Time seemed to fly by for the young couple. They tried to spend as much time together as they could, but Theresa was careful not to keep Ethan from his work. She knew how much making partner meant to him. Soon, it was time for her to start her own job, and she loved every minute of it. On her first day, Ethan sent her a bouquet of pink roses, her favorite, to the shop. After 3 months of Theresa being home, they both seemed to have a balance of work, family, and their relationship. Theresa's designs were boosting profits at the boutique, so much so, that she decided she could afford her own apartment. And Ethan was closer than ever to being made partner. The two didn't see much of each other during the week, but spent almost all of their time together on weekends. Every other Sunday, Ethan was invited to the Crane Mansion to see his mother and have brunch, and Theresa almost always joined him. But this particular Sunday, Theresa had to finish up some work at the boutique, so Ethan went alone.

"Good morning, Mother", Ethan said as he entered the doorway.

"Hi darling, where's Theresa?"

"She had work to do at the boutique, so she couldn't make it. She sends her apologies."

"Actually, I'm glad she's not here. There's something I need to talk to you about."

"Is everything all right?"

"Yes, it's fine. It's about Gwen Hotchkiss", she said, as Ethan pushed her chair in for her.

"Oh good lord, that woman is still calling me on a weekly basis. Luckily she's given up on calling me at home, so now she calls at work. I keep having the secretary tell her I'm in a meeting."

"Yes, well. I was talking to Julian the other day about her. It seems as though he and Jonathon have struck a deal. If you start dating Gwen, Julian will give you a job at Crane Industries as their legal counsel!" Ivy was so excited at the prospect of Ethan working for the Crane's. If he played his cards right, he might even be named heir to Crane fortune. Ivy and Julian only had one son together, Fox, and he was no where near mature enough to become head of Crane Industries.

"Mother, are you serious? I can't start dating Gwen, I'm in love with Theresa!"

"But Ethan, this is an excellent opportunity for you! Who knows how far you could go in Crane Industries, maybe even be the President of the Company one day!"

"While I love you for your concern for me, don't be. I'm very close to making partner in the law firm that I work for. That's enough for me, Mother. I don't need all of the things you need out of life. I have my work, and Theresa. Right now, I'm happy."

Ivy knew her son well enough to know that arguing about it would not work. Ethan had had the life she had thought she always wanted, with Sam, living simply, no need for exorbent amounts of money. But when she found out she was pregnant with Sam's child, the thought of leaving all of the Winthrop and Crane money behind to be a cop's wife just wasn't enough for her. That's why she chose to stay with Julian.

"Oh all right, Ethan. I'm not going to argue this with you. But would you please at least do me one thing? Take Gwen out for dinner, just to tell her about you and Theresa. That way you're at least doing the polite thing. And that way I won't have Julian and Jonathon breathing down my neck."

Ethan sighed. His mother was right, it was the least he could. He didn't like hurting people intentionally, but he also didn't like Gwen calling him every five minutes. The best way to break things off was to take her to dinner and tell her the truth.

"Fine, Mother. I'll take Gwen out. But just once, and only to tell her that there will be nothing between us. Make sure you tell Julian and Mr. Hotchkiss that. And for God's sake, don't let Gwen's annoying mother know anything about it. I can't stand that woman, and if I know her, she'll try something."

"Thank you, Ethan. This will make my life so much easier. But, what will you do about Theresa?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure if telling her would be a good idea. I don't want to her to get upset. You know what, most Monday nights she is stuck at the boutique late. I'll ask Gwen out for tomorrow night, and I won't have to worry about Theresa every knowing what's going on."

Gwen Hotchkiss was anxiously pacing around the Hotchkiss Estate, waiting for a phone call from Ethan Bennett. Her father told her that he would be calling. He also told her about the deal that he and Julian Crane had struck up, that would ensure Ethan eventually became the heir to the Crane fortune. Two for the price of one, she thought to herself, rich and good looking.

As the phone began to ring, her heart began to race. She decided to let one of the servants answer it, that way she didn't look to desperate.

"Ms. Hotchkiss, a Mr. Bennett on the phone for you."

"Thank you, Amy. I'll take it right here." Gwen calmly walked over to pick up the phone in the sitting room. "Gwen Hotchkiss..."

"Hi Gwen, its Ethan Bennett."

"Oh Ethan, what a lovely surprise! I didn't expect to be hearing from you today!"

"Well, I just got back from seeing my mother at the Crane Mansion, and I thought I should call you and invite you to dinner. My mother had a conversation about you, and I think we need to talk."

"Why, Ethan, I'd love to go to dinner with you! What day would you like to go?" She was glad this was a phone conversation, that way Ethan couldn't see her jumping around like a schoolgirl.

"How about tomorrow night? 7 o'clock at the Country Club?"

"Well, tomorrow is a little sudden, Ethan. But luckily my calendar is free." Wow! He must really be enamored with me if he wants to meet that soon!

