A/N- This next chapter is one of my personal favorites. And for those of you wondering when Teresa will begin her revenge, we will be getting to that soon. I'm just laying down the fountation.

Chapter 7

Harmony Hospital

"Teresa when are you going to tell me what's going on?" a worried Pilar asked her daughter with a frown.

She knew something was wrong. Teresa had been acting strangely all morning and Pilar was afraid her daughter was up to her old tricks.

"Mmmm?" Teresa replied distractedly, her mind on the conversation she'd had with Fox earlier that morning.

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"Good morning, Gorgeous," Fox whispered and Teresa opened her eyes to see Fox standing above her with a laden filled tray.

Blinking the sleep out of her eyes Teresa pushed back a strand of her midnight locks, clutched the sheets tightly around her bared breasts, and slowly sat up.

"Oh Fox," she breathed giving him a radiant smile and adjusting the sheet a little tighter when it slipped, revealing the scope of one honey toned breast.

"Breakfast awaits milady," Fox murmured, removing the chrome lid with a flourish and Teresa's mouth watered as she stared at the feast laid before her.

Fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, cinnamon toast drizzling with warm butter, hash browns, sliced melons and strawberries, and a steaming mug of coffee that smelled like heaven.

"So who delivered?" Teresa asked around a mouthful of eggs and Fox scowled.

"I did everything myself," he told her and Teresa lifted a brow knowing he couldn't even boil water.

"Alright, the restaurant around the corner delivered but I made the coffee and sliced the fruit myself," Fox admitted, a flush staining his cheeks and Teresa laughed.

"Well this is certainly the best coffee I've ever had," she whispered giving him a peck on the cheek.

When the mounds of food had disappeared Teresa wiped her mouth with a napkin, leaned back in bed, and let out a sigh.

"Everything was delicious Fox, thank you," she told him and Fox bowed.

"It was a pleasure serving you milady," he teased making Teresa smile.

"I wish every morning could be like this," Teresa murmured wistfully.

"It can be...if you'll agree to marry me," Fox blurted out and Teresa's eyes widened with shock. She had never expected Fox to propose and his words had taken her completely by surprise.

"Fox...I..." she stammered torn between her love for Fox and her desire for revenge.

"Resa I love you and I love the little guy. I know Ethan is technically his father but I feel like he's mine. And it'll be easier to fight a custody battle if we're married," he explained and Teresa felt her eyes well up with tears at the sweetness of his words.

"Fox..."

"Resa, I'm not an idiot. I know that you and my grandfather have formed some sort of alliance and that you've seriously been thinking of going back to Ethan," he added making Teresa's mouth drop open.

"How did you..." she began but Fox cut her off.

"Because I know you Resa and I knew when you told me the little guy was Ethan's son that you were thinking of taking him back. And if I believed that my brother could make you happy, that he was the husband you deserved and the father Ethan Martin needed I wouldn't stand in your way. But I know Ethan. And I know that deep down in his heart he really does love Gwen. He'll never leave her Resa. And you're setting yourself up for a world of heartache if you think he will," Fox told her and Teresa closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to see the heartache in his.

But I don't really want him back...all I want is for him to leave Gwen so she can feel the same pain I felt when she stole my son from me. And I want Ethan to think he can get me back so when I leave him at the altar he'll be humiliated the same way he humiliated me when he proposed to that bitch in front of me," Teresa thought.

"Fox...Ethan's already agreed to leave Gwen," she whispered.

"So you two have already discussed things," Fox whispered dully feeling as if his heart had shattered into a million pieces.

"Fox, I...I have to do what's best for my son. And the best thing for Ethan Martin is to grow up in a stable home with his parents," Teresa told him unable to tell him the truth.

"So Ethan Martin will grow up in a stable home with two parents who despise each other like I did then. How can you possibly think that's the best thing for him?" Fox asked and Teresa flinched at the sorrow she saw in his eyes.

"That's not fair. Ethan loves me and I...I...I..." Teresa stammered and Fox swung his eyes back to hers.

"You can't even say it can you? Resa, I know you love me. I felt it last night and I can see it in your eyes right now. So why are you going back to my brother?" Fox asked bluntly. "Resa don't throw away what we have for a shit head like Ethan. He doesn't deserve you," he told her hoarsely.

"Fox, I can't stay with you. I can't risk losing my son...and..."

"Resa, I'm a Crane. We can fight them I promise. Just say you'll marry me," he begged but Teresa shook her head.

"I can't Fox I just can't," she replied and Fox wiped the tears from his eyes as he realized Teresa had just turned down his proposal. "At least I can't right now," she added and Fox's brown eyes met hers with a frown.

"There's more going on here than you're telling me isn't there Resa?" he asked all the pieces of the puzzle finally falling into place as he realized that Teresa's determination to go back to Ethan was somehow a part of Alistair's scheme. "Never mind, I know I'm right," he added when Teresa remained silent.

"I wish you trusted me enough to tell me what was going on Resa but since you don't I'll just make myself scarce. But I swear that every time my brother lays a hand on you, it'll be me you think of," he promised pressing a savage kiss on her mouth before leaping out of the bed and making his way out of the apartment.

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"Teresa Isabella Lopez- Fitzgerald if you don't tell me what's going on this instant I swear I'm going to...paddle your backside," Pilar threatened and Teresa blinked back tears as she tried to focus her attention on her furious mother.

"Mama...I...I'm sorry I need to go. I'll be back later," Teresa called out as she ran to the door. "Bendicion," she shouted and Pilar sighed.

"God be with you mija. God be with you," Pilar whispered.

Something was definitely off and she had a sneaking suspicion Alistair had something to do with it.

"So help me God Alistair if you hurt my baby I'll kill you with my bare hands and not even blink an eye," she vowed.

Crane Industries...

"That's the spirit Pilar. Always the Mama bear aren't you?" he chuckled taking a long puff of his cigar. "Martin you were a fool to leave a fiery woman like that for my insipid, insignificant wife. But your loss is my gain," he added picking up a glossy eight by ten photo of Pilar and pressing a tender kiss to her lips.

"Now there's a woman worthy of being the next Mrs. Alistair Crane. It won't be long now my love. Not long at all," he whispered to the photo before setting it down and glancing at his watch.

Teresa was due any minute and they had a lot of things to settle. But everything was falling into place according to plan. And he couldn't have been happier.