Diabolique
Rated R
Chapter 2: The Fuse is Lit
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETHAN MARTIN...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"
Kneeling down at the chair in front of her, Gwen smiled at the young boy she had tried to raise for the past two years. "Make a wish, sweetheart."
Looking at his Uncle Fox, who encouraged him with a small nod, he closed his eyes and twisted his face in concentration.
Please, please, please, please, please, pretty please bring my mommy back.
As the candles were successfully blown out, the assembled crowd of cheered the little boy who was the guest of honor.
Noticing the small frown on the boy's face, Gwen tried to cheer him up. "Do you want a small or big slice of cake?"
"Big slice, please." Then remembering the manners his mother drilled into him, he gave the blonde woman a small smile. "Thank you, Gwen."
Trying not to wince at the non-usage of her legal title, she gave him a fake smile and handed him the plate. Watching the little boy scurry over to his Abuela Pilar and family, Gwen tried to remind herself that once Ethan Martin was away from certain influences he would learn to accept her role in his life.
Mother.
For Gwen, that had been the only one thing missing in her life. To be a mother. To create a child with the man that she loved and to raise their child together.
Then that dream was taken from her by the woman that had destroyed so many for her.
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald.
Even though it had been two years since she had disappeared, Gwen still cringed when she heard her name, saw one of the old photos that Ethan still carried around, and especially when she looked into the deep eyes of the boy she had taken away from her. When she had heard the news of the search being called off, she didn't know whether to be elated that Theresa was finally out of her life, or depressed that once again she had lost a child. Then after a few days, she had thought it over and decided that either way, she had no regrets about Theresa, seeing how she did have a child. Little Ethan isn't hers biologically, but none of that mattered. What mattered is that she had a child and Theresa would never be able to bother them again.
Feeling the warmth of two strong arms wrap around her, she looked up into the smiling eyes of her husband and leaned up to give him a kiss, pushing the the thoughts of her rival away.
Looking over at Ethan Martin, she smiled, thinking that in no time, he would adjust and accept her while he would forget all about that conniving bitch he was cursed to have as a mother.
She would make certain of it.
With gift in hand, Theresa knocked on the large door, ready to make the appearance of a lifetime.
Not even a second passed, when the door was swung open and a smiling face asked her, "May I help you, miss?"
"I'm here for the birthday pary being held for Little Ethan."
"That's good. I'm sorry that you just missed the cake, but I am sure that the party wouldn't be winding down anytime soon. Would you like for me to announce you?"
"That won't be necessary. I can find my way, thank you."
As she walked down the halls, Theresa could hear the familiar voices of those that she loved and those had become her enemies. Standing in the shadow of the door, she took a cursory glance at the people in the room feeling the anger began to build which always created the slow burn that had sustained her for the last two years. She was sure that if she hadn't had Jacen to ground her, she would have surely fallen into the same darkness that surrounded Alistair, but that didn't mean that she was quite the same woman she was when she fall from that cliff.
She would never be that foolish girl again.
Using all the lessons that she had been taught, Theresa took her first step into the light, ready for any and everything.
It's Showtime
As he was listening to Whitney go on about Chad's newest artist, he felt a tingle at the base of his spine.
A tingle that he hadn't felt in two years.
With eyes darting around the room, his eyes fianlly landed on the doorway and he had to blink, not wanting to be disappointed by another illusion.
Theresa? Not possible...not possible...
Feeling Whitney's hand tighten on his arm, Fox was snapped out of his daze, just in time to hear Pilar having the same vision as him.
"Dios mio! It can't be...Theresita..."
But it was the estastic shouts of Ethan Martin that made Fox realize that it was most certainly Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald standing on the other side of the room, brightly wrapped gift in hand.
"MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY!"
Seeing her child run towards her, she couldn't help the tears that flowed down her face. As soon as he was in arm's reach, she grabbed him up and held on tight. "Oh my baby! My sweet precious baby!"
With arms locked tightly around her neck, Little Ethan whimpered, "I missed you, Mommy. I missed you."
"I missed you too, mijo." Giving him a kiss on his silky blond hair, she whispered lovingly, "I love you Ethan Martin. I'll love you forever and always."
Feeling the stares of everyone else on her son, she picked up her son and began to walk towards the other person that never left her side. Ignoring the imploring glances of Fox and Whitney, she dropped down in front of her shell-shocked mother and brought her callused hands to her face.
With one tear rolling down her cheek, she smiled, "Mama, I have missed you so much. I never meant-"
"That is not important now. You are home now and alive. That is all that matters." Pulling her daughter even closer, she closed her eyes and thanked God for answering one of her prayers. "I have missed you, Theresita."
Soon mother and daughter were joined by Luis and Sheridan. With tears swimming in his eyes, Luis asked the two women, "Can we join in?" And with that, Theresa was surrounded by her mother, brother,newly returned sister, and son. For the first time in her life, she felt content. The only way it could be better is if Miguel and Antonio were in this family circle.
Other guests just looked on the family scene, happy that the Lopez-Fitzgeralds were able to celebrate instead of enduring another tragedy. For Fox, the scene was bittersweet for as happy he was that his little brother got his wish, it was taking amazing self-control not to walk over there, sweep Theresa into his arms and never let her go again.
But he was willing to wait.
Pulling back from the group hug, Luis started firing the questions that Theresa knew was going to come.
"Where the hell have you been all this time? What happened to the baby? We searched high and low for anything that would give us a clue. It was liked you disappered the way [i]that man[/i]did all those years ago," he yelled, not being able to call Martin Fitzgerald 'Papa' once the truth was known about his disapperance.
