His lips against her lips, his arms circling her waist, his breath caressing her face�The memory of her first kiss played over and over again in her thoughts, distracting and consuming her endlessly, following that fateful moment only two weeks before. Granted, she and Philip had stolen several innocent, equally amazing kisses since, it�s just the first held special meaning for Chloe as it was the first time she had ever felt so overwhelmingly wanted, needed as a person AND a woman. Tender and sweet, Philip�s mouth had swept over hers, stirring up sensations that Chloe had never before even imagined possible. In that intimate connection, a new world had opened up before her very eyes, a world where she belonged.

Of course, a timid and justifiably wary Chloe had awoken the next morning fearing yet another pending rejection in her young adult life. Fortunately, her skepticism had been swiftly put to rest by an attentive Philip. Those past couple of weeks, he�d walked her from class to class, met her in between at her locker, upped his phone calling frequency to at least three times a night, and even taken her out on several �standard� dates�They�d visited the local theater and dined at the finest restaurants Salem had to offer. In fact, she�d finally conquered her embarrassment regarding PDA as hand holding became a surprisingly welcome perk to dating Philip. Although even with established signs of their burgeoning relationship, Chloe had remained disturbingly uncertain about their status. That is, until yesterday afternoon.

They had been heading toward the Brady Pub for a late lunch, laughing and talking, when the same old nagging questions had invaded her thoughts. What exactly were they to one another? Did Philip return her feelings for him? Did he treat all his girls this way?

Overcome by her insecurities, Chloe had finally snapped. �Philip, what are we doing together? Why have you been hanging around me so much lately?� she�d baldly interrupted, unable to suppress her innermost suspicions a moment longer.

Philip�s eyes widened at her sharp tone and accusatory nonsequitur, but he smiled easily enough. �Hmmm, maybe because I like you?�

Chloe rolled her eyes at his oh-so-glib response then stooped down so she could sit on the sidewalk, refusing to budge an inch until he leveled with her. �Why? Why would you possibly like ME? Not to pump your ego or anything but you must know that, like, half the female populace at Salem High has a crush on you��

�Only half?� Chloe could hear the smirk in his voice and so averted her gaze, unwilling to face those beguiling dimples of his as he settled in beside her on the pavement.

�I�m being serious, Philip. There are lots of girls at school that are way sexier and definitely more experienced in the ways of the dating game��

Inwardly amused, Philip�s dimples furrowed further. �Why would I care about that?� Sensing him edging closer, Chloe remained unresponsive, staring straight ahead with that blank, emotionless expression she�d perfected. Philip placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, but immediately withdrew it when she flinched slightly in response. As mild amusement twisted to worry, he bit back a frown. �Look Chloe, you�re�special. ANY guy would have to be crazy not to see that.�

�Yeah, special�I�ve heard that word plenty. So, tell me, Philip, what makes me special in your eyes?� she demanded bitterly, whirling around to address him. Her fiery eyes now shone bright with emotion.

Languidly, Philip tipped his head back as if in thought. �Aside from the fact that you�re, hands down, the most beautiful woman I�ve ever seen�you�re sensitive and smart�nothing like the ditzes I�ve dated in the past.�

�Ditzes?� Chloe shook her head reprovingly at Philip. �You know, contrary to societal stereotypes, intelligence AND beauty are gifts, nothing more and nothing less. I�m so tired of people putting intelligence up on some sort of pedestal as if it is something one deserves or earns�something one should be proud of��

�Anyone can be born with a high IQ,� Philip acknowledged after a pensive pause, �but those that USE their gift and fulfill their potential are worthy of admiration in my book. I mean, isn�t it what you do with what you�re given that�s important?�

�Okay, following your logic then�All of those so-called ditzes at school are worthy of admiration, too. They have each taken what beauty they had and expanded upon it with make-up and, in some extreme cases, even plastic surgery. They made the most of their given gift, right? Just as I have with mine. It hardly makes me �special��� she released a small sigh before fumbling to backtrack, suddenly realizing how cynical she must have sounded. �I�m not saying beauty and intelligence shouldn�t be appreciated. A lot of good comes from both�Inspiration and, of course, progress of sorts. I guess I just think there�s too much significance placed on them in particular.�

