All My Exes (Read 6,948 times)

[Kpatch]

CHLOE’S APARTMENT

Philip and Chloe are lying on the sofa, half watching TV. He’s got his arms around her and she’s resting her head on his chest as she is admiring her engagement ring.

Chloe: So, are you going to tell me how you got that black eye?
Philip: Oh. Um. I walked into a wall? A door? Someone’s fist?
Chloe: Which one is the truth?
Philip: My eye came in contact with Daniel’s fist.
Chloe sits up and looks at Philip in shock.
Chloe: What??? Oh my god.
Philip: Truth be told, I threw the first punch. I was actually looking for a fight.
Chloe: I’m not happy with you right now, you know that?
Philip: You’re beautiful when you’re angry.
Chloe: Is Daniel okay?
Philip: He’ll live. We only beat him within an inch of his life.
Chloe: We???
Philip: I brought my boys. Sonny and Luca. I mean Brady and Lucas.
Chloe: Oh no. You didn’t.
Philip: Hey, it was my fight. I needed to settle it.
Chloe: With fists?
Philip: It’s better than a drawn-out lawsuit.
Chloe [exasperated]: What am I going to do with you?
Philip [smiling flirtatiously]: I have a few ideas.
Chloe: Philip Kiriakis! You’re still as incorrigible as ever. I may need to make you stand in the corner.
Philip: And tie me up?
Chloe: ... Speaking of corners, I cannot wait to move out of this place and into your condo.
Philip: The condo is a lot roomier. But ...
Chloe: But what?
Philip: We’re going to have to evict Brady though. Four’s a crowd.
Chloe: Brady’s a big boy. He can handle being evicted. Besides, I want you all to myself.
Philip: You want me? You got me. They kiss as Chloe cuddles up to Philip.
Chloe: Have I told you how much I love my engagement ring?
Philip: Not in the past 10 minutes.
Chloe: Thank you for letting me pick it out.
Philip: Well, it’s going to be on your finger for 60 or 70 years, so I wanted to be sure you really like it.
Chloe: I love it. And I love you. She kisses him again.
Philip: I have another Valentine’s Day present for you.
Chloe: Philip, stop. You’ve given me enough.
Philip: I just want to make you happy.
Chloe: I’ve never been happier. Just being with you makes me happy.
Philip: Here, open it.
He hands her an 8” x 14” envelope. She opens it and pulls out a set of blueprints.
Chloe: What’s this? A new house?
Philip: I don’t think our first house is going to be quite that big. It’s the plans for the Salem Opera House. It’s about time we finished it.
Chloe: Seriously?
Philip: They’re going to lay the foundation while we’re on our honeymoon. Then, when we come back, you get to play decorator and tell them exactly what you want it to look like inside.
Chloe: Oh my god. This is so amazing. Philip, thank you. How did I get so lucky?
Philip: I ask myself that every day. How did you get so lucky? He laughs.
Chloe: Philip!
She playfully hits him several times with a sofa cushion and they end up kissing.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

PHILIP AND BRADY’S CONDO, THE NEXT DAY

Philip: Hey, what’s with the suitcase?
Lucas: It’s time for me to go.
Philip: So soon?
Lucas: Yea, but I’ll be back before long. There are some things I need to work out with Sami.
Philip: Are you two getting back together?
Lucas: I don’t know. Maybe. When it comes to Sami, there’s a fine line between love and hate.
Philip: I’m sorry to see you leave. It was fun having you around.
Lucas: Well, one of these days, you’re going to want to move your wife in here.
Philip: Oh. About that...
Lucas: It’s okay. I know you’re not married to Chloe.
Philip: Not yet.
Lucas: I know you lied to Mom and Victor and I understand why.
Philip: Thanks man.
Lucas shakes his finger at Philip.
Lucas: Don’t thank me. And don’t mistake my understanding for support. I think you’re a bigger idiot than Victor does. And I refuse to hang around and watch you make the same mistake I did.
Philip: I get that, Lucas. But just because it was a mistake for you ...
Lucas: And for Brady, and for Daniel ...
Philip: ... doesn’t mean it’s a mistake for me. Chloe wasn’t the right woman for you ...
Lucas: Or for Brady, or for Daniel ...
Philip: ... but she’s the right woman for me. I know it with every fiber of my being.
Lucas: That’s what you said about Belle. And Stephanie. And Melanie.
Philip: Ouch.
Lucas: Listen, I’m not trying to make you feel bad, and I’m not trying to be mean. You know what? Hell, I hope this works out for you. I really do. I’d like nothing more than to see you happy, little brother. I mean that.
Philip: Thanks Lucas. That’s what I want for you too.
Lucas and Philip embrace.
Lucas: Tell Chloe if she cheats on you, I’ll kill her. Love you, man.
Philip: Same here. Thanks for everything.
Lucas and Philip butt fists as Lucas picks up his suitcase and leaves.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

