XI.

"Puff-Dog better stay the hell away from us if he knows what's good for him." Chad said angrily as he and Whitney made their way back to the apartment.

"Chad honey, calm down." Whitney said.

"Calm isn't a part of my vocabulary right now." Chad replied.

Whitney sighed. "Chad, getting angry isn't going to solve anything. Neither would violence. You could've gotten hurt tonight lunging after Puff-Dog that way." She said.

"You could've gotten hurt too after you snapped at Latoya. I thought she was going to gouge your eyes out." Chad said.

Whitney made a face. "Not a very pleasing picture."

"Look, Whitney, I'm just trying to protect you." Chad said as he placed his arms on her shoulders. "Puff-Dog and Latoya are dangerous."

"I know." Whitney said quietly. "What's up with Puff-Dog and Syd? Is he interested in her or something?"

"Yeah," Chad replied displeased. "He's interested in all that money she's bringing in. That's why he wants her."

"I think Syd wants you, but not because of money." Whitney mumbled.

"Whitney," Chad said.

"What?" Whitney asked. "It's true. I saw the way she played with your shirt and how she suggested that you two share a dance. That girl flirted with you right in right in front of me. If she knows what's good for her, she'd stay the hell away from you."

"Are you jealous?" Chad asked.

"Oh no you just didn't~" Whitney said pointing her finger at Chad.

"What?" Chad asked.

"Don't play that 'you're just jealous' card with me." Whitney retorted.

"It was just a question." Chad replied defensively.

"If I would be jealous it would only be because she gets all of your time." Whitney said folding her arms and averting her gaze.

"Whitney," Chad said quietly. "No matter how long I spend time with Syd, the only woman who has the key to my heart is you, baby." Whitney leaned against Chad and heaved a sigh. "Syd still better stay away from you, or I'll kick her ass." Chad suppressed a laugh.

"Whitney!" Theresa cried urgently as she ran towards her friend.

"What is it Theresa?" Whitney asked as she pulled away from Chad.

"Gwen- the baby." Theresa replied trying to catch her breath. "We're all going to the hospital. I think the baby's in danger again."

"Oh no." Whitney replied. Chad ran up to meet Ethan and Fox.

"Let's go." Ethan said as he and Fox tried to help Gwen down the steps. Gwen screamed in pain and dropped to her knees. Fox and Ethan struggled to keep her on her feet. "C'mon, Gwen." Fox said encouragingly. "Just a few more steps."

"I can't!" Gwen cried.

"You can, Gwen." Theresa said. "You can do it." Gwen glared at Theresa. "I was just trying to help." Theresa said to Gwen.

"I don't need your help." Gwen spat. Chad went over to Ethan and Fox and helped them carrying her down. They rushed off to the car while Whitney and Theresa lingered behind.

"I just wanted to help." Theresa said. "What's her problem?"

"Gwen's not going to let that grudge go Theresa. No matter how nice you are to her, she'll only believe you're doing it to get to Ethan."

"I don't want Ethan anymore." Theresa complained. "Why can't she understand that?"

"I don't know sweetie. C'mon, let's get to the car."

~*~



"Yeah, girl, I wanna know what's goin' on in that pretty little head of yours." Puff-Dog smiled. Latoya rolled her eyes.

"Will you excuse us?" Syd asked Latoya. Latoya walked off, glancing over her shoulder before heading towards a chair. "I want Chad." Syd said determinedly.

"Chad? Why him?" Puff Dog said making a face.

"I've wanted him ever since I saw him. Only problem is, Whitney's in the way."

"Chad is a trifling son of a bitch. He won't be good to you baby. Look what he did to my little sis. He broke her heart and skipped town."

"Chad's changed." Syd defended.

"You don't know Chad like I do." Puff Dog replied.

"I know I won't let Chad treat me wrong." Syd said.

Puff-Dog smiled. "Determined huh?"

