Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Author's Notes- Okay, in this chapter things finally go in the direction that I've been hinting at for a while. Which leads me to ask two questions. Number one, is anyone still reading this? And, if so, what direction do you want me to take this in? From the beginning I intended to make this a Phloe/Shelle fic and I can still do that, despite the way the story is going as present, since we aren't even at the halfway mark yet, however, as many of you know, I no longer really support either of those couples, so... It's up to you, should I continue this as a Phloe/Shelle fanfic, with just a twist of Shloe, or I should keep heading in the direction of a Shloe romance? Let me know. Well, that's all, enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Saturday, February 10th, 2001

Phillip couldn't believe it.

Chloe.

He pulled the car over quickly and parked it. Then he jumped out and ran to her side.

"Chloe." He whispered.

She was laying unconscious on the sidewalk, it was obvious she had hit her head in her scramble to get out of the way of his car.

He picked her up and carried her to the car. He had to get her to the hospital, quick. She was already in a fragile state and who knows if hitting her head like that had made it worse.

He hoped not.

But he was afraid, because it was beginning to like the entire world was against he and Chloe being together and that he might never get her back.
* * * * *

Chloe woke up and looked around in surprise.

"Where am I?" She asked, trying to clear her head.

"You're in the hospital." Nancy told her. "You slipped on the ice and hit your head."

Chloe stared at her mother, but then it all came back. But more than that, suddenly, so did the memories she had tried so hard to regain.

"I remember." She whispered. "I remember it all."

"Really?"

Chloe turned and saw Phillip and Shawn standing there.

It was Phillip who had spoken and who was now looking at her with hopeful eyes. "You remember everything?"

"I do." She told him. "I remember our relationship, I remember the baby."

"Thank God." Phillip whispered.

Chloe looked from Phillip to Shawn and then at her parents. "Mom, Dad, can you leave for a few minutes?"

Nancy looked like she was going to protest, but Craig shot her look.

"Sure, Sweetheart." He said, leading his reluctant wife out of the room.

"I'll go too." Shawn said quickly.

Chloe looked at him and then nodded. "Okay, but you can come back? I want to talk to you, too."

"Of course." He told her before leaving.

Once he was gone Chloe turned to Phillip. "Phillip... Just because I remember that doesn't mean that things can be the way they were."

"Why not?" He asked her quietly.

"Because... Things have changed." She said quietly. "The memory loss triggered feelings I had buried, I need to deal with that. I also need time to morn the baby and to figure out where we go from here. Can you give me that?"

"Of course." Phillip said quietly. "If you need time, then I'll give it to you. Just remember that I love you."

"I know." Chloe said softly. "I know."

And she knew that she loved Phillip, but... At the same time... Things were more complicated now.

Her feelings for Phillip were still there, but she wasn't sure she was ready to deal with them yet.

Also, she had discovered feelings for Shawn that she had kept buried, and shouldn't see what there was between them? After everything that had happened, somehow she felt like she just had to know. As if she'd regret it if she didn't find out.

"I should go." Phillip said after a moment.

"Yeah." Chloe agreed. "Phillip, on your way out, can you ask Shawn to come in?"

"Sure." Phillip told her as he reached for the door, then he paused. "Chloe, is something going on between you and Shawn? Is that why you need time?"

"No, yes." Chloe said, trying to think coherently. "No, there's nothing between us, exactly. But... The accident caused me to reevaluate my feelings for him and I'm not sure what they are or where we stand."

Phillip was quiet for a moment. "I see." He said finally, before leaving.

Chloe watched him go and wondered if anything would ever be simple again.
* * * * *

"Chloe wants to talk to you." Phillip told Shawn quietly as entered the hall.

Shawn acknowledged him with a nod and hurried into Chloe's room.

"Chloe?" He asked softly.

"Shawn." She said quietly, smiling slightly. "Sit down."

She motioned to a chair near the hospital bed.

Shawn did as he was told. "You wanted to talk to me?" He asked once he had sat down.

Chloe took a deep breath. "You told me to talk to you when my memory was back. Well it's back."

Shawn stared at her. "Chloe, what do you mean?"

"I don't know." She said frankly. "Only that things can't be the way they were before the accident. It's too different now. Things have changed. I've changed. I'm not sure if Phillip and I can ever have what we had and one of the reasons for that is you. The accident reawakened feelings that I didn't even know I had."

She paused and looked at him intently.

"Shawn, I don't know what exactly it is I feel for you." She said after a moment. "But I'm attracted to you and I think that if I don't see what there is between us, I'll regret it."

"But what about Phillip?" Shawn asked, barely able to believe what he was hearing.

Chloe sighed. "I don't know. It's complicated and not just because of this. The accident changed a lot of things and I know that I need a break from Phillip to see what there really between us. But this is separate from that, yet attached to. I mean, if I really feel something for you, how can I go back to Phillip? It would be wrong and would end up hurting us both. You understand, don't you?"

"I think so." Shawn said quietly, still feeling pretty shook up.

Chloe smiled. "So, it's really all up to you. Do you want to see what there could be between us, or is it too late?"

Shawn stared at her, feeling as if a dream had come true.

All he had to do was say the words. Yet, at the same time there were no words to express what he felt.

So, finally, he leaned over and kissed her gently.

It was a soft and gentle kiss. Full of tenderness.

As far as Shawn was concerned it was perfect. Everything he had always imagined his first kiss with Chloe would be.

"Does that answer your question?" He asked with a smile once they pulled away.

He knew that it would be hard. That he and Chloe would have a lot to work through. Phillip, Belle, their own relationship... But Shawn knew that, like Chloe, he'd regret it if he didn't at least try.

After all, wasn't this worth taking a chance?
* * * * *