The box hit the ground with a loud thud.
Wiping his palms against the sides of his pants, Luis said, "Sheridan, this ones not labeled."
Sheridan opened the box and peered inside. "Forks, knives spoons. Typically goes in the kitchen, you see that when you look in the box." She threw him a smile.
"Ha, ha." Luis kissed her forehead and headed towards the little kitchen with the large box.
Sheridan swiped the back of her hand against her forehead. Never had she realized how much stuff she'd stored in that cottage until she tried to move it all. She walked into the kitchen to see Luis setting eating utensils into their places in drawers.
He noticed her and turned. "All done?"
"All done." She nodded her head.
Luis stood up and walked to her, slipping his hands around her waist. "I know I've said it, but I'll say it again. I'm so proud of you. Takes a lot of courage to do something like this."
Sheridan bit her lip and looked up at him. "It does. It was something I had to do, though."
The couple surveillance the little apartment.
"Well, what do you say we go get something to eat?" Luis suggested.
"Sounds good." Sheridan grabbed Luis' hand and followed him out the door.
~*~
Sheridan laughed as she watched Luis shovel lobster into his mouth. "Hungry?"
"Mmm." He swallowed a bite. "Just a little."
She laughed again and scooped up her own delicious lobster into her mouth.
Luis noticed Sheridan's face suddenly light up. "What?" He asked.
She smiled. Bringing a forkful of lobster towards Luis' mouth. she said, "Look familiar?"
His face lit up and he beamed a smile her way. That special smile; the one he reserved for her and for her only. He raised his eyebrows and took the bite into his mouth. "It does."
Luis noticed Sheridan's gazed fixed on him, on his smile. On the gaze he gave her, on the love and affection shining in his eyes. Deep within them she saw all their moments, memories. All those special times that were theirs and theirs only. "I love you."
Luis cocked his head to the side. He could read what she was thinking from the look she gave him. Leaning towards her, he whispered. "I love you, too."
At that moment they were the only two people in the room. He leaned toward her and captured her lips into a sweet gentle kiss. Their foreheads rested together and they just smiled at each other engulfed in the love that surged between them.
"Mmm-hmm."
Sheridan and Luis both looked up somewhat startled at the waitress who stood in front of the table, notepad and pen in hand.
"Uh- sorry." Luis managed out. Sheridan stifled a little giggle and gave Luis a knowing glance.
"Can I get either of you any desert?"
Luis looked at Sheridan, and thought for a moment. "Hmm. Yeah. We'll have a sundae, with two spoons."
"Which sauce? We have chocolate, raspberry and caramel."
"Chocolate will be good, thanks."
"Colored or chocolate sprinkles?"
Immediately, Luis turned his gaze to Sheridan. Two huge smiles lit up the room as they shared a knowing glance.
"Chocolate." Luis said, his gaze still fixed on Sheridan.
"Miss, make that colored." Sheridan said.
"Chocolate."
"Colored."
"Chocolate." Luis firmly replied still gazing at Sheridan.
"Colored." Her smile danced on her lips.
"Choco-"
"How about," the waitress emphasized. "Half colored, half chocolate?"
"Deal."
~*~
Sheridan leaned into Luis and he responded by wrapping his arms snuggly around his shoulders. The crisp spring air was a little chilly as they walked back to Sheridan's apartment.
"Sheridan, you're sure you want to stay there tonight?"
She hesitated, but knew what the answer had to be. "Yes. I have to sometime, and you know I hate imposing on Pilar."
Luis shook his head. "And you know that you were never, and never will be an imposition. Mama loves you almost as much as I do." He gave her shoulders a squeeze.
There was silence and Sheridan looked up at him tentively and he smiled down at her reassuringly.
Sheridan snuggled into the warmth of his chest. "Why are you so good to me?"
Luis smiled at her. "That’s an easy one. 'Cause I love you."
Sheridan sighed contently into his chest. At that moment, she was sure life couldn't get any better.
~*~
Luis and Sheridan sat in the middle of the empty living room. Sheridan stroked the animal’s soft fur from head to tail. It purred and rubbed against her affectionately.
"She likes you." Luis determined.
"Does she?" Sheridan smiled at him.
"What, you never had a cat?" Luis scooped the little kitten in his arms.
She shook her head. "Nope."
He studied her for a moment. "You'd better keep her, Sheridan. She could teach you something. She didn't look like she had a family when we found her out there, anyway."
Sheridan smiled at the pretty little creature resting in Luis' arms. "Yeah," She said. "I think I will. I'll need someone to keep me company while you're at home or work."
Luis groaned, leaning back under onto Sheridan. "Stop. I don't even want to think about being away from you."
Sheridan laughed a little and stroked Luis' hair as he stroked the kitten.
"Whattya' gonna name her, Sheridan?"
"Name her?"
"Yeah, the kittens got to have a name." Luis looked down at the little ball of fur in his arms.
"Hmm.."
Sheridan's eyes scanned the room as she thought. They landed on the only thing in the room. A picture of her and Luis that she'd hung up only a few minutes ago. Sheridan was tucked in Luis' lap and a blanket of white filled the background. Their faces were flushed and snowflakes dotted their hair. The picture of them was shot while they were in the middle of laughter, and the two looked so very happy.
Sheridan smiled brightly. She remembered that day clearly.
*Flashback*
After slipping the key in the hole, Luis turned to Sheridan, to find she wasn't there. Looking across the white yard, he said, "Sheridan?" Panic engulfed him at first when he didn't see her, but then he heard her cherry voice call out, "Over here."
Luis spun around, only to be knocked in the face with a snowball. Wiping the sheet of white off his eyes he saw Sheridan who stood giggling.
"Ah. I see. Think you're going to get away with that, do ya?"
That sent Sheridan flying across the yard, her laughter filling the air.
A snowball skimmed past her head and she giggled and ran. "Good one, Lopez-Fitzgerald."
"I'll get you!" He laughed and shot after her.
*Present*
Sheridan remembered Theresa finding them and snapping pictures. She smiled at the memories.
"Sheridan?" Luis wondered what she was thinking; she seemed to be in her own land.
"Sorry, sweetheart."
Luis smiled at her term of endearment. "So what should we name the kitten?"
She pondered the thought for a moment. "How about Memory?"
"Memory?"
"Yeah, Memory." She looked up at Luis to see what he thought.
"I like that, Sheridan. She looks like a Memory, doesn't she?" Luis studied the cat.
"That she does. And now, she is one."
THE END