By Our Hearts We Are One

Chapter 30:

“Well Sheridan, you know what i think, i think that God, had other plans for you than what your family had, and what you had for yourself. Yes you wanted to marry someone who loves you and whom you would love and be happy with, you never cared about your family's money and power since I've known you, but you see just marrying for love wasn’t god's only plans for you. All those things you two went through, just to be together, despite your differences, and despite a multitude of obstacles, you found each other, you have proven to yourself and others that love does conquer all and your baby is proof of that. Your life together is a means for a greater purpose, to give people hope in their daily lives, to show them that love, can get through the mounds and heights of walls, of hardship, sacrifice, obstacles, and differences that always seem to affect them, and this will subdue as long as they have love.

You two should write a book together on your life so far, it will bring inspiration to a lot of people." Sheridan smiled and said, "You were always the optimist and the romantic at heart out of all of us in school." Elizabeth replied, "Yeah, and you were right up there beside me, you were always a romantic as well, anyway, i have to go, i have a plane to catch early tomorrow, i'm going back home, i have a lot of work to do back there, i just came over because my husband's family are involved in some promotions at the embassy, so i was asked to fulfill those obligations. I wish i could stay longer, see we could catch up on old times but....however, let's stay in touch, and if ever you decide to visit Paris again, you two, please come and see me." she said as she handed Sheridan a slip of paper with an address and phone number on it and Sheridan said, "We will, it was great seeing you, please take care." and they then hugged each other and said their farewells.

To Be Continued…

Chapter 31:

Hours later, the Lopez Fitzgeralds were settled in their home. Sheridan, having gone in the nursery to get a change of clothes for adrianna, was standing at her bedroom door, looking in, absorbed at the scene in front of her that captivated her heart. The two people she loved the most, on the bed, seemed to be chatting with each other. Luis looking down on the bed, at his daughter, talking to her, and adrianna, propped up on a pillow, looking up at her father, giggling and demonstrated her love for him, by the excited movements of her arms and legs. Sheridan walked in saying, "You are such a wonderful father, i think lizzie is right. We are meant to be together, i love you so much." She crept on the bed beside him, and they kissed, and then they heard adrianna giggle again and sheridan said, "Well it looks as if the events of this sad day hasn't ruined her sense of humour and her happiness. As parents we must be doing something right." Luis smiled and replied before kissing her again, "We are wonderful parents. No two parents are more loving to each other and to their child as we are, and i love you."

They then kissed again. After sheridan tieded the baby, luis picked adrianna up, propped up his bent legs, and placed adrianna against them, in a sitting position, facing him and sheridan, and sheridan leaning against luis, with both of them talking to her and admiring her. Then within half an hour, all three of them lay cuddled together, fast asleep.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 32:

Months had passed, and during that time, many things had happened. Hanks Murder case was closed and the funeral was held, and beth was charged with manslaughter, and given twelve years in prison, with the possibility for parole. Luis was promoted to detective, thanks to his involvement in bringing down the drug cartel that jean luc was connected with; and then it was christmas once again. It was adrianna's first birthday and everyone in harmony were making the preparations for the celebrations. Sheridan and luis had invited everyone to the youth center for adrianna's birthday party that was to take place right after the 8:00 pm christmas eve mass. They had grown so close to everyone in harmony, the Bennetts, the Russels, Ivy, Gwen, and Ethan, as well as some of luis's pool hall friends and others... Some invited guests volunteered to prepare something for the party. The teenagers decorated the room with balloons and streamers, and ivy delivered the birthday cake, ethan and gwen, the ice cream, the Bennets supplied cookies and sandwiches, and the russels supplied a variety of beverages. Theresa, sheridan, and pilar made a pinata, that was part of the decor. The party was scheduled to last about three to four hours, since everyone wanted to get home with their respected families to continue with their christmas celebrations

Everyone gathered in the large decorated room, and luis held adrianna, and they surrounded the large table, for sheridan lit the birthday candle. Adrianna wasso much like her mother now. The similarities was astounding, she inherited her mother's beautiful features, however, where sheridan's hair is golden blonde, adrianna's was very light brown, almost a sandy blonde shade.

