Pilar finally closed the door after saying goodbye to the last of their
guests. Checking her watch, she realized how late it was, and when she
walked into the living room, she saw that her children were well aware of
the late hour as well. It brought a contented smile to her face as she
gazed upon the sleeping faces of her five, grown children. Each one was
strategically resting upon one of her living room chairs, with Miguel
lying, fast asleep on the rug. Pilar made her rounds about the room and
picked up all the stray cups and napkins, expertly maneuvering around the
bodies of her children. After cleaning up, she hesitated to wake them, but
knew that if she didn't, she wouldn't escape the complaining from aching
necks and backs, that would come in the morning.
"Antonio," Pilar shook her eldest son's shoulders, ever so gently, "Mijo, wake up, why don't you go upstairs and to bed? Sheridan went up almost half an hour ago."
Antonio stirred from his slumber, and stretched his tired arms above his head. He yawned and stood before kissing his mother goodnight, and he slowly made his way toward the stairs, feeling his way there. Pilar watched as he climbed the stairs, and when he disappeared from sight, she turned to her eldest daughter to wake her next.
"Theresita," Pilar smoothed back the young woman's dark hair, "go on to the room now, your son is sleeping, as he should be, it's late mija."
Theresa mumbled something in her sleep before stirring from a dream, no doubt about Ethan, and she smiled at her mother who was standing above her. Without any words, Theresa sighed and made her way to the room where her mother had made her bed, to stay for the night. Pilar took the blanket that covered her daughter and folded it, as she knelt to the ground to wake her next slumbering child.
"Miguel," She whispered as she eyed the young man, "Up to bed now, it's late."
Miguel unconsciously rolled over as his eyes were greeted by the light fixture that hung above the living room floor, he opened his tired eyes slowly and shut them quickly as the light flooded his brain. Moments later, he realized where he was, and the sound of his mother's voice registered in his mind, he sat up and stretched his back before slowly getting on his feet and making his way to his room. Pilar watched Miguel with a laugh, and proceeded toward a snoring Luis who was sprawled out on her sofa.
"Luis," Pilar spoke as she gently patted her handsome son's cheek, "it's time for bed, mijo."
Luis let out a loud and very audible yawn at the sound of his mother's soothing voice, and opened his eyes with a smile. He stood from his spot on the couch and engulfed his mother in his embrace before retiring to bed for the night. As soon as her last son was making his way up the steps, Pilar turned to gaze upon her youngest with so much pride.
Paloma was a beautiful young lady, and she no longer had the chubby little girl face that Pilar remembered seeing on her last day in Harmony. It was so hard for her to realize how much she truly had missed from not being able to be a part of her young daughter's life, and it brought a pain to her heart that she was not there for many of Paloma's fondest memories. Though the thought of missing out on so much of her daughter's life saddened her, Pilar was overjoyed that she was finally admiring her daughter's sleeping figure in the flesh. She sighed at the sight, and stepped forward to wake her daughter from her sleep.
"Mija," It was a gentle whisper, but it caused Paloma to stir, "everyone's gone to bed now, you should go upstairs too. I know it's been a long day, and you need your rest."
"Mama?" Paloma squinted her eyes open and saw her mother's smiling face.
"Yes, mija." Pilar sat beside her daughter and placed her arms around her in a warm embrace, "Come now, it's time to go to bed."
"I'm glad I'm home, mama." Paloma spoke almost inaudibly.
"Me too, mija." Pilar nodded and placed a kiss on her youngest child's forehead, "I'm so blessed to finally have all my children back home."
Paloma spoke no more, and stood from her seat to give her mother a goodnight hug. She wrapped her slender arms around her mother's figure and smiled before nodding and walking toward the staircase. Pilar watched her retreat and choked back a sob that was making its way toward her throat, all her children were together, safe, and under her roof for at least one night, and that made Pilar the most joyous woman in the world. She walked out of the living room and turned off the light, making her way down the hall toward her bedroom.
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Paloma awoke from her dream in a fright. She could remember that it began as a beautifully romantic dream, but what had caused her to wake up in such a panic? She sat up in her bed, the covers bunching across her waist, ran a hand through her thick hair and sighed as she forced herself to recall the reverie of the night before.
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It was the field of wildflowers that she remembered running through as a child. In Maine, the sight was rare, but for one month in the Spring, Racine Meadows was filled with wild flowers as far as the eye could see.
She ran through it, as free as a bird. She could feel that someone was playfully chasing after her, and she ran with a giggle and smile as the other person came closer and closer. Then the feel of two masculine, strong arms wrapped themselves around her small waist and lifted her off the ground with a spin. The arms gently placed her two feet back onto the ground, and she spun around to see who the owner was.
