Brian and Danielle were entertaining Martin in their apartment, his little giggles actually floated up through the vents. Meanwhile, McKenzie and Luis sat in the upstairs living room in silent contemplation, his right arm around her shoulders and his left holding hers. Their eyes remained fixed on the clock as it counted down to the time Matthew would arrive. She placed her head on his chest and sighed nervously, the first sound in nearly forty minutes.

“I’m nervous,” she whispered so silently Luis had to run it through his mind twice before the words registered. “What if…”

“No, ifs. Just like with Beth we can’t back down. Matthew has got to see that we’re in love and we’re married. He’ll understand.” Well, at least he hoped he would understand. How could anyone keep a woman, a mother, away from her three children?

She nodded, feeling deep inside her heart that this wasn’t going to be easy and that Matthew would never understand. But that wasn’t the only feeling she was having. McKenzie also felt incredibly guilty that she would be hurting Matthew. Sure, he had his bad moments, but he had been a good husband. “He’s been good to us, Luis. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“I’m afraid this situation is going to be a bitter pill for him to swallow, Mac. He has to have feelings for you if he married you. Who wouldn’t?” he kissed the top of her head. “You’ve always been the light in my life, even when you weren’t there.”

She sighed again, hearing the downstairs door open and jumping up. This was it; there was no turning back now! “He’s home,” she could hear his steps on the stairs. “Luis,” her frightened blue eyes met his.

“Calm down,” he mouthed as the upper door opened. He stood, joining her hoping this went as planned or else this life was going to be impossible from this point on.

“McKenzie, I…oh, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald,” Matthew looked at the man, wondering what he was doing here. “I didn’t know you were here too.”

“Welcome home,” McKenzie went to place a kiss on his cheek, which was habit, but pulled away and put distance between them. ‘Be strong,’ she thought.

His eyebrows rose in query. “Something wrong, McKenzie?” he asked, placing his briefcase in the corner. “I don’t smell supper, haven’t you begun cooking?”

“No,” McKenzie chewed on her bottom lip nervously. “I…there is something we need to talk about Matthew, something important.”

He looked between Luis and McKenzie and headed for his bedroom. “Come, McKenzie, we’ll speak alone,” he requested, but left no room for argument.

Luis could see her shudder and touched her shoulder. She jumped, confirming his belief that Matthew did more than frighten her. If he had any proof he’d…well he wouldn’t be able to control himself; that was for sure.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” he vowed. “Forever.”

She nodded, swallowing hard. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered, tracing Matthew’s steps into their bedroom. The only sound Luis heard was the gentle click as the door shut.

“What is *he* doing here?” Matthew asked, removing his suit jacket and throwing it on the bed. He sound only mildly displeased, perhaps this conversation wouldn’t be terrible.

“I invited him,” she replied, standing by the door and watching her husband…second husband? Well, whatever he was to her. He was a handsome man, about six feet tall with light brown hair and big green eyes. He wasn’t muscular, but he wasn’t scrawny, and he was a decent man…

Sometimes.

“We discussed his presence in this home, McKenzie!” he glared at her as he removed his tie. Ok, perhaps this conversation wouldn’t be terrible…it would be horrendous! “I specifically told you that you weren’t to have any communication with him! In fact, I told you to stay as far away from him as humanly possible! YOU were to abide by that ONE rule!”

“It’s stupid rule, Matthew,” she crossed her arms, her eyes clearly displaying her defiance. “Not to mention the fact that you don’t own me and I can be friends with whomever I chose!”

His eyes became tiny slits and he neared her. She knew that look; knew what it brought along as well. He was so close that every word he said, every breath he released, brushed against her face. “What did you say?”

“I said you don’t own me,” her voice was barely a whisper, “and I may befriend who I wish.” How she wished she had the courage she had displayed seconds ago.

He grabbed her arm. “You are my wife!”

“No, I’m not,” she pulled her arm away, moving away from him. “I’m married to Luis…and my name isn’t McKenzie. It’s Sheridan. You are nothing to me!”

She remembered! Alistair had warned him that Sheridan was bound to begin remembering things, especially when Beth Wallace arrived in town. Damn her for remembering so much so soon! So much for taking her away and trying to convince her those dreams were just her overactive subconscious. “You must be joking,” he covered, walking over to the dresser to get some clothing. “You’re my wife.”

“I’ve been remembering things, Matthew, and I remember Luis. He’s my husband. We have children…Martin is his son and you can’t deny that.” She rushed her words, fearing his anger. “We were in love…still are!”

“Then why were you on the plane, MCKENZIE? Why were did you have that ID?” he tried to feed her doubts. “You’re not his wife!”

“I AM HIS WIFE!” she screamed, tired of hearing otherwise. “And I want an annulment, Matthew…I want to go home with him!”

“No,” he said simply, grabbing his clothing and getting changed. “You’re my wife now.”

“Not legally,” she replied.

He knew that very well! What did she think he was stupid? “Mc…”

“Sheridan…”

“Sheridan,” he relented. “You’re not going home with Luis,” he turned, looking into her eyes his own dark with anger. “Ever.”

“I…I’m going home with Luis…just grant me an annulment,” she tried to sound forceful, but failed miserably.

He laughed. “You’re seriously delusional!”

Her eyes grew wide with anger, her entire body coming to life with those words. How dare he say such a thing about her! She went to smack him, her hand close to striking, but he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.

“You will NEVER raise a hand to me, Sheridan Crane, do you understand me!” he growled, giving her arm a pull and making her whimper in pain.

But that one little slip was all she needed to send her world spinning…

Her car was crammed into the side of his jeep, her beautiful red baby smashed into the monstrous police vehicle. Finally he peeked his head out, gun aimed for her car and in a very commanding voice the man demanded, “You try anything else and I’m using your tires for target practice.” He started to walk towards the car, gun still ready to fire on her tires. “Well, I hope you had a good time, buster, because you're about to say good-bye to life as you know it. There's no way your sorry behind isn't doing jail time after those moves."

She didn’t care what he was saying, what mattered was the mansion merely five minutes from here! "My name isn't Buster, my behind is anything but sorry, and you can't arrest me," she threw off her seatbelt.

He came to the window with his gun finally lowered. "You've broken at least ten laws in the last ten minutes. Give me one good reason I shouldn't arrest you." They look at each other, pausing for a moment. Emotions flash in their eyes, but only briefly as her anger took the foreground.

"Because my last name is Crane," she flashed her license, a hint of a smirk on her lips.

"Excuse me?" He pulled the license from her hands and read it himself, his own temper flaring as he thought of something else.

"Can't you read, officer? C-r-a-n-e? As in Alistair Crane and Julian Crane and the Crane industries! Do you want me to go on? Because I can!” She rolled her eyes, waiting patiently for him to realize that she was going to get away with this.

"I know the name. I know it very well,” he sounded angry and yet disappointed.

She was smiling now; she had won! "Well, then I guess we can forget all about this. So if you would just move your car, I’ll be on my way. And I’ll send a check to the Harmony Police station to cover any damage to your car."

"That's very generous of you, but you don't have to do that."

"No, no, I insist. There's no reason why there should be any hard feelings between us." Hard feelings and a lot of road! She was almost home!

"Suit yourself. But you have to get out of the car."

"I don't understand," she was clearly confused.

"You're under arrest, Ms. Crane. Now I need to cuff you."

“That’s right, I’m Sheridan Crane!” her eyes were lit with a new fire. Sheridan Crane wouldn’t allow ANY man to treat her this way. “NOW LET ME GO!”

His grip tightened. “You’re not a Crane…”

“You said it first! Damn it, Matthew you’re hurting me now!!” she cried.

Before either could react, the bedroom door flew open and Luis stormed in, fire in his eyes. No one hurt his Sheridan: not her father, not her bastard brother and certainly not this stranger! “Let her go!” he demanded.

Matthew laughed; he wasn’t afraid of Luis. “You’re fools if you think I’m going to sign her away to you…if you think I’ll lose my nest egg because of you!”

Luis stepped closer, his eyes so dark they made McKenzie shudder. “I said let her go!” he growled, his teeth clenched so closely that McKenzie was sure it would snap.

Matthew realized Luis meant business and, knowing this man was twice his size, he released McKenzie. A battle of strength would be futile, but Matthew had a bigger arsenal at his disposal.

Luis immediately opened his arms to her, which she willingly fell into, her body shaking with fear. He held her close and rocked her gently, his glare still pinned on Matthew. “You’re a bastard! A sick, twisted, bastard!”

“I might very well be, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald, but I won’t be annulling my marriage to McKenzie. Like it or not, I am still her husband!” he smirked.

“McKenzie doesn’t even exist!” Luis defended. “She never did!”

Matthew chuckled. “She does according to all the documents I have…the driver’s license, birth certificate…the wedding license that says McKenzie is married to *me*!”

“But I’m not McKenzie! I’m not!” she sobbed. “I’m Sheridan!”

“You’re married to me!” Matthew laughed, his eyes lit by some hidden secret.

