Ethan Crane and Theresa Lopez have grown up together since they were babies. Pilar and Ivy run in the same social circles and Julian and Martin are business partners. Ethan and Theresa have been each other's best friend for many years, however when Theresa turned sixteen her father sent her to Boarding School in Porto Rico. It has been two years since anyone has seen her. Theresa always refused to come home on Holidays and summer break. She always signed up for summer courses so she would have an excuse to stay. Ethan was lonely with out his best friend. His mother arranged for him to take the daughter of a new member of her social circle out a few times so she and her mother would feel welcomed. Rebecca and Gwen Hotchkiss. Ethan didn't really like her but he did it for his mother. Gwen would always be hanging around. No one ever meet Jonathan Hotchkiss. He was always away. Pilar was happy about Theresa's home coming. Her and Ivy spent weeks planning a welcome home party. She had arrived early so she snuck over to the Crane estate to see Ethan. Gwen had stopped by to see Ethan to see if he would take her to Theresa's welcome home party. She was about to ask him when the door bell rang and a brunet woman came walking into the room. "Excuse me if you don't mind we are in the middle of something." Gwen said. "Well I don't mind and if you were thinking of asking my best friend to my welcome home party you better think again. He's taken." Theresa said sternly. "Down Tiger." Ethan said turning to see her. He stood up and was in awe at the women she had become. "Wow Resa you look amazing." "Thanks sweets." They walked to each other and hugged. "Excuse me I am still in the room." Gwen said as they starred each other in the eyes. "Right." Theresa said. "You must be Gwen Hotchkiss. Theresa Lopez nice to meet you." "You too." They shock hands. "So I was told you weren't getting in until this afternoon." Ethan said. "Well I got an earlier flight and I could wait to see you." "We talked this morning." "I know but it has been two years since I have seen you." "Who's fault was that?" "My father's." "Oh Resa how I have missed you." "Look I need to find mama you want to come?" "I don't have anything better to do." "Ethan I came over here to see you." Gwen said standing in protest of him leaving with her. They did have a whole conversation without noticing she was in the room. "Oh, sorry but Resa needs me." "Is it always going to be like this. When Resa needs you, you go running?" "Gwen she is my nest friend. We are friends too I guess, but I have known Resa all my life and she will always come first to me in everything." Gwen rolled her eyes and walked out the terrace doors. Ethan and Theresa shrugged and headed out to find Pilar and Ivy. She called the club and learned that the families were having lunch at the club so they changed and decided to join them. They arrived and went in. When walking up it looked like Ethan was on a date with who everyone assumed was Gwen seeing as she never left his side, but as they got closer all saw that it was a very grown up Theresa. "Mija!" Pilar exclaimed as she took Theresa in her arms. "Mama, you're squeezing me to death." Pilar let go only to be scooped into Ivy arms. Finally everyone had their hug and they sat down to eat. "We thought you were getting in later." Ivy said. "I managed to get an earlier flight and decided to surprise Ethan." "What a surprise it was." "You wanted to surprise your best friend, but not your parents?" Martin said. "I got Ethan from some blonde woman's grips and came right over." Theresa said. "Blonde woman." Julian said. "Gwen was by to see me." Ethan said. "What did she want?" Ivy asked. "She wanted Ethan to take her to my home coming party, but Ethan promised me that he would escort me." "That is very nice of you Ethan." Pilar said. "I am just glad you are home." "Me too mama." "So Theresa how was life in Porto Rico." Julian asked. "it was great. I made tons of friends, though none could replace Ethan, but seeing how they were all girls it would be hard," They all laughed. "I learned a lot and had a great time, but I have miss everyone like crazy." "We have missed you to sweetheart." Martin said. "So what are you going to do now?" Ivy asked. "Enjoy my summer." Everyone laughed. "And after that?" Ivy asked. "I want to go to fashion school. It has always been a dream." "I think you would make a great designer. Plus they opened a new school in town and you could stay close to home." "That is good because I think I have been away for to long." They sat eating and talking. When all was finished Ethan took Theresa on a outing to see how much harmony had changed. "Is Lighthouse Park still here?" Theresa asked. "Yeah, it is still the teen hang out place." They drove to it and got out to walk and talk a little. Ethan was impressed at how much she had grown up. He was starting to feel things he had never felt before. It scared him a bit, but excited him too. Theresa to noticed