Theresa, sheridan and ethan, began singing the Happy Birthday song, with a curious, yet confused Adrianna looking on. After minutes of being shown how to blow out the candle, adrianna lost patience with her onlookers and stuck her hand in the corner of her cake and excitedly involved herself in playful motions of serving herself, with her onlookers and shocked parents in an outpoor of laughter, then luis said, "That's my daughter, show your mother how it is done. Enjoy yourself, your aunt ivy brought it for you." ivy laughed and replied, "My my darling and if you want, have it all, this is your day." sheridan shook her head and said, "ivy, luis, you two are just as bad, don't encourage her. I will be the one up with her tonight with a tummy ache, with all that sugar.and besides, she should save some for others. Luis make sure she doesn't eat the whole thing."

Minutes passed and while everyone endulged themselves in the fascinated sight of adrianna, a sharp pain went through sheridan's legs, then to her stomach. She placed a hand on her tummy, and squinged her eyes. Theresa, on seeing this, went to sheridan and asked her softly, "Sheridan, are you okay?" sheridan nodded her head and said, "Yes, i'm fine, it is passing. It's probably an upset stomach, i've been having this pain whole day, or maybe it's cramps, i sometimes get them at least a week or two before, you know." Theresa, replied, "Oh, i hate those. Do you want me to get something for you to take." sheridan shook her head and said, "Oh that's okay, i took something before i left home." Theresa replied, "Oh well then, it'll start working in awhile. I can see luis and adrianna are having a good time. You know i have an idea." She left sheridan's side, took adrianna from her baby chair, carried her to wash her hands and returned with her saying, "Everyone, i just had a talk with my niece, and she gave me this fabulous request. She would like, for her birthday to see her mom and dad, show her, by giving her first lesson on how she was made, NO, that was just a joke (everyone laughs) No i meant to say was the tango, she'll like you to do the tango."

Everyone clapped in support of the request and chad put on the music, in encouragement. Luis led sheridan on the dance floor, and led her in the passionate and romantic dance that made them famous for, since the day they met. Through each motion and step and movement, the couple relived their passion for each other in the view of an audience and little adrianna sat in her aunt's lap and absorbed in her mother and father's performance. When the dance was over, before letting sheridan go, luis pulled her in a kiss, and then as they walked in the direction of their daughter, who was clapping for them, Sheridan grabbed her stomach, once again in pain, but this time it didn't seem to subside, and seeing sheridan double over in pain, luis lifted her up in his arms, and after pilar, ivy, grace and gwen cleared the table, luis laid her on it and called out, "Eve! Eve! what's wrong with her?" Eve shook her head and said, "I'm not sure luis, but we'll find out. Kids, do you mind leaving the room, theresa, you can stay, sheridan feels close to you, and you ivy, maybe you know what's wrong." Theresa handed the baby to whitney, and as they left the room she closed the door behind them." Theresa walked over to the table, and placed one hand, caressing sheridan's forehead, and with the other hand, took hold of sheridan's hand as sheridan cried in pain. Theresa then said, I don't know. Actually, about fifteen to twenty minutes ago, this happened to her, she had this pain, but it was not bad. She said that it could have been something she ate, or .....or maybe cramps." Eve said to sheridan, "Sheridan, listen i know you're in pain, but i need you to answer a few questions for me, so we'll know how serious this is, okay, now tell me, have you seen any bleeding, not that kind of bleeding but unusual things, vomitting, nausea, tiredness, diarrhoea, anything like that?" sheridan shook her head and eve said, "Okay, good, well now i need to check your stomach, and when i press i want you to tell me if you feel anything, okay?" eve lightly pressed on a small exposed area of sheridan's stomach and abdomen, a few seconds later, sheridan screamed out in pain. "Okay, okay, sheridan, that's okay, i won't do that again, alright, um, i have my suspicions, but before i could say anything i need to reconfirm them, so we'll need to get her to the hospital and run a couple tests, okay?" Eve said and then within a couple minutes, sheridan was being taken to the hospital, with theresa, ethan, gwen and adrianna as well as whitney in one car following and sam and grace in another, while ivy went with eve, luis and sheridan. The other kids stayed back to clean up the youth center and to carry everything to the lopez fitzgeralds.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 33:

Within minutes, sheridan was being wheeled into emergency, with luis close behind, strain and worry written on his face, and pilar, theresa, adrianna, gwen, ethan and ivy, closeby. When the doors closed behind them, luis turned to face everyone. He said, "I can't believe this is happening, she has been through so much already, mama, she's got to be fine. I can't lose her. I just can't. I have waited all my life for her and now we are so happy, i can't live without her." Tears trickled from luis, and pilar held him close and replied, "Luis, listen, don't jump to conclusions, sheridan's problem, can be a number of things; yes she was in serious pain, but you know eve will do anything she can, just put your trust in God, for he is very much aware of what you and sheridan have gone through, both as individuals and together, and he will be the one to give you strength, okay, mijo!" Luis nodded.

