Title: Trying Again 11/? Author: Christen Hays (PurpleHaysC@netscape.com) Comments: please send me all you comments. Please! Distribution: if you want to use this fanfic or any other than just ask first. Theresa was in the living room with Maxie and Mark. "Ok now that the show is over. Who wants a snack?" "Me! Me!" They both said jumping up and down. She laughed. "Ok go into the kitchen and I'll fix you something." They all three walked into the kitchen. Theresa was shocked to see someone she hadn't seen in a long time sitting there at the table. He looked up as she entered. "Theresa?" She looked at him closely. "Antonio?" He nodded. "When did you?" "I got back two days ago, you?" "I've been here for over two months." "You came while I was in New York." "They didn't tell you?" "No, no one in this family is really speaking to me." "Me either." They both laughed. He looked down at Maxie and Mark who were holding on to her legs. "Those yours?" "On no! Maxie, Mark I want you to meet me eldest brother, Antonio." Maxie walked up to him. "So you're Antonio nice to meet you." She said and stuck out her hand. "Its nice to meet you too. You know you look a lot like Theresa did when she was little." She smiled. "That's quite a compliment." She said. "Ok, ok you two how about some cookies and milk?" "What I don't get any?" Antonio asked with a smile. "O come on be nice to your brother, I am." Maxie said. "Ok, all three of you sit down and I'll get the food for us." When they were done and she put them down for a nap, with Antonio's helps she decided they needed to talk. "So why'd you come back?" "It's a long story which involves Sheridan Crane, Luis and Liz." "Liz?" "Liz Crane, she's Julian and Eve's daughter but that's another long story. Let's just say I'm glad to be back." "Me too." "Now why are you back?" "You haven't heard?" "Remember no one here will talk to me." "Right, well let's just say I got into some trouble and now I'm back." "Well it's great to see you, Theresa. I've really missed you." "Me too." She said and they hugged. Miguel and Luis walked in. "Antonio!" Luis screamed. "Theresa!" Miguel screamed. The both looked at them. "What!" Kay was working in the back of the inn when she heard the door to B and B open and then close. "Dad?" Kay heard a voice that sounded familiar. She thought to her self "Could it be Noah?" So, she asked aloud. "Noah?" Then she heard the door open and close again. "Mom?" Ok there was someone else here now, but she did not recognize that voice. "Hello?" She said. "Who's there?" She could hear two steps. "Mom?" Who was there this was getting a little creepy. She could hear their footsteps, they were getting closer. She grabbed a toilet brush. When they opened the door, she swung and hit Ethan. "Ok what was that for?" Ethan asked. "Yeah you didn't have to hit him." The other guy said. "You two out!" She screamed. "What? Why?" "No Crane or any friend of a Crane is welcome here." "I'm not a Crane and he isn't my friend." "You liar. Get out!" She screamed. Noah came running in when he heard Kay scream. "Ethan, John, Kay what's going on?" Kay hugged Noah. "Thank goodness you're here. They won't leave." He looked at her strangely. "And why should they?" "Look I told them no Crane or friend of a Crane is welcome here." "Oh no one told you..." "Told me what?" "Oh how can I put this lightly? Kay, Ethan is dad's son and John's mom's son..." "What! No this is all some big joke! Right?" Ethan tried to speak up. "Look I'm sorry no one told you but..." "I can't be related to such a jerk! No I just can't!" "Kay calm down." John said. "You, I don't even know you and when was my mother ever pregnant with you?" "When she was married to my father." "and when...." "My mother and him were dating on her honeymoon." "And when?" "We found out about Ethan two months ago, John last month and I came home three months ago." "While I was in New York, How convenient." "Kay, please we both just want to get to know you." Ethan said. "I know all I want to know about you, Ethan. And from what I know I know you can't be my brother!" She said as she ran out the B and B to the station. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying Again 12/? So when we're you going to tell me my long lost brother was back?" "I wasn't planning to." "So what else have you been hiding from me? Is papa really not dead? Is Paloma here? Are we really Cranes..." "Ok so I let some things out but you don't have to go so nuts as to call us Cranes." "Just left some things out! He's my brother! How can you forget that? Oh probably just like your forgot about me!" She was up now. "I never forgot about you. How could I?" "Well I'm guessing easily because you forgot Paloma and Antonio, one more sibling is nothing." She felt a tear fall down her face. "I never forgot any of you. Why do you think I did?" "You sent me packing like it was nothing..." "I..." "Let me finish! You never once wrote me or called and not that I'm back... You just..." She was having trouble finding the words. "You and every other family member treat me like I'm not a part of this family. Like you don't love me anymore." Her tears were coming and she could not stop them. Luis walked over to her. "Theresa, I still love