Christmas Wrapping (Read 3,242 times)

[heroicmuse]

Melanie has the WORST luck. Talk about star-crossed lovers! She and Philip never seem to be able to be in the same place at the same time. LOL

I'd like an answer to Belle's question too.

[fluffysmom]

Melanie is lucky to be ok after all of her mishaps.

[Kpatch]

I feel bad for Philip spending the entire party waiting for Melanie to show. This makes me wonder if something or someone is putting obstacles in their path.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 8

BRADY PUB
BELLE: Well, it's not that surprising, is it?
PHILIP: You explain, I'll catch up.
BELLE: Well, Jennifer put me in charge of asking who all was coming. When I talked to Maggie, she said that you were coming home this year. So, I just kind of assumed I'd see you at some point.
PHILIP: Makes sense.
BELLE: You are coming to the Horton Christmas party, right?
PHILIP: You know, I was kinda thinking about spending a quiet night at home...
BELLE: Philip Kiriakis! You are coming to this party!
SHAWN-D: Come on, dude, it's Christmas Eve. I mean, the whole reason Victor brought you out here was to be with family and friends.
Philip chuckled.
PHILIP: I know, I know. I was only joking. Of course I'll come. I just have to take my things to the mansion and change into some new clothes.
SHAWN-D: Sounds good, man.
Shawn-D looked at his watch.
SHAWN-D: Hey, I gotta go pick up Claire from school. We'll see you at the party, man.
PHILIP: Sounds good.

A few hours later...

JENNIFER'S HOUSE
Most of the other guests had gotten their by the time Philip arrived. J.J. and Claire had set up one corner of the room where they were performing various Christmas songs. J.J. was on guitar and vocals, while Claire was on vocals and piano.
J.J. & CLAIRE (singing): When you land upon your head then you've been Slade. So here it is, Merry Christmas! Everybody's having fun. Look to the future now, it's only just begun.
CLAIRE (singing): So here it is, Merry Christmas! Everybody's having fun.
J.J. (singing/shouting): It's Christmas!!!!!
CLAIRE (singing): Look to the future now...
J.J. & CLAIRE (singing): It's only just begun.
A few people clapped.
J.J.: Okay. I think that might have been a bit much for this crowd.
CLAIRE: Yeah.
Doug walked over to the piano.
DOUG: That was lovely, you two. But, do you mind if I have a go at those ivories?
CLAIRE: Sure.
Doug sat down at the piano and began to sing “The First Noel”. By this time, Philip had said his hellos to everybody.
VICTOR: I hear Titan's Chicago branch is going well.
PHILIP: As well as I can manage it.
VICTOR: Well, it's been surpassing most of the other branches, even the ones overseas.
PHILIP: I do my best.
MAGGIE: Well, you're certainly looking well, Philip.
PHILIP: Thanks. You too.
MAGGIE: Victor, I'm going to have to go to the store. I heard Jennifer say she forgot the cranberries.
VICTOR: What are you talking about...
MAGGIE: The cranberries, Victor.
PHILIP: I can go.
MAGGIE: Oh, Philip, you just got here. You don't need to.
PHILIP: I haven't even taken my coat off yet. The car's still fairly warm. I'll go.
MAGGIE: Okay, if you're sure.
PHILIP: I will.
Philip quietly went out to his car.
VICTOR: My dear, just what exactly are you up to?
Maggie smiled innocently.

To listen to the full song J.J. and Claire were doing (which is “Merry Christmas, Everybody” by Slade) click here.

[heroicmuse]

Yay! I don't care what JJ's singing, I always like to hear him sing

I vote for Melanie being a surprise guest. That excuse about Jen needing cranberries is odd to say the least lol

[fluffysmom]

I suspect Philip will run into Melanie outside or at the grocery store.

[Kpatch]

I think I would like Doug's music better than JJ and Claire's.

[gapeach]

I miss Doug singing on the show

[André DiMera]

Chapter 9

JENNIFER'S HOUSE
MAGGIE: I've no idea what you mean, Victor.
VICTOR: You certainly do. You just sent Philip out to get cranberries when not ten minutes ago, you sent...
MAGGIE: I know who I sent.
VICTOR: You're playing matchmaker, aren't you?
MAGGIE: Victor, would it be so bad to see your son happy and home this Christmas?
VICTOR: Of course not.
MAGGIE: Then, just wait until he comes back. We'll see if my plan worked or not.

