Ethan stormed into the Crane living room and threw his coat on the couch and began to pace. He paused a minute trying to catch his breathe and collect his thoughts. When he left the Lopez-Fitzgeralds he was convinced that the boy that he had saw there, Theresa's boy, was his son, one of two sons to be exact, but now that he was home and he had some time to think about it he wondered if he was jumping to conclusions, after all if he had fathered Theresa's children she would have told him wouldn't she? They had only been together for such a short period of time and they had only made love a few times and every time they had used protection, except for that one time..
"Oh my god," he thought suddenly realizing that it just might be possible. "Am I a father?"

She was trying to fight her way out of the darkness trying to go back into the light but she couldn't remember why all she knew was that she was still needed by somebody but by who.
"I love you Resa." said a familiar voice but who's voice was it?

"What?" asked Theresa in disbelief.
"I said I love you." said Ethan smiling.
Theresa turned toward the man who she had loved her entire life and kissed him with a passion that she didn't know that she had. Her tears soaked his face, but he didn't seem to mind. The only thing that he seemed to care about was that they were together and that she was in his arms and that made her cry even more. When they finally broke from there kiss she looked around the Crane family--their cabin. It had become their special place. A place where they could spend time together with out being afraid that they would get caught.
"Oh Ethan," said Theresa touching his face "I have waited all my life to hear you say those words."
"And I have waited all of my life to feel the way that you make me feel. Before I fell in love with you Theresa I could say the words but I had no idea what they really meant," said Ethan taking Theresa's hand in his.
"And now," said Theresa kissing Ethan's hand.
"And now I don't think that anybody has ever had a better understanding of the words.
If Theresa thought that she had loved Ethan before with all of her heart she knew now that she was wrong. For at that moment she loved him even more then she thought she could. She stared at the fire in the fire place and then back at the man she loved.
"Make love to me Ethan," said Theresa staring deeply into Ethan's eyes.
"What?" asked Ethan not sure if  had heard her right.
"I said make love to me Ethan."
Ethan touched Theresa's face gently then put his hand to his side.
"I don't know Theresa..."
"Don't you want me?" asked Theresa a little hurt and confused.
"Theresa I want to be with you more then I have ever wanted anything in my life, but I just want you to be ready. This is a big step and I don't want you to jump into anything  just because you think it is what I want," said Ethan sincerely.
"Ethan I love that  you are so concerned about me and my feelings, but I want this just as much as you do. We belong together Ethan. Let me show you how how much I love you."
Ethan took Theresa's face in his hand and kissed her sweet lips. He kissed her neck and gently started to pull down her dress strap and kiss her shoulder as he laid her down he looked into her eyes to make sure that this is what she really wanted. When she smiled back at him he knew that this was right.
Theresa closed her eyes lost in his kisses and his touch and together they began their dance of love.
 

Luis held his sisters hand as she laid in her hospital bed. He thought that he heard her mumbling something and moved toward her mouth to hear what it was.
"Ethan," she mumbled weakly before falling back into unconsciousness.
Luis tried to contain the anger that was boiling inside of him. God how he hated that guy.

