*A/N* This chapter of the story begins about a week after the last. We last saw Paloma and Fox "realizing" their feelings for one another, Theresa and Noah's friendship growing stronger, Kay and Miguel reconciling, and Luis and Sheridan finally deciding to tell Antonio about their relationship.

Now.on with the show! =)



"Are you feeling okay?"

"What?"

"Snap out of it Paloma. You've been in this dazed mood now for the past few days. What's up?"

"Theresa," Paloma turned to face her sister who was sitting across from her at their mother's kitchen table, "what are you talking about?"

"Mana," Theresa sat back with a laugh, "for the last few days you've been walking around like you were in a dream. Always smiling, sighing out loud, gliding."

"Gliding?" Paloma laughed at her sister.

"What's going on, Mana." Theresa's eyes lit up and she leaned forward when her mind conjoured an idea, "Paloma!"

"What?"

"Ah!" Theresa jumped in her chair and laughed when she saw that her little sister understood the outburst, "it's Fox isn't it?"

"Theresa," Paloma sat back and shook her head, "I'm not answering any of your questions."

"You don't have to, Mana." She beamed, "I can tell by that look in your eyes that this whole 'walking on clouds' deal is about a certain tall, beautiful, brown-eyed man we both know."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Resa." Paloma smiled, "I suggest you quit now before you fill your head with false hope."

"No, no, no." Theresa laughed, "there is no farce in this one, Lo. I know what's going on. I've had that look too, you know."

"What look?"

"The one that's plastered on your face this moment." Theresa stood and pulled her chair closer to her sister, "That same look you've had ever since that morning after your dream about him."

"Would you stop it, please Theresa?"

"Not until you admit to me and yourself that you are in love with Nicholas Crane."

"I don't have to justify my actions to you or anyone else for that matter."

"Come on, Mana." Theresa pouted, "It's ME. Theresa, your big sister, please?"

Paloma shut her eyes and sighed when she felt her shell begin to crack. Ever since the moment she realized that her feelings for Nicky Crane ran much deeper than friendship, she kept it inside her and didn't share them with a soul. Now, those feelings were aching to come out, and she knew no other person that she wanted to share it with more than her sister.

"Alright." Paloma smiled when Theresa squealed in delight.

"I want to know EVERYTHING, Mana." Theresa took her sister's hands in her own and laughed, "EVERYTHING!!"

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"Hello mother." Fox Crane waltzed off the elevator at Crane Industries with a skip to his step, almost passing his own mother in the hallway, "to what, may I ask, do we at Crane have his displeasure?"

"Oh Fox," Ivy grimaced in her chair at her son's callousness, "You're exactly like your father."

"You know what mumsy?" Fox bent down with narrowed eyes at his mother, but a moment later he stood and shook his head, "Never mind."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't have time for verbal sparring with my dear ole' mother today," Fox crossed his arms across his chest and stared down into her cold eyes, "Nor do I care to spoil my rather pleasant mood."

"What have you done with my son?"

"Contrary to popular opinion," Fox cocked his head to the side, "I'm not always the evil spawn of the Crane dynasty, mother. I have my good days."

"Since when?" Ivy wheeled her chair far enough back to take in the entire sight of her youngest son, noticing the certain sparkle in his eye that she had never seen before.

"I've made a New Year's resolution, mother." Fox laughed, "to no longer waste my time on petty things such as conversing with my mother who so obviously doesn't want anything to do with anyone who name isn't Sam or Ethan."

"Oh my good god." Ivy shook her head as soon as she placed the look in her son's eye.

"Dare I ask what that was for?"

"You're in love."

"Pardon?" Fox stepped back and puffed out his chest as a defense against his mother's comment.

"Nicholas Foxworthy Crane." Ivy grinned, "You are head over heels in love."

"Mother," Fox cleared his drying throat, "you are stepping out of your boundaries."

"Don't try and deny it, Fox." Ivy's soft laughed escaped her beaming smile, "So, tell me, who is this woman? Some ski bunny from the slopes? A rich 'daddy's-girl' that you met at your father's party the other night?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you mother." Fox shook his head while stepping around his mother's wheelchair and making his way toward Theresa's office.

"Very well," Ivy nodded and went forward as soon as the elevator doors opened, "But, heaven help the poor girl that you've fallen for."

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"That's everything." Paloma sighed as she stood from her chair and brought her cup to the kitchen sink.

"Is it?"

"Theresa," Paloma turned the faucet on and stared out the window, "I swear."

