Theresa shouted and ran toward her long-time friend. As the two met, she
jumped up into his waiting arms. The Bennett family and Paloma watched as
Noah spun Theresa around in circles. They all broke out into hysterical,
joyous laughter as they witnessed the reunion of the two friends. As Noah
placed Theresa down, he noticed the girl who had walked in with her.
"Paloma?" He inquired. It had been so long since he last saw her, but he couldn't mistake those smiling eyes. "It sure is the time to come back to Harmony, isn't?"
"The long lost children of Harmony finally return." Paloma quipped as she stepped into Noah's embrace.
"You're so big now." Noah stepped back and surveyed Paloma.
"Look at YOU!" Paloma smiled. "The last time I saw you, you were shorter than my sister, skinnier than a pole, and you had braces on that big smile of yours!"
For the next hour, the Bennetts and Theresa spent time catching up with Paloma and Noah. It had been so long since any of them had seen each other, and they all had so many questions for the two missed "kids".
"We really better be going, Mrs. B, Chief Bennett." Theresa smiled. She didn't want to leave Phyllis worrying about her when she said she would be on her way home, more than an hour ago.
"Theresa?" Noah sat up from his seat in the Bennett's recliner. "Do you mind if I tag along with you two? I'd love to meet your son, not to mention I hear that my older brother Ethan will be there. I still haven't met the guy in person, and from all that I hear about him, I'm beginning my parent's like him more than me."
"Noah Samuel." Grace started.
"Mom, I'm just kidding around." Noah raised his eyebrows at Theresa and smiled. "So, how bout it Resa? Can I come? Huh? Huh?"
"If it will get you to stop looking at me like that." Theresa laughed at her friend. It had been so long since she'd seen his bright green eyes, they were like a breath of fresh air. A breath she badly needed, and it was so great to finally have Noah back in her life. "Now, put away those puppy dog eyes and come along."
"Thanks Resa." He stood and ruffled Paloma's hair. "Ready to jet, Kiddo?"
"If you call me that one more time," Paloma warned.
"You'll what?" Noah asked as he stood, towering over Paloma's small stature with his 6 foot 5 inch frame. His head was cocked to one side and a grin pulled up half of his lip.
"We better go, Mrs. B, before Noah here gets any of his little ideas." Theresa walked up to Noah, swatted his abs and grabbed him by the arm. "Let's go CHILDREN."
"He started it." Paloma scrunched up her nose and pointed to Noah.
The Lopez-Fitzgerald sisters and Noah Bennett made their way from his home to the Crane estate in less than ten minutes. But, the time that occupied their trip was filled with many an inside joke that Theresa and Noah shared, and memories that the three had made in the past. As they pulled up to the Crane mansion, both Paloma and Noah's eyes widened.
"Theresa," Noah pulled at her sweater. "You've GOT to be kidding me."
"Sita?" Paloma pulled herself up so that she was sitting between the two front seats. "I know you told me all about how you got to be in the position you're in with the Cranes, and all, but it didn't really hit me until now."
Though Theresa was amused by her sister's and friend's reactions, her thoughts drifted to the home they were pulling up to. It used to be her castle, her dream home. But now, it was the place that housed so many bitter memories and horrible thoughts. It had crossed her mind, on several occasions, to just walk out the doors and never go back, but she had to think of Little Ethan. This was the only home that offered the financial support that would give her son the life he deserved, a life that was NOTHING like his mother's, a life where he would never have to count the pennies under the sofa cushions to save for a bar of ice cream on the weekend, a life where he could attend the most prestigious schools, a life where his ethnicity didn't matter, a life where he would never have to worry about taking care of his mother and family, a life that was completely opposite to the life that Theresa and her siblings had. No, as much as she despised this house and everything it stood for, she could not leave, for the sake of her son.
Theresa was lost in her thoughts as they pulled into the Crane garage. She parked along side Julian's $500,000 Aston Martin and scoffed as she passed by it. Her silent thoughts were interrupted by a Crane groundskeeper that was tending the bushes beside the garage.
"Buenos Tardes, Senora Crane." He smiled and tipped his ball-cap
"Buenos tardes, Senor Abestillas." Theresa smiled and walked to the man to shake his gloved hand.
