37



Gwen packed the remainder of her things, and sighed. She finally decided to go back to Harmony, but she still was not sure what she was going to do about Ethan. She hated to admit it, but Sarah needed her father. Gwen did not want to deprive her daughter of a relationship with her father, so after debating with herself the whole night, Gwen finally decided to book a flight to Harmony.

On the flight, Sarah slept peacefully while Gwen's mind raced with her thoughts. Could she and Ethan start over again? Gwen knew it was not going to be an easy journey, but for the sake of Sarah's well being it was worth a try. Gwen leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. It still hurt- Ethan's harsh words. Gwen could not believe that he had the gall to admit that he only married her out of obligation. It was the truth though, and yes the truth hurt. In this case, it hurt a lot.

When the pilot announced their arrival in Harmony, Gwen took a deep breath. She picked up her daughter and her carry-on bags and walked off the plane. Her legs felt weak and unsteady as she made her way through the terminal. Her mother Rebecca waved to her enthusiastically. Gwen took a deep breath. She noticed Julian standing off in a corner appearing to be musing about something.

"Oh Gwennie! I'm so glad you're home!" Rebecca gushed as she embraced her daughter tightly.

Gwen forced a smile. "I'm not so sure I'm happy to be here, but it's good to see you."

"Oh, and there's my beautiful granddaughter." Rebecca said quietly as she leaned in to get a better view of Sarah. Sarah opened her blue eyes and yawned. She blinked a couple of times and looked in awe at the people who watched her. "Oh look!" Rebecca said excitedly. "She's awake."

Gwen looked down at Sarah and smiled. "She's probably hungry. It's time for a feeding."

Julian finally joined the group and gave Gwen a small smile. "Hello, Gwen." He said. "It's good to see you again."

"Same here, Julian." Gwen replied.

"Well, let's go home!" Rebecca said happily. "Oh Gwennie, you should see the mansion. I've made so many décor changes."

"Yes, very many unfortunately." Julian mumbled.

"What's that pookie?" Rebecca asked.

"Nothing my dear." Julian replied. "Nothing at all."

On the ride home, Rebecca continued to talk endlessly about all the town gossip. She gushed with the rumors made about Theresa and Fox. "I told you she was a slut," Rebecca had said after relaying the story to Gwen. Gwen sighed. "Mother, they're just rumors." She said.

"Sure they are," Rebecca replied. "You and I both know that they could be true."

"Mother, I don't want to talk about Theresa, okay?" Gwen replied tiredly.

"Okay," Rebecca replied disappointedly. "Ah! Here we are! Home sweet home!"

Holding a sleeping Sarah in her arms, Gwen exited the car and looked around at the Crane grounds. The outside of the home had stayed the same. Gwen wondered what changes her mother made inside. Gwen followed her mother and Julian into the house and heard her mother gasp. Curious, Gwen went into the living room. Her legs immediately went weak as her heart began beating furiously in her chest. Ethan stood quietly in the middle of the room. "Hello Gwen," He mustered softly.

The sound of her name on his lips made her falter. She hurriedly found a chair and sat down. She looked into Ethan's eyes, but could not bring herself to say anything.

"I'm glad you're home," Ethan said softly as he walked up to Gwen.

Gwen's gaze traveled to the floor and remained there. "I'm not sure I can say the same." Gwen replied.

Ethan shifted nervously. "Could you excuse us for a minute?" He asked Gwen and Julian.

"Of course," Julian replied. "Come on darling. Let's leave these two alone."

"But~" Rebecca protested.

"Come along Rebecca." Julian said with a little more force.

"Ugh. Fine." Rebecca said. "You call me if you need me, Gwennie." Rebecca called as she unwillingly left the room.

"Gwen," Ethan said as he leaned to look into her eyes. "Please, talk to me."

Gwen's breath became uneven. She fought tears that were already filling her eyes. "I- I don't know if I can." She whispered hoarsely, her voice full of emotion.

"Try." Ethan encouraged. "Please try. For us- for our daughter."

Gwen nodded. "For our daughter." She whispered before she attempted to talk to her husband.

~*~



"This little piggy went to the market, and this little piggy stayed home. This piggy ate-uh," Dylan paused and scratched his head. "Hey, Theresa," He called. Theresa walked over to Dylan and Ethan Martin. "What is it?" She asked.

"What did this piggy eat?" Dylan asked.

Theresa laughed. "He ate roast beef." She replied smiling.

"Ew- roast beef." Dylan replied frowning. "I never did like roast beef."

"What's he babbling about now?" Fox asked as he carried Belle on his shoulders.

"He was wondering what the little piggy ate." Theresa replied.

"Okay," Fox said slowly. "Whatever you say."

