A Little Twist of Fate (Third in the Unusual Pairs: PG-13)
by alabamagirl
 

Hey, all! Here's the third story in my "unusual pairs" series. I'll repost the first two, Expect The Unexpected (Whitney/Ethan) and Surprising Turns (Simone/Miguel) on the FanFicFriends board. But so many people asked for this story, I felt I had to write it. I hope you like it, and will let me know what you think! :) It's rated PG-13 for the last section.
Author: Jen (Bama)
Disclaimer: I do not own these Passions characters. They belong to JER, NBC, and Passions. But I do own Angela, Chase, Austin, & Destiny Crane (and the other kids I've created).
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"Daddy! Come look what me and Mommy made!"

The enthusiastic voice of his seven-year-old son Chase’s voice greeted Chad Crane as he stepped through the back door of their condo that afternoon. Dropping his car keys on the bar in the kitchen, Chad made his way through the house to the living room, where he was certain he would find his son. As he stepped through the doorway, Chase wrapped his arms around Chad’s waist and squeezed. Chad instinctively hugged him back, then allowed his eyes to take in his surroundings. And what he saw nearly brought tears to his eyes. Hanging above the brick fireplace was a large banner, with the words CONGRATULATIONS DADDY printed in crooked, green block letters. Balloons of every color adorned the corners, and a large chocolate cake sat on a china plate in the middle of the coffee table. And across the room, his beautiful, sweet wife sat on the sofa, holding their other two children.

Picking Chase up, Chad crossed to her side and sat down. "Thank you," he said huskily, trying not to give in to the emotions squeezing his chest. "You didn’t have to do all this."

His wife blushed and shook her head. "It was Chase’s idea," she replied with a smile. "We just wanted to show you how proud we are of you. It isn’t every day a guy is asked to produce a record for one of the biggest acts in hip-hop."

"Were you surprised, Dad?" Chase asked impatiently from Chad’s arms. "Mom said that you would be."

Chad chuckled. "Yeah, you bet, sport," he replied, hugging Chase again, then setting him down. "How ‘bout you go round up some plates, so we can dig into that cake? And pour your brother and sister some juice, ok?"

"Ok," Chase said agreeably, taking three-year-old Austin’s hand in one of his own, and two-year-old Destiny’s in the other and helping them off their mother’s lap.

After their kids had disappeared around the corner, Chad put his arms around his wife’s waist and tugged her onto his lap, kissing her softly on the lips. "You guys went to too much trouble," he said quietly, resting his forehead against her temple.

"No, we didn't," she insisted firmly, looping her arms around his neck and urging his mouth back toward hers. "You’re a great husband and a wonderful father, not to mention a phenomenal record producer. You deserve this. You are going to so far in this world, honey."

Chad sighed and dropped three quick kisses on her mouth. "As long as I’ve got you and the kids, I have all I need," he murmured. "I love you so much, Theresa."

"And I love you."

******************************************************

Several hours later, after the celebration had wound down, Theresa Crane stood in the darkened doorway of her kids’ bedroom and watched them sleep. Chase and Austin were tucked into the double bed they shared, and Destiny was asleep in her princess bed in the corner. Theresa had sung softly for them until they finally drifted off a few minutes ago. Now she was enjoying one of her favorite parts of the day: listening to the deep, even breathing that brought with it peace of mind.

Ever since she and Chad had nearly lost Chase right after he was born, Theresa often found herself plagued with nightmares of something happening to one of them. Observing the rise and fall of the children’s chests as they slept was one way she had found of reassuring herself.

Satisfied that they were ok, Theresa turned away and stepped into the hall, automatically making her way toward the back deck, where she could stand at the rail and stare out into the rolling waters of the Atlantic. But tonight she paid no attention to the sound of the pounding surf on the shore, or the reassuring beam from the lighthouse up the beach.

In her mind’s eye, she was re-living that horrible day, seven and a half years ago, when she and Chad had nearly lost their baby boy. Chase Barrett Crane (named for his great-grandmother, Katherine Barrett Crane) was born two-and-a-half months prematurely, and the doctors at Harmony Hospital weren’t optimistic about his chances, and for seven agonizing days, Theresa had clung desperately to her mother, Pilar, and mother-in-law, Eve, begging them not to let Chase die.

She doubted very much if she could survive the loss of yet another child.

