XXXV

~*~



"Empty?" Angela rummaged through her medicine cabinets. "I can't be out already," She said in disbelief. "No," Frantic, Angela rummaged through every drawer and every cabinet of the house. She couldn't find her fix. She couldn't find the drugs that allowed her to escape from the harsh reality she was living in. In a crazed rage, Angela searched for money, but of course she had none. "I need it now," Angela said through clenched teeth as she painfully pulled at her hair. "I need it now," She said.

Grabbing her jacket, Angela ran to her car. She sped through Harmony streets and pulled in front of the Crane Mansion. Desperate, Angela ran to the door and knocked many times before one of the servants opened the door. "Julian Crane," Angela said. "I need to see Julian Crane."

"He isn't here at the moment. He's off on a business trip actually. He won't be back for a couple of days."

"But I need him now!" Angela screamed. She frightened the maid who immediately closed the door in her face. Angela pounded on the door before she ran back to her car. "Money," She mumbled. "I need money."

She ran back to her car, and decided to drive to Fox's home. "He'll give me my money." She told herself over and over again. Almost in a daze, Angela drove until she reached Fox and Theresa's home.

Angela pounded on the front door screaming Fox's name at the top of her lungs. "Fox!" She cried. "Fox!"

"What the~" Fox said as he threw open the door.

"Give me money," Angela clutched at Fox's collar. "Money! Give it to me now!"

Fox pulled Angela off. "Money for what? What's wrong with you Angela?"

"I need money! Give it to me now!" She cried.

"For who?" Fox asked.

Belle and Theresa appeared from behind Fox. Theresa had her arms protectively placed on Belle's shoulders.

"Me, damnit!" Angela sputtered. "I need money, now!"

"For what?" Fox demanded. "Tell me for what Angela."

"It's prolly for her medicine." Belle answered.

"What?" Fox asked turning around.

"For Angela's medicine?" Theresa repeated with a questioning look upon her face.

"That's right. For my medicine." Angela said with a crazed and eager look in her eyes. "My medicine." She nodded as she said the words.

"You mean your drugs." Fox said crossing his arms.

Angela balled her fists and pounded them on the sides of her head. "Damnit Fox! Why do you have to be so difficult? Give me the damn money!"

"No," Fox said. "You leave, or I'll have you arrested." He threatened.

"You can't do that!" Angela retorted.

"You're on my property, and you're causing a disturbance. Now leave before I have you escorted off the grounds."

"Not until I have Belle." Angela said through clenched teeth. "I want my daughter back."

"She's my daughter too." Fox replied coolly. "And she's staying with me."

Angela laughed sarcastically. "She's not your daughter." She sneered.

"What?" Fox asked folding his arms. "What are you talking about?"

Angela threw her head back and laughed. "You fool!" She cried. "I only pretended that she was your daughter because Julian paid me. He wanted to break up your wedding, and I was going to get more money from child support. We fixed everything including the DNA test. You were a fool for believing Belle was actually your daughter." Angela spat on the ground. "Her real father is in New York."

"I don't believe you." Fox replied. "You're crazy."

"Believe it honey. Now give me back my daughter." Angela said.

"Over my dead body," Theresa sat as she stood in front of Belle. "Belle isn't going anywhere. She belongs with us."

"Bitch," Angela mumbled.

"Leave, Angela," Fox ordered. "Now!"

Angela spat again. "Fine, but I'm not gone yet. Bye Foxy boy." Angela said as she walked back to her car. "I hope you and your Theresa rot in hell!" She screamed before speeding off.

Fox closed the door and locked it. Theresa and Belle ran towards him. He wrapped his arms around Theresa as Belle wrapped her arms around his legs. "I don't wanna go back to her~" Belle sobbed. "Please don't make me go back Daddy!"

Theresa looked up at Fox with tears in her eyes. "We're going to get custody of Belle." She said determined.

"Damn right." Fox said. "Don't worry Belle. You're not going anywhere with that monster who has the nerve to call herself your mother."

~*~



"So, sis, any boyfriends?" Tommy asked winking. He, Amanda, and Alex were sitting alone in the living room. The kids were off in their rooms napping.

"Boyfriend? Ha ha, very funny." Alex retorted.

"Oh c'mon. You're a pretty girl, I'm sure there's someone special in your life." Amanda said smiling widely.

"No, there isn't anyone." Alex replied. "No one at all."

"Mm-hm," Tommy replied laughing. "Sure."

Alex threw one of the pillows beside her at her brother. It missed and accidentally hit Amanda in the face. "I'm so sorry!" Alex cried as she got up and sat by Amanda.

"I'm okay," Amanda said laughing. "You might want to work on that aim though."

"I will." Alex replied smiling sheepishly. She glanced at her watch and frowned. "Maybe I should go. I wasn't planning on staying this long."

"Are you kidding? You just got here." Tommy said.

"I can always come back tomorrow~" Alex replied.

"Nonsense, you're staying here with us until you go back to Chicago." Amanda replied.

"That's in a couple of days~" Alex trailed off.

"Okay," Amanda replied. "So you're spending two days with us. That's great."

"My stuff is at the hotel~"

"You can always go by and pick it up and come back." Amanda interrupted.

"You see, she's got it all planned out." Tommy laughed as he placed his arms around his wife. "That's why I love this woman so much."

Alex shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine, I'll stop by the hotel now, and come back to stay with you guys."

"Great!" Amanda jumped up. "I'll go make up the guest room."

Alex walked out to her car and took a deep breath. She hadn't planned on staying with her brother and his family. She just wanted to pay them a small visit. As Angela drove back to the hotel where her things were, she found her thoughts drifting to Dylan. What was with that guy? She reprimanded herself for thinking of him, and tried desperately to concentrate on something else, but Dylan's face was burned in her memory. His friendly and mischievous eyes along with his Cheshire cat grin and his charms and good looks made him irresistible to women, even tough hearted women like Alexandria Gray. "Oh God," Alex said in disbelief as she waited at the stop light. She looked over at the driver of the next car and frowned. It was none other than Dylan Banning.

"Hey!" Dylan brightened when he saw Alex in the car beside him. "Long time no see, eh beautiful?"

Alex rolled her eyes. "Don't you have anything better to do than to flirt with me?"

"Oh no, Madame. All I want to do it seems is find every opportunity to flirt with you."

Alex tapped her fingers impatiently against the steering wheel. The light seemed to stay red on purpose. It was torture waiting for green to appear.

"You're so full of it~" Alex mumbled.

"I'm only full of utmost admiration of a beautiful and strong woman like yourself."

"Green!" Alex sighed in relief. She pressed on the accelerator and sped off leaving a disappointed Dylan behind.

"You can run, but you can't hide little missy. You aren't going to be able to resist me any longer." Dylan grinned as he casually drove off.

~*~