~11~

Title: A Baby Changes Everything
Rating: PG, if that
Warnings: I think there might be one (count 'em) swear word
Characters/Pairings: pre-Sheridan/Luis, original character, Pilar, Theresa, mentions of Miguel, Grace, Sam, Bennett girls and a jolly fat man, lol
Summary: prompt: superstition. Beaming at the two clueless adults exchanging wary glances between themselves when they thought she wasn't looking, she lifted a finger to point overhead and hastily stepped from harm's way. "You know it's bad luck if you don't kiss under the mistletoe."

"Emma-bug, look at the pretty lights on the Christmas tree."

Standing tall and proud in the middle of Harmony, the decadently decorated tree shone like a beacon, drawing the citizens of the small New England town outside to enjoy the season. Children were lined up with their parents to visit Santa and tell him their most secret wishes, volunteers from the Church (including Grace Bennett and her daughters) were offering steaming cups of cocoa and cider, and Bing Crosby was singing about a white Christmas.

Sheridan and her infant daughter were just two among many, many that Sheridan wasn't entirely surprised to discover included the Lopez-Fitzgerald family. She barely had time to wave to Pilar before Theresa was standing before her, smiling up at her with shining brown eyes and holding out her arms for Emma.

"Look at you," Theresa cooed to the tiny girl. "You look just like a little snow angel."

Emma's honey curls peeked from beneath the brim of her snow-white hat, and her little hands patted curiously at Theresa's face from beneath mittens that were soft and pristine. White tights stretched over her chubby legs, and the tiniest pair of black, patent leather shoes kicked back and forth excitedly when she spotted one of her favorite people, lurking in Theresa's diminutive shadow.

Sheridan's heart did a little flip within her chest at the easy smile Luis so freely bestowed upon her daughter. She covered with a little good-natured teasing about Luis's understated apparel (he looked disturbingly delicious in charcoal gray but red and green and gold and white seemed to be the order of the day). "What's up with the dreary duds, Supercop? You look more cat burglar than Santa's elf. Where's your Christmas spirit?"

"Theresa used up my quota and hers," Luis quipped with a quirk of his lips. When Emma reached for him with a happy gurgle, he stole her from the disappointed teen's arms and cradled the wiggling baby against his strong chest, her red skirt draped over his arm. With his free hand, he made sure Emma's coat was buttoned against the chill in the air and nodded at Sheridan's own attire. "You don't look so innocent yourself, there, Crane. I hope you're not planning on sitting in Santa's lap in that get-up."

Looking back and forth between the two of them, Theresa rolled her eyes and giggled.

"What?" Sheridan inquired self-consciously.

"Oh, nothing," Theresa stayed mum with a barely suppressed smile. Her brother's black scowl didn't even dampen her building giddiness, for she'd made a goldmine of a discovery, and she was fairly bouncing in her excitement. Beaming at the two clueless adults exchanging wary glances between themselves when they thought she wasn't looking, she lifted a finger to point overhead and hastily stepped from harm's way. "You know it's bad luck if you don't kiss under the mistletoe."

"Theresita," Pilar lightly scolded as she joined them, plucking Emma from her son's arms and fussing over her. "Leave Sheridan and Luis alone."

"But Mama," Theresa's cheery mood deflated somewhat.

"Theresita," Pilar repeated warningly, dropping a kiss to the baby's forehead and snuggling her close against the cold.

Emma's large, dewy blue eyes focused on the evergreen scarf wrapped around Pilar's neck, and her thick lashes fluttered against her rosy cheeks as dainty white snowflakes started to fall.

"Yes, Mama," Theresa dutifully obeyed. She kissed Emma's pillow-soft cheek and said her goodbyes, seeking out her younger brother and the Bennett girls.

They joined a growing group of young people chattering amongst themselves, and Sheridan looked questioningly to Pilar.

It was Luis that answered. It seemed he wasn't immune to the catching Christmas spirit after all, for he was wearing a smile as he teased her, without rancor. "They teach you any carols in your fancy boarding schools, Crane?"

Sheridan found herself smiling back at him. "I might have picked up a song or two. What about you, Supercop? Can you carry a tune?"

"Carry a tune?" Luis scoffed at her. Unconsciously, he moved closer to her, and the pair of them didn't notice Pilar slip away, Emma safe and sound in her arms, as they verbally jockeyed for the upper hand.

Finally, Sheridan conceded defeat, laughing, her cheeks flushed against the cold and blue eyes bright. She looked around, belatedly noticing the absence of her daughter, and finding her, holding court with Pilar, Sam, and Grace several feet away, relaxed enough to meet Luis's eyes again and admit, "I never went caroling as a child."

Luis wasn't surprised, and he made her an offer she couldn't rightly refuse, complete with a charming smile. "We're going to have to change that. Think of it as your duty as Emma's mom."

"My duty?" Sheridan asked softly, lifting a hand to straighten the collar of Luis's turtleneck without thinking. She brushed melting snowflakes from the soft material, unable to meet Luis's eyes, and his equally soft voice sent a shiver traveling up and down her spine.

"Caroling's a Christmas tradition around these parts."

"Just like mistletoe?" Sheridan felt her eyes drawn to Luis's own by some force she couldn't resist, and the blinking twinkle lights cast a rainbow glow over the two of them as they stared at each other for several long seconds. The silence between them stretched and yawned, and Sheridan blurted out an apology when the intensity in Luis's dark eyes continued to grow and she no longer recognized the man she thought she knew, "Listen, Supercop. Forget I said anything. I was just being…"

Without warning, Luis leaned forward, pressing his mouth against her babbling lips, and the kiss was gentle but insistent, hinting at carefully restrained passion but chaste, and when it was over, he brushed his thumb over her quivering bottom lip, his dark eyes glittering at her.

Shaken, Sheridan could only breathe out his given name, unable to muster any other sort of response. "Luis?"

With a shrug of his shoulders and a gleam in his eyes, Luis quietly shushed her, "You don't mess with tradition, Crane."

"Tradition?" Sheridan dumbly repeated.

Luis's answer was a sharp, decisive nod. "Now get your ass in gear. Wouldn't want you and Emma to miss your hot date with the fat man in the red suit."

How's that for a first kiss between our clueless pair?

:D

Theresa, of course, is always matchmaking, giving a little push here, a little push there.

Pilar gave a little nudge herself. Don't believe me? She gave them time alone, didn't she?

LOL!

Not quite the steamy kiss you envisioned, Shaun, but it is a first kiss (and in public too!).

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Thanks so much for the lovely feedback. It never fails to put a smile on my face, and lately, I'm in dire need of smiles with the way RL has been treating me.

Until next time...thanks for reading!