Chapters 7 & 8: Forever
Chapter 7:
The guys finally reached the top of the cliff when they noticed the helicopter approaching the lighthouse. They knew if they were seen it would be over with. Miguel looked up and noticed Kay standing at the edge of the lighthouse. He noticed Alistair holding onto her. Ethan could hear Hankıs voice. The three guys snuck into the lighthouse through a trap door without being seen.
³I can see Sheridan,² Chad whispered to them looking upstairs.
³How about Hank,² Ethan asked.
³Not yet,² Chad answered. ³She just looked down here. She must know we are here.²
³Letıs get up there then before she has to come face to face with him,² Miguel announced.
³We have to wait for the signal,² Chad stated.
Suddenly they heard the car horn honk twice then they began to climb the stairs quietly. Ethan went first and within a few minutes they were several feet away from Sheridan.
She saw the look in his face as she approached him in the corner of her eye she noticed the girls hugging Noah. She could not believe this man befriended her at one time. Sheridan could see the smirk on his face like he had won. Once Luis and Sam arrived it would hopefully be over for good.
³It is so nice to see you again, my dear,² she heard her father say.
She turned around to see Alistair holding a gun to Kayıs temple. It was time to put this situation to an end.
³You have me let them go,² Sheridan announced.
³I donıt think so. See, my dear, she will be my escape out of here. You were just the prize for Hank here,² Alistair warned her.
³The only thing I ever wanted was you, my sweet,² Hank stated.
³You knew long ago that I loved Luis, why fight it,² Sheridan asked.
³Luis always had to win and now I am going to take the most precious thing he has - you,² Hank replied.
³I donıt think so,² Sheridan announced pulling out the pistol pointing it at Hank.
³My dear, that is not the best thing to do,² Alistair warned her.
Suddenly Miguel came flying from behind him tackling him down. Hank went running out on the ledge with Ethan running after him. Chad went to untie the others. Sheridan grabbed the gun her father was holding and tossed it farther away.
Ethan had caught up with Hank wrestling on the ledge of the lighthouse. Hank had gotten above Ethan somehow knocking him down, his hands were strangling Ethanıs throat. Inside Chad had untied Noah who went heading for the ledge to save his brother.
Miguel and Alistair were fighting, but of course, Alistair had the advantage. Kay jumped on Alistairıs back before he knocked Miguel unconscious from banging his head against the ground.
Sheridan was making sure Jessica and Simone was okay, while Chad tried to help Miguel. Alistair threw Kay off of him, hitting her head against the railing, knocking her unconscious. Sheridan noticed this jumping for the pistol she had put down.
Outside Ethan was losing his strength to hang on his eyes beginning to lose focus, when suddenly Hank was thrown over the ledge. When his eyes came back into focus there was Noah holding out his hand to help him up. Hank fell to his death over the cliff.
Inside Alistair grabbed the gun before Sheridan could get back to it. He knew his ride was close hearing the sounds of the helicopter. He looked at his darling daughter then walking outside to the ledge he noticed that Hank had lost his battle. It didnıt matter Alistair was going to have him killed as soon as he was on his way to the destination point.
³Bye, my darling, Sheridan, you are more like me than you think,² Alistair stated grabbing a hold of the chain ladder let down from the helicopter.
With that Alistair was off his pilot heading off to unclosed destination. Sheridan went to grab a hold of Alistair, but it was to late. The helicopter was just a couple hundred feet away when the Harmony Police Department Chopper appeared. Inside of it were Sam and Luis, when Sheridan noticed the chopper she became frightened. Her suspicions were correct when she witnessed someone jump from the Harmony PD chopper to her fatherıs. She knew it could be only be one person, and her heart told her that he would go after Alistair until one of them were dead.
