Don't Want To Lose You Now

Title: Don’t Want to Lose You Now (Shuis Story)
Author: Chantelle (sparklingsun@gurlmail.com)
Rating: PG - PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t have anything to do with NBC’S Passions and/or the actors/characters.
Distribution: Post it if you’d like.
Authors Note: This fan fic may be a little confusing. If you don’t understand anything let me know and I’ll explain.


Chapter One

As he walked along the crowded, bustling streets of Paris, he smiled to himself. He could see why she had loved it here so much. Thinking about her brought another smile to the man’s face. Although it had been four, long years since he last saw her, he still remembered everything about her. The way she’s always push her short, blonde hair away from her eyes or they way her eyes always got a devious, twinkle is her eyes when she was thinking of a witty comeback or thinking up a sneaky plan. The man sighed, he could even remember the sound of her laugh and voice. He had spent countless hours thinking of her and each night, his dreams were filled with her. Despite the fact he hadn’t seen her in those four years, he still loved her with all his heart. At his family and friends urging he had tried to move on and meet other women. But it was useless, he always found himself comparing them to her, the one women he could ever love, Sheridan Crane.

Sheridan Dupres cautiously, unwrapped another one of the breakable Christmas ornaments and placed it next to the others. She had decided to et into the holiday sprit by decorating her boutique for the upcoming Christmas holidays. As Sheridan glanced around the boutique a proud feeling came over her. She had finally managed to do what she had always dreamed of, become her own person. Here in Paris, she was known as Sheridan Dupres, successful business women, who treated everyone kindly with respect. Not as what everyone else in the world thought of her as, Sheridan Crane daughter of Alistar Crane, and another one of the horrible, heartless Crane family. After that horrible New Years Eve, everything changed. Sheridan knew that she couldn’t continue to stay in that town, with all those people who hated the Crane family. Even though Sheridan knew she was a good person, she knew the other residents of Harmony wouldn’t see it that way and she didn’t stick around to find out. So the next day Sheridan got on a flight to England and didn’t look back. When she left she took hardly anything with her, just a few pieces of clothing and items that held sentimental value. She also didn’t take any of the Crane money, she wanted away from them. Once she arrived in England she changed her last name from Crane to Dupres, which was her mothers last name. Sheridan stayed in England for two years. She lived with her mothers sister and helped out with the store they owned. Then she decided it was time for her to be on her own. So Sheridan packed up her thins and moved back to Paris. She bought an apartment in the main part of the city. It was the first real home she’d ever had. It had to bedrooms and a spacious living room. She then realized she needed something else to do with her time so she bought a small boutique on a main shopping area and set it up. Sheridan lived off a trust fund her mother had set up for her and the income she made from the store. The boutique sold an assortment of decorative items, such as artwork, picture frames, candles, jewelry and other gift items. The stuff in her store wasn’t junk like you find in other stores it was actually really nice and she sold it for a good price. Sheridan was proud of herself, business was good and she was happy, she only wished she could have someone to share her happiness with… someone named Luis Lopez-Fitgerlad. Though she had changed, her feeling for him hadn’t changed. He was her one true love and she knew she’s never be able to love another man besides him. Over the years she had longed to see or speak to him. Sheridan had tried to work up the courae to call him, but as the time passed she became scared to what she would find. What would she do if he turned out to be married with kids? How would she be able to live, knowing that she should have been the one married to him? So she threw herself into her business and tried to forget about him, but it was impossible. Sheridan twirled her silver necklace around her fingers as she thought about Luis. The way he smiled, the way his eyes looked and the sound of his voice. That necklace was one of the most important items she owned. It was a silver locket with pictures of both Luis and herself inside. On the front was an engraved angel and on the back where the words, ‘Sheridan, You’ll always be my angel. Love Luis, 2000’ She could still remember the day he gave it to her.

