New Beginnings, Chapter 22
 

Sheridan walked into her Cottage to see Luis sitting on the couch. His face told the story.

" So, you know.", Sheridan said.

" I know? I KNOW? What do I know, Sheridan?"

" Luis, let's not play games."

" Oh, you are one to talk about playing games, considering that's all you've been doing lately."

" Luis, I can tell that you're upset. That you think I should have told you."

" DAMN RIGHT you should have told me!"

" No, Luis. I don't think 'Damn Right'. I think you are very wrong. This is my FAMILY, Luis. And, that's none of your concern."

" None of my concern? Excuse me? Since when? Since…I've had to fight them everyday for OUR relationship?"

" It was a family matter, Luis. Do I ask to be involved in your family matters?"

" My family doesn't keep secrets like illegitimate children around."

" Well, I'm glad for you. Because, mine does. "

" How…how did Julian brainwash you into helping him? Did he give you this song and dance about his long lost son? Did he say that only YOU could help him? I wonder how long he's been planning this. He's seen that nothing else has worked, so, he sat on this, pulling out his Hail Mary. What a phony. That display was for YOUR benefit, Sheridan. He and Alistair have planned this all along. Can't you see that?"

Sheridan was furious. " First of all, let me tell you of some things. Number one - ' I' was the one to discover that Chad was Julian's son. He had no idea. Number two - my brother had no part of what happened to Chad. Number three - my brother is NOT working with my father. Number four- my brother and I ARE working TOGETHER against my father. And lastly, Julian went on television today in order to PROTECT Chad. By exposing him to the world, he protected him from Alistair. You DON'T know everything about my brother, Luis. And, I'm sick and tired of you condescending to me that YOU are the end authority on Julian Crane. I think I know the man better than you.

I am SORRY that I couldn't tell you, but, my thoughts weren't of you. EXCUSE ME for believing, since you love your family so much, that I THOUGHT you would understand WHY Julian and I had to work in secret. Everything had to be planned, so that Chad could receive the optimum protection. If that hurts your feelings - TOO BAD.

Make no mistake, Luis, I would do it all again in the SAME WAY!

This is my family Luis, and it means as much to me as yours does to you. You have to begin to respect that, and stop telling me that I should ' know better'. And, since we're on the subject, Luis, I guess this is the time to tell you: I'm not moving. I told Julian that I would stay here on the Estate and help him with Chad."

" For how long?", Luis said, furious.

" For the foreseeable future. "

" Did you think that we would EVER need to discuss this?"

" I didn't know how to bring it up to you. You have blinders on where my family is concerned. " Sheridan finally took a big breath, and let the adrenaline run off from her. Her next tone was quiet and soft. " I love you, Luis. Please know that. But, this is so important to me. I want a family. One that includes my brother, whom I love, and Chad, whom I believe I will love in no time. He can't do it alone, Luis. I needed you to find the strength against Alistair. Julian is no different. 'I' am going to be that person for him, Luis. My only priority was to protect my family. You can be mad at me, but, you HAVE to understand my reasoning."

Luis looked at Sheridan. He was pissed. Totally pissed. He didn't like anything that kept Sheridan in contact with the Cranes. He didn't see anything positive that could come from it. But, he had heard her. He knew that she was serious. She wasn't going anywhere, and if he was going to be involved with her, then he was going to deal with her being close to Julian. Even if he is a snake, she was going to be around him. And now, it wasn't just her. Luis shook his head to think of a nice guy like Chad being involved with the Cranes. Chad was a good guy; he didn't know how to deal with people like the Cranes. Luis considered him a friend, and now, he, too, was vulnerable to the likes of Julian Crane. Luis knew that he couldn't fight her on it. That he had to ride it out. He knew that Julian would mess up one day; that he would betray Sheridan's confidence in him. Luis had to be there.  He looked at Sheridan.

" Ok, I understand. I don't have to like it, but, I understand. I just want to protect you, Sheridan."

" And I love you for it, but, I can handle this.", she said, going into a hug with Luis.

I hope so, Luis thought. But, I've got your back.
 

Whitney and Simone looked in on their mother.

" Mom?", Whitney asked.

Eve blew her nose and came up from under the covers. She looked at Whitney and Simone's faces.

" So, I didn't imagine it."

" No, not if you thought you saw Julian Crane admitting to being Chad's father.", Whitney commented.

The girls went over to their mother. They sat on either side of Eve.

" I can't believe it. I can't believe Julian would admit that Chad was his son, even if he were his son. I would have thought that he would hide it.", Eve commented.

" Why would he admit it, Mom?", Simone asked.

Eve had been thinking the same question, and the answer she came up with was 'Alistair', but, she couldn't explain to the girls how she knew the innerworkings of the Crane family. So she shrugged her shoulders and replied, " I don't know."

" Well, we confirmed it. We went to web site after web site. They all said the same thing: Chad is Julian Crane's son. What are we doing to do, Mom?", Whitney asked.

" I don't know, Whitney. I…never thought it was possible."

" Do you hate Chad now, Mom?", Simone asked.

Eve looked at Simone in shock. " Why would you say something like that, Simone?"

" Because, everybody knows that you hate the Cranes. And, now, Chad is a Crane."

" Simone….Chad didn't grow up a Crane. He wasn't raised by them. Heck, Sheridan was, and look how she turned out. "

" All the interviews said that Sheridan was very happy about Chad being a Crane.", Whitney commented.

