Who You Really Are  - Chapter 10
by lillbugg
 

All the guests sat around the huge dinning room table, waiting for their hostess to arrive. On one side sat Ethan, Gwen, Julian, Ivy, Fox and Alistair. On the other side sat Pilar, Luis, Sheridan, Migual, Chad, Eve and David. David had been invited by Ivy and he had invited Eve as his date. Eve had tried to convince Whitney to join, but she had declined. She did not want to see Theresa make a fool of herself, whcih she know would happen, and she also know Chad would be there, drooling after Theresa while still trying to convince Whitney to take her back. Instead, she took an extra shift at the Country Club where she was enjoying teaching the young and wealthy the art of tennis. The head of the table was reserved for Theresa.

Various conversations were going on around the table. Chad was trying to convince Eve that there had been a mistake and that Whitney would take him back once he explained. Eve was trying deserperately to get him to shut up while David was finding the whole situation quite humorous. Pilar, Sheridan and Luis were conversing about how the twins were babbling away and they were waiting for their first words any day now. Miguel was staring intently at the table, thinking of Cherity and how Kay had ruined his whole life. Julian, Ivy, and Fox were still commenting on the horrid decorations and Ethan and Gwen were thoroughly wrapped up in each other. Ten minutes passed and the guests began to get uncomfortable. Just when Ethan and Gwen were about to excuse themselves for the night, Theresa made her grand enterance. She was dressed in a sparkly silver dress with diamonds from head to foot. Her hair was piled high on her head with a large diamond tiara perched on top. Even her makeup was sparkling. Fox stifled a smile as he watched her sweep past her guests, trying desperately to look as royal as possible, her gaze never leaving Ethan. Julian balked at how much her outfit and jewelry must have cost. He placed a handkerchief on his head, actually hoping he would pass out so he would not have to endure the rest of the dramam that was sure to dot the rest of the evening. Chad couldn't take his eyes off of her. She looked like a princess he thought to himself. Ethan barely glanced at her, than went back to his conversation with Gwen on what color to paint thier kitchen once they moved in. Theresa glared at Gwen, then, stumbling over her train, made her way into her seat, which was draped in purple velvet. She sat there for a few minutes, with the eyes of all her guests watching her expectantly, except Miguel whose eyes had returned to the table and Ethan who was whispering something into his wife's ear, which was making her giggle. Theresa tried waiting until Ethan was looking at her as well, but she soon grew angry with watching the wedded couple and cleared her throat roughly.

"Thank you for being here this evening" she said, trying to sound powerful and elegant at the same time. Chad stared at her with admiration. Alistair shook his head. It was going to take a lot of work to get her to Crane caliber.
"I asked you here for a special reason tonight. I am throwing this dinner for I have a very important announcement..."
Just then, Ivy stood up.
"Not so fast, Theresa. I have an announcement first."
Theresa glared at her.
"Whatever you have to say Ivy could not be nearly as importnant as what I have to say."
"SO then you don't care if I go first?" Ivy asked, trying hard to keep a straight face.
"Why should I care about anything you have?" Theres answered, trying hard to look regal.
Ivy smiled. "Great then!"
She disappeared from the room, leaving the guests confused. They mumbled to themselves, until she returned, wheeling a large screen television. With a large smile on her face, she inserted a video, stating "this is the real Theresa Crane!"

There, on the screen, in front of everyone was Theresa and Fox in bed together. Theresa was moaning as Fox winked at the camera. The table came alive. Julian clapped his hands and ordered a round of brandy for everyone. Pilar gasped and covered her eyes with her hands. Luis and Sheridan stared at the screen, a horrified expression in their eyes. Ethan and Gwen were equally horrified. Fox was smiling at Theresa, a horrible look in his eye. Theresa glanced at him, then lept from her chair, running to Ethan's side.
"I didn't mean it Ethan. I only love you Ethan. I swear it was a mistake!"
Ivy watched it all witha triumphant smile on her face.
Alistair, his face stone, turned to look at Theresa.
"Silence!" He ordered, his eyes fixed on the creature ltched to Ethan's unresponsive arm. Theresa's eyes grew wide as she looked back at him.
"You knew the rule Theresa, and you chose not to obey it. Since you have not been faithful to Julian, your marriage will be dissolved and you are hereby fired from Crane Industries."
"You can't do that to me!" Theresa whined. "I am a Crane! I am! I married Julian! I deserve where I am!"
Pilar and Luis stared at her in shock. They didn't know what to make of this whole situation. This wasn't the Theresa they had known and loved her whole life...or was it.

