May came with a fury to the small New England town. They were ravaged with rainstorms in the wettest spring Harmony had ever had. However, Sheridan found her life to be as sunny as ever. It had taken time, but Pilar had come to like the thought of being a Grandmother and supported Sheridan and Luis, as well as their pregnancy, with her complete blessing. It seemed as if Sheridan’s entire life was finally settling into a peacefulness that she had always wanted. What she would soon realize is that this was merely the calm before the storm.

"Sheridan, come on, the Center is due to open in an hour," Luis called to his fiancee from the hallway. He had been up for nearly and hour trying to get ready to open the Youth Center. As a detective, he was given two days off a week. This week it was Saturday and Sunday. As much as he wanted to sleep, the center needed to be open. Sheridan had promised to be up and ready to leave with him, but the poor woman had fallen back to sleep only minutes after Luis shut the alarm off. He understood that she was pregnant and, therefore, tired and hated to wake her, but he needed her help today, especially after the turn out last weekend.

Sheridan groaned. "But it’s Saturday," she grumbled, forcing her eyes to open in the dim room. The shades were open, but as usual the sky was dark and cloudy. It was a sight Sheridan had grown accustomed to over the last few weeks. Although mid-May, Harmony was being rained on as if it were hurricane season in the south. Not that she minded, it gave her an excuse to snuggle in with Luis sometimes, but obviously not this morning.

Sighing, Sheridan placed her hand on her blooming abdomen. She and Luis had been to their first sonogram two weeks prior and watched the baby’s tiny heartbeat on the monitor. It had been…precious. Ironic that Sheridan could only find one word to describe the plethora of emotions that had danced in her heart when she first saw their baby on the sonogram monitor. Luis had been so proud; his face covered in a silly grin that no one and nothing, not even a later run in with Julian could, ruin it.

Forcing herself out of bed, Sheridan stumbled into the bathroom to take a shower and brush her teeth. As she climbed into the warm spray of the water, she allowed her mind to wander back to the day she and Luis went to see Eve for the sonogram of their baby.

"All right, Sheridan," Eve said, grabbing Sheridan’s chart as she entered the room. "How are you?" she asked.

Sheridan, blue eyes alit with a mixture of emotions, smiled at Eve. "Not bad. The morning sickness seems to be coming and going. Is that supposed to happen?" she asked, shifting around on the exam table and remembering to hold down the flimsy blue robe. She was nervous, though she wasn’t sure why, and Eve seemed to sense it right away.

Smiling at the pair, Eve wanted to assuage any of their fears. She patted Sheridan’s hand gently before replying. "Well, if our guesstimate of you’re conception date is correct, than yes, that’s about right," Eve looked down at the paperwork in her hand and then up at Luis. "How are you, Luis?"

"Fine," he squeaked.

Eve fought a laugh. "Good. Now, both of you relax and we’ll warm up the machine before we start," Eve flipped a switch on and the hum of the sonogram machine filled the room. Grabbing a nearby tube of KY jelly, she smeared it onto Sheridan’s belly.

Sheridan shifted on the table. "That’s cold!"

"Sorry, I meant to warn you about that," Eve giggled. "Ok, are we ready to see you baby?"

Sheridan nodded enthusiastically and squeezed Luis’ hand. His reassuring squeeze back made her grin. She looked over at the TV monitor to her right as Eve placed the eye of the machine on her abdomen. In no time, Eve found the tiny baby inside Sheridan. "There it is."

Sheridan could see the heart beating rapidly on the screen as that same little heartbeat filled her ears. Her eyes teared and a single tear made its way down her cheek at she continued to watch the monitor. Their baby…it was such an important moment in her life and Sheridan felt as if she would burst. Luis, her precious Luis, had given her a baby…their baby. Nothing could have ruined her mood. Glancing from Luis, to the screen, Sheridan realized that this moment would impact the rest of their lives. This would be the moment that they feel in love with their child…not that they hadn’t loved him or her before. Now, they fell in love with their baby’s picture as well as the thought of him or her growing inside Sheridan. Nothing could have felt better.

"Oh my God," she whispered looking at the baby. "Oh my God."

