Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Chapter Thirteen

Author's Notes- I decided to add the dates to the story so that things are less confusing. I've added dates to all the back chapters, so now you'll be able to tell what happened when. This chapter is mostly Phloe, but it does have some other people in it, and I add a little bit of Brady in, he's going to be an obstacle for Chloe and Phillip to overcome. Oh, and I know at the beginning I say that Marlena took Sami and Eric with her when she left Salem, but for the purposes of the plot they came back before her and almost everything happened as it did on the show. Sami had Will, told Austin he was the father, was in the accident,and faked amnesia, Lucas is Will's real father, Sami was almost executed for Franco's murder, but it was Candy the stripper who killed Franco and framed Sami, but Roman caught her in time. Austin was also married to Carrie, but now he's engaged to Sami, who is pregnant. I just thought I'd clear that up. Now, enjoy.

Thanksgiving Day, 2000

"Ready for this?" Phillip asked Chloe as they walked towards his front door.

"Ready for what?" She asked curiously.

"The griping, back-biting, and bitching that are key at a Kiriakis family function."

Chloe stared at him in horror. "How bad is it?"

He laughed. "Depends on whose there." He opened the door and smiled down at her. "It'll be fine. The real fun will be when we get to the Brady's."

Chloe's family always ate Thanksgiving with the Brady family and when Phillip's mother had invited her to their Thanksgiving dinner, which was earlier, Chloe had told Mrs. Brady that she might be late and Shawn's grandmother had told her to invite Phillip along. Thus, they were both going to two Thanksgivings.

"I can't wait." Chloe said dryly. "Did I ever mention I don't like Thanksgiving?"

Phillip laughed again and led her into the living room.

His mother, his brother Lucas, Lucas' wife Nicole, Belle's sister Sami, and Will and Sami's son Will were there.

"Darling!" Kate exclaimed, standing up to greet her son. She hugged him and then smiled at Chloe. "Chloe, I'm so glad that you could join us."

Chloe smiled back. "Thank you for inviting me."

Sammantha "Sami" Brady stood up and smiled. "I'm glad you could join us Chloe," she gave her a quick hug and whispered in her ear, "I'm also glad that there's at least one other woman here that I'm on speaking terms with."

Chloe laughed slightly and smiled before taking Phillip's hand again.

She had known Belle's older half-sister for years and was one of the few people who liked her. Sami was Shawn's cousin through they're fathers and had lived in Salem for the last several years.

She was also scheming and manipulative, or actually she used to be. Sami had almost been executed the year before for a murder that she didn't commit and that had changed her, luckily the real killer had been caught at the last moment and she had been saved.

"Is Austin here?" She asked, referring to Sami's fiance and Phillip's hal4brother.

Sami shook her head. "No, but he'll be here soon. He had an errand to do. Are you going to the Pub later?"

"We both are." Chloe answered, smiling at Phillip.

Sami looked surprised, but pushed it away and smiled. "Are you going to sing tonight?"

Before Chloe could answer, Kate spoke up. "That reminds me. Chloe, last Saturday, you were amazing darling. You have a voice like an angel."

"Thank you." Chloe answered shyly.

"Talented as well as beautiful." Nicole spoke up in an insulting voice, obviously drunk. "My, my Phillip, what others talents does your little girlfriend have? Or hasn't let you find out?"

Phillip looked at her in disgust. "My god, it's 1:30 in the afternoon, and you're already drunk and obnoxious. You're pathetic."

Lucas stood up to defend his wife. "Phillip! Don't talk to Nicole like that!"

Phillip looked at his half-brother calmly. "I'll stop speaking to her like that when she stops deserving it."

Chloe closed her eyes. Please, don't let the rest of the afternoon be like this. She prayed, opening her eyes to survey the rest of the room.

Sami was barely stifling a grin, Nicole looked irritated, Lucas looked ready to retort, and Kate was trying to calm him down.

It's going to be a long afternoon. She thought, wondering if all Phillip's family gatherings were like this.
* * * * *

By the time the meal was over, Chloe was wondering how Phillip had managed to grow up in that house and still turn out sane.

Once they were in the car on the way to the Pub, Phillip smiled. "Hectic, huh?"

Chloe nodded. "That's an understatement. Is it always like that?"

Phillip sighed. "Usually. Nicole doesn't get along with anyone, but then again no one likes her either, except Lucas. He's the only one that doesn't realize she's a money-grubbing bitch."

"She's certainly not very pleasant." Chloe commented, remembering Nicole's comments from earlier.

"No, she's not." Phillip agreed. "But unfortunately I think we're stuck with her. At least until Lucas comes to his senses. As for the others... Mom can't stand Sami or Nicole, but she hates Nicole more. Lucas and Sami are constantly fighting over Will."