Theresa shuddered involuntarily, remembering what had happened nearly thirteen years before. Brokenhearted as a result of her break-up with Ethan (following the scandal of him being "revealed" as a Bennett, and Chad discovering HE was the son of Eve and Julian), she had allowed Chad to comfort her. One night, comfort had turned to passion and they made love. Soon after, Ethan called to apologize, and the two of them attempted to reconcile. But when she discovered she was pregnant with Chad’s baby, she knew she and Ethan were finished. Ethan, feeling betrayed, had turned to Whitney (whose heart was broken by finding out Chad was her brother), while Theresa struggled to come to terms with her future as a mother. And at some indefinable point, as Chad showered her with concern for her and the baby, Theresa had begun developing real feelings for him, and found that she was excited about the impending birth of their child. Chad eventually asked her to marry him, and Theresa agreed. They were married in October and moved into a small apartment, and immediately began preparing a room for the baby.

Then, one cold day in December, during her sixth month, Theresa began to bleed heavily. Pilar and Luis rushed her to Harmony Hospital as quickly as possible, but it was too late. The doctors informed her that she had miscarried a baby girl. She and Chad named their daughter Angela Theresa Crane, and buried her in the Harmony Cemetery.

Theresa still made a point, even all these years later, to keep fresh flowers on her baby’s grave.

As she always did, Theresa felt the sting of tears behind her eyes as she thought of Angela, that beautiful baby who would never have a chance to grow up.

She couldn’t have stood losing Chase too.

Luckily, he pulled through, after several weeks of intensive neo-natal care. And four years later, Theresa and Chad welcomed Austin Julian Crane (named for his grandfather), and a year later, Destiny Luisa Crane (named in honor of Theresa’s big brother Luis) was born. But Theresa knew she would never forget her firstborn baby girl.

Suddenly, the sound of the sliding door opening behind her pulled Theresa from her thoughts. The night air had turned cool, and goosebumps ran the length of her arms, but she didn’t notice until Chad came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" he whispered, kissing her temple. "It’s cold, and you’re in nothing but a nightgown. What’s wrong, baby?"

Theresa glanced down at her simple blue nightgown and sighed. Leaning back on her husband’s solid chest, covered in a green T-shirt, she gratefully absorbed his strength.

"Just out here thinking about the past," she replied with a faint smile. "I was waiting for you to come out of your studio, so we can go to bed. You know I don’t like being there without you."

Chad wasn’t completely convinced everything was fine, but he could see it wouldn’t be good to push it. So instead, he gently tugged his wife back toward the door and out of the chilly night air. "Sorry it took so long," he said softly, "but I was putting down some ideas for the new record. But I’m here now, and more than ready to crawl into bed with my beautiful wife."

Once they were snuggled beneath the coverlet, Chad put his arms around her and kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder. "I have a great idea," he whispered.

"Hmm?" Theresa responded sleepily, turning into his embrace.

"A night full of romance, just you and me," Chad said, his eyes twinkling in the darkness. "Tomorrow afternoon, we can take the kids to Mom’s house or Pilar’s, so we can spend some quality time together. What do you say?"

Theresa kissed his cheek. "That sounds like heaven," she murmured. "You always have the best ideas…"

******************************************************

"So you really don’t mind keeping the kids tonight, Mama?"

Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald turned around and smiled at her daughter. "Of course not, mija," she said, absently stirring something on the stove. "I don’t get to see them enough as it is."

Theresa sighed gratefully. "Thanks, Mama," she replied, shifting Destiny to a better position on her lap.

A few seconds later, Austin and Chase skidded into the kitchen, with their cousins Abby and Megan (Simone and Miguel’s daughters) on their heels.

"Just the boys I needed to see!" Theresa announced, grabbing for her sons' shirts as they hurried by on their way to the back yard.

"How would you guys like to spend the night here at Nana’s house?"

Chase, his face flushed from running through the house, slid into the chair beside her.

"Will she make us her famous arroz con pollo?" he asked breathlessly, his eyes lighting up at the possibility.

"And will she let us watch cartoons?" Austin chimed in, leaning against Theresa’s side.

"I’m sure she will, if you ask her nicely," Theresa replied, with a wink at her mother.

"I’m already ahead of you, mijos," Pilar said with a small smile. "Arroz con pollo is on the menu for tonight."

"All right!" Chase crowed happily.

"Aww-ite!" Destiny mimicked, causing everyone to giggle. She blinked up at her mother with her big brown eyes, and Theresa couldn’t resist kissing her cheek.

