Chapter 45:
This Doesn't Change A Thing, I Hope You Know
A/N: I planned to have this up before Valentine's Day, so much for that, hmm? Anyhow, here's the next chapter let me know what you think…
Gwen sighed, it was like the tenth time she'd called Daniel, since last night, and once again, she gotten his voice mail. "Uh, damn it Daniel pick up."
"Gwennie, why must you be so trusting of everyone?", Rebecca asked.
"What, are you talking about?", Gwen questioned, she gave her mother a confused look.
"You know when Daniel left yesterday in pursuit of that rich bimbo, and after a couple of hours, you got worried cause he didn't call?", Rebecca questioned.
"Yes mother, don't tell me you followed him?", Gwen questioned.
"No, of course not. You see Ernest at the hotel owes me a favor and well...", Rebecca began.
"Mother, what are you trying to say?", Gwen asked.
"Well, I - well he kind of got all of last night on camera.", Rebecca told her.
"Mother, do you know that is against the law?", Gwen asked.
"Well, do you know that Daniel, is falling in love with Kathelina? He said so himself, plus Kathelina is eating the attention he gives her up.", Rebecca told her.
"What? Kat, has gone through it the past couple of days, her brother was paralyzed, and the man she love was buried on her birthday, of all days, so mother, whatever you think is happening between Kat and Daniel is all in your head, because, Daniel is just being a friend to her and besides that Kathelina is not ready for any romantic relationship with no one.", Gwen told her.
"Gwennie, haven't you learned anything from your past mistakes, you're letting another, young, sexy, conceiving bitch steal your shot at being happy.", Rebecca told her.
"What...?", Gwen began.
"Kat is just as manipulative as Theresa, it wouldn't surprise me if Theresa wasn't the one pulling the strings, you know she...", Rebecca began.
"Mother would you listen to yourself? Theresa and I may have had our differences but, she is not out to get me now and I doubt that she ever was.", Gwen told her. "And, who's to say that Kathelina even wants Daniel in the first place, mother I don't know what kind of world you lived in growing up but, you got it all wrong when it comes to Kat, just like you did with Theresa."
"Gwennie, didn't I tell you that Theresa was not to be trust that she wanted Ethan, and wasn't I right?", Rebecca asked.
"Mother, yes you were right, but...things are different between Daniel and me...I hardly know him and well, I'm a lot more mature about things now and mother I can't go man crazy I have a little boy that realizes on me too much for me to just abound him.", Gwen told her.
"Gwen...", Rebecca began.
"Mother, no...now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go home for the night, before the storm gets here.", Gwen told her.
"Aren't you going to go see Daniel?", Rebecca asked.
"No.", Gwen told her. "I'll call him later."
"But, Gwennie...?", Rebecca began.
"You know I see why, Kayla and Hennery, refuse to let you have any part in there life, mother...you don't know when to butt out...you constantly want to mengle in our lives, would you stay out of it...God, you can be so annoying...", Gwen began.
"But, Gwennie...I was just trying to help you.", Rebecca told her.
"Mom, I understand that but...I can handle it.", Gwen told her, she walked over to the little boy she could tell he was bored to death, she could never in her life figure out how, Fox, Ethan, Kat and Rachel had came out of this place as sane as they did . "Honey, you want to go home?"
The boy nodded. "Yes."
"Okay, good, why don't you go let Phyllis help you put on your coat and scarf and get all ready to battle jack frost.", Gwen told him, she smiled down at her son, Lord how he was growing he would almost be 3 soon, and with each passing day looked more and more like his father, Ethan.
"Aunt Phi-wis.", she laughed lightly at her son's mispronunciation.
"Gwen, if you won't at least go back to Daniel, then why not Ethan? I mean, he'll get tired of playing around with that little slut Samantha and want a real woman and besides that you have a child together, use that to your advantage just like I did with Jonathan, use Josh in order to get Ethan back and think of it this way you won't be acting selfish, you'll be acting on behalf of what is best for your son.", Rebecca told her, Gwen looked at her for a moment, she wouldn't deny it, after all this time she still had feelings for Ethan and probably always would, because of Josh, the child they had together.
"Mother, it's ... Ethan is happy right now and I do not and will not use Josh in order to get Ethan back.", Gwen told her.
"Gwen, answer my question do you love Ethan still?", Rebecca asked.
"Mother...I...", Gwen began, before, her son came running up to her.
"He's all ready Ms. Hotchkiss.", Phyllis told her.
"Thank you.", Gwen told her, then turned her attention to her son. "You ready to go?"
"Yes, me wanna get home and make a snow man that can touch the sky.", the little boy told her.
"I don't think, we got enough snow for that, but, we can make a snow man.". Gwen told him.
"We going now?", Josh asked.
"Uh - hmm, just let mommy put on her coat and you go give your grandma a hug and a kiss.", Gwen told him, she watched as he ran over to Rebecca and gave her a big hug, she quickly put on her coat and shoes and waited for the little boy to join her at the door. "You ready to go?"
"Yup.", the little boy replied.
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Kathelina sighed, it seemed like every few hours that she was getting some kind of gift from Daniel, first it was a bouquet of flowers and then a teddy bear and every time he always found another reasons to for bringing them to her, she heard a knocked at the door and let out a low groan. "Ugh, Daniel, why please - No more...", she swung the door open, to see Theresa standing there.
