Unconditionally-Chapter 7

Watching the man she loved chase her son around the yard from the nursery window as she rocked Jane to sleep, Theresa smiled. It was nice to finally have a peaceful moment. The week following she and Ethan's midnight conversation and his decision to divorce Gwen had been tumultuous and bittersweet. As the news of Ethan's decision had spread through Harmony, it seemed that everyone had their own opinion on the situation. Sam had stopped by to give his blessing, asking them to give Ivy time and she would come around. But while Sam, Chad, Fox, Kay, Noah, Fancy, Paloma and a handful of others had offered their support, the majority had shown their displeasure at the turn of events. Rebecca Hotchkiss had been particularly nasty, but Theresa hadn't heeded her words for the most part. Most painful had been her own mother's reaction to the news. Shaking her head, she sighed recalling the blowout that had occurred just two days earlier.

"Mama!" Theresa smiled as one of the maids ushered Pilar into the living room. Hugging her mother, she quickly pulled away when the hug was not returned. "I'm so glad you're here. I have so much to tell you."

"If you're speaking of Ethan, there is no need."

"What? How do you know?"

"Well, Paloma told me that you and Ethan have reunited. It seems you're finally getting what you always wanted."

"Isn't it wonderful, Mama? We're going to be a family!"

"Forgive me if I do not share in your enthusiasm." Pilar stated, her tone chilly.

"Mama, please don't lecture. Don't ruin this for me. Can't you just be happy for me for once?"

"It is hard for me to be happy, to support you in this, when your happiness is at the expense of another woman's happiness. Ethan and Gwen took vows, mija. A sacred oath, in church before God. And you destroyed those vows just to fulfill your own selfish desires. I'm ashamed that a daughter of mine would be so happy knowing she broke up a marriage."

"What Gwen and Ethan had wasn't a marriage, mama. A marriage is something between two people in love. Ethan only married Gwen because she was pregnant, and he thought he owed it to her. He thought that it was the only way to be there for his child. But Ethan loves me, mama. He wants to be with me."

"Ethan did the right thing by Gwen and his child. It does not matter how the marriage came about. It did, and you should have respected that, Theresita."

"You mean like Gwen respected my engagement to Ethan? Like she respected our wedding? She didn't have any respect for that, didn't care who she hurt, when she and her mother sent Ethan's paternity information to the tabloids. When they made sure that I took the fall for their actions."

"Dios mio! Not this again. Theresa, even if Gwen and Rebecca did send the tabloid the information, your relationship with Ethan was still doomed by all your lies. You had the proof of Ethan's paternity on your computer. You could have told him the truth at any time. Maybe if you had been honest with him, things would have worked out differently."

"If I had told him…" A bitter laugh escaped Theresa at her mother's words. "If I hadn't listened to you in the first place, mama, I would have told him. YOU are the one who begged, no, more like demanded that I not tell Ethan. I wanted to tell him the truth, but you told me that it wasn't my secret to reveal."

"Oh, so now I am to blame for your lies?"

"No. But I trusted you when you told me to keep Ethan's paternity from him. I believed, silly me, that you as my mother had my best interests at heart. So I kept the secret. And it cost me everything. Then, when everything blew up in my face, and my world was crumbling around me, you had the audacity to tell me that if I really loved him, I'd have told him the truth. And it's been the same way almost every other time I've taken your advice instead of listening to my heart, and what it was telling me."

"You didn't have to listen to me, Theresita. It wouldn't be the first time you disobeyed me."

"You're right. I shouldn't have listened to you. Because you were against Ethan and I from the beginning."

"That is not true! I was only worried about what would happen to this family if you kept on chasing a ridiculous dream. Once I saw he loved you, I supported you."

"No you didn't! You told him that if he loved me, he should leave me and stay with Gwen. Remember that, mama? How could you do that? Why did you wish that kind of pain on me?"

"I never wished pain on you, mi hija. Never. I only wanted to spare you the pain you are going through now. Ethan was always going to marry Gwen, and I knew that in the end your heart would be the one broken. I didn't want that for you, and I was trying to do my best to keep our family from falling apart."

"But he wasn't going to marry her, mama. He loved me, and it was only after Ethan proposed to me, after we faced down you, and the Crane's and the Hotchkiss' that you decided to support us." Unable to hold back tears of hurt and frustration, Theresa wiped her eyes before continuing. "I love you, mama. All I've ever wanted is for you, Luis, Miguel, and Paloma to be happy. Now that Papa's back, even though I may not trust him, you're giving him a second chance. The two of you have the opportunity to try and make what you have work. And I am happy for you. I hope that you get everything you wanted. As my mother, you should want the same for me. But for some reason, you don't."