Eve had just then entered and requested for everyone to sit, before she revealed the results. She also told them that she already gave sheridan a run down on her results. Luis then said, "So Eve, you found something? What is it? cause whatever it is you must tell me." Eve sat down opposite the group and replied, "Oh, we found a little something alright. It was something i suspected, however let me just tell you, we did the most thorough examination and tests." luis said, "the most thorough examination? eve, what is wrong with sheridan? is there anything you can do for her." eve replied, "well, there is nothing much i can do for awhile, you see what sheridan has is something that will fix itself in, ummm, about seven months time, just do what you've done when she was carrying adrianna, and with a lot of rest, regular meals, and taking care of herself is important." luis smiled, in shock and said, "you mean, she's..." eve smiled and said, "merry christmas, yes," luis then said, "but is she and the baby alright, i mean why did she get those pains."

Eve replied," Well, it seems that sheridan didn't know she was pregnant again, and with all the running around she's been doing, and then her fixation in excessive jogging to lose that little bit of remaining baby fat from the pregnancy, plus not getting enough sleep, plus her committments at the library, all these strenuous, activities have just taken toll on her and causing an imbalance and tension as well as discomfort for the baby, now, there was no sign of bleeding which is generally good news, because if there was bleeding and we were unable to stop it, then it could have led to something we call, spontaneous abortion, or in clearer words, a miscarriage, now these things happen, but thank god for sheridan, she did not have that problem, but we want to keep her overnight just to keep an eye on her, but don't worry, she's fine and the baby is fine.

Now the reason she has not seen any symptoms, which is the normal case in, excessive tiredness, or sometimes more energy than normal, or nausea, or even sometimes skipping a month or two, as in sheridan's case, is because for one, she is irregular, so it is difficult to tell, and two, sometimes she is so active that the symptoms just don't bother her, but as i said before, she is fine. She is awake now so if you all want, you can go and see her, and most important she's been asking for adrianna." luis replied, "Thank you very much eve, why not we all go in at once, i'm sure she'll be happy to see all of you." They all agreed and as theresa got up slowly with a sleeping adrianna in her arms, they all headed for the room.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 34:

Months had passed after that night. Sheridan became more careful of choosing and pursuing her daily activities under advice from eve. She was never so active while pregnant with adrianna, but things changed. She had become more involved in community in activities, and with adrianna, crawling, and trying to speak, she had to become more attentive of her. But now things had changed. She was now carrying another baby, especially soon after the last one and at one and half years old, adrianna was more active than ever, learning how to walk. She was brimming on the the terrible two stages as people warned sheridan about, but sheridan didn't let that bother her. She was enjoying every moment of her child growing up and looking forward to the baby that she was carrying for almost 8 months now, and she frequently enjoyed the limited word conversations with her daughter.

One evening, after dinner, sheridan and theresa were cleaning up, when luis lifted adrianna, from her baby seat, and said, "Okay angel, let's go in the living room, and play while mommy and aunty teri, cleans up." Sheridan smiled and replied sarcastically, "Oh, thank you very much luis." he kissed her before leaving the kitchen.

A few minutes after luis left, sheridan and theresa having packed away the dishes, decided to join luis and adrianna, however assheridan turned to walk, her legs became numb, and a stinging pain, passed through her body, and grabbed the backrest of a chair close by and theresa seeing this, went to her and said, "Sheridan.... Oh my god, (then shouted) Luis! Luis!" Luis immediately, forgetting adrianna, sped into the kitchen, and sheridan said, "Luis..i don't know why this is happening...uhh...call eve, cause if this is labor, and it seems my water just broke, well it is too soon, we have another 4 weeks again, or so, ......ewww that was strong, now it's passing. I think i should still go to the hospital." Just then, adrianna came in and theresa picked her up, and told luis to take sheridan to the hospital, and she'll call ethan and gwen to pick her up and they'll come over as soon as they could.

