After So Long

Disclaimer- I wish I had thought up Passions and it's characters, but unfortunately, I'm not that smart. None of this belongs to me; I'm just borrowing them for play. If I did own them, my computer would be much better then it actually is.

Summary- this story is 3 years in the future. It only involves interesting characters, Hehe. The first few chapters will build the story and explain everything. Enjoy!

Chapter 1:

The two seemed to make the perfect couple. True, she seemed a bit younger then him, but that never mattered these days. His brown hair was windswept and unruly, but perfect nonetheless. His eyes were kind and his face wore a wide smile as he breathed in the fresh sea air. His clothes were casual, but still almost suave, a blue button down silk shirt and khaki pants. Her figure was stick thin, and the clothes she wore, white jean shorts and a red tank top, looked worn and wrinkled. Her eyes were dark and her hair was too, and slightly wavy. Her frown was inescapable, as if coming to the small town was more a punishment then a homecoming, and something to celebrate.

The truth was, she really didn't want to be there. She had grown to love to busy life, moving from big city to big city, never stopping for anything. Harmony sure was a change, and not one she welcomed after so long. A loud shout startled them both back into reality, and they looked at the tall blond and well-built Latin man waved and raced towards them. "Hank! Kay! Welcome home!" They both shouted. The man, Hank, dropped his suitcases and nearly fell as the blond jumped onto him and hugged him tight. The two were laughing as he tried to regain his balance, since the woman was considerably taller then he was.

"Oh, Sheridan, what a sight for sore eyes you are!" Hank said, putting her back onto the ground. He looked her up and down appreciatively, noting that her hair had grown out, and she now wore it a bit past her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled like the ocean and her clothing hugged every curve. "You look amazing!" She blushed at all his comments, not quite sure how to take them after three years. He turned to face the other man. The two stared at each other for a few seconds, the Latin man's gaze seeming cold. After a moment, they both cracked smiles and Hank held out his hand. "Luis, you haven't changed. God help us all, you look exactly the same!" Luis took his hand and brought Hank in for a big bear hug, nearly choking him in the process.

Sheridan and Kay smiled at each other. The didn't really know one another too well, only their status. "Kay, you look even more beautiful then when you left Harmony" Luis said, and Kay smiled up at him. The two went to hug each other, and then everybody got into a car and rove off. The conversation flowed between the three adults, who had much to catch up on. Kay stared out the window in silence and thought of the past few years. After she had graduated, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life, but she knew she wanted to get out of Harmony. She had been in love with her best friend Miguel her whole life, but he only had eyes for her cousin Charity. She couldn't take it any longer, the two made such a sickening couple, she needed to get away.

Her uncle, Hank, also wanted out of the small town. He never could stay long, and always went on wonderful trips all around the world. He had been caught up in some bad luck, and had been forced to try to kill Sheridan to get out of his debts. Eventually he broke down and confessed everything to Sheridan and Luis, who had been her bodyguard at the time. His life was put in danger because of that, so he decided to leave town. Kay had begged him to take her with him, and after telling him about her feelings about Miguel and her cousin, he had obliged. His feelings for Sheridan had gone away with the traveling, and he was happy to let them go. He knew she was in love with his best friend, Luis, and he felt the same way about her. 'They sure have a complicated relationship' Kay thought to herself.

"Well, here we are!" Hank announced, breaking Kay away from the window. Her eyes rested on the house in front of her, the Lopez-Fitzgerald home. Kay let out a small sigh before getting out of the seat. Sheridan and Luis went in ahead of the two, and Hank grabbed onto Kay's arm and forced her to look at him. "Are you going to be okay with this?" He asked, unsure of what to say. He knew she still harbored feelings for her best friend, even after so much time away. She nodded and smiled weakly before stepping into the house. Hank let out a sigh and shook his head. "Oh, Kay I know you're torn apart by this. How can you not be, when the man of your dreams is marrying your cousin?"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 2:

"Oh, darling, it's so good to have you home! It's been so long, almost three years!" Ivy exclaimed, kissing her son Ethan hello. He smiled weakly and hugged his mother. "Now, darling, where is Gwen? I was hoping to see her too." She continued. Ethan frowned at his mother's request to see Gwen. "Mother, we really should talk. It's been awhile, and this is something I wanted to tell you in person, not on the phone. Please, let's sit down." He said, motioning to the couch in his hotel room. They sat down and Ivy looked at her son with a worried look. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Me and Gwen are getting a divorce. I know this may come as a shock to you, but it really is for the best.

Gwen wasn't happy with me being…a Bennett. I couldn't give her the life she truly wanted. She pretended it was all okay for awhile, but eventually she just broke down. She ran off with a rich French painter and a few days later I received the divorce papers in the mail. It will be finalized Friday at 3." He finished. Ivy's face was sad, her eyes filled with tears. Ethan saw this. "Mother, really, it's for the best. Both of us are much happier this way. And you always said the only thing you wanted for me was for me to be happy." He smiled and reached out to gently hug his mother.

The two talked for a while more before Ivy had to leave for her work as a waitress at the local bar. It had been one of the only places she could get a job after Julian found out about her and Sam Bennett's affair, and how Ethan was Sam's son. She had no job experience, since she had never had to work. All her supposed country club friends now laughed when she walked into a room, and since the Cranes owned almost everything in Harmony, they made it impossible for her to get a decent job. The bar was one of the only places in the whole town that they had no control over. Ivy worked often to support herself on the small salary, often pulling double shifts a few times per week. But she was happy, living on her own for the first time in her life. Sam had stayed with Grace when he found out, and there was no other man Ivy really wanted, so she stayed alone.

Ethan sighed as he watched his mother go. She didn't deserve this whole lifestyle. He felt guilty for his mother's working, since he was the reason Julian had divorced her. After a while, he got up and went to the magazine stand and picked up a few business journals. As he flipped through one, he noticed a caption. "Local Harmony girl climbs to the top of fashion with new multi-million dollar deal" He didn't have to look at the picture or read the story to know that it was Theresa. Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald. He sighed remembering all their fun times together all those years ago. 'How could I have broken her heart, knowing Gwen would leave me and about my feelings for her. How could I have been so stupid?' He thought for what must have been the millionth time.

"Well, she wouldn't give me the time of day now! Now she's the rich one and I'm the one living on every penny I get. I guess the tables have turned now." Ethan eventually went to sleep, tired from thinking of his mistakes. He didn't even notice the caption on one of the newspapers. "Local fashion designer closes deal and heads back to Harmony to open new store."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 3:

"Kay! Welcome home! God, I've missed you!" Miguel yelled, running down the stairs and pulling his friend into a big bear hug. Kay giggled at his enthusiasm, sighing happily at the feel of his arms around her holding her tight. After a minute, he finally put her down and stepped back to look at the beautiful brunette. His smile widened, taking note that she was no longer his scrawny best friend with the pigtails and freckles, but instead a grown woman with silky long brown hair and a smooth, tanned complexion. "Kay! When did you get here? Miguel, honey, why didn't you tell me she was here?" Charity asked sweetly, entering the room and breaking Miguel's concentration on his friend and fixing it on his fiancé. The pretty blond smiled at her cousin before wrapping her arms around her for a brief hug. Kay returned the hug, surprising herself. She hadn't realized how much she had actually missed the girl, although her happiness seemed to make Kay smile for once instead of shudder.

