Uneasy, Philip made his way up to the Wesley front porch at a deliberate pace, slowing to a mere stroll. He�d been dozing as David Letterman droned on in the background when he�d received her call.

Of course, initially, he�d been relieved she wanted to talk, wanted to finally open the lines of communication between them, yet acute apprehension had set in moments later as the eerie pitch her voice had taken registered within.

Disregarding Chloe�s previous proclamations about his �sensitivity,� he couldn�t help but wonder if he was up to the task that lay before him. Whatever it was that was plaguing Chloe, it was big, that much was for certain, and he didn�t want to make matters worse. What if he said the wrong thing? What if he ended up only pushing her further away? It was too important to screw up. SHE was too important to alienate or, worse yet, disappoint.

Stop it, he admonished himself for the hundredth time that night. Damn it, he would be there for Chloe and protect her from whatever the hell it was that was hurting her or die trying�and that was final, he decreed, resolutely ringing the doorbell.

The door swung open almost immediately, catching him slightly off-guard. Recent lack of exposure heightened observation as he drank in the full detail of her appearance with care. Clad in flannel pajamas, her newly washed hair gleamed and her skin fairly glowed, devoid of the usual light dusting of make-up. And her eyes�her eyes appeared even larger and bluer than he�d remembered, contrasting against her pale, unaccented features. He then noted with satisfaction the absence of her trademark glasses�For once, the wondrous clarity within her shades of blue shone vividly, freed from the plastic barrier designed to mask. Philip felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the exquisite Goddess before him. She was beautiful�so beautiful, in fact, that he found himself momentarily speechless.

This was going to be more difficult than she�d expected, Chloe inwardly cursed as her face flushed instinctively under his intense statement. �Hi,� she finally managed, awkwardly motioning him in.

Shaken out of his trance, Philip broke eye contact long enough to mumble, �Thanks,� in return and duly brush past her into the foyer.

Closing the door behind him, Chloe reluctantly turned back around toward Philip. After a stilted pause, she swallowed hard. �Why don�t we go up to my bedroom.�

Confused, Philip�s brows furrowed at her suggestion, prompting Chloe to further explain. �We need to talk and�and I just thought I�d�we�d be more comfortable there��

A slight smile curved upon his lips as she rambled on, visibly flustered by the innuendo she�d inadvertently relayed. Deciding to intervene before she gave herself a coronary, he spoke up, �What about the Wesleys? I bet they�d deem your bedroom a little TOO comfortable, if you know what I mean.�

Her cheeks officially flamed now, and she met the amused twinkle in his eye with some irritation. �Actually, they�re out of town for the night�at a medical conference type thing. Anyway, are you coming or not?� she countered brusquely, moving to negotiate the staircase without a backwards glance.

In silence, he trudged behind her, halting abruptly when he entered her room. To be honest, her private quarters were much more sunny than he ever would have imagined. Bathed in creams and blues, Nancy�s influence was evident. Still, it was a neat and cozy enough space itself which reflected the orderly, down to earth girl he adored. As his speculative focus flashed toward Chloe, he stilled, suddenly anxious. The tension escalated as he fed off her apparent distress.

Fiddling with a lock of hair, she bit down on her lower lip as she frantically scrambled to collect her thoughts. Acknowledging Philip�s troubled stare, she pointed toward her bed. �Sit down, okay?�

Gingerly perched on the far edge of her comforter, he gripped his coat tightly as he regarded Chloe quizzically, if not a bit impatiently.

Though his nonverbal pleas were wasted as Chloe shuffled in place, her gaze trained on her bare feet. �Ever since we started getting closer this past year, you stopped asking me why I wore the black clothes, the glasses�� she tentatively began, then ever so slowly raised her eye line to lock with his. �You were afraid of what you might find out, weren�t you?�

�I wasn�t afraid. I just didn�t want to press the issue. I thought you�d tell me if or when you became ready,� he stated with feeling, a metallic taste coating his tongue as her unexpected field of questioning pointed to a chain of unfathomable alternatives. Each link more threatening than the last.

Releasing a deep breath, her expression shifted from accusatory to plaintive as her tone of voice substantially calmed, �I�m ready now. Are you?�

Leaping to his feet, pain filtered through incredulity as he fiercely exclaimed, �Chloe, it�s me! When I said I�d never turn my back on you again, I meant it. I�m always here for you. Nothing you could say could EVER change that!� He advanced forward as if to reach out to her, but she extended her own hand, signaling him to stop.

