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Little Luis-Ch.9

Ethan stood in the door way of the Crane home, he had come to see his mother, the one person how wanted him there. He heard a giggle and looked up to see Kendra running toward him, Julian not far behind.
"I’m going to get you." He yelled.
"No!" She giggled as Julian grabbed her and swung her up in his arms.
"See I did catch you." He laughed.
"Uncle Julian you're cool." She said hugging him.
"Cool?" Julian paused for a moment, "Yes I am one cool guy." He smiled.
He looked up at Ethan and smiled, "What brings you here Ethan?" He questioned.
"Mother. I wanted to see her."
"She’s upstairs with Matthew, she put him down for his nap."
"Mother put a child down for a nap?" Ethan asked shocked.
Julian nodded sitting Kendra down, "We love these kids a lot, we made mistakes raising our own children, you included, but we want to help Theresa with these two. It’s what my sister would have wanted."
Kendra looked up at Ethan, " Your a big meanie." She suddenly pronounced.
"Excuse me?" Ethan questioned.
"Uncle Miguel said so." She said slapping her small arms on her hips.
"Kendra dear was that very nice?" Julian questioned.
"No, but its very true." She nodded looking back up at Ethan. "You made Aunt Resa all sad." She puffed.
"How old is she again?" Ethan questioned.
"She’s a very advanced Five year old." Julian told him.
"I’m sorry I was a big," Ethan stopped for a moment trying to get the word out, "Meanie" He finally said. "But I’m not that man now."
"So! Uncle Miguel says your a bad man." She declared.
"When did he say that?" Ethan asked.
"I was pose to be sleepin but I heard him tellin Aunt Resa you were bad." She spit out.
"Well I’m sorry he said that." Ethan told her.
Julian looked down at her, "Sweetie why don’t you go upstairs and find Aunt Ivy?" He questioned.
She nodded, "Yes sir" She nodded pouncing up the stairs.

"Well, even the kid hates me.She's a little Luis isn't she?" Ethan pouted walking into the living room.
"Ethan you must understand, she’s been through a lot, right now she trusts Theresa and Miguel more than anyone." Julian explained.
"And I hurt her Resa?" He asked.
Julian nodded, " You hurt a lot of people she loves, including her mother." Julian frowned as the words came out.
"How are you doing? With Sheridan’s death?" Ethan asked letting his eyes float to the floor.
"She was my sister, we were never close but she was my sister just the same. And I loved, no I love her." Julian said fighting the tears that seemed to beg to fall from his eyes.
"I’m sorry I didn’t get back here soon, I was on a cruise, and well there was just no way." Ethan spoke.
"Yes you went on many cruises in those years you were gone didn’t you?" Julian questioned.
Ethan slowly nodded, "I went from one woman to the next, always thinking maybe I’d finally find the one I should be with."
"But you never did, and so it took my sister and her husband dying to bring you back here, I wonder Ethan, If this horrible tragedy had never took place would you still be out searching for the real you?" Julian asked.
Ethan stood quite for a moment, searching himself for the true answer to the question set in front of him.
"I’d have been back regardless, maybe not as soon, but I would have came back, I missed Harmony too much to stay away much longer."
Julian nodded, "I’m glad to hear that Ethan, I’m really glad to hear that." He said pulling the man into a embrace.

*~*~*~*~

Miguel pressed play on his VCR, he had to watch alone, see Luis by himself one last time.
"I can do this." He told himself, sitting down he took a deep breath as the tape played.

Luis smiled at the camera "Hey little bro. Guess this is goodbye." Luis then frowned and looked at Sheridan. "Go ahead." She told him. Luis nodded. "So many things I want to say to you, over the years I’ve collected things to tell you, to teach you and I guess it comes down to this. However it happened, my death that is, know I love you. Miguel, I need you to be strong that brave solider you used to pretend to be when your were little. I’m not asking you to hold the family on your shoulder’s I know you can’t do that. Besides we have some strong women in this family. What I do want is for you to be strong for the kids, Matt and Kenji need you man. Just so you know you’ve taught me so much yourself. You showed me how to have fun, how to relax even when things are hard, and your love for Charity when you were younger taught me we can love at any age. It was a wonderful thing to see. I hope you find that love again, that love shines on you and you have someone to love Sheridan. Take care of mama Miguel, help her and Theresa as much as you can. I believe in you and always have your a wonderful person. I love you Miguel, Goodbye lil bro. .
Sheridan looked at the camera with a fake smile she spoke. "Miguel, my son will need a man in his life, someone who can show him what its like to not only be strong but tender at the same time. You can be that man. Kendra needs you too, to show her what a loving caring man is, and Miguel I know you will do all of that. You have been a brother to me, kept me laughing, saw me crying and I want to thank you for being there for us when we needed you. Miguel you are a smart young man, show your talents to the world. Keep your head held high, hold you mama’s hand and know we are watching out for you somewhere. I love you Miguel goodbye.
Sheridan looked at Luis, "Anything else?" She asked him.
"Just stay strong little bro, You are the man of the family now, its your time Miguel, your time."