Charity was no longer the stick-thin blond she used to be. Over the three years, she had filled out in all the right places and had gotten a nice tan, making her look healthy and glowing. Her hair was shorter and fell in soft waves around her face. The clothes she wore had even changed, from soft pinks and skirts to a dark tank top and jeans. The three went to the kitchen, leaving Sheridan, Hank, and Luis alone to catch up as well. Hank sat himself down in one of the big armchairs, while Luis and Sheridan sat next to each other on the couch. They talked for awhile, Luis and Sheridan always finishing each other's sentences and laughing at small inside jokes. Hank smiled tightly as the two giggled together, until finally he asked what was on his mind. "So how long have you two been together?" The two immediately quieted down and stared at him and then each other and then back at Hank.

Luis shifted uncomfortably in his seat for a few seconds before answering. "Me and Sheridan aren't together. We've just become…really close friends in the past few years." His voice sounded tight, as if he was avoiding the question in a way. Hank nodded and apologized and the conversation continued with Hank telling stories of what he and Kay had seen in their travels. But Hank's question stayed in the mind of Luis and Sheridan. Both were obviously crazy about one another, but so many things got in their ways. After Luis had guarded Sheridan, they found out about the imposter. Sheridan had apologized to him for her mistrust, but she didn't think he ever totally forgave her.

Later on, they discovered that Julian and Alastair had been the ones to kill Martin Fitzgerald, and both had been carted off to jail. Later, Ivy came out with the truth about Ethan's paternity. It had killed Sheridan, learning he wasn't her nephew after all. She was left alone with her nieces, who were all grown up anyways. Nevertheless, she and Ethan were still very close. She had cut off any ties she had to the Crane Empire, refusing money and a place at the mansion. She worked closely with Luis at the Youth Center and they often hung out outside of work too. He helped her move into her apartment, and also lent a hand in decorating it. They would be painting it together that weekend, since the paint had long since chipped and faded. Luis couldn't help but look forward to spending more time alone with the beautiful blond. Little did he know that she felt the same way.

After a while more of talking, Hank and Kay decided to leave for their hotel. Luis and Sheridan left too, with Luis driving Sheridan home as he always did. When they got there, he turned and asked, "Do you want me to walk you up? I know you don't like going in alone at night." She smiled gratefully and the two walked into the building. When they got to the door, Sheridan turned and thanked him for walking her up. Luis flashed her his famous smile before replying. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early, okay?" She nodded and stared into his eyes, pleading for him to make his move tonight. She was too nervous to do it after so long, worried that he no longer felt that way about her. Luis leaned down to kiss Sheridan's cheek, as he always did now. His lips lingered a second longer than usual on her soft skin before he pulled away and smiled at her before leaving down the halls. Sheridan stepped into her apartment and closed the door, leaning back and placing her head against it. "Oh, Luis, I don't know how much longer I can take feeling this way!"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 4:

Theresa looked around the store, which was finally quieting down after a whole busy day of opening. Her store was named after her very popular clothing line, named Destiny's Angels. She had just signed a multi-million dollar deal, opening her stores all over the nation. There were already about a dozen scattered throughout Europe and Asia, and the demand for her clothes were very high. She had kept quite busy the last few years. She had worked for Ivy Crane, which had helped to make her name known and her work popular. Once she graduated, a popular design company snatched her up and not even a year later, demands for her clothes were coming in by the hundreds. She wasn't complaining though.

All her work had helped to keep her mind off of Ethan Crane, the man she had loved her whole life, the man who had rejected her for another woman, a rich woman. But now that she was back in Harmony, she couldn't help but think of him, and wonder what had happened to him. She knew that he was no longer a Crane, that he was really a Bennett, a son of Sam Bennett's, from when he and Ivy had their affair years ago. It didn't matter to her, she truly love Ethan for who he was on the inside, for his heart. She sighed as the last few customers left the store, laughing and giggling. She went over to the sign on the door and flipped it over to the 'closed' side. It was a little early, but she was tired. She walked into the back and started carrying clothes out to the front for the next day.

As she started placing some dresses on one of the racks in the back, with her back turned to the door, the bell in front rang out. "I'm sorry sir, but we're closed for the day. You'll have to come back tomorrow. We open at 10 AM, bright and early." She called, not turning around. She continued sorting clothes and putting them up. She walked over to her front desk and sorted through some papers, still not looking up. The man was silent a moment before commenting. "Not even for an old friend?" He asked, his voice husky with emotion. Theresa froze in her tracks. She'd recognize that voice anywhere, even three years after not hearing it. Slowly, she turned around and backed up against the desk, lifting her head up.

Her eyes filled with tears when she looked up, confirming her thoughts. 'God, he looks good, even after three years. This is going to be harder than I thought'. Theresa took a deep, cleansing breath before speaking. "Ethan. What what are you doing here? I mean wow, it's..it's good to see you. How have you been?" She knew she was rambling on, but she couldn't help it. One look in those crystal blue eyes and all her feelings that she'd pushed away had come rushing back, full force. Ethan stood there staring for a moment, dumbfounded by her beauty. 'She looks even more exquisite than I remember!' He thought to himself. Her glossy, rich brown hair shone brilliantly in the light. She wore it in a plain ponytail, the first time he'd ever seen her wear her hair in a natural way.

. She always seemed to have it up in some interesting style, along with a ton of make-up and lip-gloss, but now she was natural. He couldn't remember her ever looking so beautiful. He took a few steps forward, and looked deeply into her eyes. "Theresa…god you look amazing. It's been a while, hasn't it? What has it been? Three years?" He asked, his voice rough. She shivered involuntarily at the way his voice seemed to get deeper with emotion, and he reached up to run his hands up and down her arms, trying to warm her up. He couldn't help but tremble too as he felt tiny electric shocks when he touched her. It had been something he used to laugh at, the thought of somebody sending shock waves throughout his body, but here it was happening to him every time he touched the brunette standing before him. Theresa reached up to run her soft hands through his hair, and he shivered even more, Goosebumps starting to appear all over his arms. Suddenly, Theresa broke away from their embrace and walked towards some more clothes and started folding them. "Ethan. You're married now. To Gwen. To the woman you chose over me." Her voice sounded hurt, as if the thought of him with Gwen still bothered her. She continued folding some sweaters, her head bent down and her back to him.

"Gwen left me. The divorce will be finalized Friday at 3:00. She doesn't love me she never did. God, Theresa, I'm so sorry I hurt you. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do. You have to believe me. I need you Theresa!" Ethan cried, walking up behind her. She stopped for a moment, but resumed folding afterwards. "Theresa, please. Look at me." She still didn't turn around. Ethan gently grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. He looked into her eyes a moment before lowering his head to hers and capturing her lips in his own.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 5:

Luis could not escape the tantalizing scents of cookies baking and bacon sizzling when he knocked on Sheridan's door the next morning. When she opened the door, his heart seemed to stop for a few seconds just at the sight of her. She was wearing cutoff, faded shorts, a short white tank top that showed off her perfectly tanned stomach and a blue flannel shirt over it. Her hair was in a messy bun and there were chocolate and flour stains all over her face and clothes. He couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the sight of her. She smiled happily and waved for him to go in. Music was blaring in the kitchen, a station of mixed music, from country to rap to pop. She was always playing it and dancing along to it. Luis poured himself a cup of coffee and sat with Sheridan at her table for a breakfast before starting work. When she had moved out, Luis had taught her how to cook, and now she was a master in the kitchen. After eating, the two got down to painting, and Sheridan turned on the radio in her living room, which was the first room they were going to paint. They made small talk for about a half-hour, mostly listening to the music and trying hard not to look at each other for too long. When they had started out, Luis was on the opposite wall from Sheridan, but slowly, they inched closer and closer together, until they were painting side-by-side.

