Sheridan and Luis rushed in as soon as Martin opened the door, Officer Lee Adama right behind them.
"Oh, Pilar, I'm so sorry you're going through this!" Sheridan embraced her mother-in-law. "If anyone is a wonderful mother, it's you."
"Thank you, mija," Pilar cried softly, rubbing Sheridan's back. "I just can't believe I'm losing my baby girl."
"Pilar, you're not going to lose her." Sheridan leaned back, a tear in her eye. "Luis and Martin are going to make her see reason and bring her home."
"Oh, Sheridan, I hope you're right . . ."
"She is right, Mama," Luis said, crossing the room to his mother and pulling her into a hug. "You're the best mother anyone could ever have, and we're going to make Paloma see that."
Martin wheeled himself up next to Luis. "Luis, we need to get going if we're going to make our flight."
"Okay," Luis said, touching his hand to Sheridan's arm. "Are you sure you're going to be all right, Sher?"
"Don't worry—I'll be fine, Luis." Sheridan smiled softly at him and glanced back at Officer Adama. "I'll do whatever Lee tells me to do."
Luis's eyes wandered over to his colleague's. "Thanks for watching out for her, Adama."
Officer Adama smiled and clasped his hands in front of him. "Anything for you and your wife, Luis."
"Well, we appreciate it all the same." Luis turned back to Sheridan and pulled her into a corner. "Thank you again for doing this for me, Sher. I know that the lack of privacy gets to you."
"I don't want you to worry, Luis." Sheridan laid her hands on his chest. "I appreciate that you're trying to see it from my point of view, though. That's what I'm trying to do, too."
Luis kissed her knuckles. "I appreciate that, Sher."
Sheridan snuggled up against him. "I love you, Luis."
Luis lifted her chin and cupped her face in his hands. "Sher, I love you, too."
Martin smiled as he glanced over at his son, his eyes filling with warmth as he turned back to Pilar. "I'm going to bring Paloma back to you, mi amor. I promise—you won't lose her."
"De tus labios a los oídos de Dios." Pilar leaned down and kissed him.
Martin's eyes twinkled at hers. "I promise you—He hears me."
Pilar cupped Martin's face, a smile inching up her cheeks. Her fingers trembling, she kissed his forehead. "Maybe I should have more faith—He did bring you back to me, after all."
"That's right." Martin slid one of her hands down to his lips and kissed her palm. "He's not going to abandon us now."
Martin traced his fingers down Pilar's face and then looked up at Luis. "Come on, son. Let's get moving. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back."
"I definitely cannot argue with that kind of logic." Luis smiled and stroked Sheridan's cheek. "I'll be back as quickly as I can be, Sher."
Sheridan kissed her husband and squeezed his hand. "I'll be right here waiting for you, Luis."
Luis grinned. "I'm going to hold you to that, Sher." Pressing one last kiss to her nose, Luis picked up Martin's bags and started out to the car.
Sheridan walked up behind Pilar and wrapped her arms around her.
"What if they can't convince her to come back?" Pilar whispered, her voice shaking as Martin exited the house.
"That's not going to happen." Sheridan tucked her face in next to Pilar's and hugged her tighter. "They're going to bring her home."
Hank wrapped one arm around Gwen as they strolled down the wharf.
"Thanks for taking me for that sleigh ride today," Gwen smiled. "It was really quite romantic."
"I'd do anything to make you smile." Hank squeezed Gwen and nudged her nose. "Now, come on—let's get to the stores before they close."
Gwen looked at him and laughed. "I can't believe you're even suggesting that. It's not even Christmas Eve yet—I've heard that that's when you do all of your shopping . . ."
"Yeah, well, I'm trying to turn over a new leaf." Hank cracked a smile. "But please don't tell anyone I started today—I don't want to ruin my reputation."
Gwen's lips twisted into a smile. "You're adorable—do you know that?"
"What can I say?" Hank shrugged his shoulders. "Being with you makes me adorable."
Gwen laughed and rolled her eyes. "Sometimes, you're so full of it."
"You know that's why Luis and Sheridan asked me to be their daughter's godfather?" Hank grinned. "Since I know every trick in the book?"
"Oh, Hank, I still can't believe they asked us to be their baby's godparents," Gwen beamed.
Hank smiled and squeezed Gwen's shoulder. "Life has been pretty good lately."
Gwen smiled. "I certainly can't argue with that." Gwen stopped midstep, turned to Hank, and laid her hands on his chest. "I wish I could throw Sheridan a baby shower."
"Well, why don't you do it then, Gwen?" Hank asked.
Gwen hung her head. "I'm sure Pilar already is."
Hank nudged up Gwen's chin. "Then why don't you ask her if you can help? Is it because you don't want to work with Theresa?"
"No, it's not that." Gwen shook her head. "I mean, I can deal with Theresa for Sheridan's sake. I just don't think Pilar will want me to help."
"Well, Luis is a Lopez-Fitzgerald, and he certainly doesn't hate you," Hank said. "He wants you to be his daughter's godmother."
"Yes, but Luis is not a woman . . ." Gwen wandered over toward the water and hugged her arms to her chest. "Maybe you're right, though. Maybe I should ask Pilar. The worst she can do is say no, right?"
"Exactly." Hank walked up behind her and massaged her shoulders. "Hey, I understand—I'm just as nervous about meeting your father."
Gwen turned around. "I told you—you shouldn't worry about that."
Hank shrugged and scratched the back of his head. "I can't help it. I've screwed up every other good thing in my life—why should this be any different?"
"Is that what you really believe?" Gwen's forehead creased. "Hank, you're so much more than the mistakes you've made."
"Am I?" Hank raised one brow and dug his hands into his pockets.
"Of course you are, Hank." Gwen ran her hands down his arms, glanced down, and looked back up at him again. "If it wasn't for you, my life would be on such a different path right now."
"You were already forging a new path for yourself." Hank kicked at the ground. "I just helped you help yourself, Gwen."
"Then why don't you let me do the same for you?" Gwen lifted his chin. "Let's make a deal: I'll find the guts to talk to Pilar if you promise to try to start realizing what a wonderful man you are." Her eyes twinkling, Gwen cupped his face and kissed him. "Let's do this together, Hank."