Luis agreed and after informing eve of the situation, they left for the hospital. Hours passed and luis and sheridan were waiting in a room, with sheridan lying on a bed and luis sitting close by. Eve, finally came in, and told sheridan she would need to check the position of the baby. After doing an ultra sound and pelvic examination, eve said, "Well your water broke, so there is nothing we can do about that. Now i don't know what caused this but, we have two choices, now you are just 4 to 5 weeks away from your approximated scheduled delivery, so you can, remain in bed for the rest of the time, or we can do a cesarian section, and remove the baby, because it has not completely turned in position yet for a normal delivery, now either way, there is risk because your water has broke, as you know, and i know this is premature, so, it is up to you. Whatever you decide i will support you. I'll let you talk it over for as much time as you need just don't take too long, now if you decide to have the cesarian section, as soon as we get him out, we'll put him in an incubator, where he or she will stay until it reaches the full stage, which means it will be there for the 4 weeks left. Now, i promise you won't feel anything, and you'll be fully awake, and......you can have more children after that, don't worry. I know you both would probably have wanted to go through normal delivery like with adrianna, but this time i won't advise it. So when you decide, just give me a buzz, and we can discuss it more and then we'll proceed, okay, so,...i have got to check out my other patients so i'll check you back in a little while, okay" Then she left them in wander.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 35:

An hour had passed, in which, sheridan and luis discussed what road to take. After awhile, they decided to go ahead with the cesarian and shortly after sheridan was wheeled into the theater, and given an anesthesia. Sheridan lay on the bed, with luis by her side and nurses busy at work. Using one hand, luis caressed the hairline of sheridan's head, eve said, "Okay, sheridan, i already made the cut, now you are going to feel a little pressure, because i'm going to take out the baby, okay." luis heard sheridan moan and said, "You make me so proud. Do you know how many times you surprise me." sheridan smiled slightly and said, "no, but i bet you're gonna tell me, and i don't mind hearing." luis replied, "Well i would love to give you the exact number but i've lost count.

But i can tell you between you and me, that i don't think any guy will be able to go through what you women do. Having a baby is something i think alot of us guys will give up on but women like you just continue doing it,and now with this, you are so calm and patient." sheridan smiled, "What are you saying, are you finally admitting that women are physically stronger at times and very capable of anything that is handed or thrown at them?" luis smiled and shook his head, "Boy i was really missing the fiesty side of you, okay what i'm saying is that.....," he was cut off by, "Okay guys, if you have time from rekindling your famous form of sweet talk, please say hi! to your son, sheridan, luis, you can see him before we take him to get him checked out."

Eve brought the baby over to sheridan and luis, luis held one of sheridan's hands while sheridan used the other to lightly caresss the baby's cheek, as eve held him. Sheridan became filled with emotion and tears trickled down her cheek, then she said, "Eve, will he be okay?" eve said, "he'll be fine, we'll get him checked outand then afterwards, he'll be placed in an incubator, just for the time he would have spent in the last month of a full term pregnancy. It is a normal procedure. So don't worry, and after i take care of you, a little later, we'll take you to see him, okay." Eve handed the baby to the nurse and eve went back to care for sheridan."

Four to five hours later, sheridan was looking through the incubator window to look at her son. She used the hand opening to take her son's tiny hand in hers and lightly caressed his fingers. In a loving voice she spoke to him, "Oh honey, mommy is so sorry. I love you so much, you are so beautiful and precious to me, and you're my little boy. My goodness, you're the print of you're daddy." She said, wiping the tears on her cheeks with her other hand and then she continued, "just hang in there sweetie, you know, i did, i loved your father so much for a long time and he loved me, and it took us a long time to admit it, but we hung in there for each other, and now we are together, and you have a sister and now we are blessed with you. I can't wait to have you in my arms."

The baby moved his head and made little light murmurs. Sheridan smiled and leaned closer to the incubator. Luis stood close behind sheridan with his hands on her shoulders and said, "Hey buddy, listen to your mom, she's right, i mean she can be a little stubbornly sweet at times," sheridan nudged him and said, "hey speak for yourself." then luis continued, "but.. she loves you, we all love you and you know what, when we have you home, we'll tell you the story of how your mom and i met and got together; so just hang in there."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 36:

Within minutes, luis was pushing the wheel chair that sheridan was in, inside her room and he heard her sobbing and went to face her, knelt infront of her, took her hands in his, and said, "Hey, sheridan, what is this about?" Sheridan looked in his eyes and said, "Luis, what have i done. It is because of me that our son is there." Luis then replied, "What? Sheridan, it is not your fault. You heard what eve said, these things just sometimes happen, and another, eve said that he was fine, he's going to be okay." sheridan's voice raised replied, "okay! luis you saw him, if he was okay then he shouldn't need to be in there. Haven't we been through enough." Luis replied, "Sheridan, what can i say to convince you these things happen. Listen, you're right, we've been through alot, but we've worked through it before, and we'll do that now.

