YGM 18-23

Sheridan closed her eyes as she allowed the tension of the day leave her body. The hot spray of water from the shower was just what she needed after another encounter with Officer Luis Lopez Fitzgerald. She shook her head as she tried to make the images of her latest fight with Harmony's caveman cop disappear, but for some reason she couldn't get the visions out of her head and it bothered her. It bothered her because she was allowing this man to get to her. It bothered her because she hated the idea she was being punished for something he thinks someone in her family might have done to his father years in the past. It bothered her that he acted this way only around her, to everyone else he was just as Jay and Pilar described, an honest, hard working, loving family man with a sense of honor unlike any other man in Harmony. What bothered her most, was that it bothered her at all.

“What is it about Luis Lopez Fitzgerald?” She asked herself. “Why can't I get him out of my head?” Sheridan recalled him chasing after her when she stormed out of the Youth Center.

Sheridan whirled around to face Luis, her eyes shooting daggers at him, yet she couldn't help but feel her arm tingle from his touch. “What's the matter Officer? Did you forget something? Oh I know what it is! You found out I bought the pop corn with my own money! I am so sorry Officer. I'll make sure I return the unused portion of it first thing in the morning. That is ok with you isn't it? If you'd rather I'll go get it right now and return it? After all, we wouldn't want anything bought with Crane money staying overnight in your precious Youth Center.” Sheridan turned to go back inside the Youth Center but Luis stepped in her path blocking her.

Luis fought every instinct he had to return her sarcastic remark with one of his own. “Look, Sheridan, I came after you to apologize for what I said in there. I jumped to conclusions and I was wrong.”

Luis did his best to ignore her comments. Admitting he was wrong was bad enough, but to admit it to her, a Crane was even worse. “Yes, I'm admitting I was wrong this time, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen again, just a warning.”

“Yeah, Alfred Kralik is Tammy's grandfather. He and his son Robert have seen amazing changes in her since you started working with her at the Youth Center. Last night Robert actually heard Tammy talking to her rag doll and it was the first time he'd heard her voice since her mother died.”

“Good, thanks” Luis said nodding his head and turned to walk away. He stopped and turned back for a moment. “Just remember one thing Miss Crane, I'm still going to be watching you.”

Sheridan felt the heat in her cheeks. “You couldn't resist could you?” She fumed. “You just had to get one last dig in didn't you? I don't know why I even bother! You have to be the most pigheaded, ill tempered, egotistical, inflexible, infuriating man I've ever had the displeasure to meet!” With that Sheridan hopped into her car and took off before Luis had a chance to insult her again.

Sheridan climbed out of her shower, dried off and put on a pair of sweats. She forced herself to stop thinking about Officer Lopez Fitzgerald. Instead she reminded herself how disappointed she was she wasn't going to get the chance to talk to Pezz tonight, but she could at least email him. Not to mention, she'd written to Godis and BabyShuis earlier in the day asking them if they wanted to chat tonight and both of them jumped at the chance. She hadn't chatted with either of them since before she left Paris and was dying to catch up with their news.

Luis sat at an outside table at the Book Café waiting for Jay to arrive. He checked his watch noting it was nearly 8:00 and normally he'd be chatting with KC right now. He'd emailed her this morning telling her of his guess, but she hadn't responded by the time he got home. He knew it was early considering she'd been working all day, yet he still hoped maybe there would be a response confirming what he already knew in his heart, KC lived in Harmony.

Just the thought that she could be any number of women that he'd passed by that day caused a huge grin to appear on his face. Every blonde haired blue eyed woman he didn't know by name, he'd given a second glance at wondering if maybe she was the woman he desperately wanted to meet. Luis knew most of the people in Harmony, but not all and with this being tourist season it made it nearly impossible, yet it was fun looking.

Luis was so caught up in his own thoughts he never heard Jay as she approached, called his name three times and sat down across from him. It was only on the fourth try and practically hitting him in the head did Luis actually come out of the daze he was in.

Luis gave Jay a cold stare but stood up from the table and helped Jay with her chair. The two of them walked into the Book Café and were surprised to see computers at about half the tables.

“You're forgetting Luis, Beth no longer runs the Book Café. She left town” Jay said with a grin. “Which reminds me, I still have to do my happy dance for you in person on that one!”

Luis threw his head back and fought the laughter that was about to ensue. “That's one of the reasons I love you Jay, always the comedian” Luis grinned. “Seriously though, I would have thought this would have been planned months ago.”

“Well, why not ask the new manager about it?” Jay suggested. “He's right over there.” Jay pointed to Chad who was chatting with some customers at one of the computer tables. “I'll go grab us a table. Do you want one with or without a computer?”

Chad grinned from ear to ear. “Yeah, it's great man, check this out! All of the tables with computers at them have internet access. It's the latest rage my man! See, all of the book stores and small cafés like this are putting them in.”

“Well, yeah man they do, but who says we can't have them here in Harmony too?” Chad asked. “I know I've only been the manager here for a few weeks, but I felt this place needed to keep up with the changing times. People are gonna love it, you'll see.”

“Heck no! That was the best part of it! The internet company made me a deal I couldn't refuse on all of the computers and threw in the access for the first six months. If this goes over well like I think it will, I'll have computers at all the tables in a few months.”

“Sure thing man” Chad grinned. The internet is always on and to access your own mail account just type in the main address. For example hotmail.com or aol.com and go from there. Any place you regularly visit that requires a screen name and a password, just type it in as you normally would.”

“You like her” she answered plainly. “You like Sheridan, but because she's a Crane you're mad at yourself for liking her, so you're taking out all of your frustrations out on her.”

“Luis, this is me you're talking to, not Cal or Marty or even Sam. It's me, Jay, your old partner. I know you better than you may even know yourself. You can try to lie to yourself if you need to, but don't even try to lie to me on this one. I've seen the way you look at Sheridan and I can tell you're attracted to her.”

"Luis, tell me honestly, when you first met Sheridan, before you found out she was a Crane, weren't you attracted to her? And wasn't the attraction more than just because she's a beautiful woman. Weren't you attracted to her personality, too?"

Jay shook her head in frustration. Sometimes Luis could be the most stubborn men she knew and this was one of those times. “Well, according to Pilar, you two couldn't stop staring at each other the entire time you were here, before you took her to the Youth Center. And Pilar also told me that those looks continued through the whole tour of the Youth Center and right up to the point that Theresa identified Sheridan as "Sheridan Crane."

“I just wish you'd cut her a little slack Luis. You don't have to act like you love her but could you stop picking a fight with her every time you see her. Maybe you could try just being civil to her for a change. You read that letter Mr. Kralik wrote. Look what she's done for his granddaughter? The kids at the Youth Center adore her and personally I think she's a fantastic woman with a good head on her shoulders, who is kind hearted and a lot of fun to be around. Why can't you just look past her last name and see her for the good person she is?”

“I don't know Jay” Luis replied honestly. “All I can tell you is this. I think about her all the time and we email or IM each other any and every chance we get. She is truly the most amazing person I've ever met.”

Sheridan clicked on the mailbox icon and smiled contentedly when she saw Pezz had sent her mail. There was just something about hearing those three little words, You've Got Mail, that gave her that warm and fuzzy feeling all over. Emails from Pezz had been the highlight of each and every day from the day she received her first. No matter what else was happening in her life, she could always count on smiling for a few minutes anyway, as she read the words he wrote to her.

I'm not sure what brought it on last night, maybe it was our confessions to each other but I dreamed about you again. It was a strange dream to be sure, but one that caused me to wake in the middle of the night and go running for my thesaurus.

KC, tell me this is real, please? Are you from Harmony? Harmony, Maine? Was that the reason you told me not to look at the obvious? Concord hit me in the face in the dictionary, where Harmony was only spelled in a different form of the word. At the time I paid no attention to it, but looking back that really was a wonderful clue.

I know you have to work all day, so do I for that matter, as I would have preferred to wait until we were on IM to talk to you about this, but when I opened that thesaurus and read those words.... My God KC, can we really be that close to one another?

I should probably shut up now as you haven't figured out where I live yet and I certainly am not spilling the beans until I hear confirmation from you first. How I wish I didn't have plans for tonight, but I can't break this date. An old friend is visiting from out of town and we haven't seen much of each other yet.

Trust me, if there is a way for me to get online later tonight I will! We need to talk... soon! If I have my way we'll be talking in person this weekend. I have to work every other weekend, so your news came at the right time, that is if you still want to meet me?

Sheridan couldn't keep the smile off her face. “He figured it out and he knows where Harmony is!” She squealed with delight. Sheridan's heart began to pound as the reality of the situation sank in. She reread one line over and over again. `If I have my way we'll be talking in person this weekend. I have to work every other weekend, so your news came at the right time, that is if you still want to meet me?'

“Of course I want to meet you Pezz” She laughed to herself as she attempted to catch her breath. Never in her life could she remember herself reacting like this for any reason, never mind just reading a few words on a computer screen, yet right now, she felt as if she'd never breathe normally again.

“Yeah, I remember. Last I heard she had it narrowed down to someplace in New England” Jay remarked watching Luis intently as she dumped more cream and equal into her coffee. She took a quick sip and smiled blissfully. It wasn't every place that would add chocolate to your coffee.

"There's got to be more to it than that. You can't be basing your conclusion that KC is living in Harmony on that clue alone. That's not enough evidence. Besides, I've got a pretty fair vocabulary and I suspect that there are at least a half dozen words that unison could be a synonym for, so what makes you think her clue meant Harmony?"

“Jay, trust me, I looked it up in both the dictionary and thesaurus. As a matter of fact my first guess was Concord. KC told me nice try but it was wrong. She then advised me to try a thesaurus. I have those words committed to memory. Unison-- concord, accord, HARMONY, symphony; homologue; agreement.”