Those brown eyes caught her by surprise. She looked deep into them and could feel the familiarity of them. Paloma placed her hand on the side of his face and traced a finger down his strong jaw toward his smile. She remembered the feel of his arms around her, comfort, security, love. It was as if she melted right into them.
He broke his glance for one moment to place an arm under her leg and one under her back to pick her up. He walked to a shady spot in the meadow, under a huge tree, and placed her on the ground. As he knelt down, she remembered placing her small hands behind his head, and he bent to kiss her. As the kiss broke, he moved his face away, and laughed.
It was the laugh that had snapped Paloma out of her love-struck moment. When she looked up once again and into the eyes of the man, she felt a chill run down her spine, and she finally realized who the brown eyes belonged to.
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Paloma let out a shriek when she recalled her dream, and the man who had been in it.
"NICKY!!"
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Luis and Miguel jumped from their beds and raced down the hall at the sound of one of their sisters yelling. Luis forced open the door to Paloma's bedroom and the two brothers stumbled into the room with a panic. They found their sister seated in her bed, her eyes were as big as saucers, and her mouth gaping open as if she had just seen a ghost.
"Mana!" Miguel ran toward his little sister and wrapped her in his arms. "What's wrong, what is it?"
"Miguel?" Paloma snapped out of her shock, and allowed her brothers' presence to register in her mind, "I um, I."
"What happened?" Luis took a seat on her bed, "Why'd you scream?"
"You heard that?"
"I think the whole town heard it." Antonio was now standing in her doorway. "Are you alright, Mana?"
"I'm fine." Paloma broke from Miguel's tight hold, "I'm okay, really you guys, it was a bad dream that's all."
"It sounded awful." Now Theresa stood before her with Little Ethan in her arms.
"No, it was just startling that's all." Paloma tried her hardest to reassure her siblings that she was okay, but they wouldn't budge from their places inside her room, "Please you guys, really."
"Really?" Luis scooted forward and placed a hand on his sister's knee. "Are you positive, you don't want to talk about it?"
"No, I'm okay."
"Mana, I freaked out, you know." Miguel still sat beside her with a look of worry.
"I'm fine," Paloma stressed, "Now, I appreciate that the cavalry came running at the sound of my voice, but you guys, it was just a dream."
"Boys," Theresa cleared her throat, "maybe we should give Paloma some room now, she's okay, and you guys are smelling up the air with your awful morning breath."
The brother's all stared at Theresa with equally squinted eyes, with Miguel sticking his tongue out at his older sister.
"Alright, alright!" Luis stood and sighed in defeat, "Let's go gentlemen."
As Antonio, Luis, and Miguel left the room, Theresa handed Luis her son and closed the door behind them. As soon as she was sure that they were out of ear-shot, Theresa turned around and made her way toward her sister's bed, where Paloma was leaning against the headboard.
"What?" Paloma's eyes widened at the smile on her sister's face.
"Bad dream?"
"That's what I said."
"Unlike our brothers, I didn't hear JUST a scream." Theresa's eyes danced with mischief.
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard a scream alright," Theresa took a seat on the end of the bed, "But the scream was a NAME!!"
"You don't know what you're talking about." Paloma nervously choked bad the yelp from her throat.
"Paloma," Theresa smiled, "You screamed 'Nicky'."
"What?" Paloma's hands made their way to the edge of the covers, and she pulled at a loose string, "You seriously need to get your ears cleaned out."
"Mana!" Theresa laughed and threw herself down on the bed, she propped her head up on her hands, and stared up at her sister, begging for an explanation. "You can't lie to me, you're the worst liar after all."
"Sita!"
"You don't want our brothers to find out about WHO'S NAME you screamed, do you?"
"You're evil!"
"No, just smart."
"No, evil is the word."
"Please tell me?" It was almost a whine, and Paloma rolled her eyes and sighed at her older sister's face.
"Fine," She pulled the thick blanket over her head, "Yes, it was his name."
"Mana!" Theresa screamed in delight, "You like Fox!!"
"No!" Paloma's eyes narrowed, "I don't like him."
"You woke up screaming his name!"
"It was a NIGHTMARE!!!"
"Sure it was!" Theresa laughed, "You were DREAMING about Fox Crane?? Oh, this is too much!"
"It wasn't a dream, Sita." Paloma's mouth pouted, "It was a nightmare."
"I don't believe you."
"Why not?"
"Because of the starry-eyed look you have on your face."
"Not true!"
"It is so!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is! It's the same look I would have if I woke up from a dream about Ethan!"
"I'm not a hopeless romantic," Paloma scoffed, "Or should I say, a crazy lunatic!"