Philip studied Chloe with a mixture of awe and wonder. How did she always manage to skew his view of the world just a bit and change EVERYTHING he had come to believe as fact in the process? Leaning forward against his knees, his gaze shifted from intent to bemused. �Well, let�s have it. What qualities do YOU value most in others?�

�Honesty, kindness, loyalty�though not necessarily in that order. Qualities that are chosen instead of given,� she tentatively replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. A hint of a smile crossed her features then as a new thought struck her. �Although, come to think of it, I just might have to add one given quality to my list�dimples are a definite plus!�

Chuckling slightly, Philip actually found himself blushing at her remark�Talk about a role reversal! As his color returned to normal, the contours of his face gradually hardened in serious thought.

�Chloe�I want to be straight with you so you understand how I feel.� Philip sucked in a sharp breath as he fought to find words for expression. �It�s not your intelligence or your beauty or even your voice that make you special to me, at least not anymore. It�s what�s behind

Philip force fed himself a second helping of Mrs.Wesley�s famous apple pie, silencing his groans with each determined swallow. It�s not that the pie wasn�t edible�because it most definitely was, it just wasn�t quite as appetizing after having downed THREE heaping platefuls of the huge feast Chloe�s mother had prepared and consequently served only a half-hour before. Nevertheless, it was worth it if it indeed earned him brownie points with one Nancy Wesley. And, admittedly, disregarding the escalating puke factor, he�d found it a curious, yet not entirely disagreeable evening, at least thus far.

Chloe had been a little standoffish and rather subdued since the first moment he�d set foot on their living room rug. Dr. Wesley had offered a nod of welcome, but eyed him menacingly during dinner, playing the scalpel wielding, overprotective father bit to perfection. However, interestingly enough, Mrs. Wesley herself had conversely proven to be an enthusiastic conversationalist, masterfully averting any and all awkward silences.

Philip had answered her questions with ease and charm born of experience, while not only listening but sensing the warm affection emanating within the Wesley household. Beneath the superficial dialogue and Chloe�s inward withdrawal, Philip could still sense the underlying connection and love the three shared�Though unfamiliar, it was nice and soothing. And, more than that, it was humbling as he�d been invited to join them � her family, probably the most important part of Chloe Lane�s life � if only for an hour or so in time.

�All done there?� a buoyant drawl languidly disturbed his quiet observation.

�Oh, yes, Mrs. Wesley. It was delicious. Thank you!� Philip replied graciously, dabbing carefully at the corners of his mouth with his napkin.

�I�m glad you enjoyed it, Philip. Craig dear, why don�t you and Chloe clear the table? I�ll show Philip to the living room so we can chat for a bit until you two return,� Nancy offered with a matching smile, swiftly ushering Philip out of the dining room.

�Nancy!� Chloe hissed in protest then made a move as if to put a halt to her scheming mother�s trap. But Craig caught her by the arm and eased her toward the dishes, murmuring comforting assurances before glancing over his shoulder with a warning of his own for his wife. Unfortunately, Nancy had already slipped beyond the reach of his gaze, ready to pounce.

Uneasy, Philip settled in on the edge of the couch and waited for the other shoe to drop.

****

It was all a mistake. One big mistake. Why, oh why, had she agreed to this? Chloe cursed her skewed judgment for the billionth time that evening. It had been uncomfortable enough allowing Philip into her home, into her private world, for a Wesley FAMILY DINNER but now, meeting HIS parents, entering HIS world, filled Chloe with an entirely new sense of dread. Sure, on the whole, she was more at ease among adults as her first encounter with the Kiriakises had proven, but now that her position had shifted from tutor to girlfriend, mere business acquaintance to an identity linked with their one and only son, she found herself incredibly wary about the prospect of coming face to face with them again, taking on such a personal, not to mention foreign role this time around. In fact, she was at a complete and utter loss as to how to even begin to satisfy or measure up to that new standard�the heir�s girlfriend. WHY had she agreed to this?

