgiven. "So, you and your wife live in St. Croix? Are you out of school?"

"We're in medical school." - Jason told her. He noticed her smile grown wider and the surprise filter into her eyes, but she held her laughter inside this time. "Her family owns land down there. She's from there. We have a house on their property. Way back on their property." - he ended with a laugh.

Mimi had never seen her friend so grown up. She felt string tugging at her heart when Jason spoke of his wife. She could see in his eyes how much he loved her and it brought her pain back. When she felt the tears ready to fall, she turned away quickly. The plane had taken off and she hadn't even noticed. She was sure they were out of Salem by now and that made everything hurt worse. Her life wasn't supposed to be this way.

Feeling a tap on her shoulder, she turned and found Jason's hand extending a tissue to her. Taking it, she smiled and thanked her stars that he hadn't asked. "So," - she began when she found her voice again. "What specialty are you going for?" - she asked, again, turning the conversation back to him.

"Psychiatry." - he answered. "I graduated with a degree in behavioral psychology." - he said proudly. "My wife wants to be a pediatrician."

"Oh, that's so great, Jason." - Mimi beamed, genuinely proud of him. "Is there a need for both of your specialties where you live?"

"Pediatricians, yes. Shrinks, we might have to move back to the States." - he joked. "There is not an overabundance of, for lack of a better word, 'crazies'…" - Mimi laughed; how professional of him, she thought, amused. "…but there is an overabundance of people who just need someone to listen to them. You can find those anywhere."

Nodding, Mimi chose to otherwise ignore his subtlety. "That's great, Jason." - she repeated. "You have your life together. Not everyone's that lucky."

Jason thought he heard something in her voice, but kept it to himself. She needed time. "Yeah, I'm no longer the butthead prick I was in high school." - he laughed and silence fell between them for a beat. "You know, sometimes, I want to send a letter to everyone I ever harassed in high school or whose life I made a living hell and apologize." - Mimi smiled. "But I'm afraid I'd run out of stationary."

Mimi laughed. "An apology goes a long way, Jase." - her eyes grew cloudy. "It's the first step to forgiveness."

"Yeah." - Jason agreed. "But I don't think all of them would forgive me."

"I meant the first step in forgiving yourself."

That was it. He just couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't stand to see the hurt in her eyes or hear it in her voice. Even if he couldn't fix her problem, he could listen. He would listen. "Mimi," - he called her, braced for the rebuttal he knew was coming. "I promised myself that I would leave this alone. I told myself that you needed time, but I just…I can't stand to see what this is doing to you."

"You can't help me with this, Jason." - she told him. "You can't fix what is wrong. Neither can I."

"I know that. But I can listen."

"You think I'm a 'crazy'?" - she joked with a sad grin.

"No." - Jason shook his head, determination full force in his eyes. "I think you're someone who needs someone to listen to them."

Shaking her head, Mimi was adamant. "You'll hate me. Everyone will. I hate myself." - she buried her face in her hands.

"Mimi, look at me." - Jason commanded softly. When she did, he took her hands in his and held them lightly. "I'm the last person on earth who would judge you, you know that. The crap I've pulled in my life, I have no room to judge you."

"You say that now because you don't know what I've done."

"You're forgetting a very important part of this." - he informed her. "This isn't about me. This is about you. You need to feel better. You need someone to listen to you. It just so happens that it's me. And who better? A self-proclaimed prick that has seen the error of his ways and changed his life?" - a grin split his face. "Come on, Mimi. You've got nothing to lose."

"That's true." - she agreed. "I've already lost it." - at his confused, but assuring gaze, she continued. "I've done the worst things I've ever done in my life. I lied to the man I love, I gave him information that he deserved to know before we got married that has the potential to destroy someone else's life…and then I walked away from him. I destroyed his life and just ran away."

When Mimi began to cry, Jason pulled her to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her heart was breaking now, but that tears would soon stop and she would be able to finally talk to him. To get it out in the open and be able to put her life into perspective. She needed to be able to do that more than anything.

Holding her close, Jason let her cry. It was the release she needed.

Everything else would happen when she was ready.