Luis looked over at Sheridan, and after a moment she looked back at him. Their eyes locked for a moment before Sheridan looked away, flushed. In the background, a new song started playing. Both couldn't help but listen to the lyrics, as it fit their situation so perfectly. Baby come here I got something to tell you See I've been thinking a lot about you lately And well...We've spent a lot of time together I think I'm kind of in to you (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) I'm feeling sort of nervous and anxious To tell you what I'm going through. Well it might be the night Or it might the bright moonlight All I see is a wonderful need And beautiful too So precious and new And this is all I wanna do I wanna kiss you so bad So bad it's driving me mad I wanna kiss you real good Oh and I'm wishing I could (I, I, I wanna, oh baby let me kiss you) "Wow. It's gotten a little hot in here, hasn't it?" Sheridan asked, looking into Luis's eyes once again. Without another word, she stripped off her plaid shirt. He couldn't help but admire her curves for a moment before turning back to painting.

I have a little tiny confession I don't know what to do (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) oh I have a little tiny obsession with something that's attached to you Well it might be your eyes Or it might be your nice big ooh I don't know if I want my cover blown I want the truth Every time I'm with you This is what I wanna do. I wanna kiss you so bad (Just wanna kiss you baby) (Can I kiss you?) So bad it's driving me mad (Just wanna kiss you baby) (I wanna kiss you) I wanna kiss you real good (Just wanna kiss you baby) (And I'm wishing' I could) Oh and I'm wishing I could (I, I, I wanna, oh baby let me kiss you) "How do you think it looks", Sheridan asked trying to break the silence. The lyrics to the song were really getting to her. It was exactly how she felt about Luis.

The more time she spent with him, the harder she fell. He didn't answer for a moment, too caught up in the song and his thought of Sheridan. "Luis Luis LUIS!" She shouted, breaking his chain of thoughts. "What is it?" He asked, turning to her. Unfortunately, he had his paintbrush in his hand, and accidentally splattered paint all over Sheridan's shoulder. She let out a shriek, seeing the messy, baby blue mark on her skin. "Oh, wow, Sheridan, I'm...I'm so sorry!" Luis said, knowing she was going to get him for what he had done, but chuckling anyways. She got an evil look on her face as she picked dipped her fingers in the paint and bringing them out, dripping with paint. Slowly, she ran her fingers along his cheek, leaving a blue smear in their path. He shivered lightly at her touch, which sent electric shocks throughout his whole body.

Shaking his head, he snapped out of it and picked up his paintbrush again. Sheridan picked up hers as well, and the two stood staring at one another, daring each one to make the first move. Sheridan went in for the kill, wiping her brush all along his white muscle tank. He looked down at his shirt and sighed. In one easy movement, he took off his shirt, leaving his chest bare. Sheridan couldn't help but admire the view, until he spoke up. "This was brand new Sher. You're going to pay for that!" She smiled flirtatiously and replied, "I hope so," before taking off. He went after her, chasing her through the whole house before running back into the living room. He caught her from behind and forced her to turn and look at his.

Smiling wickedly, he dipped his hands into the can of paint and then brought them up to run along her arms, covering them completely in blue. Sheridan smiled as she wrapped her arms around Luis and brought one hand up to his face. Tapping his nose and leaving it dotted blue, she said. "That wasn't very nice Luis. I wanted to paint this room, not my arms. Enjoying the feel of her arms wrapped around his neck, he encircled his arms around her waist and brought her closer to his body, so that there was no space between them. She gasped and tried to escape, fearing the paint fight would get even worse. The two struggled before falling to the floor, Luis on top of Sheridan. The two laughed for a moment before looking into each other's eyes. I wanna kiss you so bad (Just wanna kiss you baby) (Can I kiss you?) So bad it's driving me mad (Just wanna kiss you baby) (I wanna kiss you) I wanna kiss you real good (Just wanna kiss you baby) (And I'm wishing' I could) Oh and I'm wishing I could (I, I, I wanna, oh baby let me kiss you)

Their laughter stopped when they realized their positions, although neither made a move to get up. Sheridan ran her hands up and down his back and waist, sending electric shocks all through his body. He rested his hands on her waist and looked deeply into her eyes. They were shining in anticipation. His eyes fell to her lips and then back up to her eyes, now smoky with desire. Without a word, he lowered his head and caught her mouth in a searing, passionate kiss. It had been years since they had last kissed, and their feelings had become much stronger since then. Sheridan wrapped her hands in his hair and they deepened the kiss. His tongue swept slowly over hers, and she let out a soft moan in pleasure. Suddenly, Luis broke the kiss and stood up, leaving Sheridan on the ground staring up at him with wide eyes.

"I...I'm sorry Sher. This shouldn't have happened. I god I'm so sorry. I...I have to go. I'll see you later. Bye. I'm so sorry!" He said, running his hand through his hair and heading towards the door. Sheridan winced when it slammed shut, and she stayed staring at it for a few moments. Touching her lips in wonder, she starred around her at the scene. Her walls were now half baby blue and half that disgusting sea green color she'd wanted to cover up. His muscle tank lay wadded up next to her plaid top. Her eyes filled with tears at the site, and poured over with what she heard. In the background, music still floated throughout the room. Just wanna kiss you baby Can I kiss you? Just wanna kiss you baby I wanna kiss you Just wanna kiss you baby And I'm wishing' I could I, I, I wanna, oh baby let me kiss you Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 6:

"Gwen left me. The divorce will be finalized Friday at 3:00. She doesn't love me she never did. God, Theresa, I'm so sorry I hurt you. It was the last thing I ever wanted to do. You have to believe me. I need you Theresa!" Ethan cried, walking up behind her. She stopped for a moment, but resumed folding afterwards. "Theresa, please. Look at me." She still didn't turn around. Ethan gently grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. He looked into her eyes a moment before lowering his head to hers and capturing her lips in his own. She didn't respond for a few moments, too taken aback from his words. 'Gwen left him!' She thought. Ethan's hands wrapped around her waist and he pulled her up against him as his mouth worked its magic against hers. Theresa whimpered slightly and tangled her hands around his back and shoulders, grabbing onto his silk shirt for support. Her tongue stroked his and it was his turn to moan. 'She feels so good' he thought to himself, pulling her even closer to his body. He felt every inch of her body up against him, and he couldn't think of anything he had ever experienced that had ever felt so amazing. Slowly, he moved his mouth from her lips down to her chin and then lower to her soft neck. Theresa held on tight to him while he kissed and suckled her neck.

He didn't even notice the approaching footsteps, but he felt Theresa tighten against him and then she pulled away, not even looking into his eyes. Her face held a mixture of horror and regret, and Ethan quickly whipped around to face a young man standing by the door with his fists clenched at his sides. Theresa quickly ran out of Ethan's grasp and towards the man who stood perfectly motionless, except for his fists clenching and unclenching, hanging down his sides. His face seemed expressionless and his eyes cold as he glared at Ethan. 'If looks could kill' he thought to himself. Theresa walked up and took one of his hands in her own, but he quickly pulled it away. "Jeremy, this isn't what it looks like. I know that sounds really dumb, but it was a mistake. Ethan and I haven't seen each other in years and I guess we got caught up in the excitement. I'm…so sorry you had to see that, I really don't know what came over us! Really, there is nothing going on between us!" She said in a tiny, quivering voice. Ethan stood in shock at her tone. She had always sounded so strong, but with this Jeremy, whom he figured was her boyfriend, she seemed like a scared rabbit.

