[:-{cHaPtEr 10]
tRaGeDy
Author's Note: I can't believe I took so long to write this chapter! I'm really sorry but again, it's hard to write with no inspiration. I will TRY to update more often but I'm not making any promises. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!
Summary: Tragedy strikes moments after Gwen and Fox make their declarations of love. Ivy regains consciousness after her fall but with a price.
"Gwen." Fox breathed.
Gwen smiled slightly as she sat down next to him, smoothing her dress as she did.
Fox momentarily lost his mind as he ogled at Gwen. Then he realized why he was here.
"Why?"
"Before I explain... I just want to apologize about tonight. I was a little drunk and well..." Gwen flushed. "I didn't mean to do that. It was mistake."
"Which part?" Fox was hurt and angry that she would say what she did was a mistake. "Because it sure as hell didn't seem like it when you jumped me."
Gwen winced and replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just... you know we can't do this anymore! I promised myself that I wouldn't get involved with you. You yourself told me you think you might have feelings for Theresa. Well, I have feelings for Ethan."
"Yes, but I don't love her. I love you. I don't care about anything else. I just want you." Fox looked away as his emotions started to get the best of him.
Gwen was speechless. She knew that she loved Fox, but she hated being vulnerable around him. And here he was, blurting out his feelings and getting emotional. She wouldn't have thought it possible with this Fox. The changed, womanizing Fox. But she knew that he never changed, he was the same Fox that she had fallen in love with.
"I..." Gwen stammered, when Fox suddenly pressed his lips against hers.
Instead of pushing him away like Gwen's head was screaming at her to do, her heart took over and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back matching his passion.
Finally, they broke apart for air. Fox was still staring at Gwen curiously. Gwen looked back at him and they stared at each other a few moments before Gwen got up suddenly.
Fox sure as hell was not going to let her walk away from him. He grabbed her hand and forcefully pulled her down to sit. He then leaned into her causing her to lean back almost lying down on the bench. She squirmed slightly as she looked into his eyes, which had a powerful mix of anger and love.
"You can honestly say that you don't love me?" Fox asked weakly, breaking the silence.
Before Gwen could answer, Fox silenced her seeming as though if she said yes to that question, he would not be able to bear the feeling. So instead he kissed her.
Gwen, however, wanted to let her feelings be known to him now. She realized that she loved him too much and she would not give up Fox without a fight. They would make it work somehow.
She kissed him back momentarily before pushing him away lightly. She brought her hand up to his face not sure what she wanted to do first. Fox took her hand to his lips and kissed them lightly.
This gesture caused her to smile timidly and breathe deeply before launching into her feelings. It was simple but it was truth.
"I do love you." Gwen stared into Fox's eyes for what seemed like eternity.
Fox released his hard grip on her and they sat upright.
"So where does that leave us?" Fox asked.
They stared at each other in realization and amazement. The question was still going unanswered and neither one knew how to answer it.
"I have to marry him." Gwen said after a long awkward silence sadly.
"No, you don't." Fox said.
"So what do you want me to do? Cancel my wedding and engagement and announce to the whole world that I'm in love with the groom's brother, wait, half-brother?" Gwen asked, frustrated.
"Yes." Fox said simply.
"It's not that easy!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Well, then, make it easy!" Fox said. "You don't have to go through with this wedding if you don't want to. A part of you wants to marry Ethan just to spite Theresa. Just admit it, Gwen, I know you too well."
"DON'T tell me how I feel, Nick! You don't know anything about how I feel!!! You think waltzing into my life after these years brings us back together closer than ever? Because you're delusional if you think that! Just because you love me doesn't give you insight into my life or feelings! I certainly do not want to marry Ethan! You know the person I do want to marry, though?" Gwen said angrily. "Spend the rest of my life with? Have children with? Do you have any clue?!"
"Gwen..." Fox started to say.
"No! Do you get it yet? I don't love Ethan; I don't want to marry him. And I certainly do not give a damn about Theresa! I love you! Okay? Please just listen to me when I say that." Gwen said with all the energy expelling out of her body. But she was relieved all the same to let all her emotions out.
Fox pulled Gwen into his laps and kissed her face. He wrapped his muscular arms around her body tightly and rocked her lightly.