“What are you hiding, Philips?” Luis watched him, his detective skills kicking in. “What are you keeping from us?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he shook his head. “If you would kindly take your hands from my wife.”

“I’M NOT YOUR WIFE!” she screamed. “I’m Mrs. LOPEZ-FITZGERALD,” she stressed.

“How do you know? Because he says you are married to him? Come on, McKenzie! Do you REMEMBER marrying him?” Matthew asked looking deep into her eyes. “YOU barely remember HIM!” he mocked. “I’ve been saying you were married to me for nearly four years now and that’s the biggest lie I’ve ever told!” he slipped again, damning himself under his breath. He looked away, rummaging for something in his nightstand.

“What?” her eyes met Luis’ in surprise before turning on the man she thought was her husband. “What do you mean lie??”

“Nothing,” he huffed, finding what he wanted.

“What did you mean?” she demanded. “I have a right to know!”

Looking right into her eyes he replied. “We were never legally married, McKenzie. The man wasn’t a preacher or a judge…he was an actor! AN ACTOR! You’ve been living here with a man that isn’t your husband at all!”

“Never married?” she repeated dumbly, her mind spinning.

“Yes, never legally married…we’re not husband and wife!” he reached behind his back again, grabbing something.

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her. She was a free woman. She laughed. “I can go back to Harmony! Luis, I can go home with you!!!”

“You can go back…both of you can…but it will be in a body bag,” he replied, drawing his gun and aiming it. “Bye guys,” he cocked the gun and two loud shots followed by a scream filled the air.

And then there was silence!

**Now that McKenzie knows she’s really Sheridan Crane, I’ll be going back to using Sheridan’s name instead of McKenzie’s**

Chapter Thirteen

Sheridan groaned, the throbbing in her was making it impossible to open her eyes. This feeling had become dreadfully familiar to her over the last few weeks. Not that she didn’t welcome the influx of memories, but she could have lived without the fainting. Damn headache! How many of these had she had since Luis arrived in town? She lost count! Forcing her eyes to open, she noticed one thing…

She wasn’t at home!

The smell alone would have given that away, but it was obvious when she opened her eyes and found herself staring at a monitor that registered her heart rate and blood pressure. Looking around further, Sheridan noticed Diane sitting in the chair beside her bed. No one else was around, not even a nurse or doctor, and the room was eerily silent. What was going on? Why was she here?

“Diane?” her hoarse voice called.

No response.

“Diane!” she tried again.

Diane’s head shot up, the book she was holding dropping to the floor as she looked over at the bed. “Oh thank God!” she quickly stood and crossed to the bed. “We were so worried!”

“What happened?” Sheridan grumbled, bringing a shaky hand to her head and feeling the light bandage there.

“You fell and hit your head,” Diane skirted the issue. She didn’t want to tell her friend that Matthew had shot at them, hitting Luis and Sheridan with one bullet and the second hitting the wall.

Sheridan nodded, groaning as the pain shot through her head and neck. With no sign of Luis or Beth, her first thought was that they had been a dream. Shouldn’t her husband have been there with her? However, Matthew wasn’t around either so there went that theory. Then, the fog lifted and she remembered what happened…

The shooting!

She and Luis had been shot at and obviously hit by the look on Diane’s face. After all, no one looked that pale if someone simply hit his or her head!

“Diane…where’s Luis?” Sheridan looked around again for any sign that he had been to see her…

Not even flowers!

Diane would have been surprised that her friend hadn’t asked for Matthew had Beth not filled her in on her friend’s past life, admitting that this was Sheridan, Luis’ wife, and not McKenzie. Of course, she wasn’t used to thinking of the sweet brunette as the Crane heiress, but she would learn. Right now, however, was not the time to worry about her friend’s name. Instead she would have to break the news to her.

“We shouldn’t talk about that now…”

“Diane??” her fear filled eyes met Diane’s. Something was wrong; she could sense it in her heart.

“Sheridan, you need to calm down sweetheart.” Calling her that had felt odd, but it was better than upsetting her by calling her McKenzie.

“DIANE!” she grabbed her arm. “Please, where is Luis?”

“Sheridan…Sheridan Luis…he…” Diane stumbled to find the right words. As luck would have it, though, she wouldn’t have to break the news.

“Luis is in ICU,” Beth saved Diane the trouble. The brunette entered the room and neared Sheridan’s bed.

Sheridan froze, the terror in her eyes turning into panic and her body locking up. “ICU?” she whispered, not really searching for an answer. “Is he…will he?”

“They don’t know,” Beth looked at her. “He played the hero again. I always told him it would kill him one day,” Beth replied uncaringly. “Saved your worthless hide!”

“Beth!” Diane shot her friend a look. “Behave.”

“Whatever,” Beth sighed.

“Please, tell me what happened…how serious is it?” she begged, her blue eyes filled with tears. To find Luis now, to know of their love and their family, and to lose it before she could fully remember it would kill her. What about their children? The triplets she only knew from photos?

“I don’t know much to tell you, Sheridan,” Diane replied, patting her friend’s hand gently. “Bryan and I heard the shots from downstairs. I stayed with Martin and Bryan called the police before he went to check on everything. By time he was upstairs, Matthew was gone and he found you and Luis in a bloody heap on the bedroom floor. Luis must have tackled you to keep you from being wounded, but the bullet went through his chest and out his back, hitting you in the arm.”

“So Matthew is on the loose?” Sheridan shuddered. “He’s out there somewhere?”

“Afraid so,” Diane hugged her. “But you would be fine. Besides that bump on the head and a flesh wound, you’re physically fine. We were just waiting for you to regain consciousness…”

“But Luis?”

“Luis was a bit more serious. He had a collapsed lung and the bullet had become lodged in his aorta,” Beth replied. “He flat lined twice on the way here,” she spared no detail.

“But they were able to save him?” Sheridan looked at Beth. “He’s alive?”

“He’s on life support, but they removed the bullet. His family is on the way down from Harmony. Doctors aren’t sure he’ll pull through this and they want to say goodbye to him…they’re bringing the triplets.”

“My babies?” Sheridan’s tears were no longer contained. “My poor babies. Martin doesn’t even know his daddy. Oh please, Diane, make them let us see him…I need to see Luis…” she sobbed.

“Sher, you just woke up yourself. Don’t you think…”

“NO! I want to see my HUSBAND!” she cried, causing the monitor’s numbers to jump as she became increasingly agitated. A doctor immediately rushed in.

“What’s going on?” Dr. Jillianne Carroll asked, grabbing Sheridan’s chart.

“I want to see my husband,” Sheridan demanded. “He’s in ICU and I DEMAND to see him.”

“You cannot see him, ma’am,” Jillianne looked over Sheridan’s chart. “It isn’t possible.”

“Are you DENYING me the chance to see my husband?” Sheridan glared at her. “Do you know who I AM? I’m SHERIDAN CRANE!”

The name definitely registered with the doctor, who sighed. “I cannot let you leave this room.”

“Look, my husband is in ICU after a near fatal bullet took his life! I have the right to see him and let him know I’m here. Now you get me out of this room THIS INSTANT before I have you thrown out on your ass!”

Diane gasped, watching the sweet natured McKenzie Phillips turn into the Sheridan Crane that Beth had described in a letter. Then again, should Bryan be in ICU and she not be permitted to see him, she was positive she’d have thrown a similar fit. Apparently it was working as Dr. Carroll immediately examined Sheridan and then called for a wheelchair. “We’ll wheel you down immediately Miss Crane…”

“Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald…and I knew you’d see things MY way,” she grinned triumphantly. After all, everyone should see things her way.

Within moments, a nurse brought in a wheelchair and helped Sheridan from the bed and into the chair. Once the brake was taken off, she started wheeling herself towards the elevator, enjoying the ride. Sure, she would have preferred to walk, but they were letting her go and she wasn’t going to continue arguing.

She arrived at the elevator, Beth and Diane close behind, and the trio climbed aboard, hitting the second floor button. In no time, the elevator brought them to their destination and Beth offered to help Sheridan wheel the chair.

“No thank you,” she said politely.

But Beth started to push her. “Save your strength. Seeing Luis like this will zap you of what strength you have. I should know, I spent the last twenty-four hours at his bedside.”

“Is that how long I’ve been out?” Sheridan asked.

“Yes, and then some,” Diane replied in a hushed voice. “We were worried. Poor little Martin sat by your bed for hours just crying. He insisted on seeing his mommy.”

“They let him in?” she asked, looking up at Diane.

“No, we snuck him in,” she giggled. “He had to know Mommy was just sleeping.”

Sheridan smiled. “Thank you, Diane.”

“No problem.”

“Here we are,” Beth motioned to the closed door. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Her concern was touching, but Sheridan had a feeling Beth was merely trying to look good in front of Diane after her remarks in the other room. With a nod, she said, “I’m sure. He needs to know I’m here to support him.”

Beth nodded. “I’m warning you Sheridan, it isn’t pretty. The Luis in that bed looks nothing like the one we know…the one you love.”

Sheridan looked up at Beth. “I’ll be all right. I need to see him.”

