“Come on, Katy. You can do it. Come on, sweetie. Walk to Mama,” Sheridan encouraged her young daughter. Katy’s blue eyes sparkled. A familiar look of determination was on her face. “Sheridan, she isn’t going to do it today,” Luis said, switching the camcorder off. “Yeah, Mom. She’s camera-shy,” Lily said with a smirk. “Mom,” Ryan whined, “ I want to go Uncle Miguel’s.” “You just want to act all sweet and innocent for Aunt Kay,” Lily chided. “Do not!” Ryan retorted. “Do too!” Lily shot back. “Guys!” Luis broke in. “We don’t have time for this. Your grandma is expecting us. We’re going to be late. What did I tell you two about fighting?” “We shouldn’t argue. We should disagree respectfully,” Lily supplied. “Hey,” Luis said with a proud smile on his face, “you do listen sometimes. You aren’t as much like your mother as I thought you were, Lil.” His brown eyes danced as he and Lily held their breath. Waiting for the explosion they knew was coming. “Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald!” Sheridan exclaimed in irritation as she brushed by him, Katy tucked in her arms, a smile lighting up her almost toothless face. “I heard that!”

Luis, Lily, and Ryan burst into laughter behind her as she walked out the door. They couldn’t see the huge smile on her face. But she had a feeling Luis knew it was there.

It took some doing, but finally everyone was loaded in. Kids in the backseat, Katy’s carseat between Lily and Ryan. Her in the front seat with Luis at the wheel. One look into his amused brown eyes, and that was it. Her own laughter started and didn’t stop until his lips were on hers in a loving kiss. Ryan’s “Ewww! You guys are gross!” only cracked her up more. Lily smiled to herself as she watched her dad kiss the tip of her mother’s nose. She didn’t think they were gross at all. She hoped they’d always be this way. She sighed in contentment as she picked Katy’s doll up and handed it to her. She wouldn’t mind it at all, she thought during the short drive to her grandma’s house.

Ryan was unbuckled and out of the car seconds after Luis cut the engine. “Thanks a lot for the help, Ryan,” Luis called after his son. “Luis,” Sheridan said, chuckling to herself, “you know he’s been looking forward to this all morning.” “Yeah, I wonder why,” he said with a grin, taking the camcorder from the seat beside her and leaving her and Lily to manage the rest. “Thanks for all your help, Honey. I really appreciate it,” she yelled, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Lily, Baby,” she said, pointing to the bags. “Could you be an angel and get some of those while I get your sister out of the carseat before she gets cranky.” “Sure, Mom,” Lily replied sweetly. “Thank you, sweetie. I knew I could count on you,” she said, cupping one of Lily’s soft cheeks in the palm of her hand as she passed by. They smiled at each other a moment, reveling in the brief moment of complete happiness. Then Lily disappeared into the home her father had grown up in, arms full.

“Hi, Katy!” she said brightly to her littlest daughter who squirmed uncomfortably in the carseat. Her tiny chin quivered. “Oh sweetheart. Mommy’s so sorry you had to be stuck in that awful thing. C’mere, Baby,” she cooed, unbuckling Katy and hugging her close. “Shhh. Don’t cry,” she whispered, stroking Katy’s dark curls. But it didn’t work. Ten minutes in the carseat was too long for Katy. FIVE minutes was enough for her. One big teardrop fell from her big blue eyes. Followed by another. And another. Soon Katy was wailing.

Sheridan was never so happy to see Pilar as she was at moment. “Here, Mija,” Pilar said with her arms outstretched. “Give her to me. I’ll see if I can calm her while you get the rest of the bags out of the car. Everybody but Sam is already inside waiting. “Thank you so much, Pilar,” Sheridan said with immense gratitude. “You’re so good with her.” Pilar smiled at her as she gathered the rest of the bags and hurried inside. She stepped into her bustling home just minutes later. Her youngest grandchild in her arms. The sight in front of her was something to behold.

Ryan sat beside Kay looking up at her with pure adoration written on his face. Miguel and Luis laughed about it in the background. Nicky was proudly showing off his new reading skills to his beloved aunt Sheri. He read everything in sight. Sometimes stumbling over the words quite comically. Lily was glued to Ivy’s side. Listening avidly as Ivy told her all about her and Julian’s latest adventures. The PG-rated version, of course. Julian glared at his wife as she gloated over the success of a practical joke she had played on him on their last vacation.

