Author's Note: Well, folks, the bad news is that this tale is coming to a close. I think I might only have 1 or 2 more chapters left depending on how long-winded I get. It's actually great timing since I start back to work on Monday. The good news is that I already have Chapter 1 of the sequel finished and it's looking like another fun one. Getting it started is motivating me to wrap this one up so I can go on to other adventures.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The two couples agreed that Philip and Belle would return to Sami's apartment and Sami and Lucas would return to the loft. They figured if everything worked out, it would be better for them to return to their own places.
Philip and Belle were lost in their own thoughts on the drive back. Perhaps they were trying to get a head start on Celeste's instructions and in a way, they were. Both seemed slow to digest their task at hand.
They silently entered Sami's apartment and Belle immediately plopped down on the couch deep in thought. Philip followed after her stopping only to pick up the blanket that Sami had discarded earlier that night. He tried to think of something comforting to say but nothing came to mind. He had secretly hoped that Celeste would just know what to do and would magically be able to put them back in their own bodies. It seemed foolish now to think that she would be able to do something like that but he had held onto the hope anyway.
It was Belle who broke the silence as she revealed her thoughts to Philip. "I guess I thought Celeste would be able to magically transform us back." She laughed nervously risking an embarrassed glance towards Philip. "I guess that was pretty silly."
Philip was quick to put his arms around her in a comfortable embrace. He wondered if holding her would be this easy back in their own bodies. "It wasn't silly at all. I was thinking the same thing. I think we all were." Belle softly leaned her head against Philip's shoulder. "Do you think her advice is going working."
Belle shook her head indecisively in Philip's embrace. "I have no idea." She held her position for a few moments and then pulled herself out of Philip's warm arms. "But I think we should give it a try. I mean, she wouldn't have told us to do it if it wasn't going to help at least a little, right?" The pleading in her eyes told Philip that Belle was looking to him for reassurance.
"Of course, it'll help, Belle. Celeste knows what she's talking about when it comes to this stuff, remember?" He gently grasped her hand and caressed the soft skin of her palm with his thumb. "Even if its not exactly what we're used to, we need to give it a try just to say we did." He looked around nervously, clearly feeling out of place with the situation. So . . . do you think we need anything special, like candles or incense or something."
Belle laughed and clasped her hands in his. "I don't think it's a prerequisite but a few candles might help us get in the mood." Belle got up and dug through Sami's drawers for some candles. She found a few large, lilac-scented votive candles and placed them on the table. She walked over to the door and turned off the lights leaving just the glow of the candles to illuminate the room.
Philip liked the dim lights and the soft scent of the candles. It was definitely easier to overlook the fact that Belle was currently in Sami's body in this setting. Belle walked back over to the couch and sat down. "So what are we supposed to be doing? Finding our center and reflecting," Philip said with a nervous chuckle.
"Yeah. I think we're supposed to reflect on what we've learned from switching bodies with Sami and Lucas." Both sat there quietly for a few minutes trying their best to accomplish their task at hand. Belle had closed her eyes and was trying to breathe evenly like she had done once in a yoga class. That seemed like a good template. Philip simply stared at the candles and tried not to dwell on how silly he felt 'feeling out the forces of the universe' and 'focusing on his center.'
After a few more minutes, Philip couldn't take it anymore. "Why don't we try working on this together," he said looking terribly uncomfortable by his efforts.
Belle opened her eyes and focused on Philip. "That's a good idea," she replied quickly. Truth be told, this whole thing wasn't working for her either. "Maybe you should try telling me what you've learned from switching bodies with Lucas."
Philip smirked at her. "I'll tell you one thing. I'll never again take for granted how great it is being a big guy." He inspected himself once again while shaking his head.
"I don't know Philip," Belle said with a smile. "I think Lucas looks pretty good." Philip just rolled his eyes at her. "Besides, he and Sami are a perfect fit, don't you think."
Philip had to admit the truth of that. He had thought as much earlier as they lay in Sami's bed after making love. He nodded his head reluctantly at her observation. "Even so, I'll be much happier back in my own body."
