Disclaimer : Characters and whatnot belong to JER and the folks at NBC.
Though with the current state the show is in, I'm not sure if that's something
to be proud of...
Heya, folks! I'm sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I had a major brain blankage for a long time and absolutely nothing would come out. Anyways, this chapter is filler, yet transitional. It seems to have no point while you read it, yet its setting the stage for the rest of the story. But anyways, read on...
Something To Believe In
Chapter Three
Written by Shay
"Happy?" Luis asked one morning as he and Sheridan still lay entwined in bed, the summer sun shining in on them through the open window.
Sheridan smiled as she linked their hands together over her swollen middle and let out a contented sigh. "More than I've ever been," she replied honestly, reaching up with her free hand to bring his lips down to meet hers.
Luis couldn't help the smile that spread across his face when they parted. The past two weeks had been pure bliss, despite the underlying fears they both harbored over Julian and Alistairs reaction to their impromptu nuptials. But neither spoke of these fears, scared that if they did it would be put an end to their joy. Even still, he couldn't help the feeling of dread that appeared in the pit of his stomach every time he caught sight of the main house. There had not been a peep from Julian or Alistair and that frightened him. Those two were like a pair of cobras, stalking their prey, just waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
His dark thoughts were interrupted, however, as Sheridan snuggled closer to him, placing his hands on her stomach, her blue eyes alight with happiness.
"Your daughter says good morning," She giggled just as a tiny foot - or perhaps a fist, came into contact with his palm.
Those moments, when he felt their daughter moving within her, always amazed him. There was this creature, this tiny, perfect being that they had created out of their love, even admist all the craziness that had been going on around them at the time. This little girl cemented their bond, holding them to one another for all eternity. It was overwhelming and she wasn't even there yet!
Bending down slightly, he placed a light kiss where his hand had just been. "Morning to you too, Baby."
*******
Across the grounds, it was a much less serene morning for Julian.
He'd been awoken much too early by the new maid, hired to replace one Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald. As much as he'd hate to admit it, he much preferred the other woman to the bumbling clumsy one who had dropped a tray outside his door on her way towards Ethan and Gwen's room. After waving away her apologies, he'd showered and escaped to his office, only to have his father on the line the moment the door locked behind him.
Alistair was not a happy man. The one thing he had devoted years to keep from happening - Sheridan marrying Luis, that was, had been accomplished right under his nose. The entire Crane name was vulnerable now, he kept insisting, to which Julian resisted the urge to announce he was changing his name and leaving the country. His father wanted this problem, as he called it, to be taken care of. Immediately. And he, of course, was expected to do the dirty work.
There had been a time where he may have not even hesitated to follow his fathers orders. But now, to kill not only his sister and Luis, but an innocent, unborn child? He shuddered at the thought. He couldn't do it. Not after having Eve walk back into his life, reminding him of all that was good, of all that love could do. Poor Sheridan had done nothing wrong, only fallen in love with someone their stone hearted father didn't approve of - just as he had all those years ago. The only difference was his little sister had what he didn't possess - the will and strength to fight for that love, consequences be damned.
With a heavy sigh, Julian picked up the framed photograph and fingered the outline of his sisters smiling face. There had to be a way out of this. A way not to commit such a horrendous act, to honor his mothers wish the way he should have been all these years. To protect his sister and future niece, despite the fact he wasn't Luis' biggest fan.
It wasn't going to be an easy feat, to go against his fathers explicit instructions. But he'd be damned if he was going to be the source of anymore of Sheridan's unhappiness.
*******
Theresa gently pressed a kiss on Little Ethan's forehead before placing him on the floor, where his toys were spread out for him. Satisfied her son was occupied, she turned her attention towards her mother, who was seated next to her, watching the two with a smile.
Pilar had come over to watch her grandson while Theresa went out in search of a job, per request of the custody lawyer, and while Sheridan and Luis were at the hospital for Luis' follow-up appointment with Dr. Green.
"He's getting so big, Mija," Pilar commented and her daughter nodded, a wistful look upon her face.
"He's growing up too fast, Mama. I wish I could just keep him this age forever, so I wouldn't have to worry about losing the only thing I have left," She sighed, glancing down. "I can't lose him, Mama. I won't let Julian take him away from me. I won't!"
He heart breaking for her offspring, Pilar reached over and covered her hands with her own. "Stay strong, Mija. Have faith that the Lord is on your side."
There were tears in her big brown eyes when Theresa finally looked up. "I'm trying, Mama. But sometimes I can't help but think this is God's way of punishing me for all the horrible things I've done. Maybe I deserve to lose Little Ethan, too."
Pilar tried to contain her surprise and the pride that began to swell in her heart. For the first time, her daughter seemed to acknowledge and regret all the despicable things she'd done over the past few years. Perhaps there was hope yet. Offering a sincere smile, she shook her head. "The Lord doesn't work like that, Theresita."
Theresa nodded, though it seemed she didn't quite believe her mother. "I just get so scared sometimes, Mama. I've lost Ethan because of my lies and bad decisions and now I could lose my son, too. I'd die if I lost him, he's all I have left."
Sensing her daughter was near hysteria, Pilar pulled her into her embrace, much like she had when she was a small child. "You won't lose him, Mija. We're all on your side and we'll fight Julian to the death, if need be, but you won't lose your son. I promise you this."
******
It was later that day that Theresa returned to the cottage, feeling much better. She had gotten a job, a huge step in winning the custody battle over Little Ethan. It wasn't much, just working the register at a department store the next town over, but it was something to support herself and her son. Swinging the shopping bag she carried, Theresa pushed the front door open, relieved to find her brother and Sheridan hadn't arrived home yet. She had a brilliant idea come to her on the bus ride back to Harmony, but she needed her mothers opinion.
Pilar, hearing the door, came in from the kitchen and smiled at the relaxed look on the younger woman's face. "You look much happier, Theresita. I take it your trip was successful?"
Theresa's dark head bobbed up and down enthusiastically. "They said I can start tomorrow! Isn't that great? But Mama, I had an idea and I want to know what you think."
Mentally making the sign of the cross, Pilar joined her on the couch, preparing for whatever she had cooked up this time. One never knew what went on inside that girls head! "Of course, Mija. What is it?"