you. We all do. We never stopped. We never could stop. This is a family built on love and there is no way you can ever get out of it. Ever! Please believe me. You must believe me!" Theresa turned to face him. He could tell she has been crying. He wanted to make all the pain go away like when she was little but he knew he could not. Therefore, he just held her. Kay ran into the station. She had tears streaking down her face. She had run the whole way. She need the one person who she'd always run to. Forgetting everything that has happened she ran to her father's desk. "Dad..." She said though fits of tears. He looked up suddenly and the moment he saw her all of his worse fears came to his mind. "Kay, honey what's wrong?" She looked around the room, everyone was staring at her. "Can we?" "We'll take a conference room." He started to guide her into the room but stopped and whispered. "Hold all my calls." Once they were into the room Kay started to cry again. "What happened? Did someone hurt you? Please tell me." Looking at her father she remembered the father she has loved, the father who raised her, the father who never would have sent her away. "Who hasn't?" "What?" "You lied to me! You sent me away! You and mom, Jess and Charity hate me. Not to even mention Miguel. "What? When did I lie to you?" "You never told me you had another son." "Ethan, oh I'm sorry I meant to tell you." "Like mom meant to tell me about John!" "When did you?" "They showed up at the inn. Ethan was looking for you and John for mom. I hit Ethan." "You hit Ethan!" "That's not really the important thing here. I started screaming at them and then Noah came running in and told me it was true. He's also someone you forgot to mention!" "I'm sorry." "Yeah like I'll believe that. You all probably planned this." "What?" "Just another way to punish me, to show me that you hate me." "Kay please don't say that we don't hate you." "Then why would you treat me like you did?" "I never wanted to, Kay, I love you. You have to believe that." "Why? No one else does." "That's not true. I love you, Jessica and Noah do too." "Yet mom and Charity don't." "I never said that." "You didn't have to. So is the jerk staying with us?" "Who?" "Ethan, your son you know the jerk." "My son's a jerk?" "You didn't know, after all he did to Theresa, he's a jerk." "You two are pretty close now aren't you?" "We had to. We were all we had." "You still had me..." "I lost you a long time ago dad." "I want to find you again. I want you to be able to talk to me like you use to." "Me too. There's so much to tell you." "And I want to hear it all." She smiled. "We'll be here all day." "I have nothing important to do." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying Again 13/? "So who's this Trey guy that I've heard all about?" Antonio asked. "I thought no one in this family talked to you." Theresa said with a smile and looked at Luis. "So I mentioned something. Come on tell us who he is." "Trey is this guy I went to school with and we dated." "Do you love him?" Antonio asked. She smiled. "I think that's a yes." Luis said. "So what if it is?" Theresa asked. "If is then I'm... We're happy for you." Antonio said. "I'm glad." "So does this guy have a record?" Luis asked. "I don't know his parole officer wouldn't tell me." "Funny." Luis said. "You had it coming." Antonio said. "I know." Luis said. "So now that we've discussed my love life I want to know about you two's." "Funny, Miguel said you didn't care about anyone else's love life." "Let's leave our little brother out of this." "Oh! So what did Miguel do to you?" Antonio asked. "What ever is it must be bad because I've seen that look before and it means she's pissed." Luis said. "Yeah I use to give you that look all the time." She said with a smile. "What did you to her?" Antonio asked. "He forbid me from being in love." "Now why would you do that?" "Because the guy was Ethan Crane." "But you're engaged to Sheridan Crane." "You're what!" "And you're engaged to Liz Crane." "Ok, when were you two going to tell me?" "Um the day of the wedding?" Antonio said. "Wait you said that Liz is Julian and Eve's daughter?" "Yeah, why?" "Well that explains a lot." "Could you explain it t me?" Antonio asked. "Me too." Luis said. "Whitney just about killed me today and Simone, Miguel and Charity are best friends." "So?" Antonio asked. "So, she thinks I know about Liz, her sister. And Miguel was there for Simone when Kay couldn't and no one was there for Whitney..." "Chad was." Antonio said. "And now he's seen her vulnerable and she's freaking. Shoot. She this is what happens when you don't tell me things." Antonio looked at Luis worried. "Ok, what else?" Theresa asked. "Remember, Ethan?" "Of course." "Well he's not a Crane any more." "Then what is he?" "A Bennett." "How!" "Sam and Ivy..." "This is not good! I made Kay hate him and now he's her brother?" "Basically." She got up. "Ok you two before I go and try to save Kay from killing either him or herself is there anything else I need to know?" "Um... she's has another brother..." "So Sam had quite the teenage life didn't he." "Well it's Grace's son." "Oh like that's much better, she's hates her mother." "Well then find her quick because John