Look all we have is to wait one month, and then he'll be with us forever. okay?" She smiled at him slightly and said, "you see why i love you. Well i believe you. I know i did everything eve told me to do since i found out i was pregnant. I just thought that maybe thre was more i could have done, but luis, promise me something; promise me that the four of us will always be together, that we'll work through everything together. I don't think i could take anything breaking us up. You've made me fall so deeply i love with you that i can't imagine my life without you, i don't ever want to lose you. Promise me." luis replied, "You will never lose me sheridan, i cherish our love so much, that if i ever lost you, i would die." Sheridan smirked, "no you won't, cause i won't let you. I guess no matter how many obstacles we got through together, is that everytime one pops up again, i get the jitters, but i do trust and believe in you and our love,." He kissed her and then said, "Good, now our son is getting the best care, so it is your turn to get better, because i can't wait for you to be up and around." luis helped sheridan from the wheel chair and on the bed.

Shortly after, they were joined by pilar, theresa, ivy, ethan, gwen and little adrianna. Ivy said, "Sheridan, how are you feeling?" Sheridan replied, "lousy, besides feeling cut up and sewn back, my son is locked in an incubator instead of me, walking on the beach with my daughter and enjoying the last month of my pregnancy with him. Does that answer your question?" Ivy replied, "So i guess you're feeling out of the normal, huh?" Sheridan replied, "You know, ivy, i am going to take it asif you're having fun with me. Hey adri, mommy missed you. Come and sit with me." she indicated to her daughter. Theresa put adrianna on the bed, and adrianna crawled to sit next to her mother. Sheridan kissed her and held her close.

Five weeks later, the entire gang, gathered at the lopez fitzgeralds to welcome the baby home. Everyone was very pleased and excited with the new baby, this would also be the first time that adrianna would have physical contact with her brother. Sheridan sat on the sofa, while luis sat in a chair on one side of her, holding the baby. Ivy sitting next to her on the couch, theresa on the carpet with gwen and ethan, playing with adrianna, sam and grace, sitting on chairs nearby, with pilar, whitney and eve. "oh, it is wonderful to be home with my little boy." sheridan said. Sam then said, "So luis, what is it like being a father of two. i mean almost three years ago, you couldn't be in the the same room together, without biting each others head off and then sheridan flew to paris, you went to save her life, came back here, got married, had a baby and now you're a father again.

Boy love was meant for you two. Reminds me so much of grace and me, man we were so in love, still are, that we couldn't take our hands off each other, and had our kids one after the other. I think that if grace could still have children, we'd have a whole brood of them." Everyone laughed and grace said, "Hey, just because you love to play house, doesn't mean that i'd be having a baby every year, and don't give luis ideas. How are you so sure that sheridan would want a brood of children. You guys don't know what it is to carry a baby for nine months, swollen ankles, getting nausea, having to put in all that weight, being in painful labor for hours and hours, and you know what it feels like, it is like driving a buick through your abdomen, or even in simpler terms, try pushing something the size of a watermelon out of the size of a lemon and see how you feel." They all laughed again and sam replied, "Yeh, but that's why you gals do it, because if you didn't , well the population as i know it would have ended a long time ago, cause no guy will do it."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 37:

Ivy then replied, "I agree with you grace, what we girls go through for the love of our men." Sheridan stole a quick glance at luis and smiled and then said, "Well, i know form, i would do it all over again and knowing it is with luis makes it all that matters in the world. I love kids. I really do, and luis and i want a huge family." Everyone continued talking until the baby started to cry, and sheridan said, "well i guess now it's my turn." sheridan took the baby from luis, and then sam said, "You know, i think we should let sheridan have this time. I don't think she needs over half a dozen eyes invading." As he got up, sheridan replied, "Oh, sit down. There is nothing i have that you haven't seen before, i mean, what did you do, close your eyes when you made love to grace and when she nursed the kids, and besides you were there last year with adrianna. And anyway, i normally cover myself with a baby towel, you know that."