"Hello, to you too.", Theresa told her, walking into the small apartment.
"Sorry, Theresa. I...", Kathelina told her.
"Well, someone loves you...who sent these and this...aww ain't it just the cutest.", Theresa picked up the small teddy bear.
"It's my birthday present - the only one I got...but, I understand that with everything that's happened it's no wonder that everyone's forgotten about it.", Kathelina told her.
"Aww, I'm sorry Kat, happy belated birthday, you know that I love ya though and I'm so sorry I forgot.", Theresa told her.
"Don't worry about it.", Kathelina told her. "I really didn't feel like celebrating though."
"Yeah, I guess...so where was you last night? Word has it you just got home like a couple of hours ago so...where was you?", Theresa asked.
"It's along story, it's just...let's just say that Daniel saved me.", Kathelina told her.
"And, I am sure that he plans to collect.", Theresa told her.
"T?", Kathelina asked.
"Kat, he isn't sending you all this gifts for nothing.", Theresa told her.
"Theresa, why - I don't think...", Kathelina began.
"Kathelina, he is obviously wanting more than a friendship with you in his eyes your single and he has a good chance with you...you know letting him stay here all those nights, might gave him the wrong idea.", Theresa told her.
"No, Theresa, he knows that I love Dylan and even though he's dead, I can't get over his like that...so...Theresa, what if he does like me and think we're heading towards a romance, what do I say, what do I do? I don't want to hurt him, he's been hurt too many times and I actually like him, not like him, like him, he's a good person, a good friend to me and I'd like to think that all he'd done for me is out of friendship not because he wants a piece of...Theresa, I can't handle this.", Kathelina told her.
"You've got mixed feelings, am I right, a part of you loves Dylan, but a part of you wanders what it would be like to walk on the wild side with Daniel.", Theresa asked, Kathelina nodded.
"Resa, is that common? I mean, it's not normal, I've never been this screwed up before, I've always knew what I wanted but, now I'm so...Theresa, what do I do? Dylan is never coming back and Daniel will not wait for ever and besides all that there's Gwen...Gwen is one of my friends and I don't want to be apart of hurting her this, but...", Kathelina began.
"Honey, I can't tell you what to do.", Theresa told her.
"Theresa, I missed out on the whole boyfriend, girlfriend thing in high school and I suck at it terribly now, I have no clue how to act, I don't know what my actions do to men...I mean, something innocent may appear to be as a come on or something...ugh, I don't get guys, I don't get none of this.", Kathelina told her.
"I think your problem is that your scared...your scared of the feelings that your feeling for Daniel will some how bury your feelings for Dylan and make you forget about how much he meant to you.", Theresa told her.
"What are you saying, go for it with Daniel?", Kathelina asked.
"When and if your ready, but, don't rush it if he's as good as you think he is then he'll wait and also, he'd give up Gwen in a heartbeat.", Theresa told her.
"Hello ladies...", Daniel began.
"Hey, we were just talking about you.", Kathelina told him
"Really?", Daniel asked. "Good or bad?"
"Depends, I was just bragging about you being my hero last night and how good of a friend you've been to me.", Kathelina told him.
"Really.", Daniel replied.
"Yup.", Kathelina smiled up at him.
"It's freezing out and the snows blowing around...I think it's about to get really bad.", Daniel told them simply. "Theresa, do you want to stay here tonight?"
"No, I'm going to going to go, Kat, honey call me later we'll talk more. Daniel, I'll see you later.", Theresa told replied.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later.", Kathelina told her, watching as Theresa walked out the door.
"What's the matter?", Daniel asked.
"Nothing.", Kathelina replied, she was lost in her thoughts, so lost in them that she didn't feel his icy hand come up along her neck.
"Whoa!", Kathelina exclaimed. "You're cold...is it that cold out?"
"Yeah, we're set for a couple of inches tonight and tomorrow.", Daniel told her.
"Oh.", Kathelina told him.
"Yeah, it's going to be very cold, and well we'll be stuck indoors any ideas for what we can do to occupy herself?", Daniel asked.
She gulped aloud, what was he trying to say?
"What did I say?", he asked.
"Nothing...Daniel I - I think you should...", Kathelina began, before the lights went out, causing her to jump into his arms. "Daniel, what happened? I thought the power wouldn't go out this early?", Kathelina asked.
"What's wrong afraid of the dark?", Daniel asked.
"Yea - Yeah.", Kathelina told him.
"Hey, you're going to be okay...", Daniel began.
"I don't like the dark...I never have. I remember the times in boarding school when I'd put pillows over my face to block out the dark, praying that my mom was there or ...", she began.
"Come here...Kat, you don't have to be afraid. You know that I'll take care of you.", he told her, she nodded, and buried her face into his shirt.
"How long will the power be out?", Kathelina asked.
"I don't know a couple of hours, a day or two.", Daniel told her, she nodded.
"Can we just go to bed?", Kathelina asked.
"Uh...I...yeah, that would be a good idea.", Daniel told her, he felt himself, suddenly felt himself heated with desire, her words had set a fire a blazing in him, just the word bed drove him up the wall.
"Yeah, we could...it's cold and...", she began, she felt him scoop her up in his arms, and her breath stop, she watched as he carried her through the dark apartment and into the bedroom, he then let her down on the floor, and she slowly crawled to the pillowcase, she watched as he turned his back to her and before she knew it, she was begin him to stay with her. "Daniel, please stay with me, stay and hold me?"
