Part Thirteen
"Gwen," Sheridan scolded gently. "I can't believe you still haven't told Ethan about the baby. He deserves to know he's going to be a father." Gwen sighed. The magazine in her hands dropping to her lap forgotten. "I know, Sher. And believe me.I've given him subtle and not so subtle hints here and there, but your nephew is SO oblivious. Either that or he's afraid to face up to the truth." Sheridan shook her head at her friend and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not that," she admitted with a smile. "Ethan's just.he's a little." "Slow," Gwen supplied with a slight smile of her own. Causing Sheridan to laugh airily. "Yeah," she agreed. "I mean, the signs were always there," Gwen lamented, "but lately they're much more glaring." "Poor baby," Sheridan murmured apologetically. Rubbing a hand over Gwen's still non-existent belly. "But don't you and Mommy worry." she teased with twinkling blue eyes. "I'm going to put a word in with the Big Guy and see what we can do about giving you Mommy's smarts." That did it. Gwen snorted, then burst into helpless laughter, and that's how Eve found them. In a fit of giggles.
"Sheridan. Gwen," Eve greeted with a smile. "Where's Ethan?" she asked. Dark eyes searching for the young man. "He's." Gwen racked her brain for a plausible explanation. But she couldn't find one. Not one. Actually, she had NO clue what Ethan was up to today. "He stayed at the Mansion to keep Catherine company," Sheridan interjected. "Oh," Eve's mouth quirked up at the corners as she turned to face them. Holding out a hospital gown for Gwen to change into. "And how did you manage to tear that precious little girl away from Luis's side long enough for that to happen?" Gwen rolled her eyes at the sudden blush on Sheridan's cheeks. "Don't tell Sheridan," she divulged in a stage whisper. Presenting her back to the other woman so she could tie the strings of her gown. "But Luis's working on this really special surprise for her. Right now. At this very moment. And dear little darling that Catherine is.she's not very good at keeping secrets. As soon as Sheridan signed the adoption papers, Catherine acquired her big mouth." "Gwen!" Sheridan exclaimed. Blue eyes flashing. "Okay, you two," Eve laughed. "I DO have other patients waiting to see me. Sheridan? Will you be staying for the sonogram?" Gwen grabbed Sheridan's hand in her own as she followed Eve to the examining table. "Of course she is. Right, Sher?"
Gwen shifted nervously as Eve squirted the cold substance on her stomach. "Damn," she swore softly. "You said cold, but I didn't think." "There's nothing to be nervous about, Gwen," Eve smiled knowingly. Oh yeah, the voice inside her head kept up an internal monologue. What about the fact that Ethan STILL doesn't know I'm pregnant? What about the fact that I KNOW the baby's father doesn't love me as completely as he should? What about the fact that Theresa, the sister of the love of my best friend's life, is doing all she can to make Ethan's head turn and so far it's working? What about the fact that I've never done this before, and I didn't exactly grow up with the best role model? I don't know nothing about no babies, her inner Prissie wailed. I'm going to be such a bad mother, she thought to herself. "Nervous?" she laughed tightly. Squeezing Sheridan's hand unconsciously. "I'm NOT nervous. Who said anything about being nervous?" "It's okay to be nervous," Sheridan assured her. "I panic everyday that I'm doing everything wrong with Catherine, and she's going to grow up to hate me." "You have got to be kidding me. You're IT for that kid. You're her whole world. Well.you AND Luis. You're doing an amazing job with her. You got to skip all the really 'good' stuff," she said sarcastically. "Like the 2 a.m. feedings, the dirty diapers, potty training." "Gwen," Sheridan's smile was bright as she looked down at her. "You're going to do just fine. Besides.you still have months before you get all the 'good' stuff," she teased.
