Emotions

Sheridan Crane smiled softly, remembering the night she spent with Luis in Santa Fe. Because of her accident in the river, she couldn't remember much, but remembering waking up naked next to Luis was enough to make her tingle. Geez, what's wrong with me. I can't be falling for Luis -- he's a self centered, annoying brat! And more, he hates the Crane's! Get a hold of yourself, Sheridan, she thought to herself, and then she smiled. She could never, in a million years, love Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. But the side of him that she saw in Santa Fe was different. He was caring and kind -- nicer than she'd ever known him to be. But still -- he was Luis, and no matter what she, or anyone else did, he would never change his attitude towards the Crane's. Her smile faded as she looked up to see Hank in front of her. She knew he liked her, but she also knew he was after her money. It was easy to see through him -- but he was nice, and that's all that mattered. She wouldn't let him get the best of her. "Hello Hank," she smiled to him. He returned the smile. "Hi, Sheridan," He put his hand out in front of him and she grabbed on to it and stood up. She had been sorting through some papers for the youth center -- her hours weren't over yet, and she'd be glad when they were. She would never see Luis again, she knew, though she secretly hoped they could become friends. After the trip to Santa Fe, anyone would think they were friends, but she knew different. Though Luis had shown a softer side of himself in Santa Fe, Sheridan knew he'd return to his normal, self-centered, annoying self here. "Is Luis in yet?" Sheridan asked as Hank walked over to pick up a paper that had fallen off of a near-by table. "He should be in soon. Why?" "Oh, no reason, just wondering if Super-cop is going to show today to pester me..." "Hey -- I thought you guys were friends now?" Sheridan laughed at that comment. "We might be. Actually, to tell you the truth, I don't know what we are now! He saved my life in Santa Fe, and he was kind... but I'm just waiting to see what happens now." She shrugged and sat back down. "Besides, I need him to tell me what to do now. The sooner I get done with my hours, the better." Hank laughed and shook his head. "You two are impossible." "Who's impossible?" The tall, dark haired cop said, entering the door. Luis flashed a smile at Hank and his gaze rested on Sheridan. Flashback: Luis and Sheridan are in Martin Fitzgerald's cabin in Santa Fe. He's bending down to fix her covers when, without warning, she pulls him down to her and kisses him. Back to the present. "Oh, nothing, me and Ms. Crane here were just talking. How are ya, buddy?" Hank slapped Luis on the back, grinning at him. Luis grinned back and stared at Sheridan. "Done with the paperwork?" "Yes, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald." she replied, standing up. "Anything else you want me to do?" she asked, smiling at him. He thought for a minute. Really, there was nothing for her to do, but for her to complete her hours at the Youth Center she would need to work... though he could just let her off easy and count it as her hours. "Why don't you run and get yourself some dinner and come back here? It'll count as some hours of work." he replied, smiling. "Thanks, Luis, but I already ate." she said, returning the smile. He shook his head and gazed across the room at some balls on the floor. "Then you can just straighten things out around here." She nodded and smiled, heading over to the basketball rack. Luis turned around to face Hank. "Letting her off easy now, eh? Is there anything that went on in Santa Fe you want to let me know about?" Luis stared with a look of disgust on his face. "No way, man. Sheridan and I just became.... sort of kind of friends." he laughed. He really didn't know what they were. Hank shook his head and stared at Luis. "She said the same." "What were you guys talking about before I came in?" Luis asked, walking across the room towards his office. "Your so-called friendship. She doesn't know if you're friends, or just enemies acting like friends." Hank said, laughing. "What brought up that subject?" "Huh? What does that matter? She asked if you were here to give her work to do. She was acting like you guys were back to your normal love-hate relationship." "Love-hate?" "Yeah, you know, one minute you're friends, the next you're at each other's throats. Love-hate." Luis smiled to himself. "What are you smiling about?" Sheridan asked, walking in the room. Hank shook his head and headed towards the door. "I have to go pick up a friend. See ya later." Luis nodded and waved. "See ya later, Hank." Sheridan smiled at Hank and said, "See ya." then she turned back around to face Luis. "Finished already, Ms. Crane?" Luis asked, smiling. "Yep. All done. Anything else?" "Well, it's getting pretty late. You can go home now..." he replied. "Thank you, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald. I'll be in tomorrow by 8:00." "See ya then." Sheridan smiled and headed towards the door. Luis waved and returned to his work.
