Chapter 5
~two months later~
Luis and Sara had fully recovered from their wounds, and they were leading normal lives again. Casey, Rachel and Andrew had bonded and now Andrew was talking more than Rachel. Theresa and Ethan had found each other again and started going out, now that Alistair had died. And today� today was Sheridan and Luis' wedding.
"Sara, can you help me?" Sheridan asked, as she got into her dress.
"Sure, of course!" Sara zipped up her best friend's dress. Then she put on Sheridan's veil and turned her around. "Sher, you look like an angel."
"I am so happy, Sara. And�" she lowered her voice, "I have something to tell everyone. But I think I should tell you first."
"What is it, Sher?"
"Luis and I� we're going to have a baby."
"Oh, my God! Seriously?"
"Yes." Sheridan smiled. "I can't believe it!"
"Oh, Sher, I'm so happy for you," Sara said, hugging her best friend. "I'm gonna be an aunt!"
"You already are a mother, Sara," Sheridan reminded her.
"Oh, yeah, huh?" As if on cue, Rachel walked into the room. "Hi, Mommy," she said. "Aunt Sher look pretty. Mommy too." She smiled up at her mother and her aunt.
"Oh, honey, thank you," Sheridan said, scooping Rachel up. She giggled. "You look so adorable, Rachel. You look more like your mother every single day."
"Thank you, Aunt Sher." Rachel grinned as Sheridan set her gently on the floor. Then she turned to Sara. "Mommy look pretty."
Sara smiled. "But you look even prettier, Rachel," she replied, kissing her daughter's head. "You ready to do your job?"
Rachel nodded. "Me wait for Andy." Rachel was the flower girl and Andrew was going to be the ringbearer. Sara was the matron of honor and Casey was the best man; Miguel and Ethan were the groomsmen and Theresa was the bridesmaid. Theresa was already dressed and taking care of the twins so that Casey and Sara didn't have to worry about them.
"So, Sher, you ready to become Mrs. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Sara. Today is going to be the best day of my life, I just know it." Just then, Theresa walked back in. "You guys, everyone's here. We're all ready."
Sheridan smiled. "Here we go."
Luis was standing at the altar, waiting for the wedding to begin. He couldn't wait. Luis had missed Sheridan for the two years that she'd been gone. If Alistair hadn't� Well, they would have been married by now. Just then, Luis looked up and smiled as he saw Andrew and Rachel walking up the aisle, with his niece throwing rose petals onto the carpet. After them, Theresa came up, arm in arm with her brother and her boyfriend. As soon as they got to the altar, Casey and Sara came up. The wedding march played on the organ and then Sheridan appeared at the end of the aisle, a vision in white. Luis' breath caught in his throat as his bride approached him, dazzling him with the brightest smile he'd ever seen on her. As soon as she reached the altar, she looked at Luis and her eyes started to shine. "Luis� we finally made it."
"Yes, we did." Just then Father Lonigan started the service. After the readings, and all of that, the vows came. And so did the rings.
"Sheridan," Luis began, holding her wedding band, "you showed me something I never thought I'd see. I remember the day you came crashing into my life� literally."
::Flashback:: Sheridan was trying to get home after she'd arrived in Harmony. She just wanted to see her family--in other words, Ethan--and sleep. Just then, a police car came up behind her and she tried to outrun it, but the car came in front of her and she crashed into it. The policeman got out of the car and demanded to see her ID. "You're under arrest," he said.
"You can't arrest me, Officer," Sheridan said, indignantly.
"And why is that?" he asked.
"Because," she said, showing him her ID, "my last name is Crane."
::Reality::
Sheridan smiled as she remembered that fateful day. "I thought that we could never be friends because of your last name, but then I saw something different in you. It was almost like you weren't a Crane. And I fell in love with you. I think Fate is on our side, because it keeps bringing us together, even though we've been separated many times. Now I know we're meant to be. I will love you for as long as I live, no matter what, because I don't know how to love anyone else. My heart belongs to you and only you." Luis put the ring on Sheridan's finger and smiled at her. She smiled back and a few tears spilled from her eyes. He wiped them away gently. Then Sheridan began to recite her vows.