Chad didn't understand the feeling of jealousy that enveloped him watching Theresa and Fox together. he had thought his heart belinged to Whitney. At least that's what Theresa had told him. What did this mean? Were she and Fox together? What did this mean for him and Whitney?

Alistair kept his stone eyes fixed on Theresa. "My word is my bond. You are to move out tonight. The house that was built for your family still belings to your family. You will stay with them. You have two days to remove all your things from this house and Crane Industries."
With that, Alistair stood and walked from the room.

Theresa stood in shock for a moment, then grabbed Ethan. "Please Ethan, they can't do this to me! I am a Crane. I can't move away from you! I just can't!"
Ethan looked at her with indifference in his eyes. "You heard Alistair, Theresa. You are to move out."
Theresa threw herself at him. "But Ethan, this whole celebration tonight was to tell you that Lil Ethan is yours! You won't send me away with your son! You just wont."
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. She waited for him to take her into his arms, tell her everything would be alright. That she and their son would be together forever. Instead, Ethan looked straight into her eyes. "Give me one reason why I should believe you."
Theresa stared at him in shock. "I'm not lying Ethan I swear!"
"Then why didn't you tell me before?"
Theresa was lost for words. There was nothing she could say that would help her story.
"That's what I thought. Come on Gwen. We're going to bed."
Ethan and Gwen stood and left the room. Theresa fell to the floor in tears. "No Ethan! We were meant to be together! You love me,I know you do! You can't leave me!"

David and Eve took this time to disappear. They decided they had had enough excitement for the night and decided to grab dinner at the Seascape, since they were dressed up anyway. Luis and Sheridan also excused themselves along with Miguel. Ivy and Julian also left, leaving Chad, Theresa, and Pilar alone in the room. Pilar knelt beside her daughter. "There there mija. All will be alright. Your family will take care of you."
"That's not the point Mama. Tonight, I lost everything. I lost the Crane name, power, and Ethan all at the same time."
"Theresa, being a Crane is not everything."
"Yes it is Mama. If I can't have Ethan, I have to be a Crane. How else can I win him back?"
Pilar felt herself grow angry.
"Theresa, I have had enough of this nonsence! You have spent your whole life in pursuit of a dream. You have risked your life, your family's life, and your son's life chasing after something that was never attainable to begin with. You have lied, cheated, and ruined your name and the names of your family in order to steal away a man whose heart never belonged to you."
"Shut up Mama! You don't know anything. Ethan is mine. It's fate. I would do anything to get him back. Anything, do you hear me! I am not leaving here unless he comes with me!"
"Fine then, Theresa. I have had it with you and your silly ideas. I am going home. Don't expect the door to be open when you finally hit reality."
With that, Pilar left Theresa on the floor.

Chad knelt next to Theresa after Pilar left. "Don't listen to her Theresa. She doesn't understand. Fate is on your side. He'll come around sooner or later. Sooner once he realizes that Lil Ethan trully is his. You can stay with me if you need to."
Theresa looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you Chad, but I'm not leaving here without Ethan."
Chad smiled at her, disappointed. He gave her a hug, then left her to figure out what she needed to do next.
 

Gwen and Ethan sat in their room, dicussing what had happened that night. Ethan was thrilled. They didn't need to pack up so soon with Theresa out of the house. They could fix up their new place how they wanted before they moved in. Gwen laughed at him as he acted out moving furniture, then shooshed him, reminding him that both Andrea and Lil Ethan were asleep in the next room. A look of sadness passed over her face.
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"If Theresa leaves, she's taking Lil Ethan with her" Gwen said.
"There is no way Alistair is letting her walk out the door with that child. He's seen her around him. He won't allow it" Ethan said with assurity. He held Gwen close as the phone rang. It was Alistair. He wanted to speak to Ethan immediately. Ethan kissed Gwen than walked out the door.

