"I can't believe it!" Tears springing to her eyes, Eve's hand flew to her mouth. "You're really our son. After all these years, we've finally found you . . ."

"I can't believe it either." Mike pinched the bridge of his nose. "All these years, I've been searching for my parents . . ."

His eyes watering, Julian smiled. "And now that search is finally over."

"Oh, Mike." Tears flowing freely down her face, Eve pulled him into a tight embrace. "I've waited so long for this day. I can't believe it's finally here."

"Neither can I." Mike's voice choked with emotion. "I thought this day would never come."

"I didn't think it would ever come either," Eve admitted. "For such a long time, I never even let myself hope."

"You had no reason to think there was anything to hope for, Eve." Julian wiped his eyes. "As far as we knew, our son died shortly after he was born."

"But he didn't die, did he?" Eve leaned back and cupped Mike's face. "He's very much alive."

"He's alive and such a wonderful young man." Julian bowed his head. "I couldn't be prouder to call him my son."

Mike turned to Julian. "I've been thinking about your offer. I don't want to give up my work at the youth center, but I'd be willing to consult with your team at Crane Industries, if that's something you'd be amenable to."

"What is he talking about, Julian?" Eve asked.

Julian looked at her. "I offered Mike a position as the director of our new outreach division," he said, turning back to Mike. "And, yes, of course, I'd welcome any help you're willing to give us. I'd be honored to have you as part of our team."

"Does this mean you'll be spending some more time in Harmony?" Whitney asked.

"It looks like it does," Mike said. "I hope we can find some time to hang out."

"We'd like that." Simone smiled shyly.

"I'd like it, too." Glancing at Eve, Mike smiled and turned back to Whitney and Simone. "I'm so excited to finally have siblings—I can't wait to get to know both of you."


Sheridan jerked away from Luis, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Please . . . don't touch me . . ."

Luis's apology echoed in her ear as the pain sharpened its teeth and gripped her tighter and tighter.

The pain . . . oh God, the pain . . . she could feel nothing but the pain. Nothing but the pain and the unbelievable pressure of the baby's head—wedging its way into the birthing position.

No matter what she did, she couldn't get any relief.

Yes, she had felt her daughter's head settling lower and lower for weeks—but the pressure had never been this intense.

Was this ever going to be over?

Why wouldn't she just come out?

The silhouette of the nurse in front of her blurring, the entire room began to spin in front of Sheridan's eyes.

"Sheridan!" Luis grabbed her shoulders.

Sheridan collapsed onto her back, pain stabbing her from every which way. "I . . . I can't . . . do this!" she cried, gritting her teeth. "Please . . . I need some meds!"

"I'm sorry, but it's too late to take them now." Luis kissed her knuckles. "You know the doctor said that."

Fresh tears sprang to Sheridan's eyes.

Luis was right.

She just had to keep . . . pushing . . . through . . . the pain . . . and the pressure . . . for the little girl she would already do anything for.

Another spasm tearing through her body, Sheridan ripped her hand away from Luis's and lurched onto her side. The pressure from her daughter's head intensifying, Sheridan shrank into herself.

Was this baby ever going to be born?

Tears spilled down her cheeks as the pain consuming her body strengthened its grip.

She couldn't do this anymore.

A wave of nausea flooding her chest, Sheridan gulped for air.

Oh God, she was going to throw up.

"You can do this, Sher," Luis whispered.

Choking back the bile in her throat, Sheridan grasped the edge of the bed and fought back a fresh wave of tears.

She could do this.

She could keep pushing through it.

She already loved this little girl with every last cell in her body—she could do this for her daughter.


"I can't believe we finally have our son back," Eve smiled, her eyes welling with tears. "I never thought this day would come."

Julian stroked her cheek, his eyes twinkling at hers. "I never dared to dream it would either."

Eve glanced over at Mike, who was engrossed in a conversation with Whitney and Simone. "Seeing him like this . . . with my girls—it's more than I ever dared to hope for."

"Hopefully, there are going to be many more moments like these," Julian said. "With Whitney and Simone . . . with Fancy, Pretty, and Fox . . ."

