Jack let out the breathe that he was holding and smiled. The Crane men were notoriously hard to please, In fact, it would take both his hands to count the number of associates he worked with that were fired from his firm after handling a Crane case. The Cranes didn't like losing, whether they were in a winning battle or not, and they usually took it out on the poor sucker that was around them. He had been aprehensive when he was offered this case but he wasn't about to say no to Julian Crane when he came calling check book in hand with a case that was bound to be the most highly profiled of his career.
"I'm glad that you approve of my preliminary work."
"I do, so tell me Jack how long before this thing goes to court.
"Well Mr. Crane," said Jack sitting up. "Its hard to tell a few weeks a month, maybe two."
"two months," said Julian sitting up agitated, his smile fading as he contemplated what his lawyer had just said. "That is unacceptable I want my heirs in this house as soon as possible."
"I understand that Mr. Crane but you have to understand that this isn't your usual cut and dry case. Paternity has to be established before we can do anything. For all we know the children in questions may not even be Cranes."
"Oh they are Cranes all right," said Julian proudly rising from his seat to refill his cup. "And they are going to be raised in this house with our traditions and one day they will inherit all that we have."
Jack admired Julian's devotion to his long lost grand children, but at the same time remained not as convinced about their paternity. He had handled his fair share of custody cases. Many that never made it pass the preliminary stages when paternity could not be proven, much to the surprise of the father and the mother. He would sure hate to see his client heading for a fall here. Besides it wasn't like he didn't have other grandchildren. If these two boys turned out not to be Ethan's the Crane dynasty would survive.
"Well I served Miss Lopez-Fitzgerald with the papers and she should be setting up the paternity tests in a little while so the issue of paternity."
"Do you think that she will submit to the tests?"
"She has no choice. Its a legal order Mr. Crane. Believe you me if the Lopez-Fitzgerald boys are Cranes we will all know it soon enough."
"What is going on here?" asked Ethan walking into the living room. He had only heard part of the conversation, but he didn't like what he was hearing.
"Ethan," said Julian handing Ethan a cup of coffee just the man I wanted to see. Jack and I were just discussing how soon it will be before Eli and Josh are in this house."
"What?" said Ethan furiously slapping the cup on the table in front of him. "How dare you."
"What?" asked Julian innocently.
"Don't you ever learn. Nothing good ever comes from you trying to manipulate situations and people in this family."
"Manipulate. Please Ethan I'm just trying to assure Eli and Josh their rightful place at our sides."
"Your father is right Mr. Crane." interjected Jack. "If you intend to file for custody paternity has to be established."
"Who said anything about custody?" asked Ethan trying to catch up with what his father had been doing behind his back.
"You do want custody don't you Mr. Crane?" asked Jack. If the father didn't want the kids then there was really no reason for him to be there.
"Of course he does," said Julian patting Ethan on the back.
"Look father I know that you are only trying to help, but I'd rather not have the courts involved. I'm still convinced that Theresa and I can work this thing out among ourselves."
"Well I'm afraid its too late for that," said Julian smugly.
"What's that suppose to me?" asked Ethan suddenly getting a knot
in his stomach. "Father what have you done?"
"Just put the wheels of justice in motion. As we speak Miss Lopez-Fitzgerald
and our boys are at the hospital submitting to paternity tests and when
the results are back we are going to be able to go full steam ahead with
our custody suit.
Ethan just looked at his father in shock and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" asked Julian not sure about what had just happened.
"To try to undo some of the damage that you've done father," shouted Ethan as he angrily thundered out the door.
"Geesh," said Julian watching the door that his son had just stormed
out of. That boy is never grateful for his help."
"Don't sugar coat it Whit how worried should I be?" asked Theresa as she and Whitney sat in the hospital waiting room waiting for Eli and Josh to be done with their DNA test.
"Look Theresa its just a blood test..."
"A blood test to establish paternity," shouted Theresa jumping up.
"Yes most likely."
"Most likely," said Theresa angrily. "Thats exactly what it is and you know it. Look Whit if you're going to be my lawyer. you're going to have to stop pussy footing around and get a little tougher."