The man let out a sigh and ran his hand through his dark brown hair before turning to Theresa. "Baby, you promise me that's all it was. There's nothing going on between you and that Ethan guy?" he asked, waving his hand idly in Ethan's direction. She nodded furiously, looking up at him. Jeremy thought for a moment before nodding. He smiled tightly at Ethan for a second before turning back to Theresa. "How about a nice, home-cooked dinner, baby? Sound okay to you?" He asked. Theresa nodded once again before looking over at Ethan. "Yeah that sounds great, sweetie. I just need to do a bit of paperwork here. It shouldn't take too long, but why don't you go on and start cooking without me? I'll be over in, say, 20 minutes?" Jeremy smiled and nodded before giving Theresa a quick peck and leaving. Once his car sped away, Theresa turned and walked to her counter. "Did you mean what you said?" Ethan inquired after a few moments. "I mean about that the kiss, being a mistake? Did you mean it?" His voice was heavy once again and he choked the words out. She looked up, surprised. Their eyes connected and Ethan felt a surge of heat flow through his body as he stared into her expressive brown eyes. She broke the gaze and looked down at her work once again.

After taking a shaky breath, she answered. "Yes. It was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. I'm with Jeremy now Ethan. We've been together for nearly a year now and I truly care about him. I'm not interested in getting hurt again. The kiss shouldn't have happened. And it won't happen again. With that, she pushed him outside and locked it before he could get back in the store. Ethan pressed his fingers up against the glass and rested his forehead against it. "How can I make her see that I don't want to hurt her?" He asked to nobody in particular. On the other side, Theresa held back a sob hearing his words. She leaned her head against the door for a moment before turning back to her work.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 7:

Hank walked into the Youth Center and was greeted by the sound of a punching bag taking an extremely harsh beating. As he walked into the main gym, he found Luis there, his shirt off, punching the bag like there was no tomorrow. Sweat dripped down his well-toned body and he was so concentrated on his workout that he didn't even notice his friend standing nearby. His eyes were intense with anger and confusion, but mainly frustration. Hank cleared his throat and then yelled out Luis's name. After a few times, Luis finally stopped his workout and looked up at his friend. He let out a deep sigh before going over to where he stood. "Tough day?" Hank asked, his eyes bright with amusement. Luis rarely got like this; he always tried to be so calm and strong for his family.

Luis glared at Hank for a moment. "Yeah it's been a tough day! What about it Hank? You never had a bad day before?" He asked, his voice cold. Hank held up his hands in apology, and Luis went over to the bleachers to sit down. Hank followed him and after a moment, spoke up again. Weren't you supposed to go to Sheridan's to paint today?" Hank asked in a soft tone, scared that Luis would bite his head off. After wiping off his sweat with a small towel, Luis looked up at Hank again. The look in his eyes told Hank that Sheridan was the reason his friend was so tense and frustrated. "What happened man? What'd Sher do that has you so worked up?" He sighed again. "It was going great man. We were having fun and laughing together and then this song came on and I don't know. I mean, the words went so well with what I feel for her. And then, we got in this paint fight and somehow I ended up on top of her and then I kissed her.

I haven't kissed her in years man, and I mean so much has changed between us. The way I feel about her I've never felt this way about her before. And kissing her was mind-blowing, you know? And I swear I felt these sparks throughout my whole body. And God, her hands were in my hair and she tasted so good and felt so incredible. And then, I don't know. I got scared. And I left her there on the floor and just walked out." Hank looked at his friend in shock. It wasn't like Luis to just leave someone alone like that, especially Sheridan, knowing how obviously in love with her he was. "Look, buddy, it's obvious you're crazy about the woman! So what's the problem? There's nothing standing in your way, her family is out of the picture. And you know she feels the same way, so why keep everyone in suspense? Go after her; don't make her wait for you any longer! Damn, you've made her wait over 3 years, how much longer are you going to make her and yourself, not to mention everyone else, suffer?" Hank finished his speech and looked at Luis expectantly.

After a moment, Luis nodded and broke out into a huge smile. "You're right man. I better go back to her place and apologize. Thanks for the advice!" With that, Luis got up and headed over to the exit to the Youth Center. As he was heading out, a tall brunette came in. "Hey" Luis said to her before walking out the door. The woman smiled at him in response before walking into the gym. There, she walked in on Hank standing on the courts, shooting hoops. She smiled slightly and shook her head. "Hank, you haven't changed a bit." Hank looked towards her in mid-shot, the ball dropped to the floor. Standing before him was a gorgeous tall brunette wearing a tight pair of jeans and a light blue tank top. 'What a body' Hank thought to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. She giggled as the ball rolled towards her, noticing the way Hank was staring at her. "Well hello beautiful. You looking for something or someone?" He asked in a husky voice, looking her up and down in appreciation.

'I can't believe he doesn't recognize me! I don't look that different! She smiled flirtatiously at him. In a soft voice, she asked "Why Hank, I can't believe you don't recognize me! I know it's been a few years and that I look a little different, but things haven't changed that much! Hank looked at the woman again, noting her features. Her hair, in glossy brown corkscrews, softly framed her face. Her lips were a glossy pale pink, luscious and full. But it was her eyes that made him realize who she was. Her eyes were a deep chocolate brown, very playful and warm, and he felt like he'd been kicked in the gut when they smiled at him. 'It couldn't be her! She looks so different, so amazingly beautiful!' He thought to himself. He'd always known she was beautiful, but now she was dazzling. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, before speaking. "Beth?"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 8:

It was lunchtime now, and Miguel and Charity sat eating together side-by-side, planning out last minute wedding details. "Sweetie, do you really think Aunt Grace should sit at the same table as Ivy and Uncle Sam? I mean their break-up was so hard on her, I don't want her to be upset during the wedding. It's supposed to be a wonderful day for everyone, not just you and me." Charity said, snuggling up to her fiance and placing her head on his shoulders. He rested his head against her own and made a little change in the seating before showing Charity the new arrangements. "That's perfect! Grace and Eve can sit with your mother and Ethan. Although I really wish you would let Theresa sit near Ethan. I know if they just start talking again then something could work out!" She exclaimed in a dreamy voice. "Baby, you know Theresa is going to the wedding with Jeremy. Besides, they haven't seen each other in over three years. I highly doubt they are going to kindle some sort of romance just like that. And Ethan's divorce to Gwen is still in the works. Theresa knows better then to go after a married man, even if he will soon be divorced." Charity let out a small sigh of disappointment, which he couldn't resist. Picking up the pencil, he quickly scribbled Theresa and Jeremy's names next to Ethan's. The two continued for a few more minutes before deciding that everything was perfect. A knock on the door brought the two back to reality.

Jumping up, Miguel raced to the door and opened it. "Kay! You're early! Come in!" He said in an excited voice. He wrapped his arms around the slim brunette and gave her a big hug, which she happily returned. Placing her head on his shoulders, Kay breathed in the smell of his shampoo and cologne. He hadn't changed either of them in years, had always stayed with his spicy vanilla and cinnamon scents that she had secretly loved since he had started wearing them. He released her after a moment, right when Charity walked into the room. "Hey Kay. I'm glad you're here. I need to run a couple of errands and then I have a dress fitting, so I'll be gone most of the afternoon. I know you two are dying to catch up, so I'll be going. I'll see you tonight at dinner, right?" She asked, giving Miguel a sweet kiss. He nodded yes, and she gave Kay a quick smile before leaving. "So, Kay. We have quite a bit to talk about, don't we? You barely called me the past few years, so I have no clue what you've been up to. Where'd you go? What'd you do? Oh, and of course, why did you leave?" Miguel asked, leading her over to the couch to sit down. His last question sounded strained and she couldn't help but notice how his eyes became foggy and his expression turned sad. He looked like a sad puppy.

