**Ex**
Special thanks to Namjr who's been helping me keep my thoughts organized and finishing up this chapter. You've been a great help! ?Tank ye!?
Disclaimer.
Chapter 4
Sheridan sat silent in the cab that would take her, Gwen and Mika to the cottage. She watched as the houses flew past, it had been a long time coming. She'd had to return and face the music. It wasn't something she was worried about; she'd actually been hoping for a few years that things would be perfect when she'd returned. She knew though that when she did come back she'd have to tell him about Mika. Now that was something she almost dreaded, but she was excited about it at the same time.
"Sheridan?" Gwen's voice drew her back into the real world.
"Yeah?" She turned and realized that the car had long since stopped moving, "Oh." She got out and grabbed her bag; she followed Gwen and Mika through the lush Crane gardens. Mika was in awe; she'd never seen any place like this.
"Mommy, where are we?" She asked as they passed by a reflecting pool.
"We are on the Crane Estates. This is where mommy used to live, it's where we're staying while we're here." Sheridan explained to her daughter.
Mika nodded in understanding and was silent until they reached the cottage. Truthfully, they could've had the cab driver take them here, there was a road that led straight to the cottage, but that would have attracted more attention then they wanted. Sheridan opened the front door and looked around, it was exactly as she'd left it. She stood silently staring at the place that held so many memories for her, good and bad. She sighed and walked inside.
Gwen saw Sheridan's expression, she knew what, or rather who, she was thinking about. She had no one to think about, she'd long since lost Ethan to Theresa, and she was ok with that. She knew that he wasn't the man for her; she'd find her prince charming one day. She placed her suitcases on the floor, next to Sheridan's. She looked over and saw Mika inspecting the room.
"Mom?" Mika broke the silence finally.
"Hm?" Sheridan was lost in her own little world of memories.
"Where are we? And where's Aunt Kay and Shylah?" Mika demanded.
Sheridan didn't seem to hear her daughter; she was still to wrapped up in the past to think about the present. She walked over to the fireplace and took a picture off the mantel, Luis held her in his arms. The picture was from when they first started dating. She smiled at the memory.
"Sheridan?" Gwen's voice broke her thoughts again.
"Oh, sorry. What is it?" Sheridan looked and saw Gwen, concern evident. Mika on the other hand was scowling, she was being ignored and she didn't like it.
"I want to know where we are and where aunt Kay and Shy are!" Mika demanded.
"You really need to learn some patience." Gwen said.
Mika looked up at her "aunt" and stuck her tongue out.
"OH, you did NOT just do that!" Gwen mocked indignation.
"Did so!" Mika smiled, knowing Gwen wasn't really mad.
"I'm gonna have to kick your butt now. I'm sorry, but it just has to be done." Gwen said seriously.
Mika looked at her for a minute and then ran out the front door, yelling, "You'll never catch me!"
Gwen took off after her, "I'm going to get you!"
Sheridan watched Gwen chase her daughter out the front door and smiled, she knew it was to give her some time alone, and she needed that. She studied the picture in her hand; there was so much love in her eyes then. It wasn't like it is now; she knew that things were wrong. She shouldn't have to think about being with him, she should be with him. Right now that's all she wanted, a family. She knew she had Gwen and Kay; they were people she could always count on. Mika was so young though; she didn't want her to grow without ever knowing her father. And Luis, it wasn't fair to him. She knew he was married now; he had been for years, and that was one of the reason's she'd left. How could she knowingly break up a marriage, he was in love with Beth. Or at least she assumed he was. He wouldn't marry her for any old reason. I mean Beth's CRAZY, so maybe Luis was CRAZY to marry her. Or maybe I'm crazy for writing this or maybe you're crazy for reading this and maybe I should get back to the story, eh? Ahem, where was I? So, crazy.
Sheridan sat down on the couch and began thinking of exactly what she had to do now that she was back. She cringed at the thought of telling Luis the truth; it would not be a pretty sight. She knew that his temper was almost as bad as hers when it came to certain things and she worried how he would react when she told him he had a six-year-old daughter. She could picture the scene.
"WHAT?! WHY WOULDN'T YOU HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS? God Sheridan you are so selfish, this is SO like you to not care about my feelings! I missed 6 years of her life, 6 years damnit!" He'd scream, at her and he'd know that she would, of course, fight back.
