Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Passions or NBC. Nor am I affiliated with the Backstreet Boys. I am not making
money off of this story.
What The Future Holds Part 4
Two days after Theresa's surgery Ethan was allowed to lift her and hold her, so long as she was still lying down. They didn't say anything beyond the usual "I love you's," but three days after her surgery she was allowed to sit up and Ethan held her tightly, and that was when she let her emotions take control.
"It's all my fault! It's all my fault!" she almost yelled.
"Calm down, Theresa. It isn't."
"Yes it is! If I hadn't scanned your mother's letter onto my computer, Gwen and Rebecca wouldn't have found it and wouldn't have sent it to the tabloid and Ivy wouldn't have tried to kill me!" She was crying in Ethan's arms.
"Look at me. Look at me!" He looked her straight in the eye. "It is not your fault! The only ones who are to blame are Gwen, Rebecca, and Ivy. They're the ones who hurt us. Their the ones who took our baby from us. You didn't." He said it loud and firmly.
Theresa stared at him for a second and then collapsed in his arms and started crying.
Ethan winced. He knew he probably could have said that better. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You're right," she said through her tears. "It's just easier blaming myself."
"I know. I was there too."
"But I am such an idiot." She let go and looked at him. "I didn't trust your love for me. If I hadn't been so stupid as to lie, if I had just told you I knew that you were Sam Bennett's son you and I would have been married by now and none of this would have happened."
Ethan shook his head. "No. Knowing the true person Ivy is she would have found a way to get to you somehow."
"It's just...and then Bermuda. How could I just go and follow Julian Crane knowing the kind of person he is. I wasn't thinking. You even said you were glad you were no longer a Crane. Why am I so stupid? Why am I such an idiot? How can I be so naive?"
Ethan hugged her again just as she started crying. "Look, we were all naive. I'm glad you didn't really sleep with Julian but when you thought you did, I mean...I can't believe I didn't think that you slept with Julian considering the kind of person Julian is. And none of us saw Gwen and Rebecca sent the email to the tabloid." He quickly added "Don't blame yourself. None of us saw it."
She shook her head. "That still doesn't change the fact that all of this could have been prevented."
"Just calm yourself down. This isn't good for you."
She shook her head again. "No. There's more I have to tell you." And she told him about how there never was a Chuck, how she had these dreams about marrying him since she was a little girl, everything." She was crying when she finished, afraid Ethan was going to leave her.
Ethan didn't say anything for a second, comprehending what Theresa just told him. Then he kissed her, a deep passionate kiss. "It's okay." Theresa cried as they held each other, neither of them said anything for a short while.
"How's everyone else doing?" Theresa finally asked.
"Chad and Whitney are back together. Thought you might want to know." He smiled.
Theresa's face brightened. "They are?!"
"Yep, they finally decided to tell Simone."
"How'd she take it?" Her face fell a little at the thought of someone having a broken heart.
"Well lets just say that when I saw Chad and Whitney at the hospital they were both sitting down and they looked a little guilty. I went up to them and I asked what was wrong and Chad responded 'what I couldn't hear you I think Simone made me deaf' and then Whitney elbowed him."
She sighed. "I hope she'll be okay." Ethan nodded. "But at least Chad and Whitney are back together, that's good."
"The news gets even better. Sheridan's alive." He smiled and seeing Theresa's shocked disbelief face. "They must have read the dental records wrong because it wasn't Sheridan. Sheridan is alive. She had amnesia but when she saw Luis she remembered everything."
It was a second before Theresa could say anything. "How's Luis?" she finally managed to say, obviously still in shock.
"How do you think?"
"Unbelievable."
The night of Christmas Eve, ten days after Theresa's surgery, Whitney and Pilar came into her room trying to hide the excitement on their faces as best they could. They brought with them a brand new dress for Theresa.
"Wow thanks. Where are we going?"
"To the hospital chapel," Whitney answered. "The hospital's having it's own little Christmas ceremony."
"But isn't this a little too fancy for that kind of ceremony?"
"Not really," Pilar replied. Theresa didn't notice her wink at Whitney.
Everyone else was in the chapel. By everyone: Eve, TC, Chad, Sam, Ethan, Miguel, Charity, Jessica, Grace, Luis, Sheridan, Hank, and Reese. Father Lonigan was there to perform the ceremony. Simone didn't come because it was still too painful to see Chad and Whitney together and Kay didn't come so could comfort her friend. Most of the people were the putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Just as they finished, Miguel, who had been watching outside the door came back in and shouted "they're coming!"
Almost everyone quickly began to run behind the pews when Grace almost yelled "Do we really want to shout surprise to someone who just had major heart surgery?!" Everyone felt a little stupid as they walked back to the door.
Pilar finally came in wheeling her daughter and Whitney was walking beside them. "Merry Christmas!" Everyone said (not very loud). Theresa looked around the chapel in shock. The whole place was decorated for a wedding. "What's going on?" she asked as Pilar wheeled her to the front of the chapel.