"Of course," Belle said laughing at him. "Seriously, Philip. Is there something you did appreciate about being in Lucas' body?" She stared at him innocently really wanting to know his answer. Philip looked back a little guiltily as he recalled one very aroused and demanding future sister-in-law that he had appreciated a little too much earlier in the evening. He knew he needed to get over it but that body of hers was just too sexy for him to forget. However, he certainly wouldn't mind forgetting about the attitude and utter insanity that came along with it.
"Uh, well," Philip stuttered out. "I guess it was great to get a different perspective of things." He really didn't know what to say. He really hadn't spent that much time in Lucas' body that didn't involve the majority of his brain cells being focused on his sex drive. He gave Belle a playful smirk and said, "I mean, things really do look different from down here."
Belle softly threw a pillow at him and Philip noted that it was a lot less hateful than when Sami had done it. "Philip, you're not helping. Fine, I'll start." She bit her lip as if in deep thought. "Well, I learned that Lucas is a really sweet guy who loves my sister a lot. I'm still a little embarrassed about that whole thing though," Belle commented to herself as a blush crept into her face. She then straightened up a little and said, "I certainly learned that it's not always Sami who starts things with your mother. She totally went off the deep end and all I was doing was standing there." Philip didn't look convinced but Belle looked down as a small revelation filled her. "I know she's done some bad stuff in the past but I guess you could get a little bitter when people are automatically mean to you for no reason."
"Hey, I know she's your sister but Sami brings a lot of that on herself too. She's not exactly blameless for her lack of popularity around here, especially when it comes to my mom. You certainly weren't helping things with your little performance earlier."
"Please Philip, your mom gives as good as she gets and you know it." Philip knew there was no denying that. "Sami wasn't always like that. She had a lot of crazy things happen to her while she was growing up. I just mean that it's not really fair to judge her for some things since I have no idea what she's been through in her life. Sometimes, I wish she could be as loving to everyone else as she is with me. Even when I'm being a brat, I know that I can always count on her. I think it would be good for her too."
Philip didn't know if that would change anything but he was willing to give Sami the benefit of the doubt despite that sharp tongue of hers. Mmmm, Sami's tongue. 'Stop it, PK! No more of that.' "Maybe things will get better after she and Lucas get married. They really make each other happy. I know Lucas has worked a lot on improving his life. Even though I was a kid for most of that period, I know that his life was pretty much a mess for a long time." Their age difference had often worked to keep them comfortably distant but as he matured, they both tried to build a better bond between the two. Lucas really was a great guy and a decent big brother too.
Another more sinister thought entered his mind at the moment as he thought about Lucas and Sami. "I learned not to ever cross those two. The two of them together are lethal when they're trying to put something over on you." They both laughed thinking about Sami's tirade over her 'soiled sheets.' Lucas hadn't been as evil but he had certainly played along well enough.
As Belle's laughter died down she gave Philip a beautifully bashful look. "Well, whatever happens, I know that even if they weren't my sister and almost brother-in-law, they'd still be special to me because of what we did tonight. Belle leaned over and planted a sweet kiss on Philip's lips. Philip caressed her cheek as she pulled away. "Doing that is still pretty weird by the way," Belle said to him pulling away completely.
"Noted," Philip said. He looked back over at the candles as the light it produced danced against the walls of the room. Even though it seemed like they hadn't gotten very far with Celeste's instructions of finding their center and all, he felt like what they were doing was right all the same. "Look Belle, I don't know about all that new age talk Celeste was giving us earlier but I know that if we're supposed to reflect on what we've experienced this evening then I'd rather do it with you in my arms." He leaned back in and kissed her more deeply making sure she felt the passion he felt for her.
Although she hated to admit it, being with Philip like this felt more right than sitting around trying to conjure up something she wasn't sure she believed in. Belle smiled up into Philip's now deep brown eyes. "I guess, Lucas and Sami wouldn't mind waking up like that when we get back into our own bodies." Philip loved that, even now, she was being so strong and optimistic for him.