"Gwen?" Eve queried without turning around. Her eyes glued to the screen in front of her. "Ready to see your baby?" Gwen grimaced at the unexpected tears that pooled in her eyes as she stared at the image on the screen. Sheridan tilted her head from side to side in contemplation. "All I see is one big blur." Gwen tugged her bottom lip between her teeth nervously as she strained her eyes to see what Eve apparently saw. Finally, she gave up and threw her arms into the air with a gigantic sigh. "Me, too. Dr. Russell? Could you show us again?" "Certainly," Eve agreed to her request. "See that.right here. That's your baby, Gwen." "I guess finding out if it's a boy or a girl is out of the question," Gwen muttered. "It's too early for that," Sheridan piped up. And Gwen groaned when her best friend decided to play the brainiac. "At this point, things could go either way. Actually.you only have a girl if all else fails." Gwen glared at her. "Wow! Doesn't that make a girl feel special? We're just the back- ups. Sher, I know you didn't go to med school so spare me those rare little 'gems' you remember from your freshman biology course. Please," she pleaded. "Okay," Sheridan mumbled. Eve tried not to smile as the two women continued to squabble between themselves. "Gwen?" she interrupted the tiff. "Would you like a picture? To keep and show Ethan?" "Sure, Dr. Russell," Gwen nodded her head. "Okay. I'll be right back with your picture, and I'm going to schedule another appointment for you. You can get dressed."
Sheridan smiled as she trailed a finger down the screen. Tracing the images. "I can't believe you're going to be a mother, Gwen. I'm so happy for you." "At least someone's happy," Gwen muttered. "The longer I put it off, the more scared I am to tell Ethan." Sheridan rolled her blue eyes at her as she returned her clothes to her. "You still have to tell him." "I know," Gwen sighed. Tucking her blouse back into the waistband of her skirt and sliding her feet back into her sandals. "I'm going to be someone's mother, Sher," she suddenly announced with a brilliant, if shaky, smile. Sheridan opened her arms to her, and they hugged. "Now all you have to do is tell Ethan so he can make a honest woman out of you." "Oh, and what about you? Remember your promise to me about Luis? You HAVE to marry him. Then you can start on that big family I know you've always dreamed about. Come on, Sher. You know you want to," she teased. "I predict you and Luis will spend 75% of your lives together in bed." "GWEN!" Sheridan gasped in astonishment. "Okay," Gwen relented. An evil gleam in her golden brown eyes as she made an amendment to her earlier statement. "Make that 95%." "You're terrible," Sheridan huffed. Wiping the tears from her eyes. Evil or not, it was too damn funny NOT to laugh.
"Sheridan! Give me that!" Gwen scolded. Snatching the sonogram picture from her hands. "Pay attention to the road. God knows you're not the world's best driver anyway. You can always look at this later," she said. The corners of Sheridan's pink lips tugged upward as she glanced at her out of the corner of her eyes. Staring quite intently at the picture. "Admit it. You can't see it either." "Can too," Gwen rebuked childishly. "What kind of a mother would I be if I.No, dammit. You were right at the hospital. This is just one big blur. My baby's nothing but a ball of cells in my womb, and already I'm a failure as a mother. Sher," she whined. "This kid is going to detest me and beg to be put up for adoption." "Only if you spend too much time at Grandma Rebecca's house," Sheridan retorted. Gwen choked on her own tongue at that wise assumption. "Okay then, Auntie Sher. **You'll** be the FREE babysitter. I take back what I said earlier. With Catherine and this baby always around.you and Luis are NEVER going to find a moment alone," she smirked. Sheridan turned the car off and took the key from the ignition and turned to look at her before she got out of the car. Gwen smiled as she saw Catherine emerge from the Mansion and start running toward them. "Some friend your mommy is, baby," she said with a suspicious twinkle in her blue eyes. "She's dooming my sex life with Uncle Luis before it ever begins." Gwen howled with laughter when Catherine made her presence known with a very pressing question and a look of utter confusion in her big green eyes. "Sheri," she tugged at Sheridan's hand. "What's sex? Sheri! Sheri! Are you okay?" "I'm fine," Sheridan reassured her when she could formulate a coherent thought again. Gwen shook her head at her when she glanced her way in a total panic. "You're the one with all the answers, Ms. Know-It-All. **YOU** tell her." "Sheri?" Catherine posed again. The car horn blared behind her when Sheridan dropped her head to it, and Gwen let herself in the front door with a gigantic smile on her face.
Part Fourteen
"Luis? Luis, are you here?" Sheridan called as she closed and locked the front door behind her. Nothing. Nada. NO answer, she thought with a sigh as she trudged into the living room and plopped onto the couch. She pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. Gwen shouldn't be the one worrying about her mothering abilities. She was light years away from the S-E-X talk. Well.maybe not. She laughed slightly as she remembered the look on Catherine's face as she'd stumbled horribly through THE TALK. Four-years- old! Only four! At this rate, she was seriously frightened of the possibilities. Catherine was too damn smart for her own good, she thought with a pleased smile. She was SO proud. Marie would be proud, too, she thought sadly.