They stayed like this for a few moments enjoying the feel of each other's arms.
"I know, Gwen. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm frustrated. There always seems to be something that gets in our way."
"Maybe we're not meant to be together." Gwen looked into the distance at the rush of stars in the sky.
"Do you really believe that?" Fox asked quietly.
"No... I don't know. I think we are. We've overcome obstacles before. Why not now?"
"I know. I know we're meant to be together, Gwen. There's not doubt in my mind. You just have to stay positive, okay?" He grabbed her shoulders roughly.
"Yes." Gwen said a little out of breath as she looked at her love with tired eyes.
Fox was worried and asked, "Are you okay?"
Gwen's eyes began to flutter and she began to convulse. She fell against Fox's arms and chest with a thud.
"Gwen?" Fox wasn't sure if it was anything serious so he began to prod her and poke her gently. "Gwen? Wake up, baby."
When he got no response, Fox began to panic as he whipped out his cell phone and dialed 911.
"Hello, 911 dispatcher speaking. What's your emergency?"
"Hi! Uh... it's my girl- um... my brother's fiancée, she's collapsed and I'm not sure what's wrong but she won't respond." Fox replied reluctantly looking sadly at the love that wasn't his.
* * * *
"Ivy?" Sam's sobs stopped as he looked at Ivy anxiously.
Ivy rubbed her head slightly as she took in the surroundings around her.
"What am I doing here? What happened to me?" Ivy asked.
"Don't you remember? I was carrying you down the stairs out of the wheelchair and you slipped out of my arms." Sam asked curiously.
"No, I don't remember that- wait did you just say wheelchair?"
"Yes, why?"
"Why was there a wheelchair? Did something happen to me before that?" Ivy asked with confusion.
"You don't remember?" Sam asked anxiously.
"No. Where were we, anyway?"
"Mine and Grace's house."
"Grace? Who's she?" Ivy asked a little jealously.
Sam's eyes widened with realization. Ivy didn't even know who Grace was. He thought she just forget how she ended up at the hospital. The damage seemed worse than he thought. He didn't want to answer that question just yet so he called for Dr. Russell.
Eve Russell rushed into the room.
"What's wrong, Sam? Oh, Ivy! Thank God you regained consciousness."
"Thank you, doctor." Ivy looked questioningly at Eve as though she didn't know why the doctor was referring to her at her first name.
"Eve, can I speak to you in private for a moment?"
"Of course, Sam."
They walked away a distance away from Ivy and away from earshot.
"So what's the matter?"
"I think Ivy's lost her memory. She doesn't remember about her wheelchair."
"Well that's okay, Sam. Sometimes with this kind of injury she'll tend to lose memory especially the unpleasant ones."
"That's not all. She doesn't know who Grace is. I'm not even sure she even remembers who you are."
Eve raised her eyebrows and decided to find out for herself whether Ivy Winthrop really did lose her memory. She and Sam walked into Ivy's room as Ivy was sitting up higher against the pillow.
"Ivy... would you mind telling me what year this is?"
Ivy looked at the doctor like she was a wacko but answered, "Um... 1975."
Sam and Eve's mouths dropped open in shock. "Are you married, Ivy?"
Ivy laughed heartily and replied, "Well of course not. The thought never even crossed my mind. Of course, Sam hasn't even mentioned marriage although he says he loves me everyday." Ivy looked at Sam fondly.
"Ivy, I'm going outside to speak to the doctor for a moment okay? I'll be right back." Sam kissed Ivy on the forehead as she nodded.
"Oh, my God. The memory is worse than I thought it could get. That's pretty severe. She doesn't even remember marrying Julian." Eve said, worriedly.
"I don't even think she even remembers carrying Ethan." Eve and Sam looked at each other obviously worried and panicking.
"This is extremely serious. I'm going to have to talk to the neurosurgeons and see what is wrong. I'll get back to you, Sam. In the meantime... I don't want any misconception to affect her memory, so just go along with the idea that it is still 1975."
"But... she thinks that we are still in love!"
Eve pursed her lips and seemed as if she was going to say something but decided against it.
"Well... then... you'll have to go along with that too, I'm afraid."
