Chapter 23
Luis's arm lingered around Sheridan's waist as he turned to her with a wry smile on his lips. "He's lying, right? He's just saying that to keep me away from you. You can't be married to him. I stopped the wedding." Endless tears coursed down Sheridan's cheeks. Her mouth worked but the words wouldn't come out. "Tell him, Darling," Colin urged. "It was beautiful, wasn't it? A wedding in the clouds." Luis's brown eyes glittered with growing dread. The look on Sheridan's face. "Sherry," he whispered. Brushing her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "Tell me it isn't true. Please." he pleaded. Cupping her face in both his hands and pulling her close. Staring deep in her azure eyes. "Tell me," he whispered. Kissing her gently. Feeling her tremble at his touch. "Luis," she cried. Clinging to his shoulders. "Don't. Please don't. You have to stop," she said brokenly. Removing his hands from her face. "You have to." "No," Luis said forcefully. "You're not married to him. You can't be." "But she is," Colin smirked. Grabbing her by the wrist and putting even more distance between her and Luis. "We felt bad we cheated all our friends and family out of the ceremony. This is all just for show, Lopez- Fitzgerald," Colin said. Gesturing to the hundreds of guests. Riveted to their seats.
Ivy turned in her seat to glare at her father-in-law. "You evil bastard," she hissed. "How could you? How could you force her into marrying a man twice her age? A man just as dirty as you?" Alistair didn't even blink at her accusations. "My daughter, as I'm sure you know, has this unerring loyalty to those she loves. This need to protect them. I simply gave her a choice. Her life or the man she loves." Ivy held a shaky hand to her mouth. "You threatened him. Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "With what, Alistair? What has he done wrong beside care for her?" His cold blue eyes glittered angrily. "I forgot. You don't NEED a reason to do the devil's work. I hope you rot in Hell with him," she cursed. Rising from her seat and stalking over to Sheridan. Wrapping a consoling arm around her shoulders and daring Colin to say a word as she commanded, "Not out here. Can't you see what you're doing to her?" She squeezed Sheridan's shoulders gently and led her down the aisle. Luis and Colin hot on their heels. Alistair started to follow, but Julian held a restraining hand to his arm. Voice dripping with distaste as he said, "What's done is done, Father. You got your wish. You married her off to that.she can never be with Pilar's son again. Besides," he sighed. "It's not like you're not going to be able to see everything in technicolor later." Alistair smiled. Pleased at his son's reminder. "What are you sitting here for, Julian?" he growled a second later. "Do something with the guests. Move them to the pavilion. Eat. Drink. Be merry," he ordered. Watching his son tread wearily to stand beside the bewildered priest and clear his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen."
Gwen threw her bouquet of roses to the ground. Trampling them in disgust. "This isn't how it was supposed to happen! Ugh!" Ethan's blue eyes darted around in embarrassment. "I think they're already dead, Gwen," he cringed as she ground the petals into fine pieces under the heel of her shoe. "Gwen!" he grasped her shoulder. "That's NOT going to help my aunt Sheridan." "I know that," Gwen rolled her brown eyes. "But it's helping me. I hate your grandfather, Ethan. I hate him. In fact, I hate all the men in your whole damn family. Except for you," she quickly amended. "They're all heartless pigs. Promise me something, Ethan," she said seriously. "Don't let him ruin you, too. You're still pretty okay," she mumbled. Crossing her arms over her chest awkwardly. Ethan's face broke out into a silly grin, and he puffed his puny adolescent chest out in a ridiculous display of bravado. "Thanks, Gwen." Gwen looked at him like he was a monster with three heads. "Get over yourself, Ethan Crane. I didn't say you were God's gift to women. I said you were okay. As in not bad. But not perfect, either. Forget the macho act. It doesn't suit you. You just look stupid," she shook her head. Effectively taking a pin to his inflated ego.
"Sheridan," Ivy said softly. "Here. Drink this, Darling," she suggested in a soothing whisper. Rubbing Sheridan's back comfortingly as she sipped the cool water. Her blue-green eyes looked over Sheridan's shoulder to meet Luis's concerned brown eyes. And the bored, disinterested gray eyes of the man who was now her husband. Oh god, she thought. Her heart aching for the two young people beside her. HOW were they going to get through this? "Sheridan," she said gently. Taking the glass from her hands and setting it down on the table beside them. "I'm going to leave you two here to talk. Do you think you'll be okay?" Sheridan blinked back the tears and nodded her head slowly. Not daring to look up from the ground until Colin's half-hearted protests and Ivy's raised voice faded in the distance.