"Oh really," said Whitney "And if you're going to be my client you are going to have to learn to calm down. And as far as being tough they don't call me the shark lady in court for nothing.
Theresa smiled as she heard Whitney repeat the nick name that she had been given by the press. She had gotten quite a reputation in court for being tough and more importantly for winning.
"I'm sorry Whit," said Theresa looking in her hands at the court order she had received from the Cranes. "I'm just really scared."
"I know you are Theresa that's the only reason we aren't kung fu fighting right now."
Theresa looked at her friend and smiled at her reference to their child hood karate matches. She and Whitney had been addicted to this movie called the Last Dragon and they tried desperately to learn karate with little success. Whitney's father finally agreed to let Whitney have lessons, but Theresa couldn't afford it so Whitney would come over after class and teach Theresa what she had learned.
The two friends laughed as they remembered and gave each other hugs.
"I hope the boys are ok," said Theresa breaking out of the hugs.
"They're fine, Simone is the best doctor around I know that she is taking
good care of them,"
she said smiling proudly at the respected doctor her little sister
had become.
"I know, I know, but maybe this was a bad idea. I mean maybe they shouldn't be here. Maybe I should have refused to submit the boys to these tests."
"You had no choice Theresa it was a court order if you refused then the court could look bad on you and it might strengthen any case for custody that the Cranes may have."
"I thought you said you didn't think this meant they wanted custody."
"It might not. It could simply mean they want to establish paternity for visitation rights."
"Visitation rights?" said Theresa beginning to pace up and down. "I don't want that."
"Well unfortunately it isn't up to you Theresa. If Ethan can establish paternity he has rights. And he may be awarded visitation."
"Those people will never be a part of my sons lives they don't deserve it."
"Well a judge might not see it that way," said Whitney putting her hand on Theresa's arm in an attempt to offer comfort.
"Well a judge can't make me do anything that I don't want to if I'm not around ," said Theresa unable to look at her friend.
"Theresa don't even think about that," said Whitney moving to face her friend. "The worse thing that you can do for yourself or for children is to run."
Theresa turned to answer her friend but before she could she noticed Ethan staring at her as he was walking up.
"Here to make sure I was doing your bidding?" asked Theresa bitterly?
"Look," said shifting around nervously in his place. "We need to talk."
No," said Theresa holding up the court order that was still in her hand. "I think this speaks pretty well for itself."
"It's good to see you Whitney," said Ethan turning around to Theresa's friend.
"You too Ethan. You look good."
"So do you. I have been following you career. Your defense strategy in the Doyle case was nothing short of brilliant."
"Thank you," said Whitney shifting around uncomfortably. "Look I have to go ..do..something. You do talk."
Theresa watched her friend go and turned toward the man who had once meant more to her then anything in the world. There was a time when she would die for Ethan now he was the enemy.
"Look Ethan anything that you have to say you can say to my lawyer."
"Your lawyer," said Ethan a little shocked. "Whitney? I wish you hadn't done that."
"Well YOU left me no choice." she said still not looking at him.
"Resa..."
"What," interrupted Theresa unleashing all the anger and fear that she had been holding in since she returned to Harmony.
"You're sorry. You didn't mean for this to happen? Spare me Ethan your denials are pathetic."
"Look Theresa I never meant for it to come down to this my father set
this all in emotion without consulting me I might add," he said looking
her in the eye and trying to get her to listen to him. They had created
these two beautiful boys together surely they could find a way to raise
them together. He opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted
by the patter of little feet.
"Mama, mama look what we got," said Eli running towards Theresa and handing his mother the lollipop that the doctor had just given him.
"Wow," said Theresa kneeling down to her son and giving him a reassuring smile. Aren't you a lucky boy."
"Mama, mama Eli cried," said Josh running towards his mother and showing her the two lollipops in his hand." and he moved around a lot."
"No I didn't," said Eli defensively."
"Yes you did that why I got two pieces of candy and you only have one," replied Josh smugly sticking out his little tongue at his brother.
