Date Submitted: 5/16/00
Title of Story: "Set Him Free Ch. 4"
Author: KBobMom@aol.com

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Passions and don't own any of the characters.

"Theresa, I love you." Ethan said in his sleep.

All of a sudden he jumped up realizing what he just said. He looked around the room for Gwen.

"Gwen?…Gwen, where are you?" Ethan hollered as he got out of bed. He walked to the dresser and found a note posted to the mirror.

My Dearest Ethan

I am sorry I left without waking you. You were sleeping so peacefully. I will see you soon. I'll be the one in white.

I love you,

Gwen

Ethan finished the letter and wadded it up. "What am I doing? Why can't I get Theresa out of my mind? … And that song she sang. Was she really singing it to me? Is that how she really feels? Does she love me?"

"I have to talk to Sheridan!" Ethan said as he picked up the cordless and started pacing.

"Sheridan Crane"

"Sheridan, it's Ethan. Can you talk?"

"What's wrong?" Sheridan asked her nephew, who was more like her brother.

"Oh! Sheridan, I am losing my mind."

"I think I am falling in love with someone else." Ethan finally admitted out loud.

"What? Who? What about Gwen?" Sheridan questioned shocked.

"Promise this stays between us?"

"Of course, Ethan. I would never betray your trust."

"Theresa, I think I am in love Theresa." Ethan felt like a huge load had just been lifting off his shoulders. And it good to say it out loud.

"Theresa Lopez Fitzgerald?" Sheridan nearly shouted.

Ethan could hear a voice in the background. "What about my sister. Are you having her arrested too?"

"Sheridan…where are you and is that Luis?" Ethan asked confused.

Sheridan let out a big sigh "It's a really long story. I am in Boston. Tell you what, I will be home tomorrow and we can finish our conversation then. Will you be okay until then?"

"Sure, I'll be okay. I think I might go to church today. I'm sure that will help me clear my head. Thank you."

"Bye" They both said as they hung up.

"Mama, I'll see you after church." Theresa said as Pilar walked in the sanctuary.

"Miguel, please come work in the nursery with me." Theresa pleaded with her brother as he shuck his head no.

"Oh! Please. Whit is not here and I really need someone to help."

"I'll help" a voice offered from behind Theresa.

She spun around to see Ethan standing in front of her with a big grin on his face.

She looked at him for a while "I don't think you'd really want to help." Theresa warned him shaking her head.

"Sure I do. What can I do for you, miss?" Ethan joked in his fake Italian accent.

Theresa laughed. "Okay, but you don't know what you have just got yourself into."

Ethan followed her down the hall of the church. She stopped in front of a door with cute little hand prints all over. Theresa looked up at Ethan will a bright smile. He had a puzzled look on his face.

"Yes! Ethan, we are going to watch little babies during church." Theresa confirm with a twinkle in her eyes.

Ethan's face dropped and fear took over. Theresa noticed his change. "Ethan, what's wrong?"

"Theresa, I have NEVER been around babies." He confessed

"Never?…"

"Never!!… I don't know anyone with children."

"Oh… Don't worry. You'll be fine." Theresa assured him as they walked into the nursery.

"Good morning, Theresa" Martha greeted. "So, who's this handsome fellow you have with you?"

"Martha, this is Ethan Crane. He volunteered to help me." Theresa explained.

"Nice to meet you Ethan. Well, you're lucky. You only have Maddy and Matthew today."

Theresa walked over the crib. The twins were sleeping soundly. "Oh…Ethan come look at them."

"Have fun." Martha said as she walked out and gently shut the door.

Ethan walked over to Theresa. He looked up at Theresa who was almost crying. He touched her hand.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Theresa asked. "Perfect little angels."

He looked at the tiny babies. "How old are they?"

"They're five months but they were preemies." Theresa explained. "I always wanted to have twins. A boy and a girl."

Ethan looked into her eyes and could tell she would make a wonderful mother. Theresa looked up at Ethan and he was still looking into her eyes.

"You want to hold one?"

"Me?…No, I couldn't possibly." Ethan declared shaking his head as Theresa reached down and picked up Maddy.

"Go sit in the chair and you can rock her."

"Theresa, I don't know, what if I hurt her? I have never held a baby." Ethan protested.

"Sit down! There's nothing to it. Just be gentle."

Ethan obeyed and sat down. Theresa leaned into him gently laid Maddy in his arms. Once the baby was safe in his arms, Ethan looked up at Theresa who was gently caressing Maddy's head.

"You'll make a wonderful mother someday."

Theresa beamed with pride and knelt beside Ethan. She looked up him and watched as he played with Maddy's tiny hands.

"You'll be a great daddy, too." Theresa assured him.

Their eyes meet. He looked at her with some much love. Then she suddenly she broke the connection and stood up.

"Gwen will be lucky to have help her." Theresa said remembering that he was Gwen's.

Ethan's heart sank as he too remembered Gwen. What am I going to do?

"Oh! Matthew, it's all right. There, there" Theresa comforted the crying infant as she removed him from the crib and caressed his back.

Ethan watched as Theresa calmed Matthew with her soft voice and she sang him a lullaby.

Theresa turned and found Ethan staring at her again. "Do you want to hold Matthew, too?"

The fear set in. "Both at the same time?"

Theresa laid Matthew in his other arm. He looked down at the two precious babies and noticed something.

"They don't look a like. Matthew has almost blonde hair and Maddy's a brunette." Ethan questioned.

Theresa laughed "Not all twins are identical. You know…Matthew looks like you’re - you sure you're not his daddy?" Theresa teased.

"Well, this little lady reminds me of you." Ethan pointed out "She's got gorgeous bright eyes and beautiful lips like you"

Theresa blushed and bit her bottom lip.

Ethan looked down at Maddy "When we have children a want a little girl just like her."

We…when we have children. The phrase repeated in Theresa's head. She shook her head to remove the hope. Then walked over and picked Matthew up and sat on the floor.

Ethan then carefully raised from the rocker and he and Maddy sat with Theresa and Matthew.

"Knock! Knock!" Martha said as she peaked in at Ethan and Theresa playing with the babies on the floor.

Theresa started to get up.

"No! Wait. I want to take a picture of this." Martha stopped her.

"Oh! What an adorable family you all make!" Martha stated as she took the second Polaroid.

They just looked at each other.

"Thank you for keeping them. I really appreciate you letting me attend church." Martha exclaimed as she helped they place the babies back into the crib.

"Bye Maddy. Bye Matthew" Theresa and Ethan said together as they started to leave.

"Don't forget your pictures." Martha whispered to them.

Ethan stopped and picked up the pictures and followed Theresa out of the church.

Miguel and Charity were waiting outside when they came out.

"Theresa - Ethan over here." Miguel gestured.

"What do you have?" Charity asked as Ethan handed her his picture.

"Oh! You look a perfect little family. Look Miguel, the babies even look like them." Charity exclaimed at she showed Miguel the picture.

"Wow! They really do!" Miguel said in astonishment.

"Are you sure they really aren't your children?" Charity teased.

Ethan and Theresa looked at each other. "I wish" they both said to themselves.

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