*FLASHBACK*
It was December 25th 2000 and Sheridan was spending Christmas with the Lopez-Fitgerald family. Over the last few months Sheridan and Luis had become closer and had started dating. The whole impostor situation was sorted out and put behind them, they where now moving forward, together. After dinner they all gathered around the Christmas tree together and opened presents. For once in her life Sheridan as if she was part of a real family. Together they laughed, talked and enjoyed each others company. Sheridan was grateful to all of them, they gave her gifts and made her feel like she was a part of their family. After all the presents where opened, Luis handed her two wrapped gifts.
“Open this one first.” He told her pointing to the bigger box. Sheridan hastily tore off the wrapping paper and opened the cardboard box. Inside was a memory book for the two of them.
“I know we’ve only been dating for two months, we have known each other for over a year.” He told her. Sheridan smiled up at him and began to look through the book. Inside where pictures of the two of them and encounters they had had in the past. Luis has also included tickets to the movie they had seen on their first date as well as one of the flowers he had given her on their one month anniversary. When she reached the end tears were welling up in her eyes. Her face broke out in a hue smile as she read what was on the last page. It said ‘I always have and always will love you Sheridan Crane.’ Sheridan looked up at him.
“Do you really mean that?” She asked her voice barely above a whisper.
“I love you.” Was his reply.
“Oh Luis, I’ve waited so long to hear you say that. I love you too,” She said smiling through her tears of happiness. Luis handed her the other box.
“Open it.”
Inside she found a stunning silver locket. Sheridan smiled as she saw the pictures and read the inscription.
“Thank you so much. It’s gorgeous.” She told him.
“Not as gorgeous as you. Come here.”
Sheridan walked over to were she was sitting and sat down infront of him. Carefully he took the locket out of her hands and fastened it around her neck.
“I’ll never take it off.” She told him.
Luis pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
“Were always going to be together.” He whispered in her ear before kissing her.
*END OF FLASHBACK.*

“Oh Luis I miss you so much.” Sheridan said as a single tear ran down her face.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Two

As Luis continued walking along the streets of Paris he looked at all the boutiques he was passing. One display caught his eye. It was the window of a clothing store. It was set up with mannequins displaying gorgeous evening gowns. In the window was a sign that read 17 Days ‘til New Years in French. Luis sighed, New Years was one holiday he’s like to forget.

*FLASHBACK*

It was ten o’clock and everything was going wonderfully. Almost all of the residents of Harmony where in attendance at the annual New Years Eve Gala at the Seascape restaurant. All around him couples danced happily in each others arms. The men where dressed in expensive tuxedo’s and the women in astounding gowns. He looked down at Sheridan who smiled up at him. She took his breath away, she was dressed in a long, black evening gown. It had thick straps that went into a plunging v-neck. The bodice had embodied beads that sparkled. The dress flared out at the waist and went down to the ground. The only jewelry she wore was her mother’s diamond earrings and the locket Luis had given her. Luis smiled as he thought about how far the two of them had come over the last year. As they swayed to the music Luis looked around him. His sister Theresa and her boyfriend Ethan Crane where dancing to the right of him. He wasn’t happy about her relationship with Ethan but Luis knew that Ethan made her happy and treated her well. Right after her accident, he had broke up with wen and they had been together ever since. Looking at his little sister made him realize that she was no longer a little girl but a women. She was in a silver dress that went to the floor. It was strapless, with two slits up the side. Theresa’s long brown hair was piled on top of her head in curls. He still remembered when she used to play dress up and pretend she was at a fancy ball like this one. It was Fate, she always told him and he never believed her until now. Fate was real, Himself and Sheridan where an example of that. Other couples around him where Sam and Grace Bennett and T.C and Eve Russell. His brother Miguel was sitting at a table with his girlfriend Charity Standish and their friends Kay, Jessica and Noah Bennett, Whitney and Simone Russell and Chad Harris. Luis focused his attention back to Sheridan.
“You look absolutely amazing tonight, did I tell you that?” He asked her quietly
. Sheridan looked up at him. “Yes but you can keep saying it if you’d like.”
“You look absolutely amazing.” Luis repeated with a grin.
“And you Mr. Lopez-Fitgerald, look unbelievably sexy in that tux.” She told him
. “Really? Well you should see how sexy I am without the Tux.” He teased.
Sheridan’s face flushed a crimson color. Luis started to laugh at her expression. “If I remember correctly you walked in on me in the locker room once looking for sugar, which you found, right baby?”
“I remember no such thing.” She replied her face getting redder.
“Oh I know you remember, I mean how could you forget a great site like that?” He asked.
“Luis.. please..”
“And to think, you got that little show for free, no charge. Lucky you.”
Sheridan face was as red as a lobster. Luis began to laugh uncontrollably. Just as he was about to make another joke about it two uniformed officers approached them. “Luis we just got the results.” They told him.
Sheridan and Luis looked at each other and followed the officers out to the main lobby of the restaurant. When they got there Sam greeted them.
“This is it. You ready?” Luis whispered to Sheridan.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She told him.
He took her hand and squeezed it. “So?” He asked
. “We got the damn bastards.” Sam said with a smile.
Ever since August, Sheridan and Luis had been investigating the Cranes involvement in Martin Fitgerald’s disappearance. Not only did they find that they where involved in that but they also found the Cranes had been scaming competing, businesses causing them to o bankrupt for years. Once they found this out they got the Harmony Police involved and began to gather evidence. They learned what really happened that night through Sheridan’s hypnosis. She had heard a gun shot causing her to wake up and go downstairs. She grabbed the letter opener and hid in the corner. When she heard someone come in she jabbed the letter opener into the person’s leg. That person turned out to be Julian and Sheridan had mistook him for an intruder. Sheridan stayed hidden until she heard another person enter. She could hear too people fighting. One man, she knew was her father, When she left her hiding spot she saw her father aiming a gun at a man she’d never seen before. She screamed no and tried to run to stop her father but it was too late. Alistar shot him and the man fell to the ground. Sheridan had run to the man and tried to help him but it was too late. At the sight of him Sheridan passed out. When she awoke, a sheet covered the body and blood was all over her hands. He father began to yell at her that she had made a mistake getting involved. Then she was sent away. Sheridan had blocked all this out and Julian and Alistar had instructed the doctors to convince her it was a nightmare. After learning this, they went to Sam. Sam told them they needed proof. So without telling anyone she sneaked into the mansion one night and searched Julian’s room. In there she found a whole file of official documents each one having Alistars signature on them. Most of them where all about the illegal dealings of Crane Industries but there where three ones that where about something entirely different. One was a receipt for a casket delivered to the Crane’s on the night Luis’s father disappeared. The other was the receipt for a plot in the Casletown cemetery. They went there and found that the grave marked Bob Smithson. After checking the records, no Bob Smithson in Harmony or any of the neighbouring towns was listed. So they obtained a legal document allowing them to dig up the grave. Inside they found a skeleton with bullet holes through the clothing. They also found a gun inside the coffin. They ran some tests and Sam now held the results in his hands.
“The man in the coffin is your father. The fingerprints on the gun match Alistars and the bullets that shot him as well as they one in the cottage all match the gun Alistar used. We have an APB out on Alistar and a warrant for Julian’s arrest. Julian is being arrested as an accomplice to murder and Alistar as first degree murder. Plus we investigated the illegal business dealings done by Crane Enterprises and they both charged with a long list of crimes.”
Upon hearing the news Luis picked up Sheridan and spun her around. “We did it!” He exclaimed excitedly as Sam watched amused.
As soon as Luis put her down, Sheridan turned to face Sam. “Go arrest the asshole.” Sheridan told him.
“It would be my pleasure.” Sam told her walking back into the dining room.
After Sam left Sheridan faced Luis. “I’m sorry about your father.” She told him solemnly.
“Thanks, I’m happy it’s all over. Now I can finally have some closure.” He told her.
Sheridan smiled. “Me too.”
She took his hand in hers and led him back to the dining room. “Let’s go watch my brother get arrested.” She laughed.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Three