Her eyes took on an excited glow and Theresa grinned. "I want to throw Sheridan a baby shower!"
Having expected another scheme in which to win Ethan's heart back, Pilar was slightly taken aback by her announcement. "Theresita..."
"It's not too soon, is it?" Theresa began to babble. "I'm not sure when the right time for a baby shower is, but she's due in two months, so it seems right, don't you think? And I know with everything that's happened, she hasn't gotten the chance to do a lot of shopping, especially after Luis was shot, so it would really help her out, you know? And I want to do something nice for her, after all she's been doing for me and helping me keep Little Ethan. What do you think?" She finally concluded, turning towards her mother with a hopeful look on her face.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, Mija." Pilar conceded. "Why don't we plan on having it a couple weeks from now, closer to her due date. It will give us more time to get things together."
Theresa nodded. "It has to be perfect!"
Smiling, Pilar patted her knee. "It will be, Mija. It will be."
*******
"I'm so glad you're okay," Sheridan sighed, leaning her head on her husbands shoulder as she waited for him to unlock the front door.
Luis smiled down at her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he ushered her into the darkened cottage. "How could I not be, with you taking care of me?"
The suggestive tone of his voice and the playful wink that followed caused Sheridan to blush and snuggle further into his embrace. "I was worried you over exerted yourself, down in Bermuda."
"Over exert myself making love to my wife?" Luis grinned, pulling her closer. "Never. Impossible. In fact, I think I could use an extra dose of your special medicine right," He paused, letting his lips drop down to the curve of her neck. "Now."
Momentarily forgetting that they were standing in the doorway, with the door wide open, Sheridan tilted her head, granting him more access and letting a soft sigh escape her throat. "Oh, Luis..."
Upon hearing his name, Luis raised his eyes to hers, finding them just as desire laden as he knew his own to be. Allowing his hand to wander up her back and into her soft golden locks, he crushed his mouth to hers, bringing her further into the home and blindly shutting the door with his foot. Together, fused by their locked lips, the pair stumbled down the two steps and over to the couch, where they collapsed in one swift movement, her landing in his lap. Their kissing, like their breathing, became more erratic as Sheridan began tugging at his shirt, desperate to rid him of the intrusive material.
Breaking apart for a fleeing second, she was finally granted her wish and tossed the shirt over her shoulder, returning at once to her previous position, all too eager to explore the newly exposed skin she knew so well.
Luis shifted, so she was now beside him, before recapturing her lips in an intense caress while his hands fumbled with the buttons of her sun dress. The top button popped open and he took the opportunity to drop feather light kisses on her tanned shoulder. The action elicited a moan from Sheridan, who leaned back on the couch, taking him with her, their bodies yearning for one another.
Squeak!
The sudden noise caused them to break apart, their breathing labored, confused looks on their faces.
"What was that?" Luis asked, his forehead creased.
Frowning, Sheridan shook her head. "I don't know."
Shrugging, Luis grinned, dipping his head closer to hers. "Where were we?"
Finding herself melting under his penetrating gaze, Sheridan smiled coyly, placing a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Just. About. Here," she whispered, succumbing to his questing lips.
The kiss lingered on until the two moved ever so slightly and another squeak echoed through the room.
Groaning, Luis pulled back again, sitting up in frustration. "Where the hell is that noise coming from?"
Sheridan struggled into a sitting position and another squeak followed. Looking disgruntled, the blonde reached behind her, into the cushion of the couch. A moment later she pulled out a small toy of Little Ethan's. "Our culprit," she sighed.
Taking the annoying object from his wife, Luis gave it a squeeze and sure enough, it squeaked loudly. "Damn mood killer," he muttered, tossing it onto a nearby table.
Rubbing his arms, Sheridan gave him a small smile. "It's probably better we didn't anyways. I'm sure Theresa will be back soon."
As if on cue, the girls voice could be heard from outside, followed by the light baby giggles of Little Ethan.
Exhaling loudly, Luis nodded and stood, retrieving and pulling his shirt back on just as his sister, accompanied by his nephew and Fox entered the cottage.
*******
Later that night, after bathing together, Sheridan and Luis retired to their bedroom, snuggling together in the large bed. After a few moments of an amicable silence, Sheridan opened her mouth.
"I've been thinking..."
"Uh-oh," Luis mumbled, earning himself a glare and a light punch in the arm.
"Watch it mister, or you'll be sleeping in your car."
Chuckling, Luis gave her a disarming grin. "Okay, okay. So, you were thinking...?"
"Right. We have just a little over two months before there's five of us living here."
"Yeah," Luis nodded, unable to see where she was going with this.
Sitting up so she could see his face, Sheridan frowned. "Five of us," she emphasized, "In a one bedroom, one bathroom cottage."
Realization began to creep into his mind. "I see..."
Taking a deep breath, she clasped one of his hands. "I think we need to expand."
Luis opened his mouth to respond, but she sensed his forthcoming objections and held up a hand for him to let her continue. "Now before you go off on a tangent, let me finish. You know I would love nothing more then to be able to get our own place, away from here, but right now we can't. If we leave, Julian will not hesitate to throw Theresa out of here and she'll lose Little Ethan. However, we're not going to be able to keep living like this. If we don't do something, eventually we're all going to be at each others throats from being on top of each other all the time."
"Sheridan," Luis began, his thumb tracing the curve of her soft hand and his handsome face pensive. "I know that. But we really can't afford to be adding on to the cottage. Especially not with a baby on the way."
Inhaling, Sheridan counted to ten. This is where the argument was bound to begin. "That's why I think we should use my inheritance."
Without even a pause, he shook his head. "No. Absolutely not, Sheridan. I thought we agreed that money was only for extreme emergencies?"
Rolling her eyes, Sheridan shifted away from him, her blue eyes glaring at his form. "Which is what this is going to end up being if we don't, Luis! I know you want to be the provider for our family, but right now we can't afford to do this on your salary, you said it yourself. But we have to do this. Soon."
"We have to?" Luis scoffed.
