Author's note: This is the sequel and finale to Without Her, a story also written by me. This story has been over a year's work and I'm thoroughly proud of it. Enjoy!

Feedback and reviews are adored!

- Sophia

Chapter 1

It had been four months since the accident, and only three weeks since the wedding. All was well and they were happy. Happier than they could have expected. It seemed like everything was perfect. But that was the problem. It seemed like it…

Ethan walked into is home, passing his keys between both hands. "Hello!" he called. His home was filled with so much love. He and his wife had decorated together and the very atmosphere warmed his heart. The front room was no where near the size of the parlor of the house he grew up in but it was still filled with his wife's flare that made him smile. "Where are you!" he called. There was no answer. "Hello, honey? You home?" He called again. Still no answer. Ethan turned about the house a bit, looking for his lost wife. Just as he was about to go upstairs, she turned up.

"Did you lose something?" Theresa asked, emerging from the kitchen.

"No, not really. I lost someone."

"Really? And who would that be?" she asked with a smile as she walked towards him.

Ethan welcomed her close to him, wrapping his arms around her. "My wife. You haven't seen her around by any chance, have you?"

"Hmmm, don't think so. What does this wife of yours look like?" Theresa asked mischievously.

"Well, she's gorgeous…"

"Oooh, really?"

"Irresistible…," he said, leaning in, nuzzling her neck.

"I see…" she barely managed to get out, slowly losing all concentration.

Suddenly, Ethan stopped the action with his mouth and caught her hand. He brought it closer to his face as to examine it. "Huh, would you look at that. Her wedding ring looks just like this."

"Really? Huh… Well, then I confess. I'm your wife," she admitted smiling.

"I would've never guessed it." They smiled at each other before they kissed-- a kiss that quickly turned passionate.

One could definitely tell that they were still in their corny, honeymooning period. Nothing but late nights, love, and passionate kisses. Something that they both wanted never to end.

Their arms wrapped around each other and they uneasily moved from the living room towards the stairs, still locked in a kiss.

Suddenly, Theresa broke the kiss and spoke. "Wait, wait, wait, Ethan… We can't do this."

Ethan spoke against her lips. "Of course we can. We're married."

"No, no we can't."

"And why not?" Ethan asked rather flustered.

"Little Ethan, he's upstairs."

"No, I took him to Sheridan's. Daddy had other plans." His sentence trailed off as he planted kisses in the hollow of her neck, tickling her with the vibration of his breath.

"You know you can't keep expecting Sheridan to take him. She has a life-"

Ethan silenced her with a kiss. "Shhh, don't interrupt a man when he's working." Theresa threw her head back in pleasure silently and allowed her own passion to overtake her completely. Not breaking the kiss, Ethan lifted Theresa's legs from the floor and carried her up the stairs in his arms. When Ethan finally found the bedroom, he laid Theresa on the bed and stared down at her godlike beauty.

Theresa not knowing what else to do, smiled. She played with the hair at the base of Ethan's neck and looked at him endearingly. "What?" she asked.

Ethan shook his head slightly and laughed at her question. "You are so beautiful."

The compliment made Theresa blush. She didn't know what else to say so she kissed him. They kissed again and again, and Theresa ran her hands over Ethan's chest as he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress. She sighed softly when he began to caress her back with his hands.

She rolled atop him and began to undo the buttons keeping his shirt closed as she kissed him. When all the buttons were undone, Theresa slid her hands inside and spread her palms across his chest, feeling the drumming of his heartbeat. His skin was hot to the touch and the feel of her hands was making him even hotter.

Ethan slid the thin straps of the dress off Theresa's shoulders and pushed it off her body; she was in nothing but panties. Ethan's hands explored her body every which way and held her close to him.

As Theresa kissed Ethan, she tossed her hair back and forth, letting it spill onto his chest. Ethan's shirt was soon discarded as were his pants. Their hands explored each other's bodies, and then, an interruption:

Ethan pulled away, his chest heaving. "Hey, are you sure you want to do this?"

Theresa's pulse was fast and her breathing was shallow when she stopped in shock. "What?"

"Well, you're right. We can't always expect Sheridan to watch Little Ethan all the time. She does have a life too. You know, maybe I should go get him right now. Yeah… yeah, I think I should."

"What! Don't you dare!" Theresa exclaimed.

"But weren't you just saying-"

"Shut up," she whispered.

"But-" He couldn't continue speaking when Theresa landed her mouth on his. Still Ethan tried to talk.

"Well… are you… sure… 'cause…. Little… Ethan…," he tried against her mouth.

"I said shut up," she said affirmatively.

Ethan stared at her smiling. "I love you."