6:00 a.m., SUNDAY MORNING, CHLOE’S BEDROOM

Philip comes back to bed after feeding and changing Parker. He tries not to disturb Chloe who is sound asleep. She was up late with the baby last night and has earned her rest. As he watches her sleeping so peacefully, he’s overcome with emotion. He thinks about how every relationship he’s ever had has failed, and if this one fails too, he may as well give up. “Don’t blow this, Kiriakis,” he says to himself. He is well aware that this is the most important relationship of his life, not only because he and Chloe have a child together, but also because he’s loved her forever. He never thought he’d get another chance with her, but he has, and he needs to make sure it’s for keeps this time. He thinks about Lucas’ comment and shakes his head. Lucas was wrong. Philip’s other relationships weren’t anywhere close to what he and Chloe have. But Lucas struck a nerve with something else he said to Philip, and Philip needs to find a way to bring up the subject without hurting Chloe’s feelings. He rests his chin on his hand and looks at her lying next to him. He feels his heart pounding and it takes most of his strength to keep from taking her in his arms and making love to her. He gently strokes her hair. Chloe stirs, opens her eyes, and smiles warmly as she meets Philip’s gaze.

Philip: I’m sorry. I was trying not to wake you.
Chloe: If you kiss me, I might forgive you.
Philip gladly obliges.
Philip: Good morning beautiful. Do you want me to let you go back to sleep?
Chloe: Maybe. But first I have to tell you about a really great dream I was having.
She sits up in bed.
Philip: That must mean I was in it.
Chloe: Well of course you were. You’re the man of my dreams. But this time, your parents were in my dream too.
Philip: That sounds more like a nightmare.
Chloe: No, it was nice. Your mother and I were cooking Thanksgiving dinner together.
Philip: Minus the brownies, I hope.
Chloe: No brownies, just pumpkin pie. And your father was introducing me to everyone as his daughter-in-law. Like he was proud.
Philip: Dream on.
Chloe: Don’t worry, I’m not holding my breath.
Philip: Um, sweetie, can we talk about a serious subject?
Chloe: Sure. What is it?
Philip: Lucas went back to Hong Kong.
Chloe: So?
Philip: The last thing he said to me ... He said you’d better not cheat on me or you’ll have to answer to him.
Chloe: That wasn’t very nice.
Philip: Maybe not, but there’s some truth to it, you know? There’s historical data.
Chloe: Are you seriously saying you’re worried that I might cheat on you?