With a sigh, Beth opened the door to Luis’ room and Sheridan wheeled herself in. “I’d like some time alone with him,” she said before the door closed, her eyes looking at them. The pair let the door swing shut and Sheridan took a deep breath. “Ok, here goes.” Turning her head, she looked over at the bed and saw the most horrific sight ever!

There laid Luis, his fragile body stuffed with tubes. He was intubated, a respirator breathing for him. Two IVs pumped fluids and blood into his system while a multitude of monitors read his pulse, blood pressure and respiration. He looked so fragile! So weak! His tan body still pale against the white sheets. He looked so close to death. She wheeled her chair closer and pulled herself up to see his face.

Besides the tube and some cuts, he looked so peaceful. She wished she could believe he was merely asleep, but she couldn’t. Gently, she reached out and caressed his cheek, her hand touching the cool flesh. She sniffled. It was so hard to see him this way. How she wished she could remember him other ways, but she barely could.

One memory stood out in her mind. It wasn’t much, just a quick flash of a scene. It had to be some sort of ball in her honor, because everyone was applauding for her and Luis. She was wearing a light blue gown with sequence flowers on the straps. It was a beautiful gown and it brought out her eyes beautifully. Luis stood beside her in a suit, his arm around her waist. She looked happy, blissfully so, and she wished she could tell him that she remembered it.

“Luis,” she whispered, placing a hand on his hand. “Luis, I need you to wake up…please,” she begged, a tear rolling down her cheek. “We all do, the children…me…especially little Martin. He barely knows you and he deserves the chance to know his daddy. Doesn’t he? Please Luis! Please!”

Nothing. The monitors beeped, the ventilator whooshed and Sheridan felt herself loosing control of her emotions. She had almost no memories of the man in her bed, the man that was her husband that had recently returned to her life. She couldn’t lose him now; she just couldn’t.

Placing her head on the bed she sobbed. “Luis please,” she begged, her tears falling against the cool, pristine white sheets of his bed. “Please don’t leave me. You can’t leave me now! I need you…our family needs you.”

Family! Ha! Sheridan couldn’t remember the people that were coming here. She wasn’t even sure if they knew she had been found alive. How was she going to explain to his mother, siblings and children that she was Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald, a woman that had “died” years ago? How was she going to compete with her own ghosts, the ghost of a woman that existed somewhere deep inside? Looking up at him, she placed a gentle kiss on his hand.

“Luis, I love you. I know I have a lot of remembering to do, but I will remember in time. I need you here to help me though! Please don’t leave me!”

Still nothing.

“I remembered something before…before Matthew shot at us. I remembered how we first met.” She smirked, the tears continuing to roll down her tears. “I can’t believe I hit your cop car. I’m sure there’s a lot more to that story, I only wish I knew more of it. But I know deep down inside that I loved you the moment I saw you…even if I did act like a snob and throw my name in your face. I don’t blame you for arresting me.”

She wiped at the tears on her cheeks and took a deep breath. “For the last three years I’ve dreamed about you, Luis. I’ve seen your silhouette in my dreams since the day Matthew found me in the woods. I knew deep down inside that someone somewhere was looking for me. But I couldn’t find you and Martin wasn’t going to wait three years to be born,” she giggled. “But we need you now, Luis, do please don’t give in. Please wake up.”

She sunk back into the wheelchair, again wiping away some tears. She was tired; Beth had been right. Looking at Luis in that giant bed was terribly draining. For a while she simply watched him, waiting for any sign of life. Something inside her begged her to tell him one more time how she felt…

So she did.

“I love you, Luis, with all my heart and soul. You are my soul mate,” she whispered honestly, the words coming straight from her heart.

As she uttered the last syllable, the respirator cut off and his heart rate plummeted. She didn’t have time to react as a nurse and doctor flew into the room, one of them pushing her out of the way as the green line on the monitor flattened as the deafening alarm sounded, followed by two dreadful words over the speakers…

CODE BLUE!

Chapter Fourteen

“What the hell is taking them so long?” Sheridan groaned, leaning her elbows on her legs and placing her head in her hands. She was tired of sitting around in this stupid hospital waiting for information on her husband; she wanted to see him already! The only doctor she had seen in all this time was her own and that was only to get permission to change into some clothing that Bryan and Diane had brought for her and now she just waited.

It seemed like she had been waiting for days!

“Sheridan, calm down,” Diane placed a hand on the woman’s back and rubbed soothing circles, trying her hardest not to jar little Martin who slept so peacefully in her lap. “Luis is probably fine and they are just trying to make him comfortable or something,” she attempted to calm her friend.

“Yea, or something all right,” Sheridan grumbled. “Must be hard to size body bags.”

“Sheridan, don’t be so morbid!” Diane scolded, accidentally shaking Martin and causing him to whimper in his sleep.

“I’m sorry, but if Bryan was laying in an ICU unit and no one would tell YOU anything I’m sure you wouldn’t be much more cheerful!” she huffed, looking at the clock on the wall for the hundredth time. “It’s been almost an hour since we’ve heard anything. Shouldn’t he have been stabilized by now?”

“Sheridan, these things take time…”

She scoffed. “Right, time. I watch ER I know the brain is damaged without oxygen!”

Diane didn’t have a clue what she could say in response to that and was grateful for Beth’s interrupting with:

“They’re here!”

Sheridan raised her head and looked over at the elevators, her eyes immediately finding part of Luis’ family. There they stood, two of his siblings and his mother, each carrying one of the triplets. Beside his sister stood some man, obviously her husband, who was carrying a child as well. Sheridan stood on wobbling legs, her eyes meeting his mother’s. This felt familiar! This woman was familiar! Memories of the woman before her flashed in her mind light lightening and her eyes teared. Before she knew what she was saying, a name rolled off her tongue. “Pilar!”

Pilar looked past Beth and to where someone called her name, her eyes finding a very familiar looking brunette. She gasped. It couldn’t be; it simply couldn’t! “Sheridan?”

“Oh Pilar!” she made her way to the woman she had known as a mother. “I’m so glad to see you,” she hugged her mother-in-law, tears falling freely from her deep blue eyes.

“I can say the same, mija,” she replied, hugging Sheridan with her free arm. When Luis had phoned her days before and said that Sheridan was living in New York, she hadn’t believed him. Sheridan had been gone for three years; it wasn’t possible for her to be alive. They had seen the wreckage, spoken to the few people that had survived the crash. She wasn’t alive. But now, seeing the woman she had called daughter standing here was…well it was a miracle.

“Aunt Sheridan?” Ethan’s voice interrupted their hug. He was trembling and his eyes were glazed over with unshed tears. “Is it really you?”

Sheridan bit her lip nervously, looking the man over. Ok, so perhaps she was his Aunt, but she had no memory of the man in front of her, none whatsoever. With a defeated sigh, she responded, “I…I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name.”

Ethan looked worried, but Pilar placed a comforting hand on his arm and he relaxed slightly. “That’s all right, Sheridan, Luis explained everything, mija. I guess it slipped my mind when Beth called to tell me about the shooting…”

Sheridan nodded, shuddering slightly as memories of the shooting flashed before her eyes. If she ever found Matthew, she would kill him with her bare hands and take pride in it! With a sigh, she led them over to the chair she had recently vacated. They all took seats near each other in order to continue talking. “Pilar, I would like you to meet one of my closest friends and landlady, Diane. Diane, this is Luis’ mother, Pilar.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Diane smiled. “Luis and Beth have told me about all of you.”

Pilar smiled sweetly. “Very nice to meet you too, Diane. Luis told me about you when we spoke the other night.”

A brief silence settled over them, each just looking at the next. Sheridan tried her hardest to place the names of the others, wondering why she could remember Pilar. She chewed nervously on her lip and waited for someone to speak.

Finally, Pilar did, remembering that Sheridan couldn’t remember the others. “Sheridan, let me introduce you to the rest of the family, mija.” Pointing to Theresa, she started, “This is one of Luis’ sisters, Theresa, and her husband, Ethan, your nephew. He’s holding their daughter Sherry.”

“We named her for you when you disappeared,” Ethan explained. “Her name is Sheridan Fate Crane.”

Sheridan smiled and chuckled. For some reason that word seemed uncomfortably familiar, as if Theresa said it all the time. But what could she possibly have to say about fate? Shaking her head, she thanked them, “I’m honored that someone so beautiful has my name.”

Ethan grinned proudly, his arm sliding around Theresa, who whispered, “See? It’s fate!”

Sheridan shuddered. Very familiar indeed!

“Miguel is my youngest son,” she pointed to the last adult, who was struggling to keep hold of LJ. “His wife Kay couldn’t’ come, their son is ill. She sends her love.”

“I hope she understands why you had to leave her…” Sheridan whispered, feeling guilty that the young man had to leave his wife at home with an ill child. Luis shouldn’t be in that bed and wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for her and her stupid amnesia.

“Kay knows how important my family is,” he smiled slightly, his arms gripping LJ as tightly as possibly without hurting the small boy.