*Continuation of FLASHBACK*

When they entered the dining room they where shocked by what they found. Julian Crane was holding on to a microphone up on the stage. The people present at the Gala, where crowded around him, astonished at the sight of the wealthiest man in Harmony drunken on stage. Luis and Sheridan pushed their way to the front and stood beside Sam.
“What the hell is going on?” Luis demanded.
“Julian, he’s drunk.”
Sheridan shook her head. “I forgot to mention, My dear older brother has a drinking problem. This is normal.”
Luis and Sam looked at her in shook. “And what do you suggest we do?” Sam asked her.
“Listen to what he has to say, I guarantee it will be amusing.”
Sam looked at Julian who was rambling on about something and laughed. “The press is going to eat this up.”
Sheridan and Luis joined in. “I can see it now, Julian Crane makes fool of himself then gets arrested on murder charges.” Luis joked.
The three of them stopped laughing and looked at Julian, who was stumbling around on the stage.
“Awww, what a wonderful sight in front of meeee… All the wonderful people of this wonderfully wonderful town of Harmony.” Julian said slurring his words.
There was scattered laughter throughout the crowd as they realized he was plastered.
“Hi everyone. All you people are so great.” Julian continued. “First we have my darling baby sister Sheridan and her boyfriend Officer Louise.” Julian shook his head. “Sheridan, I’m going to tell daddy on you, he said to say away from Luis and you didn’t. Your gonna get in trouble especially since he paid so much money to keep you apart. Did you know that he made me file a sexual harassment charge against Luis in your name? Did you also know he tried to bribe Luis and then hired an impostor? Isn’t Dad the best?” Julian took another sip from the bottle of brandy he was holding. “Lookie who’s beside em… Officer ‘Everyone Loves Me’ or Officer ‘Do-Right’ Bennett. Sam, I feel for you.. your wife and niece both belong in the loony bin. Then we have the officers yummy looking daughters, Kay and Jessica.”
Luis could feel Sam tense up at the mention of his daughters. Luis put a hand on his shoulder.
“He’s going to be behind bars soon.” Luis reassured him.
“Obviously you to sweet things get your looks from your strikingly beautiful mother Grace Bennett, who also happens to be the Tomato Soup Cake Queen. Then that would make you two Tomato Soup Cake Princesses. Wow, Royalty right here in Harmony But your cousin, ewww.. she looks like an Alien. E.T Phone Home. Or maybe, Charity Phone home!” Julian said laughing like a hyena. Luis looked over to where Grace was standing with Eve.
“I feel sorry for Ivy, I never realized how Julian really was.” Grace whispered over to Eve.
“Then we have the Russell’s, Poor T.C, I beat him at tennis. Poor you, I was always better then you at Tennis. And his wife Eve a.k.a. Dr. Naughty. Oh how can we forget Tabitha and her doll Timmy. Did you guys know that Timmy talks? Yup, he makes the best Martimmy’s ever.”
Everyone in the room was trying to hold back their laughter.
“Then we have my dazzling, wife Ivy. Do you know she is hiding something from me? If any of you can find out what it is, tell me, I will give you a reward. Yes Ivy dear, I will find out what it is. My wife is insane, she pulled a gun on me when she found me in bed with the housekeeper. Really Ivy, that’s why we have hired help. There was no need to get violent. Onto the next member of my family, my son who is a dummy. I’m sorry Ethan but you are so dense, you only passed Law School cause I paid them off.” Julian laughed and took another sip of his brandy. “Back to you Ethan, I demand you dump that white-trash girlfriend of yours and get back together with Gwen. I order you do this or else you will be disowned.”
There was a collective gasp throughout the crowd as they realized that Julian was serious. “No way Father.” Ethan yelled out from the back of the room, wrapping his arms around Theresa.
“Ethan son, just marry Gwen and sleep with Theresa. Then you can eat your cake and have it too or is it Have your Cake and Eat it too?”
Suddenly Ivy’s voice rang out from the back of the room. “Ethan’s not even your damn son anyway, Julian.”
All heads turned toward Ivy. “What?” Julian and Ethan said in Unison.
“He’s not your son.” Ivy said holding her head high.
“Ethan, Darling you have to understand, I kept this from you for a good reason.”
“Then why the hell tell me know mother?” Ethan asked angry.
“Because after Julian’s little performance here, I knew you needed to know the truth. Your father is a good man, he is kind and generous and I should have married him when I had the chance.” Ivy said looking at Sam.
“Then who the hell is his father?” Julian yelled.
“Sam Bennett.”
Sam looked at Ivy and then looked at Grace by this time Julian has passed out on the stage.
“Gracie I can explain.” Sam said.
“All these years you swore to me there was no one else. You promised me.”
“Grace, Please.”
“Shut up Sam. I’ve had enough of your lies you cheating son of a bitch.” Grace yelled slapping him across the face.
“Grace, you’ve got to understand why Sam kept this from you, he didn’t want to hurt you.” Eve told her kindly.
Grace spun around to face her best friend. “You knew about this?” Grace screamed at Eve, her eyes full of Rage.
“Yes.” Eve replied looking at the floor.