Closing her eyes, Sheridan again counted to ten, willing herself to stay calm. "Think about it, Luis. Who knows how long this custody battle is going to be drawn out for. Julian and Theresa could be fighting this for years. Is it really fair to your sister to have to sleep on the couch with absolutely no privacy for the next five, six, maybe even ten years? You know as well as I do that this place gets more traffic then Grand Central Station. Shouldn't Little Ethan be able to have his own room, with a real crib, instead of that contraption he's almost too big for now? And what about our daughter? Doesn't she deserve a beautiful nursery, filled with all the things a little girl should have? Or is she going to be stuck in a crib in here because you're too damn stubborn and full of pride to let us use that money for the good of our family? And what about that, huh? What kind of love life do you think we're going to have if we have our child sleeping in the same room with us every night?"
Luis was silent for a moment once her tirade was over. Finally he quirked a brow at her and asked. "Are you done?"
Silently fuming at his attitude, she gave a curt nod of the head.
He seemed to take a moment before responding. She made a lot of good points. It wasn't really fair to any of them to keep living the way they were and he wanted their daughter to have everything her heart desired. He knew that wouldn't be possible if she was indeed confined to a crib in their room. On the other hand, he just wasn't comfortable using Crane money to do what needed to be done.
However, it didn't seem as though he had a choice. If he argued with her, she would end up pulling rank on him and do it anyways, being as it was really her cottage. Raising his eyes, he was met with a defiant gaze that made him have to bite back the grin that threatened to appear. Sighing, he nodded slightly.
"Fine."
Sheridan stared at him for a minute, disbelief on her face. Had he really given in without a fight? Blinking back her surprise, she resumed her position next to him, smiling as his arms again came around her. Turning her head so she was facing him, she gently cupped his face in her hand.
"I knew you'd see it my way," She whispered before kissing him soundly, cutting off his reply.
*******
A week later, after being cleared by the doctor, Luis went back to work. He was on desk duty for the time being, and was none too happy about it, but glad to be back all the same. The same day he'd gone back, construction began on the addition to the cottage, in hopes that it would be complete it time for the birth of their daughter. Unfortunately, with the building came to disruption of peace and after an hour of futile attempts to sleep, Sheridan finally decided to head up to the mansion to see Gwen.
The warm August sun shone down on her as she traveled up the path towards the main house and the fresh air seemed to rejuvenate her. Not bothering with the doorbell, she entered the estate with just a bit of apprehension. She was weary of a possible run in with her brother, whom she hadn't seen since before the annulment to her marriage to Antonio. There was not a doubt in her mind that her father and Julian already knew of her and Luis' eloping, as it seemed they often knew all.
Thankfully, though, the foyer was empty as she stepped inside. She really did hate the mansion, with it's impersonal interior and haunting memories lurking in every corner. Shaking her head, Sheridan peeked into the living room and finding nobody, doubled back and headed up the stairs.
The long hall was also devoid of any form of life and she shivered involuntarily, not quite sure what was worse - being confronted by Julian or wandering around the mansion that seemed abandoned. Rolling her eyes as she turned down another hallway, she chastised herself.
"Get a grip, Sheridan," She muttered under her breath. "It's just a house. And besides, you're not alone," She finished, smiling down at her rounded tummy. As if sensing her mothers need for reassurance, Baby Alyssa gave a wallop of a kick, causing Sheridan to pause. Once her daughter had given up kick boxing her ribs, she resumed her trek.
She found Gwen in the bedroom she and Ethan shared, idly flipping through some papers. She glanced up at the sounds of approaching footsteps.
"Sheridan! I didn't hear the bell, I'm sorry. How are you?"
"I didn't ring," Sheridan replied dismissively, embracing her friend as much as her extended middle would allow. "I'm wonderful, how are you? I'm not interrupting, am I?"
"Never," Gwen grinned, moving the papers off to the side. "I'm fine. How's married life? I've barely seen you since you got back from Bermuda," She said knowingly, causing her to color slightly.
"It's everything I ever imagined it would be and more. Luis is just...." Her voice trailed off and a far away expression took over her features.
Laughing, Gwen waved her hand in front of the other woman's face. "Hello, Earth to Sheridan."
The motion snapped her out of her daze and she shot her a sheepish look. "Sorry."
"Somebody's still on their honeymoon." Gwen commented lightly. "Speaking of your sinfully sexy husband, where is Luis? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight."
A soft sigh escaped Sheridan's lips. "He went back to work today. It's only been a few hours and I already miss him terribly."
"You two are hopeless," She teased, standing up. "I'm supposed to meet Ethan at the Book Cafe for lunch, do you want to join us? I'm sure he'd love to see you."
"Are you sure he won't mind? I don't want to intrude."
"Nonsense. Come on, we can even stop by the station so you can see lover boy," She offered with a smile, which Sheridan returned.
"Okay, you've talked me into it," Sheridan agreed, pushing herself to her feet. "I could go for a double chocolate donut, anyways."
*******
Later, the two women were seated at a table in the crowded Book Cafe, laughing as they recalled some of their fondest childhood memories, when Gwen's cell phone rang.
She excused herself to take the call, leaving Sheridan picking at her third donut of the afternoon. A shadow fell over the table suddenly, and she glanced up abruptly, to be greeted by a familiar face.
"Hank, hey."
"Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald," He replied with a grin as he sat backwards on the chair next to her. "How are you today? I'm not interrupting, am I? I know how you newlyweds are."
Shaking her head, she batted his hand away when he reached for her donut. "Don't even think about it, Bennett. Don't you know you're not supposed to come between a pregnant woman and food? And I'm not here with Luis."
Hank's dark head bobbed as he chuckled at her defensiveness over the treat. "All right, all right, there's no need to get violent. Where is Lo-Fitz, then? I thought you two were joined at the hip."
"He went back to work," Sheridan informed him. "I'm here with Gwen," She added slyly.
He tried to play off his interest upon hearing that, but failed miserably. "Really? And how is Ms. Hotchkiss?"
Stifling a chuckle at the sparkle in his eyes at the mention of her friend, she glanced towards the woman making her way over to them. "Ask her yourself,"
Gwen's face seemed to light up when she caught sight of the unexpected guest and Sheridan raised an eyebrow. She'd noticed something between them in Bermuda and her curiosity was definitely piqued now. Hank stood when she reached the table.
"Gwen, good to see you again."
Sheridan watched with inquisitive blue eyes as Gwen returned the greeting and Hank, ever the gentleman, pulled her seat out for her. She fought the urge to smile when she saw her friends faintly tinted cheeks. Very, very interesting.