He nodded. "On one condition...", he began, getting her full attention. "you get some rest."
"Okay, but, I can't sleep...I'm not tired and...", she began.
"Okay, just lay here and relax.", he told her.
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"Oh God, I'm never going to get any work done.", Rachel groaned as the lights went out.
"Is there anyone here?", she heard someone ask, from the hallway.
"Me...I'm in here.", Rachel exclaimed, she watched as the door opened and a man walked in.
"Who - who are you?", she asked, fear went through her.
"Rachel, it's me Noah.", Noah told her.
"Oh, what's...what happened to the lights?", she asked.
"The power lines, were probably hit by a tree or snow might have broke them.", Noah told her.
"Oh, well I better get out of here and home...", Rachel began.
"No, if I was you I wouldn't I - the roads are a wreck, they have ice all the way from here to the B&B.", Noah told her.
"Oh, so what am I suppose to do, stay in this God forsaken building, with you?", she asked. "Sorry, but, I'll pass."
"Sorry, but, I ain't about to let you do that.", Noah told her. "I'm not about to let you risk your life on these roads and besides what's so bad about this place?"
"It's - It's spooky and I - I'm not to fond of you either, the last time I checked you weren't very fond of me so why do you care?", Rachel asked.
"I don't want to feel like I am to blame for your death, cause that is exactly what will happen if you go out on this road.", Noah told her.
Rachel, let out a groan. "Okay, I - I'll stay, but you - you keep to yourself, do not even speak to me while we're stuck here.", she knew that she would live to regret this.
"Yes, ma'am.", Noah told her mocking her.
"Quit mocking me.", Rachel told him, she sighed, she wondered how long the power would be out? "Noah, what time do you think this will be over with? What time will the roads be cleared?", he simply looked at her.
"Noah, when is the power coming back on?", Rachel told her. "Noah, damn it answer me?"
"You said for me not to talk to you.", Noah told her.
"God, why do you have to be such an ass, a good looking one at that.", Rachel asked.
"Thank you, no one has ever made that kind of comment concerning my ass before, glad you enjoy it.", Noah replied.
"What kind of comment is that?", Rachel told him.
"Well, I was just...", Noah began.
"Just shut up would you?", Rachel asked, she shifted in her chair a little bit, and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to get warmth to her body.
"Here.", Noah told her taking off his coat and wrapping it around her.
"Thank you.", Rachel told him.
"No prob.", Noah replied.
"Is there a fire place around here? I mean, like in one room, because I know most of the building heat is electrical, but maybe grandfather has a room with a fireplace?", Rachel asked.
"I don't know, you want to go see?", Noah asked.
"Yeah, but, we ain't splitting up, this place is too big for me to venture around in all by myself.", Rachel told him.
"Okay, come on.", Noah told her.
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"Oh Great, I'm stuck on an elevator with you.", Sam exclaimed.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you but, you're not my ideal person to be dangling 20 feet in the air with either, never mind the fact that we are only be held up by a few messily cords.", Theresa told her.
"Don't remind me of that, please...I'd rather forget about that.", Sam told her.
"Well, sorry but, that something that I can not stop thinking about.", Theresa told her, Sam got out her cell phone.
"I'm calling...aww, damn it my battery is dead", Sam exclaimed. "Theresa, do you have yours?"
"Yeah, but...", Theresa began, Sam snatched out of her hand.
"Well excuse you.", Theresa told her.
"Sorry, I'm just a little claustrophobic.", Sam told her and heights scare the hell out of me and in case you forgot the laws of science which says all things that go up must eventually come down and I don't want to be in this elevator when it falls 80 feet down at approximately 100 miles per hour, sorry but, it don't seem like an adventure that I wish to embark on...", they felt the elevator move slightly. "Whoa...that was..."
"I think one of the ropes might have broke.", Theresa told her.
"Okay, that's enough, I'm calling Fox or Ethan or Julian.. someone I can not stay in this...", Sam began, she heard a noise that was apparently coming from top of the elevator shaft.
"Sam, give me that phone I'm calling Fox...okay, because, that panic button isn't going to work and the long this elevator hangs like this, the better chance we have of the cords clasping.", Theresa told her.
Sam nodded, and quickly dialed the number. "Fox, it's me...I me and Theresa have a little problem, we're stuck in an elevator about 80 feet in the air."
"Whoa, slow down would you, where are you?", Fox asked.
"The pent house, I came to fix Ethan's apartment so that it would be easier for him to get around in it and Theresa she...", Sam was starting to panic he could tell.
"Let me talk to Resa.", Fox told her, she handed the phone to Theresa.
"Fox...we...this elevator is making some weird noises.", Theresa told her.
"Okay, Theresa, I'm counting on you...you can't panic, because you need to get you and Sam on the top of the elevator and up to the next floor once you get up there you'll be safe. All you need to do is listen to me okay.", Fox told her.
"Okay.", Theresa told him.
"Okay, look up to the top of the elevator, do you see like a door it should either lift down or slid back.", Fox told her.
"Yeah, I see it.", Theresa told her.
"Theresa, I need you and Sam to climb on the rail and lift back that top piece and climb on top of the elevator.", Fox told her.
"Okay.", Theresa told him.
"Okay, do that and call me back.", Fox told her.
"Fox, I...", Theresa began. "I love you, just remember that."