"Hey," said Theresa sternly. "You know better than that Joshua you do not tease your brother."
"Your mother is right," said Ethan kneeling down to look at the boys.
When they first ran out here to Theresa all he could do was stare at them in awe. It was like a part of him still couldn't believe that they actually existed. But they did. And here they were standing in front of him. It was amazing.
"Thank you Mr. Crane, but I can handle this," said Theresa becoming angrily. She was the boys parent not him, where did he get off.
"I'm sure you can," said Ethan not taking his eyes off of the boys. "You know Josh their is nothing wrong with boys that cry."
"That's not true I heard Uncle Luis telling Aunt Sheridan that real men don't cry, only actors and soft, spoiled pretty boys like her nephew who have lived their whole live in guilded cages."
"Josh," said Theresa trying not to laugh. "You know better then to eaves drop on your Uncle Luis and Aunt Sheridan's private conversations.
Ethan just smirked. That sounded exactly like something Luis would say. This was just another reason why he didn't want Luis to be just the sole influence in his sons lives.
"Well Uncle Luis is wrong."
"Ethan," said Theresa.
"Big guys do cry," continued Ethan ignoring Theresa." Its ok. Where did they stick you?"
"Here," said Eli pointing to his arm.
"Well ,said Ethan "that was quite brave of you to cry if not all your fear might of stayed inside of you and you could have exploded," said Ethan puffing his face up and making a sound of an explosions. That would be terrible."
Eli and Josh just looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Eli smiled and looked triumphantly at his brother who looked toward the ground defeated.
"I like you," said Eli.
At that moment Ethan felt like the Grinch character in that movie. His heart grew about a hundred times at that moment and filled with a love and pride unlike anything else he had ever felt.
"I like you to" said Ethan. Both of you."
Josh looked up smiling as Ethan rustled both their heads.
"Can we see you again?" asked Josh.
"Hey why don't the two of you go find your Aunt Whitney I think she's by the soda machine."
"Yeah," said the boys happily. They grabbed each others hands and ran off.
"Not so fast," she cried after them.
"They are so great," said Ethan proudly.
"Yes they are no thanks to you."
"And whose fault is that?" asked Ethan bitterly, his smile fading.
"Oh please Ethan be honest if I had said Ethan I am pregnant with your child what would you have done?" asked Theresa with tears in her eyes.
"I would have done the right thing," said Ethan taking Theresa's hand.
"Yeah the right thing."
Ethan stared at the woman that he once loved. The women that he stilled loved. And wished not for the first time that everything had worked out differently.
Lunch was a luxury that Simone Russell hardly enjoyed. She took another bite of her salad and looked at her sister.
"So do you think that the Cranes are going to fight for custody of the twins."
"I have been trying to tell Theresa not to be concerned about that," said Whitney taking another sip of water.
"But you are," interjected Simone.
"This could get pretty messy. The Cranes are ruthless."
"I know," said Whitney "hardly anybody knows that better then us."
"Well maybe the Lopez-Fitzgeralds.
"Damn," said Whitney "This is such a mess I know how I'd feel if I ever lost Lily."
"Speaking of Lily how is my precious niece?"
"Good and missing her Aunt Simone. You promised to visit last month."
"I know, I know. I've been busy."
"Well I would have brought her with me but Gary really wanted some time with her."
"So how is that working out?"
"As well as shared custody can."
Simone placed her hand over her sister's and she squeezed back. The divorce had been hard on Whitney. Simone knew that. When two of the most prominent attorneys in New York got married their union gets a fluff story in the lifestyle section of the paper. When they divorce its flashed on the front page of every tabloid rag in the country. Simone knew the publicity was rough and more then that she knew how much Whitney hated to fail. She just hoped that Whitney wouldn't use this as an excuse to put of another chance at love like she did when they both lost Chad.
"I just hope that Theresa and Ethan can settle this thing out of court. I'd hate to put Theresa through a trial."
Simone heard her cell phone ringing and picked it up as she watched
her sister finish her sentence. She nodded
her head and looked at her sister forbiddingly. The DNA tests are back.
