~19~

She'd sat there, unmoving, her blue eyes frozen on her barren hands for almost an hour before the knock startled her.

A face stared back at her from the window, its features blurred but familiar to her, even hidden in shadows.

Frigid air stole through the window as it lowered, and a chill swept down Sheridan's spine, making her shiver as she gasped in surprise. "Julian!" She rubbed briskly at her arms and regarded her brother questioningly. "Where did you come from? I thought you were at the Mansion."

Julian didn't tell her that he'd been standing there, watching her, wanting to offer comfort he didn't know how to give, for the last five minutes or more. In fact, he didn't answer her question at all. He simply said, "In case you haven't noticed, it's cold out here, Sister Dear. Mother was getting worried."

For the first time, Sheridan noticed her mother, huddled against the cold and waiting on the Bed and Breakfast's front steps. Fumbling for her purse in the passenger seat, Sheridan withdrew a small silver key and placed it in Julian's gloved hands. "Take Mother inside. I'll just be a few more minutes."

Julian turned the key over in his hands, fingering the tiny numbers engraved there. He pocketed the key and cast concerned eyes upon his sister. "Sheridan…is everything okay? Did something happen at the Lopez-Fitzgerald house?"

"Nothing happened," Sheridan lied. "Nothing. I'm fine, Julian. Really." Julian still looked skeptical, so Sheridan relented. "Well, not really. But I will be. I always am," she said tearfully when Julian, in a move shocking and uncharacteristic of him, cupped a palm around her trembling chin.

"I'll order us some hot chocolate." Julian let his hand drop awkwardly from Sheridan's face. "You loved it as a child, claimed it always made you feel better."

"Julian," Sheridan grabbed her brother's hand when he turned to leave, ready to stop him, the scene in Pilar's living room still fresh in her mind. But Julian, she knew, was unaware, and she didn't want to turn away the kind but misguided gesture so she bit her tongue.

"Yes?" Julian raised a brow in curious expectation. He clung to the fingers that so tightly squeezed his own.

Sheridan's response was simple but heartfelt, conveying her appreciation for the baby steps Julian was taking in repairing their long-damaged relationship as brother and sister. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Julian gave her hand a fond if embarrassed pat. "Don't be too long."

"I won't," Sheridan promised. "I just…give me a minute, okay?"

Julian nodded and turned to go, snowflakes swirling around the dark figure he made as he climbed the Bed and Breakfast's steps and took their mother by the arm. Only when Sheridan had sent a reassuring wave her way did she allow herself to be led inside.

With a sigh, Sheridan rolled the car's window back up, took the key from the car's ignition, and reached for her purse again, only to feel her heart clench painfully again. There, at her fingertips' end, lay a silver compact, THE silver compact.

It was just another reminder that she'd never, ever get over loving and losing Luis. No matter how far or how fast, she couldn't run from the truth, and her hand in making things the way they were.

She put the compact back inside her purse and stepped outside into the wintry coldness, her head bent against the wind.

Shaun, I waffle back and forth on who I think is the most sympathetic character, lol.

Last chapter, I'm going to say Luis won.

Poor baby. :(

But, really...Sher's been taking a beating this fic.

I love me some angst.

:D

Hope you're still enjoying the story.

Thanks so much for the feedback.

It is loved and adored.