"Don't you dare do this, you ain't going to give up Resa, do you hear me.", Fox told her.
"Fox, I...", Theresa began.
"You're going to do this, you are going to get the both of you out of there. Do you know why I say that? Because, you're strong and I've never seen a Crane who would give up that easily, neither would a Lopez- Fitzgerald.", Fox told her.
"Okay, Fox I'll call you back as soon as I get up there.", Theresa told him, then she quickly put her phone back in her purse. "Sam, come on we're going to get out of here."
"What? How...is Fox on his way?", Sam asked.
"No.", Theresa replied. "But, he told me what I need to do, so come on."
"What?", she asked, as Theresa proceeded to climb up on the rail.
"Don't ask questions just be prepared to climb on this rail and through that little door up there.", Theresa told her.
"Have you lost our mind? Theresa, we need to sit still, not shake this elevator like your doing, do you know this could cause it to fall?", Sam asked.
"Sam, I know that but, Fox says it's the only way to get out of here, so please either shut up and follow me or sit here and wait for it to fall.", Theresa told her.
"Okay, but I can't get up there, I'm...I've got on a skirt for Christ sake and these shoes...", Sam began.
"Take off the shoes and why do you care about the skirt...Sam just shut up and follow me would you?", Theresa asked, she watched as Theresa, got to the top of the elevator and waited anxiety for her to do the same.
"Here, catch .", Sam told her, tossing her shoes up to Theresa.
"Okay, now come on Sam, we ain't got much time.", Theresa told her.
"God, are you sure there ain't some other way for us to get out of here?", Sam asked.
"Sam, just shut up...come on we have to hurry.", Theresa told her, she watched as Sam struggled to keep her balance on the small rail.
"What do I do? Theresa, how do I...I can't...I - I'm going to die, but, I guess I get to choice just how, well I hopes it quick, Theresa, can you just do it now, get it over with?", Sam asked.
"Uh, God.", Theresa groaned. "You can't be serious."
"I - Theresa, I mean it...just end it now, get me out of...",Sam began.
"I - Sam, do you hear what your saying?", Theresa asked. "Do you know that Ethan is about to embark on the hardest fight of his life and he needs the woman he loves by his side?"
Sam looked up at her and then sighed. "Okay, here goes nothing, well not technically nothing but..."
"Sam, come on.", Theresa told her, she shook her head and then waited for Sam to join her, she watched as Sam jumped up and grabbed a hold of the top the elevator.
"Now, what do I do? THERESA, I - I can't...HELP ME!", Sam exclaimed.
"Come on Sam, just pull yourself up.", Theresa told her.
"I - I CAN'T!", Sam exclaimed. "Theresa, Help me, please."
"Here take my hand and I'll try to jerk you up.", Theresa told her, saying a silent prayer then, reaching down both her hands to try and lift her up, Sam automatically took it and with all the strength she could muster Theresa, lifted her up and on top of the elevator.
"Whew.", Sam exclaimed, letting in a deep breath, as did Theresa.
"Thanks, you - I mean that...you didn't have to save me like that but...", Sam began, before Theresa cut her off.
"Don't worry about it, now come on, we got to get up there some how.", Theresa told her.
"Are - did Fox tell you how?", Sam asked. "Are we suppose to do something to get up there or are we just gonna wing it and figure it out ourselves?"
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"Fox - I...", Gwen began.
"Gwen, where are you...come on in, it's a little too cold to stand out there.", he watched as she Gwen carried Josh into the house.
"Fox, can you call a wrecker?", Gwen asked. "I totaled my car and ..."
"Are you and Josh okay?", Fox asked.
"Yeah, I hit a slick spot in the road and...I walked all the way up here from the highway.", Gwen told her.
"My God, it's...you can stay here tonight and...", Fox began.
"Where's Theresa?", Gwen asked.
"You'd never believe it.", Fox told her.
"Really, now you've peaked my curiosity.", Gwen told him.
"She and Samantha have gotten themselves stuck in an elevator.", Fox told her.
"Wow.", Gwen told him.
"Yeah.", Fox told her.
"Aren't you a little freaked out?", Gwen asked.
"Nah, Theresa and Sam are two of the strongest people I know and Theresa, isn't going to give up that easily.", Fox told her.
"Yeah, but, why was she out in the middle of this storm for anyhow, or was she like me, get caught in it?", Gwen asked.
"She went to see Kathelina, since I was stuck in the office and couldn't get out and... yesterday, was Katherine's birthday and among all that happened it skipped my mine, so...Theresa, went to check on her.", Fox told her, "So the storm caught her. What about you?"
"I spent the night at the mansion with mom, and I forgot about the storm set to hit here at 2. So...I just left...and my mind was on other things and I wasn't paying attention to the road and...", Gwen began.
"You're obviously upset and I don't think it's the storm...what did Rebecca say to you that's got you upset?", Fox asked.
"Nothing.", Gwen replied.
"Mommy, I thought we was going home...", the boy began.
"Change of plans, you get to stay here with Ethan Martin and Nikki.", Fox told her.
"Yea.", Josh exclaimed. "A sleep over?"
"Yea, why don't you go stay with cousins?", Gwen asked, she watched as the little boy trotted off and into Ethan Martin's bed room.
"He's a spitting image of Ethan.", Fox told her.
"Yeah.", Gwen mumbled.
"Gwen, what's the matter?", Fox asked.
