AN: Once again this story has gotten away from me. I originally planned to write about how different things might have turned out if fate was twisted in a different way in L.A. But I realized that everyone was affected by L.A. Passions so I'm expanding the story to show what may have happened to the residents of Harmony if Sarah hadn't died in L.A. The timeline may be a bit wacky for the purposes of this story. Enjoy and leave your thoughts!
Chapter 3
It was hard to believe that two months had come on and gone. It had been two months since Gwen Winthrop and her daughter had left L.A., Harmony and Ethan behind, they were currently settled in a sleepy southern town in North Carolina and the blonde was enjoying every precious moment of watching her daughter grow and change. The irrational fear that had surrounded the new mother had slowly faded and she grew more confident in herself and her abilities as a mother. However, as happy as Gwen was now she knew that soon their lives would change. The three-month ultimatum she'd given Ethan was slowly coming to an end. Everyone was pushing for her and Ethan to reunite and raise Sarah together, but Gwen was unsure. She didn't have long to consider her feelings because her doorbell was ringing.
The blonde sighed heavily as she opened the door to "the grandmothers" as she called them. Ivy and Rebecca bustled into the house and sat their belonging down.
"Well, where she is?", Ethan's mother questioned before Gwen could even say hello.
"She's napping", came the reply. "And I'm not waking her up."
The two women sighed and plopped down on the sofa in the living room. Gwen headed toward the kitchen to get them some tea.
"Gwen honey you really should invest in some hired help", Rebecca complained. "Do I need to loan you some money?".
"No Mother I don't need money", the blonde called from the kitchen. "I like taking care of my own house. If I move into something bigger I'll consider it."
"Of course, you'll move into something bigger", the redhead scoffed. "Once you and Ethan are back together, they'll no doubt be little brothers and sisters for little Sarah. You'll need much more room than this."
Ivy nodded in agreement and as Gwen returned to the room with the drinks she allowed herself to imagine how it might be. A life with the man she loved and their children sounded wonderful but was it too good to be true?
"Gwen?", her mother in law called snapping her back to reality. "I asked if you wanted to know what everyone in Harmony was up to?"
"Oh of course", she said. "How's Sheridan? I haven't been in touch with her much lately."
"Torn between two hunky brothers last I checked", Rebecca shrugged stirring her tea.
"And when was that Rebecca, last year?", Ivy rolled her eyes before turning to Gwen. "Beth's mother confessed to the whole kidnapping scheme and Sheridan got her baby back. Marty, I think that's what they're calling him. Harmony PD went to arrest Beth but she was gone. Alistair's after Sheridan and Luis so they've gone to Mexico with the baby".
"Oh my god", Gwen gasped. "I knew Beth was faking her pregnancy! What a lunatic! I hope they catch her soon."
"I hope so too", Ivy said. "Pilar is just devastated. Antonio is gone too now that Sheridan's finally chosen Luis and Miguel's left town to chase Charity."
"Theresa's the one that should've left town", Rebecca scoffed. "With all the turmoil in that family she's still shamelessly chasing your husband.
"That's an outright lie Rebecca", Ivy snapped. "Her son Little Ethan has been very sick. Ethan is his godfather and he's just worried about him that's all."
"Him and his mother", the redhead added.
"You're not helping", ivy snarled as Gwen just shook her head in disgust. "Ethan calls and video chats with his wife and daughter everyday"
"I most certainly am helping", Rebecca whined. "I'm helping my Gwennie see that she can't stay hold up here in the middle of nowhere while that little terror lures her husband away! She is his wife and the mother of his daughter, Gwen has got to get back to Harmony and get Ethan back!"
"My daughter is not a bargaining chip", the blonde snapped at her mother.
Suddenly she flashed back to taunting Theresa with the news that she was pregnant and that she'd finally won Ethan.
"That's right", Ivy added reaching over the touch Gwen's knee. "You don't need a bargaining chip honey everyone knows that Ethan loves you. Besides I'll never let my son be with the manipulative bitch who exposed his paternity to the tabloids."
Gwen felt the color drain from her face. Before another word could be spoken the baby started crying.
"I'll get her!", the older blonde gushed and rushed from the room. No sooner than she'd left Rebecca flew across the couch to give her daughter a hard pinch.
"Oww!", the blonde exclaimed rubbing her arm.
Gwennie the look on your face when Ivy mentioned the tabloid scandal almost give us away!", Rebecca whispered.
"Well I couldn't help it Mother", Gwen snapped back. "I've tried to forget about it but every time I turn around it's in my face!"
"Shush!", Rebecca whispered fiercely. "We did what we had to do to ensure that Ethan would marry you and he did. Once I become Mrs. Julian Crane I'll have him adopt Ethan and we'll have everything we dreamed of!"
Before Gwen could respond Ivy strutted back into the room proudly holding her only grandchild.
"Here she is", she said. "I changed and fed her for you Gwen"
"How adorable is our granddaughter", Rebecca gushed placing a hand over her heart. "Soon she'll be back in Harmony with her mommy and daddy."