'God, I hate when he gives me that look! I can never refuse him when he does, and he knows it', she thought unhappily. Taking his hands in hers, she smiled up at him. "Well, Miguel we have all day for that. But I'm really dying to know what happened in Harmony while I was gone. I didn't really keep in touch with anyone very much; Hank and me were pretty caught up in traveling. Tell me everything!" She said, giving him the pouty look that she knew always got to him. Smiling, Miguel stood up, bringing Kay with him. "Why don't we walk around town and I'll tell you everything while we walk?" She nodded, and the two left the house. On the walk, Miguel explained how all the teens had gone to the local college. Her sister Jessica and Reese had gotten together, and had just moved in together a few months back. Whitney had gone to Wimbledon and Chad had gone after her. After seeing that he truly cared about her, Whitney had finally given in to her feelings and went out with him. The two were still going strong. Simone was still single, not interested in settling down with anyone, but she was happy and getting her degree in Drama. Kay laughed when she heard that. "She always was a drama queen", she commented, still giggling.

Miguel joined in. "If I do recall correctly, Ms. Bennett, you have always been pretty dramatic yourself!" She smacked his arm before breaking into another fit of giggles. A few hours later they got back to the house and went into the kitchen. "Okay, woman, out with it. You've been avoiding telling me why you left all day. I told you everything that's gone on in the past few years, now it's your turn. Kay, c'mon. Why'd you leave?" He asked, once again giving her his puppy look. Defeated, she sat at the couch and motioned for Miguel to join her. After a moment, she took a deep breath and then began her explanation. "Miguel, we've been best friends forever. Ever since we were young it was Kay-n-Miguel or Miguel-n-Kay. They never said our names apart, because we…we were never apart. And I always loved that. But then Charity came along, and we were never together. It became Charity-n-Miguel or Miguel-n-Charity. You virtually forgot about me! No don't try and interrupt me, because you know it's true!" She cried when he opened his mouth to say something. She continued. "I mean, I understand that you two were in love, at least now I do. But you didn't have to leave me high and dry like that Miguel!" She said, her voice breaking."

Angry that she let him see her like this, she pushed the tears away and took another shaky breath. "And you were so convinced that I was just crazy about Reese! Please, Miguel, that boy needed a clue real bad. No matter how many times I brushed him off or ignored him, he was convinced that I wanted him, and that we were together. But how could I go after him when I was in love with you?! Miguel, that's why I left! Because I was in love with you! I always was, since we were little kids! And seeing you and Little Miss Perfect Charity…MY OWN COUSIN!!! Always together making goo-goo eyes at each other it was too much to handle. Do you have any idea how bad it hurt to feel that way and to hear you proclaim your love for her? I don't think you do. Well let me tell you Miguel. It killed me seeing you together! That's why I left! Because I loved you! And I still do!" She broke off, crying hysterically. Shocked, Miguel stared at her. She had never yelled at him before. Not to mention her feelings! 'Kay loves me? That's why she left?' He couldn't believe it. He didn't say anything for a few moments, trying to absorb it all in. The tears poured down even harder when he didn't say anything. He was just staring at her, confusion written clearly in his eyes. She pushed the tears away, but more replaced them quickly, trailing down her cheeks and dripping off her chin.

"I swore to myself I would never cry over you again. When I left, I made that promise to myself. But every night, I cried myself to sleep just thinking about you and how you broke my heart, I won't let you do that to me again, Miguel!" She shouted, tugging on her sweater and grabbing her purse. Taking one last look at him, she left the house and slammed the door behind her. Blinded by tears, she took off towards her hotel, desperate to be alone and finally let the tears run free. Back at the house, Miguel still sat in shock, watching his best friend walk out of his life for once again. Only this time, he knew why.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 9:

Almost tripping as he took them two at a time, Luis dashed up the stairs of Sheridan's apartment building, desperate to talk to her as soon as he possibly could. By the time he reached her floor, his heart was racing a mile a minute and his breathing was shaky. Quickly, he walked down the hall to her door and knocked loudly until finally Sheridan opened it up. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her. Her hair was a mess, her clothes wrinkled, and her eyes were bright red and puffy. 'God, she's been crying over me?' Luis asked himself guiltily. "I...ran the stairs need...to talk to you air" Luis choked out, his breathing still shaky and his voice trembling. Giving him a small smile, she opened up the door and led him to sit in the kitchen. She went over to her cabinets and pulled out a glass before going to the sink and pouring him some water. Quickly, he stood up and walked behind her. Feeling his breath on her neck. Sheridan quickly turned around.

"Here, drink some water and then tell me why you are here." Sheridan said, pushing the water towards him and avoiding his eyes. Luis took the glass and quickly gulped it down. He placed it on the counter behind them and focused his attention back on her. "I just came from the Youth Center. Hank and me talked a little bit about us, you and me, I mean. And then I just had to come over and talk to you and straighten things out. And I mean I must have broken twenty driving rules in ten minutes and then I finally got here and I raced up the stairs and that's why I was so out of breath when I got here." Sheridan looked down at her hands for a moment before trying to move away from Luis, trying to get away from his hot breath on her skin that was driving her crazy.

She turned back to the sink and poured herself some water and took a few tentative sips from the glass as she watched Luis over the rim. Gently, Luis took the glass from her hand, placing it back on the counter. Placing a hand on each side of her so that she was trapped in front of him, Luis moved even closer to Sheridan before continuing. "I shouldn't have left. I didn't want to…you have to know how badly I wanted to stay and how much I have been beating myself up for not staying with you this afternoon." Blushing, Sheridan looked down, remembering for the hundredth time about their kiss that afternoon. Lightly, he placed his hands on her face, forcing her to look up at him. "I don't know why I left. I have wanted to kiss you so badly for the longest time. And that kiss it was everything I had wanted and so, so much more." He stroked her cheeks and ran a hand through her hair as he continued talking. "I'm so sorry if I hurt you when I left and if I made you think that I regretted kissing you, because I could never feel that way. God, Sheridan, I have been in love with you for so long now!" He finished, not quite realizing at first what he had just said.

Brushing her thumb along his cheek, she softly asked, "You have?" As he slowly realized what he had said, he smiled and nodded, closing is eyes and expecting the worst. "Oh, Luis! I..I feel the same way!" Sheridan said. His eyes snapped open in surprise and he pulled her into a big hug. Pulling away, Luis slowly lowered his head to hers. Just as their lips brushed, a loud beeping broke them apart. Pulling out his beeper, Luis quickly looked at the number before turning back to Sheridan. "It's the station. Can I use your phone really quick?" He asked. Sheridan nodded and he left the room. She smiled lightly at the turn of events, happy things were finally happening. A minute later, Luis returned with a huge smile on his face. "I have some great news! I was just promoted to Chief of Police!" He said. "Luis that's great!" Sheridan said, throwing her arms around him. He lifted her up into a bear hug before lowering her down to the ground.

His hands were still wrapped around her waist and hers were gently stroking his neck. Again, he lowered his head and brushed his lips lightly against hers. After a slight pause to make sure there were no more interruptions, he deepened the kiss, stroking her tongue with his and pulling her close to his body so that there was no space between them. Softly, she moaned into his mouth, her hands softly running over his face and neck before moving down his chest and to his back, caressing his skin under his shirt. He let out a loud groan as she ran her hands over his skin. Slowly, he walked them back to the table and lifted her up to sit on the top. His hands traveled to her hair and neck as her continued the ever-deepening kiss. Her hands were driving him crazy as they slowly traced figures into his skin as they kissed hungrily. Suddenly, his beeper started going off again. "Ignore it!" Sheridan urged as he pulled away. Tugging on his shirt, she softly kissed his lips before letting her mouth travel down his neck. Letting out another moan he pulled away and kissed her again, his hands running all over her body as her tongue urgently ran over his.