Sheridan looked around the parking lot once -- then twice. Her car wasn't there. "What the..." she said aloud. She scanned the parking lot again. No car. "Damn it. Damn it, damn it!" "Damn what?" she heard Luis say from behind her. The lights to the Youth Center were out. They were closed for the night. "I don't know. My car isn't here -- I left it right there," she said, pointing to an empty spot next to Luis' police car. "And it's not there. Damn it!" "Well, Ms. Crane, it looks like you've been robbed." She sighed softly, a look of anger on her face. "This is so.... " Sheridan began, but she didn't finish the sentence. She didn't know what to say. She was angry, frustrated and tired, and all she wanted to do was get home and sink her head into a soft pillow and fall asleep. She closed her eyes for a minute and then opened them. She was trying to stay calm, but it wasn't working. Luis stood there and stared at Sheridan. She looked tired and angry, and he knew she was trying to stay calm, but to no avail. "Want me to drive you home?" he asked, knowing she just wanted to go to sleep after a hard day's work. "I have to make a stop on the way, but I'll get you there." She shook her head though. "Thanks Luis, I'll take a bus. I know you have things to do, and I don't want to be a bother." "Really, come on. It's not a bother," he said, heading towards his car. Sheridan sighed and started after him. "Why not?" she said softly. He opened the passenger’s side first for Sheridan, and she got in, smiling softly at him. He got in the driver's side and started the car. "So, Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald," she said, a note of tire in her voice, "where are we going first?" "I have to drop off some papers. Don't worry; it's just a short stop. We'll be at your house in no time." She smiled at him. It really was nice of him to drive her home. She didn't like being a bother, and she knew she was being one, but he didn't let it show. "This is really nice of you, Luis. Thank you," she said to him. He glanced sideways and smiled. "It's no trouble, really." Sheridan leaned her head against the window and stared out. The skies were starry, but the windows were foggy. She could barely see out them. She lifted a glove-covered hand and brushed it against the window, making a small peephole to see out of. The moon shone brightly in the dark and a few stars painted the night sky. She smiled. It was a scene that should be painted. Luis stopped the car. Sheridan glanced over at him as he got out of the car, and she opened her own door and unbuckled herself. Once out of the car, she looked around. A large building hovered over them. "So, where are we?" Sheridan asked. "You should know -- it's one of the Crane buildings. I have to drop off these papers for a charity event that Ivy Crane will be hosting at the Youth Center. Of course, she won't be there, but then, she never is." he replied, shrugging. "Oh don't start that again... Crane's aren't all that bad." He laughed and started towards the door, Sheridan close behind. Luis pressed a button next to the elevator. The building was 3 stories high, and he needed to get to the top floor. Sheridan waited patiently for the elevator. The elevator door opened with a "Ding!" Sheridan glanced around before stepping inside. It wasn't very busy at this time of night, she noticed. She only saw one person on the way inside, and that was a janitor. Sheridan stepped inside the elevator and hugged herself. She didn't like small, confined spaces. She usually took the stairs. Luis pressed a button and the elevator started going up. Sheridan glanced up, seeing a "2" light up. 2nd floor, she thought to herself. Don't get crazy Sheridan; we'll be there in no time. Suddenly the elevator stopped with a rumbling sound. "What's going on here?" Sheridan asked, panicking. "Don't get freaky, Sheridan, the elevator just got jammed." Luis replied. "It'll start up again in a second." A minute passed. Nothing happened. The elevator stayed still. "Luis...." Sheridan said, staring at the floor wide-eyed. She kept glancing around the room -- waiting for something, anything, to happen. "You have your cell phone with you?" Luis asked. He knew that the elevator wouldn't go again until someone fixed it, and the only person in the building was a janitor. Sheridan shook her head. "No, I don't. Luis, why isn't it starting?" She stared around. The room was spinning. "Oh gosh, why is the room spinning?" she asked aloud. Luis glanced around the room. Sheridan didn't have a cell phone -- then how were they going to get out? There must be some way. He glanced at the wall. No emergency phone? What kind of building is this? There's always an emergency phone in an elevator! Oh well... they'll eventually find that the elevator is stuck and get us out of here. Luis sighed and slumped back against the wall. He looked over at Sheridan. She was in a corner shaking with her head down and eyes closed. "Sheridan? Sheridan, are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern. She looked up at him. Tears streaked her face. "I don't know Luis... I don't know..." she replied.