"Mana," Theresa calmed herself down, "What were you dreaming about?"
Paloma eyed her sister for a brief moment in consideration, she wasn't too sure whether or not she should tell Theresa about the dream, but as soon as her sister started pouting, she knew that it was a hopeless case.
"Fine." Paloma sighed, "I was running through Racine Meadows,"
"When the flowers were in bloom?" Theresa's eyes widened, "It's SO beautiful at that time!!"
"Yeah, yeah" Paloma rolled her eyes, "And all of the sudden this pair of arms just grabbed me from behind, and spun me around. Then next thing I know, he picks me up and carries me to under this tree, and he kisses me."
"AHHH!"
"When we break the kiss," Paloma continued, "I realize who it was, and that's when I woke up screaming!"
"Ay dios!!" Theresa fell to the floor in a fit of laughter, "My sister is in love with a Crane!!"
"I'm NOT in love, Theresa" Paloma pulled her sister's hair from behind, "didn't you hear what I just said, I FREAKED when I saw that it was Nicky."
"That has nothing to do with it, Mana." Theresa turned to face her sister, "You only freaked out, because you realized that you DO like him. Tell me, how did you feel when you were with him?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying again."
"Fine," Paloma grunted, "It was, well."
"Yes?"
"It was nice."
"Nice?"
"Yeah."
"JUST nice?"
"No," Paloma grabbed a pillow and hugged it in front of her, "it was MORE than nice."
"It was?"
"I mean, it was comforting."
"You have got it BAD!"
"I do NOT!" Paloma shook her head, "Maybe, my mind wasn't thinking about Nicky specifically, maybe the dream was just saying that I'm going to find someone soon, and Nicky just was there to be a filler in the dream."
"No, trust me when I say that I KNOW the feeling," Theresa smiled, "I see your face, and I saw how you were smiling when you were talking about him in the car yesterday, you've got a crush on Fox!"
"No, that can't be." Paloma tried to convince herself that her sister was wrong, "I despise that man and everything he stands for."
"You do not." Theresa shook her head at her little sister, it was so obvious that Paloma had stars in her eyes and her cheeks were tinged with a rosy red as she talked about Fox Crane. "Don't fight it, Mana. I mean, okay, he's a little immature, snobbish, and well only in it for the, how shall I put it, the bootie, but he is quite the hottie!"
"Oh, yeah, when you put it that way, he sounds like a great catch." Paloma's words dripped with sarcasm.
"Just admit it, Mana."
"The only thing I'll admit," Paloma sighed, "is that he intrigues me. I know his reputation, Sita. He's been that way ever since we were kids, and he oozes charm and pride. Believe me, I'm well aware of that, but there's something about him."
"He's hot." Theresa laughed.
"I'm not denying that he's cute," Paloma smiled, "Okay, GORGEOUS, but Theresa, underneath that all, what's there?"
"A stuck up, inconsiderate, silver spoon-fed, rich boy?"
"Exactly." Paloma nodded in agreement.
"No, not exactly," Theresa sighed, "That's just the portrait that the 'world' paints of him, mana."
"Come on, Theresa. Don't tell me he's got into your good graces."
"It's not that," Theresa shook her head, "It's just, well I've always thought of Fox that way too, but I've spent some time talking with him, and he's just misguided, that's all."
"I don't know, Theresa." Paloma sunk into her bed, "I don't know anything about the man. Besides, IF I decided that I MAY like him, it's not like I'm his type, you know?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Earth to Theresa," Paloma waved a hand in front of her sister's face, "I'm the HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER!!"
"So was I."
"That's not the same thing."
"It's EXACTLY the same," Theresa sat back on her sister's bed and took Paloma's hand in her own, "Mana, don't sell yourself short. You are an amazing woman. You're smart, beautiful, talented, and ANY man would have to be incredibly lucky to have you."
"Even the heir to the Crane dynasty?" Paloma knew that even if she had every quality in the world, a Crane could never look at her as a potential suitor, especially Nicholas Foxworth Crane, "Theresa, Nicky has grown up around the most beautiful homes, the most expensive things, the most attractive women. No matter what qualities I posses, Nicky Crane would never take a look at me one time, let alone twice, knowing that I'm just the housekeeper's kid. There's not a chance in a million years that he would."
"So," Theresa smiled with delight, "you DO like him?"
"He intrigues me."
"You like him."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Am I going to win this one?"
"Nope."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Paloma sighed and brought her hands to her head in disbelief. Was Theresa right about all this?
'God,' Paloma looked up and silently prayed, 'If Theresa is right, PLEASE, please help me.'