"So, what did Ethan want?" Sheridan inquired, referring to the phone call.
"Hmm? Oh. He wanted to let me know he was caught up at work and couldn't be able to join us."
"Oh, that's too bad," She frowned, but brightened quickly. "Maybe Luis is available for lunch."
"Why don't you go by the station and find out?" Gwen suggested, though her hazel eyes never left the man across from her.
"What about you? I can't just leave you here," Sheridan objected.
"I can give her a lift home," Hank offered.
"See, there you go. Hank will give ma ride home and you can go have lunch with Luis," Gwen said with an air of finality. "Go on, I'll be fine."
Hesitantly, her blue gaze darted between them. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. Now go, I know you want to."
Sighing in resignation, she stood. "All right, I'm going. I guess I'll see you two later."
They bid each other farewell and Sheridan headed for the door, glancing back to see that Hank had taken her seat beside Gwen and they were sharing a laugh. She knew the look that had appeared in Gwen's eyes all too well, and only prayed Ethan would come out of this unscathed.
*******
Shortly after leaving the Book Cafe, Sheridan walked through the doors of the Harmony Police Station. Luis was at his desk, so completely caught up in his work that he didn't notice as she approached. A devilish gleam appeared in her eyes as she came to a stop and she cleared her throat.
"Can I help you?" Luis asked without looking up.
Adopting a low and seductive tone, she replied. "I need to report a crime."
His eyes still on the mound of papers in front of him, he nodded. "What's the nature of this crime?"
Leaning closer, her voice dropped another notch. "Well, you see, I have this husband who is so incredibly sexy, I just know it must be illegal. Especially when he's in uniform..."
At her words, his head shot up and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "You think I'm sexy, huh?"
Sheridan's blue eyes traveled up and down his form as he came around to the other side of the desk and she licked her lips in appreciation. "Oh, yeah."
Luis didn't respond, having drawn her into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers. His hands came to rest on her hips as they parted. "What are you doing here, hmm?"
Letting her fingers play with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, she smiled. "Well, I missed you. And I thought maybe we could have lunch together."
"Who am I to pass up such a tempting offer?" He said with a grin. "Just give me a few minutes and we'll go."
Sheridan nodded and reluctantly stepped out of his embrace. True to his word, Luis finished up, popped in to let Sam know he was taking his lunch break and the two headed out.
******
Fox, coffee in hand, was strolling along the wharf to kill some time before he had to pick Theresa up from work. The place was crowded with an over abundance of summer tourists, and he muttered an apology when he nearly ran over a young woman, who looked similar to the petite brunette he'd become so fond of.
Theresa. There was just something about her. But she wasn't interested, never would be. Not when she was still so far gone over Ethan, despite the face he was now married. She insisted that it was fate, that they would one day be together again. He shook his head at that. She deserved so much better then his half brother.
Not that he was better. But at least he knew what he wanted, unlike Ethan, who bounced back and forth between the two women like a ping pong ball. He knew what he wanted, and that was the dark haired beauty that seemed to inhabit his every waking moment. He just wasn't sure how to go about getting her.
Rolling his eyes, he came to a stop, leaning against the railing. His eyes traveled down the wharf and narrowed when he caught sight of a peculiar scene. He blinked once, twice, to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but there it was.
Wrapped up in an embrace that surely was not her husbands, was Gwen. And she certainly seemed to be enjoying herself.
Letting out an amused chuckle, he shook his head. He quickly sobered, however, when he realized that this was just the ammunition Theresa would need to get Gwen out of the picture and Ethan for herself. But he wasn't so sure he was ready to give the lovely Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald up that easily.
******
The next two weeks passed quickly and before anyone knew it, summer had come to a close. Things were going well for the Lopez-Fitzgerald clan, though there still had not been a peep from Alistair or Julian. In fact, when Sheridan had run into her brother one afternoon after visiting with Gwen, he hadn't said a word, only inquired as to when she was due. The more time that passed with intervention, the more the couple's apprehension grew.
That, however, was the last thing on either one of their minds, as they headed into town to do a little shopping for the baby, who was now only three weeks shy of joining the world.
Sheridan's already large smile grew as Luis parked the car across the street from the baby merchandise store. This was really the first time they had been able to go out and do this and she was looking forward to it immensely. Since the construction on the nursery had been finished a day earlier, sans the flooring and wallpaper, both of which they would choose on this outing, they were finally able to start buying the things Baby Alyssa would need.
Luis shot her an amused look when he saw the excitement on her face. His sister had informed him of the surprise baby shower that was being thrown the next day and he hoped he could keep her from going overboard. But then he caught sight of her twinkling blue eyes and sighed. There was no way he could ever deny her anything.
"Ready?"
She nodded and they exited the car, their hands interlocking before they crossed the street. Sheridan's whole being seemed to glow as they entered and he bit back a chuckle at her childlike expression.
For the next hour and a half, she pulled him from one end of the store the other, her eyes alight with joy whenever she found something she insisted their daughter must have. It was then that Luis knew he was a goner. The baby hadn't even arrived yet and he already couldn't refuse her anything. And if she ever mastered the pout her mother had made famous, well, Lord help him.
By the end of the trip, he was certain they'd bought out most of the store. The furniture was set to be delivered the following Monday and they had to round up three of the stores employees to get everything else out to the car. Once it was all packed in, they agreed to get some lunch and headed towards a nearby diner.
They took a booth in the back and after their orders were placed, Luis took her hand, gently running his thumb over hers. She smiled at the gesture.
"You're not upset over how much we spent today, are you?" Sheridan asked worriedly.
Exhaling, Luis gave a slight shrug. "It was a little more then I had planned on, but if we can't spoilt our baby, who can?"
The lines of concern on her forehead dissipated and was replaced by a radiant grin. "I can't wait. Just three more weeks."
He smiled then, as well. "I know. I can't wait to see her, to hold her."
"You're going to be the most amazing father. You already are," She said honestly.
"Well, she's the luckiest little girl in the world, because she's got one incredible mother, too," He replied, leaning across the table to kiss her.
Neither noticed the woman across the room, glaring in their direction, a devious look appearing on her face as a plan formulated in her mind.