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

CHLOE’S BEDROOM

Chloe: Are you seriously saying you’re worried that I might on cheat on you?
Philip: I don’t think I could handle it if you did. I think I’d go postal.
Chloe: That goes both ways, you know.
Philip: Of course. I don’t take this commitment lightly.
Chloe: Well neither do I.
Her eyes well up with tears.
Chloe: I wish there was some way to make you believe there will never be anyone else for me but you. I wish there was something I could say ...
Philip: I still bear the scars from when you threw me over for Brady.
Chloe: I’m not proud of the way I treated you in the past. Or that I cheated on Lucas and Daniel. In fact, sometimes I think I should be alone. I think, Chloe, you don’t deserve Philip.
Philip: Chloe, don’t say that. I’m no prize. And I know I hurt you too.
Chloe: Up to now, I think I’ve always subconsciously been looking for something else. Someone else. I’m not trying to make excuses, but I think it has something to do with the fact I didn’t have a father when I was growing up.
Philip: I’m not sure I follow.
Chloe: I didn’t know Craig was my father until I was a teenager, and from the time I was a little girl growing up in foster homes, I always wished I had a strong man to take care of me. Like Brady. And Lucas. And Daniel. They were all father figures. They wanted to take care of me, but I now know that wasn’t really what I wanted in a husband.
Philip: And what you want is ...
Chloe: Someone strong, yes. But someone who lets me be me. An equal. A partner. Someone who I can love, not just someone to love me. That’s you, Philip.
Philip: I haven’t always been that guy.
Chloe: Stop putting yourself down. You were the guy in high school I had such a big crush on, and somewhere along the way, you became my best friend. Philip, you’re the man I was always searching for. Even though you were always right there. ... I was really an idiot not to realize that what I wanted was staring me in the face all along.
Philip takes her hand and kisses it.
Philip: In retrospect, I realize that we were too immature and it wouldn’t have worked out for us before.
Chloe: But it will now. We’ve seen each other at our best and our worst, and through it all, we never stopped caring about each other.
Philip: That’s true.
Chloe: You make me feel safe. And loved...
Philip: And I always will.
Chloe: ... Like on the plane ride back from Ireland.
Philip: That’s a weird analogy.
Chloe: You’re right. That did sound weird. But ... remember when the plane was about to crash and we were running out of oxygen? You held my hand the whole time, just like you’re doing now. You kept telling me to just keep looking at you, and you kept saying “don’t be afraid, Chloe, we’re going to make it.”
Philip: I remember.
Chloe: When I looked into your eyes, I believed you. When I was running out of air, you became my oxygen. And when you held my hand, I felt safe. She puts her arms around him and holds him tight. Philip, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. And it’s so much more than fireworks and starry eyes. It’s real and it’s strong and it’s lasting. And it keeps drawing us back together no matter what. You’re my home base, Philip.
Philip pulls away to look at her.
Philip: But what about the future?
Chloe: I know enough to know that there are no guarantees in life. But I promise you I will never, ever do anything to hurt you or give you any reason not to trust me ever again. You believe me, don’t you?
Philip: I want to believe you. I may need a little proof though.
Chloe: What kind of proof?
Philip: The kind that lasts a lifetime.
Chloe [smiling]: I’ll be more than happy to spend my life proving you’re the only man for me ... starting now.
Chloe pulls Philip toward her and they kiss. He rolls on top of her and kisses her deeply. Chloe responds in kind, as she knows that kiss means they are about to make love.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

CHLOE’S APARTMENT, LATER THAT DAY

Chloe: I’m so happy for you, Nicole.
Nicole: I can hardly believe I got the job.
Chloe: Don’t think that moving across country lets you off the hook. You still have godparenting responsibilities.
Nicole: Believe me, that’s not something I want to get out of. I don’t think I told you how touched I am that you trust me with such an important responsibility.
Chloe: If anything were to happen to me and Philip, there’s no one I would trust more than you to raise our son.
Nicole: Thank you.
Nicole and Chloe hug.
Chloe: I’m really really going to miss you.
Nicole: I still don’t understand how I got this job without the required references.
Chloe: I’m sure Brady and Philip gave you good references.
Nicole: I don’t think Brady would give me a reference.
Chloe: Why not?
Nicole: Um, because I slapped him.
Chloe: Nicole! Why?
Nicole: He said some hideous things to me. You would have slapped him too.
Chloe: That doesn’t sound like Brady.
Nicole: In case you haven’t noticed, he hasn’t been himself lately.
Chloe: I wish there was something I could do. I mean, I still feel responsible for him becoming an addict in the first place.
Nicole: No one can force someone to take drugs. Or to drink. Or to stop.
Chloe: Maybe I can ask Philip if he can do something about Brady.
Nicole: You talk about Philip like he has some magical powers.
Chloe: Well, he’s made everything right in my world.
Nicole: Hmmm.
Chloe: What?
Nicole: I figured you just agreed to marry Philip for the sake of the baby ... so Parker would be raised by both his parents. All this time, I thought you were both in love with the baby, but it sounds like you’re in love with each other.
Chloe: Why are you so surprised?
Nicole: Well ... First Brady was the love of your life. Then it was Lucas. Then it was Daniel who was really really really the love of your life. And now Philip?
Chloe: Philip says I’m passionate. He says, when I love someone, I do it with my whole heart and soul. And by the way, you had that order a little wrong.
Nicole: Huh? What are you talking about?
Chloe: Before there was Daniel, and before there was Lucas, and before there was Brady ... there was Philip. And after Brady, and after Lucas, and after Daniel, there was Philip. He’s “The One,” Nicole. I am so in love with him that I can hardly think about anything else. I just wish I could find the right words to make him feel more secure about us.
Nicole: Wow. That’s so weird. I mean, I’ve only known you two as friends. Or friends with benefits.
Chloe: That’s the best part. With Philip, it’s not only about sex. I mean we really are friends. We talk about everything. And we listen to each other. It’s very adult. And that mental connection? [whispering] It makes the sex even better.
Nicole: I’m so jealous. I wonder ...
Chloe: About what?
Nicole: If I’ll ever find that kind of happiness.