that things had schanged and new things were happening. She was more excited then scared. They reached the ice cream vender and got a cone and went to sit at a picnic table. Miguel who was in the park with his girlfriend Charity saw her. "Theresa." Miguel called. Theresa looked up to see her baby brother almost all grown up. "Miguel." She said as they hugged. "Look at you." She said pulling away. "You look so different." "Me, look at you." They smiled and hugged again. "Theresa I would like you to meet my girlfriend Charity Standish." "Hello Charity." Theresa said shaking her hand. "Charity this is my older sister Theresa." "Miguel has told me so much about you." "Charity wants to be a clothing designer as well." "It is a good career. Your coming to my home coming party tonight right?" "I have never been to one." Charity said. "Don't worry, it will be fun." Theresa said. "Ok, well then I will see you tonight. I have to get going, my Aunt Grace has some work that she needs help with." "Ok." Theresa said. Miguel left with her. Theresa sat back at the table. "So sweets what has been going on while I was gone?" "Well, Grace Bennett learned she had a twin sister named Faith. That is Charity's mom. They all live together." "Wow." "Dr. Russell got the new clinic open. I had to take Gwen to the opening." "I take you no like?" "She is boring. Always gossiping and talking about this or that." "Take it she wasn't me and no one else would work." "Yeah, so you want to go see the clinic?" "Sure." They drove over to the clinic. Whitney was working at the front desk when they came in. "Theresa." Whitney said running from behind the desk to hug her friend. "Hey Whit." Theresa said. "I am so glad you are back." "We all are." Ethan said. "I can tell. You know that is the first real smile I have seen on him in two years." "You kept him on his toes right?" Theresa asked. "I did my best." Eve came from the back to see what all the noise was about. "Theresa." Eve said coming around the counter to hug her. "Hello Fr. Russell. How are you?" "I am fine and I must say you look all grown up." "Thanks. I see you have your clinic. It looks really nice." "Thanks." "So you all will be at my home coming party right?" "We wouldn't miss it." Eve said. "Ok, I have to get back to my patients and Whitney there are calls coming in." "Yes ma'am. I'll see you later." Whitney said and she went back to work. Ethan and Theresa left to finish seeing the town. They decided to stop by and see Luis at the station. "Luis Lopez." Theresa said standing in front of his desk. He jerked his head up and saw her. "Theresa: he stood up and came around the desk and hugged her. "I was going to leave to meet you at the airport." "I got in early." "I see that. So out checking the town." "Something like that. I was thinking if I got all my hugs in now I wouldn't be bomb barred with them tonight." "Will our friends and family I wouldn't count on it." Luis said. "A girl can try?" Theresa said. Sam had come out of his office. "Well if there isn't a stranger in town and I must say she looks an awful lot like this girl I used to know." "Hi Chief Bennett." Theresa said and they hugged. "Welcome Theresa. Grace can't wait to see her." "That was going to be out next stop." Ethan said. "Good because she would kill me if I didn't send you over." "I know, so I will see both of you tonight." Theresa left with Ethan before she could her any protest they were sure to have. They arrived and saw Grace having the kids move some thing around the year. "Mrs. Bennett." Theresa said trying to get her attention. "Theresa." grace said and walked over to her. They hugged and all the kids stopped working to great her. "Well you look all grown up." Grace said. "Well don't tell daddy he might freak." They all laughed. "So you look like you are hard at work and I have to meet mama and Ivy to go over things for tonight, but I wanted to stop by." "I am glad you did." Grace said hugging her. Theresa and Ethan left and headed back to the mansion to meet Pilar and Ivy. When they walked in they could hear a very heated conversation. "Look it is the best interest of both families if they marry." Julian said. "I agree." Martin said. "Theresa and Ethan are still kids." Ivy insisted. "Yes, plus she just got home. She needs time to settle. Rushing her into marriage with her best friend could destroy her." Pilar said in protest of what their husbands wanted. "Pilar I know our little girl looks little to you still but she is grown up and this marriage was arranged a long time ago. It is her obligation to marry." "Martin Lopez how could say such a thing. Theresa is a women who should be allowed to do as she pleases." "Pilar this marriage was agreed on by both families when they were born. It has to happen by the end of summer." Julian said. Theresa and Ethan couldn't believe what they were hearing. They snuck out of the house before anyone could see them and went down to the beach. "Can you believe this." Ethan finally said after