“How could you?” Grace cried. “I trusted you with my life, I have always been there for you and this, this is how you repay me.”
“She was doing what she thought was best for you Grace.” T.C. interrupted, sticking up for Eve.
“Oh Spare us the devotion to your perfect wife.” Ivy yelled from across the room. “Did Saint Eve tell you about her little affair with Julian? It’s true, Your wife was my husbands whore.”
“Cut the crap Ivy, There’s no way in Hell Eve would ever touch Julian, let alone..” T.C trailed off after looking at Eve. One look at her face confirmed Ivy was telling the truth.
“T.C, It was a long time ago.” Suddenly the dining room was full of Chaos. People where yelling and screaming everywhere.
“Wow, This is better then a soap opera.” Kay remarked watching the scene with interest.
“How can you say that. Dad just reveled he had an affair with Ivy and that Ethan is our brother. Do you realize that mom and dad may never get over this? Our parents could split up over this.” Jessica yelled tears welling up in her eyes.
“Good, maybe mom can take Charity with her.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Ever since she came to town mom has totally forgotten about me. So it would be killing two birds with one stone. Both of them would be out of my life.”
“I can’t believe you.” Charity yelled from behind Kay.
“Charity, I didn’t know you where behind me.” Kay said nervously.
“Obviously not.” Charity replied picking up a knife from on the table. Charity put it to Kay’s throat. “Kay Bennett you crossed the wrong girl.”
“Charity, No.” Miguel screamed grabbing his girlfriend. “What where you thinking?”
“I’m going to kill that conniving witch.” Charity said breaking free of Miguel.
Suddenly a gunshot rang out. All heads turned toward the room trying to see where it came from. All of the sudden Ivy fell to the floor blood all around her.
“Mother.” Ethan yelled running to her.
“Oh My god Ivy.” Sam Screamed rushing over to her. “Call 911.” He screamed.
Everyone turned to look at who fired the shot. They where stunned when they realized it was Grace. She was shaking uncontrollably sobbing. “What have I done?” Over and Over.
“This is all the Cranes fault.” T.C Yelled. “Damn those Cranes.”
As the clock struck twelve Sheridan ran from the room as fast as she could. When Luis realized what she was doing she was halfway across the room, pushing past everyone. Luis elbowed his way out of the room and followed her. He found her crying in the parking lot.
“Sheridan, are you okay?” He asked putting his jacket around her.
“I have to leave.” She told him through her tears.
“Okay, I’ll take you home, I just want to make sure Theresa’s okay.”
“No, no, Luis you don’t understand. I have to leave, leave Harmony.”
“What, why?” He asked puzzled.
“Don’t you see. Everything that happened in there was because of my family. Ivy just ruined the Bennett family. She also ruined the Russell’s family by letting them know that Eve slept with my brother. My brother insulted every single person in Harmony and because of them Grace just shot Ivy.”
“I know Sheridan. What just happened was horrible, but Sheridan nothing in there had anything to do with you.”
“Are you kidding Luis? It always has been and always will be. I am a Crane.. and look what they just did. They just destroyed the lives of everyone in Harmony. T.C’s right. It’s all our fault.”
“Sheridan, That was your family not you.”
“Luis, I am a Crane, Therefore everyone in that room, considers me one of them. After the smoke clears everyone in this town is going to hate the Cranes even more then they already do. They are going to hate me. Imagine how your mother, sister and brother will feel when they find out your dating the daughter of the man who killed your father. Do you actually believe they will accept me? I don’t.” Sheridan said still crying.
“Sheridan, Mama knows you’ve been helping me, they’ll under..”
“No they won’t. Do you think, your friends Sam and T.C. will want to have anything to do with them? Of course they won’t my cause my brother and Ivy just broke up their whole family.”
“Sheridan, everyone knows you are nothing like them.”
“You know, I used to say that too. I always said Ethan and I where the two members of this family that where decent people. But you know what, Ethan now has an excuse, he’s not a Crane he’s a Bennett.”
“Sheridan..”
“Shhh.” Sheridan said placing a finger on his lips. “I love you. I love you more then life itself, but I can’t do this. I can’t stay here. Luis I have to go, I’m sorry.”
Tears started to fall from Luis’s eyes. “Sheridan, you can’t do this to me, you can’t do this to us.”
“You once told me you believe in Fate. Well, let’s see if it’s real. If we are meant to be which I hope we are then someday we will be reunited. And Luis I will wait my entire life for that day.” She told him.
Luis leaned over and brushed the tears from her eyes. “Sheridan please, re-consider.”
Sheridan pulled his head down to her and kissed him. After they broke apart she smiled through her tears. “This is what’s best.”
“I love you. I love you so much… “
“I love you too.” Sheridan kissed him again. “I’m sorry.” She said running away from him, sobbing the whole way.
As Luis watched her o he could feel his heart breaking. He fell to his knees and started to Cry. “God, why are you taking her away from me?” He screamed into the dark and silent night.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