To be continued ...

[Kpatch]

CHLOE’S APARTMENT

Chloe: With Philip, it’s not only about sex. I mean we really are friends. We talk about everything. And we listen to each other. It’s very adult. And that mental connection? [whispering] It makes the sex even better.
Nicole: I’m so jealous. I wonder ...
Chloe: About what?
Nicole: If I’ll ever find that kind of happiness.
There’s a knock at the door.
Nicole: You expecting somebody? Oh wait. Let me guess. It’s Philip.
Chloe opens the door and Philip and Brady enter. Philip kisses Chloe.
Philip: Is Parker awake?
Chloe: Let’s go see.
They go to the baby’s room.

Brady: So, I heard you landed a new job.
Nicole: You heard? How did you hear so fast?
Brady: Lou told two people, and they told two people. The gossip mill at Titan is very healthy.
Nicole: What do you think?
Brady: I think it’s great. I mean, it’s what you want, right?
Nicole: Oh my god, it’s like a dream come true. I just didn’t think they would hire me.
Brady: Why not? You’re talented.
Nicole: I didn’t have the right references.
Brady: Wasn’t three enough?
Nicole: What??
Brady: You got three references.
Nicole: Wait a second. What do you know about this?
Brady: I know that Phil wrote a letter of recommendation, and I wrote a letter of recommendation.
Nicole: You did?
Brady: I’m also the one who anonymously sent your demo tape to Entertainment Tonight.
Nicole: Brady!
Chloe: And I got Granddad to admit he owed you one because of your help with Vivian and the sarcophagus matter ...
Nicole: I don’t believe it! Victor wrote a recommendation for me?
Brady: No. That would mean hell froze over.
Nicole: But you just said ...
Brady: He made a call to his friend Donald Trump. The Donald made a call, and the rest is history.
Nicole: I can’t believe you did this for me.
Brady: I did something else for you.
Nicole: Uh oh. I’m afraid to ask.
Brady: I stopped drinking. What you said the last time I saw you ... it really hit home. I went back to AA.
Nicole: You did that for me?
Brady: And for me. It was time for me to face my demons sober.
Nicole: I am sooo proud of you, Brady.
Brady: That’s what I wanted. I want you to feel proud of me. Look Nicole, I’m really ashamed of the way I treated you and the things I said.
Nicole: It’s okay, Brady.
Brady: No it’s not. You deserve better than that and I want you to know that I respect you. You’ve really come a long way.
Nicole: Thank you, Brady.
Brady: I’m going to miss you.
Nicole: I’ll miss you too.
Brady: When do you leave for Hollywood?
Nicole: Two weeks. That reminds me. I’ll be leaving Titan, Mr. Black. I’m giving you my two weeks notice.
Brady: Only two weeks, huh? I’m going to have to clear my calendar.
Nicole: What for?
Brady: So I can spend every minute with you between now and then.

Nicole and Brady take a step toward each other. He takes her in his arms and they kiss.


To be continued...

[Kpatch]

SALEM CITY PARK, TWO WEEKS LATER

Philip pulls into a parking spot next to Nicole’s Mazda. He and Chloe and Parker get out of their car and see Nicole tightening the bolts in the wheel’s hubcap.
Philip: What happened? Another flat?
Brady: No. I’m just teaching Nicole how to change a tire.
Nicole: Just in case something happens on the long drive to California.
Chloe: But Brady is going with you.
Nicole: True. But it’s one of those things I wanted to learn.
Chloe: Look at your dress. It’s filthy.
Nicole: Oh well, who cares? It’s just the four of us today, right?
The baby starts to whine.
Nicole: Sorry kiddo, I mean the five of us.
Chloe: Yes, but you’re holdling the baby during the ceremony.
Nicole holds up a bottle of Purell Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer.
Nicole: My dress may be dirty, but my hands will be clean.
Philip: Come on. It’s 1:00 o’clock.
The group walks into the park toward where a priest is standing.
Chloe: Father Matt! I didn’t know you’d be here.
Father Matt: Philip contacted me and asked if I’d do the honors.
Chloe: And you said yes!
Father Matt: The good lord told me it was the right thing to do. I understand you want to Christen your child with a new name.
Chloe: That’s right.
Father Matt: What name have you given the child?
Chloe: Wesley. Wesley Lane Kiriakis.