"I did what I did because you are MARRIED. You remember, Beth? That awful woman that I hate! Because really, I do, so very much. And it's not MY fault you decided to comfort her after her mother died." She'd yell at him and he'd glare at her as if she'd said something so very insulting.
"You HATE my wife?" He'd ask, unable to comprehend it.
"I HATE her. Want her dead maybe, ok? Now you know the truth, and I'm also really mad at YOU for marrying that, that, thing. And if you have a problem with it, deal. Because she'd part of the reason that until recently, you didn't know you had a daughter. I didn't want Mika growing up with HER as a stepmother. So, if you have a problem with your ex-girlfriend HATING your wife, deal with it." She could imagine his face perfectly, a mixture of anger, and surprise. He crossed the room to where she was standing and looked at her, the anger was gone and the surprise had been replaced with something more, something that could only be defined as lust. He bent down and his lips touched hers, passion exploded and she felt whole.
"AHHHHH!" A small child's scream broke her thoughts of Luis and she jumped up, worried about her daughter. She ran outside and saw Mika on the ground with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Mika, are you ok sweetie? Tell mommy what happened." She picked her daughter up and began saying soothing words into her ear, trying to calm the sobbing child.
"I slipped. I, *sniff* was running away from aunt, aunt Gwen and I hurt." She was crying softly into her mothers shoulder. Sheridan placed her on the couch and rubbed her back, soothingly.
Gwen walked in, her face full of worry, "I'm sorry Sheridan I didn't think she'd slip. It was stupid, do you need something?"
Sheridan nodded and pointed to her bag that was sitting on the ground, "There's a bag of medical stuff in there, can you get me that blue bottle and a Band-Aid?"
Gwen nodded and handed the items to Sheridan after a few minutes of searching. She watched as Sheridan got Mika to stop crying and bandaged her knee. She smiled as Sheridan took such loving care of her little girl and wished that someone had cared for her like that when she was a child. But no, she had grown up with Rebecca Hotchkiss; a woman who cared more for her selfish desires then that of her daughters needs and wants.
"Sher? I'm gonna go out for a little bit. I'll be back soon." Gwen left and she knew that Sheridan was too wrapped up in her daughter to notice.
~*~
Paloma sat down on a swing in the backyard, it was a quiet afternoon, it wasn't too cold, even if there was snow around, she'd long since gotten used to Harmony winters. It was nice to have somewhere to go and think and this was the perfect place. So, they were back. Kay had called her earlier, before they'd boarded their plane. She knew that once Kay set her mind to something, no one could convince her otherwise. But, of course Paloma worried about her nieces. Shy and Mika had never met their fathers and she knew that once they were back in Harmony she couldn't protect them from her family forever. Though her mother would be happy to have a grandchild finally.
Paloma looked down at her own stomach, flat and it would be forever. One miscarriage was enough to give her a measly 2% chance of having another child. She'd never know the feelings of a mother's love and the joy of having someone to love you forever. She felt a tear drop down onto her lap and she didn't care. She began sobbing for what could never be, because of a stupid childish mistake. She felt someone's soft, comforting arms wrap themselves around her. Comforting arms that belonged to her husband, someone who would get sick of her eventually for not being able to produce a child. She knew he'd eventually leave her for someone else, but for now she was happy and in love. Why should she wait for him to sleep with another woman and leave her? She'd leave him! But then she'd be all alone and she knew that when he did leave her she'd be destroyed, she'd never loved anyone as much as she loved him and she never would.
"I love you Lo. Never forget that. You are the love of my life, child or no, you are the person I am meant to be with and I know that. You should know that I'd never leave you. I love you." He kissed her cheek and carefully picked her up. Every time he found her like this his heart broke a little more. He loved her so much, but past mistakes, his father's mistakes had hurt her more then anyone else knew. He brought her to the couch and just held her, the tears had long since stopped, but he just wanted to hold her. He needed it and so did she.
"I love you." She snuggled into his warm embrace and he tightened his hold on her, "I'm sorry."
She felt his body calm down, he was worried about her and she knew it. She couldn't help herself sometimes. She'd gone to countless doctors, the best money could buy and still it happened.
"I love you and I know these things happen. I just, I worry about you. I'm scared I'll wake up one day and you won't be here. You'll go with one of your crazy thoughts on an impulse and I'll never see you again. I couldn't handle loosing you." He tightened his grip on her waist. A loving squeeze that brought comfort like only he could.