Sam turned to look into the room where Ivy was and wondered how he was going to pull this off.
tRaGeDy
Author's Note: I can't believe I took so long to write this chapter! I'm really sorry but again, it's hard to write with no inspiration. I will TRY to update more often but I'm not making any promises. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!
Summary: Tragedy strikes moments after Gwen and Fox make their declarations of love. Ivy regains consciousness after her fall but with a price.
"Gwen." Fox breathed.
Gwen smiled slightly as she sat down next to him, smoothing her dress as she did.
Fox momentarily lost his mind as he ogled at Gwen. Then he realized why he was here.
"Why?"
"Before I explain... I just want to apologize about tonight. I was a little drunk and well..." Gwen flushed. "I didn't mean to do that. It was mistake."
"Which part?" Fox was hurt and angry that she would say what she did was a mistake. "Because it sure as hell didn't seem like it when you jumped me."
Gwen winced and replied, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. It's just... you know we can't do this anymore! I promised myself that I wouldn't get involved with you. You yourself told me you think you might have feelings for Theresa. Well, I have feelings for Ethan."
"Yes, but I don't love her. I love you. I don't care about anything else. I just want you." Fox looked away as his emotions started to get the best of him.
Gwen was speechless. She knew that she loved Fox, but she hated being vulnerable around him. And here he was, blurting out his feelings and getting emotional. She wouldn't have thought it possible with this Fox. The changed, womanizing Fox. But she knew that he never changed, he was the same Fox that she had fallen in love with.
"I..." Gwen stammered, when Fox suddenly pressed his lips against hers.
Instead of pushing him away like Gwen's head was screaming at her to do, her heart took over and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him back matching his passion.
Finally, they broke apart for air. Fox was still staring at Gwen curiously. Gwen looked back at him and they stared at each other a few moments before Gwen got up suddenly.
Fox sure as hell was not going to let her walk away from him. He grabbed her hand and forcefully pulled her down to sit. He then leaned into her causing her to lean back almost lying down on the bench. She squirmed slightly as she looked into his eyes, which had a powerful mix of anger and love.
"You can honestly say that you don't love me?" Fox asked weakly, breaking the silence.
Before Gwen could answer, Fox silenced her seeming as though if she said yes to that question, he would not be able to bear the feeling. So instead he kissed her.
Gwen, however, wanted to let her feelings be known to him now. She realized that she loved him too much and she would not give up Fox without a fight. They would make it work somehow.
She kissed him back momentarily before pushing him away lightly. She brought her hand up to his face not sure what she wanted to do first. Fox took her hand to his lips and kissed them lightly.
This gesture caused her to smile timidly and breathe deeply before launching into her feelings. It was simple but it was truth.
"I do love you." Gwen stared into Fox's eyes for what seemed like eternity.
Fox released his hard grip on her and they sat upright.
"So where does that leave us?" Fox asked.
They stared at each other in realization and amazement. The question was still going unanswered and neither one knew how to answer it.
"I have to marry him." Gwen said after a long awkward silence sadly.
"No, you don't." Fox said.
"So what do you want me to do? Cancel my wedding and engagement and announce to the whole world that I'm in love with the groom's brother, wait, half-brother?" Gwen asked, frustrated.
"Yes." Fox said simply.
"It's not that easy!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Well, then, make it easy!" Fox said. "You don't have to go through with this wedding if you don't want to. A part of you wants to marry Ethan just to spite Theresa. Just admit it, Gwen, I know you too well."
"DON'T tell me how I feel, Nick! You don't know anything about how I feel!!! You think waltzing into my life after these years brings us back together closer than ever? Because you're delusional if you think that! Just because you love me doesn't give you insight into my life or feelings! I certainly do not want to marry Ethan! You know the person I do want to marry, though?" Gwen said angrily. "Spend the rest of my life with? Have children with? Do you have any clue?!"
"Gwen..." Fox started to say.
"No! Do you get it yet? I don't love Ethan; I don't want to marry him. And I certainly do not give a damn about Theresa! I love you! Okay? Please just listen to me when I say that." Gwen said with all the energy expelling out of her body. But she was relieved all the same to let all her emotions out.
Fox pulled Gwen into his laps and kissed her face. He wrapped his muscular arms around her body tightly and rocked her lightly.
