CHAPTER 17 Can't Live Without Your Love

Teresa got off the cab the second she arrived at the gates of Harmony.

"I will go to the mansion and speak to Fox."

She walked with determination but then she had to stop. Her nerves were getting the best of her.

"What am I going to tell him?"

Sometimes I wonder how I ever got along,
Without you,
You're the best part of it all,
Life is only as good as you make me feel,
I need you to hold me for a while,

I can't live without your love,
I'd be so lonely without you,
I'd be nothing without you,
Baby, I can't live without your love,

*****

Fox sat on a bench at the park and pulled out a piece of paper from the pocket of his leather jacket and read it for what seemed to be the hundredth time.

"Ethan and I have decided to elope. We couldn't wait to get married. Next time you see me, I will be Mrs. Ethan Winthrop. I told I was the one he loves. Thank you for everything Fox and I will see you when I come back to Harmony."

Fox felt his heart break as he put the note away. He had been back in Harmony for over a year now and found something he had missed his whole life. Friendship, security, trust and most importantly love. For the first time in his life, there was a person who genuinely cared about him. But she had left to get married and he had lost her.

"I should have told her how I felt."

He sighed.

"Even so, she would never have returned those feelings. The only person she ever wanted was Ethan."

He closed his eyes and the only thing he could see was her face, her smile. He could hear her laughter in his heart and he could almost reach her with his touch.

When the world casts a shadow,
And I'm feeling so low,
You are there,
You have a way about you that makes it all seem right,

*****

Teresa had decided to take a short cut by the park. She looked up as she passed by the swings and saw him sitting on the bench. She stopped and looked at him. His head was down and resting on his hand. His eyes were closed and he seemed deep in his thoughts.

"Fox!"

He didn't look up. She walked up to him and was only inches from him. He still didn't look up. She finally put her hand on his shoulder.

"Earth to Fox...Fox, Fox!"

He opened his eyes startled.

"Teresa? What are you doing here?"

She looked at the expression on his face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

He got up and put his hands in his back pockets.

"Me? Frightened? Please! I'm a Crane, and Cranes are not scared of anything."

She laughed.

"You are also Julian's son.."

"Oh, very funny."

"I was just kidding. Where is your sense of humor?"

They didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"By the way, congra...."

"Fox, we need to talk."

"I don't have time, Teresa."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm leaving Harmony."

She looked at him shocked.

"Why?"

"Because there's nothing keeping me here."

"What about me?"

"You don't need me anymore."

Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"You're wrong, I need you. I'll always need you and want you by my side."

"No, you don't. You needed me while you were after Ethan. Now you have him and I'm leaving."

He walked away.

"Fox, please wait. There's something I have to tell you."

"There is nothing to talk about."

"Fox, please."

He looked over his shoulder and she could see the sadness and pain in his eyes.

"I never meant to hurt you, Fox."

"That's beside the point, Teresa."

"Then tell me."

"I already told you that there is nothing to talk about."

He started to walk away again and she followed him.

"I remember a night not so long ago when you made me a promise."

He stopped again and put his hands in his pockets. She went around him and faced him. Tears were running down her cheeks.

"You may not remember, but I do. And I am holding you to that promise, Fox. Do you hear me?"

He didn't say anything and started to walk away from her again.

"Do you remember the night we held each others' hand and made those wishes?"

He stopped and faced her this time.

"Mine came true."

"Yes, I know.you're married to Prince Ethan."

She looked at him surprised. She had expected that by now he would have figured out that she wasn't married.

"No, my wish was that you would kiss me, that you would hold me and you did.don't you see, Fox? You are my prince."

I need you to hold me for a while,
I can't live without your love,
I'd be so lonely without you,
I'd be nothing without you,
Baby, I can't live without your love,

"Somehow, I have a difficult time believing that, Resa."

She opened her mouth to say something but stopped. He was looking at her with his piercing eyes, like he was trying to see right through her.

"How can you not believe what I'm telling you? I have never lied to you, Fox."

She couldn't take it anymore, the tears became sobs and this time she was the one to walk away from him.

"I can't stand to see you like this, Teresa."

She stopped and turned to look at him.

"Then why.why won't you believe me?"

"Believe what? That you didn't marry Ethan? I know you didn't, you are not wearing his ring anymore.what else do you want me to believe?"

"I want you to believe what's in my heart, Fox."

He looked at her and didn't say anything.

"There are no words to describe what I feel for you. It goes beyond anything that I ever imagined."

Again he remained silent. She looked into his eyes, searching his soul.

"I made a lot of mistakes Fox, but this one mistake I'm not making with you."

"And what is that, Teresa."

"I'm not letting you leave before you know how I feel."

He walked back to the bench and she followed him. They sat beside each other and Teresa took his hand in hers and she felt his shiver course through her body.

"I can't explain the feelings I have for you because there are no words to describe something that goes beyond love."

Fox looked at her feeling his heart racing. She had stopped talking and she had remained silent. Once again, he felt his hopes shatter. He let go of her hand, got up and started to walk.

"Don't go."

"I don't have time for this, Teresa."

"I love you, Fox."

He stopped and faced her.

"You don't mean it."

"Yes, I do mean it.with all my heart."

He shook his head.

"My feelings for you are very intense. More intense than anything I ever felt before in my entire life. You're the one for me, Nicholas.the only one.MY Prince."

He was looking at her shocked to a certain extent, having a difficult time absorbing all that she was telling him.

"I told you that next to my son, you were the most important person in my life."

He simply looked at her.

"Do you know what I wished for on that night, Teresa?"

She had walked up to him and was standing inches away from him.

"No, tell me.."

"I wished I could hear you tell me that you loved me."

"I love you, Fox."

He finally smiled at her, happier than he ever was in his life.

"I love you too."

She smiled back at him and went in his arms which he wrapped around her.

"That promise I made you to always keep you closer to my heart, I couldn't keep it."

She looked at him puzzled.

"You always had my heart, Teresa.I just never realized it until I was about to lose you."

"You can never lose me Fox.never."

Their lips brushed against each other.

"And you always had my heart, Fox. Always had it you'll hold it forever." With that, they both walked to the mansion, hand in hand towards a future that looked bright.

After all we've been through,
You know I'll always love you,
I want to share my life with my best friend,
And I can't live without your love,

"Do you want to make another wish, Fox?"

He shook his head.

"The first wish I ever made was to have you by my side always. I wanted you to let me love you and I wanted to be the one you loved. I have everything I want and more."

No, I can't live without your love,
I'd be so lonely without you,
I'd be nothing without you,
Baby, I can't live without your love,
I can't live without your love,
I'd be nothing without your love,
I need you,
I can't live without your love.

"What about you, Teresa? How about a wish?"

"I have you and my wonderful son.my life and my world are complete."