"Well," Theresa got up and stood behind her sister, taking her hair in her hands and smoothing over Paloma's back, "have you told him how you felt?"

"No." Paloma shook her head, "and I don't intend to."

"What?" Theresa stepped back and leaned against the counter with a confused expression written on her face, "I don't understand. Mana, this is like BIG! This is YOU in LOVE with FOX CRANE!! How can you not tell him?"

"Because, Theresa." Paloma placed the washed cup on the drying rack beside the sink then turned to face her sister, "it's just not something that would be beneficial, for the both of us."

"You are talking crazy!" Theresa couldn't believe the words coming from her younger sister's mouth, "Why on earth would you think that?"

"Listen, Resa." Paloma took her sisters hand and walked her toward the table where they sat back in their chairs, "Nicky and I are just friends. I mean, in the past few weeks we've come from mortal childhood enemies into a very close friendship, and bringing up whatever feelings I may have for him just isn't the smartest thing to do. Not now, not when we've got this amazing friendship going."

"I don't understand what you're scared of."

"Besides you and our brothers, I don't really have anyone in this town that I can say for certain that I'm close to." Paloma swallowed hard and brought a hand to her face to push her hair behind her ear, "Nicky and I, we have this really great thing going between us. He understands me, I understand him, and placing romantic feelings in all of that would just screw it up."

"The BEST relationships come out of close friendships, Mana."

"Okay, you're obviously not getting the subtle hints, Resa." Paloma sighed, "The main reason, and don't tell me I'm wrong because I know that this is a HUGE road block, would be the fact that he is a Crane."

"Does that matter?"

"Look who's talking, Resa!" Paloma laughed, "You were in love with what everyone thought was a 'Crane' and it's only brought you heartache and pain. Luis almost got killed for wanting to be with Sheridan, and look where the two of them are now with Antonio caught between things. Don't deny that the Lopez-Fitzgerald's track record with the Cranes is down-right awful."

"I see where you're coming from, but."

"No, buts, Resa." Paloma put her hand on the table, "This is final. I'm not going to tell Nicky about how I feel. It would only mess up what we have now, and it would only be hell for the both of us. He's got some amazingly huge shoes to fill now that Ethan's not the Crane heir, and Nicky has both his father and grandfather breathing down his back, not to mention watching him like a hawk. I'm not going to ruin this for him. Or for me."

"There's nothing I can say that will convince you to at least think about it a little?"

"Resa, I love you, you know that. And your opinion means the world to me, but I can't risk this. I would rather have Nicky as a best friend than possibly not have him in my life at all."

"But you love him, and who knows?" Theresa pulled her chair beside Paloma, "he might love you too."

"I suppose I'll never know."

"Please don't do this, Mana."

"Don't try and convince me with you talk of love," Paloma shook her head and breathed a deep breath to hold back the tears that were aching to escape, "I'm not going to tell him a thing."

"Mana,"

"And that goes for you too, Resa." Paloma looked into her sister's eyes, "Promise me that you will not tell Nicky about this."

"You love him!"

"Promise me!"

"Fine," Theresa's shoulders fell, "I promise I won't tell Fox."

"Thank you." Paloma nodded, "listen, Resa. I've got to go."

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"Okay."

"You promised."

"I promise I won't speak a word to him about this."

"I'll see you later then."

Paloma stood and made her way into the living room where she walked out the front door. Theresa had stirred up so many emotions that she had been trying desperately to rid her heart of, and Paloma couldn't stand to talk about it anymore for fear of bursting into tears. It was so hard to ignore the cries of her heart, but she knew that this is what must be done. For Nicky. For her.

Theresa followed after her sister and watched her silently make her way out the front door. Her heart ached for her younger sister. She knew how it felt to have to keep your feelings from the man you loved. It wasn't too long ago when Theresa stood in the same position that Paloma was in now, and the sight of her sister's obviously disheveled appearance and saddened eyes brought a lump in her throat. She promised her sister that she wouldn't speak a word to Fox about her Paloma's feelings. But, Theresa didn't have to use spoken words to let Fox know. If there was a way to keep her promise, but still get Fox to realize that Paloma loved him, Theresa would most definitely find it.

"I promise you, Mana." Theresa whispered to herself, "Fox will know. And finally, one of us Lopez-Fitzgerald's will find true happiness in love."

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A/N -- I know it took a LONG time, but thanks a bunch for hanging in there with me. The semester is over, so I'll have more time to devote to this fic. Thank you to all who've e-mailed with support and responses!