"Papa?" Luis repeated, his feet glued to the spot. "Is that really you—Martin Fitzgerald?"

"Yes, Luis, it's me." Tears welled in Martin's eyes. "I can't tell you how long I've waited for this day—to finally see you again, son."

Sheridan gave Luis a nudge.

Next thing Luis knew, he and his father were in each other's arms, holding on for dear life.

"All of these years, I thought you might be dead . . ." Luis's voice quavered.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Martin choked back a sob. "I want you to know that, when I was forced out of Harmony, I had every intention of fighting my way back."

Tears sprang to Luis's eyes. Although he had never realized it until this moment, that was the very thing he'd been waiting to hear for all of these years. That his father loved him. That he didn't leave him intentionally. That he was fighting to come back to him.

Sheridan pressed her hands together in front of her mouth. "He's always loved you, Luis."

"Of course I have." Martin's voice shook. "I never wanted to leave."

Luis's last ounce of resistance disintegrated; he crumpled deeper into his father's embrace. "I can't believe this is happening. I can't believe you're really here."

Martin clasped one hand around the back of Luis's head and pulled him in tighter. "I could say the same thing about you, son. I can't believe you never gave up hope, even after all of these years."

Luis smiled back at Sheridan and wiped a tear from his eye. "Yeah, well, I had a little help keeping my fighting spirit alive."

Martin's gaze followed Luis's, his smile growing wide. "Speaking of which, do you want to introduce me to your wife?"

Luis's heart swelled. "I can't think of anything I'd like to do more. She's my entire life."

Sheridan's eyes glistened as Luis tugged her in closer to him.

Luis's eyes shone with love. "Papa, I'd like you to meet Sheridan . . ."

". . . Crane," Martin jumped in. "And now Lopez-Fitzgerald." Martin looked Sheridan over and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh, child, I can't tell you how relieved I am to see that you're still alive."

Sheridan inhaled as Martin nuzzled her against his chest; a tear sprang to her eye.

Luis smiled at his wife, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Papa, how did you know?"

Martin looked back up at his son. "There's so much I have to tell you, Luis," he whispered. "So much I need to explain."

Martin smiled as he released Sheridan back into Luis's arms and turned to Padre José. "Padre, would you mind giving us a few minutes alone?"

"Of course, señor Fitzgerald," the priest answered, bowing his head. "Just call me if you need me."

"Papa, please . . ." Luis touched Martin's shoulder as Padre José exited the sacristy. "Please, tell us what's going on."

Martin turned back to his son. "I will—I promise. But, first—please tell me about your life and how our family is doing. I've missed you all so much."

Luis wiped the corners of his eyes. "We've all missed you, too, Papa. Mama lights a candle for you every night. She's never given up on her faith that you'd come home—that you would come back to us."

"Oh, Luis, I cannot tell you how much I want to get back to her," Martin breathed, "—to her and to all of you children. I've missed out on so much all of these years. You're already a grown man—and married at that. I can't even picture Miguel as a teenager; the last time I saw him, he was still just a little guy."

"Well, Miguel has definitely grown up," Luis smiled. "He's going to be a senior at Harmony High School, and he's got a steady girlfriend named Charity."

"And what about Antonio, Theresa, and Paloma?"

Luis took a deep breath in; his eyes fell to the ground.

Sheridan looked up at Martin and squeezed Luis's waist. "Antonio is missing," she said quietly.

Luis's eyes flew up to his father's. "He disappeared shortly after you left." Luis dug his hands into his pockets. "Theresa, she's a dreamer with her head in the clouds, and Paloma is with Aunt Maria. But, as for Antonio—Papa, he disappeared shortly after you did."

Martin's heart dropped. "I thought he'd take care of all of you."

"Luis has helped Pilar take care of the entire family," Sheridan explained, laying her hand on her husband's chest and smiling gently at him. "He has since the day that you were driven out of town."

Martin's lips quivered. "I'm so proud of you, son."

Luis blinked back a fresh set of tears. "I just did what I had to do."

"No, you did more than that." Martin's voice swelled with emotion. "I don't know how to thank you, Luis."

Luis nudged the floor with his foot. "There's no need to thank me, Papa. I love Mama, Theresa, Miguel, and Paloma—there's nothing I wouldn't do for them."

Tears gathered in the corners of Martin's eyes. "You're going to make a great father one day."

Sheridan smiled up at Luis, her eyes sparkling.

Martin glanced between them. "Am I missing something here?"

"No, you're not." Luis nudged Sheridan's nose and turned back to his father. "It's just that Sheridan and I just found out that we're going to have a baby sometime in the early spring."

Martin's face lit up. "Are you saying I made it back in time to meet my first grandchild?"

"Yes, I am, Papa." Luis beamed from ear to ear.

"Oh, Luis!" Martin embraced him. "I'm so happy for you, son. You, too, Sheridan."

"We're so glad you'll be here with us, Mr. Fitzgerald," Sheridan said softly as Martin gave her a hug.

"Please, Sheridan, call me Martin—you're one of the family now."

Sheridan wiped a tear from her eye. "I thank God for that every single day. I'm so lucky to have met all of you."


Gwen spotted the priest the moment she and Hank burst into the church. "Father, you have to help us!" she cried, rushing up to him.

"Señora." The priest jumped back ever so slightly as three other people sprinted up next to the woman standing in front of him. "How may I help you?"

"We're looking for our friends, Sheridan and Luis," Gwen explained. "She's about my height and blond."

"And also my sister," Julian chimed in, his brow creased with worry. "Please, Padre, you have to help us find them."

"Yes, Father, they're in grave danger," Eve pleaded. "It's of the utmost importance that we speak to them immediately."

"I'm sorry," the priest said, "but it is not my place to give out such information."

"Hey," Luis's voice sounded, as the door to the sacristy opened. "What's all of this commotion?"

"Luis! Buddy!" Hank gave Luis a quick hug and slapped him on the back. "Thank God you're okay!"

"Where's Sheridan?" Gwen panicked. "Luis, please tell me that she's with you!"

"I'm right here, Gwen." Sheridan stepped out from behind Luis, her voice filling with confusion.

"Oh, Sheridan, thank God!" Tears sprang to Gwen's eyes; she rushed over and embraced her friend. "I thought you might be dead."

"Dead? Why?" Sheridan hesitated. "What's gotten you so anxious, Gwen? And why did you all come down to Mexico to find us?"

"Because Father is here, too, Sheridan," Julian said quietly.

Sheridan looked up at Julian, her eyes flooding with horror. "Father's after us again?"

"I'm afraid so, Sheridan." Julian shook his head. "Gwen and Hank overheard him asking Rebecca for money to fund his trip. And then Rebecca called me and told me the same thing."

"We went straight to Sam," Hank explained. "But none of us could get in touch with you. That's when Julian offered to fly us all down."

Luis raised one eyebrow. "You did that, Julian?"

Julian looked at Sheridan and then back at Luis. "Luis, I know you don't have a high opinion of me, but I do care about my sister."

"Julian's telling the truth, Luis," Eve piped up, her voice edged with anxiety. "But now is not the time to debate this—we've got to get you somewhere safe."

"If Alistair's already here, it may be too late for that." A tall male stepped out behind Luis. "I can promise you right now—I'm the one he's after."

Gwen's, Hank's, Eve's, and Julian's eyes all flew up.

Eve gasped; Gwen furrowed her brow in confusion. Julian fell back on his foot.

"Oh my God, could it be?" Hank asked.

"Yes, Hank," Julian answered, his eyes glued to the man in front of them. "That's Martin Fitzgerald—in the flesh. That's Luis's father."