"I do want you to be happy, mija. I want you to find love with someone who has the right to love you. With someone who isn't married."

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I haven't. I am in love with Ethan, and he is in love with me. I guess after papa disappeared, things were so hard that something inside of you hardened. You lost your belief in fate, and that love wins in the end. Maybe you thought you were preparing me for life, trying to prevent me from being hurt. All your warnings and harsh words accomplished was to put doubts in my head about Ethan and I. But true love does win, mama. Ethan and I are together, and I am going to follow my heart, no matter how crazy it seems. I won't let you fill my head with doubts this time."

"You've always been a headstrong girl. You never think about the consequences!"

"I've thought about the consequences! I just believe that whatever consequences may come, they aren't strong enough to destroy the love Ethan and I have for each other. Please mama, say you'll support Ethan and I."

"I…I'm sorry. I cannot support the breaking up of a marriage and a family."

"A family? The only family they have is the one Gwen forced him into when she convinced him to steal Jane away from me. Ethan, Jane, Ethan Martin, and I are a family."

"I think I should be going now."

"Maybe you should. At least for now." Theresa agreed. "But the door is always open if you ever change your mind."

Moving to leave, Pilar paused at the entryway of the living room

"Despite what you may think, mija, I do love you." And with those words she exited the mansion.

Ethan had found her nearly half an hour later, sitting on the couch in tears. Taking her in his arms, he assured her of his love, and that all her mother would come around. Theresa wasn't so sure. She understood that she was stubborn, and recognized that she got her stubbornness from her mother. When Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald dug her heels in, there was almost no way to change her mind. And the fact that her mother would not be there for she and her children hurt deeply. However, as she held her daughter in her arms and witnessed the joy on her son's face while he played with the man he considered his father, she knew that what she and Ethan were doing was right. It was fate. All she could do is hope that her mother would someday understand.

Looking down to find that Jane had fallen to sleep, Theresa gently laid her daughter down in her crib, then made her way downstairs, giving the nanny orders to alert her when Jane awakened before heading outside to be with Ethan and her son. Upon opening the door, she was surprised to come face to face with Ivy.

"Um…hello Ivy." She greeted, forcing as much warmth as she could into her voice.

"Hello, Theresa. I was hoping to speak with you."

"What do you want, Mother?" A voice asked from behind Ivy.

"Ethan." Ivy smiled as she turned to face her son. "Good. Things will be so much easier this way. Now I won't have to repeat what I was going to tell Theresa."

Ethan kneeled down until he reached eye level with Ethan Martin.

"Hey Sport, why don't you go to the kitchen while Ivy, your mom and I talk?" He suggested. "I heard Cook mention something earlier about chocolate chip cookies."

"Cool!" The little boy exclaimed, making a bee-line for the kitchen.

Standing back up, grabbing Theresa's hand, Ethan turned to his mother.

"Okay. I'm going to ask you again: what do you want?"

"I want to apologize."

"Apologize?" Ethan repeated incredulously.

"Yes. Apologize. I realize now that I acted horribly." Ivy sighed. "I had no right to say the things I did. You're my son. I love you, and all I want is your happiness. If being with Theresa makes you happy, then I'm just going to have to accept that." She said, turning to Theresa. "I am sorry. I know you have no reason to trust me, and that I've been awful to you. But I hope we can put the past behind us and maybe, with a little work, become friends."

"I'd like that." Theresa responded, smiling warily. As much as she wanted to believe Ivy's words, gut intuition mixed with past experience warned her to be careful.

"Are you serious about this mother?"

"One hundred percent, Ethan. I don't want to lose you."

"Thank you." Ethan smiled, hugging his mother tightly. "This is amazing. I know it won't be easy, but I am so thankful that you are willing to put in the effort."

"Anything for you, son." Ivy returned the hug.

"Isn't this a cozy scene?" A snide voice questioned from the foyer. "One big happy family, is it?" Theresa stiffened noticeably as Rebecca entered the room, glaring at its occupants. "How wonderful everything is working out so splendidly for the two of you. Never mind the fact that my poor daughter is heartbroken. Forget that her dreams have been shattered. That doesn't matter to either of you. Or to you either, I guess, Ivy."