“Kennebunkport” Jay answered without thinking. At first Jay wasn't so sure KC was from their Harmony, after all there was probably a Harmony of some sort in every state, but add that to the clue about the presidential retreat and there was little doubt. “Have you asked her if she lives in Harmony?”

“I know all about the psychos out there Jay and I refuse to believe KC is one of them. After all, I'm the one that emailed her first. I was just responding to one of her posts. It's not like we met in some kinky singles chat room. You know as well as I do that most of the weirdoes hang out in chat rooms” Luis said. “I believe KC is exactly who she says she is, which by the way is a 26 year old gorgeous blonde with the most incredible blue eyes.”

“You're probably right Luis” Jay agreed. “She seemed very nice and genuine the night I talked to her in the chat room. "How do you know what she looks like? Did she send you her picture?” With Luis` description of KC, Jay was really curious now what she looked like. The only person "in Harmony" she could think of was Sheridan Crane.

“Not exactly” Luis answered. “We've talked about what how we look and that's how I picture her. I've also told her it doesn't matter what she looks like on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts.”

“Jay, I don't know how to explain this to you, I wish I did. There's just something about her. We've connected in a way I never dreamed possible. We both want the same things out of life, we both want to live in a small town and now it appears we both live in the same small town.”

Luis's face lit up with his signature grin. “That's easy Jay” Luis said. “I'll meet her and if she turns out to be everything I think she'll be, I'll grab on to her and never let her go.”

Jay smiled at the excitement she saw in Luis' eyes. He was like a kid in a candy store, everything he ever wanted in life soon to be his just for the taking. "Go ahead Luis. We've got a computer at our table and we might as well put it to good use." Jay prompted. "Check your mail. I'm as curious as you are now whether KC is from Harmony or not."

I can't do this, I was going to make you suffer a little longer, but it appears you've won our little contest Pezz. You are right. Harmony is the town I lived in as a small child and recently came home to. I never realized how small it truly was until I returned this time. As small as it is, it exemplifies everything I hold dear about the mystique of living in a small town. It's picture perfect, the people are wonderful, except of course for the town bully. It's almost exactly as you described your own home town.

May I assume you live nearby, since you seem familiar with Harmony? I'd also like to know if I am going to find out where you are anytime soon? It doesn't matter really, since I lost you're coming to Harmony, am I right?

Did you really want to meet this weekend Pezz? I can't think of anything I would rather do this weekend or anyone I'd rather spend time with than you. I can't tell you how excited I was, how excited I am that you figured out the clue. I still can't believe our good fortune to start off at such a great distance and wind up practically on each others door steps.

I'll be online tonight in the chat room with Godis and BabyShuis, so if you get on later you can IM me. As much as I love chatting with those guys, I don't think they'd mind if I chatted with you as well :-)

Luis' cell phone rang and he answered it still happily thinking about his date this weekend. The smile soon faded from his face as he listened to the person on the other end of the phone. Jay could tell by Luis' expression whoever it was, wasn't the bearer of good news. She waited until he hung up to ask him about it.

“You'll never believe this Jay” Luis said in frustration. “That was Bud Anderson. He works for the state building code enforcement. As of Monday morning, the Youth Center will be shut down for needed roof repairs. There was an emergency meeting earlier today and it seems that because of all the rain we have been having lately and the fact that this appears to be a very active hurricane season, all work slated for later this year has to be completed ASAP. Starting Monday any and all buildings not up to code will be shut down until the needed repairs are completed.”

“I have no choice but to comply. I had the repairs slotted to be done after the kids went back to school, but I'll have to move things up a few weeks. It looks like the Youth Center will be closed until after September 1st.”

"I can't believe we have to cancel the end of the summer party at the Youth Center. The kids are going to be so disappointed, Luis! They've worked really hard on this party, they've made tons of decorations, they're making costumes at home, they've helped pick the food and the music, everything!"

Luis shook his head dismally. “I wish there was another way Jay. Really I do. I suppose we could always see if there is a hall we could rent, but that`ll cost money that we don`t have.”

“We could do that” Luis agreed hesitantly, “But with the rainy weather we've been having this summer, there is a very good chance it'll rain that night. That'll be worse for the kids than canceling it now. I'm just glad I can use the Book Café as a gathering point at least” Luis remarked. “Buzzy will just have to get that bus of his on the road again so we can take the kids on field trips for the next few weeks.”

“Damn straight” Luis said adamantly. “That bus is in better shape than Miss Crane's $80,000 car. He only uses it when we need it for the Youth Center or for an occasional trip in the summer. I bet he took his son to that game in Boston in that bus. Anyway, as I was saying, I can`t think of anything else we can do at this point except pray the workmen get the roof finished before the dance.”

“Don't worry about Sheridan. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to help. In fact, I think she's as excited about this party as the kids are." Jay said. "Luis, you'd be amazed how much Sheridan knows about Spain! When she described her time in Spain, I actually felt like I was right there with her. The other day she was telling me how she has one favorite place she loves going back to that she says is the most incredible place she's ever been. The people there taught her all about their local customs. She also told me that during the times she spent in this one place was when she learned how to decorate for local fiestas."

“Well, she may know a lot about Spain through a Crane's eyes, but I somehow don't believe she knows the first thing about how the “real” people of Spain live” Luis sneered. “If you want to read how the real people live, go read KC's Spain post again on the travel board. Remember how well she captured life in the small villages?”

“Yeah, I'll do that Luis” Jay answered. “I`ll go read KCGirl`s post on Spain later tonight.” `Is it possible? Do I dare even think it? Is that why the things Sheridan said about Spain sounded so familiar to me?'

“That's good Jay” Luis said. “Maybe you should have Sheridan read it too. After all if she's going to help you get this party together on such short notice then she needs to know how real people view Spain.”

Jay barely heard anything that Luis was saying to her. She was wracking her brain to remember different pieces of information Luis had mentioned to her about KC. She couldn't remember if Luis had actually told her KC lived in Paris.

“That makes sense” Jay said deep in thought. She then remembered an email she'd received from Luis shortly after KC had contacted Luis after her breakup. She remembered Luis was beside himself with worry when he hadn't heard from her and how relieved he was when she contacted him. `I just heard from her and you'll never believe where she is? Spain. She needed to get away after her break up with JL and she went to visit some friends there.'

“Her fiancé” Luis corrected. “She followed him one night and found out he was cheating on her. He was actually married and his wife was pregnant. I swear if I ever got my hands on that slime JL, I`d knock his lights out. Talk about a first class jerk.”

`Think Jay! What was it Sheridan said to me the other day?' Jay asked herself. `Truthfully, I was engaged to be married and found out my fiancé was a first class jerk. I broke things off with him and decided it was time for a change. I'd lived in Paris most of my life, but it never truly was home to me.' Jay stared at Luis as he rambled on but couldn't hear a word he was saying. I don't believe this. This is impossible. KCGirl and Sheridan Crane. It all has to be a huge coincidence, doesn't it?

Sheridan's mood couldn't be brighter when she signed into the chat room. Godis and BabyShuis weren't there yet, but there were a few other people chatting about a trip to Australia. Sheridan said hello to the people in the room, but didn't respond much as her thoughts were too consumed with what the weekend would bring. Sitting there with a faraway smile on her face, Sheridan jumped when she heard her phone ring.

Jay smiled at her comment. “Not exactly. It seems the Youth Center was slated for a new roof in September anyway, but due to all the rain they've had this summer and the fact that this is supposed to be a bad hurricane season, the building commission decided to move its date up and they want the roof replaced ASAP."

Sheridan hung the phone up and realized what had just happened. She was now going to be busy all day Friday and Saturday. “Oh no Pezz!” She said. “Sunday, we can meet Sunday!” She decided. She quickly got another email off to Pezz informing him of her change of plans.

Jay rolled her eyes. “Luis, now that we've finished dinner, why don't you go talk to Chad and see if he's available Saturday night. I'm just going to play around here a little. Maybe I'll check out that post of KC's. I know I enjoyed it at the time, but truthfully I don't remember the details.”

“Sure thing Jay” Luis said as he started to get up. He stopped just as he was about to look for Chad. “I just remembered something” Luis frowned. “I was supposed to meet KC this weekend.”

I know you're busy so I'll make this quick. I just had some news and I'm not going to be able to meet you Friday or Saturday. Would Sunday be ok? Normally I wouldn't let anything interfere with our meeting, but what came up is important. I'll tell you all about it when we meet.

Luis left to find Chad and Jay went directly to the travel message board. She had to go back several pages to find what she was looking for, but she finally found it on page 7. “I'm glad this board doesn't move too fast” Jay said as she waited for KC's post to load.

Jay read the post several times, allowing the information to sink in. The title itself should have been enough of a clue Costa de Marbella, a Summer Paradise. “I think that's where Sheridan said she spent a summer once” Jay thought, trying to remember what Sheridan had told her.

“I did spend one trip to Spain in such a resort, but the best times I've had there were spent in Costa de Marbella with a host family. I spent a summer there once with that family and it was wonderful. Marianna, my host took me to all the local festivals and all the people from the village help plan the fiesta, decorate it and cook all the food. I'm a culinary disaster, so I spent most of my time helping with the decorating.”

“I don't believe this” Jay said to herself. “I'm seeing it, but I still can't believe it. I'm going to have to ask Miss Crane a few questions to find out for sure” Jay told herself. Or maybe... I wonder...” Jay clicked on the icon for the chat room. Knowing that PezzMan was occupied for the evening there was a chance KCGirl might be chatting with her friends. She hoped KC would be there and maybe she could pick up a piece of information that would confirm her suspicions.

Jay signed into the chat room and was delighted to see KCGirl was there. The chat was currently about someone's trip to Australia, but from what Jay could see, KC wasn't participating. After her greeting to the others, Jay just sat back and waited.

