Author's Note: Okay, the next chapter will have a lot more Lumi in it, I'm sorry for the fact that the spotlight has been off them for the last what, four chapters? Thanks Yvonne, Lynn and DoolFan10 for the feedback on the last chapter. Doolfan10, there's a little bit of Rex and Patrick in this chapter for you ;)
Nicole and Crystal only had to keep their eyes focused on the entrance to the club for about ten minutes before Kate and Belle burst through the door, which meant Kate must have been in a huge hurry to reach the club. Kate practically flew toward the back of the club, causing Belle to almost break into a run to keep up with the older woman. Sami and Jan followed Nicole and Crystal's eyes and watched Kate rush past their seats without even a sideways glance.
"Woah, if her Sami radar is out, then you know she has to be really pissed," Sami observed, glancing at Jan, "I don't know if you're going to make it through the night alive."
"I'll be fine. I can handle Kate," Jan predicted confidently, rising from the chair, "Why are you all just sitting there? Come on, we have to go fight her!"
Jan, Sami, Nicole and Crystal reached the backstage room just in time to see Kate fling herself at her son. As the four women neared closer, they could hear Kate babbling frantically into Phillip's ear.
"Oh, baby, what are you doing to yourself? You're lucky Belle told me about this self-destructive behavior or I might never have found out! Why didn't you tell me you'd resorted to this? I would have helped you, you know that, don't you? I am your mother and I will always be here to make things better."
Phillip managed to untangle himself and took a step backwards. By this time, Mimi, Belle, Patrick, Rex and Lucas were at Kate's side and Sami, Nicole, Jan, Crystal and Shawn were at Phillip's.
"What are you talking about, mom? I'm not doing anything wrong." Phillip stated firmly, shooting Belle a pointed look.
"Not doing anything wrong, not doing anything wrong," Kate repeated to herself for a few moments, cradling the side of her face in her hand. Then, she looked up and tried to smile, "Perhaps that's true. Maybe Belle misunderstood what was going on. Tell me you didn't move in with that slut," Kate pointed at Jan hatefully, "And tell me you're not involved in some mock-romantic way with that," Kate moved her accusing finger so it was pointing at Shawn, who she was staring at as if he was some sort of disgusting-looking space creature.
Jan already looked ready to fly at Kate in a burst of rage but somehow restrained herself while Phillip searched for a response.
"I can't do that," Phillip said finally, looking at her with all the defiance he could muster, "But I still haven't done anything wrong."
Kate let out a wail that rang through the entire backstage. Thankfully, Tyler was dancing on stage, so the only one in the room who looked up at Kate in surprise was Tanner.
"Nooo!" Kate cried, pressing her hand against her forehead, "How can this be happening? Please, God, do this to anyone but my son. This isn't fair."
"Would you just shut up?" Jan exploded, "Phillip can do whatever he wants. Shawn already said this to Belle but I think you need to hear it too- this isn't about you. Just because you gave birth to Phillip does not mean you can choose his lovers, or much else for that matter. You should get the hell out of this club if you don't have anything better to do than try and control Phillip's life and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out."
"I'm not listening to anything you say," Kate retorted hotly, "I don't feel the need to listen to someone who heartlessly seduces my sons into relationships with other men that he does not want to be in."
"Mom, that isn't true!" Phillip argued, "If I didn't want be in a relationship with Shawn, or Jan for that matter, I wouldn't be. It's that simple. Maybe you could at least try to understand-"
"No, I won't," Kate nearly shrieked, causing Rex, Patrick and Lucas to wince, "There's nothing to understand other than the fact that there's something very wrong with you. I don't know what Jan and Shawn have done to you but you're not acting like the person I know you really are. You're my son and I know for a fact that you are not attracted to other men, least of all men you're related to. I don't know what's gotten into you but for the time being, I will hold Shawn and Jan completely responsible for this destruction of your true being-"
"Can I switch sides?" Patrick interrupted, "She's giving me a headache."
Kate's mouth fell open, "Why, how rude!"