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"Fox, you're up quite early," Julian Crane's slurred speech made it evident to his first-born son that his father had been drinking earlier, "Going to get a head start on skirt-chasing today, eh?"
"Father," Fox greeted his dad with a roll of his brown eyes, and stepped out of the way of the maid who was cleaning the foyer, "I'm surprised you are up this early, did your little red-headed floozy forget to pop you the ole' V-pill last night?"
"Watch your mouth, son." Julian snapped at the taller man, "No, in fact my night was quite pleasant. Quite pleasant indeed."
"Save it for someone who cares, Father." Fox held his hand up, "Those of us who have lives have to get on with them."
"Since when did YOU get yourself a life, young man?"
"Since, I came to the realization that my 'supposed' older brother is no longer a 'Crane' in name, and since my Father is too busy with his little flings-on-a-stick, I've decided to step up and take my position as heir to the Crane throne with a little dignity."
"Ha!" Julian chided, "You are NOT heir yet my son, and besides, when did YOU grow a pair and decide to take responsibility."
"Father," Fox circled his drunken father with a laugh, "I don't have time for this."
"Fine," Julian motioned for him to leave, "Go and assume your title, see if I care, it's not as if your grandfather would allow you to even touch, let a lone RUN, the family's business. Try all you want, Fox, but you're never going to be able to do it."
Fox didn't let his father's biting words sting him. His skin had grown thick, and his heart had grown cold, toward his family's remarks about his character. He sighed at the sight of the man he called his 'father', stuck out his chest with a huff, and walked out the front door. He had better things on his mind than to think about how his father was the town joke. No, Fox Crane had better things to think about, like the dream that had awoken him at three o'clock in the morning.
******************************DREAM**********************************
"Okay, I give up, come out, come out wherever you are!"
Fox stood in the maze garden of his family estate with his brow furrowed and his mind racing. He'd been running through the maze for what seemed like hours, and as he reached another dead end, he felt the frustration build inside him.
"I'm over here."
That voice called out to him for the millionth time. No matter which way that Fox ran, he'd find himself running into the wall of the maze. That voice incessantly beckoned him toward its owner. As soon as he felt like he was getting closer to it, the voice would call out again, and it sounded as if it were miles away.
"This is not amusing anymore, just show yourself!"
"Nope," The voice laughed, "If you want me, you have to come and get me."
"How am I supposed to know what I'm chasing after?" Fox scratched his head after reaching another dead end, "Who are you?"
"You won't know until you find me."
"Was that supposed to be an answer?"
"Yes."
"Well, it was not."
His comment was answered by the sound of joyous laughter which had the most familiar ring to it. It was as if he knew this voice, yet he couldn't quite place it.
"I'm serious now," Fox took a seat on the ground of the maze, "I'm not moving from this spot to come and look for you. You come to ME!"
"Tsk, tsk." The voice sighed, "That must mean that you don't want to know who I am after all."
"That's not it!" Fox jumped up as if he was being pulled to the owner of the voice, "I'm just tired that's all."
"I see," The voice called to him, "You are so very close, and yet you're not even going to try?"
"I have a feeling that if I move from here and pursue you any more, I'm just going to run into dead end upon dead end."
"I promise you won't."
"How can I believe you?"
"Just turn the corner," The voice called, "I'm right here, so close."
"I won't." Fox pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. He was frustrated and through.
"The Nicky I know doesn't give up this easily."
'Nicky'? Fox's mind began racing as soon as he head the voice call him by that name. There was only one person in the world who ever called him 'Nicky'. But, why, why would she be the one waiting on the other side? Why would she be the one that he would be willing to run around for hours just to find?
"Lo?" Fox gulped, "Is that you?"
The voice only responded with a soft giggle.
"Well?" Fox felt his heart begin to race, a feeling that was so new, so unreal to him.
"Are you going to make that extra little effort to find out?" The voice laughed again, and Fox could picture the owner of the voice's face lighting up.
Fox took one foot and placed it in front of his other, and began walking ever so slowly toward the voice. With each step, he could sense someone's presence around the corner. As he turned the corner, he found himself standing in the middle of the maze garden, and he spotted the petite figure of a dark-haired woman standing by the fountain that was placed in the center. As he stepped forward, her features were revealed. First, it was her shining raven hair. Then, Fox spotted the smooth, light curve of her shoulder. Upon his next step, her eyes became clear, and then her smile. In seconds he was marveling at her true, full beauty. He stopped before her and a smile played on his lips.
"I found you, Little Lo." Fox pushed a strand of hair from her face, behind her ear, and stared intently into the younger woman's bright brown eyes before taking her small frame in his arms and lifting her feet off the ground.
"It's about time, Nicky Crane."