minutes of silence. "We have to get married?" Theresa said. "No we don't." Ethan said. "Yes, if our families arranged it when we were babies then it has to happen. There is no turning back." "Theresa we are still young and we don't know what we want to do with out lives." Ethan said. "I know, but Ethan you want to kiss me huh?" "What? Well I was thinking about it." "Then kiss me." He leaned in and their lips met. It was slow and soft at first, then it deepened before they pulled away. "Wow." Ethan said. "We have to marry for our families." "What about for us?" Ethan said. "The way you kissed me was the way a man would kiss the woman he was falling for. We would be happy together. Ethan unless you can convince me we wont work then we have to." "Theresa, we have been apart for two years. What we are feeling right now could be that we have missed each other to much." "Then look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't want to kiss me again, that you don't want to make love to me, that you don't want to love me and marry me." She kneeled in front of him and looked him deep in the eyes. Before she knew it he had her pinned under him in a full lip lock and there was no turning back. After making out forever they finally sat and looked over the ocean. "So we are getting married." Ethan said. "Looks that way. Just think of the look Gwen will get." "Resa you are like no other person I have ever known." "Good, because I have to find some way to keep you on your toes. I mean after all by the end of summer we will be married." "So, do we tell them we over heard their conversation and will go along or do we plan our own thing." Ethan asked. "I say we do it our way. I mean they need this marriage but no one said we couldn't have a little fun." They both laughed and headed back to the Crane Mansion. "Theresa, Ethan were have you been?" Ivy asked when they came in. "Sorry, we fot lost looking out at the ocean. You know me." Theresa said. "Ok, well let's go over this list so we can get ready for the party." Pilar said. They sat and went over everything. Soon all was settled and Theresa left with Pilar to head home to get married. They arrived and went up to get ready. She showed and found a message waiting from Ethan. She played it. "hey Resa so I have decided to ask you tonight. Let me know if this is ok." Theresa picked up her phone and left a message for him that it was ok. She changed and went down to wait for him to arrive. The rest left and soon Ethan arrived. "So you ready Resa." Ethan asked extending his hand. "I was born ready, you should ask yourself if you are ready for me." She took his hand. "I think I am." He kissed her and they headed out. They arrived at the Country Club and went in. She meted and greeted people until Pilar and Ivy called everyone to order. Word and toast were given out to Theresa and the party went on. Food, drinks, dancing and tons of conversations to join. A few hours in Ethan took Theresa to the stage and called everyone to order. "Ladies and gentlemen tonight we are here to welcome Resa home, but I have a surprise for her. See about eighteen years ago I meet Theresa well our mothers were at a social gathering. Now we were only a couple months old and we don't remember it but that day led us to a great friendship. We have shared everything from the mundane to the monumental. For many years everyone said it was uncool to have a girl as a best friend, but I saw it has having the best, best friend, Resa has always been there for me when ever I have needed her and I for her. Our bond is strong and tighter then anything either of us know. When Resa left I was lost. What was I going to do without her. But we talked and E-mailed. She refused to come home witch makes this home coming a huge deal. But I think there is one thing that can make this night even more special." He turned to her and got down on one me. "Eighteen years ago we first stared to fall in love and today I kissed you for the first time and everything I knew seemed right. Theresa will you marry me?" The crowd stood flabbergasted and shocked. "Yes." Theresa said. Ethan dropped the microphone, place the ring he pulled out on her finger and stood up and kissed her. The crowd started clapping and cheering. Julian and Martin shock hands. Theresa picked the microphone up and quieted everyone again. "The wedding of myself Theresa Lopez to Ethan Crane will take place August 23rd of this year." Gasps were heard all around but the clapping and cheering took over again. Pilar and Ivy exchanged looks, but were happy at the sight of Ethan and Theresa kissing. Gwen and Rebecca arrived and saw the whole thing. Gwen was sad and pissed. Rebecca felt Gwen deserved better then some boy who dated her all the while in love with another. Gwen felt something was up and vowed to get to the bottom of it and make Ethen hers.

So will Gwen when? Will Ethan and Theresa truly fall in love? Why was there an arranged marriage between the families? Stay tuned.