Disclaimer: If anybody actually wants to read it, look on chapter one,
cause I don't want to go through it again.
Author's Notes: I forgot to mention that Ethan is 27, Fox and Gwen are 24, Theresa is 26(I know that it's not accurate, but it works for my story), Karen is 23, Lily is 21, and Belle is 19. In the flashback of the last chapter, Ethan was 12, and I'll just leave you to do the rest of the math.
Dedication: Thanks to all of my reviewers, you guys make my day!
Lovelywhite- Thank you for the advice, but unfortunately, I know next to nothing about computers, and don't know what you're talking about. I'll have to ask my cousin, but I wanted to get up another chapter soon. So, I'll have to stick to the codes for now.
Cry Me A River- I want to thank you. I read your fic before I posted this, and I must say that seeing Fox with someone other than Theresa or Kay (finally!), encourage me to write this story!
'.....' means thoughts
~*~*~*~ means flashbacks
/...../ means very short flashbacks
***~~~*** means scene changes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I lay sleepless in my large bed, the words 'He's here,' kept repeating in my mind. I felt happiness, wonder, anger, and guilt at the same time.
For the first time in seven years, I saw him face to face. Even after all of these years, I am still in love with him. You know how people said that a long distance relationship could never last? I know that we could have, if it weren't for my mother. If only I had come to this realization when I left for college. I never knew what it would be like; to be in love with someone forever no matter what happens. I now understand what being Ethan feels like. After all that Theresa has done, he's still in love with her.
I couldn't shake the guilt that I felt. Fox has always been jealous of Ethan for his mother's affections, it must be killing him to know that I am Ethan's girlfriend...But I don't want to be. It is times like these that I hate myself for being too weak. I wish that I could find courage to stand up to my parents. I envy Fox for that. He has the ability to not let anyone control him, no matter who they were.
/"Gwen, I think you should accept Ethan's invitation."
"You want me to go out with him, Mother?"
"Well of course!"
"Mother, I already told you that I am still in love with Fox!"
"Gwen, you will not give up the opportunity to go out with one of the richest men on the planet! Forget about that loser already!"
"Mother! That 'loser' as you refer to him, is Fox Crane: Ethan's brother! You do know that they are apart of the same family, don't you?"
"Well, yes, but he is not the Crane heir! Once Alistair croaks, the entire Crane Empire will be Ethan's. I only have your best interest at heart."
"Mother...I don't need all of the Crane fortune. Don't you think that it would be better for me to love the man that I'm with?"
"Gwen, you can learn to love Ethan. Maybe you'll find out that you like him better than Fox. Plus, there is no reason to not try and get more than what you have. Ethan will definitely have more money than Fox."
"Ethan and I haven't even gone out yet, why are you talking about marriage?"
"Well, the truth is that Ivy and I are really close friends, and we always dreamed that her first born son would one day marry my only daughter."
"I still don't know..."
"Gwen, you don't have to suddenly turn into his fiancée by tomorrow. All I'm asking is that you go out with him, as friends."
"Alright, but only as friends."
"Oh, terrific!"/
I sighed at the memory. After that one time going out as friends, Mother has set up other dates, and pretty soon, it had become three months. Mother made sure that Fox knew, of course. He was very upset and nearly chewed my head off on the phone. He had every right to do it, though.
That was the last time that he spoke to me. I tried to call him, send him letters, trying to explain that I had no feelings for Ethan, but he just wouldn't listen. Pretty soon, I had stopped trying, not because I gave up, but because of a conversation with my dear friend, Buffy.....
~*~*~*~
I was quietly reading in my room. The winter break was almost over, and I would be going back to school soon. I was just about to finish The Silmarillion for the fiftieth time in my life when Buffy, one of my sorority sisters, burst into my room.
"Gwen I'm so glad that you're home!" Buffy yelled hysterically. It was obvious that she was crying.
"Buffy, what's wrong?"
"Well, you know how I just got back from France?" she said, sniffling.
"Yeah."
"Well, I met this absolutely gorgeous guy there, and we...slept together."
"Okay..."
"Well, I thought that I had him, you know. I really liked him, and he was so sweet, I thought that our relationship was something special. But then, I just called him, and I could tell that he was sleeping with someone else! He...he just used me!" Buffy now openly wept.
"Buffy, this guy is a total jerk! He's not even worth it!" I said, trying to comfort her. Then, in came Muffy and Bunny.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" asked Muffy.
