XXIII.

Fox and Theresa pulled away from the kiss breathless. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever. "Ma! Da!" They heard Little Ethan cry happily.

Fox looked in surprise at little Ethan. "Did he just~"

"He called you 'Da.'" Theresa said softly. "And he called me~"

"Ma." Fox finished.

"Ma." Theresa thought to herself. "I'm a mother." She looked at the adorable baby boy in amazement. "My son." She whispered as she looked at Fox to Little Ethan. "Our son." Theresa thought to herself as she smiled. Little Ethan gave his mother a huge grin and extended his arms.

"Would you like to hold him?" Pilar said quietly as she approached the bed.

Theresa nodded at the woman with the warm friendly eyes. Theresa gently reached for Little Ethan and sat him in her lap. "Hi, there," Theresa cooed. It felt natural to hold the little boy in her arms. Little Ethan reached out and grabbed at his mother's hair.

"His name is Ethan Martin, but we all call him Little Ethan." Fox said softly as he ruffled Little Ethan's fine blond hair.

"I guess he takes after you." Theresa smiled.

"What?" Fox said confused.

"Little Ethan called you 'Da" awhile ago. You are his father right?" Theresa asked.

Fox looked away. "Uh"

"That's a long story." Pilar chimed in. "But it's good to see you're awake mi hija."

"Mi hija," Theresa thought, "Are you~"

"I'm your mother." Pilar said quietly.

"I'm sorry I can't remember." Theresa said sadly. "But if it's any consolation, you all seem familiar in some way."

"It's all right, Theresa," Pilar said quietly as she stroked her daughter's hair. "The important thing is that you're here with us now."

Theresa smiled. "I'm glad you all are here. Is there anyone else I should meet?"

"Maybe we should call Whitney and Chad." Fox said quietly to Pilar.

"Yes, especially Whitney." Pilar said.

"Who's Whitney?" Theresa asked.

"Your best friend." Fox said quietly.

"Oh," Theresa said. "Well then, please call Whitney. Maybe the more people I meet, the faster my memory will return to me."

"I'll go call Whitney right now." Fox said hastily as he made his way to the door.

"You know what? You can use the phone in my office." Dr. Livingston said. "I'll leave you three alone to do some catching up." Dr. Livingston said as he winked at Pilar.

Pilar smiled and blushed slightly. "Thank you Doctor."

Once the two men left the room, Little Ethan became interested in the button that moved the bed up and down. Theresa laughed. "No," She scolded gently. "You're going to give me have motion sickness."

Pilar laughed softly. "So, little Ethan is familiar to you?"

"It's weird really. I can't explain it." Theresa said. "It's like this indescribable connection I feels towards him."

"Every mother has that connection to their child." Pilar said softly. "Deep down, you just know that it's your child."

"Yeah," Theresa agreed. "It's a nice feeling."

Little Ethan took a hold of Theresa's finger. "Mama," Theresa said hesitantly. It felt kind-of awkward to call a total stranger "Mama," but Pilar's presence brought comfort to Theresa.

"What is it, Theresita?"

"Is there something between you and the doctor?" Theresa asked with a small smile forming on her lips.

"What?" Pilar said blushing. "Theresa!" She reprimanded.

"What?" Theresa asked innocently. "I may have amnesia, but I know there was something going on between you and the Doc."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Pilar said shaking her head.

Theresa was amused. "Yes you do, mama. But seriously, where is my father?"

Pilar's expression instantly changed. Sadness clouded her gaze. "He disappeared a long time ago." She said quietly.

"Oh." Theresa replied. "How long?"

"It's been a long time." Pilar said sadly. "I've never given up the hope that he would return to us."

"Has it been a really long time?" Theresa asked as she smoothed Little Ethan's hair across his forehead.

"It seems like an eternity." Pilar replied sighing heavily.

"Mama, haven't you ever~" Theresa's voice trailed off.

"What is it, Theresa?" Pilar asked.

"Have you ever considered moving on with someone else?" Theresa asked sheepishly.

"No," Pilar said softly. "I would feel guilty because I'm still married to your father, and I love him so much."

"I see." Theresa replied quietly.

"You'll probably understand better when you find love like your father and I shared." Pilar said quietly.

"Do you think I could find that kind of love with Fox?" Theresa asked.

"I don't know, Theresita. That's up to you to find out."

"Even though I don't remember him, I feel attracted towards him." Theresa admitted.

"Well, he is a good looking man." Pilar replied.

"Yeah, but it's more than just the looks though, Mama. He is so unbelievably sweet. You should've heard what he said to me a few minutes ago."

"What did he say?" Pilar asked curiously.

"He said, 'I missed your beautiful eyes and the way it felt to kiss your lips. I missed how perfectly you fit in my arms, and the comfort I felt when you were beside me. I missed being with you," Fox whispered. "I missed everything Theresa." Fox said as he kissed her fingers and held them to his heart. "No matter what happens Theresa, I will always love you. Nothing is ever going to change that. You've captured my heart Theresa. I'm taken with you.'." Theresa repeated word for word.

Pilar smiled. "Fox has really surprised me."

"How so?" Theresa asked.

