~34~

The stars were high in the midnight sky, shining down upon them like polished diamonds as Luis opened the jeep door and offered his hand.

Multi-colored Christmas twinkle lights blinked cheerfully in welcome and a thin curl of smoke wafted from the chimney, but the house and night itself were quiet until silvery laughter spilled forth helplessly.

Frowning at the absence of her fingers from his hand, Luis felt the stern expression melt away when he spied the source of her laughter.

The children's snowman stood proud in the reflection of the stars and twinkle lights, Harmony PD badge prominently displayed and Luis's own police jacket draped across the spindly branches that made up its arms. Those features, along with the bark eyebrows, left minimal doubt as to the identity of the snowman.

"It's you," Sheridan stated the obvious, smoothing a fingertip over the rough bark's surface with a smile.

Her blue eyes glittered at him in the darkness, and Luis felt his heart swell with painful, thankful tenderness that it wasn't with tears this time. "Yeah, well," the corners of his mouth quirked, undermining the grouchy tone he tried to affect when he said, "He's the snowman me. He doesn't need a jacket." Carefully, he disrobed the snowman, settling the jacket instead over Sheridan's shoulders and drawing her close until he felt her warm breath against his face. When she shivered, he slipped his arms around her beneath the jacket and pulled her against him. "Better?" he murmured against her hair.

Pressing her cold nose into the crease of Luis's neck, Sheridan nodded, letting him hold her and soaking in his bodily warmth. Seconds turned into minutes, and finally the urge to speak again grew too strong to ignore. "Did you mean it, Luis?" she asked in a small voice. "Really? When you asked me to stay?" Her eyes stayed focused on her hands when Luis held her at arms' length, stubbornly refusing to meet his gaze even when he lifted her chin in one hand.

Sighing, he tucked her hair behind her ear and spoke as sincerely as he could, "I meant it. Every word. Even the ones I wasn't brave enough to say." He smiled slightly when that comment earned him her unwavering attention, and her blue eyes searched his face for some hint, some clue as to what he could possibly mean. Taking a deep breath, he spelled it out for her and watched her eyes fill with crystal tears again, this time of the happy variety. "Marty loves you, Sheridan. I love you. How could I let you leave Harmony and take my heart with you?"

Holding up a shaky hand to her mouth, Sheridan tried to lighten the intensity of the moment with laughter and teasing, "That's corny, Luis." She sought out his hand in her own, squeezing it gently before pulling him along.

Luis fell into step behind her, a solid shield against the night's chill, and whispered into her ear, "Come on, you know you loved it." His eyes were laughing at her as he trapped her between his body and the front door, keys in hand.

Fingers looping through his belt loops, Sheridan backed through the open door, red and blue and green twinkle lights reflecting in her azure irises as she stared up at him. "Only because I love you."

The air grew thick between them, and Luis struggled to catch his breath long after she'd left his sight, disappearing into the living room on silent feet. He found her standing before the Christmas tree, touching her fingertips to a homemade ornament he recognized as belonging to their son, and he was hit again with the enormity of the chance they were taking, allowing themselves to love again. "It won't be easy," he warned, taking her hand in his.

"It never has been," Sheridan whispered back, studying the contrast of their fingers. "Nothing worthwhile ever is." She looked deep into his eyes, seeing for herself that he recognized the truth in her statement.

"Everything else is just a pale imitation," Luis agreed. He squeezed her hand before letting it go and delving into his jeans pocket. "I almost forgot." He opened his hand, earning a gasp from her. "I found this."

Sheridan took the compact from his hands and looked at him with her heart in her eyes, her words taking on an added meaning that only Luis understood. "I thought I'd lost it forever."

"Not lost," Luis told her. "Just misplaced."

"Misplaced." Sheridan's smile grew, along with her realization; bless Fancy and Hank. She was still smiling when she pressed a soft kiss against Luis's stubble-roughened cheek.

Their warm breath mingled in the nonexistent space between them when she pulled back, but though he ached to take her in his arms and give her a kiss of less innocent intent, Luis recognized she wasn't ready. They weren't ready. There'd be plenty of time for those kind of kisses later. He pressed his lips against her furrowed brow with a sigh and let them linger.

"Luis?" Sheridan questioned as he cupped her elbow in one hand and lifted the fingers of the other to her mouth to shush her.

"Marty won't mind an early Christmas present." Luis grinned at her, gently pulling her away from the looming shadow of the Christmas tree and down the hallway toward the bedroom where their son slept with his cousins.

"It's late. Let him sleep."

The half-hearted protest was belied with an anticipation she couldn't hide, and the expression was so reminiscent of their son, Luis realized he'd only been kidding himself when he'd claimed his last chances dried up and gone; for her, for Marty, there was no obstacle not worth taking on.

Sheridan hesitated at the doorway, breath pent in until Luis tangled their fingers together and pulled her over the threshold.

In the stillness of the night, a child's joyous cries filled the air.

"Mama! You're home!"

Had a few (stolen) minutes, and I thought I'd post the last chapter for you guys.

I hope you've enjoyed the story.

Feedback is loved, adored, much appreciated.

Who wants the epilogue?

Show of hands?

Thanks so much for reading!