They stayed like this for a few moments enjoying the feel of each other's arms.
"I know, Gwen. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm frustrated. There always seems to be something that gets in our way."
"Maybe we're not meant to be together." Gwen looked into the distance at the rush of stars in the sky.
"Do you really believe that?" Fox asked quietly.
"No... I don't know. I think we are. We've overcome obstacles before. Why not now?"
"I know. I know we're meant to be together, Gwen. There's not doubt in my mind. You just have to stay positive, okay?" He grabbed her shoulders roughly.
"Yes." Gwen said a little out of breath as she looked at her love with tired eyes.
Fox was worried and asked, "Are you okay?"
Gwen's eyes began to flutter and she began to convulse. She fell against Fox's arms and chest with a thud.
"Gwen?" Fox wasn't sure if it was anything serious so he began to prod her and poke her gently. "Gwen? Wake up, baby."
When he got no response, Fox began to panic as he whipped out his cell phone and dialed 911.
"Hello, 911 dispatcher speaking. What's your emergency?"
"Hi! Uh... it's my girl- um... my brother's fiancée, she's collapsed and I'm not sure what's wrong but she won't respond." Fox replied reluctantly looking sadly at the love that wasn't his.
* * * *
"Ivy?" Sam's sobs stopped as he looked at Ivy anxiously.
Ivy rubbed her head slightly as she took in the surroundings around her.
"What am I doing here? What happened to me?" Ivy asked.
"Don't you remember? I was carrying you down the stairs out of the wheelchair and you slipped out of my arms." Sam asked curiously.
"No, I don't remember that- wait did you just say wheelchair?"
"Yes, why?"
"Why was there a wheelchair? Did something happen to me before that?" Ivy asked with confusion.
"You don't remember?" Sam asked anxiously.
"No. Where were we, anyway?"
"Mine and Grace's house."
"Grace? Who's she?" Ivy asked a little jealously.
Sam's eyes widened with realization. Ivy didn't even know who Grace was. He thought she just forget how she ended up at the hospital. The damage seemed worse than he thought. He didn't want to answer that question just yet so he called for Dr. Russell.
Eve Russell rushed into the room.
"What's wrong, Sam? Oh, Ivy! Thank God you regained consciousness."
"Thank you, doctor." Ivy looked questioningly at Eve as though she didn't know why the doctor was referring to her at her first name.
"Eve, can I speak to you in private for a moment?"
"Of course, Sam."
They walked away a distance away from Ivy and away from earshot.
"So what's the matter?"
"I think Ivy's lost her memory. She doesn't remember about her wheelchair."
"Well that's okay, Sam. Sometimes with this kind of injury she'll tend to lose memory especially the unpleasant ones."
"That's not all. She doesn't know who Grace is. I'm not even sure she even remembers who you are."
Eve raised her eyebrows and decided to find out for herself whether Ivy Winthrop really did lose her memory. She and Sam walked into Ivy's room as Ivy was sitting up higher against the pillow.
"Ivy... would you mind telling me what year this is?"
Ivy looked at the doctor like she was a wacko but answered, "Um... 1975."
Sam and Eve's mouths dropped open in shock. "Are you married, Ivy?"
Ivy laughed heartily and replied, "Well of course not. The thought never even crossed my mind. Of course, Sam hasn't even mentioned marriage although he says he loves me everyday." Ivy looked at Sam fondly.
"Ivy, I'm going outside to speak to the doctor for a moment okay? I'll be right back." Sam kissed Ivy on the forehead as she nodded.
"Oh, my God. The memory is worse than I thought it could get. That's pretty severe. She doesn't even remember marrying Julian." Eve said, worriedly.
"I don't even think she even remembers carrying Ethan." Eve and Sam looked at each other obviously worried and panicking.
"This is extremely serious. I'm going to have to talk to the neurosurgeons and see what is wrong. I'll get back to you, Sam. In the meantime... I don't want any misconception to affect her memory, so just go along with the idea that it is still 1975."
"But... she thinks that we are still in love!"
Eve pursed her lips and seemed as if she was going to say something but decided against it.
"Well... then... you'll have to go along with that too, I'm afraid."
Sam turned to look into the room where Ivy was and wondered how he was going to pull this off.