Staring at a stormy sky void of the moon's soft light, Belle shivered just slightly. Though she was standing in her own warm home, the dark night just outside the balcony doors was enough to chill her to the bone.

Belle knew that Philip was aware that something was wrong with her. Yet, he refused to push her into a conversation she obviously didn't want to have. Unlike so many others in her life, Philip was willing to let Belle keep her bottled emotions without insisting to know why she felt the way she did.

The news of Jan's unsolved murder had been covered by all the local television stations throughout the day, and it was almost impossible to turn on the radio without hearing it mentioned in a news update. It seemed as if everyone wanted to know what had happened to the wealthy and heartless young woman that was so incredibly hated.

Thoughts of Jan's body falling to the floor rolled through Belle's mind like a very unwanted steam engine. There was no stopping the flood of memories.

**(FLASHBACK)**

Belle hadn't gone to Jan's home with murder as her motivation. She had only wanted to get a clear idea of where she stood with the dark-haired vixen. However, Jan had finally pushed the wrong person at the wrong time.

When Jan opened her front door and found Belle Black-Kiriakis standing there, she sighed with boredom and indifference. She firmly believed that she was just too busy to worry with Shawn and Philip's leading lady. Yet, Belle planned to make sure Jan listened.

Preparing to swing the door shut, Jan smirked and said, "Sorry, Belle, I don't have time to deal with naive little bimbos like you."

"First, I'm not naive," replied Belle. "And, secondly, I think you should make time, Jan."

Jan stared in genuine horror at the hand held gun that Belle had discreetly pulled from her purse. Jan didn't really think Belle would shoot her, but she decided that it might be best to humor the blonde - before torturing her. With a huff, Jan said, "Fine, come on in. But, please, make it quick."

Belle strode past Jan with a forced look of composure. While she displayed a coolness she had often seen in her own father's attitude, Belle quivered in the depths of her heart. She had no intention of using the gun, but it made her incredibly uncomfortable to merely possess it.

Having shut the door and followed her unwanted guest into the living room, Jan demanded, "Just get to the point and leave. Okay?"

"Fine," responded Belle. "You have tried time after time to ruin my life. I know that I may never find out all the things you've done to me and my friends, but I do know enough to realize what an uncaring person you are."

"Do you have a point to this little tirade?"

"I want you to leave town. Just get out of Salem and leave us all alone. You've tortured us long enough."

Jan rolled her eyes with childish annoyance. Her voice dripping with heartless sarcasm, Jan replied, "Gee, that sounds great. I'll just pack up my bags and leave town." Crossing her arms over her chest, Jan questioned, "Why are you so worried about your supposed friends? The only person you know that I've ever really wanted to destroy is Chloe Lane - and you hate her as much as I do. Don't you, Belle?"

Dropping her gaze to the floor, Belle answered, "Yes, I hate Chloe. I hate her for being so close to Shawn in high school and for possibly being the reason he and I broke up. I hate her for being Philip's first love. And, I hate her for being the person to destroy my brother's chances of finding love." Belle lifted her head and stared intently at Jan. Her voice was almost taunting as she asked, "That's why I despise Chloe - but why do you? I don't believe for a minute that you're just angry because of some dead rat in high school. It's more than that - much more."

"My vendetta against that freak is none of your damn business, Belle."

"Ooh, did I strike a nerve?"

Jan's gaze went from simply being uncaring to being a sadistic combination of cruel and vicious. She showed no signs of weakness as she retorted, "Oh, you don't want to push me, Belle. Trust me, I could tell you a whole lot of things that you just don't want to hear. Things that would make your darling Philip be seen for the scum that he is."

"Shut-up!" Belle screamed. "Don't say things like that about Philip. He loves me!"

"Whatever. Shawn left you, and so will Philip." Lost in the heat of the argument, Jan opted to reveal the secret she had been planning to keep for a little while longer. "After all, if Philip had really been planning to live happily ever after with you, he never would have slept with me."

Belle could feel her own body begin to shake as she gripped the gun just a little tighter. Tears filled her eyes as she responded, "I don't care what you tricked Philip into doing. We love each other, and nothing can change that. Nothing. Not even a tramp like you."

"Oh, you'd better shut your mouth, Belle, because you're really starting to make me angry. And, I can guarantee you that you don't want to do that."

Smiling triumphantly despite the circumstances, Belle declared, "Oh, I haven't even begun to make you angry. First, I'm going to go back home to the man that I love - the man that you'll never be able to take from me. Then, I'll work on discovering your secret. I know that you're hiding something, and it has to do with why you hate Chloe so much. Oh, I'm gonna love telling the entire city that secret. Goodbye, Jan."

Belle was almost to the door when the threat left Jan's mouth, "If you dare to open your mouth about anything involving me, I'll make sure that Philip leaves you and your bastard child all alone in the world."

Attempting to appear both calm and innocent, Belle turned very slowly to face Jan. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care."

"Oh, you'll care when I tell Philly-boy the truth about Katrina. He'll definitely leave you then."