Philip took her hands in his and kissed each before leaning her back against the couch. He began to kiss her lightly and then with more passion. Belle whimpered as she allowed Philip to ravish her body. While Philip was placing feather light kisses along her neck, Belle leaned over and blew out the flames from the two candles still burning brightly on the table. The two young lovers continued to make love, witnessed only by the stringy wisps of smoke rising from the extinguished flames.
MEANWHILE . . .
Lucas and Sami were anything but silent as they returned to Philip and Belle's loft. Currently they were bickering about Sami's relationship with Lexie—or lack thereof.
"All I'm saying Sami is that if you don't like the woman, then why don't you just ignore her. It wouldn't kill you to exercise a little self-control."
Sami gave Lucas a very unladylike snort. "Don't talk to me about self-control. That woman's very existence disturbs me and somebody in this town needs to call her on her hypocrisy. I can't stand by and let her belittle me with her pathetic, self-righteous attitude when she's off doing the same things she's condemning me for."
Lucas sighed heavily and tried to focus on the road instead of the stubborn woman beside him. "Look, I'm not saying she's a saint or anything. I'm just saying that for your sake, it might be better to let her be and not worry about what she's doing."
Her only reaction was a look of disbelief and outrage at the suggestion. "Do you hear yourself Lucas? That woman is quite possibly responsible for my mother being buried alive and you want me to sit around and twiddle my thumbs while she slithers away to safety. She's the one who said my mom was dead and let's not forget all the horrible things she said to me when we first heard those ludicrous accusations about my mother killing all those people."
"Sami—"
"No Lucas. I'm tired of people taking her side over mine when she's done things just as bad if not worse than I have. When people complain about the things that I do, at least I'm doing it for a good reason—like my son or the people I love. What's her excuse besides the fact that she's a dirty DiMera."
Lucas knew that he was on thin ice so he decided to choose his words carefully. "Nobody's saying that you don't give everything for the people you love but that doesn't justify hurting other people—for you or for her." He hoped the rest of the night wasn't going to be spent arguing like this. Although if Celeste wanted them to find their center together, their bickering wasn't very far from the core.
Sami only continued to pout in her seat. "You're one to talk she said quietly." Of course he had been expecting that comment.
"You're right, Sami. I've made some mistakes too in the name of protecting my son and my mother but I'm willing to own up to them and realize that the ends don't justify the means sometimes." They pulled into a parking space in front of the loft and Lucas cut the engine. "I don't want to fight with you Sami. I just think that it wouldn't be so bad to honor Celeste's request."
"God Lucas, I said I would. What else do you want from me?" She opened the car door angrily and gave it a good slam before marching swiftly to the front door. She heard Lucas' door close and his footsteps approaching as he followed her into the building. He grabbed her arm and turned her around before she could get too much farther ahead of him.
"Calm down. Why don't you stop being defensive for five seconds and listen to what I'm saying."
The fire in her eyes was unmistakable. "I'm not being def—"
"Cut the crap," Lucas said with intensity. "I love you Sami and I'm tired of seeing you hurt yourself needlessly. You need to stop reacting to people and worrying about what they think. All you need to do is be the best person you can be. The only people you need to worry about are me and Will because we love you and only want you to be happy." Sami pulled her arm away from him though not as forcefully as he would have expected. She silently walked towards Belle and Philip's loft and worked on unlocking the door. She paused when she felt Lucas' hands on her shoulders and his breath against her ear. "Sami, you might be right. Lexie might be the biggest hypocrite in Salem. Yes, she's said some terrible and unfair things to you and maybe, just maybe, she was negligent when she dealt with your mother's death. But all that has nothing to do with how you live your life. If all that's true then let her dig her own grave. Don't feel like you need to do it for her."
"Bad choice of words," replied Sami. She had unlocked the door by this time and slid it open. For the first time that evening, she was feeling extremely tired. She didn't want to have this conversation especially when they were supposed to be focusing on getting back into their own bodies. Still, she couldn't help but be moved by Lucas' words. She knew that she worried too much about the judgments people placed on her. She knew he was right but it was so much easier to hold on to the anger than to let people walk all over her. "Lucas, I know you're trying to help me and I love you for it but please try to realize that sometimes its not that easy. Whenever I try to turn the other cheek, I get sucker punched by life so I've learned to stay on my guard."