"Hola." Paloma walked up to the smiling man and took his hand in her own. "Me llamo, Paloma. Soy la hermana de Theresa."
"Hello," Noah took his turn. "Soy, um, el amigo, uh, de las bellas mujeres."
"Noah." The two sisters smiled as did the groundskeeper.
"Was that ok?" His eyes widened. "I didn't say anything bad did I?"
"Just that you are the friend of the 'beautiful girls'." Theresa smiled and placed an arm around Noah's waist. "I must say, great word choice Mr. Bennett."
"Why, thank you!" He smiled.
The three said their goodbyes to the groundskeeper and made their way into the Crane home. Noah and Paloma felt a bit out of place, but their anxiousness was met with an assuring smile and nod from Theresa.
"Welcome to my humble, ahem, abode." Theresa laughed as they entered the home.
************************************************************************
"Well, well." Rebecca Hotchkiss met Theresa with a glare as she saw them enter into the foyer. "What has the little Enchilada-con-queso brought home to us now? Oh, my, hellooooo Handsome!"
Rebecca approached Noah and took his bicep in her hand.
"My, my, my." Rebecca smiled. "You sure know how to pick them, I'll give you that much."
"Excuse me, Rebecca" Theresa spat as she pulled Noah from her claws. "Shouldn't you be running around here dressed as Princess Leia while Julian chases you around in a Luke Skywalker costume?"
"Um, Sita." Paloma looked at her sister. "They were brother and sister."
"I wouldn't put it past Rebecca and Julian."
"Ugh." Noah cleared his throat and watched as the red-headed lady walked into another room, mumbling something under her breath.
"I won't even ask who that was." Paloma rolled her eyes. She'd spent some time in the mansion when she was a child when her mom was working, and she'd seen many of Julian's little floosies prancing about the house like they owned it themselves, but this Rebecca was a little much for her. It made Paloma's stomach turn as she imagined who this woman could be.
Noah circled around the foyer and surveyed the large home. It was something that may take a while adjusting to. Just standing in that room made him feel two-inches tall, and a chill ran down his spine. There was definitely something odd about this house.
"Mrs. Crane." A woman dressed in a maid's outfit made her way down the stairs with Little Ethan in her arms. "I was beginning to get worried. I was coming down to call your cell again."
"Oh, Phyllis, I am sorry. But I made a stop by a friend's house and we were just catching up." Theresa walked to her son and took him from Phyllis' arms. "Hello, big boy! How are you? Have you been good? Mama's missed you so much."
"Theresa!" Noah walked up to Theresa who was holding the baby. "He's beautiful!"
"Thank you!" She smiled and looked up at her friend. "Little Ethan, meet Noah, my childhood friend."
"Hey, big guy!" Noah cooed and made a face at the little boy. "You can call me Uncle Noah, if you like."
"And she." Theresa said pointing to her sister who was coming toward them with a huge smile on her face. "Is your Tia Paloma."
"Hello, Ethan." Paloma waved at the little boy and smiled. "Sita, he's so gorgeous!"
"He is isn't he?" Theresa laughed. "He's not only gorgeous, but he needs a diaper change too! Don't you, little stinky?"
Phyllis heard Theresa and walked up to take the baby upstairs.
"Please, let me do it." Paloma smiled. "I was the baby of the family, and never had to do diaper duty, so I owe it to you Sita."
"Wow!" Theresa's eyes brightened. "Are you sure?"
"Of course." Paloma laughed. "It'd be my pleasure! Now, come on little man, let's get you upstairs and freshened up."
"Okay, Mana. My room is the seventh one on the left when you go up the stairs." Theresa called as her little sister and her son made their way up the stairs.
"Seventh?" Noah turned to Theresa. "How many rooms does this place have?"
"Too many." Theresa grinned.
************************************************************************
*A/N* I know I said that Antonio's homecoming would come in this chapter, but it would be too long if I placed it here (there's more to come when Paloma goes upstairs!! *hmmm?!?*). So stay tuned, Antonio will be coming home VERY soon and there will be a little "fiesta" at the Lopez- Fitzgerald's home in celebration! Thanks for the awesome responses, I will try and update as often as I can!
