Chapter 5

It's almost 11 o'clock by the time Ethan finally starts to make his way to the wharf. He'd known and expected that Gwen's reaction would be emotional; but even he couldn't have been prepared for how she behaved when he told her the wedding was off. Gwen had quite literally gone crazy, throwing things and effectively nearly destroying the mansion in her fit. Her hysterics prompted him to consider their relationship with more scrutiny. And he was left with one conclusion…all their problems over the years they were together, combined with the way she'd acted tonight, made him seriously begin to wonder if she didn't have a deeper pathology.

Everyone was shocked at the news of course. His father had immediately phoned Alistair Crane, who then threatened to disinherit him from the Crane fortune if he didn't put an end to this "insanity". Ethan assured his grandfather that that was precisely what he was trying to do.

And then there was Gwen…

When he'd left she wouldn't even look at him. That was not to mention Rebecca who he was quite certain was ready to rip him limb from limb. Yes, everyone was upset. But the biggest surprise of the evening had been his mother Ivy's reaction.

Deep down he always knew that she only ever wanted him to be happy. But he'd certainly never expected her to welcome his decision with open arms, at least not immediately. So although it was clear that Ivy was disappointed, she was nevertheless supportive of his decision.

Eager to leave the hysterics of the mansion and meet Teresa, Ethan excused himself as soon as he was assured that Rebecca would take Gwen home and make her get some rest.

That was just over fifteen minutes ago…now again behind the wheel of his convertible, all he wanted to do was find Teresa. He knew that once he did she'd quell his own raging emotions. The events of the evening had taken their toll on him as well…a fact that no one else had considered. Pulling his car over alongside the pier, Ethan anxiously jumped out and approached the ramp.

Walking down the pier, his breath caught when he spotted her standing at the lookout. She'd changed her clothes since the party; she looked more comfortable. Looking down at himself he suddenly realized that he was still dressed in his tuxedo; his bowtie haphazardly opened lay hanging around his neck. His disheveled look appropriately mirrored the way he felt.

Quietly walking up behind her he wraps his arms around her waist and nuzzles her against him. It was an amazing feeling…being around her somehow seemed to instantly relax him. He couldn't contain the heavy sigh that escaped him the moment he felt her warmth around him.

Smiling as he holds her close and then lowering his lips to her ear whispers, "Sorry I'm late."

Teresa can feel the heat from his mouth as he speaks against her. "Mmmm," she moans as he lays her hands atop his arms. "That's okay. It's a beautiful night…and besides, I'm sure you had your hands full," she teases.

"Yeah, you could say that," he says thoughtfully.

Noticing his weariness she asks in concern, "Ethan, are you alright?"

"Hmm…I am now." She smiles instinctively at his response.

A moment passes before he asks quietly, "Teresa?"

"Hmmm?" she moans.

Ethan pauses for a moment as he reflects on what he's about to say.

"Do you ever wish you could go back and do things differently?" With his arms wrapped around her waist, he stands straight all the while supporting her slight weight as she leans against his chest and they watch the moonlight.

"What do you mean? What sorts of things Ethan?" She asks him somewhat confused by this sudden change in subject.

"Oh I don't know, just make different choices", he confesses. She stops and turns in his arms suddenly needing to look into his eyes.

"Do you?" she asks gently, and slightly nervous about his response. He lowers his head and meets their gaze intensely.

"I wish I could have realized how much I love you sooner. I mean, I always knew, from the first moment I saw you...that I would've given anything to hold you. But when I think back on all the things that have happened because of my stubbornness...I'm disappointed I didn't see it sooner."

"But Ethan..." she tries to interrupt, but he won't let her. He continues on gently.

"It's just that there are so many things that could have been prevented. Your pain, Gwen's pain, Luis' anger," then he stops for a moment as he thinks of the worst consequence of them all, "your accident...God, if anything had happened to you in that accident..." he tries to desperately hold back tears, "If I'd lost you..." and then she realized he couldn't say the words. It hurt him too deeply, and that thought warmed her to no end.

Teresa lifts a hand to caress his cheek. "But you didn't Ethan. And you won't," she assures him tenderly with conviction. "I love you too much to ever leave you."

Attempting a smile, he peers through his misty eyes at hers. "But the danger's not over yet Teresa. My father and grandfather, and no doubt Rebecca, will try to hurt us. They'll try everything they know to keep us apart." As he looks at her he sees the truth of what he's said reflected in her eyes.

"But I won't let them." He says defiantly. "I won't let them take you from me Teresa. I love you, and we'll always have the strength to stop them as long as we're together."

