Author's Rantings: Okay, I've had one heck of a time trying to update, but I think there's a problem with the server, so I'm just going to calm down and wait. Anyway, Eve has never been one of my favorite characters– I didn't dislike her, but I didn't particularly like her– but recently she has been kicking butt. When she told off T.C. ... that was so cool. It's about time someone told of T.C. The guy is a freak. Frankly, if he went insane and started serial-killing town members with a spork, I wouldn't be surprised. So, Eve has been elevated in my status. I'm sure that she will die happy with this knowledge.

Thanks once again for all of the reviews. I seriously get a little too excited to check my e-mail these days. You guys are the best. :)

Tickled Pink

Theresa couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard. Tears were literally streaming down her face as Fox detailed his senior prank to her. " Of course, chickens never could hold their laxatives and, needless to say, Principal Anderson was not happy when he found his car in the morning..."

" Stop, stop," Theresa begged, clutching her side. As soon as she had calmed herself, she abruptly began laughing. " I can just see the look on his face..."

Fox laughed along with her. It was good to see Theresa looking this happy. For once, it seemed like he had her undivided attention, that Prince Ethan wasn't lurking somewhere in the back of her mind. And if it would keep her this happy, Fox would be content to stay like this forever.

Theresa finally quieted down and wiped at her eyes. She smiled at him. " Looks like the Book Café was a good choice, huh?"

Fox glanced over to the nearby table, having almost forgotten Whitney and Chad were even there. He noticed now that Whitney kept glancing over at their table, discreet as she tried to be. " Yeah, good thing."

And then Theresa's game face was on again. " So," she said coyly, rubbing her foot slowly up and down along his leg, " tell me something about yourself that no one else knows."

" You already know more about me than anyone else, lover," Fox informed her, " and just so you know, the foot thing is a little distracting."

" Sorry."

" Not in a bad way," Fox added, " Keep doing it."

Theresa smiled and obliged. " Speaking of distracting, stop trying to change the subject. I want to know the dirt on you. Let's see... who was your first kiss?"

Fox mused on this. " So many to remember. I think it was Betsy... or maybe her name was Vicki. Anyway, I was eleven, she was fifteen. She was upset about still being a lip-virgin, so I helped her out of that predicament. Not romantic in the slightest. How about you?"

Theresa got a far off look in her eyes. " I was eight. This girl we called Fat Sarah stole my doll and Ethan got it back for me. Then he kissed me."

Fox shook his head. " That's...cute enough to make me puke." He gave a shudder of disgust. " All right, my question now. Do you think you'll have more children after Little Ethan?"

Theresa looked taken aback. " I hope so. I mean, I've always wanted a big family. What about you, Fox? Are you ever going to tackle fatherhood?"

" Of course," Fox returned easily, " I mean, the Crane heir has to produce heirs, right? And what better past-time is there than, ur, producing? Anyway, I want at least two– a boy named Caleb and a girl named Maya."

Theresa raised an eyebrow. " You've been thinking about this, haven't you?" she teased.

Fox squirmed uncomfortably. " Well, you know. TV was subpar this season."

Theresa smiled at him knowingly. " Uh-huh."

Fox rose abruptly to his feet, pulling Theresa along with him. " All right. Interrogation time is over. Come on."

Theresa looked at him in surprise. " Where are we going?"

" The mansion," Fox informed her mischievously. " I have a surprise for you."

Visions of candlelight dinners, bouquets, string quartets, and the like filled Theresa's head. So as they reached the mansion and Fox led her to the surprise, she stared in utter shock.

" It's a slip and slide," she stated numbly.

Fox was crestfallen, she could tell, though he tried bravely to hide it. " You don't like it. Well, it was just an idea. I thought it might be kind of fun. We never got to use one when we were kids and the commercials looked so cool– "

" I love it," Theresa assured him. " It just surprised me, is all. You don't think like most men."

" And you don't think like most women," Fox complimented in return, " which is why I lo–, um, admire you so much." He was suddenly all business. " Now, I took the liberty of buying you a bathing suit. Hopefully, this one fits. If not, I bought you ten others..."

