Eve blinked back tears as she watched Luis caress Sheridan's belly and kiss her cheek, both of their faces lighting up with smiles as he whispered something into her ear. She knew the two of them had been restraining themselves during dinner, not wanting to rub their happiness in her face, but now that they had finally managed to grab a semi-private moment together by the coat check, they had no reason to hold back any longer.

No, they had no reason to know that she was standing there watching them, tears spilling over onto the edge of her cheeks. No reason to know that every time they touched one another or shared a secret smile, it twisted a knife deeper and deeper into her heart.

She certainly didn't begrudge them their happiness. If anyone deserve a happily ever after, surely, it was those two. They had fought so hard for their love.

Hell, she had helped them fight for it.

No matter what happened, she would never regret anything she had done to make sure Alistair and Julian didn't split them apart, no matter how terrified she had been of Alistair's wrath at the time.

It was just that watching them together enjoying each other and their child—it reminded her of the tender moments she and Julian had missed out on all those years ago.

The sacred, special moments that only two people expecting their first baby could experience together. The loving smiles, the sparkling eyes, the gentle caresses they shared . . .

Why had Julian let Alistair steal that away from them? Why hadn't he loved her enough to stand up and fight for her? Why hadn't he told his father to go to hell, just like Sheridan had done?

Why had he just tossed her aside like her parents—and now TC and her daughters—had all ultimately done?


Gwen and Hank stumbled into her bedroom, ripping at each other's clothes.

Gwen tossed her purse onto the floor; Hank kicked the door shut. Slipping his arms around Gwen's back, Hank cupped her bottom and pulled her in closer to him.

"Oh, Hank," Gwen breathed as she felt the lower half of his body begin to harden against hers.

"I want you, Gwen," Hank whispered. "I've wanted this for so long."

Gwen groaned as he massaged her bottom—as he captured her lips in a kiss.

The way his lips were assaulting hers, the sensation of his hands roaming all over her body—her knees were weakening so quickly beneath her that she could barely keep herself upright.

Hank slipped his hands up under her shirt.

The phone in Gwen's apartment rang.

"Who do you think that is?" Gwen's breath grew ragged.

"Who cares?" Hank said, tracing his fingers up the sides of her chest.

Gwen shuddered with pleasure. "It might be important, Hank."

"Then they'll leave a message," Hank insisted, kneading her breasts with his fingers. "I'm sure it can wait."

Gwen let out a small cry as he massaged her nipples into peaks.

Intertwining their legs, Hank maneuvered them to the edge of the bed.

The answering machine went off.

"Hank? Hank, are you there?" Sam's voice cut through the room. "I need to talk to you, Hank."


Luis slipped his arms around Sheridan's waist and tugged her back against his chest. "Have I told you how stunning you looked at dinner tonight?"

Sheridan's eyes caught his in the reflection of the bathroom mirror. "Only a couple of times." Sheridan removed her earrings and smiled at him.

Luis rubbed her arms and turned her around to face him. "Seriously, Sher," he said, looking her up and down. "I just can't get over how adorable you look carrying our child."

Sheridan smiled shyly, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Yeah, well, I think you had something to do with the way I look right now," she said softly, smoothing the silky red fabric of her dress over the gentle swell of her belly.

"Our child . . ." Sheridan looked up, a smile lighting up her face. "Oh, Luis, no matter how much you say it, I just can't get over it." Sheridan glanced down again and gently caressed her abdomen. "Can you believe that, in just over a few months, we're going to have a family?"

"I can believe it." Luis kissed her lips.

Sheridan wrapped her arms around him and deepened the kiss.

As they pulled apart, Luis leaned back and brushed a stray hair from her face. "It's good to see you smile, Sher."

"Luis, I finally have hope." Sheridan's eyes sparkled at his. "I can't even really explain it. It's like something inside of me that I thought had died bloomed back to life today."

