I've put my Chris Slater story on hold for now as I have hit a wall with ideas for it; I don't know if I'll continue. I've started this story and have a lot of ideas for it; it's going to be a story with a lot of twists and turns and it is going to involve A LOT of characters with some returnees being thrown in along the way

Chapter One

Phil Mitchell had it all; or at least what he thought having it all was. Phil had landed on his feet after a few dodgy months; Phil was a very arrogant man and believed that he was the only man that could go from such a low to such a high in a few months. Now he had everything he ever wanted, a family that feared and respected him at the same time. Sue he had a bit of a blip with the Glenda situation but he knew Shirley inside out, he knew she wouldn't leave him. She had nothing else; she'd be nothing without him.

Phil's domineering presence over troublesome son Ben and surrogate son Jay proved he was a force to be reckoned with in Phil's own arrogant opinion. Fear was the best way of parenting; Phil had been terrified of his dad Eric and Eric had been terrified of his father so it was only logical that Ben and Jay feared Phil. Phil did love them, in his own little way. They were useful Ben was the intelligent one he could sort out all the paperwork that just flew over Phil's head and Jay was athletic and good with his hands and was more of the son Phil had hoped for

Shirley wasn't the trophy wife Phil had always hoped for; she hadn't the glamour that Sharon had and couldn't nearly match the class of Kathy Beale. She beat Kate hands down; but Kate had been the biggest regret of Phil's life and that includes getting involved with loopy Lisa Fowler. Phil could settle with Shirley, she'd do his shirts and breakfast and be the hands on parent to the boys.

It wasn't just Shirley, Ben and Jay that Phil's ironed fist ruled over. The rest of the Mitchells were under Phil's tyrant eye. Phil liked and respected his cousin Ronnie, she was useful to him and together they had put the Mitchells firmly back on the Walford map following the fire at the queen vic. Ronnie had her own life with Jack and her new baby and Phil was happy for her, he had no reason to interfere in her life. Her sister Roxy on the other hand; she was of no use to Phil whatsoever. He just saw her as a thick slapper; which to be fair she was. Billy was a loser; always had been and always will be but when called upon Billy would deliver no issues

Phil's power extended further beyond The Mitchell families; Kat and Alfie Moon were running his pub for him and Phil always emphasised that it was HIS pub not there's. He had sympathy for the recently bereaved couple but only to a certain extent; his sympathy would fast run out if they had a "off day" and shut the Vic. Phil could just look at Ian and Jane Beale and the weasel would squirm; Phil had respect for Jane and admired her for staying with Ian for as long as she had but he also considered her an idiot. Phil was the unofficial King of the Square once again; but as perceptive as Phil was he could not see the cracks bubbling underneath the surfaces

Looking back, it all started one night in April when Jay announced he and Abi Branning had begun dating. Jay had a nerve; he knew very well how Ben felt towards the young Branning girl but still her persevered with her completely selfishly and blocking out Ben's feelings. Phil would of said something to Jay, but Jay knew of Phil's affair with Sharon and this was much the same situation and Phil did not want to appear hypocritical.

"How could you" said Ben pushing the elder boy down to the ground and punching him in the lip. Jay looked up with venom in his eyes; he wiped the blood from his chin and picked up the tooth which had been knocked out "I told you how I felt about Abi" said Ben kicking Jay in the stomach. Billy and Julie held Ben back

"Well excuse me for not believing you" said Jay picking himself up and clutching his stomach "I thought you were covering it up."

"Covering what up" said Ben trying to break free of Billy's grasps "What Jay"

"You said all that to cover up" said Jay pointing at Ben "To cover up, the fact that you're gay". It was almost like Jay was taunting Ben into saying he was gay. Ben really went for Jay but Billy managed to keep hold of him.

Phil looked on; sitting and thinking. The first crack in his 'perfect' family had risen to the surface. Phil was much like his uncle Archie; he needed to be in control constantly. He needed to smooth over this mess and the only way of doing this was to get Jay and Abi Branning apart from one another