"Fox, I'm cursed when it comes to love and...all mother seems to be doing lately is telling me how much of a disappointment that I am."
"Gwen, you...you made mistakes we all have but... and the best thing to do is learn from them.", Fox told her.
"Yeah, well...mother's convinced that I - she thinks that Daniel and Kat are sneaking around behind my back and...all mom knows is how big mistake I made by letting Ethan go and...Fox, I can't help but...Ethan's my weak area...I mean, Ethan was the first man I loved, and we we're so happy at one time and then there's Josh...it is so hard to look at my son and know what I could have had...if only...I should have tried harder...or...", Gwen began.
"Gwen, there's nothing you could've done to change things.", Fox told her.
"Yeah, but...Fox, do you ever wonder about what might have been?", Gwen asked.
"Yeah, I - I think about Whitney and me and...I never really told people about this and you got to swear to me that you'll never breath a word of this, if so I'll make you regret it.", Fox told her, she simply smiled at him.
"Come on Fox, you're getting a little rusty, come on you can come up with something better than that.", Gwen told joked.
"Gwendolyn, do you really want to cross me?", Fox asked.
"No.", Gwen told him. "I - I know better than to cross you, but, in a seriousness, I won't tell no one, especially Theresa."
"Okay, back to what I was saying...I often think about if I hadn't married Theresa, when I did and went through with my plan to breakup Chad and Whitney...I wonder if I would be as happy as I am now...and...I don't know where I am going with this...I guess the gist of what I'm trying to say is I guess we all think of about what might have been but, we - we can't considerate on it.", Fox told her. "We have to take what we have, there ain't no use to cry over spilled milk so to speak and life didn't turn out so bad for me or you...I mean, look at it this way you have something a lot of people don't you have a beautiful little boy and me...I wouldn't trade Nichole for anything."
Gwen nodded. "Yeah.", she forced a smile to her lips.
"Do you still have feelings for Ethan?", he asked.
"I - I...I guess I always will...I mean, he was the first man that I gave everything to and at one time things were good between us and look at what that love created...or at least that's what I call it, sometimes I wonder I mean, look at him, he ... maybe men look at things differently then woman?", Gwen asked.
"I suppose, but, I... is this about Sam?", Fox asked.
"I...Fox, I can't believe Ethan is in love with Sam...maybe it's just sex...maybe what Ethan and I had wasn't real to him...why can't I be able to move on and find someone to love me, so one to be good to my son, some one to lean on...you know Theresa is so lucky I mean, look at you, Fox they're ain't too many men in this world like you, I mean you love Ethan Martin like he was your own... and, you look past Theresa's crazy little schemes and he wild and wacky past.", Gwen told him.
"Thank you, you can go ahead and continue your Nicholas Foxworth Crane is heaven sent speech.", Fox told her.
"Fox, thank you...thank you for making me smile, thank you for talking with me, for making me keep a level head...for giving me and my son a place to stay.", Gwen told him.
"No problem.", Fox replied. "Gwen you are family in my oppion and your little boy is such a joy to be around, Ethan and Nikki think of him as a brother.", Fox told her.
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"Told you we were wasting our time.", Noah told her.
"Oh whatever, at least I'm trying to keep warm all you can think about is yourself and it is not fair you have a jacket, I don't...", Rachel told him.
"What do you want me to do , queeny, take of my jacket so that you, queen bee can be warm?", Noah asked.
"Well ,that would be the gentleman thing to do seeing as it is freezing in here and...", Rachel began.
"Sorry, but, I don't like you that good to freeze for you, but if you want to cuddle up with me under this coat then, I have no objections.", Noah told her.
"Of course you wouldn't...you self absorbed, woman user ...", Rachel huffed.
"Come on Rachel admit it you want to be next to me your dying for it...I mean, you're young you're vibrate and you're just dying to be with a man who can satisfy your every desire, make you ache with fiery lust in body parts you never knew existed...", Noah told her, he ran his hand up to the clip that held up her sandy colored hair, he watched as she let out a slight moan. "Admit it, you want me...and I want you...I bet you're as spicy between the sheets as you are in a heated confutation", she simply held her breath no man had ever got her heart to skip a beat like this, no man had lit a fire so strong in her that she couldn't control it. "Come on, my father had your mother, let's recreate history here...let's let the world see just how passionate a Bennett can be with a Winthrop...let me have you all night long...let me wake up all your sense, show you what being with a real man's like.", he let his hands run down the nap of her neck and on to the soft smooth skin of her shoulders, he gently began to ply kiss on them. "Come on, we don't have to be friends, we can skip that part, plus...I think I'll enjoy it much better if you show some of that sexy attitude of yours when you are in my arms...hell we don't even have to speak...or after tonight you can pretend as if you don't even know me..."
Rachel shook her head no, then backed away from him as if he was poison, she couldn't believe him, he was asking her for a one night stand, she'd never been so insulted in her life, yeah she talked a big game as if sex was just a pass time, but the truth was she wanted to be with a man based on some common feelings, not raw untamed dog lust.
"What did I say?", he asked.
"Nothing, I just...I can't stand you that's all you - you are by far the rudest, self absorbed, egotistical, selfish, rudest, sexual obsessed, thinks he can do what he wants...", Rachel began.
"You forgot, sexiest, most attractive, with the body of an ancient God.", Noah added, he gave her a smirk.
"Oh, I've never...", Rachel began.