Belle giggled as she rode upon Fox's shoulders. She was so high up, she felt as though she could fly if she wanted. "Daddy! Daddy!" She said happily as Fox strode through the house.

Belle's happy cries of daddy brought pangs of sadness to Fox's heart. Angela had revealed that Belle was not his daughter. Was she bluffing or was it true? Fox often wondered if Angela was lying, but something deep down told him that Angela was right. It hurt to think that Belle was not his biological daughter, but Fox was determined to make Belle a part of his family. Theresa was already enthusiastic about the idea, and Fox knew that Belle would fit in perfectly in the family that he and Theresa were making. Fox wondered if Theresa wanted to have anymore children. He knew that she was probably waiting until after she established herself as a fashion designer.

Fox watched Theresa as she sat and played with Ethan Martin. She was such a good mother. Fox admired the way her hair fell across her face. He admired her beautiful brown eyes that could see right to his soul. He admired her small mouth and the softness of her lips that he felt every time he kissed her. Fox did not know he could love someone so much, but he did. He loved Theresa with every fiber of his being. He could not imagine his life with anyone else but Theresa. Theresa was his everything and he felt grateful to have her in his life.

Theresa looked up and found Fox's gaze upon her. She smiled lovingly at the man she was proud to call her husband. When Fox first came to Harmony, he revealed to her the neglect and unloved atmosphere his family created as he grew up. She knew that deep down Fox was hurting, but he played it off as if it were nothing. Although Fox grew up feeling unloved and unappreciated, Theresa knew that Fox possessed the ability to love, and she was so glad that Fox chose to love her. Before, Theresa could not imagine her life without Ethan. Now, she could not imagine her life without Fox, Ethan Martin, and even Belle.

"I'm hungry." Belle said as Fox carefully took her off his shoulders.

Dylan's stomach growled loudly. Belle covered her mouth and giggled. Ethan Martin grinned. Fox and Theresa looked at each other and laughed heartily. "I guess you're hungry too, Dylan," Theresa quipped.

Dylan laughed. "I guess I am."

"Let's all go into the kitchen. We can make sandwiches or something." Theresa suggested. As they all made their way into the kitchen, the telephone rang.

"Hello?" Theresa answered.

"Theresa?" Justin said quietly.

"Justin? Is that you?" Theresa asked.

"Yeah." Justin replied.

"Hey! How are you doing? How's Lindsay?"

"I'm fine, Lindsay's fine, and the baby's fine." Justin replied smiling. He wondered if Theresa caught his last words.

"That's wonderful," Theresa replied. "Wait a minute~ Did you just say that the baby's fine?"

"Yeah, I did." Justin said. "Lindsay had the baby. It's a boy."

"That's wonderful!" Theresa said excitedly. "A boy? Oh congratulations!"

"Thanks." Justin replied. "Lindsay and the baby can come home today. I was wondering if you and Fox wanted to stop by to see Carter."

"Aw, I would love to!" Theresa said. "That's the baby's name? Carter?"

"Carter James Hammond." Justin said quietly. "We named him after Lindsay's father.

"That's so sweet." Theresa said. "Well, we'll come over in an hour or so. I can't wait to see him."

"He's beautiful." Justin said as his voice became choked with emotion.

"I'm sure he is. I'll see you in a bit."

"Bye Theresa." Justin said.

"Bye." Theresa hung up the phone and smiled. "Lindsay had the baby. It's a boy!"

"Ooh, a baby!" Belle said happily as she clasped her hands together. "Can we go see it?"

"We'll all go see him" Theresa replied giving Belle a quick kiss on the head.

"Yay!" Belle cried happily.

"A baby boy, hm?" Fox said as he wrapped his arms around Theresa's waist.

"Yeah," Theresa said almost dreamily. "A baby boy."

Dylan looked at Theresa and Fox. "When are you two going to have more kids?"

"Someday," Theresa and Fox replied at the same time.

"Someday soon?" Dylan asked.

Fox looked at Theresa. "We'll see." Theresa replied. "We'll see."

~*~



After speaking with a few contacts and making various bribes, Angela finally got her fix. Feeling as though she had to make up for the agonizing hours she experienced without her drugs, Angela took more than she usually did. Needle after needle, Angela injected herself. She found herself slipping away again to the world with no pain, no worries. This time, Angela found herself in this world longer than expected.

Angela's eyes began closing and all she saw was darkness. Her body convulsed erratically as it reacted to the drugs circulating in her blood. Her lungs constricted, it was becoming harder to breathe. Angela's mind swirled, the room spun incessantly. She tried to grab a hold of reality, but it was no use. She was slipping further and further away.

Angela desperately tried to open her eyes, but she could not. Darkness was all she saw, and darkness was all she was ever going to see. This time, Angela would not be returning to reality. This time, Angela would sleep forever.

~*~