Somehow I Will Ch.61 To Be A Family
by Faith81
 

~*~*~
To Be A Family

Gwen Hotchkiss smiled as she entered the room Theresa had all but moved into. "You know, if you needed help, you should’ve called." She spoke as a tired woman looked up at her sending a eyeroll her way.
"I thought I could handle it." Theresa admitted. "I didn’t think picking colors out would be so hard."
"Well darling." Gwen spoke sitting down beside Theresa. "It is hard work."
"Yeah, and I’m running out of time." Theresa sighed.
"So have you chosen your wedding party yet?" Gwen questioned. "I assume you’ve called Whitney."
Theresa shook her head and smiled at Theresa. "I’m not going to call Whitney, because I have my Maid Of Honor with me right now."
"You do? Who Ivy? "
"Do you see Ivy in this room?" Theresa asked with a laugh. "Really Gwen dye it blonde." She said touching Gwen’s dark locks. "I want you to be my Maid of Honor, that is if your willing?"
There was a moment when the past came rushing back to Gwen. She could see herself in the floor crying after loosing Ethan to Theresa. The agony she once felt was there in her heart, until she looked up at Theresa and saw the honesty in her eyes. "You want me to be your Maid of Honor?" Gwen spoke. "Are you sure?"
Theresa smiled slightly. "I can understand if you don’t want to. I mean with our past, it would totally make sense."
Gwen laughed. "Our past. Yes we have had one of those haven’t we? But it is just that Theresa, its our past. You’ve changed, you’ve grown, and if you won’t kill me for saying so, your not the same dreamy little girl that would do anything to get what she wants."
Theresa frowned. "A year of go, I would have slapped you for saying something like that."
"But now?" Gwen spoke.
"Now I completely agree with you." Theresa said lowering her head. "I was acting like a small child back then, I wanted to be a grown woman, and I wanted your man. It was so wrong of me, and as I’ve said before I’m sorry for it."
"Theresa, I forgave you a long time ago." Gwen smiled.
Theresa nodded. "So does that mean you’ll be my Maid Of Honor? Gwen, you’ve really been there for me since my brother and Sheridan died. You supported Chad and I before we even knew what we were feeling."
"Can I ask one thing?" Gwen spoke a teasing grin on her face.
"Anything."
"Please don’t make me wear pink, I look horrible in pink."
"So that’s a yes?" Theresa shrieked.
"Of course its a yes, I’d be honored." Gwen spoke giving Theresa a soft hug.
"And don’t worry, no pink." Theresa laughed.
"So I guess that means I better get to work." Gwen smiled. "We have a lot of work to do."
"Yeah and little time to do it in." Theresa frowned. "Me and my ideas." She laughed. "Two months, I’m starting to think I really am crazy."
~*~*~*~*~