�I know�and, ironically enough, it�s not you I�m worried about. It�s me.�

�I don�t understand.� He remained a good yard�s reach from her, but his soulful eyes easily surpassed that distance, touching her to her very core.

�There�s a part of myself I�ve kept hidden�a part of myself I�m ashamed of. And when I share it with you, when I say the words aloud, it�ll make it real. There�ll be no more denial, no more pretending I�m something I�m not�� she gulped down the surfacing lump in her throat and fought for control, his genuine concern tugging at her mercilessly.

�You�ve seen me cry, you�ve heard my fears, but I never let you get too close to the real me because I didn�t want you to see what I see when I look in the mirror. Philip, I�m not the person you think I am. I tried to tell you once, but you just laughed it off and I could feel it in your eyes�the respect, the admiration�they hadn�t wavered. Hell, from that first night we met out on that pier, it�s like you put me up on some sort of pedestal��

�Chloe, you�re not making any sense! I DO see you for who you really are�intelligent, independent, strong��

�NO!� Chloe burst out, her eyes glittering dangerously, ablaze with raw emotion. �I�m NOT strong�I�m a coward, a victim at its weakest definition. I can be hurt.�

Frustrated, Philip bit back a frown, �Everyone can be hurt�It�s what makes us human. I never saw you as some superhero, if that�s what you mean��

�No, you don�t get it, I LET myself be hurt. I didn�t protect myself�I didn�t protect others��

At his bewildered silence, Chloe grasped his hand to draw him close. �Come here, I want to show you something, Philip,� she whispered. �I want to show you why I pushed you away last week.�

Pivoting, she now stood so he faced her from behind. Slowly gathering the material near the bottom hem of her flannel top, she inched it upwards slightly, eventually exposing her bare lower back.

It was after a few seconds� puzzlement, that Philip haltingly noticed the jagged lines that disturbed the span of otherwise flawless skin. Suspicions aroused, tremors overtook his body as fire burned in his eyes. With shaking hand, he reached out to the bare skin, allowing his fingertips to trace the raised surface softly.

She stood rigidly as his delicate touch moved over her, brushed over the marks of brutality no amount of time or love could ever erase. As his palm slipped to her waist, she practically gasped at the unexpected gush of warm breath that danced across her skin just then as he bent to place his lips languidly upon each scar. Involuntarily, she found herself leaning back into him, aching to feel his tenderness, his reassurance that she was no longer alone in her pain.

Straightening up, his thumbs skimmed across the pinkened flesh one last time, as if that would somehow magically sweep them away, memory and all.

A broken sob rose in her throat at the sensation and her body shuddered. Immediately yanking away from Philip�s touch, she desperately attempted to stifle her tears.

Even from behind, Philip could see how hard she was trying to keep it together, keep it all in. But, this time around, he�d shared a glimpse of her suffering and thus was unable, or perhaps unwilling to step aside and watch her inward withdrawal, watch the power and strength of the inner whirlwind consume her. Together, he knew, they could confront and heal old wounds. Together their combined strength would overpower all that threatened from around. Purposefully closing the distance between them, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. Her half-hearted efforts to break free proved futile as his firm hold only strengthened around her.

�It�s okay. You�re safe now, you�re safe with me. Let it out. I�m right here, baby,� he murmured, causing a tiny whimper to escape as her will began to crumble. Though, it was at the sudden sweetness of his mouth caressing her cheek that she fully surrendered, her body racking violently with sobs as the tears poured over, hotly streaking down her face.

Pulling her further into his embrace, he hauled her up against his chest, one arm secured round her trembling shoulders, the other dropping to encircle her hips. He rocked gently as he nestled his face into the curve of her neck, murmuring over and over, �Shh, it�s alright. You don�t have to be scared anymore. I�m here for you.�

As control spiraled, Chloe clung to the protective warmth that surrounded her and the hushed lullaby crooned against the beat of rhythmic swaying. Gradually, her breathing normalized as she moved her hands to tangle with his.

Her calmed frame now snugly pressed into him, he rose his chin from her shoulder to nuzzle her tear-stained cheek once more. He felt the twitch of her emerging smile against his nose and spontaneously loosened his hold to spin her around, desperate for a flicker of hope after the desolate darkness that�d strangled him whole at the drop of her first tear.