"Well...well, am I detecting an I give up, from the bitter, but oh so beautiful Ice Princess.", Noah asked.
"Ice Princess? Where'd you hear that from?", Rachel demanded, he could tell that she was upset.
"No where, what did I say?", Noah asked, he could see pain flash in her eyes. "Rachel, are you okay?"
"Yea.", he watched as she shook her head as if to shake the pain off for the time being and then she turned to him.
"There's no way in hell I can stay with you till morning.", Rachel told him.
"Get over it, Rachel...we're stuck together...so, I suggest we make the best of it...and, well...we call a truce...", Noah suggested.
"A truce?", Rachel asked.
"Yea, till we get out of here...so what do you say, we get along and keep each other warm till the storm blows over?", Noah asked.
"On one condition, well two...number one, you give me back my clip and don't ever try anything like that again...", she began, she watched as a cocky smile came to his face. "number two...you do not ask me about my life or anything about me.", Rachel told her.
"Okay, but, you're going to miss out on a lot about me.", he told her. "Trust me I got a lot to offer you."
"I'm sure...now, please let me borrow that jacket, I am about to freeze to death.", Rachel told him.
"Say please.", Noah told her, he looked at her anciently awaiting her answer.
"Okay, please can I have your jacket.", Rachel told him.
"Eww, you must be really cold or just soften up to me a little.", Noah told her.
"Would you please shut up and hand me that coat.", Rachel told him.
"Not now that you went and snapped at me.", Noah told her, she groaned then turned away from him.
"Would you ...never mind keep your coat...I don't need it.", Rachel told him, she turned her back to him, where he couldn't see her face. She wanted to cry but, knew she couldn't and she wouldn't dare let him know that she had tears in her eyes.
"Here.", he wrapped the coat around her, to his surprise she got up. "What are you..."
He watched as she got up and into his lap and took the coat and covered it over them.
"Keeping you warm.", she told him, he smiled, but he made sure that she did not see that, he'd never let a woman know that she made him smile and certainly not one like Ivy Winthrop much less her very own daughter...Ivy had caused his family too much torment and that was exactly what he would cause her, a life of heartache, he watched as Rachel snuggled her head against him, burring her face in his blue button up dress shirt. He couldn't help but, admire her, she was indeed a Crane, she was the type who would never let you see them sweat, always as cool as a cucumber, he'd sensed that from the beginning and he knew that was the type of girl that you didn't mess with, because you, usually would either wind up dead or wish you were.
"You...what time is it?", Rachel asked, she felt as if she'd been there forever.
"Almost 5.", he told her.
"Oh.", she sighed.
"I know what you mean, it feels like we've been here forever.", he replied.
"I just hate the dark and...being cold and...you know my grandmother's sister, died in a storm like this.", Rachel told him.
"Rachel? Wasn't that her name?", Noah asked.
"Yes, Kathelina was named after grandmother and I was named after Rachel her sister.", Rachel told him. "You know what I'll never get...", she trailed off, he could tell that whatever that was on her mind troubled her greatly, he wanted to know what she was going to say, but, since she and himself wasn't on the best terms he knew he couldn't really pry with out upsetting her. "Was there competition between you and your sisters?"
"No, Kay and Jess and I got along perfectly and my parents loved us all three equally.", Noah told her.
She nodded. "Well, you were truly blessed."
"What does that mean?", Noah asked.
"You...Ivy always favored Ethan best because, he was her son with your precious father, she never acted like Fox, Kat and I existed...I remember one Christmas, I set up all night crying because, Ethan got to go home and there I sat, I was about 5 or 6 and, I wondered why Ethan got to go home and not me.", Rachel told him. "All I got for Christmas that year was a card and 500 dollars."
He could see the pain flash in her eyes and his heart went out to her. "I...why do you even speak to Ivy and Julian? I mean, they obviously hurt you...why do you continually go back to them so they can hurt you more?"
"I don't know...I guess, I just want them to love me.", Rachel told him.
"I guess, it's they didn't love me then, but, they got to love me now...the only reason they didn't love me was because, they didn't want a child...", he began.
"Yeah, that's it.", Rachel told him. "But, you know when I came back to Harmony, Ivy was rather nice to me, she..."
"She used you, she used you to get what she wants.", Noah told her.
"I suppose, but...", Rachel told him.
"You know what would make all of them see red?", Noah asked, she looked up at him, he smiled down at her. "You wanna give them something to talk about?"
"What does that suppose to mean?", Rachel asked.
"Well, if the power comes back on...which it should soon. Alistair will be up here and quiet possibly your father or even your mother...", he began, she gave him a small smile.
"You catching on to what I'm saying?", he asked.
"Uh - hmm...and, you are brilliant.", she exclaimed.
"Yea, I know, now get undressed.", he told her.
"What, now? Noah it's freezing.", she told him.
"Ah, you're going to be okay...I use my body heat to keep you warm now, get naked.", he flashed her a smile.
"What about you?", she asked.
"You want to take my clothes off too?", he asked.
"No...I just...it won't look right, I mean...we both kind of need to be naked if we want to make them think we had sex?", she told him.
"True...but, I got an idea.", Noah told her, she looked at him confused.
"Why don't we undress each other.", he told her.
"What?", she asked. "We're pretending remember?"
"Yeah, but, I want to have some fun with it, you know?", he asked.
"Well, get that out of your head now, I - I know I might come off as a whore or fast but...", Rachel began.