Sheridan, she chided herself. Don't do this to yourself. Don't do this. Marie's gone. You can't bring her back. You can't change things. But you can try your best and give Catherine love and support and yourself, if that counts for anything, she finished silently. Disturbed at the sudden downward turn of her mood. Dammit. She felt tears threatening at the lonely pang in her heart. She missed her best friend so much. Marie wouldn't have bumbled her way through such an important conversation like a nervous fool. Marie just wouldn't. She was something Sheridan would never really be.Catherine's mother. The little girl she loved with ALL her heart would never call her mommy, and she was okay with that. Really, she was. Even if she DID feel like bawling her eyes out suddenly. She closed her against the tears and leaned her head back.
Luis crept closer. Studying her beautiful profile silently. Growing concerned when he saw the wetness of her cheeks in the moonlight. He didn't speak as he pressed his lips to the line of her neck gently, nor when he reached his long arms down to twine her hands in his. He didn't know what brought this on, but he was certain of one thing. He couldn't stand to see her cry. He wrapped her in his embrace and whispered soothing words in her ear until she calmed, and finally, he was rewarded with a glimpse of those glorious blue eyes that he found himself falling more and more in love with every day. "I'm sorry," she apologized hoarsely. "I don't know what came over me. I guess I was just.Luis. I don't know how to be her mother. I." "Is that it?" he asked softly. Feathering his fingers through her short blond hair as he looked into her glistening blue eyes. "Nobody KNOWS these things. We're all just striking out in the dark."
She couldn't stop herself from shaking her head in protest. "That's not true, Luis. You, Pilar, just about everyone else in Harmony.you're all so natural and confident with her. I pretend I know what the hell I'm doing, but the truth is.I have NO clue. I feel like I should read some manual or something. What? What are you laughing at?" she huffed. "You," he answered simply. "Don't worry so much," he told her as he pulled her back into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin. "I'm going to be with you every step of the way," he promised as he smoothed his hand over her back. Over and over in a rhythmic motion until he felt her relax completely in his arms. He laughed when he felt the vibration of her voice against his chest. "I thought you had a surprise for me." "You did, huh?" he teased. "Well.I'm afraid there's been a slight change in plans, but I have another idea. Do you trust me?" "I trust you with my whole heart," she whispered, and Luis had to swallow down the emotion he felt at the raw honesty in her voice. "Come with me then," he urged with a smile in his dark eyes. Pulling her to her feet and taking her hand.
"Luis?" she stalled as they neared her bedroom. Luis shushed her with a finger to her lips. "We agreed on slow, and I'm not going to try to change your mind. I just want to do something special for you. Okay?" She nodded silently, letting him tug her into the darkened room. Moonlight streamed in through the slits in the partially closed blinds, bathing the room in a silver glow. "Wait right here," he told her. Gripping her shoulders lightly as he set her down at the bed's edge. She smiled at him before he disappeared into the bathroom, a sneaking suspicion confirmed as she heard the sound of running water. "Can I come in yet?" she called. Pouting when he didn't give her the answer she wanted. When he didn't give her an answer at all. "Luis.please," she begged. "You know I can't take the suspense, and if I'm right about what you're doing in there, I'm not going to." "What?" he smirked as he peered around the door, and a smile blossomed on her lips when hazy candlelight spilled into the bedroom. "Are you coming or not?" he laughed. Beckoning her forward with a grin.
She stepped through the door with a flourish. Blue eyes dancing with delight as she eyed the mountain of bubbles and candles flickering from end to end of the room. "Well," Luis prodded. Brown eyes twinkling back at her. "What are you waiting for? The water's getting cold as we speak." "You think I'm going to give you a free strip-show, Officer?" she teased wickedly. "Luis," she laughed when he strode toward the door with a slightly disappointed expression on his face. "Luis, don't leave," she whispered softly as she captured his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You want me to.if that's what you want," Luis cleared his throat awkwardly as she dropped her hand and her fingers slipped the top button of her blouse free. He turned his back on her, and before she knew what she was doing, before she could stop herself. "Luis.I think I need help with these buttons," she said innocently as she lay a hand on his shoulder. "Sheridan, I.I don't think we should." She gazed into his eyes a moment longer. "I trust you." "Funny you should say that," he said in a low voice. "Because right now I don't trust myself at all." She smiled a half- smile at him as she grabbed his hand and guided it to the row of tiny buttons.