To Be Continued...

Chapter Four

Sheridan put the last of the Christmas decorations and stood back and admired her work. She had put up blue and white lights in the window as well as along the front counter. Underneath the front display in the window, she had put white cotton which made it look like snow. To the right of the store there was a five foot Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments. There where other little Christmas decorations all over the place as well. Sheridan turned to face the mirror above the front counter. She brushed a strand of her long blonde hair away from her face. It still shocked her how mush she had changed in the past four years. Her hair which had always been short, was now long, way past her shoulders down to her stomach in layers. She had bangs that covered her forehead. Even after her hair had grown out people would still ask her if she was Sheridan Crane, so she decided to get glasses. All her life she had been wearing contacts so she went to an eye doctor and got glasses. They where round and the frame was a silver color. She also began to wear less make-up and in lighter colors. Now she didn’t even recognize herself. Sheridan ran her fingers through her hair and shook it out a bit making it fall down her back. She straightened her forest green a-line skirt, that went to her knees and pushed the sleeved on her cream colored sweater down. She pulled the locket out from under her sweater and centered it. Satisfied with the way she looked she went over to the door and flipped the sign from closed to open. It was a Monday morning, so usually business was slow. Sheridan decided to fix up one of the displays. Just as she had began to rearrange the glass angels, the bells on the door jingles signaling the entrance of a customer.
“Bonjour, Ca Va?” She asked in a cheerful voice, turning around to face the customer. Sheridan couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She closed and opened her eyes, thinking it must be a dream. But after a second glance, she realized it wasn’t a dream. He hands started to shake and the glass angel fell out of her hands and shattered as she realized that standing front of her was Luis Lopez-Fitgerlad.

