Chapter 17
Luis shocked the entire community of Harmony by moving back into Pilar's house with her and Miguel. Theresa and Ethan had rented their own apartment. Nobody could believe it had come to this. Luis and Sheridan were the perfect couple. Death couldn't separate them. Pilar prayed they'd find a way to work things out. Thanksgiving and Christmas were coming up. Everything had to be worked out by the holidays.
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Eve watched in concern as Sheridan broke down in tears during Ryan's check- up. She asked a nurse to keep a watchful eye on Ryan and Lily while she tended to Sheridan. Lily looked terrified. Frankly, Eve was a little scared herself. Things were really looking bad. Sheridan wasn't doing so well. She was an emotional mess. She didn't need to be alone, but she wouldn't let Eve bother Pilar, and she wouldn't hear of her calling Luis.
Thankfully, Miguel, Kay, and Simone dropped by to see if Eve wanted to grab some lunch, and Eve convinced them to take Lily and Ryan to the park while she saw that Sheridan made it home safely. She was prescribing a sedative and didn't think Sheridan could handle the kids right now. It took everything she had to convince Sheridan to take the sedative. She finally promised she'd look after the children herself, so Luis and Pilar wouldn't find out how distraught she was.
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Kay watched Miguel in awe. He was so good with Lily and Ryan. She was so lost in her thoughts of their own future children, she didn't hear Simone until the third time she said, "Kay?!" Finally, she turned to Simone with an absent-minded, "Mm?" Simone repeated once again, "Luis and Sheridan sure make beautiful children. It's so sad they're having problems right now. After all they've been through." Kay agreed with Simone saying, "They'll find their way back to each other. Look at their incentive. Plus, those two love each other more than anybody I know."
And with that, Kay went to take a fussy Ryan from Miguel's arms. Miguel and Simone watched in amazement as Ryan calmed down almost immediately and laid his little head against Kay's shoulder. Simone took one of Lily's hands while Miguel took the other, and they made their way back to the Russell home where T.C. and Eve greeted them.
Kay and Miguel said their goodbyes, and Miguel walked Kay home. Sam watched from the kitchen window as the two shared a kiss goodbye. He smiled as he felt Grace's arms link through his own and wrap around his waist. He nodded his head in agreement as Grace said, "They make a cute couple, don't they?" Then he said, "It just took them, and everyone else in this town almost too long to figure it out."
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Eve tried everything she could think of to console Lily and keep her mind off of how sad her mommy was. Not even a visit to Grace's to get some cookies would help. T.C. and Simone weren't having any luck with Ryan, either. He sure was a hot-tempered child. Truly a child of Sheridan and Luis.
He obviously missed his mother, but calling Sheridan was out of the question. She desperately needed the rest. And Eve couldn't go against her wishes and call either Pilar or Luis. But she had one final idea, and she hoped that it worked.
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Theresa and Ethan came over right away. Theresa had the magic touch with Ryan. And Lily adored Ethan. They obligingly took the children off of Eve and T.C.'s hands. Simone breathed a huge sigh of relief when Ethan and Theresa pulled out of the driveway. T.C. jokingly said, "Sugar bear, I don't think I'm quite ready for those grandkids, yet." Eve and Simone's laughter rang throughout the house.
Chapter 18
For once on Thanksgiving, Julian was in a celebratory mood. All his children were home and happy. Especially Ethan. Theresa had his head in the clouds. He and Ivy, dare he say it, now had a "real" marriage--not one of convenience.
And his relationship with Sheridan was truly that of a close brother and sister. He immensely enjoyed the company of his niece and nephew. But, as much as he never fathomed he'd say it, one particularly important person was missing. Luis. Without him, the perfect yet unconventional family gathering was incomplete. Even Pilar was in attendance.
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Miguel spent Thanksgiving with the Bennetts. But this time, he was with Kay. Not Charity. Charity and Reese had been unable to make it. Jessica and Noah were home, though, and joined them, Eve, T.C., Whitney, Chad, and Simone in giving thanks for all their blessings. They said a prayer for Luis on assignment in Boston.