After the Christening, the group walks to the tree with the carving “P&C 4 Ever.”
Philip: It’s time for Wesley’s parents to make it official.
Chloe is smiling one of her patented ear-to-ear smiles. Nicole is holding the baby.
Nicole: Did you hear that, Wes? Your Mommy and Daddy are getting married.


To be continued. Tune in for the finale.

[addictedtodool]

How great that Father Matt has come around; even the Lord is a Chloe and Philip fan. ;D Thanks for the great chapter. The tree...sigh.

[Tom Horton]

It's been too long since I had a chance to catch up with this story. I love, love, love that Brady & Nicole are both doing so well and treating each other right... so of course she has to leave town just when it's starting to work out ... such is life in Salem.

Neat name change (though personally I don't care much for the name Wesley) ... I would have advocated for Robert myself but somehow I don't think Chloe would have gone along with that.

[Kpatch]

SALEM CITY PARK, PHILIP AND CHLOE’S WEDDING

Father Matt: Is there anything you’d like to say to each other before we continue?
Philip: I’ve got a lot to say.
Brady [looking at his watch]: Nicole and me need to be in California by tomorrow night. We’ve got tickets to a Manilow concert.
Philip [laughing]: I’ll try to be brief.
Nicole: Don’t listen to Brady, Philip. You take your time. This is the moment you’ve both been waiting a long time for.
Philip: A very long time. About a dozen years. That’s how long it’s been since I lost a bet. He takes Chloe’s hands in his. Losing that bet turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. It made me take a second look at you, Chloe. And now, yours is the face I want to see when I wake up every day, and before I fall asleep every night, and every minute in between.
Chloe: Philip, it’s my fault that it took us this long to get together ...
Philip: Chloe sweetie, don’t ...
Chloe: It’s okay, because I know that it makes me appreciate you more. Want to hear something funny? You know that big crush I had on you in high school?
Philip: I was a big jerk in high school. I treated you like crap.
Chloe: Stop. See, the thing is, I still have a big crush on you. And you still rock my world. But the best part is ... you’re not a jerk anymore. Philip laughs. There’s a kind and tender side of you that most people don’t get to see. But I see it every day.
Philip: Wow, don’t lose the rose-colored glasses.
Chloe’s eyes fill with tears.
Chloe: I’m not worried. I’ve known you too long and I know you too well. I think the only surprises in our lives are going to be good ones.
Philip: I hope you’re right. We deserve to be happy. I’ll do anything to make you and our son happy.
Chloe: You already do. I don’t need a lot of things, remember? I can get by with nothing. ‘Cause I’ve got all I want when it comes to loving you.
Now Philip gets teary-eyed.
Philip: I remember. Our song. And listening to you talk just now ...
Chloe: That’s another thing. You actually listen to me!
Philip [laughing]: I do. And I’m starting to realize that there was a reason it took us so long to get here. I think we needed to go through all of those experiences -- finding other loves, losing other loves -- so we could find each other again. You were my first love, and now you’re my last.
Chloe: I think I just thought of the right thing to say to make you realize that you’re the only man for me. Remember when we were on the plane coming back from Ireland? You asked me how many times I’ve been in love. Really in love. I can now admit to you there were three times. And they were all with you.
Philip and Chloe are both in tears.
Philip: I love you so much, Chloe Lane.
Chloe: I love you more.
Philip: I seriously doubt that. Thank you for making my dreams come true.
Philip takes Chloe in his arms and kisses her.
Father Matt: I guess this is the part where I pronounce you husband and wife.


The End


To read the sequel, First Love, Last Love, click here:
myhourglass.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=newkpatchfic&action=display&thread=275&page=1

[addictedtodool]

Awww. Chloe and Philip's song. Gonna have to go find the video. I am so glad Father Matt did the honors. Thanks for such a wonderful ending jkjpatch! And for making my (and your) dreams come true.

[ghoulgirl]

I finally got to finish this story! Thank you so much jkjpatch for an awesome ending to my favorite couples story! This story has been so much fun to read!!!! (and by far my favorite, so far!)

[melly]

OK, jkjpatch...since I'm now hooked on your stories...what's next...and when?

[Kpatch]

^^ Thanks for asking Melly! The answer to your question is here and now:

myhourglass.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=newkpatchfic&action=display&thread=114&page=1

[Kpatch]

Hi readers. I want to let you know that the sequel to All My Exes will be starting this week. Hope you'll check it out.