The display in the front window had caught Luis’s eye as he was walking. He had seen a picture frame that he knew his mother would love and had decided to go check it out. When he got into the store he saw a salesgirl with her back toward him arranging a display. Without even turning around she greeted him in French. Luis was shocked, that voice sounded so much like Sheridan’s had.
‘There is no way that’s Sheridan.’ He told himself. 'Luis, man, you have got to stop doing this to yourself.’
Luis heard a loud crash and looked over. The salesgirl had dropped the item she was holding and was bent down trying to pick up the glass. As the girl picked up the glass he saw a silver locket dangling from her neck. Slowly he moved toward her and took a closer look at it. He could make out a picture of something that resembled an angel. Luis knew he had to see what the picture looked like so he bent down to help her pick up the glass. His head was telling him that there was no way it was Sheridan, but his heart, well that was a totally different story. In his heart he knew that him and Sheridan where meant to be. When he was finally able to get a better look at the locket, he couldn’t believe what he saw. It was exactly the same as the one he had given Sheridan for Christmas all those years ago.
‘Could it be?’ He asked himself. ‘Could it really be Sheridan?’

Sheridan couldn’t believe that she had caused such a scene. Never in a thousand years would she have imagined him being here, in Paris, in her store.
‘What am I going to do?’ Sheridan asked herself worried. She knew that Luis was anything but stupid and he’s be able to figure out who she really was in a matter of seconds. Sheridan finished picking up the glass and stood up. Brushing the dust off of her she stood there nervously. Sheridan noticed Luis was still on the ground looking up at her, actually something around her neck. He got to his feet and looked at her.

When he stood up he couldn’t believe it. Sheridan was standing in front of him. He had been right, after he realized it was the locket he was shocked. He tried to tell himself it was just a coincidence, but he knew it wasn’t. Luis stood up and faced her. Her hair was much longer and she was wearing glasses, but he knew that he’s be able to know the truth if he looked in her eyes. Luis took a deep breath and look at her. One look at her sparkling blue eyes told him he was right, It was Sheridan.

Sheridan knew he figured it out. He was looking her in the eye and she watched his face take on a look of shock. She also knew that she had to say something.
“Luis, I..” She begun.
“Sheridan, Oh my god, Sheridan.” Luis said.
The two of them just stared at each other not believing what was happening. After a few minutes of silence, they both bean to speak at once.
“Luis… We.”
“Sheridan, I.”
They both laughed uncomfortably not knowing what to do next. “You go on.” He told her.
She smiled at him. “We really need to talk.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“My apartment is about five minutes from here, we could go there.” Sheridan suggested.
“Uh, Sure.”
“Okay, Let me just close up.” Sheridan told him getting her coat and moving the open sign to close.
“Won’t your boss be angry that your just closing up?” Luis asked.
“I don’t have a boss. I own the store.” She told him walking toward the door.
Luis was surprised. Not only had she created a brand new life for herself here, but she was running her own store. Luis shook his head as he followed her. She never ceased to amaze him.

