By Alana.
NOTES: Takes place after Sheridan discovered that she murdered Martin Fitzgerald. She has told Luis and he is trying to comfort her, when she suddenly remembers what really happened that night.
*****
"I'm so sorry Luis," Sheridan cried as they sat in her room. She had just told him everything that she uncovered through hypnosis. Eve and Hank had left them alone, and Sheridan could no longer hold herself together.
"Sheridan, please," he pleaded. He wasn't entirely sure what he wanted her to do. He wanted it to be a lie. A misunderstanding. It was impossible. How could she have killed anyone? She was just a little girl.
"I didn't mean it," she sobbed. She began rocking back and forth, staring at her hands. "There was so much blood. So much blood."
"Sheridan, I need you to calm down," he begged. He needed her to calm down, or he couldn't himself. Yet he surprised himself at how well he was taking this. I can't be upset. He thought to himself. Sheridan needs me.
"I'm a wicked girl," she continued, reliving that night. "Now no one will love me."
"Sheridan, that's not true."
"I wanted you to love me," she admitted unwillingly. She had no more control over her words. "The way I love you."
Luis sat silent for a moment. The way I love you. Was it possible? Did Sheridan love him?
"Now you'll never love me," she continued, sobbing hysterically. "No one will ever love me."
"That's not true, Sheridan," he whispered. "I love you."
Sheridan looked up suddenly, and seemed to calm down. She looked up at Luis, then back down at her hands.
"Oh God," she whispered. "That's not what happened!"
"What?" he asked, confused.
"I didn't kill him. I knew I didn't kill him."
"Sheridan calm down," he pleaded. "You're not making any sense."
"No," she said shaking her head. "I remember now!"
"What? What do you remember?"
"That night!" she said with realization. "I remember everything!"
"What happened, Sheridan?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"I heard a noise and went downstairs," she said, reliving that night. "I saw someone, a shadow. I grabbed a letter opener to protect myself. But they saw me first and grabbed it from me."
"Who Sheridan? Who grabbed it from you?"
"Alistair!" she gasped. "Then Julian was there. I didn't see him before, but he was there. And he was holding someone."
"Sheridan? Who was it?"
"Your father," she whispered. "Alistair forgot about me and went over to your father." She started sobbing again. "He killed him!" she cried, clinging to Luis. "He killed him right in front of me."
"Shh," Luis comforted, stroking her hair. He couldn't hold back the tears in his eyes. Sheridan didn't kill his father. But he was still gone.
"I must have passed out," Sheridan continued. "I woke up on the floor. There was blood all over my hands. Then I saw the bloody sheet. Alistair told me I did it. That I was wicked. But I knew I didn't do it. I'm not a killer!"
"Of course not," he assured, rocking her slowly. Sheridan sat up to face him.
"I'm sorry I didn't remember," she whispered.
"Shh, it's ok," he said softly. He kissed her forehead.
"Did you really mean what you said?"
"What?" he whispered.
"Do you really love me?"
"With all my heart." And it was the truth.
"I've waited all my life to find true love," she told him. "I think I've found it."
Luis smiled slightly, forgetting everything that had happened. Right now, she was all that mattered to him.
"I think so too," he whispered before landing a soft kiss on her lips. Slowly the kiss grew more passionate, and they both knew where this was headed. He pulled away and looked her in the eye.
"Are you sure?" he whispered. She nodded her head.
"All my life, I've never been more sure of anything." She smiled softly, them pulled him down to her mouth.
*****
Sheridan lay on her side facing Luis. She smiled at him as he kissed her nose.
"Any regrets?" he asked.
"None," she assured. He let out a relieved breath.
"Good." He pulled her in for a gentle kiss.
"What are we going to do?" she asked suddenly. "About your father."
"Let everyone know the truth," he answered. "We'll take Julian and Alistair to court if we have to. And we'll win."
"You can't do that!" Sheridan shouted, catching Luis off guard.
"Why not? People deserve to know the truth!"
"They'll bury you!" Sheridan protested. She sat up, wrapping the sheet around her. "You don't stand a chance!"
"Sheridan, I have to do this!"
"You have no proof, Luis! I'm the only witness, and I was just a little girl! There's no body, and I already confessed to Eve! She's got it on tape! Alistair and Julian will destroy me!"
"This isn't about you Sheridan! It's about my family, and they need to know the truth!" He was angry. He thought she was different then this. "Is that all you care about, Sheridan? You?"
"Of course not!" she shouted. "They won't only ruin my life, Luis. They'll destroy yours, and your family's, and any chance that we have to be together. You don't understand what they can do! The kind of power they have!"
"I am sick and tired of the Cranes getting away with everything in this town! It's time the whole world knows what they really are."
"You're a fool," she whispered as she put her clothes on. "I'm not going to stay here and watch you throw your life away."
"What does that mean?" he asked, pulling on his pants.
"I'm leaving," she said simply. "I can't stay here, Luis. They'll make sure my life is a living hell. There's no way I'll get away with anything." She left her room, leaving Luis alone.
*****
"Where is she?" Luis demanded of Ethan. He had decided to let Sheridan cool down and left her cottage. When he came back she was gone, along with half her things.
