At Long Last

Chapter 1: For The First Time

One cool windy day in Harmony, Sheridan Crane stepped out of her little cottage in search of a cup of hot coffee. She opened the door to her little white Malibu and hopped inside sitting in the driver's seat. She put the keys into the ignition and turned on the engine. Driving down the driveway she peered out her window at main house. She had not been in there since she had come home from Paris. She felt so at peace being back home with her nephew Ethan, the only man that loved her for her. Sheridan longed for a relationship like that with a man, a man who truly loved her, and not for her money or her family's power, but she was slowly losing hope that that perfect man would ever come along.

She drove down the hill and through the Crane security gate on her way to town. She remembered that there was a little coffee shop just across from the bank down town that she had been to once before with Ethan. But just as she was coming to the out skirts of Harmony, she saw red and blue lights flashing behind her. "This is just great," She sighed to herself as she pulled over. "All I wanted was a cup of coffee!"

The cop car pulled up behind her. Sheridan heard the door slam and the officer tapping on her window as she reached for her license and registration from the drawer under the passenger seat. "Just a minute," she called through the window as she rolled it down. "Wow," he uttered to as she turned her head to face him. "Excuse me?" "Oh nothing." He replied.

"Yes, officer" Sheridan paused as she looked over at his name tag " Lopez-Fitsgerald, is it?" "Can I see your license and registration mam?" Sheridan quickly passed them over, she needed that coffee and she needed it now! "Can you step out of the car please?" "What ever for?" she questioned. "Please mam just step out of the vehicle." "Whats the point of arguing?" she thought to herself. Sheridan slowly opened the door and got out. "The faster the better." "Um" he was admiring her. "Yes?" He snapped out of his trance. "Oh, walk along that line." he pointed to the never-ending, straight white line along the edge of the road in front of the car. "You've got to be kidding!" Sheridan was shocked.

"No mam," officer Lopez- Fitsgerald tried to remain serious. Sheridan walked along the line like the man asked. "Good, now hold out your arms." She obeyed, not seeing the point of this fiasco. "With your left hand touch your nose, then with your right." "Wait a minute," she said with frustration, "I'm not drunk!" "I know mam, just wanted to see if you'd do it!" He chuckled. Sheridan moaned, "If that will be all officer." With that she hopped back into her car and drove off to get her coffee. She was embarrassed, she knew that she looked foolish. "Wait he called, you forgot you're" He yelled, but it was useless, she was now on her way into town. The officer looked down at her license, "Sheridan Crane eh?" He got into his car, "I need coffee," he sighed and drove into town. ~*~*~*~*~*~

Luis, that was his first name drove along the ocean glowing with pried, feeling like he was the luckiest man on earth, "Sheridan Crane," he said over and over, what a lovely name! Being a cop, he knew almost everyone in the little town, but he had never heard of here before, "she must be related to the Cranes," he told himself feeling satisfied. Luis parked the patrol car in the youth centers parking lot, and walked down the street to the book café, greeting people as he did so. He pulled the door to the little coffee shop open and heard little bells ring.

"Hey, Beth when did you put the bells up? Nice touch!" He was directing this question to the woman behind the counter. "Thanx Luis, that's what I what thinking" she cheerfully replied. He strolled up to the counter to order he usual, a large coffee and a doughnut. ~*~ "Oh no," Sheridan sighed as she grabbed the news paper sitting on the table and put it up to her face pretending to read it with great interest. "Bob hope, the Pope, any one but him!" She had made a fool out of herself and wasn't about to let him see her, not now, not ever!

Luis sat down at the table in front of her. "Hey, lady are you reading the rest of that news paper?" He said as he pointed to the paper sitting on the edge of the table. "No," Sheridan quickly announced, hopping that he wouldn't recognize her voice, but it was too late, he had. With a big grin on his face he stood up, and Sheridan pulled the newspaper up more horizontal, but Luis grabbed the top of the paper and pulled it down.

"I knew it," he said as if he had just won the lottery. "Don't you think that you've embarrassed me enough for one night? I feel like a fool!" "A cute fool at that" Sheridan blushed. "You're not to bad yourself!" She got up from the table and checked he out before she went to the door and walked out. To Be Continued...

Chapter 2: Could it be?

