~Penance~

** Okay guys, here it is the sequel. Obviously I'm going to have to change something, so from here out Drew is now Fox, you may remember that Drew was Ethan's half- brother, that was at last we looked in was making a play for Jessica. But we'll be as usual ignoring everything that James Reilly is doing, because he's about as annoying as Miguel, and we all know how I feel about him. (Sorry did I come off as bitter there?)

~~~

The wedding was really beautiful.

At least it was from his hiding place. The best part in his mind was when Sam Bennett tensed up; at the sight of his daughter walking done the aisle with Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald, and increased when he remembered that they're being there was because of him. All in all, he was quite please with the wedding of Luis to his sister, he even cried, although he would deny it to anyone until the day he died.

Julian watched the bride and groom, run down the aisle, admit applause, and rice, and checked out the church. His father wouldn't have any cameras in the chapel, for some reason Alistair feared Father Lonigan, and refused to have any of his people set foot in the church, which worked as a plus for Julian.

" Sir, are you ready?" Godfrey asked from his place at the door. The large was simply too good to be true, an ex-football player turned man servant that Alistar had black balled out of the NFL, when he fumbled a pass costing the older man fifty dollar. He had a score to settle with the head of the family, and was quite willing to help Julian pull his father down. " The bride and groom are being approached now."

~~~

" Ladies and Gentlemen. May I present for the first time ever Mr. And Mrs. Luis Michael Lopez-Fitzgerald."

" They make an okay couple." Fox said, as he sat down beside his date." Are you sure…"

Jessica rolled her eyes, and glared at him." For the last time, I'm not related to the Lopez-Fitzgerald's, so we are not related in any way besides sharing Ethan as a half-brother."

" No need to get loud, darling, I'm just trying to figure out some of this family connections. I mean come on doesn't it bother you that your brother John is out on a date with your cousin Charity." He said as he nodded to the couple seating a few tables away laughing.

" They're not on a date, Charity cam with John because she broke up with her boyfriend, and everyone else was going with someone."  Jessica moved her chair away from him. There were times when Fox was just too stuck up for words, and now was one of them." Can stop being a Crane, and just be Fox?"

" Sorry." He murmured, and he was. When he was a Crane, he was obvious and condescending, and Jessica hated that, but she said she liked Fox, thought he was cute in an annoying way. " I'll try but you have to know that this is difficult, I mean this people are just at a reception to celebrate a wedding, they're not sucking up, or networking, no business deals are continent on the marriage, I find it very disconcerting."

Jessica put down her drink and looked at he shock mixed with pity, as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek." Don't worry you'll get the hang of it eventually."

"That's sick."

Kay followed her boyfriends gaze, and nodded, Fox and her sister was a little too gross even for her, but people found love in strange and unlikely places." You know that's probably what my Dad thinks when he sees us."

" This isn't based on my feelings toward Jessica, although I think she could do better, it's based on…

" The fact that he's a Crane, and you're a Lopez-Fitzgerald and expect for those once in lifetime love matches like Sheridan and Luis, the two families can't stand each other."

" Exactly." He nodded, and looked past her, searching the room. " Were is the happy couple?"

~~

" Mr. and Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald, hello and congratulations." Paul walked up to the couple, and gave a brief bow." I'm sorry if this is an inopportune time, but I work for a friend of your mother, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald, and they would like to extend their congratulations to you as well, but they have taken ill and are unable to leave the chapel." 

" A friend of my mothers." Sheridan moved closer to the stranger, it had been a long time since any of her mother's friends have been to see her, Alistar refused to accept calls from them shortly after her mothers death saying it was to painful." Of course, we come see them, right Luis?"

" Sure."

" Excellent follow me." Paul turned and made his way across the street toward the church, and opened the door leading them to the balcony." Right through that door."

" Thank You." Luis as he pulled back he exuberant bride, and took the lead, wishing he brought his revolver, things were feeling strange.

" Hello?"

" Hello." Julian stepped from the shadows, and watched as his sister grabbed Luis struggling to maintain her balance.

" JULIAN."

" CRANE." Luis and Sheridan spoke at the same time, but Luis was the one to step toward his new brother-in-law, ready to strike.

" Sorry Sir, there will be no touching." Godfrey said as he stepped between the two man, with a strong warning hand on Luis is chest.

" You're alive."

" Yes as are you, but how long either of stay that way, remains to be seen."

" Are you threatening us, Julian?" Luis asked he stepped up to meet Godfrey eye to eye; unfortunately he was about a foot too short to make it.

" No, but our Father is." Julian takes his seat and motions for his sister to take the other, when she does, he gives her a sincere smile." I want to apologize Sheridan, I haven't kept up my promise to our Mother, to look after you, but I'm here to do just that." " Our father, has become quite 'annoyed ' with us, and by 'us' I mean the entire town, he does have in his possession the mean to level Harmony, and all those that resident in it's town limits."

" So, aren't you usually his partner in crime." Luis asked still glaring at Godfrey's shoulder.

" Yes, usually but we had a disagreement."

" Over what?" She asked with disbelief, she didn't even know her brother could stand p to their father long enough to disagree.

"Well someone tried to kill me, and he decided to let them." " As you could guess, I got away, but I'm guessing he won't be that happy to see me, you see I've found that I can survive on my own, and a person who doesn't need Alistar Crane, is a person he doesn't want around."

" Why are you telling us, we don't care that you're alive either, and we definitely don't trust you."

" Now now Luis, shouldn't you allow your wife to make up her own mind." Julian looked at he sister, and lowered his voice." Your wedding was quite lovely."

" Thank you Julian, but I'll need some proof that you're actually on our side."

" Very good Sheridan, never trust a Crane." Julian laughed and motioned for his manservant, who in turned took out a file, and handed to Sheridan." Your wife is holding what you've wanted form the very beginning, the truth about your father."