"I don't know," Ethan lied.
"Damnit Ethan!" he yelled. He knew he was lying. "I need to find her!"
"All right," Ethan surrendered. "Don't let anyone know, but she's at the airport-" He barely got the sentence out before Luis had left the estate.
*****
Sheridan stood in the airport, waiting to get on her flight. She held back a tear as she thought about Luis. She didn't want to leave him, not now. But she had to. It was the only way. She hoped he would understand.
"Sheridan!" someone called. She turned to see Luis running to her side.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, trying to hide her joy in seeing him.
"I can't let you go," he said, gently stroking her cheek.
"It's not up to you," she said, but her voice was not angry.
"Stay," he pleaded. "I need you."
"I can't," she cried.
"How will I know you're alright?"
"I'll write. I promise."
"When will you be back?"
"Soon," she lied. She didn't know when she'd be back. As soon as it was safe, whenever that would be.
"Flight 315 now boarding," announced the speaker.
"That's me," Sheridan said sadly.
"I love you," Luis whispered, pulling her in for a kiss.
"I love you too," she cried, before walking away. Away from Harmony, and away from Luis.
*****
"Luis!" Pilar called to her son.
"What is it Mama?"
"There's a letter for you."
Luis' heart skipped a beat. He looked at the letter. There was no return address, and he knew instantly that it was from Sheridan. She had kept her promise and wrote almost every week. She never sent a return address, but he knew from her letters that she had been all over Europe.
It had been almost six months since he had seen her last, and a lot had changed. They had managed to obtain a search warrant on the Crane property, and Martin Fitzgerald's body had been found. Julian had agreed to testify against Alistair in exchange for a lesser sentence.
Ethan had been granted the entire Crane Empire, and had handed over half of the estate to the Lopez-Fitzgerald's when he married Theresa. Luis and Ethan were no longer enemies and he was genuinely happy for his sister.
Sighing, Luis opened the letter, and read what he knew as her handwriting.
My Dear Luis,
I am in London now. It's beautiful here. The snow is beginning to melt, but the nights are still cool. I dream of the day when you will hold me again. The way you held me that night.
I won't be here for long. I've found myself leaving any place once it becomes too familiar. I can't wait to be home. I will be soon. Once I know for sure that Alistair and Julian can't come between us anymore.
I pray that you have not grown tired waiting for me. I think about you every day, and I hope you still think of me. I'll be home soon. I love you Luis. With all my heart and all my soul.
I feel as if I've found my soulmate in you. And being away from you is horrible. I feel as if I am only half a person. My life is empty without you.
With all my love,
Sheridan
Luis sighed. If only she knew. Things were different now. Alistair couldn't hurt her anymore. If only she'd come home. He needed her.
*****
"Passport please," the attendant asked Sheridan. She gave it to her, and looked at her watch. Her flight to Spain departed in an hour.
"Sheridan Crane?" the woman asked.
"Is there a problem?" Sheridan asked.
"As in Crane Empire?"
"Why?" she asked, cautious as always.
"Forgive me. But it's been all over the news," the woman explained. "In America, the head of Crane Empire was arrested for murder!"
"What?" Sheridan almost choked. Was it possible?
"Some huge cover-up," the woman continued. "A cop's father! Can you believe it?"
"Luis," she whispered, forgetting the woman she was talking to. She thought back to that night, before she had left. The way it felt to be with him. Sheridan felt her knees go weak.
"Excuse me?"
"What?" she said, out of her trance. "Oh, I'm sorry. You know what? I'm going to need to exchange my ticket."
"Of course, where to?"
"Maine. Harmony."
*****
"Coming!" Pilar called to the door. She opened the door and let out a surprised gasp.
"Mama?" Luis asked when he heard her. "What is-" He froze when he saw her. She was as beautiful as always. Her blond hair framed her face elegantly with perfectly formed curls. It was obvious that she wanted to look her best.
"Sheridan," he whispered.
"Luis," she said, equally hushed. She stared into his deep brown eyes and almost lost herself.
"I'm going to go," Pilar said, giving them some much-needed privacy.
"So," Sheridan said awkwardly. She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and kiss his soft lips. It took every ounce of her strength, but she managed to hold back the urge.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming back," he murmured, looking to the floor. He couldn't bear to look at her. One gaze into her beautiful blue eyes and he wouldn't be able to suppress the urge to pull her into his arms.
"I couldn't stay away forever," she whispered. "I couldn't stay away from you."
"I guess you know about Alistair,"
"Ya," she said. "That's why I came back."
"Ya," he whispered.
"I mean," she corrected. "I came back to be with you." He looked into her eyes, wanting desperately to hold her.
Sheridan tried to read his expression, but it appeared blank. She was worried he didn't want her back, until he smiled. His killer smile, and she almost fainted at the sight of it.
"I'm glad you did," he said, and he pulled her into his arms. He kissed her softly, welcoming her back. Sheridan pulled him closer, and vowed to never leave his arms again.
It's only the beginning now,
A pathway yet unknown;
A brand new life with you, my dear,
We no longer walk alone.
By my side is where you stay,
I can't believe it's true;
To hear you say that you love me,
The way that I love you.