~*~*~*
 

Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald smiled as Kay opened her eyes. "Hey there, Sleepyhead." He spoke as she looked up at him.
"I went to sleep?" She whispered sitting up.
"Yeah, you were worn out, so I let you sleep."
Kay smiled. "You stayed here with me."
"Don’t act surprised Kay, I have my moments." He teased. "But right now I need to take a shower and shave." He laughed.
"Don’t shave." Kay frowned. "Not yet anyway."
Miguel gave her a strange look, "Huh?"
Smiling Kay touched her face, "You look nice like this, kind of rugged."
"Yeah but," Miguel began but stopped as he saw the smile on Kay’s lips. "You really like it?"
"Only if you do?" She spoke. "But it makes you look older, less boy bandish."
"Boy band?" He gulped. "I don’t look like that Kay."
Kay giggled. "Oh yes you do Miguel, the clothes, the perfect hair cut, you look like you came out of a Teen Magazine."
"Rugged it is." He smirked.
Now that’s my Miguel." She laughed.
"I still don’t think I look like someone in a boy band." He frowned.
Kay sighed. "Miggs, you look like the pretty boy of the group. What happened to the jeans with the knees out? Face it, you’ve changed to."
Yeah, I guess so." He agreed standing up. Looking in the mirror he knew she was right. He had changed to be the person Charity loved, the neat, clean cut Miguel. The person that was staring back at him, wasn’t that Miguel however, it was the real Miguel. Looking back at Kay he sighed, it was the Miguel, she knew, the one she loved. He has missed the person he had once been, but his love for Charity changed him. His looks changed, his music changed, his views on life changed, all to make her happy. It wasn’t Charity’s fault, she hadn’t asked him to change, but he could see that she was happier when he was ‘her’ Miguel. Charity’s Miguel however, wasn’t the real Miguel, and he knew he could be that person again. Kay wanted him to be that person, and for that he thanked her.
"Miguel, what do you think our baby will be like?" Kay suddenly asked from behind him.
"She’ll be wonderful." He smiled.
"She?" Kay asked. "You think its a girl?"
Miguel nodded his head. "Don’t ask why, just a feeling."
"It could be a boy." She protested. "A little boy that could be just like you." Kay smiled. Deep inside she knew, she needed her child to be a boy. A boy that was nothing like her, a boy that was everything like his father. No, she couldn’t bare the thought of a little girl, one that could turn out like her. A boy would be much better, a boy wouldn’t be as pathetic as she had been.
"A girl could be like me too." He smirked. "You were a tomboy, so why couldn’t our little girl be that way?"
"But if she’s a tomboy, she might never do all the fun girl stuff. Like learn to dance." She grinned thinking back to all the times she had stepped on Miguel’s feet dancing.
"You really do need to learn to dance." He laughed reading her mind. "In fact I may have to teach you myself."
"Oh really now?" Kay laughed walking over to him. "Do you think its possible for me to learn?"
"With the right teacher." He smiled. "And I’m that teacher."
Kay arched her eyebrow, "Oh really? As I recall, when we were growing up I taught you everything." A smile tugged on her lips as she looked up at him. "You couldn’t climb trees until I showed you how, and what about basketball Miggs? Me again."
"Who taught you how to kiss?" He smirked. "Seventh grade, the back of the gym when no one was around? I believe that was me!"
"And I believe that was your first kiss too, and not your best by the way." Kay grinned.
"Oh really? And what was my best kiss?" Miguel smiled wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Do you remember our shower? Those were hot, very hot." Kay grinned.
"How could I forget those?" Miguel agreed. "Now about your dancing."
"Miggs, I can’t dance." Kay whined.
"Let me teach you." He begged. "Please?"
Kay looked up into the hazel eyes she knew so well. In her heart she knew it was too good to be true. Miguel, truly caring about her, not thinking of Charity. She wanted to enjoy the moment, but a shadow of fear hung over her as she her memory forced her to remember the things she had done. She wanted to tell Miguel, come clean with him so they could start fresh. Holding back tears she smiled at him through her own pain, she couldn’t tell him, not if she wanted to stay with him. No, instead she would change her life, she would be the Kay he loved. Her mistakes were in her past, and that was were they’d stay. "You think you can teach me?" She asked her throat dry as she prayed away her tears.
"I know I can, if you feel like it that is." Miguel smiled. "You look a little flustered." He spoke touching her face. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine." She nodded. "Now, about that dance."
Miguel simply smiled as he walked over to his Stereo and played around with it until he found what he wanted. "Perfect." He smiled looking over at her. "I think you’ll remember this CD." He spoke. "You bought it for me."
Kay blushed as he took her hand and the song began to play. "I bought that for you before Charity came to town." She admitted. "Trying to get you to realize how I felt."
Miguel smiled, "So that’s why you circled all those love songs."
"You were never too bright." She teased wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Now just follow my lead." He said looking down at her.
 