"You're a big tease.", Noah told her, she gave him a smirk.
"I didn't...pretty much...there's been one or two men that I've liked.", Rachel told him.
"Liked?", Noah asked.
"Yeah, I don't believe in love. I mean, it's an emotion that comes attached with hurt.", Rachel told him.
"Yeah...but, you can't go your whole entire life without feeling loved, Rachel you told me that your father, nor your mother were loving towards you, you just told me that they didn't even allow you to come home for Christmas.", Noah told her.
"What are you trying to say?", Rachel asked.
"Rachel, you - you've allow your heart to turn black to everyone. You've just let yourself go numb inside and cold, Rachel, do you ever get tired of being so mean, so angry, so alone?", Noah asked.
"Yeah.", she sighed.
"You don't have to be alone.", he told her, he put his arm around her, he felt himself drawn to her.
"Yeah I do.", she replied.
"No, Rachel I know you don't like me...", he began.
"No, I hardly know you...I mean, you've got two different personalities, you're nothing like the man I meet the man who made no secret that he hated my mother and...", she began.
"Exactly, your mother, Rachel I'm sorry. I judged you based on who your parents are, but, I - Rachel, you're nothing like I thought you were.", he told her. "Rachel, so...I want to start fresh with you, I want to get to know you and I want to stop fighting."
"Do you really?", she asked.
"Yeah.", he told her.
"Good.", she replied, she smiled up at him.
"Good.", he repeated, smiling back.
"Yeah.", she told him, as their eyes connected, and they both leaned forward till their lips connected in a breath taking out of this world kiss, but it didn't end there soon they both was in a fend of heat and desire for one another and clothes were coming off as fast as they could rip them away.
He looked down at her as to say 'are you, sure.', and her only reply was pulling him down on top of her taking his lips hungrily with hers.
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"Theresa, are you sure there isn't some other way? I mean, do you know how far up that is and...", Sam began.
"Sam, what do you propose we do sit here and wait till the cord breaks?", Theresa asked.
"Well...", Sam began.
"Sam, if you think that we're safe up here then, you're crazy.", Theresa told her.
"Well, how do you suppose we get up on that cord and on to solid ground?", Sam asked.
"We'll we're going to have to climb that cord.", Theresa told her.
"Climb a cord?", Sam asked.
"Yea...now come on.", Theresa told her.
"What about our stuff and...", Sam began.
"Get out all your money and put it in your pocket.", Theresa told her.
"What? This stuff cost me a fortune.", Sam told her.
"You're dating Ethan and he's Fox Crane's brother, so I - I'm willing to bet that they're is more where that come from.", Theresa told her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Kat?", Daniel asked, he smiled to himself, she had fell asleep, he could tell that she was drained from all that had went on, he plied a kiss on the top of her head, she began to stir. "Shh...you need your rest."
"Daniel?", she asked, she still had her eyes closed and was still in some what of a dream like stage.
"I'm right here.", he told her.
"Good.", she snuggled closer to him.
He smiled to himself, this was comfortable having her in his arms, like she seemed to be more and more.
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"Janet.", James began, he watched as she turned to him. "What makes you so smug this morning?"
"I'm going to Harmony. I'm going to finish what I started.", Janet told him.
"Are you stupid?", James asked. "You can't possible want to take "Drake"?"
"Who said that I was taking "Drake" anywhere, that's where you come in...", she began.
"Me, who said I was going to help you with anything?", he asked.
"Hartford, you owe me one, I saved your butt more than once, I covered for you when you tried to kill Dylan, I chose to be with you over him and...", she began.
"Janet, I've did my share of helping you also, and I am not to go up the creek with you, I am not going to be charged with aiding and abetting.", he told her.
"James, come on we're good together.", she told him.
"If we're so good together, then why do you insist on having "Drake", Dylan, whatever it is you choose to call him?", he asked.
"You don't get it, no one does...", she told him.
"What is it you're obsessed with Dylan? Or is it, you got this sick obsessed with Fox? Is that it? You like to play a game of cat and mouse with Fox Crane?", he asked.
"What?", she asked.
"I've watched you, you like to play games with the man, you always have.", he told her. "and, Kathelina is a plus, you use his weakest defense to hurt him?", she simply looked at him. He began to laugh. "you're totally crazy, you know that, because Fox is a Crane, his grandfather is pure evil and Jan, you're best not to play with the big boys, because you'll just end up hurt."
"I know what I am doing.", Janet told him.
"I hope so.", James told her, with that he exited the room.
"James, you've underestimated me, I am about to get all I ever wanted.", Janet vowed.
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"Ah, we did it. Theresa, you did it, you got us on soiled ground.", Sam exclaimed. "Thank you, thank you so much."
"You're welcome.", Theresa told her.
"So, what now?", Sam asked.
"We need to find some place to stay, so I was thinking, you could use Ethan's apartment or maybe Dylan's, I still got my key, and Daniel is probably staying with Kat, so if you want to stay with me till this whole thing blows over, then you can.", Theresa told her.
"Thank you, Theresa, I know things aren't the best between us and who could much blame you. I can to town and tried to get your husband in bed.", Sam told her.
"Sam, I'd rather not go down memory lane with you, I know all about what has happened and me and Fox are working very hard to fix what has happened.", Theresa told her.
