"I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends."
- Walt Whitman

Fox Crane sat in his father’s chair staring out the window as he listened to the woman on the other end of the phone. “Jana babe, its very important that you get here soon. You know how it works sexy, you do this for me and I’ll owe you. A couple hours? Great I knew you wouldn’t let me down.” He smirked. “I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

“It’s a comfortable chair isn’t it?” A voice boomed as Fox spun around.

He saw his father staring at him and he frowned, “Father.”

“You know all this could be yours someday. This office, that chair.” Julian smiled.

Fox countered his father’s smile with a smirk, “Correction, this will all be mine someday. There is no could, it will be.”

“You are very sure of yourself son.” Julian spoke. “You do realize you have two sisters that are just as greedy as you.”

“Do you really think I’m intimidated by those two? I’m more concerned about the son you have running around somewhere.” Fox frowned. “Speaking of which, have you contacted the lovely Dr. Eve? I believe it is time we get her on board with my little plan.” Fox smirked.

“We don’t need to bring Eve into this.” Julian spoke. “It’s not necessary to concern with yet another problem. “

“Oh it’s more than necessary father. If things go as I have planned today, my good friend Jana will have put step one into motion and Dr. Eve could be critical in step two.”

“And if I don’t ask for Eve’s help?” Julian questioned.

“T.C Russell will make me a very rich and powerful man much sooner than expected.” Fox smirked.

“You devious little Crane.” Julian grumbled. “I’d be impressed if it weren’t my life on the line.”

“Relax father, I wouldn’t let T.C. kill you, actually I wouldn’t mind seeing you knock him to the ground once or twice. You do realize the way he beats you down, it’s really sad.”

“So you’d rather me bloody him up instead?” Julian asked.

“At least you wouldn’t come out looking like such a coward and wimp.” Fox shrugged. “But back to my problems, call your darling Eve, and tell her you might need her help. I’m going to take the day to spend with Kay and her daughter. I hear the carnival is in town, and it’s just the kind of thing Kathleen Bennett needs.”

__________________________________________

Kay Bennett tossed and turned in her bed as her nightmares slowly overcame her as she slept.

A faint voice cried out in the distance as Kay searched for her daughter. She found her daughter’s bed empty but could still hear the word ‘mommy’ being whispered in the room.

“Maria baby where are you?” Kay called out. “Maria?”

“Mama.” She heard Maria giggled.

“Oh Maria.” Kay sighed turning around. Her eyes caught her daughter and she let out a gasp. “Maria no!” She yelled.

“She’s my daughter now Kay.” Charity taunted holding Maria close as the little girl cooed and giggled in Charity’s arms. “She doesn’t know you.”

“Maria come to mommy.” Kay called running forward.

“Mama.” Maria giggled hugging Charity as Charity smirked.

“She’s mine Kay, mine.” Charity laughed. “Face it you lost!”

“Maria no!” Kay yelled waking up. Jumping out of bed she ran to her daughter’s room and hurried to the baby bed. “Maria?” Kay questioned looking down. “Maria!” She yelled realizing her daughter wasn’t in her baby bed.

“Jessica? Daddy! Maria where’s Maria?” She yelled frantically as she headed to the hall.

“Kay what’s wrong?” Sam questioned running up the stairs. “Sweetheart calm down.”

“Maria? Where’s Maria daddy? She’s not in her bed, I can’t find her.” Kay spoke quickly her eyes wide as her breathing became faster.

“Kay, Maria is downstairs with Jess. You were sleeping so sound I didn’t want to wake you this morning so Jess offered to spend some time with Maria while you rested. Sweetheart Maria is fine.”

“She’s ok?” Kay asked trying to breathe, “She’s with Jess?” She let out a deep breath as she suddenly began to cry heavily, “Oh daddy I had this horrible dream that Charity was in Maria’s room and she was holding her and Maria was so happy and she was calling Charity mama.”

Sam wrapped his arms around his daughter, “Well that’s not going to happen is it? Maria knows who her mommy is, she loves you Kay.” He whispered. “It’s ok, it was a bad dream.”

“But when I woke up I ran to her room and she wasn’t in her crib just like the dream and I freaked.” Kay spoke her hands shaking.

“I know that must have scared you, but why don’t you come downstairs and see, Maria is fine.” Sam smiled.

“You must think I’m loosing my mind.” Kay frowned walking with her father down the stairs.

