Julian and Katherine approached the Lopez-Fitzgeralds just as Ethan and Theresa walked up.
Ethan's mouth fell open as he watched Katherine slide one arm around Sheridan's waist.
"Gr . . . Grand . . . Grandmother?" Ethan asked. "Is that really you?"
"Yes, Ethan, it's me!" Katherine smiled, embracing him tightly. "It's so good to see you! I can't believe you're all grown up!"
Sheridan snuggled into Luis's embrace as Ethan and Katherine greeted each other.
"I love seeing you so happy," Luis whispered to his wife as they listened to Ethan explain that he was no longer a Crane.
Sheridan beamed up at Luis, her eyes sparkling at his. "This is such a wonderful night."
Luis kissed the top of her head. "Yes, it certainly is."
Ethan reached out for Sheridan's hand. "It's all okay, though, Grandmother. Sheridan and I are even related again, through Luis and Theresa."
Sheridan turned her attention back to Ethan and laced her fingers through his. "I couldn't be happier about that." Sheridan smiled and squeezed Ethan's hand. "We've always been more like brother and sister anyway."
Ethan returned her squeeze. "Yes, Sheridan, we have been."
Martin looked up from his wheelchair and cleared his throat. "I don't mean to interrupt this Crane family reunion, but, Katherine, it's wonderful to see you."
"Oh, Martin!" Katherine gasped, leaning down to hug him. "It's so good to see you, too—especially back with your family. I don't know how I'll ever thank you for everything you have done to protect Sheridan."
"I would do it all again, Katherine." Martin looked over at Sheridan and smiled. "Your daughter makes my son very happy."
Sheridan wrapped her arms back around Luis's waist and beamed up at her husband. "He makes me happy, too."
"It's good to see everyone so sappy." Hank rubbed his neck and laughed, fidgeting on his feet as Gwen and Pilar rejoined the group.
Luis looked at Hank and raised his brows. "I don't know, buddy," he smiled. "It looks to me like you've got a good reason to be sappy, too."
Settling himself, Hank turned to Gwen and wrapped his arms around her. "I do," he smiled, love shining in his eyes. "I most definitely do."
Eve's heart pounded in her chest; an invisible hand clenched her airways.
TC was saying things she had yearned to hear for months—words she'd never thought she'd ever actually hear him say.
"I want you back, Eve," TC said. "I want our marriage back."
"Are you serious, TC?" Eve gasped, fresh tears springing to her eyes.
TC moved in closer and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "I've never been more serious, Eve."
TC slid his hands down her arms.
Eve's heart skipped a beat.
Curling his fingers around her hands, TC swallowed a lump in his throat. "I realized that no matter what happened in your past—you're perfect just the way you are."
The invisible grip around Eve's airways tightened—it was like every sweet word that he had just said had been suctioned into the atmosphere.
"Eve, what is it?" TC asked, his brow furrowing with concern.
Eve looked at him, unable to speak.
"Eve, you're frightening me," TC said.
"It's perfect," Eve choked out. "Please, don't use that word."
"Why shouldn't I?" TC rubbed her arms. "Honey, the word was made for you."
"No, it really wasn't."
"Eve, I think you're underestimating yourself," TC insisted.
"No, I'm not." Tugging her arms away from him, Eve took a deep breath in and forced herself to steady her breathing. "I'm not perfect, TC. No matter what you may or may not believe—that's something that I've never been."
Sheridan followed Julian off to the side as he slipped away from all of the activity taking place near the Christmas tree.
Julian turned around as he heard her approach him and frowned softly at her.
"Julian, are you okay?" Sheridan shifted on her feet, her eyes searching his.
Julian nodded toward the couple speaking in the corner of the park and swallowed a lump in his throat. "I think Eve's considering going back to TC."
"Oh, Julian," Sheridan gasped.
"I always knew there was a chance this could happen," Julian murmured. "I just want her to be happy."
"I know you do, Julian."
"What's wrong with me? Why did I let Father bully me into leaving her years ago? Why didn't I fight for her when I first had the chance?" Julian looked at his sister. "I wish I had been as brave as you've been, Sheridan. I wish I had fought for Eve as hard as you've fought for Luis."