"A guy I met in France just used me!"
"Who?" Bunny asked.
"Fox Crane!"
I knife of ice stabbed through my heart at that name. 'Fox? My Fox? He used one of me best friends and then just moved on with some tramp?' Tears were threatening to spill at the thought of what Fox had become.
"Oh, him? Don't worry Buffy, both Muffy and I have slept with him. He is just a user," Bunny said nonchalantly. "Anyway, he isn't lacking anything in that department, is he..."
With every word, it was as if another ounce of my life was being stolen away as my sorority sisters talked about how good the love of my life was in bed! I had to politely excuse myself from the room, not being able to endure my friends comparing their own night with Fox. I found myself wondering how many women Fox had slept with, and if he still loved me. Was it revenge that drove him to this?
~*~*~*~
That was one of the most heartbreaking conversations I had ever had. I remembered just crying myself to sleep for a month after that. Mother found out, although I'll never know how, and used my anger against Fox, and pushed me closer to Ethan.
I gave up sleep completely, and decided that I needed to talk to Fox. Tossing aside my blankets, I slipped on a silk, black robe that I bought in Japan. I then headed downstairs, where I heard Fox and his parents talking.
"Don't keep us in suspense any longer, Fox. What is this gift for all of us?" Julian's voice ranged out from the living area.
"Guess Father," Fox challenged.
"You're leaving Harmony today?"
I scowled at Julian's sarcastic remark.
"Nope," Fox answered, seemingly unfazed.
"First thing tomorrow?" Ivy asked hopefully.
"No, Mother," Fox answered, not being able to hide the hurt in his voice.
All of the anger that I previously felt left me. Guilt now rolled over me once more. I am reminded of how Fox always tried to seek his mother's approval, and how Ethan had unknowingly kept that from happening.
"Fox, just tell us and be done with it," Ivy said, annoyed.
"Father, Mother, I'm not leaving Harmony. I've come home to stay."
"What?" Ivy asked incredulously.
"I'll be living in the Crane mansion. We can all be one, big, happy family."
My heart gave a sudden leap at Fox's answer. He will be living in the mansion; I practically live in the mansion!
I miss our days in boarding school. We lived under one roof, yet we still had to sneak around at night to be alone together. Of course, we did get caught many times, but it was always well worth it. It's kind of strange to think of myself before I was involved with Fox. I used to be the goody-good, the teacher's pet, and the school nerd. But then, Fox started to make me more daring. He gave me the idea that the rules were only to make sure that nobody got hurt, and since us enjoying each other's company at midnight didn't make someone drop dead, then, the rules were pretty useless.
I was interrupted in my memories of better times when Fox walked to the bottom of the stairs. Our eyes met, and it was like school all over again. I suddenly felt hot, as his gaze seemed to pierce into my soul.
He started to approach me slowly, stealthily. The fire in his eyes frightened me, so I started to back away from him, up the stairs. Still, he moved toward me, until he corned me, with my back up against the wall in the empty hallway.
He grasped my shoulders roughly, and I could feel myself trembling.
"Fox?" I asked shakily, not understanding his behavior.
My voice seemed to break him out of a trance as his eyes softened. It stayed silent between us for what seemed like forever. Then, it was broken when Fox suddenly asked, "Do you love him?"
I stared back at him in shock for a moment. Do I love Ethan? Or maybe I have been using him to deal out my anger for Fox? I looked back into his eyes, seeing nothing but utter despair, which sent me into melancholy. I knew my answer right then. "No," I answered, close to tears. "I will always, only love you."
He swooped in and captured my lips in his just after I had fished my sentence. I was reminded of our kisses, and how they were hot, hard, and passionate. I was filled with a feeling of bliss as I was held in his arms again, sharing with him our long desired contact. It lasted for eternity, yet ended too soon, as he broke the kiss for the need of oxygen, leaving both of us panting heavily.
"I love you too," he said, before diving in to claim my lips once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, I know that the kissing scene completely stinks! It was my first time writing one, so hopefully, I will get better at it. This story now has another point to it. I want to see Gwen finally stand up to her mother. I think that she lets her parents control her too much. I've seen on the show how Rebecca (no offense to Rebecca fans, I like her, really) has pressured Gwen into doing something that she really doesn't want to do.