"Great. Should I meet you there, or come and pick you up?"

"Oh Ethan, don't be bothered to drive! I can pick you up in the family limousine."

"No need to bother picking me up, Gwen. I'll already be there. I have a golf date with a client. I can meet you there."

"All right, Ethan. I'll see you there. Thank you for calling."

"Thanks, Gwen. See you tomorrow."

"Bye Ethan." But he was already gone. "Oh, I have to go shopping!"

After Theresa finished up at the boutique, she thought she stop by Ethan's apartment, just to see how brunch went with his mother.

She knocked on the door, noticed it was open, and let her in.

"See you tomorrow", Ethan said, as he saw her from the doorway, and hung up the phone. "Hey beautiful! What are you doing here?" he asked as he made his way over to her, and enveloped her in warm embrace.

"I just got all of my sketching done, so I thought I'd come over and see how brunch was."

"Ahh, it was okay, but I missed you. There was no one for my mother to gawk over and ask design questions to."

Theresa laughed. Ivy made it a point to ask Theresa's opinion about her wardrobe every Sunday that she was there. But she liked it, it made her feel special to know that Ivy Crane was asking her opinion about her fashion sense.

"I keep telling your Mother to come to the boutique and let me design her a dress, but she never does. On the phone with anyone special?"

Ethan became nervous. How much had Theresa heard? "No one as special as you. Come sit down on the couch and hold me", he said, pulling her gently towards the living room, "I haven't been held by you since last night at your mother's house."

As they sat on the couch together, Theresa snuggled up next to Ethan, and laid her head on his chest.

"I love to listen to your heart beat", Theresa said softly.

"It beats only for you", he replied, as he lifted her chin with his finger, and pressed his lips against hers. Theresa tilted her head back and basked in the feeling of Ethan's soft lips against hers. It was the soft kisses she loved the best, they made her entire body ache for him.

Soon their tongues were mixing together, and their hands were roaming each other's bodies freely. Theresa ran her fingers through his hair, and down his neck, on to his face. Ethan moved his hands up and down her back, and finally settled them on her back side. Theresa could feel the passion welling up inside her, and could feel Ethan becoming more and more aroused by the minute. She let herself fall back, and pulled Ethan on top of her. She loved the feeling of Ethan's body on top of hers. His body was big and strong, but he was soft and caring, it was one of the things Theresa loved about him the most.

Pulling away for air, Ethan looked her in the eyes. "How do we always seem to end up this way", he asked jokingly. It seemed as though every time they were alone together, they ended up kissing on the couch.

"I'm sorry", she said, as they both sat up. "I love you so much, and I love the feel of you. If we could spend all day just holding one another, I would be in heaven."

"How about all night?" he asked her softly, as he looked in to her eyes and kissed her hands.

Theresa felt her heart begin to race again. "Are saying, what I think you're saying?"

"I love you, Theresa. And if you'll have me, I'd like to show you how much I love you."

"Oh, Ethan", she said, and kissed him again.

"I thought that since we both took Friday off so we could have a long weekend together, we could start it a little early. You could come over, I'll cook you dinner. Then we'll watch a movie, and, instead of going home after the movie, you could stay with me". As Ethan told her of his idea, his eyes were sparkling.

Suddenly, Theresa began to feel nervous. She knew she had to tell him that she had never done this before. She looked in to his eyes. "Ethan? There's something I have to tell you." She inhaled a deep breath, and let it out. "I've never....been with a man, before. You'll be my first." she said shyly, looking down to her hands.

Ethan's heart began to race faster. How could he be lucky enough to have a woman as beautiful as Theresa, and a virgin, too? "Well, that makes what I have to tell you a lot easier." he said as he breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Theresa, I've never made love to a woman before, either."

Theresa sat in shock. Ethan Bennett, the most eligible bachelor in Harmony, was still a virgin?

"Ethan, really?"

"I know, you probably think I'm a prude. But after growing up with my father and Grace, and seeing the kind of love that they shared, and seeing how Julian treated my mother by having sex with many different women, I knew I wanted to wait to share myself with the woman that I truly loved, you."

Theresa felt tears forming in her eyes. He loved her so much, that he saved himself for her. She felt the tears streaming down her face. "How did I get so lucky?" she asked out loud.

"I ask myself that same question, every time I lay eyes on you."

"Oh Ethan," she said, as she laid her head on his chest again, "It's going to be the most romantic night of our entire lives!"

"I promise you it will be", he said as he kissed the top of her head. "Now, here's the next question, what can I make you for dinner?"

"Hmm, well, what can you make?"

"A very mean TV dinner."

Theresa laughed. "What else ya got?"

"I can do spaghetti."

"That sounds wonderful, but only if you let me bring the wine."

"How about champagne instead?"

"Perfect! Now, here's my next question for you."

"What's that?"

"What is your favorite color of lingerie?" She smiled a devilish smile.

"OH I CANNOT WAIT FOR THURSDAY!"