"Maybe it would be a good idea to give Phillip a chance to finish what he was saying though," Lucas spoke up, pitying his brother for having to deal with their mother's temper tantrum. Personally, he didn't care who Phillip was dating as long as Phillip was happy. Lucas had been all for the whole 'two brothers dating two sisters thing' with him and Sami and Phillip but Belle but he wasn't going to freak out just because it hadn't happened. Granted, it would take him a while to get used to the idea of Phillip liking Shawn in this way but he wasn't going to get in his brother's face about it.
"Thank you, Lucas," Phillip said while Kate glared at Lucas, "Look, mom, I get that you don't like approve of my relationships with Shawn and Jan. And there isn't much I can do about that if you're not going to be open-minded. But I'm happy with them. And I always thought that your number one priority with your children was to make sure they were happy. But if you're going to keep fighting with me about my relationship with Shawn and Jan and if you're going to keep fighting with Lucas about being with Sami, then obviously you don't care about your children's happiness that much."
"Speaking of Lucas and Sami, once I finish with Phillip, I am going to have a good long talk with you, Lucas," Kate promised, completely missing Phillip's point, "I don't understand why you haven't gotten Sami out of your life yet."
"In that case..." as a way of finishing his sentence, Lucas walked over to stand beside Sami, making it a pitiful four against eight.
Kate cried out in shock, "Lucas! How can you desert your own mother at a time like this? How can you take your brother's side when he's destroying his entire life? Shawn and Jan will ruin him in the end and then he'll be sorry. We have to stop them before it's too late." she shot another fierce look at Shawn and Jan, "You two think you can get away with this. You think you can trick my son into thinking he lusts after both of you but I will bring you down! I'll make Phillip understand that this isn't who he is. He doesn't kiss other men, he doesn't touch other men and he doesn't fall in love with promiscuous, unwholesome women like you, Jan Spears!"
"Excuse me but you're in no position to complain!" Jan shot back, "If you had your sons' best interests at heart, you would be thanking me and Shawn and Sami because we keep Lucas and Phillip happy and that's all that should matter."
"It will be a hot day in the Antarctic before I thank one of you three," Kate sneered, "Especially you, Jan. Belle told me all about you. You're an insane liar. You've done something to Phillip. He's not really this way. He couldn't be. It's not possible. How could he turn into a bisexual so late in his life?"
"Well, gee, I don't know, Kate," Jan pretended to seriously consider it, "Maybe he caught it from me or Shawn. Because you know, bisexuality is incredibly contagious. It spreads like chicken pox!"
"It does?" Belle looked at Shawn cautiously.
"Did you just admit that you're bi?" Lucas asked Jan in surprised voice.
"You mean you didn't know that?" Jan frowned at him, "I thought everyone knew that. I mean, did you really think I spent so much time with Sami, Nicole and Crystal because of their wonderful personalities?"
"Excuse me?" Sami's eyes widened comically at Jan's remark.
"You heard me," Jan winked at Sami, "I've had a crush on Nicole ever since I got back to Salem and I've had a crush on Crystal since Nicole introduced us. And you... well, I'd be all over your perky ass if it wasn't for Lucas, Shawn and Phillip."
"Wow... um, I never knew," Sami looked like she didn't know whether to be petrified or offended.
"You didn't?" Jan looked disappointed, "But we all thought you knew. Nicole, Crystal and I thought that's why you sat with us. We thought you returned our feelings of attraction for you."
"You were wrong, then," Sami informed her while Lucas hid a laugh behind his hand, "I'm one-hundred percent straight, thank you very much."
"Me and Nikki are bi too," Crystal spoke up, "Well, that was probably obvious since we were both porn stars. Most porn stars we know are bi, so that they can get more work."
Nicole glared at Crystal, "Thank you for that, Crystal. I really wanted them all to know about my past profession."
Before anyone could comment on this, Patrick spoke up, "Since we've brought it up, I am too. See, it's no big deal, Mrs. Roberts."
"You like guys?" Mimi demanded incredulously, "Were you planning on telling me and mom anytime soon?"
