Ethan closed the door to the Bennett house, and stepped out in to the cold, dark night. The news he just told his mother and father made it even more dark and full of despair. But somehow, he felt as though he and Gwen would be able to get through whatever else life decided to throw at them. Telling Ivy and Sam about their appointment with Dr. Culver not only made it more real, but also seemed to help the blow a little bit. Who would have thought two years ago that talking to his estranged father about things would make him feel better?

As he zipped up his coat, he saw his Uncle, Hank Bennett round the corner.

"Ethan......" Hank said, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I just came to tell Mother and Sam some things about Gwen and me." Ethan didn't feel the need to share him and Gwen's business all over town.

"Oh, so Gwen told you everything then?"

"Of course, I was right there with her the whole time." How did he know already?

"That's great! I was feeling really horrible about it, but after I talked to Gwen, and she said she'd tell you everything, and then I gave the money back......"

"Hank, what are you talking about?"

"You know, Ethan. About Gwen and me, before you two got married."

"What about you and Gwen? I told Sam and Mother what the Dr. told us today about......about not being able to have any more children."

As Ethan looked in to Hanks eyes, he could see not only udder sorrow, but also, pure fear.

"Oh my God, Ethan. I am so sorry; you have no idea how sorry I am."

"Tell me what you are talking about Hank? What did you and Gwen discuss today?"

"You know what Ethan, that's not important right now ...you get back to Gwen, and I'll see you later."

By the time Hank got the words out of his mouth, he was almost in the door of the Bennett house, but Ethan wanted to know exactly what was saying. He grabbed Hank by the arm and pulled him back.

"Hank, I'm in no mood for games!" Ethan yelled, "...so tell me what your talking about!!"

Jus then Ivy and Sam came to the front door.

"What on earth is going on here?" Ivy asked.

"Mother, Hank has something to tell me about he and Gwen and some money, but doesn't seem to think now is right time."

"Hank", said Sam, "tell us what's going on, right now please. Ethan has been through enough today, don't keep anything from him."

"Ethan", said Hank, "your really not going to want to hear this."

"Try me."

"Well, one night, about 2 months before you and Gwen were married, she was out walking one night. I ran in to her, and she looked like she had been crying. When I asked her what was wrong and was there anything I could do, she just started crying even harder. She was upset because you were dating both her and Theresa at the same time, and she knew in her heart you would never choose her over Theresa. She told me, she always knew that you and Theresa had a stronger connection than you and she ever would, and she couldn't face the idea of losing you to Theresa, again."

"Damn that Theresa!" Ivy exclaimed!

"Mother, please! ...... Go on, Hank."

"Well, I knew she was much shaken, so I offered to take her to the Book Café so we could talk it out. She told me thank you, but what she really needed was a stiff drink, not a coffee. So instead I suggested the Blue Note. I didn't want anything to happen; she just looked so upset that I felt as though someone needed to be there for her."

"Exactly what happened, Hank?" questioned Sam.

"Well, we went to the Blue Note, and we had a few drinks, pretty soon she started to feel better, even wanted to dance. And she just kept drinking. The next thing I know, it's 2am and the bar is closing, and she is wasted. I tried to drive her home, but she said she didn't want to go to the Mansion because she knew either you or her Theresa would be there, and she didn't feel like dealing with that. So I told her ...we could go to my place."

A long pause entered the conversation, because all 4 people knew what was coming next, but no one dare udder the words.

"Oh my God, you didn't......" Ethan was the first one to break the silence.

"Ethan I swear to God, I never meant for any of this to happen. But I was drunk too and..."

"So you drove her home when you were drunk?" said Sam.

"No Sam, of course not. I called a cab and we went to my place that way. But she was so out of it. When we got to my apartment, she started coming on to me, and she is so beau......"

"Okay, I've heard enough." Right then, Ethan turned to leave them all.

"Wait, Ethan. Please...I never saw Gwen again after that night...well, not that way. I mean, I started to think about it, and well, it's not like you and Gwen were engaged then, or even exclusive. But I knew that you should be told. I called her and begged her to tell you, and she said there was no reason. But after I found out she was pregnant I......"

"Wait, wait, Hank. Are you telling me, that you think that Sara was your child, and not mine?"

"Ethan, I swear to you, I have no idea whose baby she was. But when I found out she was pregnant, I called her again, and pleaded with her to tell you. I told her if she didn't, I would."