Oh Whitney, working for the Crane's is the best thing that's ever happened to me! Gwen and Ethan are broken up -- she turned down his proposal! Oh, this is my lucky day! I always told you, fate finds a way! Ethan and I are destined to be together!" Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald told her best friend, Whitney Russell, her eyes shimmering with excitement. Whitney shook her head. "Theresa... don't think that just because Gwen turned down Ethan's proposal you and -" "Twice, Whitney! This is the second time she's turned him down. The second! And don't you forget it!" Theresa interrupted. "And it's because of you!" Whitney shot back. "I mean, don't you feel guilty at all?" Theresa looked up at her friend, a smile on her face. "I would if I weren't so happy," she admitted. "But don't you see? Fates on my side! I know Ethan and I are meant to be; I know it!" Whitney wasn't looking at Theresa. She was looking behind her, shock written all over her face. "Whitney..." Theresa said, tensing up. "Who's behind me?" Whitney didn't reply. She just kept staring. Theresa slowly turned around -- to find a shocked Ethan behind her.
"I don't know. I don't know..." Sheridan repeated, rocking back and forth, tears streaming down her face. Luis sat down next to her and grabbed her, hugging her tightly in his arms. "Shh, it's alright Sheridan. It's alright." "No it's not. It won't be all right. I didn't mean to do it -- I didn't!" she cried. Images filled her mind of a young Sheridan, blood covering her hands. "It's over! Why won't it leave me alone? It's over! I found out the truth! I didn't do it... I didn't." Luis looked down at Sheridan, an expression of mixed concern and confusion. "You didn't do what, Sheridan? What didn't you do?" Sheridan shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I found out the truth, Luis! I found out the truth in Santa Fe. I know I didn't do it -- why won't it leave me alone? Why, why, why?" "Sheridan, what won't leave you alone? What did you find out in Santa Fe?" Sheridan cried in Luis' arms, her body shaking. "I didn't kill Martin Fitzgerald!"
"Oh gosh... oh no. Ethan, I -- I can explain." Ethan stood in the doorway, confusion and shock written all over his face. "Theresa, what's going on here?" He glanced at the mirror. A picture of him was on it, a heart encircling his face. Theresa was tensed up. She glanced at Whitney. Whitney was nervously playing with her sweater. Theresa looked back up at Ethan. "I -- I... oh, Ethan... oh gosh." "Theresa?" Ethan said, finally looking down at her. "Ethan -- I don't know what to say. Now you know, don't you? Gwen was right the whole time. But Ethan, I never planned any of those things to happen. I didn't fall on purpose, or rub your back because I knew Gwen was coming, or anything! They... they just... happened!" Ethan shook his head and stared down at Theresa. "Theresa, you're coming with me." "What? Where? Why?" she said in panic, as Ethan grabbed her arm. "Let me go, Ethan! Stop it, where are we going?" "We're going," he said, dragging Theresa out of her room and to the front door. As soon as they were outside in front of his car, he turned and said, "to see Gwen."