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*A/N* Sorry it took so long, but I hope you guys liked this chapter and the 'dreams'!! =) I had a lot of fun writing it, plus it was my longest chapter yet! I tried to figure out a way to break it into 2 chapters, but to no avail! Anywho, see you guys with a new chapter in a couple days!
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"Antonio," Pilar shook her eldest son's shoulders, ever so gently, "Mijo, wake up, why don't you go upstairs and to bed? Sheridan went up almost half an hour ago."
Antonio stirred from his slumber, and stretched his tired arms above his head. He yawned and stood before kissing his mother goodnight, and he slowly made his way toward the stairs, feeling his way there. Pilar watched as he climbed the stairs, and when he disappeared from sight, she turned to her eldest daughter to wake her next.
"Theresita," Pilar smoothed back the young woman's dark hair, "go on to the room now, your son is sleeping, as he should be, it's late mija."
Theresa mumbled something in her sleep before stirring from a dream, no doubt about Ethan, and she smiled at her mother who was standing above her. Without any words, Theresa sighed and made her way to the room where her mother had made her bed, to stay for the night. Pilar took the blanket that covered her daughter and folded it, as she knelt to the ground to wake her next slumbering child.
"Miguel," She whispered as she eyed the young man, "Up to bed now, it's late."
Miguel unconsciously rolled over as his eyes were greeted by the light fixture that hung above the living room floor, he opened his tired eyes slowly and shut them quickly as the light flooded his brain. Moments later, he realized where he was, and the sound of his mother's voice registered in his mind, he sat up and stretched his back before slowly getting on his feet and making his way to his room. Pilar watched Miguel with a laugh, and proceeded toward a snoring Luis who was sprawled out on her sofa.
"Luis," Pilar spoke as she gently patted her handsome son's cheek, "it's time for bed, mijo."
Luis let out a loud and very audible yawn at the sound of his mother's soothing voice, and opened his eyes with a smile. He stood from his spot on the couch and engulfed his mother in his embrace before retiring to bed for the night. As soon as her last son was making his way up the steps, Pilar turned to gaze upon her youngest with so much pride.
Paloma was a beautiful young lady, and she no longer had the chubby little girl face that Pilar remembered seeing on her last day in Harmony. It was so hard for her to realize how much she truly had missed from not being able to be a part of her young daughter's life, and it brought a pain to her heart that she was not there for many of Paloma's fondest memories. Though the thought of missing out on so much of her daughter's life saddened her, Pilar was overjoyed that she was finally admiring her daughter's sleeping figure in the flesh. She sighed at the sight, and stepped forward to wake her daughter from her sleep.
"Mija," It was a gentle whisper, but it caused Paloma to stir, "everyone's gone to bed now, you should go upstairs too. I know it's been a long day, and you need your rest."
"Mama?" Paloma squinted her eyes open and saw her mother's smiling face.
"Yes, mija." Pilar sat beside her daughter and placed her arms around her in a warm embrace, "Come now, it's time to go to bed."
"I'm glad I'm home, mama." Paloma spoke almost inaudibly.
"Me too, mija." Pilar nodded and placed a kiss on her youngest child's forehead, "I'm so blessed to finally have all my children back home."
Paloma spoke no more, and stood from her seat to give her mother a goodnight hug. She wrapped her slender arms around her mother's figure and smiled before nodding and walking toward the staircase. Pilar watched her retreat and choked back a sob that was making its way toward her throat, all her children were together, safe, and under her roof for at least one night, and that made Pilar the most joyous woman in the world. She walked out of the living room and turned off the light, making her way down the hall toward her bedroom.
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Paloma awoke from her dream in a fright. She could remember that it began as a beautifully romantic dream, but what had caused her to wake up in such a panic? She sat up in her bed, the covers bunching across her waist, ran a hand through her thick hair and sighed as she forced herself to recall the reverie of the night before.
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It was the field of wildflowers that she remembered running through as a child. In Maine, the sight was rare, but for one month in the Spring, Racine Meadows was filled with wild flowers as far as the eye could see.
She ran through it, as free as a bird. She could feel that someone was playfully chasing after her, and she ran with a giggle and smile as the other person came closer and closer. Then the feel of two masculine, strong arms wrapped themselves around her small waist and lifted her off the ground with a spin. The arms gently placed her two feet back onto the ground, and she spun around to see who the owner was.
Those brown eyes caught her by surprise. She looked deep into them and could feel the familiarity of them. Paloma placed her hand on the side of his face and traced a finger down his strong jaw toward his smile. She remembered the feel of his arms around her, comfort, security, love. It was as if she melted right into them.