“Are these…are these the triplets?” Sheridan asked, her eyes looking at the other three children that she had yet to meet. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from their tiny little bodies and how much they resembled Luis and her.

Pilar nodded. “Miguel has LJ, I have Kathryn and Theresa has Trinity.”

Trinity smiled and waved, adding a giggling, “Hi lady!”

Sheridan laughed slightly, enjoying the happiness of the little girl…her little girl. Her heart swelled with love and she had the urge to hold at least one of her children. Reaching over into Diane’s lap, she gently lifted her son into her arms, snuggling him close. “I guess I have someone I should introduce too. I would like you to meet my…our son, Martin Lopez-Fitzgerald.”

Pilar’s eyes teared. This was the little boy Sheridan had been carrying when she disappeared all those years ago. Her missing grandchild and daughter-in-law, both returned in one day. God had truly blessed her. “He’s beautiful. He looks a lot like Luis.”

Sheridan nodded. “But he has my eyes. I’m sorry he’s not awake; he’s had a busy day so he’s quite tired.”

“Well this one isn’t tired in the least,” Miguel grumbled, giving into LJ and placing him on his feet. “He’s been squirming since we got in the cab from the airport. He’s not going to relax until he has his way.”

The others all laughed, knowing just how strong willed LJ was. He certainly took after his parents when it came to determination!

LJ walked over to Sheridan, looking her over once or twice before tiling his head in thought. Something was familiar about her and ever at five he knew that. For years he had been the voice of pessimism in the Lopez-Fitzgerald house; the one that told his sisters that his mother would never be back even when Kathy cried that she missed Sheridan and Trinity swore her mother would be back. His brow furrowed and finally he asked what was plaguing him, “Mommy?”

Sheridan looked down at him, his deep brown eyes were filled with recognition and confusion. He didn’t seem to believe that Sheridan would be his mother; after all she was gone like everyone said. Glancing briefly at Pilar and earning a nod, Sheridan smiled. “Yes, LJ, I’m your mommy.”

LJ dove at her, his little arms wrapping around her legs and his tears wetting her jeans. He sobbed against her legs, completely overwhelmed by the emotions he was feeling. “Mommy! You came back! Just like Trin said! You back!”

“Yes, darling, I’m back,” she placed a kiss to his head, her fingers running through his hair as his cheek rested against her knees. “I’m back.”

Kathy perked up, her body popping up completely on her grandmother’s lap. “You’re Mommy?” she asked excitedly, her blue eyes sparkling happily.

Sheridan nodded again. In no time all three children were fighting for a space on her lap and plying her with hugs and kisses. She felt their tiny arms cling to her tightly as their tears dampened her clothing.

“We missed you so!” one cried.

“Mommy’s home!”

“Never ever leave again!” the last begged. “Promise!”

Tears silently rolled down Sheridan’s cheeks as her children hugged her legs. She felt her heart fill with love as she looked down into their faces, each one looking back with eyes full of tears. All three of them smiled brightly anyway, their faces showing just how pure their love was, how deep. All three watched her every move but it was Trinity who finally realized what was different about her.

“Mommy have brown hair!” the happy little girl giggled. “Not yellow like Kathy!”

Sheridan laughed. “Yes, mommy has long brown hair right now, but it will be yellow again someday.”

“Hair change color?” Kathy asked surprised, her hands immediately grabbing at her blond curls as she examined her locks. She sighed happily when she noticed they were still blond.

“Only if you want it to,” Sheridan laughed.

“Guys, why don’t you give mommy and Martin some room and sit in the chairs like big kids?” Theresa asked, trying to give Sheridan some breathing room.

“Oh no, Theresa they’re fine,” Sheridan defended, looking down at each of them and tapping their noses. “Perfectly fine.”

“Let me at least take Martin from you,” Pilar offered. “I would like to hold my grandson.”

Sheridan gently passed her son to Pilar, who immediately cuddled the boy close. With the extra room in her lap, all three children decided to try and climb into the chair with her. Sheridan laughed, watching as they finally succeeded in sharing the space with their mother. All three children leaned back against her, their heads resting either on her arms or abdomen as their eyes closed.

“We love you, Mommy,” the three of them chimed at the same time. They seemed much more peaceful now that they were with her again.

“Mommy loves you too,” she placed a kiss to each tiny head. This feeling was so wonderful, like she was flying. Leaning her head against the wall, she sighed. This was perfect.

If only Luis was there…

As if on cue, a doctor walked into the waiting room, his face completely unreadable. Everyone tensed, waiting on baited breath to see whose doctor he was and just what he was going to say. “Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald?” he asked.

Sheridan would have stood, but the children were still in her lap. “That’s me,” she replied, tensing when the doctor’s cold brown eyes met hers. Why did she have a feeling that this was going to be bad news?

“I have some news on your husband ma’am…”

The words that followed barely registered in her mind at all as the room seemed to become stifling hot and totally void of oxygen. Tears filled her eyes and her chest heaved as she tried to breathe. She didn’t feel the twins being lifted from her lap or the arms that hugged her close. Words echoed in her mind but she didn’t understand them as the room began to spin and then finally…

It all went black.

Chapter Fifteen

She watched as Theresa and Ethan helped Sheridan stand on shaky legs and walk down the ICU hall to his room, the children tagging along with Diane and Miguel. Her brown eyes filled with anger and hurt at their warm reception of Sheridan and then tears began to pool.

But she refused to cry! She would never cry over Sheridan and Luis again…

Never!

“Are you coming, Elizabeth?” Pilar asked, looking at the young woman, her invitation not nearly as welcome as the greeting Sheridan had received. “I’m sure Sheridan and Luis could use your support.”

“Why does she need my support, Pilar? She already seems to have everyone else’s. It’s simply amazing how it took me two years to fall into the Lopez-Fitzgerald good graces but took Sheridan mere minutes! You would hardly know that I’ve been a friend of the family since I was a freckle faced toddler!”

“She’s my son’s wife…”

“So am I!” Beth growled, glaring at her mother-in-law. “I’m wearing his ring now!” she pointed at herself.

“But it isn’t legal, I’m not so foolish to think it is. Sheridan has been gone for years…”

“Gone and pretending to be married to someone else! Passing off Martin as another man’s son! The same man that shot Luis!” She began pacing, her arms flailing. “I’ve given him the best years of my life! I’ve slaved in his house to make sure THEIR children had a proper home…to make sure they had a mother’s love and yet I was never repaid for any of it! He didn’t even show me a single shred of respect in two years and *I* stayed with him!”

Pilar scoffed. “You WANTED to be his bride, Beth, no one forced it on you! Sheridan is married to my son! SHE had his children…”

“*I* wanted them!” Beth replied, glaring at Pilar. “I’ve wanted him since high school…”

“You wanted what was never yours…what still isn’t!”

“Don’t I know it,” Beth sank into one of the chairs. “But she comes back to the open arms of family and I get tossed aside like an old toy. *I* was there when Luis cried himself to sleep over that missing bi…”

“Watch it, Beth,” Pilar cut her off, her eyes filling with anger. “Sheridan doesn’t deserve this treatment from you!”

“And *I* don’t deserve this treatment from the family! I have been there since Martin left and NOTHING has ever stopped me from helping you through it! I was there when Sheridan broke his heart not once but TWICE and when he thought he lost her in the storms of Bermuda! I was there for them when she disappeared and took his heart with him! *I* deserve the respect and love she’s getting and yet, I didn’t even get a hello! How long have you known me, Pilar? How long have you been like a mother to me too?!”

“Beth, this is hardly the time or the place…” Pilar shook her head.

“No, now is DEFINITELY the time and the place. Do you know what it felt like to have you brush past me without a hello? What it’s been like to sit here and worry about Luis…worry that he might die? I LOVE him, Pilar. I’ve loved him for years and I never plan to stop…”

“Beth, my son is laying in that hospital bed and you have two choices, you can come with me and support his WIFE as their FRIEND, or you can leave now and go back to Harmony and leave them alone!”

She didn’t want to turn and run; that would be giving them exactly what they wanted. Everyone wanted to see Beth Wallace fail at love again! Yet at home was Hank, the man that had been there through thick and thin, waiting for her. For her! For Beth Wallace… “I’d rather go home than support her.”

Pilar shook her head sadly. “What did Sheridan do to deserve this from you Beth?”

“She survived that plane crash,” she replied angrily. “She survived and returned to ruin the one thing I wanted since I was a teen…and now she’s even turned you against me.”

“I’m sorry, Beth, but she’s family…”

“Yea, well so am I,” she grabbed her purse and headed for the elevators.

“MAMA! Mama, you’ll never guess what happened!!!” Theresa ran into the waiting area, her hands clasped in front of her as she squealed happily. Both women paused, turning to the glowing woman and waiting impatiently for her news.

“What?” Pilar asked, placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder to calm her down.

“Luis is awake Mama! He’s awake and he’s asking for you!” Theresa smiled happily.

“Is he…does he want to see me?” Beth asked, looking at Theresa, hope glimmering in her eyes.

“Ummm…I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you stopped in to say hello,” Theresa offered a weak smile and a shrug.