"That description fits Harmony, all right. So KCGirl and Sheridan Crane lived in Paris at the same time and both very recently moved back to the towns they were born in on the Coast of Maine?"

[KCGirl] Look, I've only met one “real” man since I've been home and although he is quite handsome and has a body to die for, he's the most arrogant, pig headed macho jerk I've ever met.

[KCGirl] Pezz has absolutely nothing to get jealous about. I wouldn't give that macho jerk the time of day if I didn't have to work for him. Besides, Pezz and I are meeting Sunday for the first time.

"How many clues is this now? I think I've lost count. What I wouldn't give to be at this meeting between KC and Pezz. Oh man, If I'm right about this, they are both going to be in for the biggest surprise of their lives."

[KCGirl] Godis, trust me-- it's possible. He was really nice when we met, but for some reason he decided to take all his frustrations out on me. He has some ridiculous vendetta against my family and he's using me for target practice. If you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about him anymore.

Jay decided to leave herself in the chat room for awhile longer while she checked her own email. When she was finished, she went back to the chat room and signed out. Luis was on his way back with a huge grin plastered to his face.

“Great!” Jay said with a small smile. “Luis, I think we should cut our night short. I want to get some extra sleep tonight since it looks like we're going to have very busy days tomorrow and Saturday.”

“You're right” Luis responded. “Jay, just one thing, I want to tell you again how much I appreciate what you've done at the Youth Center. I mean, I'm sure there are other things you'd rather be doing with your spare time and it really means a lot having you help me out like this. I don't know how I'll ever repay you.”

"Don't worry about it Luis, I knew what I was getting into when I volunteered to help out. I never expected you to pay me." Jay answered. "You know how much I like working with kids. And while you thought you were dumping Sheridan on me, I've really enjoyed getting to know her. She's been great to work with, the kids love her and we've had a lot of fun. But ...... now that you've brought it up, I like the idea that you owe me one. Yeah, you owe me a big one and I'll be holding it over your head until I decide to call it in."

Luis and Jay left the Book Café to go home and get some rest. Tomorrow and Saturday would be extremely busy as Saturday night would be the dance they'd worked so hard to pull together. Luis however, was thinking past the dance towards his meeting Sunday with KC and how wonderful it would be. Jay was also thinking about his meeting with KC, but she was worried it would turn into WWIII. She decided she needed to find out for sure if KC was Sheridan and then came the hard part. Convincing Sheridan that macho jerk Luis was as wonderful in "real life" as his cyber alter ego PezzMan and convincing Luis that Sheridan Crane was just as worthy of his heart as KCGirl, who apparently already had it.

Sheridan awoke early the next morning and quickly signed on to her computer. After she left the chat room last night she found her mail server was down and she couldn't read her mail. As frustrating as it was she dealt with it, but the minute her eyes fluttered open this morning she raced to her computer to see if she had an email from Pezz. She nearly jumped off her seat with excitement when she saw his name in her inbox. There were three messages from him. She quickly clicked on his first email, noticing nothing else.

Sunday sounds like the perfect day to meet, that is if I can last that long. The anticipation is killing me, I want you to know that! LOL. All this time and it never bothered me that much, but now that I know where you are and you are so close to me, I can't seem to stop thinking about meeting you.

Listen angel, I'm not home right now so I'm going to cut this short. There are people here if you get my meaning. I'll write a longer email later, I promise. Somehow writing to you makes me feel closer to you. Crazy, huh?

I'm home now and will be going to bed shortly, but I promised you I'd write and here I am. Can you believe in three days we'll know what each other looks like, know each other's names and maybe even what the other does for a living? I have so many thoughts in my mind, so many questions I want to ask you, but if the truth be told angel, the first thing I want to do is hold you in my arms.

Remember the night I gave you the cyber hug? If you only knew how much I wanted to do that in person. I'm not usually the mushy type, but you do something to me KC that no one has ever done before.

Sheridan couldn't get the grin off her face. She close her eyes and remembered the “cyber” hug she'd received from Pezz. It had almost seemed real and the thought of hugging this man, this very special man in person was almost too much for her to think about right now. If she continued like this she'd never make it through the day. She went on to his last note.

I hope you slept well. I only managed to get a few hours sleep myself. I hope I'm not going to be too cranky today. I guess I'll have to catch up on my sleep tonight now. I do want to talk to you online sometime today or tonight if you get a chance. There isn't a computer where I'll be, but I think I know someplace I can sneak off to email you now and then.

Let me know if you want to chat tonight. If you're too tired after working all day, I'll understand, but I'd just like to chat for a little while. That might be dangerous for us though. A little while might turn into an all nighter! LOL.

“Noon at Lighthouse Park sounds just right Pezz” Sheridan smiled to herself. “Now, I just have to find out where Lighthouse Park is and we'll be all set, but I don't think that'll be a problem.”

Sheridan signed off her computer smiling to herself as she went about getting ready for a long day at the Youth Center. Despite the fact that Luis was going to be there today, Sheridan was actually looking forward to helping with getting the party for the kids ready on such short notice. With the exception of her run ins with Officer Lopez Fitzgerald, Sheridan so far loved every minute she'd spent at the Youth Center. Jay was a wonderful person and working with the kids was more gratifying than she ever imagined. No matter what her feelings were for the director, she planned on spending as much time there as possible. It was the most rewarding experience she'd had.

Sheridan ran up the steps to the Youth Center, realizing she was 10 minutes late. Normally, it wouldn't matter, but today was going to be especially busy and she knew Luis wasn't going to give her any slack. Sure enough he was waiting at the door for her.

“Is it too much to ask for you to be on time Miss Crane?” Luis said sarcastically as Sheridan flew through the door. I realize you are volunteering your services here, but I thought Jay impressed upon you the fact that we're under a time crunch here. The dance is tomorrow night and we have to have this gym ready to go.”

Sheridan was ready for him. “I'm sorry Officer” Sheridan answered with equal cynicism. “My butler forgot to wake me up, the cook made me pancakes instead of Belgian waffles for breakfast and of course I made her remake them and I was appalled at the condition of the limo so I made the chauffeur wash and wax it before he drove me over here. It won't happen again.”

Jay, who was shooting hoops in the gym had to turn her head to keep from being seen laughing by Luis. Luis, who had been taken totally by surprise by her remark stood there speechless, for a moment, but only a brief moment. “Well, see that it doesn't Miss Crane. I have a Youth Center to run here and I don't need some rich daddy's girl slowing me down.”

Sheridan fought back the urge to respond. Instead she calmly walked away from him and joined Jay in the gym. “Good Morning Jay” Sheridan said brightly. She pushed her encounter with Luis completely to the back of her mind.

As Jay and Sheridan waited for their order of a thermos of coffee and a dozen assorted muffins to be filled, Sheridan noticed the computers at the tables in the Book Café. “Jay! Look at this!” Sheridan remarked. “There are computers in here. I don't remember this the other day.”

By mid morning, Luis was looking for any excuse he could think of to make his way over to the Book Café. He accidentally knocked over the thermos of coffee and just had to get it refilled. Sheridan volunteered to have it filled for him, but Luis insisted he spilled it, he would take care of it. Jay watched in amusement, as she knew exactly what each one of them was doing.

Thanks for the IM this morning! It set my day off on a very positive note and not even that bore of a tyrant could spoil my mood this morning. I think my mood helped me with my response to Mr. High and Mighty as well! LOL.

I'll try to get back here later and send another quick note. It'll give me something to really look forward too. I have a feeling it's going to be extremely hectic today and writing you will be a very pleasant change of pace. For some reason when I write to you, I feel as though all is right with the world.

Pilar and Grace arrived with lunch for the busy crew of volunteers. They had spent all morning cooking for the party and decided to make something for lunch for the volunteers as well. Buzzy was the first to aide Pilar and Grace carry the food in as he was the hungriest of the crew.

Pilar said nothing, she just looked at Luis and waited for an explanation. Luis looked around and saw that all eyes were on him. All eyes that is except Sheridan's. “OK Mama, here's what happened.”

“Luis, Aren't you going to have anything to eat?” Jay asked. “You'd better hurry up and get something. Buzzy's already had five muffins and I have a feeling he wants to make an even half dozen out of it.”

There were several other people standing at the table talking and Luis really didn't pay any attention to who was there. He really was hungry and the more he thought about it the more he wanted one of those blueberry muffins.

Luis poured himself a cup of coffee and then walked over to the muffins. As he reached out to take the last blueberry muffin, his hand grabbed another hand instead of the muffin. Startled, he looked up right into the brilliant blue eyes of Sheridan Crane.

“It figures you'd try to take the last blueberry muffin. You were probably standing there listening to my conversation with Jay. You must have said to yourself, now I can I get under Luis' skin today? What can I do to really irritate him? I know, he wants a blueberry muffin! I'll make sure I take the last one and he sees me do it!”

“What? You must be the most deluded man I have ever met! What an ego you have to think that I spend every waking hour thinking about you and how next to ruin your life!” Sheridan was completely shocked by his audacity. “I have never! Take your muffin Officer. I wouldn't want to be accused of taking food out of your mouth and I seem to have lost my appetite anyway.”

“Don't worry about me Officer. It'll take more than losing a muffin to you to make me get light headed. For some reason ever time I see you I get hot headed rather than light headed. You take the muffin. I have work to do.” With that Sheridan walked away leaving the muffin to Luis.

Luis was so angry, he couldn't see straight and didn't hear Jay and Buzzy come up behind him. "What is up with you Luis!" Jay scolded. "Why did you say that to her? You know darn good and well that Sheridan was no where near us when we were talking about you getting a blueberry muffin.”

