The morning light softly filtered into Jason Masters' bedroom. A warm glow seemed to encompass the entire room, and Jason, himself, had never felt so emotionally warm. With Mimi's body safely secured in bed beside him, Jason felt, for a painfully brief moment, as if all was finally right with the world - and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep things from going wrong once more.

Realizing that his lover would eventually wake from her peaceful sleep, Jason began to mentally prepare the words he hoped would convince Mimi to stay at his side. Though he wasn't sure where exactly things had gone so terribly wrong, Jason knew that time was quickly running out to solve the problem. It was almost as if he could feel the sands of his life slipping through some type of powerful and controlling hourglass.

Jason was torn from his thoughts when he felt Mimi begin to move. He almost smiled as he heard her release the softest of moans.

As the realization of her whereabouts dawned on her, Mimi attempted to quickly remove herself from Jason's bed. However, a pair of strong arms halted her movement.

Holding Mimi close, Jason said, "Not so fast. You and I need to have a little talk."

"I have no desire to talk to you, Jason, so just let me go. I want to get dressed and leave."

"Too bad," responded Jason forcefully. "I want to talk. I'm not quite sure why you've been so angry with me, but it's time for it to stop. I want you to stop fighting against me."

Twisting in Jason's arms so she could look into his eyes, Mimi dryly replied, "Too bad."

"Quit acting like a child, Meems. You're an adult now, so just accept it. You are way too old to keep playing these games of yours."

Mimi's eyes flashed with an anger that Jason had not often seen there. With fire practically shooting out her pupils, Mimi responded, "Did you just imply that I was the one playing games? Please, we both know that you are the game player."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you know exactly what it means."

Honestly perplexed by Mimi's behavior and comments, Jason asked, "What are you talking about? I don't play games with you, Mimi."

Ever so quietly, Mimi muttered, "That's not what you told Shawn."

Jason moved his arms away from Mimi and sat up in the bed. Staring down at Mimi with an intensity that he could only show her, Jason demanded, "For God's sake, what are you talking about? I never once told Shawn or anyone else that I was playing games with you! Is that what Shawn told you? Because, I swear, if he lied and told you something like that, he and I are going to have it out."

A mist of tears began to fill Mimi's formerly angry eyes. Rather dejectedly, she explained, "Shawn didn't tell me anything. I heard the words come out of your mouth, Jase. You never cared about me. I was just some revenge tactic to you."

The fury that he had been feeling seeped out of Jason's body. He could hardly bear to look into Mimi's tormented eyes. Where there had once been abundant joy was now matured hurt. He softly begged, "Mimi, sweetheart, please just tell me what you thought you heard."

Unable to look at Jason, Mimi focused her gaze on the peeling wallpaper across the room and answered, "The night of Philip and Belle's anniversary party, I overheard part of a conversation you were having with Shawn. I heard you say that you only slept with me to get back at Brady."

"What?!?"

"Don't even bother denying it. I heard you, Jase."

"Okay, Meems, you have to listen to me. You completely misunderstood what I was saying and obviously didn't stay around long enough to hear the end of the conversation."

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does! Mimi, I've got this feeling - this really bad feeling. We have wasted so much time, and I just don't think that we have much more to waste. Whether you're ready to admit it or not, you want to be with me - just like I want to be with you. I'm asking you to believe me when I say that I love you and was never using you to get back at Brady. All you have to do is believe me."

"I do."

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

The restaurant on the ground floor of the Salem Inn was nearly deserted except for the couple sitting in the far corner of the room. Having just arrived, the woman looked somewhat nervous and uneasy.

Resisting the urge to reach out and hold his companion's hand, Shawn quietly stated, "I'm glad you agreed to meet me for breakfast. You won't be sorry."

"I already am," Belle responded quietly.

Choosing to ignore Belle's comment, Shawn said, "It seems like I've been back in Salem for a lifetime, yet I've accomplished nothing. You were my reason for coming home, Belle. You're all I want."

Refusing to meet her first love's unwavering gaze, Belle meekly responded, "I'm married to Philip."

Fighting the desire to slam his fists against the top of the table, Shawn replied, "You know that I never wanted to hurt Philip. But, I have to be honest with you. If Philip has to get hurt for us to be together again, then I can't help but think it's worth it."

"How can you say that? Philip is my husband. He's the one who has been here for me while you traipsed all over the world and fooled around with Chloe!"

"Fooled around with Chloe? That's bull and you know it!"

In an almost despondent manner, Belle quietly said, "She and I used to be friends. I thought I could trust her and tell her anything. I never minded Chloe always being the center of attention as long as I had you. But, when she started going after you, she went too far."

"Belle, Chloe never wanted me - and I never wanted her."