"We’re staying the night with Nana too," Abby informed her. "Just me and Megan though. Dad has to take Isaac to camp tomorrow and Josh has a cold."

"Looks like you will have plenty of company tonight, Mama."
Pilar smiled.

"Come on, guys," Megan piped up, grinning. "Last one to the swings is a rotten egg!"

With a squeal, she took off, running for the back door as fast as her chubby little legs would carry her. Abby, Austin, and Chase right behind her.

"I really appreciate this, Mama," she said, giving Destiny one last peck and then handing her to Pilar. "If they start to be too rambunctious, don’t hesitate to call me."

Pilar shook her head. "Don’t worry, mija," she said. Bouncing her granddaughter on her hip. "These kids will be a walk in the park compared to raising you and your siblings."

Theresa groaned. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks, caused by the truth of the statement.

"Go spend some time with your husband," Pilar urged after a moment, gently pushing her toward the back door. "You two deserve it."

******************************************************

"Honey, I’m back!" Theresa called, stepping through the front door of the condo fifteen minutes later. "The kids are staying at Mama’s house tonight!"

Silence greeted her.

Just as she was starting to wonder if Chad had forgotten, she heard the first strains of music begin to play on the sound system upstairs, and felt a smile spread across her face. Kicking off her shoes, she hurried toward the staircase.

Once upstairs, the music—some hauntingly romantic jazz composition—got louder, and Theresa felt a tingle of anticipation race down her spine.

Pushing open the door to their bedroom, Theresa gasped as she felt tears come to her eyes. It had been transformed! Gone were the cotton sheets they slept on every night, and in their place was black silk. Huge bouquets of red roses stood atop the dresser and nightstand. The lights had been dimmed, and the warm glow of candlelight lit almost every corner of the room.

And standing beside the bed, dressed in loose black pants and a navy blue dress shirt, was her handsome husband. Theresa felt her mouth go dry as she stared at him. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing the length of his muscled chest and hard, flat abdomen, and his dark brown eyes were filled with love and desire for her.
"Chad," she breathed, glancing around the room again. "This is magnificent! You didn’t have to do all this."

Coming to stand in front of her, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently, before drawing back and rubbing his thumb absently across her bottom lip. "I wanted to make this night one that we will never forget," he explained.

The tingles she had experienced earlier intensified, and Theresa placed her hands on his shoulders, enjoying the evidence of strength beneath her fingertips. "I won’t forget any night I spend with you," she assured him, smiling radiantly.

Chad leaned down and kissed her again, this time hungrily and passionately. Theresa wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as her knees weakened, opening her mouth immediately so he could deepen the contact.

Chad slid his hands around her, leaving one to caress the swell of her hip, but allowing the other to slide up her back and gently remove the clip that held her hair in place, causing it to cascade around her shoulders and down her back. He groaned.

"I love your hair," he muttered against her lips, then began to slowly kiss his way down to her neck and collarbone.

She sighed with happiness. "I love your chest," she whispered, fisting the navy material of his shirt in her hands and shoving it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor, where it was joined by her top and skirt.

With a murmured curse, Chad swept her up and carried her toward their bed, placing her against the black silk sheets and following her down, removing the rest of their clothes quickly and efficiently. Then he set to work, loving his wife as thoroughly as he could, using his lips and hands to bring her to the heights of happiness and pleasure as only he could.

And when it was over, Theresa snuggled up beside him. "I love you," she said softly, resting her head on his shoulder, and enjoying the feel of his arms holding her. In all her life, she had never felt so safe as she did when she was in Chad’s arms.
"I love you," he replied huskily.

"Who would have ever guessed all those years ago that things would ever turn out this way?" Theresa mused, turning her head to look up at him. "You and me, Ethan and Whitney, and Simone and Miguel…"

Chad chuckled. "Maybe it was fate," he suggested with a twinkle in his eyes. "Back then, we were so sure we knew what our fates were, but we really didn’t have a clue."

"I wouldn’t change it, even if I could. Would you?"

Chad tightened his arms around her. "I wouldn’t change being married to you for anything," he assured her. "You and the kids mean the world to me."

Theresa relaxed and slid her arm over his stomach, pressing closer.

"I spent so much of my life waiting for my Prince Charming," she murmured. "I thought for years that it was Ethan I was looking for, but I was wrong. It was you all along, Chad. You are my Prince Charming, and my dream come true."
 
 
 
 

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