Chapter 5:

Sheridan, Beth and Luis were already in the cottage by the time Antonio
had almost arrived with Liz. Beth had greeted Sheridan kindly enough earlier,
even though she most likely would have torn out the blonde woman's hair if Luis
chose to go back to her. Beth did not like scheming and being second best. But
she knew that if Luis and Sheridan got back together, she would resort to
schemes and that type of behavior. Hopefully Sheridan wanted Antonio more than
she did Luis.

A few minutes later, Antonio arrived with Liz.

"Liz!" Sheridan exclaimed happily, running to give her "friend" a hug.

"Hi, Diana, umm Sheridan," Liz said uncomfortably, barely hugging her
back. She never really liked her before when she was Diana, and she didn't like
now as Sheridan, either.

Beth noticed this. That woman doesn't seem to like Sheridan any better
than I do, she thought to herself. Hmm....

Antonio introduced Luis and Beth to Liz.

After they went through an introduction and all of the "Hi, nice to meet
you"s were said, "Why don't we all sit down?" Sheridan asked everybody.

Luis nodded, going and sitting next to Sheridan on the big couch. Antonio
sat down to the left of Sheridan while Luis sat on the right.

Beth sighed in exasperation. Dammitt, she thought to herself. Sheridan
already has Luis around her pretty little jeweled finger. She went down to sit in
the sofa facing the three.

Liz sat down next to her. "What is going on with them?" she asked her,
curiously, motioning her head to Luis, Sheridan and Antonio.

"What do you mean?" Beth asked her.

"Well, Luis and Antonio are both in love with Sheridan, right?"

"Yeah," Beth said, glumly as she eyed the three.

"Then how do you fit into this big mess?"

"I'm Luis' girlfriend," she said. "At least I hope I still am. Umm...You don't
have to answer this because it's none of my business, but you don't seem to
enjoy Sheridan's presence too much. Am I right?"

Liz gave a nod, narrowing her eyes at Sheridan, who didn't notice. "That
woman has caused so much grief for Antonio and me."

"Oh," was all Beth said. She sure seemed bitter after saying that, Beth
thought to herself. I wonder what Sheridan DID on that island. She didn't want to
pry into this woman's personal business TOO much, but she wanted to know: "So
how do YOU fit into this love mess?"

"Oh, Antonio and I used to date awhile ago. I'm an old friend of his."

"Do you still love him?" Beth couldn't help ask.

"Yeah, I do actually," she answered nonchalantly. "That's why I'm hoping
Sheridan will pick Luis, so I can win Antonio over again for myself."

A flashbulb went off in Beth's head. "I think we're both after the same
thing," she told her new friend, raising one eyebrow in amusement.

Liz face grew into a smile as she realized what Beth meant. She was right.
They were both after the Lopez-Fitzgerald brothers Antonio and Luis!!

"Do you want to plot together to get our men back for ourselves?" Beth
asked her, a mischevious glint apparent in her eyes.

"Most definitely," Liz answered, grinning at her.

Meanwhile, Sheridan, Antonio and Luis were whispering to each other.

"Sheridan, you love me. You got your memory back. Don't you remember
the love we shared? We were almost married!"

"But Luis, you're with Beth now. You love her, I can tell. And she loves
you."

"But Sher," Luis began protesting, only to be interrupted by his older
brother Antonio.

"All the more reason for you to choose me!" he stated to Sheridan, trying to
convince her to choose him. "I don't have a girlfriend. I have you." He gave her a
kiss on the lips, while Luis watched on in horror.

"What about that woman, Liz?" Luis glared at his brother.

"She's a friend. We USED to go out, but that was in the past. Just like you
and Sheridan."

"You freakin' -" Luis began, getting very angry. He was interrupted by
Sheridan.

"Stop this! I hate that you two are always fighting! I can't decide yet!" She
stood up and walked over to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Antonio and Luis watched her go and sighed to themselves. They then
turned to look at the two women facing them.

Beth and Liz each winked at their man.

Antonio walked over to Liz and sat down. They began to chat for a while.
Luis did the same. He took Beth with him outside, where they could have a private
conversation.

"Luis what are you going to do now?" she asked gently, placing her hand on
his shoulder.

"I don't know. I still love you very much, Beth, but you know that if
Sheridan chooses me, well then I'm gonna go back to her."

"I know that, Luis," Beth said quietly, looking down.

"Hey, hey," Luis said, putting his hand on her chin so she'll look up at him.
"I still love you. And it's not definite yet that Sheridan chose me." To show her
what he meant, he kissed her gently but passionately on the lips.

Ok, I believe you, Luis, Beth thought to herself as she kissed him back. He
hasn't kissed me like this since the day we first got engaged! She was hoping Luis
would remain by her side forever.

Meanwhile, Liz and Antonio were talking on the couch inside the cottage.

"Christmas is coming up soon," Liz said, trying to make conversation and
get his mind off of Sheridan. "Do you and your family have any plans for the
holidays?"

"No, not really. Mama said that ever since Papa died, she hasn't been very
enthusiastic during the holidays. I just wish I could make her feel better, you
know, bring Papa home. We all know he's not dead; he's just disappeared."

A lightbulb went off in Liz's brain. Bringing Martin Fitzgerald to Harmony
again would be a great Christmas gift for Antonio and his family. Maybe he might
even want me back because of it.....

"I want to help you, Antonio," Liz said, gaining more and more confidence
in her new idea and hoping that Antonio would agree to it.

"With what?" he asked her curiously.

"Finding your father."