Whitney, Eve, Julian, Ivy and David sat together at the Crane dining room table. None of them were speaking, the coffee in front of them cold. They had just been informed Ethan had left the house to find Theresa followed at a distance by a couple police cars and an EMT unit in case the children were hurt. Whitney was still quietly crying and Julian also had tears in his eyes. He was still not quite over the shock that Lil Ethan was in fact his child. Ivy held his hand tightly as she looked from one stricken face to another.

“Is there any way we could have prevented this?” she asked finally, to no one in particular. Eve shrugged and grasped Whitney’s hand.

“We have all known Theresa for years. No one thought she was capable of something like this.”

Ivy snorted. “I did. After she attacked me with that poker. I should have insisted she get help. We all knew she didn’t have any reason in her head at all when it came to Ethan.”

Whitney shook her head. “Should have. There’s so many should haves, but the only one responsible for this is Theresa. She’s an adult. She has a child for crying out loud.”

“This is not her fault,” Pilar said angrily as she walked through the door. “If Ethan hadn’t led her on for so long, if he hadn’t dumped her for Gwen…”

“You stop right there Pilar,” Ivy said angrily as she stood up. “Don’t you dare blame Ethan or Gwen for this mess. They were happy until Theresa decided that she was the right choice for Ethan and to hell with anyone who got in her way. How can you still defend her after everything she’s said to you?”

“She’s my daughter. I know my child. She isn’t like this. Something or someone had to make her this way.”

“Ever thought maybe it was you and how permissive you were for everything she did for her whole life? If you have to blame someone, maybe you should blame yourself  Pilar,” Ivy said icily.

Pilar’s mouth opened wide with shock. She started trying to think of something to say, but nothing came out. Wordlessly she left the room. Ivy sat down slowly, the rage still apparent on her face.

“That wasn’t very nice, Ivy,” Eve said.

“I know she’s hurting Eve, but she’s got to face facts. Theresa is sick. No one in their right mind would go to such lengths to get at a man. She could very well kill my grandchild all for what? Because she’s convinced Ethan still loves her. She’s got to grow up someday and realize her daughter needs help.”
The table went back to silence.

Chad overheard the police discussing Theresa driving to the Crane cabin. Wordlessly he slipped through the door and into his car.

“I won’t let them hurt you Theresa. None of them, not even Ethan,” he said as he pulled out of the driveway.

A cold wind blew as Ethan pulled up to the Crane cabin. He saw one of the Crane cars next to the door and heard a baby crying. Quickly he ran to the car and saw his daughter and Lil Ethan inside. Both were sobbing. Panicked, he tried all the doors. They were locked. He thought about smashing a window, but knew that that could put both children at risk from the broken glass.

“Hold on babies. I will be right back,” he said, pressing his forehead against the window. Lil Ethan quieted down instantly as he saw Ethan’s face. Andrea cried louder and reached her arms for her daddy. Ethan stifled tears as he pressed her hand to the window for her. “Hold on baby. I’ll be right back, I promise. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Inside the cabin Theresa had seen Ethan drive up. She quickly threw off the robe she was wearing and sprayed on the perfume she knew Ethan liked. She sat on the couch in her lingerie and lit a few candles for mood. The door swung open revealing a very angry Ethan.

“I know you would come. I knew you would know where I was and you would come to me. You still love me.” She rushed towards Ethan but he held his hand up to stop her.

“Where are the keys to that car?”

Theresa faltered. “How can you think of cars? I’m right here for you. Don’t you want me?”

“No. I want the keys to that car so I can get my daughter and Lil Ethan and leave,” Ethan said, trying hard to keep his voice steady.

Theresa’s eyes narrowed. “Lil Ethan and Andrea are coming with us when we run away together. We can have our own family and live happily ever after. Isn’t that what you want?”

“What I want is to take my daughter and go home to my wife,” Ethan said. “And to return Lil Ethan to his father.”

“You’re his father Ethan,” Theresa said angrily.

“No, you tampered with the paternity results. Lil Ethan can’t be mine. His blood type doesn’t match. You forget that one little thing when you switched the results Theresa.”

“I don’t care what a stupid paternity test says Ethan. You’re Lil Ethan’s father. You are!”
Ethan took a step towards her. “Give me the keys now Theresa.”

“No! You  are not getting these keys until you tell me you love me and we will run off together!”

“It’s cold outside Theresa. They are cold. Give me the keys so I can at least bring them inside.”

“No. I want you to make love to me Ethan. We can’t do that with two babies in the room. I know you want to.”

“Theresa you are insane! Give me the keys now!”

“No!”

Ethan brushed past her and began searching the room. He went through her coat and all her belongings, not noticing Theresa shoving the keys under the couch with her foot.

“All I’m asking is for you to listen to you heart and return to me Ethan. I know you want to be with me. I know you would rather have me than Gwen. That is not so much to ask. We are meant to be together. If Andrea didn’t exist we would be. Just admit it to yourself. You can’t forget about me. You will never love anyone like you love me. Now just give in. It’ll be so much easier for both of us in the long run.”

She grabbed Ethan and pulled him into a kiss. He instantly pushed her away.
“The only thing you are getting is a long prison sentence. Julian is fighting for sole custody of Lil Ethan. With your actions you have proven yourself an unfit mother. I am going to fight harder than I have ever fought before to make sure I never see you again. You ever come anywhere near me or my wife or my child I will make sure you hurt like you’ve never hurt before. Does that get through your thick skull? I did not come here to be with you, I came to get my daughter and Lil Ethan. I don’t ever want to see you again. Do you hear me? I do not love you!”

Theresa’s eyes filled with tears.

“You have to Ethan. You are all I have. How did you know I would come here if we weren’t still connected?”

“A gas station attendant called and said he saw you heading out of town. I realized you were coming out here.”

“Then why did you come alone if you didn’t want to run away with me.”
“I didn’t,” Ethan said, motioning towards the police cars that were pulling up. He sighed in relief as he noticed them picking the lock to get the babies out of the car.

“How could you do this to me? The love of your life. The only person you have ever truly loved. You were going to marry me until Gwen got pregnant. You still wanted to be with me even after you were married. What changed?” Theresa asked in tears.

“I changed Theresa. I realized I never really loved you. That real love was having a wife and a family. All I had for you was lust. You never meant that much to me. I just thought you were new and exciting. I had been with Gwen for so long. But now I know I never want to be without her. She and Andrea mean everything to me. Do yourself a favor and move on. Forget me forever. And turn yourself in right now.”

With that, Ethan walked out the door, grabbing his daughter from the EMT who said she was just fine, just a little scared. He held her close to him, tears streaming down his face.
“Never will I let you go again my love.”

Theresa fell to the floor in tears. The police walked in and read her her rights. Chad pushed through the front door and covered Theresa with his coat.

“Don’t’ worry Theresa. We’ll work through this. I’m here for you. They can’t hurt you. I’ll make sure of it.”

Theresa walked slowly to the car, more being led by Chad than anything. She watched Ethan load Lil Ethan and Andrea into his car, not once looking at Theresa.

“Oh Chad, I’ve lost everything. Without Ethan, I might as well be dead.”