Theresa arrived a tthe Crane mansion the next day bright and early. She had stayed at Chad's the night before and he had come along with her. He couldn't keep her out of his mind. He had snuck into the bedroom where she was sleeping and watched her for a while that night. He couldn't get over how much she looked like and angel while she slept. He thought she looked like an angel all the time though. Today was the day Eve was drawing blood for a paternity test for Lil Ethan. Alistair was waiting for her by the front door. "Don't try anything funny," he warned as he walked her and Chad into the living room. The place had already been redecorated in the day she had been gone. All her bright colors had been taken from the house and cooler, calmer dark greens and blues decorated the place. Ivy had worked her magic very well when it came to redecorating and Alistair was quite pleased with her work. Theresa stood next to the doorway with Chad at her side. Alistair offered her a seat but she ignored him. Ivy was the next to walk in with Andrea in her arms. She had kept the baby in her room so Ethan and Gwen could have a night completely alone. She was giggling and cooing at the young child, paying no attention to the evil glares being sent her direction by Theresa. Eve showed up next. She glanced at Chad standing next to Theresa, wondering if he was really her son. She had wondered it for years but for some reason, she wasn't afraid to find out. She was trying to figure out a way that she could get a sample from him as well without him getting suspiscious. Next Julian walked in with Lil Ethan. Both had large smiles on their faces and Ivy was surprised to see how much they resembled each other when they smiled. She looked at Theresa, noticing the sudden terror that appeared on her face. Theresa noticed it too. Alistair stood and his base voice demanded all their attention.
"I think we are ready to begin."
"Wait, what about Ethan?" Theresa asked, panicked. She had hoped that seeing her pricked with a needle would bring Ethan to his sences and make him love her again.
"Oh, Ethan won't be joining us right now. He wanted to have his smaple taken privately, in his quaters," Ivy informed her, not even trying to hide the look of truimph on her face.
Theresa stared at her. "You mean he won't even be here for his own son?" she asked, throwing a frightened glance over her shoulder at Lil Ethan laughing at Julian.
"He's been 'here'as you say for Lil Ethan since before he was born as has Gwen. They felt that Julian could handle the situation well enough without them. They feel the need to be alone without interruptions for a while," Ivy said, a wicked grin on her face.
Theresa slumped in a seat defeated. Chad was secretly glad Ethan had stayed away. He didn't feel like seeing Theresa staring at him right now. He sat in the seat next to her, his eyes never leaving her once.
Eve began pulling out the items she needed to get samples from the participants. The more he pulled out, the more terrified Theresa looked. She began to fidget and glance nervouslt around the room. Alistair noticed it right away. "Are you alright Theresa," he asked, almost laughing.
"Yes, I'm just afraid of needles," she lied. ivy could tell from the tone of her voice that that wasn't the case. She smiled. Truthfully, she didn't think it mattered whose child it turned out to be. Ethan had made himself very clear. He wanted nothing to do with Theresa. Of course, it would be easier for him to be rid of Theresa if the child was not his, so Ivy ws hoping for that, even if it meant that Julian was the father. God knows how many other children he really had running around out there she thought, smiling at him fondly. In spite of everything, she loved him deeply.

Just as Eve was getting ready to start, Theresa jumped from her seat.
"There's something I want to discuss before we so all this."
"And what's that, Theresa?" Alistair asked.
"What I get from my divorce from Julian," Theresa answered, looking defiantly at him.
"It is an annulment and you get nothing Theresa. You signed the papers that said as much after Ethan and Gwen were married when you decided to stay with Julian. I have a copy right here if you don't believe me."
Theresa glared at him. There was no way she was leaving this marriage with nothing. She didn't care what some piece of paper said and she didn't care what she had signed. She had to get something out of this.
"I don't care what it says. Get Ethan down here. He's a lawyer. He'll stick up for me."
"Ethan was there when you signed it. He asked you if you understood what it said and you said yes. That makes it legal and binding in all courts of law."
"That's not fair! I was kicked out of this house with nothing!"
"What do you mean nothing?" Julian asked. "You left this place completely decked out in jewels that are worth over $100,000 not to mention your designer wardrobe you left with. If you want fair, then we could have you bring everything you bought with Crane money back. I think you got a lot out of this deal."
Chad stared. He had not realized how much money Theresa had been carrying when he showed up at his apartment. With that money, they could live quite well together, he thought. He was surprised at his thoughts. They. Could there be a they?
Theresa tried to keep arguing but Alistair wouldn't have it. She finally gave up, dejected. If anyhting, she wanted her job back so she could work with Ethan, but that wasn't happening. She would figure out a way though. She was sure of it.
 