"Like I said, I don't consider it a big deal," Patrick shrugged, "I've had a few boyfriends, nothing major."
Rex decided that, since everyone else was admitting to what their true sexual preferences were, he might as well too. Besides, from Kate's reaction to Phillip engaging in sexual activities with Shawn, it might just get his mother's attention for once.
"I'm bisexual too, actually," Rex admitted. Mimi gasped and Kate covered her mouth with her hand, looking faint.
"Rex, you must be joking!" Mimi looked hard at her boyfriend.
"I'm actually not. You know, when I first came to Salem, I thought guys were supposed to like other guys. I mean, I thought that was was the only explanation for why they would want to spend so much time at gyms together and play touch football in big, hot, sweaty groups and everything. I never really found an explanation for what Belle was doing with Shawn after I reached this conclusion until I realized that guys were supposed to like girls." Mimi was still staring at him in amazement, "I led a sheltered life, okay? Don't blame me, blame Stephano!" I just hope they never find out the real reason I decided to move in with Shawn when he didn't want me to, Rex though to himself in conclusion.
"Doesn't everyone use that excuse in Salem?" Kate mumbled, before raising her voice again, "This cannot be happening! Two of my sons cannot be bisexual! And what is this, national come out of the closet day? God, is anyone here straight besides me?"
"Uh... I am." Lucas answered.
"Me too," Sami added while Jan choked back a disappointed sob. Belle and Mimi quickly murmured in agreement as well.
"Brady's not straight," Nicole volunteered, "I found that out when I found both Playboy and Playgirl magazines in his bedroom. I guess he need lots of those to satisfy himself with because there's no way someone like Chloe could do that job well."
"No one cares about Brady," Kate told her, running a hand through her hair in agitation, "I cannot believe this is happening. Three out of four of my sons are strippers and two out of four of them like both men and women."
Lucas chuckled, "Well, technically, Austin isn't here to let us know whether or not he's-"
"QUIET!" Kate roared, then calmed down and let out a pained moan, "Why is this happening to me? Why are all of my sons corrupted? What did I do wrong?"
"Don't even get me started," Nicole returned bluntly and Jan and Sami both burst out laughing.
"Don't laugh at me! I'm in the middle of a huge crisis, you little wenches. I'll kill you all! Especially you, Jan! You made my son love Shawn and you will pay!"
Kate lunged forward, her fingers bent into claws. Her hands encircled Jan's neck but before she could begin strangling Jan to the best of her strangling abilities, Jan managed to shove her away.
"Touch me like that again and your grandchildren will feel it. Oh, don't look at me like that, Sami, I didn't mean it literally."
"I hate you. I hate you and I'll make you pay," Kate swore, "You and Shawn will get what you deserves for doing this to Phillip. I'll make sure of it. You won't keep him under your sadistic, demonic spell for much longer! You'll be sorry... So very sorry..."
"Mom, I don't mean to be rude but I would appreciate it if you didn't threaten my girlfriend anymore," Phillip intervened, then smiled wickedly at Kate, "Or my boyfriend."
Kate and Shawn's mouths fell open at almost the exact same time. They were still staring at Phillip in shock when Bonnie walked backstage.
"What are you all crowding around like this?" Bonnie put her hands on her hips expectantly, "We need one of you up on stage right now! Shawn, you get up there and shake that thing for me, okay. The ladies are getting restless."
"But-" Shawn tried to protest.
"No buts," Bonnie cut him off, "Just get out there and dance."
Phillip turned to Jan, "I think we should go dance while in the meantime."
"That sounds good," Jan agreed, watching Kate's displeased reaction from the corner of her eye.
Phillip turned around to Shawn, "Once you finish dancing on stage, you can come out and join me and Jan. We'll be thinking about you the whole time." knowing his mother was watching, Phillip leaned over a little bit and brushed his lips against Shawn's cheek.
"Phi-liiiiiiiiippppp." Belle whined well Kate clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms.
"So, Sami," Lucas finally spoke again now that Phillip, Jan and Shawn were out of the spotlight, "Do you want to go dance with me?"
