Even in the darkness caused by the blackout, Philip could clearly see the annoyed skepticism wash over Jan's hostile facial features. It was obvious that she did not enjoy the idea of Philip making amendments to her original plan.

As she often did when feeling slightly on edge, Jan crossed her arms over her chest and gave her former classmate her cruelest glare. "What condition?"

"Earlier tonight, I realized that I really was in love with Chloe all those years ago. What we shared was so magical and so pure that nothing will ever be able erase it."

Groaning in a very unladylike manner, Jan interrupted, "So, now you want me to help you win Chloe over instead of keeping Belle?"

"No!" Philip forcefully exclaimed. Quickly glancing around to make certain that he had not attracted any unnecessary attention, he quietly said, "I finally realized the love I felt for Chloe was so strong that I can let her go so we can both find happiness. So, if I agree to sleep with you, Jan, you have to not only get Shawn out of town, but . . ."

"But, what?"

"Do whatever it takes to make sure Brady and Chloe finally get their happily ever after."

Her eyes widening in rare shock, Jan wondered if she had actually heard Philip correctly. Surely, he had not just stated that he wanted Chloe and Brady to have some fairytale romance once more. That was simply ridiculous. Even Jan could recall how destroyed Philip had been when Chloe originally left him for Brady all those summers ago. Voicing her thoughts, Jan snottily questioned, "Have you lost your mind, Phil?"

"No," he replied with a faint smile. "For the first time in a very long time, I think that I'm actually seeing things clearly."

"Yeah . . . right. Whatever you say."

"Look, that's the only deal I'm even willing to consider. Take it or leave it."

Jan gave a slight roll of her eyes as she considered Philip's offer. She knew that if she refused, she would be giving up her only chance of discovering just how magnificent the Kiriakis charm could be between the sheets. Besides, there was some inner part of Jan that was almost addicted to breaking the norms of society. And, having sex with Philip while secretly keeping the perfect Belle Black away from her beloved Shawn would definitely break a norm.

"Let me get this straight. In exchange for two nights with you, I have to keep Shawn away from Belle and destroy Brady and Mimi's marriage so he's free to be with Chloe? Is that all? Maybe you'd like me to just pull a freakin' bunny out my . . ."

Holding up a hand to silence Jan, Philip stated, "Yes, that's all."

"That's all? Philip, as much as I would love to help control what happens to Belle and Chloe, you are asking for way too much."

His facial features unusually stoic, Philip questioned, "Would I be asking for too much if I also offered you half a million dollars to get the job done?"

Jan's mouth literally fell open in shock while her eyes widened. Stumbling to find words, she asked, "Did you . . are . . . ugh, Philip, have you seriously lost what little mind you had? I mean, half a million? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. But, I'm warning you right now, Jan, don't double cross me. I am my father's son, and I won't hesitate to prove it."

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

Pushing his wet hair away from his face, Jason wondered if twenty minutes had ever gone by so slowly. One minute, he had been atop the pool table, slipping his tongue past Mimi's parted lips, enjoying the pure taste of her. Then, without warning, Mimi had jerked her wrists free of his grasp and harshly pushed him away. Even without the lights, Jason had easily seen the painful look upon her pretty face.

After shoving Jason away, Mimi had mindlessly ran out the door of the bar and into the most horribly rainy night Jason had ever known.

Cupping his hands to his mouth, Jason repeatedly called out Mimi's name. In the distance, he could hear Shawn doing the same thing. After recovering from the initial shock of the odd turn of events, both Shawn and Jason had fled from the bar in search of Mimi.

As he continued to shout into the merciless night, Jason reflected over the sheer pointlessness that had been somewhat of a trademark of his early adulthood. He almost felt ill when he thought about all the days, even years, that he had spent directing his disgust with himself toward other innocent people, toward Meems. Jason understood that he very well could have spent those years showing Mimi his love. Instead, all they had shared were a few stolen hours in the bedroom.

Jason cursed himself aloud for pulling such a bold and foolish stunt in the bar. He should have known that Mimi would not respond well to such a brazen act considering her emotional state.