A shadow of a smile parted her swollen lips, but it was her eyes that eased the ache in his heart. Glassy, yet thankfully dry, they expressed sadness and uncertainty, though both paled in comparison to the relief and faint gratitude that now peered back at him. Looking down at their interlocked hands, he gave an affectionate squeeze of support before daring to break down the next inevitable barrier.

�Who�who hurt you, Chloe?� the forced words jarred in his throat as the edge in his tone spiked with unspoken fury.

Reeling from his question, a funny shivery sensation coursed through her at the rapid onslaught of images, thoughts, and forgotten fears that were consequently dredged up in the process. Freeing her hands, she moved to link her arms around his waist, to better feel him against her, and was pleased when his own correspondingly came to rest upon her shoulders. Gazing up into his eyes, she prepared to push through the remaining restraint, previously designed to isolate.

�I was twelve. I�d just been placed in another foster home. He�he seemed nice enough at the beginning. He was the religious sort�carried a bible around and everything. It was definite progress from the string of boorish drunks I�d formerly been placed with. The only thing that bothered me at the start was that he was such a stickler for order and neatness. I mean, I�m a fairly neat person to begin with - you know that - but, with him, it was like everything had to be �just so.�

�He already had two daughters, Karen and Tess, both younger than me at the time, who warned me about his temper and taught me his �rules��every object had its rightful place, mapped down to the slightest detail. Even their mother, an unusually quiet woman, meticulously obeyed his obsessive compulsion without question. Anyway, after the second week of following suit and practically walking on eggshells, I accidentally spilt my milk during dinner one night and that�s when it first happened�He slapped me across the face and told me if I wanted to continue living under his roof, I�d learn to be more careful.�

Philip sucked in a sharp breath as a wave of nausea overwhelmed his senses, weakening his knees, but he only leant closer, urging her to continue when, with a pang of sorrow, he noted her small hands had latched onto fistfuls of his sweater during her otherwise unemotional disclosure.

She watched his jaw clench and unclench as a range of emotions played out across his features, however what made it all the more heart-wrenching was the fact that the worst was still yet to come. �To be honest, Philip, it WASN�T the first time I�d been hit, but it was the first time I�d been scared. I mean, REALLY scared. The anger in his eyes�it wasn�t the kind I was used to. His anger was unrestrained, like there were no boundaries when it took over. I remember going to bed that night, vowing I�d run away the next morning. But the next morning came and�I didn�t. I still don�t know why exactly I stayed. I guess I just figured I�d keep out of his way and therefore wouldn�t have the chance to set him off again. And the following month went by smoothly enough until�Well, he�he started commenting on the way I�the way I�� her tremulous voice trailed off as her eyes dropped to center upon his chest.

�The way you�� Philip prompted gently, inwardly alarmed by the potential twists her story could conceivably take in the minutes to come, each twist equally horrific.

Her vision blurred as a new film of tears formed. Swallowing, she was unable to tear her gaze away from the blank expanse before her for fear that a single glance at his face would send her toppling right over the brink. Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she gathered her courage and pressed on. �The way I dressed. You see, I was kind of an early bloomer�I�d just hit puberty and anyway, he thought my clothes were too revealing. He�he called me a whore,� the word cracked against the back of her tongue, propelling an inner writhing to take effect, �said God didn�t like whores and that if I was a good girl I�d cover myself up. He went out and bought me a new wardrobe�filled with baggy, shapeless clothing, mostly in black. Sound familiar?

�But at the time, I hated the clothes and hated HIM for trying to control me. So, later that week, I broke out one of Karen�s oversized blouses and a pair of her jeans�They were a little snug, but they fit well enough and I caught the school bus feeling all proud and smug that I hadn�t let him boss me around. Of course, when I returned home that day, he flipped out and came at me with his belt swinging. Karen and Tess were punished as well because he thought they�d been in on it�even though, I tried to tell him otherwise.

�That night was so surreal. You know, I don�t think I even cried once. It was like I couldn�t internalize what was happening. Like I separated myself from the event completely�� Chloe flinched at the movement against her hair then relaxed as she regained a sense of the present and sought solace in his smoothing strokes.