Of course, Philip was the why. He�d inquired after her Thanksgiving Day plans then swooped in as soon as she�d informed him of their set brunch, consequently leaving the evening wide open for dinner with the Kiriakises and, by extension, no acceptable excuse for declining their invitation.

�Oh, I see. You�ve seen my family so now I have to see yours, is that it?� she�d challenged weakly, hoping he wasn�t serious about including HER in his family�s HOLIDAY plans.

However, Philip had simply flashed her his own winning smile, revealing those defined dimples set in determination. �No-o-o, my father�s just trying to keep tabs on me and probably figures it�d be wise to get on my first real GIRLFRIEND�s good side. Anyway, there won�t be as much pressure as you�d think since we�ll be dining out. Dad made reservations at Tuscany this year�I guess wanting to forego the usual hassle.�

�You mean, let the cook forego the hassle, right?� she�d countered with an incredulous laugh only to then be guilted into accepting a few moments later. For a boy as privileged and sheltered as she imagined the young Philip Kiriakis to have been, the adult Philip sure had a way of garnering sympathy, bordering on full-fledged pity. Whether it was his dimples or his puppy dog eyes that clinched her concession, it was hard to say. She just knew that, in the end, her steely will had been no match for his beguiling charm.

And now, Chloe was nervous as hell. For once, she�d taken her mother�s advice and frantically shopped for a new dress, one that would meet or, dare she hope, exceed the Kiriakis family�s expectations for such a formal occasion. After all, she�d be in the company of one of the wealthiest families, dining at one of the finest upscale establishments around.

Thankfully, Ballistix carried a wide assortment of the latest fashions in high design, no doubt in preparation for prom season, and the salespeople had been more than willing to aide her in her quest for the perfect dress. And, sure enough, Chloe herself had eventually stumbled upon it, hidden behind a hideous velvet number. The gown was a deep blue, a shade beyond that of her eyes, and the fluid silk softly followed her body line to the floor. As soon as she�d slipped into it, Chloe had decided that it suited her amazingly well. It was beautiful in its simplicity and she had accessorized accordingly. Her hair had been swept up in a basic French twist to allow for the diamond earrings and delicate necklace, handed down from Nancy, to sparkle upon sight. She�d then removed her glasses as they only seemed to muddle her sleek, coifed appearance but she hadn�t been able to resist tucking them into her purse a moment before Philip arrived for safe keeping and an added boost of support.

With stilted steps, she heard the ominous click of her high heels against the pavement as Philip escorted her from his car to the doom that was Tuscany. Barely registering the small banter that passed between Philip and Maggie Horton, owner and effervescent hostess for the evening, Chloe clung on tighter to his arm then suddenly felt herself being guided through the restaurant. And with one last quick prayer, the dinner was upon her.

****

Nancy situated herself beside Philip, twinkling a little too brightly for his comfort. �So, Philip, you�ve been spending an inordinate amount of time wooing my daughter recently, haven�t you?�

Philip stiffened slightly at the accusatory tone her inquiry took. �Yes, ma�am. I like and respect your daughter very much. She�s special to me,� he offered candidly, refusing to waver under her piercing gaze.

�Hmmm, special.� The word rolled off her tongue in exaggerated acceptance, intended to mock. Her guileful smile widened then faded altogether as she continued, �I must admit, I find it a tad peculiar that you�re dating my Chloe�especially after considering the rather sordid history you two share. It�s also a little disconcerting to note that you didn�t start coming around until AFTER Chloe chucked her black for name-brand colors. That said, to say I�m concerned would be a gross understatement, Philip.�

�You don�t have to be concerned, Mrs. Wesley,� Philip was quick to declare. �I would never hurt Chloe. Not ever! In fact, I want to PROTECT her��

�You have a lot of nerve, Philip Kiriakis! How dare you make proclamations about protecting my daughter when you and your hooligan friends have done nothing but hassle her since she first arrived here in Salem? Are you or are you not the boy responsible for dumping a headless chicken on our front porch?� she demanded as she leapt to her feet, deep-seated hostility breaking past the cordial surface at last.

