Always and Forever

It was a beautiful day in Harmony. The sun was shining, the grass was green, the flowers were blooming. Everything was wonderful.
For Luis, it was more wonderful because he had been promoted. He was now Detective Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald. He was strolling down the streets of Harmony with a smug smile on his face. He walked all the way down to the pier when he stood out on the slick dock. He suddenly felt a hand push him and he careened into the water. He kicked his way up, penetrating the surface of the water. After rubbing his eyes and getting the water out, he opened them.
"Hey!" he cried.
"Hey what?" asked the person who pushed him.
"Hey--lo...Miss Crane," he responded.
It was Sheridan Crane who was standing before him in a red cotton turtleneck. She bent down and smiled. Her blonde hair had grown down to her shoulders and it was pulled back into a ponytail now.
"You look beautiful," he replied and he pulled her in for a kiss.
A millisecond before their lips touched, Sheridan pulled away. She started to head back to her cottage.
"Hey! What gives?" he asked.
She walked back to the slick dock and bent down to gaze into his eyes before walking back. She undid her hair and retied it back.
"I don't kiss men that smell. Especially men that smell like dead fish!" she yelled, giggling, while walking back toward her cottage.
Luis smiled at her sense of humor and he swam toward the dock. He swam and pulled himself up when he saw Miguel walking by with Charity after Sheridan had left.
"Hey bro," he started. *Sniff*Sniff* "Hey, what's that smell?"
"I have a premonition that-- Luis smells like dead fish!" Charity started seriously before exploding into a large smile after she finished her sentence.
Holding his nose, Miguel laughed nasally. Charity soon exploded into another fit of laughter hearing Miguel's laugh. Miguel made a little pouty face and Charity kissed him and they made up.
"Go home and take a shower! For Harmony's sake!" cried Miguel.
Luis laughed and started to walk toward his house. Sheridan and him had been going out for sometime now. He started to race to the house when he bumped into Chad.
"Hey, Chad. Sorry," Luis apologized.
"No prob, man. Hey, you seen Whit anywhere?"
"Whit?"
"Oh. My nickname for Whitney. We've been going out for quite sometime now and right now, I can't seem to find my little tennis star."
"Wait. Simone's okay with all this?"
"Yeah. She's going out with Hank, nowadays."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I gotta go man. I'm gonna check the Russells' house."
"Alright. Bye, man."
Luis laughed as he strolled the streets of Harmony. Hank had been his best friend for who knows how long and he hadn't mentioned going out with Simone. Not once! He finally reached his house. He went inside and he locked the front door and he stepped into the bathroom, turned on the water, and took a long shower.
As soon as he realized he didn't smell like fish anymore, he walked back outside to the streets of Harmony when he bumped into Beth.
"Beth?! What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised.
"Hi, Luis. Just thought I'd stop by again. Any chance of us being a couple again?" she asked, pulling close to his face as if he was reluctant to give her a kiss.
He pulled back and he pushed her firmly, but gently back away from him and he stepped back a few paces and he took a deep breath and pulled a little black box out of his pocket.
"Aww...Luis...I knew you'd--"
"It's not for you, Beth. It's for Sheridan."
"Fine," she replied, stiffly as she walked away.
"Dang! I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. It's just that we're over now. She knows that. I mean, she was my first love, technically, but her love could never replace Sheridan's," he thought.
"Fine, Luis. Choose Sheridan Crane over me! Ohh, she's going to pay for that. I need someone to help me though. Someone who'll take her off my hands. Murder is so messy. I hate doing it so much. If I can't find anyone, I'll kill her right in front of my love's eyes. He'll be glad to have me back!" she thought.
Luis, overjoyed, started to race to Sheridan's cottage when he bumped into some people and they fell. He bent down and helped them up and realized it was Chad and Theresa.
"Sorry Chad."
"Hey! What about me? You bumped into me too!"
"Theresa, you're my sister. You don't get an apology. Anyway, where are you guys off to in such a hurry anyway?"
"We're going to see Whitney--"
"And Ethan!!" Theresa cried, overjoyed.
"We gotta go!" chuckled Chad.
"Bye guys," Luis replied.
Luis was on his merry old way in no time. He was racing to Sheridan's cottage and when he finally got there, he spent 7 minutes breathing because he had run so hard. He knocked on the door sharply.
"Who is it?" greeted Sheridan.
"Brian with a bouquet of roses for you," replied Brian, who was already at the door.
Luis hid in the rosebushes in Sheridan's garden and decided a romantic approach to proposing to Sheridan. Suddenly, an idea entered his mind and he decided to put it into play. He'd waste a month's paycheck but it was worth it if Sheridan was going to be his wife.