Gwen got ready for bed and was laying down when there was a knock on the door. She opened it to find a very disheveled Theresa standing before her, a look of rage on her face.
"Where is Ethan?" She asked, her voice full of anger.
"He went to talk to Alistair." Gwen answered, trying to keep her voice calm. The look in Theresa's eyes scared her.
"Then where is OUR son?" Theresa asked, emphasizing the word our.
"He is asleep." Gwen answered.
Theresa swept past her into the next room, throwing on the light, she angrily jerked Lil Ethan from his crib, waking him suddenly. Lil Ethan recoiled and started crying.
"Shut up!" Theresa ordered him. Gwen stared at her in shock. "Theresa, be reasonable!" Andrea started crying right then and Gwen ran to pick her up. Theresa glared at the angelic child in Gwen's arms and roughly swung Lil Ethan to her hip. Lil Ethan started screaming and reached for Gwen. " What is wrong with him?" Theresa yelled as she angrily shoved Lil Ethan's arms away from Gwen which made him scream louder. "Stop it Theresa, you're hurting him!" Gwen said, alarmed.
"I would not hurt Ethan's son!" Theresa yelled.
Alistair and Ethan burst into the room right then.
"What is going on here?" Alistair demanded as he looked from Gwen to Theresa. Ethan took Andrea from Gwen's arms and turned to Theresa. "What are you doing here Theresa?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. He saw how upset they all were and was trying to keep the peace. Theresa ran to him. "Oh Ethan! I came to get our son and to talk to you and Gwen wouldn't let me in! She said I couldn't see my own son!"

Lil Ethan was still screaming and reaching for Gwen which Theresa was trying hard to hide from Ethan. Alistair walked to Theresa, took Lil Ethan out of her arms and handed him to Gwen. He immediately calmed down and clung to Gwen as though his life depended on it. Gwen looked at Ethan in tears. How could she let this woman take this poor child from this house? But then again, how could she keep this child from his mother?

Theresa grabbed Ethan's arm. "Ethan, you have to believe me! Lil Ethan is your son! You can't send us from this house! I can't be away from you!"
"It's not my house Theresa, it's not my say."
Alistair roughly pulled Theresa away from Ethan. "He's right, it is MY house which you seem to have forgotten as of late and I have ordered you away." Theresa tried to protest but Alistair stopped her. "As for Lil Ethan, he is staying here until we discover who the real father is. If it is Ethan's, like you say, than we will decide what to do from there. If he is Julians' than we all know you are still a liar." Alistair said, emphasizing the word Still.

Theresa glared at him. "And how are you going to know who the real father is besides my word?"
"That's easy Theresa, a paternity test will tell us quite easily."
A look of terror crossed Theresa's face. "No way am I putting my son through that." she cried.
"Oh it's quite harmless. He won't be hurt at all" Alistair answered. "Unless you have somethine to hide..."
Theresa quickly brushed the fear from her face. "I have nothing to hide."
"Good, then until tomorrow, get out of my house. Lil Ethan is staying here. And there is no use arguing."
Theresa stood firmly where she was until Alistair threatened to have her bodily thrown out. She looked at Ethan with a final pleading glance and, finding no pity in his eyes, ran crying from the room. Alistair turned and shook Ethan's hand. "Congratulations on your promotion. I will see you tomorrow. Good night Gwen." Then he left.
Gwen looked questionly at Ethan. Ethan smiled at her. "I was just given Theresa's job. I'm the new VP!" he said happily. Gwen whooped and hugged him, Lil Ethan, and Andrea close to them.
 

Ivy and Julian were in Julian's room celebrating. Julian was difinitely making up for lost drinking time.
"I still knew you had it in you, you old schemer you" he said as he poured Ivy another brandy. Ivy giggled. Tonight had been better than she expected.
"Who are you calling old, you wrinkled prune!" she said.
"I'm calling you old, you rotting witch."
"Well you're an old codger who needs someone like me to keep you where you belong."
Julian paused. "You're right. I do need you."
Ivy looked at him in shock.
"I need you, Ivy" Julian said again.
Ivy stared at him. He was sincere. She couldn't deny her feelings. She needed him too.

The brandy was forgotten as they fell into each others arms.