Surprise

********At the Crane Mansion**********

"Why, Pilar, you look awful distraught today. What's wrong?" questioned Ivy. "Oh, it's just Luis. I have never in all my life seen Luis act this way. I just don't know what to do about it. He hasn't come out of his room since he got back from Paris two days ago," replied Pilar, obviously overwhelmed with concern. "You mean to tell me that he flew all the way to Paris to save Sheridan's life and they didn't resolve their differences? Are they both blind or just stupid?" Ivy remarked. "I know, I know. But they are both so stubborn sometimes. I think that Luis is finally realizing it though. He has done nothing but pace around his room and talk to himself since he got home. He said that he is still worried about Sheridan being killed and he regrets coming back so soon. And now with Miguel's broken leg, we cannot afford for him to fly back again. I just don't know what to do. I don't know how to help my son," Pilar cried. "Well, I think I have something in mind that just might do the trick! But first I need you to do something for me. It is very important. Julian left to go see Alistair for a few days and while he was out he told me to have you clean his library and to especially dust his desk drawers," Ivy replied with a huge smile spread across her face. "But Mrs. Crane, Mr. Crane will have my head if I go into his library and clean," Pilar said. "Oh Pilar, just make sure you clean the TOP RIGHT DESK DRAWER and make sure you put everything back in place and Julian will not know what hit him!" Ivy said in a rather pushy tone. "Does this have anything to do with why Sheridan still hates my son?" inquired Pilar slowly catching on to Ivy's hints. "Well just go do what I asked and we will discuss it after you see for yourself without any HELP from me, I might add!" Ivy stressed.

***********In Paris**************

"But Roger, we have to kill her quickly before Interpol closes in on us!" whined Pierre. "I know Pierre. Stop whining. Because of all of our failed attempts we must put all of our efforts into this time so we can make sure Sheridan Crane isn't alive to harm us! I have a plan you idiot to make sure Sheridan's death is as certain as tomorrow's sunrise. Just be patient. One more day and her life is in our hands. Or should I say her death?" Roger laughed obviously pleased with his overconfident self.

********The Lopez Fitzgerald Residence********

"What have I done? How could I have let my emotions get in the way of saving her?" Luis whispered moping to himself. Luis hasn't left his room for two days and he hasn't shaved, hasn't showered, hasn't slept and remains pacing back and forth in a trance in the same boxers he was wearing yesterday. (I had to add that mental picture of Luis wearing nothing but boxers! Sorry!) "What will I do without her? Nothing will be the same. Oh dear God, please watch over her. Somehow at least let her know I love her. But please bring her back to me safely. I know I don't talk to you enough but I need her in my life. I need you so much now, Lord. Please help me. Please!" Luis cried. Luis just sat at the end of the bed with his head in his hands and sobbed for the first time since he lost his father years ago. Now he just kept repeating, "I love you Sheridan, I love you."

********Back at the Crane Mansion**********

"Ivy!" Pilar screamed. "Is this what I think it is? How could Julian do this to them!" Pilar was furious now. "Calm down Pilar, you have to calm down! Now that you have found the evidence you can tell Sheridan the truth and I am sure she will come back. I couldn't have told you any earlier because Julian threatened to hurt Ethan and you know how I feel about Ethan," Ivy explained. "I have to call Sheridan! If it isn't too late!" Pilar exclaimed. "Well now that you ACCIDENTALLY found the mask I can support the story so there is no reason for Sheridan to disbelieve us. And she will of course come running home right away and right back into Luis' arms!" Ivy gleefully exclaimed imagining a reunion between the two. "I just hope that Sheridan is still alive. What if Luis was right that she is still in danger? He will be devastated if he loses her," Pilar said. "We have to get ahold of her right away! Where is the phone number?" Ivy asked. "Here it is, I kept it with me because of how Luis has been reacting! I also have the hospital's in case I need them for Luis!" Pilar explained. "Well hurry up!" jumped Ivy.

**********Paris************

Sheridan has been suffering the past two days. She won't leave her hotel room and because of her missing Luis all she wanted was to be alone so she locked herself in her bedroom and has yet to come out. Antoine was frequently on the phone checking in with Pierre and Roger. Today an idea came into his head and so he quickly dialed up the drug duo. "Well boys, she has yet to leave her bedroom and I don't even think we will have to kill her. She will probably just commit suicide or something," Antoine said happy to be free of guilt with Sheridan's death. Roger replied, "If she doesn't kill herself by tomorrow you will have to carry out the plan as advised. Don't screw it up. Her death is vital!" Little did they know Sheridan had just gotten up for a drink of water and with Luis' suspicions in her mind she decided to eavesdrop when she heard Antoine dial up someone. "Oh my God! What am I going to do? He was right! Oh my, I am so stupid.