"Good, because, I never meant any harm, it's just...I got myself stuck in a runt and...I, Theresa I've never told no one this, not Ethan or Fox, but, I chose to put, the man who I considered my father's life on the line, and when I told about my purpose for coming to Harmony, I sealed his fate, and I expect to find out that he has been killed. And, beat it all it will look like an accident, he is old and fragile and he's...Theresa, he killed my mother and then, he - he went crazy."
"Oh My God.", Theresa told her. "I kind of heard bits and pieces about your past, but, I didn't know that he...that he went crazy or that he killed your mother.", Theresa told her.
"Yeah, Theresa, I, I do not know what I'm going to do. Ethan, will want children and Theresa, I don't know how to be a mother or a wife...all I ever had was Jackie, and she wasn't to motherly to me and all she ever wanted from my brother was sex, I didn't realize it to much later but, she favored him all that time to just turn him into her sex puppet.", Sam told her.
"Sam, you'll be a wonderful mother, I've seen you with Josh, you were so loving with him.", Theresa told her.
"But, Theresa, I - I've heard all these stories on TV about mothers who drown and kill their kids, innocent children, some of them, not old enough to walk, or talk or experience their first day of school, and I wonder if I'll...", she began.
"Sam, you would never hurt your children, you know why, because you know what it's like to hurt and you'd never want to pass that on to your son or daughter.", Theresa told her.
"But, what about what studies have showed that often that the abused will turn into the abuser when it comes to their children.", Sam told her.
"No, Sam you've never been silent towards no one...", Theresa told her.
"Theresa, I - I killed Jackie.", Sam confessed. "I know you already knew that, I mean, you've probably had my whole past search out, and that's fine."
"Yeah, well...I - Fox means the world to me and well, I wasn't about to let the love of my life, just walk out of my life without putting up a fight.", Theresa told her. "One day you'll understand that."
"I suppose, but...Theresa, can I ask you a question...", Sam began, she nodded for Sam to continue. "How do you know when you're in love? I mean, really in love, yeah, I care for Ethan and Fox for that matter, but, when - when do you know the difference?"
"You'll know, you know I don't think I can answer that - you see I always loved Ethan, he was the only man that I thought I could ever love, but, when I met Fox, that changed...you know it wasn't too long after he came back and I gotten to know him pretty good and there was a fire and he - he went into the cottage to save Sheridan and Luis and I remember being so terrified, I just knew I couldn't lose him. I think that was the time I realized I cared for Fox, but, now I see it wasn't just as a friend, Sam I loved him - I was in love with him even then.", Theresa told her.
"You and Fox share something special.", Sam told her.
"Yeah, and you know what after I had Nichole that love just grew.", Theresa told her.
"Theresa, you know what you said about Fox and the fire...", Sam began. "I felt the same way about Ethan."
Theresa smiled at her. "I know, I realized that the night he was shot and then you were constantly by his side."
"Do you think Ethan feels the same?", Sam asked.
"I don't...don't worry about it, I'm sure he does.", Theresa told her, Sam nodded.
"Now come on we need to get warm and some sleep.", Theresa told her.
"Yeah, Theresa thank you, thank you for everything.", Sam told her.
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Noah sighed, he couldn't find no way to get any sleep, he heard a small groan come from Rachel - Rachel, was by far the most complicated person he knew. And, he knew that a lot of it had to do with Ivy, that alone made him want to punish Ivy but, not by using Rachel like he'd previously planned. No, she had been hurt too many times and he would not do it to her again, he watched as she rowed over slightly and her breast brushed against his bare chest. "Rachel, are you cold?", he ran his over her shoulder, automatically feel how ice cold she was and then he pulled her closer to him.
"Mark...", she breathed.
His eyes narrowed. 'What in the hell? Who's Mark? How can she be hollering another man's name, just after what we just experienced
Deciding to play along with what ever it was she was talking about, he replied. "What is it? I'm right here Rachel."
"I told you once I can't commit myself to you, and besides you got Vicki.", she told him, he could tell she was remembering something. "No, Marcus get off me...quit no...Marcus.", thinking enough was enough he gently shook her.
"Rachel...", he began. "Rachel, honey wake up, you're dreaming."
He watched as she struggled to wake up and screamed for this Marcus fellow to stop. "Rachel?"
"Stop?", she exclaimed then, he eyes came wide open, and her heavy breath came back to normal. "What? Where's Marcus?"
"He isn't here...you're here with me.", Noah told her.
"Who are you? What am I doing here?", Rachel asked, she quickly gathered her tee shirt and covered it up over her breast.
"Rachel, I'm Noah...", he began.
"What are we doing naked? I mean, I...we didn't - we couldn't have.", she told him.
"What's wrong?", he asked, he begin to ply kisses down her shoulder.
"You.", she jerked away from him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"No, nun - un you can't play it like that missy.", he told her. "You may regret being with me, but, I refuse to let you deny it.", he told her.
"deny it? Hell I do not remember?", she told him.
"You don't remember?", he chuckled.
"No, I do not remember. I don't remember nothing, nothing about you or who I am.", she told him.
"What do you think I am? Rachel, you're out of your mind if you think I'm going to let you go. I want you, you are my new addiction...remember I told you that earlier when you were in my arms, screaming my name, as I gave you pleasure, that no man will ever be able to.", he told her, he watched as she drew back a breath and held it.
Spoilers for Chapter 46:
Valentine's Day arrives, and love comes to all, or does it?