"I think that would be a lot of fun," Sami replied, smirking at Kate pointedly.
Kate's mouth tightened around the edges before she stepped forward and hissed, "You won't get away with this either, you whore. Lucas won't be with you when this is all over. You'll be in the same place Jan is and while I don't know exactly where that will be, I know it will be a cold, lonely place."
"Go screw yourself, bitch," Sami replied, her sugary sweet tone contradicting the sharpness in her words. Kate watched Sami walk away hand in hand with Lucas silently, too horrified at the night's events to say another word.
Rex sighed and turned to the Mimi and Patrick, "It would be nice if my own mom would notice the things I did instead of always devoting all her attention to Lucas and Phillip."
"I know how you could get her attention," Patrick grinned down at Rex.
"How?" Rex asked eagerly.
"By going out there and dancing with me," Patrick's grin widened, "Since she really strikes me as the homophobic type and everything."
Rex's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't believe Patrick had made such a wonderful suggestion. Rex's crush on Shawn had always led to a dead end, first because of Belle, then because of Jan, then because of Phillip and Jan. But then he had developed quite the crush on Patrick Lockhart once he had begun working at Unzipped with him. And now Mimi's sexy, single, incredibly talented, stripper-brother was volunteering to let Rex dance with him. Good God, he was a lucky man tonight.
"That sounds like a good plan to me," Rex almost squeaked, then looked at Mimi, who he was still very much in love with, despite his lustful desires for her brother, "Is it okay with you?"
Mimi rolled her eyes, "Sure, you go ahead. I hope you finally get Kate's attention, which I think might be kind of hard to do when she's already so preoccupied with Phillip and Lucas."
"Well, it never hurts to try. Come on, Rex," Patrick urged him, sounding more enthusiastic than necessary. The two of them walked out of the backstage area and out onto the dance floor. Kate and Belle were standing off to the side, their faces donning matching grimaces. Phillip and Jan were already dancing very provocatively, which, Rex assumed, was for Kate's benefit. Rex watched Jan and Phillip move against each other in a writing motion, Jan's back against Phillip's chest, then Rex turned to see the look of pure repulsion on Kate's face. Unlike Phillip and Jan, Lucas and Sami were facing each other, their lower bodies pressed tightly together as their hips rocked in time to the music. Patrick and Rex began dancing together as well and to Rex's delight, Kate pulled her eyes away from Lucas and Phillip long enough to look at Rex. Out of the corner of his eye, Rex watched her eyes go wide with disbelief.
"Looks like you're getting the attention you wanted," Patrick noted, looking at Kate as well. Rex nodded, unable to stop himself from winding his arms around Patrick's neck. He couldn't resist getting back at his mother for her lack of attention in a big way and did a facetious bump and grind into Patrick's groin. It will be a miracle if she gets through this night without committing suicide, Rex thought to himself, feeling the slightest twinge of guilt before looking up at Patrick again.
"This place sickens me," Kate muttered, averting her eyes from her sons to look up on stage. She eyed Shawn with contempt, hating him for what he had done to Phillip. She eyes narrowed more when she watched him begin dancing in their direction. Kate realized that she and Belle were standing right next to a group of women waving bills at Shawn to come take.
Kate nudged Belle, "You see what he's doing up there? I think you let him get away with too much and that's why he's with Phillip and Jan now. You need to regain some control and then you will get him back. You should start by making him get off that stage right now. It's just so inappropriate."
Belle thought about this for a moment, then nodded decisively, "You're right. It's time to show Shawn Brady a thing or two. He needs to realize how much he truly misses me."
She walked up in front of the girls holding the money. Shawn had been trying to take the money from them before Belle had intervened and his arm was outstretched towards them.
Belle took hold of his arm and shook it a little, "You come down off that stage right now, Shawn."
Shawn glared at Belle and tried to shake her hand off. Infuriated by his disobedience, Belle yanked on his arm in retaliation. Unfortunately, she must have miscalculated her own strength and Belle watched in horror as Shawn lost his balance and fell off the stage and onto the ground with a thud.