Beth shook her head, feeling her heart squeeze in her chest and tears fill her eyes; the hope was completely gone now and it wasn’t ever going to return. “He doesn’t even care that I sat here waiting for him too,” she laughed, though it held no cheer. “Not even a thank you. Tell Diane I had Bryan bring me home,” she climbed onto the elevator.

Theresa watched her go. “What’s wrong with Beth?”

“Nothing, Teresita. Come, I wish to see my son!”

Theresa grabbed her mother’s arm and dragged her down the hall. “Oh Mama! It’s a miracle! He’s awake and talking and he’s clinging to Sheridan’s hand like she’s going to disappear.”

Pilar laughed lightly and followed her rambling daughter into Luis’ room. The scene there was heart warming. Sitting by Luis’ legs were all four of his children, who shouldn’t have been in the room but it didn’t take a genius to know that he would have insisted. At his side was Sheridan, his larger hand holding onto one of hers and her head resting beside his. So much for her needing a wheel chair anyway. The rest of the family had chairs around him, totally ignoring the two people at a time rule. She laughed. This was her family.

Sheridan smiled at her mother-in-law, her eyes filled with such complete joy that Pilar immediately knew she had made the right decision in sending Beth off. “Pilar, he was awake and smiling the second I walked in,” she sniffled, her eyes still red from crying.

Luis’ hand squeezed Sheridan’s gently. “I told you I didn’t plan on going anywhere for a long time. I owe you a lifetime of memories…”

She placed a light kiss to his forehead. “One day at a time, Luis, one day at a time.”

Beth packed the last thing in her suitcase, her eyes filling with tears. It was over, completely and totally over. There wasn’t even a single shred of hope in her entire body that Luis would ever change his mind about her. He had his Sheridan, their kids and whatever their future held. He didn’t need her love or her friendship now…

And it hurt!

Terribly!

But deep down inside she knew that Luis was never hers to begin with, that he had always lived in the past with the memory of a woman that still didn’t exist, a French speaking, plane flying, whining, rich girl that had stolen his heart the day she crashed into his car. But even if she wasn’t the woman he saw her as, Sheridan still had her husband and four beautiful children…

And now Beth had lost everything she had received even for a brief time.

“He never loved you, never in all the years had he loved you and you expected him to chose you, his second wife in name only, to the woman he loved with ever fiber in his being? Right, Beth, and what next? Lotto?”

She closed her suitcase and picked it up off of the bed, heading outside where the cab already waited. “Time to go home…but how long can I last there?” she sighed, looking at her purse where the cell phone waited. “He’s going to call, Beth, you know that,” she helped the cab driver put her stuff in the trunk.

Oh yes, Alistair Crane was going to call her all right, and he wasn’t going to be happy. For three years he had planned to keep his daughter away from Luis and now his plan was ruined because she had been stupid enough to tell Luis that Sheridan was alive and living here! How could she have been so incredibly dumb? Now Alistair was going to maker her pay and she was going to owe him a lot more than three years rent on the Book Café…

She was going to owe him her life…

And that was a high price to pay for a man that didn’t love her!

“So, where to lady?” the cabby asked, turning up the radio.

“Newark Airport,” Beth instructed, looking at her watch. “And hurry please.”

“Sure thing,” he rolled his eyes and hit the gas pedal.

Beth sighed, watching Diane’s house disappear as they drove away. She hoped she had the right to return here someday…

She hoped she would be able to return ANYWHERE some day. Closing her eyes, she decided to try to think of the only thing in her life that would make everything all better. Her Hank! The man that had helped her when she needed a friend…

The man that honestly loved her.

Chapter Sixteen

She sat silently beside her husband, looking out at the ocean as they drove on the Coast Road. A place this beautiful should have been somewhat familiar, sparking some sort of memory, but so far she had nothing. Not a single clue that this small town had been her home for so long. Two months had passed since the shooting back in New York and now fall had taken over Harmony. The leaves were shades of red and orange, slowly turning brown before falling to the ground.

Other things had changed as well. Beth had sighed the papers needed for an annulment and was back at the Book Café, abandoning the Lopez-Fitzgerald house without a single question asked. Pilar said that the woman was seeking comfort from Luis’ best friend Hank after what happened.

Matthew was still missing, never having been found after the shooting in Diane’s apartment. Some of the police officers in New York believed he had help in disappearing from a very powerful man. Luis immediately assumed it was her father, but Sheridan wouldn’t know. She remembered very little about her family, especially her father.

She had changed physically as well. The first change was her weight; she had lost about twenty pounds in her attempt to take care of all four children and a still weak Luis, though the children hadn’t been around for two weeks. Despite his determination to drive today, she knew he was tired and couldn’t wait to get to bed. The other major change was her hair. Her roots had grown in quite a bit and she had cut it to the ends of the blond layer, giving her shorter hair than she could ever remember. Luis seemed to like it, running his hands through her short locks from time to time. He said it was just the way he remembered it, short and golden…

His Sheridan’s!

But she didn’t remember being his Sheridan. In fact, most of the memories she had came from before they were even engaged with a sparse amount from after the birth of the triplets. The time in between was still just a giant blank and that bothered her. She hated not knowing, especially when it meant forgetting someone like Luis. He was so wonderful, so kind and compassionate and so very patient. She knew it was hard on him, but he was trying not to let that show. How they were going to survive this she would never know. Honestly, she wasn’t sure she could make it through this. With a sigh, Sheridan stopped looking out the window and started looking at the road ahead.

“Something wrong, Sher?” he asked, glancing over at her for only a moment before his attention returned to the road. He knew that sigh and wondered what was on her mind.

“No,” she continued to stare out the window at the trees and the ocean. It was beautiful. Like the picture postcards she had seen Diane receive from family that still lived in Harmony. The combination of woods and beach was so peaceful and calming, yet so unsettling for her.

“Sheridan, you can’t expect the memories to return right away. I mean, I didn’t expect the beach to spark many memories, especially not from this distance,” he took her left hand into his right one. “You’ll remember in time.”

It was amazing how he read her mind, knew just what she was thinking all the time. They were so connected, even if she didn’t have memories. She knew she belonged with him, but hated letting him down. “I know,” she mumbled, sighing again. “I just don’t want to disappoint everyone. I can’t even remember names. It’s a terrible feeling, Luis. I hate not remember our children.”

“You will…” he promised.

“When?”

“Soon,” he vowed, offering her a slight smile. “Soon.”

She simply nodded and settled back against the seat. “Mind if I put the radio on?”

“Not at all,” he replied, releasing her hand so she could find a station. She stopped on a mix station, one that played music that spanned from the seventies to the present. Closing her eyes, she hummed along to a poorly done eighties remake before the tune changed. He immediately recognized the song and hoped she did too…

“Imagine,” she whispered breathlessly. “That’s our song…”

“Yes, it is,” he replied, watching her out of the corner of his eye. Her blue eyes remained closed, her humming gone but her the look on her face was that of extreme thinking. She was trying to remember, he could tell, but nothing seemed to be coming to mind.

“We danced to this at our wedding,” Sheridan looked at him for confirmation, her voice held uncertainty. She could almost see them swaying together to the song, their smiling friends and family members watching them. Hot gazes and words of love passing between them as they twirled for the crowd.

“Yes, we did, one of many songs we danced to together,” he responded with a nod. “We couldn’t decide on one song so we danced to three that seemed to suit us best. This was one of them, but we did a lot of dancing that night.”

A smile graced her face for the first time in twenty-four hours and that made Luis’ heart soar. The memory might not be there now, but at least she wasn’t letting that depress her. She closed her eyes again, letting the song lead her off to dream land as they continued their trip home.

They pulled into the driveway later that afternoon, the children and Pilar waiting on the porch, all five waving their hands and waiting for the car doors to open. She laughed at the sight of little Martin hopping up and down, his brother and sisters doing the same as the car parked. Pilar merely shrugged and shook her head, admitting that there was nothing she could do that would control this situation. The children were just ecstatic that their parents were home. After all, it had been a while since they had seen each other.

“Are you ready for this, Sher?” he asked, looking over at her and taking hold of her hand. He was worried about the effect that the house would have on her, worried that the memories would flood back too fast and cause more harm than good.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, offering a weak smile. “I’m nervous, but I want to do this, Luis. I need to do this.”

He nodded. “Ok,” he leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” she smiled and they both opened the doors, stepping out of the car and making their way towards the porch. It didn’t take much time for their children to respond to that action.

“MOMMY! DADDY!” the four screamed, rushing over to the pair, little arms hugging their parents’ legs and waists. “You back!”

Sheridan laughed, crouching to the height of her children and hugging them each in turn. LJ quickly placed a kiss on her cheek, blushing at being caught by his father. The girls smothered Sheridan in sticky kisses, their tiny fists clutching at her blouse and Martin, with his best friend Mr. Bear, held on to her for dear life, all of them surrounding her after greeting their father.

“Welcome home, mija,” Pilar kissed Sheridan’s cheek when they finally made it to the door. “Mijo,” she kissed his cheek as well. “We’ve been waiting for you all day.”

