Chapter 7: You Oughta Know
And I'm here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
-- Alanis Morissette
 
 

Gwen’s breath caught in her throat as she stared into Ethan’s eyes, trying desperately to say something and wishing that she weren’t even there. She could tell that Ethan was searching for something to say and she looked over his shoulder at Theresa again who looked considerably upset. Her mother’s words rang in her head. Gwennie, just think about the shattered look on Mrs. Fajita Winthrop when she sees you looking fabulous and Ethan is completely smitten by you all over again. Theresa didn’t look shattered and Ethan certainly did not look like he wanted to see her. Their last meeting certainly hadn’t been one of their sweetest moments. She winced as the memory came back.
"I can’t believe you would do something so cruel Gwen," Ethan shouted when he confronted her about sending the email about his paternity through Theresa’s computer. "I don’t know why you’d want to hurt me like!"
"I didn’t want to hurt you!" Gwen replied, tears brimming her eyes. "I was trying to expose her and show you that you’re perfect little Theresita isn’t who you thought she was! Don’t you see Ethan? She knew you were a Bennett all along!"
"What Theresa did pales in comparison to what you did!" Ethan answered. "What you did was spiteful and wrong and it hurt me in the worst way possible. If you really loved me Gwen, you would want me to be happy."
"I cannot believe you don’t see that gold digger for what she really is!"
"I love Theresa! And she loves me. She was trying to protect me from being hurt. I admit, what she did was wrong but what you did was unconscionable." Ethan replied nastily.
"I do not believe you Ethan! You loved me too! I know somewhere deep down you still love me!" Gwen answered angrily wiping her tears away. "You’ve fallen for Theresa’s innocent, doe-eyed act one too many times! You’re so blind when it comes to her you really are willing to ignore the fact that she knew. She knew way before I did and she NEVER told you. She was selfish and manipulative so why can’t I be? Go to hell for all I care Ethan Bennett!"
That argument with Ethan had been the breaking point for Gwen. For the first time in ten years she saw everything so clearly. Ethan wasn’t the man she loved anymore. He had changed and after everything else that had happened between them she had changed. She was stronger now, she was much more independent and she didn’t need to be Ethan’s socialite girlfriend. She had hurt him she knew that. For that, some part of her would never forget that but he had hurt her too and she had stopped considering herself as the bad guy. Theresa had started it and she was going to end it. She still had her pride and dignity and she was not about to lose that over a man who couldn’t feel anything for her after she gave him the best ten damn years of her life.
But a part of her still loved him. She figured maybe it always would. Gwen swallowed the lump that rose to her throat and looked back at Ethan, steeling her nerves. You can do this Gwen. You’re so over him now. "Hello Ethan."
"Gwen," he replied his mouth set in a grim line. "I didn’t know you were back in town."
Hank and Jacob had stopped giving each other death glares long enough to realize that they were standing near a potential confrontation. While Hank left the small group to join his fiancée, Jacob came to stand behind Gwen, placing a hand on her shoulder and narrowing his eyes at Ethan. "Of course she’d be in town. Our father is in a coma for God’s sake."
"Right," Ethan said rubbing his temple and then looking between Gwen and Jacob. "How is he?"
"Don’t pretend you care Crane," Jacob scoffed, taking a standoffish position. "Oh that’s right. You aren’t a Crane anymore. Such a pity."
"Jake -" Gwen said her voice weary. She put a hand on his chest and looked at him, telling him with her eyes to back off. She turned to Ethan and steeled her nerves again. "He’s not that good Ethan. Thank you for asking."
"Well I hope he’s better soon," Ethan answered with a small, polite smile. He gave her a quick once over and then sighed. "You’re looking well Gwen."
"I’m fine." Gwen answered coolly. She looked at Theresa and tipped her head. "The two of you look well too. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Theresa finally said and out her hand on Ethan’s arm. Gwen looked down at it and then couldn’t help but smirk. I guess something’s never change. Why Theresa actually looks scared. "Ethan, we have to go. We have an appointment at the doctor’s."
Ethan patted Theresa’s hand and then looked at Gwen again. "It was good to see you, Gwen."
"Likewise," Gwen replied coolly. Ethan nodded and the two left. She turned to Jacob who was grinning at her in amazement and shaking his head. "Well that went well."
"I cannot believe you," Jacob answered. "Any other woman would’ve scratched both of their eyes out. They were so bloody patronizing. Proud of you, love. You handled that with poise and grace."
Gwen shrugged. "What can I say? I’ve grown up."
Jacob kissed her forehead and then turned to the counter again, smiling at Beth and Hank who were watching the whole scene in fascination. Jacob leaned in to Gwen’s ear. "That Hank character doesn’t seem to like me too much."
"Well you’re quite transparent, Jake." Gwen whispered and smacked him on the chest. She stepped forward and smiled at Beth. "I’m sorry about the delay. We’d like two cups of coffee. To go, please."
"Two cups of java coming right up," Beth said with a grin. She patted Hank on the shoulder and Gwen heard her mumble, "Behave."
When Beth left to get the order, Hank turned to the Jacob again and smiled pleasantly. "So Jake, can I call you Jake? What is it that you do? I haven’t seen you in Harmony ever."