Oh, and would anyone be interested in reading a prequel to this story? It would be of Fox and Gwen's school days.
Author's Notes: I forgot to mention that Ethan is 27, Fox and Gwen are 24, Theresa is 26(I know that it's not accurate, but it works for my story), Karen is 23, Lily is 21, and Belle is 19. In the flashback of the last chapter, Ethan was 12, and I'll just leave you to do the rest of the math.
Dedication: Thanks to all of my reviewers, you guys make my day!
Lovelywhite- Thank you for the advice, but unfortunately, I know next to nothing about computers, and don't know what you're talking about. I'll have to ask my cousin, but I wanted to get up another chapter soon. So, I'll have to stick to the codes for now.
Cry Me A River- I want to thank you. I read your fic before I posted this, and I must say that seeing Fox with someone other than Theresa or Kay (finally!), encourage me to write this story!
'.....' means thoughts
~*~*~*~ means flashbacks
/...../ means very short flashbacks
***~~~*** means scene changes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I lay sleepless in my large bed, the words 'He's here,' kept repeating in my mind. I felt happiness, wonder, anger, and guilt at the same time.
For the first time in seven years, I saw him face to face. Even after all of these years, I am still in love with him. You know how people said that a long distance relationship could never last? I know that we could have, if it weren't for my mother. If only I had come to this realization when I left for college. I never knew what it would be like; to be in love with someone forever no matter what happens. I now understand what being Ethan feels like. After all that Theresa has done, he's still in love with her.
I couldn't shake the guilt that I felt. Fox has always been jealous of Ethan for his mother's affections, it must be killing him to know that I am Ethan's girlfriend...But I don't want to be. It is times like these that I hate myself for being too weak. I wish that I could find courage to stand up to my parents. I envy Fox for that. He has the ability to not let anyone control him, no matter who they were.
/"Gwen, I think you should accept Ethan's invitation."
"You want me to go out with him, Mother?"
"Well of course!"
"Mother, I already told you that I am still in love with Fox!"
"Gwen, you will not give up the opportunity to go out with one of the richest men on the planet! Forget about that loser already!"
"Mother! That 'loser' as you refer to him, is Fox Crane: Ethan's brother! You do know that they are apart of the same family, don't you?"
"Well, yes, but he is not the Crane heir! Once Alistair croaks, the entire Crane Empire will be Ethan's. I only have your best interest at heart."
"Mother...I don't need all of the Crane fortune. Don't you think that it would be better for me to love the man that I'm with?"
"Gwen, you can learn to love Ethan. Maybe you'll find out that you like him better than Fox. Plus, there is no reason to not try and get more than what you have. Ethan will definitely have more money than Fox."
"Ethan and I haven't even gone out yet, why are you talking about marriage?"
"Well, the truth is that Ivy and I are really close friends, and we always dreamed that her first born son would one day marry my only daughter."
"I still don't know..."
"Gwen, you don't have to suddenly turn into his fiancée by tomorrow. All I'm asking is that you go out with him, as friends."
"Alright, but only as friends."
"Oh, terrific!"/
I sighed at the memory. After that one time going out as friends, Mother has set up other dates, and pretty soon, it had become three months. Mother made sure that Fox knew, of course. He was very upset and nearly chewed my head off on the phone. He had every right to do it, though.
That was the last time that he spoke to me. I tried to call him, send him letters, trying to explain that I had no feelings for Ethan, but he just wouldn't listen. Pretty soon, I had stopped trying, not because I gave up, but because of a conversation with my dear friend, Buffy.....
~*~*~*~
I was quietly reading in my room. The winter break was almost over, and I would be going back to school soon. I was just about to finish The Silmarillion for the fiftieth time in my life when Buffy, one of my sorority sisters, burst into my room.
"Gwen I'm so glad that you're home!" Buffy yelled hysterically. It was obvious that she was crying.
"Buffy, what's wrong?"
"Well, you know how I just got back from France?" she said, sniffling.
"Yeah."
"Well, I met this absolutely gorgeous guy there, and we...slept together."
"Okay..."
"Well, I thought that I had him, you know. I really liked him, and he was so sweet, I thought that our relationship was something special. But then, I just called him, and I could tell that he was sleeping with someone else! He...he just used me!" Buffy now openly wept.
"Buffy, this guy is a total jerk! He's not even worth it!" I said, trying to comfort her. Then, in came Muffy and Bunny.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" asked Muffy.