�Anyway, the next day the gym teacher caught a glimpse of Tess� bruise and reported it to the authorities�soon enough the three of us were hauled out of there. But the damage had already been done. The realization that Karen and Tess would now likewise be thrust into the system and more than likely split apart haunted me and I was never quite able to shake it off. I clung to the dark shrouds and declared right then and there that I�d never let another person in�because no matter how hard I tried, it always ended poorly. Either they hurt me or I wound up hurting them. Well, I knew the black clothes would do just the trick�Not only would people run in the other direction, but I�d maintain control by publicly rejecting their standard first. It was just blind luck that I happened to stumble upon those useless glasses months down the road at the orphanage�I have to say, they topped off my image to perfection.

�So, with my whole sob story on the line, do you want to know what gets me the most now that I�ve come back out the other side�the reality that I let him win. I let him wield power over me long after I exited his life. Because of him, I crawled into my metaphorical, and actually quite literal shell and gave up. I was hardly all open and trusting to begin with, as few foster kids can attest, but after him I shut down in total recluse mode. As was plainly witnessed when I arrived here in town. Looking back, I�m still baffled that Belle and Shawn were so nice to me and that you kept going out of your way to invent excuses to spend time with me. Putting aside my horrid appearance, I�m appalled by some of the cruel things I said and did�especially to you, Philip.� Her hands fell away from him as she lowered her head in shame.

�I don�t remember you EVER being cruel, Chloe. You were just holding your own against a nasty group of teens�myself included.� Now, it was an ashamed Philip who cringed over past errors in judgment.

Though, Chloe�s eyes narrowed at his perpetual willingness to lump himself in with the vindictive, malicious �elite� Salem High was known for siring. �No, you were NEVER really a part of that group, at least not when it came to me. As I already said, I could feel it when you looked at me. I could feel your warmth and innate compassion, but more than that, I could feel the way you felt about me. For all my doubts, even then, somewhere deep inside I believed. I believed in your feelings for me. You ALWAYS managed to see the best in me somehow. A best that wasn�t even there��

�Don�t even go there again, Chloe! That best isn�t some figment of my imagination�it IS within you. You�re talented and smart and one of the most loyal, supportive friends a person could ever hope to have. Just ask Belle or Shawn. And contrary to your repeated assertions, you have a BIG heart and a strength of character that still staggers me.�

�Philip, have you heard a word I�ve said? In my book, a person who keeps mum about an abusive foster parent while dragging two innocent young girls into a thoughtless, rebellious whim, ultimately causing a violent rampage to erupt will NEVER challenge Mother Teresa for the coveted crown of Kindness incarnate!� Chloe fired back, animatedly spitting out her self-deprecating rhetoric. �And a person who then proceeds to cower behind body armor for the next, oh say, four years hardly measures up as some sort of paradigm of strength�in ANYONE�s book, for that matter.�

Philip cursed the dull stab that pierced his insides as she passionately thundered on, sarcastic quips failing to cushion her instantaneous attack on herself. When she finally paused, he boldly seized the silence before she caught her second wind. �Chloe, first of all, you were a young girl�What were you supposed to do? The one person who was supposed to take care of you, protect you, was the same bastard who was hurting you. Kindness or lack thereof doesn�t even enter into it. For God�s sake, you were one of three CHILDREN�NONE of you were to blame! And as for the two girls in question�would you have rather had them remain in that family? What do you think would have happened to them when THEY aged a few years? You think he�d just leave it alone or wait, wait, what am I saying? A better question would be, what do you think would happen the next week when one of them accidentally spilled something or didn�t quite wash the dishes as thoroughly as he�d ordered? A lifetime of abuse loomed out before those little girls. At least in the system, they stood a chance�more than they had to start with.

�And, in defense of my second remark, yes, I think you�re an incredibly strong person to have lived the life you have and be where you are today. Your faith in people has been shattered more times than I care to count, but you didn�t as you previously claimed, �give up,� or you�d STILL be in hiding. You took the risk and it finally paid off. You have your mother and Craig�and me BECAUSE of that strength. You may have hid to protect yourself, but the beautiful person inside remained intact�She didn�t break or �cower� in any shape, way or form, you got that?�

Chloe nodded so slightly it was almost imperceptible. �I just wish I�d been able to stand up to him�and protect Tess and Karen in some way��

�Yeah, me too,� he released a ragged sigh as the dormant red haze wildly clouded calm rationality, reigning over prior disillusionment and regret. �Just the thought of him�I�d have killed that�that MONSTER!� he ground out through gnashed teeth, his fists repeatedly flaring and clenching at his sides.