S-MART
Philip made it to the only grocery store in Salem that would still be open on Christmas Eve. To say that it was crowded would be an understatement. Though many of Salem's residents were at the Horton home that evening, people from some of the neighboring towns had come, because this was the closest open grocery store they could find. Philip just wanted to get in and out as fast as he could. He headed to the aisle where the cranberries would be, to find one single can left on the shelf. He went to pick it up, but at the same moment that he did, so did someone else.
PHILIP: Hey!
Philip was about to go after them, when he saw who it was.
MELANIE: Hey yourself.
PHILIP: What are you doing here?
MELANIE: My dad wanted me home for Christmas, but when we got to Jennifer's, Grandma Maggie said that we needed more...
PHILIP: Cranberries.
MELANIE: Yeah. How did you know?
PHILIP: My father wanted me home for Christmas, and when I got to Jennifer's, Maggie said that we needed more...
MELANIE: Cranberries.
PHILIP: Exactly.
Philip and Melanie stood their for a moment, and started laughing. They laughed until tears were coming out of their eyes. Then, the two of them hugged.
MELANIE: It is so good to see you!
PHILIP: It's good to see you, too. Melanie, I was such an idiot. I should have made more of an effort to come and see you. Like this past summer, when you got that really bad sunburn, I should've dropped everything and gone to you to make sure you were okay.
MELANIE: Hey, it's not entirely your fault, either. I should've been more careful with some of the stuff I did this past year. And, I could just as easily have tried to get in touch with you, too.
PHILIP: Well, let's not make next year a repeat of the one we've just had.
MELANIE: Agreed.
PHILIP: So, we're both here, in Salem.
MELANIE: Yeah.
PHILIP: And, Maggie's sent us both out to get the same thing.
MELANIE: Right. You don't think...?
PHILIP: I think it's more than a coincidence that we both just happen to be here for the same food item for the same party. And, I've never known Maggie to be forgetful.
MELANIE: Nope, she's still sharp as a pic. She's also, apparently, a matchmaker.
PHILIP: That's what I was thinking, too. So, since we're both here, looking for the same item for the same party, I was just kind of wondering...
Philip held out his arm.
PHILIP: Would you like to go to the Horton Christmas party with me, madam?
MELANIE: Why, thank you, kind sir. I would love to.
Philip and Melanie linked arms and headed for the checkout aisle.

[heroicmuse]

YAY!!!! I knew it! I knew Philip and Melanie were being set up! This is great! I can't wait to see what happens when they get back to the party!

[mae00]

Great chapters Andre!!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 10

JENNIFER'S HOUSE
When Philip and Melanie got to Jennifer's, J.J. was sitting in a chair, strumming his guitar and singing.
J.J. (singing): O Holy night. The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and e'er pining 'til he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees. O hear the angel voices. O night divine. O night when Christ was born. O night divine. O night, O night divine.
Philip and Melanie walked into the kitchen.
MELANIE: We've got the cranberries, Jen.
JENNIFER: Cranberries? I mean, I appreciate you getting them, but we already have more than enough cranberries.
MELANIE: Yeah, but, Grandma Maggie said that you needed some.
PHILIP: That's what she told me, too.
Maggie walked in.
MAGGIE: Well, it certainly is lovely to see you both.
PHILIP: Maggie, have you been trying to play matchmaker with us?
MAGGIE: Has it worked?
Philip and Melanie looked at each other, and then back at Maggie.
MELANIE: We'll see.
PHILIP: There are definite possibilities.
MAGGIE: So, I assume that we're going to have a happy ending this Christmas?
PHILIP: Thanks to a bit of Christmas magic...
MELANIE: And a bit of matchmaking.
Melanie hugged Maggie.
MELANIE: Thank you.
Then, Melanie hugged Philip.
PHILIP: Come on, let's go back out there.
Philip and Melanie rejoined the party, as did Jennifer and Maggie.
DOUG: Hey, look who's here.
Everyone clapped when Philip walked in.
DOUG: Come on, Philip, it's been a while since you've been here. Why not have a go?
Doug handed Philip a microphone. Everyone clapped again.
PHILIP: Okay, if you insist. I need a little bit of help, though. Any volunteers.
Melanie raised her hand.
PHILIP: I was hoping that would be the case. But, I'm gonna need a little more help, see I'm not very good with instruments. Claire, you know piano, right?
CLAIRE: Yes.
Philip handed Claire a piece of paper.
PHILIP: You know this one?
CLAIRE: Are you kidding? I love this one!
PHILIP: Cool. Would you do the honors?
Claire sat down at the piano and began playing. Philip turned to all his friends and family.
PHILIP (singing): Home for the holidays, and I believe I've missed each and every face. Come on and play my music. Let's turn on every love light in the place

Melanie joined him.

MELANIE (singing): It's time I found myself totally surrounded in your circles

PHLIP (singing): Come on, my friends. Please, celebrate me home. Give me a number,

MELANIE (singing): Please, celebrate me home. Play me one more song that I'll always remember.

PHILIP (singing): And I can recall whenever I find myself too all alone, I can sing me home.

MELANIE (singing): Uneasy highway, traveling where the Westerly winds can fly. Somebody tried to tell me, but the man forgot to tell me why,

PHILIP (singing): I gotta count on being gone. Come on momma, come on daddy, be what you want from me. I'm this strong, I'll be weak

MELANIE (singing): Please, celebrate me home, give me a number,

PHILIP (singing): Please, celebrate me home. Play me one more song that I'll always remember,

MELANIE (singing): I can recall whenever I find myself too all alone, I can make believe I've never gone,

PHILIP (singing): And I never know where I belong. Sing me home.

PHILIP & MELANIE (singing): Please, celebrate me home, hive me a number. Please, celebrate me home. Play me one more song, y'all

PHILIP (singing): Celebrate, celebrate

MELANIE (singing): Celebrate, celebrate

PHILIP (singing): Celebrate...
MELANIE (singing): Celebrate...

PHILIP & MELANIE (singing): Celebrate me home

As the song went on, more and more people joined in until everybody at the Horton Christmas party.
EVERYONE: Merry Christmas!
PHILIP: And, incidentally, Merry Christmas to everybody at MyHourglass Forum, as well.

The End

[heroicmuse]

Merry Christmas!!!! Jennifer's confusion about the cranberries cracked me up. Great song choices too. Thank you for the lovely Christmas story André DiMera!

[Kpatch]

Two of my favorite songs in that last chapter. Love it!

Thanks for the great holiday tradition, André DiMera!

[fluffysmom]

Merry Christmas André DiMera.

Thanks for the entertaining Christmas story. I'm glad everyone ended up at the Horton house.