Chapter 1:
"Come on Sheridan, PUSH…..PUSH….PUSH!!!" Luis yelled trying to hold
back the excitement in his voice "Will you quit it, you are the one that
got me here in the first place…..again" as she screamed back at the end of
her contraction. "I know, I know," he said with a glow on his face. "Well
here is Lopez-Fitgerald baby number seven the doctor announced as he handed
the baby girl to her exhausted parents. "Well you did it again, and
beautifully," said Luis "NO, we did it" Sheridan replied Luis kissed his
wife and then their daughter gently on the head. "So what shall we name
her?" asked Sheridan "I have an idea" replied Luis "Are you going to keep me
in suspense or you just going to tell me?" she asked wanting to know "wait
here" "and where am I going" Sheridan remarked playfully.
They all were waiting in the in the lounge to here the news. "So dad,
boy or girl??" remarked Jake the oldest son "Yeah we all want to know" the
rest chimed in "It's a ………no wait I am going to let your mother tell all of
you, but I want you guys to be thinking of a name" Luis said "Nurse would
it be all right if I took my children in to see their new sibling?" Luis
questioned "Sure go ahead but not for long." The nurse replied "Okay lets
go, now when you get in there please behave."
So Luis followed all five of his children to their mothers hospital
room, carrying Ben the youngest who was half asleep." Sheridan's face
immediately glowed even more when she saw Jake, Chris, Isabelle, Carly,
Kate, and finally Ben when they came into the room. "So this was your
bright idea, having the children name their new sister" Sheridan said
reading Luis' mind. "It's a girl?!," asked Ben who was now standing by his
mom "Yes, what do you think we should name her?" Ben (who is four by the
way) stood there next his mother with a real serious expression on his face,
and looked like he was thinking really hard and long finally said "Sara"
"What did you say honey?" asked Sheridan because he said it so low that no
one heard him "I said Sara" replied Ben but this time much louder "I love
it" said Sheridan to her son and then looked at Luis. Luis just smiled backs
his killer smile and mouthed I love you. All each other had to do was look
at the eyes and they knew how the other one was feeling, thinking, and sensing.
"Hey that's not fair!" Carly complained breaking the silence "What's
not fair cupcake?" asked Luis to carly (who is six) "You said we all can
name the baby." "I sorry cupcake, how about you pick out her middle name?!"
"Me? All by myself?" she asked getting excited "Sure that's your job for
today" replied Sheridan So carly went over looked at her little sister, then
went over to her other sister Isabelle and asked her a question. Izzy then
nodded and then carly went back over to her mother's bedside. " I like the
name Abby" she announced proud of her decision. "That's a wonderful name!"
Sheridan said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead, "Come on guys it
is time for your mother and sister to rest." Luis announced to the whole
brude. So as Luis walked out of the room he told Sheridan that he was going
to take the kids home and come right back. She smiled back at him and they
both knew. They both just knew. They could sense each other. It was their
bond they found when they first met. When she crashed into him. They didn't
know it then but that was the beginning. It took a long time for them to fight
their feelings for each other, but they finally caved in when they did it
was as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Sheridan was asleep in her
hospital room. ~*~*~*~*~ FLASHBACK DREAM ~*~*~*~*~ At the Youth Center in
Luis' office: "You just get to me, I don't know why or how but you do. I
have never felt this connection with anyone and at first I tried to deny and
refuse to believe but I guess now it's useless." Luis spoke confessing his
feeling for to her. She felt the same way but wanted to hear it first form
the man she loved. "Lui…." "I know what people will say, especially your
family but I don't care, and for me to say this, that I love a Crane well
you know…." Luis said interrupting Sheridan. Did he just say he loves me
Sheridan thought to herself? "Yes" brought her back to reality "Huh? What?"
Sheridan asked confused. I said yes that I love you" Luis replied. "Did you
just read my mind? Sheridan asked with a confused look on her face still.
"I think so, I just get this feeling when I am around you, I feel as though
I have known you forever." He remarked "I love you too" she said moving in
closer to him. They both leaned in and kissed each other passionately which
seemed to go on forever. When they came up for air finally, they just gazed
into each other's eyes. Luis felt as thought he could stare into those blue
eyes for eternity. ~*~*~*~*~
When Luis got back to the hospital he went up to the nursery to get
Sara, he brought her with him to Sheridan's room She was sleeping soundly,
just watching her sleep made him fall in love with her all over again. Then
he looked at Sara as she was sleeping peacefully, "Gosh she looks just like
her mother…an angel." He thought to himself. As he watched his wife and
daughter sleep he thought of the time when he first heard that he was going
to become a father. ~*~*~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~*~*~ It had been a week or two
since Sheridan and Luis were back from their honeymoon. Sheridan had been
acting funny for a couple of days and Luis sensed something was wrong, but
really wasn't wrong. So on his way home from work one night he decided to
stop by the local baby shop and buy a dozen baby rattles making a bouquet
out of them. He didn't know what possessed him to do this but it was just a
feeling (or hopeful thinking?). When he came into he house he called for
Sheridan finding her in the kitchen surprised her with the bouquet of
rattles. She looked at him stunned, and was speechless. She finally
managed to get out "How did you know?!"
