Gwen took a deep breath in as she approached the door to the Harmony Youth Center.
Was she really ready for this?
Yes, Hank had told her over and over again that Sheridan wanted to see her—that Sheridan and Luis had been the ones who had talked him into finding her all those months ago—but, still, part of her found that hard to believe.
Maybe it was partially because Harmony had never quite felt like home to her—because she had never felt fully accepted here. For all the time she had spent in this town, a small part of her had always felt like most people here had been silently judging her—everyone except Sheridan.
And what had she gone and done?
She'd gotten involved with the man Sheridan loved.
She had slept with him.
Sure, both of them had thought Sheridan was dead.
But—given that Sheridan had previously managed to survive being buried alive—maybe they should have put a little more thought into that before doing something they could never take back.
Hank insisted Sheridan wasn't holding on to any anger about it.
She knew he'd never lie to her, but she couldn't help but wonder if he was just seeing what he wanted to see.
After all, he'd been on her to move back to Harmony for a while now—to take her company up on their offer to transfer her back to the place she'd once thought of as home—to build a new life here with him.
Part of her wanted that—wanted it badly. To find out what it felt like to truly forge a new path with a real partner—with someone who only wanted to be with her.
To live every day with someone who made her feel like she actually mattered—like there was actually a reason she'd been put on this earth.
She supposed that it would help if she could see that herself. Wasn't that what all of the self-help books said?
But how could she see herself as someone who was needed on this planet—as someone who mattered—when she had betrayed somebody who had once been one of her closest friends?
Even Hank couldn't deny that Sheridan had been a bit stunned when she had discovered what she had come home to.
And it wasn't like she could blame Sheridan for reacting like that. If she had ever found out someone she loved was sleeping with Sheridan, it would have sucked the breath out of her.
Hell, when she had discovered that Theresa had feelings for Ethan, it had pierced her so deeply that she had ended up doing things she would have never thought herself capable of doing.
Yes, in this instance, she had thought that Sheridan was dead.
But, being all too familiar with the sting of seeing the man she loved with someone she had considered her friend, how could she have ever—even unintentionally—put Sheridan in a similar position?
No, she couldn't resettle in Harmony like this.
At the very least, she had to try to apologize.
Even if Hank was wrong about everything—even if Sheridan wasn't ready to forgive her—maybe she could at least find some peace in knowing that she had tried to make amends.
Taking a deep breath in, Gwen swallowed and reached for the door handle.
Before her fingers could even make contact, the door swung open.
Gwen's heart jumped.
"Hey, beautiful."
Tension seeped from Gwen's body. "I thought you couldn't be here this afternoon."
Hank shrugged and smiled. "I rearranged some things. Not that I think you need it, but I wanted to be here for moral support."
Gwen's throat thickened. "Thank you so much for that."
Cupping her face, Hank leaned his head against hers and pressed his lips to the tip of her nose. Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her in closer and trailed his lips down to hers.
Warmth spread through Gwen's chest.
Behind them, someone cleared their throat. "Hey—there will be kids here any minute now."
Gwen and Hank jumped apart.
Luis laughed, his eyes twinkling. "I'm just teasing you. Please go on—don't stop on account of me."
Gathering herself together, Gwen inhaled and stepped inside the center. "Luis."
"Gwen." His face softening, Luis squeezed her arm. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, too." Gwen looked at Hank, a surge of emotion swelling within her. "Hank said that you helped convince him to find me—thank you so much for that."
"It wasn't just me." Smiling at her, Luis nodded toward the gym. "Go on in—there's someone in there who's been waiting to see you."
Gwen's eyes darted to the gym.
"Go on." Hank grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "I'll be right out here waiting for you."
Her heart lodging in her throat, Gwen looked at him. "Thank you."
Hank smiled. "You can do this."
Gwen inhaled.
He was right.
She could do this.
She had to do this.
She had to face this if she was ever going to be able to move on with her life.
Giving Hank's hand a quick squeeze, she straightened her back and started into the gym—freezing at the sight of Sheridan, seemingly engrossed in the content of a clipboard, halfway across the room.
This was really happening.
Maybe she should just get out of here before Sheridan saw her.
Maybe she should just turn back.
"Gwen?" Sheridan looked up, her face lighting up. "It's so good to see you."
Something inside Gwen released. Tears springing to her eyes, she exhaled. "It's good to see you, too."
Putting down the clipboard she was holding, Sheridan moved to clear some of the equipment surrounding her.
"Hey, hey—don't strain yourself." Gwen rushed over to help.
Glancing down at her protruding belly, Sheridan curled her fingers around it and smiled. Her eyes glistening, she looked back up. "Can you believe Luis and I are having twins?"
"You're finally getting the family you've always wanted," Gwen smiled, her own eyes moist. "I'm really happy for you."
"Thank you." Her voice catching in her throat, Sheridan smiled and blinked back tears. "To tell the truth, I didn't think it was possible to be this happy."
Tears gathered in Gwen's throat. "I'm so glad you've finally found that."
"I'm glad you've found it, too," Sheridan smiled. "I'm so happy you and Hank found your way back to each other."
Gwen's heart constricted; her eyes dropped to the floor. "Thank you for convincing him to find me. After coming home to what you did . . . I'm sure that wasn't easy for you."
"Gwen . . ."
"No . . . don't," Gwen said. "Don't try to make me feel better about this."
"There's nothing to feel badly about," Sheridan insisted.
Gwen looked up. "How can you be so forgiving?"
"Gwen—" Sheridan frowned, "—there's really nothing to forgive."
"But Luis and I—"
"I know," Sheridan jumped in. "And, yes, I was a little shocked by that, but you both thought I was dead."
"We did," Gwen agreed. "But—"
"No—there are no 'buts' about this." Sheridan's face softened. "I know this wouldn't have happened if either of you knew I was alive."
"Of course it wouldn't have—"
Sheridan gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Don't you think I know that, Gwen?"
Gwen's breath caught in her chest, her eyes falling to the hand Sheridan had just grasped.
Sheridan was right.
This never would have happened if they had known she was alive.
This never would have even been in the realm of possibilities of things that might have happened if they had known she was out there somewhere—living with amnesia.
Gwen's eyes snapped back up to Sheridan's. "You're right," she breathed, "—I never would have knowingly interfered with the relationship you and Luis have."
"I know that." Sheridan smiled. "In fact, once I thought about it a little bit longer, I began to feel grateful that you and Luis did turn to each other."
"Really?" Gwen's voice cracked.
"Really." Sheridan's face fell. "If it hadn't been for you being in Luis's life—well, I honestly don't know what would have happened," she said, her voice straining as she curled her fingers back around her belly, ". . . if he and I would even be married right now, waiting to meet these two . . . ."
"Don't even think that—"
"It's too late for that," Sheridan cut in. "Luis has told me how difficult that time was for him. I truly don't know what he would have done if he hadn't had you right there beside him, every step of the way."
A tear slipped down Gwen's cheek. "I missed you, too, you know?"
Her face softening, Sheridan smiled. "I know you did."
A bubble of happiness welled in Gwen's chest.
Sheridan's eyes fell to the equipment between them.
Gwen perked up. "Don't even think about it," she laughed. "I think your body is already doing enough right now."
"Possibly," Sheridan smiled. "But I want to hug you."
Gwen's heart swelled. "I want that, too." Moving the last of the equipment aside, she pulled Sheridan into an embrace. "I really missed you."
"I missed you, too." Sheridan's voice scratched. "I'm so glad you finally came home."
Fresh tears springing to her eyes, Gwen's breath hitched in her throat. "I'm glad I came home, too."
~Fin~