P.S --- if my Spanish is wrong, I DO apologize, it's been far too long since I've spoken/written in Spanish so if it IS wrong, please e-mail me and I will correct it! I appreciate it! =)
"Paloma?" He inquired. It had been so long since he last saw her, but he couldn't mistake those smiling eyes. "It sure is the time to come back to Harmony, isn't?"
"The long lost children of Harmony finally return." Paloma quipped as she stepped into Noah's embrace.
"You're so big now." Noah stepped back and surveyed Paloma.
"Look at YOU!" Paloma smiled. "The last time I saw you, you were shorter than my sister, skinnier than a pole, and you had braces on that big smile of yours!"
For the next hour, the Bennetts and Theresa spent time catching up with Paloma and Noah. It had been so long since any of them had seen each other, and they all had so many questions for the two missed "kids".
"We really better be going, Mrs. B, Chief Bennett." Theresa smiled. She didn't want to leave Phyllis worrying about her when she said she would be on her way home, more than an hour ago.
"Theresa?" Noah sat up from his seat in the Bennett's recliner. "Do you mind if I tag along with you two? I'd love to meet your son, not to mention I hear that my older brother Ethan will be there. I still haven't met the guy in person, and from all that I hear about him, I'm beginning my parent's like him more than me."
"Noah Samuel." Grace started.
"Mom, I'm just kidding around." Noah raised his eyebrows at Theresa and smiled. "So, how bout it Resa? Can I come? Huh? Huh?"
"If it will get you to stop looking at me like that." Theresa laughed at her friend. It had been so long since she'd seen his bright green eyes, they were like a breath of fresh air. A breath she badly needed, and it was so great to finally have Noah back in her life. "Now, put away those puppy dog eyes and come along."
"Thanks Resa." He stood and ruffled Paloma's hair. "Ready to jet, Kiddo?"
"If you call me that one more time," Paloma warned.
"You'll what?" Noah asked as he stood, towering over Paloma's small stature with his 6 foot 5 inch frame. His head was cocked to one side and a grin pulled up half of his lip.
"We better go, Mrs. B, before Noah here gets any of his little ideas." Theresa walked up to Noah, swatted his abs and grabbed him by the arm. "Let's go CHILDREN."
"He started it." Paloma scrunched up her nose and pointed to Noah.
The Lopez-Fitzgerald sisters and Noah Bennett made their way from his home to the Crane estate in less than ten minutes. But, the time that occupied their trip was filled with many an inside joke that Theresa and Noah shared, and memories that the three had made in the past. As they pulled up to the Crane mansion, both Paloma and Noah's eyes widened.
"Theresa," Noah pulled at her sweater. "You've GOT to be kidding me."
"Sita?" Paloma pulled herself up so that she was sitting between the two front seats. "I know you told me all about how you got to be in the position you're in with the Cranes, and all, but it didn't really hit me until now."
Though Theresa was amused by her sister's and friend's reactions, her thoughts drifted to the home they were pulling up to. It used to be her castle, her dream home. But now, it was the place that housed so many bitter memories and horrible thoughts. It had crossed her mind, on several occasions, to just walk out the doors and never go back, but she had to think of Little Ethan. This was the only home that offered the financial support that would give her son the life he deserved, a life that was NOTHING like his mother's, a life where he would never have to count the pennies under the sofa cushions to save for a bar of ice cream on the weekend, a life where he could attend the most prestigious schools, a life where his ethnicity didn't matter, a life where he would never have to worry about taking care of his mother and family, a life that was completely opposite to the life that Theresa and her siblings had. No, as much as she despised this house and everything it stood for, she could not leave, for the sake of her son.
Theresa was lost in her thoughts as they pulled into the Crane garage. She parked along side Julian's $500,000 Aston Martin and scoffed as she passed by it. Her silent thoughts were interrupted by a Crane groundskeeper that was tending the bushes beside the garage.
"Buenos Tardes, Senora Crane." He smiled and tipped his ball-cap
"Buenos tardes, Senor Abestillas." Theresa smiled and walked to the man to shake his gloved hand.
"Hola." Paloma walked up to the smiling man and took his hand in her own. "Me llamo, Paloma. Soy la hermana de Theresa."