Queasy, Chloe eyed Philip worriedly. He was pacing now and he looked likely to explode any minute, hanging onto sanity by a single thread. His pain over her pain quite literally seemed to be eating away at him. Rubbing his tensed shoulder softly, she tried her best to soothe his fury. �Philip, I�m okay now and he�s behind bars�serving his time. Justice prevailed�eventually, anyways,� she added quietly, stilling in her movements.

Face crumpling, his eyes filled with unshed tears. �You call that justice? He beats the hell out of you and God knows how many other defenseless children�and imprisonment is his sentence?! Justice would be for him to be pummeled, for HIM to be scarred for life��

Chloe tilted her head in thought, false objectivity forever helping to distance the pain. �I�m sure he was. Abuse is learned�it doesn�t just come out of nowhere. Who knows what his family life was like��

Horrified, Philip made a sound that could have been either a hiss or a howl - it was difficult to gauge - before shouting down her empathetic notion, �Don�t you dare defend him, Chloe! I don�t give a damn how horrific his childhood was! It doesn�t give him any right to lay a hand on you or any other child!�

�I�m not defending him�I�m just�Oh, I don�t even know anymore,� she cried, burying her face in the comforting refuge of her palms.

Reaching up, he determinedly caught hold of her wrists to peel her hands away and place them at his waist before moving his own to frame her face, guiding her to make eye contact. �Okay, I promise I�ll settle down and rein in my temper for the time being if you�ll do me one favor. I want you to look me in the eye and admit that it wasn�t your fault. Admit that you didn�t deserve any of it. Admit it to me. Admit it to yourself.�

Her tears streamed anew, but he merely brushed them away gently, waiting, waiting. Peering deeply into her eyes, after several moments of searching, he finally glimpsed the soft glint of acceptance seep into her pools of blue.

With a small sigh, she sniffled slightly, lower lip quivering as the truth bubbled up from somewhere within. �It wasn�t my fault. I deserved better.�

Heart breaking, Philip felt his fragile composure drop out from beneath him as the torrent of emotions whirled about. With one swift tug, she was back in his arms and he was stroking her hair as much for her as for himself. �You�deserved� the best!� he choked out through gasps for air between sobs.

Their shaking frames collapsed into one another as their shared anguish raged on around them.

After what seemed an eternity, an emotionally drained Chloe lifted her head from Philip�s shoulder then rolled up onto her tiptoes to wipe a lingering tear off his damp cheek. Clearing her throat, she found her voice unusually deep and raspy, �Come on, we should get some sleep.�

�Yeah, you�re right,� he nodded, his voice equally weathered. He motioned for her to climb into bed, but as he was tucking her in, she scootched upright to grab at his hand.

�No. Stay with me tonight. I want to feel you next to me tonight.�

Blinking back the new sting of tears, he kicked off his shoes and slipped in beside her, twisting around to turn off the lamp before settling in against the pillows.

Her body instinctively curled in toward his as soon as she felt the weight of his body sink into the mattress. Resting the side of her face against the strong, steady beat of his very being, she drifted off to sleep within the first few pulses, exhausted and, curiously enough, entirely at peace for the first time in ages.

Philip, however, stayed awake, listening to her breaths even out as she quickly nodded off, reveling in the rise and fall of each passing inhale and exhale undulating against him, needing constant proof that she was really there. In his arms. Safe and sound.

Involuntarily, his hand crept back under the edge of her shirt, allowing his palm to ease over the small of her back, fingertips lightly caressing the abused skin.

She suddenly stretched in his arms before burrowing even closer into his chest, murmuring unintelligibly in her sleep.

Pressing a kiss onto her forehead, the long kept admission that overwhelmed all else finally escaped his lips in a heartfelt whisper.

Chloe gasped at the street below. She was a good ten stories up and she didn�t have a very strong grip to begin with. A warm gust of air insidiously tempted her. Maybe I should just�

�CHLOE! USE THE LADDER!� a voice boomed out, pushing her train of thought back into its dark corner of obscurity. Sure enough, a ladder materialized to her right. Slowly swinging one leg then the other, she released her hold on the window frame to shimmy down to the ground, toward the voice.

Her feet safely on the grass, she turned to behold a dimpling Philip Kiriakis grinning foolishly from ear to ear. �See, I told you I�d never let you fall.�

Smiling, she leapt into his arms, pulling her body up into his intimate embrace. Mesmerized by the beautiful face before her, she heard him repeat what her heart had already sung.