He broke his glance for one moment to place an arm under her leg and one under her back to pick her up. He walked to a shady spot in the meadow, under a huge tree, and placed her on the ground. As he knelt down, she remembered placing her small hands behind his head, and he bent to kiss her. As the kiss broke, he moved his face away, and laughed.
It was the laugh that had snapped Paloma out of her love-struck moment. When she looked up once again and into the eyes of the man, she felt a chill run down her spine, and she finally realized who the brown eyes belonged to.
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Paloma let out a shriek when she recalled her dream, and the man who had been in it.
"NICKY!!"
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Luis and Miguel jumped from their beds and raced down the hall at the sound of one of their sisters yelling. Luis forced open the door to Paloma's bedroom and the two brothers stumbled into the room with a panic. They found their sister seated in her bed, her eyes were as big as saucers, and her mouth gaping open as if she had just seen a ghost.
"Mana!" Miguel ran toward his little sister and wrapped her in his arms. "What's wrong, what is it?"
"Miguel?" Paloma snapped out of her shock, and allowed her brothers' presence to register in her mind, "I um, I."
"What happened?" Luis took a seat on her bed, "Why'd you scream?"
"You heard that?"
"I think the whole town heard it." Antonio was now standing in her doorway. "Are you alright, Mana?"
"I'm fine." Paloma broke from Miguel's tight hold, "I'm okay, really you guys, it was a bad dream that's all."
"It sounded awful." Now Theresa stood before her with Little Ethan in her arms.
"No, it was just startling that's all." Paloma tried her hardest to reassure her siblings that she was okay, but they wouldn't budge from their places inside her room, "Please you guys, really."
"Really?" Luis scooted forward and placed a hand on his sister's knee. "Are you positive, you don't want to talk about it?"
"No, I'm okay."
"Mana, I freaked out, you know." Miguel still sat beside her with a look of worry.
"I'm fine," Paloma stressed, "Now, I appreciate that the cavalry came running at the sound of my voice, but you guys, it was just a dream."
"Boys," Theresa cleared her throat, "maybe we should give Paloma some room now, she's okay, and you guys are smelling up the air with your awful morning breath."
The brother's all stared at Theresa with equally squinted eyes, with Miguel sticking his tongue out at his older sister.
"Alright, alright!" Luis stood and sighed in defeat, "Let's go gentlemen."
As Antonio, Luis, and Miguel left the room, Theresa handed Luis her son and closed the door behind them. As soon as she was sure that they were out of ear-shot, Theresa turned around and made her way toward her sister's bed, where Paloma was leaning against the headboard.
"What?" Paloma's eyes widened at the smile on her sister's face.
"Bad dream?"
"That's what I said."
"Unlike our brothers, I didn't hear JUST a scream." Theresa's eyes danced with mischief.
"What are you talking about?"
"I heard a scream alright," Theresa took a seat on the end of the bed, "But the scream was a NAME!!"
"You don't know what you're talking about." Paloma nervously choked bad the yelp from her throat.
"Paloma," Theresa smiled, "You screamed 'Nicky'."
"What?" Paloma's hands made their way to the edge of the covers, and she pulled at a loose string, "You seriously need to get your ears cleaned out."
"Mana!" Theresa laughed and threw herself down on the bed, she propped her head up on her hands, and stared up at her sister, begging for an explanation. "You can't lie to me, you're the worst liar after all."
"Sita!"
"You don't want our brothers to find out about WHO'S NAME you screamed, do you?"
"You're evil!"
"No, just smart."
"No, evil is the word."
"Please tell me?" It was almost a whine, and Paloma rolled her eyes and sighed at her older sister's face.
"Fine," She pulled the thick blanket over her head, "Yes, it was his name."
"Mana!" Theresa screamed in delight, "You like Fox!!"
"No!" Paloma's eyes narrowed, "I don't like him."
"You woke up screaming his name!"
"It was a NIGHTMARE!!!"
"Sure it was!" Theresa laughed, "You were DREAMING about Fox Crane?? Oh, this is too much!"
"It wasn't a dream, Sita." Paloma's mouth pouted, "It was a nightmare."
"I don't believe you."
"Why not?"
"Because of the starry-eyed look you have on your face."
"Not true!"
"It is so!"
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is! It's the same look I would have if I woke up from a dream about Ethan!"
"I'm not a hopeless romantic," Paloma scoffed, "Or should I say, a crazy lunatic!"
"Mana," Theresa calmed herself down, "What were you dreaming about?"
Paloma eyed her sister for a brief moment in consideration, she wasn't too sure whether or not she should tell Theresa about the dream, but as soon as her sister started pouting, she knew that it was a hopeless case.