"A guy I met in France just used me!"
"Who?" Bunny asked.
"Fox Crane!"
I knife of ice stabbed through my heart at that name. 'Fox? My Fox? He used one of me best friends and then just moved on with some tramp?' Tears were threatening to spill at the thought of what Fox had become.
"Oh, him? Don't worry Buffy, both Muffy and I have slept with him. He is just a user," Bunny said nonchalantly. "Anyway, he isn't lacking anything in that department, is he..."
With every word, it was as if another ounce of my life was being stolen away as my sorority sisters talked about how good the love of my life was in bed! I had to politely excuse myself from the room, not being able to endure my friends comparing their own night with Fox. I found myself wondering how many women Fox had slept with, and if he still loved me. Was it revenge that drove him to this?
~*~*~*~
That was one of the most heartbreaking conversations I had ever had. I remembered just crying myself to sleep for a month after that. Mother found out, although I'll never know how, and used my anger against Fox, and pushed me closer to Ethan.
I gave up sleep completely, and decided that I needed to talk to Fox. Tossing aside my blankets, I slipped on a silk, black robe that I bought in Japan. I then headed downstairs, where I heard Fox and his parents talking.
"Don't keep us in suspense any longer, Fox. What is this gift for all of us?" Julian's voice ranged out from the living area.
"Guess Father," Fox challenged.
"You're leaving Harmony today?"
I scowled at Julian's sarcastic remark.
"Nope," Fox answered, seemingly unfazed.
"First thing tomorrow?" Ivy asked hopefully.
"No, Mother," Fox answered, not being able to hide the hurt in his voice.
All of the anger that I previously felt left me. Guilt now rolled over me once more. I am reminded of how Fox always tried to seek his mother's approval, and how Ethan had unknowingly kept that from happening.
"Fox, just tell us and be done with it," Ivy said, annoyed.
"Father, Mother, I'm not leaving Harmony. I've come home to stay."
"What?" Ivy asked incredulously.
"I'll be living in the Crane mansion. We can all be one, big, happy family."
My heart gave a sudden leap at Fox's answer. He will be living in the mansion; I practically live in the mansion!
I miss our days in boarding school. We lived under one roof, yet we still had to sneak around at night to be alone together. Of course, we did get caught many times, but it was always well worth it. It's kind of strange to think of myself before I was involved with Fox. I used to be the goody-good, the teacher's pet, and the school nerd. But then, Fox started to make me more daring. He gave me the idea that the rules were only to make sure that nobody got hurt, and since us enjoying each other's company at midnight didn't make someone drop dead, then, the rules were pretty useless.
I was interrupted in my memories of better times when Fox walked to the bottom of the stairs. Our eyes met, and it was like school all over again. I suddenly felt hot, as his gaze seemed to pierce into my soul.
He started to approach me slowly, stealthily. The fire in his eyes frightened me, so I started to back away from him, up the stairs. Still, he moved toward me, until he corned me, with my back up against the wall in the empty hallway.
He grasped my shoulders roughly, and I could feel myself trembling.
"Fox?" I asked shakily, not understanding his behavior.
My voice seemed to break him out of a trance as his eyes softened. It stayed silent between us for what seemed like forever. Then, it was broken when Fox suddenly asked, "Do you love him?"
I stared back at him in shock for a moment. Do I love Ethan? Or maybe I have been using him to deal out my anger for Fox? I looked back into his eyes, seeing nothing but utter despair, which sent me into melancholy. I knew my answer right then. "No," I answered, close to tears. "I will always, only love you."
He swooped in and captured my lips in his just after I had fished my sentence. I was reminded of our kisses, and how they were hot, hard, and passionate. I was filled with a feeling of bliss as I was held in his arms again, sharing with him our long desired contact. It lasted for eternity, yet ended too soon, as he broke the kiss for the need of oxygen, leaving both of us panting heavily.
"I love you too," he said, before diving in to claim my lips once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, I know that the kissing scene completely stinks! It was my first time writing one, so hopefully, I will get better at it. This story now has another point to it. I want to see Gwen finally stand up to her mother. I think that she lets her parents control her too much. I've seen on the show how Rebecca (no offense to Rebecca fans, I like her, really) has pressured Gwen into doing something that she really doesn't want to do.
Oh, and would anyone be interested in reading a prequel to this story? It would be of Fox and Gwen's school days.