Three months later......
As Ethan and Theresa entered the Lobster Shack, the entire room burst in to a thunder of applause. They were both smiling ear to ear. Not only was tomorrow their wedding day, but almost the entire town was invited to the rehearsal dinner, and they were surrounded by all of their family and friends.
Pilar sat at a table with Luis and Sheridan, Antonio and Liz, Miguel and Kay, and Paloma and Fox. At the table next to them were Ivy and Sam, Jessica and Reese, and Noah sitting next to his cousin, Charity. Chad and Whitney sat next to Eve and TC, and Simone. Julian was there too, and Ethan had even invited Hank, who decided to bring his new girlfriend, Beth, with him.
As the applause died down, Ethan went to the front of the restaurant to speak.
"Thanks everybody...thanks for coming. Theresa and Little Ethan and I really appreciate all of the support everyone has given us over the past few months. I know a lot of you are thinking that this is a long time coming, and believe me, I couldn't agree with you more! That's why we're so glad that you could all be here to help us celebrate! We actually have some gifts for our bridal party...but I think I'll save that for later because, I don't know about you guys, but I am starved, so let's eat!"
The crowd roared again, and Ethan made his way over to the table where Theresa and Little Ethan were sitting.
"That was great!", Theresa said, as Ethan leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"Yah, Daddy!", cried Little Ethan.
"Well, I'm glad my family approves."
"We really are a family now, aren't we? I never thought I would see this day. For so long it was just a dream, and now, here I am, sitting with my son and his father, and tomorrow, we will finally be married!"
"That's right, baby. And nothing and no one can stop us from being together forever."
"So, you don't think Gwen or Rebecca will try something tomorrow?", Theresa wondered.
"It's impossible." A voice from behind them came up to their table. Julian finished his sentence. "I'm having so much security surrounding not only the church, but also your homes, and loved ones homes, there's no way either one of them can do anything."
"Julian", Theresa stood up. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for us. Without you, this wedding would not be possible."
"Yes, Julian, thank you. It's times like this I would be proud to call you 'Father' again."
"Well, Ethan. We are about as close as a father and son can get. But your real father loves you even more. And I don't think I've seen him look more proud than he is today. I'm glad that he and Ivy found each other again. I'm glad that your mother is happy. And after all of the pain and heartache that not only myself , but Rebecca and Gwen have caused you in the past, I wanted to do this for you, to help make up for it in some way. It has been my pleasure. And I hope you both know that if you ever need anything, you can always come to me. I'd be more than happy to help."
"Thank you, Julian." Theresa hugged Julian.
"Thank you." Ethan shook his hand.
"Mommy, I'm hungry, can't we eat now?"
"Yes, baby. Of course, let's go get some food." Theresa paused to wipe a tear from her eye as she got Little Ethan out of his chair.
"Theresa? Are you okay?", Ethan asked her.
"I'm fine. I just can't believe it's finally coming true!"
"I love you baby. You know what? Why don't you stay here, and Little Ethan and I will go get you some food, okay? Maybe, go talk to your Mom or Whitney."
"Thank you, I will. But hurry back, now I'm starving!"
"Ready Little Ethan Bennett?", Ethan said.
"First my name is Ethan Crane, then Ethan Winthrop, now Ethan Bennett? Is it going to change again when you and Mommy get married?"
"No honey, that's your name from now on. We will all be Bennett's soon!" Theresa said.
As Ethan and Theresa entered the Lobster Shack, the entire room burst in to a thunder of applause. They were both smiling ear to ear. Not only was tomorrow their wedding day, but almost the entire town was invited to the rehearsal dinner, and they were surrounded by all of their family and friends.
Pilar sat at a table with Luis and Sheridan, Antonio and Liz, Miguel and Kay, and Paloma and Fox. At the table next to them were Ivy and Sam, Jessica and Reese, and Noah sitting next to his cousin, Charity. Chad and Whitney sat next to Eve and TC, and Simone. Julian was there too, and Ethan had even invited Hank, who decided to bring his new girlfriend, Beth, with him.
As the applause died down, Ethan went to the front of the restaurant to speak.
"Thanks everybody...thanks for coming. Theresa and Little Ethan and I really appreciate all of the support everyone has given us over the past few months. I know a lot of you are thinking that this is a long time coming, and believe me, I couldn't agree with you more! That's why we're so glad that you could all be here to help us celebrate! We actually have some gifts for our bridal party...but I think I'll save that for later because, I don't know about you guys, but I am starved, so let's eat!"
The crowd roared again, and Ethan made his way over to the table where Theresa and Little Ethan were sitting.
"That was great!", Theresa said, as Ethan leaned over to kiss her cheek.
"Yah, Daddy!", cried Little Ethan.
"Well, I'm glad my family approves."
"We really are a family now, aren't we? I never thought I would see this day. For so long it was just a dream, and now, here I am, sitting with my son and his father, and tomorrow, we will finally be married!"
"That's right, baby. And nothing and no one can stop us from being together forever."
"So, you don't think Gwen or Rebecca will try something tomorrow?", Theresa wondered.
"It's impossible." A voice from behind them came up to their table. Julian finished his sentence. "I'm having so much security surrounding not only the church, but also your homes, and loved ones homes, there's no way either one of them can do anything."
"Julian", Theresa stood up. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for us. Without you, this wedding would not be possible."
"Yes, Julian, thank you. It's times like this I would be proud to call you 'Father' again."
"Well, Ethan. We are about as close as a father and son can get. But your real father loves you even more. And I don't think I've seen him look more proud than he is today. I'm glad that he and Ivy found each other again. I'm glad that your mother is happy. And after all of the pain and heartache that not only myself , but Rebecca and Gwen have caused you in the past, I wanted to do this for you, to help make up for it in some way. It has been my pleasure. And I hope you both know that if you ever need anything, you can always come to me. I'd be more than happy to help."
"Thank you, Julian." Theresa hugged Julian.
"Thank you." Ethan shook his hand.
"Mommy, I'm hungry, can't we eat now?"
"Yes, baby. Of course, let's go get some food." Theresa paused to wipe a tear from her eye as she got Little Ethan out of his chair.
"Theresa? Are you okay?", Ethan asked her.
"I'm fine. I just can't believe it's finally coming true!"
"I love you baby. You know what? Why don't you stay here, and Little Ethan and I will go get you some food, okay? Maybe, go talk to your Mom or Whitney."
"Thank you, I will. But hurry back, now I'm starving!"
"Ready Little Ethan Bennett?", Ethan said.
"First my name is Ethan Crane, then Ethan Winthrop, now Ethan Bennett? Is it going to change again when you and Mommy get married?"
"No honey, that's your name from now on. We will all be Bennett's soon!" Theresa said.