Ethan looked nervously through the bag full of presents that was dangling in his right hand. Under normal circumstances bringing his Aunt Sheridan a bag full of presents would have been something that would feel him with delight not dread. But that was a long time ago. Sheridan had cut herself off from all things Crane and much to Ethan's surprise that included him as well. He an Sheridan had once been so close. She was always more like a sister then like an aunt. That was of course, before she learned of his father's and grand father's deceit. He had recieved a few letters from Sheridan about her life with Luis and her pregnancy, but the letters were always filled with the cold words of obligatory announcement rather then the warm updating of family life. He looked in the bag again and sighed. he hoped that she would like the gifts.

Gwen Hotchkiss noticed how nervous her fiancee was and went over to try to offer him some comfort. Things had been so strained between herself and Ethan since they returned to Harmony. She tried to pretend that she didn't know why but deep inside she did. Being in Harmony reminded Ethan of Theresa and that hurt Gwen more then she could say. There were times when they were in Europe that Gwen would catch Ethan staring off into some far off place  and she knew that he was thinking of HER, but those moments had gotten fewer and fewer as time when on and she was able to fool herself into thinking that ethan had finally but that chapter of his life behind him. She had hoped that returning to Harmony would bring them some type of healing, but instead all it did was open up old wounds. Gwen's thoughts were interrupted by Ethan. She realized he was saying something but lost in her own thoughts she didn't hear a word of it.

"I'm sorry darling what did you say?" asked Gwen grabbing his arm.
"I said do you really think that this is a good idea?" asked Ethan staring up at Gwen. When Ethan had first returned to Harmony he was excited about the prosepect of seeing Sheridan but now standing here in front of her and Luis's door step she wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do.
"Of course it is the right thing to do," said Gwen trying to allieveiate some of Ethan's concerns. "Ethan not to long ago you and Sheridan were very close and you still would be if circumstances had of been different."
"Circumstances," huffed Ethan boy was that a simplification of hwat happened.
Gwen lightly brushed Ethan's hair then put her hand oin his face.
"Ethan  Sheridan knows that you had noting to do with what happened to Martin Fitzgerald. All that stuff  is in the past. We should let it rest and start over," said Gwen.
"You make it sound so easy," said Ethan still unsure.
"Hey we did," smiled Gwen.
Ethan returned her smile with an uncomfortable one of his own. Man he hated beingback in Harmony.

Sheridan finished placing the baby monitor in the nursery and was a little startled by the door bell. She got to her feet, not an easy task in her condition and went to open the door and gasped at the site. She stood there for a second transfixed by her nephew who was obviously nervous. The sight of Ethan filled her with a happiness that she didn't expect and she threw her arms around him.
"Ethan God its great to see you," she laughed hugging him as tightly as she could.
Relief flooded Ethan and he returned the hug.
"It's good to see you too Sheridan." laughed Ethan glad to see that some pains could actually be erased.

Gwen was happy to see that Ethan and Sheridan were getting along so well. The tension when she and Ethan had f irst arrived had been palapatal, but now the two had eased back into their old relationship as if the rift never happened.
"I still can't believe that youy're going to be a mother," said Ehan rubbing Sheridan's belly for the millionth time.
"I know," said Sheridan smiling happily. "It still seems so unbelievable to me too, I mean I never imagined that I could be this happy. You too wait and see how happy you'll be when you have children of your own,"
Sheridan's smile faded when she noticed how  uncomfortable the remark had made Ethan. Gwen for her part was all smiles.
"We intend to have a big family," said Gwen smiling."Isn't that right darling."
"Yeah," said Ethan wanting more then anything to change the subject."How is Luis."
"He's fine," said Sheridan smiling yet again at the thought of her husband.
"So he is treating to goo?" aked Ethan apprehensivelly. He had debated whether or not to bring Luis up. He still remebered all the bad blood between them and was grateful that he wasn't around for this visit.
"Ethan has been concerned about you given Luis feelings about the family an all," said Gwen touching Ethan's hand.
"Luis has been the best thing that ever happened to me," said Sheridan a bit more defensively then she meant to. "And he is going to make a wonderful father."
"We're sure he is," said Gwen genuinly happy for Sheridan.
"You should have seen him with Theresa's boys.." began Gwen.
The minute that she said it she knew it was a mistake. She watched as all the color drained out of Ethan's face. He looked like he had just been side swiped by a truck.

Ethan couldn't believe what he had just heard, Theresa had children. Of course she had children. He didn't really expecvt her to be in a corner somewhere pining away after him did he. Her life went on just like his did. He had knownb that logically, that Theresa was bound to meet someone else, someone who could give him the life that he could not, but still the reality of the situation was more painful then he could imagine. Ethan tried to find his voice.
"Theresa has children?" he asked not sure if he wanted to hear it again.
"Yes," said Sheridan almost aplogetically. "Two twin boys."
"Twins," smiled Ethan ."Resa always wanted Twins something about..." he let the sentence trail off.
"Well I for one am happy for Theresa," said Gwen truly relieved. Theresa had moved pon. she had married and had children. She was no longer a threat. Maybe coming back to Harmony was a good idea after all.
"She was here yesterday." said Sheridan hesitatntly continuing with the conversation.
"With her husband?" asked Ethan barel;y above a whispetr.
"No," said Sheridan "She came alone."
For some reason that knowledge made Ethan feel better. A flash of hope rose up inside him that he quickly surpressed. He and Theresa were over. They had been over for years.Why did he keep having to remind himself of that?
"So Theresa is in town?" asked Gwen her mood darkening. Gwen had always had everything that she ever wanted and had never really hoped for anything, but if she had one wish it was to never ever see Theresa Lopoez-Fitzgerald again. She and Ethan had gone to another continent to escape that women and now here she was only a few miles away from her.