Belle was simply not enough of a manipulator to continue to appear innocent. Her increased rate of breathing and eyes misted with tears were enough proof that she knew exactly what Jan was referring to in such a cruel manner.

"Oh, I see that you're not so daring now that it's your secret that's going to be revealed."

Her voice shaking, Belle replied, "I'm warning you, Jan. Don't open your mouth."

Ignoring Belle's threat, Jan said with a self-assured smile, "You know, it's kinda sad how it all happened. You see, even before you had the idea of marrying Philip, Victor Kiriakis was already thinking it. He decided a long time ago that Philip needed a nice, good girl like you who was from a wealthy family."

Approaching Jan, Belle asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Remember all those years ago when you wrote Shawn that cruel letter telling him to never come back home because you never wanted to see him again? As I recall, you wrote that not too long after you came home from visiting him that one time. And, I also seem to recall that you wrote the letter in response to a letter you received from him - or at least, a letter that you thought you received from him."

Belle's eyes filled with tears as she demanded, "What did you and Victor do?" What did you do to us?"

"Oh, nothing really. We just had a letter delivered to you that said Shawn just wasn't ready to settle down and that if he was, it wouldn't matter, because he'd have to deal with his feelings for Chloe before he could ever marry you." Laughing heartlessly, Jan said, "I can't believe that you really thought your precious Shawn wrote you that note. Then again, you always were a naive fool."

Her facial features turning into a cool expression of pure hatred, Belle responded, "You made me think that he had only been using me to be near Chloe. You ruined my life!"

"Whatever. No one forced you to lie about Katrina's parentage. Although, I must admit that it was rather sneaky of you to tell Philip that she was just some brat that needed a family when she was the child you had given up for adoption just a couple of years earlier. Hmm, I can't wait to find out how Philip will react when he finds out that he's been raising Shawn Brady's daughter. I bet he'll even tell Shawn the truth before he packs his bags and leaves you. Then, of course, Shawn will just take his daughter away when he finally decides to leave town again."

"No! Philip can't find out!" Belle screamed as tears began to fall down her face. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. That's why I went to Colorado and never told anyone that I was pregnant. But, when I found out that Katrina's adoptive parents had died, I just had to have her back in my life. You can't take my family away from me. I won't let you!"

Taking a few steps to her right, Jan picked up her cordless phone and replied, "Oh, just watch me. I'm going to call Philip and tell him what a horrible person you really are."

Jan had only punched the first two numbers before the bullet hit her. Belle had never intended to kill Jan. However, as panic had taken control of her body, Belle had thoughtlessly done whatever she could to protect her family.

The very moment Jan's body fell to the floor, Belle found herself unable to breathe. As she gasped for air, she began to cry and stare at Jan as she lay bleeding on the floor. Stuffing the gun into her purse, Belle sobbed, "Oh, God, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry . . ."

**(END FLASHBACK)**

The painfully vivid memory was washed from Belle's immediate thoughts by the sound of the doorbell chiming. Thinking that it was too late for it to be a visitor, Belle assumed that Philip had forgotten his key after working late at the office.

Crossing the living room and forcing an almost believable smile onto her face, Belle swung the door open. To her dismay, it was not her husband who greeted her. It was Shawn Brady.

Struggling to find words, Belle softly asked, "Shawn . . . what are you doing here?"

"I came to tell you that it's now or never. I love you so much, but I can't live like this, Belle. I can't take it. So, please, just go away with me. I'm not asking you to desert your family. I'm just begging you to take a little trip with me. Just come with me and we'll find some way to work things out."

The eternal teenager within Belle wanted nothing more than to tell Shawn that she'd run away with him and that they'd never have to look back. Yet, the matured part of Belle knew that it simply wasn't possible. Maybe things could have been different if Belle had fought harder for Shawn and trusted his love when they were younger. However, it was too late to make up for youthful mistakes. Belle realized that even if Shawn couldn't.

Belle suddenly found herself recalling a familiar piece of poetry by Robert Frost. With a heavy heart she conceded to herself that long ago, two roads in her own path of life had diverged. And, perhaps she had chosen the one less traveled. And, that had truly made all the difference, because, as way leads on to way, it really does become next to impossible to retrace your steps to the beginning and to take the path you never chose.

"Belle, please," begged Shawn as he extended his hand. "All you have to do is take my hand and we can find a way to have it all."

Only with a great amount of restraint did Belle keep herself from taking Shawn's hand and running away with him and away from all the problems of the real world. Not allowing herself to cry over her and Shawn's mistakes, Belle reached out and pushed away the hand of her first love.

"Just go, Shawn. We'll never be able to reclaim what we lost. After all the wrong choices, there's just no going back. I do love you, Shawn. I swear that I do, but I won't leave the family I made to be with you. I can't - not after all that's been sacrificed."

Shawn clenched his jaw and did his best to keep his own tears from falling. He wanted to ask Belle just what had been sacrificed, but he found himself hardly caring. Shawn knew that answers couldn't change the past, nor could they change Belle's mind.

Before turning away from the only woman he could ever love, Shawn promised, "I'll always love you, too."