"But they have joint custody now, right?" Chloe asked.

Phillip nodded. "For now. Until that blows up in their faces, which I think will happen when Sami and Austin get married. Lucas has always been jealous of Austin, especially since Will thought that he was his father for so long, and there's no way he's going to be content to let Will live with him and Sami half the time. I figure once they get married, things will get ugly."

"Who do you think will win?" Chloe asked curiously.

Phillip thought about it for a minute. "No idea. Personally, I can't imagine any sane judge that would give either of them custody."

Chloe laughed. "Now that you put it that way... So what others fights usually go on?"

"Well, Sami and Nicole are often at each other's throats, as are Lucas and Austin, Mom and either Sami or Nicole, and that's it. Dad and I tend to try and stay out of it."

"Wow," Chloe said, shaking her head, "my parents seem so sane in comparison."

Phillip thought about it. "I guess so, but I'm used to it. You'll get used to it too."

"Joy," Chloe said sarcastically, then she smiled. "Does this mean I'll be going to more Kiriakis family events?"

"Definitely." Phillip told her softly as he pulled up in front of the pub. "You'll be going to these things for a long time, Chloe. Or at least I hope so."

"I hope so too." Chloe said softly, leaning over to kiss Phillip quickly.

Then she stood up and got about of the car with Phillip following her. "On to dinner number two." She said with a smile.

"I can't wait." Phillip said sarcastically.

Chloe turned to him, her blue eyes dancing. "Cheer up, at least everyone here is sane. Besides, it'll be fun."

"Dinner with Shawn's family, fun?" Phillip asked with lifted eyebrows. "Yeah, right."
* * * * *

Belle watched as Chloe and Phillip entered the pub.

Her family had been invited to join the Brady's as well, so she was there too. Actually, she and Chloe had arranged to sit together during the meal.

This should be interesting. She thought, waving Phillip and Chloe over.

"Hey guys, how was Phillip's?" She asked with a big smile.

Chloe groaned causing Phillip to grin. "It was a little hectic, but then again things usually are at my place. Chloe wasn't used to it."

Belle laughed slightly. "That fun, huh?"

Chloe groaned. "You don't know the half of it."

"Well tell me over dinner." Belle instructed. "Mrs. Brady said that it was just about ready."

"More food." Chloe groaned. "I'm going to weigh a thousand pounds."

"But you'll still be gorgeous." Phillip told her lovingly.

"Chloe, now you know for sure he loves you. Because only a guy totally in love would say something like that." Belle said with a small smile, hiding her jealousy of her friend.

She was happy that Chloe had found someone who cared about her so much, but didn't she deserve that too?

She pushed the jealousy aside and turned from Chloe and Phillip towards Shawn.

He was standing with his mom and Uncle Roman and was smiling, but Belle saw the longing in his eyes as he watched Chloe and Phillip.

Why? She thought miserably. Why does he have to love her? She loves Phillip and I love him, if only Shawn would love me. We could all be so happy.
* * * * *

Brady watched Chloe and Phillip after dinner.

They were standing by themselves talking in low tones, and it was obvious to everyone how much in love they were. It was obvious by their every move.

Still, he couldn't figure out why. They were so different, too different.

He had a feeling that eventually, once the feelings of awe and wonder wore off, their thinking would change.

They're too different, he thought, they can't possibly find happiness together.

He honestly believed it. Opposites may attract, but they couldn't make a relationship work. He would bet on that.
* * * * *

Hope Brady watched the five teenagers in the room with interest, wondering what she was missing. There was obviously something going on between them, but she wasn't sure what it was.

"Marlena?" She asked softly. "Do you know what's going on with the kids?"

Marlena followed her gaze and then nodded. "Sort of. From what I can tell there's a love mess going on."

"Shawn." Hope realized. "He's had feelings for Chloe forever, but she's in love with Phillip."

"And Belle's in love with Shawn." Marlena said softly. "It's a mess."

"It really is." Hope agreed. "But where does Brady fit in? He keeps watching Chloe."

"I think he's attracted to her." Marlena said after a moment. "But that's it, after all he doesn't know her very well. But he did comment that she and Phillip seem like an odd match."

"I have to admit that I was definitely surprised when I heard they were dating." Hope said. "And not just because I had had hopes that she and Shawn would get together, Phillip just never struck me as Chloe's type. But they look very happy together."

"I'm glad someone looks happy." Marlena said quietly. "Because our children look miserable."

Hope sighed. "What can we do?"

"I don't know." Marlena said quietly. "Maybe if I knew the whole story I would, but..."

"We'll figure it out." Hope said with another sigh. "Besides, they're teenagers. Everything is supposed to be all angsty and confused."
* * * * *