Disclaimer-I don't own the characters I write about (with the exception of
the children). They belong to JER and NBC.
This is an old one. Hope you enjoy it. : )
Chapter One:
It was in all the newspapers. Her disappearance. The revelation that she had been kidnapped. The failure to bring her home alive. The father's pain glorified. The husband slighted as if he was at fault.
He couldn't escape it if he tried. He didn't want to escape it. He desperately searched his soul for answers. "Why?" was first and foremost on his mind. She was no longer Harmony's wealthy princess, although their small family did well enough on his detective's salary and the money she brought in from her freelance photography jobs.
No. She'd given it all up for him. She made him the happiest man on earth when she married him five years ago. And she made him an even prouder Papa when their daughter was born three short years ago. He broke down in tears at the thought of their daughter who still cried every night for her mommy, though she'd been missing three months, presumed dead for two.
He was consumed with guilt. She'd brought up the subject of having another child after dinner one night shortly before her disappearance. The idea appealed greatly to him, but things were a little tight lately. She sensed his hesitation and was hurt, he knew. They'd spent much of their remaining time together alternately fighting and not speaking. With regret, he realized they'd never made up.
*******************************************************
Theresa and Miguel felt really connected to their little niece. They knew exactly what it felt like to lose a parent at a very young age. They vowed to help Sheridan live on in her young daughter's heart. Luis's wounds were simply too raw now to give her what she needed.
Luis worked longer hours now than ever. He loved his daughter dearly, but Lily's blond curls and once-sparkling blue eyes were too reminescent of her mother. Luis was having a hard enough time accepting that she was gone. He was gradually getting there, but he still didn't know how he'd ever make it without her.
He dreamt of her every night. The day they met. Their first tango. New Mexico. Their first date. Their second date at the pool hall. That imposter fiasco. His chasing her to Paris and saving her from those French thugs. The joy on her face when he finally admitted he loved her. The indescribable happiness he felt when she said it back. Discovering the amazing feeling of waking up with her in his arms.
He remembered well the day he proposed. Their wedding. Honeymoon in Spain. The day he learned she was pregnant. Lily's birth, first steps, first word. Such precious memories. Then he'd remember their increasing fights in the last weeks before her disappearance, and all his happy dreams became nightmares. He'd wake up to find her side of the bed empty and cold. He'd climb out of bed and make his way to Lily's room and watch his baby sleep ready to soothe any and all her nightmares. Offer what little comfort he could in his own broken state.
Chapter Two:
Alistair Crane glared at his son when he suggested they leave the child with her father. Though he held no special affection for the child, he refused to let anyone of Crane blood be raised in such conditions.
Admittedly, she had Lopez-Fitzgerald blood coursing through her veins also, but he was certain if he got the child under his roof, he could erase any vestiges of her lowly Lopez-Fitzgerald existence away. He'd mold her in the Crane family image.
Hopefully, he'd succeed better than he had with Julian, Sheridan, or Ethan. He'd make her into his own image. Prepare her to rule the Crane family dynasty. Make her heart immune to any fits of conscience and make her the ruthless heir he desired.
*******************************************************
The tears came far less freely and with much less frequency than they had in the beginning. Losing all hope of being rescued, she set her mind to taking care of herself. She dared not incite him to further extremes. She had another life to consider. It wasn't only about her.
She lay her hand protectively over her belly and thought of Lily. And Luis. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered trying to carefully broach the subject of more children with Luis. Things were tight, and she was worried about his reaction so she decided to gently ease him into it.
She tried to convince herself he hadn't meant to react so negatively, but his reaction hurt her deeply nonetheless. To think Luis didn't want this new baby shattered her. They fought ceaselessly, and the tension in their little house was unbearable the days before her real nightmare began.
She never got the chance to tell him about the baby. He, along with everyone else, thought she was dead thanks to a carefully orchestrated plan. Her hopes of escaping, of seeing her sweet little daughter, and most of all, Luis, diminshed daily. Only her determination to bring her child safely into the world kept her going.
*******************************************************
She wasn't the same beautiful, vibrant woman he'd dreamt of making his own for years. Sure, she was still physically beautiful. But the light in her eyes was slowly fading. He couldn't admit defeat. He would not give up. She'd be his. And with time, she'd forget her old life.