is going to want to bond with her soon." "Great! I'll be home late." "Take all the time you need." Luis said. Antonio and Theresa looked at him. "Ok, what did you do with our brother!" They both said. "Funny, just get going and I love you." "I love you too, Luis." "And me?" "I don't know." "You don't know." "I'm just joking, I love you, Antonio." "So who was the guy who called our house?" "Oh you mean Ricky?" "No, the other guys who makes you blush." "Well Ricky is this really sweet guy who I went to school with and dated." "Did you two kiss?" "Dad!" "What this guy is dating my little girl and I think I have a right to know what he tried." "Your little girl?" "Yes, now and always. So did he?" "Yes but it was my choice not his. He's too much of a gentlemen to try anything." "That's good too know and he does know that your father has a gun with him at all times, right?" "No, I didn't tell him that. I didn't want to scare him away." Someone screaming interrupted them "What the heck?" Sam said. The both went outside. Noah was in the office. "Is something wrong?" Sam asked. "Oh thank God." Noah said and hugged Kay. "I was so worried." "Noah, chill and come in the conference room with us." Noah followed them in. "Sit." Kay said. "Now is there any more of my brother's coming?" "No I don't think so." "Good." Kay said. "You ok?" "Yeah, I'm good we've been talking...." "About her love life." "Kay's love life? When did my little sister get a love life?" "About the same time you did." Sam said. Kay's eyed widened. "So who's the new love in your life?" "Amanda Crane?" "Ethan's half-sister?" "Yes." "So if you... I mean when you and Amanda get married I'll be your sister in law and your sister?" "Let's not talk marriage yet. Well it seems that every member of the Bennett clan excluding Ethan and including John has a love life." "Who's Jessica and John dating?" "Jessica is dating Reese and John is dating Simone." "Simone as in my x-best friend, Simone?" "Yes, you know any other Simone?" "No, of course not and as for Reese and Jessica and I'm glad he finally got over me. But why hasn't Ethan moved on yet? At least back to Gwen." "Well Gwen is dating your uncle and I think he's still heart broken." "My Uncle Hank is dating Gwen! Why?" "He loves her." "Wait why is Ethan heart broken? He doesn't deserve to be." "You many not think so but he does." "I don't care what he thinks he's a jerk." "He's your brother!" "Look he's only my half-brother and I barely know the guy." "And you have no intention of getting to know him?" "As of now, no." She looked at her watch. "Look, I've got to go and I love you two." "We love you too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying again 14/? "Kat?" Theresa asked as she entered the tree house. "Resa?" Kay asked as she entered from the other side. "I'm so sorry." Theresa asked as she ran up to Kay and hugged her. "Ok um... Resa I can't breathe." Kay said pleading. "I'm sorry." Theresa said as she backed away. "You've said that already, now can you tell me why you're so sorry?" "Because I made you hate your brother and that's just not far..." "How did you make me hate Noah?" Kay asked confused. "Not Noah, Ethan." Theresa said. "Who told you?" "Luis and Antonio told me a little while ago about Ethan and John." "Antonio, when did you talk to Antonio?" Kay asked confused. "Um... when I found him sitting in my kitchen." Theresa said calmly. "And when where you going to tell me about this?" Kay asked mad. "Uh now oh and he's marrying Simone and Whitney's sister, Liz Crane." Theresa said again calm. "Ok stop right there, rewind and say that all again." Kay said seriously confused. "Kat?, I'm so sorry...." Theresa started to say. "Not that far back, start with the whole Antonio thing." Kay said. "Oh ok well he's back and he's marrying Simone and Whitney's sister, Liz Crane." Theresa said again still calm. "Liz Crane is Simone's and Whitney's sister? And if she's their sister then why is her last name Crane? And why are you so calm?" Kay asked annoyed. "She's Julian and Eve's daughter and yes she's their sister and I've already freaked out, that's why I'm clam now." Theresa said. "Well it's annoying and I need my best friend to freak out with so start freaking out!" Kay screamed. Theresa laughed. "Not until you accept my apology." "I'll accept it if you accept mine for making you hate your brother." Kay said sadly. "Miguel? Don't worry about it, I don't really hate him, any way." Theresa said sitting down. Kay sat down next to her. "And I don't really hate Ethan either." "Well where do we go from here?" Theresa asked sadly. "What are you talking about?" Kay asked confused. "I'm talking about our brothers...." Theresa started to say. "And why are we still talking about our brothers?" Kay asked annoyed. "Because we can't always act like we hate them, that doesn't help much." Theresa said. "But it's fun." Kay said smiling. "Kat come on, please just listen to me." Theresa begged. "Ok I will but keep in mind that I didn't ask for Dr. Laura so I may not take your advice that well." "Ok I'll keep that in mind now what I was saying is that we need to try to be a little nicer to our brothers..." Theresa tried to say again. "Easy for you to say you don't