Written by : Chloë Erwin-Seidel

Summary… It's their one year anniversary!!! well, since they first met.

Luis watched Hank take Sheridan out the door with him. Luis sat there on the couch of her cottage. “Sheridan why do you do this to me?”

He sighed as he gazed at a picture of Ethan and Sheridan. He traced her features, “You have a perfect face…you dress well…you smell wonderful…and sometimes you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met…” Luis whispered to the picture, “But I’ll be damned if I ever admit that to you in person.”

He remembered the kiss that they had just shared today…their kiss during their sexy dance. “You’re also an amazing dancer…sometimes, Sheridan’s picture, I think I like you…sometimes you make me think I hate you…and the one that bothers me most, sometimes you make me think I’m in love with you. But again, I’ll be damned if I ever tell you that.”

He quickly put down the picture before he became too swept away with his thoughts. He could get lost in his fantasies about Sheridan. “Staying at a Crane’s house…” he paused, “I never ever thought this would happen.” Then he decided to get up. He dragged his feet as he re-explored her house. His heart guided him to her bedroom. He glanced around and found a little note book, and he opened it up. He noticed dates and the “dear diary’s” at the top…he knew it was wrong to look but he needed to see. He flipped to the last few days, he began reading. “Sometimes I think I hate him…” he read, “And then there are the times where I think I hate him so much I think I love him…” Luis read this and raised a brow and read the last question, “Am I in love with Luis?”

Luis grinned as he picked up a near by pencil and lightly wrote, “yes”.

Luis nodded and went to the kitchen…he had some preparing to do.

Sheridan walked with Hank. Her mind continually drifted to thoughts of Luis. She didn’t listen to a word hank was saying because she had her own little fantasy of Luis playing in her head that’s when it hit her. “I can’t be here with hank.” She said in her head, “I need to tell Luis how I really feel.” Sheridan allowed hank to talk. Finally she interupted his ego-maniac speeches, “Hank, I’m going to the ladies room, I’ll be back soon.” Hank sat on a bench and she left.

“The guys so stupid.” Sheridan sighed, “he didn’t even realize there isn’t a bathroom near by.” She quickly ran to her cottage. This was going to be it. She was going to tell Luis she lo—liked him a lot.

Sheridan entered the cottage and realized it was completely dark but lightly lit with candles. She heard music playing from the kitchen, and she saw a rose petal trail leading there. She hung up her light jacket and raised her brow as she studied this scene. ‘Is Luis having some girl at MY cottage?’ she thought angrily. That’s when Luis came out of the kitchen in a suit. “Ms. Crane, please come this way, someone’s waiting for you.” And as quickly as he came out and said that, he was gone.

Sheridan slipped off her shoes and slowly followed the trail, careful not to step and wrinkle the petals. “Luis..what’s?” She entered the kitchen and saw Luis sitting at the table in jeans and a tee shirt with a beautiful cake.

Sheridan met Luis’s gaze. “what’s all this?” Sheridan sat down across from Luis and raised an eyebrow but grinned.

“Today’s August 3rd.” He smiled sweetly, “Last year on this date…”

“I met you…we met…” Sheridan smiled.

“It’s our official anniversary of Hate.”

“I don’t hate you Luis.” Sheridan said calmly.

“yeah, you do. You hate me…you detest me…you loathe Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

“No, I don’t Luis. I know my feelings, and I don’t hate you.” She said looking directly into his eyes with a ‘please understand me’ look. “Well, that’ s fine but you don’t like me” Luis said sadly.

“I so do like you. I respect you very much, and I like that you’re a strong willed, passionate man…and you’re very good to your family.”

Sheridan said touching his hand. But she didn’t seem to realize that she sent shocks through him, but she did feel the ones she sent to herself.

“thank you…but if we’re not going to celebrate a year of hate, what are we going to celebrate?”

“It was a year well wasted.”

“Pardon me? Sheridan, what do you mean?”

“Well, we began by wasting time hating eachother…but then we went out on a few dates, but those were wasted because you were using me and all…”

“pardon me?”

“You used me and alll…and…then we were back to hating eachother then not hating…”

“I didn’t use you.”

“What are you talking about Luis? Can you really lie to me straight to my bloody face? I know you were using me. I heard you…I SAW you.”

“What?! You know I’d never use you! Why would you believe that?”

“I heard you on the phone” She said simply.

“What? When?”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” She said angrily.

“Why the hell not? Because you know I wasn’t using you, but you want to think that because you don’t want to admit that you LIKE me?” Luis said just as upset as she was.

“I so do NOT like you…” she paused, “and…Luis, don’t lie to me, please! I know you were using me, okay? Please understand I don’t appreciate lies.”