"You're right Ethan." She tells him. "In the end, whatever happens we'll have each other. And that's all that matters to me." Smiling at her reassurance and faith, a thought enters his mind that radiates excitement through to his core.

Now feeling more playful and at ease, "Well now that we've worked that out, there's only one problem."

"And what would that be?" she asks curiously.

Looking at her he tells her sincerely, "I don't want to ever be without you again."

Wrapping his arms more completely around her body he lowers his voice in that way she loves when he's speaking words meant only for her. "I don't want one more night to pass that you aren't curled up against me. I don't want one more morning to come that I can't awaken to you sleeping beside me. Basically, I don't want to ever be in my bed again unless you're in it too."

"Well," she starts giddily while gazing up into his eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Ethan what do you suggest that we do about that?"

She smiles at him and lets her senses fill with the intoxicating scent that is purely Ethan. He smiles down at her affectionately with passion in his eyes. Standing in the minimal light cast by the moonlight and lanterns along the wharf, Teresa amazes that she can still see the change his passion has on his eyes. She watches, as they seem to mystically change color from a deep blue to the deep purple color the sea becomes in a dark storm.

Every cell in his body aches for her. But he forces himself back to reality for a moment. In that moment of clarity he knew he'd give his soul to spend the rest of his life with her. He is once again nearly moved to tears as he reads all her love for him written in her face, and he knows she'd do the same for him.

"Teresa? Come away with me!" he whispers desperately.

In asking her this Ethan knew two things for certain. One that what he was essentially asking of her was to stand up with him against their families, and defy their rules. And secondly, Ethan knew that nothing he'd ever done had felt so right! Her eyes spoke volumes to him, and he knew she was waging a war of emotions within her.

"Wait! Don't answer me right away. I want to say something first," he paused watching her slightly nodding her head in agreement.

"Now, I know what you're going to say. You're going to tell me that running away from my parents, and Gwen, and Luis won't change anything. And you're right. But I'll be damned if I ever let them come between us again. I love you Teresa! I love you with all my heart and I know our love won't be easy for our families to face, but they don't have a choice…because I'm not giving you up for anything!" At this point Ethan's words had affected her so deeply that tears she didn't know she'd shed were streaming down her face. Ethan lifts his hand to her cheek and lightly wipes them away.

"Come with me," he whispers tenderly. "Only for a few days, I promise. I just need to be with you, just the two of us, without the craziness and mayhem of Harmony at our heels. And when we come back I promise the firing squad will still be here waiting for us."

He smiles and she laughs through her tears. "Please Teresa…let me show you how much I love you. I need to show you that regardless of what our families try to keep us apart...I'll always be with you. Always."

He whispers to her while tilting his head until their foreheads meet. He holds it there until Teresa lifts her chin and catches his lips in a soft tantalizing kiss.

Smiling she pulls away gently. "Well Ethan, if we're going to make it out of here unnoticed we'd better hurry don't you think?" Ethan pulls back so he's looking straight into her eyes and releases a startled laugh.

"Really?" he asks, "Are you sure?"

"Ethan I'm sure that I love you. And I'm sure that as long as we have each other we can face any obstacle...even Luis and Gwen. And besides, there's nothing else in this world I'd like more than to spend a few uninterrupted days with the man I love. Just promise me one thing?"

"Anything." He answers overjoyed by her decision. He had so many wonderful things planned for them, and maybe even a few surprises.

"Promise me that the next couple of days will be worry free. I don't want to think about Harmony at all while we're gone. I just want to be with you."

"That I can definitely promise you Teresa; there won't be one word about Harmony," he assures her with a kiss.

"Well then Mr. Crane, it looks like you've got yourself a deal. Take me away with you."

Smiling at each other with great love and affection she prods curiously, "So where are we headed?"

"Well Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald, that's a surprise."

"Is that so? Well lucky for me I have a few ideas up my sleeve to get you to tell me." She says playfully through a huge grin. Reaching her arms up to encircle his neck, she presses her body against his, reminding him of how alert a response she can elicit from him. Closing his eyes in a desperate effort to contain himself, he encircles her small waist between his strong embrace and holds her firmly against him.

"Now you're not playing fair." He moans in feigned protest.

"Oh come on Ethan, please tell me? How will I know what to pack if I don't know where we're going?"

"Uh-huh... Good one! But our destination is a secret...and I'm not telling," he manages through a smile.

"Come on, we'll stop by your house so you can pick up a few things. But we'll have to hurry if we're going to make it out of here without a scene." He kisses her, and takes her by the hand as he leads them back toward his car.

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