Once Upon a Time (Read 38,190 times)

[heroicmuse]

I'm glad Dr. Richards is pushing him about this. He needs to relax. Also, talking about vacations and such is probably less threatening than trying to get him to open up about the anger she perceives he is not sharing.

[André DiMera]

I hope Philip does take a vacation. I can't wait to see the session with both him and Chloe!

[fluffysmom]

Hopefully Philip will open up to Dr. Richards soon. So that he can begin working through his anger. I think Philip could use a vacation. He needs to relax.

I wonder what she will say to the two of them.

[Kpatch]

Chapter 9a


Seated side by side in chairs on the other side of the doctor's desk, Philip and Chloe held hands like they were waiting for a jury to bring in a guilty verdict as the doctor spoke to them.

“Well, I’m very pleased that the two of you want to give your relationship another chance. And I’m especially glad that it’s not just for Parker’s sake, but because you love each other. After speaking with each of you, I can see there’s a lot at issue here for the both of you, from trust, to self-worth, to self-preservation. Have you given any thought to how you want to proceed from here? With your relationship, I mean?”

Philip and Chloe glanced at each other for a moment but neither said anything.

“Guys, you need to have a plan,” the doctor said calmly. “For example, were you thinking you’d just pick up where you left off?”

“Definitely not,” Philip said, releasing Chloe's hand. “Where we left off was not a good place.”

“Okay, I meant before that,” the doctor clarified. “For example, were you, Philip, were you thinking you’d move back in with Chloe and Parker?”

Philip scratched his temple. “Eventually, yes, of course.”

Chloe did a double take at Philip. “Eventually? I was thinking … well, I was thinking you’d be moving back tonight,” she blurted.

Philip opened his mouth to say something, but the doctor cut him off. “Well before you rush into ‘business as usual,’ I want to caution you to think very carefully,” she said. “This isn’t just about the two of you. Your actions affect Parker too, and his welfare has got to come first.”

“We know that,” Chloe reacted defensively.

“Because if Philip moves back in and things don’t work out again,” Dr. Richards continues, “Parker will suffer yet another disappointment that he might carry for the rest of his life. It will affect his ability to trust and feel secure and it could even impact his future relationships. He's four years old and he's aware of more than you think.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “Oh my god. No, I don’t want to ever do that to my angel,” Chloe quickly agreed. “I’d die first.”

“Wait a second,” Philip interjected, leaning an arm on his side of the doctor’s desk. “You’re making it sound like I can never move back.”

“I certainly don’t mean it that way,” Dr. Richards softened a bit. 
“But moving back has got to be a very well considered decision that only occurs once both of you are sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’ll be together for the rest of your lives.”

By now, Philip and Chloe were getting anxious, looking from one another to the doctor and back again.

“No pressure,” Philip scoffed.

“I don’t mean to put the fear of god in you, Philip, but I do want you to take this step very seriously. Both of you,” she said looking at Chloe. “In fact, I would advise against you even telling Parker you’re considering a reunion.”

[melly]

Dr Richards is one smart woman! I'm really glad that Parker is the focus for her. Not that Philip and Chloe would intentionally hurt him, but Dr Richards is making them carefully consider how all of the possible outcomes might impact Parker. Good for her!

May we please have previews?

[gapeach]

Loved all three parts of the counseling session. Dr. Richards is one very smart woman!! I agree previews please!!

[heroicmuse]

I third the preview request!!! Dr. Richards knows her stuff. Can't wait to see what Chloe and Philip do with what she said.

[André DiMera]

I hope Philip and Chloe listen to Dr. Richards! She is one smart lady!

Can we please have some previews, Kpatch?

[Kpatch]

Previews for the week ahead


Dr. Richards gives Philip and Chloe a specific plan to follow.

Philip and Parker discuss Nancy.

Chloe isn’t sold on the doctor’s orders.

Philip and Chloe have their first post-counseling disagreement.

[André DiMera]

I really hope they listen to Dr. Richards!