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Pilar couldn't believe it had went this far. Legal separation. And by messenger no less. The least Luis could do was have the guts to do this in person. He was giving up without a fight. Leaving Sheridan and the children without truly going to the line for them. Sheridan was beside herself. Pilar was furious with her son. This wasn't like him at all.
Chapter 19
He showed up on her doorstep a week later wanting to see the kids. She started to slam the door in his face, but Lily spotted him before she could and excitedly launched herself into his arms squealing "Daddy!" She couldn't deny her kids their father so she wordlessly grabbed her purse and her car keys and rushed outside. She was gone so long, Luis left the kids with his mother when he left for the station.
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The weeks before Christmas passed quickly. Christmas Eve was unusually somber as Luis visited the children for a few hours then left them and Sheridan alone. Pilar, Ivy, Julian, Theresa, Ethan, Miguel--they didn't want to leave Sheridan alone. Luis was going to miss Ryan's first Christmas.
Sheridan fought back tears all night. But, finally, everyone had to go home. The children, thank goodness, had finally drifted off to sleep. Sheridan wouldn't be making Midnight Mass this year. But Pilar promised to keep her in her prayers. With determination, Sheridan set out to make sure Santa visited and made Ryan and Lily's wishes come true.
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An hour after everybody left, Luis showed up on Sheridan's doorstep. He looked as if he had been crying. He crossed the threshhold to Sheridan and wiped her tears from her cheeks and said, "I can't do this anymore. Be away from you and Lily and Ryan. It's killing me inside. I'm not giving up on us, Sheridan. I'm not spending another day away from you guys. I'm coming home. I love you and Lily and Ryan too much to just give up." By now, fresh tears were in both of their eyes. Sheridan threw her arms around Luis's neck and told him "I love you, so very much," before kissing him like she'd wanted to for so long.
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Sheridan woke up to find herself alone in bed. The sunlight was streaming through the windows, and snow was falling outside. She became overwhelmed at that moment. Had she dreamt last night, or had it really happened?
Just when she was about to panic and tear up once again, she heard the voice she loved so much say, "Look who's awake, Ryan. Mommy. Let's go say good morning." When he got to the bed, he crawled under the covers and handed Ryan to Sheridan with a kiss to his forehead.
He looked into Sheridan's eyes. He could still see some of the worry from a few moments ago. Kissing her gently, he murmured, "Never. I'm never leaving you guys again." He leaned in to kiss her again, when Ryan--spouting baby gibberish--grabbed a handful of his hair. Laughing, Sheridan carefully pried Luis's hair from Ryan's chubby little hands. Luis took Ryan from her as she got up to check on Lily. Luis carried Ryan into the living room where the Christmas tree was with a whole bunch of presents underneath it.
Minutes later, Sheridan came in with Lily in her arms. Lily was crying saying Santa hadn't brought her what she wanted most. Quietly, Luis snuck up behind Lily, and when he got a step away from her and Sheridan, he asked, "What's that, baby? What did you want most?" Lily's heartfelt "Oh, Daddy!" gave him the answer he was seeking.
Chapter 20
Theresa was so excited. This was her and Ethan's first Christmas as a couple. She had a big surprise for him. She was happy but nervous at the same time. She was just bursting to tell him.
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Ethan was so anxious about his own special present to Theresa that he didn't notice her excitement. He checked his pocket one more time. This was one present she wasn't going to find under the Christmas tree.
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Simultaneously, they began to talk after opening all the presents under the tree. "Theresa..."
"Ethan..."
"You go first."
"No, you."
"I..."
"I'm..."
"Theresa, will you marry me?"
"I'm pregnant."
"What?"
"Yes, Ethan."
"You're pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I'm pregnant, and yes a thousand times yes, I'll marry you!"
Ethan swept her into his arms and twirled her around before setting her safely down on her feet. He opened up the box, got down on bended knee, and asked her once again.
This time when she answered yes, he slipped the beautiful diamond engagement ring on her finger. He had tears of happiness in his eyes as he held her hand to his face and laid his cheek against her stomach imagining what their baby would look like and how beautiful Theresa would look on their wedding day. It was the happiest Christmas either had experienced.
