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Post by Kpatch on Jul 19, 2015 15:12:13 GMT -5
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Post by Kpatch on Jul 19, 2015 15:12:53 GMT -5
Destiny’s Child, final scene
Philip’s eyes had to adjust to the low lighting when he entered Chloe’s hospital room. Brady was seated in a metal chair by her bedside. He was speaking so softly that Philip couldn’t hear what he was saying. Then it occurred to Philip that Brady was praying.
Brady looked up at Philip standing by the door.
“She was awake for a minute,” Brady told Philip, “but she’s asleep again now. We should probably let her get her rest.” Brady got out of the chair and started for the door. “You coming, Philip?” Brady asked.
But Philip didn’t answer. His eyes were now fixed on Chloe. He walked slowly toward her bed, pulled out the chair that Brady had just vacated, and sat down.
Brady got the message, and left the room.
Philip hesitantly reached for Chloe’s hand. He picked it up between both his hands and kissed it. Then he leaned his forehead against her knuckles and said a silent prayer of his own.
He spent the past month walking through the world in a fog, feeling nothing, nothing but numbness and a vague sense of grief and loss. Now, all the pain and sadness was flooding back ... but this time, the pain wasn’t for himself. It was for Chloe. It was for Chloe and everything she’d been going through, and everything she was about to go through.
How is it possible he had no idea she was so lost and desperate? He was supposed to know her so well.
He’d made a lot of assumptions. They both had. He was completely focused on himself and what he thought was best for Parker. He wasn’t thinking about Chloe, not at all. He never took her emotions into consideration, or the affect that all the upheaval had on her. He assumed that nothing changed for her. She was still Parker’s mother, after all. And she made the assumption that Philip didn’t want her if he couldn’t have Parker too.
How wrong they both were. They both screwed up big time.
More than anything, Philip wanted to turn back time, to have the fortitude to deal with everything differently, to ask more questions, to not shut down, and to handle the ordeal together as a couple, to support one another the way they were supposed to.
Chloe stirred and opened her eyes part-way. “Philip? Is that you?” She spoke softly and slowly, still experiencing the effects of the sedation.
Philip lifted his head. “It’s me, Chloe. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“What’s wrong with me, Philip? Am I dying?”
Philip stroked her hair. “No, no, nothing like that.”
“But I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t catch my breath. ... I was so scared.”
“I know, sweetie, but you’re alright now. The doctors are taking good care of you and you’ll be healthy soon. I promise.”
“Then how come you look so worried?” Even in the dimly lit room, Philip couldn’t hide his furrowed brow and tension.
“I just want you to be okay. That’s all.”
“You’re not hiding anything from me, are you?”
Philip hesitated momentarily before answering, remembering what EJ told him, that he is Parker’s father, not Daniel. But he couldn’t share that news with Chloe, not now while she was in such a fragile emotional state. And definitely not until he got verification.
“Oh my god, you are keeping something from me,” she said, starting to panic. “Tell me.”
He placed his hand on her head and stroked her hair soothingly. “Shhh. Shhh. Everything’s fine now, Chloe. There’s only two things you need to know.”
“What?”
He kissed her hand again. “First, that I love you.”
“Really? You still do?”
He nodded. “I still do. I never stopped.”
“But ... why? You’re not Parker’s father. You have no reason to still love me.”
Philip shook his head. “Parker has nothing to do with the way I feel about you, Chloe. There are a million reasons I love you, and being Parker’s father isn’t one of them. I’ve always loved you. Always.”
“A million?” She asked hazily, not quite comprehending. “A million is too many. I just want one reason.”
Philip choked back a tear. “Okay. How’s this for a reason? I love you because you’re Chloe and I’m Philip.”
With his thumb, Philip wiped away the tears that were rolling down Chloe’s cheeks. “And the second thing I want you to know is that we’re in this together, Chloe, for as long as it takes. I’m staying right here and I will never give up on us.”
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Post by fluffysmom on Jul 19, 2015 16:23:51 GMT -5
I enjoyed reading this chapter again. Hearing Philip's reasons makes my Phloe heart happy.
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Post by melly on Jul 19, 2015 18:16:44 GMT -5
Have I mentioned that I'm excited for this story? BECAUSE I AM!!!!
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Post by Kpatch on Jul 20, 2015 5:27:25 GMT -5
Once Upon a Time — Starting Over
Chapter 1a
Chloe couldn’t stop smiling the whole flight home. Philip was giving her another chance.
Of course, she knew she had to get it right this time, that there was no room for error, but still, it was a step in the right direction. They were on their way to a reconciliation and that’s all Chloe wanted — a chance to make things right. That’s all she wanted to focus on.
She was so antsy on the plane; she wanted to get up and walk around, but she was flying commercial from Reno back to Chicago while the Titan jet was being repaired, so she had to keep her seatbelt fastened low and tight across her lap. A stroll up and down the aisle would be very impractical.
Philip ended up staying in Nevada for another day, trying to close a partner deal with Beats, which meant she was heading home alone. In a way, she was glad that they weren’t traveling together. They each needed time to regroup, time to process everything and think about next steps. For Chloe, that was easy. Next step was therapy. She had already sent Dr. Richards an email asking for an appointment and was waiting to hear back from her with available times. Because Dr. Richards specialized in child and family psychology, it seemed logical for Chloe to continue to see her, rather than start with someone new. In her message, she told the doctor that she and Philip were going to give it another try.