Paloma sat up and stared into his brown eyes, "I hate that you worry, and I don't TRY to scare you. It's just something that happens to me. I hate when I wake up in the middle of the night and take a walk to calm myself, and you are frantic when you can't find me. I love you Nicholas, and the fact that you can deal with everything that I put you through makes everything seem ok."
Smiling, Fox bent down and kissed his wife, a kiss full of love, hope and an unspoken promise. After a few minutes, she pulled away.
"Don't we have some fancy dinner you needed to go to?"
"I think that you are much more important then some stupid fundraiser," He kissed her on the forehead, "But, if you want to go, that's fine. I think that I'd rather spend the day with you though."
"The days almost over Nicholas. And, Alistair already hates me, I think that forcing you to miss one of your 'special dinners' he might just put a hit out on me." Fox laughed, a deep sexy throaty laugh. Something about seeing him smile was enough to allow her to forget all the problems they had.
"I've missed dinners for more frivolous reasons. My wife is feeling ill, I need to spend time with her."
Paloma laughed, "He'd say something like, 'you shouldn't have moved out of the mansion. If you'd listened to me and stayed there then you'd have people at your beck and call to care for your ill wife. Missing dinner meetings makes you seem sloppy and unprofessional.' Then he'd hang up and you'd wonder what exactly crawled up his ass and died."
Fox laughed along with her and they sat in comfortable silence, until the phone rang.
"I bet that's grandfather now. So, dinner or not?" He gave her a sly grin.
"How about we go to the dinner, make an appearance, and then we can go and do whatever you want. Sound good?" Fox nodded and picked up the phone.
"Don't keep me waiting that long Fox. I don't appreciate it. I'm a very busy man and I don't have time to wait for you. Your aunt Sheridan is back in town and she has a child. I expect to see you at dinner tonight, do I make myself clear?" Alistair hung up without waiting for an answer.
Paloma saw the look of anger flash on Nicholas's face when he hung up the phone, "What's wrong?"
"My aunt is back in town and because of that, my grandfather has made it very clear that I have to go to dinner. So, let's get ready." Fox left the room with a black cloud hanging over his head.
That's it, what do you think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Please let me know. Trying for 25 reviews!
Special thanks to Namjr who's been helping me keep my thoughts organized and finishing up this chapter. You've been a great help! ?Tank ye!?
Disclaimer.
Chapter 4
Sheridan sat silent in the cab that would take her, Gwen and Mika to the cottage. She watched as the houses flew past, it had been a long time coming. She'd had to return and face the music. It wasn't something she was worried about; she'd actually been hoping for a few years that things would be perfect when she'd returned. She knew though that when she did come back she'd have to tell him about Mika. Now that was something she almost dreaded, but she was excited about it at the same time.
"Sheridan?" Gwen's voice drew her back into the real world.
"Yeah?" She turned and realized that the car had long since stopped moving, "Oh." She got out and grabbed her bag; she followed Gwen and Mika through the lush Crane gardens. Mika was in awe; she'd never seen any place like this.
"Mommy, where are we?" She asked as they passed by a reflecting pool.
"We are on the Crane Estates. This is where mommy used to live, it's where we're staying while we're here." Sheridan explained to her daughter.
Mika nodded in understanding and was silent until they reached the cottage. Truthfully, they could've had the cab driver take them here, there was a road that led straight to the cottage, but that would have attracted more attention then they wanted. Sheridan opened the front door and looked around, it was exactly as she'd left it. She stood silently staring at the place that held so many memories for her, good and bad. She sighed and walked inside.
Gwen saw Sheridan's expression, she knew what, or rather who, she was thinking about. She had no one to think about, she'd long since lost Ethan to Theresa, and she was ok with that. She knew that he wasn't the man for her; she'd find her prince charming one day. She placed her suitcases on the floor, next to Sheridan's. She looked over and saw Mika inspecting the room.
"Mom?" Mika broke the silence finally.
"Hm?" Sheridan was lost in her own little world of memories.
"Where are we? And where's Aunt Kay and Shylah?" Mika demanded.
Sheridan didn't seem to hear her daughter; she was still to wrapped up in the past to think about the present. She walked over to the fireplace and took a picture off the mantel, Luis held her in his arms. The picture was from when they first started dating. She smiled at the memory.
"Sheridan?" Gwen's voice broke her thoughts again.