Luis looked down at Sheridan and wiped the tears away. Leaning down, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Oh, Sherry angel, our baby," he whispered, his own voice heavy with emotion. His grin was contagious. "That’s our baby…"

"Look," Sheridan pointed as the fetus moved. "She’s waving…"

"She?"

"Or he," Sheridan admitted.

Eve smiled and hit a button to print out the sonogram picture. "Well, Mom and Dad, how does it feel?"

Luis liked the sound of dad and his grin turned into a full-blown smile. Sheridan giggled.

"It feels…it feels wonderful," she replied.

Sheridan rinsed her hair and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her. She was starting to show and it was obvious to everyone that Sheridan was having Luis’ baby. Well, almost everyone. There were still a few people that asked if she was putting on weight. She laughed. "Yea, I’m putting on weight all right…in the form of an eight pound baby," she shook her head.

Walking into the bedroom in her robe, Sheridan spotted Luis sitting on the bed. "Hey baby."

"Hello, sweetheart," he waited for her to meet him at the bed. Glancing at the knob to make sure the door was locked, he pulled her towel off and kissed her belly. "Hello, little angel. How are you this morning?"

Sheridan smiled. "The little one is very calm this morning. But we were both upset that Daddy got up without us."

"Well, we do have to be at the Youth Center in a half hour and I knew you would whine that you were hungry."

"So you made breakfast?" she asked excitedly.

"No, so I called ahead to the Book Cafe to make sure there are two blue berry muffins, a bottle of juice and a cup of coffee ready when we get there."

"I miss caffeine," Sheridan sighed.

"I’m sorry, baby," he kissed her belly again. "It will be over before you know it," he smiled.

She laughed. "Six months, swollen ankles and thirty pounds or so left, but who’s counting?" She left his arms to begin dressing.

"Sheridan, I love you," he said seriously.

His tone caught her off guard and she turned to look at him. Lately, she had a feeling that he had been hiding something from her. Ever since meeting Misty, Sheridan wondered if there were things that Luis hadn’t told her. Misty seemed so sure of herself sometimes and every time they crossed paths, Sheridan found herself grasping Luis’ hand or arm tightly. It wasn’t an act of possession, but more one of fear…fear of losing him.

Smiling, though forcefully, Sheridan replied, "I love you too," and finished dressing.

Sheridan headed over to the Book Cafe to pick up their breakfast while Luis opened the Center. She was surprised to find the cafe so empty looking on a Saturday. Shrugging, she assumed it was too early for anyone in his or her right mind to be up and out.

"Morning, Sheridan," Beth smiled as the blond walked towards the counter. "I have Brandon back there getting two, straight from the oven, blue berry muffins for you. What kind of juice would you like this morning?"

"You know what, Beth, make it milk instead," Sheridan grinned. "I’m in the mood for moo juice."

Beth laughed. "One moo juice it is," she ducked down and pulled a small bottle of milk from the small fridge under the counter. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Not too bad. Fortunately there was no signs of morning sickness, so I think the worst is over."

Beth smiled. "Good. How’s everything else?"

Glancing around, Sheridan leaned closer. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course," Beth looked worried.

"I have a bad feeling about Misty. She’s been hanging around the center whenever Luis is there…and never when Hank is around. It’s like…"

"She’s trying to catch him alone?"

"Exactly. Every time they finish a conversation or even pass each other on the street Luis becomes all…silent and tense…it’s like he’s hiding something. Last time, he pulled me so close to him I thought I would suffocate."

"What could he possibly have to hide from you?"

"Honestly?"

"Of course," Beth bagged the muffins that one of the worked brought to her.

"I think he and Misty have a past Beth…and a lot more than something right out of high school."

Beth looked shocked. "You do know that Misty is the reason Luis and I broke up?"

"What?" Sheridan was shocked.

"Everyone thinks it was because he wouldn’t marry me that I recommended we see other people until he was ready. No use in not searching out options, right?" Beth laughed sarcastically. "Not even close. Hank and I found Luis and Misty on prom night at the beach. Hank offered to drive me home when Luis said he had to leave early. We didn’t think anything of it, Luis had been working two jobs at the time to help support his family, that was until Misty disappeared. She and Hank had a plan to go to the beach after the prom and…" Shaking her head, she went on, "Anyway, we got there and found Misty and Luis in one of the alcoves, snuggled together under a blanket. Luis admitted that he and Misty had been going out behind our backs for a few weeks. I was shocked. Luis was never the type to do something like that…not until Misty showed up our senior year."