Kay Lopez-Fitzgerald could count the number of times that  she had been at the Crane mansion on one had. The first time was when she was found out that she had a brother that she knew nothing about, and the last time was when she found out that she didn't. For years Ivy Crane had thought that her oldest son Ethan was the product of an affair that she had with her father Sam right after she got married. She eventually told Sam who was furious and Ethan was even thrown out of the Crane family for a while. Of course, as it turned out Ivy was mistaken and Julian was really Ethan's father. She still remembered the look on Ivy's face when she found out that her only link to Sam was gone. Still even though they weren't blood related she and Ethan had grown quite close during their brief time as siblings and she still considered him a brother.
Kay walked into the mansion and found Ethan rummaging through some old photographs.
"So this is what the Cranes do in their spare time," said Kay smiling as Ethan looked up from his search. "Don't you have various peons to do this stuff for you."
"Well normally I do," said Ethan jokingly. "But this is personal," he continued suddenly becoming serious. "Here it is," he said holding up a picture triumphantly.
"Well are you going to give me a hug or did you just call me over here to watch you rummage through old boxes?"
Ethan got up from the floor where he was sitting and gave Kay a big hug.
"It's good to see you Kay its been a long time," said Ethan genuinely happy to see her.
"To long," said Kay returning his embrace.
"Sit down," he said pointing to the couch.
"Thank you for the wedding present I loved it," said Kay as soon as Ethan sat down next to her.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed it the minute I saw it I knew that it was you."
"Well," smiled Kay "you always did have a six sense about me."
"So how is everybody?" asked Ethan.
"Everybody is fine. Noah as you know is living happily ever after."
"Yeah," smiled Ethan "I never thought my sister could be as happy as she is with Noah."
"Well she makes my brother pretty happy too so I guess they're even."
"Speaking of sisters I saw your last month," said Ethan trying to gauge kay's reaction. From the brief time that he thought he was part of the Bennett family he had picked up on the tension between the two girls. He had done his best to try to heal there rift, much to Noah's chagrin as he recalled, but he did help some and the girls did make peace finally before Jess moved to Europe.
"Yeah I know she told me she really is loving it there. And I hear that you and Gwen bought one of her paintings for a small fortune," smiled Kay , Whatever problems she and Jessica had as children were long past. She was proud of her little sister and the mark she was making in the art world.
"Well a Jessica Bennett painting is definitely worth its wait in gold," smiled Ethan.
"So," said Kay.," Where is Gwen?"
"She is with her mother. They haven't seen each other in a while so they are catching up."
Kay didn't really know Gwen that well. Gwen had been really nice to her though when she thought she was Ethan's sister and she thought she was nice. She also knew though that The thing between Ethan and Theresa made her do some not to nice things and put her at odds with the Lopez-Fitzgeralds. Still she had done some pretty awful things to win the heart of the man she loved once so she couldn't be to hard on the girl. And Ethan did go back to her so there must be some pretty strong feelings there. Although Kay knew without even knowing the whole story that Ethan would never love Gwen the way that he loved and probably still loved Theresa.
"Ethan," began Kay not entirely sure that she wanted to get into the conversation that she was beginning. "As great as it is to see you I know that you didn't invite me here just to say hi."
Ethan shook his head in agreement. She was right. He and Kay were quit close once upon a time and he knew that since she was married to Miguel that she had to know the truth about the twins. He hoped that if he asked her she would just come right out and tell him the truth.
"You're right Kay I asked you over here to talk about Theresa.
Kay suddenly became really nervous. Could he know about Josh and Eli? Kay still remembered how freaked out Theresa got when she found out that she was pregnant by Ethan. Theresa had taken great pains to make sure that Ethan never knew about
the boys. Still if there was one thing she had learned it was that nothing was ever really a secret from the Cranes.
"What about her?" asked Kay trying to sound normal.
"Well I was thinking how odd it was that her boys have her last name instead of their fathers," said Ethan getting straight to the point.
"Well I don't know why you think its odd, Theresa made a choice to use her name. Its just that simple," said Kay matter of factly.
"Maybe, but something about it and the whole timing of her pregnancy and leaving town just makes me wonder." said Ethan not taking his eyes off of Kay.
"Damn," thought Kay as she listened to Ethan confirm her fear. "He suspects."
"Well," I wouldn't spend to much time thinking about it who knows why Theresa does any of the things that she does," said Kay grabbing the picture in Ethan's hand.
"Cute kid," she said holding the picture up in an attempt to change the subject.
"It's me." said Ethan fully aware of what Kay was trying to do.
Kay looked at the picture of Ethan posing with his little short suit, his brown hair sitting up a little unruly and and was surprised by how much it reminded her of the twins.
"Its amazing how much you look like your.." Kay stopped as soon as she realized what she was saying.
"It's amazing how much I look like my what? My sons?" asked Ethan finishing Kay's sentences.
"No I meant to say that it was amazing how much you look like your father its a wonder that Ivy ever thought you were my dads," said Kay trying really hard to cover her tracks. The Lopez-Fitzgeralds would never forgive her if she spilled the truth to Ethan. Still there was a part of her that hoped he would figure it out. She knew how lies destroyed. She had been a liar once upon a time. The truth always came out and in the end it was really the only thing that could set you free.
"Kay do you know something that you are not telling me?" asked Ethan desperately.
Kay began to stumble. She remembered a time not to long ago when she could tell a lie at the drop of a hat and not only would she be convincing, but she wouldn't think anything of it. That was the old her however, and unfortunately in this situation at least, the new her wasn't very good at lying to the people that she loved.
"Kay are the twins mine?"
There he had come right out and asked.
Kay opened her mouth to speak when her cell phone rang.
"Saved by the bell," she thought.

Ethan watched Kay's face change in fear and wondered what happened.
"It's Theresa,"  said Kay running out the door she was in an accident it looks bad."
 

Sheridan handed Luis and Miguel their cups of coffee and sat in between them. She watched he husband and brother in law stare out into space obviously in pain and wished that there was something that she could do to help.
"She is a fighter Luis," said Sheridan squeezing her husbands arm and trying to bring him comfort. "She'll fight like hell to come back to us."
"I hope you're right," said Luis looking at his wife.
Luis noticed how tired Sheridan looked. he put his hand on her swelled belly and and smiled.
"Why don't you so home," he said softly. "You and the baby need your rest."
"I'm not going anywhere," said Sheridan defiantly.
"Luis is right," chimed in Miguel. He knew that this was going to just turn into another battle of wills between these two and he knew that Sheridan was in no condition to be traipsing up and down this hospital with her due date so close.
"You guys need me here." said Sheridan.
"I called Kay she should be on her way, we'll  be all right," said Miguel noticing that Sheridan didn't seemed moved by his words.
"Can I get you anything?" asked a nurse coming up to the family.
"Yes." said Luis not taking his eyes off Sheridan can my wife lay  down someplace she's really close to her due date and she has been up all day."
"Of course," said the nurse helping Sheridan up. "I'll take her to one of the rooms in the back."
"Thanks you," said Luis.
Sheridan smiled as she gave in and turned around to her husband.
"I'll be back," she said doing her Terminator impression.
"I'll hold you to that," he said watching her leave.

