Chapter 10: Some Things Will Never Change

Chapter 10:

"Sheridan... hurry up. We're gonna be late." Luis called. He stood at the front door with a black tux on. "I'm coming, Luis, hold on. I need to look perfect," Sheridan called. "You can come to dinner naked if you want, it won't bother me," Luis murmured to himself, smiling. "Okay, I'm ready," Sheridan said as she opened the door and stepped out.

She was wearing a beautiful light blue strappy dress that went down to her feet. The dress sparkled with glitter and it brought out the blue in her eyes. She took Luis's breath away. "You like?" She asked. "You're so beautiful," Luis said, walking over to her and kissing her softly. "Let's get down stairs. I'm starving," Sheridan said. Luis didn't hear anything that she had said, he was too busy looking at how beautiful she was.

When they got downstairs and went outside, they were amazed by the beautiful scenery. The sun was setting and it made the sky pink and orange. They were fancy tables and women who dressed like princesses. It was like a sophisicated dinner party. There was also a dj playing everyone's favorite songs. Luis and Sheridan asked for a table and they went to sit down.

Sheridan looked around her and said, "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Luis just starred at her intensely, "Yeah, it is." Luis saw something behind Sheridan and saw that many couples had gotten up and danced to some songs. "Sheridan, would you like to dance?" Luis asked as he held out his hand to her. Sheridan smiled, "Of course I would." She took his hand and they walked out to the dance floor. They made their way to the center of the dance floor and wrapped their arms around each other. Sheridan laid her head against his shoulder and they slowly began to sway to the music.

*No mountains too high for you to climb. All you have to do is have some climbing faith.* *No river's too wide for you to make it across. All you have to do is believe it when you pray.* *And then you will see... the morning will come... and everyday will be bright as the sun.* *All of your fears... cast them on me... I just want you to see...* *I'll be your cloud up in the sky... I'll be your shoulder when you cry... I'll hear your voices when you call me... I am your angel.* *And when all hope is gone, I'm here... no matter how far you are, I'm near... it makes no difference who you are... I am you angel.*...

Sheridan lifted her head up and looked into Luis's eyes. They both knew what the other was thinking. Luis said, "You are my angel, Sheridan. My beautiful angel." Sheridan smiled and rested her head on Luis's shoulder again as they continued to dance to the music...

*I saw your teardrops, and I heard you cry.* *All you need is time, seek me and you shall find...* *You have everything, and you're still lonely.* *It don't have to be this way, let me show you a better day.*...

Sheridan lifted her head again and said, "The song's right about you too, Luis. You've always been there for me, even though I am a Crane." Luis smiled and said, "You won't be a Crane much longer." Sheridan again rested her head on Luis's shoulder...

*And when it's time to face the storm... I'll be right by your side.* *Friends will keep us safe and warm... I know we will survive.* *And when it seems as if the rain is drawing near... is drawing near.* *Don't you dare give up the fight... put your trust beyond the sky.*...

This time, both Luis and Sheridan looked up at each other smiling. Luis said, "Remember, that no matter what happens, nothing can separate us. We won't let anything come between us. I love you, Sheridan. Nothing can change that." A tear trickled down Sheridan's cheek. "Hey... what's wrong?" Luis asked. "I'm just so happy. I've never been happier in my life." Sheridan said. They continued to sway together until the song was over and they went to the table to eat. During dinner, Luis noticed that Sheridan was looking out into the ocean a lot. "Sheridan... Sheridan..." Sheridan didn't hear him, she was remembering something that she had hoped to put behind her...