"Princess," Luis murmured. When they were finally, really and truly, alone. "Look at me, Sheridan," he insisted. Taking her chin in his hands and making her look him in the eyes. "You don't have to stay married to him. I know your father forced you into doing it. I know you don't love him. Because." "Because what Luis? Say it," she whispered. "Because you love me just as much as I love you," he whispered. Tears springing to his brown eyes for the first time as he lay her hand over his chest. Over his heart. "I can see it in your eyes, Princess. It's been there from the very beginning. It just took me a long time to recognize it for what it is. And then realize I felt the exact same way. I'm sorry the first time I told you I loved you had to be like that," he apologized. Threading his fingers through her golden curls. "I should have told you.I knew I loved you the first moment I lay eyes on you." Her blue eyes glistened. Confusion evident. "I knew I loved you then. Before I met you." "I.I don't understand," she shook her head.
He smiled at her. "Do you remember your first night back in Harmony?" "Yes," she said. Still bewildered about the direction the conversation was going in. "I saw you," he said simply. "I saw you on the beach that night," he continued. "And you captivated me, Princess. You were so beautiful." he trailed off. "You ARE beautiful," he sighed. "And even though I didn't realize it until now, that was the moment I fell in love with you. I'll love you forever," he vowed. "Forever." Sheridan's hands rested on his chest as his lips met hers in tender kiss, and the feelings were overwhelming. Her fists clenched the thin material of his shirt as his hands framed her face, and he took her breath away. Kissing her deeper. More passionately. Desperately in his efforts to have her even closer. "Run away with me again, Princess," he pleaded raggedly. His lips brushing across the line of her cheekbone. Her temple. "We'll leave all this behind.we'll be together."
"No," she cried. Pushing him away weakly. Father'd ruin you, she thought. "We can't. What about your family, Luis? What about them? Your little sisters and your brother? They need their big brother. Pilar needs you." "They'll understand," Luis answered. "And one day.one day we'll come back home to them." "Listen to yourself, Luis. You love your family. You can't leave them.," she shook her head. "And you haven't even thought about the fact that I'm married, have you?" she said shakily. The words sounding wrong on her tongue. Her husband should love her. She should love him with her whole heart and being. Not fear him like she did Colin. "Stop saying that," Luis insisted. "It's not.your father forced you to marry him. You don't love him. I know you don't." She was silent. "Sheridan.you don't care for Colin. Do you?" he asked with growing uncertainty. The realization she'd yet to say the words back to him. She'd yet to tell him she loved him. Just as much as he loved her. Was that love shining in her beautiful blue eyes? Or just wishful thinking on his part? He didn't know anything anymore. He thought she was stronger. That no matter what, she'd be able to resist her father. And NOT wed herself to.
"That's the man," a gloating voice announced. "I want you to arrest him and get him off this property." Sheridan whirled around to meet Colin's cold eyes. And the even colder eyes of her father. "Chief Bennett," Alistair spoke. "I also want to press charges against the man." No, she screamed silently. No! Father, you promised! We had a deal. No, no, no, no! This isn't happening! "Charges of what?" Luis demanded to know. Chief Bennett sighed and directed his officers forward. "Luis Lopez- Fitzgerald, you are under arrest." The voices of the young officers as they read him his rights faded into the background as Luis surged forward. Enraged. But Sheridan stepped in. "Luis! No!" she cried. "Please," she pleaded. "They're not worth it," she told him. Leaning her forehead against his. "They're not worth it," she cried. He wanted to rip both monsters limb from limb for the pain they were causing her at this moment. "I'll figure something out, Luis. I promise," she vowed as she kissed him one last time. The salt of her tears lingering on his lips. "I promise," she called after him as the officers pulled him from her. And out the door. "Sheridan!" Luis yelled. His cries of "Sheridan" echoed in her ears as she turned glittering blue eyes on her father. "I hate you!" she raged. "We had a deal. You promised." Alistair shook his head at her in disgust. "You should know better, Sheridan, than to trust my word. She's all yours now, Colin. Do with her as you wish," he laughed cruelly as the door slammed behind him. Ivy's heart broke as Sheridan's screams reverberated through the halls of the grand Crane Mansion. And the music outside reached a crescendo.