"Fine." Paloma sighed, "I was running through Racine Meadows,"
"When the flowers were in bloom?" Theresa's eyes widened, "It's SO beautiful at that time!!"
"Yeah, yeah" Paloma rolled her eyes, "And all of the sudden this pair of arms just grabbed me from behind, and spun me around. Then next thing I know, he picks me up and carries me to under this tree, and he kisses me."
"AHHH!"
"When we break the kiss," Paloma continued, "I realize who it was, and that's when I woke up screaming!"
"Ay dios!!" Theresa fell to the floor in a fit of laughter, "My sister is in love with a Crane!!"
"I'm NOT in love, Theresa" Paloma pulled her sister's hair from behind, "didn't you hear what I just said, I FREAKED when I saw that it was Nicky."
"That has nothing to do with it, Mana." Theresa turned to face her sister, "You only freaked out, because you realized that you DO like him. Tell me, how did you feel when you were with him?"
"I don't know."
"You're lying again."
"Fine," Paloma grunted, "It was, well."
"Yes?"
"It was nice."
"Nice?"
"Yeah."
"JUST nice?"
"No," Paloma grabbed a pillow and hugged it in front of her, "it was MORE than nice."
"It was?"
"I mean, it was comforting."
"You have got it BAD!"
"I do NOT!" Paloma shook her head, "Maybe, my mind wasn't thinking about Nicky specifically, maybe the dream was just saying that I'm going to find someone soon, and Nicky just was there to be a filler in the dream."
"No, trust me when I say that I KNOW the feeling," Theresa smiled, "I see your face, and I saw how you were smiling when you were talking about him in the car yesterday, you've got a crush on Fox!"
"No, that can't be." Paloma tried to convince herself that her sister was wrong, "I despise that man and everything he stands for."
"You do not." Theresa shook her head at her little sister, it was so obvious that Paloma had stars in her eyes and her cheeks were tinged with a rosy red as she talked about Fox Crane. "Don't fight it, Mana. I mean, okay, he's a little immature, snobbish, and well only in it for the, how shall I put it, the bootie, but he is quite the hottie!"
"Oh, yeah, when you put it that way, he sounds like a great catch." Paloma's words dripped with sarcasm.
"Just admit it, Mana."
"The only thing I'll admit," Paloma sighed, "is that he intrigues me. I know his reputation, Sita. He's been that way ever since we were kids, and he oozes charm and pride. Believe me, I'm well aware of that, but there's something about him."
"He's hot." Theresa laughed.
"I'm not denying that he's cute," Paloma smiled, "Okay, GORGEOUS, but Theresa, underneath that all, what's there?"
"A stuck up, inconsiderate, silver spoon-fed, rich boy?"
"Exactly." Paloma nodded in agreement.
"No, not exactly," Theresa sighed, "That's just the portrait that the 'world' paints of him, mana."
"Come on, Theresa. Don't tell me he's got into your good graces."
"It's not that," Theresa shook her head, "It's just, well I've always thought of Fox that way too, but I've spent some time talking with him, and he's just misguided, that's all."
"I don't know, Theresa." Paloma sunk into her bed, "I don't know anything about the man. Besides, IF I decided that I MAY like him, it's not like I'm his type, you know?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Earth to Theresa," Paloma waved a hand in front of her sister's face, "I'm the HOUSEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER!!"
"So was I."
"That's not the same thing."
"It's EXACTLY the same," Theresa sat back on her sister's bed and took Paloma's hand in her own, "Mana, don't sell yourself short. You are an amazing woman. You're smart, beautiful, talented, and ANY man would have to be incredibly lucky to have you."
"Even the heir to the Crane dynasty?" Paloma knew that even if she had every quality in the world, a Crane could never look at her as a potential suitor, especially Nicholas Foxworth Crane, "Theresa, Nicky has grown up around the most beautiful homes, the most expensive things, the most attractive women. No matter what qualities I posses, Nicky Crane would never take a look at me one time, let alone twice, knowing that I'm just the housekeeper's kid. There's not a chance in a million years that he would."
"So," Theresa smiled with delight, "you DO like him?"
"He intrigues me."
"You like him."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Am I going to win this one?"
"Nope."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Paloma sighed and brought her hands to her head in disbelief. Was Theresa right about all this?
'God,' Paloma looked up and silently prayed, 'If Theresa is right, PLEASE, please help me.'
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"Fox, you're up quite early," Julian Crane's slurred speech made it evident to his first-born son that his father had been drinking earlier, "Going to get a head start on skirt-chasing today, eh?"
"Father," Fox greeted his dad with a roll of his brown eyes, and stepped out of the way of the maid who was cleaning the foyer, "I'm surprised you are up this early, did your little red-headed floozy forget to pop you the ole' V-pill last night?"
