Notes: Theresa is 23 in this fic just to let you know.
 

Chapter one-Strength to Stand

"Theresa come back here." Luis yelled holding the water hose.
"No" Theresa giggled grabbing Sheridan, "If I go down you’ll have to get her too."
"Luis don’t you dare." Sheridan laughed.
"Oh don’t think I won’t, after you two soaked me with that soapy water, you deserve it." Luis laughed.
Miguel walked up behind them soaking wet with a water gun in hand, "I’ve got you covered bro." Miguel laughed.
"See there lady’s your surrounded." Luis told them.
"Please Luis, don’t soak me." Theresa shrieked.
"It’s a little to late for begging now missy."
"Luis, I’m warning you, don’t do it." Sheridan told him.
Luis gave Miguel a nod as both men let the women have it.
Theresa screamed then started laughing turning to chase down Miguel as Sheridan flung toward Luis smiling.
A dream. It was just a dream. Theresa thought waking up. Her eyes still shut she could still see Luis laughing.
Theresa opened her eyes, a new day, a new horrible day to live through. Her head pounded from the tears she had cried for the last three days. Gone. So much was gone in a flash. She looked around s the sun beamed in her window. Slowly she forced herself out of the bed, weak and shaking from everything that had happened. She made her was to the mirror still in a daze. Her face was stained with makeup and her hair a mess.
"Be strong Theresa." She whimpered as her mind drifted to the day her life changed.

Flashback

"Miguel stop hitting me." Theresa laughed.
"Not until you say it."
"I will never say it."
"Tell me I’m the best looking man alive." Miguel said.
"No! Never." Theresa giggled.
"Fine then." Miguel said laying fake punches on Theresa.
"No! It can’t be No!" Pilar screamed.
Miguel and Theresa quickly ran to there mother.
"Mama what’s wrong?" Miguel yelled.
Theresa froze staring at her mother’s pale face. She was holding the phone in her hand as it swung by the cord.
"Mama what’s wrong?" Theresa repeated Miguel’s words.
"No! It’s not true." Pilar muttered falling to her knee’s "It just can’t be true."
Theresa and Miguel ran to her side, "Mama your scaring me." Theresa cried.
"No, not Luis, no."
"Luis?" Miguel yelled.
"My sweet Luis, Sheridan, no it can’t be." Pilar said again, blankly.
"Mama please talk to us." Theresa pleaded.
Pilar looked at her daugther. "Dead, their both dead." She cried as she collasped to the ground.

End flashback.

Gone. A plane crash had killed them both. Theresa picked up a picture on her dresser, in her trembling hand she held what used to be a happy family, took only weeks ago. Sheridan smiling holding Matthew, Luis Sitting down with Kendra in his lap, his eyes sparkling . A happy family with no cares. Theresa slowly fell against her wall and started crying again. "They can’t be gone." She sobbed. " This just can’t be real."
Her whole body ached from lack of sleep, it didn’t seem right, It wasn’t fair. Her mother was still in shock, telling everyone it wasn’t true. Miguel seemed so distant, not wanting to talk about it, he wanted to pretend it wasn’t real, just not deal with it right now.
"Aunt Resa." A small voice said.
Theresa wiped her eyes and looked up to see Kendra standing in her door.
"Kendra baby, you OK?" Theresa asked standing up.
"I’m kinda hungry." The little girl said.
Theresa nodded, " All right sweetie."
Kendra studied her for a moment, " Don’t cry no more Aunt Resa." She said walking over to her.
Theresa forced a smile, "I’m sorry baby. Aunt Resa is just fine." Theresa lied.
Kendra smiled and put her small hand in Theresa’s ,"Can we look at Matthew?" The five year old asked.
"Yeah, let’s go see your brother." Theresa told her walking out of the room.
Theresa’s heart was heavy, Luis and Sheridan had left the kid’s to her. How was she going to raise these children. She was alone, Ethan had left to discover himself two years ago, He wanted to find the ‘Bennett in him’ he claimed. Theresa watched as Kendra smiled down at Matthew. For the first time since ‘it’ happened, she felt happy, watching Matthew coo at Kendra gave her a small sense of peace. Some how she was going to make it, she would honor her brother’s wishes and raise his children to be strong and gentle just like him, somehow, but she had no idea where to start.
"Aunt Resa, can I have cereal?" Kendra questioned.
Theresa nodded, "Anything you want angel." Theresa smiled.
"Mommy’s an angel." Kendra suddenly said.
Theresa was took back, "What baby?"
"Aunt Ivy says Mommy is a angel in heaven watching over me." She smiled.
Theresa nodded, "That’s right she is."
"Mommy’s the prettiest angel of all." The little girl said.
"She sure is." Theresa said holding back tears.
"And daddy is in heaven keeping mommy safe." She said looking up at Theresa.
Theresa felt tears falling. " Yes baby he is."
"But I miss them." The little girl sadly stated.
Luis had always told Theresa Kendra was wise beyond her years, advanced compared to other 5 year olds and now Theresa could see it was true.
Theresa looked down at sleeping Matthew, he had his mother’s eyes, He was in face the spiting image of her. He was almost 6 months old now, he’d never know them. Theresa thought wanting to cry again. Never remember his parents, the love they shared. How was she going to do this? She knew nothing about babies. She had took care of Matthew a lot, but didn’t know his routine or what he liked. She felt helpless, scared and ashamed. Ashamed she was worried about herself when the kids needed her.
"Kendra, let’s go downstairs now, and get your cereal." Theresa told her.
Kendra nodded. "Love you Aunt Resa." She said taking her hand again.
Theresa choked back another tear. "I love you too baby." She said taking a deep breath.
Suddenly she realized her old life had just ended and a brand new one had started.