"You didn't what?" Luis said, shocked. "I didn't kill him. I didn't. He's alive. It was all a nightmare -- so why won't it leave me alone? Why?" Sheridan asked, shaking in Luis' arms. "Sheridan," Luis began, lifting her head so she was staring at him. "Is that why you came to Santa Fe? To see if you killed my father?" Sheridan nodded helplessly. "I'm sorry, Luis... I'm sorry. Make it go away. Please." Luis shook his head. It made sense now -- but he still didn't know what her nightmares were about. Or why she was having them. "Listen, Sheridan, I understand, but you have to calm down. Now sit up and tell me what your nightmares are about." Sheridan stared up at him, still shaking, tears still pouring out of her eyes and replied, "I'll try." She sat up slowly and stared Luis in the face. "Oh gosh what did I just do?" she said, finally snapping back to reality. "Luis, listen, I..." "Sheridan, you listen," Luis interrupted, "Tell me what your nightmares are about. You can trust me. Maybe we can get you to stop having them." Sheridan smiled weakly. He was being so nice and understanding, she couldn't resist. "I've been having them ever since I came back to Harmony," she began, "It always starts out the same way. I hear a noise and grab a letter opener in fear and hide behind a curtain in a closet... or something, and then a man dressed in black comes along and I dash out and stab him. Then I'm standing in front of a coffin, my hands covered in blood, and I keep screaming that I didn't mean to do it, but a man always says, 'Yes you did Sheridan. You meant to do it. You must never tell anyone about this night, never. Do you hear me?'... And that's it. The same dream, over and over." Sheridan was crying again now. She was trying hard to be calm. To be herself, but to no avail. "So what makes you think you killed my father?" Luis asked. "I don't -- anymore that is, but ... well, he disappeared on the same night I first started having that nightmare. I just had to find out if I killed him. Luis, I'm not a murderer. I swear. You have to believe me." Sheridan cried. Luis nodded. "I believe you, Sheridan. Besides, my father is alive, in Santa Fe, remember?" he said the last words bitterly. Then he stared at Sheridan. "What makes you think the nightmares are real?" "They just seem real! Like a distant memory. Alistair, my father, sent me to some doctors afterward. They were trying to make me forget it, to forget that night, but I just ... I know it was real, Luis. It seems so clear, or parts of it, but I never found out whom I killed -- or if I even killed anyone. I prayed to God that it wasn't your father, but killing anyone..." she stopped short and started crying again. Luis wrapped his arms around her and stared at the ceiling. "I shouldn't be telling you this." Sheridan said suddenly. Luis pulled her back and looked into her face. "Why?" he asked. Sheridan stared at him and bit her lower lip. "What if I really did kill someone when I was a little girl? Would you send me to jail?"
"Gwen?! Why Ethan? Are you going to tell her?" Theresa said, trying to pull out of his grasp. "Ethan, listen to me!" Theresa yelled. Ethan turned around and looked Theresa in the eye. "If I let go of your arm," he began, "would you run away?" Theresa stared at him. His sea blue eyes shone in the light of a street lamp. She would never run away from him. "You can trust me," she said softly. He released her arm. She stared at him, rubbing her arm where he had grasped it. "I would never, in my life, Ethan, hurt you intentionally," she said. He just stared at her. "Since you just found out," she said, gesturing towards the house, "that I love you... I guess I'll say this. You should know what it's like to love someone. No matter how much you love a person, if being with someone else makes them happy, then you'll let them be with someone else. Even if it hurts you beyond words," He stared at her, confused. "So then you weren't trying to break me and Gwen up?" He asked. "Of course not, Ethan! I admit that when you two broke up, I was happy. I thought I might have a chance with you. But I know how much you love her," Theresa said. "And being with a housekeeper's daughter isn't exactly a dream come true," she added, laughing softly. "Oh it doesn't matter about money status!" Ethan said, smiling. "If a person loves someone, they don't care how much money the other person has, right Theresa? You told me that yourself one time," Theresa smiled. "You better go grab Gwen back before she leaves you forever." She said, gesturing towards the car. Ethan turned around and opened the car door. "And Ethan?" "Yeah?" he said, turning back around. "Tell Gwen that I'm sorry and I hope that you two find the best in life. Let her know that I won't be working for your mother anymore," Theresa said, tears in her eyes. She had lost him now, forever. "You won't be working for my mother anymore? Why?" Theresa stared at Ethan for a moment. "As long as it makes you happy, right?" she said softly, and then she turned around and walked towards her house.
"Would you, Luis?" Sheridan asked, tears pouring down her face. Luis didn't know what to say. One part of him was saying that he would never turn her in, and another part was saying that it was his job. He wouldn't put his mother in jail, he knew. He had given her a ticket once, but that wasn't the same. Spending your life in jail was far different then a ticket, and Sheridan was his friend. He sighed and finally said, "Sheridan, I wouldn't turn a friend in. I know you didn't mean to do it, and it was when you were small, right? You were frightened. That's different from intentional murder... and besides, who's to say it wasn't a nightmare?" Sheridan smiled then. "I'm a friend?" she asked. He laughed and said, "Of course you're a friend..." She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Luis. You're always there for me, aren't you?" He hugged her back and smiled. "Anytime, Crane. I'll always be there for you." She pulled back and looked around. "When do you think we'll get out of this place?" He laughed. "Not for a long time, I'm guessing. No one knows we're stuck up here and the elevator has no phone. I wonder what kind of idiots built this elevator?" Sheridan stood up. Strangely, the elevator didn't seem so small to her anymore. She looked up. "Luis," she said, pointing to the ceiling of the elevator. "Look."