“Lily, Darling, it was hilarious. You should have seen your Uncle Julian. He looked ridiculous. You want to know the best part?” she said, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary—a devilish glint in her eyes. “Ivy,” Julian growled, face hid in his hands. “I’m warning you. So help me God, I’ll…” He stopped. Aware he had everyone’s attention now. “I’ll…” he sputtered. “You’ll what, Julian?” she asked. Grinning triumphantly. “What’ll you do if I show these?” she said, waving a handful of photographs under his nose. Only to jerk them away from his reaching hands.

He shrank in embarrassment when Kay grabbed the pictures from Ivy’s hand. And died laughing. “Really, Jules. I always knew you were a clown, but I never expected to see you dressed in the full get-up. Big red nose. The works. Ivy, however did you manage this?” “Well…” Ivy began. Ready to spill all. “Don’t you dare say a word Ivy. Or I’ll tell them about your embarrassing little secret. Hmm. I’m sure I have those pictures tucked away somewhere,” he warned.

“Ugh!” Ivy groaned. And did the only thing she could in that situation. Childish as it was. She stomped on Julian’s foot and stuck her tongue out at him—like a spoiled brat. “Ouch!” Julian exclaimed, wincing in pain. “What was that for?” “You name it, Julian. When do you not deserve it?” “Mother. Father,” Ethan jumped in. “Stop fighting like children.” “Ha!” Kay taunted, “I knew it! You’re nothing but an overgrown kid, Julian.” Sheridan laughed at the exchange. Ivy and Julian bickering wasn’t anything new. Neither was the playful banter between Kay and Julian. They all watched the give and take with amusement.

Until Theresa’s voice broke through. “Sheridan!” she yelled from the kitchen where she was helping Pilar and Grace. “I think someone needs a diaper change!” She huffed in annoyance when Luis held his hands up and said, “Sorry. I got the last one. It’s your turn, Baby.” “Oh, thank you, Luis. You’re just so sweet and thoughtful.” He smirked at her as she walked past him to retrieve their daughter. Laughed aloud when Theresa met her half-way, nose scrunched up, holding Katy at arm’s length. Laughed harder as she stalked past him again, muttering, “Just you wait, Buster.”

Miguel hid his smile so Sheridan wouldn’t jump on him as well. She was dangerous when riled up. As soon as she was out of sight, though, almost everyone in the room dissolved into laughter. “Man, that wife of yours is something else, Luis,” Miguel choked out. “Yeah, she is,” Luis agreed. “So,” he said, looking around the room, “I see everybody but the birthday girls and Sam. I know where Sam is. Where are those little tykes?” “Kay,” Miguel said, “where’s Angel?” “She’s with Emily in Theresa’s old bedroom playing with dolls.” Luis and Miguel looked at each other. Angel was no angel. Neither was Emily. It could only mean one thing when those two were alone together. Trouble with a capital T.

Their suspicions were confirmed just moments later when Sheridan shrieked, “Oh my God! Theresa! Kay! You have to see this!” She came from Theresa’s bedroom with Katy in her arms and two giggling little girls marching proudly in front of her. Wearing some old shoes and clothes of Theresa’s. Their little faces covered in makeup. Angel had black eyeliner all over her face. And hot pink lipstick on her lips. And cheeks. Emily had more lipstick in her dark blond hair than on her lips. Blue eyeshadow zigzagged across her forehead. It seemed not much had made it on her eyelids. Sheridan shook with laughter along with everyone else when Angel said to Pilar who stared at them in shock, “But Grandma. We just wanted to look pretty.” Grace smiled at Sam’s reaction. “Half an hour late and look what I missed. Looks like you guys started the party without me,” he said as he scooped his granddaughter up into his arms. Ethan rolled when Nicky muttered to his mother, “Angel and Emily look scary, Mommy.” “Nicky. Shhh!” Theresa told him before giggling to herself. Pilar shook her head in wonder. Things were never dull when they all got together. She hid her face behind her hands as Luis approached with camcorder and warned, “Mijo.” She hated being filmed. But that tape, the tape of Angel and Emily’s birthday party would remain one of her favorites. She always laughed to herself. Luis and Sheridan never were able to coax Katy to walk for the camera. Maybe she was camera-shy. But the rest of her family weren’t.

The End

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.
Lights, Camera, Action- Copyright © 2001 - All Rights Reserved.