Thanks for the great comments for the last chapter. I was hoping you'd enjoy the proposal. Here's chapter twenty, the final chapter of "No Strings". Enjoy!
"No Strings"
Chapter Twenty
"One more push Theresa and our son will be here," Fox said, his brown eyes shining with happiness.
Theresa looked over at her husband and squeezed his hand tightly. Bearing down once more, she pushed with all her might as the pain ripped through her again.
Dr. Benjamin Pruett grabbed a fresh towel from the pile and wiped the newborn off. The nurse beside him held out a light blue blanket and they quickly wrapped him up.
"Are you ready to hold your son Theresa?" he asked.
With tears streaking down her face, Theresa gave a small nod and the nurse placed the tiny bundle in her arms.
"Fox, look at him. He's so beautiful."
"Just like his mom." Fox dropped a kiss on top of her head and then turned to his son. "Hey little guy, welcome to the world."
With his tiny hands in fists, the baby boy let out a piercing scream. "Guess he wants to signal his arrival to entire planet, huh?" Fox said rubbing his ears jokingly as if the sound had hurt his eardrums.
"So Daddy, what shall we name this little guy?" Theresa asked.
"I thought we'd already settled on the name, Beautiful?"
"I know, just giving you a last chance to make another decision before it's written in stone."
Fox smiled down at his wife. "I think Dustin Andrew Crane is perfect. We can call him Dusty for short."
Theresa smiled and then looked down at their son. "Hi Dusty, I'm your mommy. Daddy and I are so glad you're finally here with us."
Little Dusty stretched his arms out as a big yawn came over him, and then he opened his eyes. He had the same dark hair as Theresa, but his deep brown eyes definitely came from his father. Fox and Theresa watched as the little brown eyes darted around the room, taking everything in, before finally settling on Theresa's face. They both stared in awe as his mouth broke into a wide smile and he reached forward to touch Theresa's cheek.
--- --- --- ---
Two days after Dusty was born, both he and Theresa were released to go home. Fox drove slowly and carefully on the snow covered roads of Harmony and it took them twenty minutes to get from the hospital to their house, which was only five miles away. After unhooking the car seat from the back, Fox opened the passenger door and helped Theresa out of the car.
Once inside Theresa took Dusty out of the carrier and went upstairs to feed him and then take a nap. Fox busied himself for a little while putting away some of the gifts they had received over the last couple days. After grabbing a beer from the fridge he went into the living room and sat down on the couch.
He reached onto the table behind him and picked up a picture frame. It was the same frame that held the first picture ever taken of him and Theresa, the one from the fashion gala in L.A. He took a swig from his beer and then set it down on the coffee table.
He slowly ran his fingers over the picture as he thought back to the day he and Theresa were married.
-Flashback-
Fox looked out the window as he slid his tuxedo jacket on. For being the middle of October, the weather was still beautiful. The leaves on the trees were a variance of yellow, red and orange that made it even more spectacular looking outside.
He shifted his gaze from the trees outside the Crane mansion to the large white tent that was set up in the backyard. He could see the groups of people scurrying around, making sure that everything was perfect for the wedding that was to take place in less than an hour. And he watched as guest after guest walked into the tent to get seated before the ceremony.
A knock at the door broke him from his viewing and he called out for whoever it was to come in. The door opened and Ethan walked inside the room.
"You ready to head down?"
"Yeah. Have you seen Theresa?"
"Nope, Gwen won't let me. But she did tell me that Theresa is simply glowing and that she looks very beautiful."
"She always does Ethan." He smiled as he thought of Theresa, and the two of them headed downstairs.
--- --- --- ---
Fox stood at the altar staring down the aisle as the music began. Ethan and Gwen were first to walk down, as best man and matron of honor. They were followed by Fox's best friend Dylan Banning with Theresa's sister Paloma, and then came her brother Miguel with his girlfriend Charity Standish.
Finally the traditional bridal march started and Theresa came into view at the back of the tent. Her brother Luis was at her side and as they walked down the aisle Fox could not take his eyes off of his bride, she was breathtaking.
Theresa was wearing a white strapless wedding gown. She was now six and a half months pregnant and showing a lot, so she had opted for a dress with an empire waistline. When they reached the altar Luis lifted her veil and kissed her cheek.
"Who gives this woman away?" Father Lonigan asked.
"Her family and I do, Father," Luis replied and then sat down between Sheridan and Pilar.
Father Lonigan nodded and then began the ceremony.
"Nicholas and Theresa, in presenting yourselves here today to be joined in marriage, you perform an act of faith. This faith can grow and develop and last, but only if you both decide to make it so. A lasting and growing love is not guaranteed by any ritual."
"If you would have the foundation of your marriage be the devotion you have for one another, not just at this moment, but for all the days to come, then treasure the hopes and dreams that you bring here today. Establish that your love will never be blotted out by the common nor obscured by the ordinary in life. Faults will surface where now you find comfort, and admiration can be shattered by the routine of daily life."
"Dedication, love, and joy can grow only when you nourish them together. Stand fast in that hope and confidence, having faith in your shared destiny just as strongly as you have faith in yourselves and in one another today. Only with this spirit can you forge a union that will strengthen and endure all the days of your lives."
Father Lonigan then asked if there was anyone present who wished them not to be married. No one said a word, so he continued. "Nicholas, please repeat after me these vows."
I, Nicholas, take you, Theresa, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us."
Fox repeated the vows, the entire time looking in Theresa's eyes. After he was done he placed the ring on Theresa's finger. "Theresa, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God."
"Theresa, please repeat after me these vows."
"I, Theresa, take you, Nicholas, as my friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us."
Theresa repeated her vows to Fox and then placed the ring on his finger. "Nicholas, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the name of God."
Father Lonigan then concluded the ceremony. "With these statements made of love and trust, which we have just heard, I now wish you to greet Nicholas and Theresa as husband and wife. Nicholas, you may kiss your bride."
Fox did just that as he scooped Theresa into his arms and lay his lips down onto hers in a passionate, yet tender kiss.
"May this day shine eternally in your lives.
May it add brilliance to every achievement and cast a divine light over any misfortune.
May you care for each other in all sadness.
May you give cheer to each other.
May you give vitality to each other in all undertakings.
May all that is virtuous, beautiful and honest, remain with you always."
Theresa and Fox turned to the guests and with smiles on their faces made their way down the aisle as the recessional wedding march played with applause in the background.
-End Flashback-
Fox broke from his memory when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked over to see Theresa staring at him.
"What are you thinking about Sweetheart?"
"Just remembering our wedding day. It was a day that I will never forget, Beautiful," he answered, setting the frame down on the coffee table.
"Me neither." She sat down beside him and laid her forehead against his. "I love you Nicholas Foxworth Crane."
"And I love you Theresa Marie Crane." He cupped her chin in his hand and then brought his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. As they drew apart Dusty let out a wail from upstairs. They both laughed at the timing of their son and then hand in hand they walked up the stairs.
-- THE END --
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Author's Note: The speech for Father Lonigan and the vows included in this chapter for Fox and Theresa's wedding are credited to the Elegant Vows website. When I wrote this chapter it was two o'clock in the morning and I was not in the thinking capacity to make up my own, so I found these beautiful vows and put them into my story.
Well, there you have it. "No Strings" has ended. :-( I hope that you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm currently working on my next TheRox fic, but I don't know when I'll be putting it up since I like to make sure my stories are finished before posting them. Thank you for all of the wonderful comments you guys made on my story. I really enjoy reading what you all have to say.