Thanks for the previews, Kpatch!

[fluffysmom]

I think Philip and Chloe were caught off guard by Dr. Richards comments.

Thanks for the previews Kpatch. I'm looking forward to Philip and Parker talking about Nancy.

[unavitasegreta]

Dr. Richards is gonna set them straight. I am loving her being the voice of reason. They need it. Parker is the one who suffered the most the past year.

[melly]

Yay for previews--sounds like this will be an eventful week!

[Kpatch]

Chapter 10


“I don’t mean to put the fear of god in you, Philip, but I do want you to take this step very seriously. Both of you,” she said looking at Chloe. “In fact, I would advise against you even telling Parker you’re considering a reunion.”

“Okaaay,” Philip said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. “So you’re telling us all these things that we shouldn’t do. What about what we should do? You said we should have a plan. Which I presume means you have a plan for us.”

“That’s right. A plan for the two of you moving forward as a couple. So. Here’s what I’m going to suggest.” She took out a prescription pad from the top desk drawer and poised her pen over it. “And it’s worked for other couples I’ve counseled so you both need to keep an open mind. Okay?”

Chloe and Philip glanced at each other, then back at the doctor. “I hope you’re not going to write us a prescription for Viagra,” Philip quipped, “because I can pretty much guarantee….”

“No Philip. Actually, the opposite of Viagra.” Philip’s brow knit as the doctor continued. “I want you to date, like you would if you just met. Like you did when you first met.”

“Once upon a time,” Chloe mumbled.

“Exactly,” the doctor agreed. “Every ‘happily ever after’ has to begin with ‘once upon a time’. It will be just like starting over. Going back to the beginning. I want you to court each other. Romance each other. And I don’t mean with flowers and chocolates. Because this applies to both of you, not just one of you,” she said pointing her pen at Philip, then at Chloe. “It’s important that you get to know one another all over again. You may think you’re the same as you always were, but experiences change people and you’ve both been through quite a lot lately. So. Think you can do that?”

Philip and Chloe nodded. “Dating is good,” Chloe agreed. “We can do dating.”

“Good,” Dr. Richards added. “I have just one hard-and-fast rule. No sex.”

In unison, Philip and Chloe exclaimed, “What??”

“No sex is the opposite of hard and fast,” Philip spat.

“No sex. This is not negotiable, guys. I don’t know if you’ve had sex since you got back together and I’m not asking.…”

“We haven’t,” Chloe sighed. Philip shot her a look, surprised that she would blurt out something he considered so private.

“Good. Because sex gets in the way. Sex becomes this false sense of intimacy that couples seem to think entitles them to get too close too soon. By taking sex out of the equation, it heightens all the other senses and helps you focus on the emotional and cerebral connection. … Philip, you look distressed. What are you thinking?”

“Of course I’m distressed. For how long does this rule stay in effect?”

“A minimum of three months,” the doctor said firmly. “But we’re going to re-evaluate every two weeks when you come in for your sessions.”

Philip glanced at Chloe and took a deep breath. “I … I’m not sure I can last that long.”

“That’s what the men always say,” Richards retorted. “But trust me, you can. You were in the Army.”

“Marines,” he corrected.

“So you understand discipline,” Dr. Richards reminded him.

“Jeez. It’ll be like being back in high school,” Philip mumbled through clenched teeth.

“And Chloe, your thoughts?”

“Um. I don’t know.” She glanced at Philip. “It … it kind of feels like a punishment and I feel like we’ve been punished enough.” She looked down at her lap. “Or maybe that’s the point.”

“It’s not a punishment,” Dr. Richards said flatly, “and by the time we get through this, you’ll thank me.”

“I’m pretty sure the words I’ll be saying to you won’t be ‘thank you,’” Philip said sarcastically.

[melly]

I just like Dr Richards more every time we see her. She's spot on that these two need to get to know each other again in order for this relationship to work in the long term. (Though if we got maybe one scene where Philip was shirtless, I wouldn't complain, Kpatch...)