"Watch your mouth, son." Julian snapped at the taller man, "No, in fact my night was quite pleasant. Quite pleasant indeed."
"Save it for someone who cares, Father." Fox held his hand up, "Those of us who have lives have to get on with them."
"Since when did YOU get yourself a life, young man?"
"Since, I came to the realization that my 'supposed' older brother is no longer a 'Crane' in name, and since my Father is too busy with his little flings-on-a-stick, I've decided to step up and take my position as heir to the Crane throne with a little dignity."
"Ha!" Julian chided, "You are NOT heir yet my son, and besides, when did YOU grow a pair and decide to take responsibility."
"Father," Fox circled his drunken father with a laugh, "I don't have time for this."
"Fine," Julian motioned for him to leave, "Go and assume your title, see if I care, it's not as if your grandfather would allow you to even touch, let a lone RUN, the family's business. Try all you want, Fox, but you're never going to be able to do it."
Fox didn't let his father's biting words sting him. His skin had grown thick, and his heart had grown cold, toward his family's remarks about his character. He sighed at the sight of the man he called his 'father', stuck out his chest with a huff, and walked out the front door. He had better things on his mind than to think about how his father was the town joke. No, Fox Crane had better things to think about, like the dream that had awoken him at three o'clock in the morning.
******************************DREAM**********************************
"Okay, I give up, come out, come out wherever you are!"
Fox stood in the maze garden of his family estate with his brow furrowed and his mind racing. He'd been running through the maze for what seemed like hours, and as he reached another dead end, he felt the frustration build inside him.
"I'm over here."
That voice called out to him for the millionth time. No matter which way that Fox ran, he'd find himself running into the wall of the maze. That voice incessantly beckoned him toward its owner. As soon as he felt like he was getting closer to it, the voice would call out again, and it sounded as if it were miles away.
"This is not amusing anymore, just show yourself!"
"Nope," The voice laughed, "If you want me, you have to come and get me."
"How am I supposed to know what I'm chasing after?" Fox scratched his head after reaching another dead end, "Who are you?"
"You won't know until you find me."
"Was that supposed to be an answer?"
"Yes."
"Well, it was not."
His comment was answered by the sound of joyous laughter which had the most familiar ring to it. It was as if he knew this voice, yet he couldn't quite place it.
"I'm serious now," Fox took a seat on the ground of the maze, "I'm not moving from this spot to come and look for you. You come to ME!"
"Tsk, tsk." The voice sighed, "That must mean that you don't want to know who I am after all."
"That's not it!" Fox jumped up as if he was being pulled to the owner of the voice, "I'm just tired that's all."
"I see," The voice called to him, "You are so very close, and yet you're not even going to try?"
"I have a feeling that if I move from here and pursue you any more, I'm just going to run into dead end upon dead end."
"I promise you won't."
"How can I believe you?"
"Just turn the corner," The voice called, "I'm right here, so close."
"I won't." Fox pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. He was frustrated and through.
"The Nicky I know doesn't give up this easily."
'Nicky'? Fox's mind began racing as soon as he head the voice call him by that name. There was only one person in the world who ever called him 'Nicky'. But, why, why would she be the one waiting on the other side? Why would she be the one that he would be willing to run around for hours just to find?
"Lo?" Fox gulped, "Is that you?"
The voice only responded with a soft giggle.
"Well?" Fox felt his heart begin to race, a feeling that was so new, so unreal to him.
"Are you going to make that extra little effort to find out?" The voice laughed again, and Fox could picture the owner of the voice's face lighting up.
Fox took one foot and placed it in front of his other, and began walking ever so slowly toward the voice. With each step, he could sense someone's presence around the corner. As he turned the corner, he found himself standing in the middle of the maze garden, and he spotted the petite figure of a dark-haired woman standing by the fountain that was placed in the center. As he stepped forward, her features were revealed. First, it was her shining raven hair. Then, Fox spotted the smooth, light curve of her shoulder. Upon his next step, her eyes became clear, and then her smile. In seconds he was marveling at her true, full beauty. He stopped before her and a smile played on his lips.
"I found you, Little Lo." Fox pushed a strand of hair from her face, behind her ear, and stared intently into the younger woman's bright brown eyes before taking her small frame in his arms and lifting her feet off the ground.
"It's about time, Nicky Crane."
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*A/N* Sorry it took so long, but I hope you guys liked this chapter and the 'dreams'!! =) I had a lot of fun writing it, plus it was my longest chapter yet! I tried to figure out a way to break it into 2 chapters, but to no avail! Anywho, see you guys with a new chapter in a couple days!
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