"Well, it's just that Fox was always looked down as the black sheep of the Crane family. He was a ladies' man and a gambler. He was also a troublemaker. He came to Harmony when he was in debt."

"He did?" Theresa asked. "Harmony?" She asked confused.

"Harmony is the town we're from."

"Is this Harmony?" Theresa asked.

"No, we're in Los Angeles. You'll find out why later on." Pilar replied.

"This is a lot to take in. It's kind-of mind boggling."

"It is certainly a lot." Pilar agreed.

"I want to hear more about Fox." Theresa said.

"Well, he is quite the charmer. Anyhow, he came to Harmony and you and he seemed to hit it off. I admit that at the time I was wary of him spending so much time with you."

"Why?" Theresa asked.

"I was afraid he was trying to play games with you. I didn't want him to play with your heart." Pilar admitted.

"Fox doesn't appear to be that type of person." Theresa said confused. "I didn't get that impression."

"That's because I think he's changed. I also happen to believe that this change was brought on by you. You and Fox really connected and you became close."

"We did?" Theresa said quietly.

"Yes." Pilar said.

"I'm glad." Theresa said. "I'm glad I have a man like Fox."

"I am too, Theresa." Pilar agreed. "He loves you very much."

"Theresa!" Ethan said breathlessly as he barged in the room. "Thank God you're awake!"

"Who are you?" Theresa asked as she thought, "How rude."

~*~

Whitney, Chad, and Ethan came to the hospital as soon as they heard the news. Ethan was especially anxious to see Theresa. "Theresa!" He said breathlessly. "Thank God you're awake!" Ethan did not like the frown that crossed Therea's face.

"Who are you?" Theresa asked. Ethan hadn't bothered to listen to Fox who warned that Theresa had amnesia.

"You don't remember?" Ethan asked quietly.

"No," Theresa said. "You're not familiar to me."

Ethan was stung. "Oh, I'm Ethan. Ethan Winthrop."

"Ethan Winthrop." Theresa repeated. "How exactly do we know each other?" Theresa asked.

"Perhaps we shouldn't bombard her with all of this information." Pilar interrupted. "She's just woken up."

"Right." Ethan agreed. "We can talk about that later, but I'm glad you're all right Theresa. You had me worried there."

"You had us all worried." Fox said as he came into the room. "Fox!" Theresa said happily as her eyes lit up with joy.

Ethan glared at his half-brother. "Why does her eyes light up when he walks in the room?" Ethan thought as he turned green with envy.

Whitney and Chad entered the room quietly. Whitney looked at her best friend expectantly. "You're Whitney?" Theresa guessed.

"You know me?" Whitney said as she approached the bed.

"Lucky guess." Theresa shrugged. "But I've been told that you are my best friend."

"Yeah," Whitney said. "I am."

"Then you've got to help me remember things." Theresa replied.

"We'll all help." Ethan chimed in.

"Okay," Theresa said slowly. "But first, how much longer do I have to stay in this hospital?"

"Not for much longer," Dr. Livingston said as he made his way into the room. "I'll keep you under observation for tonight. We can release you in the morning."

"Thank God!" Theresa said. "I've already been in here for two weeks."

The Doctor laughed. "It'll be a nice change. Plus, you can get started with trying to regain your memories."

"I look forward to that." Theresa said smiling.

"Good, well, folks, I hate to break this up, but Theresa does need her rest. You can all come see her tomorrow morning."

"Can't I stay, Doc?" Fox pleaded. "I've practically been here for two weeks as well."

"I suppose. What's one more day?" Dr. Livingston replied.

"That isn't fair." Ethan said. "Why does he get to stay?"

"I'm the boyfriend." Fox said.

Ethan frowned. "Uh~" Whitney said. "Theresa, you and I can catch up in the morning."

It was Theresa's turn to frown. "But you just got here."

"Theresa," Dr. Livingston said gently. "You need your rest.

"What about Little Ethan?" Theresa asked as she gazed down at her son.

"I'll take him home." Pilar said quietly. "He'll be exhausted by the time we reach the apartment."

"I'd hate to see you all go." Theresa said. "I have this desire to learn everything about my life, and about all of you."

"We'll get to that, Theresa." Fox replied. "We just have to take it a day at a time though."

"All right," Theresa sighed. "I guess I'll see you all in the morning then."

"Bye Theresa," Everyone called as they filed out of the room. Fox stayed beside Theresa's bed and looked at her intently.

"What is it?" Theresa asked.

"Nothing," Fox said. "I was just thinking."

"About us?" Theresa asked.

"Yeah," Fox admitted.

"What about us?" Theresa asked interested.

"Well," Fox said as he took Theresa's hand in his. "I thought about how I could get you to remember."

"Really? How?"

"I was planning on taking you to different places we've been together. Maybe it'll stir your memory."

"I can't wait." Theresa smiled.

"Yes, but now, I want you to go to sleep." Fox said.

"But~" Theresa protested.

"Close your eyes, beautiful." Fox said quietly.

Theresa lay back and sighed. "I'm not~ tired." Theresa yawned.

"Go to sleep." Fox whispered as he kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Don't leave~" Theresa mumbled as her eyes began to close.

"Don't worry," Fox said. "I'm never leaving your side."