"Luis, I� I don't know where to begin. You've saved my life countless times. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here right now. You even let the man whom you thought was your father die, and saved me. And� you are the only man who has loved me for me, and not for my fame, money and last name. In fact, I could care less about all of that. I would trade it for true love in a minute. And I promise to love you forever. You will always be in my heart." Sheridan took the ring in her hand and placed it on Luis' finger.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. You may now kiss the bride."
Luis smiled at his wife and leaned down to kiss her. Everyone applauded as the newlyweds walked down the aisle. Then the whole congregation proceeded to the reception.
~at the country club~
"Okay, folks, time for us to clear out the floor! It's time for the first dance." Luis took Sheridan into his arms and they began to dance.
When the visions around you
bring tears to your eyes
and all that surround you
are secrets and lies,
I'll be your strength,
I'll give you hope,
keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call was standing here all alone
And I will take you in my arms
and hold you right where you belong
'Til the day my life is through,
this I promise you, this I promise you
I've loved you forever
in lifetimes before
and I promise you, never,
will you hurt anymore
I give you my word,
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow, forever has now begun
Just close your eyes, each loving day
And know this feeling won't go away, no
'Til the day my life is through,
this I promise you, this I promise you
Over and over I fall
when I hear you call
Without you in my life, baby,
I just wouldn't be living at all
And I will take you in my arms
and hold you right where you belong
'Til the day my life is through,
this I promise you, babe
Just close your eyes, each loving day
And know this feeling won't go away, no
Every word I say is true, this I promise you...
Every word I say is true, this I promise you, oh, I promise you�"This I Promise You" is by 'N Sync.
"I love you, Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald," Luis whispered.
Sheridan smiled. "I love you, too." She kissed him.
After the bouquet toss (Theresa caught it), and the cutting of the cake and everything, someone suggested that somebody sing. So Sheridan went up and sang to her husband.
From this moment, life has begun
From this moment, you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on
From this moment, I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love, I'd give my last breath
From this moment on
I give my hand to you with all my heart
I can't wait to live my life with you,
I can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you
From this moment, as long as I live,
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on
You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you
From this moment, as long as I live,
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
from this moment, I will love you, as long as I live
From this moment on�"From This Moment On" is by Shania Twain.
~7� months later~
"Congratulations, it's a girl!"
Sheridan smiled, though she was completely exhausted. Her husband had been on her side through it all, and now, they shared the joy of their first child. The nurse gave Sheridan her daughter and she smiled down at her. "Hello, sweetheart," Sheridan greeted the tiny infant looking up at her with big brown eyes. "She's got your eyes, Luis."
"Yeah, but she's got her mother's beauty." Luis kissed Sheridan on the forehead and then looked back down at his daughter. "She's perfect, Sheridan. I can't believe that our love could create something so perfect."
"What are we going to call her?" Sheridan asked.
"How about� Ren�e?" Luis suggested.
"Ren�e Alicia Lopez-Fitzgerald," Sheridan whispered.
"I like it." Luis smiled down on his two girls. "I love you, Sheridan. I love you, too, Ren�e."
Sheridan smiled back up at Luis. "Oh, Luis, I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you." They kissed as their daughter looked on. Just then, Casey and Sara walked in, with Andrew and Rachel in tow. "Hey, guys," Sheridan greeted them. "I want you to meet your new niece, Ren�e Alicia Lopez-Fitzgerald. Ren�e, this is your aunt Sara and your uncle Casey. Oh, and those are your cousins, Rachel and Andrew."
Rachel was fascinated by the tiny baby in her aunt's arms. "Baby?" she asked.
"Yes, Chel, this is your new baby cousin, Ren�e."
Rachel looked at the baby again, then smiled. "Hi, Ren�e," she said. Then she kissed the baby on her tiny forehead. Sheridan smiled.
Just then, Andrew walked over to them. "Chel, that Aunt Sher's baby?" he asked, pointing to the little girl in their aunt's arms.
"Yes. Ren�e. She pretty, just like Aunt Sher." Rachel stepped aside and let her brother meet their cousin. "Hi, Ren�e. You pretty." Just then Ren�e yawned. "Oh, Ren�e sleepy. Night-night, baby." Andrew kissed her on the forehead and she slowly drifted off to sleep. "Me like Aunt Sher's baby," he said to Sheridan.
"I'm glad, Drew-Drew," Sheridan said. "I'm sure we're all going to make a lot of memories together."
The End! Read the sequel to the sequel, Happily Ever After! Back to Fan Fiction