“We would have been home sooner, but Luis needed to take a break when we reached Castleton. He was getting tired and I didn’t want him to continue driving until he rested. We ended up spending three hours there,” Sheridan explained, making sure Luis was all right as he climbed the front porch. “He’s trying to do so much…”

“Too much,” Pilar shook her head. “Mijo, you promised not to overdo it.”

“I know, Mama,” Luis said, holding the door open for the children and his mother. He looked at Sheridan, but she seemed reluctant to enter.

“Coming, mija?” Pilar asked from just inside the doorway. The children were all waiting in the hall, looking at Sheridan. She nodded mutely, her eyes meeting Pilar’s as a weak smile spread across her face.

Yet she couldn’t seem to move, her feet sticking to the ground. “I…”

“Nothing is going to happen, Sheridan,” Luis promised, his eyes meeting hers. “It’s just a house.”

She sighed, slowly moving to the door, her hand clutching his extended one. “I’m not scared,” she grumbled.

“Then show me what you’ve got, princess,” he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Her eyebrows rose. “Princess??”

And then the memory came…

He stood beneath one of the few lights on the wharf, his voice echoing as he spoke on his phone. She peered at him from behind a building, tears filling her blue eyes. “The Cranes have used and abused my family for years. Now I finally got a chance to use one of them -- their spoiled princess -- Sheridan.”

She pulled her hand away, stepping inside the hallway. She didn’t know why she was so angry at him, obviously whatever had been said was long since forgiven, but she was still hurt. Shaking her head, she walked down the hall and looked around. The house brought back no memories whatsoever. Not even a spark of recognition and for that she wanted to cry. Why wasn’t she remembering anything?

“Sher?” he touched her arm.

She just shook her head. “You need to get some rest, Luis, doctor’s orders.”

“Are you ok, sweetheart?” he asked, looking into her eyes. “If you’re not…”

“I’ll be fine, Luis,” she patted his hand before leaning in to peck his lips softly. “I’ll have Mama give me the grand tour. You just go get some rest…watch some TV even.”

He grinned. “I have been meaning to catch up on my sports teams.”

She laughed. “Go on, go rest in the living room. I’m sure I can keep myself entertained.”

He looked at their children, all playing on the floor of the living room, blocks, dolls and books scatted recklessly. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll have some help.”

Smirking, she nodded. “Now go!”

He saluted her and made his way into the other room. Sheridan looked around and noticed she was alone in the hall. Taking a few steps further in, she found pictures of herself and the children, professional poses and some obviously taken by family and friends. She reached out, her shaking fingers gently tracing the images. How she wished she could remember those days.

Turning around, she came face to face with a bookshelf of similar photos. The smiling facing laughing at her, taunting her with memories she was dying to remember. Her head began to pound, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. She could almost hear them laughing! The pictures were mocking her. They had a secret and she was drowning in her effort to figure it out.

Falling to her knees, Sheridan began to cry, the pounding worsening as the laughter seemed to continue growing louder and louder.

“We know and you don’t…we’ know and you don’t!!!” the voices sang in her head, making the throbbing worsen.

“Please stop,” she begged, the ghosts of the past never ceasing, only continuing to make hold her down. “Please,” she whimpered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

The hall began to spin, smiling faces circling her, laughing and singing their cruel taunts. She wanted to remember! She wanted to know about her past. “Spoiled princess can’t remember…look at the Princess Sheridan!! We know your secrets!”

Sheridan screamed. “SHUT UP!”

But the hall still spun, the laughter still reigned and the throbbing grew louder…

Until finally, she passed out, losing her battle to the ghosts of the past.

Chapter Seventeen

She woke in bed hours later, four tiny bodies resting beside hers and her husband sitting in a nearby chair caressing her cheek. Sheridan’s dreams faded away, the final shadows disappearing in the light of the room. She had remembered something about her life, bits and pieces of days she has spent with Luis before their wedding…a trip to New Mexico…being buried alive. Slowly, her dull blue eyes fluttered open meeting his worried brown ones. Sheridan attempted to speak, opening her mouth without sound.

“Shh,” he soothed. “You had me scared for a while there, baby. I heard you scream and rushed into the hall. Mama and I couldn’t get you to wake up…how are you feeling now?”

“Thirsty,” she whispered, attempting not to strain her tired voice or wake the four children around her.

“Mama’s getting some water right now, she’ll be back with it soon. How’s everything else? Are you hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head no. “I’m fine,” she closed her eyes. “I just feel so tired.”

“Sheridan?” he whispered apprehensively.

“Yes, Luis?” she asked, her eyes remaining closed.

“What happened in the hall today?” his hand stilled, taking one of her smaller hands between his own. “Why’d you faint?”

“You’ll think it’s silly,” she turned her head away. “You’ll laugh.”

“Never,” he vowed.

“You’ll think I’m insane,” she argued, opening her eyes and looking at him. “I’m starting to wonder if I am, starting to believe that I was better off never knowing of this life. I don’t want to hurt our children…”

“Sheridan, you’re not insane; nothing is wrong with you that can’t be fixed. Tell me what happened in the hallway…”

“They were laughing at me,” she whispered, blue eyes filling with tears.

“They who?” he asked, obviously worried. Who had been laughing at her? The children had been playing with their toys in the living room, their giggles drowning out his sports shows. His mother had been in the kitchen baking cookies for dessert. No one had been even remotely close to Sher when she collapsed.

“The pictures, the children in the pictures. They were taunting me, telling me I didn’t remember and never would. Luis they were mocking me, I swear!”

His eyes filled with disbelief as he looked down at her. The pictures? The pictures had teased his wife? Was that possible? “Sheridan, I’m pretty sure the pictures can’t laugh,” he said cautiously, watching her eyes darken with anger.

“They were! I could hear these voices telling me that I would never remember my life with you; that the spoiler princess would never know what they did. Luis! Please believe me.”

He shook his head. “Shh, you’ll wake the children.”

She huffed. “You don’t believe me, but I know, Luis. I know how odd this must sound to you but it was like a thousand voices playing in my head and each one laughed because I couldn’t remember anything that was happening. It was…it was frustrating!” She shook her head. “Can we not talk about this anymore, please?”

He nodded and leaned in to place a kiss on her head.

“Luis, can I ask you something?”

“Anything, Sheridan,” he smiled, pulling away and taking her hand once again.

“Well, when I was sleeping I remembered a few things, but they were all jumbled up and I can’t make heads or tails of them. Would you be willing to explain them to me?”

He nodded.

“Well, first I was in a cabin and totally undressed beneath some blankets and I woke to find you in bed with me. I take it I wasn’t very happy because I jumped out of bed and claimed that you had taken advantage of me. But then I was in a coffin and screaming your name to save me…I…it doesn’t make any sense.”

“The first memory was in New Mexico,” he explained, remembering their time in the southwestern state. “You had fallen into a mud slide and nearly drowned. When I pulled you free, you were freezing cold so I brought you…”

“To a little cabin where you undressed me and used your body heat to keep me warm…I had kissed you in my delirium.”

“Exactly,” he smiled, proud that she was remembering some on her own. “Do you remember why we were there?” he prodded.

“To find your father…Luis, did we ever find Martin?”

“No, not the real one,” he shook his head sadly, the realization of what she had said slowly sinking in. “Sheridan? Sheridan how do you remember his name?”

“I…I don’t know,” she smiled, her eyes brightening. “It sort of slipped out!”

Luis laughed. “Well that was one hell of a slip!”

She giggled. “It certainly was…now about being buried alive,” she became serious. “That really did happen, didn’t it?”

He nodded; the memory causing a dull ache in his chest that he knew would never truly subside. “Do you remember it besides screaming?”

Closing her eyes, Sheridan willed the memory to come, begging her mind to help her this once. “I was being followed by a drug cartel; they wanted to kill me but I can’t remember why. Your friend…Harold…Horton…Horace?”

Luis tried not to laugh. “Hank.”

“Yes, that’s it, Hank,” she giggled. “How could I mess that up?”

He chuckled. “Don’t know.”

“Anyway, he recommended I do this so that I wouldn’t be murdered and I agreed in hopes that you and I could be together afterwards, but it all backfired and I nearly died…” Her eyes flew open. “But I woke up on Christmas Eve!!! It’s when you first told me you loved me! We were in the church!” She flew into his arms, the children falling away and waking up with whimpers. Sheridan chewed on her lip nervously. “I forgot they were there.”

He burst out laughing, the children looking at him like he had eight heads.

“Daddy, not funny,” Kathy pouted, her tiny lip protruding and her blue eyes filling with tears.

“Yea, not funny!” Martin mirrored, his look identical to his older sister’s.

Sheridan giggled. “All right you four, Mommy and Daddy are sorry. Why don’t you go find Grandma…”

“Nana,” Trinity corrected.

“All right, Nana,” Sheridan blushed. “Go see if she finished baking those cookies she started when we came home.”

“COOKIES!” the quartet cheered, running from the room in search of Pilar.