The two of them walked in silence both wondering what this could mean for them as well as wondering the other was thinking. When they reached the building that Sheridan lived in, Luis soundlessly followed her up the stairs to her apartment. Opening the door she ushered him and offered him a drink, which he refused. Once they where seated on the couch Luis began to speak.
“How could you do it?” He asked trying not to get angry.
“Pardon?” Sheridan asked.
“How could you? How could you just walk out on me, walk out on us?” He asked anger creeping into his voice.
Sheridan sighed. She knew she had this coming and she knew that she deserved it. “Luis, that night I tried to explain it to you. I couldn’t stay there, I couldn’t stay there with all those people who hated me.”
“God Sheridan, they hated your family not you.”
“Luis. You don’t understand.”
“Damnit Sher, All I understand is that you didn’t give it a chance. You just ran, which is just like you.” Luis said jumping up from the couch and stood in front of her.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean whenever something doesn’t go the way you planed you run. Right after you heard that impostor at the docks and thought it was me, you ran. As soon as I saved you from those drug cartel, you ran. Then after New Years you ran.”
“Luis, Please let me explain why.” Sheridan said. She knew he was getting angry, she could see it in his face and hear it in his voice.
“Let you explain. Yeah Sher, why don’t you explain why you didn’t give it a chance. You could have stayed and tried to work everything out and realized everyone didn’t blame you but did you No. You left. You Left me. You said you loved me and you left.” Luis told her with emotion in his voice.
“Luis I am so sorry I did. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret my choice.”
“Really, then why the hell didn’t you call or write?”
“Luis I wanted too, I wanted too so bad, but I was afraid.” She told him.
“Afraid? Afraid of what?”
“Of What I would find.” She told him. “What would I do if you where dating? Or Married? What if you had kids? Then how would I be able to live knowing I had my chance to be with you but I stupidly passed it up.” She told him starting to cry.
“Well if you had bothered to call or write you would have found that I never married. But you didn’t. It was like you didn’t even care how I was.” Luis told her softly.
Sheridan looked up at him. “You know that’s not true.”
“Oh really? And how do I know that… you left, what should I think.”
“Luis I swear to you I never meant to hurt you. I just couldn’t stay there anymore.”
Luis sat down beside her and looked at her. “Sheridan on New Years Eve I was planning on asking you to marry me.” He told her trying to calm down. “I had the ring and everything, at midnight I was going to get down infront of everyone in that room and proclaim my love for you. And even after all the chos, when I followed you outside I was going to ask you then. Yeah the timing would have been wrong but all I cared about was you becoming Mrs. Lopez-Fitgerald. But Sheridan I didn’t get a chance to do that because you left and I never saw you again.”
Sheridan remained silent as his words registered. “You where going to ask me too marry you?” She asked with disbelief in her voice.
“Yes.” Was Luis’s reply.
“Why?” Sheridan questioned. “Why would you want to marry me?”
“Oh I don’t know, maybe because I loved you more then life itself. But that night, when you left you broke my heart.”
Tears started to form in Sheridan’s eyes. “Luis, I know you must hate me, but I need you to know how sorry I am.”
Luis took her hands in his. “Sher, I don’t hate you. I could never hate you.”
“Luis, you said before that me leaving lead you too believe I didn’t care for you. And I know you have a good reason to think that, but that’s not true. Luis, you know that night at the dock all those years ago when I thought you where using me, it broke my heart. It hurt me more then I had ever hurt before. More then when I heard Jean-Luc tell his mistress Mimi, he loved her and only her. More then every other time my relationships failed. More then every time my father and brother ignored me and forgot I existed. For the first time it hurt so much I wanted to die. It was at that moment I knew that I loved you. I denied it to everyone thinking that there was no way you’d ever return those feelings.” Sheridan paused for a second before continuing. “Then when we worked it all out and you told me you loved me, that was the happiest day of my life. I knew at that moment you were my soulmate and we where meant for each other. I know I hurt you when I left, I know how it must have felt. But Luis, at the time I felt it was something I had to do. Now I know it was wrong but at the time I believed it was the right thing to do.”
Luis looked at her for a while and searched her eyes. “I know Sher. I know that you thought it was right.” Luis told her quietly, all traces of anger one from his voice. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get upset like that but those feelings have been bottled up inside of me for the last four years. They had to come out sometime.”
“So you forgive me?” Sheridan asked lightly.
“Forgive you? Honestly Sher, I don’t think I was ever really mad at you, just hurt.”
A small smile appeared on her face. “You don’t know what that means to me.” She told him.
“Sheridan, I have one question for you.., Just one.”
“What is it?”
“Do you promise you’ll answer openly and honestly?” He asked.
“I promise.”
Luis took a deep breath and began to speak. “Do you still love me?”
Sheridan mustered up all the courage she had within her and answered him. “As much as I did the day I left.”
Luis took her in his arms and held her. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.” He told her stroking her hair. “I love you too Sher.”
They stayed like this for a few minutes both remembering how wonderful it felt to be together. Sheridan broke free of his embrace and leaned back on the couch.
“What does this mean for us?” She asked.
Luis smiled. “Before you left, you said, If it was fate and if we where really meant to be we would find our way back to each other for a second chance. Well here we are, together at last and we have our second chance. Come home. Come back to Harmony with me.”

To Be Continued...

