Chapter 16
Lives Changed
Several days passed and Little Ethan was allowed to leave the hospital. Teresa, Ethan and Little Ethan pulled onto the grounds of the Crane estate and made their way to the cottage. Entering in, Teresa was glad to be home. Her home was so cozy compared to the cold, sterile hospital she had made home for the past three days. Teresa made her way to the room her and Little Ethan had shared. He was sleeping in her arms and she gently laid him down in his crib. She sweetly gazed upon the sleeping baby amazed with how many lives he had changed...
Julian had distanced himself. He didn't return to the hospital after the news came out that Ethan was his father. She knew he was devastated. Despite their past her and Julian had come to an agreement to do what was best for him. Julian had allowed her to move into the cottage after Sheridan moved out with Luis. He had opened his heart to both of them and for that Teresa was greatful. She knew that the relationship between the two of them would always be somewhat strained, but she wanted him to be a part of Little Ethan's life. Teresa thought about all the great men in her life-Julian, Luis, Miguel, Hank, Ethan and most importantly Fox. She would make sure they all had a part in Little Ethan's life. They would be such good role-models.
Poor Gwen. She had lost so much in the past three days. Her home, her life, her husband. True, they never did get along, but Teresa's heart went out to her. She knew the pain Gwen was feeling. She knew she must be worried about her baby growing up with no father. Ethan would be a part of his or her life and Teresa was sure of that. Still it would be hard not having the father there, Teresa knew that from experience. Fortunately, Gwen was allowed to live in the Bed and Breakfast. Sam had acquired it in his divorce from Grace and he was allowing her to live there until she could get her feet on the ground. Teresa knew that she had to talk with Gwen. She wanted to thank her for letting go gracefully. Teresa wished she had her strength. She knew she didn't back down that gracefully. She wanted her and Gwen to set aside all their differences. There children would share the same father, they would be brother and sister. She knew that if for nothing else they would have to civil for their children's sake.
"Fox", she whispered softly. Tears began to form in her eyes. Teresa's heart broke when she thought about him. He hadn't kept his promise. He had left, apparently hearing the news. He hadn't returned to see her or Little Ethan since. She had overheard one of the nurses talking about how she had seen Fox Crane at the Blue Note drunk out of his mind ranting about how he had lost the love of his life. They kept gossiping about who it could be. Teresa loved him, the distance they shared the past couple of days had proven that to her. But as much as she wanted she couldn't be with him. Her place belonged with Ethan and their son. Her son had been denied his father for so long and what kind of person would she be to take that away from him? Knowing that he was now with his father didn't help ease her pain. She would have to talk to Fox, explain to him why she had to be with Ethan. She owed that much to herself and to him. He had been such a good friend. He was the only person who knew the real Teresa. She the only person that truly understood him. Stop this Teresa, stop torturing yourself. This is for the best.
"Hey, honey, you okay?" Ethan put his hands around her waist and pulled him to her. "Are you crying?"
She turned around to face him, "I'm just glad he's home and that he's okay." She wiped the tears from her face. She hadn't even realized she was crying.
"You look so tired. How about I take Little Ethan for the day tomorrow. Maybe you can catch up with your family or just pamper yourself for the day. I wouldn't mind having a father-son day."
"Oh, Ethan, he would love that. Maybe a day to myself would be what I need." She smiled at him.
They made their way to the living room as not to disturb their sleeping son.
As they made their way to the couch Ethan grabbed Teresa and spun her around. He softly touched her face. "I've waited so long to do this Teresa." He kissed her with such force it took Teresa's breath away. He lead them to the couch and gently laid her down on it bringing his body down on top of hers. "I love you, Teresa, always." Teresa just slowly closed her eyes as Ethan made love to her throughout the night. In her mind she was making love to Fox.
Lives Changed
Several days passed and Little Ethan was allowed to leave the hospital. Teresa, Ethan and Little Ethan pulled onto the grounds of the Crane estate and made their way to the cottage. Entering in, Teresa was glad to be home. Her home was so cozy compared to the cold, sterile hospital she had made home for the past three days. Teresa made her way to the room her and Little Ethan had shared. He was sleeping in her arms and she gently laid him down in his crib. She sweetly gazed upon the sleeping baby amazed with how many lives he had changed...
Julian had distanced himself. He didn't return to the hospital after the news came out that Ethan was his father. She knew he was devastated. Despite their past her and Julian had come to an agreement to do what was best for him. Julian had allowed her to move into the cottage after Sheridan moved out with Luis. He had opened his heart to both of them and for that Teresa was greatful. She knew that the relationship between the two of them would always be somewhat strained, but she wanted him to be a part of Little Ethan's life. Teresa thought about all the great men in her life-Julian, Luis, Miguel, Hank, Ethan and most importantly Fox. She would make sure they all had a part in Little Ethan's life. They would be such good role-models.
Poor Gwen. She had lost so much in the past three days. Her home, her life, her husband. True, they never did get along, but Teresa's heart went out to her. She knew the pain Gwen was feeling. She knew she must be worried about her baby growing up with no father. Ethan would be a part of his or her life and Teresa was sure of that. Still it would be hard not having the father there, Teresa knew that from experience. Fortunately, Gwen was allowed to live in the Bed and Breakfast. Sam had acquired it in his divorce from Grace and he was allowing her to live there until she could get her feet on the ground. Teresa knew that she had to talk with Gwen. She wanted to thank her for letting go gracefully. Teresa wished she had her strength. She knew she didn't back down that gracefully. She wanted her and Gwen to set aside all their differences. There children would share the same father, they would be brother and sister. She knew that if for nothing else they would have to civil for their children's sake.
"Fox", she whispered softly. Tears began to form in her eyes. Teresa's heart broke when she thought about him. He hadn't kept his promise. He had left, apparently hearing the news. He hadn't returned to see her or Little Ethan since. She had overheard one of the nurses talking about how she had seen Fox Crane at the Blue Note drunk out of his mind ranting about how he had lost the love of his life. They kept gossiping about who it could be. Teresa loved him, the distance they shared the past couple of days had proven that to her. But as much as she wanted she couldn't be with him. Her place belonged with Ethan and their son. Her son had been denied his father for so long and what kind of person would she be to take that away from him? Knowing that he was now with his father didn't help ease her pain. She would have to talk to Fox, explain to him why she had to be with Ethan. She owed that much to herself and to him. He had been such a good friend. He was the only person who knew the real Teresa. She the only person that truly understood him. Stop this Teresa, stop torturing yourself. This is for the best.
"Hey, honey, you okay?" Ethan put his hands around her waist and pulled him to her. "Are you crying?"
She turned around to face him, "I'm just glad he's home and that he's okay." She wiped the tears from her face. She hadn't even realized she was crying.
"You look so tired. How about I take Little Ethan for the day tomorrow. Maybe you can catch up with your family or just pamper yourself for the day. I wouldn't mind having a father-son day."
"Oh, Ethan, he would love that. Maybe a day to myself would be what I need." She smiled at him.
They made their way to the living room as not to disturb their sleeping son.
As they made their way to the couch Ethan grabbed Teresa and spun her around. He softly touched her face. "I've waited so long to do this Teresa." He kissed her with such force it took Teresa's breath away. He lead them to the couch and gently laid her down on it bringing his body down on top of hers. "I love you, Teresa, always." Teresa just slowly closed her eyes as Ethan made love to her throughout the night. In her mind she was making love to Fox.