"Rebecca, that's enough." Ivy ordered calmly, walking over to where Rebecca stood, staring the red head down. "I'm sorry that Gwen's been hurt. You know I think of her as a daughter. But this is Ethan's decision. Why don't you crawl back to whatever rock you slithered out of, and leave Ethan and Theresa alone?"

"Well I never!"

"I highly doubt that, Rebecca." Ethan stated, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

"I am not going to stand here and be insulted like this! I'm going to my room. But mark my words, there will be hell to pay for what you have done to my daughter. I'd be very careful if I were you two." Shooting one last glare at the trio, the red head stormed out of the room.

After a brief moment of tense silence, Theresa giggled.

"I can't believe you said that to her, Ethan."

"He was only speaking truth, Theresa." Ivy smiled.

"I know, but still…to say that to her face…" Theresa's amusement was cut short by an unpleasant thought. "She meant what she said, though. She's going to come after us. She'll be looking for blood."

"Let her come." Ethan stated, wrapping her up in his arms. "As long as we stick together, she can't touch us, okay?"

"You're right." Theresa smiled, snuggling into his embrace.

"He is absolutely right, my dear. You two just stand strong."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Just take care of each other, son."

"We will."

"Good."

"Would you like to stay for dinner, Ivy?" Theresa offered.

"Thank you, dear, but I don't think I'll be able to this afternoon. I believe I'll go check on Fancy and then head back home."

"Maybe another time?" Ethan suggested.

"That sounds wonderful. Well, I'll leave the two of you alone and see if I can find your sister."

"Okay. Bye Mother. And thank you again. This means the world to me."

"I know, sweetheart. You're welcome. Take care you two."

Departing from the living room, making her way up the stairs, Ivy was less than surprised when she was accosted by a furious looking Rebecca.

"I cannot believe you are going to just sit back and allow this to happen. I thought you out of all of us despised Theresa the most."

"I do!"

"Then what are you doing acting all buddy buddy with the slut?"

"Have you ever heard of the saying 'Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer'?"

"Oooh." A look of understanding dawned on Rebecca's face.

"Exactly. Ethan's determined to try and make a go of it with Theresa, and refuses to hear of anyone saying anything against it. If Ethan knew how against this whole disaster I really am, he would cut me out of his life completely. I can't exactly destroy their relationship if I'm not around, now can I?"

"Ivy, I thought I was devious." Rebecca laughed delightedly. "You, however, take the cake."

"Say what you want, but I will do whatever it takes to get that gold digging tramp out of my son's life for good. I think we can put our differences aside long enough to take out the trash, don't you?"

"Of course. Anything to protect my Gwennie's future with the man she loves."

"Good. Then we're agreed. Theresa is going down, and the sooner the better. Now, let's go see Gwen and come up with a plan.

 

Cleaning up the remnants of their lunch with Ethan Martin, Ethan smiled at Theresa across the table, watching as she gathered up the plates to take back to the kitchen. She was worried about something.

"Why the grim face?" He queried.

"Nothing. Everything's fine." Theresa replied, forcing a smile.

"No it's not. Something's bothering you. I can tell because all of the lines are bunching up in your forehead, and you're biting your lower lip. Now talk."

"It really is nothing." Theresa sighed. "I'm just being silly. I keep…" Taking a second to collect her thoughts, she continued. "I keep waiting for the shoe to drop. Everything is starting to work out for me. We're together, the kids are happy and healthy, Alistair is on death's door…it all just seems too good to be true. I'm scared that any minute now I'll wake up and find out that this is just another one of my dreams."

"Sweetie." Ethan put down the glasses he'd been holding, taking the plates from her hands and taking her hands in his. "This is real. It's happening. And you know the best part? This is only the beginning. It's a new start for us. Let's make the most of it."

"You're right. I know you are. I'm sorry for being so insecure. You're probably sick of having to reassure me by now."

"Hey, stop that. Things have never been easy between us. It's only natural for you to have some doubts. I'll reassure however long it takes for you to believe. It's you, me and the kids from here on out. Nothing is going to separate us again."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." A voice remarked from the entryway of the dining room. At the shock of hearing this voice, Theresa paled. It was happening, she thought. The other shoe that she'd spoken of had dropped. And in this instance, the shoe was a lead slipper. "After all, Ethan, we wouldn't want you to make more promises that you can't keep, now would we?"

Face red, fist clenched in anger, Ethan glared at the figure standing before them.

"Go to hell, Alistair."