"What happened back there, Sher?" Luis closed the door to their hotel room. "When you were shaking hands with Mike?"
"I . . . I don't know," Sheridan stammered. "You're going to think I'm being silly."
"I would never think you're silly." Luis walked up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "I love you, Sheridan."
Sheridan smiled and sighed. "For a second there, I just felt like I had met him before. Isn't that crazy, Luis?"
Luis looked up at her. "I don't think it's crazy at all. Who knows? Maybe you've met someone he reminds you of—it could be as simple as that."
"Yes, I guess it could be." Sheridan locked eyes with Luis. "I just can't shake this feeling that I've met him somewhere before."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should listen to your gut feeling," Luis said. "Mine's never led me astray."
Sheridan turned around to face him. "And what is your gut feeling telling you right now?"
His eyes twinkling, Luis curled his arms around her. "It's telling me that I want to make love to my beautiful wife."
Sheridan laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, Luis, you're impossible."
"I can't help it." Luis's eyes sparkled. "Watching you carry our baby is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen." His voice softening, Luis tugged her in close and stroked her cheek. "I mean, you've always been gorgeous, but the way you look right here, right now—you've never been more beautiful to me."
Tears streamed freely down Katherine's face as she embraced her precious son. To see him, to hold him, after all this time . . . she almost felt like if she blinked, he might disappear . . . that this all might turn out to be a dream.
"Mother . . ." Julian whispered softly.
"Oh, Julian, you're really here!" Katherine leaned back and cupped her son's face in her hands, a smile inching up her cheeks. "How on earth did you ever find me?"
"It's a long story, Mother, and I'll tell you about it all in good time." Julian lifted one of her hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "But first, we've got to get you out of here before Father returns and finds us."
"We?" Katherine's voice rose with hope. "Oh, Julian, is your sister here, too?"
"No," Julian said softly, stroking his mother's cheek, "but I know she's going to be absolutely thrilled to see you."
"She certainly is, Mrs. Crane," a soft voice sounded from the doorway.
Julian smiled and extended his hand to Eve as she crossed the room to them. "Mother, I'd like you to meet Eve—the first woman I was ever serious about—the one and only love of my life."
"Eve," Katherine gasped, smiling warmly at her and clasping her hands around Eve's. "You must be the young woman Julian fell in love with when he was in law school. I'm so pleased to finally meet you."
Eve's face lit up with a smile; tears sprang to the corners of her eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Mrs. Crane. I've heard so much about you."
"As I have about you . . ." Katherine smiled. "Julian may not have been extremely forthcoming when he was younger, but I knew he had someone special in his life."
"That I did." Julian reached over and squeezed Eve's hand. "I only wish I had introduced her to you sooner."
"I'm just so glad that you two finally have found happiness together." Katherine beamed at both Julian and Eve. "That's all I've ever wanted for you, Julian—for you to be happy."
"I am happy, Mother," Julian smiled. "And so is Sheridan—she's going to be so thrilled to see you."
Katherine's eyes flew to Julian's, her entire face brightening. "How is Sheridan?" she asked. "How is my little girl doing?"
Julian took his mother's hands into his own. "She's happier than I've ever seen her, Mother. I can't wait until you two see each other again—I know you're going to be proud of her."
"Oh, Julian, I've always been so proud of both of you," Katherine smiled. "I know I always will be."
Julian smiled sadly and bowed his head.
"Julian, what's wrong?" Katherine furrowed her brow.
"Nothing that can't wait for us to get you out of here, Mother," Julian said quietly, "—until after we get you away from this prison."
"That's what you think!" a voice boomed from behind the wall.
Julian, Katherine, and Eve all jumped.
Flinging open a hidden door, Alistair stepped out and cocked his gun. "You better confess all of your sins to your mother right now, Julian, because it's the last time you're ever going to see her!"