 

It's such a mystery
How you found something in me
That I never knew was there
But you uncovered it so easily
You turn me like the season
And I began to change
You wrapped your arms around me
Now I'll never be the same

"This was my favorite song of the CD." Kay whispered. "I remember listening to it, and almost crying."
Miguel frowned. "I missed a lot back then, how clueless was I?"
"Don’t make me answer that." She grinned almost stepping on his toes. "Sorry." She whispered.
"Its okay." He smiled. "Just follow my lead."
"I’m never going to get this." She pouted moving with him to the music. In his arms she felt safe again, and even if she never learned to dance, just being with him was plenty. It gave her another moment to enjoy, remember and cherish.
"Kay Bennett doesn’t say never!" Miguel whispered. "You told me so in Fifth grade. Kay Bennett can do anything!"
"Do you really believe that?" She asked her blue eyes searching for answers as she looked up at him.
"I have always believed in you Kay." His words were honest, because he meant them with his whole heart. Kay had always be different, and that was something that always got to him.
 

That's how love works
That's how love moves
Like a river running through you
Sometimes it lifts you high as Heaven
It consumes you
That's a given
That's how love moves

Kay let the words of the song sink in her brain. She remembered when she bought the CD for Miguel. She was still good then, still innocent and sweet. Back then she had just wanted him to love her back, no stunts had been pulled. She wasn’t sure what changed her, why she became someone she didn’t like. If she could go back she would, she would just go back to when they were kids, before he met Charity, and tell him how she felt. Even the day he met Charity, she could’ve told him then. Now she couldn’t go back, only forward, but it would be in his arms, she reasoned.
"Lost in thought?" Miguel questioned.
"I was thinking back to when I bought this music for you." She smiled. "I should have told you then how I felt."
Miguel frowned. "I should have told you then how I felt. There’s no need looking back though, we can’t do that."
 

I've seen walls that could never be broken
Come tumbling down
I've heard the voice of love calling
Without making a sound
See I was touched by an angel
The day you took my hand
You know that you're the miracle
That makes me everything I am

Miguel didn’t want to go back. Kay stepped on his feet again and he smiled, something about this felt right. Him and Kay in his bedroom dancing, her stepping on his toes, him holding her with sweaty palms. He didn’t know if he should call it a second chance, but it was a new beginning. When they were younger, Luis would tease him about Kay. He would tell him that she would be his wife someday. Miguel could remember frowning and being grossed out at those comments. It seemed like so long ago, and yet it seemed like only days ago.
 
 

That's how love works
That's how love moves
Like a river running through you
Sometimes it lifts you
As high as Heaven
It consumes you
That's a given
That's how love moves

Sometimes it's a whisper
Sometimes it's a storm
Sometimes it reaches forever
With it's everlasting arm

"Kay." Miguel whispered to the girl, no the woman resting her head on his shoulder.
"Hmm?"
"Your dancing." He smiled as she looked back up at him, realizing they were flowing together perfectly. One unite dancing in the small room.
"Wow." She smiled. "You did it, you actually taught me."
"No sweetie, you did it."
 

That's how love works
That's how love moves
Like a river running through you
Sometimes it lifts you
As high as Heaven
It consumes you

Their eyes met as he held her closer to him, he could smell the scent of apple on her and it made him smile. Her heart was beating fast, he could feel it, she was as nervous as he was.
"Miguel." She spoke lifting her hand to touch his face. "Thank you."
"For teaching you how to dance?" He questioned.
"No." She shook her head. "For reminding me who I am." She smiled. "You brought the real Kay Bennett back to life."
Miguel touched her face. "We brought each other back." He whispered.
 

That's how love works
That's how love moves
Like a river running through you
Sometimes it lifts you
As high as Heaven
It consumes you
Oh, that's a given
That's how love moves
Baby, yeah
High as Heaven
That's how love moves
As high as Heaven

He lowered his head, closing his eyes as he brought her to him. His lips kissed hers softly, nervously, almost like it was their first kiss all over again. As she held on to him, he realized in many ways it was. As he stepped away from her she looked up at him. "You won’t take that one back will you?" She breathed.
"No." He smiled. "I’ll never take that one back."
~*~*~*~*~*~

