"Where did you go?" Gwen asked sleepily.
"I just went outside for awhile. I thought that you might like to be alone. You're probably exhausted." Ethan leaned forward and gave Gwen a kiss on the forehead.
"I am." Gwen admitted.
"Well, why don't you get some rest?" Ethan whispered.
"Okay," Gwen yawned as her she closed her eyes. "Stay here with me, Ethan?" she mumbled.
"I'll be here." Ethan said quietly as Gwen drifted of to sleep.
~*~
Once Theresa got back to the waiting room, she decided to help Dylan the best way that she could. After she had made her child comfortable in one of the sofas in the room, Theresa proceeded to nurse Dylan's bruises. She had managed to get an ice pack from one of the volunteers at the hospital. As she placed the ice pack over Dylan's eye, he winced in pain. "Ow!" He cried.
"Sorry." Theresa said as she adjusted the ice pack. "You know, you're going to have one hell of a shiner tomorrow morning."
"Don't I know it." Dylan mumbled. "I can't believe Fox hit me. After all the years I've known him, he's never done anything like this before."
"Really?" Theresa said. "Well, Fox isn't acting himself."
"Are you defending him?" Dylan asked bewildered.
"No," Theresa said defensively.
"It sounds like you are." Dylan replied.
"I'm not." Theresa insisted.
"Right." Dylan said sarcastically. "Sure you're not."
"Would you like another black eye?" Theresa said threateningly.
"Not you too." Dylan said in disbelief.
"I wouldn't hit you, Dylan." Theresa said. "I'm just joking. I hate to say it, but it's your big mouth that got you in this condition in the first place."
"My big mouth?" Dylan scoffed. "Okay, fine. So I have a big mouth. I was only speaking the truth though. I don't believe Fox is in love with Whitney."
"You're not the only one who thinks that." Theresa said as she settled in the chair beside him.
"So, you think that too, huh?" Dylan said as he turned towards Theresa.
"Yeah." Theresa admitted. "I just can't believe Fox would fall in love with a woman so quickly. He seemed so~" Theresa trailed off.
"So what?" Dylan asked wondering what Theresa was going to say.
"Fox seemed so cynical about love."
"Tell me about it." Dylan said. "But he had every right to be."
"Yeah," Theresa agreed. "His family always treated him unfairly. He was misunderstood and unloved. I can't imagine what it would be like to be unloved."
"It's lonely." Fox said as he entered the room.
"Fox." Theresa said in surprise. "I didn't think you'd~"
"Come back here?" Fox finished. "Look, Dylan, sorry I hit you. You just struck a nerve. You don't know how I really feel about Whitney, and I don't appreciate that you would assert that I didn't know my own feelings."
Maybe you don't. Maybe you're misreading them. Dylan thought. However, he thought it would be wise to accept Fox's apology. He didn't want another black eye. "I'm sorry, too." Dylan offered his hand as Fox shook it.
"I think we should head back to the apartment." Fox said.
Theresa picked up Little Ethan and they all headed towards the parking lot. No one said anything on the car ride home. They were all too preoccupied with their own thoughts and plans. "Home sweet home." Dylan said as they reached their destination. "Well, it's been one hell of an evening." He said as he got out of the car.
"It sure has." Theresa agreed.
"Fox, I'll see you later. And you, Theresa." Dylan said addressing her. "I hope we get to spend more time with one another."
"That sounds nice." Theresa smiled. "You go on home and nurse that eye of yours."
"I was thinking," Dylan said, "Maybe I could get one of those eye patches."
Theresa laughed. "An eye patch? Like a pirate?"
"Exactly." Dylan said.
"Nah," Theresa began. "It wouldn't suit you. You'd look cuter without it."
Fox rolled his eyes. "I'm heading upstairs." He said as he walked off.
"What's up with him?" Theresa said as she watched him walk off.
"He's just jealous." Dylan said as he inched towards Theresa. Little Ethan began to fuss.
"I better get this little guy to sleep." Theresa said. "Good night, Dylan."
"Good night Theresa." Dylan said. "Before you go," Dylan began. Theresa stopped to look at him. "What is it?" She asked him curiously.
"I just wanted to give you this." Dylan leaned forward and planted a kiss on Theresa.
"Hey, Dylan I left my~" Fox said as we walked in on them. He cleared his throat loudly and crossed his arms. Theresa was the first to pull back.
"Wow." Dylan said smiling at Theresa. Theresa smiled shyly back.
"Okay," Fox said loudly. "Look, I left my keys in your car."
"Then go get them." Dylan said simply.
"You've got the keys to the car. You go get them." Fox crossed his arms.
"Geez, Fox. What a way to ruin the moment." Dylan mumbled.
"What do you think you're doing?" Fox demanded.
Theresa was stunned. "Who are you to be demanding answers from me? I happen to like Dylan."
"You do, huh?" Fox replied.
"Yes, I do." Theresa said.
"Careful, Theresa." Fox warned. "Looks can be deceiving."
"Are you trying to tell me to stay away from Dylan?"
"What do you think?" Fox asked.
"I think you're being ridiculous." Theresa answered as Dylan returned. "Here's your keys." Dylan said as he tossed them at Fox.
"Thanks." Fox mumbled. "Well, we better get going Theresa."
Theresa shot a questioning look at Fox. "I'll be up in a minute." She said.
Fox hesitated. "You should get little Ethan to bed you know?" He said backing up.
Theresa sighed. "Dylan, thank you. I hope we can spend some more time together. It's been really nice getting to know you."
"Same here." Dylan smiled. "Bye Theresa, I'll see you later." He said as he leaned in to kiss Theresa again.
A loud bang startled Dylan and Theresa as they pulled back. Fox had "accidentally" knocked over a chair in the courtyard.
Dylan shot an annoyed look towards Fox. He gave Theresa's hand a squeeze as he walked off. Before disappearing around the corner, Dylan gave a small wave of his hand. Theresa did the same. Once Dylan was out of sight Theresa walked by Fox without saying a word.
Fox only watched her walk in a huff and shook his head.