"Theresa, wait!" Ethan called out. Theresa turned around, tears streaming down her face. They sparkled in the light of the street lamp. "I don't want you to quit working for my mother," Ethan said, panting as he ran to stand beside her. "Why? If I keep working there, Gwen will think that I'm planning to break you two up again -- if you get back with her, that is. I only want what's best for you," she said, smiling weakly and stroking Ethan's face gently. Ethan reached up and grabbed her hand. "You're right, Theresa," he said softly. Theresa was trying to keep from crying again. She was going to hate not being with Ethan, but she knew it was what was right. She glanced over to see Whitney standing in the doorway of her house. "I don't know how to say good-bye, Ethan," Theresa said weakly. "Then don't," he said. He squeezed her hand once and then got in his car and drove off. Theresa ran to the front door and grabbed Whitney in her hands, crying hard. "Oh Whitney, I've lost him. I've lost him forever," She cried, and Whitney could only hug her best friend and stroke her hair.
"What?" Luis said, following her gaze. In the middle of the ceiling was a door that opened out onto the top of the elevator. "I see what you mean," he said softly. "If we could find a way to get up there, there might be a way out," Sheridan said, turning to Luis. "Smart girl," Luis said, smiling. Sheridan laughed. "How do you suppose we'll reach it?" She asked him. "Well," he began, "you could climb onto my shoulders and see if you can get up there." "What about you, Luis?" "Leave me here. You can call for help and they'll get me out." "I don't want to leave you here alone, Luis. You'll be bored to death," "At least try," Luis said, laughing. Sheridan sighed and nodded. Standing beneath the door, Luis lifted Sheridan onto his shoulders. Sheridan could just barely reach the door. She pushed it open and grabbed onto the sides, and then she lifted herself up to look around. "Luis, I can't see any way out. There's nothing to climb to get to the third floor, either," she called down to him. She heard Luis sigh. "Okay, Sheridan, then come on back down," Sheridan lowered herself slowly, but suddenly her hand slipped and she fell. Luis tried to catch her, but missed. "Sheridan!" he called out, but his heart fell when he noticed she wasn't breathing.
Ethan slammed his hand against the passenger seat. He didn't want Theresa to quit working for his mother, and it was all Gwen's fault. He pulled up to Gwen's house and got out of the car. Once he was at the door, he rang the bell. Gwen's housekeeper answered. "Well, good evening Mr. Crane. Gwen is in her room. Follow me," she said. Ethan followed the housekeeper up to Gwen's room and he knocked on her door as soon as the housekeeper left. A million thoughts ran through his mind at once. He was confused at what was going on inside of his head. "Come in!" he heard Gwen say, and he opened the door. "Oh, hello Ethan," Gwen said, smiling. "Hello Gwen," Ethan said, returning the smile. "Listen, there's something I want to talk to you about," Ethan began. Gwen patted her bed and Ethan sat down beside her. "Go on," Gwen said. "Well, Theresa quit working for my mother when she found out that you thought she was trying to get you to break up with me, or vice-versa. She said she wishes you the best in life... us, I mean, and she said to let you know that she wasn't trying to break us up. She'll never be seeing me again," Ethan said. Gwen stared at him, smiling. "So, Ethan, are you going to ask me back out or are you just going to sit there?" "Actually..." Ethan said. Gwen's smile faded. "I came here to tell you I don't love you,"
"Sheridan!" Luis said, bending down next to her. "Sheridan, answer me! Oh gosh, Sheridan come on!" Sheridan didn't move. Her head was bruised at the top and blood spilled from a cut. "What if she split her skull? What if she's dead? Oh, come on Luis! Check for a pulse!" Luis said aloud. He felt for a pulse, and to his relief, he found one, but Sheridan still didn't breath. "CPR...CPR..." Luis said to himself. He bent down and plugged her nose, and then he placed his lips on hers and breathed into her mouth. "C'mon Sheridan, c'mon." he said, pushing against her chest, then, again, he plugged her nose and breathed into her mouth. He sat back up and was about to repeat what he did when Sheridan gasped for air. "Sheridan, are you alright?" he said, cradling her head. She breathed in for air a few times and stared up at Luis. "Oh gosh, I've got a splitting headache." she replied, and Luis smiled. "I would think so, you fell," he said. "I did?" "Yeah, remember? From the door... your hands slipped, or something." "Oh yeah," she said, remembering. "I had to perform CPR on you... Gosh I was afraid you were dead." "You saved me again?" Sheridan asked, smiling. Luis laughed. "Yep... again." Sheridan sat up and Luis backed away, staring at the wound on her head. "Here, let me get that," he said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbing her wound. She winced in pain. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." "After saving my life I don't think I'll be yelling at you for hurting me," Sheridan said, laughing. Luis leaned in and stared at the cut. "It's not that bad. It's not too deep you just bumped your head against something." Sheridan stared up at Luis, and he looked down to gaze into her eyes. They were only inches apart. Sheridan's heart started beating faster as Luis leaned down to fill in the inches. They engaged in a passionate kiss, Sheridan wrapping her arms around Luis to kiss him hungrily while he did the same.
"What? What are you saying, Ethan? Are you saying you never want to see me again?" "I'm saying... I just want to be your friend." "Impossible!" Gwen raged, standing up. "Just get out, Ethan! Get out and never, ever talk to me again!" "Gwen, stop getting so worked up about this," Ethan replied calmly. "You come here to tell me you don't love me and you expect me to just be fine and dandy with it? Whatever, Ethan! Just get out! We're not friends, we're not lovers, we're nothing to each other anymore! Get out, now, and don't ever come to see me again!" "Gwen -" "Ethan, OUT!" she raged. Ethan stood up and walked out of the door, out of Gwen Hotchkins' life. When he got back in the car, he decided where he was going next, though he didn't know why. Within minutes, he pulled up into the Lopez-Fitzgerald driveway.
"That was..." Sheridan breathed. "Wow," Luis said, pulling back. "Yeah wow..." Sheridan agreed, leaning against the elevator wall. Luis stared at Sheridan for a minute while she returned the gaze. "What now?" she asked softly, and he shrugged in reply to her question. Suddenly, Sheridan burst out laughing. "What?" Luis asked, trying not to laugh along with her. "You and me, who'd ever think?" she replied, laughing yet more. "Yeah," he agreed, joining in the laughter. "It makes sense," she said. "How so?" Luis asked, moving closer to her. "I don't know. I just always had this ... gut feeling that you and I would end up together." "Oh really?" Luis said, brushing some hair out of her eyes. She gazed up at him. He wasn't the cop that she knew before. He was sweet and sensitive, and most of all, understanding. "I love you Luis," she said suddenly. "I love you too, Sheridan," he replied, pulling her into a kiss. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. "Make love to me,"
Theresa saw Ethan's car pull into the driveway. Is he here to hurt me more? She asked herself, a tear dropping from her chin onto her red dress. A dark red spot remained on her dress, a reminder of the tear that had spilled off of her chin. She got up and walked to the door. She opened it as Ethan stepped up to ring the doorbell. "What?" Theresa said, pain showing in her eyes. Ethan stood still, staring into her deep brown eyes. "I don't know," he replied softly. "Excuse me?" Theresa asked, an expression of confusion molding itself onto her beautiful face. "I don't know," he repeated. "I came here, but I don't know why. It just… happened." "Oh," Theresa replied softly. "What happened with Gwen?" she asked suddenly. "I told her I didn't love her." he replied. "You what?" Theresa asked, now even more confused. "I told her the truth. I don't love her." "But..." Theresa said, stepping forward. Ethan moved backwards to allow her to come outside. "I thought you loved her?" she said, turning to him and closing the door to her house. "I thought I did, too." he replied softly. Ethan stared down at Theresa. She's so beautiful, he thought to himself. He moved closer to Theresa. He didn't know why, but he just wanted to kiss her, to hold her forever. She'd been so honest with him, at least now she was being, and he could see that she loved him very much. She was willing to give up everything for love, and that touched his heart more than anything ever had. "Theresa," he said, and she gazed up at him. He stared down into her eyes. He could get lost in those eyes. "Would you mind if I kissed you?"
