Epilogue

Julian took over complete control of Crane Industries upon the death of his father, Alistair. He improved the company's image while maintaining its success in the business world.

He and Eve were married as soon as her divorce from TC was finalized. They were wed on a beach in Bermuda and enjoyed a relaxing and passionate honeymoon on the island.

Eve continued working at the hospital and was never hassled again about her late hours.

Eight months after she moved into the Crane mansion, Eve gave birth to a healthy baby boy, whom they named Aidan Seth Crane. He was the perfect mixture of his parents, bearing his father’s eyes and nose and his mother’s mouth and complexion. Only his hair was his own – it grew in as gorgeous locks that were the deepest shade of brown. He was the apple of his parents' eyes.

Whitney fell in love with and married Julian’s son Fox. They moved into the mansion for awhile after their wedding. Fox and his father slowly worked out their differences and eventually forged a true father/son relationship.

Simone transferred to a college in Florida, and there met and fell in love with a young architecture student who showed her the true meaning of love. She kept in touch with both of her parents and visited often.

TC eventually remarried after meeting a former nun on a cruise. The two hit if off big and have been inseparable ever since.

A few months after Aidan’s birth, Julian received word from a private investigator that his and Eve’s long-lost child had been found – a daughter! She was a singer in Los Angeles, someone Whitney and Fox had coincidentally met when they were out there. Alistair had apparently hired someone to tell Eve the baby was a boy so she would be thrown off track if she ever realized the child was alive and started looking.

The Cranes were reunited with their daughter and developed a close relationship with her after a somewhat rocky start.

Julian groomed Fox to one day take over at Crane Industries, hoping that sometime down the road Aidan would be able to learn the ropes from his big brother and become the next Crane heir.

Rebecca used her millions to buy a yacht that she stocked with a well-built crew. She was last seen setting sail to South America, as happy as could be about the scenery.

Mrs. Wallace ended up in an excellent nursing home, thanks to Sheridan. She kept herself busy chasing the home's young manager around. He was always looking over his shoulder for signs of his walker-wielding admirer.

Beth and Charlie both received life sentences for their involvement in the triple kidnappings. They were sent to the same prison, much to Beth's horror and Charlie's delight.

Sheridan’s annulment from Antonio came through quickly. She and Luis were married immediately afterward in a small ceremony at their church, with Julia Eve as their “flower girl,” spending most of the time being lovingly held by her parents’ two special witnesses, Julian and Eve.

After the wedding, the couple spent their honeymoon in Sheridan's favorite city, Paris, and in Spain, which Luis had always wanted to see. Before they left, Julian surprised them with his wedding gift - a temporary nanny hired to go along on the trip and look after Julia Eve, so that she could accompany her parents.

Much to Julian's delight, Sheridan and Luis stayed on at the estate, building a new home near their beloved cottage. They eventually had three more children – another daughter, Katherine, who looked just like Sheridan with her blond hair and blue eyes, and identical twin boys named Martin and Michael, who were the picture of their father Luis, right down to their gorgeous smiles.

Luis finally realized his dream of going to law school. Upon passing the bar exam, he set up a practice in Harmony that catered to the underprivileged. He fought hard for every client.

Sheridan raised her children without the help of a nanny, and when the twins started school, she went to work as an executive at Crane Industries, right alongside her brother Julian. He was amazed at her capacity for business and ashamed that he had overlooked her talent for so long.

Julian and Sheridan remained close. She never told anyone the secrets he had revealed to her in the pit. She knew that Julian's redemption had become complete during his time with her there. There was no more need to dredge up the past.

She always smiled when she saw Julian in the yard playing with little Aidan and her children. He loved spending time with them. Julia Eve, she knew, would always hold a special place in her uncle’s heart. She was what led him back to his one true love, and her name forever symbolized their togetherness.

Although none of the three captives looked back on their time in the pit with complete fondness, it was an experience that would bind them together forever. Not one, but two miracle children had come out of that time…children that had forever changed their lives.