"Miguel what are you doing?" Pilar’s voice asked walking out of her bedroom.
"I was watching the tape." He answered.
"We will have none of that in this house. Your brother is alive do you hear me?" She asked walking over to the VCR she grabbed the tape out of it and slung it to the ground.
"Mama, please he made that for me." Miguel pleaded wiping his blood shot eyes.
"To watch when he died, but Luis isn’t dead." She yelled.
"Mama they are gone." Miguel frowned.
Pilar shook her head, "No they are both alive! They will return, how dare you give up on them Miguel." She shouted. " They will come back you’ll see." She muttered as she flew back to her bedroom.
Miguel fell to his knee’s tears streaming down his face, looking up toward the ceiling he shouted, "I could use some help here! Luis how could you leave us like this." He said lowering his body to beat the floor with his fist.

*~*~*~*~

"Luis, its time! Its time!" Theresa shouted.
"What? Your kidding?" He asked jumping up from his desk at the station.
"She’s at the hospital, your son is being born now." She smiled.
"I, I’ll drive." He said running toward.
Theresa shook her head, "Luis I’ll drive! You’ll wreck the way you drive."
"When did she go? Is she OK? Who’s with her? She’s not alone right?" All his questions flung together.
"Slow down big brother. Mama is with Sher. She just go there and the doctors are with her." Theresa explained as they headed to the car.
"I’m going to have a little boy. I’m having a son." He shouted laughter in his voice.
"That’s right now get in." She said pointing to the car.
"Hurry sis hurry, I’m going to be a daddy again." He yelled as they flew out of the parking lot.
Theresa nodded, "You sure are Luis."

"Resa wake up, Come on Resa." A voice said.
"Luis?" She questioned her eyes still closed.
"No baby girl open your eyes." The voice told her.
Theresa blinked her eyes, "Chad?" She asked looking up into his face.
He nodded, "That’s right, you were dreaming." He told her.
She sat up from the couch, "Dreaming? I went to sleep?" She asked.
"Yeah, I just couldn’t stand waking you. Then you started dreaming."
"It wasn’t real." She whispered. "He’s still gone."
Chad frowned, "Yeah he’s still gone.
"But it was so real, It was when Matthew was born, I was like seeing it all over."
"I’m so sorry sweetie." Chad said sitting down beside her as his front door flew open.
"Daddy." A little voice yelled.
"Jada baby." He smiled as the little girl ran and jumped his lap giving his a huge hug.
"I missed you daddy." She smiled.
"Oh really now? How much did you miss your daddy?" He asked.
She giggled, "Bunches and muches." She said hugging him again.

Justin walked in behind her. "That girl has to much energy." He said wiping his forehead.
"Did you give your Uncle Jut out?" Chad laughed.
She nodded her head her curls falling around her face. "Uh huh, he’s slow." She giggled.
"Nah I’m not slow, She’s just a little speed demon, kid can ride a bike like everything." He exclaimed shaking his head.
Theresa smiled, "Hello Justin, its been awhile since I saw you."
Justin nodded, "Hi Theresa. I’m sorry about your brother and sister-in-law."
"Thank you Justin. So are you still working on your music?" She questioned.
He smiled, "Yeah, I’ve got me a band now, Chad’s been working with on a CD, but we need some background vocal’s."
"That shouldn’t be to hard to find." Theresa said looking at Chad.
"Yeah but we need to right stuff. I want the perfect female background vocal on this one song." He said looking over at Chad, "And my brother say’s he’ll find me someone."
Chad looked up at Justin then back at Theresa, "You know Jut, she may be closer than you think." He grinned.
"Oh yeah? Who you got in mind?" He asked.
Chad smiled and looked over at Theresa, "This woman right here, might be the best thing for you and her both." He smiled, as Theresa’s eyes grew large.
"That’s a nice offer but Chad, with all I’m dealing with I just don’t know." She said standing up.
"Well you think about it OK?"
Theresa nodded, "I’ve gotta go pick up the kids, talk to you later all right?"
Chad nodded, "Why don’t you bring them over here tomorrow? It is the weekend and Kendra and Jada love playing together."
Jada smiled. "Oh I just love Kenji."
Theresa nodded, "Well I suppose we could do that." She said heading toward the door.
Chad grinned, "Great see ya then." He said as Theresa headed out the door.
Theresa let the wind hit her and she shook her head, "I’m going to make it. I can feel it." She said heading toward her car.