"Julian, I can't tell you how much it means to me that you're including Mike in Crane Industries, that you're bringing him into the Crane family fold . . ."

"I'm only doing what I should have done years ago." Julian bowed his head. "What I should have done all along . . ."

"Let's not dwell on the past right now," Eve said. "Not when we finally have such a beautiful future ahead of us."

"Yes, but I want you to know that I have every intention of rectifying my past mistakes." Julian looked up at her. "Of making us all a family . . ."

Eve furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

Glancing over at Whitney and Simone for a moment, Julian smiled at Eve. "I wouldn't dream of making a move until you've had a chance to discuss this with your daughters, but I'd like to make you part of the Crane family, too." His eyes twinkling, Julian picked up Eve's hand and kissed it. "Just know that, when the time is right, I have every intention of doing what I wish I'd done years ago: asking you to marry me."

Fresh tears sprang to Eve's eyes. "Oh, Julian—I don't know what to say."

Julian cupped her cheek. "Tell me you'll say 'yes.'"

"Of course I'll say 'yes.'" Her eyes glistening, Eve embraced him. "Nothing would make me happier than spending the rest of my life with you—I love you, Julian Crane."


Tears sprang to Luis's eyes as Sheridan crumpled into herself again.

If only he could do something.

Watching her endure wave after wave of agony and pain—he had never felt so helpless.

When the fake Martin Fitzgerald had taken her hostage, when Roger and Pierre had chased them onto that hotel ledge . . . even when Sheridan had been buried alive . . .

He'd been able to grab her hand, swing them off that ledge . . . even break through concrete to save her.

But right now, he could do nothing.

Nothing but watch her suffer.

"Are you okay, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald?"

Luis's head snapped up. "Isn't there anything I can do? I can't bear watching her like this."

The nurse gave him a gentle smile. "I know it's hard. Just know that this will all be worth it to her the second she holds that baby in her arms."

Would it be?

Luis swallowed hard.

Why had they ever stopped using protection?

Why had they even tried to have children at all?

"Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald? Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald?"

His heart jumping, Luis's eyes flew up.

The nurse nodded at Sheridan. "This is normal at this stage in the game," she reassured him. "Your wife has been at this for a while—this part should be over soon."

"I hope so . . ." Luis whispered.

Sheridan moaned. "Luis . . . I can't do this, Luis . . ."

Luis's attention snapped to her. "Of course you can do this, Sheridan," he said, his heart lodging in his throat.

She could do this. Of course she could do this. How could she even doubt that?

She had survived a mudslide, being buried alive—hell, she had even told Alistair off.

If you had asked him two years ago, he would have sworn this Sheridan would never exist. But here she was, having overcome all of the obstacles that had threatened to destroy her—and she was a much stronger person for it.

A shiver shot down Luis's spine.

Maybe he should start heeding what recent events had been trying to teach him.

Maybe he needed to relax for once—and trust in the universe.

"Luis?" Sheridan rolled onto her back.

Luis's heart leapt at the sound of her voice.

"Luis?" Sheridan breathed. "I need some ice, Luis."

"Ice . . . Sher? Yes . . . of course . . ." Grabbing two cubes of ice, Luis slipped one into her mouth. Tracing the other over her brow, he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Does that help at all?"

"Yes," Sheridan replied weakly. "I'm sorry I yelled at you before."

"Don't think another second about it." Smiling, Luis brushed some hair back from her face and intertwined his fingers through hers. "I just wish I could do this for you."

A fresh set of tears welled in Sheridan's eyes. "I know you do, and I love you for it, Luiiiissss . . ."

Her head rising up from the pillow, Sheridan gripped Luis's hand. "I need to push," she cried.

Luis's heart burst in his chest.

This was really happening.

A lump forming in his throat, Luis supported Sheridan's back as she struggled through the contraction.

Easing her back onto the pillow once it subsided, he squeezed her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles as Dr. Valerii began to examine her.

Sheridan gasped. "Please tell me . . . I . . . can . . . push."

"I would say it's that time." Looking up, Dr. Valerii smiled at Sheridan and Luis. "Are you two ready to meet your little girl?"