Eve Russell let out a long sigh. "You want me to help you bring down the man that ruined my life? Chad, as much as I’d like to do that, I don’t think I can. What if he went after Simone? Or Whitney? I can’t risk him hurting them."
Chad lowered her head. "All I’m asking." He said looking back up. "Is that you talk to Julian. Talk him into working with me on this. The plan is perfect, and with his and Sheridan’s help, it shouldn’t be too hard to pull off."
"We’ll need one other person on board." A voice sounded from the door. Arms crossed Theresa looked over at her husband and his mother. "We’ll need Fox."
"Fox?" Chad questioned.
"Nick Crane, Julian’s son, better known as Fox." Theresa sighed. "Alistair is CEO of the company, but if we want to over throw him, we need votes. Jasolyn will never go along with this, but Fox, he just might."
Chad frowned. "Is it possible to get Fox on board?"
Theresa smiled. "I’ve done a little research, and I believe with a little work, Fox will come over to our side. He hates his family, his whole family." Theresa explained. "He’s known as the outcast, the one that will never be anything. Its not because he’s dumb however, its because he marches to his own drum."
"And bringing down his grandfather just might appeal to him." Chad smiled.
Theresa nodded her head. "If he is promised enough money to keep him happy for the rest of his life, I think Fox will be just fine."
Eve’s mouth dropped open. "Theresa." She gasp. "I can’t believe all of this is coming from you."
Theresa smiled. "I’m not stupid Dr. Russell."
"No, of course not. Its just that the last time I heard you talk like this, you were sixteen and preparing for a life in fashion."
Theresa laughed. "When I focus on something, I get the job done."
"So I see." Chad smirked. "I’m very impressed."
"You should be, I was up until Two O’clock this morning studying the Crane children, as well as the business its self."
Eve watched her son and Theresa. "May I make a suggestion? One that will surely put Julian on your side?" She questioned.
"Of course." Theresa and Chad answered at the same time.
"Vote Julian in as CEO."
Chad and Theresa gave each other looks, as smug smiles fell on their faces at the same time. "Perfect." They spoke together.
Eve couldn’t help but smile as she watched Chad and Theresa’s heads turn. They knew what they were doing, this wasn’t just a game, it was real for them. Both of them had put work into it, and they knew what was at stake.
"In that case, I’d be willing to go to Julian." Eve smiled. "This is his dream, let me tell him."
"But." Theresa frowned. "Will Sheridan go along with it?"
Eve thought for a moment, "Her brother is the lesser of the two evils, I believe she’ll vote his way."
"No one has ever went against Alistair like this." Theresa smiled. "He has called the shots for so long, he’s not going to know what hit him."
"Oh he’ll know." Chad smiled. "Because this is only the beginning."
"If you two will excuse me, I think I’ll go find Julian." Eve smiled. "This could be a new day for the Crane empire." She sighed. "And you two are the ones to thank."
Chad watched as his mother walked out of the room. "This is going to work T, I can feel it. We are going to make this all work."
Theresa smiled. "Of course we are."
"Hey T." Chad smiled. "I bought you a early Christmas gift, I thought I’d just give it to you know." Chad spoke reaching into his pocket.
"A early gift?" Theresa grinned her eyes becoming wide. "What is it? A new car? A house?" She asked.
"I don’t think those will fit in my pocket." He chuckled pulling out a tiny box. "But this will."
"Chad." She whispered stepping closer to him. "What is it?"
Handing her the little black box he smiled as she slowly opened it. He watched as she gasp staring down at the object. "It’s, a ring?" She spoke looking up at him. "Is this what I think it is?"
Chad nodded his head. "Every bride deserves an engagement ring." He explained.
"Chad, its beautiful." She whispered. She touched the pear shaped diamond, her hands shaking. "I love it."
"I remembered you and Whit talking about rings once. You said something about that shape, and I just figured you might like it."
"Its what I’ve always wanted." She admitted taking it out of the box. "Its so perfect." Looking up at him tears began to fall down her face. "And its mine."
"Of course its yours." He laughed slipping it on her finger. "Perfect fit too."
"You knew my size?" She questioned, "But how?"
"I have my ways." He shrugged.
"Chad." She whispered. "Its mine, just mine."
"Yeah."
Shaking her head she looked back up at him. "NO you don’t understand, Ethan, he picked one ring out for both me and Gwen. He never just bought a ring for me. This ring, its all mine. You bought it just for me, thinking about what I liked. You could’ve picked out any shape, but you remembered."
"Theresa, don’t cry." Chad whispered. "I know its kinda simple, but I liked it."
"Chad, I love it. I love that you did this, it means so much to me." He moved his arms out toward her and she smiled as she melted into his arms. Her head rested on her his chest as she held her hand out to stare at the ring, her ring. She wouldn’t bother telling him about her talk with Ethan. He didn’t need to know that her tears stemmed from so much pain. Everything Ethan had done to her, all the promises he had made to her, were never really hers. He made the same promises to Gwen, told her all the same things. As she glanced back down at her hand she smiled. Chad had did this for only her however. His promises were always kept, he was a real man, a true friend.
"This is the best Christmas gift ever." She whispered to him.
"I think it’s the best Christmas ever." Chad smiled. "Everything is starting to feel right ya know?"
Moving away from him she smiled. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean." Wiping the tears from her eyes she leaned against the desk. "Last tears for the year." She laughed lightly. "The new Theresa doesn’t cry at the drop of a hat."
"Sometimes T, its okay to cry." Chad sighed.
"Sometimes." Theresa agreed. "But not today, now one of us has to call Fox, who gets the honor?" She smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
"That one is all yours Mrs. Crane." Chad smiled handing her the phone.
Taking the phone Theresa glanced back at her ring. "Mrs. Chad Crane, that is." She smirked looking at him. "Doesn’t sound all that bad does it?" She asked.
"No girl it sure doesn’t."