"Oh my," Sheridan paled. "Do you think…"

"Never!" Beth stated vehemently. "Luis absolutely adores you, Sheridan, and that was a long time ago. He’s changed a lot since then. A whole lot." Beth handed Sheridan her order. "Look, Misty is trouble, I’ll give you that, but Luis is a good man. He would never do anything to hurt you…ever!"

Sheridan nodded. "I don’t trust that woman."

"Good," Beth replied. "Don’t. Because Misty is trouble. Luis would never jeopardize his relationship with you; especially not as the mother of his child…Luis would never take family for granted. His children are going to mean the world to him."

Sheridan smiled. "And I’m going to be the only woman giving them to him."

"Oh! Speaking of children," Beth dug out a picture. "I have doubles and I figured you might like this," she handed Sheridan a picture.

Glancing down, Sheridan laughed. It was a picture of Luis, who couldn’t have been older than four, playing cops and robbers with Beth and Hank. Obviously, Hank was the robber and Beth was the damsel in distress. Luis had on a policeman’s badge and holster from a play set and was trying Hank to a tree with a giant jump rope. Beth stood nearby, cradling a doll in her arms as Hank seemed to just enjoy his fate as a caught bandit.

"Oh my," Sheridan snorted with laughter. "Weren’t you three cute?"

Beth laughed. "Hey now. We loved that game…it was a look into our futures."

"Mm, and I see that Hank was given the correct job," Sheridan asked.

"Well, he’s had his low points."

Sheridan nodded in agreement. "I better get back to Luis before he sends out the troops."

"All right. Stop by later and I can tell you exactly what was going on in the picture."

"You bet," Sheridan smiled and headed out the door.

Luis heard the front door to the Youth Center slam shut and assumed Sheridan was returning with their breakfast. Heading into the gym, he called, "Hey sweetheart, what took so long?"

"Nothing, baby," Misty’s voice replied.

Luis froze. "What the h…why are you here?"

"Not this again, Luis. I believe we’ve discussed why I’m back in Harmony…besides my attachment to your friend."

"Look, Misty, I don’t have time for this…"

"Well, make time damn it," she demanded. "Look, I have a job interview and no one to watch Colin. You’re stuck with him…"

"We discussed this, Misty…"

"No, you discussed and I listened. I’m afraid we’re way past the point of discussion. Four years, Luis! You waltzed your Latin ass into my life and then waltzed back out again without any idea of what I went through. Now it’s you’re turn."

"His turn for what?" Sheridan asked.

"Nothing," Misty forced a smile. "I just was asking if there’s a way he could watch my son for me. I…well I have an interview and I would really like to know that Colin is ok until I get back."

"We’d love to watch him," Sheridan replied. "After all, the center will be full of children he can play with."

"Good, I’ll bring him in then," she went back outside.

"Sheridan, do you mind not agreeing to things without talking to me first?" he growled.

Sheridan was taken back by his tone. "I didn’t think helping out a friend of yours would be such an inconvenience. What’s your problem?" she asked, placing their food on a nearby table. He had never been like this before. Since when didn’t he have time to help out a friend in need? This was terribly unlike Luis. Usually, *she* was the one begging him not to take on the extra work so that they could have time together to relax or whatever.

"Nothing, I’m sorry," he kissed her cheek. "Everything is fine."

Before Sheridan could reply, Misty returned carrying a small boy in her arms. Sheridan walked over to them and smiled. Moving the hood to his jacket, she took a long look at the small boy.

"He’s so handsome," Sheridan looked at the small boy with interest. His dark black hair was neatly parted and combed back. Tan skin peaked out beneath his tiny jacket, which was dark blue in color. He had on jeans and a t-shirt, which read "Daddy’s Angel." Sheridan grinned, that would be the perfect shirt for their child. His features were soft and when he opened his eyes, two beautiful hazel eyes peered back at her. "What’s his name?"

"Colin. He’s four," Misty replied, placing the child on his feet and helping him remove his coat. "Colin, baby, this is Sheridan and Luis," she stressed Luis’ name. "They’ll be watching you until Mommy gets back, ok?"