Lucas opened his mouth to say something but Sami cut him off. "But, I know you have a point and I'll try to tone it down a little. I told Celeste I would and I meant it, no matter how much it'll kill me to do it." She practically threw herself on the couch and tucked one leg underneath herself. Lucas carefully seated himself behind her and took her in his arms.
"I only ask that you try, Sami. With Lexie and with my mom. I know it's hard for you and I know you have your reasons for lashing out but it makes me really happy when you show them how grown up you are. It makes me even more proud of you." He kissed her check and entwined their hands together in front of her.
Sami brought one of his hands to her face and brushed it with her lips. "Thanks for putting up with me, Lucas. I love you too and I do want you and Will to be proud of me." They stayed that way for a few moments just enjoying the warmth of the others' body even if it was technically their siblings' they were feeling. Finally, Sami stirred beneath Lucas and turned her head to face him. "I guess we should get started with Celeste's instructions."
Lucas reluctantly let her go and sat facing forward on the couch. "Yeah, so how do we do this? I have to admit that this is way out of my area of expertise."
"You mean there's an area that you are an expert in?" Sami asked playfully.
"You know better than anyone out there that I've got skills," he said giving her a sexy look and flexing his muscles.
Sami just rolled her eyes. "Come to think of it, you are pretty good at taking out the garbage." Without warning, Lucas leaped on her tickling her in all the places that worked on her old body. Unfortunately for Sami, it seemed that she and Belle shared that particular genetic marker. She laughed uncontrollably as he assaulted her most sensitive tickle spots.
"Taking out the garbage, huh? You got something else to add?" He wasn't going to let up until she told him what he wanted to hear.
Sami had tears running down her face and Lucas showed no sign of letting up. "Okay, okay Lucas." He slowed his ministrations to allow her to talk. "I'm sorry Lucas, you're good at lots of things."
"Such as," he asked while his hands remained at her sides.
"Well, I hear that you wash a mean set of dishes too," Sami said and tried to run away from Lucas' hold. Lucky for Lucas, he was a little faster than she was. He caught her and threw her back on the couch. As the time passed, he was getting used to seeing his Sami inside of Belle's body. That didn't mean that he wanted to get too intimate with her right now or that he wouldn't greatly prefer Sami back in her own body, but it made moments like this enjoyable.
"Lucas, stop!" Sami screamed. "Don't get mad at me because you make a good houseboy." Lucas pretended to look shocked and continued his tickle assault.
"Houseboy! You're digging yourself deeper into that hole, sweetie. Try again."
Sami was finding it hard to breathe for laughing so hard at him. She didn't even mind so much that he was in Philip's body since she knew it was really her Lucas in there. She didn't think she would ever get used to crawling into bed with a kid she had known since he was a baby but she was enjoying their little fight nonetheless. "Okay Lucas, I'll admit it. You're the biggest stud in the world and your sexual skills can be matched by no other in the universe, human or otherwise."
"What else?" Lucas asked now joining her laughter.
What an ego! "Just the thought of your rippling muscles and your naked body makes me swoon with desire. You're such a expert lover that you should make steamy sex tapes to show the world how it's really done."
Lucas finally let Sami up and wiped away the tears of laughter painted across her face. Her cheeks were beautifully flushed and her hair a mess. No, this wasn't his Sami on the outside but he loved her anyway. "Actually, Sami, the sex tape thing was my idea so I shouldn't even give you credit for that one. But since you suggested it, when all of this craziness is over, we can run right out to Salem Place and get a camcorder so we an get started."
"We?" Sami asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lucas playfully tickled the foot that she had carelessly left in front of him. Sami giggled loudly and hid it underneath her body. "Well, I would be nothing without my number one inspiration, right? We'd put Pam and Tommy to shame. We'd wipe the floor with that Paris Hilton sex tape."
Sami let a dreamy expression cross her face. "Oh, Lucas, just what I've always hoped for--a chance to star in my very own porno. You sure know how to show a girl the stars."
He chuckled at her. "Hey, that would be 'our' very own porno and I do my best. Now about righting the universe and all . . ."