“No Kay, I don’t think that. I think that you are a young mother facing something horrible. It’s a lot for you to handle.” Sam sighed.

“Dad what was wrong?” Jessica asked running to the bottom of the stairs holding Maria in her arms.

”Maria.” Kay smiled taking her daughter quickly. “Oh sweetie mommy is so happy to see you.”

”Mama.” Maria giggled snuggling against Kay.

“See she knows who her mommy is.” Sam spoke watching as his daughter kissed his granddaughter and hugged her close.

“Um Kay, while you were upstairs Fox called and said he was coming over. He mentioned something about a day of fun.” Jessica spoke up. “What’s up with you two anyway?”

Kay sighed, “Nothing’s going on with me and Fox. He’s a Crane, he calls he barks orders and he expects me to obey. Sometimes I agree, and sometimes I tell him where to go.” Kay smirked as Maria grabbed at her hair.

“Well I think Fox Crane has been very good for you.” Sam smiled. “He has been very supportive.”

“Yeah.” Kay smiled. “He has hasn’t he?”

_________________________________________

Charity Standish stood in the Book Café waving as her mother-in-law left. She had spent the day with Pilar, talking about Miguel and explaining why she felt it was best for her and Miguel to raise Maria. Although at first Pilar seemed confused she accepted what Charity had to say.

“I need a coffee.” A woman spoke to the waiter as she sat down near Charity sniffling slightly. “And please make it strong.”

Charity could see the woman was upset, she watched for a few moments as the woman sat staring at a picture tears in her eyes.

“Excuse me ma’am is something wrong?” Charity asked finally. She couldn’t stand to see someone alone and so upset. She had to help if she could.

“Everything is wrong! Life is a messed up thing, and mine keeps getting worse.” She spoke to Charity. “I hate men, all men!” She declared.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Charity frowned. “I’m Charity, would you like someone to talk to?”

“Joanna.” The woman spoke wiping her eyes, “There’s not much to tell. Some people just don’t get lucky in life and I’m one of those people.”

“I hope your life gets better.” Charity smiled. “I once thought my life was horrible. I lost my mother in a terrible fire and lost my memory, but things are great for me now. I have a wonderful husband and soon we’ll have his daughter to raise.” Charity gushed. “So sometimes even when things are horrible they turn around.”

“I had a wonderful husband once.” Joanna grumbled. “And we thought we were raising his son. That’s what you get for not doing a paternity test. Turned out the kid wasn’t his and he was devastated. He left me months after he lost the kid because he couldn’t handle it.”

Charity frowned, “Oh that’s so sad. Well I know my husband’s daughter is his. She’s my cousin’s daughter as well, and I know Kay wasn’t with anyone else.”

“You sure about that kid?” Joanna asked. “That’s what my husband said too, but he was wrong. Do yourself a favor, if you haven’t had a test run on this kid, do one now.”

“I’m sure the courts will do that, but I know Maria is Miguel’s. Kay was very obsessive over Miguel, he’s all she thought about.”

“More reason to put a kid on him that isn’t is. Look I’m sure you’re right, you seem like a smart girl.” Joanna shrugged. “I guess I’m trying to put my bad day on everyone. Not your fault I got dumped for a tall blonde model.” She huffed. Taking another sip of her coffee she stood up. “Good luck with your life Charity, I’m sure it will be better than mine.”

Charity was shook for a second but forced a smile, “I hope things work out for you Joanna.”

The woman stood up and left the Café, as the door closed behind her she grabbed her cell phone and dialed. “Hey its Jana, just saw the little blonde, I’m pretty sure she bought it.” With a laugh she listened, “She was too easy, I figure you’ll have results real soon. Oh and Fox, you owe me now.” She laughed.

____________________________________________

He took in her chocolate eyes and watched sadly as she studied him with a frown on her beautiful face. It wasn’t fair to love a woman as much as he loved her. It wasn’t right to see her, hold her but know in his heart he could never have her.

“Julian you simply can not do this.” Eve Russell whispered. “It’s so very wrong.” She had stood and heard Julian speak of his son’s plan to help Kay Bennett. She had listened to him tell her in great detail just how Crane Fox really was.

“I have no choice Eve. I have spoken to Fox and he is very determined. I never wanted to bring you into any of this, but I’m afraid I might need your help at some point. Fox isn’t going to back down and he isn’t afraid to use our past against us.” Julian spoke.

“He’s blackmailing you? Oh Julian you’re his father.”