*******
To be continued... (And not another 3 month wait, either! Hehe.)
Heya, folks! I'm sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I had a major brain blankage for a long time and absolutely nothing would come out. Anyways, this chapter is filler, yet transitional. It seems to have no point while you read it, yet its setting the stage for the rest of the story. But anyways, read on...
Chapter Three
Written by Shay
"Happy?" Luis asked one morning as he and Sheridan still lay entwined in bed, the summer sun shining in on them through the open window.
Sheridan smiled as she linked their hands together over her swollen middle and let out a contented sigh. "More than I've ever been," she replied honestly, reaching up with her free hand to bring his lips down to meet hers.
Luis couldn't help the smile that spread across his face when they parted. The past two weeks had been pure bliss, despite the underlying fears they both harbored over Julian and Alistairs reaction to their impromptu nuptials. But neither spoke of these fears, scared that if they did it would be put an end to their joy. Even still, he couldn't help the feeling of dread that appeared in the pit of his stomach every time he caught sight of the main house. There had not been a peep from Julian or Alistair and that frightened him. Those two were like a pair of cobras, stalking their prey, just waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
His dark thoughts were interrupted, however, as Sheridan snuggled closer to him, placing his hands on her stomach, her blue eyes alight with happiness.
"Your daughter says good morning," She giggled just as a tiny foot - or perhaps a fist, came into contact with his palm.
Those moments, when he felt their daughter moving within her, always amazed him. There was this creature, this tiny, perfect being that they had created out of their love, even admist all the craziness that had been going on around them at the time. This little girl cemented their bond, holding them to one another for all eternity. It was overwhelming and she wasn't even there yet!
Bending down slightly, he placed a light kiss where his hand had just been. "Morning to you too, Baby."
*******
Across the grounds, it was a much less serene morning for Julian.
He'd been awoken much too early by the new maid, hired to replace one Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald. As much as he'd hate to admit it, he much preferred the other woman to the bumbling clumsy one who had dropped a tray outside his door on her way towards Ethan and Gwen's room. After waving away her apologies, he'd showered and escaped to his office, only to have his father on the line the moment the door locked behind him.
Alistair was not a happy man. The one thing he had devoted years to keep from happening - Sheridan marrying Luis, that was, had been accomplished right under his nose. The entire Crane name was vulnerable now, he kept insisting, to which Julian resisted the urge to announce he was changing his name and leaving the country. His father wanted this problem, as he called it, to be taken care of. Immediately. And he, of course, was expected to do the dirty work.
There had been a time where he may have not even hesitated to follow his fathers orders. But now, to kill not only his sister and Luis, but an innocent, unborn child? He shuddered at the thought. He couldn't do it. Not after having Eve walk back into his life, reminding him of all that was good, of all that love could do. Poor Sheridan had done nothing wrong, only fallen in love with someone their stone hearted father didn't approve of - just as he had all those years ago. The only difference was his little sister had what he didn't possess - the will and strength to fight for that love, consequences be damned.
With a heavy sigh, Julian picked up the framed photograph and fingered the outline of his sisters smiling face. There had to be a way out of this. A way not to commit such a horrendous act, to honor his mothers wish the way he should have been all these years. To protect his sister and future niece, despite the fact he wasn't Luis' biggest fan.
It wasn't going to be an easy feat, to go against his fathers explicit instructions. But he'd be damned if he was going to be the source of anymore of Sheridan's unhappiness.
*******
Theresa gently pressed a kiss on Little Ethan's forehead before placing him on the floor, where his toys were spread out for him. Satisfied her son was occupied, she turned her attention towards her mother, who was seated next to her, watching the two with a smile.
Pilar had come over to watch her grandson while Theresa went out in search of a job, per request of the custody lawyer, and while Sheridan and Luis were at the hospital for Luis' follow-up appointment with Dr. Green.
"He's getting so big, Mija," Pilar commented and her daughter nodded, a wistful look upon her face.
"He's growing up too fast, Mama. I wish I could just keep him this age forever, so I wouldn't have to worry about losing the only thing I have left," She sighed, glancing down. "I can't lose him, Mama. I won't let Julian take him away from me. I won't!"
He heart breaking for her offspring, Pilar reached over and covered her hands with her own. "Stay strong, Mija. Have faith that the Lord is on your side."
There were tears in her big brown eyes when Theresa finally looked up. "I'm trying, Mama. But sometimes I can't help but think this is God's way of punishing me for all the horrible things I've done. Maybe I deserve to lose Little Ethan, too."
Pilar tried to contain her surprise and the pride that began to swell in her heart. For the first time, her daughter seemed to acknowledge and regret all the despicable things she'd done over the past few years. Perhaps there was hope yet. Offering a sincere smile, she shook her head. "The Lord doesn't work like that, Theresita."
Theresa nodded, though it seemed she didn't quite believe her mother. "I just get so scared sometimes, Mama. I've lost Ethan because of my lies and bad decisions and now I could lose my son, too. I'd die if I lost him, he's all I have left."
Sensing her daughter was near hysteria, Pilar pulled her into her embrace, much like she had when she was a small child. "You won't lose him, Mija. We're all on your side and we'll fight Julian to the death, if need be, but you won't lose your son. I promise you this."
******
It was later that day that Theresa returned to the cottage, feeling much better. She had gotten a job, a huge step in winning the custody battle over Little Ethan. It wasn't much, just working the register at a department store the next town over, but it was something to support herself and her son. Swinging the shopping bag she carried, Theresa pushed the front door open, relieved to find her brother and Sheridan hadn't arrived home yet. She had a brilliant idea come to her on the bus ride back to Harmony, but she needed her mothers opinion.
Pilar, hearing the door, came in from the kitchen and smiled at the relaxed look on the younger woman's face. "You look much happier, Theresita. I take it your trip was successful?"
Theresa's dark head bobbed up and down enthusiastically. "They said I can start tomorrow! Isn't that great? But Mama, I had an idea and I want to know what you think."
Mentally making the sign of the cross, Pilar joined her on the couch, preparing for whatever she had cooked up this time. One never knew what went on inside that girls head! "Of course, Mija. What is it?"
Her eyes took on an excited glow and Theresa grinned. "I want to throw Sheridan a baby shower!"