The room was silent save for the whispers of their breath as his fingers fumbled with the tiny buttons. One by one. Her eyes were closed as he pushed the silky material off her shoulders. His hand resting at the base of her neck. The look in his eyes burned into her memory as he was careful, so achingly careful in undressing her. She sucked in a deep breath at the fleeting brush of his knuckles against her sides as he lowered the zipper on her skirt, kneeling to the tile floor as he peeled it from her lower body. The black material pooled at her ankles, and she held onto his shoulders as she stepped out of it. She trembled as his hands curved around her ankles, her calves, coming to rest on her hips in one fluid motion. "Luis," she whispered shakily. Want mixed with need in her voice. "Turn around," he ordered, and she jerked when she felt the heat of his palm resting on her spine, just before he released the clasp of her bra and pulled her body back against his solid form. "Do you still trust me?" he murmured against the silk of her neck, causing shivers to ripple down her spine when he took her earlobe between his teeth. "Yes," she sighed as she felt his hands travel down the length of her arms. Taking the straps of her bra with them and leaving her bare from the waist up.
She leaned back into him as one of his hands cupped and molded her flesh while the other one slipped beneath the scrap of black lace remaining. "Luis," she gasped. Curving her arm around his neck as she turned her face to meet his. Luis's hands skimmed her sides as he turned her around in his arms, and he cupped them around her face as he brushed his lips against hers in a sweet whisper of a kiss that quickly raged out of control the moment, the second her mouth opened beneath the tiniest pressure from his lips. He tore his mouth from hers with a groan. Resting his forehead against her temple while he waited for air to refill his depleted lungs. "I love you," she whispered as her hands freed his shirt from his pants, creeping beneath the material to touch and memorize the feel of him beneath her fingertips, and he pulled at the sleeves. Throwing the shirt to the growing pile beneath and closing his eyes at the intense feelings that welled up inside him as he kissed her once more. "I trust you," she said. Holding a hand out to him as she stepped into the water. Waiting. Hoping. And a beautiful smile lit up her entire face when he made his decision, laughter escaping her lips and filling the room as they took the plunge. Literally. And figuratively. Slow was over-rated. : )
"Gwen," Sheridan scolded gently. "I can't believe you still haven't told Ethan about the baby. He deserves to know he's going to be a father." Gwen sighed. The magazine in her hands dropping to her lap forgotten. "I know, Sher. And believe me.I've given him subtle and not so subtle hints here and there, but your nephew is SO oblivious. Either that or he's afraid to face up to the truth." Sheridan shook her head at her friend and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not that," she admitted with a smile. "Ethan's just.he's a little." "Slow," Gwen supplied with a slight smile of her own. Causing Sheridan to laugh airily. "Yeah," she agreed. "I mean, the signs were always there," Gwen lamented, "but lately they're much more glaring." "Poor baby," Sheridan murmured apologetically. Rubbing a hand over Gwen's still non-existent belly. "But don't you and Mommy worry." she teased with twinkling blue eyes. "I'm going to put a word in with the Big Guy and see what we can do about giving you Mommy's smarts." That did it. Gwen snorted, then burst into helpless laughter, and that's how Eve found them. In a fit of giggles.
"Sheridan. Gwen," Eve greeted with a smile. "Where's Ethan?" she asked. Dark eyes searching for the young man. "He's." Gwen racked her brain for a plausible explanation. But she couldn't find one. Not one. Actually, she had NO clue what Ethan was up to today. "He stayed at the Mansion to keep Catherine company," Sheridan interjected. "Oh," Eve's mouth quirked up at the corners as she turned to face them. Holding out a hospital gown for Gwen to change into. "And how did you manage to tear that precious little girl away from Luis's side long enough for that to happen?" Gwen rolled her eyes at the sudden blush on Sheridan's cheeks. "Don't tell Sheridan," she divulged in a stage whisper. Presenting her back to the other woman so she could tie the strings of her gown. "But Luis's working on this really special surprise for her. Right now. At this very moment. And dear little darling that Catherine is.she's not very good at keeping secrets. As soon as Sheridan signed the adoption papers, Catherine acquired her big mouth." "Gwen!" Sheridan exclaimed. Blue eyes flashing. "Okay, you two," Eve laughed. "I DO have other patients waiting to see me. Sheridan? Will you be staying for the sonogram?" Gwen grabbed Sheridan's hand in her own as she followed Eve to the examining table. "Of course she is. Right, Sher?"