Ethan kneeled in front of her, broad smile on his face. "We're getting married."
"What?"
"You and I, Luis and Sheridan. A double wedding. This time with a happy ending."
Theresa finally smiled. "Now?!"
Ethan nodded. "Merry Christmas."
Father Lonigan began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the Sight of God, to witness the unions of Luis and Sheridan, and Ethan and Theresa; four very special people."
Theresa was lost in Ethan's eyes as they exchanged rings. She would be lost in his eyes through the entire ceremony. Father Lonigan continued, saying it was time to exchange vows. Theresa then had a brief look of panic on her face as she realized she didn't have any vows prepared. Ethan quickly answered "We wanted this to be a surprise and since we knew you wouldn't have vows prepared, all of us are going to do it off the top of our heads." Theresa gave a sigh of relief as Luis started to say his vows to Sheridan. Then Sheridan's said hers to Luis.
Finally, Ethan said his vows to Theresa. "Theresa, I used to be in love with you but now, there's no word to describe what I feel. What I feel is beyond love. I don't know what the future has in store for us, but I know that whatever cards we're dealt with, we'll get through it. Because I love you Theresa. Or, I should say, I love you more."
Theresa was crying at the end of Ethan's vows. "I don't know how I'm going to get through this," she smiled though her tears. Everyone laughed, including her. "I can't say that I love you either, because what I feel is also more than love. It's something that no one can define, only feel. All my dreams are coming true, I can feel it. And whatever life throws at us, we'll get though it, because we won't be alone. We'll be together, we'll have each other. I know we'll make it though what the future holds." She was completely in tears by then.
Father Lonigan continued. "Luis and Sheridan and Ethan and Theresa have declared their vows and it is my honor to pronounce them husband and wife."
Theresa let out a scream of joy as she and Ethan melted into a deep torrid kiss. Luis and Sheridan kissed just as passionately. Everyone applauded and cheered.
Father Lonigan added one more thing. "I do not need the gift of sight to know there was no need for me to say 'you may kiss the bride.'" Everyone else laughed. Sam had a broad smile on his face. His son was like him in that he needed no prompting to take his wife into his arms.
"May I present Mr and Mrs Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald and Mr and Mrs Ethan Bennett."
Sam and Theresa froze when they heard the name Bennett. They looked at each other and then at Ethan who just smiled at them. Then they turned and looked around at everyone else and realized they were the only ones who didn't know.
Everyone went into conversations with each other as Ethan walked up to his father. "Surprised?"
"Very."
They hugged. "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Ethan."
"Thanks for being there for me," he said when they let go.
"No problem."
After a small Christmas ceremony in the chapel, Ethan wheeled Theresa back to her room, being greeted by applause by the hospital staff as they entered the hall. "This is from all of us," one of the nurses said, handing Theresa a wrapped package.
Theresa opened it and burst into laughter. "Aw..." she handed it to Ethan, who laughed when he read what it said. It was her hospital chart, but instead of saying 'Miss Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald' on it, it read 'Mrs Theresa Bennett.' "Thank you. Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
They finally got to the room and Ethan shut the door and lifted her out of the wheelchair and carried her to the bed. He got into bed next to her and they cuddled, not saying anything for a short while. They knew it would be a long time before they could make love again but they were happy, beyond happy, that they were finally married. "I love you, Theresa."
"I love you too, Ethan. I can't believe we're finally married."
"I know. It's like a dream come true."
"That's because it is." They cuddled tighter. "Just keep holding me."
"Wait. I forgot." He got of bed to get the tape player at the other end of the room.
"What?"
"Chad made us a mix tape. I think it's great music to cuddle to." He carried the tape player over to the night stand and
hit play (the tape was already in it.) He got back into bed and held Theresa again just as the song began playing.
Here we are, in the arms of one another
And we still go on searching for each other
Knowing that hate is wrong
And love is right
For us tonight
When I look into your Spanish Eyes
I know the reason why I am alive
And the world is so beautiful tonight
Ethan began singing along as the chorus began
It's a place I've never been
And it comes from deep within
And it's telling me that I'm about to win first prize
Knowing all I have to do
Is return my hand to you
Anytime I want to look into your Spanish Eyes
Ethan looked down at Theresa. She was asleep. He smiled. It had been the best day they both had in a long time. He
loved her more than ever. Even though she was asleep he continued singing along with the song. When the song finished
he turned off the tape player, got up and turned off the light, and went to back to bed and fell asleep quickly, arms wrapped
around Theresa.
Epilogue:
Ivy was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility for parole in 17 years.
Theresa was released from the hospital three weeks after Christmas. 4 months after Christmas they had a double wedding ceremony at the church. And it was the can't miss event of the year.
Theresa and Ethan had 4 more children: Jocelyn, Carlos, Destiny, and Maria. Theresa became a famous fashion designer
and Ethan a very successful lawyer. That's what the future held for them.
