Rebecca smiled as she walked downstairs trying to find her daughter. She had a little hang over from last night, but still she was in a good mood. She had found out that Fox and Theresa were leaving for a little vacation today, so she knew it would be the perfect day to put her plan into motion. She found Gwen sitting on Ethan's lap laughing and acting like two little kids.
"Good morning!" She said sitting down beside them, causing Ethan to leave the room. He didn't care for Rebecca too much and she knew that. She didn't mind though, Gwen was married to Ethan and that's all that mattered.
"Really, can't you two ever get along?" Gwen said as she got up to leave herself.
"Wait, Gwennie. I have something to tell you."
"What would that be?" She said not really caring to hear her mother's schemes. Gwen had grown sick of Rebecca constantly plotting to ruin someone's life...especially Theresa's. Gwen still hated Theresa for everything that happened in the past, but she wanted to move on, not be bothered with her anymore. Since Theresa returned to Harmony Gwen had seen her maybe 3 times if that at all. And the times they were around each other, Gwen didn't feel like Theresa was a threat to her marriage.
"Well," she began slowly, "I found out that Theresa and Fox are going away on a little vacation."
"And....? Your point?" Gwen said a little annoyed.
"Today is the day that I'm going to ruin Theresa's life. Well, it's just the beginning, but it will get better."
"Mother," Gwen said sitting beside her, "please stop this! I don't hate Theresa anymore."
"Don't hate Theresa!? How can you say that after everything she put you through?"
"What about everything we put her through? You almost took her son away from her." Gwen looked at her mother and saw just what she was going to do. "Oh no! Mother you will not take her son away from her again!"
"I'll do what I want, Gwen. No one can stop me, not even Julian," she laughed.
A disgusted Gwen got up and left. She couldn't stand listening to her mother talk so foolishly. Gwen walked upstairs to her bedroom and from a crack in the door, she saw Ethan sitting on their bed staring at something. Gwen stepped a little closer and noticed that it was a picture...a picture of Theresa. Gwen covered her mouth as she gasped from shock. She had thought that Ethan had finally gotten Theresa out of his system, but now she knew she wasn't. Theresa was like a drug for Ethan, a highly addicted drug that he just couldn't get enough of. The 5 years that she had been gone was his withdrawal, but now that she was back his addiction could be filled once more.
"Oh Theresa," he sighed restlessly as he continued to star at her picture. "I was a fool to marry Gwen and let you go. You are the love of my life, not her."
Tears were filling Gwen's eyes as he spoke. His words were like a dagger to her heart, piercing her heart and causing it to bleed. Gwen turned to the wall that she was standing up against and broke down in tears as her body slipped to the floor as though she had lost all her strength to stand. She rolled up into a ball and cried every tears that she could cry. Ethan laid on the bed not knowing that his wife was having a mental breakdown just outside his door. As Gwen cried she wondered if Ethan even cared that he was hurting her. Did he care that what he was doing was breaking his family apart?
Ethan finally put Theresa's picture back into the drawer where it had been for the last five years. Each night, each moment that he had to himself he would take out her picture and just star at it. He could never have the real thing anymore, he had blown that chance. Fox had now captured her heart with his slick charm and deceitful lies. It angered Ethan to learn that Fox had cheated on Theresa back all those years ago. Fox knew what hell he had put Theresa through as he strapped Theresa and Gwen on for a ride on a merry-go-round, constantly lying to her and giving her false hope. Theresa's happiness meant so much for Ethan and if she wanted to be with Fox now, then that's how it would be. Ethan would just have to accept it and deal with it the best he could. He needed to learn that she had moved on with Fox. As Ethan exited the bedroom, he saw Gwen curled up into a ball crying. Her nose was red and her face was swollen from all the crying she had done. A look of guilt crept onto his face as he said, "We need to talk."
Theresa was searching through the few things that she brought with her and found nothing that she could bring with her. Fox had told her to pack her summer clothes, so she knew that they were going somewhere warm, but other than that she was clueless of where he was taking her. For all she knew they were going down to a beach somewhere close by. Ethan sat and watched his mother franticlly try to pack. He found this funny and laughed a few times as she was making a fool of herself.
"Find something funny?" She asked looking up as she tried pushing her suitcase together so it would close.
"Yeah," he replied getting up and moving his mother out of the way. Ethan took the suitcase in his hands and pushed the top down and sat on it, giving Theresa a chance to lock it.
"Thank you," she said giving him a hand to get down. "Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?"
"Mom, I'm ten years old. I'll be fine," he said as though he was 18.