Leaning in for a kiss, she met his sparkling eyes with complete and utter trust.

�I love you, too.�

In awe, Philip gazed down at his beloved Chloe.

It would seem something stronger than fear, purer than pain had emerged that night. For the both of them.

Yes, together they would indeed conquer all.

****

Lashes fluttering open, his hazy vision cleared as the dawn�s light washed the room. Turning toward her motionless figure, he started as he realized she was already awake.

Her face lit up with a gentle smile. �Good morning, sleepyhead!�

�Just how long have you been staring at me?� he squinted at her suspiciously, stifling a yawn.

�Why do you ask? Worried I�m going to pull a Sharon Stone on you?�

Philip rolled his eyes. The infamous Chloe Lane deadpan�God help him, he loved her warped sense of humor. Even at this ungodly hour. �Hmmm, I�m guessing Basic Instinct was Nancy�s movie pick�though I have to say, I�m surprised the graphic nature of it didn�t prevent her from including you in the viewing of said video.�

�Well, Craig was out of town and frankly, I think she was just a wee bit nervous about watching it all by herself. And besides, what better way to sneak in a little mother/daughter bonding than an activity that involves absolutely NO communication whatsoever�which, don�t get me wrong, I was totally on board with. Nancy and I do best in situations where speaking is limited to the bare minimum.�

�Ah,� Philip stretched lazily as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes. �So, if you WEREN�T wielding an ice pick�what WERE you up to? Other than studying my nasty sleep habits of snoring and drooling, that is�every girlfriend�s dream, huh?� he teased, pinching softly at her waist.

�Actually, I was thinking how peaceful you looked�all innocent and beautiful��

�Stop right there, Chloe Lane. What are you trying to do to me? Innocent? Beautiful? Those are not the choice adjectives guys want their girlfriends associating with them. Like not EVER! Now, I wouldn�t argue with sexy or ruggedly handsome��

�Don�t push your luck, Kiriakis,� she scoffed with a smirk, deliberately snuggling back into his hug.

Brushing the hair away from her face, his smile faded as he grew increasingly pensive, �So, about the talent show tonight�Are you sure you�re up for it? I mean, after last night��

Pressing a finger to his lips, she silenced his concern. �I�m fine. In fact, I�m better than fine�but there�s still one thing we have to do before the parental units return.�

Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, Chloe, in turn, giggled unashamedly. �Um�tempting, but no,� she pursed her lips as he pouted playfully. �Come on, time�s awasting.�

�I guess it�s a good thing it warmed up today, huh? We wouldn�t even be able to do this if it was still all iced over,� Chloe commented thoughtfully as she took in every detail of the present, committing the moment to memory. The moment shame and fear were to be released and life was to move forward without regret. The moment of closure�and reception.

�Explain to me what exactly �this� is about again?�

Suppressing the tiny tremors of anxiety within, Chloe slowly - deliberately - repeated the previous explanation Philip had yet to grasp in full. Naturally, he wasn�t big on grand metaphorical gestures�After all, there�d never been a need for him to grapple with anything beyond that of the physical world around him. He�d always lived in his body, moved within his life, and withdrawn minimally, hovering near the surface, the light and warmth in his eyes never extinguished. Genuine�that�s what he was. And that�s what she was now striving to attain. �It�s symbolic, Philip. A symbolic farewell,� she was stating evenly as her conflicted thoughts battled for supremacy, the underlying concept resonating anew, if not intensifying in magnitude.

Thankfully, her boyfriend, Mr Laid back-don�t worry-be happy himself, counteracted her basest insecurities as his eternal charm forever managed to ease the fear encaging her heart. With the wry shake of his head, Philip lazily shifted to flash her a sidelong lopsided grin, an endearing grin at that. �Only Chloe Lane would cast off her glasses citing symbolism as the reason!�

Resisting the lure of the smile that threatened to bloom in response, her eyes instead narrowed in mock reproof. �Don�t make fun.�

�I�m not. I�m not. Honest. Okay, do you want to give the eulogy�or shall I?�

Poking him softly in the ribs, her expression soured further, though affection and slight amusement nevertheless flickered through. �Philip! Stop it, stop trying to make me laugh. This is supposed to be serious.�

As his smirk relaxed into the beginnings of a supportive smile, she focused her energy back on the task of the morning, the biggest task of her life thus far.

With the roll of her wrist, the black plastic hurtled through the air, settling on a light breeze before bowing to its final destination�beneath the fateful pier, wrapped within the murky waters.

