Philip POV:

Mother called tonight. She told me Melanie left town and was in Europe. I was surprised. After I had left town, I kept a tab on Melanie. How could I not? She was the one woman who I loved the most. I loved her like no other. I didn't even say goodbye to her when I left. I couldn't stand the thought of it, so I left before she found out what I had planned. It pained me to do so, but it had to be done. When I found out she was with Dario, I knew he was a rebound - nothing serious. Thankfully it ended quickly, but when she was with Chad, I knew there was something else there. I could still remember my heart breaking in two when I heard about it. My own mother did not even tell me about him.

*flashback*

I was sitting looking over some paperwork in my office. Parker was playing in his playpen across the room. My phone rang and I saw a familiar number - the PI on Mel.

"Hello"

"Mr. Kiriakis. I have news on Ms. Jonas."

"Yes?"

"..."

"What is it, Shaun?"

"... Well, Ms. Jonas spent the night with Mr. Chad Dimera."

I remember feeling numb. My hand stopped playing with the pen in my hand. I suddently felt cold. I looked at Parker and he looked back at me. His smile gone as though sensing my distress. "...Dimera, you said?"

"Yes, Mr. Kiriakis"

"Thank you, Shaun. Keep as usual - report every week unless something special happens. Good night."

*end flashback*

After that, I thought it was over. I would never be able to get her back. I just couldn't handle getting information on how happy she was- with a Dimera of all people. So I cancelled the PI service on her. How stupid was I? If I hadn't, I would have known about her kidnapping. I would have known that she was in trouble. I would have known she was stuck in a damn tunnel and needed rescuing. Everyone else in Salem was too busy dealing with their own lives to even notice Melanie missing. I was fuming when mother told me the story of how Melanie was kidnapped, how Gabi Hernandez was the one behind it, how Nick was being released, and how Chad went... crazy for a lack of a better word.

Now, she was off in Europe to be with her mother. I don't know what to do. Back at Salem, she had everyone looking out for her - Maggie, Daniel, Victor, Brady. I knew I could count on them to care for her if anything goes wrong. Europe, there's no one but her mother. I desperately want to go to her, to see how she is doing, to take her in my arms and protect her. I know I have no place to be that for her, but I want to so much.

Parker has just turned 2 and he sees me look at Melanie's picture every night. The smart little bugger notices and always has this look on his face whenever he sees me looking at her. At least I know he'll be a smart one when he grows up - a true Kiriakis. I don't know what to tell him. I regret hurting Melanie, but I could never ever regret Parker. He is my pride and joy. I just wish I could tell him that that was his mother. I remember a time when I thought Mel and I could be happy. Baby and us makes three. Who knew when I had baby, I would lose Mel.

Mel's POV:

"So, that's that. I just couldn't be with Chad when he was becoming like a true Dimera."

"A true Dimera? Really?"

"What? he was taking revenge and his anger on everyone else. When I met him, he was ... so sweet and anti-Dimera."

"... you know, you were once married to a Kiriakis, right? They are as bad as the Dimeras."

"... Mom?!"

"Honey, Philip left Vivian in a sarcophagus."

"Okay, what's your point?"

"My point is that it never bothered you. The darker sides of the families in Salem. It's no reason to run away from Salem."

"... I'm not running away from Salem... I just feel so lost in the last couple of years and then all those things happened with Gabi and Chad. I felt like I didn't know anyone in Salem anymore aside from Daniel and Maggie. I guess I just needed a break. Some time away from it all, you know. Salem can be a bit... crazy sometimes. If something wasn't happening to me, it was happening to someone close. Besides, when you left, I said that I would come join you and Nicholas."

"All right, sweetheart. You take all the time you need. I'm certainly not sending you away. I love you."

"I love you too, mom. Where is Nicholas anyways?"
"Oh, he found a job in London, with your brother Max."

"... NO WAY! Max didn't tell me."

"Well, it was a recent thing, so he probably just hadn't gotten around to it. So it's just us girls!"

"Really? Just us around Europe?"
"Exactly!"

"Awesome, now let's go to the hotel because I need my beauty sleep. I'm sooooo tired."

2nd chapter! I decided to do both Philip and Mel. :P

How'd you all like it?... I'm supposed to be writing a paper for my class and it's due tomorrow, but here I am with more mojo to write a fanfiction. Guess I should get back to it, huh?

Well, please read and review. :)