Part Three











"Daddy! Daddy! Help me!" the little girl squealed. Jumping on the bed and landing on top of him with an "oomph." "Emily," her mother groaned. Rolling over and pulling the covers over her head. "Daddy," she whispered. "Josh and Sam said they were going to catch me, tie me up, and put me up on top of the roof," she said solemnly. Her chocolate brown eyes wide with terror. "They said a big bird was going to come and fly away with me. And I'd never see you or Mommy again," she sniffled. Placing a tiny hand on his unshaven face. Tears welling up in her eyes. "Oh Em," he said. Hugging her tight and closing his eyes as he breathed in the sweet scent of her dark curls. "Josh and Sam aren't going to do that," he said. A smile on his face as he pictured his two rambunctious boys. "I won't let them. Now," he said. Pulling back and wiping away the last of her tears. "You go in there and tell them Daddy said to quit terrorizing their little sister, okay?" he grinned as she giggled. He watched as she ambled out the door. Her tiny feet clad in a pair of her mother's old socks. A pink nightshirt with a happy dalmation on the front engulfing her body. She stopped before she was all the way out the door and turned around. Blowing him a sweet kiss. Smiling adorably as he pretended to catch it. He lay back against the pillows with a sigh. There were a lot of things he'd change given a second chance. But how could he ever imagine life without his children?

"Thanks, Honey," his wife mumbled. Her dark head popping out from the covers to give him a quick kiss to the cheek. "Josh and Sam are little monsters," he laughed. "But they're our monsters," he said. Brushing her hair back from her face and placing a chaste kiss to her lips before climbing out of bed. He walked into the living room. Finding the two monsters in question squeezed together in one of their recliners. Watching cartoons and munching on cereal. He couldn't help but laugh when twin pairs of brown eyes turned to him, and he saw the milk dribbling down both their chins. "Hey guys," he laughed. Motioning for them to clean themselves up. "What do you say we do something fun this weekend? Instead of staying here and watching cartoons all day, huh? Want to go to the park?" "Yeah!" they exclaimed in unison. Scrambling from the seat. Their breakfast forgotten. Luis just shook his head as he walked across the room and grabbed their bowls. "Daddy?" Emily asked. Tugging on his hand. "Can we see if Abby can go, too?" "Sure, Em," he said. "Why don't you go call your aunt Paloma now and ask her if it's okay. You remember the phone number, right?" "Daddy," Emily giggled. "I KNOW it. I'm a big girl," she said. Proudly holding up four fingers. "You sure are," he said. Tickling her tummy. When I was your age, I didn't even know what a telephone was," he teased. "Now, shoo with you," he laughed. Scooting her off in the direction of her room. "Go get ready."

Paloma was more than happy to let them take Abby off her hands. With the baby coming in just a couple more months, the three-year-old was almost more than she could handle. Luis could certainly understand why, too. Abby was her father through and through. If someone had told him 6-7 years ago that his sister would be married to his best friend with one adorable daughter and another baby on the way, he'd never have believed it. Luis hoped for his sister's sake that the new baby was nothing like Hank. Poor Paloma was already going to be gray before her time. He grinned as Abby and Em squealed excitedly as the entrance to the park came into view. It was one of their favorite places. Josh and Sam grabbed their gloves from the back seat and ran ahead. Immediately engaging in a game of catch. Abby tagged Em and raced off, yelling "You're it!" He took a seat at the nearest bench and watched them while they played.

"Is this seat taken?" he heard a familiar voice ask. And his heart leapt to his throat. He hadn't seen her.living and breathing since that evening on the beach 7 years ago. He quit breathing for a moment as he just stared at her. She was more beautiful than ever. "Sheridan," he finally whispered in surprise. "I was starting to think the cat had got your tongue, Luis," she teased. A smile playing at her lips. "I didn't.I never." "It's okay," she said softly. Fiddling nervously with the rings on her finger. His dark eyes were drawn to her hands. And it was then he noticed the absence of a wedding band. "I thought." he said. "I did," she said. Staring out ahead. At the children. One child in particular. "But it's been over for a really long time now, Luis. It never really was. It was more of an arrangement. For the good of the family name," she scoffed. "Father must not have been real clear on all the bases when he made the deal with Eric, though. He left me before Katie was even born."

"Katie? You have a daughter?" he asked. Somehow stunned by this news. She looked at him strangely for a moment. Then said simply, "Yes." And pointed to the children. For the first time Luis noticed a little girl. No more than 5 or 6 years old. With shimmering golden hair so much like her mother's. Happily playing tag with Em and Abby. "She's beautiful," he said honestly. Thinking to himself that she must look exactly like her mother at that age. "She's my happiness," Sheridan said softly. Turning those blue eyes on him and taking his hand. He breathed in sharply at her touch, and for a moment, he wished.he wished he could take it all back. Start all over again. But then he heard Em's sweet voice calling "Daddy" and Josh and Sam's cheers. And he didn't know anymore. He had his slice of heaven. He couldn't ask for more. Nothing more but to share it with her. It was almost as if she were reading his mind, knew his thoughts, as she whispered, "In this life, it's impossible, Luis. You have what you've always wanted. This IS what you wanted. Isn't it, Luis?" she asked. Her blue eyes staring straight through him. Down to his very soul. He searched his heart, his mind frantically for the answer. He DID have everything. His entire family. Scattered. But together. He was a lawyer. Like he'd always dreamed. And he was married. With three wonderful children. This isn't how you pictured heaven, is it, Luis? his mind whirled. He closed his eyes. Hoping to stop the sensation. But it only got worse. Why did her voice sound so far away, he wondered as he faded into blackness. What was happening to him?

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"Luis! You can't leave me," he heard someone crying in the distance. It sounded like Sheridan. Why was she crying? He wasn't leaving her. He would never even consider it. He had to tell her that. Reassure her. He loved her. More than anything in the world. He awakened. Blinking his eyes when he was confronted with the harsh light. Where was he? And what made Sheridan so sad? So sad she was crying. He could feel her hot tears soaking the material of his shirt. Slowly, he raised a hand to her hair. Stroking it gently. Confused as she went still in his arms. "Luis?" she whispered. Disbelief evident in her voice. "Luis?" she cried joyfully. Raising her blue eyes to meet his gaze. "You came back to me," she said. Throwing her arms around his neck. "I was afraid I'd lost you. I tried everything. Don't ever leave me again," she sniffled against his neck. She cupped his face in her hands and smiled brilliantly. The sadness gone. "I," she paused. Kissing each eyelid. "Love," she said. Tenderly brushing his cheeks with her lips. "You," she finished. Before brushing her lips gently against his. His mind flashed back to another time. Another place when they kissed. As tears coursed down their faces. This time, though, it was not a kiss farewell. He broke away with a sigh. Tucking a strand of her blond hair back behind her ear and gazing into her eyes. He smiled. "I'm not going anywhere without you. You're stuck with me for an eternity," he whispered. Caressing her cheek. "We'll find out the answers. In our own time," he said. Pulling her into his embrace again. Heaven's not the same without you, he thought as he held her tight. Not the same at all.