"I know, I know," she said as she dragged her suitcase to her door. "I just worry about you sometimes. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you," she said as tears started to fill her brown eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said as he wrapped his arms around his mother's waist. "I love being with you and that will never change."
As Theresa and Ethan were hugging, Fox entered the room and smiled at this cute little family moment.
"Awww, kodak moment," he smiled.
"Okay enough of this," Theresa smiled wiping away her tears.
"Well, are you ready to leave?" Fox asked looking at her suitcase.
"Yeah, just give me a minute with Ethan. I want to tell him goodbye."
"Okay. I'll be in the car," he said as he tried to lift her suitcase. "Did you happen to pack your whole room?" He asked.
"No," she laughed. "I just grabbed a few extra things."
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Get out you!" She laughed as she sat down beside Ethan. She felt uncomfortable saying goodbye to him for some reason. She wanted him to come along, but Pilar insisted that he stay back home with her. Theresa knew she was right, but she couldn't help but feel that leaving him behind was a mistake that she would soon regret. "Well, I guess this is it for now."
"Yeah, it's only a week though."
"That's true. I want you to be a good boy for grandma. Make sure you help her out when she needs help."
"I will," he said looking down at the floor. The last time he was separated from his mother was back when his real father and his stepmother tried to take him away from his mom. Theresa and Ethan were close and being apart would be hard for both of them.
"Well, I better go," she said giving her son a hug and kiss before standing up.
"Bye, mom."
"Bye, Ethan."
Theresa stood in the doorway looking at her son one last time before leaving. He looked so sad, but Theresa knew that he would cheer up. After all, she would only be gone for a week. Theresa got into Fox's car and they headed for the airport.
"So where are we going?" She asked trying to get the location out of him.
"I'm not telling," he said with a huge grin on his face.
"Come on, Fox. Just give me one hint." She pleaded with him.
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see." Fox loved to watch Theresa suffer like this. She was so anxious and excited for once. She couldn't remember herself when the last time she was this excited.
Theresa placed her hand on Fox's hand and smiled up at him, "I love you and I'm so glad that we have another chance with no interruptions of any kind."
"Me too," he said smiling back.
After being in the Crane private jet for about 20 hours, they finally reached their destination....Sydney, Australia. Theresa had once wanted to go to Australia because of Ethan to get away from him, and now she was here with the man that she loved for a relaxing vacation. Theresa didn't realize howthe habour was. As they drove to their hotel, the Harbour Rocks Hotel, Theresa was stuck to the window like a fly on the wall as she gazed at the beautiful beaches.
"It's beautiful here!" She exclaimed as she continued to star out the window.
"It sure is," Fox said as he watched Theresa. The joy in her eyes made coming there worth more than any amount of money in the world.
"Here we are," the driver said as they pulled up in front of the Harbour Rocks Hotel.
"This is where we're staying?" Theresa asked as she looked at the building before them.
"Yep!" Fox said as he helped her out of the cab.
"I can't wait to have some time alone, you know just the two of us," she said with a mysterious smile on her face.
"Well, let's go check in and we can have some time alone," he winked.
Ethan sat at the kitchen table watching his grandma bake some chocolate chip cookies, his favorite kind. His eyes lit up like a firecracker on the fourth of July as he saw her drop a bag full of chocolate chips into the cookie dough. He knew it would be a while until they were finished so as Pilar placed two sheets of cookies into the oven, Ethan decided to go and try out the new video game Uncle Luis had given to him. Before going to play the game he made sure his grandma would call him the moment that they were finished.
"Oh course! I've made them just for you," she smiled.
As Ethan sat in the living room playing his video game, someone rang the door bell. Pilar was upstairs in her room just then so Ethan decided to answer the door himself even though Theresa never allowed him to unless she said it was okay. "I'll get it!" He shouted as he headed for the door. He peeped through and saw two people he didn't expect to find there-Julian and Rebecca. "Grandma!" He shouted as he ran up the stairs.
"What's wrong? Whose there?"
Ethan pulled Pilar to the front door and she quickly saw who was outside her door.
"Hello?" Rebecca's annoying voice ran through the air.
"Go into the kitchen," Pilar told Ethan. Pilar wondered why on Earth Julian and Rebecca of all people would be outside her door. She smiled as she opened the door, "Julian, Rebecca, can I help you?"
Rebecca gave a frozen Julian a nudge in his arm, awaking him from his daze. Julian cleared his throat as he began to speak softly and slowly, "Pilar, I've come here to see my son."
"He's not here," she lied.
"Oh don't you start lying too!" Rebecca shouted in a horrified voice. "I heard that little brat."