He was right all along. Now what am I going to do?" Sheridan thought to herself as she crept back into her bed. "Okay, Sheridan, you are a smart person, you can get yourself out of this. You have to get yourself out of this if you want to live again," Sheridan thought as her mind raced frantically trying to think of anything to get her out of there. "But where will I go? I can't go back to Harmony. Seeing Luis will just hurt too much and there isn't anything left for me in Harmony. Maybe it would be better if I just let them kill me," Sheridan whimpered to herself. Just then the phone rang. Sheridan jumped about a mile high until she realized it was just the phone and not a gunshot. As she emerged from her room to get the phone she just kept saying to herself, "Be cool, you can do it. You can't let him know that you are on to him if you want to live." Sheridan picked up the phone and said,"Hello!" anxiously hoping it was Luis telling her he loved her and that he was on his way to save her. "Oh hi Pilar," she said with disappointment in her voice. "How's Luis?" she said wondering if he was thinking of her. Pilar replied, "Oh, Sheridan he is awful.

He has done nothing but pace around in his room talking to himself about leaving you there by yourself. He is so worried about you." This brought a small smile to Sheridan's face but it quickly disappeared again when she thought of the night at the wharf. "But why Pilar? It isn't like he cared for me or anything. All I am to him is a spoiled princess. He said so himself!" Sheridan retorted. "Oh Sheridan that is why I am calling. That was all a setup by Julian and Alistair. I found a mask of Luis' face. They hired someone to impersonate him so you would leave. Ivy is here with me and she can verify it! Sheridan, can't you see that he loves you? He has never acted this way. Not even when Martin left. He loves you, Sheridan!"

Pilar insisted. "He does?" Sheridan wished. "Yes he does and he is very afraid for your life too!" Pilar said. "Well he was right about that one. I can't talk now I have some plans to make for this evening. I hope I see you soon!" Sheridan covered not wanting Antoine to suspect anything. "Be careful," an understanding Pilar replied. "I will, hope to see you at dinner tonight. Thanks!" Sheridan said trying her best to come across real to Antoine. "Antoine, Could you run downstairs and get me fresh towels? I am going out tonight and I need to shower and I don't have any towels," Sheridan said sweetly. "Why don't I just call room service?" Antoine countered. "Because I need to call another friend to meet us for dinner and it would be quicker if you went and got the towels. I promise I will be careful and I will lock the door and everything," Sheridan pleaded.

"Well okay," Antoine said. 'This will give me time to go talk to Roger and Pierre about the plan' Antoine thought to himself. As soon as he left Sheridan rang up the front desk and told them that she needed a laundry cart and a maid up to her room as soon as possible. While Antoine was discussing plans with Roger and Pierre, Sheridan made plans of her own. When the maid got there she rushed her inside her bedroom with the laundry cart and told her what she had to do. They started the shower water so that when Antoine came back he wouldn't bother her until he caught on to the situation.

Sheridan jumped under the laundry cart into the dirty laundry bin while the maid wheeled her out and downstairs to the hotel office. Once she was in the office she called a taxi, so that she wouldn't draw attention to herself and she put on a maid's uniform so it looked like she was just getting off of work just like any other maid at the hotel. Luckily for Sheridan the Crane jet was in Paris because she had thought about coming home to Harmony just in case she was in real danger. Sheridan boarded the plane and was on her way back to Harmony before Antoine, Pierre and Roger knew what had happened.

************At the Crane Mansion************

"I hope she is okay Ivy. It has been about an hour since I talked to her and she said she was in danger," worried Pilar. Ivy replied, "Oh Pilar, you know Sheridan. She is a survivor and now that she knows she has something to come back for she won't give up until she is with Luis again. I'm sure she will get a hold of us soon." Just then the phone rang. Pilar ran and lunged for it. "Sheridan?!" she asked. "Pilar, I am okay. I am on the Crane jet headed for Harmony now. It turns out my bodyguard was dealing with Pierre and Roger and he was going to kill me tomorrow. Thank God I found out! I tricked him into leaving me alone and I escaped with the help of the staff of my hotel. Don't let me forget to reward them when I get home! Luis was right though. I hope he can forgive me after all the hell I have put him through," Sheridan overflowed.