On the ledge watching the fight between Detective Lopez-Fitzgerald and Alistair Crane were Chad who was comforting Simone, Kay, who leaned onto Miguel for balance, Noah, who held his sister, Jessica, and Ethan who was trying to console Sheridan. When it happened all of them tensed up while Sheridan screamed. She saw him hit the water not knowing whether or not he would survive. Miguel could not believe what he just witnessed, he had dropped into the water. Miguel knew his brother would make it, he had to not only for his family but also the one he would have one day with Sheridan.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 8:
Sheridan opened the door to see him laying there in bed. She knew he needed his rest after what they had been through the last couple of days, but she couldnıt resist him. She walked into the room sitting the tray of food beside the bed. He opened his eyes slightly and noticed the figure standing before him. Was this a dream he was wondering?
³Good morning, I thought I would try bringing you breakfast in bed,² she told him.
³You mean, you bringing it to me, but I can bet you that you did not make,² he stated sitting up in bed.
³Okay, so Pilar made it. She knows what you like,² she said.
³So do you,² he smiled.
She sat the tray in front of him then sat next to him. She didnıt want to feel the pain she felt when she thought he had lost his life when he fell fifty feet from the chopper into the ocean. She didnıt want to take her eyes off of him, but she had to today. It was the day the boutique would finally be open. She had to get ready for the Grand Opening, but she didnıt want to leave him.
³Go ahead, I will be fine,² Luis commented knowing Sheridan was hesitate on leaving him.
³I donıt want to leave you,² Sheridan replied.
³I will be fine. Dr. Russell said I could come later,² Luis said.
³You need your rest,² Sheridan said kissing him gently on his lips.
³I would not miss this day for anything. It is a very big day for Theresa and you.²
³I love you.²
³I love you, too,² Luis said kissing her once again.
An hour later she was standing at the entrance of the Hearts Attire Boutique next to Theresa about to cut the ribbon. Everyone Sheridan and Theresa knew were there including Gwen who came with Ivy except Luis had not shown up just yet. Ethan got everyoneıs attention so his Aunt Sheridan and the love of his life could make the speech.
³Theresa and I have a few words to say then we can get this party started,² Sheridan announced. ³We would like to thank everyone who believed in us and stood by us.²
She noticed him standing in the back of the room. He began approaching her through the crowd, he noticed the way her face brightened up as he got closer.
³The ones that took care of us, love us, and the ones we could not live without,² Sheridan finished. He stood in front of her as she finished the last word. When he picked her up and kissed her gently on the lips.
As the party went on, Whitney was staring outside the window. She recalled what Sheridan had said about not being able to live without the ones you loved. After what had happened Whitney knew she had to tell him. She had to tell him how she really felt about him. He came up behind her when she noticed his reflection from the glass.
³I need you to know something. I was so scared that I would never see you again.
I would have never been able to tell you. I have been fighting these feelings for months and now I have to tell you. If something would have happened I donıt know if I would have been able to live with myself,² Whitney explained. ³What am I trying to say is I am in love with you.²
³Whitney, I love you too,² he said turning her around kissing her passionately on the lips.
Simone witnessed the encounter also hearing what they had told each other. She knew this day would happen and for an instant when Chad saved her life she thought there might have been a chance. Not only did Simone witness the confession but so did Theresa and Ethan. She knew it was time for them to get things out in the open about their relationship.
³Ethan, can we go outside and talk,² Theresa asked.
³Yea,² Ethan answered taking his loveıs hand.
A couple of minutes later they were standing in back ready to confess what was going on between them. Ethan wasnıt sure what Theresa had on her mind lately. She wanted it all, but not with him.
³I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart, Ethan. I always have and I always will. Everyone keeps giving me the same excuse on why I donıt want to marry you. Everyone is wrong, because I do want to marry you. Our baby just makes that love even more special.
It has nothing to do with my feelings for Noah. We are dear friends who grew up together. He was there when my father disappeared. He took over Luisı spot as the big brother when Luisı took over as the father figure. The reason I donıt want to marry you would be the same reason Sheridan has nothing to do with the Cranes anymore. I donıt want to lose who I am when I marry into the Cranes. We have both learned in the last few months how ruthless they are, I donıt want that. I am scared of who I will become if I marry into this family,² she explained.