Eve ran samples on Lil Ethan first. She took a mouth swab and a little blood. He did not cry at all and was all too happy to take the sucker that was offered afterwards. The Julian went, and also took the sucker offered, making the whole room laugh except Theresa. Eve took some samples from Theresa to compare the outcomes of the tests and that was it. Theresa stayed seated as if expecting something.
"DO you want to hold him?" Julian asked, holding Lil Ethan out to her. Theresa paused, then took him gingerly. They stared at each other, both with dislike. Lil Ethan hadn't been around her enough to really know her and Theresa didn't find much use for him now that Ethan wasn't around. The wheels in her head started turning. "I want to spend some time alone with him" she said. Alistair nodded, knowing there was nothing he could do about it at his point as long as she was in the Crane house. She immediately disappeared with the baby. Eve took this time to pull Chad aside. "I've been noticing you've looked a little pale lately. Have you beern feelign alright?"
"Yeah, I think so," Chad answered, suddenly not feeling so good.
"I would like to take a blood sample if you don't mind, just to make sure," Eve said, patting herself on the back for coming up with the idea. Chad readily agreed.
 

Gwen and Ethan had had a lovely night together and were cuddling in bed when there was a knock on the door.
"That must be Eve," Gwen said and Ethan threw on a robe, tossing Gwen hers as he ran to answer it. It wasn't Eve, but Theresa standing there with a very unhappy looking Lil Ethan.
"Oh Ethan, I just had to come see you. Lil Ethan isn't looking so good and I think that you and I should be with him right now."
Ethan scowled. "He's not looking so good because he doesn't know you very well, Theresa. What are you doing here?"
Gwen stood from the bed. What a way to ruin a perfectly good morning she thought to herself as she put her robe on.
"I was wondering why you didn't come down for the tests Ethan," Theresa said, trying to put on her most innocent look.
"I didn't come down because I didn't want to see you," Ethan replied bluntly. Gwen smiled to herself. This is what she wanted to hear. "Now if you don't mind, My wife and I were enjoying our morning."
Lil Ethan began to cry and held his arms out for Gwen who had appeared behind Ethan.
"See Ethan, he wants us to be together,"Theresa said, holding Lil Ethan closer to herself and trying to point him more in Ethan's direction.
"He wants Gwen," Ethand said, taking Lil Ethan from Theresa's arms and handing him to Gwen before he started wailing. Gwen went to the next room to change his diaper. Theresa threw herself at Ethan as soon as Gwen left the room.
"Finally, we're alone together. Now you can tell me you still love me without having to lie to protect Gwen."
"I don't love you Theresa," Ethan said robotically. "Will you ever get that?"
"I know you love me. You just think you love Gwen but you don't. I know you don't. We were meant to be together. You and me and our baby, forever. When Lil Ethan turns out to be yours, you'll come back to me."
"You just keep telling yourself that,Theresa. Just tell it to yourself far away from me."
With that, he pushed her from the room and shut the door behind her.
"You love me Ethan!" Theresa yelled at the door as Chad walked up behind her. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Comon Theresa. Lets go home," he said. His heart lept at the word let's. Maybe it is possible, he thought. If only I can keep her away from Ethan.
 

The phone rang at the Lopez Fitz-Gerald house. Pilar answered it cautiously, fearful that it was Theresa wanting to give her another tongue lashing.
"Hi Mama! It's Paloma,": said the cheerful voice on the other end.
"Paloma! My darling how are you?" Pilar asked, genuinely thrilled to be hearing from her.
"Fine Mama. Listen, Aunt Maria is going away for a few weeks and I have some time off of school and work. Can I come stay with you for a while?"
"Of course Mija! It's been so long!" Pilar was thrilled. She had asked Paloma to move home after the new house was built but Paloma had told her that she wanted to stay in Mexico with her friends and school. Pilar had been upset, but had understood. That place was more home than here to her. Pilar blamed herself for that.
Pilar and Paloma chatted for a while, comign up with plans for Paloma's stay, then Pilar excitedly ran to inform the rest of the family that Paloma was coming for a visit.
 

Kay went to the coffe shop, hoping that John was working. She was happy to see him busy busing tables. She sat at one, waiting for him to come over. He smiled at her and came to talk to her.
"Listen, John, I am really sorry for what happened yesterday."
"Don't be Kay. I know you have had feelings for Miguel since you were a little girl. It was stupid of me to think that maybe I could change that."
"It wasn't stupid. It's stupid of me to try to hang on to something that will never be there, no matter what," Kay said, finally admitting it to herself. "If you're not too mad, I would like to try this again, only if you're willong of course."
John smiled. "Can we just be friends for a little bit and take it from there? I don't want to take this too fast. I'm a little scared of being hurt."
Kay nodded, glad that they were ont eh same wave length. Maybe something would happen, maybe something wouldn't, only time would tell. In the meantime, it was nice that she hadn't lost him as a friend. They agreed to meet that night to go to a movie, as friends, and Kay left feeling better than she had in a long time.