After a minute, the beeper went off, and Luis pulled away again. Giving him her best pouty look, Sheridan stuck out his bottom lip, which was now red and swollen from kissing him, and pleaded him with her eyes to stay. Shaking his head, he checked the beeper before heading towards the door. "I'm sorry, Sher, but it's the station. They say it's an emergency, so I really should go. God knows I want to stay here with you and continue this…so bad. But I can't. Um, do you want to see me later? I can bring over some dinner and a movie if you'd like?" He asked. She nodded and he walked over to where she stood. "I'm sorry. I wish I didn't have to take this but I do. I'll see you tonight?" He asked. She nodded again, and he leaned down to brush a soft kiss on her lips before leaving.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 10:

The smell of muffins and cappuccinos drifted throughout the café as Ethan sat down at a table by the window. He didn't want to be bothered; all he wanted was a strong black coffee to make his hangover go away. Closing his eyes, he started rubbing his temples to ease the pain. "Can I help you, sir?" a voice seemed to scream in front of his. He winced at the noise before lifting his head and straining to open his eyes against the unusually bright light. Standing before him was a petite blond with a notepad and pen in hand. "Sir? Would you like anything to order or do you need a few more minutes?" The girl asked in a high voice. "Can you please not shout? I can hear you perfectly well…" Ethan trailed off with a moan. The girl gave him a questioning look and opened her mouth to protest. Quickly, Ethan held up his hand and answered. "Black coffee; as strong as humanly possible. Thank you." He said before placing his head in his hands and going back to massaging his temples. The girl ran off to get his drink and he sighed contentedly at the sudden quiet.

A loud ringing interrupted his tortured thoughts of Theresa. He had gone to one of the local bars and gotten more drunk than he knew was allowed before the bartender had even tried to cut him off. And then he had gone to his hotel and went through the mini-bar in his room. But the alcohol had done nothing to erase Theresa from his mind. It had just taken a ton of money from his account, and had given him this headache. "Well, well. Ethan, right? I remember you from yesterday," a voice said loudly, bringing Ethan back to reality and his splitting headache. He looked up to meet Jeremy's strong gaze, and quickly looked back down. He breathed a long sigh before looking back up at the tall man who stood smiling down at him. Ethan could see a laugh in his smile, which was anything but friendly. Letting out a painful moan, he asked. "What the hell do you want? Jesus, it's not bad enough your brother stole my wife from me. You had to go and steal the woman of my dreams too?!"

Theresa tossed and turned in her bed, overcome by memories from the day before. Her sheets had long since fallen to the floor in a wrinkled heap, and silent tears ran down her cheeks. Her lips were pressed in a tight frown and her eyes scrunched tightly closed. "Gwen left me. The divorce will be finalized Friday at 3:00. Ethan's hands wrapped around her waist and he pulled her up against him as his mouth worked its magic against hers. Her tongue stroked his and it was his turn to moan. Slowly, he moved his mouth from her lips down to her chin and then lower to her soft neck. Theresa held on tight to him while he kissed and suckled her neck. "It was a mistake...a mistake...a mistake"

"How can I make her see that I don't want to hurt her?" "It was a mistake." The words slowly faded, and Theresa awoke with a start. She was shivering, and Goosebumps were sprinkled heavily all over her body. She was covered in a cold sweat, and her cheeks were flushed a bright pink. 'I can still feel his lips on mine' She thought to herself, bringing her fingers up to trace her mouth. 'I never feel anything like that when Jeremy kisses me!' She thought guiltily, getting out of bed and over to her closet to get dressed. "I just have to stop thinking about Ethan! That part of my life is over! I love Jeremy…I love Jeremy" She told herself, repeating the mantra over and over in her head. Stopping in her bathroom to fix her hair and brush her teeth, she noticed a note that Jeremy had scribbled to her the night before.

Hey baby, Sorry I had to leave so early this morning. The office called with some horrible emergency on the designs that only I could fix. Bet you didn't know you were with the architectural superman did ya? Haha I love you and I'll pick you up around 7 tonight for dinner okay? Love, Jeremy

Theresa giggled at his humorous note. She always called his the architectural superman because he was always getting called off on some big emergency. "Only he can fix the company's problems!" She said to nobody in particular. Even though she teased him about it, she loved his style, colorful art-deco designs mixed with old-fashioned romantic twists. The two had been together for over six months and were madly in love. Even so, his jealousy often got the better of him. Just the thought of his mood-swings made her wince. Rubbing her upper arm tenderly, she stepped into her shower and turned the shower on. Turning the stream to a gentle force, she was careful not to strain her bruised arm too much. By now, she had learned what would make the pain worse and what would make it slightly better.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 11:

Hank looked at the woman again, noting her features. Her hair, in glossy brown corkscrews, softly framed her face. Her lips were a glossy pale pink, luscious and full. But it was her eyes that made him realize who she was. Her eyes were a deep chocolate brown, very playful and warm, and he felt like he'd been kicked in the gut when they smiled at him. 'It couldn't be her! She looks so different, so amazingly beautiful!' He thought to himself. He'd always known she was beautiful, but now she was dazzling. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, before speaking. "Beth?" The girl smiled happily and walked towards Hank, who stood still, staring at her with wide eyes. When she stood in front of me, she spoke in a seductive voice," See something you like Bennett?" Slowly, his eyes traveled form where they had been resting, on her breasts, up to her neck, then her smiling lips, and finally to look in her eyes.

She held his gaze confidently, but couldn't hold back the blush at the way his eyes were devouring her. Tossing her glossy hair behind her shoulders, she placed her index finger on his chest, slowly running it down to his jeans and then back up. "You ever gonna answer, or are you just gonna stare at me drooling all day?" She asked teasingly. Quickly, he snatched her hand and held it tightly in his. "I don't drool." He spoke, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Not even breaking their gaze, Beth reached her other hand up to his lips and smoothly wiped off the small trickle of drool that had formed. She broke into a huge smile and started laughing and the shocked look in Hank's eyes.

"No, I guess not! Hank Bennett would never drool over his former best friend, would he?" She said teasingly, giggling in between words. "Now what I'm wondering is…where's my hello? C'mon Hank, we don't see each other for three years and now all you can do is stand there and drool?!" Beth said, crossing her arms in front of her and sending him an angry look. "You're gonna get it, now, Beth! I told you I don't drool!" With that, he picked her up in his arms in a big hug and spinned her around. After a moment, Hank lowered her back to the ground and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tighter into the hug. She hugged him back, running her hands smoothly down his back and resting her head against his shoulder, while his hands lay tightly wrapped low around her waist. Beth sighed contentedly against his shoulder and the two remained hugging for a long moment before Hank pulled away. Her eyes were sparkling, and Hank couldn't help but smile, knowing he was the reason she seemed so happy.

'I don't remember ever seeing her look as beautiful as she does now!' He thought to himself. They had always been close, and the thought bothered him, since their friendship had never turned into anything more. 'How did I never notice how handsome he was? Have I always been so wrapped up in Luis that I couldn't stop to look at the one guy who was with me through everything?' Beth thought. Shaking her head at the thought, she asked. "So I guess you're here for the wedding, huh? I mean, why else would Hank Bennett return to his hometown? It's not like there's any special girl here or anything" she trailed off teasingly, staring into his dark brown eyes. Hank looked down at her, shocked. She had never seemed so openly flirty with him, and it was really affecting him in ways no other woman ever had. "Beth, you have no idea how wrong you are. Let me prove it to you". Gently, he cupped her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his.