"Hello," Noah took his turn. "Soy, um, el amigo, uh, de las bellas mujeres."
"Noah." The two sisters smiled as did the groundskeeper.
"Was that ok?" His eyes widened. "I didn't say anything bad did I?"
"Just that you are the friend of the 'beautiful girls'." Theresa smiled and placed an arm around Noah's waist. "I must say, great word choice Mr. Bennett."
"Why, thank you!" He smiled.
The three said their goodbyes to the groundskeeper and made their way into the Crane home. Noah and Paloma felt a bit out of place, but their anxiousness was met with an assuring smile and nod from Theresa.
"Welcome to my humble, ahem, abode." Theresa laughed as they entered the home.
************************************************************************
"Well, well." Rebecca Hotchkiss met Theresa with a glare as she saw them enter into the foyer. "What has the little Enchilada-con-queso brought home to us now? Oh, my, hellooooo Handsome!"
Rebecca approached Noah and took his bicep in her hand.
"My, my, my." Rebecca smiled. "You sure know how to pick them, I'll give you that much."
"Excuse me, Rebecca" Theresa spat as she pulled Noah from her claws. "Shouldn't you be running around here dressed as Princess Leia while Julian chases you around in a Luke Skywalker costume?"
"Um, Sita." Paloma looked at her sister. "They were brother and sister."
"I wouldn't put it past Rebecca and Julian."
"Ugh." Noah cleared his throat and watched as the red-headed lady walked into another room, mumbling something under her breath.
"I won't even ask who that was." Paloma rolled her eyes. She'd spent some time in the mansion when she was a child when her mom was working, and she'd seen many of Julian's little floosies prancing about the house like they owned it themselves, but this Rebecca was a little much for her. It made Paloma's stomach turn as she imagined who this woman could be.
Noah circled around the foyer and surveyed the large home. It was something that may take a while adjusting to. Just standing in that room made him feel two-inches tall, and a chill ran down his spine. There was definitely something odd about this house.
"Mrs. Crane." A woman dressed in a maid's outfit made her way down the stairs with Little Ethan in her arms. "I was beginning to get worried. I was coming down to call your cell again."
"Oh, Phyllis, I am sorry. But I made a stop by a friend's house and we were just catching up." Theresa walked to her son and took him from Phyllis' arms. "Hello, big boy! How are you? Have you been good? Mama's missed you so much."
"Theresa!" Noah walked up to Theresa who was holding the baby. "He's beautiful!"
"Thank you!" She smiled and looked up at her friend. "Little Ethan, meet Noah, my childhood friend."
"Hey, big guy!" Noah cooed and made a face at the little boy. "You can call me Uncle Noah, if you like."
"And she." Theresa said pointing to her sister who was coming toward them with a huge smile on her face. "Is your Tia Paloma."
"Hello, Ethan." Paloma waved at the little boy and smiled. "Sita, he's so gorgeous!"
"He is isn't he?" Theresa laughed. "He's not only gorgeous, but he needs a diaper change too! Don't you, little stinky?"
Phyllis heard Theresa and walked up to take the baby upstairs.
"Please, let me do it." Paloma smiled. "I was the baby of the family, and never had to do diaper duty, so I owe it to you Sita."
"Wow!" Theresa's eyes brightened. "Are you sure?"
"Of course." Paloma laughed. "It'd be my pleasure! Now, come on little man, let's get you upstairs and freshened up."
"Okay, Mana. My room is the seventh one on the left when you go up the stairs." Theresa called as her little sister and her son made their way up the stairs.
"Seventh?" Noah turned to Theresa. "How many rooms does this place have?"
"Too many." Theresa grinned.
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*A/N* I know I said that Antonio's homecoming would come in this chapter, but it would be too long if I placed it here (there's more to come when Paloma goes upstairs!! *hmmm?!?*). So stay tuned, Antonio will be coming home VERY soon and there will be a little "fiesta" at the Lopez- Fitzgerald's home in celebration! Thanks for the awesome responses, I will try and update as often as I can!
P.S --- if my Spanish is wrong, I DO apologize, it's been far too long since I've spoken/written in Spanish so if it IS wrong, please e-mail me and I will correct it! I appreciate it! =)