As the two women oohed and ahhed over the baby Gwen felt a wave of nausea come of her. She remembered the words of the angel again. Was she allowing herself to be swayed by her mother's ambition? Could she live with the guilt of knowing she'd betrayed her husband in the worst way? Gwen felt a serious headache coming, she knew she had to make a decision soon and if she didn't make the right one her daughter would suffer.
….
Meanwhile in Harmony
As Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald exited her sons' room at the Harmony Hospital, she was happy to find her friends waiting for her.
"Hey honey", Whitney said hugging her best friend. "How's he doing?"
"Oh Whit", the brunette cried. "He can barely stay awake and he looks so weak."
"Hey, he's going to be okay", Fox chimed in pulled everyone closer for a group hug. "Little Ethan's tough and we know Dr. Russell is doing her best."
"I hope you're right Fox", Theresa said wiping away her tears. "I'm just really glad you guys are here you know? It's just me and Mama right now and I'm so happy to know I can count on you guys to be here for Little Ethan".
"Honey of course we'll be here for you", Whitney said softly. "We're your best friends and we love you and Little Ethan so much".
"Has Ethan been here?", Fox asked, earning himself a glare from the former tennis player.
"It's okay Whit", Theresa said catching the look. "I haven't really seen him but Little Ethan's says he's been here. I guess he tries to come when I'm not really around."
"You do know that's for the best, right Theresa?", Whitney questioned. "After that fiasco in L.A. he probably wants to focus on his family."
"I get that, Whitney I do", Theresa said turning to look at her son through the window to his room. The only thing I'm worried about right now is finding out what's wrong my little boy and getting him home."
Fox walked closer to Theresa and pulled her in for a hug.
"Speaking of that I'm going to call my father", he said. "I want to know what's taking that specialist he's getting so long to get here. I'll be back guys".
The girls said goodbye to Fox and moved to sit at a bench near little Ethan's room.
"I wasn't trying to be mean Theresa", Whitney said. "I just- "
The brunette turned to see why her best friend stopped speaking and found herself starring at Chad and Ethan.
…
Whitney quickly turned away as the men approached them while Theresa stood up.
"Hey", Chad said hugging Theresa and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "How's Little Ethan doing?"
"He's...he's hanging tough", Theresa said plastering a smile on her face. "Not really any change according to Dr. Russell and we're still not quite sure what's wrong."
"He's going to be okay", Ethan finally spoke. "You do know that right Theresa?"
The brunette gave him the same fake smile she'd given Chad but didn't respond.
"Visiting hours are almost over", she said sticking her hand in her pockets. "I'm going to go sit with him now. Thanks for being here you guys."
"Theresa", Ethan called out.
"Honey wait-", Whitney said at the same time, but Theresa was already inside the room.
"I'll go talk to her", she said but chad stopped her before she could enter the room.
"She's going through a lot right now", he said. "Let's just give her some time with her son."
"I don't need you to tell me what my best friend needs," Whitney snapped. "I know her and right now Theresa's holding everything in. She's trying to be strong for Little Ethan but sooner or later she's going to break down and I need to be there when she does."
"Whitney's right", Ethan said running his hand through his hair. "I'm going to check on her."
"Ethan", the former tennis player warned but Chad moved to block her way before she could intercede.
"Go ahead Ethan", he said. "We'll be right out here".
The former Crane nodded and entered the room.
"What the hell Chad?", Whitney fumed.
"I'm letting them talk so we can talk too Whitney", he said firmly.
She stared at him as if he'd grown a second head.
"We have nothing to talk about Chad", she said incredulously. "You lied to me from the moment we met and I nearly died because of it."
"You're right", he said holding his hands up. "I was wrong for not telling you I was married before but you've got to know that I never meant for you to get hurt baby."
Whitney paced the floor before turning to face the man she loved, the man who had broken her heart.
"I know that Chad", she said softly. "But how can I trust you again after all this?"
"We'll take it day by day", he said as he took her hands in his. "Whitney, I love you and I'm begging for a chance to regain your trust.
The former tennis player was torn and knew she couldn't make a decision at that moment.
"We'll see", was all she could say.
Chad took it as good news and broke into a big smile, pulling Whitney into his arms. She resisted at first but eventually relaxed into his arms. The moment was broken as Whitney looked through the window into Little Ethan's room.
"Oh no", she moaned pulling away from Chad.
He looked up and saw Ethan and Theresa sitting by little Ethan's bedside. The couple watched as Ethan pulled the brunette into his arms and kiss her forehead as they watched over little Ethan. Chad put his arm around Whitney as she sighed heavily.
"Chad you've set her up to get her heart broken again", she said softly.
"Maybe not"
….
In a nearby office Dr. Russell sat sadly reviewing her test results. She'd had them all day and kept looking at them again and again as if she could change what they said by sheer force of will. The doctor ran her fingers through her hair as she bemoaned what to do with such awful news. It was by far the worst part of her job.
"How am I supposed to tell them", she whispered as she held the results. "How am I supposed to tell Theresa that her little boy has cancer."
…
Next: Doctor Russell delivers the awful news. Ethan is torn between two families. Gwen wrestles with her conscious. Little Ethan's diagnosis may bring long keep secrets to light.