Colin’s lower lip quivered and he shook his head no. "I don’t want you to go."

"I’m sorry sweetie, but mommy needs this job."

Colin clung to her leg and sobbed.

Sheridan knelt beside the boy and rubbed his back. "It’s ok, kiddo. Luis and I will take good care of you and we can play games until your mom returns."

The boy turned and looked at Sheridan, his eyes glaring at the hand touching him. She drew back and swore she knew that look. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember who had looked at her so viciously before. No one immediately came to mind and she shook her head. "I’m sorry," she opened her eyes. "Would you like to play basketball?"

Colin pondered the question for a moment, trying to decide if Sheridan was a friend or not. Looking to his mother for advice, he realized that she was busy watching the man. Sighing, he decided to give it a go and trust the woman in front of him. Giving in, Colin nodded. "Yea."

"Ok," she offered her hand.

"You know what, angel, I’ll take him to the net, you get Misty’s number in case we need her before she returns." Luis walked over to the boy and took his hand. Colin immediately clasped Luis’ hand tightly in his own and started to follow his long steps towards the other side of the gym.

Sheridan nodded and watched her fiance head off with Colin. "They look like they belong together…that’s amazing. He seems to know Luis."

Misty smiled. "Yea, almost as if he knew…"

"Knew what?"

"Nothing," Misty covered. She was going to be late and she certainly wanted Sheridan Crane to suffer a little before she told her. "Look, I’m going to be late," she scribbled down her phone number. "I’ll have my cell on."

"All right," Sheridan took the paper and watched as Misty ran off. "That was…odd," she sighed. "Now why does that child look so familiar?" she asked herself, ignoring the picture of another little boy at that age playing cops and robbers with his friend as it fell from her pocket book.

Sheridan sat with some of the young girls from the Youth Center, telling stories and playing with Barbie dolls that had been donated by someone a few years back. The girls were having a wonderful time mixing and matching the outfits and telling stories about adventures they would go on with their dolls. Looking around, she noticed the older kids huddled across the gym talking about the upcoming dance. Sighing, she tried to find Luis. Finally, she spotted him with Colin and two other boys playing basketball. It was odd, but Luis and Colin had been inseparable all morning. Every time someone had asked Luis to help him or her, Colin had been right behind as if he were attached to Luis. Shaking her head, she tried to forget about such crazy things. She was in terrible need of a drink and had to get some water soon.

"Girls, I’ll be right back ok? No fighting?"

The five girls nodded and watched as Sheridan walked away from them and headed for the office. They returned to their play as soon as she was far enough away not to hear them argue over a pair of shoes for the dolls.

"Hey, Sheridan," someone called, keeping her from making it to her destination.

"Hi, Hank," she turned and smiled. "What brings you by?"

"Thought I’d come help out for a while. It’s been a long time since I’ve helped out here."

"Well that’s really nice of you Hank. We sure could use the extra hands. With all the rain we’ve been getting, most of the kids end up here to play instead of the park."

"Yea, I kind of figured I could help out with Colin too," he smiled. "After all, I could be his dad soon."

‘Speaking of Colin’s dad,’ Sheridan thought to herself. "So, what do you know about him?"

"Well, not much. Misty’s hinted that his father lives in Harmony. I figure that’s why she didn’t want me to move to Boston. She wants to find the bas…"

"Hank!" Sheridan covered his mouth. "There are little ears around."

"Sorry," he sighed. "I guess she wants to find the jerk that left her pregnant and alone. I don’t see why she doesn’t just give up. I mean, I’m more than willing to be the kid’s father and the other guy sure doesn’t want him if he doesn’t have the nerve to face her and the kid."

"Maybe she wants the father to get to know his son," Sheridan shrugged and opened the office door. "Come on in, if you dare, I’m just trying to find my water bottle."

Hank entered and looked around. "Nice to know you two haven’t taken the time to clean this place up," he laughed.

"Every time we make progress a new stack of paperwork comes in," Sheridan replied, uncovering the mini-fridge and finding her water. "Thank God!" she sighed and took a large gulp.

Hank laughed and looked around the desk. He found the picture Beth had given Sheridan and laughed. "Oh man. I remember this. I was always suckered into playing the robber. This is the time I stole Beth’s baby!"