"Resa was here"
Thats all Ethan could think about. He had thought about Theresa practically every minute of every day since he met her and had seen her a million times in his dreams. There were times when the longing to see her beautiful face became so strong that he could barely breathe. But he resigned himself a long time ago to the fact that he would never agin lay eyes on her. Now with the knowldge that she was here and so close. He didn't know if he had the strength to stay away.
"Theresa has moved on," he thought "Don't ruin her life because you want to see her again. Just let  sleeping dogs lie."

Theresa tucked Elijah in and gave Joshua a kiss on the forehead. She looked at her two boys and turned off the light. She couldn't stop thinking about what Miguel had said earlier. Was she really being unfair to Ethan by not letting him know that he was a father and what about the boys. They had a right to know their father and their family even if they were Cranes. But telling Ethan could only do more harm then good she had decided that along time ago, besides Ethan was in Europe their was no way to contact him besides he was a Crane why would he care about two illegitamate sons that he had with some girl he was just messing around with? He was going to marry Gwen and have children with her let him play daddy to them. Still she couldn't help remeber how sweet Ethan was and how good he was with kids.

The wind was blowing  in the park through the trees and Ethan couldn't help but notice how the soft winds were blowing so sweetly in Theresa's hair.  They had been picnicing in the park all afternoon and Ethan didn't think that he had ever had a bettr time in his life. That is what was so great about being with Theresa she made even the simple things seem so much more exciting.

Theresa smiled as she noticed Ethan staring at her. She had dreamed of this day so many times, she and Ethan just being together doing nothing but enjoying each others comapny but the reality of the situation was so much better. She and Ethan fit together perfectly, just like she knew they did. Fate meant for them to be together and now they were.
"Are you having a good time Ethan?" asked Theresa already knowing the answer.
"I can't remeber having a better time," said Ethan smiling.
"So," said Theresa sitting up a bit hesitantly, "You still didn't tell me what went wrong with you and Gwen."
Ethan sighed a bit and sat up as well. The last thing that he wanted to do was get into it withTheresa about Gwen. Still she did ask and he felt that she had a right to know.
"I guess that I haven't brought it up because I don't know what happened myself. I mean Gwen and I had been together for ten years but the last couple of years just haven't been working. I mean I loved her I still do, but I just wasn't in love with her. She was somebody who I loved spending time with, somebosy who I felt comfortable with, but the passion was missing. I told myself that it was just because we had been together for so long and that once we were married the old flame would reignite, but deep down we both knew that w couldn't restart something that was never there. I'm just glad that she had the guts enough to break it off before things went any further."
"I'm so sorry Ethan," said Theresa genuinely upset by his pain. "If this is to much to soon..."
"No," said Ethan taking his hand to her face."This is exactly what I need. See Gwen had been saying for months now that I didn't love her the way that she deserved to be love and I never believed that not until recently and its because of you Resa you make me feel the way that I always thought Gwen should."
Theresa wiped back her tears and smiled."Resa huh?" she laughed.
"What you don't like it?" asked Ethan hoping that he hadn't upset her.
"No I love it, I never had a nickname before," smiled Theresa.
"Good," said Ethan moving in for a kiss."I like that I've given you something that you've never had."

Ethan moved as close to Theresa as possible. Their lips were about to touch. Theresa closed her eyes and prepared to savor the moment that she had dreamed about all her life when she noticed that Ethan's lips were no longer coming closer. She opened her eyes and found Ethan holding a ball in one hand and rubbing his head with the other.
"Oh my god Ethan are you ok?" asked Theresa rubbing his head in the spot he was just at.
"Yeah I got a little side swiped," said Ethan smiling.
Ethan looked up the little boy coming towards him and handed him the ball.
"I am so sorry mister," said the boy taking his ball. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," said Ethan smiling."You've got quiet an arm there you ver think of a career in baseball?"
"I play little league," said the boy "I am the best player on the team."
"Really, let me twll you something I was the best player on my little league team too."
"Oh yeah," said the boy getting excited."Well I want to be the next Josh Gibson."
"Well I'll say that you are well on your way," said Ethan winking at the boy.
"Do you guys have any sons cause if you do they can play on my team," said the boy smiling at Theresa.
Theresa and Ethan looked uncomfortably and smiled.
"No we don't have any kids," said Ethan slightly embarrased.
"Well, maybe someday," said the boy.
"Well I tell you what if I were to have any sons I hope that they are as sweet as you," said Theresa not taking her eyes off of Ethan.
"Ok I am going now bye," said the boy as he waved good bye.

Theresa turned to Ethan and smiled
"You sure are good with kids," she said playing with the daisy in her hand.
"Well it comes from practically raising myself," said Ethan a little more bitterly then he liked. He looked up and noticed that Theresa's face was now crinkled with concern.
"I'm sorry Resa," he said grabbing her hand,"It's just that sometimes I wish I had been raised a little differently. I mean don't get me wrong I know that my mother loved me but being in boarding school made me a starnger to my entire family I mean to this day my two sister and my brother are more like  causal acquantances then siblings."
"Thats to bad," said Theresa putting her hand on top of his." I know what its like to be estraned from your siblings its horrible."
"Well I tell you onw thing if I ever have kids I'm not sending them to boarding school. I'm raising them myself." said Ethan.
"I Think that you'd make a wonderful father," said Theresa unable to exstinguish the hope that if Ethan were to ever have children that it would be with her.
"I'm telling you," he said suddenly turning very seriously. "I would never let anybody or anything come between me and my kids and being the father that they deserved. Not ever."

Theresa looked one more times at her boys and shook the memory off. What would Ethan do if he found out about his sons? Maybe it was time that she found out. Maybe it was time to finally tell Ethan and everybody else the truth about why she really left Harmony.

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