Luis shocked the entire community of Harmony by moving back into Pilar's house with her and Miguel. Theresa and Ethan had rented their own apartment. Nobody could believe it had come to this. Luis and Sheridan were the perfect couple. Death couldn't separate them. Pilar prayed they'd find a way to work things out. Thanksgiving and Christmas were coming up. Everything had to be worked out by the holidays.
------------------------------------------------------------
Eve watched in concern as Sheridan broke down in tears during Ryan's check- up. She asked a nurse to keep a watchful eye on Ryan and Lily while she tended to Sheridan. Lily looked terrified. Frankly, Eve was a little scared herself. Things were really looking bad. Sheridan wasn't doing so well. She was an emotional mess. She didn't need to be alone, but she wouldn't let Eve bother Pilar, and she wouldn't hear of her calling Luis.
Thankfully, Miguel, Kay, and Simone dropped by to see if Eve wanted to grab some lunch, and Eve convinced them to take Lily and Ryan to the park while she saw that Sheridan made it home safely. She was prescribing a sedative and didn't think Sheridan could handle the kids right now. It took everything she had to convince Sheridan to take the sedative. She finally promised she'd look after the children herself, so Luis and Pilar wouldn't find out how distraught she was.
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Kay watched Miguel in awe. He was so good with Lily and Ryan. She was so lost in her thoughts of their own future children, she didn't hear Simone until the third time she said, "Kay?!" Finally, she turned to Simone with an absent-minded, "Mm?" Simone repeated once again, "Luis and Sheridan sure make beautiful children. It's so sad they're having problems right now. After all they've been through." Kay agreed with Simone saying, "They'll find their way back to each other. Look at their incentive. Plus, those two love each other more than anybody I know."
And with that, Kay went to take a fussy Ryan from Miguel's arms. Miguel and Simone watched in amazement as Ryan calmed down almost immediately and laid his little head against Kay's shoulder. Simone took one of Lily's hands while Miguel took the other, and they made their way back to the Russell home where T.C. and Eve greeted them.
Kay and Miguel said their goodbyes, and Miguel walked Kay home. Sam watched from the kitchen window as the two shared a kiss goodbye. He smiled as he felt Grace's arms link through his own and wrap around his waist. He nodded his head in agreement as Grace said, "They make a cute couple, don't they?" Then he said, "It just took them, and everyone else in this town almost too long to figure it out."
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Eve tried everything she could think of to console Lily and keep her mind off of how sad her mommy was. Not even a visit to Grace's to get some cookies would help. T.C. and Simone weren't having any luck with Ryan, either. He sure was a hot-tempered child. Truly a child of Sheridan and Luis.
He obviously missed his mother, but calling Sheridan was out of the question. She desperately needed the rest. And Eve couldn't go against her wishes and call either Pilar or Luis. But she had one final idea, and she hoped that it worked.
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Theresa and Ethan came over right away. Theresa had the magic touch with Ryan. And Lily adored Ethan. They obligingly took the children off of Eve and T.C.'s hands. Simone breathed a huge sigh of relief when Ethan and Theresa pulled out of the driveway. T.C. jokingly said, "Sugar bear, I don't think I'm quite ready for those grandkids, yet." Eve and Simone's laughter rang throughout the house.
Chapter 18
For once on Thanksgiving, Julian was in a celebratory mood. All his children were home and happy. Especially Ethan. Theresa had his head in the clouds. He and Ivy, dare he say it, now had a "real" marriage--not one of convenience.
And his relationship with Sheridan was truly that of a close brother and sister. He immensely enjoyed the company of his niece and nephew. But, as much as he never fathomed he'd say it, one particularly important person was missing. Luis. Without him, the perfect yet unconventional family gathering was incomplete. Even Pilar was in attendance.
------------------------------------------------------------
Miguel spent Thanksgiving with the Bennetts. But this time, he was with Kay. Not Charity. Charity and Reese had been unable to make it. Jessica and Noah were home, though, and joined them, Eve, T.C., Whitney, Chad, and Simone in giving thanks for all their blessings. They said a prayer for Luis on assignment in Boston.
