Chapter 3: A Piece Of Heaven
Chapter 3:
Julian stood there wide-eyed and in shock. "But...but...but" was all
he
could manage to get out. "But what Julian?" Luis asked with a shining
grin.
He was elated to see Julian speechless. Sheridan made her way over
to
Luis and he put his free arm around her. All three just stood there
staring
at Julian as he stared back. No one said a word. Then thoughts
entered
Julian's mind that shocked him at first, but then for some reason he
found
comfort in.
Julian just kept on staring at this picture. ‘The three of them look
like
a real family' Julian thought to himself. The one he had but never
appreciated or loved, but took for granted. It was his fathers who
taken
away things that mattered most to people. He turned Julian into his
droid
which he was just now realizing. The next words out of his mouth
stunned
both Luis and Sheridan, but they also relieved them. "So when will Sam
be
here to arrest me?" "Right now" Sam answered as if walking in on cue.
They were all surprised Julian didn't even put up a fight and couldn't
understand why. But Sheridan then realized that her brother indeed
somewhere
below all those exteriors of him had something of what they called a
functioning heart. "It's all over and I still have one last surprise
for
your daddy" Sheridan whispered to her son who was sleeping in her arms.
They had finished packing up the stuff in Sheridan's apartment and were
getting ready to leave. This still hadn't all sunk into Sheridan yet,
but
the reality did hit with Luis. He was trying to figure out where he was
going to put all LJ's stuff. The house wasn't big enough for a whole
new
family, and he knew Sheridan didn't want to stay at the cottage. He
also
still had to tell his mother, but he knew he'd find a way. ‘I'd do
anything
for her' he thought.
They finally arrived at the Lopez-Fitzgerald house. Sheridan had
fallen
asleep on the car ride back. It was so hard for Luis to wake his
sleeping
angel but he knew he had to. He also knew that the past week had
finally
been taking a toll on her. "Sher, we're here" he said to her, but
there was
no response. A thought rushed into his mind and he quickly acted on
it.
Sheridan woke up to the presence of lips meeting hers. She now was
immediately up and responded with more passion that was started with,
because she could never get enough his kisses.
Pulling back she responded with "Talk about a wake up call" trying to
catch
her breath. "Well I called your name but you didn't respond" he
replied
with and impish grin. He got out of the car and Sheridan soon followed
after taking LJ out of his car seat. When they approached the door
Luis
told her to wait there and he would call for her. He then kissed his
new
family on their foreheads. "Mamma? You home?" Luis called out into the
empty kitchen "In here," she called from the living room. "I am coming
now"
she yelled as she walked through the kitchen door. She was surprised
to see
Luis in such a great mood because he had never even got close to a
smile
without Sheridan around.
"Is everything alright son?" She asked with
a
worried expression on her face, but somewhere she knew her life was
about to
change again. "Nothing could be better. Life is wonderful, the birds
are
singing, the sky is blue, summer is almost here, I am father and I am
going
to get married." he pronounced bewildering his mother. "What you're a
father? Getting married? Who, How, When, I mean...." was all Pilar
could
babble out.
"I thought you were going away to clear your mind, not get engaged,
Luis?"
she said trying to fish for answers as to what her son was up to. "I
lied, I
am sorry. Last week when I called you I had a very good old friend who
came
to visit me and..." Luis told as he watched his mother's gaze shift
from him
to who was standing at the door. "You're alive" she interrupted as
tears of
joy flowed down her cheeks. She ran over and gave Sheridan a hug with
all
that she had in her. "Yes, and I would love for you to meet your
grandson,
Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald Jr., but LJ for short." Sheridan spoke handing
her son
over to his grandmother. "Sheridan, Luis, my grandson?" she spoke still
in
shock of how everything changed in just moments.
"Yes, your grandson"
Luis
spoke and tears brimmed his eyes to see his mother so happy. "I am a
father,
but I hope your not disappointed" "Disappointed, how could I be, you
got
what you deserved and needed, both of you" Pilar replied cradling her
this
new child in her arms.
Luis and Sheridan explained everything to Pilar. They also explained
that
they wanted to get married as soon as possible. But Sheridan had an
ulterior motive that she just recognized the symptoms of. So the town
of
Harmony was shocked of Sheridan's reappearance, and that most of all
she had
a kid by Luis. But she didn't care because she had the man she loved
and
family she always wanted. They were married shortly after they
returned.
Sheridan had cut all ties with her family's money and they had found a
place
suitable for a small family starting out. Luis first felt guilty for
leaving his mother and the rest of his family, but they all assured
them
that they would be fine. Both of them had to get jobs in order to
afford
the house, but Sheridan didn't mind one bit, because it was the life
she
always wanted. Luis noticed Sheridan wasn't her normal self one
morning
after the had gotten married.