Reaching out, Philip drew Chloe near, his cheek dropping to gently press upon hers. �All joking aside, I�m really proud of you, Chloe�That came out wrong, didn�t it? I don�t mean �proud� in the usual condescending way people tend to use it��

�I know what you meant,� she murmured tremulously, peering up at him through damp lashes, her beautiful blue glistening with emotion.

�Oh no, not again. Please don�t cry. I�ll go fish your glasses back out if that�ll make you feel better�I�ll do anything. Just please don�t cry,� he soothed, raking his hand through his tousled hair in frustration�or perhaps desperation. It was agony for him to see his girl - this exquisite and utterly pure creature - in pain. In fact, as he�d cradled his sleeping beauty in his arms the night before, he�d vowed to protect her, to shield her from anything and everything that stood in the way of her happiness and well-being from that moment forward. Presently, his mind reeled as he scrambled to keep that promise, but her palm suddenly latched onto his upper arm, seeking his attention, and by the time it�d slid to capture his clenched fist, the panic within had calmed considerably.

�No, I�m fine, Philip. It�s just�it�s a big step, that�s all. A big step into a different way of life,� Chloe released a quiet sigh then laced her fingers through his with care. As long as he was there, standing beside her, holding her hand, everything would be fine�no, it would be BETTER than fine because the path before them now was one they�d share in together. Letting out another shuddering sigh, this time amid a new, entirely safe sense of security, Chloe raised up on her tiptoes to slowly kiss his soft lips in gratitude and maybe something more� �I�m not sad really. I�m actually rather hopeful.�

�Well, that makes two of us then,� his eyes smiled into hers, invitingly kind and loving. Both then turned their gazes to the lapping water below, ushering in the beginning of a new chapter, following the close of the very first.

****

Smoothing the satin folds of her gown, Chloe nervously consulted the clock overhead. It was 7:00...a half-hour before the curtain would rise and awhile longer before she would actually set foot onstage. The participants had drawn numbers earlier that evening to determine order and she�d woefully accepted her last place standing.

She imagined most performers preferred the final spot, basked in the glow of the privilege of impressing their talent lastly on the audience, influencing them by sheer timing and power, but not Chloe. No, an earlier position allowed for the least amount of waiting and pacing�She would much rather just get it over and done with.

�Chloe! Oh my God, you�re gorgeous, girl! Spin around, let me get a good look at that killer dress!� Belle gushed, her petite self pushing past the milling students backstage. Crossing her arms in the best authoritative air 5�2� of her could muster, her brows arched, silently commanding her to model Nancy�s latest buy.

Regarding the sudden interest from passersby shyly, Chloe awkwardly turned and posed (if you could call her stilted stance �posing�) as Belle looked on approvingly.

Bouncing forward to clasp Chloe�s hands, the blond�s eyes shone as she bopped up and down. �You�re gonna knock them dead tonight!�

�That�s the plan,� her lips quirked, however Chloe remained guarded, subdued. Easing down into one of the many fold-out chairs set up in front of the long rectangular mirror, Chloe grabbed at her wide-toothed comb.

But Belle was too quick for her. Snatching it out of her grasp, she twirled the plastic above and beyond her reach playfully. �Here, let me,� she chirped, running it through the length of her thick mane without further ado. After a few strokes, Belle shook her head wistfully, �God, your hair is so shiny and bouncy�It�s like you just stepped out of a Pantene commercial.�

Chloe smiled slightly, but just as soon winced as Belle tried to work her way through a particularly adamant tangle. Stealing a glance up at their reflection, she tentatively met Belle�s gaze in the mirror. �So�did you talk to Mimi?� Chloe eventually heard herself asking into the silence.

Slowing her movements in thought, Belle nodded. �I called and invited her to spend the night at my house yesterday. She was suspicious and refused at first, but when I reminded her of all the sleepovers we�d shared over the years�and how much I missed her, she finally caved. Then when she finally arrived, Mom and I were waiting. We attempted a sort of mini-intervention��

The comb slowed in its rhythmic motions further then fell away altogether as Belle sensed Chloe intently studying her reflection. A tingle of guilt flitted up her spine. She could only imagine the awful thoughts that were now whirling through her friend�s mind. Only the day before, Chloe had taken to heart her impassioned speech about the �real� Isabella Black. She�d declared, vehemently, in fact, that she could deal with real issues, and yet there she�d been a mere few hours later immediately turning to her mommy for help.