Within minutes, sheridan was feeding the baby and then theresa asked, so, have you decided on a name yet?" sheridan then replied, "how about luke. because he's our little lucky charm," Ivy replied, "oh that is so sweet. Hmm, i remember the first real date you and luis had when you went to the lobster shack. I could remember julian's face. He was furious, but i was so glad sheridan, that you finally stood up for yourself. Julian was so focused in stressing me out by his inability to control you. He kept on hounding me about the two of you going out, but boy, i gave it to him, he was even more angry with me when i was finished." Sheridan then said, "really, why? what did you tell him?" Ivy smirked and said, "Well, i told him that it was none of his business who you went out with and that if you wanted to date luis, and if you wanted to marry luis, and if you wanted to have fifteen children with luis, then that was your prerogative."

Sheridan replied, "well you sure seemed to know what would happen with luis and me, before we did. "ivy smiled and said, "well, i believe in true love, and that it will always find a way and i told julian that no matter what he and alistair did, to try to keep the two of you apart, the first time, that sooner or later, love would have brought you back together. Boy, i am so glad when i am right." While the conversation was going on, the telephone rang, and luis got up to answer it.

A few moments later, he hung up, and looked over to sam and said, "Ah, sam, that was gregg, at headquarters, it seems he got a tip concerning a drug exchange going on at the warf." Sam replied, "What! What happened with denley, isn't he on patrol tonight. Well i have to get down there. Are they sending backup for us." Luis then replied, "Yes, gregg said that he arranged it." Sam said, "Okay, let's go. Sorry to take him away from you sheridan..." Sheridan replied, "Don't worry sam. My hero, once again to the rescue." Luis bent to kiss luke's head lightly then kissed sheridan then adrianna, and then he and sam left.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 37:

Shortly after, sheridan felt a shiver go down her spine and her expression changed, which became very noticeable to those around her. Ivy, said, "Sheridan, are you okay? Suddenly you don't seem yourself, what's wrong?" Sheridan then replied, "I don't know. I guess everytime luis has one of those cases, i just get a terrible feeling in my stomach." Pilar then said, "Well, don't think about it. Luis is very good at what he does and he is very careful." Sheridan then replied, "I know, but i remember some of the risks he takes and i always fear that one day something may happen." Pilar went over to sheridan and took luke from her and rocked him gently and said," Sheridan, try to relax yourself, okay." Sheridan, ethan, gwen, theresa, grace, ivy and pilar carried out their conversation while adrianna was fast asleep on the baby mat.

Some hours passed and eve's beeper went off. She excused herself and made a quick trip to the kitchen to reply to her message. It was sam. "Eve, this is sam, we have an emergency, we need you to come down to the hospital immediately." Eve said, "Sam what happened, how come you called instead of the hospital." Sam replied, "because i thought i should do it, but the hospital is notified of the emergency. You see it is luis. He has sustained multiple shots to his chest." Eve replied, "My God," Sam then replied, "Yes, get here immediately. and you should tell sheridan, she needs to know." Eve replied," Alright." After hanging up the phone, eve slowly walked back, into the living room, where everyone were and she looked over at sheridan and thought,(how am i going to do this, she is such a sweet girl, unlike the rest of the cranes, and she and luis are so in love. They have two beautiful children and they've been through so much already. How am i going to tell her that luis may die)

Within minutes ivy saw her expression and said, "Eve, are you alright? you look like you've seen a ghost, you've gone completely white. Who was that on the phone?" Eve replied, "It was, uh, it was, sam. There is an emergency, and i have to get down to the hospital." Ivy said, "my god, what happened," Eve slowly moved her gaze from ivy to sheridan , who then stood, and sheridan said, "Eve, what is it, come on tell us," Eve then said," It's, uh, it seems that something happened. From what sam told me, there was a problem with the drug bust. They did'nt see what was coming, but it seems it involved some heavy drug dealers and one of them was holding a child hostage.

Luis and sam were able to talk the drug dealers to let the child go, and when he did, it seems that another involved, attempted to kill the child, but he was saved." Everyone gasped in shock and ivy said, "Well that is good news, so what's the emergency," eve looked back at sheridan and said, "Well it was who that saved him. Sheridan, luis saw one of the other guys pointing a gun at the child, and luis, not wanting the child in a line of fire against both sides, ran infront of the child to push him out of the way and luis got shot instead." Sheridan swayed and shook her head and cried out, "No! No! not luis, no this is not happening." She started to cry and ethan got up and immediately went to sheridan to hold her and tried to comfort her and eve said," He's not dead, but it does not look good. I am heading over there right now." Sheridan said, "I, i need to go, i told him i won't let him leave me. i have to be there for him. He needs me." Ethan said, "Okay, we'll all go, Sheridan, theresa, gwen, whitney, mom, you come with me, and pilar, grace, you can go with Dr. Russell, let's take up the babies and go."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 38:

Within minutes, they all packed the respective cars. Sheridan held luke in ethan's car and pilar held adrianna in eve's and in no time had they arrive at the hospital. Gwen took Luke from sheridan and sheridan and theresa hurried along the corridors of the hospital and waited outside the emergency room, until eve came to give them some information. They were then joined by sam who held sheridan to give her support.