Gwen shifted nervously as Eve squirted the cold substance on her stomach. "Damn," she swore softly. "You said cold, but I didn't think." "There's nothing to be nervous about, Gwen," Eve smiled knowingly. Oh yeah, the voice inside her head kept up an internal monologue. What about the fact that Ethan STILL doesn't know I'm pregnant? What about the fact that I KNOW the baby's father doesn't love me as completely as he should? What about the fact that Theresa, the sister of the love of my best friend's life, is doing all she can to make Ethan's head turn and so far it's working? What about the fact that I've never done this before, and I didn't exactly grow up with the best role model? I don't know nothing about no babies, her inner Prissie wailed. I'm going to be such a bad mother, she thought to herself. "Nervous?" she laughed tightly. Squeezing Sheridan's hand unconsciously. "I'm NOT nervous. Who said anything about being nervous?" "It's okay to be nervous," Sheridan assured her. "I panic everyday that I'm doing everything wrong with Catherine, and she's going to grow up to hate me." "You have got to be kidding me. You're IT for that kid. You're her whole world. Well.you AND Luis. You're doing an amazing job with her. You got to skip all the really 'good' stuff," she said sarcastically. "Like the 2 a.m. feedings, the dirty diapers, potty training." "Gwen," Sheridan's smile was bright as she looked down at her. "You're going to do just fine. Besides.you still have months before you get all the 'good' stuff," she teased.
"Gwen?" Eve queried without turning around. Her eyes glued to the screen in front of her. "Ready to see your baby?" Gwen grimaced at the unexpected tears that pooled in her eyes as she stared at the image on the screen. Sheridan tilted her head from side to side in contemplation. "All I see is one big blur." Gwen tugged her bottom lip between her teeth nervously as she strained her eyes to see what Eve apparently saw. Finally, she gave up and threw her arms into the air with a gigantic sigh. "Me, too. Dr. Russell? Could you show us again?" "Certainly," Eve agreed to her request. "See that.right here. That's your baby, Gwen." "I guess finding out if it's a boy or a girl is out of the question," Gwen muttered. "It's too early for that," Sheridan piped up. And Gwen groaned when her best friend decided to play the brainiac. "At this point, things could go either way. Actually.you only have a girl if all else fails." Gwen glared at her. "Wow! Doesn't that make a girl feel special? We're just the back- ups. Sher, I know you didn't go to med school so spare me those rare little 'gems' you remember from your freshman biology course. Please," she pleaded. "Okay," Sheridan mumbled. Eve tried not to smile as the two women continued to squabble between themselves. "Gwen?" she interrupted the tiff. "Would you like a picture? To keep and show Ethan?" "Sure, Dr. Russell," Gwen nodded her head. "Okay. I'll be right back with your picture, and I'm going to schedule another appointment for you. You can get dressed."
Sheridan smiled as she trailed a finger down the screen. Tracing the images. "I can't believe you're going to be a mother, Gwen. I'm so happy for you." "At least someone's happy," Gwen muttered. "The longer I put it off, the more scared I am to tell Ethan." Sheridan rolled her blue eyes at her as she returned her clothes to her. "You still have to tell him." "I know," Gwen sighed. Tucking her blouse back into the waistband of her skirt and sliding her feet back into her sandals. "I'm going to be someone's mother, Sher," she suddenly announced with a brilliant, if shaky, smile. Sheridan opened her arms to her, and they hugged. "Now all you have to do is tell Ethan so he can make a honest woman out of you." "Oh, and what about you? Remember your promise to me about Luis? You HAVE to marry him. Then you can start on that big family I know you've always dreamed about. Come on, Sher. You know you want to," she teased. "I predict you and Luis will spend 75% of your lives together in bed." "GWEN!" Sheridan gasped in astonishment. "Okay," Gwen relented. An evil gleam in her golden brown eyes as she made an amendment to her earlier statement. "Make that 95%." "You're terrible," Sheridan huffed. Wiping the tears from her eyes. Evil or not, it was too damn funny NOT to laugh.