Sheridan hopped into her Malibu and drove off, heading for home with her now luke-warm coffee in her hand. This time she thought that she could drive home and be able to enjoy the scenery, but she was wrong. Up behind her once again red and blue lights flashed. "Not again!" Sheridan became annoyed, "What's wrong this time?" She asked herself. She pulled over, and waited for the officer to come to the door. When she noticed that it was Officer Lopez-Fitzgerald. Impatiently she got out of her car. "Here, I'll save you the trouble!"

Sheridan found the white line and walked up and down it. "Wait..." he started but Sheridan interrupted him. "Let me finish!" So Sheridan held her hands out, touching her noise with her right hand, and then her left. Luis just watched in amusement. "Will there, anything else officer?" she asked. "Actually, all I wanted to do was give you back your license, but if you want to entertain me, that's fine too!" Sheridan took in a deep breath and replied, "No that's okay I think I'll just go home now." Sheridan turned red with embarrassment. "Are you sure Ms. Crane" "How do you know my name? And what if I was married?" "Well, are you?" Luis pointed to her license. "No, no I'm not." Sheridan walked back to her car "Thank gosh." "Well then," he thought to himself. "Have a nice day!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sheridan finally made it back to her cottage with out further interruption. She walked through the door, "Home sweet empty home," she said. Sheridan took a sip of her coffee while her took off her leather coat "Disgusting!" The coffee was now cold. After draping her coat on the couch, Sheridan slipped silently into her kitchen and poured the coffee down the stainless steel sink. "And what do I get for my troubles?"

"Ding dong" The front bell chimed. "Ethan?" she yelled as she opened the door. "No, it's me, Luis," he answered. "Well I see what I get." "What?" Luis was confused. "Oh nothing, anyway what did you want?" "Well, before you start walking a straight line and touch your noise..." he was interrupted by the closing of the door, but he stopped her before it was completely closed. "I'm sorry," he said thought the open space, and the door slowly started to open. "That wasn't funny!" she yelled.

"I know. I'm sorry." "Are you?" "Yes! I'll get to the point, I want to go out with you." "Oh" Sheridan was speechless. "Um" she said as she pretended to think, but she already knew her answer. "I don't know," she let escape from she mouth. "Come on, we could go out on a practice date, and if we decide that we don't want to continue, there's no obligation." "I still don't know." "Let me tell you a story about my uncial." "This is going to be sad, isn't it?" she said sarcastically. "My uncial grew up across from this girl who he really liked, but never got up the nerve to ask her out. One day he was drafted, and the thought great when I come back it'll show her how manly I am."

"I'm reaching for the tissues." "But when he got home he found out that the girl had moved. Nobody knew where she went; my uncial grew up to be a lonely old man. Sure he dated after that, but no one felt right to him, he let the one that he could have loved go because he was too afraid of rejection. My uncial didn't really talk much, but on his death bed he told me never to let the one that you think is right go before you get the chance to know her."

Sheridan walked into her house and grabbed a pen and paper to write down her phone number. "Use it." "I will." Luis turned and walked back to his car. "Luis, wait." "Yes?" "Was that story real? About your uncial?" "Good night Sheridan!" To Be Continued...

Chapter 3: Knowing whats right

Sheridan had just gotten off the phone with Luis and was feeling lighter that air, she often found herself thinking of Luis, she couldn't help it. She had her doughts though, would he be like the other men in her life? Or was he an honest guy like he appeared to be? There was only one way to find out. Sheridan picked up the cordless phone sitting on the coffee table.

~*~ Moments later ~*~ "Ding, dong" The doorbell chimed. Sheridan opened the door, as quickly as possible. "Palir! Come in, come in." " Sheridan, you wanted to talk?" "Yes, actually I did, come into the kitchen and we can discuss it over some tea." Palir had been like a mother to Sheridan, since her mother had died years ago when she was only a baby. Sheridan trusted Palir and would ask for her advice, whenever she was unsure of anything. ~*~

Luis on the other hand was rushing around town making sure that this date was perfect, he felt like he had just won a million dollars. He never believed in love at first sight, but after seeing Sheridan who couldn't? Pacing back and forth he was wearing a path into the carpet of the youth center, what if this isn't good enough? He couldn't help but wonder. There was only one person that he could call for help, so he took out his silver plated cell phone and made a call.

