Chapter 13 "Keeping it real"

Crane Mansion

"Father, I need some time alone," Fox murmured and Julian nodded, walking to the door but before he left he turned to his son and pulled him close.

"Fox, I kept those videos in case Ethan contested the divorce or tried to sue for custody of Mathieu. Teresa didn't want to press charges because she didn't want her family to find out what Ethan was doing to her. All she wanted was the divorce. And I agreed to help her because it was the only thing I could do for either of them. Your brother needed help. I wish he had gotten some before he died," he added closing the door quietly behind him.

When he was alone Fox stared at the now blank screen, wanting to make sense of what he had seen. When his father had told him they needed to talk he had agreed even though every fiber of his being begged him to go see Teresa and apologize for his appalling behavior. But he had never expected anything like this. The man in those videos was a monster. A monster that cheated on his wife, who was physically abusive, who had endangered the life of his child.

"Oh Teresa, I'm sorry, so damn sorry," he sobbed. "I accused you of so many things when he was the one who---God I can't even say it. How am I going to look you in the eyes ever again?" Fox wondered grabbing a Ming vase and smashing it against the wall.

Teresa's room

"Dr Russell, my baby, is my baby alright?," Teresa asked with an alarmed expression on her face.

"Your baby is perfectly healthy Teresa. But you gave us all quite a scare. What happened?" Eve asked gently.

Teresa moistened her lips nervously and feigned tiredness to give herself time to think. She wanted to know what Fox had admitted before making any declaration or everyone would blame him for what had happened.

"Eve, I---" she stammered, smiling with relief when Leslie knocked on the door and saved her from having to concoct a lie. She was a terrible liar.

"Up for a visitor bearing gifts?" Leslie called out.

"I'll leave you alone so you can chat. Don't tire her out too much," Eve warned before slipping out.

Leslie nodded and put the bouquet of roses she had brought on the table besides the bed. Pursing her lips she decided the room smelled like a summer garden since Teresa had been receiving floral arrangements all morning.

Sitting at the edge of the bed she handed her friend the small bag she had brought and a delighted Teresa removed the nightgown and cosmetics Leslie had brought by. Her smile was quick to disappear and Leslie paled when she saw the tears glimmering in her friends eyes. Teresa never cried. Ever. Something was wrong.

"Sweetie what's the matter? Aren't you happy about the baby?" she asked.

"Of course I'm happy about the baby but I'm scared Les, so damn scared," Teresa muttered shakily.

"Resa, everything's going to be alright," Leslie soothed but Teresa only wailed louder.

"How Les, my child's father doesn't even remember sleeping with me so how am I supposed to explain my pregnancy?" Teresa demanded.

"How could he not know Teresa? Did you drug someone?" Leslie demanded.

"No Les, of course not. He was drunk and he thought I was someone else but he made me feel so beautiful, so wanted that I couldn't push him away," Teresa explained.

"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry. This must be so hard for you. Especially after everything your ex did to you. But you're not alone sweetie. You have your family and your friends and we'll take care of you. But right now you need to take care of yourself and the baby. The nurse said she was bringing lunch by. After you eat I'll help you shower and wash your hair," Leslie coaxed and Teresa smiled, glad that her friend was there.

"Your parents went to get Mathieu. They'll be here shortly," Leslie added knowing that would be Teresa's next question. "And Eve said you could only have one visitor at a time so the rest of your family is frothing at the heels," she teased making Teresa laugh again.

A knock at the door had Leslie jumping to her feet.

"That must be Luis. He said he would only give me fifteen minutes."

But when she opened the door, it wasn't Luis standing there but Fox.

"Can I come in?" he asked politely and Leslie nodded.

Teresa looked up at the sound of his voice, her face paling and her hands trembling.

Fox noticed her reaction and cursed himself for a fool. Noticing the tension in the room Leslie decided to make herself scarce but neither Teresa nor Fox noticed her leave for they were too absorbed in each other.

"Fox---" she began but Fox pressed a finger to her lip and shook his head.

"I said some awful things Teresa, things I can't take back but I'm sorry for them. I didn't want to hurt you or the baby. I was jealous and I took my frustrations out on you," he explained, his eyes shiny with tears.

Teresa stared at him wide eyed not sure what to reply. She was so used to the antagonistic, often rude Fox. The man standing before her was a complete stranger.

"Finding out you were pregnant blindsided me Teresa. I'd spent so many weeks thinking of you, dreaming of you and then realizing that you'd let some other man touch you made me so angry. I'm sorry babe. I had no right to treat you the way I did or to accuse you of those awful things when it was Ethan who---" he whispered lowering his head in shame.

"Who told you about Ethan?" Teresa asked quietly ignoring the other half of his statement.

"Father showed me the videos. Damn it Teresa why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you press charges against him? He was a monster," Fox raged.

"I didn't want my family to know. Papa and Luis would have killed him," Teresa replied simply.

"And me? Why couldn't you trust me with the truth?" he demanded.

"Because you loved him." Teresa answered.

"God when I recall the names I called you and the things I said I want to cut my tongue out," Fox muttered and Teresa laughed through her tears.

"It doesn't matter Fox. You couldn't have known and it was only natural for you to assume he was the injured party. It's over. He can't hurt me anymore and I will always be grateful to him for giving me Mathieu. My son was worth the hell I endured," Teresa replied vehemently.

"You're amazing, Resa," Fox told her.

"I'm just a woman. An ordinary woman leading an ordinary life," Teresa replied.

"There's nothing ordinary about you Resa," Fox answered, pressing a hand to her tummy.

"I want to marry you Resa. And I want to be a father to your child, to both your children" he stated abruptly and Teresa stared at him mutely, surprise etched on every one of her features.

A/N Were you guys surprised by the proposal?