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

A moderately thick fog rolled over the dark water and onto the wooden pier. It seemed to complete the picture of misery painted by the dark clouds that concealed the moon. Those same dark clouds, heavily drenched in moisture, threatened to release a storm upon the city at any moment.

Alone in her walk along the familiar pier, Chloe wondered what had ever been the point of returning to a city so full of hatred and regret. She silently cursed herself for ever believing that she could change things for the better. In fact, she was certain that things had only worsened for everyone since her return to Salem.

Submerged in her own thoughts and regrets, Chloe failed to hear the quiet footsteps approaching her from behind. She remained oblivious to her handsome companion until he gently rested his hand upon her shoulder, effectively stopping her in her saddened tracks.

As though burned by the unexpected touch, Chloe jerked away from the man before turning to see his face. Staring intently at the man who had enthralled her for so many years, Chloe quietly asked, "Brady, what are you doing down here?"

"Looking for you," he replied matter-of-factly.

Stuffing her hands into the pockets of her light summer jacket, Chloe responded, "Well, now you've found me."

Brady took a few seconds to observe Chloe and defensive nature. It had taken her so long to learn how to trust, and he had ruined it for her. By sleeping with Mimi that Christmas Eve, he had taken Chloe's fears of trusting and made them a gruesome reality. He'd been the one to teach her that those you love will ultimately be the ones to hurt you the most.

Glancing around the foggy pier for no other reason than to avoid Chloe's cold gaze, Brady quietly said, "I remember when a certain darkly dressed diva and I shared our first conversation on this pier. We were both determined to leave this city and depend on no one."

Chloe stared regretfully at Brady's handsome profile and responded, "Too bad we didn't go with that first instinct. We'd have had much happier lives if we'd just left this city and everyone in it - including each other."

Brady quickly turned his head to face Chloe once more. In an almost bitter manner, Brady replied, "Maybe . . . or maybe not. We may have avoided a lot of pain, but we'd never have tasted love. You have to ask yourself if an empty yet painless life would really be worth giving up that brief taste of love. For me, it's those memories of love that keep me lucid."

"If you'd left Salem before we ever fell for each other, then you'd never have destroyed our relationship and married Mimi. Therefore, you wouldn't need the memory of some tainted love to keep you from going insane."

"You're wrong. I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you. It was at the lot when everyone was preparing to build a house for Mimi and her family. You were there with Philip. Even then, I knew that you were stunning and unforgettable."

Her eyes darkening with spite, Chloe countered, "Oh, really? Was I unforgettable when you were having sex with Mimi? Hmm?"

Brady had no answer. There were no words that could make up for the actions he had already taken.

"Why did you come looking for me, Brady? Did you just want to try and hurt me a little more? Is that it?"

"I never wanted to hurt you, Chloe. I called the hotel and the person at the front desk said that you had already checked out. I just had to see you again, Chloe. I had to be close to you one last time before we parted."

Tears spilling out of her eyes, Chloe asked, "Why? Why did you marry Mimi? What's the full story?"

Brady considered telling Chloe the whole sordid tale. He wanted to tell her about Mimi, with Jan's help, tricking him into marriage. He wanted to confess that before his death, Victor had conned him into signing a prenuptial agreement that bound him to Mimi for no less than ten years. And, should he break the contract, Basic Black would be handed to Philip Kiriakis on a silver platter. However, if Brady did stay married to Mimi for a decade, he would receive half of Titan.

Then, there was that one other stipulation that Brady couldn't face. Only a few months before dying, Victor had told Brady that he had entrusted someone with a very potent secret that could be used against Belle. And, if Brady divorced Mimi, that mysterious secret would be exposed. If only Brady had known that the late Jan Spears had been his grandfather's confidant, he just might have been willing to throw aside his marriage. However, the fear of hurting Belle and losing the family business to his uncle was simple to high a cost for Brady.

Brady never knew why Victor had wanted him to stay married to Mimi, and he supposed it didn't matter. Sure, he had his suspicions - among them, was the idea that Mimi was somehow connected to someone in Victor's past. In the end, Brady realized that he would probably never know why Victor had wanted Mimi to be his wife. Then again, knowledge wouldn't change his suffering.

Returning his attention to Chloe, Brady simply said, "There's no point in bringing up things that we can't change. So, let it go."

"Let it go?" Chloe sobbed. "You want me to just let it go? Even after we've made love, you want me to accept that you and Mimi are going to stay married and that I don't need to know why?"

Brady fought the urge to pull Chloe to him. He knew that holding her in his arms would only make it harder to walk away from her. He began to see that he never should have gone looking for her to say goodbye.

Using all of his willpower, Brady began to walk away from Chloe. As he reached the steps leading to the parking lot, Brady turned and said, "No matter what, you'll always be my Star. Always."

With heavy feet and an even heavier heart, Brady walked up the steps. He knew it seemed like goodbye, but he also knew that in seven years, he'd be free of Mimi and nothing short of death would stop him from searching for Chloe. And, when he found her, he'd never let her go.