Having expected another scheme in which to win Ethan's heart back, Pilar was slightly taken aback by her announcement. "Theresita..."
"It's not too soon, is it?" Theresa began to babble. "I'm not sure when the right time for a baby shower is, but she's due in two months, so it seems right, don't you think? And I know with everything that's happened, she hasn't gotten the chance to do a lot of shopping, especially after Luis was shot, so it would really help her out, you know? And I want to do something nice for her, after all she's been doing for me and helping me keep Little Ethan. What do you think?" She finally concluded, turning towards her mother with a hopeful look on her face.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, Mija." Pilar conceded. "Why don't we plan on having it a couple weeks from now, closer to her due date. It will give us more time to get things together."
Theresa nodded. "It has to be perfect!"
Smiling, Pilar patted her knee. "It will be, Mija. It will be."
*******
"I'm so glad you're okay," Sheridan sighed, leaning her head on her husbands shoulder as she waited for him to unlock the front door.
Luis smiled down at her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he ushered her into the darkened cottage. "How could I not be, with you taking care of me?"
The suggestive tone of his voice and the playful wink that followed caused Sheridan to blush and snuggle further into his embrace. "I was worried you over exerted yourself, down in Bermuda."
"Over exert myself making love to my wife?" Luis grinned, pulling her closer. "Never. Impossible. In fact, I think I could use an extra dose of your special medicine right," He paused, letting his lips drop down to the curve of her neck. "Now."
Momentarily forgetting that they were standing in the doorway, with the door wide open, Sheridan tilted her head, granting him more access and letting a soft sigh escape her throat. "Oh, Luis..."
Upon hearing his name, Luis raised his eyes to hers, finding them just as desire laden as he knew his own to be. Allowing his hand to wander up her back and into her soft golden locks, he crushed his mouth to hers, bringing her further into the home and blindly shutting the door with his foot. Together, fused by their locked lips, the pair stumbled down the two steps and over to the couch, where they collapsed in one swift movement, her landing in his lap. Their kissing, like their breathing, became more erratic as Sheridan began tugging at his shirt, desperate to rid him of the intrusive material.
Breaking apart for a fleeing second, she was finally granted her wish and tossed the shirt over her shoulder, returning at once to her previous position, all too eager to explore the newly exposed skin she knew so well.
Luis shifted, so she was now beside him, before recapturing her lips in an intense caress while his hands fumbled with the buttons of her sun dress. The top button popped open and he took the opportunity to drop feather light kisses on her tanned shoulder. The action elicited a moan from Sheridan, who leaned back on the couch, taking him with her, their bodies yearning for one another.
Squeak!
The sudden noise caused them to break apart, their breathing labored, confused looks on their faces.
"What was that?" Luis asked, his forehead creased.
Frowning, Sheridan shook her head. "I don't know."
Shrugging, Luis grinned, dipping his head closer to hers. "Where were we?"
Finding herself melting under his penetrating gaze, Sheridan smiled coyly, placing a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Just. About. Here," she whispered, succumbing to his questing lips.
The kiss lingered on until the two moved ever so slightly and another squeak echoed through the room.
Groaning, Luis pulled back again, sitting up in frustration. "Where the hell is that noise coming from?"
Sheridan struggled into a sitting position and another squeak followed. Looking disgruntled, the blonde reached behind her, into the cushion of the couch. A moment later she pulled out a small toy of Little Ethan's. "Our culprit," she sighed.
Taking the annoying object from his wife, Luis gave it a squeeze and sure enough, it squeaked loudly. "Damn mood killer," he muttered, tossing it onto a nearby table.
Rubbing his arms, Sheridan gave him a small smile. "It's probably better we didn't anyways. I'm sure Theresa will be back soon."
As if on cue, the girls voice could be heard from outside, followed by the light baby giggles of Little Ethan.
Exhaling loudly, Luis nodded and stood, retrieving and pulling his shirt back on just as his sister, accompanied by his nephew and Fox entered the cottage.
*******
Later that night, after bathing together, Sheridan and Luis retired to their bedroom, snuggling together in the large bed. After a few moments of an amicable silence, Sheridan opened her mouth.
"I've been thinking..."
"Uh-oh," Luis mumbled, earning himself a glare and a light punch in the arm.
"Watch it mister, or you'll be sleeping in your car."
Chuckling, Luis gave her a disarming grin. "Okay, okay. So, you were thinking...?"
"Right. We have just a little over two months before there's five of us living here."
"Yeah," Luis nodded, unable to see where she was going with this.
Sitting up so she could see his face, Sheridan frowned. "Five of us," she emphasized, "In a one bedroom, one bathroom cottage."
Realization began to creep into his mind. "I see..."
Taking a deep breath, she clasped one of his hands. "I think we need to expand."
Luis opened his mouth to respond, but she sensed his forthcoming objections and held up a hand for him to let her continue. "Now before you go off on a tangent, let me finish. You know I would love nothing more then to be able to get our own place, away from here, but right now we can't. If we leave, Julian will not hesitate to throw Theresa out of here and she'll lose Little Ethan. However, we're not going to be able to keep living like this. If we don't do something, eventually we're all going to be at each others throats from being on top of each other all the time."
"Sheridan," Luis began, his thumb tracing the curve of her soft hand and his handsome face pensive. "I know that. But we really can't afford to be adding on to the cottage. Especially not with a baby on the way."
Inhaling, Sheridan counted to ten. This is where the argument was bound to begin. "That's why I think we should use my inheritance."
Without even a pause, he shook his head. "No. Absolutely not, Sheridan. I thought we agreed that money was only for extreme emergencies?"
Rolling her eyes, Sheridan shifted away from him, her blue eyes glaring at his form. "Which is what this is going to end up being if we don't, Luis! I know you want to be the provider for our family, but right now we can't afford to do this on your salary, you said it yourself. But we have to do this. Soon."
"We have to?" Luis scoffed.
Closing her eyes, Sheridan again counted to ten, willing herself to stay calm. "Think about it, Luis. Who knows how long this custody battle is going to be drawn out for. Julian and Theresa could be fighting this for years. Is it really fair to your sister to have to sleep on the couch with absolutely no privacy for the next five, six, maybe even ten years? You know as well as I do that this place gets more traffic then Grand Central Station. Shouldn't Little Ethan be able to have his own room, with a real crib, instead of that contraption he's almost too big for now? And what about our daughter? Doesn't she deserve a beautiful nursery, filled with all the things a little girl should have? Or is she going to be stuck in a crib in here because you're too damn stubborn and full of pride to let us use that money for the good of our family? And what about that, huh? What kind of love life do you think we're going to have if we have our child sleeping in the same room with us every night?"