Screaming into the dark alley, Jason begged, "Mimi! You have to come back, Meems!"

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Jason spun around to face the person. Having hoped that it would be Mimi, he was quite disappointed to see that it was only Shawn. Giving his soaked friend a determined glare, Jason vowed, "I'm going to find her and make things right."

Over the sound of the falling rain, Shawn yelled, "Make what right? What the hell is going on with you two?"

Visibly ignoring Shawn's question, Jason repeatedly wiped away the rain drops sliding down his face as he scanned the area for any sign of Mimi. "It wasn't suppose to be this way, man. Nothing was ever suppose to turn out like this."

"Yeah," muttered Shawn to himself. "Tell me about it."

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

While her brother silently sat on the sofa, Belle positioned herself against the cool glass of the balcony doors and watched with fascination as the rain continued to become even heavier. It was almost as if the storm was trying to invade the penthouse, invade her thoughts. Then again, there was already a storm brewing inside Belle. And, she had the feeling that she wasn't the only one in the path of the storm's destruction.

Belle's mind was filled with visions of Philip, his arms wrapped protectively around Chloe as he led her out of the building. A knot formed in the bottom of Belle's stomach as she remembered the gentleness Philip had used as he escorted his first love outside.

Maybe it had been best for Belle to keep herself hidden from Philip as he left with Chloe. Maybe ignorance was truly the only way to have bliss. Maybe, but maybe not.

Knowing that the thoughts of her husband and former friend being together would quickly eat her up inside if she did not find some way to ponder anything else, Belle forced herself to think about the cryptic words her brother had said earlier.

He had clearly stated that things were the way they had to be, as though there were truly no other options. And, he had yet to confess who exactly he had been referring to. When Belle had attempted to question her brother, Brady had merely dismissed her with the wave of his hand before falling silent once more.

Her brother's words flying in all directions through the passages of her mind, Belle contemplated just how true they may or may not be.

Was her relationship with Philip something that had to be, something with no possible escape? Was that what Brady was even referring to? For some reason, Belle seriously doubted if her brother was making some vague reference to her marriage. It seemed much more likely that he was thinking aloud, thoughts of his own marriage filling his troubled mind.

But, if that were the case, why did he feel that he had no choice but to be married to Mimi? After all, Belle felt certain that Brady and Mimi truly loved each other. What other reason could there be for their continuing marriage? They must love each other.

"Brady," softly spoke Belle, her voice strangely despondent.

"Yeah, Tink?"

"I miss being happy."

There was a heavy weight pressing upon the room as Brady frowned and answered, "Yeah, me, too."

On some level, Belle heard her brother respond, but she was far too captivated by the lightning and thunder to really be able to pull herself back into a genuine conversation. Staring into the darkness of the night, Belle recalled all the happier times.

She remembered how wonderful it felt to not only laugh, but to laugh with a group of friends that you felt certain would never abandon you. She remembered when she was still naive enough to believe that true love lasts forever and that Shawn would never leave her. She remembered sincere happiness.

To herself, Belle thoughtlessly whispered once more, "I miss being happy."

Lost not in the present, but in a time that simply could never be relived, Belle's hands tightly clutched the doorknobs of the balcony doors as her eyes focused on the engulfing dark sky. With a quick turn of her wrists, Belle opened the doors and allowed the rain that had been pounding against the glass to bitterly assail her petite body.

Belle could hear Brady quickly approaching her, but she continued to remain standing on the balcony, her designer clothing drenched from the hateful tears of the sky. Tears not too terribly different from the ones she had so often cried for Shawn. Yet, like the storm assaulting the city, Shawn had proven far too independent and unrestricted to ever subdue. However, that knowledge had never stopped Belle from wondering what it would have been like to tame her first love's heart of gold.

Hello, can you hear me?

Am I getting through to you?

Hello, is it late there?

There's laughter on the line

Are you sure you're there alone?