“Sheridan, I would never use you, or even fathom the thought…I’d need to be tied down if I saw anyone use you, so help me god, I wouldn’t use you Sheridan. Please believe me.”

Sheridan eyed him curiously, “Are you telling me my mind plays tricks on me?” She smiled and then added, “I think I believe you…and I might even trust you more than anyone else right now…because if you were using me I’d see no reason for you to risk your life…and…yeah, it makes sense now. You couldn’t have been using me.”

“Whoa, that was a quick change of heart. So here, I’ll make a pledge to you that I will never ever in a million – zillion years use you, okay?”

“okay” Sheridan giggled.

“Give me your pinky,” Sheridan did so as Luis continued, “I swear to you on my life, Sheridan Crane, that I will never ever use you, hurt you, make you cry…do anything to you in all of my life…all of eternity. And, I’ll be honest with you. Always and always be telling you the truth…I’ve always been…okay? Okay?”

Sheridan was fantasizing a wedding vow as he said these words, she couldn’t even keep the smile from forming on her face, or the tear that was about to drip…

“Why are you crying Sheridan?” Luis asked concearned.

“It’s just…that was sweet, Luis, real sweet.”

Luis smiled sweetly, knowing what he was doing to her. She did like him, a lot. And he knew it, but he also knew he meant every word he just promised, he liked her too…he loved her.

“Sheridan you know how I said I’d be honest with you?” He paused watching her nod, “good. Well, I think for me to be honest with you, you have to be honest with me.”

“I a-I will be. Yah.”

“I don’t mean to sound like I have some kinda ego or anything – but sheridan, I need to know how you feeel about me.”

“What do you mean? Why? What’s it matter?”

“It means everything Sheridan.”

“Well, Luis…why else would I have accepted your dates if I didn’t like you?”

“Are you just attracted or do you have feelings deeper?”

“Whoa, you’re forward aren’t you.”

“Sheridan, the thing is…that I want to know that you feel the same way before I ask you on another date…”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t asked you yet, Sheridan.”

“I do have feelings deeper than attraction, I just didn’t want to say them unless you had them too…because I’d feel like an idiot.”

“Well…I do, I do and you do. So let’s call this an anniversary of the first time we met, and hope for the future.”

“I’m in for that. Let’s eat the cake now…I’ve been eyeing it.”

“I made it myself…with mammaw’s recipe, naturally.”

“yeah.” Sheridan took a bite of it and just melted, it tasted sooo good.

“Yummm.”

“But Sheridan, you’d better enjoy that piece, ‘cause I’m gonna show you what miguel and I used to do with this cake…”

“what?” She asked.

Luis grinned as he picked up the cake and got a hand full of cake and threw it at Sheridan.

“LUIS!” Sheridan glarred but bursted out laughing as she grabbed some cake and tossed it back.

“Oh no…no, sheridan, see, I have a secret weapon.” He went in the fridge and yanked out the whipped cream as he sprayed it all over her face, hair and body.

“Luis…you are such a shmuck.” Sheridan grabbed the last bit of cake and shoved it down his shirt. Then she fell down laughing, she was laughing so hard that she tripped and pulled Luis down with her. Like the perfect position he was laying next to her. And then it happened, just like in the movies…they just gazed into eachothers eyes and it happened! They shared a kiss like no other – the all fireworks flying, passionate kiss! And that’s when it scared her, Sheridan pulled back and grinned, “I’m in a movie, and this is the fantasy scene.” Took his hand and kissed him again, and it happened again. The fireworks style, he felt shivers, she felt shivers and they knew they had connected. Bound a tie inside them, their hearts and souls…

“Luis, Sometimes…” Sheridan smiled and clutched his hand, “I think I love you. And sometimes I hate you so much I think I love you.”

“I know the feeling,” Luis smiled, “But the thing is, I know I love you.”

“You do?” She asked hopefull.

“I do.” Then it happened again, their kiss – exploding with emotion…full of love and understanding…it spoke of promises that they both intended to keep. That they both would keep, and secrets…the kiss spoke secrets only known by each other. But this time, this kiss wouldn’t stop…it would soon explode into more…it would lead to more.

“Make love to me now? Please?” She pleaded into the kiss.

“Are you sure you want to…” and she answered it with the kiss on the mouth that trailed down to more answers on his neck. “I love you and I’m going to display it in many, many forms.” She laughed. And as they did their dance of passion…they went to her bedroom and they did some matress dancing. [Sin Wagon y’all, Sin Wagon…from the song, track number eight from FLY…the best cd, next to Wide Open Spaces] All this time hearing the one song that played in both their heads, or was it the radio? Maybe it wasn’t as magical as we thought, it was just the radio. Okay.

