Chad sat down at the table with his books in front of him. He still couldn't believe Theresa had convinced him to get his diploma. He was even saving up for college because of her. He looked at the book before him and sighed. It was so much easier when Theresa was there to motivate him, she made him a better person. He figured that if he studied for an hour and then went to sleep for about five hours he could get up in time to see Theresa before work and since he was only working five hours instead of eight at the construction site he would have a couple hours to spend with Theresa after work and then he would have to go to the Book Café he was relived that both of his bosses understood why he took off work so much or otherwise he'd probably be out of both jobs. He finished reading a chapter from his history book and then went upstairs and slept.
Theresa had just got woke up and was thinking about Ethan and trying to move her legs, when Chad walked in. "Hey, isn't it to early in the morning to be visiting me?" asked Theresa smiling.
"I usually visit at 6 or 7 am. I wasn't sure if you was awake yet today though."
"Chad, it's 6:30am. You should be sleeping, don't you have to go to work at 8'oclock?"
"I gots my shift pushed back an hour and a half a couple weeks ago, so I could sit with you for awhile in the mornings." He said sitting down beside her.
"Chad, I'm worried about you. Mama said that you weren't resting enough, I'm okay now, you don't have to worry about me." Said Theresa putting her hand on his arm.
"I guess you is right, I promise I'll get some more sleep tonight." He said yawning.
"Chad, I want you to go home and sleep a few more hours." Said Theresa sternly.
"No that's okay, really. I ain't that sleepy."
"Chad, if you aren't going to go home and sleep then you are going to sleep here. Said Theresa scooting over and making room for Chad.
"Theresa, I ain't gonna sleep in your hospital bed-."
"Yes you are." Said Theresa patting the empty spot.
"What if the bed tips over or something?" asked Chad laughing as he gently maneuvered himself onto the empty side of the bed.
"See, we both fit. Now go to sleep and I'll wake you up in a little while." Said Theresa smiling.
"I'm not really that sleepy." He said as he yawned again and closed his eyes, and after a few minutes he was fast asleep.
Theresa gently ran a finger of his smooth cheek. "Thank you so much Chad, for everything." She whispered.
Ethan woke up and turned over expecting to see Gwen but she wasn't there as usual. He looked around the strange room and then remembered he was in his Mother's house. He got up, put a shirt on and then went into the living room.
"Good morning Ethan, I'm late for work, there's some food in the refrigerator, I'll see you tonight, Darling." She said as she rushed out the door to her job in Castleton where she was an interior decorator.
Ethan got himself a bagel and a cup of coffee and then decided to go see Theresa. It was eight o'clock and he hoped Luis and Chad were at work. He got to the hospital and went up to Theresa's floor. He had to tell Theresa how much he really loved her and he hoped that after all that had happened she still loved him too. He opened the door and walked in to find Chad and Theresa sleeping together.
"I've lost both of the women I love." He said to himself as he looked at Theresa with her arm across Chad's chest. He shut the door and then left.
An hour later Chad woke up. He sleepily opened his eyes and was staring at the beautiful sleeping face of the woman who had stolen his heart. Her skin was a little paler than before the accident and she had a scar on her cheek that he guessed she could cover up with make-up, her lips were also paler but to him she looked as beautiful as ever. They were both laying on their sides now and there faces were only inches apart. He knew that he should get up and not torture himself by staring at her alluring lips, her smooth skin and silken hair that was all unattainable to him, she loved Ethan and since Gwen was gone there was nothing standing in their way. Theresa would have Ethan and they would live happily together the way Theresa had always wanted.
He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and she smiled in her sleep. Her beautiful lips were slightly parted as she exhaled through her mouth. He ever so gently leaned closer to her so there faces were only centimeters apart. He didn't know if it was because he was sleepy, the thought that he would lose her to Ethan or just how beautiful she looked at that moment when she was sleeping but he gently pushed his lips to hers. Her lips were soft and smooth and after a second Chad reluctantly pulled back, he felt like he was violating her by kissing her since she was sleeping. They had never kissed before, on the lips anyway and Chad could only imagine how it would feel if she were awake. He was drawn to her lips again and he gently kissed her. When he was about to pull away and get up and leave for work she started to kiss him back. Chad was so surprised he pulled back but he felt Theresa's hand on his neck pulling him closer and their lips met again. Chad was feeling so many things, happiness, nervousness and even dread. He wondered if Theresa really knew what she was doing, for all he knew she could be dreaming about Ethan. He felt her mouth open and pulled back with his eyes still shut.
"I want you to kiss me, Chad." Theresa whispered smiling as she opened her eyes and looked at him.
Chad was blown away by the mere aspect that Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald wanted to kiss him, he had been so sure that she had thought it was Ethan that he was even prepared for her to say Ethan's name. His stomach was full of butterflies. He felt her warm hand on his neck and he opened his eyes. She was looking straight at him with clear, awake beautiful brown eyes. Before he could stop himself his lips moved closer to hers and they kissed again. The kiss was soft and sweet at first and it was better than Chad ever thought it could be.
Theresa had been awake when Chad had woken up. At first when he kissed her she was to stunned and startled to do anything but lay there and then second time she couldn't keep her lips from moving, it felt so right kissing him. Now she couldn't believe she was really kissing him and all thoughts of Ethan flew out of her mind. Her hands moved to Chad's back as the kiss grew more passionate. His hand entangled itself in her hair and then ran down her arm making her shiver. Her hands found their way under his shirt and explored the smooth skin and the hard muscles of his back. "Chad." Theresa moaned as he kissed her jaw line and then started to kiss her neck. Theresa was in Heaven, no one had ever made her feel so wonderful before. They heard the door open and Chad immediately pulled back and they looked at the startled and slightly embarrassed face of Theresa's doctor.
"I can come back later." She said as she started to turn around.
"Nah, nah that's okay, I'm late for work." He said pulling down his shirt. He took a long lingering glance at Theresa and smiled. "I'll be back around three to see how you are doing." He said taking one last look at her and leaving.
"He cares about you a lot." Said Dr. Del Amico with a sad look in her eyes.
"Yeah, I know. So are my test results back?" asked Theresa hopefully.
"Yes they are. ….The prognosis doesn't look to good. I'm sorry."