Luis was silent for a moment once her tirade was over. Finally he quirked a brow at her and asked. "Are you done?"
Silently fuming at his attitude, she gave a curt nod of the head.
He seemed to take a moment before responding. She made a lot of good points. It wasn't really fair to any of them to keep living the way they were and he wanted their daughter to have everything her heart desired. He knew that wouldn't be possible if she was indeed confined to a crib in their room. On the other hand, he just wasn't comfortable using Crane money to do what needed to be done.
However, it didn't seem as though he had a choice. If he argued with her, she would end up pulling rank on him and do it anyways, being as it was really her cottage. Raising his eyes, he was met with a defiant gaze that made him have to bite back the grin that threatened to appear. Sighing, he nodded slightly.
"Fine."
Sheridan stared at him for a minute, disbelief on her face. Had he really given in without a fight? Blinking back her surprise, she resumed her position next to him, smiling as his arms again came around her. Turning her head so she was facing him, she gently cupped his face in her hand.
"I knew you'd see it my way," She whispered before kissing him soundly, cutting off his reply.
*******
A week later, after being cleared by the doctor, Luis went back to work. He was on desk duty for the time being, and was none too happy about it, but glad to be back all the same. The same day he'd gone back, construction began on the addition to the cottage, in hopes that it would be complete it time for the birth of their daughter. Unfortunately, with the building came to disruption of peace and after an hour of futile attempts to sleep, Sheridan finally decided to head up to the mansion to see Gwen.
The warm August sun shone down on her as she traveled up the path towards the main house and the fresh air seemed to rejuvenate her. Not bothering with the doorbell, she entered the estate with just a bit of apprehension. She was weary of a possible run in with her brother, whom she hadn't seen since before the annulment to her marriage to Antonio. There was not a doubt in her mind that her father and Julian already knew of her and Luis' eloping, as it seemed they often knew all.
Thankfully, though, the foyer was empty as she stepped inside. She really did hate the mansion, with it's impersonal interior and haunting memories lurking in every corner. Shaking her head, Sheridan peeked into the living room and finding nobody, doubled back and headed up the stairs.
The long hall was also devoid of any form of life and she shivered involuntarily, not quite sure what was worse - being confronted by Julian or wandering around the mansion that seemed abandoned. Rolling her eyes as she turned down another hallway, she chastised herself.
"Get a grip, Sheridan," She muttered under her breath. "It's just a house. And besides, you're not alone," She finished, smiling down at her rounded tummy. As if sensing her mothers need for reassurance, Baby Alyssa gave a wallop of a kick, causing Sheridan to pause. Once her daughter had given up kick boxing her ribs, she resumed her trek.
She found Gwen in the bedroom she and Ethan shared, idly flipping through some papers. She glanced up at the sounds of approaching footsteps.
"Sheridan! I didn't hear the bell, I'm sorry. How are you?"
"I didn't ring," Sheridan replied dismissively, embracing her friend as much as her extended middle would allow. "I'm wonderful, how are you? I'm not interrupting, am I?"
"Never," Gwen grinned, moving the papers off to the side. "I'm fine. How's married life? I've barely seen you since you got back from Bermuda," She said knowingly, causing her to color slightly.
"It's everything I ever imagined it would be and more. Luis is just...." Her voice trailed off and a far away expression took over her features.
Laughing, Gwen waved her hand in front of the other woman's face. "Hello, Earth to Sheridan."
The motion snapped her out of her daze and she shot her a sheepish look. "Sorry."
"Somebody's still on their honeymoon." Gwen commented lightly. "Speaking of your sinfully sexy husband, where is Luis? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight."
A soft sigh escaped Sheridan's lips. "He went back to work today. It's only been a few hours and I already miss him terribly."
"You two are hopeless," She teased, standing up. "I'm supposed to meet Ethan at the Book Cafe for lunch, do you want to join us? I'm sure he'd love to see you."
"Are you sure he won't mind? I don't want to intrude."
"Nonsense. Come on, we can even stop by the station so you can see lover boy," She offered with a smile, which Sheridan returned.
"Okay, you've talked me into it," Sheridan agreed, pushing herself to her feet. "I could go for a double chocolate donut, anyways."
*******
Later, the two women were seated at a table in the crowded Book Cafe, laughing as they recalled some of their fondest childhood memories, when Gwen's cell phone rang.
She excused herself to take the call, leaving Sheridan picking at her third donut of the afternoon. A shadow fell over the table suddenly, and she glanced up abruptly, to be greeted by a familiar face.
"Hank, hey."
"Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald," He replied with a grin as he sat backwards on the chair next to her. "How are you today? I'm not interrupting, am I? I know how you newlyweds are."
Shaking her head, she batted his hand away when he reached for her donut. "Don't even think about it, Bennett. Don't you know you're not supposed to come between a pregnant woman and food? And I'm not here with Luis."
Hank's dark head bobbed as he chuckled at her defensiveness over the treat. "All right, all right, there's no need to get violent. Where is Lo-Fitz, then? I thought you two were joined at the hip."
"He went back to work," Sheridan informed him. "I'm here with Gwen," She added slyly.
He tried to play off his interest upon hearing that, but failed miserably. "Really? And how is Ms. Hotchkiss?"
Stifling a chuckle at the sparkle in his eyes at the mention of her friend, she glanced towards the woman making her way over to them. "Ask her yourself,"
Gwen's face seemed to light up when she caught sight of the unexpected guest and Sheridan raised an eyebrow. She'd noticed something between them in Bermuda and her curiosity was definitely piqued now. Hank stood when she reached the table.
"Gwen, good to see you again."
Sheridan watched with inquisitive blue eyes as Gwen returned the greeting and Hank, ever the gentleman, pulled her seat out for her. She fought the urge to smile when she saw her friends faintly tinted cheeks. Very, very interesting.
"So, what did Ethan want?" Sheridan inquired, referring to the phone call.