Luis raced back home and he called "Romantic Roses", which was Harmony's local Florist. He ordered a dozen red roses to be delivered to Ms. Sheridan Crane at precisely 4:00 that evening with the note: "Dear Ms. Crane, it's Luis. Please meet me in the garden."
Then, he ordered another bouquet of red roses to be picked up and he hand-wrote a note attached to the bouquet saying: "Dear Sheridan: Meet me by the beach tonight. I'm bringing a picnic basket and some wine. Remember. The beach at 7:30 tonight. Luis."
Luis set everything up on the beach that night. It was a full moon too. He remembered when full moons came out and Sheridan used to marvel at the romanticity of it. He set up the picnic basket and brought out the sandwiches and chilled the wine and poured some of it into two crystal glasses. Soon, he saw Sheridan coming over the horizon along with the sunset.
"Hi," Sheridan greeted.
"Hi," he said, giving her a romantic kiss.
After they had eaten and sipped some wine, Luis held Sheridan's hand, took a deep breath, gazed deep into her eyes and started his speech.
"Sheridan, I love you. I know you know that, but when I found out that you and Brian had become a 'couple', I was mad. Beth and I were together for a few months. I was heartbroken! I couldn't stop thinking about you. Knowing this, I knew I couldn't live without you. Sheridan, this is the most serious choice that you will make. Sheridan Crane, will you marry me?" he asked whilst popping open a black box with a diamond ring inside.
Sheridan showered him with kisses and hugs and teary-eyed, she nodded yes.
Beth, who was hiding behind a bush, swore quietly and cursed Sheridan. She devised a plan in her mind but there would be an accomplice, someone who was very near.
Brian, who was hiding behind an elm, swore and cursed Luis. He had hated him for taking away his beloved Diana from the very first day that they met.
Sheridan and Luis were overjoyed and began to plan the wedding. They decided to hire a wedding planner (and let Sheridan's family pay for it) and they wanted the wedding in two months. Luis pulled out his cell phone and dialed his sister's number and told her the good news. She decided to help plan the Wedding.
Sheridan went with Theresa and Gwen to pick a wedding dress. Gwen, Theresa, and Whitney were her bridesmaids. Gwen was her Maid-of-Honor. After hours of glancing at the dresses (and price tags) and trying the itchy taffeta dresses on, they finally chose a dress all were proud of.
It was a stunning white dress with a long train and a beautiful lace veil. It was made of pure silk and it's sleeves were lace that hung on Sheridan's upper arms. The veil "clung" onto Sheridan's hair with a little string of pearls. Deciding that the dress was beautiful (but the price tag stung like crazy) they bought it.
Luis, Ethan, and Chad were getting fitted for tuxedos. Like it or not, they purchased three identical tuxedos and polished black shoes.
When Sheridan wrote out the invitations, she sent them to practically everyone. Even Brian (her old love) and Beth (Luis's old love)!! Luis and Sheridan were sure it would be perfectly normal to have them as they had "buryed the hatchet" a week before. Beth and Brian had even gone out on one date!
The day of the Wedding, Sheridan had her hair up with a few loose curls on the side. The three gentlemen were waiting patiently at the altar and when "The Wedding March" started, everyone was nervous.
Sheridan walked slowly down the aisle, her silk rose bouquet in her hand. She finally approached the altar where Father Logan was standing. With a book in his hand, he started his speech. It was now time for their "I do's".
"Do you, Sheridan Crane, take Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"And do you, Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, take Sheridan Crane to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife!" proclaimed Father Logan.
A thousand cheers erupted and they raced out to the awaiting white limousine where a shower of rice was pounding down upon them. When they got into the limousine, Luis reached up and pulled a single piece of rice out of Sheridan's hair. She laughed when she realized what he was doing and what had happened.
After the reception, they went to Bermuda for their honeymoon. When they came back to Harmony afterwards, they couldn't have predicted the things that their love would have to endure.
They bought a house by a brook out by Sheridan's cottage. Sheridan loved the brook. It was always warm water and she would just lie in the brook, with the water running over her, thinking.
One day, Luis woke up and kissed Sheridan gently on the lips. That sent her eyes fluttering open and returning the "wake-up call". After they had gone through their morning routine, Sheridan made breakfast and Luis made coffee. Soon, they were sitting in front of the television eating when Sheridan decided she wanted to sit out by the brook. Knowing that she would be safe, Luis agreed.
When he glanced out the window, he saw his beautiful wife. Her shoes were off and she was wading in the water. He shut off the television to watch her when he saw the most terrible sight he ever did see. A masked person had placed a cloth with a drug on it and she fell unconscious and the masked person dragged her somewhere. Worried, Luis ran outside but to no avail. He couldn't see the attacker anywhere. Soon, he himself was drugged by another masked person and dragged along the ground to somewhere.