"Don't you dare care my grandson a brat!" Pilar said as she got all up in Rebecca's face. Recomposing herself, Pilar asked to speak to Julian in private. Julian agreed and the asked Rebecca to excuse them. Rebecca left to go explore the house for Julian's son, but no one knew that. "Julian, why are you here? Please, tell me the truth. I've always tried to be honest with you."
Julian felt extremely guilty and like a coward as he stood before this strong woman. A woman who had remained the rock of a fatherless family for so many years. How could he tell her that he had to take his son away from Theresa because he was being blackmailed into it by Rebecca? He knew that he was no man at that moment. "I've come for my son."
"What? Why? You've never given Little Ethan the time of day before. Not once in his absence did you write or call saying happy birthday or wish him a merry Christmas. You're no father, Julian!" She began to shout furiously.
[i]Nor a real man[/i]
"Pookie! Oh Pookie come here quick!" Rebecca shouted as she jumped up and down as much as she could in her heels to get his attention.
Julian rolled his eyes at the distasteful scene Rebecca was putting on. "What is it?"
"I've found him. He's in the kitchen!"
Julian and Pilar locked eyes instantly. Pilar's eyes were pleading with him to leave the boy be where he's happy, Julian's eyes were full of guilt. He knew that he had changed. No longer was he the man who wouldn't take crap from anyone, no, now he was just another sucker...a gullible idiot in Rebecca's poker game. Pilar raced into the kitchen where Rebecca was reaching for the hot cookies in the oven.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed as she got burned.
Pilar wrapped her arms around her grandson protectively. Julian came into the kitchen dreading what would happen next. He knew Rebecca would get her way.
"Julian!" Rebecca said as she pointed to Ethan. "Take the kid!"
"Pilar," Julian said approaching her slowly, "don't make this hard. Hand over Little Ethan."
"No," she said as she turned Ethan away from his. "He's Theresita's son. She's a good mother. Don't do this, Julian."
"I'm sorry, Pilar," Julian said as he removed a document from his inside coat pocket and handing her it.
"What's this?" She asked as she read it.
"It says that I have full custody of Ethan Crane." He said. "Now please hand my son over."
"No, you can't do this!" She screamed as Julian tried removing Ethan's tight grip from Pilar.
"Grandma!" Ethan shouted as Julian dragged him out into the limo. "Grandma!"
"Oh dear God no!" Pilar said as she collapsed onto the floor.
"Good morning!" She said sitting down beside them, causing Ethan to leave the room. He didn't care for Rebecca too much and she knew that. She didn't mind though, Gwen was married to Ethan and that's all that mattered.
"Really, can't you two ever get along?" Gwen said as she got up to leave herself.
"Wait, Gwennie. I have something to tell you."
"What would that be?" She said not really caring to hear her mother's schemes. Gwen had grown sick of Rebecca constantly plotting to ruin someone's life...especially Theresa's. Gwen still hated Theresa for everything that happened in the past, but she wanted to move on, not be bothered with her anymore. Since Theresa returned to Harmony Gwen had seen her maybe 3 times if that at all. And the times they were around each other, Gwen didn't feel like Theresa was a threat to her marriage.
"Well," she began slowly, "I found out that Theresa and Fox are going away on a little vacation."
"And....? Your point?" Gwen said a little annoyed.
"Today is the day that I'm going to ruin Theresa's life. Well, it's just the beginning, but it will get better."
"Mother," Gwen said sitting beside her, "please stop this! I don't hate Theresa anymore."
"Don't hate Theresa!? How can you say that after everything she put you through?"
"What about everything we put her through? You almost took her son away from her." Gwen looked at her mother and saw just what she was going to do. "Oh no! Mother you will not take her son away from her again!"
"I'll do what I want, Gwen. No one can stop me, not even Julian," she laughed.
A disgusted Gwen got up and left. She couldn't stand listening to her mother talk so foolishly. Gwen walked upstairs to her bedroom and from a crack in the door, she saw Ethan sitting on their bed staring at something. Gwen stepped a little closer and noticed that it was a picture...a picture of Theresa. Gwen covered her mouth as she gasped from shock. She had thought that Ethan had finally gotten Theresa out of his system, but now she knew she wasn't. Theresa was like a drug for Ethan, a highly addicted drug that he just couldn't get enough of. The 5 years that she had been gone was his withdrawal, but now that she was back his addiction could be filled once more.
"Oh Theresa," he sighed restlessly as he continued to star at her picture. "I was a fool to marry Gwen and let you go. You are the love of my life, not her."
