A/N: Story is based on the soap, Days of Our Lives. Anything related belongs to them, not me.

Now that the characters, Philip and Melanie, have both left Salem, I feel like writing this story. Perhaps as a homage to them, and perhaps to fulfill my dreams of having a Phelanie endings. I always loved the two together and felt that their storyline was overshadowed by the Ejami/Safe storyline... With that said, no bashing please, and I'd love to have reviews as well. :)

This is my first attempt at a DOOL fanfiction, so I hope you enjoy it.

Background info on this story:

Now I must admit, I didn't watch Days after Philip left town... and then I rewatched some towards the end when Melanie left... So, everything about Philip and Chloe and Parker happened, Philip did leave town without saying goodbye to , I refuse and pretend to have watched the scene where Melanie reflects on her marriage with Brady. I do not believe a single word of that. I think Phelanie loved each other and their marriage was not a scam, not about money, and definitely not threatened by Nathan. She CHOSE Philip, time and time again... well.. until the cheating incident came to light. I also don't like how Melanie was then pushed into the 'teenage' clan, isolating her from her best friend, Brady. She also lost her spunk, then... so my version of Melanie isn't exactly the same Melanie that left Salem. I will probably negate a lot of the stuff that happened after Philip left, aside from her relationship with Chad... enough ranting now. :P

Summary:

After leaving Salem, Melanie has decided to go and stay with her mother, Carly in Europe. This is her story of recovery and how she finds the love of her life again (aka. Philip :P), how they overcome the shambles of their previous marriage, and how they will fight for what they once had.

Rating: T - nothing intense, but this is based on a SOAP. :P... maybe rating will go up, but not likely. Perhaps anything beyond T will be put in a separate story exert?

Well, here goes nothing, enjoy!

UPDATE: I've changed the POV of the story and will probably be changing these earlier chapters. Hopefully, the new format will be better.

Chapter 1: Melanie's POV

Leaving Salem. A decision I made after all that has happened and now I'm back in Europe, where Max found me. I guess things have come full circle now. Now that I think on it, I don't know why I hadn't earlier. When Max left, I could have left town. When Philip and I ended our marriage, I could have left town. I needed it then, but I had just found Daniel and I didn't want to leave. Then I found Chad... and here I am now.

The plane ride gave me time to think... lots. I will miss Salem, especially Daniel, Maggie, Brady, and Abigail, but I'm going to move on. I need it. Going to Salem with Max was my saving grace from Trent, but now, I'm going to save myself. I'm going to re-build my life... but first, I'm going to go on a little vacation with Carly. :)

"Please put your seatbelts on. We will be landing in Barcelona shortly."

"Melanie!"

I turned. There stood my mother, Carly.

"Oh my god, mom! I've missed you so much."

Carly came over and gave me a huge hug. "Darling, I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, mom. How did your conference go?"

"Wondeful! But I was so anxious to see you that I barely paid any attention. How about you, honey?"

"Aww, thanks mom. I'm okay considering all that has happened. Why don't we go get my baggage and then I'll tell you everything I have yet to tell you."

"All right, let's go."

...so... good? bad? yes? no? ... Philip chapter next? or keep with Mel chapter all the way?

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