"In an elevator?" Luis asked, about to laugh. Sheridan realized how stupid that sounded and she laughed. "You're right," she said, sitting forward. "No I'm not," Luis replied, staring at Sheridan. Sheridan looked up, surprised. "Huh?" she asked, gazing into Luis' eyes. He pulled her into a kiss, a long, passionate one. She wrapped her arms around him and ran her fingers through his hair while he ran his hands up her back. He had just started unbuttoning her shirt when they felt a bump. "Luis," Sheridan said, pulling back. "I think the elevator's starting to move."
"Kiss me?" Theresa asked, on the verge of tears. But they weren't tears of sorrow they were tears of happiness. Ethan nodded and pulled Theresa into a kiss. Theresa's heart skipped a beat. She was kissing Ethan Crane, the man she loved! Her dream was coming true! She pulled back for air and stared into Ethan's eyes. Then she turned her gaze to a window on the front of the house. Whitney was staring out. She flashed a big smile at Theresa and Theresa returned the smile. Ethan turned around and laughed. Then he turned back towards Theresa. "Theresa," he said, staring into her eyes. She looked up. "Yes, Ethan?" "Theresa... I love you." Theresa's heart skipped another beat. Did she hear correctly? Was she dreaming? Did Ethan Crane, heir to the Crane fortune, actually tell her he loved her? "Do you mean that?" she said, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I love you, Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, and I mean it, for the rest of my life. Our lives." Theresa shook her head. "Our lives?" she asked. Ethan got down on one knee and pulled out a box. It was black velvet. He opened it. "Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald," he began. Theresa stared wide-eyed at the jewel inside. It was a ring. Her gaze returned to Ethan. "Will you marry me?"
Sure enough, the elevator started moving upwards. Sheridan smiled happily at Luis. "What time is it?" she asked, suddenly. She wasn't tired anymore, but she wanted to see how late it was. "Um... 4:30 a.m." Luis replied, staring at his watch. Sheridan stared, her mouth hanging open. "We've been up here 4 hours?" she asked, and then she laughed. "Ah well. I'm not tired anymore." The elevator door opened and Luis and Sheridan stepped out. "I'm taking the stairs next time," Sheridan announced, laughing. "Yea, me too." Luis agreed, dropping the papers he had brought into a box. Sheridan and Luis got into his car and he started up the engine. "Long night, huh?" Luis said, smiling. Sheridan nodded, "Yeah... long night." They pulled up in front of Sheridan's house and Luis escorted her to the door. "I don't want this night to end," Sheridan said, slipping her arms around Luis' shoulders. "Me either," Luis replied wrapping his arms around Sheridan. "Luis, suppose we just stood here like this forever? Then I'd never have to be away from you," Sheridan said, smiling. "Suppose we did," Luis replied, kissing her cheek. "I love you Luis, I love you forever," Sheridan said, kissing Luis. "I love you too Sheridan, forever." he replied, returning the kiss hungrily. "Hey! What's going on here?" Someone said from behind. Luis and Sheridan turned around, startled to see none other than Julian and Ivy Crane behind them.
"Marry you?" Theresa said, startled by the question. "But Ethan, don't you think this is a little sudden?" Ethan shook his head. "No, Theresa. You've loved me for a long time and I realized that I love you, too. I've loved you for a long time now, but Gwen always blocked the truth. When I broke up with her today, I finally realized how much you've done for me and how much I love you." Theresa stared at Ethan. This couldn't be happening. This was a dream. This had to be a dream. She glanced at the window on her house again and noticed Whitney smiling happily out at her. "Pinch me, I'm dreaming," she said softly. Ethan stood up and wrapped his arms around her. "Well," he said, "what's your answer?" "Yes, Ethan Crane. Yes I will marry you. I love you!" she said, crying and laughing at the same time and wrapping her arms around him.

To Be Continued...