have Ethan for a brother." Kay said sarcastically. "Kathleen Bennett! Shut up please!" Theresa screamed. Kay laughed. "Now you're freaking out, I'm so glad." "I'm so glad you're happy." Theresa said sarcastically. "Ok, ok I'm sorry, please continue. I'll listen." Kay said trying not to laugh. "You promise?" Theresa asked hopefully. "No, but it's good to know that you're still just about as gullible as you were when we were in New York." Kay said laughing. "Hey Mama." Theresa said as she gave Pilar a kiss on the cheek. "What did you do?" Pilar said as she looked at her daughter. "I did nothing, oh have you talked to Paloma recently?" Theresa asked as she poured herself a cup of water. "No, I'm going to call her tonight, why?" Pilar asked a little worried. "Because I wanted to talk her, oh and is Miguel here?" Theresa asked. "He's in his room, Theresasita what's going on?" Pilar asked. "Nothing, thanks for the water mama, I'll talk to you later." Theresa said as she headed upstairs. She headed to Miguel's room. She heard him on the phone. "Charity, I'll be over in a little while I just have to change." Theresa knocked on the door. "Miguel, can I talk to for a second?" "I've got to go Charity so I'll see you a little bit? Bye Love you." Miguel hung up the phone. "What exactly do you want? Remember something else you want to scream at me about?" He asked sarcastically as he got up. Theresa came into the room. "No, I remembered some nice thing I wanted to tell you." "Oh really do you think your best friend would approve of this?" Miguel said as the grabbed a shirt out of his closet. "Miguel, can you please lose the sarcasm for one second and talk to me?" She asked annoyed. "You got ..." He looked at his watch. "Five minutes." "Five minutes, that's all you can you give me?" She asked mad. "Make that four minutes." He said as he changed his shirt. "Ok, ok if that's all I can get, then I'll take it." Theresa said as she sat down on his bed "So what did you want to talk about?" Miguel asked. "First are you actually planning to wear that shirt?" Theresa asked disgusted. "What exactly is wrong with my shirt?" Miguel asked annoyed. "It's ugly, what exactly happened to your sense of fashion while I was gone?" Theresa asked as she looked through his shirts in his closet. "What are you talking about?" Miguel asked confused. "I'll be back." Theresa said as she headed out of his room. "Where are you going?" Miguel asked as he followed her to her room. "I'm looking for something." Theresa said as she started to dig through her bag. "What are you looking for?" Miguel asked. "I'm looking for... this." Theresa said as she grabbed the shirt out of her bag. "Try this on." She said as she hanged it to Miguel. Miguel changed shirts again and then asked. "Where exactly did you get this?" "It's Trey's and it looks good on you so now my job is done." She said smiling. "Your job?" Miguel asked confused. "Yes as your older sister I couldn't possibly let you go out in public unless you were dressed fashionably ok." Theresa said smiling. "Thanks, I think." Miguel said a little hesitant. "Look why don't you go on your date and return the shirt to me after your date when you tell me what happened." She said. "Um... thanks Theresa." Miguel said as he started to leave. "Hey Jessica, how you doing?" Kay said as she came into the living room. Jessica looked up shocked. She turned to Reese. "Did she seriously just talk to me with out insulting me?" "Yes I did. Oh hey Reese." Kay said smiling and gave him a hug. "Hi Kay." Reese said as he hugged her back. "Well I'll leave you two alone as soon as my sister tells me where Ethan is." Kay said as Reese sat back down. Jessica looked at her shocked. "First tell me what exactly you are going to do to him." "I was planning on talk to him. Is there something wrong with that?" Kay asked smiling. "I don't believe you but any way. He's in his room in the B and B." Jessica said. "Thanks." Kay said s she headed out to the B and B. She found his room and knocked on the door. "Come in." Ethan said. She opened the door and walked in. "Ethan, can I talk to you for a minute?" "Sure, but you've got to promise not to hit me." Ethan said as he got up. "I'll try not to but you might want to keep any and all possible weapons away for me." Kay said smiling. "I'll remember that." He said smiling. "Sit down." He said as he put his briefcase away. "Were you working?" Kay asked worried. "Yeah but it's not that important. So, what is it that you want? Because last time I saw you, you acted like you never wanted to see me again." Ethan said sadly. "Well I meant it." Ethan frowned. "But maybe you can give me a reason to see you again." Kay suggested. "Anything in particular that you would really like to hear?" He asked "Maybe that you've changed since I left and you're a better man now." She suggested. Ethan laughed. "I'm not so sure about that because I'm not sure how you'd like me to have changed." "How about the fact that you don't lie to your family any more about anything." Kay suggested. "Well I haven't lied to any family members at all as far as I know. Is that what you want to hear?" Ethan asked. "That's not bad at all." Kay said smiling and started to get up. "I'll let