"A feeling" he replied so they kissed and hugged and ended up making
love by the fire all night long. "Can you believe were are going to be
parents?" Sheridan said starring deeply into his big brown puppy dog eyes
"yes I can mommy" Luis said to her with a great big grin on his face. "I
love the sound of that!" she said kissing him. Eight in half month later
Jacob Henry Lopez-Fitzgerald was born. ~*~*~*~*~
Each time they had a child together it was like Jake, but the bond just
grew more and more with each birth. First it was Jake[15] then Isabelle[12]
next Kate[11]. But then there was the car accident that nearly killed
Sheridan. The doctors weren't sure if they would be able to have anymore
children or not. But they were happy to prove the doctors wrong with the
birth of the twins Chris and Carly[6]. Finally it was Ben[4] their miracle,
Sheridan had so many complications and he was so premature they weren't sure
if he was gong to make it or not and he did. He was so special he was their
star….so so brite. Then came their doctors warning that it would be a good
idea to stop having children after Ben because of what had happened. But
they refused to listen and said it was gods will what ever happens. Now
Sara, Luis was stunned with this pregnancy, nothing went wrong it was almost
too easy but she was here and that was all that mattered.
"Earth to Luis, come in space cadet Lopez-Fitzgerald." Sheridan said
quietly trying not to wake Sara but get Luis' attention. "Huh?" You look
like you were a million miles away" Sheridan replied "I was just remembering
when Jake was born, and izzy, and the rest, each one is like the first time
all over again with you Sheridan" Luis said softly. As tears welled up in
Sheridan's eye she said "Luis, you have to stop this!" "What?" he questioned
"Every time we do this you make me cry and I can believe it…" "Believe what"
he asked "that I am married to you, I sometimes think this is all just a
dream, just to to good to be true" She said drying her eyes "Well ya know
what? You should be used to this because it not a dream it's real as so are
we." He said getting up handing Sara to her and sitting on the bed. "How did
I get so lucky to end up with you the father of my children and the man of
my dreams?" she said smiling "You crashed into me!" he said sarcastically
with a smile on his face "It's been almost seventeen years; and you are
never going to let me live that one down are you?" she said giving him a
playful smack on the arm with her free hand. "Well I really should take Sara
back the nursery and let you get some rest while you can. Once she gets home
you are going to get no rest whatsoever." he commented "Do I ever?!" She
remarked teasing him back "Well I guess not" replied Luis "But I love this
life and I wouldn't have it any other way and trade nothing for it."
Sheridan said as she kissed her husband on the lips gently. "Good answer,
real good answer" he smiled back.
When the arrived home the house was full of balloons baby gifts and
more. The looked at each other and smiled. "Say Cheese!" Jake said
surprising them with taking a picture. This had become Jake's ritual every
time a new baby was born he would take a picture as soon as the walked in
the door. There was a long hallway with all the pictures of everyone's
homecoming on it. Except his. He looked at his parents and how happy they
were, and then thought about the pictures. He made a frown and then quickly
hid it trying not to let his mother see it. "Jake, hunny, what's wrong?"
Sheridan asked as Luis took Sara and brought her into the nursery. "Nothing,
I am happy that you're home again." Jake replied "No that's not it come on
tell me, you tell me everything. Hold on just a moment I know what it is."
Sheridan said as she got up went to the kitchen reached on the top cabinet
and came back with something. "What is that?" he asked "Open it up and
you'll see" she replied looking at him with a smile starting to form on her
face. It was picture of Jake, Luis and Sheridan in the hospital, after Jake
had been born. "Where did you get this? I haven't seen this one before."
"Well your Uncle Ethan took a couple hours after you were born. He then
misplaced the film before he had a chance to develop it. Once he did that
is when I had my accident……. He gave it to your father and I guess in the
midst of everything that was happening at the time I guess he misplaced it.
I found it a few days ago and I was going to give it to you but that is when
my water broke." Sheridan told him "Oh mom you're the greatest" he said
hugging her. "What's going on in here guys, having fun without me?" Luis
said as he walked back into the room. "No I just gave our son something that
he needed." Sheridan said looking at Luis. "Oh….ok" Jake got up and went to
his room "Thank you" Luis said to Sheridan "for what?" she asked
inquisitively "For miracles one through eight" "Eight? But Luis we only
have seven" she looked at him confused "You are miracle number one" he said
as he kissed her.
Then all of a sudden Kate stormed into the living room with Carly and
Chris not too far behind. "What's going on here?" asked Luis and Sheridan
in unison. "Mommy the twins ruined my science fair project that we worked
so hard and long on" Kate whined as she finished storming toward her parents
" well first things first lets keep it down because Sara is sleeping." Luis
commanded toward the three little ones. "Chris, Carly, what did you do to
your sisters project?" Sheridan asked while she was smiling to herself on
the inside "NOTHING!" they both replied together.