To Nancy�s utter astonishment, Philip remained calm and collected. �I was NOT responsible for that stunt. Ask Chloe, she knows the truth. And as for my intentions regarding your daughter, I can assure you they are strictly honorable. I�ve cared about Chloe for some time�much longer than anyone would imagine and, as luck would have it, she actually cares for me, too, Mrs. Wesley. I truly believe that if you knew me half as well as Chloe does, you�d see that I want only the best for her and her future.� Philip paused then, with deliberate intention, he stood up to face her squarely, �So, keep an eye on me if you must, but I�m not going anywhere. Give me time and I�ll prove to you and Dr. Wesley that I�m worthy of your trust.�

Nancy studied his features for any hint of insincerity or deceit, but was instead leveled by Philip�s determined, confident gaze.

Bursting into the room just then, Chloe froze, sobered by the intense eye lock her mother and boyfriend were sharing. She had hurriedly stacked the dishes in the dishwasher at record speed while desperately straining to hear the private conversation just beyond the kitchen walls, and all to no avail.

�Finished, darling,� Craig announced, brushing past Chloe from behind to break the stilled moment.

Shaken, Nancy glanced up and eventually processed her husband�s tone, daughter�s discomfort, and, most of all, guest�s unwavering stance. Once again conjuring up her best hostess smile, she smoothed her blouse and duly regained her composure. �Well�who�s up for a rousing game of Scrabble?�

Craig and Chloe both appeared puzzled, yet �the Kiriakis boy� nearly beamed. Her eyes narrowed in on Philip as the board game was set up. Yes, she had believed he was sincere, that is, that he himself believed his words to be fact. No, Philip hadn�t given her or Chloe any grief since the headless chicken incident�and supposedly his role within it was debatable. But Lord yes, she would be keeping an eye on him. What was that saying again? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer�

****

Chloe nervously sipped her water as their party finished relaying their order to the waiter. There were eight in attendance. Aside from Philip�s parents, his two brothers, Austin and Lucas, had arrived with their significant others, Sami and Nicole, respectively. Ever considerate, Philip had already given her the low down on each, building familiarity from mere scraps of facts and ill-fitting pieces of history.

Austin was the older half-brother who�d gained Philip�s respect and admiration over the years, but whose lapse in judgment had often left him vulnerable to the resident bad girl, Sami Brady. According to Salemites, she was the reigning bitch in town, second only to possibly Nicole, who just happened to be his other perpetually drunk brother Lucas� wife. Incidentally, Sami and Lucas had sired a son, Will, from an untimely, though ultimately VERY timely, one-night-stand. However, for whatever reason, the young boy appeared to be absent. Tuscany wasn�t particularly child-friendly, but Chloe figured that such an occasion called for his presence. Tradition was tradition, and she doubted Victor Kiriakis would let a holiday slip by without the ENTIRE extended family gathering in formality, thereby preserving, at least, the illusion of a close-knit clan.

Of course, the reality of the situation couldn't have been further from the truth. After all, Chloe had been forewarned that his mother despised both dueling blonds while his father pretty much despised the whole lot of them�even Austin whose na�vet� and flat out ignorance of spirit overshadowed any and all good heart he had to begin with.

Perhaps, taking into consideration the bad blood raging among all, it was a God send Will was NOT present, she bemusedly came to reason

Feeling Philip�s hand on her knee, Chloe managed a small smile of appreciation. His reassuring presence was the one thing that kept her from bolting right then and there. They�d only just arrived minutes before and yet she already sensed the tension mounting. Yes, it was sure to be an interesting evening, alright.