Jay put her hand over her mouth to control her laughter. “Buzzy does have a good point Luis. Maybe Sheridan does like blueberry muffins, just like you do. . Maybe blueberry muffins is just one of many things that you and Sheridan have in common. I bet if you gave it half a chance, you'd find out you have a lot more in common with Sheridan than blueberry muffins.”

“Somehow I doubt that Luis” Jay said shaking her head. “The two of you have more in common that either of you are willing to admit. Now, eat that muffin that Sheridan graciously left for you or I think Buzzy will eat it for you.”

“He already did Pilar” Jay smiled. “He went over to the Book Café a short time afterwards and bought another blueberry muffin. He didn't give it to Sheridan, but he put it on the table and wrote Sheridan's name on the bag.”

“Still, mijo, when are you going to realize that Sheridan is not the enemy?” Pilar asked. “I've told you before, she is nothing like the rest of her family. The only thing she has in common with the Cranes is her last name.”

After lunch the crew continued getting the gym ready for the big dance. Buzzy and Luis helped Chad bring the sound system, while Pilar Grace, Jay and Sheridan filled the Piñatas with candy and prizes.

“Whether Luis likes it or not, I'm going to Matushek and Company. I'd much rather go there and get personalized service than go to one of those bargain outlets. Besides, Mr. Kralik was kind enough to donate all of those supplies the other day, the least we can do is give him some of our business.” Sheridan was adamant in her position and was ready if Luis chose to give her a hard time about it.

“Yeah” Luis shouted back. He stopped what he was doing and walked over to where the women were. “I need two rolls of electrical tape and a roll of duct tape” he told Sheridan without so much as batting an eye at her destination.

“Good” Luis smiled. He then turned his attention to Jay. “Jay, why don't you get Sheridan some money from petty cash.” With that Luis returned to Chad and Buzzy and the task of setting up the sound system.

Sheridan got what she needed for Luis and then went over to the candy department. She chatted with the clerk about what would be perfect for a piñata and she was happy to oblige. Sheridan gave the woman the approximate size she would need to fill for the two piñatas and the clerk gathered the candy. While Sheridan was waiting for her order to be filled she browsed the candy section, which is when she spotted them.

“Wow!” She exclaimed squealing with delight. I don't believe it!” Right in front of her was a display of Pez Dispensers, with what seemed like hundreds of different colors and characters. She scanned the different characters hoping they would have what she was looking for and she was pleasantly surprised when they did. “One Wonderwoman Pez Dispenser!” she laughed. She looked around and saw they had all the superheroes including Superman. She would have loved to pick one up for Pezz, but she had no way of sending it to him.

Sheridan quickly headed to the Book Café after finishing her shopping at Matushek and Company and placed her order for coffee. She was in such high spirits she decided to even splurge for a blueberry muffin for Officer Lopez Fitzgerald.

Thanks for asking about my day. With the exception of a rather annoying encounter over breakfast, my day has been going well. It's been incredibly busy as there is lots to do and very little time to do it.

I don't know if I'll have time to get back here or not to email. I had to sneak out as it was to write this! LOL. I'll try though, I can promise you that. I also am going to have to find the time to look for a Pez Dispenser and not just anyone, a Superman one at that! ;-)

By the end of the day, everything for the party was ready to go. All equipment was put away, all the decorations were ready, including the Piñatas being filled and the sound system was in place. Tables had been put in place for the buffet that would be set up and all of the warming dishes were on the tables. The next day Pilar and Grace would finish the cooking in the morning and spend the afternoon bringing the food to the Youth Center, Chad would finish his sound checks, Buzzy would make sure all of the facilities were in working order while Luis, Sheridan and Jay would hang all the decorations.

Jay told Sheridan she would be bringing her costume with her the next day and encouraged her to do the same. They could both shower and change right there in the woman's locker room. That would give them more time to finish up any last minute details.

Despite her early morning fight with Luis, Sheridan had had a very enjoyable day. Luis had even thanked her in person when she came back from the Book Café with a blueberry muffin for him. Tomorrow looked to be an even busier day than today, but she was looking forward to it. She really enjoyed being part of the dance preparations, even though she and her boss didn't see eye to eye on anything. Still, it was what she enjoyed, what she wanted to become part of when she decided to move back home.

Sheridan left the Youth Center with a feeling of accomplishment. She was exhausted and all she wanted to do was take a hot bath and crawl into bed, but there was one thing she wanted to do before she took her bath... email Pezz.

Luis arrived home later than expected. He and Jay had stayed after everyone left for a friendly game of one on one. Jay wasn't sure she'd still be in Harmony after the roof repairs were finished and Luis had promised her a game. He smiled when he remembered how easily he'd beaten her and she immediately wanted a rematch. Luis had laughed and promised her one if she was still around when the Youth Center reopened or the next time she was in town. He always had a great time with Jay and today was no exception. He hoped she'd be around for awhile, but he knew her life was now in Beverly Hills. He was glad that she still made occasional visits to Harmony, because he didn't know when he'd ever get out to California.

Try as he may, he never got back to the Book Café to send another email to KC. He felt terrible about that, but had a feeling that getting away in the afternoon would be difficult. He immediately sat down at his computer to send a note to KC when he saw he had two emails from her. A smile crossed his lips as he opened the first.

Thank you for thinking of me, but don't put yourself out getting back to me this afternoon. I probably won't get a chance to read anymore mail till I get home this evening myself. Reading this one note from you is enough to get me through the rest of the day. :-)

Guess what I found this afternoon? I found a Wonderwoman Pez Dispenser! Can you imagine? Of all the luck! I wasn't even looking for it, it was just there. They had quite a variety of them including Superman. I wanted to get it for you, but I had no idea where to send it. I know you said you know where Harmony is, but I have no idea how close that is. If you're anywhere near here I got the Pez Dispenser at `Matushek and Company.' I just thought I'd save you the running around.

Well, I'm home now and absolutely exhausted. I had no idea I could ever be this tired, but it's a good tired. Tomorrow promises to be an even busier day, as I probably won't be home until late at night. By then I expect I'll probably drop right into bed! LOL.

As much as I want to talk to you Pezz, I am really tired and will be going to bed shortly. If I wake up I'll check to see if you are on line, but I feel like I could sleep for a week right now! LOL. I'll write again in the morning, as I doubt I'll be online at all tomorrow.

Sheridan awoke feeling completely refreshed. She was also excited, as today was the day of the big dance. All of the families whose children attend the Youth Center would be there which was basically the whole town, with the exception of the Cranes and their cronies of course. That was fine with Sheridan however, as she much preferred the kind of people the Youth Center catered to than the Country Club. There was just something so artificial about the “blue bloods” she was expected to hob nob with. She chuckled when she thought about what a disappointment she was to her family. Sometimes Sheridan really wondered if she wasn't switched at birth. She, her father and brother saw eye to eye on only one thing. Nothing.

After she cleaned up and dressed, Sheridan pulled an outfit from her closet that she'd worn to a fiesta several summers ago in Spain. Marianna had helped her pick it out and told her she'd have every available male begging her to dance. Sheridan blushed at the memory, as Marianna was right. She did have numerous offers that night and when she went home after the festival, she had to soak her feet in hot water they ached so much from dancing.

She packed a small bag with her costume and some needed accessories and grabbed a quick glass of juice before she sat down at her computer to write to Pezz. Her heart began to pound when she realized that in a little over 24 hours she and Pezz would finally meet. It was the strangest sensation Sheridan had ever experienced. She was completely exhilarated at the prospect of meeting Pezz, yet scared to death at the same time. She remembered promising her internet buddies she'd bring a friend along, just to be safe and she hadn't yet asked Jay to go with her. She made a mental note to ask her first thing this morning.

Thanks for being so understanding for my not getting back to you this afternoon and it looks like I missed you tonight as well. I just got home a few minutes ago and I was hoping to catch you before you went to bed, but it doesn't look like I made it.

It sounds like you had a grueling day. Mine wasn't much better, but I know how you feel about a sense of accomplishment. I felt the same way after today. I wish I could do this all the time but it doesn't pay the bills! LOL.

So things will be hectic for you too tomorrow? I wonder if we're working on the same project? HA HA! Just kidding. It's just that we seem to have the same schedule these past few days. Then again, this is nearly the end of summer and I imagine that there is lots going on all over the country never mind our sparsely populated state of Maine.

Thanks for the heads up on Matushek and Company. I know the place. It's on 1st and Elm am I correct? LOL. How do I know that you may ask? The same reason I knew about the red bench under the lamp by the flower garden in Lighthouse Park. I told you I knew Harmony. ;-)

OK, time for a slight confession here. There is a reason I know Harmony, KC. It just so happens that I was born at Harmony Hospital. As a matter of fact, I was raised in Harmony and still live there. Harmony is that small little town I described to you when we first started emailing each other and it's even smaller now that I know you live here as well.

Do you have any idea what I've been going through since I found out you were from Harmony? Every woman I see with blond hair and blue eyes that I don't recognize I stop and stare at. They must all think I'm some kind of nut. You know, you might have picked a better time of the year to come home. This is tourist season and there are lots of unfamiliar faces. Had you come home in the dead of winter and I'd spotted you, I'd have known you in a heartbeat.

“Pezz is from Harmony?” Sheridan exclaimed. “I don't believe it! This is unbelievable! I wonder if I've seen him?” So many thoughts were going through her mind she almost forgot where she had to be today. She sent a quick reply to Pezz and flew out the door. The last thing she needed was to be late... Again.

Sheridan arrived a few minutes late this morning and waited for her nemesis to lay into her. To her surprise he said nothing. To confuse her even more, Luis brought a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin over to where she was sitting talking with Jay. Jay gave Luis an encouraging wink, while Sheridan politely thanked him, yet she was in total shock.

