Chapter 11

At the hospital.

"Dr, Russell. How is he? Well he just came out of surgery. I don't think it looks good."

"Don't say that please. There has to be better news than this please."

"I'm afraid there isn't Theresa," she said as she turned to walk away.

"Wait can I go see him?"

"Of course honey."

"I'll go tell the others what's happening."

When Theresa entered the waiting room she saw all of her family waiting. In addition were the Bennetts and the Russells. Of course Gwen and the Cranes were also present.

"Thank you so much for coming to the hospital guys but please you all need to go home. Nicholas wouldn't want you all waiting on him like this. I'll tell him you were all here. I'm sure he'll be alright."

"Ok." was all that most of them said as they made their way out of the waiting room. The only ones left were The Cranes and the Lopez-Fitzgeralds.

"We're not going anywhere, Theresa." Pilar said as she looked at her daughter.

"You need our support now more than ever." Luis added in.

"Why do you say that? Fox is fine. He's going to make it through this." Theresa said with a fake smile. She sounded more like she was trying to convince herself instead of them.

"It's ok Theresa. We can see how much pain you're in. You can't hide your feelings."

"No! No! It's not ok. I just married the one man I truly love only for him to die on the day of our wedding. Why am I so cursed?"

"Don't say that Theresa everything will be alright." Miguel said trying to cheer up his sister but to no avail.

"I have to go see him."

Theresa walked along the hallways of the hospital. She looked down and noticed for the first time since she had left the church that her dress had gotten ruined. There was blood splattered all over it and there was blood at the very bottom of her dress. She had used her dress to put pressure on Fox's stab so that it wouldn't bleed as much; nonetheless he had still lost a lot of blood.

She finally reached his room. She looked through the small window of the door and could see that he was sleeping. She entered and heard him stir. She went to his side and stroked his hair. She then leaned over and kissed his forehead unconsciously placing a hand o his chest, which caused him to fell some pain in his back. She saw him flinch and knew that she had hurt him. Tears started to well up in her eyes so she closed them. She wanted to be strong.

*Why did it have to go wrong? What did I do to deserve this misery in my life? *

As she opened her eyes she saw that he was looking at her. She smiled and he felt his heart shatter. He knew that he wasn't in good condition and that he might be leaving his angle behind.

"Hey beautiful."

"Hi Honey."

There was a silence. Theresa stared at him and all she could feel was her heart breaking. After loving Ethan so much she felt that she couldn't give any more love but Fox made her contradict her thoughts. She had given him more love than she could ever give Ethan. She had given him her heart, her soul, her life, her dreams. Her everything. Her world revolved around him and the love they shared. She couldn't imagine living without him. A new wave of tears came down her face as she thought about this.

"Come on Theresa don't do this. I'll be fine."

"What if you leave?"

"I promise I'll never leave you. I'll always be with you. In your heart and soul, in your body and mind. Death will never do us apart. I love you too much to leave you Theresa."

"I love you too Nicholas. So much."

"Come on. Get into bed beside me. Let me hold you."

"Are you sure? I don't want to hurt you."

"I'll be fine. You're exactly what the doctor ordered." he shot her a smile.

She got in making sure that she didn't hurt him. She put her head on a pillow but he moved her so that her head was now on his chest. As soon as she had laid it down he felt a jabbing burning pain in his back but ignored it. She was there with him and that's all that mattered. They spent a few silent moments together just content to be holding one another.

"I was so scared today Nicholas."

"There was nothing and there still is nothing to worry about Resa. I told you that we would grow old together and that death would never separate us right?"

"Yes."

"I'm going to keep my word. What would heaven have to offer me when the only angel I love is down on earth?"

She looked up at him and smiled.

"You should get some sleep Nicholas. To regain your strength."

"All right mommy." he said smiling as he closed his eyes.

She watched him drift off into sleep.

*I don't know what I would have done if you had left today. *

She closed her eyes also but knew that sleep wouldn't come as easily as it had for him. She was too scared to fall asleep for fear that he would die while she wasn't watching or awake. After a while she got exasperated and decided that she should pray for him. She got off the bed and knelt beside it.

*Dear God, after I lost Ethan I thought my life had ended. I couldn't feel anymore. I didn't want to live anymore. I was bitter and lost. I asked you so many nights to give me my angel back. I didn't know that you have plans in the works for me that my angel was yet to come. I am so grateful for the time I have had with Nicholas but it was too short. I love him so much. I couldn't bear to lose him to feel the pain of losing a man I love again. I need him in my life God, he makes me whole, complete. He makes me want to live and never die. Please Lord let Nicholas and I grow old together like he promised me. *

She pulled up a chair beside him and watched him intently making sure that he was still breathing and alive. She wanted to be there very moment incase he woke up so she could tend to his needs. A few times he stirred in his sleep but he never woke up. He called her name in his sleep a couple times. He seemed like he was having a nightmare and she was sorry that she couldn't make it go away for him. She wanted to do everything to ease his pain.