"Sister." Justin spoke staring at the blonde. "You’re my sister?"
"Yeah, and that boy over there, hitting on the waitress, that’d be your brother Jonah." Ericka laughed. "Forgive him for being a idiot, I’m afraid he was just born that way."
Justin looked passed Ericka to see the boy she had called Jonah, flirting with a tall lanky red head. His hair was a darker blonde than Ericka’s but there was no denying that he was Ivy Crane’s son. As the boy looked his way, Justin saw that he also looked much like Julian, in his eyes, and when he smiled.
"So I do have a sister." Justin said turning back to Ericka. "Isn’t there another one of you? Joshlyn?" He questioned.
Ericka smiled, "Jasolyn, our oldest sister. She’ll be here in time for the wedding." Ericka explained. "But father asked Jonah and I to come sooner. "
"Can I ask how you knew who I was?" Justin questioned.
"Daddy sent me a picture. I assume Chad gave it to him, it was of you, Chad and Jada."
"Oh."
"Hey sis, guess who has a date tonight?" Jonah Crane spoke walking over to where Justin and Ericka stood.
"You?"
"That’s right." Jonah laughed. "The Crane magic gets them every time." He bragged.
Ericka rolled her eyes, "You, make me sick."
"What?" Jonah smirked. "I can’t help it if women love me."
"Jonah, will you please stop bragging and say hi to our brother." Ericka said smacking her brother on the arm.
"Brother?" Jonah spoke turning to Justin. "Oh wait, this is the new one right?"
Justin swallowed, "I’m related to him?" He questioned looking at Ericka, "Are you sure?"
Ericka simply smiled, "Jonah, this is Justin."
"Hey dude, good to know you." Jonah spoke with a nod.
"Same here man."
Ericka let out a heavy sigh, "What is it with guys? Must you always talk in your own language?"
Justin laughed still nervous as he stood looking at more of his ‘new’ family. "So have you met Chad yet?"
"No, but I want to, and Jada, Oh my gosh she is just so cute." Ericka giggled.
"Yeah, that girl is a mess let me tell you, get her and Kenji in the same room and you better look out."
"I can’t wait to see them." Ericka laughed. "You want to come with us? Daddy said everyone was at home."
"Yeah, Theresa’s trying to get the wedding planned, Don’t know how that girl is gonna do it."
"Theresa, she’s hot! I’m glad one of my brothers decided to grab her up." Jonah spoke as Justin sent him a glare.
"Like I said." Ericka frowned. "He was born a idiot."
~*~*~*~*~

Julian Crane led his son into the study. "Chad my boy, I wanted to talk to you about something." He spoke taking a deep breathe. Ivy had told him not to worry, but how could he not? He had a huge question to pose to his son, and the answer, it meant everything to him.
"What’s going on dad?" Chad asked leaning against the door once shut.
"I have something to ask you." Julian swallowed. "And please take your time with the answer."
Chad made his way over to the chair in front of his father’s desk. Sitting down he watched as Julian nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "Is this something big? You don’t have another son do you? Cause the family’s getting bigger by the second." Chad joked.
"No, not another son." Julian paused. "At least I don’t think so." Julian frowned. "But no.’ He said quickly shaking his head. "That isn’t it."
"Then what’s going on? Because we both know I hate to drag things out."
"Yes, yes I know that." Julian agreed. "Chad, you are my son, and you know I care for you the same as I do my other children." Taking his time he paused and looked at Chad’s face. "Son, I do love you." He spoke. "Words like that do not come easy for me, but it is the truth. What I wanted to ask you, was would you consider changing your last name to Crane?"
"Say what?" Chad gasp.
"I know its a shock, but you are indeed my son, and I realize I’m not a blood Crane, but I am a Crane, and I would be honored for my son, my son’s, to have my last name. I want you to wed Theresa as Chad Crane, but only if you want that."
When he was finished Chad looked at him, lowering his head he felt a warmth in his heart. "Chad Crane." He spoke. "Jada Crane."
"I personally think it has a nice ring to it." Julian smiled.
Chad sighed, he had a real family now, a father that loved and wanted him. He was a Crane, and so was his daughter. "Well I didn’t expect this."
"Oh." Julian frowned dropping his head.
"But, I would be proud to be known as Chad Crane." He added with a smile. "I am who I am, guess I can’t change it, and if I could, I gotta say I don’t want to. It took me time getting use to this, to you." Chad admitted with a shrug. "But you are my father, and I love you as a father now, not sure when it happened but it did."
"So that is a yes?" Julian asked a smile sweeping over his face.
"You tell me how to get it done and we’ll make it happen." Chad laughed.
"My boy, you have made me so proud."
With a simple smile Chad shook his head, "No Dad, you’ve made me proud, your a changed man, and that makes me respect you even more."
~*~*~

Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald stood with his arms crossed and his eyes staring down at his mother. On the porch of the home he once lived in he saw his papa inside, and he frowned waiting for his mother to lecture him again.
"Is Theresa at the estate?" He questioned watching as she nodded her head.
Pilar smiled. "Yes, but your father, he is here."
Miguel let out a groan, "I need to talk to Theresa."
"Miguel, your father needs to talk to you." Pilar frowned. "And you need to speak with him."
"Mama, not now, I need to talk to Theresa, its very important."
Pilar studied her youngest son. "This is about Gwen isn’t it?" She spoke her hands falling to her hips. "You know your father might be able to help you."
With a loud sigh Miguel touched his mother’s shoulder. "I know you mean well, but Theresa is the only person I can talk to about this."
"You could at least try talking to your father. Martin is a wise man Miguel."
"A wise man that left us without a good reason." Miguel muttered.
"His reason." Pilar stated taking her son’s hand, "Was us, his family. He put our safety first."
"I’m sorry Mama, but something still feels wrong to me."
"Please Miguel, talk to Martin. He loves you so much, and he is your father."
"Luis was my father."
"No." Pilar spoke shaking her head. "He was your brother."
"He helped you mold me into who I am." Miguel pointed out. "He taught me how to be a man."
"Your papa made you, he created you." Pilar spoke pointing toward the door. "Now go, speak with him Miguel, for me."

Miguel turned to the door, feeling like a child who had just been grounded. Slowly he opened the old door and walked in, his father was there, sitting in a chair holding the paper.
"Mama wanted me to speak to you." He frowned.
Martin looked up his blue eyes staring at his son with hurt. "She shouldn’t have forced you."
Miguel shrugged. "Mama’s a tough cookie."
"That she is." Martin agreed with a grin. "So, what is troubling you? I can tell something is bothering you."
"Its nothing." Miguel lied. "I’ll go find Theresa later, she’ll help me."
Martin rose from the chair. "Your mother says you’ve gotten very close to Theresa, you lean on her like you once leaned on Luis."
"She does the same with me." Miguel spoke. "She’s my sister, she’s what I have left."
"You have your Mama, and me." Martin reminded him. "And you have Paloma if you ever wanted to call her."
"Yes, I know."
There was tension in the air, Miguel felt it, as did Martin. The welcome home Martin had expected from his youngest son had never happened, and though it hurt him, Martin understood.
"This problem your having, does it have to do with your lady friend?"
Miguel’s eyes dropped to the floor. "Gwen and I are fine."
"Can I ask, how committed you are to this woman?" Martin spoke watching his son closely. He would never tell Miguel, but he reminded him of himself, more than any of his children Miguel acted as he had when he was younger.
"I love her." Miguel spoke in almost a whisper.
"Have you told her?"
Miguel shook his head. "No, she’s not ready to hear it."
"Is that the problem?"
"How’d you know?" Miguel asked looking up.
Martin smiled. "Your mama, she was much like Gwen, though she loved me, she was very careful about it, and I was ready to jump right it."
Miguel shoved his hands in his pockets. "I want to tell her, but I’m not sure if its time."
"Perhaps you should tell her how you feel, tell her that your ready for something more." Martin suggested. "She might need a little shove."
Miguel’s eyes looked up at Martin. "No." He said sternly. "She needs time."
"Are you sure about that?" Martin questioned.
Miguel let out a breathe, "I knew I should have went to Theresa."
"Miguel, you can’t just keep standing still with this woman." Martin explained. "You need to move forward, with or without her."
"Look." Miguel said taking a step back. "I know your trying to help, but Gwen isn’t ready to be rushed. I just needed to know how to handle my feelings, I can’t shove her into something more. She’s been hurt, and I promised I’d take it slow."
"So you want to wait? Miguel you could be waiting for a long time."
Miguel rolled his eyes, "Thanks for trying to help." He said running his fingers through his hair, "But I think I’ll just go find Theresa, tell Mama I’ll call her tonight."
Martin watched as his son walked out the door, shaking his head he let out a groan. "Well old boy, you struck out again."