“I can understand that” Jay said. “Luis hasn't been the most pleasant person to be around where you're concerned, but it looks like he's lightening up around you. I guess we'll have to see how the rest of the day goes.”

“I don't know but I swear the building shook” Sheridan said as she looked around as well. “If that keeps up the Youth Center is going to need more than a few roof tiles.” Sheridan couldn't believe how elaborate the sound system was. She saw speakers in every corner of the gym as well as spread across the ceiling at just about every other rafter. The music sounded again and although it wasn't quite as loud as the last time, it was still deafening. As Sheridan covered her ears, she saw one of the speakers in the center of the gym's ceiling shaking with the music. She nudged Jay and pointed at the ceiling. She tried yelling but there was no way she could be heard above the music.

Jay looked over at Sheridan but wasn't sure what she wanted as the music was so loud she couldn't think straight. Sheridan held her finger up signaling to Jay that she'd be back in just a minute. Sheridan got up and walked over towards Chad. She kept her eye on the speaker as she walked over to the sound system to have Chad stop the music.

Luis was right in her path but not looking at her. He was trying to get Chad's attention to turn down the music. Chad had a funny look on his face as he tried to make out what Luis wanted. Sheridan kept her eye on the speaker and it began swinging dangerously from its position. Suddenly she saw the speaker break loose and begin to fall. It was positioned directly over where Luis was standing.

Without thinking, Sheridan broke into a run and with all her might she pushed Luis out of the path of the falling speaker. Chad finally got the hint and turned down the music. When the shock of the situation was over, Sheridan found herself lying on top of Luis.

Luis still wasn't quite sure what happened, but couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. “Why Sheridan” he said in a seductive whisper. “I never thought you'd be the dominating type. You know, all you had to do was ask.” He gave her a quick wink.

Sheridan was completely taken aback by his reaction. She blushed at his insinuation and quickly got up from her position. Chad and Jay had come running over when they saw the speaker fall. “Luis! Luis!” Jay yelled. “Are you all right?”

Sheridan had completely walked away from the scene. She was embarrassed. Chad glanced quickly at Sheridan and then returned his attention to Luis. “Maybe because that speaker missed your head by a few inches man” Chad said as he pointed to the speaker which lay on the gym floor in the exact spot Luis had been standing before Sheridan shoved him out of the way. “Sheridan, she saved your life man.”

“What?” Luis asked. He stared at the speaker, then looked at Sheridan, then at Jay who nodded acknowledging what Chad had told him. The reality of the situation finally hit home. It then dawned on him what he'd said to Sheridan. He'd accused her of coming on to him when all she was trying to do was save his life.

Luis looked over at Sheridan and felt like the biggest heel there was. Somehow, it didn't matter what the circumstance, he always managed to think the worst or try to make Sheridan out to be the enemy. He couldn't believe that she'd actually pushed him out of the way of that falling speaker. Luis picked up the speaker from the floor and felt its weight. He knew without a doubt that if that speaker had landed on his head he'd have been killed for sure. Despite what he thought of Sheridan, or rather her family, he owed her an apology.

Sheridan had returned to where she'd been sitting with Jay and was sipping on her cup of coffee with her back turned to Luis. Luis quietly approached her, preparing himself to apologize to her once again.

Sheridan turned to face him and immediately her defenses went up. “Don't worry Officer” she said icily, “I won't come near you again. I wouldn`t want you to misinterpret anything else I might do.”

“Look, Sheridan, I'm really sorry. I know this probably sounds pretty lame, but I was only kidding. I had no idea what you were doing and it was the first thing that popped into my head.”

“Well, I wanted to say thank you” Luis said sincerely, managing to look directly into her deep blue eyes. “I really am sorry for what I said back there and I don't think there is anyway I can ever thank you enough for saving my life.”

Sheridan stared back into his hazel brown eyes. There was something in his eyes, in the way he looked at her that was so familiar. There was also something that told her he was telling the truth, that he meant every word that he said.

Luis flashed her his signature smile and nodded his head. Sheridan couldn't stop a small grin from forming as she looked into his handsome face. Right now he was acting like the Luis she first met, the Luis Pilar and Jay talked so much about. It lasted only a moment, as Luis turned and went back to the sound system. He had to hurry and fix all those speakers to make sure none of them would come down at the dance.

Luis, Buzzy and Chad worked hard for the next few hours removing all the speakers from the ceiling. It was the best course of action to prevent a tragic accident from occurring. Once the speakers from the ceiling were removed and the others rearranged, Chad one again performed his sound check. The music was still loud, but by no means deafening. Luis seemed to be in a playful mood because he grabbed his mother and then Jay and began twirling them around the dance floor. Sheridan smiled as she watched the trio spin and whirl about the dance floor. She was amazed at how much fun Luis seemed to be having. She noted he had about the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen. She hadn't had much of a chance to see him smile until today. Usually she was looking at him as he yelled at her through gritted teeth. She found herself almost wishing he didn't hate her family so much because maybe...

“Sheridan, what are you thinking?” She said out loud as she shook herself from her thoughts. “Just remember, tomorrow at this time you will be meeting the man of your dreams.“ She smiled again when she imagined meeting Pezz and fought the thoughts that were threatening to surface that Pezz would look like Luis. As much as that man annoyed her, she couldn't help but admire his good looks. A person would have to be blind not to notice.

By late afternoon just about everything was ready and Jay suggested that she and Sheridan shower and change so they would be ready when the kids all started to arrive. Jay took Sheridan to the locker room and got her everything she'd need.

“Then get out of here Luis” Jay laughed as she gently pushed Luis out of the doorway of the woman's locker room. "I have things to do if I'm going to be ready in time to greet the kids" Jay told him. "I suggest you go get yourself ready while you've got a few minutes free."

“Good idea Jay” Luis agreed. “I think I'll go do that right now.” Luis smiled at Jay and headed into the men's locker room. Jay watched the door of the men's locker room for a moment, half expecting Luis to pop back out.

Luis waited several minutes inside the men's locker room. “I think I've given her enough time” Luis said with a foxy grin on his face. “I wonder how she'll react to an ice cold shower?” He walked back to the door of the men's locker room and peered out to make sure no one was watching him. He then quietly stole away to turn off the hot water heater, thus giving Jay a surprise cold shower.

Sheridan stepped into the shower and turned the handle to hot. She placed her hand under the spray of water and adjusted the handle until she'd reached the precise temperature she wanted. She was never so happy to take a hot shower in her life as she was hot and sticky from all the work they'd done that day and her muscles were already beginning to ache.

Jay returned to the locker room and Sheridan was already in the shower. Since it was only the two of them in there, Jay decided to go over to the other side, thus allowing each of them plenty of space.

Jay hung her costume up in a locker and put her purse and the rest of her stuff in it as well. She then went and grabbed a couple of towels for herself from the shelf and returned to the bench in front of her locker to undress. She'd only gotten as far as her shoes when she heard Sheridan start to scream.

“What's going on?” Jay asked herself immediately after Sheridan's scream. She then got up and walked around the far side of the lockers about to check on Sheridan when she found herself stopping dead in her tracks. She jumped back a bit to keep from being seen.

“What happened?” Sheridan said wiping water from her eyes as she came out of the shower in nothing but her birthday suit. “The water suddenly turned to ice and I couldn't find my...” Sheridan stood still when she saw Luis standing there looking like the cat who ate the canary holding her towel. At the moment he wasn't looking at her, he was laughing uncontrollably.

Luis looked up only to see a very naked Sheridan in front of him. Sheridan's blue eyes danced mischievously when she saw Mr. Macho turn about six shades of red. Nudity was not something that bothered her since in Paris it was widely accepted and she`d spent most of her life there, but apparently it was affecting the very provincial Officer Lopez Fitzgerald. “Sh-Sh-Sheridan!” Luis stammered in complete shock.

“Is there something you wanted Officer?” Sheridan asked in a very sexy voice, making absolutely no move to cover up. She loved the idea that Luis was so embarrassed over this situation that HE created. She decided to use it to her advantage. She found it exhilarating to have the upper hand where Officer Lopez Fitzgerald was concerned.

Her's grin grew wider when she remembered what Luis had said to her earlier in the day. The temptation to give it right back to him was too great to pass up. “You know Luis” Sheridan said in the voice of a true temptress, “If you really wanted to see me like this, all you had to do was ask.”

Try as he might, Luis couldn't help himself. He swallowed hard as his eyes appreciated a full view of Sheridan's perfect body. Despite his constant bickering with her, Luis knew she was beautiful, but he never imagined she was this beautiful and sexy at the same time. Hell, he never dreamed he'd be in this predicament. “No, I...I...I...I think this is all a big mistake” he finally sputtered.

Luis finally managed to unglue his eyes from her voluptuous curves and held the towel out for her to take. “Here... Here is your towel” he said forcing himself not to look at her. Even though he wasn`t looking at her with his eyes, the vision of her magnificent body was tattooed to his mind's eye .

Sheridan walked towards Luis and took the towel from him, but not without making sure she touched his arm. She let her fingers linger on his arm just long enough to make sure he was affected by her. She raised a brow when she heard him inhale sharply. “Why thank you Officer” Sheridan smiled devilishly. “I'd love to give you a generous tip, but as you can see, I don't have any pockets right now. Come see me later, will you big boy?”

Jay couldn't take it any more. She was about to split a gut laughing. Not being able to hold it in any longer, Jay came out from behind the lockers laughing uncontrollably. “Oh Luis! If you could only see the look on your face right now!” Jay laughed.

“What are you doing over there, Jay?” Luis asked angrily. “You were supposed to be the one who got the cold shower!” Though his tone was angry, if the truth be known he was very pleased to have Jay there as a distraction from this mortifying moment.

Jay walked up to Luis, still laughing. She gave him the once over and whispered in his ear, “don't look down big guy, but it looks to me like you're the one who needs the cold shower!”