"You can still fight for her now," Sheridan suggested quietly, perching one hand on her belly.
"Alas, life has gotten in the way of that." Julian looked at Eve. "If staying with TC makes her happy, who am I to try to destroy that?"
"I understand where you're coming from," Sheridan said. "I just hate seeing you so unhappy."
Julian smiled sadly. "Thank you, sister dear. Although I don't deserve it, I appreciate your support."
Dropping her hand to her side, Sheridan bit down on her lip and then slipped her arms around him.
"So, you're Luis's best friend?" Katherine asked Hank.
"Guilty as charged," Hank grinned. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Crane."
"And this here is Gwen," Luis said, smiling softly at Gwen. "She is Sheridan's best friend—and our daughter's godmother."
Katherine smiled and clasped Gwen's hands. "It's so nice to meet you, Gwen. Sheridan's told me all about you."
"Same here," Gwen said softly, smiling at Katherine. "I'm so glad you're back in her life. She's told me a lot about you, too."
"I understand from Pilar that we're all going to be throwing Sheridan a baby shower together," Katherine said.
"Yes, Mrs. Crane, we are." Gwen's eyes darted over to Luis's. "Luis, please don't tell her. This is supposed to be a surprise."
Hank laughed. "Well, then, you ladies better stop talking about this." Hank turned to Gwen. "You know those two can't keep a secret from each other. The less Luis knows, the better."
Luis threw his hands up in the air and grinned. "I'm with you on that one, Hank. Why don't you and I go get the ladies some more hot chocolate so they can discuss the details without us?"
Hank slapped Luis on the back. "That sounds like a great idea, Luis."
Gwen and Katherine laughed as Luis and Hank walked off.
"That young man of yours is quite the jokester," Katherine observed. "It must be so much fun to have him around."
"He does make me laugh," Gwen smiled, hugging her arms to her chest and watching Hank as he approached the hot chocolate stand. "He makes me smile every day."
"Well, then, you should treasure him always," Katherine said. "I would have given anything for a love like that."
Her eyes still beaming, Gwen turned back to Katherine. "Well, if it makes you feel better, your daughter has found it—even after everything Alistair has done to her. Luis loves Sheridan more than he loves his own life—he would do anything for her."
"I gathered that, Gwen, but thank you for confirming it," Katherine said. "It makes my heart so happy to know that Sheridan has such wonderful people in her life—people who truly love her."
Gwen glanced down and blinked back tears. "Sheridan's stood by me during some really hard times."
Katherine smiled softly. "I've heard that you've done the same for her."
"I'm very lucky to have Sheridan in my life," Gwen said.
Katherine smiled and squeezed one of Gwen's hands. "She's lucky to have you, too."
TC stared at Eve and blinked back tears. "Eve, why would you say that? You've always been perfect to me."
Her heart clenching, Eve choked back a sob. "This dream of perfection—the pedestal you've put me on—it's too much pressure, TC."
"But, why?" TC's brow creased. "You've been that woman for so many years—been the angel I've always wanted."
"You don't want me, TC," Eve burst out. "You want someone who doesn't exist!"
"Eve, I never realized you felt this way." TC put one hand on her shoulder.
Eve looked at him. "Do you have any idea of how exhausting it was for me? Pretending to be someone I wasn't? Knowing that if I told you the truth, I'd lose everything—the girls, your respect, our love?"
"You wouldn't have lost any of that," TC protested.
"But, TC, I already have." Eve's voice quieted, her words laced with pain. "When you found out about my past with Julian, you left me. You didn't even give me a chance to explain."
"I know—and I'm sorry for that." TC hung his head. "I know things can be different for us, Eve."
"Maybe they can be—but not right now," Eve cried. "You still have so many expectations of me."
"Is it wrong for me to want my wife back?" TC rubbed his temples. "To want things to go back to the way they were?"
"That's just it," Eve whispered. "I can't go back to that. I won't go back to that." Eve steeled her back; her voice filled with resolve. "I won't go back to pretending I'm somebody I'm not."
"But isn't that what you're doing right now?" TC looked up, his voice cracking. "Can you really stand here and tell me that you're not spending your days just playing a new role—being the woman Julian wants you to be?"