Charity opened the door to find the whole house bathed in soft candlelight. Soft music played from the radio and a table for two was set beautifully in the middle of the room. She stared in shock at the whole scene, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Sweetie, is that you?" Miguel's voice came from the kitchen. She inhaled deeply and sighed when she smelled a wonderful Spanish dinner cooking. She had been so nervous about coming home to her fiance. Earlier in the afternoon, she'd had a premonition that Kay told Miguel that she had always been in love with him. A long time ago, Miguel had told Charity that he had once had feeling for Kay, so the premonition worried her. She was worried that Miguel might realize he still had feeling for Kay, and that he might leave her for her cousin.

Miguel came out of the kitchen with two plates in his hands, and gently set them down on the table before walking over to the beautiful blond standing in the doorway with a confused expression on her pretty face. She looked up at him and threw her arms tightly around his neck, holding on to him tightly, her face pressed against his shoulder. Miguel stood there for a moment, confused, before wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her to his body. 'She must have had a premonition about Kay and thought I was leaving her' he thought to himself. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, which shined brightly as they looked up at him. Gently brushing her hair away from her face, he cupped her cheeks in both his hands and spoke. "I know what you're thinking. But baby, Kay means nothing more to me then friendship. It's you I love, now and forever! Why else would we be getting married? I love you honey, you need to know that and trust in it." She nodded, smiling happily. Gently, he wrapped her into another soft hug, placing his head lightly on top of hers and letting out a soft sigh.

Kay awoke slowly in her hotel bed, and rubbed her eyes hard. She could feel the puffiness, and her face was tight from dry tears yet to be washed away. She let out a sigh. "It wasn't a bad dream. I really did tell Miguel how I felt," She said to herself in a dull voice. Slowly she got up and headed to the bathroom to shower. After sitting crumpled in a head under a hot stream for over an hour and letting out fresh tears, her sobs finally subsided. She stood up, and a moment later, the hot water ran out and the cold water coursed over her body. Quickly, she turned the water off and stood up, wrapping a towel around herself and walking into her room. She slowly dressed, trying to pass the time as quickly as possible. She flipped on the hotel television, and surfed through the channels for a moment before coming to stop on a movie. It was 'My Best Friends Wedding', and the only thing on. "How ironic," Kay said to herself. She was amazed at the similarities between her and Julia Roberts. Her tears came again as she watched the lead character make her plea to the man she loved:

JULIANNE: Michael, I love you. . JULIANNE: I've loved you for nine years, but I was too arrogant and scared to realize it. Now I'm just scared. He stares at her, dumbstruck. She moves even closer. JULIANNE I know this comes at an inopportune time, but I have to ask this one really gigantic favor, okay? Holds her breath. And... JULIANNE: Choose me. Marry me. Let me make you happy. I know. It sounds like three favors. But when you think about it. The two kiss but are interrupted by Kimmy, Michael's fiance Kay sighed as the tears poured down. The movie got to her every time she saw it. "How will I ever be able to face Miguel and Charity again? I'm still in love with him, there's no way I can go to that wedding," she said to herself in a choked voice. She put her head in her hands and sobbed for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 12:

Ethan looked up at Jeremy from where he sat, squinting his eyes against the unusually bright lights. His eyes held a look of anger, and a slight trace of fear as he glared at the tall man standing before him. Letting out a painful moan, he asked. "What the hell do you want? Jesus, it's not bad enough your brother stole my wife from me. You had to go and steal the woman of my dreams too?!" Jeremy laughed again, a harsh laugh that made Ethan wince. "You know, Theresa told me a lot about you. She loved you, but you couldn't care less. Let me tell you something, ETHAN," he said, pronouncing his name as if it was a deadly plague, "Theresa is with me now! You lost your chance when you married that spoiled wench, Gwen. So don't even try chasing after her, because if you do, you'll be looking for trouble."

Ethan let out a miserable sigh. He knew what Jeremy said was right; he had lost his chance with Theresa the moment he said, "I do" to Gwen. He didn't deserve her, but he wished with all his heart that he could take back everything that had happened in the last few years. He rose from the table, placing a few dollars on it as he stood. For a moment, he thought for sure his legs would give out on him, they felt so wobbly and unsteady. He held his ground, though, and walked slowly away, not feeling like continuing the confrontation with Jeremy. He walked over to his car and got in. He knew he shouldn't be driving in his condition. He had a hangover and was now thinking too hard about losing Theresa to pay attention. But all he wanted to do was get away from the café, as far away from it as possible. Sheridan rushed around her apartment, trying to get things in order before Luis showed up for their date. She lit a fire in her fireplace and dimmed the lights, creating a soft, romantic mood. She placed a few candles strategically around the living room and kitchen, filling the place with their spicy vanilla scent. Then she headed over to her CD player, ready to put on some soft jazz.

But she decided against it, knowing that would be too much. A knock at her door sent her heart into overdrive, as it beat quickly in her chest. Smoothing her red skirt and black tank top of wrinkles, she walked over to the door and opened it. Luis stood smiling, holding a bag of Chinese food and a tape in one hand and a single red rose in the other. He wore a pair of khakis and a button down white shirt, the top two buttons undone. He walked in and placed the things down on her kitchen table before turning to her and drinking in the site of her. Her outfit showed off every curve, and her hair was curled into tight corkscrews, framing her face softly. He walked over to her and placed his hands around her waist. "This afternoon went way too slowly. But standing here with you now makes it all worthwhile! You look absolutely beautiful!" He said in a husky voice, running his hands up and down her sides.

Sheridan smiled up at him, and ran her hands up his chest and over to his back. He leaned down and captured her mouth in a hungry kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue. She gripped his shirt's back tightly as they kissed, and his hands held her tightly to him. After a moment, they broke apart, resting their heads together. Her heart raced as she saw the look in his eyes, and she could hear her blood pumping loudly in her ears. He sighed shakily, and gave her a smile that caused her heart to race even faster. Not wanting to rush into anything, she took his hand and led him over to the table. "So what did you bring?" She asked, searching the bag. He smiled and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck.

Whispering in her ear, he replied, "Some of that lobster fried rice you love, and shrimp lo mien. And a little surprise for desert. And I rented that horror movie you mentioned the other day to me. I figured if you got scared enough, I could maybe cop a feel or something," he finished, turning her around and winking at her. She laughed and smacked his arm. Feigning shock, he looked down at his arm and then back up at her. Quickly, he lifted her up onto the table and started tickling her. "Luis! Stop!" she shouted, giggling loudly as he tickled her stomach lightly. After a moment, he pulled away, resting his hands on her face. The look in his eyes made her lose her breath for the second time that night. She felt her heart speed up again, and swore that he could hear it beating loudly. "Well, Sher, that's what you get for hitting me! You can get so abusive sometimes, it really hurts my feelings!" he said, giving her a pouty look.

She gave him a big grin before leaning up and kissing the pout off his lips. She pulled away and hopped off the table, walking over to her drawers and pulling out some silverware. Luis walked over to her television and put the movie in before lying down on her couch. She walked up a minute later and handed him the food. He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her down to lie on top of him. She gasped and looked into his dark eyes, which were filled with desire. Their lips were mere inches apart, and his hot breath was driving her wild as it hit her neck and sent shivers throughout her body. He could see in her eyes the effect he was having on her, and it only made him want her more. Leaning up, he closed the small distance between them and kissed her passionately. She reached up and caressed his cheek softly as her tongue traced his lips. He let out a throaty moan and she thrust her tongue past his soft lips, slowly exploring his mouth. He shifted his hips slightly and she could feel how much he wanted her against her skirt.