Despite her warning, Luis looked down and again turned several shades of red. Sheridan had put her towel on, so she was now covered, but Luis was still very much aware of her presence. “If you'll excuse me, I'll go turn the hot water heater back on. Sorry Sheridan!” He yelled over his shoulder as he literally bolted out of the women's locker room. Jay and Sheridan exchanged glances and the two women erupted into laughter. This was only the beginning of the evening.

Sheridan had finished putting on all of her jewelry except for one item. She furrowed her brow deep in thought wondering what she could possibly have done with her ring? She absentmindedly played with her finger that at one time her favorite ring decorated and couldn't imagine what happened to it.

“Let me go look and see if maybe you left it in the shower.” Jay walked over to the shower and looked inside. A few minutes she came back holding a sterling silver ring between her fingers. “Is this it?” Jay asked as she examined the intricately designed ring.

“I don't know Sheridan” Jay said as she read the inscription on the ring. “This has someone's initials on it and I don't see an “S”. Jay struggled to read the inscription. “It looks like the initials are KC? Jay looked at Sheridan and tried to hide the shock on her face.

“That's mine Jay” Sheridan grinned. “Actually it was my mother's ring and every time she wore it when I was a little girl I always wanted to play with it. I would always take it off my mother's finger and read “KC” to her, even before I could read. Several years later, after she died, one of the family lawyers handed me the ring. I was willed most of my mother's jewelry, but I wasn't allowed to touch any of it until I was of age, but this one ring was given to me immediately. I remember how thrilled I'd been to receive it. When I looked at the ring to read the inscription, KC, all I could see was my mother smiling at me like she always did when I took the ring from her. My mother always teased me that I was definitely Katherine Crane's daughter and after awhile she started calling me KC'sGirl.” Sheridan fought back her tears as she remembered her mother fondly. Her death had been the saddest part of Sheridan's life

“That's a very nice memory Sheridan” Jay said quietly as she handed Sheridan the ring. Jay fought back the urge to yell “YES!” Now she had the proof she'd been looking for. Sheridan Crane and KCGirl were the same person.

“I'd love to go with you Sheridan” Jay answered. “I'll tell you what we can do. We'll meet for a late breakfast at the Book Café and then we can walk over to Lighthouse Park from there. I'll stay in the background and only come out if it looks like you'll need some back up.”

“Pilar everything smells absolutely delicious” Sheridan said as she walked up to the table where Pilar and Grace were putting out all the food. She gave an enthusiastic smile as she inhaled the heavenly aroma of all of the traditional Spanish dishes that would be served. “You and Grace have outdone yourselves.”

“Thank you Sheridan” Pilar smiled. “I must say, you and Jay did a marvelous job decorating the Youth Center for this party. It reminds me of a festival I went to as a little girl, before I moved to the United States.”

“Most of them, yes” Sheridan answered pleasurably. “That was one of the things I loved so much about Spain, the way the locals accepted me and encouraged me to participate in their festivities. It was the warmest country I've been too.”

Tammy's face beamed when she encountered Sheridan's heartfelt smile and warm embrace. She immediately responded by throwing her arms around Sheridan's neck. Sheridan picked up the tiny girl and began chatting endlessly with her. Tammy's father and grandfather were amazed at how Tammy seemed to respond to Sheridan. Soon the three of them were talking about how much Tammy had come out of her shell in the last few weeks and Sheridan shared with her father and grandfather everything Tammy had done to help with the preparations for the party.

Dressed to kill in a white linen shirt and embroidered black pants with a royal blue sash around his waist, Luis made his entrance in the gym. He smiled as he saw the kids trickling in with their parents and older siblings. It was only a few minutes after six and already the turn out was larger than he expected.

He scanned the gym, looking for Buzzy and Jay and managed to spot each of them deep in conversation with some of the parents. He saw his mother, Grace Bennett and Eve Russell at the buffet table, putting out the final dishes as very soon the hungry crowd would descend upon them.

He spied Chad, who was playing some soft Spanish guitar music. The music was playing quietly, for the time being, helping to set the theme of the party. As Luis listened to the familiar tune, his mind flashed back to his near encounter with death earlier when the speaker fell off the ceiling. He still couldn't believe that Sheridan Crane had risked her life for him. He couldn't figure it out, but he also couldn't forget it. Had it not been for her he surely would be laying on a cold slab right now and this fiesta they were having would be a wake instead of a celebration.

As Luis' thoughts turned to Sheridan, he felt a blush creep into his cheeks as memories of the incident in the locker room earlier assaulted him. Now that the name “Sheridan” had flashed into his head, he couldn't seem to get the mental image of her standing there in front of him, her perfect body glistening with droplets of water trickling down her sensual curves.

Luis groaned as he tried to shake the image from his head. He grabbed his collar and opened a few buttons when he realized it was getting warm and without thinking, his eyes searched the crowd. It took him a few minutes, but he finally saw her and felt a lump develop in his throat. He swallowed hard as he stared at the gorgeous blonde who at the moment was talking to Alfred Kralik and his son Robert. Robert was holding Tammy, who seemed to just stare at Sheridan in awe.

Luis shifted his gaze for a moment to the Kraliks but soon returned to Sheridan and he found himself staring at her smiling face. He couldn't believe how her whole face seemed to light up when she smiled and her blue eyes seemed to dance with excitement. His glance traveled downward as his eyes took in every inch of her beauty. He could feel his heart begin to pound as he admired how well the deep white bodice top hugged her curves flawlessly. It was elaborately embroidered with red lace and the scoop neck gave him an ample view of her supple breasts. His gaze continued to appreciate the rest of her form as his eyes traveled further down to her body-hugging long red skirt which had a slit, allowing him an enticing view of her long, slender leg. Luis moaned inwardly and closed his eyes trying to get the vision of Sheridan out of his head.

Jay saw Luis enter the gym and excused herself from her conversation and walked over towards him. She saw him scanning the gym and had a feeling that he was looking for a certain blonde and was quite amused when she saw she was right. She followed the path of Luis' gaze and saw it led directly to the beautiful Miss Sheridan Crane who was completely oblivious to Luis' attention. “Oh Luis, you've got it bad my friend” Jay said to herself as she closed the distance. “I just wish you'd admit it to yourself.”

Luis was so engrossed in his own private world, he never heard Jay approach. “Let me guess Luis” Jay asked with a glint in her eye, “You are trying to figure out how to get Sheridan to give you that generous tip she offered you earlier?”

“Yeah right, and I see you found WHO you were looking for," Jay remarked. "Sheridan does look gorgeous in that outfit, but you already know that since you haven't been able to take your eyes off her."

The guests had all arrived and the End Of the Summer party was in full swing. It seemed like everyone from Harmony was there and having a wonderful time. Sheridan was at the buffet table for the time being with Grace, Eve and Pilar. Nearly everyone had eaten except the servers and Sheridan wanted to make sure that they had a chance to eat as well. She finally successfully convinced them to take a break when Jay walked up and Sheridan talked her into staying there with her for awhile allowing the others a much needed dinner break.

After the women had taken their food and found their families to eat with, Jay and Sheridan busied themselves rearranging and consolidating the dishes. A few people straggled up to refill their plates, but for the most part everyone had had their fill of the delicious entrées. Right now more people were interested in the dessert table which was filled with all the traditional Spanish ice creams, flans and the like.

Sheridan found herself smiling as she watched everyone on the dance floor. They all seemed to be having a fantastic time. She herself had already danced with several different men, among them Alfred Kralik and his son Robert, Luis' buddies Cal and Marty from the station and several of the Youth Center boys who had been promised dances by Sheridan days ago. Sheridan's feet were beginning to ache already which was one of the reasons she was so happy to relieve Pilar and the others from their duty... it gave her an excuse to relax and enjoy watching the others dance for awhile.

As Sheridan watched the different couples dancing, she noticed one couple in particular and couldn`t seem to take her eyes off them. Luis was presently dancing with his sister Theresa and Sheridan thought it was endearing. Not even realizing it, she had spent most of the evening so far keeping tabs on Luis. Now was no exception as a smile crept onto her face. She couldn't keep her eyes off him. She'd always known Luis was a handsome man, but somehow, right now wearing his Spanish dance costume he was too incredibly handsome for words.

Jay watched Sheridan watch Luis and couldn't keep the amused look off her face. “How ironic is this?” she thought to herself. “These two claim to hate each other, yet they can't seem to keep their eyes off each other, not to mention the fact that their alter egos Pezz and KC seem to be in love with each other and neither Sheridan nor Luis realize it! This is more incredible than a Hollywood love story or a soap opera. No one would ever believe it.”

Jay had already called Luis on his infatuation for Sheridan and she decided it was high time she did the same with Sheridan. “Luis really does look hot and sexy tonight” Jay remarked, her gaze going back and forth between Sheridan and Luis.

“He hasn't danced with eight girls, it's only been four and one of them was...” Sheridan stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that Jay had tricked her. She stood there open mouthed looking at Jay, not knowing what to say next.

Sheridan fidgeted uncomfortably for a few minutes before she finally spoke. “OK” she said, “I'll admit, Luis does look good tonight, but that doesn't mean anything. Nothing at all.”

Luis had hung the four piñatas and tied them off until each was ready for use. The youngest children were to go first, and they would work their way in an age progression with the adults going last. As one might imagine, the strength of the piñata went with the age group so the little boys and girls wouldn't be subjected to a piñata that wouldn't break.

Tammy begged her father to let Sheridan help her each time her turn came up to swing at the colorful bird the little children had to break open. Sheridan willingly agreed and held Tammy and instructed her every step of the way. Tammy squealed with delight every time she took a whack at the bird. Sheridan's heart nearly burst when she heard Tammy laugh. She looked up and smiled at Tammy's father and grandfather who were also overcome with joy. It was the first time Tammy had made a sound in public. With the exception of talking with her doll a few days earlier, Tammy still hadn't spoken. This was a giant step for her.