As Sheridan and Luis began to explore eachother, the song came up…

Baby I've been drifting away
Dreaming all day
Of holding you
Touching you
The only thing I want to do
Is be with you
As close to you
As I can be

“Thanks, Sheridan…” Luis kissed her hand as he pulled her close to him.

“For what?” Sheridan asked lovingly.

“For loving me.” Luis cried lightly.

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Let's make love

Sheridan’s eyes widened at what was happening to her, Luis held her tight and watched her. She smiled as tears dripped. This was such an emotional, loving experience for them. Luis watched her as she left the earth. He touched her tears and moved them away from her face and reminded her that he loved her.

Oh, baby
Do you know what you do to me
Everything inside of me
Is wanting you
And needing you
I'm so in love with you
Look in my eyes
Let’s get lost tonight
In each other

Luis fell next to her and kissed her mouth sweetly. Smiling and communicating with his body, telling her that it was incredible…that she was the one, she was going to be the one forever. He loved her more than ever at this momment and thought she looked more beautiful than ever.

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Let's make love

It was official now. They were bound together forever. The perfect pair, the set. Their souls were bound, their hearts tied together. Now, for always, they’d be known as one…

Let's make love
All night long
Until all our strength is gone
Hold on tight
Just let go
I want to feel you in my soul
Until the sun comes up
Oh, until the sun comes up

He entered her soul, and now she felt him. And he left his mark, being there with her for always.

Let's make love
Oh baby, let's make love
All night long
All night long
Let’s make love

-Let’s make love
-Faith hill/Tim McGraw

Sheridan woke up the next day with Luis next to her. Where he was going to be forever now. They’d lasted a year, and mark it one year after they met that they declared their love for one another. That they became one…is it possible for dreams to come true? Is it possible for love to overcome all? If it’s true, yes. And Sheridan and Luis proved it to everyone…and more importantly theirselves.

So exactly a year later on this date, guess what? He proposed to her. He did it well, too. He took her to the highest point of Harmony…and what did she see there? Oodles and oodles of cake…lots of cake. She explored everyone one of those cakes until she found it. Through 33 cakes, she finally found the ring…the ring burried deep inside the 21st cake. And that ’s how they decided on the date for their wedding. August 21st would be their wedding date.

And so 10 years past…where are they now? They have a son and a daughter. Seven and Four. And what song plays for them as they dance for their anniversary? One that goes something like this…

I must be crazy now
Maybe I dream too much
But when I think of you
I long to feel your touch
To whisper in your ear
Words that are old as time
Words only you would hear
If only you were mine

I wish I could go back to the very first day I saw you
Should've made my move when you looked in my eyes
'Cause by now I know that you'd feel the way that I do
And you'd whisper these words as you'd lie here by my side

I love you
Please say you love me too
These three words
They could change our lives forever
And I promise you that we will always be together
'Til the end of time

So today I finally find the courage deep inside
Just to walk right up to your door
But my body can't move when I finally get to it
Like a thousand times before

Then without a word you handed me this letter
Read I hope this finds the way into your heart, it said

I love you
Please say you love me too
'Til the end of time
Well maybe I, I need a little love, yeah
Maybe I, I need a little care
Maybe you, maybe you need somebody just to hold you
If you do
Just reach out
I'll be there
I love you
Please say you love me
Please say you love me too

These three words, they could change our lives forever
And I promise you that we will always be together
Oh, I love you
Please say you love me
Please say you love me too
'Til the end of time

Oh baby, my baby, together, forever
I love you
I will be your light
Shining through your eyes

“I Love You”

-Faith hill, [go figure, I got the cd FAITH, and I guess the songs inspired me to write some fanfictions…She’s not my favourite, but one of them…I don’t like country…I don’t, but I do like the DIXIE CHICKS and faith hill…that’s it… and I thought these songs were appropriate…And yeah, I did write Just to Hear you say I love you…and that’s also a faith hill and tim mcgraw song…lol, yeah okay, I love these songs…but I also wrote those Dixie chicks songs, right? I swear, I’m ruinging my fanfiction right now…]

And once again they said, “I love you.”

And they meant it, still.

Please e-mail me comments/thoughts/feelings…or icq me 35007802. cktse@home.com Extras : Thank yous to the cd FAITH, BREATHE, FLY, and WIDE OPEN SPACES. [buy them, they rock.] actually, breathe really isn’t as good as FAITH is. But WIDE OPEN SPACES AND FLY ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! [cake fight idea from the READY TO RUN video, in which was an amazing video scripted by the DIXIE CHICKS themselves.] Thank yous to all those web people who put this story on their site, even though it kinda sucked. I would’ve put it on my site if that stupid SHMUCK hadn’t deleted it. *ahem* Thank yous to all the people who read this far down. You must be really bored. :)