Chapter Three:
Luis came home to a horrifying scene. They were taking his baby away. The only part of Sheridan he had left. And there was nothing he could do. He regretted not taking their warnings seriously. They were taking her away, and he had to go to court to fight them.
This couldn't be happening. Tears of anger and desperation flooded his cheeks as Sam and his mother restrained him from ripping his screaming daughter from the social worker's arms as she carried Lily to the car and strapped her in securely. His heart broke into a million pieces as the car pulled out of the drive and out of sight.
*******************************************************
Ethan was furious with his so-called family. How could they do such a thing? Take a child from the only parent she had left. He had to help Luis get her back. Even if it meant single-handedly taking on the almighty Crane family. A family he was ashamed to call his own.
*******************************************************
Ivy watched in disgust as the caring, concerned faces sported by both Alistair and Julian disappeared the moment the maid showed the social worker the door. Julian held the distraught child at length as if she were infected with the plague and called Marie back into the room.
Ivy ignored the harsh looks both Julian and his father gave her and took the little girl in her arms as she dismissed Marie and climbed the stairs to the room prepared for the child. Sheridan's old room. She took Lily over to the window seat and sank down into the pillows rubbing soothing circles on the baby's back and whispering comforting words of nonsense.
After nearly an hour, Lily's desperate hold relaxed, her heartbreaking sobs quieted. Ivy knew she'd finally slipped into an exhausted slumber. Careful not to wake her, she carried the little girl to the bed and gently dressed her in an adorable pink and white pajama set brought from her home.
Lily's tinyness and innocence touched Ivy and reminded her of Sheridan so many years ago. She'd failed Sheridan then. She wouldn't make that mistake again. Somehow, someway, she'd make things right and get Lily back to her father where she belonged and away from the evil Crane family.
Chapter Four:
Lily, like Ethan before her, became Ivy's reason for living. She trusted Ivy and only Ivy. Once, Ivy had clandestinely met Pilar and Luis in the park with the beloved little girl. Their reunion was heartbreaking. Their separation was devastating.
Luis had to pry little Lily's arms from around his neck. Tears covered all their faces as the meeting came to an end. They agreed it would be best not to send Lily mixed signals or for her to experience being ripped from Luis's arms again. Ivy promised to take care of her and remind her everyday how much her father and grandmother and aunt and uncle loved her. And her mommy up in heaven.
*******************************************************
But her mommy wasn't in heaven. Far from it, actually. Of course, he knew about the baby now. She was over six months pregnant and showing. It was a relief, really, that he knew. His first reaction was, as she expected, anger. But acceptance soon replaced the anger. And Sheridan found his madness went beyond all she had ever imagined.
In his eyes, this baby was their baby. He dementedly detailed all his plans for "their bundle of joy" and her in the prison that had become her home. Fear for her ultimate safety and that of her unborn child were what kept Sheridan in line. She couldn't risk anything happening to her baby.
*******************************************************
Ethan poured all of his energy into getting Lily back to Luis. He was doing it for Pilar, Luis and the family, and Lily, but most of all he was doing it for his beloved aunt Sheridan. The pain she'd suffered at his father and grandfather's hands had been more than enough. He wouldn't stand by and let them do the same thing to another innocent. With his mother's help, he was working at taking the Crane empire down, if need be.
*******************************************************
Eve had never liked Ivy Crane, but for once, she was glad for her existence. She obviously adored Lily, and Eve knew Pilar and Luis took some consolation in the fact that she was there for their little angel. If only things hadn't turned out so badly.
Luis and Sheridan were the happy couple six months ago. Now, Sheridan was dead, and her evil family had, in a move she surely would have fought until her last dying breath, taken her daughter away from Luis and his family. Eve had thought Julian possessed a heart somewhere in his being, that deep down he cared for his sister, but she guessed she was wrong. He was too much of a coward to go up against his domineering father. He'd never taken responsibility for any of his family's wrongdoings.
She told Ivy to continue her efforts to bring Lily out of the shell she had retreated into the last few months. They didn't want to lose the child to her sadness.
*******************************************************
Sam was just as worried about Luis. Losing Sheridan was devastating. Losing Lily took away one more reason to live. Everyday, Luis stared at the picture of Sheridan and Lily cuddled together smiling into the camera as if it would bring them back to him. Meanwhile, Ethan worked feverishly on getting Lily back from the Cranes. Sam could only pray that he succeeded.