"Oh, sorry. What is it?" Sheridan looked and saw Gwen, concern evident. Mika on the other hand was scowling, she was being ignored and she didn't like it.
"I want to know where we are and where aunt Kay and Shy are!" Mika demanded.
"You really need to learn some patience." Gwen said.
Mika looked up at her "aunt" and stuck her tongue out.
"OH, you did NOT just do that!" Gwen mocked indignation.
"Did so!" Mika smiled, knowing Gwen wasn't really mad.
"I'm gonna have to kick your butt now. I'm sorry, but it just has to be done." Gwen said seriously.
Mika looked at her for a minute and then ran out the front door, yelling, "You'll never catch me!"
Gwen took off after her, "I'm going to get you!"
Sheridan watched Gwen chase her daughter out the front door and smiled, she knew it was to give her some time alone, and she needed that. She studied the picture in her hand; there was so much love in her eyes then. It wasn't like it is now; she knew that things were wrong. She shouldn't have to think about being with him, she should be with him. Right now that's all she wanted, a family. She knew she had Gwen and Kay; they were people she could always count on. Mika was so young though; she didn't want her to grow without ever knowing her father. And Luis, it wasn't fair to him. She knew he was married now; he had been for years, and that was one of the reason's she'd left. How could she knowingly break up a marriage, he was in love with Beth. Or at least she assumed he was. He wouldn't marry her for any old reason. I mean Beth's CRAZY, so maybe Luis was CRAZY to marry her. Or maybe I'm crazy for writing this or maybe you're crazy for reading this and maybe I should get back to the story, eh? Ahem, where was I? So, crazy.
Sheridan sat down on the couch and began thinking of exactly what she had to do now that she was back. She cringed at the thought of telling Luis the truth; it would not be a pretty sight. She knew that his temper was almost as bad as hers when it came to certain things and she worried how he would react when she told him he had a six-year-old daughter. She could picture the scene.
"WHAT?! WHY WOULDN'T YOU HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS? God Sheridan you are so selfish, this is SO like you to not care about my feelings! I missed 6 years of her life, 6 years damnit!" He'd scream, at her and he'd know that she would, of course, fight back.
"I did what I did because you are MARRIED. You remember, Beth? That awful woman that I hate! Because really, I do, so very much. And it's not MY fault you decided to comfort her after her mother died." She'd yell at him and he'd glare at her as if she'd said something so very insulting.
"You HATE my wife?" He'd ask, unable to comprehend it.
"I HATE her. Want her dead maybe, ok? Now you know the truth, and I'm also really mad at YOU for marrying that, that, thing. And if you have a problem with it, deal. Because she'd part of the reason that until recently, you didn't know you had a daughter. I didn't want Mika growing up with HER as a stepmother. So, if you have a problem with your ex-girlfriend HATING your wife, deal with it." She could imagine his face perfectly, a mixture of anger, and surprise. He crossed the room to where she was standing and looked at her, the anger was gone and the surprise had been replaced with something more, something that could only be defined as lust. He bent down and his lips touched hers, passion exploded and she felt whole.
"AHHHHH!" A small child's scream broke her thoughts of Luis and she jumped up, worried about her daughter. She ran outside and saw Mika on the ground with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Mika, are you ok sweetie? Tell mommy what happened." She picked her daughter up and began saying soothing words into her ear, trying to calm the sobbing child.
"I slipped. I, *sniff* was running away from aunt, aunt Gwen and I hurt." She was crying softly into her mothers shoulder. Sheridan placed her on the couch and rubbed her back, soothingly.
Gwen walked in, her face full of worry, "I'm sorry Sheridan I didn't think she'd slip. It was stupid, do you need something?"
Sheridan nodded and pointed to her bag that was sitting on the ground, "There's a bag of medical stuff in there, can you get me that blue bottle and a Band-Aid?"
Gwen nodded and handed the items to Sheridan after a few minutes of searching. She watched as Sheridan got Mika to stop crying and bandaged her knee. She smiled as Sheridan took such loving care of her little girl and wished that someone had cared for her like that when she was a child. But no, she had grown up with Rebecca Hotchkiss; a woman who cared more for her selfish desires then that of her daughters needs and wants.
"Sher? I'm gonna go out for a little bit. I'll be back soon." Gwen left and she knew that Sheridan was too wrapped up in her daughter to notice.