Sam decided to give Luis the good news that he was promoted (to Detective) when he saw that the door was wide open. He went inside and found no one there. He called Theresa and asked her to watch their house. He found drag marks outside by the brook. He followed them and the wet footsteps to a warehouse in a nearby town. He raced back to Harmony and he called for back-up.
Meanwhile, Luis and Sheridan were bound to separate chairs across from each other when the masked assailants revealed themselves. It was Beth and Brian. Luis and Sheridan were gagged but soon, Beth removed Luis's gag.
"Beth! What the--? Why are you doing this?!" he yelled, angrily.
"Awww...did the big tough detective get hurt? This is how you hurt me, ok? Dumping me for that white trailer trash, Sheridan Crane!" Beth yelled angrily while she heard Sheridan's low sniffles. "Awww...did I hurt Miss Sheridan Crane's feelings? Aww...it's all right...don't cry. Run back home to your big old daddy who spoiled you. G'head! Try! These ropes have bound you haven't they? They hurting your little wrists? Now you know what work feels like!"
"Beth, stop this. Brian?! What are you doing here?!" Luis yelled, shocked.
Soon, Beth and Brian revealed something else. They didn't plan to let the couple get out of there without one scar as they flashed their newly unsheathed daggers.
"These daggers are sharp, Luis! Right, Sheridan?" Beth explained as she drew a little heart on her hand with the dagger and a ring of blood leaked out. She blotted it because she made a very thin cut.
Brian un-gagged Sheridan and flashed that beautiful grin that she had used to love. But she wasn't his to love anymore. She was Luis's wife and she loved being Luis's wife.
"Diana, I loved you. I loved you more than this scamp ever could. If you come back to me, I'll make sure you don't get hurt. Ok, baby?" he offered.
"Ditto here, Luis," Beth added.
"Whaddya say?" Beth and Brian said simultaneously.
"No. I love Sheridan," Luis barked out.
"I love Luis, Brian. You were my love but it wasn't meant to be," she said wistfully.
"Then face the consequences!" Brian and Beth shouted.
They shut the warehouse doors and locked them. They closed the windows and they each took a dagger. Beth smiled and forced a kiss on Luis's lips. Brian did the same.
Beth, enraged, turned Luis's chair to face Sheridan's and Brian did the same. Beth took a dagger and stabbed it through Sheridan's one arm as she writhed with pain.
"Sheridan!" he cried as he struggled against the tightly bound ropes.
"Here's two for two!" Beth cried as she slammed another one into Sheridan's stomach. Sheridan winced but was still conscious.
"Before you fall unconscious, my dear, watch this," Brian yelled. He stabbed a dagger into Luis's right arm and he cried out in pain.
"Aww...Luis, baby, does that hurt?" Beth taunted.
Brian soon stabbed another one into his stomach and his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he sunk lower, his weight held up by the ropes.
"Luis!" Sheridan cried weakly. "My darling Luis..." muttered she before she too sank unconscious.
Sam tried the door and as soon as Beth and Brian heard that Sam was trying to get in, they left through the back door and they drove off, leaving Luis and Sheridan to die.
Sam hoisted one of his officers through one of the windows and he unlocked the door. Sam walked in and he couldn't see because it was pitch black.
"Boss! We got two wounded over here. They're unconscious!" one officer yelled.
"Call the paramedics!" replied Sam.
"Oh my God! It's Detective Lopez-Fitzgerald and his wife, Ms. Crane, sir!" yelled another one.
Sam's ears perked up and he ran toward the two. Soon, the paramedics arrived on scene and they were able to get them to the Harmony Hospital in time as Sam frantically called their family members.
Julian didn't turn up (at the hospital) as always, but Ivy, Miguel, Charity, Theresa, Gwen, Ethan, and Pilar did. They were all in the hospital waiting room when they received the news that Sheridan was fine and would need a few weeks' bed rest but that Luis was still in critical condition.
As Sheridan was wheeled out to see her family and friends, she too heard the news that her husband was in critical condition. She saw that Luis's family was in tears and praying. She saw Sam too.
"Sheridan, I don't want to hurt you psychologically during a traumatic situation but would you answer--" he started.
"It was Beth and Brian."
"It was who?!" he repeated, shocked.
"Beth and Brian. They drove off, I think, to the nearby town."
"Thanks."
Sheridan hugged Ethan and she wouldn't let go of him. He was her favorite nephew and he was the second-most favorite person she loved. The first was Luis.