"Oh yeah," Sami said looking serious again. "We're supposed to be reflecting and centering right . . . or is it justifying. Whatever, let's get to it."
"You can't just 'get to it.' We've got to prepare and concentrate." He moved farther away from her and proceeded to look deep in thought.
Sami gave a haughty laugh in his direction. "You said yourself that you're not the expert on this stuff so stop trying to take charge. I'll find my center myself." Sami sat back on the couch face forward sporting a determined look on her face.
Lucas acknowledged that it was rather perverted but the thought of Sami finding her own center was quite arousing to him. 'Don't go there Lucas. That's too dangerous. You're supposed to be concentrating on getting back in your own body not thinking about getting into Sami's body.' However, the ensuing thought of trying to get back into Sami's body brought him right back to perverted. Lucas glanced over at Sami and observed her sitting there looking slightly contemplative but a little confused.
"What are you thinking about over there—"
"Shhh, Lucas, I'm reflecting," Sami said with an irritated tone.
"I just wanted to know what you've learned about being Belle?"
Sami let out a dramatic sigh and turned towards Lucas. "You mean besides appreciating the wonders of having larger breasts, right?"
Lucas shrugged, unapologetic. "I'm not going to complain about that. I'd be willing to show you my appreciation every day if we get back into our own bodies."
"Perv," Sami said smiling. Lucas didn't deny it. "Well, it was interesting having Kate being so nice to me—and by interesting, I mean incredibly weird."
"I don't know why, Sami. You two got along back in the day even though that seems like ages ago." Back then, Lucas had been going through his own family trauma and cute little Sami Brady was obsessed with her sister's boyfriend.
"Yeah, ages ago. I can hardly remember those bizarre times." Sami tried to seem nonchalant but Lucas knew better. "It was nice knowing that even a beautiful, naked, not to mention extremely horny co-ed couldn't tempt you to get a little pre-marital action."
"I wish I could say the same thing about my brother," Lucas said still a little irritated by Philip's actions with his fiancée. His frown turned into a smile when he looked back at her. "You know, the only beautiful, blonde trouble-maker I want is you."
A confused look crossed Sami's face. "Thanks, I think. Your brother has nothing on you, Lucas, believe me. At least now I know that I rate above that slut ex-wife of yours."
"By leaps and bounds, Sami," Lucas said frowning again at the mention of Nicole. "Now, what was the universe trying to tell me about being Philip? I learned that it's not just my life that my mom keeps trying to control since she's on Philip's case just as hard."
"Yeah, she's a busybody no matter what your last name is." Lucas gave her a warning glare and she quickly apologized.
"Speaking of which, I definitely learned not to mess with Sami Brady's sheets," he said with a chuckle.
"And don't you forget it, General. I don't know if this is what Celeste had in mind but I have to admit that I feel a little better. I don't think I was meant to focus for too long on the universe or whatever it is that we're supposed to be doing." Sami moved in closer to Lucas' end of the couch and curled up against him.
Lucas moved himself around to make room for her. "I feel better too. Maybe we'd be better off finding our center and aligning our forces while we sleep. There won't be so many distractions then," Lucas commented running his fingers up and down her arms.
Sami shivered at his touch. "Maybe you're right." She grabbed the blanket that she had balled up earlier and arranged it over their bodies. "I like being with you like this. I feel so safe. Let's just get some sleep and maybe things will be alright in the morning like Celeste said." Neither usually slept in so many clothes but they figured that wearing anything less would be uncomfortable for all involved.
"Right." Lucas reached up and turned off the only lamp lighting the room. "Good night, Sami. Sweet dreams."
"You too. Good night my sexy houseboy," she said chuckling.
"Watch it," Lucas replied giving her a squeeze.
"Be quiet, Lucas and focus on righting the universe. Geez, is that so hard?" Sami said playfully.
"Not with you in my arms, Sami." She could hear the sincerity in his tone and it warmed every inch of her. She turned in his arms and in the darkness, she rewarded Lucas with a deep, probing kiss. They wrapped their bodies more securely around each other and drifted off to sleep.