Chapter 6

I have no choice but to hear you,

You stated your case...

I thought about it...

You've already won me over.

Fox didn't know what to say when he saw Whitney standing in front of him. He hadn't seen her in weeks. Suddenly, when he had come to terms with his feelings for her, she had to appear in front of him like this.

"Hi Fox," Whitney said, avoiding his eyes. "Theresa's in the back, if you want to see her."

Fox had come to Theresa's apartment to finally declare his feelings for her. He now knew that he was in love with her, but looking at Whitney, he wondered if had feelings for more than one woman.

"Thanks Whit."

Fox proceeded to find Theresa, but his determination had slightly faded.

"Wait, Fox," Whitney called out to him. She hesitated for a second. "I think we should talk."

Fox turned around to look at Whitney, who stood before him, in a yellow sundress that lit up her eyes. "What about?"

"Why don't you sit down..." Whitney sat on one of Theresa's comfy, burgundy sofas and Fox followed.

"So what do you want to talk about?"

"Well," Whitney began slowly, "Chad went to L.A. again and I've been thinking that this is the perfect opportunity to talk about us and our... friendship." Whitney bit her lip.

"I didn't think a friendship between us existed," Fox replied, bitterly.

"Fox, there is no way I could have really talk to you with Chad here. He's a very jealous person, and he feels very much betrayed by you."

"These feelings that I had for you were never to be exposed. I didn't want it to happen this way." Fox put his head down. He regretted the way that secret had come out, but he wasn't going to make excuses for it.

Surprisingly, Whitney got up and went to sit next to Fox. She grabbed his hand. "I know you didn't and that's why all is forgiven. I know how wonderful you've been to Theresa and me, too. I'm glad you're here." Whitney looked up at Fox.

"I'm so glad to here you say that." They were looking very deeply into each others eyes, when Theresa entered the living room.

"Whitney! I thought you were going to bring milk for Conner..."

Theresa looked up to see Whitney and Fox seemingly having a 'moment'. How dare Fox come to my house to hook up with Whitney?

"I am I disturbing anything?" Theresa's voice sounded resentful and Fox didn't miss it.

"No," Fox began. "Nothing at all."

"Yeah, Theresa. I was just telling Fox the happy news; that Conner's here," Whitney said, with a coy smile.

Fox tried to hide his shock, as he heard the news, and finally noticed that Theresa's cast was off. He wondered why Whitney had lied about their conversation, but decided not to make a big deal out of it.

"Yeah, that's great news."

"I know," Theresa said, doubtful that their conversation had been about her joyous news. "Look, I don't want to be rude, but what are you doing here, Fox?"

Fox looked a little taken aback by Theresa's attitude. She still seemed to be fuming at him. "I ah- came to... see you, and talk to you."

"I don't really have time to talk now. I have a baby to take care of, Mr. Casanova." Theresa walked into her kitchen, grabbed a pre-prepared bottle of milk, and walked back to her bedroom, never turning back to look at Fox, or Whitney.

-XXX-

Theresa was glad that her cast was off, and even more elated about the fact that Conner was in her home, and in her arms again. It helped get through the rough times she was having with Fox. If can ignore me, then I can do the same to him...

She had no plans to see or talk to Fox. He had really hurt her. He made it seem as though sex was more important than their friendship. And recently, she had definitely felt a spark between them, which added more to the hurt. Theresa had continued her therapy sessions, and her therapist advised her that maybe it was time to put these feelings out on the line. Theresa had been ready to tell Fox that she might be falling in love with him, but now it seemed that she would never have the chance.

She had always put herself out there for love. The way she had behaved with Ethan, doing anything in her power to be close to him, was not something she planned to repeat, with anyone. Those days were over. She had grown-up. She was willing to be a single mother for the rest of her life, if that's the way fate had planned it out for her. She didn't need a man to feel alive. Having her children by her side made her more alive than anything else.

She admitted to herself, though, that she needed Fox. He was her fixed point. But, he had abandoned her, by being with this other nameless woman. She didn't think Fox had it in him. Though she wasn't going to take drastic action against him, like the old Theresa would have, she couldn't help feel a little more cynical. Maybe I'm destined to be alone...

When Fox came over, to try to redeem himself, it had turned into Whitney-fest 2004. Theresa was understandably jealous. After all they had been through together, her and Fox, he still would put Whitney before her.

Theresa had been wallowing all day. She was tired of pitying herself and decided to go out with Conner to see her mother at the Crane Mansion.

-XXX-

Theresa arrived at the Crane Mansion to be unexpectedly greeted by Julian.

"Theresa... To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I've come to see my mother."

"Well, come in, I suppose."

Theresa and Julian had come to an agreement. Though some resentment still lied between them, they had decided to put their differences aside for the greater good. They could now sit in the same room, and be civil around one another.

Julian called out to Pilar, who was on one of the upper floors. When Pilar obediently came down the stairs to see what Julian wanted, she saw Theresa sitting in the Crane living room, a baby carridge by her side.

"Theresita!" Pilar exclaimed excitedly, losing her composure. She hurriedly went to Theresa, who stood to give her mother a hug. Pilar looked at Julian, with pleading eyes.

"Mr. Crane, do you mind if-" Pilar was cut off.

"Go ahead Pilar. You don't even have to ask." Julian departed to another part of the mansion.

"Theresa, honey, how is everything?" Pilar was extremely excited to see Theresa sitting there in front of her. She had been feeling helpless, knowing that she had no clue how to take care of her grief-ridden child. Seeing Theresa, bright and alive made Pilar feel more content than anything else.