She wheeled over to his room which was nearby. She saw that he was hooked up to a jumble of heart machines. Soon, she heard the rude sound of a flat line. Her eyes filled up with tears as she realized it was Luis who had just gone into cardiac arrest. She saw a team of nurses and doctors try to restart his heart and after that, they wheeled him off to surgery immediately. Sheridan sat there in shock, sobbing until her eyes were red and hurt when she blinked.
After an agonizing 27 hours of surgery, Eve came out, her hands blood-stained and her eyes red and her arms stiff and sore. She started to speak.
"We have Luis stabilized for now, but we doubt he'll make it through the night," she stated.
"Thank you," Sherian stuttered.
Pilar and the rest of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family hugged and cried along with Sheridan and they all prayed for his soul to be rescued.
Sheridan, however, left the prayer soon as she raced to the bathroom, clutching her hand to her mouth. She spent most of her night vomiting.
After that terrible ordeal, she wanted to see Eve about her nausea. Eve diagnosed her and came back and told her that she was pregnant. Sheridan just raced to the bathroom, vomiting and sobbing even harder knowing that the magnificent work that God had created for her, inside her, was the child of her "proclaimed hopeless" husband.
"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away," she thought to herself depressingly before she vomited again.
After Sheridan left the hospital, Luis was still in critical condition. He had made it through that night, but he was in a coma which stated that he had a few more weeks to live before he died. Everyday, she visited the hospital to speak to her husband and to check-up on her pregnancy. She was well-enough along and she was due soon. The day she went into labor, minutes before she passed out from the pain, she muttered one word. Luis.
After Sheridan had given birth to a healthy beautiful baby girl named Dalyana Marie to celebrate Luis's hispanic background and her love for Spain. When she was given permission to leave, she had her beautiful baby in her arms, who was fast asleep and she walked quietly into Luis's room. She placed the baby's hand on his and kissed his cheek and talked to him.
Soon, she left and let Luis get his needed rest. She went back home to her cottage, lit some Vanilla-scented candles, placed Dalyana to bed, and sat there paging through the scrapbook that Miguel and Charity had made for Luis when she was "lost at sea". She cried a little and fell asleep with the scrapbook in her arms. She (and the baby) were rudely awakened by a 3:00 AM phone call.
"What?!" she greeted, crankily.
"Sorry to awaken you, Sheridan, but I thought you might want to hear the good news!" Eve cried, excitedly.
"What?"
"Luis is now conscious. He is out of critical condition and he said his first word whilst he was in the coma," she remarked, amazed.
"What was his word?"
"Dalyana...I wonder what that means. Sounds Hispanic."
"Eve! Eve! That's what I named our daughter. Dalyana Marie. I was telling him about our daughter and told him her name last night before I left," Sheridan stated, in tears.
"Well...he'll be able to go home in a couple of weeks", she started when she heard the rude shriek of a baby, "You'll want to tend to the baby now. You can visit him tomorrow at 7:00 AM. Ok?"
"Thank you. Bye."
Sheridan hung up the phone in amazement. Wow! Luis, her Luis, had regained consciousness and had stated the name of his daughter. While she was pondering this, the obnoxious shriek rang again and she raced up the stairs to tend to her darling baby. Sheridan rocked her child in the old rocking chair that Ivy had given her and sang her a song. When Dalyana fell back into a sweet slumber, Sheridan kissed her forehead and placed her back in the crib.
Sheridan herself fell back asleep in the living room (downstairs) with a smile on her face. Still clutching the scrapbook, the next morning, she woke up and prepared a bottle for Dalyana and ran upstairs to see her still asleep. Sheridan (knowing she wouldn't eat until after Dalyana ate) prepared a quick breakfast and began to eat. As luck would have it, Dalyana woke up in the middle of it. Sheridan hastily shoved food in her mouth and downed it in a gulp as she raced upstairs and carried the baby downstairs to the kitchen and fed it the warm milk.
As soon as she was about to drive Dalyana and her to the hospital to see Luis, someone rang the doorbell. Sheridan sighed and walked over to the door and opened it and there stood her husband. She was speechless.
"They let me out early!" he proclaimed. "Now, where's my darling baby girl?"
As soon as Luis walked up to his baby girl, she stared at him. No crying at all. Like a strange psychic bond. He started showering her with kisses and she giggled.
"I have good news. Beth and Brian are locked up. I was thinking..."
"Really? I didn't think you did that often," Sheridan joked.
"Well, we should put a fence around our "property". But first, why don't we clean little Dalyana here up a little and take her on her first picnic? Who knows? Maybe I'll put in a little playground for her?"
"Would you, Luis? Awww...you're the sweetest new father I've ever seen!"
"How many have you seen?" he asked, sarcastically.

The                          End.

Read the sequel...coming soon!!