This is my first fan fic. As we all know, the characters and original story are not mine. They are the property of Passions, James Riley, and Direct TV. The story stars at the wedding of Theresa and Jared. The guests have arrived, the music is about to start…

When You Tell Me That You Love Me

"Are you ready, Mija?"

"Oh Theresa! You look beautiful!"

"Do you really think so?" Theresa asked Whitney, Paloma, and Pilar nervously.

Whitney chuckled. "Do you? Jared's going to fall over dead when he sees you!"

"I agree.", Pilar said with tears in her eyes, reaching to give Theresa a hug.

"There's no way anyone is upstaging the bride today" laughed Paloma, joining in the hug between her mom and sister.

"Stop! You're going to make me cry before we even get started!" Theresa laughed. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in" Theresa called. The door opened, and Luis and Miguel walked in with Little Ethan and Jane in tow.

"Wow. You look great, Mom" Little Ethan exclaimed while Miguel nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you look pretty good Lil Sis" said Luis, obviously choked up. "Now I know what's been taking so long!", he joked. "But we better get a move on. There's a church full of people downstairs waiting for you."

"I guess it's time then." Theresa said. "Let's get this show on the road."

As everyone turned to leave, Whitney hung back to give Theresa one last hug. "You and Jared are going to be so happy!" she squealed, then ran from the room.

"Meet you down stairs to walk you down the aisle Lil Sis." Luis added, then he left the room as well, leaving Theresa alone.

Theresa turned to look at herself one more time in the full-length mirror and took a deep breath. She still couldn't believe that she was standing there in her fantasy wedding dress. It was perfect, just like a princess in a fairy tale. Shaking back her hair and veil, she grabbed her bouquet of white orchids and heard the music swell in the sanctuary. Little Ethan would be walking his grandmother down the aisle now with Jane in her arms. Theresa thought of the church full of lush flowers, friends and family...a wonderful man waiting for her at the alter. It was everything she ever wanted, ever dreamed of as a little girl.

Then how come I'm not bursting with love and happiness? How come I'm not excited? Why do I feel like I'm going to my own funeral instead of my wedding? How come all I can think of is my first wedding. My wedding with Ethan that was ruined? How did I get here anyway?

Suddenly the music changed, bringing Theresa out of her reverie. I better hurry. That's Whitney's cue, and she hurried from the room. She walked into the vestibule just as the music changed again, and took Luis' arm.

"Here we go." he whispered. And they started down the aisle as the congregation stood for her entrance.

As Luis and Theresa walked into the sanctuary, there was a slight gasp from the crowd. All around were smiles and whispered murmurs of appreciation over how they looked together, but Theresa didn't notice. All she could see was Jared. Whitney hadn't been far wrong with her prediction of his reaction, and Theresa smiled. Jared really was very sweet. He loved her with all his heart, and her children to distraction. Then from out of nowhere, Ethan's face swam before her, his wife Gwen at his side, and the smile faltered on Theresa's face.

He was doing his best not to show it, but the hurt in his eyes was unmistakable. It cut Theresa like a knife to her heart to see that, but what had he expected her to do? Once he had married Gwen, he held his vows more important than anything else and refused to leave her, even though everyone knew he still loved Theresa. Even Theresa telling him for years that Gwen had tricked him into marriage hadn't convinced him to leave her. He was starting to falter a bit, but he had remained steadfast to his belief that Gwen wasn't capable of anything deceitful, and always walked right back to her arms. He'd left her no choice but to move on with her life. And that meant marrying Jared.

Still it cut her to the core to see him hurting. As she walked past, she mouthed "I'm sorry." Ethan swallowed hard, his eyes pleading with her not to go through with this. Beside him, Gwen looked sour. She really was a witch. It was a small miracle that she even allowed Jane to be in the wedding party.

Stop it! Theresa berated herself. This is supposed the happiest day of your life. Focus! Searching the crowd, her eyes found Jared's again, and she calmly met him at the altar.

"Please be seated." Father Lannigan said. "Marriage is an honorable estate..."

As Father Lannigan began the ceremony, Theresa forgot to pay attention. All she could think about was Ethan, and how she felt when she was standing there with him all those year ago. She shook her head slightly trying to clear it, and caught a glimpse of Whitney who was smiling encouragingly. If anyone knew what she was feeling, it was Whitney. They'd talked about it enough over the years. If Whitney was smiling, everything would be fine right?

"I have." Theresa suddenly heard Jared say, and brought her mind back to the ceremony. "

"And have you, Theresa, given yourself freely to be married to this man?" Father Lannigan asked.

"I...ahem...I have". she said.

" Then let us begin." he said. "Jared and Theresa, please join your right hands."

Jared and Theresa turned to each other, and Theresa took a startled breath as Jared's face morphed into Ethan's. She blinked, but still Ethan was all she could see. Her mind filled with the memories they'd shared, the life they'd almost had...the love that wouldn't go away. Her breathing increased and she started to panic. What am I doing, she asked herself over and over. What am I doing?

"...speak now or forever hold your peace."

Theresa jerked out of her daydream in time to hear Father Lannigan utter those words. She looked at Jared, but could still only see Ethan. She peeked over her shoulder at the congregation and her eyes found Ethan's. His heart was breaking. It was taking everything he had to stay in his seat, she could tell. Theresa looked back at Jared, relieved to see her vision had cleared, but unsettled again to see him smiling like everything was right with the world. The room started to whirl around her. Her heart was racing, and she couldn't breath. What am I doing, her brain screamed at her. I can't go through with this! I can't! I can't! I can't...

"I'm sorry Theresa. What did you say?" It was obvious that Father Lannigan was surprised, and it was only then that Theresa realized she had spoken out loud.

"Tess...?" Theresa looked up at Jared. His face was ashen, and fearful. "What did you say?" Swallowing hard, Theresa cleared her throat. Her mind suddenly cleared, and her heartbeat returned to normal. She knew what she had to do.

"I'm sorry Jared, Father Lannigan, everyone. I can't do this. I just can't." Theresa said. And picking up her train, she ran from the sanctuary, leaving a stunned congregation in her wake.