A.N. There's a possibility of Gwen being hooked up with someone else later on besides Ethan, if I do decide that whom would you like her to be with.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback. I chose this pairing because first off Noah is just so hot; secondly I really liked the chemistry both had in the scenes they shared. Made me start thinking about this pairing a lot. I'm still a huge Therox fan but Thoah is quickly becoming one of my top 5 pairings.

Chapter 1

Docks

Theresa walks quietly on the docks of Harmony, it's cold but not unpleasantly so, she just got off the phone with the judge and it was going to be another hour before her parental rights were reinstated. A large part of her wanted to jump through the phone and strangle the judge for making her wait, but that would hardly get her any closer to getting her daughter back.

She's never been known to be a patient person, but in this case she has to be patient or she would succeed in doing nothing but making sure Ethan and Gwen kept Jane forever. Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald Crane was not going to let that happen.

As she is leaning against the wooden rail looking out toward the ocean she hears the clicking of heels coming up rapidly behind her. "Damn you Theresa!" The very familiar voice of Gwen Winthrop pierces through her thoughts.

"Hello Gwen, what can I do for you today?" Theresa doesn't even bother to turn around knowing exactly what she'll see, Gwen fuming, Ethan being a wimp, and Rebecca looking like she's constipated. Why ruin her eyesight when she can look toward the beautiful horizon.

"How dare you try to take Jane from me and Ethan, we have custody of her and she is going to stay with us." She shouts at the woman with her back to her.

Theresa shakes her head, "Oh I'm not going to try Gwen, I am going to get Jane back and the judge should be handing me the papers very soon. Before night fall I will have my little girl back in my arms."

"Listen you Terrorcita," Rebecca steps forward, "the only reason you're doing this is to make sure Ethan is around, when are you going to get it through your head that he will never go back to you?" That should sting the little Lolita.

"First off, I'm doing this because I want my daughter back, not because I want Ethan back. See I had an epiphany today while talking to Ethan." Theresa finally turns around risking her eyesight wanting to see the trios' faces; "He isn't worth my love. For years I've been trying to get him back and the only reason I ever held out hope was because he continue to say that he still loves me but he wouldn't break his vows to Gwen."

Thoughtfully she places a finger on her chin, "Then I got to thinking that the only reason he told me that was because he really liked having two women, Gwen and myself, fighting over him. He knew that he could keep his wife and continue to string me along all he had to do was say he loves me still every few months and I wouldn't go anywhere."

"So wait a minute…you're finally giving up on Ethan?" Gwen scrunches her face up in confusion, she's heard this before but never had Theresa had that look in her eyes. It's like she doesn't care about Ethan anymore, like she really had an epiphany.

"That's right, he's all yours Gwen. You win so to speak. Never again will I bother either of you." Her face is so sincere and honest looking that Gwen actually begins to believe Theresa.

"But you're still taking Jane away from us." Gwen's voice shakes.

"Yes and no. Yes I am getting full custody of Jane again, however that doesn't mean I'm saying you and Ethan can not come and visit Jane. All I ask is that you call before you come to the mansion, I'm sure Jane would love to have her father and her Auntie Gwen spend some time with her."

Gwen feels tears well up in her eyes, "You'd let us come see her and spend time with her?" She would hate to get her hopes up and have Theresa pull the rug out from under her.

"Yes, I swear to you Gwen…"

"Oh please tell me you're not falling for this Gwenie, you know how this little Taco manipulates people to get what she wants." Rebecca can see her daughter cracking and about to give in to Theresa and that's the last thing she wanted to see.

Gwen turns toward Ethan who is staring oddly at Theresa; "Because I love Jane so much I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I won't fight you taking Jane back and Ethan and I get time with her."

Theresa nods and holds out her hand for Gwen to shake; hesitantly she does, Gwen almost expects there to be lightning and thunder when she grasps Theresa's hand. Everything Theresa said seems reasonable, she'd find out soon enough if she were telling the truth or not.

Theresa knows Gwen is skeptical, she'd be skeptical too. The middle Lopez-Fitzgerald child feel awful about everything that Gwen has gone through, a lot of it because of her one-track mind wanting Ethan back, but now that she's given up on Ethan she hopes she and Gwen can be civil to one another. The least she can do is let Gwen have some time with Jane; it would help with the hurt.

"Gwenie you are making a deal with the devil, how stupid can you be to think Theresa won't use this as an opportunity to get Ethan back."

"Mother, let me deal with the consequences, if I'm wrong then it's my own fault for believing Theresa, but if I'm right then isn't it better that we handle this maturely and like adults instead of like children?" Gwen turns to Theresa; "We'll have Jane ready to go when you come."

"Thank you Gwen." She nods to the trio, as they leave the docks Theresa turns back to the ocean and breathes in deeply. Not once did she tell Ethan that he still loves her, not once did she mention fate, and Ethan couldn't take his eyes off her.

Sighing out her irritation she shakes her head, she really isn't doing this for Ethan's benefit she's doing this for her own peace of mind. She can't keep chasing after someone who only wants her to string along; she deserves better than that. Maybe now she'll find that special someone, her dream man could walk out from around the corner and sweep her off her feet.

Checking her watch she notices the time, the papers should be landing on her desk in about 10 minutes, she better head on back to the mansion. Turning around she strolls back the way she came and runs smack dab into a hard chest, she would have fallen to the ground but strong arms held her in place against their chest.

"Whoa, careful Theresa." A deep chuckle sounds from above her.

She lifts her gaze to the gorgeous blue eyes staring down at her, "Hey Noah. Thanks for catching me."

TBC