"Liar," hissed Belle. In her mind, Belle firmly believed that Chloe Lane was a large part of the reason she and Shawn had faded into the backdrop of time. Glancing down at the elegant ring that adorned her finger, Belle silently vowed to never let Chloe - or anyone else - take Philip away from her.

For a moment, Shawn was completely speechless. What could he possibly say? He found it almost impossible to identify the bitter beauty before him as his sweet and caring first love. It was then that Shawn fully realized just how cruel life could be.

Quite gently, Shawn finally managed to say, "I'm telling you the truth. I don't love Chloe - I love you. And, I pray to God that you feel the same way about me. Just tell me that your feelings for me are still there."

Her anger becoming less powerful, Belle simply replied, "What if I did still have feelings for you? It wouldn't change things."

"You're wrong." Deciding that he couldn't afford to waste any more time, Shawn hurriedly pleaded, "Leave Philip. Just leave him and this town and come with me."

"I . . ."

"Will you leave him?"

Belle felt as though a lifetime of emotions was overpowering her. Looking into Shawn's eyes, she could honestly feel the love she had once held for him - such a powerful love. Unsure of what to say, Belle quickly replied, "I don't have an answer. I'm sorry."

Watching Belle flee the table and exit the hotel's restaurant, Shawn once again fought the urge to slam his fists against any and every object in sight. Staring at the doorway through which Belle had disappeared, Shawn whispered, "You'll always be my perfect girl - and I'll always love you."

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

While Belle had been having her meeting with Shawn, her husband had also entered the Salem Inn. Ignorant of his wife's presence, Philip had slipped upstairs and discreetly made his way down the hallway until he found himself standing before a door that led to both his future and his past.

After two knocks, the door slowly opened to reveal Chloe Lane. Philip instantly noticed how morose his former love appeared. Whatever light that she had once kept hidden in her eyes appeared to have been distinguished completely.

With slight hesitance, Philip questioned, "Chloe, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," answered Chloe. However, her words failed to communicate the strength that she had been hoping they would display. Moving aside so that Philip could enter, Chloe said, "I must say that I was surprised to get your call."

"I just thought that you and I needed a chance to talk."

"About what?"

Smiling just slightly, Philip commented, "That's my Chloe - never one to beat around the bush."

"As I recall, neither were you."

Philip chuckled softly and commented, "I suppose none of us were the most patient teenagers, huh?"

"No, we weren't. We just couldn't wait to jump into life head first."

His expression one of pensive remembrance, Philip replied, "Life was so simple then, you know? Sure, we thought that we knew it all, but we really didn't have a clue. None of us had any idea that things would end up so . . ."

"So?"

"So far from what we all thought was meant to be."

Nodding her head, Chloe waited a moment before asking, "Why did you come here Philip? What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

"Our past . . . and, our future."

"What do you mean?"

Releasing a frustrated breath, Philip sat down on Chloe's bed and ran a hand through his golden blond locks. With tender eyes, he looked up at his first love and explained, "I honestly loved you, Chloe. That's the one thing that I was always sure of. And, whether you want to admit it or not, you loved me, too. In fact, we are always going to love each other."

"Philip . . . "

"No, Chloe. Please, just let me say this." Seeing that Chloe had resolved herself to be silent for at least a short while, Philip continued, "But, we have both matured and changed and . . . moved on. I'm married to Belle, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that our marriage works. I won't make the same mistakes I made when I began to lose you to Brady."

Once more, Chloe attempted to interrupt, "Philip . . . "

Holding up his hand, Philip said, "Chloe, please, just let me finish, okay? I'm going to admit something to you, Chloe. Something that is so selfish, there isn't anyone else I could ever tell."

"What is it?"

"I want you to be happy. I want to see you smile like you did in the old days."

Confused by Philip's words, Chloe asked, "How is that selfish?"

"Don't you see? I love you so much that I am finally able to let you spread your wings and fly away to your own paradise. I love you enough to let you go."

"Philip, I don't understand."

Tears emerging in his soulful eyes, Philip responded quietly, "I don't love Belle that much. I love her, but just enough to want to keep her for myself. And, that's just what I'm going to do. I can't lose her. She and Katrina are all I have."

Chloe could find no words to comfort Philip. She was somewhat astounded by just how much the arrogant boy of her teen years had changed. Somewhere along the way, Philip Kiriakis had turned into a man that was finally able to admit the truth that hid in his heart.

Before Chloe could give any type of response, Philip continued, "I can't go into details, but I've made this pact - sort of like a deal with the devil."

"Oh, Philip, what have you done?"

"It doesn't matter. Just know that I've ensured not only my happiness, but yours as well. Don't you see, Chloe? You and I are finally going to be happy. I swear to you, Chloe. We will all get what we deserve."

Ever so quietly, Chloe mumbled to herself, "That's what I'm afraid of."