This is an old one. Hope you enjoy it. : )
Chapter One:
It was in all the newspapers. Her disappearance. The revelation that she had been kidnapped. The failure to bring her home alive. The father's pain glorified. The husband slighted as if he was at fault.
He couldn't escape it if he tried. He didn't want to escape it. He desperately searched his soul for answers. "Why?" was first and foremost on his mind. She was no longer Harmony's wealthy princess, although their small family did well enough on his detective's salary and the money she brought in from her freelance photography jobs.
No. She'd given it all up for him. She made him the happiest man on earth when she married him five years ago. And she made him an even prouder Papa when their daughter was born three short years ago. He broke down in tears at the thought of their daughter who still cried every night for her mommy, though she'd been missing three months, presumed dead for two.
He was consumed with guilt. She'd brought up the subject of having another child after dinner one night shortly before her disappearance. The idea appealed greatly to him, but things were a little tight lately. She sensed his hesitation and was hurt, he knew. They'd spent much of their remaining time together alternately fighting and not speaking. With regret, he realized they'd never made up.
*******************************************************
Theresa and Miguel felt really connected to their little niece. They knew exactly what it felt like to lose a parent at a very young age. They vowed to help Sheridan live on in her young daughter's heart. Luis's wounds were simply too raw now to give her what she needed.
Luis worked longer hours now than ever. He loved his daughter dearly, but Lily's blond curls and once-sparkling blue eyes were too reminescent of her mother. Luis was having a hard enough time accepting that she was gone. He was gradually getting there, but he still didn't know how he'd ever make it without her.
He dreamt of her every night. The day they met. Their first tango. New Mexico. Their first date. Their second date at the pool hall. That imposter fiasco. His chasing her to Paris and saving her from those French thugs. The joy on her face when he finally admitted he loved her. The indescribable happiness he felt when she said it back. Discovering the amazing feeling of waking up with her in his arms.
He remembered well the day he proposed. Their wedding. Honeymoon in Spain. The day he learned she was pregnant. Lily's birth, first steps, first word. Such precious memories. Then he'd remember their increasing fights in the last weeks before her disappearance, and all his happy dreams became nightmares. He'd wake up to find her side of the bed empty and cold. He'd climb out of bed and make his way to Lily's room and watch his baby sleep ready to soothe any and all her nightmares. Offer what little comfort he could in his own broken state.
Chapter Two:
Alistair Crane glared at his son when he suggested they leave the child with her father. Though he held no special affection for the child, he refused to let anyone of Crane blood be raised in such conditions.
Admittedly, she had Lopez-Fitzgerald blood coursing through her veins also, but he was certain if he got the child under his roof, he could erase any vestiges of her lowly Lopez-Fitzgerald existence away. He'd mold her in the Crane family image.
Hopefully, he'd succeed better than he had with Julian, Sheridan, or Ethan. He'd make her into his own image. Prepare her to rule the Crane family dynasty. Make her heart immune to any fits of conscience and make her the ruthless heir he desired.
*******************************************************
The tears came far less freely and with much less frequency than they had in the beginning. Losing all hope of being rescued, she set her mind to taking care of herself. She dared not incite him to further extremes. She had another life to consider. It wasn't only about her.
She lay her hand protectively over her belly and thought of Lily. And Luis. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered trying to carefully broach the subject of more children with Luis. Things were tight, and she was worried about his reaction so she decided to gently ease him into it.
She tried to convince herself he hadn't meant to react so negatively, but his reaction hurt her deeply nonetheless. To think Luis didn't want this new baby shattered her. They fought ceaselessly, and the tension in their little house was unbearable the days before her real nightmare began.
She never got the chance to tell him about the baby. He, along with everyone else, thought she was dead thanks to a carefully orchestrated plan. Her hopes of escaping, of seeing her sweet little daughter, and most of all, Luis, diminshed daily. Only her determination to bring her child safely into the world kept her going.
*******************************************************
She wasn't the same beautiful, vibrant woman he'd dreamt of making his own for years. Sure, she was still physically beautiful. But the light in her eyes was slowly fading. He couldn't admit defeat. He would not give up. She'd be his. And with time, she'd forget her old life.