------------------------------------------------------------
Pilar couldn't believe it had went this far. Legal separation. And by messenger no less. The least Luis could do was have the guts to do this in person. He was giving up without a fight. Leaving Sheridan and the children without truly going to the line for them. Sheridan was beside herself. Pilar was furious with her son. This wasn't like him at all.
Chapter 19
He showed up on her doorstep a week later wanting to see the kids. She started to slam the door in his face, but Lily spotted him before she could and excitedly launched herself into his arms squealing "Daddy!" She couldn't deny her kids their father so she wordlessly grabbed her purse and her car keys and rushed outside. She was gone so long, Luis left the kids with his mother when he left for the station.
------------------------------------------------------------
The weeks before Christmas passed quickly. Christmas Eve was unusually somber as Luis visited the children for a few hours then left them and Sheridan alone. Pilar, Ivy, Julian, Theresa, Ethan, Miguel--they didn't want to leave Sheridan alone. Luis was going to miss Ryan's first Christmas.
Sheridan fought back tears all night. But, finally, everyone had to go home. The children, thank goodness, had finally drifted off to sleep. Sheridan wouldn't be making Midnight Mass this year. But Pilar promised to keep her in her prayers. With determination, Sheridan set out to make sure Santa visited and made Ryan and Lily's wishes come true.
------------------------------------------------------------
An hour after everybody left, Luis showed up on Sheridan's doorstep. He looked as if he had been crying. He crossed the threshhold to Sheridan and wiped her tears from her cheeks and said, "I can't do this anymore. Be away from you and Lily and Ryan. It's killing me inside. I'm not giving up on us, Sheridan. I'm not spending another day away from you guys. I'm coming home. I love you and Lily and Ryan too much to just give up." By now, fresh tears were in both of their eyes. Sheridan threw her arms around Luis's neck and told him "I love you, so very much," before kissing him like she'd wanted to for so long.
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Sheridan woke up to find herself alone in bed. The sunlight was streaming through the windows, and snow was falling outside. She became overwhelmed at that moment. Had she dreamt last night, or had it really happened?
Just when she was about to panic and tear up once again, she heard the voice she loved so much say, "Look who's awake, Ryan. Mommy. Let's go say good morning." When he got to the bed, he crawled under the covers and handed Ryan to Sheridan with a kiss to his forehead.
He looked into Sheridan's eyes. He could still see some of the worry from a few moments ago. Kissing her gently, he murmured, "Never. I'm never leaving you guys again." He leaned in to kiss her again, when Ryan--spouting baby gibberish--grabbed a handful of his hair. Laughing, Sheridan carefully pried Luis's hair from Ryan's chubby little hands. Luis took Ryan from her as she got up to check on Lily. Luis carried Ryan into the living room where the Christmas tree was with a whole bunch of presents underneath it.
Minutes later, Sheridan came in with Lily in her arms. Lily was crying saying Santa hadn't brought her what she wanted most. Quietly, Luis snuck up behind Lily, and when he got a step away from her and Sheridan, he asked, "What's that, baby? What did you want most?" Lily's heartfelt "Oh, Daddy!" gave him the answer he was seeking.
Chapter 20
Theresa was so excited. This was her and Ethan's first Christmas as a couple. She had a big surprise for him. She was happy but nervous at the same time. She was just bursting to tell him.
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Ethan was so anxious about his own special present to Theresa that he didn't notice her excitement. He checked his pocket one more time. This was one present she wasn't going to find under the Christmas tree.
------------------------------------------------------------
Simultaneously, they began to talk after opening all the presents under the tree. "Theresa..."
"Ethan..."
"You go first."
"No, you."
"I..."
"I'm..."
"Theresa, will you marry me?"
"I'm pregnant."
"What?"
"Yes, Ethan."
"You're pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I'm pregnant, and yes a thousand times yes, I'll marry you!"
Ethan swept her into his arms and twirled her around before setting her safely down on her feet. He opened up the box, got down on bended knee, and asked her once again.
This time when she answered yes, he slipped the beautiful diamond engagement ring on her finger. He had tears of happiness in his eyes as he held her hand to his face and laid his cheek against her stomach imagining what their baby would look like and how beautiful Theresa would look on their wedding day. It was the happiest Christmas either had experienced.