AN: At long last an update! This one has been on my mind for a while, I'm not sure if I like how it turned out, but I'll let you guys judge 😊. Hopefully I got everyone's characterizations right. Also working on an update for Harmony Ever After. Anyways enjoy.
Circa 2003. Untitled.
…..
Sheridan looked around her hospital room trying to reconcile the events of the past 24 hours.
In the past 24 hours her entire life changed.
In the past 24 hours she'd given birth to a beautiful baby only to have it ripped from her arms.
In the past 24 hours she'd been dumped into ice cold water and left for dead.
"I just can't believe my baby is gone", she murmured aloud.
"I know it's hard Sheridan and I'm so sorry", Luis said grabbing her hand." If only I had found you in time. I knew you would never have gone to Paris- "
"Shouldn't you be with Beth", Antonio cut in annoyed at their closeness.
"Beth knows where I am", the police officer snapped. "She and the baby are fine. Sheridan needs me."
"No, she needs me! I am her husband- "
"Well she loves me! And- "
"Baby?", Sheridan said softly.
"Yes", Luis replied stroking her hair. "Beth had the baby tonight, they're here getting checked out".
"Our babies have the same birthday", she murmured. "Can I see him?"
"I don't think you should", Antonio interjected. "It'll be too difficult for you after everything you've been through. You really need to rest."
"I'll check with Dr. Russell and if she says it's okay, I'll bring him to see you", Luis replied ignoring his older brother.
He could feel Antonio staring daggers at his back, but he didn't care. If seeing the baby would help Sheridan, then he was bringing him to her.
...
A few minutes later Luis Lopez Fitzgerald entered the hospital where Beth and his newborn son were being kept. He was surprised to see Beth's mother Edna and the baby were the only occupants.
"Where's Beth?", he asked as he went over the look at his son.
"She's in bathroom getting ready for her exam", Edna said as she watched Luis picked up the baby.
"Sheridan's having a really hard time with everything, she asked to see the baby", He said. "Do you think Beth would have a problem with it?"
Edna brightened as though a light bulb had gone off in her head.
"Why would she"? the older woman asked. "You take that baby to see Sheridan right away. And don't hurry back."
Luis stared for a moment and before leaving the room before with the baby. Ms. Wallace sure was strange.
...
A few minutes later Beth Wallace peeped her head out of the bathroom door.
"Is she gone?"
Edna chuckled.
"Nope but he's gone."
"He who?", her daughter asked. "I thought Dr. Russell was doing the exam?"
Her mother continued to laugh as though she'd heard the funniest joke.
"Mother stop it! I need you to help me and my baby get out of here."
"I would, if you had a baby!" Edna snapped. "I've told you a million times that is Sheridan's baby you wacko and soon everyone will know it."
"Over my dead", Beth growled as she finally stepped out of the bathroom.
"Well get to dying toots, because I got news for you."
"Unless it's a way out of this hospital I don't want to hear it! Now help me pack the baby's stuff."
"No need", her mother quipped. "That baby is gone."
Beth felt her heart dropped as she ran over to the bassinet. It was empty.
"Where is he", she demanded. "Where's my baby?"
"You don't have one!" Edna yelled slamming her cane on the floor. "When are you going to get it through your empty head? Right now, that baby is with his mother, Sheridan not you!"
"No", Beth whispered picking up baby's blanket. "No, Sheridan can't find I stole her baby. It'll ruin everything!"
"Consider everything ruined Toots because Luis waltzed outta here a few minutes ago and took that baby boy back to his mother", Edna taunted. "And the minute Sheridan holds that baby in her arms she's gonna know the truth."
The ebony haired woman rushed to the door in panic, determined to stop Luis from giving her baby to Sheridan. Before she could grab the door handle, the door opened she found herself face to face with Dr. Russell.
"Hi Dr. Russell", she said nervously. "If you'll excuse me- "
"No mam I can't excuse you", the doctor interrupted. "I've got to examine you right now. It's been hours since your home birth and I have to be sure everything is okay."
"No Dr. Russell you don't understand!", Beth yelled. "Sheridan has my baby, I have to get my baby!"
"Beth, you've got to calm down, Eve said grabbing the frantic woman's arm. "Luis talked to me, I sent another doctor to watch over Sheridan and the baby. Everything's going to be fine"
Beth nodded slowly and allowed the doctor to guide her back towards the bed. Suddenly she lurched forward and grabbed her mother's cane. She spun back towards Eve and swung with all her might, knocking the doctor senseless.
"Bethy!", Edna gasped as Eve fell to the floor. "Bethy what have you done?"
"You're right Dr. Russell", Beth murmured. "Everything will be fine, once I get my baby back."
With that she strode purposefully from the room leaving her terrified mother and the unconscious doctor behind.
...
"I knew this was a bad idea", Antonio said as he watched his wife cradling the baby.
The doctor Eve had brought in to observe adjusted his glasses and said nothing.
As the minutes passed even Luis was began to grow unnerved by Sheridan's immediate attachment to the boy. From the moment he'd placed his son in her arms, she'd lit up. Gone were her sad eyes and slouched disposition, she was brighter, happier as she murmured sweet nothings and kissed the baby. The scene brought tears to Luis' eyes. He couldn't imagine she'd be any happier if their baby had survived. Did they have a son too or maybe a daughter?
"Ahem", Dr. Cocker cleared his throat. "I think it's best we return the baby to his mother now."
Sheridan head jerked up.
"You can't!", she said. "You can't take him back to his mother because I am his mother! I wasn't sure at first but now that I've I held him in my arms, I know the truth. And the truth is that this is my baby."
