XII



Dylan quickly walked to the front door and peeped outside through one of the windows. A man he did not recognize was standing on the front step. Dylan opened the door slowly. "Can I help you?" He asked. Little Ethan looked at the man curiously. He titled his small head and stared at the man.

Justin Hammond raised his head. "Is Theresa here?" He asked quietly. He looked very sophisticated in his leather jacket that emphasized the broadness of his shoulders. Dylan eyed him suspiciously.

"Theresa?" Dylan asked. "Well she's here, but she's- uh- busy at the moment."

"Oh," Justin replied as disappointment pervaded his gaze. He looked away uncomfortably and reprimanded himself from ever coming to the house. "What am I doing here?" Justin asked himself. His answer came quickly and easily just as it had when he was in his home. "You want to be friends with Theresa." Justin told himself. He shifted his weight from his right leg to his left.

"Would you like to come in?" Dylan asked.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm Justin Hammond by the way."

"Nice to meet you." Dylan replied. "I'm Dylan Banning, a friend of Theresa's." Feeling as if he needed to add something more Dylan included, "A friend of Theresa's and her husband's. You did know Theresa is married right?" Dylan asked warily.

"I know that," Justin said slowly. "She married one of the Cranes."

"How do you know Theresa?" Dylan asked.

"I'm her professor at the college." Justin replied.

"You don't look old enough to be a professor. What are you, like twenty-four?"

"No, I'm older than that." Justin replied.

"Do you always make visits to your students' homes? Or is Theresa just a special case?"

"That's not really any of your business." Justin replied. "Besides, why are you asking me so many questions?"

"Well excuse me." Dylan said obviously offended. "I was just trying to carry on a conversation." Dylan walked over to the living room. Justin followed and took a seat on the couch.

"So, where is Theresa?" Justin asked.

"You really want to see Theresa, don't you?" Dylan thought. "She's busy with her husband." Dylan blurted out. He placed Ethan Martin in the playpen that was next to the couch.

"Huh?' Justin asked.

"You know- they're busy as in doing the horizontal tango? As in~"

Justin held his hand up. "I get it. You have no shame do you? You didn't have to give me details."

"I like details." Dylan said. "And I like talking. Isn't that right Ethan?" Ethan Martin smiled and continued to play with his toys.

Justin rolled his eyes. "Is that your kid?" He asked nodding in Ethan Martin's direction.

"Oh no." Dylan replied. "That's Theresa's son. Ethan Martin."

"Would Ethan Martin's father happen to be Julian Crane?" Justin asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Dylan answered. "I'm sure you've heard of the big 'ol custody battle between her and Julian."

"I've heard some rumors about it." Justin admitted as he looked at his watch. "Um, just do me a favor and tell Theresa I stopped by."

"Leaving already?" Dylan asked.

"I've got some things to do." Justin replied. "Oh, and tell her that I'm looking forward to her papers."

Will do." Dylan answered. "Bye now,"

Just as Justin went to open the door, the doorbell rang again. This time Luis and Belle stood outside the doorway. Surprise and curiosity was reflected in all of their gazes. Luis and Belle walked in and introduced themselves to Dylan and Justin. After greetings were exchanged, Dylan informed Luis that Theresa and Fox were 'busy.'" Luis proceeded to ask Dylan to watch Belle while he continued to patrol the streets of Harmony. Belle seemed fascinated with the tall handsome professor. She smiled at him shyly and blushed when Justin patted her on the top of her head. After Justin and Luis left the house, Dylan took Belle and Little Ethan into the kitchen for a snack. After a few minutes, Theresa and Fox came to the kitchen hand in hand. Dylan looked up with an amused smile on his face. "Have a good time?" He asked winking.

"Shut up Dylan," Fox said. "Belle, what are you doing here?" He asked surprised when she hugged him around his legs.

"I wanted to see you. Mommy was being mean." Belle complained.

"Mean how?" Theresa asked worriedly.

"She yelled at me." Belle said pouting.

Theresa bent down and hugged the little girl. "She must've hurt your feelings." Theresa said quietly.

"Yes." Belle answered hugging Theresa back. Fox watched them with a smile on his face.

"Oh Theresa," Dylan said. "Justin stopped by."

Fox looked curiously at his wife and raised his eyebrows. "Justin?" He repeated with a questioning look.

"My professor?" Theresa asked in surprise.

"The really tall handsome man at the door?" Belle chimed in.

"Yup, apparently he really wanted to talk to you." Dylan told Theresa.

"You thought he was handsome?" Theresa asked Belle with an amused smile on her face.

Belle nodded her head enthusiastically. "Uh huh. He even patted me on my head." She added blushing.

Theresa laughed. "Professor Hammond stopped by, to see me?" Theresa repeated.

"Yeah," Dylan replied. "He also he said he's looking forward to your paper." Dylan added.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "Of course he would be." She mumbled.

"Why would he stop by the house? He'll see her in class." Fox asked crossing his arms. Jealousy was brewing within him.

Dylan smirked as he watched his friend becoming green with envy. "You're jealous" Dylan teased.

Theresa smiled when she saw Fox trying to mask his feelings. "Honey, you don't have anything to worry about."

"Sure," Fox pouted.

"Fox," Theresa said coaxingly. "C'mon, I married you."

"Sure you married me, but then what if that professor of yours is interested in you? You already admitted that he was handsome~" Fox's voice trailed off.

Theresa placed her finger on Fox's lips to silence him before he could finish his statement. "Fox," She said. "I may have admitted that Professor Hammond was handsome. But who did I say was even more handsome?"

"Dylan?" Fox said smirking.

"Fox!" Theresa said playfully nudging him. "Seriously, who did I say?"

"Me," Fox said quietly.

Theresa nodded. "Exactly." She said as she kissed him on the lips.

~*~