That thought gave Chloe goosebumps. She came so close to losing him forever, to facing the rest of her life without him. When she imagined a Philipless future, it all looked so bleak and black, so mundane and depressing and lonely. She’d been married other times, but Philip was the top of the line, and there was no going back to anything less, not when she’d already had the best.
She almost had to pinch herself to believe that there was hope for a happy future again. He was so sweet last night during their romantic dinner in the gazebo under the stars in the desert sky. They danced, they talked, they joked, they kissed. The night had a fairy tale quality to it, like the beginning of a happily ever after. She felt certain they’d only need one hotel room that night.
She turned out to be wrong.
Copyright ©2015 kpatch. All rights reserved.
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Post by gapeach on Jul 20, 2015 5:36:31 GMT -5
So glad that Chloe has already reached out to Dr Richards.
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Post by melly on Jul 20, 2015 6:12:04 GMT -5
Appointment with Dr Richards! Now if we could just get the good doctor to move to Salem so there was an option besides Dr Evans...
I hope Chloe gets that Philip is probably going to need to take this reconciliation slowly and not get her feelings hurt.
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Post by heroicmuse on Jul 20, 2015 6:41:00 GMT -5
Great beginning! I'm so glad Chloe is going to see Dr. Richards again. I hope that she doesn't get in her own way by being impatient to make this work. I can't wait to see what happened after she and Philip talked and danced in Nevada.
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Post by André DiMera on Jul 20, 2015 8:30:16 GMT -5
I'm very glad that Chloe's made more appointments with Dr. Richards. I really hope that they help! Thanks for the refresher chapter yesterday and the first chapter today, Kpatch! Great start to the story! |
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Post by unavitasegreta on Jul 20, 2015 20:02:43 GMT -5
IT IS HERE! IT IS HERE! IT IS HERE! (Too excited? Sorry. I had a long day of meetings. I needed to let that out!)
I think Chloe needs that Dr. Richards appointment right now! Girl needs to learn that sex with Philip is dangerous right now. She's got to remind him why he fell in love with her and not distract him with sex.
I'm curious what Philip is thinking/feeling right now!
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Post by fluffysmom on Jul 20, 2015 22:28:37 GMT -5
I'm as excited as Chloe! I really like hearing Chloe's thoughts as she flies home from Nevada. I'm glad she is ready to begin therapy.
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Post by Kpatch on Jul 21, 2015 5:42:56 GMT -5
Chapter 1b
~~Flashback to the night before~~
Very slowly he inched closer to her, leaning in, little by little. Pushed up against the door outside her hotel room, her eyes fluttered shut when his lips softly pressed upon hers. He lightly stroked her chin with his knuckle as he kissed her, reminding her of their very first kiss on her parent’s front porch. That slow, sweet, innocent, intimate, and somewhat nervous kiss held so much promise sixteen years ago, just like their good-night kiss did last night.
Philip pulled her into his arms and held her tightly while she rested against his shoulder inhaling the smell of his leather jacket combined with his natural musky scent. “Good night, Chloe,” he said quietly before kissing her hair and taking a step back. He must have read the perplexed look on her face. “It’s been a really emotional day for both of us, so I think it’s best to spend the night apart, take some time to think before … picking up where we left off.”
In her head, she knew he was right, but her heart was telling a different story. Not acceptable, Chloe almost said out loud. Instead, she pulled on the lapels of Philip’s jacket and kissed him hard. Her feelings for him were so strong, almost overwhelming. She couldn’t bear the thought of spending another night without him. Leaning away, she looked him directly in the eye and told him, “I don’t need any time apart. I know exactly what I want.”
She rested her hands on his shoulders, certain that he could see the longing in her eyes, hoping she could change his mind about taking things slow, yet knowing he was probably right. That idea made her want him even more. Who else would want to take things slowly because he cared so much? No one, no one but Philip Kiriakis would be that sensitive, that deep, that intuitive. He knew himself so well, and he knew Chloe too. He’d known her forever and she sometimes thought he understood her better than she understood herself. That’s probably why he was open to the possibility of forgiving her. And that’s precisely why she knew she should fight her instincts which had led her astray far too many times, and allow Philip to take the lead. If only it weren’t so hard!
Philip took her face in his hands and smiled at her earnestly. “Then I guess I was speaking just for me. I need some time to think, so I’m going back to my room. … Alone.”
He was serious? What did he need to think about?? “You’re not gonna change your mind,” Chloe asked, a hint of panic in her voice.
Philip shook his head no and kissed her softly one last time before leaving her at her door to watch him walking away.
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Post by gapeach on Jul 21, 2015 5:59:44 GMT -5
Thanks for letting us share that moment. Since they are 'starting over' I hope that Chloe shows that she has matured and REALLY trusts Phillip and their love.
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Post by melly on Jul 21, 2015 6:12:18 GMT -5
Philip is showing some restraint--wisely, I think. But can we blame Chloe for being disappointed that she's spending the night alone?
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Post by heroicmuse on Jul 21, 2015 6:58:12 GMT -5
Awww.... that was such a sweet and heartbreaking scene at the same time. Chloe really needs to follow Philip's lead and let him take things slow. And try not to give into fear that he will change his mind if she gives him space. That insecurity is what caused the problems in the first place.
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