Cause I'm trying to explain something's wrong

You just don't sound the same

Returning to the table, Philip was welcomed with nothing more than the light scent of the lavender candle and an empty seat where Chloe had previously been sitting. Looking to his left, he caught a glance of someone slipping out through the night club's entrance, her body barely illuminated in a well-timed strike of lightening.

After Chloe's earlier outburst at the penthouse, Philip almost feared leaving her alone. Hurriedly grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair, he ran to follow Chloe outside.

Philip was truly surprised to see Chloe not falling apart in the cold rain, but calmly leaning against the side of the building, an awning sheltering her from getting entirely soaked. Slowly approaching Chloe, Philip gently placed his jacket around her before pulling her body close to his.

As the couple stood gazing into a night that seemed to be controlling all the world, Chloe whispered, "I wish I had never left him. But, even more, I wish that he had come after me - that Brady would have seen that he and I are mortal bodies sharing a single soul under a single sky."

Why don't you, why don't you

Go outside, go outside

Kiss the rain whenever you need me

Kiss the rain whenever I'm gone too long

If your lips feel lonely and thirsty

Kiss the rain and wait for the dawn

Keep in mind we're under the same sky

And the night as empty for me as for you

If you feel you can't wait 'til morning

Kiss the rain, kiss the rain, kiss the rain...

Violently slamming his foot into one of the garbage cans in the alley, Jason did his best to force away the hot tears that threatened to spill down his cold face. Glancing at Shawn, he said, "I have to find her."

"Maybe you should just let her husband take care of her."

Shawn's seemingly logical comment immediately earned him an icy glare from his companion. Jason was obviously not too keen on the idea of Brady comforting Mimi. And, the more possessive Jason acted, the more curious Shawn became.

Sighing, Shawn decided that it would be best to not ask any more questions concerning whatever was going on between Jason and Mimi. Instead, Shawn opted to try being sensible one more time. "Jase, man, it's really starting to get bad out here. Maybe we should just go back inside. Then, we can start calling people to see if anyone's seen Mimi."

Throwing one last glance around the area, Jason reluctantly followed Shawn back indoors.

Hello, do you miss me?

I hear you say you do, but not the way I'm missing you

What's new? How's the weather?

Is it stormy where you are?

Cause I'm so close but it feels like you're so far

Oh, would it mean anything

If you knew what I'm left imagining

In my mind, in my mind

Would you go, would you go kiss the rain?

Pulling his sister inside, Brady quickly shut the balcony doors. As the rain threw itself against the glass barrier, Brady led Belle back to the couch before crossing the room to find a blanket to wrap her in.

Somehow, Brady understood that it was not the time to try talking to his sister about the despair she had obviously been hiding from the world. Pulling his baby sister into a hug, Brady allowed his eyes to drift back to the balcony doors and into the dark, rainy night.

He couldn't help but wonder if Chloe was looking at the same dismal night sky.

As you fall over me

Think of me, think of me, think of me

Only me

Kiss the rain whenever you need me

Kiss the rain whenever I'm gone too long

If your lips feel hungry and tempted

Kiss the rain and wait for the dawn

Keep in mind we're under the same sky

And the night as empty for me as for you

If you feel you can't wait 'til morning

Kiss the rain, kiss the rain, kiss the rain...

Hello, can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Her tears lost amongst the raindrops streaming down her face, Mimi stared sorrowfully at the structure standing before her. She could scarcely recall a time in recent history when she had not felt pure disgust by merely looking at the home.

Mimi chose to ignore the rain and lightning while losing herself in her own hatred for the Kiriakis Mansion. Without a doubt, Mimi knew that if she had simply not gone to a Christmas party held there years earlier, she wouldn't be spending her night staring abhorrently at the house.

But, she had gone to the party, and she had slept with Brady. Looking back, Mimi realized that night had truly been the beginning of the end. Yet, some deep, hidden part of her heart could not help but wonder if there was any chance of another beginning. Of a day when no rain could rip apart her heart or tear her away from Jason.

She prayed to God that there was such a day.