Part VII

They were all sitting around the dinner table, except and Gwen who had decided to go out to some fancy restaurant and as usual, Chad was putting up late hours at the recording studio.

"What smells so delicious?"

"It's just pasta, Dylan."

Dylan looked at Teresa who was setting the table. He watched her as she took a seat next to her son and started feeding him apple sauce, and laughed when he saw little Ethan dip his fingers in his bowl and take them to Teresa's mouth and missing his target. Teresa laughed right along with him.

"Thank you sweetheart, but the apple sauce is for you and only you."

Teresa took a napkin to her cheek and wiped the little mess her son had made on her face.

"Do you know how much I love you?"

"The little boy giggles and then turned his attention to the people who were gathering around the table. He took the spoon from Teresa's hand and turned his attention to Fox. He looked at him hopefully.

"No, Ethan. Fox has to eat too, so I will finish feeding you. Now, give Mama the spoon."

"No, Teresa. Let me finish up with him."

"Are you sure? You never fed a child before."

"What's the worst that can happen? Maybe I'll make a bigger mess with the sauce than you have, but it can be cleaned up."

Fox reached and took the spoon from little Ethan who giggled with happiness.

"looks like he is taking a shine to you, Fox."

Fox smiled as he looked at Teresa. He looked back at Little Ethan who was starting to fall asleep in his chair. He put down the spoon and cleaned the child up.

"It's alright, Fox. I'll put him to bed."

"Let me do it, please."

"I guess."

She watched as Fox walked down one of the corridors that led to their bedroom and smiled. She then got up and followed them.

"Whitney, Dylan and you should get started with the food. I'll be back with Fox in just a second."

"no, we'll wait for you."

Both Dylan and Whitney looked on as Teresa disappeared in the hallway. They then looked at each other.

"What do you this that was about?"

"I don't know, Dylan. All I know is that little Ethan been here will help Teresa a lot."

Dylan nodded his head and looked at the empty hallway. Teresa and Fox sure had a lot more going then either one of them was probably willing to admit.

"And Teresa been around certainly makes life that much sweeter for Fox."

*****

Teresa walked in the bedroom without making any noise and stood behind Fox. She watched him as he tucked her son in for the night and she looked on as he put his favourite stuffed animal for the night close to him.

"How did you know about the elephant?"

Fox turned and faced Teresa with a smile on his face. He whispered back.

"One night, it landed on the floor and he woke up screaming bloody murder. So now, I know."

"Let's go back to the dinning room, dinner will get cold."

They both walked there and sat down next to each other. Teresa looked at both Dylan and Whitney with a smile.

"My little angel is sleeping."

"It must be difficult to be a young mother."

"At first yes. But not anymore. Every second that I spend with him is a little blessing. I almost lost him twice, and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to him."

"You never have to find out, Teresa."

Teresa looked at Whitney and smiled.

"I have a huge support from my family and from my friends. I'm not alone in this."

*****

Fox sat by the pool with Dylan. They were sipping martinis.

"There is something nagging me, Fox."

"Should I ask what it is?"

Dylan had a laugh and looked at his best friend.

"No, you don't. but you know that I'll tell you anyway."

Fox put his glass down and waited.

"About Teresa and her son. You have everything you ever wanted with them. A family. Why not go for it?"

"Because Teresa made it very clear to me many times that the only man she will ever love is Ethan."

"But Ethan hurt her again and she doesn't seem to want anything to do with him."

"Maybe."

"If I were you Fox, I would take everything and run with it. You two seemed extremely close during dinner, you love her son who loves you in return. She adores you and you adore her. You looked like a family tonight."

"Forget it, Dylan. Teresa is hurting right now."

"But she is fine when you are around her. I don't know her very well, but she seems at peace when you are with her and the same goes for you. You seem to forget about everything, including Whitney."

Fox didn't say anything. Somewhere inside of him, he knew that Dylan was right. He knew how he felt, but he also know that pushing Teresa for something like that would only take her away from him and he didn't want to risk it.

"It's Whitney I want Dylan."

Dylan got up to leave.

"Well then, Fox. Maybe I'll ask Teresa on a date. You described her very well earlier today. She is amazing and beyond. And she might just be the kind of woman I'm looking for to settle down for good."

Fox looked at Dylan as he walked out of the Courtyard. He knew how serious his friend was about this. He knew that since Dylan had seen Teresa's picture in a society magazine. He always thought that she was hot, but now that he met her, Fox knew that Dylan liked her and that he was looking beyond the beauty of Teresa. He had seen the same things that Fox had seen in her. Compassion, love, care and so much more.

"She'll never date you, Dylan. She is too good for you."

He walked back to the apartment and made his way to his bedroom. Teresa was lying on her side already asleep. Oddly enough, her demeanour was different as she slept tonight. Unlike the other nights he had spent next to her, tonight, Teresa seemed to have a peaceful sleep and there was a smile on her face. Fox smiled at her as he got changed and slipped in bed next to her. He stared at the ceiling for a while until he felt his eyes starting to close slowly. He turned to Teresa and wrapped an arm around her waist. She turned and faced him. Her eyes opened a little, she looked at him and smiled and went into his arms. She laid her head under his chin and held him as well before she went back to sleep. Fox looked at her and closed his for the night. He would do whatever it took to keep Teresa away from Dylan and Ethan..