Chapter Five

“Come back to Harmony.” His words repeated over and over in her head.
“Luis, I..”
Luis held up a hand to stop her. “Hear me out. Sheridan ever since you left Harmony, I have been miserable. Sher, just a second ago you told me you still loved me. Come back to Harmony, start your life over with me.”
Sheridan waited a few moments before speaking. “Luis I don’t know.”
Luis shook his head. “Don’t know what?”
“I don’t know if I can.” Sheridan told him.
“Why not?” Luis asked.
“Luis, my life is here now. I have a home, a job even friends. What do I have in Harmony?” She questioned.
“Me Sheridan, You have Me.” He told her softly.
“Luis if I went back, where would I live? I’m not going back to the mansion and I have no job.”
“Sheridan, you own all of Crane Enterprises, everything the building, the mansion, everything.”
“Luis, I don’t want to have anything to do with it. I am not Sheridan Crane, I’m now Sheridan Dupres.”
“Dupres?”
“Mothers maiden name. But that’s beside the point. I have distanced myself from the Cranes and if I go back everything I’ve worked for will be ruined.”
“Sher, if you go back you can start over. You can find someplace to live and start over just as you did here.”
Sheridan thought about what he was saying. “Do you really think that everyone will accept me? I mean, my family ruined almost all the families in Harmony.”
“Of course, Sheridan. They all know you had nothing to do with what your family did and they know that you helped me find out the truth about my father. That proves my point, you are nothing like them. “
“Luis, I don’t know. Can I have some time to think about it?” Sheridan asked him.
“Of course. I’m here in Paris until Friday, that’s three days.”
Sheridan smiled. “So tell me about Harmony. What’s happened since I left.”
“A lot. What do you want to know?” Luis asked.
“Everything.” Sheridan told him.
“Well nothing was the same after New Years Eve. Grace was sent to a hospital in Boston, and she’s still there. Ivy recovered and her and Sam are Ivy have taken these years to re-build their relationship and they just got engaged last month. They are planning a wedding for June. Hank was let out of jail and took off. No ones seen or heard of him since. Ethan and Theresa are still together. They had been living in New York until Mama got sick, then they moved back.”
Sheridan gasped. “Pilar was sick, is she okay?”
Luis nodded. “She’s fine, they put her on medication and she’s doing good. Mama’s always been a strong women. So Ethan and Theresa are back, She has her own line of clothing. Were all so proud of her.” Luis said smiling. T.C and Eve where able to work through their problems and are together. During the trial, it came out that Chad was Julian and Eve’s son and Whitney was adopted. The Russell’s where all shocked by that one as well but they worked it all out, and now Whitney and Chad are married. Whitney was injured so she gave up tennis and is going through to become a doctor. Chad opened up a night club in Harmony and it’s going good.”
“I’m glad everyone is happy. What about the rest of the Bennetts and your brother?” Sheridan asked.
“Well Miguel is with Kay now. Kay had always been in love with Miguel and Charity had found out. Right after Grace was put in the hospital, she snapped and tried to kill Kay.”
“Oh my god.” Sheridan said putting a hand over her mouth. “What happened.”
“Remember those steep cliff’s that overlooked the ocean?” Luis asked.
“Uh huh.”
“Well one night Charity got Kay up there and pulled out a knife. She was trying to push Kay off. Luckily, Miguel had been on his way to the Bennetts and followed the two of them. He got there just in time. Kay had fallen over and was holding on for life. Charity was on the edge almost falling and Miguel could only pick one. He picked Kay and Charity fell to her death. Even though he knew Charity was trying to kill Kay he felt bad that he was only able to save one and considered himself to be Charity’s killer, but Kay was there for him and they ended up getting together. Kay models for Theresa’s clothing line and Miguel is going through to become a lawyer.”
“So everyone got their happy ending.” Sheridan said.
“Yeah, well, everyone but Julian and Alistar. I imagine you’ve heard the news.”
“That my father died. Yeah. I was with my mothers sister at the time and we opened a bottle of Champagne and celebrated. What ever happened to Julian?”
“Your brother went to Prison for two years, they cut him a deal because he helped catch Alistar, as soon as he got out of Jail he left town and no ones seen him since.”
“A lot’s happened since I left.” Sheridan remarked.
Luis nodded. “So what’s happened with you?” He asked.
“After I left, I went to England to live with my mother’s sister. I lived off the trust fund my mother had set up for me before she died. She knew the way my father and brother where and she knew she needed to do something to insure my protection. After two years there, I moved back to Paris and bought the boutique. That’s it. What about you Luis? You told me about everyone else except yourself.”
“I made detective and I threw myself in to my work. This is the first vacation I’ve taken in the last four years. I saved up enough money and decided to come here. I don’t know why I did but a little voice inside me said go to France instead of Spain.”
“It was fate.” Sheridan said with a grin.
“You sound like Theresa.” He teased.
“I have an idea.” She said jumping to her feet.
“Oh no, I’m not sure if I really want to hear what it is.”
“Don’t be silly. The last time we where in Paris, is when you came to warn me and I wouldn’t listen. All we did is fight and you never got to see Paris. So this is what I propose. You and I will spend the entire evening together, and I will show you around the City of Love. “
“Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed about this?” He asked.
“I’m sure just as much as I have.” She said moving over to him.
Luis stood up. “God I’ve missed you.” He said kissing her with all the passion he had inside of him.

To Be Continued...