Sheridan laughed.

He chuckled. "Seriously. Well, I really did steal it. When she wasn’t looking, I snuck it out of the carriage and hid it in our tree house down in our yard. Luis knew I was going to do it and made it into a super game of cops and robbers. Took him two hours to figure out my crayon map of the city so he could find the doll. Then again it also took that long to get Martin to help him cross the street."

Sheridan fell into a nearby chair, laughing hysterically. "Poor little Luis."

"He was a scrawny thing as a kid," Hank showed her the picture. "See?"

Sheridan froze. Those eyes…that hair…it was all so familiar. She had seen it all before. Where? Damn it! Why couldn’t she piece this together? Reaching a shaking hand out to grab the picture, a memory flashed into her mind. Hazel eyes beneath thick black lashes…dark black hair and well tanned skin under the dark blue jacket…that angry glare when she rubbed his back. "Colin!"

"What about Colin?" Hank asked, watching as Sheridan shakily removed herself from the chair and headed to the couch.

"Colin looks just like Luis at that age," she rummaged through her purse. She found the photos Pilar had given her. "See?" Sheridan pulled out three pictures of a young Luis.

"No way, you’re seeing things, Sheridan," Hank laughed, but it was a tense laugh. He saw it too. Just by looking at the pictures, Hank could tell that this was Luis’ son. There was no denying it, no matter how hard they tried. Colin didn’t just look like Luis; he could be his mirror image. Right down to the dimple when he smiled!

Sheridan shook her head. "Colin looks like Luis," she mumbled as she headed out towards the gym. She clung to the wall for dear life because the room seemed to be spinning around her. Spotting Misty and Luis over in the corner, she headed over to them. Misty was back and it was time to learn the truth…time for Sheridan to know what had been going on before she arrived in Harmony and what had been happening behind her back.

"Baby, is something wrong?" Luis asked, walking over to Sheridan and gently touching her shoulder.

She shook her head and smiled tensely. She needed to talk to Misty first; she didn’t want to upset Luis over nothing. She had to get him away from them for the moment. "Why don’t you help Colin get his coat on since his mom is here? I need to ask Misty something."

"Sure, babe," he kissed her cheek and headed off with Colin.

"You look live you’ve seen a ghost, Sheridan," Misty teased. She knew, somehow she knew. Sheridan had figured everything out and soon Luis would realize it too. Sheridan wasn’t going to want a man that abandoned his pregnant girlfriend and baby…not now, not ever.

Sheridan watched Luis help Colin get his coat on. She looked back down at the picture in her hand. So much alike…it was unbelievable.

"Where’d you get that?" Misty asked. "Looks like the one I have of Colin’s father…" She was lying. She had no such picture of Colin’s father, but Sheridan didn’t need to know that. All Sheridan had to do was find out that Colin was a Lopez-Fitzgerald and everything would come crashing down.

Sheridan felt her heart constrict. "Who?"

"Oh, come on, Sheridan…you know."

"They are so close…"

"Because they share a bond, Sheridan," Misty whispered into her ear.

Sheridan felt her entire stomach knot up. "No."

"Yes, Sheridan…you know, don’t you? You’ve always known deep down inside. Colin’s father lives here in Harmony…he’s here in this Youth Center…he sleeps in your bed and he’s given you his child…"

"No," Sheridan gasped, looking back at Luis. "No…it can’t be. It just can’t be." The room seemed to spin faster and her entire body began to tremble. Fear and panic had taken over her senses and nothing she could do would slow them down. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be!

"It is," Misty whispered harshly. "Meet your stepson, Sheridan, Colin Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald."

Sheridan didn’t respond because the pain in her stomach and the spinning of the room sent her falling to the floor, landing on her belly as unconsciousness claimed her tired mind. Colin was Luis’ son!

Luis was just turning to walk back to Sheridan when he noticed the color drain from her face and her body wobbled on weak legs. He could see panic in her eyes as Misty whispered something into her ear and then she shook her head, her lips forming the word no. He wanted to run to her, but something kept his feet locked to the ground and before his eyes, Sheridan collapsed. Finally, he found his mind and was able to run to her, demanding that everyone back up.

"Sherry? Sherry? Come on angel, wake up," Luis begged, pulling Sheridan into his arms.