Eve then came out and said, "Alright, now, he has two bullets in his stomach, which at the moment is not dangerous, but, there is one lodged close to his heart. We'll be taking him into surgery now to remove them. This is a critical operation, and i'm sorry i can't tell you what his chances are, but he'll need all the prayers he can get." Sheridan then replied, "May i see him." Eve then said, "Yes, but only a couple minutes, he'll be going into surgery soon," Sheridan walked towards the room and eve continued giving the others information on luis's prognosis.

Sheridan wet to sit in a chair close to the bed and took one of luis's hands in hers, and with tears running down her cheeks said, "Luis, everything is going to be okay. Eve is going to help you. Just know that when you come out I'll be here for you. I love you with all my heart." she kissed him and then he was wheeled away into surgery.

They all sat waiting hours and hours for the operation to end. During the time, pilar led the family in prayer, with ethan as support for sheridan. A couple times, shealmost lost it. Fearing that she'll lose him. Sometimes, she happened to remember, their life together from the moment they met, which did nothing to ease her. From the obstacles that kept them apart for months, to what brought them together, to their marriage and the birth of their babies to the present, the memories became an album of pictures that she could'nt let go, the memories meant alot to her, but at the moment, it was not the memories she wanted but luis back with her. She could'nt bear to lose him. He was her life, what kept her living all these years. When she broke down in tears, she would look at her children, the two babies she and luis created together, and she realised that she had to be strong.

Five hours had passed and eve finally emerged from the operating theatre, followed by the wheelbed luis was on. Sheridan got up and rushed to where eve was and asked, "Well eve, how is he, is he going to be fine?" Eve replied, "Well it is too soon to tell. We had some close calls in there. Now he is still unconscious, and it will be for us to wait and see how he gets through the night." Sheridan then said, "Can i go to see him," eve smiled and said, "Of course you can, you know even though he is asleep, he can still hear you. "Sheridan left them and went to see luis.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 39:

As sheridan left them to go to luis, Grace said, "She is really worried about him. I wish there was something we could do," then gwen said, while holding luke, "All we could do is be here for her. She has been in love with him for a very long time. Some people may not agree with me or they just may not know this but, i think she has loved him from that first day they danced together, you know, that day at pilar's birthday. And, the more they tried to deny their feelings, is the more their love grew stronger.

You know i think if he was to die, she would die with him. I wonder how pilar would feel to have to raise two babies now. I just pray luis will be fine. No one has ever made sheridan feel loved more than him. Well, we just have to keep faith." Pilar then said, "Listen, if i know sheridan, i won't have to raise the babies, because she is not going to let luis leave her. You know when sheridan is ready, she is determined to get what she wants, and her and luis's love is so strong that to them, this is just another obstacle to work through." They all agreed.

Back in Luis's room

Sheridan sat in the chair that was close to the bed. She took his hand in hers and said, 'Luis, honey, did i tell you how proud i am of you for saving that little boy's life. Well, i am. You know i was thinking about the first moment we met. Luis, you gave me something no one else has ever given me. A reason to live. You made me fall in love with you over and over again, luis, you have to fight to come back to me. Luis i need you, we need you. You hear me luis, i need you." She gave him a light kiss on his lips and then left to check up on her children.

Hours had passed in which pilar, theresa, and miguel had also gone to see luis. Sheridan had become extremely tired over the hours, and having no change to luis's condition did not help. He still had not woken up and everyone became worried. Ethan and Gwen offered to take adrianna home and to stay with her, since she became sleepy, and groggy and didn't want to leave her mother for a moment. She was so attached to her mother that any separation became very difficult. Pilar held the baby as pilar held adrianna.