"I would like to know that answer myself," a furious Gwen muttered, making her way over to the reunited family, with a perplexed Ethan hot on her heels. Standing in front of her ressurected rival, she detested the way Ethan Martin was snuggled tight in Theresa's arms.
She will not take my child from me! Not again!
Turning to the fuming woman in front of her, she replied in a bored tone. "Sorry to disappoint you Gwen, but that is none of your business."
"Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you come into my home, crash [i]my[/i] son's birthday party, and then insult me when I ask you something? Also, may I remind you that the baby you were carrying was Ethan's and mine. I want to know where my child is Theresa and I want to know NOW!
With a small stirring of pity, Theresa looked at the floor before delivering the paralyzing blow to the screaming woman.
Looking straight in Gwen's fury, she simply said, "I'm sorry Gwen."
Feeling numbness invade her body, it took Gwen a few moments to react to what Theresa implied, but when her brain finally processed what happened, she went on the warpath. "You classless, scheming BITCH! Why did you kill MY BABY? AGAIN?" Gwen screamed, straining against the arms of her husband, step-father, and father-in-law.
"Why can't you just stay dead? How much does it take for you to die?" Rebecca sneered, trying to figure out how Theresa had survived once again only to destroy her Gwennie's life.
"Rebecca, I would shut my mouth before I do something I regret," Pilar warned, not having the patience to deal with Rebecca's foolishness.
"What are you going to do Queen Taco? Hit me with a burrito?"
"Enough ladies!" Ethan exclaimed, staring at the woman that still haunted his dreams. Seeing Theresa, especially with Ethan Martin in her arms brought that familiar longing Ethan felt. The need to be a fmaily with the woman that he loved and the little boy who he adored.
Ignoring Gwen's scathing looks, Ethan walked towards Theresa, needing to be closer.
"I can't believe it's really you. You don't know how much I-"
"Frankly, I don't care about anything you have to say to me, Mr. Winthrop, nor will I ever again."
Startled at the coldness in her voice, Ethan tried to valiantly regroup. "Theresa-"
Taking pleasure at seeing his half-brother knocked down a peg, Fox said, "She said she doesn't want to argue, just leave her alone Ethan and let her spend time with her son." Looking towards Theresa for a reaction, he was surprised that there wasn't one, just the same distant stare that had been pinned on Ethan a moment before.
"But that is just the point, Ethan Martin isn't her son and never will be again."
"I beg to differ, Gwen." Looking over at her son, she added,"And before you go ranting, I think that it would be a good idea to discuss this in private."
Wanting privacy for whatever little bomb Theresa was about to drop, Gwen grudgingly agreed. "Fine!"
Theresa exhaled and was about to make her way after Gwen, when she felt two small arms wrap tightly around her legs, holding on for dear life.
"NO MOMMY! DON'T GO!"
Heartsick at what her disapperance did to her son, she grabbed him in another fierce hug. "Baby, Mommy is not going anywhere ever again. I just have to discuss something with Uncle Ethan and Gwen. I will be back as soon as I can."
Giving his mother a soulful gaze, he whispered, "Promise?"
Nodding, she gave him a kiss. "As long as I'm breathing baby." Giving him another hug, she pointed him in the direction of Pilar. "Now stay with Grandma until I get back."
Before she even took a step, Ethan Martin called out, "Love you, Mommy."
With a brght smile, she turned around. "Love you too."
With her family's love flowing through her, she followed the Winthrops to Julian's study, ready to deliver the first blow. Walking in and closing the door, she was immediately assaulted by the voice that had populated her nightmares.
"You really shouldn't make promises you can't keep, Theresa. Little Ethan has lived through enough."
"I know that Gwen, seeing how much of the turmoil and heartache he has suffered has been at your's and your bitch of mother's hands."
Awed at the audacity of the other woman, Gwen just rolled her eyes. "Still see that you are same delusional bitch. Nice to know that some things never change."
"I beg to differ." Pulling an envelope from her purse, Theresa continued, "Anyway, I think that it would be a good time for me to give you these now. I don't want to stay away from my son any longer than I necessarily have to."
Snatching the envelope from Theresa, Gwen ripped it open and pulled out the letter. Skimming the contents, she felt her world tilt even further out of control. Shaking the court documents in Theresa's face, she angrily declared, "These are fake. There is no way in hell that you are taking my son out of this house."
Crossing her arms, Theresa flashed Gwen a smug smile. "Tell me something, Gwen...as he ever referred to you as his mother?"
"HOW DARE YOU!"
"I don't have to, because I already have. You might want Ethan to take a look at those." Flinging the papers at her husband, she growled, "Ethan, please tell me these are a mistake."
Scanning the papers, Ethan shook his head wondering how he was going to tell her she was loosing yet another child. Looking at the confidence Theresa exuded, he knew that they were about to be involved in the battle of their lives.
Seeing her husband's reaction, she advanced on Theresa and yelled,"You are not taking my son, you crazy bitch! I will not allow it, you hear me? I WILL NOT!"
Waving off the blonde woman's tirade, Theresa coldly replied, "What you allow and do not is of no importance to me, Gwen. Now, I would appreciate if you move yourself from my personal space before your mouth writes a check your ass can't cash."
Deciding to retreat for now, Gwen moving back a bit. "This isn't over, Theresa. No way in hell that this will ever be over!"
Ignoring Gwen's threat, Theresa walked past a stunned Ethan and opened the door. Before leaving she turned around and said, "I'll come for the rest of his things tomorrow. Good night." and with that Theresa sailed out the study feeling immense satisfaction at the predictable reactions of Ethan and Gwen. With a small smile on her face, she began walking back to the living room, when she was stopped by the sight of the person that had destroyed her world just as much as the two she left behind in the study.
tbc