you get back to your case. We'll talk later ok?" "Definitely." Ethan said as she left the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying again 15/? The phone rang for the twentieth time and Theresa moaned. She was getting exhausted and irritated. This was tenth time she had called the Russell's house and still no one answered. Either no one was home, or they suddenly decided to get caller id. Theresa slammed the phone down. "Fine, if you don't want to talk to me Whitney Russell then I don't want to talk to you!" Theresa screamed. "Talking to your self again? You do know that's a sign of being crazy, right?" Miguel said as he came in. "Yeah well I've got all the other signs why not add this one to the list." Theresa said annoyed. Miguel laughed. "Maybe I can help get rid of this one?" He said as he sat down on her bed. "Why would you?" Theresa asked suspiciously. "Remember I slapped you and told you I was ashamed of you?" "Yeah I remember but I also seem to remember that you helped me get dressed for tonight." "And let me guess Charity liked it?" "She loved it, she said I had never looked this good." "I'm glad, but I am going to need the shirt back." "No problem, who's Trey by the way and why do you have his shirt?" Miguel asked. "He's my, He was, Back in New York, he was boyfriend." Theresa said confused. "And he's not any more?" "Well, he's not here is he?" Theresa said sadly. "No but that doesn't mean anythings changed and you still haven't told me why you have his shirt." "I have a couple of his shirts actually but don't go getting any ideas, you're not wearing all of them." "Would think of it." "And I have his shirt because he left them out the house when he was over and I just couldn"t bring myself to return them." "He left his shirt? Did you two sleep" Miguel started to ask. "I'm not discussing that with my little brother but the reason I have so many of his shirts is because we went swimming a lot and he left his shirt by accident." "Yeah right like I believe that and it's fine if you won't tell me if you've slept with him then I won't tell you if Charity and I have." "I would hope you haven't." "Why?" "Because you're both too young and you know what I don't want to discuss this any more. It's a little too weird for me." "Same here, so like I was trying to say I can help you with Whitney." "How?" "I'm best friends with Simone so I can in the very least get them to pick up the phone." "But you'd call from the same house, wouldn't you?" "Well no I usually call from the Bennett's house but now I'd probably have to call from cell phone, with Kay being home now." "Well in that case thanks." "Your welcome and Theresa, I was just wondering why are you being so nice to me now?" "I felt like it." "Yeah right, but I'm just glad that you're talking to me." Miguel said as he walked out the room. "So tell me who these people are." Trey said as he took Resa's picture and lay on her bed. "Their my family." Resa said as she took the picture from him. "That's not what I wanted to know. I wanted to know who they are." Trey said getting up and grabbing the picture back from her. "No you don't and I don't want to talk about them." Resa said as she went after the picture. "Well then I'll decide who they are. Ok this guy right here is, Luis. He's a police officer." Trey said pointing at Miguel. "No, that's not Luis, that's Miguel." Resa said as she tried to get the picture back from him. "Miguel? Who's Miguel?" He asked confused. "My little brother." "Ok then this is Luis?" He asked. "No, that's Antonio." "Who's Antonio?" He asked confused. "He my eldest brother." Resa said annoyed. "Ok, so then this is Luis, and this must be you." He said pointing at Paloma. "No, that's Paloma." "Who?" "My little sister." She said as she finally got the picture back. "Resa, stop please." He begged as she started to walk back to her dresser. "Why?" She asked mad. "Because, I didn't mean to make you mad and because I feel like, that you're trying to hide your family from me. Are you?" Trey asked worried. "I'm not trying to hide them from you, Im just trying to hide them from me." "What?" "I don't want to have this black cloud hanging over me, this constant remembrance of what happened, how they sent me away, about how they don't love me anymore." Resa said as she started to cry. Trey held her for a few seconds before saying anything. Then he picked up the picture. "Look at this picture, Resa." "Why?" She asked through tears. "Because I wanted you to see what I see. I see a family that loves each other and will not ever stop loving each other for anything in the world. I see one very happy little girl who loves her family and will always love her family no matter what." "I used to see that but I don't any more." "Yeah you do, that's why you won't look at it, because it means that you have to accept that they didn't send you away because they didn't love you, they sent you away because they do." "Oh really?" "Yes really, they loved you and believed in you enough to send you out here, knowing full well that you could take care of yourself, and that you find happiness in this situation, like you always do." "You really believe all that?" "I wouldn't say it if I didn't. Now tell me about