~*~
Paloma sat down on a swing in the backyard, it was a quiet afternoon, it wasn't too cold, even if there was snow around, she'd long since gotten used to Harmony winters. It was nice to have somewhere to go and think and this was the perfect place. So, they were back. Kay had called her earlier, before they'd boarded their plane. She knew that once Kay set her mind to something, no one could convince her otherwise. But, of course Paloma worried about her nieces. Shy and Mika had never met their fathers and she knew that once they were back in Harmony she couldn't protect them from her family forever. Though her mother would be happy to have a grandchild finally.
Paloma looked down at her own stomach, flat and it would be forever. One miscarriage was enough to give her a measly 2% chance of having another child. She'd never know the feelings of a mother's love and the joy of having someone to love you forever. She felt a tear drop down onto her lap and she didn't care. She began sobbing for what could never be, because of a stupid childish mistake. She felt someone's soft, comforting arms wrap themselves around her. Comforting arms that belonged to her husband, someone who would get sick of her eventually for not being able to produce a child. She knew he'd eventually leave her for someone else, but for now she was happy and in love. Why should she wait for him to sleep with another woman and leave her? She'd leave him! But then she'd be all alone and she knew that when he did leave her she'd be destroyed, she'd never loved anyone as much as she loved him and she never would.
"I love you Lo. Never forget that. You are the love of my life, child or no, you are the person I am meant to be with and I know that. You should know that I'd never leave you. I love you." He kissed her cheek and carefully picked her up. Every time he found her like this his heart broke a little more. He loved her so much, but past mistakes, his father's mistakes had hurt her more then anyone else knew. He brought her to the couch and just held her, the tears had long since stopped, but he just wanted to hold her. He needed it and so did she.
"I love you." She snuggled into his warm embrace and he tightened his hold on her, "I'm sorry."
She felt his body calm down, he was worried about her and she knew it. She couldn't help herself sometimes. She'd gone to countless doctors, the best money could buy and still it happened.
"I love you and I know these things happen. I just, I worry about you. I'm scared I'll wake up one day and you won't be here. You'll go with one of your crazy thoughts on an impulse and I'll never see you again. I couldn't handle loosing you." He tightened his grip on her waist. A loving squeeze that brought comfort like only he could.
Paloma sat up and stared into his brown eyes, "I hate that you worry, and I don't TRY to scare you. It's just something that happens to me. I hate when I wake up in the middle of the night and take a walk to calm myself, and you are frantic when you can't find me. I love you Nicholas, and the fact that you can deal with everything that I put you through makes everything seem ok."
Smiling, Fox bent down and kissed his wife, a kiss full of love, hope and an unspoken promise. After a few minutes, she pulled away.
"Don't we have some fancy dinner you needed to go to?"
"I think that you are much more important then some stupid fundraiser," He kissed her on the forehead, "But, if you want to go, that's fine. I think that I'd rather spend the day with you though."
"The days almost over Nicholas. And, Alistair already hates me, I think that forcing you to miss one of your 'special dinners' he might just put a hit out on me." Fox laughed, a deep sexy throaty laugh. Something about seeing him smile was enough to allow her to forget all the problems they had.
"I've missed dinners for more frivolous reasons. My wife is feeling ill, I need to spend time with her."
Paloma laughed, "He'd say something like, 'you shouldn't have moved out of the mansion. If you'd listened to me and stayed there then you'd have people at your beck and call to care for your ill wife. Missing dinner meetings makes you seem sloppy and unprofessional.' Then he'd hang up and you'd wonder what exactly crawled up his ass and died."
Fox laughed along with her and they sat in comfortable silence, until the phone rang.
"I bet that's grandfather now. So, dinner or not?" He gave her a sly grin.
"How about we go to the dinner, make an appearance, and then we can go and do whatever you want. Sound good?" Fox nodded and picked up the phone.
"Don't keep me waiting that long Fox. I don't appreciate it. I'm a very busy man and I don't have time to wait for you. Your aunt Sheridan is back in town and she has a child. I expect to see you at dinner tonight, do I make myself clear?" Alistair hung up without waiting for an answer.
Paloma saw the look of anger flash on Nicholas's face when he hung up the phone, "What's wrong?"
"My aunt is back in town and because of that, my grandfather has made it very clear that I have to go to dinner. So, let's get ready." Fox left the room with a black cloud hanging over his head.
That's it, what do you think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Please let me know. Trying for 25 reviews!