The doctor shook his head sadly and turned to face the Lopez-Fitzgerald brothers.
"It seems that seeing the baby had the opposite effect of what we had intended. Ms. Crane is projecting her feelings for her lost baby into this child- "
"I'm not projecting anything!", Sheridan interrupted tears in her eyes. I know in my heart that this is my baby. Luis please, please say you believe me! Don't let them take our baby away.
The police officer felt his heart tear in two at Sheridan's' desperate plea. He wanted to believe her, to believe that this child was theirs, he just didn't see how it could be possible.
"Ms. Crane", the doctor interrupted. "Dr. Russell is examining the baby's mother right now- "
"Then get Dr. Russell", the blonde demanded holding the baby tightly. "Get Dr. Russell in here and if she says that Beth gave birth tonight then-then I'll give him back"
"Sheridan",
"Do it", Antonio said interrupting his brother. "Page Dr. Russell and have her come here. Once she talks to Sheridan, she'll have to except the truth."
Dr. Coker sighed and began paging Dr. Russell. 15 minutes passed with no response.
"I'd better go see what's keeping her", he said heading towards the door.
As soon as the door opened, the doctor was struck and fell backwards startling the rooms occupants.
"Beth what are you doing?", Luis thundered as he rushed to help the doctor.
"I'm here for my baby", she yelled, a wild look in her eyes.
"I was going to bring him back! Do you realize you just committed assault?!"
Before Beth could answer alarms starting blaring throughout the hospital.
"Code 0065! Code 0065! Hospital lockdown! Hospital locked", came through the loudspeaker.
"What in the world is going on", Antonio asked.
But Luis neither Sheridan replied their eyes were locked on Beth. Her breathing was growing shallow and she hadn't released the cane. The doctor on the floor groaned in pain.
"You're going to be okay", Luis assured as Antonio pull him over to the bed.
He turned to face his high school sweetheart.
"Beth, I need you to calm down and hand me the cane. I can't give the baby to you until you're calm."
The ebony haired woman shook her head wildly and tightened her grip on the weapon.
"You don't want to give him to me", she snapped. "You want to give him to Sheridan! You want to give everything to Sheridan!"
Luis ducked as Beth swung the cane wildly.
"After everything I've done for you, you still choose her! ", she screamed still swinging. "That is my baby! I won't let her have him back, I won't!"
At this Antonio joined the fray and the two brothers managed to get the cane and wrestled Beth to the ground. She was still screaming when security and Dr. Russell finally got to the room with Edna trailing behind. Eve rushed to assist her coworker while security work to contain an unhinged Beth.
Sheridan sat shell shocked as she held the baby. She gasped as she replayed Beth's words in her head.
"Did you guys hear what Beth said?", Sheridan exclaimed. "She said that she wouldn't let me have the baby "back". That means- "
"That the baby is yours", Eve interjected.
All eyes were on her as she hoisted her coworker to his feet and pointed him to a waiting nurse. Beth has been sedated as was being wheeled out to another room.
"When I tried to examine her, she knocked me out.", Eve explained. "Once I came to Beth was gone and her mother Edna was in hysterics. She confessed that Beth was the one that kidnapped you. She faked her pregnancy and stole your baby to pass off as her own. Edna said that Beth is obsessed with Luis and threatened her into keeping quiet. Fortunately, she finally realized that Beth had gone too far this time."
"T-that means that this is my baby!" Sheridan cried. "I knew it! I knew it from the moment I held him."
"We can run test to be sure", Eve said. "But yes, I do believe that is your baby Sheridan."
"Luis", the Crane heiress cried as her heart swelled with joy. "Luis come look at our little boy!"
As the couple reunited to gush over their baby, they were oblivious to all others. Eve put a comforting hand on Antonio's shoulder and the two exited the room. It seemed that the battle for Sheridan's heart was finally over.
...
One year later
"Andrew", a voice called gently. "Andrew wake up. It's your special day!"
"Let him sleep Sheridan", Luis fussed. "God knows he was up all night."
The Crane heiress frowned and put her hands on her hips. Sensing her growing frustration her husband quickly planted a kiss on her lips.
"Seriously let him sleep", he said. "We've got a lot to do before the party later."
"Gwen and Sarah are coming to help", Sheridan said moving away from her sleeping child.
Luis sighed and headed into the living room.
"She does know that Theresa and Little Ethan will be here?"
"Yes, she knows", the blonde said as they sat on the couch. "They'll be adults, the children are brother and sister after all.
The police officer was thoughtful as he put his arm around his wife.
"So much as happened in the past year", he said softly. "Mostly good, Beth was convicted, and we're finally married."
Sheridan nodded in agreement but as she reflected on the aftermath of being reunited with their son, the bad stood out.
No sooner than she and Luis returned from the hospital, Sheridan was served with annulment papers from Antonio. The oldest Lopez-Fitzgerald went on to break his mother heart with the news that he was returning to St. Lisa's for good. The Crane heiress still prayed he would forgive them someday and come home.
Luis noticed the anguish written on his wife's face and kissed her.
"He'll come around", he promised holding her tightly. "I don't want you to be sad today, it's Marty's Birthday!"
"It's Andrew's birthday", Sheridan replied as the doorbell rang.
"You got to admit Marty has a nice ring to it."
...
Hours later the Lopez-Fitzgerald were surrounded by friends and family as they celebrated Andrew Martin Lopez-Fitzgerald's first birthday. The feelings of love and happiness flowing through the Crane cottage were unmistakable.
It was clear that the Lopez-Fitzgeralds' were a family now and come what may, that was never going to change.