Defensive, Belle rushed to explain herself, �My mom was always really close with Mimi throughout the years. I mean, Meems and I�ve been like sisters since kindergarten. For God�s sake, she spent more time at our house than at her own. So, that�s why I told my mom�and well, the fact that she�s a psychiatrist�� Her voice trailed off as Chloe half-twisted in her chair to look up at her in confusion.

�After all I said yesterday afternoon, I didn�t want you to think I ratted her out or tried to push her problems off on somebody else. I just didn�t think I could handle it on my own�and I was so worried about her!� Belle fiercely exclaimed, caught up in it all until a hand touched her shoulder, abruptly silencing her increasingly high-pitched string of excuses.

�Relax, Belle. I wasn�t thinking anything of the sort. It makes complete sense that you confided in your mother. And as you said, she IS a trained professional, so who better to help advise you on the best course of action?� Chloe spoke calmly and was relieved when Belle�s visible tension began to recede, her small features smoothing into that of their usual softness. As the comb claimed her lengthy waves once more, Chloe swiveled back around in her seat and urged her to continue, �So, go on�what happened next? Did you get through to her?�

�Eventually. Little by little, she became more forthcoming about the past couple of months and how her life seemed to be falling apart. Her parents had some financial issues earlier this year - she�d told me a bit about it before, just not the full extent - and I guess it caused a whole lot of problems between them. Anyway, she said they separated a few months back and plan on divorcing this spring.

�After A LOT of prodding, my mom got Mimi to agree to start visiting a counselor at the hospital who specializes in eating disorders and, in turn, my mom promised to talk with her parents. Although, Mom seems to think her bulimia was a means of counteracting the chaos in her life, a means of taking control, and actually had very little to do with her weight or self-image, per se.�

A few moments passed as each were lost in reverie. Having already thoroughly mulled her friend�s situation over that morning, Belle was the first to recover. The comb dropped back onto the table with a clatter as she announced with flourish, �Done!�

Rising to her feet, Chloe turned only to be crushed by Belle�s enthusiastic hug. �This is for Mimi,� she choked, sniffling under her breath. �I can�t thank you enough on Mimi�s behalf for confiding in me�I only hope someday Mimi will be able to do so herself.�

Chloe found that highly unlikely, but she returned her hug with equal fervor. With one final squeeze, Belle released her before checking her watch. �I should go take my seat. 15 minutes �til show time. Break a leg, Chloe!�

15 minutes �til show time�A new band of butterflies swirled within her belly as Chloe watched her friend go.

At the tap on her shoulder, she spun then gasped as she beheld a mischievous Shawn brandishing a spray of long-stemmed roses in the palest of pinks beneath her nose.

�Oh my God, they�re�they�re beautiful!� she breathed, a little dizzied by the heady scent.

�Well, as much as I�d like to take the credit, they aren�t from me. Some whipped Romeo ordered me to deliver these to (and I quote) �his one and only Juliet.� The K-Man�s pathetic these days!� he smirked, inwardly relieved that whatever restraint between Chloe and Philip from the day before had passed. �Oh, and don�t forget to read the card�Phil was real emphatic about that.�

Reaching for the flowers, Chloe delighted in their fragrance and color as she carefully plucked the squared card from the inside of the clear decorative wrapper.

�Chloe,� he�d written. �Tonight is your night, beautiful. Grab the moment and hold on. I believe in you. Love, Philip.�

Tears blurred her vision as, with trembling hand, she replaced the card among the budding flowers, her flooding eyes shifting towards a pair of expectant chocolate.

�There�s going to be a slight change in plans.�

****

Good lord, he was cutting it close to the wire. Where was he? After the juggler, she�d be on and Shawn had yet to return. It couldn�t have taken him THAT long to do what she asked, Chloe reasoned worriedly.

From her vantage point, she scanned the audience once more before letting out a deep sigh of relief. An out of breath Shawn had just stumbled in, his lone figure contrasting against the shadowed rear of the packed auditorium. The lights thankfully came up moments later as the audience duly applauded the next to last act, allowing Chloe to capture Shawn�s gaze plainly. With a grin, he nodded and shot her the thumbs up. It had been taken care of.

Bending to admire the roses� rich scent anew, a soft smile played upon her lips as she placed the bouquet on the chair to move toward the wings.