Theresa and Pilar caught up on things. They conversed about her therapy sessions, Conner, and Fox. Theresa explained to her mother her developing, if not developed feelings for her best friend. Pilar instantly got worried.

"Don't you think you should try to avoid being with another Crane. They are bad news." Pilar's voice sounded anxious and apprehensive.

"Momma, he's not like them. I know that I said this about Ethan, who turned out, despite it all, to be a wonderful man, but Fox is so down-to-earth. He's... different..." Theresa's voice trail off, as she daydreamed about Fox.

"But..." All Pilar could do was sigh, feeling defeated. "Oh I don't know. I'm just concerned for you. You are in such a delicate state right now. I just don't want you to get hurt."

Theresa was so tired of hearing those words, 'get hurt.' Being a romantic, she knew that with love came all these consequences. She couldn't help how she felt and she didn't want to. She, of all people, would never give up on the possibility of finding true love, a soul mate...

"Ma... I'm on anti-depressants, which does not in anyway make me like glass. No one has to look after me anymore. I'm more independent, more grown-up. And, though this may sound crazy, I feel like I've changed so much in the last few months. It's surreal..." Theresa's voice trailed off once again.

As she went into a revelry, footsteps hurriedly came down the steps.

Pilar looked behind her to see Ethan. "Mr. Crane... ah, I mean..." Pilar didn't know what to call him anymore.

Theresa turned around as well, surprised, and strangely happy to see Ethan standing there.

"Pilar, after all these years, don't you think we should cut out the formalities?" Ethan bent down to give her a peck on the cheek.

"I suppose... Ethan." Pilar laughed. "This just too hard and too awkward. I'm going to go back to doing my job, now. Theresa, sweetie, you just give me a call, okay?" Pilar hugged her daughter for a last time and went off to continue her duties.

Ethan looked at Theresa, who looked particularly attractive in her casual wear. She had form-fitting jeans on, a white tank, and her hair loosely held in a bun at the top of her head.

"Ethan... What are you doing here?"

"I may not be a Crane anymore, but I'm a hell of a lawyer." They both laughed and went to give each other an extended hug. Ethan's hand lied on her waist and he could smell her intoxicating fragrance. It felt like old times.

Theresa heard the baby cry and parted from their hug, though in truth, she wished she could have stayed in his embrace longer.

"What's wrong Conner, you're hungry," Theresa guessed. Ethan walked over to see the baby, whose green eyes were stunning, and were the first things he noticed.

"He's beautiful," Ethan said sincerely, watching Theresa feed the baby milk.

"Isn't he?" Theresa replied, adoringly, a radiant smile on her lips. Why had he ever let go of that smile?

"You want some coffee? I'm going to go make some." Ethan said, trying to regain his composure, after admiring the beautiful Theresa.

"Sure. That'd be great."

Ethan went to the kitchen to make coffee. He leaned on the counter for a second, trying to get his jumbled thoughts together. Looking at her, and her child... It had undone him. He felt a rush of those old feelings for her again. Feelings that always existed inside, one's that he suppressed constantly. Looking at her and her smile, unraveled his never-ending love for her. Yes, she had silly antics. Yes, she had made mistakes. But he had never felt the way he felt about her, with anybody else, Gwen being no exception. He inhaled deeply, hoping not to do something regrettable, and went back to the living room with two hot mugs of coffee.

"Here you go," he said, gently placing the cup into her hands.

"Thanks."

Throughout coffee, they conversed intensely about old times, remembering all those crazy moments they had together. From the first time they met, to the first time they really met, to the first time they made love, to the first time they decided to go on 'break', to the second time they got together. They were remembering all those precious moments they would carry within them for the rest of their lives.

"Remember that time," Theresa began softly, "that you and I went to the Wharf. It was raining, and you were being such a gentleman and shielding me. This obviously happened at the beginning of our oh-so-turbulent relationship, when everything was simple and sweet. You looked into my eyes and asked me if I would marry you... one day. You tried explain how you didn't mean now, and you didn't want to make me nervous and I told you that it was written in the stars for me to marry a Crane. Strangely enough, you're a Bennett now..."

Ethan remembered the sweetness of the moment. Their eyes connected like they did that day and their faces inched forward and they knew that in only seconds their lives would be changed forever...

"Wahhh!"

Conner's cry stopped their lips from touching and Theresa instantly got up to check on him. Thank God for you, Conner. As your mother, I owe you one...

Theresa began packing up nervously. She wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. "I better go," Theresa told Ethan, her eyes avoiding his glance. "He must be tired."

"Yeah, you're right," Ethan said, a node of disappointed and relief in his voice.

Theresa was already out the door when he said that. "See you later."

-XXX-

Theresa got home, and put Conner to bed. She tidied up before listening to her messages. She was surprised to hear a familiar voice on the phone.

"Hey Theresa, I know you're mad at me and I know you probably don't want to hear from me right now, but I had to call you. I can't stop thinking about you, I don't why. Well... I do know why. I don't think I'm really ready to tell you this, but I don't think I ever will be..." A long pause. I think I have 'incestuous feelings' toward you. They're starting to gnaw at me. I don't know what to do with them. But if you don't feel the same way, or you're not ready to talk about this, then, no questions asked, this topic will not be brought up until you're ready. I know this message is gonna cut off any second now, so just call me."

BEEP.