****

Over the past half-hour, Chloe had conquered with zeal, covering the board with lengthy nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Her extensive reading throughout her childhood had apparently afforded her an extraordinary vocabulary, one that had undoubtedly proven handy in their fierce game of Scrabble. Or at least that�s what Philip had begrudgingly ventured to conclude over the span of her victorious run.

The game had lightened the mood, Philip decided, gradually easing the tension until Chloe began commenting now and then, without prompting, and the Wesley�s speculative focus had strayed from him, only to wander back occasionally.

Therefore, it was of no great surprise that he found his strides forced and almost reluctant as he was shown to the door. Somehow the Kiriakis mansion seemed that much colder after visiting the Wesley�s good-natured hubbub. He knew Chloe became easily annoyed at her mother�s hovering presence and busy body ways but, to him, it was a welcome contrast to his own mother�s physical as well as emotional detachment. On the other hand, his father�s insistent involvement surely mirrored that of Nancy�s, in between regular business trips, of course; however Victor thrust his will upon Philip whereas Nancy wheedled it out of Chloe. Objectively, the difference was slight, but to Philip the two approaches were world�s apart. The difference between persuasion and coercion, hinting and telling�authority inspired by love and love itself inspired by heavyhanded authority.

Zipping his coat secure, he was taken aback when Dr. Wesley extended a hand toward him. After a brief hesitation, Philip shook his hand gratefully. He held his gaze a moment and saw the glimmer of a smile cross that stern, often unapproachable face.

�We should do this again some time,� Nancy suggested from habit, though an unacknowledged sincerity accompanied her voice.

Philip nodded. �Yes, I�d really like that. Dr. Wesley, Mrs. Wesley,� he addressed them formally before turning to Chloe, �Uh�good night, Chloe.�

Chloe shifted in response as if suddenly uncertain. Reaching a decision, she then purposefully reached for the door. �I�ll walk Philip to his car.�

Considering Chloe had barely spoken two words to him all night, in wonder, Philip glanced at the Wesleys who likewise stood stunned. True to form, Craig was the first to recover.

�Well, Nance and I will take our tattered shreds of dignity and put to rest that lousy board game and unquestionably incomplete dictionary. I still stand by my claim that �docdom� is a word and should be accredited as such. Its synonym, kingdom, was dictionary bound�why not docdom? You know, the whole you say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to theory, right?� he met the young couple�s smiles and winked. �Come on, hon, let�s give the kids some time alone to say their goodbyes. And, Kiriakis, if Chloe isn�t back on this side of the door within 5 minutes, you�ll answer to me!�

Craig pulled on Nancy�s arm just as Chloe leaned forward to tug a wary Philip after her.

Shutting the door behind them, they let out a collective sigh�a sigh of relief and surprise at the ease of the night�s close.

****

Similarly stationed in status and wealth, Nancy had taken it upon herself to prepare Chloe for the world of etiquette, according to �old money� families such as the Kiriakises. Though, at that moment, Chloe could only recall the basics: sit up straight (don�t slouch), elbows off the table, and always work from the outside in with respect to utensil use. And, so far, her tips had proven successful, at least Chloe hadn�t thought she�d slipped up and erred crudely, but perhaps Philip�s parents were too polite and gracious to ever comment if she had.

Chloe picked at her salad as the table�s conversation shifted in incomprehensible chatter, centering around Titan affairs. When the conversation lulled into silence and Victor�s gaze narrowed in on her, Chloe felt her equilibrium waver then calm in resignation.

�I trust you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving brunch, Chloe.�

�Yes, thank you, sir. This was my first Thanksgiving ever in Salem so it was particularly special,� she tentatively replied, as if uncertain of her response.

�I�m glad. As I�m sure you�re aware, my son and I are both very grateful to you for his academic improvement this fall.�

Chloe nodded and blushed slightly as she glimpsed Philip smiling at her out of the corner of her eye.