Chapter Three:
Luis came home to a horrifying scene. They were taking his baby away. The only part of Sheridan he had left. And there was nothing he could do. He regretted not taking their warnings seriously. They were taking her away, and he had to go to court to fight them.
This couldn't be happening. Tears of anger and desperation flooded his cheeks as Sam and his mother restrained him from ripping his screaming daughter from the social worker's arms as she carried Lily to the car and strapped her in securely. His heart broke into a million pieces as the car pulled out of the drive and out of sight.
*******************************************************
Ethan was furious with his so-called family. How could they do such a thing? Take a child from the only parent she had left. He had to help Luis get her back. Even if it meant single-handedly taking on the almighty Crane family. A family he was ashamed to call his own.
*******************************************************
Ivy watched in disgust as the caring, concerned faces sported by both Alistair and Julian disappeared the moment the maid showed the social worker the door. Julian held the distraught child at length as if she were infected with the plague and called Marie back into the room.
Ivy ignored the harsh looks both Julian and his father gave her and took the little girl in her arms as she dismissed Marie and climbed the stairs to the room prepared for the child. Sheridan's old room. She took Lily over to the window seat and sank down into the pillows rubbing soothing circles on the baby's back and whispering comforting words of nonsense.
After nearly an hour, Lily's desperate hold relaxed, her heartbreaking sobs quieted. Ivy knew she'd finally slipped into an exhausted slumber. Careful not to wake her, she carried the little girl to the bed and gently dressed her in an adorable pink and white pajama set brought from her home.
Lily's tinyness and innocence touched Ivy and reminded her of Sheridan so many years ago. She'd failed Sheridan then. She wouldn't make that mistake again. Somehow, someway, she'd make things right and get Lily back to her father where she belonged and away from the evil Crane family.
Chapter Four:
Lily, like Ethan before her, became Ivy's reason for living. She trusted Ivy and only Ivy. Once, Ivy had clandestinely met Pilar and Luis in the park with the beloved little girl. Their reunion was heartbreaking. Their separation was devastating.
Luis had to pry little Lily's arms from around his neck. Tears covered all their faces as the meeting came to an end. They agreed it would be best not to send Lily mixed signals or for her to experience being ripped from Luis's arms again. Ivy promised to take care of her and remind her everyday how much her father and grandmother and aunt and uncle loved her. And her mommy up in heaven.
*******************************************************
But her mommy wasn't in heaven. Far from it, actually. Of course, he knew about the baby now. She was over six months pregnant and showing. It was a relief, really, that he knew. His first reaction was, as she expected, anger. But acceptance soon replaced the anger. And Sheridan found his madness went beyond all she had ever imagined.
In his eyes, this baby was their baby. He dementedly detailed all his plans for "their bundle of joy" and her in the prison that had become her home. Fear for her ultimate safety and that of her unborn child were what kept Sheridan in line. She couldn't risk anything happening to her baby.
*******************************************************
Ethan poured all of his energy into getting Lily back to Luis. He was doing it for Pilar, Luis and the family, and Lily, but most of all he was doing it for his beloved aunt Sheridan. The pain she'd suffered at his father and grandfather's hands had been more than enough. He wouldn't stand by and let them do the same thing to another innocent. With his mother's help, he was working at taking the Crane empire down, if need be.
*******************************************************
Eve had never liked Ivy Crane, but for once, she was glad for her existence. She obviously adored Lily, and Eve knew Pilar and Luis took some consolation in the fact that she was there for their little angel. If only things hadn't turned out so badly.
Luis and Sheridan were the happy couple six months ago. Now, Sheridan was dead, and her evil family had, in a move she surely would have fought until her last dying breath, taken her daughter away from Luis and his family. Eve had thought Julian possessed a heart somewhere in his being, that deep down he cared for his sister, but she guessed she was wrong. He was too much of a coward to go up against his domineering father. He'd never taken responsibility for any of his family's wrongdoings.
She told Ivy to continue her efforts to bring Lily out of the shell she had retreated into the last few months. They didn't want to lose the child to her sadness.
*******************************************************
Sam was just as worried about Luis. Losing Sheridan was devastating. Losing Lily took away one more reason to live. Everyday, Luis stared at the picture of Sheridan and Lily cuddled together smiling into the camera as if it would bring them back to him. Meanwhile, Ethan worked feverishly on getting Lily back from the Cranes. Sam could only pray that he succeeded.