"That's when she offered you money to keep quiet." Ethan dreaded hearing the words, even as he spoke them.

"I felt so horrible taking the money, but it was just, at that time that I was accepted at the Police Academy, and I didn't have enough money to pay for it. What Gwen was offering would pay for the academy and much more."

"So she bribed you to keep the truth from me. So she knew all along that Sara wasn't mine. She only told me she was pregnant to keep me from marrying Theresa."

"Ethan, I'm sure that's not true," said Ivy. "I'm sure she told you that because she was sure Sara was your baby. You and she had had relations, hadn't you?"

"Not that it's any of your business, Mother. But yes, we had, but not for a while before she found out she was pregnant. I just assumed she would stay faithful to me while I sorted things out in my mind. After all, she claims to have loved me all that time."

"Hank, there's just one thing I'm confused about," said Sam. "Why did you give the money back? Why didn't you use it towards the Academy?"

"I did Sam. But after things were paid for, my guilt got the better of me. So I took out a loan from the bank and begged Gwen to take the money back and tell Ethan the truth. I also asked her to have a paternity test done, but she wouldn't hear of it. She was convinced the baby was Ethan's. But she did take the money, and swore she would tell him after the baby was born. I actually heard her mumble under her breath that it wouldn't matter who's the baby biological father was to you Ethan, just so long as she had that baby, she knew you would stay with her."

"This is unbelievable", cried Ethan. "Two minutes ago, I was sure Gwen and I could get through anything together. Now I don't think I can stand to look at her again. Our entire marriage has been based on lies!"

"Ethan, don't give up on Gwen. She didn't do anything that Theresa hasn't done!" Ivy spewed out the line, very matter of factly.

"No Mother, you're wrong. Theresa would never do something like this. I'll admit, the things Theresa have done in the past weren't right. But she would never have told me her baby was mine when it was really Julian's. And she would never have made love to another while we were seeing each other."

"Oh, but she did!" Ivy needed to make sure that Ethan remembered all the horrible things Theresa had done to him in the past, to make sure he didn't go running back to her right now. "She did sleep with Julian the night she went to Bermuda!"

"Ivy," said Sam, "you know that Theresa is not to blame for that. Your ex- husband got Theresa drunk and took advantage of her. You told me yourself the other day that you don't blame Theresa for that. That you knew Julian had done that to a lot of young girls."

"That's not the point, Sam. The point is..."

"The point, Mother", Ethan interrupted, "is that whatever Theresa did was to help me. She thought getting my Crane name back would make things right. She did it for me. Everything Gwen did was for her self and nothing more. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home to talk to my wife."

With that, Ethan left the Bennett house. He also left his life with Gwen, right in that spot. It died the minute he found out that not only did Hank have sex with his wife, but she tried to pass off another man's child as his own.

On his way to his car, Ethan began to think. Who else had done this? What if Julian passed Little Ethan off as his son, when he was really Ethan's son? It was entirely possible, with all of the Crane influence in the town. Julian may very well have paid someone off to hide the truth, the truth that Ethan already had a child. That his child didn't die, like Gwen wanted him to think. That his child was alive and well.........and in Julian's custody. How could he find out the truth?

Ethan had so much thinking to do. Everything was so confusing to him. He had felt so horrible for Gwen (and himself) when they found out she could never have another child. But that seemed like years ago, and yet, it was only a matter of hours. And the fight that he had with Theresa. He wasn't even sure what it was all about. He knew at the time he was furious with her because of what she had said to Rebecca, about Gwen not having anymore children. But now, that this new light was shed on Gwen and what she was capable of, he wondered if there wasn't something more to the story. Fox wanted Ethan to calm down and listen to what Theresa had to say. But Ethan was so mad, all he could hear are the horrible words Theresa spoke. No doubt if Rebecca was the one to tell them what Theresa had said, she provoked her in some way. But how? What could Rebecca have possibly said that would make Theresa so mad?

"What are you thinking, Ethan! This is Rebecca we are talking about! I'm sure she said something completely horrible to Theresa. Theresa wouldn't say something like that unless she was provoked!"

Now Ethan knew he was losing it, because he was talking to himself. Well, first things first, he thought. Find Gwen and see if she can explain herself and her actions.