Tears were filling Gwen's eyes as he spoke. His words were like a dagger to her heart, piercing her heart and causing it to bleed. Gwen turned to the wall that she was standing up against and broke down in tears as her body slipped to the floor as though she had lost all her strength to stand. She rolled up into a ball and cried every tears that she could cry. Ethan laid on the bed not knowing that his wife was having a mental breakdown just outside his door. As Gwen cried she wondered if Ethan even cared that he was hurting her. Did he care that what he was doing was breaking his family apart?
Ethan finally put Theresa's picture back into the drawer where it had been for the last five years. Each night, each moment that he had to himself he would take out her picture and just star at it. He could never have the real thing anymore, he had blown that chance. Fox had now captured her heart with his slick charm and deceitful lies. It angered Ethan to learn that Fox had cheated on Theresa back all those years ago. Fox knew what hell he had put Theresa through as he strapped Theresa and Gwen on for a ride on a merry-go-round, constantly lying to her and giving her false hope. Theresa's happiness meant so much for Ethan and if she wanted to be with Fox now, then that's how it would be. Ethan would just have to accept it and deal with it the best he could. He needed to learn that she had moved on with Fox. As Ethan exited the bedroom, he saw Gwen curled up into a ball crying. Her nose was red and her face was swollen from all the crying she had done. A look of guilt crept onto his face as he said, "We need to talk."
Theresa was searching through the few things that she brought with her and found nothing that she could bring with her. Fox had told her to pack her summer clothes, so she knew that they were going somewhere warm, but other than that she was clueless of where he was taking her. For all she knew they were going down to a beach somewhere close by. Ethan sat and watched his mother franticlly try to pack. He found this funny and laughed a few times as she was making a fool of herself.
"Find something funny?" She asked looking up as she tried pushing her suitcase together so it would close.
"Yeah," he replied getting up and moving his mother out of the way. Ethan took the suitcase in his hands and pushed the top down and sat on it, giving Theresa a chance to lock it.
"Thank you," she said giving him a hand to get down. "Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?"
"Mom, I'm ten years old. I'll be fine," he said as though he was 18.
"I know, I know," she said as she dragged her suitcase to her door. "I just worry about you sometimes. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you," she said as tears started to fill her brown eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said as he wrapped his arms around his mother's waist. "I love being with you and that will never change."
As Theresa and Ethan were hugging, Fox entered the room and smiled at this cute little family moment.
"Awww, kodak moment," he smiled.
"Okay enough of this," Theresa smiled wiping away her tears.
"Well, are you ready to leave?" Fox asked looking at her suitcase.
"Yeah, just give me a minute with Ethan. I want to tell him goodbye."
"Okay. I'll be in the car," he said as he tried to lift her suitcase. "Did you happen to pack your whole room?" He asked.
"No," she laughed. "I just grabbed a few extra things."
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Get out you!" She laughed as she sat down beside Ethan. She felt uncomfortable saying goodbye to him for some reason. She wanted him to come along, but Pilar insisted that he stay back home with her. Theresa knew she was right, but she couldn't help but feel that leaving him behind was a mistake that she would soon regret. "Well, I guess this is it for now."
"Yeah, it's only a week though."
"That's true. I want you to be a good boy for grandma. Make sure you help her out when she needs help."
"I will," he said looking down at the floor. The last time he was separated from his mother was back when his real father and his stepmother tried to take him away from his mom. Theresa and Ethan were close and being apart would be hard for both of them.
"Well, I better go," she said giving her son a hug and kiss before standing up.
"Bye, mom."
"Bye, Ethan."
Theresa stood in the doorway looking at her son one last time before leaving. He looked so sad, but Theresa knew that he would cheer up. After all, she would only be gone for a week. Theresa got into Fox's car and they headed for the airport.
"So where are we going?" She asked trying to get the location out of him.
"I'm not telling," he said with a huge grin on his face.
"Come on, Fox. Just give me one hint." She pleaded with him.
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see." Fox loved to watch Theresa suffer like this. She was so anxious and excited for once. She couldn't remember herself when the last time she was this excited.
Theresa placed her hand on Fox's hand and smiled up at him, "I love you and I'm so glad that we have another chance with no interruptions of any kind."
"Me too," he said smiling back.
After being in the Crane private jet for about 20 hours, they finally reached their destination....Sydney, Australia. Theresa had once wanted to go to Australia because of Ethan to get away from him, and now she was here with the man that she loved for a relaxing vacation. Theresa didn't realize howthe habour was. As they drove to their hotel, the Harbour Rocks Hotel, Theresa was stuck to the window like a fly on the wall as she gazed at the beautiful beaches.