³But you wonıt lose that, I wonıt let you.
I fell in love with you, not a perception of you. The man that did the most destruction is gone for good. I am nothing like my grandfather. You have witness that first hand, that not all of us are like my grandfather and father, I mean Alistair and Julian,² Ethan replied.
³But look how miserable Sheridan was. And your mother, she married into the Cranes and she lost everything,² Theresa stated.
³Do you love me?²
³Of course, I do.²
³Then that is everything we need.²
³Oh, Ethan. I love you.²
He kissed her passionately on the lips and with that she felt a sudden kick. Their baby was kicking her for the very first time. It was a perfect ending to the perfect night.
In Italy Antonio was waiting at the corner booth of the restaurant when he felt the breeze
from the door. He knew it was time to get down to business. The gentlemen had a seat at the Antonioıs table.
³I knew you would make it,² Antonio said.
³It was too close there. I heard he survived the fall,² the man replied.
³Yes, everyone is celebrating as we speak back in Harmony,² Antonio stated.
³It is time we get down to business and finish them off for good,² the man explained.
Back in Harmony at the boutique Sam was talking to Luis when Grace came up behind him. She had talked to Ivy earlier that night and they had come into an understanding. Now it was Grace to explain the details to Sam.
³You donıt mind if I borrow my husband for a few minutes do you, Luis,² Grace told Luis.
³No, not at all. I have to find that beautiful fiancee of mine anyway,² Luis replied.
³Ivy and I discussed the problems we are having. Now it is time you and I talk about it. Ivy wants you back, both of us know that. But you are my husband, and I am going to fight for this marriage,² Grace explained after Luis left.
³There is no fight.
You have won, hands down. I love you, Grace. I know no matter how many times I apologize for what happened before with Ivy concerning Ethan, it doesnıt make it any better. I love you only you. Ivy is the past, you are my present and future. You and the kids are the only thing that matters. Ivy could try all the tricks in the book, but it wonıt matter. After what happened the past few months you should know that I am not going any where.²
With that Sam passionately kissed his wife and Ivy witnessed this knowing she had lost this round but it was only the beginning. Grace wasnıt about to give up on her marriage with Sam and Ivy wasnıt going to let go of the past.
Noah was sitting next to his sister, Jessica when Ethan came up behind him.
³Can I talk to you,² Ethan said.
³Sure,² Noah mumbled.
³I just want to say thanks for saving my life. I know it had to be one of the hardest things you probably had to do, but thank you. No matter what I am glad that I learned the truth about my real family. You and I probably wonıt see eye to eye on certain things, but I am glad that you are my brother,² Ethan explained.
³I know I wasnıt the reason Theresa did not want to marry you. No one wanted to believe me or Theresa. I know how much she loves you. I could never compete with that,² Noah said.
Luis danced the night away with his fiancee in his arms.
³Not to rain on the parade or anything, but I want you to know I wonıt rest until your father is put away for good,² Luis whispered.
³Letıs just forget about that for tonight. I meant every word I said earlier about not being able to live without you, though. So if you do anything like you did a couple days okay you will have hell to pay,² Sheridan laughed.
³Is that a promise,² he kissed her.
³I love you, Detective Lopez-Fitzgerald.²
³I love you, too, Sheridan Crane soon to be Lopez-Fitzgerald. That is one reason I have a surprise for you. There is this nice little house on the other side of town that I know you would love, so it is ours if you want it.
It wonıt be the cottage like you were use to, but at least it wonıt be in my Mammaıs house where we have no privacy.²
As everyone celebrated the night away it was hard to believe that this wasnıt the end of the saga between good and evil in Harmony. If the couples in Harmony thought they would spend forever with each other, they didnıt know that someone was out there beginning his reign for revenge.
THE END