In a matter of minutes, they had changed into their suits and were ready for the slip and slide. " Ladies first," he offered gallantly.

Theresa shook her head. " No, you've been waiting longer. Go ahead."

" Sure?" Fox inquired. Theresa nodded. Grinning like a little kid given his first explosives, Fox backed up a few steps and then took off. As he slid across the wetted-down mat, his howling delight was contagious. Theresa was so pleased to see him so happy that she would have been content to just watch him and not actually do it herself.

" That was fantastic!" Fox yelled excitedly. He motioned for Theresa to join him. " Come on, lover, it's your turn!"

Smiling at his enthusiasm, Theresa obediently backed up a few steps and then took off. She had forgotten how much fun these things could be. Laughing, she rapidly slid along the strip. As she reached the end, she toppled into Fox, who had been standing too close. He lost his footing and tumbled on top of her so that they were just a tangle of arms and legs.

They held onto each other until their laughter had subsided and then Fox helped her up to her feet. For a moment, they merely stared at each other, smiling.

Theresa felt a nervous thrill run through her. " Race you to the other side!" she cried abruptly, and left him standing there, watching her.

***

" Well, " Theresa said, smiling up at Fox after they had sufficiently worn out the slip and slide, " that was on of the best days I've had...well, ever."

Fox shook his head. " Oh, no no no. You're not off the hook that easy, lover. I still have one more surprise. Now, if you go up into the guest bathroom, you'll find a dress there picked especially for you. I'll be waiting by the car when you're done."

Theresa searched his face for any clues but could find none. Finally, she smiled. " All right. I won't be long."

When she had finished putting on the scarlet gown that seemed to have been created with her specifically in mind, she went out to the car to find Fox wearing a simple but well-tailored suit. They regarded each other admiringly.

" Mi-lady." Fox teased with a slight bow.

" Good sir," Theresa returned, curtseying.

He helped her into the car and then they drove until Harmony's city lights could no longer be seen. Suddenly, they were surrounded by empty fields of lush green grass and wildflowers.

Theresa looked at him in confusion. Fox turned off the car led her to a spot in the grass. "Wait right here," he instructed. He hurried back to the car and turned on the headlights so that Theresa was under spot-light. Suddenly, the first few notes of 'At Last' began to dance through the night air.

Theresa looked at him in wonder. " How did you know this was my favorite song?"

" Whitney told me," Fox admitted. " And I played nice with Gwen so she would help me pick out this spot. Now Ethan and Whitney know our whereabouts and are no doubt insane with jealousy." He stopped, cursing himself for having said that. Their names hung like clouds of unpleasantness in an otherwise perfect evening. Quickly, he changed the subject. " May I have this dance?"

Theresa smiled and stepped into his arms. Out in the open field, with the night so dark save be the light shining on them, it truly felt as though they were the only two people in the entire world.

" Not that I mind, Fox," Theresa said after a period of companionable silence, " but if Ethan and Whitney know all of our plans, you didn't really have to go to all this trouble of actually going through with them, did you? We could have just hid out at some movie theater, or something."

" I know," Fox returned evenly, " but it seemed like such a good plan to waste. And if anyone deserves it, Theresa, it's you."

Had he always been that sweet, Theresa wondered? Had it always been so easy to lose herself in those eyes?

The song came to an end and they reluctantly broke apart.

" I prepared a picnic for us," Fox informed her, " or, rather, Phyllis prepared a picnic for us. But first, a toast to our friendship."

He took a champagne glass and filled it to the brim, then held it out to her. She reached for it but he suddenly seemed to think better and teasingly held it away. " Fox," she chastised lightly, going after it. She lost her footing and stumbled. Reflexively, he caught her. The champagne glass dropped to the ground, broken and forgotten.

Hearts pounding, they stared at each other, a mixture of emotions and warnings and urges flowing through them. And then they were kissing, passionately, without reserve or control. It was as though they were trying to consume one another.

Fox pulled back suddenly, needing to set the record straight. " You know this is Fox, right?"

Theresa nodded. " And you know this is Theresa?"

Fox nodded and grinned. " All right, then."

And then their two separate worlds slowly faded, and became one.