�So, Chloe, tell us, what plans do you have for college?� Kate abruptly interjected, feeling ignored and very much excluded by the father/son tangent the conversation had taken.

�I�ll be applying to a number of colleges, but Julliard�s always been my dream. Either way, I plan to study music.�

�Yeah, right. Like Julliard would EVER pass you up, Chloe,� Philip snorted then turned to address the table. �Chloe has the voice of an angel. The admission people would have to be crazy not to accept her,� he declared with conviction and a note of pride.

Victor hid a small smile of pride as well�pride in his son. He�d watched his son initially approach their table with his girlfriend on his arm, smiling and fairly glowing in greeting. He�d watched his son strategically place Chloe between himself and his parents, a distance from his brothers� dates. And, he�d watched as Philip had watched Chloe, anticipating her every want or need well in advance so she�d feel a greater ease amidst his family.

But now, Victor had turned his attention to the stunning brunette beside his lovestruck son. Though visibly nervous, Chloe had spoken with decided grace and charm. In fact, she�d exuded an elegance and class far beyond her sixteen years. His original impression of the girl indeed coincided with that of the night�s, albeit with one notable exception. While articulate, intelligent, and reserved, she had obviously blossomed into a beauty since he�d last seen her. Calling to memory rumors of her tremendous talent of voice, Victor couldn�t imagine a more suitable match for his son. Chloe was a true young lady, in every sense of the word, with due poise and manners, reminiscent of the high brow women of his generation�a far cry from those of today. Ripped from his ponderings, he eyed the bickering blonds at the end of the table�A far cry indeed�

�I just LOVE that dress, Nicole. Maybe you could finally put your modeling talent to good use. I hear Whores R Us is looking to expand past the Salem strip,� Sami sneered as Austin looked on reprovingly. The skanky diva�s overt come-ons may have gone unnoticed by the oblivious Austin, but by the third time she�d �accidentally� brushed against him, practically falling into his lap, Sami had snapped into possessive mode and let her mouth run away with her petty jealousy.

�Unlike you, Sami, I�m financially set for the REST OF MY LIFE. Right, Kate?� she slanted Kate a sly wink. �Actually, maybe YOU should follow your own suggestion. I hear Johns aren�t at all particular�I guess the same�s true of Austins, huh?� an unfazed Nicole nearly purred, those cat eyes aglow with malice.

Irate, Sami would have lunged across the table just then if not for Austin�s restraining embrace. �Why, you bitch! You know, I used to feel sorry for you, Nicole. You lost my brother only to be reeled in by this, this DRUNK! But now I see�You two deserve each other!�

�It�s YOU two who deserve each other�You�re a couple of cheap floozies who would do well to keep your mouths shut,� Kate hissed, leaping to her feet in defense of her inebriated, and so defenseless, son.

�SILENCE!� roared Victor, causing everyone to instantaneously shrink before him. �You are making a spectacle of yourselves. Now, either sit down and keep quiet or be so kind as to leave the rest of us to our peace.�

The silence lingered a moment as each internalized his words. Humiliated, reprimanded as if mere children, they, in turn, reacted at their purest of natures. Sami cast one last glare in Nicole then Kate�s direction before grabbing her boyfriend by the arm, dragging a reluctant Austin behind her as he mumbled a feeble apology. Hips swinging, Nicole headed toward the bar with a stumbling Lucas in tow, while Kate insisted on �freshening up,� conveniently shooting a snide glance at Nicole on her way to the restroom. And so there were three�

An appalled Chloe had turned to Philip in shock during the commotion, but he�d barely batted an eye. Apparently, his familial tales hadn�t been exaggerations.

Sighing, Victor regarded HIS son and girlfriend with a tight smile. �An important lesson, Philip. First discard the riffraff, then you can relax and enjoy yourself. Cheers!� The trio�s glasses met with a clink as peace finally found their table.