Theresa kissed him in response. "Make love to me. Make love to me now." He didn't need anymore than that and he reached for her. His hand grabbed her face quickly and brought her to his forcefully, bruising her lips. Theresa's breath caught when he kissed her between her breasts and licked the way back up to her mouth. His hands explored her and his touch sent electricity through her being. He took her breasts in his hands and a soft moan escaped her lips. She arched her back slowly as he rolled atop her in one motion. Theresa ran her hands through his hair as he held himself above her, torturing her as he rubbed his chest against her. She whimpered for more but that was when he stopped. He just looked at her and she read his eyes.

Ethan's hands went down and further still. Theresa felt him on her body and responded immediately. He pressed his thumb deep into her and he heard the sharp intake of her breath; a shiver went through her at the shock of pleasure. She stiffened and arched against him and dug her fingers hard into his arms, but that didn't make him stop. Theresa's muscles contracted harder and harder. She was close now, so close. It was then that Ethan stopped his pleasurable torture. Theresa opened her eyes in shock. He just smiled at her. Ethan came above her and kissed her deeply. He pulled back and gazed deep into her brown eyes. Ethan moved and Theresa felt him brush against her. She gasped for breath at the shock, and before she could exhale Ethan joined himself inside of her.

Theresa's intake of breath was loud and she shut her eyes at the sensation. Ethan stopped, allowing Theresa to adjust to him for the moment. When Ethan could tell that she was ready, he continued further into her. Theresa's fingers dug deeper in his skin with every moment forward that he made. He went slowly, almost making her body beg for more. When he had finally joined himself inside of her completely, they were both panting. He sank back and watched her as he thrust himself back in. Theresa's eyes shut tight but they opened just as fast.

Theresa wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and pulled his lips to hers. He kissed her back as he continued a rhythm- Theresa's hips followed Ethan's. She breathed with every stroke and came closer and closer to her peak. Ethan sensed this and stopped. Again, he teased with his hands before she was brought back to the same place. He entered her again and this time, he wouldn't stop.

Her muscles contracted harder and harder around him. Theresa's body was shivering at what was to come. Theresa felt it coming and her body tensed. Ethan quickened his pace and kissed her again. Finally, Theresa's muscles couldn't take it anymore and stopped in a spasm. Theresa screamed Ethan's name in the final threshold of pleasure as he reached his climax with her. And then, Ethan collapsed on top of her, waiting to catch his breath.

When their breathing had returned to normal, Ethan laid next to Theresa and took her in his arms and she curled into him. He kissed her forehead and stroked her back.

"Wow…" Theresa whispered and Ethan nodded happily. "Who knew marriage could be so amazing?"

"Well as long as you don't forget how to do that thing with your back, it will be." Theresa looked up him, smiled and kissed his lips. They fell back into their passion, their blood racing with desire.

Suddenly, they were interrupted:

RING!

Theresa broke the kiss.

RING!

"Wait, wait, wait-" She tried to get out with Ethan's lips on hers.

RING!

"Let the machine get it," he said trying to distract her.

RING!

Ethan succeeded in taking her mind off of the ring and she allowed him to capture her.

"Hi, you've reached the Winthrop residence," the machine recording began, echoing Theresa's voice. "Sorry we can't come to the phone right now. Please leave your name and number and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks." BEEP!

"Hi, guys, it's Matt. Theresa, how you doing, girl? Ethan, listen, we just got a letter by messenger." Ethan and Theresa both stopped to listen. "You're not gonna like this." Ethan turned, now listening intently. "It's about Gwen…" At the sound of her name, Ethan rolled over to the bedside table to the phone. "It looks like Reb-" But before Matt could finish his sentence, Ethan picked up the receiver.

"Hello? Matt?" Ethan started, listening to Matt's fast talking on the other line. "What! I don't believe this. How can she- Right, yeah, yeah, that's fine. I can't-no, not right now. Because… I'll take care of it. Listen- I said, I'll take care of it. Yeah. Mmm hmmm, thanks. Okay, bye," he ended, hanging up the phone.

Theresa, hunched on her elbows to look at her husband as he put the phone down. "What's wrong?"

Ethan turned to her. He didn't speak at first, he was too busy trying to sort out the words in his head. "Rebecca… Rebecca, oh, God, I hate that woman."

"What, what's the matter? What happened?" Now she was almost scared.

"Rebecca somehow got Gwen's court date moved up to tomorrow."

"She can't do that," Theresa said in fear. "The court date wasn't supposed to be for another month or so."

"Well, I guess you can do anything if you're Mrs. Julian Crane."

"Well, if that's the case, do you think that Rebecca has already bought out the judge?"

Ethan thought for a moment. "No, I don't see how. I made sure that I got an honorable judge on the bench for this one. I've known Judge Malloy almost my entire life. He wouldn't take a bribe when it comes to one of my cases."

"Are you sure?"

Ethan took her face in his hands, making her look at him, wanting her to believe every word he was about to say. "I'm positive. Now, don't worry. Everything'll be fine." He kissed her forehead and held her close. There is no way that I'm going to let Gwen get away with what she did to you, he thought.