"Damn straight." Syd replied. Puff-Dog laughed. "Aight, gotta admire that."

"So, Latoya still got feelings for Chad?"

"Hell no." Puff Dog replied. "She hates his guts. Fact is, she wants revenge and she'll go for any opportunity."

"Is that right?" Syd asked.

"Yeah, and she don't seem to like that Whitney either."

"I noticed." Syd replied as the wheels in her head began turning. Puff-Dog watched Syd intently as she formulated a plan. "Hey, Latoya!" Syd called.

"What you want?" Latoya asked warily as she walked back.

"How would you like to help me?" Syd asked.

"With what?" Latoya asked. "I help very few people. This better be good."

"I want Chad Harris, but his fiancé Whitney is in the way."

"Why you want Chad? You don't want that bastard." Latoya said folding her arms.

" I know he's done some things to hurt you." Syd replied. "But I still want him. Anyhow, help me get rid of Whitney."

"Damn you just go straight to the point." Puff-Dog admired.

"What's in it for me?" Latoya asked suspiciously.

"Chad supposedly 'loves' Whitney. You want revenge? Then take away Whitney."

"How?" Latoya asked.

"Do whatever it takes to make sure she never sees Chad again. Once Whitney is out of the picture, I can comfort Chad in his loss and he and I can be together. And, you will have had your revenge."

"I never did like Whitney." Latoya replied.

"Good, so we have a deal?" Syd asked impatiently. She was itching to get her plan in motion.

"Add in ten grand and we'll have a deal." Latoya said.

"Fine." Syd said impatiently.

"Deal." Latoya said as she shook Syd's hand. "I've thought of how I'll deal with Whitney. Now, I just gotta think of something to avenge Fox." Syd thought to herself.

~*~



Chad, Whitney, Theresa and Fox piled into Chad's car while Ethan borrowed Fox's. The two cars sped towards the L.A. Hospital. Gwen sat in the front seat clutching the dashboard. Surges of pain washed over her. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she cried. "This hurts Ethan. Hurry!" Ethan stepped on the accelerator and weaved through traffic.

"I hope Gwen will be all right." Theresa said.

"Yeah, we all feel that way." Fox said as he put his arm around Theresa.

"How come I have a feeling that Gwen is in pain because of me?" Theresa asked with her brow furrowed with guilt.

"This is not your fault." Whitney said as she turned around in her seat.

"By the way Gwen looked at me, I'd say that she's blaming me for her pain." Theresa said frowning.

"Gwen and Ethan seem to always put the blame on you. It's not your fault Theresa." Fox said comfortingly as he laced his fingers with Theresa's.

Once they reached the hospital, everybody rushed in. Because Ethan had hurriedly put in a call to the hospital, Dr. Abel and a nurse were expecting them.

"Let's get Gwen to a room STAT!" Dr. Abel ordered.

Gwen screamed in pain. "Dr. Abel, help me!" She cried.

"I will Gwen." Dr. Abel assured her. "Take deep breaths. Concentrate on your breathing and not the pain."

"It's so hard!" Gwen complained. "Breathe, Gwen."

The nurse wheeled Gwen quickly down the hallway. "Will she be all right?" Ethan asked concerned.

"What happened?" Dr. Abel asked sternly.

"She and I had an argument."

"Mr. Winthrop, I specifically told you to make sure your wife stayed as calm as possible. Her blood pressure is probably soaring right now!"

"I'm sorry." Ethan said guiltily.

"Let's just hope the baby will be okay." Dr. Abel said eyeing Ethan harshly.

"Can I stay with Gwen?" Ethan asked.

"No, I think you should wait out here. You'll just end up upsetting her even more." Dr. Abel ran down the hallway to Gwen's room.

Ethan stood there in shock. Theresa, Fox, Whitney and Chad ran up to him.

"Ethan," Theresa called as she tapped him on the shoulder. As if awakened from a trance Ethan snapped on her. "This is all your fault."