Someone gasped, a few girls swooned and a Miguel’s voice barely registered in Luis’ brain. "Someone get an ambulance, she’s bleeding!"

Luis just sat there, cradling her head in his lap, praying for her to open her eyes and look at him. He hadn’t a clue what was wrong with her. Closing his eyes, he felt tears roll down his cheeks but didn’t dare wipe them away. "Please, Sheridan…please," he begged in a whisper.

This was all too familiar of Valentine’s Day when he had cradled her body in his arms as she bled from a wound in her abdomen. Blood, he vaguely remembered someone saying something about Sheridan bleeding and he opened his eyes to see that her pants were soaked in blood. "No," he whispered, not the baby too!

"Luis? One of the…" Hank’s pushed his way forward and spotted Sheridan in Luis’ arms. "What happen?"

Luis glared at Misty. "Ask her!"

"Misty?"

"I didn’t have anything to do with this," Misty backed away a little. "She fainted."

"You could have caught her!" Luis growled.

‘And miss this fun? Hell no,’ Misty thought. She didn’t dare say it though. "It happened so fast…"

Luis glared at her and she backed away some more. Looking back at Sheridan, he again tried to rouse her. "Sherry?"

Nothing.

"Luis, an ambulance is on its way," Miguel touched his brother’s shoulder. "They’ll be all right, Luis. Sheridan and the baby will be fine."

Luis swallowed hard. Somehow, he didn’t think anything would be all right ever again.

Luis paced the hospital waiting room for twenty minutes, watching as nurses and doctors entered to speak with other families. He couldn’t believe that it had come this far. What frightened him most was the realization that he had let it go this far. He was the one that kept the information about his past with Misty from Sheridan. He was the one that lied every time someone mentioned Misty’s name…the one that denied knowing who the father of the baby was when Hank asked. In fact, he had been lying to Sheridan for over a month now when she asked what he was hiding. He told her it was a surprise…it was never meant to go this far.

Of course, Luis had meant to tell Sheridan that Misty claimed the baby was his and that there was a significant chance that the boy could be. After all, he did have a history with the woman and anything was possible. He just didn’t believe it. Why did she come back to Harmony now? What did she want from him? But most importantly, was the boy really his?

He didn’t want to ask for a paternity test. He wanted to believe that Misty wouldn’t lie about Colin being his son. Something inside him said that this child was definitely a Lopez-Fitzgerald and, seeing as how Miguel was too young to be the father, that made the kid his. But something didn’t sit right and Luis needed to know the truth. When all this was over he would as for a paternity test and if Misty wouldn’t give him one, he’d go to the courts demanding one.

Eve entered the room, casting a sorrowful glance at the Lopez-Fitzgeralds. One thing she had to admit, they were a close family. Pilar sat holding her rosaries, her lips moving silently in prayer, while Theresa and Ethan held hands praying as well. Miguel and Charity stood by the soda machine, both whispering about something. All the women had been crying. Finally, Eve spotted Luis and she could tell he knew before she said it.

Joining the group, she urged that they all sit before she revealed the news.

"We were able to stop the hemorrhaging, but it was too late to save the baby. I’m sorry, Luis. There was nothing we could do. She spontaneously aborted before arriving at the ER."

Luis hung his head in shame and let out a muffled sob. Their baby! They had lost their baby. His secrets, his deceptions had caused them to lose their baby. Unable to control his tears, Luis started sobbing. He sobbed for Sheridan…for their unborn baby that they would never know and for himself.

Pilar placed an arm around his shoulder, fighting off her own tears in order to help her son. Theresa collapsed into Ethan’s arms and Charity sat stunned by the news. Someone, though Eve wasn’t sure who, asked, "Is Sheridan all right?"

Wiping away her own tears, Eve sighed. "Physically, she’ll be fine. She is currently undergoing a D&C…"

"A what?" Ethan asked.

"A D&C, dilatation and curettage. It’s a routine procedure. Sheridan will be locally anesthetized and then the doctor will dilate the cervix with instruments until he can fit a spoon-like instrument into the uterus. He will clean out the fetal tissue and, in this case, run a test to see what caused the miscarriage. Sheridan won’t feel a thing…"

Luis continued to stare at the floor. The thought of some doctor removing their baby was killing him. He couldn’t believe this happened.