~*~ Moments later ~*~ " Hello, Luis you in here?" "Hank!" Luis shouted, "Back here." Hank made his way to the back room of the youth center. Passing through junk as he went. "Whats all the decorations for Luis? Are you throwing a party that you're not inviting me to?" Hank joked. Luis got up from he crouched position, "Now why could you think that?" a couple of streamers fell off his head. "I was looking for something in the closet, and the whole thing collapsed on me! That's the last time I let you help around here!" Luis was joking around this his buddy Hank, like they always did.

"You want some help?" "Yes but not with this," Luis confused him. ~*~ "Thanks Palir." "No problem, have you picked out a dress yet?" "No, I don't know what I should wear! I guess there is only one way to find out though." Sheridan picked up the phone once more and dialed the number written down one the pad of paper next to the phone. "Hello?" Luis answered. "Hey! It's me, Sheridan, where are we going tonight?" "It's a surprise!" "Well then," Sheridan blushed, "How should I dress?" "Fancy, but not to fancy I guess." "K, see ya later tonight." Sheridan hung up the phone. "He thinks simi-fancy Palir" "Oh well then I've got the perfect idea, follow me."

~*~ Later the night ~*~

"Ding dong," the front door chimed. Sheridan quickly snapped out of her trance and bolted to the door. She could see his silhouette through the white curtain hanging over the doors large window. Slowly she opened the door, and there he stood in a black suit with a navy blue shirt and a colorful tie. "There she is," he thought to himself. "Wow, Sheridan, umm" he complimented her. Before him stood Sheridan in a blue Staten spaghetti strapped dress with a white woolen sweater tied around her neck. "You ready? Or are you going to stair at me all night?" Sheridan questioned. "That too," he replied as he looked into her paralyzing baby blue eyes. "But first," he held out a blind fold, "you must put this on."

"Why?" "You'll see." Sheridan loved surprises so she quickly agreed to put the blind fold on. Luis took her hand and lead he to the car. He drove for what seemed like hours, which in reality was only a few minutes. Sheridan was very anxious, but didn't say a word until he opened up the door any pulled her out. " We're here?" "Shhh we've got to be quite." He reached around her and pulled the blind fold off. She awed in silence; she had never seen anything like it. There before her was a table with a white table cloth draped over top. There were two chairs, and the table was set with one single red rose standing proudly in a vase. The view over looked the ocean.

"Oh, Luis!" Sheridan turned to him in amazement and surprisingly gave him a big hug. "I love it!" Then she kissed him gently on the cheek. "Save something for the end of the date!" "Don't worry, I will!" They both sat down and talked for a long while. Sheridan loved every moment that they spent together, Luis also loved every moment. "He's even better than I could have hoped for." Sheridan thought to herself, "This is a dream and I'm going to wake up any minute now." She feared. But it wasn't a dream, it was real.

"Wait right here," Luis, said as he excused himself from the table and rushed over to his car where he turned on some music. "Care to dance?" he asked. "Would love to," Sheridan grabbed his hand and got up from the table. They danced through a couple of songs before Luis dared to pull her closer, mush to his amazement she didn't seem to mind, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "This feel's so right" they both sighed.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 4: When Your Dreams Come True

~*~ Months later ~*~

Sheridan was walking along the garden path with Luis right by her side. Their relationship had blossomed since they're first date. Each date was better that the one before. Sheridan knew Luis long enough to know when something was bothering him, and this just happened to be one of those moments. He looked to her as if he was preoccupied. "Luis," she stopped him, "is something wrong?" "No, I'm fine." He looked down at her and smiled "Just fine." They continued to walk, Sheridan knew that something was wrong. Luis never acted the way he was she knew that something had to be wrong, but instead of pushing the issue, she came up with an ides. "Luis," she asked, "Are you busy tonight?"

"Yes, sorry honey, I am." "Okay Luis," she sighed in disappointment there went her plan. "But if you like, I have the whole afternoon free." "Okay Luis, I'm going to the cottage to get something, I'll be right back, k?" He stared at her with curiosity. "Fine with me!" Sheridan ran back to the house as fast as she could and she picked up the phone and called Ethan. "Ethan I've got about 3 seconds, what would be a good place to take Luis on a surprise date? Some where that he wouldn't think of taking me." She talked quickly to Ethan as she ran around the cottage trying to find the blind fold. Thanx Ethan, I'm going to have a date with you and Gwen tonight, so clear your schedule." "Done!"