**FLASHBACK**

Sheridan... honey, come here," Jackie Crane called. A four-year-old Sheridan ran up to her mother and Jackie picked her up. They stared out at the beautiful ocean as the sun was setting. "Isn't it pretty darling?" Jackie said. "Yeah, mommy." "Jackie, Sheridan, come back inside," Alistair called. "What does daddy want?" Sheridan asked. "Just to ruin our fun,' Jackie murmured, "Hey. I've got an idea. Let's take a walk on the beach. We can play in the waves and the sand." "That sounds great, mommy," Sheridan replied. Jackie looked behind her at the Crane beach house to make sure that no one was watching and then she ran out to the beach, carrying her daughter.

They walked on the beach together, hand in hand, trudding through the water and making shapes in the sand. Eventually, they sat on the sand together, with Sheridan on Jackie's lap. "Mommy..." Sheridan said. "Yes, sweetie?" Jackie said. "Sing me a song." "Oh... I don't know, honey..." "Please." Sheridan begged. "Oh all right."Jackie hugged her daughter close and began singing with her beautiful voice, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when sky's are grey. You'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away..."

**REALITY**

The sound of Sheridan's mother's voice faded away. "Sheridan!" Luis said. "Huh? What?" Sheridan said as she snapped back into reality. "Are you okay?" Luis asked. "Oh yeah... um... I was just thinking about how wonderful this place is," Sheridan covered up. "Well... I am glad that we came here. All we had better make it worth while, cause we will leave in a couple of days." Luis smiled.

"Um... Luis. I think we should go back to our room. I'm really getting tired." "What? But I thought we were going to... you know." Luis whinned. Sheridan giggled, "Maybe tommorrow." "Okay," Luis sadly agreed and they got up and went back to their room.

**A LITTLE WHILE LATER**

Luis and Sheridan were lying in each other's arms in bed. Sheridan still couldn't get the sound of her mother's voice out of her head. She missed hre mother so much. Luis looked down at Sheridan and saw that she had a sad look on her face. "Okay... Sheridan. Enough with the lies." "What?" "I know that something is troubling you and I want to know what it is." Luis said as they sat up.

"Look Luis... nothing is wrong, okay." Sheridan said a little bit harshly. Luis said, "Sheridan, look, I love you and I want you to be happy. You need to tell me what is bothering you." "Look, it's just something I can't talk about, okay?" Sheridan yelled and she got up and ran to the bathroom. Luis sat in the bed, dumbfounded at what had just happened. He only wanted to help her, but she was obviously very upset about whatever it was.

In the bathroom, Sheridan was in tears, trying to stop more from coming. She felt so awful for yelling at Luis like that, but she was just so upset. She starred into the mirror. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were swollen from her tears. She walked over to a window and starred out into the ocean. She missed her mother so much. She missed her smile, her smell, the way she always made her feel loved. Her mother was the only one in her family that ever really loved her. She wanted to hear her beautiful voice again. Anything, she just wanted her mother back.

She felt too arms wrap around her and she relaxed into his touch. Luis rested his head on the back of her shoulder. Sheridan felt tears fall onto her back and she turned around to look at him. "What is it, Luis?" "Well... I just think that this is all my fault. I mean... you're upset about something. Something I might have done." "No, no, Luis. It's not you, it's just..."

She returned her gaze to the ocean and said, "When I was young, my mother used to take me to the beach a lot." Luis smiled, "I know." Sheridan looked at him again, "How could you know?" "Do you remember the day that I told you I couldn't see you anymore?" "How could I forget," Sheridan said. "Well... I went back to your cottage later that night to talk to you, but you were still gone. I figured that you would be back soon, so I sat down at I looked at this photo album. It had a bunch of pictures of you and your mother. Most of them were at the beach."

Luis said. "Yeah." Sheridan replied. "You miss her, don't you?" Luis asked. Sheridan nodded and Luis pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, Sheridan. But she'll always be in your heart. I'm sure that she's very proud of you and she loves you very much." Sheridan nodded as tears came rushing down her face. "Thank you Luis." "For what?" "For always being there for me." "I love you, Sheridan. I'll always be here. Forever." They continued to hold each other in their arms, starring out into the ocean...

To Be Continued...