"But Sheridan will be all right?" Ethan asked.

"Like I said, physically, Sheridan will be fine. Mentally, she’s going to need all of you to support her over the next few weeks…even months. She will have a lot to face."

’You don’t know the half of it,’ Luis thought, never looking up at anyone.

"How did this happen?" Theresa whispered.

"I was going to ask that of you," Eve replied, looking at Luis.

"I don’t know. She just collapsed. I…I don’t know."

"I guess only Sheridan can tell us. I’m going to go see if she is out yet. Depending on how she’s feeling, she might be able to go home tonight."

"Can we see her?"

"I’ll come get you as soon as she’s settled."

They all nodded and watched as Eve left.

As they waited for Eve to return, Luis began to pace again. He noticed one of the ER nurses humming along with a nearby radio that was tuned to their station. Trying to smile, Luis could remember last Sunday, Mother’s Day, when they had listened to that station in his car while waiting for the rain to slow enough to start driving.

"You know what today is?" Luis asked, turning the radio down a little.

"No, what?" Sheridan questioned, slurping down some water.

"Mother’s Day."

"Really?" her eyes widened.

"Uhuh, and I figured, since you’re going to be a mother…" he pulled out a gift. "Happy Mother’s Day, Sheridan…"

Sheridan’s eyes teared as she ripped open the light pink paper on the gift. Inside, she found a Christening outfit. "It’s beautiful…"

"It should be," he smiled. "It was yours. Mama had it in her cedar chest. She told me she had been saving it for you ever since your Mother brought you home. I guess she figured now was a good time as any to let you have it."

"Oh, Luis," she hugged him. "This is so wonderful!"

"I’m glad you like it…I wasn’t sure what to get a mother to be."

"I love it, baby. Thank you."

"I just hope we have a girl," he held up the gown. "Or else our son’s going to look kind of silly in this thing."

Sheridan laughed. "I love you."

"Love you too, baby."

Sighing, Luis found himself paying attention to the words of the song now floating into the waiting room. He hadn’t heard it before, which meant it was either new or country, and he found the words to be all too appropriate. The rain outside continued to pelt the ground as tears rushed to his eyes.

So, tomorrow was another day, but he was sure it wasn’t going to be any easier than today. He had to face Sheridan. Had to tell his beautiful fiancee that he had a child with another woman and explain everything that he remembered. Then he had to tell her that she had lost the baby. No, not she…she didn’t do it alone. *They* had lost the baby…and part of him felt as if he had caused it to happen. ‘Lord,’ he thought, ‘help us to be strong.’

Eve entered the room, a tear in her eye. She walked over to Luis and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sheridan’s in her room…"

"Can I see her?"

"No."

"What?"

"Sheridan wishes not to see you," Eve replied. "She doesn’t want to see you at all."

"I have the right to see her. She’s my fiancee!" Luis demanded. "I want to see Sheridan!"

"Luis, please calm down…"

"I WON’T CALM DOWN!" he yelled. The rage, fear, frustration and sadness finally closed in on him and he felt like he was drowning. He wouldn’t let this happen! He wouldn’t let Sheridan push him away again. They had to get through this and there was only one way they would: together.

"Luis…"

"Please, Eve, I have to see her."

Eve sighed. Sheridan had begged Eve not to let Luis in, though she knew that deep down inside, Sheridan wanted Luis there. "All right, but only for a few minutes and if you upset her you’ll have to go."

Luis nodded. "Which way?"

"Upstairs, second door on your left."

Luis nodded and rushed to find his Sheridan.

Sitting alone in the dark hospital room, Sheridan felt more alone than ever in her life. She had lost the two most precious things: her fiance and her baby. Placing a hand over her stomach, Sheridan closed her eyes and imagined that this was all a dream…that she would wake up and find herself at home, Luis at her side, and they would be smiling. Their baby would be safe within her and grow to become a beautiful adult. Sighing, Sheridan opened her eyes and the dreary reality that she faced caused her to cry. It wasn’t a dream and there wouldn’t be a baby.

Sniffling, she tried to remember what had caused her fall this afternoon. She remembered talking with Hank in the office, looking at an old photo and then stumbling out into the gymnasium to find Luis. Why couldn’t she remember what happened next? Closing her eyes, she tried to picture what happened afterwards when a throat clearing alerted her of someone entering the room. She knew before he even did it that he was there, and she knew who it was.

