"Couldn't this have waited until morning, Sam?"

Sam shot Hank a look. "No, Hank, it couldn't. I've already got two tubs at the B&B that are close to overflowing."

Hank groaned. "Man, I knew I forgot to do something before I left for my date this afternoon. I'm sorry, Sam—I know I was going to snake the drains for you."

Sam looked at him and then sighed and shook his head.

"What?" Hank threw his hands up in the air. "What do you want to say, Sam?"

"Nothing—just forget it," Sam said. "Let's just get the drains unclogged."

Hank studied his brother. "Why don't you just come out with it, bro? I know you're dying to tell me how irresponsible I am."

Sam put one hand on his hip. "You said it—not me."

"Yeah, but you were thinking it," Hank insisted. "Along with a host of other things."

"So what if I was?" Sam dug out his toolbox and started to dig through it. "Is it wrong for me to wish that you had some stability and direction in your life? I just want the best for you, Hank."

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm happy with the way my life is going?" Hank asked. "I do have a pretty good thing going on with Gwen."

"Which is leading where?" Sam raised his brows. "Last year, you talked a pretty big game about wanting to settle down with Sheridan, and now it seems like things are headed that way with Gwen."

Hank folded his arms in front of his chest. "So what if they are?"

"Are you really ready for that, Hank?" Sam pulled out the screwdriver he was looking for and put it down on the counter. "Or do you think that everything's just going to fall into place for you when you're ready to take that next step?"


Sheridan snuggled up against Luis's chest and smiled. "That was wonderful, Luis."

Luis kissed the top of her head. "It was," he smiled. "Although I'm surprised you had enough energy for both the bathroom and then the bed." Luis glanced at the clock and laughed softly. "By this time of the night, you're usually dead to the world."

"Hey," Sheridan laughed, nudging his shoulder. "I'm carrying your baby, remember?"

"Believe me, Sheridan, I could never forget that." Luis smiled, leaned down, and kissed her belly. "I love you both so much."

"We love you, too, Luis," Sheridan beamed, running her fingers through his hair.

Luis traced the spot where his daughter lay and then smiled at his wife. "It's great to see you smiling again, Sher."

"It feels good to have hope again, Luis," Sheridan breathed, her eyes welling with tears. "Especially with everything that's going on."

"I know," Luis agreed, continuing to brush one finger over the swell of her belly. "I can't even imagine how Eve managed to make it through the day having to relive what she did."

"I just hope she and Julian find their son." Sheridan rested her hand next to his finger.

Luis intertwined his fingers through hers.

Tears sprang to Sheridan's eyes as their daughter fluttered underneath their palms.

Luis smiled softly. "I can't get over how amazing it is to feel her moving inside of you."

Sheridan smiled up at Luis, her eyes glistening. "It really is, isn't it?"

Luis nuzzled his nose up against Sheridan's. "I can't wait to meet her, Sher . . ."

"Neither can I, Luis." Sheridan snuggled back into Luis's arms. "I can't even imagine what it would be like to have her ripped away from us—or to find out that she had suffered in any way."

Luis tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I'm never going to let that happen, Sheridan."

"I know you'll do everything humanly possible to protect her." Sheridan cupped her belly. "She's very lucky to have you as her daddy."

"She's lucky to have you, too." Luis brushed the pad of his thumb over Sheridan's chin. "You know, as much as I was giving you a hard time when you were working at the youth center, on some level, I could see right away that you were connecting with all the girls there—that they really enjoyed talking with you."

Sheridan blushed, a trickle of warmth bubbling up in her chest. "Despite your macho attitude, I really enjoyed my time there, Luis. I felt like I was doing something real for the first time in my life. It felt really good to work with those kids."

"Maybe you could work there again once this whole mess with your father is over," Luis suggested.

Sheridan's heart and face brightened. "Or maybe I could do it right now . . ."

Luis propped his head up on his hand. "Sheridan, are you sure about that? Don't you think you have enough going on with your father and our baby?"

"Luis, I'm pregnant—not some breakable glass vase."

Luis studied her and frowned softly. "I know—I just worry about you."

"I know you do, Luis." Sheridan's voice softened. "I'm sorry—I'm just really emotional right now."

"That's part of what has me worried." Luis glanced down. "You know, some of the kids at the youth center come from some really difficult family situations. Are you sure you can handle that on top of everything else you're going through?"

"I am, Luis." Sheridan's heart filled with resolve. "In fact, the more I think about this, the more I want to do it. Nothing I have ever done has even come close to making me feel as fulfilled as I did when I worked with those kids—no matter what problems they had."

Luis studied her for a moment and then shook his head and smiled. "Okay, I'll think about it, Sheridan."

"Don't take too long with that, Luis," Sheridan smiled softly, her eyes twinkling at his. "I happen to know that the director loves me."

"Oh, you do, do you?" Luis smirked and kissed her. "Be that as it may, I still think he might need a little convincing to go along with your plan."

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Pulling her back into his arms, Luis smiled and covered her lips with his. "I might be able to think of a few."