"Sheridan! Give me that!" Gwen scolded. Snatching the sonogram picture from her hands. "Pay attention to the road. God knows you're not the world's best driver anyway. You can always look at this later," she said. The corners of Sheridan's pink lips tugged upward as she glanced at her out of the corner of her eyes. Staring quite intently at the picture. "Admit it. You can't see it either." "Can too," Gwen rebuked childishly. "What kind of a mother would I be if I.No, dammit. You were right at the hospital. This is just one big blur. My baby's nothing but a ball of cells in my womb, and already I'm a failure as a mother. Sher," she whined. "This kid is going to detest me and beg to be put up for adoption." "Only if you spend too much time at Grandma Rebecca's house," Sheridan retorted. Gwen choked on her own tongue at that wise assumption. "Okay then, Auntie Sher. **You'll** be the FREE babysitter. I take back what I said earlier. With Catherine and this baby always around.you and Luis are NEVER going to find a moment alone," she smirked. Sheridan turned the car off and took the key from the ignition and turned to look at her before she got out of the car. Gwen smiled as she saw Catherine emerge from the Mansion and start running toward them. "Some friend your mommy is, baby," she said with a suspicious twinkle in her blue eyes. "She's dooming my sex life with Uncle Luis before it ever begins." Gwen howled with laughter when Catherine made her presence known with a very pressing question and a look of utter confusion in her big green eyes. "Sheri," she tugged at Sheridan's hand. "What's sex? Sheri! Sheri! Are you okay?" "I'm fine," Sheridan reassured her when she could formulate a coherent thought again. Gwen shook her head at her when she glanced her way in a total panic. "You're the one with all the answers, Ms. Know-It-All. **YOU** tell her." "Sheri?" Catherine posed again. The car horn blared behind her when Sheridan dropped her head to it, and Gwen let herself in the front door with a gigantic smile on her face.
Part Fourteen
"Luis? Luis, are you here?" Sheridan called as she closed and locked the front door behind her. Nothing. Nada. NO answer, she thought with a sigh as she trudged into the living room and plopped onto the couch. She pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. Gwen shouldn't be the one worrying about her mothering abilities. She was light years away from the S-E-X talk. Well.maybe not. She laughed slightly as she remembered the look on Catherine's face as she'd stumbled horribly through THE TALK. Four-years- old! Only four! At this rate, she was seriously frightened of the possibilities. Catherine was too damn smart for her own good, she thought with a pleased smile. She was SO proud. Marie would be proud, too, she thought sadly.
Sheridan, she chided herself. Don't do this to yourself. Don't do this. Marie's gone. You can't bring her back. You can't change things. But you can try your best and give Catherine love and support and yourself, if that counts for anything, she finished silently. Disturbed at the sudden downward turn of her mood. Dammit. She felt tears threatening at the lonely pang in her heart. She missed her best friend so much. Marie wouldn't have bumbled her way through such an important conversation like a nervous fool. Marie just wouldn't. She was something Sheridan would never really be.Catherine's mother. The little girl she loved with ALL her heart would never call her mommy, and she was okay with that. Really, she was. Even if she DID feel like bawling her eyes out suddenly. She closed her against the tears and leaned her head back.
Luis crept closer. Studying her beautiful profile silently. Growing concerned when he saw the wetness of her cheeks in the moonlight. He didn't speak as he pressed his lips to the line of her neck gently, nor when he reached his long arms down to twine her hands in his. He didn't know what brought this on, but he was certain of one thing. He couldn't stand to see her cry. He wrapped her in his embrace and whispered soothing words in her ear until she calmed, and finally, he was rewarded with a glimpse of those glorious blue eyes that he found himself falling more and more in love with every day. "I'm sorry," she apologized hoarsely. "I don't know what came over me. I guess I was just.Luis. I don't know how to be her mother. I." "Is that it?" he asked softly. Feathering his fingers through her short blond hair as he looked into her glistening blue eyes. "Nobody KNOWS these things. We're all just striking out in the dark."
She couldn't stop herself from shaking her head in protest. "That's not true, Luis. You, Pilar, just about everyone else in Harmony.you're all so natural and confident with her. I pretend I know what the hell I'm doing, but the truth is.I have NO clue. I feel like I should read some manual or something. What? What are you laughing at?" she huffed. "You," he answered simply. "Don't worry so much," he told her as he pulled her back into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin. "I'm going to be with you every step of the way," he promised as he smoothed his hand over her back. Over and over in a rhythmic motion until he felt her relax completely in his arms. He laughed when he felt the vibration of her voice against his chest. "I thought you had a surprise for me." "You did, huh?" he teased. "Well.I'm afraid there's been a slight change in plans, but I have another idea. Do you trust me?" "I trust you with my whole heart," she whispered, and Luis had to swallow down the emotion he felt at the raw honesty in her voice. "Come with me then," he urged with a smile in his dark eyes. Pulling her to her feet and taking her hand.