"Oh Sheridan, thank God you are safe! Luis will be so relieved! I am sure he will forgive you Sheridan, after all he blames himself for not staying. And most importantly he loves you so it doesn't matter," Pilar said excitedly. "What time will you arrive?" Pilar asked. "I should arrive at about 11:00,"(PM) Sheridan said. "Okay, well come here to the mansion first. Ivy and I have thought up a little plan to surprise Luis with!" Pilar exclaimed. "Okay, what would I do without you two? I love you guys so much! I can't wait to see you! Bye!" Sheridan bubbled. "Bye sweetie, we love you. Be careful!" Pilar gushed. "Ooh, I just love romance, don't you Pilar?!" Ivy asked. "I know. Now we have to get things going now for Sheridan's arrival. I want Luis to be surprised," Pilar responded relieved that Sheridan was okay. "I am going call Eve at the hospital and have her send a nurse's outfit over and a medical bag. Luis won't have a clue what is going on!" Ivy said. "Okay, I am going to go home and check on Luis. I will see you tomorrow with a full story of what happened!" replied Pilar.

************The Lopez-Fitzgerald Residence***********

Luis was still in a state of shock. He had cried until he had no more fluid left in his body. He just laid there staring at the ceiling saying silent prayers to God to save Sheridan and bring her to him. It was all he could do. "You have to save her. I love her. I can't live without her. Please, I love her," he whimpered. As soon as Pilar got home she ran up to check on Luis. "Luis?" "Yeah mama?" he replied weakly. "I just came up to check on you. I know you are still upset about Sheridan and I wanted to make sure you hadn't done anything drastic," Pilar said trying to hide the happiness that was building inside her as it neared 10:00. "Mama, what have I done? I can't go on without her. I didn't get to tell her I love her," Luis cried. "Luis, I know it hurts but you have to have faith. Sheridan will be okay. She is a survivor and a fighter. Have you gotten any sleep in the past two days? You look awful Luis," Pilar said.

"No, mama, I can't stop thinking about her. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I just can't," Luis said softly. "Well then, I am going to call Eve and have her send over a nurse to give you a sedative. You have to sleep sweetie. I know it hurts but you have to have your rest," Pilar said smiling inside. About ten minutes later the doorbell rang and Pilar raced to the door. Sheridan was all decked out in the nurse's uniform, wig and all. This was going to be quite a shocker to Luis. Pilar gave her a great big hug and welcomed her home. "Pilar you don't think he will be mad for me surprising him do you?" Sheridan asked concerned. "I think this will be one of the best surprises of his life Sheridan. He will be so glad to see you that he won't care!" Pilar said with a great big smile across her face. "Okay, if you are sure. I can't wait to see him any longer. Wish me luck!" Sheridan exclaimed.

She practically ran up the stairs and before entering his room she took a deep breathe and thanked God for letting her be alive to do this. She opened the door and said in a fake voice,"Luis, I understand you are having some trouble sleeping nowadays. I am sure I can do something about this." Luis was rolled over on his side with his back to Sheridan. He grumbled and said,"Just get it over with nurse." Sheridan replied, "Is that anyway to treat guests in your house? Well roll over then and let me give you a little surprise!" As he turned over he said, "Surprise? Is a shot what you call a . . . " "Surprise? No this is what I call a surprise!" and with that Sheridan pulled off her wig and stared deep into his shocked wide open gorgeous eyes. "Sheridan! Is it really you?!" Luis shouted.

Before she had time to answer him he scooped her into his arms and kissed her with all the love and shock and sorrow and grief he had inside of him. It was the most intense kiss either of them had ever experienced. When the kiss finally broke Luis said, "Oh Sheridan, I thought I was going to lose you. I didn't know what to do. I thought I had lost you forever. I am so sorry. I love you with all my heart and I don't ever want to lose you again.

I will never leave you again. I love you so much!" Sheridan beamed when she heard this. This was the happiest moment in her life. She was finally loved for who she was and not for her money or social status. He really loved her. "I love you too Luis. I am so sorry I didn't come with you. You were right. I was so stupid for not seeing it. I have so much to tell you. But right now I just want to be in your arms forever!" Sheridan confessed. "There isn't anything I would rather do right now than to hold you. I love you Sheridan." "And I love you Luis."

THE END