Sheridan laughed. “They’re amazing…”

“Certainly are,” he looked at his wife, her body still in his arms and on his lap. She turned her head, bringing her lips within centimeters of his own. The tension was high. Their eyes remained locked, her emotions running wild. She wanted to kiss him, to feel his lips on hers and allow herself to be lost in his arms.

“Luis…”

“Sheridan…”

Both laughed. He couldn’t look away as he held her close, his heart beating fast. He wanted to be with her, to have their life return to the way it was four years ago when they were madly in love. How could he get them there without hurting her?

Her eyes looked from his eyes to his mouth and back to his eyes, her tongue darting out to moisten her dry lips. She was feeling brash, needing his warmth and love more than anything else. “Luis…” she whispered.

He swallowed hard, unable to take it any longer. He had to have any part of her that he could and the first thing he wanted was a long, passionate kiss. “I’m going to kiss you, Sheridan…”

He had offered her the one thing she had wanted since the day it had happened. He was going to allow her the chance to forget that night on the wharf had ever happened. They would be able to move on, have a real relationship…

She wanted that.

“It would be so easy to do -- just forget about it,” she replied, thinking ahead to what might lay in their future.”

“Then do it. It's gone; it's over,” he shrugged it off.

“Just forget it?” she queried. Could she really do that?

“Yeah. That's right. And if you don't want to forget it, then just turn away from me. I won't pursue you. We'll never talk about it again. If you don't turn away from me, I'm going to kiss you.” He paused, giving her time to react to what he said. “So what's it going to be, Sheridan? Are we going to forget about that day? If you don't want to, all you have to do is move away from me.” Again he paused, willing her to stay but giving her that chance to just leave him there looking foolish. “You're not moving away,” he added breathlessly.

“My feet won't let me,” she smiled.

“God I love those feet,” he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

The memory filled her heart with love and she grinned slightly. She wanted that, wanted to go back in time and have the love she saw in all the photos in the hall. Sheridan couldn’t deny that the love she held now was only minimal compared to what she must have had, but she knew that she wanted to get that love back. She wanted to kiss him.

“If…if you don’t want to kiss me, all you have to do is get up…” he moved his hands. “Just stand up if I’m going to fast…”

Nothing.

“Sheridan?”

“My feet won’t let me,” she replied breathlessly, capturing his lips in the most passionate kiss in her memory. Her lips gently caressed his, coaxing him to life with all the love in her heart. This was magnificent. Her heart soared; her mind warning her that this was dangerous territory while her heart told her to let it go. The feeling of his warm, soft mouth on hers was delightful, causing butterflies in her stomach as she ignored anything that could ruin this moment. His hands slowly came around her waist; hers buried themselves in his hair and helped to wreak havoc on his senses. The pair continued the kiss; each passing second causing them to fight their need for oxygen as all the kiss became empowered by their love. But soon, they pulled away, panting for much needed air as their foreheads met.

They were breathing hard, both thinking of how wonderful it was to finally give in to the desperate need they were feeling. His eyes twinkled mischievously as a slow grin spread across his face.

Her eyes sparkled as a few memories of kisses and love filled her mind, helping her to remember just how much she loved the man that was holding her in his arms right now.

“I love you, Luis,” she hugged him tight. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Sher,” he caressed her back, pulling back to look into her eyes again. He was surprised to see desire written in her now purple eyes. The fire that was burning there was definitely running through his veins as well and he wasn’t sure he could handle it much longer. “Sheridan, you’re killing me,” he groaned.

She grinned seductively. “Can’t have that,” she leaned in slowly and kissed him again; this time slowly and lovingly, enjoying the electric shocks that ran through her.

He pulled her closer, shifting her so that she straddled his legs. The kiss continued, slowly growing more passionate. Luis became lost in the feel of her lips on his, allowing his emotions to totally control his body. It had been so long since he had kissed and touched her; forever since he had made love to his wife. His hands moved from her hips to the front of her shirt, slowly beginning to unbutton the blouse she wore. He left her mouth, beginning to kiss down her neck, nibbling there like he knew she enjoyed.

She moaned in response, almost goading him on, and he couldn’t pull himself away. Kissing to her ear he whispered, “God Sheridan, I need you so bad it hurts…it’s been so long without you, too long…”

She wanted to comfort him, to tell him it was all right, but couldn’t and slowly the reality of the situation sank in and she jumped up from his lap, landing on the bed. As much as she would have made love to him with pleasure, she knew that it was too soon and they just couldn’t do this. Her eyes filled with tears as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip. She wasn’t ready for that; THEY weren’t ready for that. It was too soon to make love; there was so much she had to learn about him yet.

“Sheridan?” he reached for her, but she moved away, buttoning the blouse that hung loosely on her body.

“I’m sorry, Luis, I can’t…I just can’t,” she shook her head.

“Sher…”

“Don’t,” she put her hand up. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll go check on the children.”

And before he could reply, she was gone.

He sighed. This was so unfair! He had waited years to find the woman that had left him to visit a friend, never to return. All he had succeeded in finding was her body; her soul was still buried deep within. Closing his eyes, Luis leaned back in the chair. If it killed him he was going to help her through this and return his Sheridan to this world…

But first he had to help her fight the ghosts that were dragging her down before it was too late.

Chapter Eighteen

Seven days, six hours, forty minutes and three seconds…

That was how long it had been since the scene in the bedroom…

And since Sheridan realized just how much French she knew when she ran around slamming drawers and talking to herself…

Talking and cursing that is…

She was so cute, her shirt buttoned incorrectly and her hands continuously running through her hair as she slammed something shut saying, “Que pensais-tu, Sheridan? Es-tu stupid?”

And after that memories of Paris and her terrible childhood flooded her memory, causing her to sink into a nearby chair and sob. She cried for her mother, for herself and for the innocence she lost because of her family.

And now it was just another Saturday morning and Luis was determined to remind Sheridan of the biggest missing piece in the puzzle…

Their love and life together!

And he had the perfect plan…

Sheridan finished her romp and loaded the only shopping bag into the car. She couldn’t figure out why Luis insisted that she leave the children with Pilar that evening, nor why he begged her to run the errands she had left, but she did so without much of a complaint. Now she was just tired and she couldn’t wait to get home and take a warm shower and a little nap before dinner…

In no time she had made it from the mall to the house and was surprised to find it dimly lit and quiet. Of course she expected it to be QUIETER than normal, but not quite so silent. Walking inside with her one shopping bag, she gasped at the sight she met…

Roses…

Dozens and dozens of beautiful red, pink and yellow roses were cluttered in the living room. Dead center stood a small wooden table set for two, complete with her finest crystal and china. It was then she noticed the music playing, a sweet soft melody from her stereo and smiled…

This was simply perfect.

Heading to the roses, she inhaled deeply.

How she loved roses!

Especially the yellow ones Luis had sent her that one morning…

“Yellow ones!!! I remembered!” she giggled, inhaling again. “Oh and the ones after the imposter fiasco the night of our engagement party!!!” her eyes sparkled now. “Or the ones on our first date!!!”

“I see my little rose garden has begun to spark some recognition.”

“Luis, they’re beautiful,” she turned to him, her eyes glowing as she looked him over. He was wearing her favorite suit: the navy blue one with the lighter blue shirt and dark tie. “What is all this? Dating someone without telling me?”

“Well you see,” he neared her, “I have this incredibly stubborn wife who absolutely refuses to give me the time of day because she’s afraid that her memory is gone forever. Well, I’ve decided that this won’t do any longer and was hoping to romance my way back into her memory…form new ones.”

“Luis…I…”

“No, don’t argue with me. I have a night full of things planned for you, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald, and I fully intend to use all the tricks up my sleeve. Now upstairs on the bed happens to be a very lovely little dress that I remember you wearing once or twice. Why don’t you go try it on?”

“Luis…”

“Sheridan…” he laughed. “Go.”

She sighed, disappearing upstairs. He was such a pain sometimes, but she loved him anyway.

Half an hour later, Sheridan returned in the very same dress she wore on their first date. The red number still hugged her curves just right and he was amazed at how perfect she looked in it. She had done her hair and makeup, put on a good pair of shoes and now she stood at the entranceway to the living room, watching as he lit a candle.

“Luis?”

He spun around, his brown eyes darkening when he looked her over. “Wow.”

“Thanks,” she blushed. “I remembered something when I put it on.”

“Yea?” he asked, nearing her. When he arrived before her he lifted her hand to his lips and placed a kiss there. “What was that?”

“Our first date…”

He smiled. “All of it?”

She nodded. “All of it.”

“Well, then let’s see what else I can do to spark some memories,” he wiggled his eyebrows in jest.

She nodded and followed him to the table where he pulled the chair out for her, helping her sit. “Madam.”

“Thank you,” she blushed, her eyes downcast.

He caught her chin with his thumb and gently raised her head so their eyes met. “I love you,” he leaned in, placing a kiss to her lips.

“Mmm,” she sighed when he pulled away. “Love you too.”