****

Philip loosened his hold on her hand as the Chloe he knew and adored began to return. Her diffidence from earlier that evening had gradually slipped away as they sat on the porch swing, rocking back and forth. Why she�d previously acted so cold and distant, he wasn�t sure, but he figured it had something to do with her need for privacy. Anyhow, he was just glad she�d since become more responsive.

A sharp intake of breath suddenly split the silence and he felt her tense beside him. �What is it?�

Confused, Chloe twisted to face him. �Excuse me?�

�What�s going on in that head of yours? Something�s obviously bothering you. You�re one hair twirl away from biting your lower lip!�

Chloe pursed her lips in annoyance. That was it, Philip Kiriakis knew her FAR too well. �I just�I was wondering what Nancy said to you when she cornered you in the living room. Nothing terribly offensive, I hope.�

�No, not at all. She�Well, she wanted to make sure I was worthy of you, I guess. But I assured her that no earthly boy was, so no biggie!� he grinned, dimples flashing, before quickly processing the success of the night. In fact, considering how well the dinner had turned out, maybe his father�s invitation wasn�t as threatening as he�d originally thought.

Intrigued, Philip cocked a brow. �So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?�

****

Chloe peered thoughtfully out through her passenger window as they drove home from Tuscany. Several Christmas enthusiasts had apparently spent Thanksgiving bedecking their houses with reindeer and santas and such, as lights now blazed the residential streets in holiday cheer. When their car slowed for a stop sign, Chloe spied a man atop a ladder, obviously straightening the crooked cord of reds that lined the garage of one rather small house to her right. The man suddenly stilled then seemed to call out something, bowing his head slightly. Following his gaze to the snow-covered grass beneath, Chloe felt her breath catch in her throat. There a woman rocked ever so softly, cradling a baby in her arms, as she smiled up at the man.

The image froze in time even after they pulled away from the intersection, its simplicity conjuring up one very complex concept: family.

�Family isn�t all it�s cracked up to be, is it?� Chloe heard herself asking into the silence.

�Gee, thanks!� Philip snorted with a wry shake of his head.

Registering the slant her rhetorical question had implied, she was quick to explain, �No, I�m not just referring to your family in particular. I mean, in general, mine included.� Refocusing her attention beyond the window pane once more, images of another time in another place came swirling back to present. �I spent the majority of my childhood, even those years with my adoptive parents, dreaming about the family I lost at birth. I imagined a medium-sized, two-story house bursting with children and pets and doting parents�and all that goes with that: noise, laughter�love. I imagined something beyond a house�a home,� she smiled wistfully at the mere recollection of the comfort and power of dreams and hope in a less than accommodating environment.

�And now, I�ve found a home, in the truest sense of the word, with Nancy and Craig. I know they care for me and even though I loathe to admit it at times, I care a great deal for them in return. And yet, even with that said, my life continues to be a daily struggle. I�ve been a part of a family for almost a year now and my position within it never fails to confuse me. Nothing�s simple or easy�Okay, now I�m babbling! I guess it just boils down to the fact that nothing in life is perfect, including family,� she concluded, her throat tightening to emit a harsh whisper.

Philip put his car into park as they reached the Wesley driveway and turned off the ignition. Loosening his tie, he sat in quiet thought a moment before speaking. �I don�t think it has to be perfect. My relationships with family, especially my parents, are a constant struggle for me, too. Asserting my independence in the Kiriakis family is probably just as trying as it is for you admitting your dependence on the Wesleys. But it�s a struggle because deep feelings are involved, REAL families are involved. They�re messy and complicated, no one's gonna dispute that!

"Family 101 pretty much decrees differences of opinion and various complications universal staples in family dynamics. Besides, all that time and effort spent on the day to day grind of maintaining the family status quo alone is most likely what makes it all so worthwhile in the end. You know, the expression, 'nothing worth having is ever easy'...Well, I think that encompasses even the greatest challenge of surviving your �roots�...And Wesley roots, at that!

