| At the beginning |
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*At the Beginning*
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[Author Note: Song By Donna Lewis and Richard Marx.] She looked at herself in the mirror, twirling in the simple white dress. It wasn’t a wedding gown; in fact it was more like a dress she would wear to a cocktail party but it was cool and light and comfortable…
And Luis liked the way she looked in this dress.
With a smile she thought of the man that was waiting down the aisle for her: her soon-to-be husband, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. He had changed her life so much that she could hardly remember what it was like before. What was once a life full of pain and loneliness was now…
Well it was a life worth living, one full of love.
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Funny how this was something she never believed would happen to her, especially when it meant marrying Luis. Her life never worked this way before; she had never had this kind of luck before in her life. Love was not something Sheridan Crane had been shown and to find Luis was a miracle… Ok it was an accident! She giggled. What were the chances that two complete strangers who completely hated each other would survive hit men, electrocution, being buried alive and a watery grave at sea to actually marry and one day start a family? “Who would have thought he would ever get over the fact that I’m a Crane,” she shook her head and smiled. “Though that will soon be a thing of the past,” she amended, twisting her engagement ring on her finger. Life was good.
I'm suddenly standing At the beginning with you
“Time to go, Sheridan,” Sam smiled. “We’re going to try this again without cars crashing through the windows and poisoned rings.” She shuddered. Stupid brother. Sometimes she wished Julian and Alistair would simply drop off the face of the planet. She just didn’t need their help in failing when it came to relationships; she did fine on her own! But they had made it through the imposter and their different classes and now they would be married… And someday have a family. She nodded. “I’m ready, Sam! More than ready. Just promise me something.” “Anything I can, Sheridan,” he vowed. “Tell me Ivy is in her seat and her care is SAFELY parked outside…” He laughed. “She is and it is.” “Thank God,” she took his arm and allowed him to lead her out of the bridal room.
Unexpected what you did to my heart
He hadn’t planned to fall in love when she came crashing into his life…quite literally in fact. Luis was prepared to spend his days supporting his siblings and mother and one day settle for Beth Wallace, a girl that had been his whole world at one time. Sure, she wasn’t the woman he loved with his heart, mind and soul; but then again he hadn’t know she existed… Until suddenly Sheridan Crane and her fire engine red convertible smashed into his life and shook his entire world. She had showed him what it truly was like to be in love, to feel that someone else was your everything. Had it been this way with Beth? Hell no! Sure, he cared for Beth, but what he had with Sheridan was special… Unexpected… And permanent…forever! Losing her, even briefly, tore his heart to pieces and destroyed him. He loved her… Always and forever.
You were there to remind me This is the start
The doors to the back of the church opened and revealed his bride-to-be. There she stood, her arm gently wrapped around the arm of his friend and boss Sam Bennett. Ok, so this was the second time he had seen his angel ready to walk down the aisle, their second wedding. But the first time hadn’t exactly been a success and then there was that little mess with the bomb on the boat (little was definitely an understatement). But they would make it this time. Theresa and Ethan were seats apart, their love having fallen apart when Julian and Theresa eloped in their drunken stupor. Ivy was sitting alone, waiting for Sam to join her while Grace was with her first husband, David. The rest of their family and friends were gathered and waiting… On baited breath, might he add! Like the rest, he had wondered if he would ever be married to Sheridan. He had started to believe that they would never make it here, never make it this far, but they had both been persistent and stubborn. Sheridan wouldn’t let him give in, wouldn’t let him give up… And he was glad because now his wedding to the woman of his dreams was going to begin.
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
It had been long and hard, but well worth it to get here and Sheridan had to admit she wouldn’t change a thing. She loved Luis, with all her heart and soul, and this was going to be the first day of the rest of her life. She wouldn’t be alone anymore because their two paths would become one… Starting today. “Nervous?” Sam asked, rubbing her hand soothingly as they took a step… One step to her new beginning! “Never,” she smiled, her eyes meeting Luis’. “This is where I’m meant to be starting today, Sam, I’m sure of it.” “Not even a little nervous?” “Sam, I’ve faced bombs and guns, poisoning, being buried alive and his pig headed, anti-Crane attitude. I’m sure from this moment on we’re pretty much going to have an easy ride.” He laughed. Oh she was naïve.