"This is all Ethan Cranes fault," said Luis the minute Sheridan was out of his view.
"Not now Luis," said Miguel snapping. he was in no mood for another one of Luis' tirades against the Cranes.
"Well its true none of this would have happened if she wasn't on her way to meet that guy. They have done nothing but cause trouble for this family."
"May I remind you Luis that you are  married to a Crane and that our two nephews are Cranes," said Miguel staring at Luis.
"Sheridan and the twins may be Cranes by blood but that's were it ends. Thank God Sheridan spent her life in boarding school away from those people and Theresa had the sense to keep her boys away from Ethan. I'm telling you I am going to do whatever it takes to protect  Theresa and her boys from Ethan Crane.

Kay ran to Miguel's side and threw her arms around her husband.
"How is she?" she asked wiping away her husband tears. "Not good. There was a lot of internal bleeding and she hasn't been conscious since they brought her in her.
"I am so sorry baby," she said hugging him again.

"She will make it though," said Ethan coming in from behind.
Luis turned to see Ethan and before he could lung at him Miguel grabbed him and held him back.
"Get out of here Crane!!" He yelled
Ethan was unaffected by Luis' outburst and moved closer.
"I have every right to be here Luis I care about Theresa just as much as you so."
"The hell you do," spat Luis.
"We're not sure if Theresa is going to pull through," said Miguel quietly
"She will Miguel," said Kay.
"Look I need to get some air are you going to be ok?" asked Miguel looking at Luis.
"I'll be fine," said Luis through clinched teeth.

Ethan watched Kay and Miguel leave and it suddenly dawned on him that the boys weren't there.
"Where are the boys?" asked Ethan concerned "they weren't hurt were they?"
"What do you care," asked Luis angrily.
Ethan became panicked all of a sudden. The thought of losing Theresa forever was tearing him apart but if anything were to happen to their sons
"Tell me," he demanded.
"Eli and Josh are fine they weren't in the car they are with a neighbor," said Luis finally.
"Thank God," said Ethan letting out a breathe that he wasn't sure he was holding in.
"Do they know about Theresa yet?" He asked quietly.
"Look Crane I am not about to stand here and tell you my family business."
"Your family business?" said Ethan in disbelief. "Eli and Josh are my sons that makes them my family and my business."
"Who told you that?" asked Luis. The last thing he wanted was for Ethan to find out that the twins were his. All he needed was this guy trying to put his brand on the boys.
"I figured it out," replied Ethan.
"Well you figured wrong," said Luis turning his back towards Ethan.
"Look I have rights here Luis," said Ethan angrily.
"Rights," repeated Luis turning around in disbelief. "Rights? and what would those be Crane? It seems to me that you gave up any rights to anything that had to do with Theresa the day you went back to Gwen, where is she by the way I mean surely she doesn't trust you out and about on your own," said Luis now in Ethan's face.
"I didn't give up the rights to my sons," said Ethan matching Luis stare.
If Luis thought that he was going to back down on this he was dead wrong. Joshua and Eli were his sons and they had been kept apart for the last time.
"Your sons don't need you or anything else that you have to offer Crane." said Luis now becoming angry. Who did this guy think he was. He had abandoned Theresa when she was pregnant with his kids and now he was actually in his face talking about his rights. Well he was not going to let him ruin Theresa's life again.
"So you're admitting that Eli and Josh are mine," said Ethan not backing down.
"I'm not admitting anything," said Luis walking away from Ethan.

"I'm their father and I will be a part of their lives," said Ethan defiantly.
With that Luis lost it. He turned back around and grabbed Ethan angrily by the collar.
"Now you listen up Crane. I am ordering you to stay away from my sister sons."
"Eli and Josh are my sons too Luis and there is no way in hell that you or Theresa can keep them from me!!," yelled Ethan trying to loosen Luis grip.

Sheridan saw the fight as she turned the hall and ran to her husband and nephew.
"What the hell is wrong with you too," said Sheridan trying to loosen Luis grip. "This is a hospital, Theresa may be dying."
Luis bristled at Sheridan's last words and let Ethan go.
"I'm sorry," said Luis turning towards Sheridan. "I let this punk get to me."
"Luis..." began Sheridan in an attempt to defend her nephew.
"Forget it Sheridan." said Ethan raising his hand up to quiet her. "Don't waste your breathe trying to defend me to Luis. I really don't care what he thinks the only thing I care about are my boys."
"There you go again," said Luis turning back to face Ethan. "They are not something that you own Crane,  they are people not property and they already have a parent. Somebody who has been there for then everyday of there lives since they were born. They don't need you."
"Look I pray to god that Theresa pulls through. You have no idea how much I want Resa to be ok, but if something were to happen to her. I would be all that Joshua and Eli have." said Ethan trying to fight back tears at the thought of Theresa's death.
"The hell you would be," spat Luis in anger.

Ethan opened his mouth to protest again when he noticed the doctor and a few nurses running into Theresa's room
"Oh my god,"  said Ethan his heart beating so hard in his chest from fear that he could hear its rhthym. "She's flat lining."

Back