The twins were so much like Luis and Sheridan. Carly was like Sheridan
and Chris was much like Luis. It just made them laugh to see how much their
kids were like them. The way the two competed for everything made them love
them even more. "Come on you two spill it or no dessert and cartoons after
dinner" Luis said "Okay okay …..Carly and I were rolling the ball around in
Kate and Izzy's room and then Carly thought it would be fun to play
catch…..and then we did and Carly hit Kate's project by accident." Chris
said in one quick breath spilling his guts as fast as he could. Luis and
Sheridan looked at each other smiling and quickly remembered the kids and
they turned stone-faced. "Now Chris, Carly you know what the rule is about
throwing balls around the house. Kate you know you shouldn't let the twins
in yours and Izzy's projects for school out." Sheridan said trying not to be
too harsh "I'm sorry" Chris said apologizing to Kate and his parents. "Me
too!" Carly squeaked in. "Okay you guys go and clean up and…" "we'll order
some pizza!" Luis started as Sheridan finished the sentence. She just looked
at his face and said "intuition" and he knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Luis, I need to talk to you later when the kids are asleep." Sheridan said
sounding really serious "I know I was just thinking the same thing." He
replied back flashing her his week in the knees smile.
As all of them were eating dinner at the table they each were
discussing the events of the past couple days and how yet another baby would
make their lives even more interesting. Finally Izzy spoke up trying to get
everyone's attention. "I wanted to say that I am glad that Sara is finally
here. "I am so happy to part of such a big and loving family; not many of
my friends have this kind of life. They say they are envious of me not
because of our money but because of you [she looks at her parents]. I
couldn't care less if we had no money, just as long as I had you guys. I
hope that one day I will find the love that you to share someday. I love
you all even Chris and Carly who seem to get into and mess up everything
with their silly antics." Luis was very moved by this and he started to cry.
"Daddy, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" asked Ben who looked very
perplexed by the recent statement made by Izzy. "He's crying because he's
happy" Jake told Ben "is that true mommy?" Ben asked really confused "yes
it is see people don't always cry when they are sad, they can cry when they
are happy too." Sheridan said answering Ben. "Isabelle Susan
Lopez-Fitzgerald may I see you in the kitchen?" Luis asked getting up "Sure
Dad, but what did I do?" she asked her father looking at her mother. "It's
all right sweetie go with you father." Sheridan said. So Luis and Isabelle
went into the kitchen. "Dad I sorry whate….." "Thank you." He said
interrupting her. He gave her a hug …"your welcome dad" Izzy replied "you
know you children never cease to amaze your mother and I, I think that's why
we have so many of you kids." He said to her smiling. "I just have one
question for you dad" Izzy said with a semi-perplexed look on her face.
"And what's that?" Luis questioned "are you and mom going to have anymore of
us? I mean it's great that I have (and love) so many siblings but come on
there are seven of us kids and no offense to mom but she's not getting any
younger." Izzy stated giving a bit of a shock to her father. "I don't know,
I really don't know…..That's what I think your mother and I was going to
talk about after you kids went to sleep later." He said answering her question.
"Talk to who about what?" said Jake as he came into the kitchen
clearing the table. "Oh nothing for you to worry about Jake" Izzy said
winking at Luis. "Dad what's going on?" Jake asked as he saw izzy and his
father exchange looks. "Like your sister said, nothing" Luis replied back
to Jake. Hen Sheridan walked into the kitchen with Sara. "What's going on
in here? Another family meeting without out me?" she asked "as far as I know
izzy and dad say nothings wrong or going on" Jake said "okay, it's been a
long day and everyone up to there rooms to finish homework or watch TV…..And
remember play nicely" shooting a look at Chris and Carly who by this time
with the rest of the kids had gathered around the kitchen. Luis took Sara
from Sheridan as she scooted all the kids out of the kitchen. Sara started
to fuss but Luis just rocked her in his arms as he had done so many times
before. Sheridan just leaned against the refrigerator and watched him with
her. This was her favorite part, watching Luis with the kids. He was so good
with them, she could never get enough of him. Finally Luis broke the silence
"you're great with them too ya know." "Why thank you officer." She replied
He continually amazed her after all these years. He walked over to her
carrying Sara who was asleep and kissed Sheridan on the cheek. "I love you
too"she replied knowing what the kiss was for.
Sara was sleeping in her bassinet in the living room. Sheridan had
dozed off reading a book. Luis just looked at her when he came into the
room after settling Ben down. He sat down next to her and tried not to wake
her, but did not succeed. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you……..you just
looked so peaceful and I know you're exhausted from the past couple of
days." Luis said apologetically. "Oh that all right we have to talk
anyway." She replied moving closer to him and he put his arm around her. "I
know." He said smelling her hair. "Actually, I was talking to Isabelle about
that in the kitchen when Jake came in…" Luis said "You were?" asked
Sheridan "Yeah actually, she was the one who brought it up" Luis finished
answering Sheridan. [If you can't tell they are talking about having more
children] "Well I guess there is no time like the present to talk about it."
Sheridan said with a weird tone in her voice.
To Be Continued...