"Hmm? Oh. He wanted to let me know he was caught up at work and couldn't be able to join us."
"Oh, that's too bad," She frowned, but brightened quickly. "Maybe Luis is available for lunch."
"Why don't you go by the station and find out?" Gwen suggested, though her hazel eyes never left the man across from her.
"What about you? I can't just leave you here," Sheridan objected.
"I can give her a lift home," Hank offered.
"See, there you go. Hank will give ma ride home and you can go have lunch with Luis," Gwen said with an air of finality. "Go on, I'll be fine."
Hesitantly, her blue gaze darted between them. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. Now go, I know you want to."
Sighing in resignation, she stood. "All right, I'm going. I guess I'll see you two later."
They bid each other farewell and Sheridan headed for the door, glancing back to see that Hank had taken her seat beside Gwen and they were sharing a laugh. She knew the look that had appeared in Gwen's eyes all too well, and only prayed Ethan would come out of this unscathed.
*******
Shortly after leaving the Book Cafe, Sheridan walked through the doors of the Harmony Police Station. Luis was at his desk, so completely caught up in his work that he didn't notice as she approached. A devilish gleam appeared in her eyes as she came to a stop and she cleared her throat.
"Can I help you?" Luis asked without looking up.
Adopting a low and seductive tone, she replied. "I need to report a crime."
His eyes still on the mound of papers in front of him, he nodded. "What's the nature of this crime?"
Leaning closer, her voice dropped another notch. "Well, you see, I have this husband who is so incredibly sexy, I just know it must be illegal. Especially when he's in uniform..."
At her words, his head shot up and he couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. "You think I'm sexy, huh?"
Sheridan's blue eyes traveled up and down his form as he came around to the other side of the desk and she licked her lips in appreciation. "Oh, yeah."
Luis didn't respond, having drawn her into his arms and crushed his mouth to hers. His hands came to rest on her hips as they parted. "What are you doing here, hmm?"
Letting her fingers play with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, she smiled. "Well, I missed you. And I thought maybe we could have lunch together."
"Who am I to pass up such a tempting offer?" He said with a grin. "Just give me a few minutes and we'll go."
Sheridan nodded and reluctantly stepped out of his embrace. True to his word, Luis finished up, popped in to let Sam know he was taking his lunch break and the two headed out.
******
Fox, coffee in hand, was strolling along the wharf to kill some time before he had to pick Theresa up from work. The place was crowded with an over abundance of summer tourists, and he muttered an apology when he nearly ran over a young woman, who looked similar to the petite brunette he'd become so fond of.
Theresa. There was just something about her. But she wasn't interested, never would be. Not when she was still so far gone over Ethan, despite the face he was now married. She insisted that it was fate, that they would one day be together again. He shook his head at that. She deserved so much better then his half brother.
Not that he was better. But at least he knew what he wanted, unlike Ethan, who bounced back and forth between the two women like a ping pong ball. He knew what he wanted, and that was the dark haired beauty that seemed to inhabit his every waking moment. He just wasn't sure how to go about getting her.
Rolling his eyes, he came to a stop, leaning against the railing. His eyes traveled down the wharf and narrowed when he caught sight of a peculiar scene. He blinked once, twice, to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but there it was.
Wrapped up in an embrace that surely was not her husbands, was Gwen. And she certainly seemed to be enjoying herself.
Letting out an amused chuckle, he shook his head. He quickly sobered, however, when he realized that this was just the ammunition Theresa would need to get Gwen out of the picture and Ethan for herself. But he wasn't so sure he was ready to give the lovely Ms. Lopez-Fitzgerald up that easily.
******
The next two weeks passed quickly and before anyone knew it, summer had come to a close. Things were going well for the Lopez-Fitzgerald clan, though there still had not been a peep from Alistair or Julian. In fact, when Sheridan had run into her brother one afternoon after visiting with Gwen, he hadn't said a word, only inquired as to when she was due. The more time that passed with intervention, the more the couple's apprehension grew.
That, however, was the last thing on either one of their minds, as they headed into town to do a little shopping for the baby, who was now only three weeks shy of joining the world.
Sheridan's already large smile grew as Luis parked the car across the street from the baby merchandise store. This was really the first time they had been able to go out and do this and she was looking forward to it immensely. Since the construction on the nursery had been finished a day earlier, sans the flooring and wallpaper, both of which they would choose on this outing, they were finally able to start buying the things Baby Alyssa would need.
Luis shot her an amused look when he saw the excitement on her face. His sister had informed him of the surprise baby shower that was being thrown the next day and he hoped he could keep her from going overboard. But then he caught sight of her twinkling blue eyes and sighed. There was no way he could ever deny her anything.
"Ready?"
She nodded and they exited the car, their hands interlocking before they crossed the street. Sheridan's whole being seemed to glow as they entered and he bit back a chuckle at her childlike expression.
For the next hour and a half, she pulled him from one end of the store the other, her eyes alight with joy whenever she found something she insisted their daughter must have. It was then that Luis knew he was a goner. The baby hadn't even arrived yet and he already couldn't refuse her anything. And if she ever mastered the pout her mother had made famous, well, Lord help him.
By the end of the trip, he was certain they'd bought out most of the store. The furniture was set to be delivered the following Monday and they had to round up three of the stores employees to get everything else out to the car. Once it was all packed in, they agreed to get some lunch and headed towards a nearby diner.
They took a booth in the back and after their orders were placed, Luis took her hand, gently running his thumb over hers. She smiled at the gesture.
"You're not upset over how much we spent today, are you?" Sheridan asked worriedly.
Exhaling, Luis gave a slight shrug. "It was a little more then I had planned on, but if we can't spoilt our baby, who can?"
The lines of concern on her forehead dissipated and was replaced by a radiant grin. "I can't wait. Just three more weeks."
He smiled then, as well. "I know. I can't wait to see her, to hold her."
"You're going to be the most amazing father. You already are," She said honestly.
"Well, she's the luckiest little girl in the world, because she's got one incredible mother, too," He replied, leaning across the table to kiss her.
Neither noticed the woman across the room, glaring in their direction, a devious look appearing on her face as a plan formulated in her mind.
*******
To be continued... (And not another 3 month wait, either! Hehe.)