"You don't know how happy it makes me to hear that, Sher . . ."

"Oh, Luis, did you just feel that?" Sheridan's entire face lit up.

"Did I just feel what?"

"Here . . ." Sheridan grabbed his hands and placed them on top of her belly. "Our daughter . . . she just moved!"

Luis's eyes filled with awe as he felt a small flutter beneath his fingertips. "Oh, wow, Sher . . . that's amazing!"

A single tear springing to his eyes, Luis knelt down and pressed his lips to her belly. "Hello, munchkin. Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you."

"Oh, Luis . . ." Sheridan cried softly, running her fingers through his hair.

Luis swallowed a lump in his throat. "I love you so much, Sher. Thank you so much for carrying our daughter."

"Thank you for giving her to me, Luis." Sheridan's eyes filled with tears. "I can't tell you how special it is to feel her growing inside of me."

"It's amazing to watch it." Luis kissed her belly, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you so much, Sheridan."

"I love you, too," Sheridan breathed, cupping his face in her hands and pressing a kiss to the top of his head.

Rising to his feet, Luis swallowed hard and tugged her against his chest—every nerve ending in his body sparking to life the second her lush curves melted into his skin. The sensation of her chest and abdomen pressed tightly against him, knowing his child was growing inside of her . . . he could barely contain himself.

"Sher . . ." Luis breathed, turning their bodies around and backing her up against the wall. With one swift move, he yanked off her panties and hiked up the skirt of her dress.

"Luis . . ." Sheridan crumpled against him as Luis kissed his way down her neck. "Oh, Luis . . ."

"Sheridan . . ." Luis lifted her up and pinned her against the wall, shuddering as her entire body trembled deliciously underneath his. Kissing her with everything he had, Luis groaned as she wrapped her legs around him.

Stepping out of his pants and boxers, he paused for one last moment to lock his eyes on hers and then crushed their lips together—a rush of pleasure sweeping through him as he lowered her body down upon his.


Eve fumbled around for her hotel key. How had she not managed to find it yet? What was wrong with her?

Eve's head snapped up as she heard the footsteps drawing closer.

"Eve!" Julian rushed around the corner. "Eve, please wait!"

Eve closed her eyes and took a deep breath in. She couldn't deal with this. She couldn't deal with Julian right now.

"Eve, you rushed off after Sheridan and Luis said good night. Why did you run away from me?"

"Please, Julian. I just need to be alone right now."

"Eve, please talk to me."

Eve's stomach knotted.

"Please, Eve—I just want to be there for you."

The invisible grip around Eve's heart clenched.

"Eve, please—we've come so far," Julian pleaded. "Eve, please—you know you can lean on me."

"You want me to lean on you, Julian?" Eve whipped around. "You abandoned me and our child. If it weren't for that, I might not be crying—we wouldn't be in this situation at all."

"Eve . . ." Julian reached out for her shoulder.

Eve jerked her body away.

"You're right, Eve," Julian said quietly. "You've been right about everything. I've been nothing but a fool and a coward . . ."

"Why didn't you love me enough, Julian?" Eve dropped her purse to the floor and sank to her knees. "Why didn't you love me enough to stand up to your father?"

Julian dropped to her side. "Eve, it was never a case of my not loving you enough. I told you—I was a fool. I let my father bully me into leaving you—into losing the love of my life."

"I know Alistair was unbelievably cruel to you," Eve choked, "but Sheridan still fought for Luis . . ."

Julian sighed. "Yes, she certainly did." Julian hung his head. "I'm sorry, Eve. I don't know what else to say except that I'm sorry from the depths of my heart. My failure to stand up for you and our son—it's as atrocious as anything my father ever did."

Her entire body wracked with tears, Eve buried her face in her hands.

Julian pulled her into his arms.

"Wasn't I worth fighting for?" Eve whispered.

Julian buried his nose in her hair and breathed her in. "You've always been worth fighting for, Eve."