Eve smiled. " That is very much like Sheridan. She is good of heart, and that is something she would do. And, to answer your question, Simone, no, I don't hate Chad. My feelings for him won't turn on a dime, and certainly won't be influenced by him being abandoned by Julian Crane."

" You can't say the same for Daddy, Mom.", Simone replied. " We know how Daddy feels about Julian Crane. I don't think he'll be as understanding as you."

Eve looked at her daughter. She knew that Simone was telling the truth. TC hated the Cranes. She remembers TC's reaction at the hospital when they were doing Chad's DNA test before. A test that Alistair obviously had altered, considering the results. TC on the mere mention that Chad might, in the realm of possibility could be Julian's son, turned on him. It wasn't a pretty moment. Well, now, we have the truth. Julian IS Chad's father. And, Eve knew that she was his mother. How would they possibly deal with this?

" Hey, you three look like you're in intense conversation. What's going on?", TC asked. The Russell women looked at one another in confusion, unaware of how to answer.
 
 

" Mama? Are you here?", Theresa said, as she and Chad entered the Lopez-Fitzgerald living room.

" The kitchen Theresa."

Pilar was fixing some apple pies when she saw Chad and Theresa walk in.

" Chad.", Pilar said, really unaware of what to say to him.

" Hi Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald. I guess you saw the TV today."

" Yes, I did. I…I don't know what to say."

" Nothing to say…maybe 'my condolences'?"

Pilar smiled and gave Chad a hug.

" Mama, the reason that we're here, is that I wanted to ask if Chad could move into the garage apartment."

" I'm confused. I thought you were staying with the Russells, Chad."

" I am, Mrs. L-F, but.."

" Mama, everyone knows that the Russells hate the Cranes, and now that Chad IS a Crane, he can't stay there. Can he stay here? Please?"

" You know, Mrs. L-F, if this is going to inconvenience you, I don't want to be any bother."

Pilar shook her head. Chad, you are not any bother. You're a wonderful young man. I would love to have you here with us. You can move anytime."

Theresa smiled at Chad. " See, I told you it would be ok. " Theresa went to the drawer where the keys were kept and got them for Chad. " Why don't you go look at it right now. See what you need."

" Thanks, Mrs. L-F. I appreciate this."

Chad left, and Pilar turned to her daughter.

" So, Theresa, you want Chat to live here."

" Yes, Mama. I'm helping out a friend."

" A friend who just happened to find out that he is a Crane. How convenient for you, Theresa."

" Mama, I don't want to hear it. When EVERYONE else in this town turned their backs on me after the Ethan fiasco, Chad was right there. He didn't care. He accepted me, faults and all, and didn't condemn me. He's my friend, Mama. And, he needs help. And, I am helping him. "

" And, that he's a Crane."

" Doesn't hurt. "

Pilar arched her eyebrow at Theresa, but, Theresa paid her no mind.

" Mama, I'm sorry if you find it bad to be ambitious. I'm sorry if you think it's wrong to have a nice lifestyle. But, I want it, and I'm going to have it. And, I'm going to have it with a man who likes me FOR ME. Chad knows who I am, Mama. And, he still cares. You don't need to tell me what THAT FAMILY is like, Mama. I know it. I know it. I know it everyday that I DON'T go to school because of the scholarships that they took from me. I know it everyday that I couldn't find a job doing anything other than working in a crummy supermarket. I know it everytime I stock shelves. I know it everytime I put on that stupid uniform. You DEFINITELY don't need to tell me anything about the Cranes. I know all I need to know about them.

Chad is MY FRIEND. And, I'm going to help him. And if anything else happens after that, so be it. I'm not going to turn my nose up at it."

With that, Theresa left the kitchen and went to the garage apartment.
 

" Should I go in now?", the maid asked the Assistant outside of Alistair Crane's office.

The Assistant shook her head strenuously. " I wouldn't. Not now."

The maid left, and the Assistant stood outside of the door.

She had some earlier that morning, interrupting a business call of Alistair's, with,

" This is something you should see."

She watched as Alistair, who had been drinking some orange juice, crushed the glass in his hand upon hearing Julian's news. As Julian continued his interviews, she only saw Alistair get red with rage.

After the final interview, he picked up the putter that he had been practicing with earlier, and started smashing things. Anything and everything. Nothing was safe. It didn't matter.

" HOW THE HELL COULD HE ADMIT PATERNITY OF THAT NIGGER?!", he shouted over and over again.

Alistair tried to call Julian, who would just hang up on him, furthering the rage.

Alistair called the banks to try and punish Julian, only to find out that Julian had gotten their first, and secured his and Sheridan's bank accounts. He called the hit man that he had in reserve, who was already on his way to Harmony to 'take care' of Chad. Now that the secret was out, he cancelled it. Which he knew, was the entire point of Julian's public confession.

Alistair was now going room to room smashing things. That bastard would NEVER control the Crane Empire, Alistair thought to himself. He couldn't believe that Julian had finally both stood up to him and outsmarted him. It had taken long enough.

Once he had destroyed the contents of his offices, Alistair retreated back to his inner sanctum. This had been a bad day, but, he knew he had to think of a way to recover. Julian and Sheridan would have to pay for this betrayal.