He grinned. “Ok, dinner time…”

“Did you cook?” she asked hesitantly. He was very good at cooking…well some things. He had reminded her about the eggs benedict one morning when he attempted to make them once again. The smell, as well as the taste, was atrocious and she made him swear never to try them again...

Or anything French, because he seriously had a problem with recipes.

“Yes I cooked,” he pretended to be hurt. “I made a very special meal for us.”

She felt terrible. “I’m sorry, Luis. I didn’t mean…”

“Sher, it’s ok sweetie,” he kissed the top of her head. “I’ll bring dinner in.”

She nodded and he sighed. One step forward…two back. Disappearing into the kitchen for only a moment, Luis returned with a cart containing two covered plates, a bottle of whine and two salads.

“I’m afraid dinner tonight is a little eclectic…a bunch of things I couldn’t decide between.”

She smiled. “All right.”

He placed the salad before her and then one in his place before pouring her some whine.

“Pinot Grigio…from our first date at the Lobster Shack,” she grinned proudly. “I think the salads are the same too?”

He nodded. “Very good,” he replied before they both began to eat and enjoy the music. Sheridan nearly chocked when Having My Baby came on.

“This song!”

“Yea?” he shrugged, hoping she’d continue.

“I played this…when I was having Martin…”

His eyes sparkled. “Yes!” He laughed, making Sheridan giggled. “You remembered!”

She grinned. “Ok, as much as I’m loving the salad, I want to know what else you have under there.”

He laughed and uncovered their food. She gasped.

“Baby corn…baby carrots…baby back ribs,” she laughed. “How I told you about the triplets!”

“Yea, the only thing you could cook.”

She giggled. “No, I never cooked those ribs. I asked Sam to since he was the grilling master.”

He shook his head. “I should have known…Do you remember what we did after you told me?”

“We danced,” she smiled, standing up. “We danced all night long.”

He nodded and took her into his arms, swaying to the new tune on the radio. “We danced to all our songs…”

“And then I did this,” she leaned in, pecking his lips gently. “More than once.”

He chuckled. “Yes you did…and then I did this,” he caught her lips in a passionate kiss.

When they broke away she was breathless and her eyes were dark with desire as he caressed her hips and sides. ”And then we went to our room.”

“Mmm,” he nibbled on her neck.

She sighed and her eyes fluttered shut. “Luis…” her voice was barely a whisper.

“Mmm,” he replied again.

She swallowed hard. “Luis…”

His hands traveled from her hips to the swell of her breasts, tracing her nipples through the material of her clothing.

She whimpered, loosing the battle with her body. “Oh hell,” she moaned. “Luis…not here,” she begged.

He pulled away slightly. “What?”

“Make love to me…but not in the living room…”

He swept her into his arms. “You sure?”

She nodded. “And if you hesitate a second longer I’m going to beat you into submission.”

He laughed. “Tempting offer.”

She groaned and he kissed her deeply as he carried her up the stairs and to their room. As soon as they were safely inside, he kicked the door shut with his heel. Their kiss broke and their foreheads rested together as they gasped for air. “God I love you, Sheridan.”

“I love you too, Luis. Very much,” she sighed. “Are we only going to stand here?”

He chuckled, slowly putting her down and letting her body slide down the length of his own. He groaned when her hand came in contact with his lower body. “Sheridan, you’re playing dirty.”

She smirked. “I was hoping to speed along the foreplay…I remember once you said we had the most romantic foreplay of any couple…I believe it lasted for weeks. I think this time we should skip the fun.”

He groaned again. “Sheridan…”

“Luis,” she leaned in, her neck finding the sensitive spot of his neck as she began to remove his tie.

He pulled her closer, his hands immediately finding the zipper to her dress and pulling it down. They quickly stripped each other down, kissing, tasting and touching the exposed skin. Before Sheridan knew it, they were totally undressed and her eyes examined his bronzed skin and she smiled. “Mmm.”

“Like what you see?”

She nodded. “You?”

His hands started at her hips and moved to cup the swell of her breasts, weighing them in his hands. “Definitely…been a long time.”

She chewed on her lip nervously.

“We can stop,” he stepped away, his hands falling to his sides. “If that’s what you want.”

“No,” she shook her head. “I want to keep going. I need to…”

He nodded, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. She felt as if the room was spinning just because he was kissing and touching her. She could see many other kisses in her head, kisses just like this one from their honeymoon, from their first time together…

She needed more.

Pulling away, Sheridan took the initiative and led Luis to the bed, sliding backwards until her head rested on the pillow. She smiled at him, crooking her finger in a come hither fashion. He grinned and joined her on the bed. He leaned over her, slowly leaning down to kiss her, when he felt her hands on his chest and then was flipped onto his back. Before he could react, Sheridan’s lips were on his chest, slowly moving down his body behind her hands, which were already in a very delicate area.

“Sheridan,” he moaned.

“Shh,” she winked, her hand clasping him lightly as she caressed him, her lips kissing his stomach. She continued to tease him by caressing him and kissing his body, nibbling and licking all the places she knew he liked. His moans of pleasure made her smile and every time he said her name in a moment of passion she shuddered. She was getting such a thrill from pleasing him.

But Luis couldn’t take the unbearable torture and rolled her onto her back, capturing her lips in another heated kiss. When he left her mouth, he trailed his lips down her cheek and neck, towards her breasts where he showed each the same gentle licking and caressing as she had his. Then he moved lower and lower, using his hands to please her until she was writhing on the bed.

“Luis! I NEED you!” she begged.

He leaned over her again, looking into her dark blue eyes. “Are you sure?”

She groaned. Was he serious??? “YES! Please make love to me!”

That’s what he needed to hear as he thrust into her. She whimpered; it had been so long since she had been with a man. Luis stilled, feeling terrible for causing her any pain. He kissed her lips gently before beginning to move within her.

The pair found their rhythm, continuing to move together in complete and total bliss. It didn’t last long for the finally united pain and soon an earth-shattering climax overtook Sheridan’s body, her memory was flooded with every missing memory…from the day she met her husband until the day she disappeared. It was all back and tears rolled down her cheeks.

Becoming one with her husband had made her whole again.

Epilogue

“I can’t believe they found his body in the Hudson,” Sheridan shook her head, looking at the second page of the New York Times, the headline: Former Crane Employee Drowned! “To think Matthew was murdered.”

“Doesn’t say that,” Luis protested, peeking through the kitchen door at the four children playing in the living room. He wanted to make sure little ears weren’t listening.

“No, but even I know that my father isn’t about to let him get away with spilling the beans. Come on, Luis, what’s the chances of Matthew missing for months and then suddenly reappearing face down in the river?”

Luis sighed. She had a point. “Can we talk about something more…lighthearted?”

She nodded. “Like what?”

“Anything,” he begged. “I’m really not in the mood to discuss Beth or Matthew or Alistair or the shooting…”

“Got it!” she interrupted. “How about I tell you that big announcement I had the other night before you rudely interrupted me…”

“I couldn’t help it if you looked damn sexy standing there in my sox and Harmony High shirt…”

She laughed. “Luis!”

“Sheridan!” he mocked. “Tell me…”

“I don’t want to,” she pouted.

Just then Trinity came skidding into the kitchen, Kathryn and the boys not far behind. “Mommy! Mommy! We want cookies!!!”

Sheridan shook her head and glanced at the time. “No cookies before lunch.”

“But,” they pouted.

“No,” she insisted. “After lunch.”

“Fine…I hope the NEW baby doesn’t get cookies,” Martin grumbled, following his siblings out of the kitchen. He had become quite well adjusted to his new father as well as his siblings, hardly caring at all that Matthew had been in his life. It was rather funny. Luis finally remembered where he had seen Old Mr. Bear…it had been his as a child. In fact, Sheridan had insisted they keep it and one day after she died it disappeared…

Beth had sent it to Diane to give to some family she knew and the family happened to be Sheridan and Martin.

“Wait…wait…did I hear him right?” Luis asked, looking at his wife. “Did he say NEW BABY?”

Sheridan laughed, wondering how long it would take Luis to realize the cookie incident had been a set up. “Maybe.”

“Sheridan?”

She nodded. “Remember that first time with the roses and all…”

“SHERIDAN???” his eyes widened. “Are we??”

“Congratulations Papa…we’re pregnant,” she got up from the table and handed him a cookie. It was a baby bottle.

He laughed. “WOOHOO! I’M A DAD AGAIN!” he got up, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her.

The children giggled from the doorway, until Martin realized they were kissing. “Gwoss!!!”

LJ agreed and they left, but the girls stayed there and sighed. That was so like Cinderella.

“Know what this means right Kathy?” Trin asked.

“No Trin, what?”

“They live happily ever after…”

“The end?” Kathy asked.

“The end,” she nodded and led her sister away.

Disclaimer:
This story in is in no way meant to infringe upon the rights belonging to , NBC, or any entity thereof. All rights to Passions and any related content, including characters used, belong to "Outpost Farms Production Inc", James E. Reilly, and NBC.
This story is the property of the author. Copyright 2001. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission of the author.
Fighting Her Ghost- Copyright © 2001 - All Rights Reserved.