Luis's arm lingered around Sheridan's waist as he turned to her with a wry smile on his lips. "He's lying, right? He's just saying that to keep me away from you. You can't be married to him. I stopped the wedding." Endless tears coursed down Sheridan's cheeks. Her mouth worked but the words wouldn't come out. "Tell him, Darling," Colin urged. "It was beautiful, wasn't it? A wedding in the clouds." Luis's brown eyes glittered with growing dread. The look on Sheridan's face. "Sherry," he whispered. Brushing her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "Tell me it isn't true. Please." he pleaded. Cupping her face in both his hands and pulling her close. Staring deep in her azure eyes. "Tell me," he whispered. Kissing her gently. Feeling her tremble at his touch. "Luis," she cried. Clinging to his shoulders. "Don't. Please don't. You have to stop," she said brokenly. Removing his hands from her face. "You have to." "No," Luis said forcefully. "You're not married to him. You can't be." "But she is," Colin smirked. Grabbing her by the wrist and putting even more distance between her and Luis. "We felt bad we cheated all our friends and family out of the ceremony. This is all just for show, Lopez- Fitzgerald," Colin said. Gesturing to the hundreds of guests. Riveted to their seats.
Ivy turned in her seat to glare at her father-in-law. "You evil bastard," she hissed. "How could you? How could you force her into marrying a man twice her age? A man just as dirty as you?" Alistair didn't even blink at her accusations. "My daughter, as I'm sure you know, has this unerring loyalty to those she loves. This need to protect them. I simply gave her a choice. Her life or the man she loves." Ivy held a shaky hand to her mouth. "You threatened him. Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "With what, Alistair? What has he done wrong beside care for her?" His cold blue eyes glittered angrily. "I forgot. You don't NEED a reason to do the devil's work. I hope you rot in Hell with him," she cursed. Rising from her seat and stalking over to Sheridan. Wrapping a consoling arm around her shoulders and daring Colin to say a word as she commanded, "Not out here. Can't you see what you're doing to her?" She squeezed Sheridan's shoulders gently and led her down the aisle. Luis and Colin hot on their heels. Alistair started to follow, but Julian held a restraining hand to his arm. Voice dripping with distaste as he said, "What's done is done, Father. You got your wish. You married her off to that.she can never be with Pilar's son again. Besides," he sighed. "It's not like you're not going to be able to see everything in technicolor later." Alistair smiled. Pleased at his son's reminder. "What are you sitting here for, Julian?" he growled a second later. "Do something with the guests. Move them to the pavilion. Eat. Drink. Be merry," he ordered. Watching his son tread wearily to stand beside the bewildered priest and clear his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen."
Gwen threw her bouquet of roses to the ground. Trampling them in disgust. "This isn't how it was supposed to happen! Ugh!" Ethan's blue eyes darted around in embarrassment. "I think they're already dead, Gwen," he cringed as she ground the petals into fine pieces under the heel of her shoe. "Gwen!" he grasped her shoulder. "That's NOT going to help my aunt Sheridan." "I know that," Gwen rolled her brown eyes. "But it's helping me. I hate your grandfather, Ethan. I hate him. In fact, I hate all the men in your whole damn family. Except for you," she quickly amended. "They're all heartless pigs. Promise me something, Ethan," she said seriously. "Don't let him ruin you, too. You're still pretty okay," she mumbled. Crossing her arms over her chest awkwardly. Ethan's face broke out into a silly grin, and he puffed his puny adolescent chest out in a ridiculous display of bravado. "Thanks, Gwen." Gwen looked at him like he was a monster with three heads. "Get over yourself, Ethan Crane. I didn't say you were God's gift to women. I said you were okay. As in not bad. But not perfect, either. Forget the macho act. It doesn't suit you. You just look stupid," she shook her head. Effectively taking a pin to his inflated ego.
"Sheridan," Ivy said softly. "Here. Drink this, Darling," she suggested in a soothing whisper. Rubbing Sheridan's back comfortingly as she sipped the cool water. Her blue-green eyes looked over Sheridan's shoulder to meet Luis's concerned brown eyes. And the bored, disinterested gray eyes of the man who was now her husband. Oh god, she thought. Her heart aching for the two young people beside her. HOW were they going to get through this? "Sheridan," she said gently. Taking the glass from her hands and setting it down on the table beside them. "I'm going to leave you two here to talk. Do you think you'll be okay?" Sheridan blinked back the tears and nodded her head slowly. Not daring to look up from the ground until Colin's half-hearted protests and Ivy's raised voice faded in the distance.