Again, Tammy nodded her head and Sheridan took her place behind her. She helped Tammy take a practice swing and then showed her exactly how to swing her stick. Buzzy held the rope and let the piñata gently swing at Tammy's level. Sheridan stepped back and at the precise moment yelled “NOW!“

With all her might, Tammy swung at the piñata and hit it dead on. The bird burst open and toys and candy flew everywhere. The kids all cheered for Tammy and before anyone knew what had happened, the children had descended upon the prizes on the floor and were picking them up. Tammy was ecstatic and ran to Sheridan giving her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then did the same with her father and grandfather who couldn't have been prouder.

The same routine happened for each of the older children's' groups until it was time for the adults. Miguel volunteered to hold the rope for the adults, since he'd joined in during the previous piñata.

The adult contest seemed to last a little longer than the others. Just as Jay predicted, Miguel was tricky indeed. Several people had managed to get a piece of the piñata on the first round but no one had managed to break it open.

Buzzy placed the blindfold securely on Sheridan. Miguel began swinging the piñata and Sheridan tried to figure out where exactly it was by feeling the breeze it was creating. Thinking she had a good idea, she gathered all her strength and swung hard. She missed by a mile and the force of her swing caused her to spin around and she was falling towards the floor.

Luis inhaled sharply as Sheridan gently placed her long slender hands on his face, tracing it's contour looking for his cheek. His whole body shivered from her touch. Luis felt his heart race as her lips gently brushed his cheek in a sweet kiss.

“I'm sorry” Sheridan apologized, totally mortified that she'd actually kissed Luis. Still only inches from him Sheridan could smell his cologne and realized she should have known immediately it was Luis and not Buzzy who had caught her in his arms.

“It's okay, Sheridan” was all Luis said with a gentle smile. Sheridan about melted at the way he looked at her just then. She felt her knees begin to weaken and quickly stood up straight and regained her composure.

Sheridan was very pleased when Buzzy knocked open the piñata on the very next turn. She wasn't thrilled with the idea of another round. The adults picked up some of the candy and then let the kids grab the rest.

“Thanks Jay” Luis smiled back as he took the tootsie pop from her and peeled off the wrapper. “If you're lucky maybe I'll give you some of these later.” Luis held out a Superman Pez dispenser loaded with Pez candies.

Sheridan and Jay were helping Pilar and the others break down the buffet table. The party was winding down and there were only a few more dances left before everyone would be going home. So far the party had been a complete success. Everyone was having a wonderful time, the food had been delicious, the desserts heavenly and the entertainment top notch. Jay excused herself for a moment to go over and talk to Chad. Luis came over to the table where his mother was and requested a dance from her. Pilar tried to decline citing she had too much work to do, but Eve, Grace and Sheridan insisted she go. Sam soon followed suit and came to get his lovely wife for a dance as well, before the dancing ended.

“It's not a big deal Sheridan” Eve assured her. “I don't mind, really. Why don't you go find someone to dance with. I'm sure there's some lucky guy out there who'd just love to have a dance with a beautiful young lady such as yourself.”

Luis stopped and looked at his mother. “OK Mama” Luis said in earnest. “You're right. Sheridan has been very helpful getting this party together and she's great with the kids. They really seem to like her. But Mama, she's still a Crane and the Cranes are responsible for Papa's disappearance.”

“You don't know that Luis” Pilar argued. “Not to mention the fact that Sheridan was only a child when your father disappeared. She couldn't possibly have any knowledge of what happened to him. You can't blame her for what you believe her brother and father did.”

The dance floor was filled with people and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. Sheridan and Eve watched the different couples, especially Sam and Grace and Luis and Pilar. When the current song ended, Chad announced there would be a several minute break before the last song of the evening. Jay was walking back to the serving area looking for Luis after Chad made his announcement.

“Luis, I just wanted to tell you this has been the best End of Summer Party I ever remember at the Youth Center” Alfred Kralik commented with an approving smile. “You have a great team of volunteers working here.” Alfred looked directly at Sheridan and winked. “If there is anything I can ever do to help, please, don't hesitate to ask. My son and I will help support the Youth Center in any way we can.”

“What's the matter big guy?” Jay asked. “Are you afraid if you dance with Sheridan all you'll see is that vision that I know is still in your head of Sheridan soaking wet, wearing nothing but a smile from that highly entertaining locker room scene this afternoon?”

Luis blushed. “What? No way! I forgot about that right after it happened” Luis lied. Now that she mentioned it, all he could think of was that very scene. He took a deep breath and tried hard to get the vision from his head. It wasn't working very well. He saw the playful look on Jay's face and knew she did it on purpose.

“Come on Luis” Jay asked nicely. “Consider it payment for all the hard work I've been doing at the Youth Center. What could be so bad about dancing with Sheridan? She's beautiful, sexy and I know she can dance the tango. We've talked about it.”

“Because I want to see what you two look like dancing together Luis” Jay said honestly. “I think you two have incredible chemistry together and I want to see if I'm right. This dance will prove or disprove my theory.”

“That's great Luis” Jay responded. “I'm glad you're meeting her tomorrow, but tonight I want to see you and Sheridan dance. If you have no interest in Sheridan then there's no problem now is there?”

Sheridan and Luis heard Chad announce the last dance of the evening. Luis extended his hand for Sheridan to take. She did and together they walked over to the dance floor. Sheridan felt her heartbeat quicken as they walked hand in hand. She took slow deliberate breaths, not wanting Luis to see the effect he was having on her. Just the simple action of holding this mans hand was having quite an impact on her.

Sheridan and Luis stood facing each other as the music began to play, Un Amor by the Gypsy Kings. Both of them were determined to outdo the other and knowing it was a dance of seduction decided to hold nothing back.

Luis looked Sheridan up and down with a very sexy gaze, his eyes darkening with each passing moment. He then stared deeply into her intense blue eyes. He held out his hands and raised a brow challenging her to meet his move. Sheridan placed her hands in his and Luis immediately pulled her close to him. She felt electricity rush through her as their bodies collided. She pulled back slightly never losing eye contact with him. His eyes were like a magnet pulling her closer to him.

Luis slipped one arm around her waist, and pulled her body close to his again. Sheridan slid her arm easily around his neck and her hand slowly caressed its way up his neck and towards his cheek. She allowed her fingers to gently stroke his cheek, finding herself suddenly lost in the music and the incredibly gorgeous eyes of this man she seemingly loved to hate.

Luis inhaled sharply and swallowed hard, his stare intensifying tenfold as her slender fingers reeked havoc with his hormones. He began moving with the music, Sheridan following his every move with precision. They moved as if one body, these two people from completely different worlds, who had never danced together in their lives, moved together to the sultry music as if they'd done it a thousand times before. Sheridan knew what move Luis was going to make before he made it.

The spectators watched the couple with their mouths wide opened. No one could believe what they were witness to. Never before had any of them seen such passion expressed in the art of dance. It almost felt as if they were intruding on a very private moment between two lovers. The seductive stares, the gentle caresses, the private glances exchanged between two people who had been in love their whole lives.

Sheridan gave Luis a very sexy smile. He returned it with an equally sultry stare, not wanting to allow her the upper hand. Not faltering in her gaze she raked her nails across his chest and slowly circled him, enjoying the torture she was sure she was causing him. She was pleased with her move and had to look down when she finished her circle to regain her composure. Luis knew what she was doing and immediately placed his hand gently on her chin, lifting it slightly forcing her to look him straight in the eye. Slowly his hand glided towards her cheek where Luis let it stay as he was unable to remove it from her velvety soft skin.

Sheridan felt her heart flutter as his darkening eyes seemed to penetrate to her very soul. The feel of his strong hand against the soft skin of her cheek sent a rush of warmth to her face.

As they continued to dance, Luis pulled her body flush with his own. They could both feel the heat exuding from their partner which in turn caused more heat between them. They felt their breathing quicken, they felt something each time their eyes connected, each time their bodies melded, that neither had felt before.

Most of the time Sheridan and Luis were unable to speak a civil word to each other, but there was no talking involved in the tango. Their body language and eyes spoke for them and in this case spoke volumes. Each knew what the other wanted. Each knew what the other needed as well as how to get it. There was no doubt that in the case of this dance, Sheridan and Luis were in total agreement. Whether they knew it or not, the feelings they held deep within for each other. were surfacing in the form of one extremely sensual dance.

“Oh I believe it Buzzy” Jay answered. What she saw in front of her was no less than she expected. She saw the chemistry between Luis and Sheridan from the first time she saw them fighting in the gym. “I definitely believe it.”

There was absolutely no denying that there was something more than mere physical attraction between them. Jay knew it was going to be difficult to get these two together, but she also knew that after tonight, neither of them would ever be able to deny to themselves that something special was happening between them. She smiled to herself when she remembered the extra long version of the song she gave to Chad just to make sure they would never forget this dance.

As the music continued, Sheridan and Luis became more involved in the dance. One by one the other couples left the floor. They were amazed by how much chemistry oozed from this couple. It was a sight to behold, a moment to be watched.

To Luis and Sheridan it was if they were the only ones in the room. The music was their aphrodisiac and all else was forgotten. There was no hatred towards each other, no animosity and no last names. Just Sheridan and Luis sharing a very special song and a very special dance that was for them and only them.

As the music came to an end, the couple was still entwined. It took them a moment to realize their special moment had ended. Completely breathless, they finally parted when the silence was interrupted by a wild cheer from their friends and family. Jay was clapping the loudest. Luis and Sheridan still held each others' gaze, both unsure of what had just happened. Both knew it was something, something they wanted desperately but weren't sure they were willing to admit. They were surprised to find they were the only ones left on the dance floor. They'd been so involved during their dance, they hadn't noticed the other couples leave the floor.