I'll be there when the storm is through In the end I wanna be standing At the beginning with you
Luis watched as Sam led his fiancée down the aisle, the two of them whispering as they walked down to him. He caught her winking at him and smiled. God she was amazing. Today he was going to promise to be there through thick and thin and he would live by those vows for the rest of his life. His smile faltered as he thought of how much work this was going to be, but it reappeared when he realized just how worth it this would be. “Nervous man?” Hank asked, chuckling when Luis shot him a glare. “Not at all, Sheridan’s the one man. I’ve known that for a long time.” “Sure could have fooled me,” Hank countered. Luis shot him another glare. “Ok, so it took me a while to admit it, but today is the beginning of my life with Sheridan and it’s looking great.” “I bet,” Hank nudged him. “Remember, looks fade.” “She’ll always be the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Never dreaming how our dreams would come true
“Just a few more steps, Sheridan” Sam coached, bringing her along the carpeted aisle. “You know, you can still back out,” he teased. Sheridan smiled, her eyes locked with Luis. “Oh no, Sam, I plan on making him marry me this time…no cars, no poisoned rings…and no one better say a WORD when the priest asks if someone opposes this wedding.” Sam chuckled. “I’ll personally arrest the fool that does.” She smirked. “You might have to arrest me for assault and battery first.” “I doubt it,” he whispered, kissing her cheek and handing her over to Luis. “Good luck…you two will definitely need it.”
Unafraid of the future At the beginning with you
He took her hand, gently brushing his lips against her cheek. “Hello, beautiful.” “Hello, handsome,” she replied as the music ended. She wasn’t afraid of what was going to happen from this point forward because, well, because Luis would never let her down and she knew that. She knew that they were going to last because Luis would make sure of it… And so would she, if it was the last thing she did…
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
He looked at his bride and smiled, barely hearing Father Lonigan begin the service. He was lost in her blue eyes. No matter how hard it had been since he lost his father, Luis knew it brought him to this point. Every decision, every obstacle led him one step closer to his ultimate prize… His treasure… His Sheridan! His only prayer was for the two of them to finish their journey as a team. It frightened him that she had such control over his heart and mind, that he would give it all up to know she would never leave. Of course, that was setting himself up for disaster, but he didn’t care. He and Sheridan were getting married and would be together forever.
I'll be there when the storm is through In the end I wanna be standing At the beginning with you
She hadn’t heard a word of the dear priest either, too busy staring back at Luis. She wanted to remember this moment forever, to have etched in her memory the moment she knew what forever felt like. This was it. This was her moment to savor forever. He was looking at her with such love and devotion shinning in his eyes that it brought tears to her blue orbs. How could she have been so foolish to waste so much time hating him? How could she have ever believed that he would hurt her? All the men in her past had ruined her and yet, he had saved her and brought her to this place. She was now looking out on a bright new future, seeing things she never thought she would see… And it was thanks to her Luis.
Like me alone in the dark Now I know my dream will live on I've been waiting so long Nothing's gonna tear us apart
Both of them knew that they were looking for the man or woman that would complete them. Sheridan had been fortunate enough to dream about them since her toddler years and for Luis it came as a surprise. He had known that someone else would complete him; he just never knew it would be Sheridan Crane. Neither had remembered their sparse meetings as children, but both knew that this was their destiny…or as Theresa would say, their fate. It was written in the stars that they wished on each night that one day they would meet and marry, finally breaking the continuous circles of love and death that their souls had traveled. Not that they knew of this… But now, their dreams were a reality, finally coming to fruition in the darkness of their past. Both had suffered an unbearable amount of pain and still they were here and they would be married in mere moments. It may have taken over twenty years and numerous past lives to get here… But they were here! And nothing would ever break them up again…
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey I'll be there when the world stops turning I'll be there when the storm is through In the end I wanna be standing At the beginning with you
And before either knew what was happening, the vows were said the rings exchanged and the final prayer read. Finally, the words they longed to hear were spoken… “You may now kiss your bride.” And he did as their family and friends looked on, tears rolling down each cheek and cheers coming from those that had waited so long to see these two wed. As they kissed, Father Lonigan smiled at the assembly and added, “May I now introduce Mr. and Mrs. Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.” Clapping ensued as Sheridan and Luis broke apart, both smiling brightly as they whispered simultaneously: “I love you,” and joined hands to leave the church. They were married and standing at the beginning of a new chapter in their lives… One that would test their faith and their love.
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