Mimi wasn't happy at the prospect of a Secret Santa. For a while now she had been planning the perfect Christmas present for her boyfriend, but now she would have to buy a good present for someone else too. Affording it would be an issue but she didn't want to refuse as the Secret Santa had been Collins idea. Angel's health had been costing the two some money and they really couldn't afford to give presents to everyone. Therefore Mimi had agreed to the idea. Consequently she was ecstatic when the name she pulled out of the hat was Rogers.

When they had been protesting about the rent Roger had been forced to burn some of his posters to keep warm. Accidently he had burnt his most precious poster- an early publicity shot of the band 'Mute'. Then one evening at the Cat Scratch Club she had overheard a conversation about a new music shop where the proprietor dealt with rare music and collectibles. The next day she had gone straight there and he had promised her he would be able to get the poster for her.

The day after the Secret Santa Mimi headed to the shop with the money she saved up. Unfortunately the shop was in an area of Alphabet City near where The Man dealt drugs and she passed him on her way.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" He asked moving towards her.

"Leave me alone" she spat at him.

From his pocket he produced a small packet of white powder. "You don't want to leave without this." He countered softly.

"Stop it." She retorted but he latched onto the hint of uncertainty he detected in her tone.

"Think of how you feel after you take this." His hypnotic voice reminded her. "Think of the high. It's been too long since you felt this good. Take it. You want to."

As if in a trance Mimi found her hand moving inside her pocket. When her fingers closed around the money the touch drew her focus to Roger. The money was there to buy her amazing boyfriend a present not for her to waste her life on drugs. Since they had got together Roger had been doing his best to help her quit. She knew how hard it was for him, with every relapse reminding him of his past with April and how she had given up on him. Not wanting to cause him any more anguish Mimi was fighting her addiction for Roger: to be free for them to have a relationship where they loved each other more than anything else in the world. Where she loved him more than drugs. Moving her hand away from the money she knew her decision was easy (not that carrying it out would be.)

Looking The Man straight in the eyes she said coldly, "Some things in life are more important than your drugs and they give me a far better high."

Then determinedly she walked away… straight towards Roger and Mark who had been watching.

"I'm so proud of you" Roger told her his voice tight with emotion as he pulled her into a hug. Mark had persuaded him to join him filming, but Roger had been shocked to when he noticed Mimi talking to The Man. Immediately he had started forward ready to separate the two, but Mark had laid a restraining hand on his arm. As Mark stood there filming Roger watched the scene unfold, his heart pounding wildly as he wondered what Mimi would do. When she refused the heroin it felt as though a wave of pride and euphoria had swept over him. This was the first time Mimi had refused a straight offer of drugs and he was overwhelmingly proud of his girl. He decided to take her home and show her just how proud he was.

The next few days were filled with happiness for the couple, with Mimi's refusal marking a new stage in their relationship. They both acknowledged that the other was the most important thing in their life and their relationship deepened because of it.

When Mimi finally made it to the music shop she was thrilled to see that the poster was signed by all the band members. It made it more expensive, but with hardly any money going to drugs she could afford it. She knew what she'd rather spend her money on.

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