Disclaimer:  I am in no way affiliated with Passions, NBC, or JER.  I don't own these characters, so don't sue me!

Note to readers:  I started this quite a while back…before Theresa and Ivy were enemies.  So, for the sake of consistency in the story, they will remain friends.  Enjoy and feedback is as always, greatly appreciated!

CHAPTER 1
Crane Mansion

The lady of the house looked out of her bedroom window onto the beautiful rose garden below. Leaning her head against the window frame and pulled a locket on a long chain out from under her suit jacket. Never before had she felt so completely alone. Ivy held the locket tightly and sighed.

Pilar quietly entered her employer's room and took a good look at her. Mrs. Crane was staring out the window as if focused on something. Her expression was not sad, in fact, her face revealed nothing about what she was thinking. It eerily looked as if Ivy were in some sort of trance, or stranger yet sleepwalking. Just then, it hit Pilar. She broke the silence, "I know what you're thinking about, Mrs. Crane, or rather who."

Ivy looked up, "Am I really that transparent, Pilar," she asked with concern.

"No Mrs. Crane, just to my knowing eyes," Pilar responded. "Are you going to be alright? You looked rather distracted earlier when Gwen was here looking for Ethan."

"It's the past, Pilar. I've been thinking about my past and what it might bring to the near future. I'm getting more nervous about everything by the minute with Ethan's wedding so close. I feel guilty keeping things from him…and Sam. I don't know what to do. If I were to tell Ethan, now would be the time, right? I just feel so guilty! How could I have done something like this?"

"It was not your fault, Mrs. Crane. You and Sam had a great love and then it was taken from you. It was out of your hands. You know your parents would have disposed of your son if you had tried to go to Sam. You had no choice."

"I know Pilar, I just wish Sam knew what you know."

"You can't tell him. You should have told Sam about Ethan. Now you must keep this secret. For the sake of everyone involved. Everyone's future would surely crumble."

"I know, Pilar, but you know I had no choice. You just told me so yourself. We were both there and know the truth. Besides, it's not my future I'm worried about. I just want Ethan and Sam to be happy. Even if means I never will be."

Pilar looked a little uneasy. Ivy had done a complete turn around over the past few weeks. Ivy had admitted that though she still loved Sam, she would not selfishly ruin Ethan's future for herself. Pilar knew what Ivy had just reiterated to her was true, but she also knew that it was too late for the truth to come out. There was no telling what Julian and Alistair would do if they knew what had happened all those years ago. And on Julian and Ivy's wedding night no less. They would take their humiliation out on Sam, Ivy, and Ethan. That she knew for sure. Pilar realized that she had been silent a little too long and Ivy was staring at her. "And Ethan will be happy. He's marrying the woman he loves," Pilar reminded Ivy.

"Yes, I know. It just seems though that the last couple of days the wedding has been the last thing on Ethan's mind. I know he loves Gwen and wants to marry her, but he's just so distracted right now. I hope everything goes as planned. This marriage means a lot to his future."

"Mrs. Crane I – " Pilar was cut off by the doorbell. "I'll be back, Mrs. Crane."

Ivy nodded as Pilar left the room. She just wanted the men she loved most in her life to be happy, even at the risk of being miserable herself. Right now Sam and Ethan's happiness were both dangling in the air. Ivy just wished that they could all have that happiness together….