"Sheridan I know we promised to tell each other everything, but I have
this
nagging feeling that you are keeping something from me." he asked in a
concerned tone. "I am"she said shocking him back. "Actually it is more
of a
surprise." "Really, what is it? What could you possibly give me that I
don't have already? Or that I would want?" he asked getting really
excited
like a little kid. "Well I know you were really upset that you
couldn't
ease my pain, or that you couldn't see me glow but....." Luis face
turned
into the hugest smile imaginable and stated "Are you telling me
that...."
"Yes, in eight months LJ will be a big brother." "When did this happen,
I
mean, I, I, I, I, I......." Luis said as he was at a loss for words.
"Well
you remember the night that you got stuck in the window and....." she
said
as she watched Luis become even more enthralled at the fact he was
going to
be there this time. "Your going to be a father again Luis." she
whispered
to him as tears of joy coasted down both their faces. "Now what do you
want
this time? Or do you not have a preference?" she asked still awaiting
his
response.
"It doesn't matter to me as along as they have a smile like yours." he
managed to finally speak. "They? I asked if you wanted a boy or girl
and
you tell me they? Do you know something I don't Luis?" she asked
becoming
curious "No, I guess it just came out like that, I really didn't mean
anything by it." It was funny that Luis said they because after they
went
to the doctors, they did find out that they were indeed having twins.
Sheridan was mystified beyond words, but nothing brought her anymore
joy.
Luis was happy that he was there this time. He could not seem to gt
enough
of the mother of his child, and soon to be children. Each day was like
a
gift for both of them, and both cherished each day. When the twins
were
born everyone was happy to welcome the new arrival of these new girls.
They
were named suitably one was Annabelle Marie, and the other was Katlyn
Samantha. Luis thought o of these two as angels from heaven. He loved
them
so much and instantly formed a bond with both Anna and Kate. It was the
kind
Sheridan shared with LJ, it was unbreakable.
It was the best time in Luis' life he couldn't have asked for anything
more. Sheridan had gone and worked her way through school to become a
nurse. He had gone back to school to get a degree in law so he could
too
also fulfill his dream of becoming a lawyer.. He had taken a day off
from
work to spend time with LJ who was now seven, and Anna and Kate who
where
five, and Sheridan. All of them had been so busy lately that they
decided
they needed to spend time together. LJ was getting really involved in
sports and turning out to be more and more like his father.
While the
girls
had just started kindergarten and having there fun. Anna couldn't be
anymore like Sheridan if she tried, while Kate was a great combination
of
both her mother and father. But at the last minute the hospital called
and
Sheridan had to go in because they were short-staffed. She didn't mind
because she just loved her work. Both noted each others disappointment
but
didn't let it get the better of them. As Sheridan was leaving Luis
gave her
an unusually passionate kiss, and told each other they on another.
Sam had just arrived to Luis' doorstep he dreaded doing this but he
knew
Luis couldn't take it from anyone else. "Hey buddy," Luis opened the
door
cheerfully as he looked at Sam's grimaced face. "What happened to
Sheridan?
Is she alright?" Luis asked immediately knowing something was wrong.
"Luis,
I am so sorry," "NO" Luis managed to choke out as this seemed like de
ja vu.
It was like it was eight in a half years earlier all over again.
"How?" he
asked barely audible. "There was a car, it hit her on the drivers
side, it
was death on impact, from what I was told she was in no pain. Buddy I
am
soo sorry, I saw her myself this time, Luis it's real." he said trying
to
give his grieving friend some comfort.
Weeks passed as reality of Sheridan's death set in for everyone, but
especially for LJ. LJ had a special bond with his mother, just like
Luis
did with the girls, which no one but them could understand. It was
then
that Luis received a phone call from Julian [still in jail] requesting
to
see him. Luis had no reason to abstain so he went. To Luis' surprise
Julian had told him that all his children will be put through college
without any worry, that any expenses he needed would be taken care of.
Luis
was going to object but he couldn't because Julian had this look in his
eyes. Not one of guilt or selfishness but one of true concern. It was
if
Sheridan was trying to reach him through ways he couldn't understand
but
didn't question it. LJ asked some years later how his father got
through
all the grief when his mother died. And Luis replied, "When your mom
was all
alone with you she told me she survived because she had a piece of
heaven
with her, and that was you; now that you ask me how I survived, it is
because I too have a few pieces of heaven." smiling down at his son.
THE END