this family of yours, so I can get to know why you are so loving." "What?" "Well they raised you didn't they? And since I fell in love with you, I think they had something to with the person who are now, the person I love." "Yeah I guess they did, now give me that." Resa said as she took the picture back. "Ok this is Miguel, he's my youngest brother" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying again 16/? Kay was getting annoyed, she had been trying for the last twenty minutes to call Simone and the line was always busy. She slammed the phone down and screamed but she picked the phone up again and dialed the number. It was ringing! "Maybe this isn't the best time to talk to you." Ethan said as he started to leave. "Wait! It's not you, it's Simone, I've been trying to call her for the last twenty minutes and the line has been busy." Kay said as she got off her bed, hung up her phone and walked over to Ethan. "One of the main things you're probably not to happy about coming back to." Ethan said as he walked back into the room. "Well the list is getting smaller by the minute." Kay said as she sat back down on the bed. "Am I off it yet?" Ethan asked as he sat down next to her. "You're in pencil now." "That's an improvement?" Ethan asked shocked. "You were in permanent marker." Kay said smiling. "Then I guess I should be happy." Ethan said. "You've still got some work to do but yes it's something to be happy about." Kay looked down at the phone again. "You really think Simone would answer the phone if you called?" Ethan asked. "No, she'd probably purposely not answer just to get back at me." Kay said sad. "So she's not going to get off the list any time soon?" Ethan asked. "I want her to, but I can't get her to talk to me." Kay said annoyed. "Would you let me help, if I could?" "Could you?" "Easily, I'm best friends with Chad and technically Whitney too." "That's true, but I'd feel bad about using you just to get to Simone." "I'm letting you use me." "But why? Why would you do that?" "Because you're my sister, who I want to get to know." "I'm also your sister who hit you." "Yeah but hey there's going to come a time when I'll probably want to hit you and if you're nice I won't." "Wait no one told you?" "Told me what?" "I don't know how to be nice." Kay said smiling. "Ok, you got me there for a second. I thought something was really wrong." "The fact that I don't know how to be nice isn't a wrong thing?" Kay asked shocked. "If it was true then it would be a bad thing but I don't believe you really don't know how to be nice." "Why?" Kay asked confused. "You're being nice to me." Ethan said smiling. "What's going on here?" Grace asked she came into Kay and Jessica's room. Ethan got up. "I was just coming to see if what you all said about her is true." Then he turned to Kay and smiled. "You were all right." "I'm sorry Ethan." Grace said as he walked away. Then she turned to Kay. "Kay, can you please try to be nice to Ethan and everyone else here. It would be a nice change." Grace said as she closed the door. "Ok it's official my little sister loves you." Ricky said as him and Kat came into the house. "She's really sweet. I wish she was my sister." Kat said as she hung up her jacket. "You say that because you don't really know her." He said as he sat down on the couch. Kat came over and sat next to him. "She can't be that bad can she?" "She is just a little annoying and she's very nosey." "If that's all she is, then considering yourself lucky. I mean your parents and your stepparents are great." Kat said not believing that he was complaining about his life when it was not that bad. "I guess you're right. I mean she is sweet when she wants to be. And my parents are supportive of me. Kat, why does this upset you so much?" Ricky asked worried. "It doesn't. Not really, I just..." Kat said getting up. Ricky also got up. "I shouldn't have brought up my family, I mean you don't bring up yours." "Yeah well, why should I?" Kat said. "Look I didn't want to bring up any bad memories, really." "I know but it's hard not to." "Then maybe you shouldn't try to repress it." Ricky suggested. "Repress it? That's what you think I'm doing? No, I am trying to forget it. I'm trying to get amnesia so I can get forget them!" Kat screamed. "But you can't, they're your family Kat and no matter what they did or what you did that's not going to change." "Why not? I want to know why!" She screamed again as the tears started to come down. "I want to have another family, one like yours." "No you don't because I know that your family at one time was wonderful. I know that you have wonderful memories in your head. Would you want to forgot those too?" "No, but that's all I want to remember." "Well look how about you tell me about these wonderful memories and maybe if you talk about them enough then you will forget the horrible ones." Ricky suggested. "But why would you want to hear all about my family?" "Because I'm hoping it will make you smile and be happy and it would be a nice change. Don't you think?" "Yeah it would." Kat said as she sat back down on the couch. "So where do I start?" "Where ever you feel like starting." Ricky said as he sat down next to her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying again 17/? Theresa woke up and everything that had happened came flooding back to her mind. Even though she was closer to her three brothers now, she still did not feel at home. Everything that she considered home was still in New York, hopefully thinking of her too. She tired to get him out of her mind because she was back home and she was in her bed, in her house, in Harmony. Something just felt off though, had she really been away so long that even Harmony couldnt be home to her. She quickly got dressed and head down stairs. There were pictures of her family ever where's. A family she thought didn't love her any more, a family she thought hated her. Don't they always home is where your heart is? Then why doesn't my heart feel at home? Why do I feel like I don't belong here any more? "Theresa?" Miguel screamed from the kitchen. She jumped she had thought that no one was awake, she had hoped no one was awake. She headed into the kitchen. "Come on, eat something quick, we've got to go and I'm driving." Miguel said as he took a big gulp of orange juice. "Miguel, we've got a lot of time, what's the hurry?" "If you want to talk to Whitney, we've got to leave now before she starts tennis practice." "It's not even daylight outside." "Yes, well that doesn't really matter to her father, never has." "Right, so not that much has changed, I see." "Yeah he still plans on her being the tennis star he never could be." "And she's got no choice but to be what her father wants." Theresa said sadly. "But now that you're here, you may be able to help her not turn into her father." "Why would I?" "She's not happy, that's all Simone and Chad ever say, she hates tennis now and her father doesn't care." "But what could I do, I'm the x-best friend remember." Theresa pointed out. "You ultimately her only best friend and you can't lose a best friend no matter what happens." "Really, does that apply to Kay?" Theresa asked as she grabbed her purse. "Come let's go." Miguel said ignoring her question and running to the car. "So what exactly am I going to say to her?" Theresa asked Miguel. "I started with saying I'm sorry, that always helps." "But I didn't do anything wrong." "You sound like Kay." "Yeah well Kay technically didn't do anything wrong either. I should know she spilled her guts to me and she, Actually you know maybe you should tell her your sorry." "Why?" Miguel asked. "Because you told her she didn't deserve to live, that you couldn't love her, that you weren't best friends. No one deserves to hear that." "She told you all that huh?" "Not to make me hate you if that's what you're thinking. She was very depressed one day and it slipped. I don't think you meant it by the way. You thought Charity was dying and you love her so she said something's to the person who you thought purposely caused it." "She did didn't she?" "Not on purpose no, but you thought she didn't you?" "Yeah, I didn't know what else to think." "That must of hurt thinking you're best friend tired to hurt you." "It did." "Then how do you think she felt? You were hurt best friend to and you lost all faith in her in a second, you choose the girl you were in love with over her." Miguel pulled into a parking spot. "You two most of talked a lot." "Yeah we did." "I don't think I can." Miguel said getting out of the car. "Can't what?" "Can't talk to her, it was easier to blame her for the accident, to be able to think she was really mean and that I had a reason to do say what I said. Now that she is back and I am not sure, I want her here." "Ok so Christmas, what are our plans?" Resa asked Kat as she came out of her bedroom. "We're actually celebrate Christmas why?" Kat asked. "Because it's Christmas and its a wonderful holiday." Resa said as she took out a Santa hat from behind her back and put it on Kat's head. "Get that idiotic red thing off my head or I'm going to make you eat it!" Kat screamed. "Ok chill!" She said as she took it off. "So where's your holiday spirit?" "I left it in Harmony." Kat said sitting down on the couch. There was a loud knock on the door. "Hey open up!" They heard Trey scream. "What's is your boyfriend screaming about? And it better not have anything to with Christmas!" Kat said as she went to the door and opened it. "You know Trey, she gave you a key please use." Kat stopped mid sentence. "Happy Christmas ladies!" Ricky said as him and Trey carried in a Christmas tree. "Why is that big tree coming into my house?" Kat asked mad. "It's a Christmas tree." Ricky said confused. "Um, guys I thought you were going to give me a little while to warm her up to idea?" Resa asked confused. "It gets cold out side. Why what's wrong?" Trey asked. "She claims she left her Christmas spirit at home." Resa said. "I thought this was home?" Ricky asked. "It's not." Kat said mad. "Um guys, can I speak to Kat for a minutes alone?" Resa asked. "Yeah sure, we'll be playing in the snow. I guess." Trey said dragging Ricky out. "Ok, Kat what's really wrong?" Resa asked. "This is Christmas, a time we spend with out family. But our family isn't here." "No, they are." Resa said, "What are you blabbing about?" "What I "blabbing" about is that our family is here. You, me, Trey and Ricky that is