"Now, fairy tales, on the other hand, are PERFECT. The idealistic surface is never pierced, the line between goodness and evil is set in stone, and, magically, everything comes together, topped with a bow by the 'happily ever after' scene. But, in reality, there are no bows, Chloe, only loose ends. Loose ends that can be appreciated for what they are...something better or at least more fulfilling than the bow of perfection offered in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and God knows what else!" Philip's lips quirked in contempt, "As you can probably guess, I never cared too much for fairy tales. They�re way too predictable. And empty.�

As the porch light began to flicker, signaling the usual five minute warning, Chloe released a small laugh. �Well, life chez Wesley proves quite predictable�but it�s NEVER empty, I�ll give you that much.�

Leaning his elbows on the steering wheel, Philip turned to her in the dim light, his expression increasingly pensive. �Families may not be perfect, but when there�s love, does it really matter? When you get down to it, love, with all its imperfections, is everything. It�s everything we need, Chloe, and nothing less than we deserve.�

�I don�t know if it�s everything�it�s something. A big something I missed out on my whole life. Until now.� Her final words lingered in her thoughts as she gradually realized the truth behind them. She sighed then in grudging acceptance. �You know, never in a million years would I have called it love, but you�re right. I can feel it�and that�s what�s important. The cardboard cut-out fantasy I clung to as a child can�t compare to the reality of security and love I�ve found today.�

A gentle smile curved upon her lips as she undid her seatbelt and, a moment later, a stunned Philip felt a kiss brush against his cheek. �Thanks!� her warm breath danced across his skin.

Bemused, though immensely pleased, Philip grinned hugely. �For what?�

With tentative hand, Chloe reached out to touch his face, tracing the outline of his jaw forward to smooth a dimple. �For being you. Someone who listens and never judges, but who, more importantly, makes me think. You�re always there to challenge my less than rational assumptions, especially concerning my insane mother. And...it�s like the more we talk, the easier it becomes to see myself for who I really am�and who I want to be someday.�

�You�re not the only one. I can�t imagine discussing family or love or any other such philosophical matter with anyone besides you. I mean, Shawn? The guys on the team? Never gonna happen! So I can say with utmost sincerity that YOU always manage to make ME think. But somehow I find it unlikely that it�s a give and take thing as you say�Miss Honor Roll herself intellectually challenged by her dumb jock of a boyfriend. Nope, I don�t buy that for one second!�

Chloe sharply withdrew her hand as her eyes blazed with fire. �Would you stop putting yourself down like that. First of all, you are NOT dumb�I think we proved that well enough this past quarter. But, beyond meaningless academia, you�you are just so wise.�

�Wise?!� Philip let out a loud whoop of laughter. �Okay, now I know you�re joking!�

Chloe squinted at him in annoyance then grabbed at his hand for emphasis of conviction. �No, I mean it. You see things and understand things about people, about life, that others don�t or maybe can�t. You�re the most thoughtful, intuitive person I�ve ever met, Philip. Honestly. So yes, you DO make me think. Every day, in fact. And you teach me things, too. Because of you, we�re having this conversation right now. Do you think there�s a chance in hell I�d have been able to voice my feelings aloud like this a year ago, let alone identify them in private? Do you think I�d have felt safe holding hands with a boy or heaven forbid kissing him then? No, definitely not�no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It�s YOU that taught me to have faith in others by having faith in me long before anyone else even gave me a second glance.�

�The same could be said of you. You believed in me more than any other person in my life ever had. And you still do today.� Mesmerized, he pulled her onto his lap, careful of her gown. The delicate silk shimmered against him as he looked into those expressive blue eyes he loved so much.

�I�ll tell you, this�THIS is perfect,� he murmured softly before guiding her lips to his with tender palms. Though, what he was referring to, he wasn�t quite sure. All he knew was at that moment, with Chloe in his arms, something surrounded them. Something beyond all scope of reason or tangibility. A presence, a greater connection bound them together then. And together they found what could only be described as perfection. Perfection at its very best.