Whitney took a deep breathe and sat back in the chair wearily. The games
were about to begin and everybody might end up the loser.
"Champagne?" asked Ethan as the maid came in with a tray of glasses.
"Well I had a feeling that the tests were going to turn out the way that they did," smiled Julian. "Congratulations daddy," said Julian proudly bringing his son into a hug. "This is a great day for the Cranes."
"For once I am going to have to agree with your father Ethan," said Ivy smiling at Julian's shocked expression and taking a glass of champagne of off the tray. I can't remember the last time this family has been given such happy news.
"Well I don't think that we should waste anymore time now that the paternity of our heirs have been established. We need to call Jack and have him file for custody why the iron is hot so to speak."
"Wait a minute father I never said anything about going a long with this custody suit."
"But what about our right, I mean your rights?" asked Julian becoming flustered the last thing he needed was Ethan going soft on him. They would never win custody that way.
"Your father is right Ethan," said Ivy going to her son and placing her hand on his face." You have a right to know your sons."
"I agree mother, but Theresa is a good mother."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Good mothers don't keep their children's paternity a secret, good moms don't lie about who their sons father is isn't that right honey."
Ivy looked at Julian with daggers in her eyes.The references to EThan's confused paternity was not lost on her.
"That's right Ethan and good fathers don't father children out of wed lock and leave them to fin for themselves in the mean streets of LA."
Ethan looked at Gwen and the two shook their heads. He should have known that 5 minutes of niceness was just to much for his parents to take.
"Look mother, father, I appreciate your concern for me."
"It's not just concern for you darling I mean Eli and Josh are my grandchildren and I would like to get to know them," said Ivy.
"And you will. I promise. Look Theresa has made some bad choices here, but out of fear, not out of malice I am convinced that if I talk to her I can get her to agree to shared custody."
"Shared custody,." said Gwen skeptically. "Ethan Theresa lied to you about not being their father. Does that strike you as a woman who wants to share custody of her children. She doesn't want you to be there father, she doesn't want you to have anything to do with those boys."
"Well what she wants is totally irrelevant," said Julian taking another swig of champagne.
"I'll talk to her. We'll work it out," said Ethan all of a sudden feeling the pressure of the situation. Theresa and he would come to some kind of compromise. They had to. Their sons lives were at stake.
Sheridan called to her husband in a panic
. "This was bad," thought Sheridan. "Really bad."
"What is it? asked Luis running towards his wife. "Is it the baby?" he asked placing his hand on her stomach.
"No the baby is fine."
"Good," said Luis letting out a relieved breath. "What's the big emergency?"
"It's Theresa," she's gone."
"What? She can't be."
"She is"
Luis went around the house in a panic.
"This is not good." said Luis returning to his wife's side.
"When the family finds out that she is gone they are going to use this against her in the custody case.
"Maybe I can find her before it comes to that," said Luis heading for the door. Luis opened the door and saw the last person that he wanted to at the other end.
"I'm here to see Theresa," said Ethan sternly. He hadn't wanted to run into Luis, but he wasn't about to let him stand between him and his family.
"She is isn't available," said Luis
Ethan felt the anger rising inside of him and prepared to demand to come in when he heard Sheridan's voice.
"Theresa's gone"
"What," asked Ethan pushing his way into the house and to Sheridan side.
"I told you she's gone," repeated Sheridan unable to look at her nephew.
She looked at Luis and saw how upset he was that she had told Ethan the
truth. She wasn't exactly sure why she had said it. She knew that with
time Luis may have been able to find Theresa, but what if he couldn't what
if all the time they wasted gave Theresa a chance to take Ethan's children
as far away from him as possible. As much as she hated the fact that the
Cranes were trying to wrest custody of the boys from Theresa.
Ethan was their father and her nephew. She loved him like a brother
and she could not support Theresa taking the children away from him.
"Luis is Theresa gone?" asked Ethan trying to bury the panic he was feeling.
"It appears that way," said Luis moving toward the Crane her. "Well I hope you're happy Crane. This is all your fault."