"Princess," Luis murmured. When they were finally, really and truly, alone. "Look at me, Sheridan," he insisted. Taking her chin in his hands and making her look him in the eyes. "You don't have to stay married to him. I know your father forced you into doing it. I know you don't love him. Because." "Because what Luis? Say it," she whispered. "Because you love me just as much as I love you," he whispered. Tears springing to his brown eyes for the first time as he lay her hand over his chest. Over his heart. "I can see it in your eyes, Princess. It's been there from the very beginning. It just took me a long time to recognize it for what it is. And then realize I felt the exact same way. I'm sorry the first time I told you I loved you had to be like that," he apologized. Threading his fingers through her golden curls. "I should have told you.I knew I loved you the first moment I lay eyes on you." Her blue eyes glistened. Confusion evident. "I knew I loved you then. Before I met you." "I.I don't understand," she shook her head.
He smiled at her. "Do you remember your first night back in Harmony?" "Yes," she said. Still bewildered about the direction the conversation was going in. "I saw you," he said simply. "I saw you on the beach that night," he continued. "And you captivated me, Princess. You were so beautiful." he trailed off. "You ARE beautiful," he sighed. "And even though I didn't realize it until now, that was the moment I fell in love with you. I'll love you forever," he vowed. "Forever." Sheridan's hands rested on his chest as his lips met hers in tender kiss, and the feelings were overwhelming. Her fists clenched the thin material of his shirt as his hands framed her face, and he took her breath away. Kissing her deeper. More passionately. Desperately in his efforts to have her even closer. "Run away with me again, Princess," he pleaded raggedly. His lips brushing across the line of her cheekbone. Her temple. "We'll leave all this behind.we'll be together."
"No," she cried. Pushing him away weakly. Father'd ruin you, she thought. "We can't. What about your family, Luis? What about them? Your little sisters and your brother? They need their big brother. Pilar needs you." "They'll understand," Luis answered. "And one day.one day we'll come back home to them." "Listen to yourself, Luis. You love your family. You can't leave them.," she shook her head. "And you haven't even thought about the fact that I'm married, have you?" she said shakily. The words sounding wrong on her tongue. Her husband should love her. She should love him with her whole heart and being. Not fear him like she did Colin. "Stop saying that," Luis insisted. "It's not.your father forced you to marry him. You don't love him. I know you don't." She was silent. "Sheridan.you don't care for Colin. Do you?" he asked with growing uncertainty. The realization she'd yet to say the words back to him. She'd yet to tell him she loved him. Just as much as he loved her. Was that love shining in her beautiful blue eyes? Or just wishful thinking on his part? He didn't know anything anymore. He thought she was stronger. That no matter what, she'd be able to resist her father. And NOT wed herself to.
"That's the man," a gloating voice announced. "I want you to arrest him and get him off this property." Sheridan whirled around to meet Colin's cold eyes. And the even colder eyes of her father. "Chief Bennett," Alistair spoke. "I also want to press charges against the man." No, she screamed silently. No! Father, you promised! We had a deal. No, no, no, no! This isn't happening! "Charges of what?" Luis demanded to know. Chief Bennett sighed and directed his officers forward. "Luis Lopez- Fitzgerald, you are under arrest." The voices of the young officers as they read him his rights faded into the background as Luis surged forward. Enraged. But Sheridan stepped in. "Luis! No!" she cried. "Please," she pleaded. "They're not worth it," she told him. Leaning her forehead against his. "They're not worth it," she cried. He wanted to rip both monsters limb from limb for the pain they were causing her at this moment. "I'll figure something out, Luis. I promise," she vowed as she kissed him one last time. The salt of her tears lingering on his lips. "I promise," she called after him as the officers pulled him from her. And out the door. "Sheridan!" Luis yelled. His cries of "Sheridan" echoed in her ears as she turned glittering blue eyes on her father. "I hate you!" she raged. "We had a deal. You promised." Alistair shook his head at her in disgust. "You should know better, Sheridan, than to trust my word. She's all yours now, Colin. Do with her as you wish," he laughed cruelly as the door slammed behind him. Ivy's heart broke as Sheridan's screams reverberated through the halls of the grand Crane Mansion. And the music outside reached a crescendo.