“And he’s a Crane, and we Cranes do what we have to, when we have to.” Julian spoke. “It’s the way were made I suppose.”

“I understand Fox wanting to help Kay, believe me I do. I know Kay loves Maria very much and I don’t think it’s right for Miguel and Charity to take her, but to go this far? Julian what you explained to me just seems so wrong.”

“But to Fox, Kay loosing her daughter is just as wrong. He’s not bending, and I must stand behind him.” Julian sighed.

Eve watched Julian and frowned, “Julian it’s almost like you agree with Fox and his plan. Am I right? Do you support what he’s doing?”

“I know things about my son that make it easier to see where he’s coming from. There are things about Fox that only a few people know and if you knew those things I think it would make it much easier for you to understand.”

“Tell me those things Julian, how can you support this plan?” Eve asked.

“Because Eve, I’ve already lost three sons, I can’t bare to loose Fox too.” Julian frowned.

_______________ __________________ __________________ ___________

“I can’t believe you wanted to come to the carnival.” Kay laughed as she stuffed cotton candy in her mouth. “Fox you’re full of surprises.”

“Well I try.” He winked. Looking over Kay’s shoulder he saw Jessica showing Maria off to several girls. “Do you think you’ll get your daughter back tonight?” She asked laughing.

Kay chuckled, “Jessica loves to show Maria off. She’s proud of her niece, and why shouldn’t she be, my daughter is beautiful.”

“That she is.” Fox agreed stealing a bite of Kay’s cotton candy.

“Hey! You’ve got your own.” She laughed.

“You should learn to share.” Fox joked nudging her teasingly.

“Oh like you ever shared as a child?” Kay questioned rolling her eyes.

“Nope, didn’t have to. Anything I wanted I got.” Fox laughed.

“Anything?” Kay asked as t hey sat down on a bench.

“Well other than a real family, but money bought everything else.” He shrugged. “So I just got used to it.”

Kay frowned, “How? How did you get used to not having a family? It must have been so hard on you. I know when Charity came and my mother’s attention went from Jessica to her I was devastated. I had two people to compete with instead of one.”

“Your mom did a number on you, but at least she was there for you when you were growing up.” Fox spoke. “I bet your family was like the Walton’s on Christmas. Must have been nice.”

“You watched the Walton’s?” Kay grinned.

“I loved those stupid family shows growing up. Showed me what a real family was like.” Fox told her, “But if you ever repeat that I’ll have to kill you.” He joked.

“Do you think Maria will be mad at me for not giving her that kind of life? You know two perfect parents who love her and dote on her?” Kay asked watching as Jessica and her friends played with Maria.

“Who says you can’t give her that?” Fox asked watching as Kay’s eyes took in the lights of the carnival. “You’re young, smart and beautiful, you have nothing to worry about.”

Kay dropped her head trying to hide the fact that she was blushing, “You make it sound so easy.” She whispered. “But it’s not, if I keep Maria I’m going to be a single mother working a horrible job. It’s not the life I dreamed, but it’s the life I deserve for all my scheming."

Fox shook his head, “You will get the life you deserve Kay, and it’s not a bad one.” He promised.

“Do you see that in your crystal ball?” Kay joked. “I’m glad you are so confident about this.”

“Hey, I have a plan and so far it’s working.” He shrugged. “You won’t loose her Kay, and you won’t give her a bad life. Maria’s going to have everything, you’ll see.”

Kay forced a smile, “You’re going to make a great dad someday Nicholas Crane. I bet you’ll spoil your children and give them everything you never had.”

Fox turned away from Kay, “I’d love to have children of my own someday, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. I’m just not the soccer dad type.” He frowned.

“Sure you are.” Kay smiled. “I’ve watched you with Maria, you were born to be a parent. You know you’d love to have a little boy that looked just like you. The little guy would have girls chasing him.”

“Yeah, that sounds nice, but very unrealistic.” He shrugged deeply bothered by something Kay had said. “You know what, why don’t we rescue Maria from Jessica and have a little fun.” He spoke standing up quickly.

“Sounds good to me.”

“I’ll get us some drinks if you’ll get Maria.” Fox smiled as they stood up. “Then I’ll win you two ladies one of those stuffed animals.”

“Oh really? I bet I can throw better than you.” Kay challenged.

“We will see about that.” Fox laughed as he turned to walk away.

Kay watched as he slowly left her and let out a sigh. “I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you Fox, but if you help me keep my daugther I'll owe you everything." She whispered to herself.