"It's beautiful here!" She exclaimed as she continued to star out the window.
"It sure is," Fox said as he watched Theresa. The joy in her eyes made coming there worth more than any amount of money in the world.
"Here we are," the driver said as they pulled up in front of the Harbour Rocks Hotel.
"This is where we're staying?" Theresa asked as she looked at the building before them.
"Yep!" Fox said as he helped her out of the cab.
"I can't wait to have some time alone, you know just the two of us," she said with a mysterious smile on her face.
"Well, let's go check in and we can have some time alone," he winked.
Ethan sat at the kitchen table watching his grandma bake some chocolate chip cookies, his favorite kind. His eyes lit up like a firecracker on the fourth of July as he saw her drop a bag full of chocolate chips into the cookie dough. He knew it would be a while until they were finished so as Pilar placed two sheets of cookies into the oven, Ethan decided to go and try out the new video game Uncle Luis had given to him. Before going to play the game he made sure his grandma would call him the moment that they were finished.
"Oh course! I've made them just for you," she smiled.
As Ethan sat in the living room playing his video game, someone rang the door bell. Pilar was upstairs in her room just then so Ethan decided to answer the door himself even though Theresa never allowed him to unless she said it was okay. "I'll get it!" He shouted as he headed for the door. He peeped through and saw two people he didn't expect to find there-Julian and Rebecca. "Grandma!" He shouted as he ran up the stairs.
"What's wrong? Whose there?"
Ethan pulled Pilar to the front door and she quickly saw who was outside her door.
"Hello?" Rebecca's annoying voice ran through the air.
"Go into the kitchen," Pilar told Ethan. Pilar wondered why on Earth Julian and Rebecca of all people would be outside her door. She smiled as she opened the door, "Julian, Rebecca, can I help you?"
Rebecca gave a frozen Julian a nudge in his arm, awaking him from his daze. Julian cleared his throat as he began to speak softly and slowly, "Pilar, I've come here to see my son."
"He's not here," she lied.
"Oh don't you start lying too!" Rebecca shouted in a horrified voice. "I heard that little brat."
"Don't you dare care my grandson a brat!" Pilar said as she got all up in Rebecca's face. Recomposing herself, Pilar asked to speak to Julian in private. Julian agreed and the asked Rebecca to excuse them. Rebecca left to go explore the house for Julian's son, but no one knew that. "Julian, why are you here? Please, tell me the truth. I've always tried to be honest with you."
Julian felt extremely guilty and like a coward as he stood before this strong woman. A woman who had remained the rock of a fatherless family for so many years. How could he tell her that he had to take his son away from Theresa because he was being blackmailed into it by Rebecca? He knew that he was no man at that moment. "I've come for my son."
"What? Why? You've never given Little Ethan the time of day before. Not once in his absence did you write or call saying happy birthday or wish him a merry Christmas. You're no father, Julian!" She began to shout furiously.
[i]Nor a real man[/i]
"Pookie! Oh Pookie come here quick!" Rebecca shouted as she jumped up and down as much as she could in her heels to get his attention.
Julian rolled his eyes at the distasteful scene Rebecca was putting on. "What is it?"
"I've found him. He's in the kitchen!"
Julian and Pilar locked eyes instantly. Pilar's eyes were pleading with him to leave the boy be where he's happy, Julian's eyes were full of guilt. He knew that he had changed. No longer was he the man who wouldn't take crap from anyone, no, now he was just another sucker...a gullible idiot in Rebecca's poker game. Pilar raced into the kitchen where Rebecca was reaching for the hot cookies in the oven.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed as she got burned.
Pilar wrapped her arms around her grandson protectively. Julian came into the kitchen dreading what would happen next. He knew Rebecca would get her way.
"Julian!" Rebecca said as she pointed to Ethan. "Take the kid!"
"Pilar," Julian said approaching her slowly, "don't make this hard. Hand over Little Ethan."
"No," she said as she turned Ethan away from his. "He's Theresita's son. She's a good mother. Don't do this, Julian."
"I'm sorry, Pilar," Julian said as he removed a document from his inside coat pocket and handing her it.
"What's this?" She asked as she read it.
"It says that I have full custody of Ethan Crane." He said. "Now please hand my son over."
"No, you can't do this!" She screamed as Julian tried removing Ethan's tight grip from Pilar.
"Grandma!" Ethan shouted as Julian dragged him out into the limo. "Grandma!"
"Oh dear God no!" Pilar said as she collapsed onto the floor.