"Luis?" she stalled as they neared her bedroom. Luis shushed her with a finger to her lips. "We agreed on slow, and I'm not going to try to change your mind. I just want to do something special for you. Okay?" She nodded silently, letting him tug her into the darkened room. Moonlight streamed in through the slits in the partially closed blinds, bathing the room in a silver glow. "Wait right here," he told her. Gripping her shoulders lightly as he set her down at the bed's edge. She smiled at him before he disappeared into the bathroom, a sneaking suspicion confirmed as she heard the sound of running water. "Can I come in yet?" she called. Pouting when he didn't give her the answer she wanted. When he didn't give her an answer at all. "Luis.please," she begged. "You know I can't take the suspense, and if I'm right about what you're doing in there, I'm not going to." "What?" he smirked as he peered around the door, and a smile blossomed on her lips when hazy candlelight spilled into the bedroom. "Are you coming or not?" he laughed. Beckoning her forward with a grin.
She stepped through the door with a flourish. Blue eyes dancing with delight as she eyed the mountain of bubbles and candles flickering from end to end of the room. "Well," Luis prodded. Brown eyes twinkling back at her. "What are you waiting for? The water's getting cold as we speak." "You think I'm going to give you a free strip-show, Officer?" she teased wickedly. "Luis," she laughed when he strode toward the door with a slightly disappointed expression on his face. "Luis, don't leave," she whispered softly as she captured his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You want me to.if that's what you want," Luis cleared his throat awkwardly as she dropped her hand and her fingers slipped the top button of her blouse free. He turned his back on her, and before she knew what she was doing, before she could stop herself. "Luis.I think I need help with these buttons," she said innocently as she lay a hand on his shoulder. "Sheridan, I.I don't think we should." She gazed into his eyes a moment longer. "I trust you." "Funny you should say that," he said in a low voice. "Because right now I don't trust myself at all." She smiled a half- smile at him as she grabbed his hand and guided it to the row of tiny buttons.
The room was silent save for the whispers of their breath as his fingers fumbled with the tiny buttons. One by one. Her eyes were closed as he pushed the silky material off her shoulders. His hand resting at the base of her neck. The look in his eyes burned into her memory as he was careful, so achingly careful in undressing her. She sucked in a deep breath at the fleeting brush of his knuckles against her sides as he lowered the zipper on her skirt, kneeling to the tile floor as he peeled it from her lower body. The black material pooled at her ankles, and she held onto his shoulders as she stepped out of it. She trembled as his hands curved around her ankles, her calves, coming to rest on her hips in one fluid motion. "Luis," she whispered shakily. Want mixed with need in her voice. "Turn around," he ordered, and she jerked when she felt the heat of his palm resting on her spine, just before he released the clasp of her bra and pulled her body back against his solid form. "Do you still trust me?" he murmured against the silk of her neck, causing shivers to ripple down her spine when he took her earlobe between his teeth. "Yes," she sighed as she felt his hands travel down the length of her arms. Taking the straps of her bra with them and leaving her bare from the waist up.
She leaned back into him as one of his hands cupped and molded her flesh while the other one slipped beneath the scrap of black lace remaining. "Luis," she gasped. Curving her arm around his neck as she turned her face to meet his. Luis's hands skimmed her sides as he turned her around in his arms, and he cupped them around her face as he brushed his lips against hers in a sweet whisper of a kiss that quickly raged out of control the moment, the second her mouth opened beneath the tiniest pressure from his lips. He tore his mouth from hers with a groan. Resting his forehead against her temple while he waited for air to refill his depleted lungs. "I love you," she whispered as her hands freed his shirt from his pants, creeping beneath the material to touch and memorize the feel of him beneath her fingertips, and he pulled at the sleeves. Throwing the shirt to the growing pile beneath and closing his eyes at the intense feelings that welled up inside him as he kissed her once more. "I trust you," she said. Holding a hand out to him as she stepped into the water. Waiting. Hoping. And a beautiful smile lit up her entire face when he made his decision, laughter escaping her lips and filling the room as they took the plunge. Literally. And figuratively. Slow was over-rated. : )