Time passed and everytime eve passed, sheridan would search her eyes for good news, but all eve could do was shake her head to indicate there was no change. Even more hours had passed and sheridan decided to go to the chapel.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 40:

Sheridan handed adrianna over to theresa, and hurried along to the hospital chapel. As she entered the small candel lit chapel, she walked up to the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the baby Jesus, knelt on the stool, in front, clasped her hands, and looked up and said in prayer, "Oh, holy mother, over the years , you and your son have given me strength and guidance. I asked you last year, when i was in paris, to send someone who will love me completely and truly and who will take care of me, and you did just that. You showed me that luis was the man for me, the one who will love me, the man who will always be there for me. You showed us that we loved each other. You brought us together, you blessed our marriage, and you gave us two beautiful babies. Please, ask your son to bring back luis to me, ask him to bring back the man i love, the man that you sent to love me. I love him so much, and i need him. If it is not your will, if it is not meant to be, please, just take him into your heart. Don't let him suffer. Do it for his family, for his children. Please."

Sheridan's eyes welled up with tears and then she felt a hand on her shoulders. When she looked up, there was ivy, watching her. Sheridan stood and ivy took her in her arms. After a couple minutes, ivy said, wiping the tears from her sister in law's eyes, "You know, sheridan, don't lose faith, okay. I have never seen a love like yours and luis's, and it will help both of you get through. You know, do you remember that time when luis threw that party for you at the graduation, and you said you hated him because of what you thought hedid to you, well i know you did not hate him.

Ethan told me, that he found you outside the youth centre in tears because of how much you were hurting, and it was not because of what he did to you, but because you loved him so much and you were hurting because he did not tell you what you wanted to hear. That he loved you too. You wanted him to admit it before you did. And what about that night when we all went to the Seascape for dinner, the night before you left for paris.. Did you really think that it was just a farewell. Sheridan, honey, i suggested it ecause i found out from pilar that she was going to suggest to luis that he take their family to dinner with a gift certificate that they won, and so i decided to get you there to see him. I really thought you would have allowed yourselves to learn what tore you apart in the first place and then you would'nt have to leave harmony.

But i couldn't let julian know what i was up to. Why do you think you were drawn to go to the roof top? Because luis's spirit drew you there. But you know when you left that day for paris, i was notworried because i knew sooner or later, love would have brought you back together. Sheridan, you and luis have overcome so many obstacles already, just look at this as another one to overcome, okay." She pulled sheridan back in her arms and then, "Sheridan, mom, you better come quickly. It's luis, his heart has gone flat line." Ethan said and sheridan let ivy go and ran out of the chapel and hurried through the corridors till she reached outside luis's room where everyone met her. She screamed, "Nooo, Luis, noo, i..love..you.. please God,"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 41:

Ethan and ivy, immediately ran to her and held her. Ivy was able to calm her after awhile, and they all stood outside the room as the doctors and nurses as well as eve, worked diligently to revive him. Sheridan looked at her children, adrianna asleep in theresa's arms, with strain and fear written on her face, losing another brother is not what theresa deserves, sheridan thought. She then looked over to pilar, holding a sleeping luke in her arms, losing another son, she shouldn't have to go through that again, she thought. Sheridan bent her head and whispered, Oh, Lord, help him, help them, please, i don't mean to be selfish, but i need him, his children need him and his mother and brother and sister need him. Please lord. Luis remember what we always said, remember one of our mottos, by our hearts we are one, luis draw strength from me, i love you, we all love you. You always gave me strength, so take some from me now, please luis.

Some time after, eve emerged and sheridan once again shook her head and tears started to flow again. Eve then said, "I can't believe it, we worked on him for ten to fifteen minutes, and i thought we lost hope, and just a minute before we were ready to read the time of death, his heart started to beat again." Sheridan then said, "You mean he is fine," eve said, "well, his heart is beating again, but it is weak, very faint,and the only thing we could do is wait for it to strengthen, time is what we need the most." sheridan then said, "may i see him." eve smiled and nodded and with the nurses and interns clearing the room sheridan went in to luis. Ethan then said, "Whatever she prayed for, whatever she did, my god i will never understand that kind of love she and luis have.

You know for a couple minutes before you came out Dr. Russell, i was holding her hands, and i felt it get really warm and almost, i don't know how to explain it..." and ivy said, "almost like she had no life in her body, her hand became feather light." and ethan said, "yes, it was as if something was drawing strength from her, or as if she was giving it. She was so quiet," ethan said and then pilar added, "She was, it was her strength and love that brought luis back. I never had that with martin but what we had came close. I guess God bonded them from birth, so whether sheridan came back when she did, from paris the first time, or not, they would have found each other one day. Their hearts were joined a long time ago." Everyone, sat together, while sheridan went to sit with luis.

To Be Continued...

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