"That’s because I live in London," Jacob answered and Gwen could tell he was trying to be pleasant. "I’m a doctor."
"A doctor," Hank said rubbing his chin. "That’s great. I mean if you like long hours and all. And not to mention the calls in the middle of the night…must be tough."
"It’s all good," Jacob answered coolly. Gwen rolled her eyes as the two men continued to size each other up, covering it with small talk. She really didn’t know Hank all too well but she knew he was a very nice man and obviously a very jealous one. She resisted the urge to tell him that he had nothing to fear when it came to Jacob but she didn’t want to ruin Jacob’s fun.
She turned around and gasped lightly as she almost ran into Luis. He had an empty cup of coffee in his hand and he was looking down at her concerned. The same concern that had been there that night in Boston. But to be concerned one had to care and Luis Lopez Fitzgerald did not care about her. Well not that deeply, anyway. They were just lovers. No messy emotions, no commitment and no heartbreak. It’s perfect. Those were her exact words. They were nothing more to each other than sexual partners.
Then why did he look like he cared? Why were his caramel brown eyes shining with concern as he looked at her in the middle of a crowded café? And why in the world was she so overwhelmed by his concern that her knees were beginning to get weak?
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Luis looked into Gwen’s blue eyes and watched in amusement as she tucked her lower lip between her teeth, a confused expression taking over her features. A wisp of auburn hair fell across her forehead and threatened to obscure her vision but it seemed to defy all laws of gravity as it stayed firmly in place. He checked the urge to reach up and touch her face and tired to remain as nonchalant as possible in front of Hank, Beth, her brother and the room full of people. He smiled at her politely as she seemed to relax. "Hello Gwen."
"Luis," Gwen returned and he could tell she was struggling to keep her voice cool. Their eyes met and he searched her face for some kind of clue as to what she was thinking. They were still staring at each other, when Jacob handed her the Styrofoam containing her coffee. She blinked and then turned to her brother and smiled. "Jacob, this is Luis Lopez Fitzgerald. Luis, my brother Jacob Hotchkiss."
Jacob reluctantly extended his hand and Luis felt his own unwillingness to accept. They shook hands and Luis returned Jacob’s scrutinizing gaze. "Lopez Fitzgerald? Any relation to Theresa?"
"I’m her brother," Luis answered coolly.
"Oh," Jacob answered. He seemed disturbed by the news but he then just shrugged and looked at his sister. "Gwen, I think I’m going to head back to the mansion. Can James drop you off anywhere?"
"No," Gwen answered her eyes still on Luis. "I’m going to go back to the hospital and then head over to Hotchkiss Enterprises. I’ll see you tonight, okay?"
"Alright," Jacob answered looking between her and Luis. He leaned in and kissed her cheek and nodded his head in Luis’s direction. "Nice to meet you, Luis."
"Yeah, likewise, Jacob." Luis replied as he pocketed his hands in his jeans. After the younger man left Luis turned to Gwen and raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was definitely interesting. You never told me you had a brother."
"You never asked," Gwen replied with a small smile. She looked around the room and then back up at Luis. "Is this getting odd or what?
"Tell me about it," he scoffed and then looked over his shoulder at Beth and Hank who were kissing. He rolled his eyes and Gwen followed his gaze and laughed. "Someone should pry them apart."
"I think you’d need surgery for that," Gwen said as the couple broke apart for a minute and then locked lips again. "Funny, I don’t remember them dating when I left."
"That’s because they spent a good part of a year denying it to themselves and then each other. They brooded, they obsessed…it was ugly." Luis said wincing at the memory of Hank struck with the idiotic starry-eyes expression and all the meaningful stares, the double entendres, the flirting and the sexual innuendo that floated around whenever the two of them were in a room together. It didn’t bother him that much in the beginning because he was happy with Sheridan and was glad his friends were moving on and recognizing the undeniable chemistry they had but then things had turned sour for him and Sheridan and every time Hank and Beth were together he resented them.
A laughed escaped Gwen’s lips and then died as Luis’ expression became serious. "What?"
"You seemed pretty calm after that whole run-in with Ethan and my sister," Luis said studying her face. "I thought it was going to get nasty."
Gwen motioned towards the door, indicating she didn’t want to talk about it inside. Luis called over to Beth about putting his coffee on his tab but she was too caught up in Hank so she just waved at him. He followed Gwen outside hoping he wasn’t drawing attention from the wrong people. She turned around and looked him squarely in the eye. "You really think I’m weak, don’t you?"
"Of course I don’t!" Luis answered surprised by the accusatory tone. "I just meant that it’s been a long time since you’ve seen Ethan and whatever feelings you might have left for him might’ve surfaced…I was just concerned."
His explanation seemed to calm down the fire that was blazing in her eyes and she sighed. "Ethan and I are the past. He’s accepted what I did and has moved on and I have accepted what he did. I just haven’t gotten to the moving on part yet."
"For what it’s worth," Luis said softly as he took a step closer to her. "I think you’re moving on just fine. There are some women who would just fall apart if they didn’t have a man in their lives."
Gwen gave Luis a cheeky smile and stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss on his cheek. "You oughta know by now Detective, that I am not just some woman." Luis chuckled and watched as she walked down the street and headed towards Harmony Hospital.
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