"I told Eve I didn’t want to see you," she grumbled, not even opening her eyes.

"I had to talk to you, Sheridan…we have to talk if we’re going to get through this."

Opening her eyes, Sheridan looked at the sorry excuse for a man in front of her. She resented his tone, the way he stood there acting as if an "I’m sorry" and a kiss would make this situation better. This wasn’t a misunderstanding and suddenly she remembered what happened.

Sheridan watched Luis help Colin get his coat on. She looked back down at the picture in her hand. So much alike…it was unbelievable.

"Where’d you get that?" Misty asked. "Looks like the one I have of Colin’s father…" She was lying. She had no such picture of Colin’s father, but Sheridan didn’t need to know that. All Sheridan had to do was find out that Colin was a Lopez-Fitzgerald and everything would come crashing down.

Sheridan felt her heart constrict. "Who?"

"Oh, come on, Sheridan…you know."

"They are so close…"

"Because they share a bond, Sheridan," Misty whispered into her ear.

Sheridan felt her entire stomach knot up. "No."

"Yes, Sheridan…you know, don’t you? You’ve always known deep down inside. Colin’s father lives here in Harmony…he’s here in this Youth Center… he sleeps in your bed and he’s given you his child…"

"No," Sheridan gasped, looking back at Luis. "No…it can’t be." The room seemed to spin faster and her entire body began to tremble. Fear and panic had taken over her senses and nothing she could do would slow them down. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be!

"It is," Misty whispered harshly. "Meet your stepson, Sheridan, Colin Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald."

Luis was Colin’s father. Her fiance had a son that he didn’t tell her about…a son that had been in Harmony for over a month and he had never even hinted about. She thought back to all the times over the last month that he was late showing up for things…all the times he called and told her to eat without him because he had some work to do. Some of those times she had called the station and had been told that Luis had left hours before. She never gave it another thought, figuring he had something surprise up his sleeve…never would she have thought of this. Now, as she sat there staring at him, she realized that all those times he was late coming home to her or showing up for something they had planned, that he had been with Colin and Misty…he had lied to her to be with his son and ex-girlfriend.

"When were you going to tell me? On our wedding day? How about the day our baby was born? Maybe on our first anniversary!" Sheridan screamed.

"I didn’t know," he lied.

"You didn’t know," she laughed mockingly. "You knock a girl up, drop her for four years and didn’t know that she had you’re kid? Come on Luis, you knew…you had to know!"

"I didn’t…I swear."

She glared at him. "Look me in the eyes… Look into my eyes and tell me that you had no idea that Colin was your son. Go on!"

He looked into her eyes and started to speak, but looked away. "I only just found out."

"When?" she growled.

"Not long ago."

"WHEN, damn it!"

"Last month…the day you found out about our baby!"

She froze. He had known for a month. All this time…all these weeks…he had been lying to her. Saving himself from the pain of admitting his failure by telling her lies. "Get out."

"Sheridan…"

"GET OUT!"

"Please…"

She threw the engagement ring at him. "GET OUT AND STAY OUT! I want no part of you, Luis. NOTHING! You’re a bastard…a no good liar and I want NOTHING from you. You make me sick," she replied viciously, glaring at him. "I’m glad I lost the baby…SO GLAD…because now I’ll *never* have to see you again!"

"Sheridan, please," he grabbed her. "You can’t mean it."

"GET OUT!"

He dropped her onto the bed. "Fine. I’m leaving…but this isn’t over," he picked up the engagement ring and placed it beside her on the bed. "I won’t let this be over."

She didn’t answer.

Sighing, Luis left the room, tears falling from his eyes.

Sheridan watched him go, fighting a sob. "Why are you punishing me?" she asked no one in particular. "Why can’t I be happy?" she sobbed. "What have I done to deserve this?"

No one answered her questions as they echoed off of the walls. No one heard the heart-wrenching scream escape her lips. No one was there to hold her in his or her arms that night as she cried herself into a fitful slumber. No one was there when she arrived at the Lopez-Fitzgerald home the next day and collapsed onto the bed, wishing she had never let him go.

Chapter Four