our family here. We'll spend Christmas with them and it's be the best Christmas we've ever had. We'll be spending it with people we really love and who really loves us." "But it won't be the same." "Nothing's ever the same but this is our home now and we're going to act like it. Please for me at least?" "Why not?" Kat said giving up. "So if we're family then you're my sister?" "Sure, why not." Resa said laughing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Title: Trying again 18/? "Kay? Jessica? Noah? Charity? John?" Ethan screamed up the stairs. "What are you trying to do wake up the whole house?" Kay asked annoyed as she came out of the kitchen. "Actually yes that is my intention." Ethan said smiling. "And good morning to you too." "It's not good yet. The sun is not up remember? Plus there's the whole fact that my lunatic half-brother is screaming and waking up a lot of people I would prefer to avoid." Ethan laughed. "Sorry about that but we need to leave now." "Ok where's the idiot who woke me up!" Jessica asked mad as she came down the stairs. "That would be our lovely brother, Ethan." Kay said to Jessica. "Ethan, I'd run before she kills you." Kay warned. "Wait before any one kills me, there is a reason I woke you all up." Ethan said. "Oh I'd love to hear this one!" Noah said annoyed as he came down the stairs. "How about you tell us then I kill you?" "No I kill him first, I was the first one he woke up." John said coming in from in the kitchen. "Great now all I need is Charity to come after me." Ethan said. "No there's no chance of little miss perfect doing that she was awake before me and in the shower." Kay said annoyed. "Good, that's one member of this family I don't have to worry about." Ethan said. "Now will you all just let me explain?" "Sure why not?" Noah said as they all headed to the couch. "See I woke you all because I need to do something for my newest sister." Ethan started to say. "You woke me up this early for Kay?" Jessica said annoyed. "Oh thanks very much Jessica!" Kay said annoyed. "Will you two shut up and let me finish!" Ethan screamed. "Why not?" Jessica said shutting up. "It seems that her best friend is ignoring her and the only way she can see her is to go to school when" Ethan started to say. "When Whit has practice." Noah finished. "Exactly." "So why do we all have to come along?" Jessica asked. "Because I have the car today and I don't feel like making fifty million trips to and from school." Ethan said. "Great, so Jessica's not driving that's a relief." Kay said happily. "Hey!" Jessica said mad. "Ok I get the whole driving them to school but Noah and I go to collage and have class that begins when the sun has been up for a little while." John said. "So you'll have some extra time to kill, big deal. I mean my clients are not exactly awake right now either. Look on the bright side you get to see your girlfriend." Ethan said. "Yeah well that's fine for both of you but I was supposed to go the Crane mansion before I went to class." Noah said. "My sister will understand and plus you get one day with out having to see Julian isn't that a good thing?" Ethan asked. "Yeah I don't think I could take another lecture on how I'm not good enough for his daughter." Noah said annoyed. "Ok what's going on down here? And who had the nerve to wake me up before I had to go on duty!" Sam asked mad as he came down stairs. "That would be you're crazy son." Kay said. "Which one?" Sam asked. "Not me, I've learned before not to wake you up early in the morning." Noah said. "Ethan!" Sam screamed. "Run quick!" Noah, Jessica and Kay said laughing. ("The old man's back in town" by Garth Brooks was playing on the radio) "So how exactly is that meal coming?" Trey asked Resa as she took another look in the oven. "Don't ask. Last time I did my sister almost bit my head off." Kat warned. "Your sister?" Ricky asked confused. "Yes, my sister Resa. What we didn't tell you?" Kat asked shocked. "What is she talking about?" Trey asked Resa confused. "Ok everyone stop talking to me! I can't cook and listen to you crazy people at the same time!" Resa screamed. "You still have the number for the food delivery place, right?" Kat whispered to Ricky. "Yeah, there's still holding our order." Ricky whispered to Kat. "Hey, that's my girlfriend's cooking you're talking about." Trey said defensively. "What's is wrong with this stupid stove! It is not suppose to be that black!" Resa screamed. "Yeah and she's my sister, so you want to get your order in now?" Kat asked smiling. "Definitely but don't tell Resa." Trey said. "Sure. Hey Resa, it's looks like everyone has placed their order. You can stop acting now." Kat screamed. "Finally, what took you guys so long?" Resa asked smiling as she came out of the kitchen. "That was all a joke?" Trey asked shocked. "What you thought either one of us could cook? That's not something that runs in our family." Resa said smiling. "Speaking of family, when did you become family any way?" Trey asked. "Last night, forget it's a long story. So who wants to go pick up the food?" "We'll go!" Kat spoke up as she looked at Resa. "I'm not even going to ask what you did to make her so perky but thank you." Ricky said as he followed Kat outside.