Pulling his mouth from hers, he began kissing up her cheeks, and began suckling on her ears. The sensations his mouth was giving her, and the feeling of his incredibly shaky breathing made her moan loudly. His mouth slowly traveled back down her face and further down to her neck. She sat up in his lap, and tugged on his shirt, bringing him up to her. They met in another hot kiss before he went back to her neck, nipping and sucking as he went. She threw her head back and moaned in pleasure as he continued with the torture that he was causing her body with his mouth. The two seemed oblivious to the movie playing in the background, and to the food that lay on her carpet. His mouth traveled up her neck and to her lips, and he kissed her again hungrily. A muffled ringing went off, but the two continued kissing, running their hands over each other's bodies.

Sheridan leaned back, falling so that she lay under Luis. The movement caused his phone to tumble out of his pocket, and the ringing got louder. After about 3 more rings, Luis finally noticed it, and pulled away. Sheridan gasped for breath as he picked it up and answered, sending her an apologetic smile. His face turned serious as he listened to what was being said. He nodded and said a few things before hanging up and turning back to Sheridan. "Um, that was Detective Morris. There was a really bad accident on the highway, and they need me at the hospital to fill out reports." His eyes told her there was more, but he remained silent for a moment. She caressed his face, her eyes pleading with him to tell her the rest. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Ethan was involved. They aren't sure if he's going to make it."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 13:

The air was stifling and dry, and Sheridan had a hard time not choking right then and there in the middle of the elevator. The only thing keeping her from doing so was Luis's hand, which held tightly onto hers. The ride to the emergency room was taking way too long, in her opinion. Ethan had gotten into a car accident, and thought they were not related, she just had to get to his side as soon as possible. His life was hanging in the balance, and she needed to see him to ease her mind.

Finally, the doors opened, and she ran out, tugging Luis behind her. Together, they raced to the front desk, panting for air. The receptionist looked up at the breathless couple with a weary look. "Please where is Ethan Crane, I mean Bennett?" Sheridan choked out, tears threatening to pour out. The woman looked at her records for a moment before pointing them in some general direction. They headed that way, and soon enough, came across Ethan's family. Ivy and Sam Bennett sat together, holding each other tightly. Ivy was crying on Sam's shoulder, and he was doing everything that came to mind to comfort his wife. Pilar sat a few seats away, her head in her hands, whispering prayers to God for the young man to survive. Luis and Sheridan looked at each other for a moment, then sat with Pilar and began praying.

After a moment, Eve Russell came in, and the adults all looked up, waiting for some good news. "Well, right now, Ethan's condition is critical. The accident usually wouldn't have been so harsh on a person. But due to the fact that Ethan was drunk, his blood alcohol level is very high. This adds risks to his injury. It is possible that there is brain damage, and also paralysis, but don't give up hope yet. I've seen many people in his condition make it out okay, so I have high expectations for him to do the same. He just came out of surgery and is resting. I can only allow two visitors at a time, and for a very short amount of time each. Sam, Ivy, I assume you two would like to go in first?" Eve questioned. The two nodded and walked into the room. Sheridan turned in her chair to face Luis. "Oh Luis! If..if Ethan has brain damage what will I do? I have loved him for so long as a brother. Even though we aren't really family, I still feel that way about him. I need him" she broke down sobbing, and he took her in his arms.

"Don't worry sweetheart, we both know how stubborn Ethan can be! I know he'll make it out of this just fine, and we'll be at each other's throats in no time!" He joked, smoothing his hands over her hair and back in a soothing motion. She let out another soft sob before sighing against him and pulling away. "Thank you. It means so much to me that you're here for me. I know you two were never very close, but it means so much that you came anyways, and are being so caring." Sheridan was about to say more, but Eve came back. She told the two they could go in to see Ethan now. Luis wrapped his hand around hers, and the two went in.

Machines were everywhere, each letting out tiny beeps and strings of louder noises. Ethan lay in his bed, with what seemed like hundreds of tubes attached to him. Sheridan let out a cry when she saw him, and Luis tugged her to him. Holding her face against his chest, he stroked her hair softly. "It's okay Sher, it's okay. You don't have to be afraid! It's only Ethan. The machines just ignore them, okay? They are helping him, not hurting him. He can't even feel them! I promise sweetheart." He soothed her in a soft voice. She looked up and gave him a small smile before turning back to Ethan. She let out a long sigh before walking over to where he lay. "He looks so small and helpless.

He was always the strong one, the one to help me get through the worst times when we were younger." She stared down at him for a moment before turning back to Luis. "Can we get out of here? I can't I can't handle seeing him like this." Luis nodded and put his arms around her in a comforting hug. His arm still around her shoulder, the two walked back into the waiting room. Hank and Beth were there, talking to the other adults. Luis couldn't help but note Hank's disheveled appearance, and how Beth's hair was a complete mess. "Funny, I never knew Beth was close to Ethan," he said to Sheridan. She gave Beth a funny look. "Neither did I well she must have come with Hank. Those two are pretty close, right? I bet they were just catching up when Hank heard the news." Luis nodded in agreement. Hank spotted the couple and walked up.

"Hey you guys! It's so great that you two came to see Ethan. It means a lot to all of us." He hugged both of them. When Luis and Sheridan put their arms around each other again, he knew something was up. "Hey, um, Luis buddy. Can I talk to you a sec?" He asked. Luis nodded, and the two walked off together. "What's up with you and Sheridan man? Everything went okay this afternoon when you went to talk to her?" He questioned. He smiled to himself. It was about damn time the two got together! Seeing the couple so close made him think of how he and Beth had been earlier that afternoon. Her lips sliding below his, her hands in his hair, her body pressed against his. "Hank! Snap out of it!" Luis said, clapping his hands in front of Hank's face.

Hank shook his head before giving Luis a cocky grin. "Sorry man, got caught up in some good memories. What were you saying?" He shook with laughter at the disapproving look Luis gave him. "I was just saying that me and Sheridan are together now. I finally told her I loved her, and she said she felt the same way. But anyways what's up with you and Beth? You two looked pretty comfy back there. Something going on between you two?" Luis questioned with a big smile on his face. He had been waiting for years for the two to hook up. Hank once again drifted into his memory at Luis's words. It's not like there's any special girl here or anything" Beth trailed off teasingly, staring into his dark brown eyes.

Hank looked down at her, shocked. She had never seemed so openly flirty with him, and it was really affecting him in ways no other woman ever had. "Beth, you have no idea how wrong you are. Let me prove it to you". Gently, he cupped her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his. To his surprise, she didn't pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and tangled her hands into his hair. Her mouth slid across his softly at first, then with increasing pressure. He pulled her close, amazed at how good her warm, soft body felt against his. There were a million reasons not to do this, but at the moment her tongue stroked his, he couldn't think of anything. He let out a moan and let his hands slide up her face, into her soft hair.

The room was quickly heating up, and his air supply was dropping. Pulling away, he gasped for breath. "Beth, wow that was" he couldn't finish, because she quickly tugged him back for another kiss. He pulled her closer, and she gasped as she came into contact with his hard body. He kissed her fervently, not wanting this feeling to stop. Electric shocks were traveling through his entire body, and he felt like he was on fire. Their tongues battled heatedly while their hands explored each other's bodies. "Hank! Buddy, stop drifting away and talk to me! Were you just thinking about Beth?" Luis asked, bringing Hank back to reality for the second time that night. He shook his head and smiled.

"A gentleman never kisses and tells, Luis!" With that, he started walking back to the others, leaving Luis to stare after him in shock. After a moment, he regained his composure and walked back to the group. Just as he was about to put his arms around Sheridan again, a loud beeping filled the room. A doctor started yelling out "code blue, code blue! We need to resuscitate Bennett, now!"

To Be Continued...