"K. Bye." She breathlessly ran back to Luis, who was sitting on the bench next to the roses. "I'm back, I'm going to be a little demanding. I know that you have something on your mind, and I'm not going to pressure you into talk about it. So the only solution is to take it off your mind," she took a deep breath in. "Now first things first, remember on our first date you blind folded me? And I had to trust you? Well now it's your turn to trust me, you've got to put on the blind fold and let me lead you!"

Luis was too afraid of what might happen if he said no, so he put the blind fold on and went along with her plan. Sheridan put Luis in the car. She smiled at the thought of her ordering Luis around. "Ready or not, here we go." Luis was getting slightly nervous not knowing where she was taking him. "Remind me never to let you drive!" he remarked. She finally stopped the car, and helped him out. "We're here, but you can't take off your blind fold just yet.

Luis could smell about a hounded different things, like popcorn, hot dogs. He also heard a lot of people talking and laughing, so he knew that they were in a public place. Sheridan sat him down, and shortly after he could feel himself being lifted into the air. Luis was getting really nervous now, but he knew that he was safe because Sheridan was sitting beside him. "Now," she said, "you can take off your blind fold!" Feeling unsure that he wanted to take off the blind, he did. "Oh, Sheridan. This is so sweat!" he leaned over and kissed her. "The last time I was on a fraise wheel was well I can't even remember!"

Luis and Sheridan spent the rest of the day at the fair. She had noticed that his mind was now clear and totally focussed on her. "Well, I'm going to get going, I have a date," Sheridan joked knowing that Luis would get jealous. "You better not!" he grabbed her and started to tickle her. "Okay, okay, it's just Ethan and Gwen," she laughed. "I would hope so!" "There's Ethan now! Here," she through him her keys, 'you can talk my car, I'm going to get a ride with Ethan." Ethan snuck up behind her. "Yo, Ethan, just a little tip, what ever you do, DON'T let Sheridan drive!"

~*~ Ten minutes later ~*~

"Now that were all were, what did you have in mind for us tonight?" Gwen asked with curiosity. "I'm not sure, anywhere is fine with me." "Good, I was thinking the blues club down town, where you and I can pick up men." Gwen teased. "I'm in the car Gwen!" "I know!" They walked into the club about half an hour later, after they when back to Sheridan's cottage to let her change into something more suitable. "This way please," the waiter directed them to their table.

Sheridan searched the club, to see if there was anyone that she knew there. She noticed that Gwen and Ethan were acting rather odd, and she turned her head. She couldn't believe it there was Luis. Sheridan was just about to wave him over, when she noticed that he was with another girl. No big deal she thought, that must be Beth that he's with. She had complete trust in Luis. Through out the night she couldn't help but look over his way, they seemed to be having fun; she never expected what she saw next. Luis was kneeling on the ground beside Beth and put a ring on her ring finger. Sheridan could feel tears burning in the back of her eyes when she ran out the door. Luis caught a glimpse of her.

"Oh no, Beth, that was Sheridan!" he got up and ran after her. ~*~ Gwen and Ethan had driven Sheridan back to her cottage where she insisted on being alone. But Gwen wouldn't leave. She sat on the couch crouched up in a ball. "It hurts Gwen," she cried. "It really hurts." Gwen got up, "I'm going to make you some tea okay, I think that it'll calm you down." Luis looked through the window next to the door, he couldn't stand to se Sheridan in so much pain, especially when he was the one who caused it, but it was just a big miss understanding and he had to explain. He opened the door and snuck it.

"Sheridan," he call to her, but she didn't move. So he went to her. "How could you do that to me?" she cried. He took his hands and wiped away the tears streaming down her face. " I didn't want to do this this way, but" he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it up, there was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, "Sheridan Crane will you marry me?" "Luis, but I saw you in the club, you were proposing to Beth!" "Oh Sheridan I wasn't, Beth was teaching me how to propose to you! I wanted this to be the most romantic night of your life." "I'm so sorry Luis," she said as she jumped into his arms. "So that means?" "Yes Luis, I want to marry you more than anything in this world. "Awe how sweat," Gwen started to cry. Luis went over to the cd player and turned on their song. Then held her.

I imagine, your hand on mine,
and I'm filled with butterflies.
I imagine, what it would sound like to hear you say,
that you'll love me until you die.
You saved my life in more ways than you will ever know,
when I see you I feel like I am home.
When I'm with you I feel peace, I am complete,
to know you is a gift from above.
Imagine if we fell in love.
"At long last I've found the man of my dreams!"

The End...