Ch.22
Fox was home, lying on his bed. He looked over on his dresser, seeing a picture of Teresa and Little Ethan.
They were laughing and having so much fun.
"It seems like lifetimes ago," he said gently running his fingers over the frame.
"Teresa hasn't smiled in so long."
He put the picture down and shut his eyes, the memories from earlier filling his head.
FLASHBACK
Teresa sat up in bed, looking at Fox who was leaning in the doorway.
"Please don't let them take me Fox."
He looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry."
She began to cry.
"I promise I'll get better Fox…I promise…just don't let them take me away."
He clenched his fists together.
"Resa, I know you want to get better…and I know that you would really try…"
"Then why are you doing this?" she wailed.
He took a few deep breaths, trying not to lose it. He hated hearing so much pain in her voice.
"Resa, this is the only way you are going to get the help you need."
She sobbed, wrapping her arms around her knees.
He slowly walked over towards her bed, sitting on the end of it.
"It's for the best sweetheart."
She looked up at him, anger filling her eyes.
"You think this is for the best? Locking me up in some freaking loony bin?"
He nodded.
"I don't expect you to agree with me…hell I don't even expect you to like me right now."
"Good, because I don't," she interrupted coldly.
He gave her a sad smile.
"This is a sacrifice I have to make Teresa."
She looked at him, not understanding.
"What are you talking about?"
"I know that by doing this, I could lose you forever…I know you might never forgive me…"
He stopped.
She nodded for him to continue.
"But if this is what it takes for you to be alright, to live a long happy life, then I'll do it. I would rather live alone for the next 1000 years, knowing that you are alive and ok, than live the next 5 years knowing that you're still hurting…I would give up everything if it meant that you could be happy."
Her eyes shone with tears.
"Do you mean that Fox?"
He smiled.
"With all my heart."
For a moment, Fox could see her eyes, once cold and dead, filling up with the love they used to have.
Suddenly, she blinked, and it was gone.
"I don't understand," she said coolly. "Last I checked, I wasn't your problem anymore…or do you forget that we broke off our engagement?"
"That was a misunderstanding," he said. "I never wanted for that to happen."
"Yea, but it did Fox…and we can't go back."
She reached out for his hand.
"I love you…and I know you love me…but I don't think things can be the same between us…not if you put me away."
"Teresa…"
"Fox, I mean it…if you do this, then there will be no hope for us. We will never be together again…now is that what you really want?"
"Of course that's not what I want…" he said, kissing her hand.
She smiled.
"I knew you would see it my a way-"
"BUT," he said, letting go. "I guess this is the way it will have to be."
He sat up and walked towards the door.
"Goodbye Resa."
She yelled out in frustration.
"I will hate you forever for this!"
He stopped and turned around.
"I'll love you forever."
"Fox, please don't do this!"
"I'm still going to get Little Ethan back for you Teresa…and one day, you will forgive me…and we can be the family that we always dreamed of."
"That is never going to happen," she hissed.
He turned back around walking out the door.
"Oh yea it will," he called out to her.
"Someday."
END FLASHBACK
He got up and walked downstairs running into Ethan.
"Fox we did it!"
"Did what?" he sighed.
"We got the proof we need to help Teresa get her son back."
Fox glared at him.
"What are you talking about Ethan?"
"Here, I'll show you," Ethan walked into his study.
Fox followed quickly behind.
Once they were in, Ethan locked the door and pulled out a tape from his coat pocket.
"What is that?" Fox asked.
"Just watch," Ethan said, putting it into the vcr.
Fox sat down as Ethan pushed play.
The TV was blurry for a moment…then, Little Ethan's bedroom appeared on the screen.
"Is this a security camera?"
"Shh just watch and listen," Ethan said pointing to the screen.
Suddenly, Gwen and Rebecca appeared on the screen.
"Mother, I can't handle the little Brat anymore."
Rebecca laughed.
"Well darling, he is always going to be a brat until you punish him the proper way…no more of those little slaps you've been giving him…what that child needs is a good beating…he is Teresa's little animal anyway…lord knows it takes a lot to tame wild beasts like that!"
The girls giggled.
"Mother, did you not see the bruises I left on his arms? I think I've already given him more than enough beatings…I swear. Sometimes I think things would be better if he would just die."
"That can be arranged Gwennie," Rebecca said laughing.
Ethan stopped the tape, looking at Fox.
Fox was red, boiling with anger.
"She's beating him?" He cried, jumping up from his chair?"
Ethan sighed.
"It would appear so…"
Fox looked back at him.
"This is really going to work, isn't it Ethan?"
He smiled.
"Once I show this to the judge, he'll rip away her parental rights so fast, she wont know what hit her."
Fox laughed.
"And then we can give him back to Teresa!"
"Well, not exactly Fox…"
Fox stopped celebrating.
"The judge will take away Little Ethan from Gwen…but he's not going to give him to Teresa…she's in the hospital…"
"So what's going to happen to him?"
Ethan gave a small smile.
"You're going to adopt him."