Both had smiles on their faces they couldn't seem to control. Sheridan was still lost in Luis' dark eyes when she suddenly remembered someone else with brown eyes... Pezz. She quickly looked away, the spell had been broken. Luis too seemed to be remembering something or rather someone. He took a deep breath remembering that at noon tomorrow he would finally meet her... KC, the woman he'd been so devoted to meeting for quite some time.

As they parted, each now thinking about other people as they walked away, they still turned around and stole glances from each other. Even though they both had their hearts set on other people, there was still some force not allowing them a clean break. Jay was right about one thing. No matter what they said or did, neither Sheridan or Luis would soon forget tonight.

Sheridan waved good bye to Tammy Kralik and her family as Robert's Blazer pulled out of the Youth Center's parking lot. Sheridan was exhausted both physically and mentally and her feet were killing her. She grimaced with each step as she walked back inside the Youth Center.

Once inside, Sheridan leaned up against the door as it closed shut. She needed to rest her eyes for just a minute before she changed back into her jeans and Nikes and helped with the cleanup. Almost as soon as she closed her eyes she regretted it, as a vision of Luis caressing her cheek entered her mind. All she could hear was the song Un Amor that they'd danced to not that long ago.

Sheridan shook her head to rid it of her thoughts and opened her eyes. When she heard Luis' voice she shook it again, trying to rid him from her thoughts once and for all. Once her eyes were fully open and she stood away from the door did it dawn on her that it really was Luis' voice she was hearing.

She walked towards the voice only to find Luis and his mother saying good night to each other outside his office. She smiled slightly, pleased that she'd not completely lost her mind. As she started to walk towards the locker room she heard them talking and although she wasn't eavesdropping, she couldn't help overhearing their conversation.

“Jay is the difference Mama” Luis smiled. “I'll tell you, it's really been nice having her back in Harmony. I wish there was something I could do to convince her to stay, but she's having too much fun out in Beverly Hills to ever come back to this boring little town.”

Sheridan was just about to go inside the locker room when she heard Luis talk about Jay. She stopped and smiled when she found herself agreeing with Luis about that one. She and Jay had become friends since she returned to Harmony and she hated the idea that Jay would be leaving soon herself.

“And as much as I detest admitting this” Luis said with a slight frown, “Sheridan Crane has really been a big help too. I have to tell you, she really surprised me with how she came through for us at the last hour.” Luis laughed suddenly. “And to think she did it all herself, she didn't have her butler do any of it for her, or at least I don't think she did.”

“Mijo!” Pilar exclaimed. “I've told you repeatedly that Sheridan is not like that. And if you truly believed she was just like her father and brother then please explain that tango you danced with her earlier?” Pilar stood there eyeing her son as she waited to hear what excuse he would come up with.

“Mama, there is NOTHING going on with me and Sheridan” Luis said adamantly “and there never will be. For crying out loud Mama, she's a Crane! The Cranes are evil people and there is no way in hell I will ever get involved with one of them.”

“Luis” Pilar said quietly, “You can't hold Sheridan responsible for the actions of her family. She is truly a good person and deserves to be judged on her own merits not those of her family.”

“Mama, please listen to me” Luis asked patiently. “Sheridan's not as bad as the rest of her family. I'll admit that much, but she's still a Crane. I don't think there is anything that could ever make me forget that. I'll be civil towards her while she works at the Youth Center, but beyond that I want nothing to do with her. We shared a tango. It was nice, but that's all it was. It will never be any more.”

Sheridan finally heard enough. She fought back the tears that threatened to surface and quietly slipped into the locker room unseen. She sat down on the bench in front of the lockers and sighed. Her heart was heavy and she didn't really know why. Until today, she could barely stand the sight of this man and now he was getting to her.

“Don't think about it Sheridan” she said to herself as she took the shoes off her aching feet. “He means nothing to you so there is no reason for you to be so upset. Concentrate on tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of your life.” A smile crept on her face when she realized the impact that statement really held. Tomorrow she would meet Pezz. Sheridan began to changed her clothes, her thoughts now consumed with a man who would never be so petty as to prejudge her. A man who wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Jay walked into the locker room and found Sheridan sitting there slowly placing her personal items in a bag. Her expression was solemn. “Sheridan, are you all right?” Jay asked, noticing the forlorn expression on her face.

“Everything is fine Jay” Sheridan smiled half-heartedly. “I'm just tired, that's all. All I need is a few minutes to finish gathering my stuff and then I'll help with the clean up.”

Sheridan gathered all her belongings and stood in the doorway leading from the locker room into the gym. She saw that most of the clean up indeed had been done. All that was left to be disposed of was some paper trash. She saw Luis and Jay picking up the remaining papers and decided it was time to go. She'd already said goodnight to Jay and she really wasn't in the mood to make pleasantries with Luis. Besides, he seemed too busy playing with the streamers. She shook her head as she began walking.

Luis had some streamers and other discarded decorations in his hands and was attempting to smash them into a round shape. Realizing what he was up to, Jay scanned the trash piled on the floor and spotted a stray leg from one of the piñatas. She picked the leg up and began speaking into it as though it were an announcer's microphone.

Sheridan looked up when she heard Jay's voice. She chuckled when she realized what Jay was doing. She leaned against the wall and watched the way Luis interacted with Jay. It still amazed her. “He's so different around Jay and his family” Sheridan muttered to herself. ”What am I thinking? It's just me he hates”. She sighed but continued to watch the friendly game Jay and Luis played.

"Welcome back to Harmony Arena for the conclusion of today's championship basketball game. This has been a marvelous basketball game played here this evening. We've seen an amazing performance by the team from the tiny Hamlet of Harmony. They've been led by their star, Officer Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, who has played a truly magnificent game."

"When play resumes after this time out, Harmony will have possession of the ball trailing the world champions by a single point with 30 seconds to play. Everything will be riding on this one play. We are anticipating that the team from Harmony will work the clock down to try to take the game's final shot. A gutsy play - they'll win or lose the championship on a single shot. And we expect that final shot for the championship will be taken by Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald."

Jay looked over at Luis who smiled broadly and nodded to indicate that he was ready to play championship trash basketball. Jay the announcer continued, "Lopez-Fitzgerald brings the ball over the 10 second line." Luis is pretending to dribble his trash ball. "The clock is winding down. Lopez-Fitzgerald continues to dribble."

"10 seconds remain and he starts to make his move." Luis fakes to his left and makes a move to his right. "He fakes left and then goes around his man to the right. The defense collapses and cuts off his lane to the basket. The clock is down to 5."

Luis' trash ball bounced off the dumpster and fell to the floor. "The shot hits the rim and Lopez-Fitzgerald flies in and grabs the rebound." Luis picked up the trash ball and again made a shot. "He goes back up and ... IT'S GOOD! IT'S GOOD! THE GAME IS OVER! Harmony wins the championship on a last second shot! Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald got his own rebound and his 2 foot put back shot went in just before time expired! Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald is the hero of Harmony!"

Sheridan had to hold her hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing out loud. These two were really a sight. Luis acted like he really had just won a championship and Jay, there were really no words to describe her. It really was nice seeing them have so much fun together. She secretly wondered if she would someday have that kind of fun with Pezz. She always had fun when she was online with him and she could only imagine what it would be like when she met him in person.

"We're going to go to our courtside reporter to try to get a quick word from the new hero of Harmony." Jay walked over to Luis and stuck the piñata leg out towards him. "Great game Luis, congratulations."

Jay interrupted, "That's nice Luis. Now, since we can all see that you're looking really yummy and sexy in that sweaty outfit, I'm sure that what our viewers really want to know is, is it true that you recently broke up with your long time girlfriend and that you're romantically unattached at the moment?"

Sheridan's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. She gasped when she heard what he said and immediately covered her mouth. “I must be hearing things” she said to herself. “I know I didn't hear what I think I just heard. There's no way.”

"I heard it was THE PezzMan." Jay announced loudly. "In fact, our sources have also told us that cops aren't typically very clever or creative when thinking of nicknames. So the officers took the "PEZ" from the Lopez part of your last name, then took a second "Z" from Fitzgerald, and being macho cops they had to add 'man' to the end and that's how they came up with Luis Lopez Fitzgerald also known as ....... "the PezzMan."

As the tears in her eyes slowly made their way down Sheridan's cheeks, she hastily left the Youth Center before Jay or Luis noticed her standing there. This new information she'd received tonight had completely turned her world upside down. She raced home, not knowing what to do next.

Once she'd reached the privacy of her own cottage, Sheridan walked in and closed the door behind her. The minute the door clicked shut, the tears flowed freely down her cheek. She'd managed to pretty much hold it together for the entire ride home, but for some reason she was beginning to lose it now that she was completely alone. Her eyes a blur from the tears that filled them she spotted her computer from across the room. Seeing it in her current emotional state only caused the stream of warm salty water to fall faster down her now ruddy cheeks.

“Why? Why is this happening to me?” She asked no one as she threw her belongings on the couch and headed for the bathroom to draw a much needed hot bath. She hoped more than anything now, that a hot soak in her tub would make her forget her troubles.

Nothing seemed to work unfortunately. The more she tried to avoid thinking about it, the more thoughts of PezzMan being Luis entered her head. As she soaked in the hot soapy bubble bath she'd drawn, she decided to think about this rationally. Maybe this was all a big mistake? Maybe Luis and Pezz weren't the same person? “There's always a chance” she thought. “Just because Luis was given the nickname PezzMan while he was at the Police Academy, doesn't mean that there isn't another PezzMan out there?”

Sheridan leaned back in the tub and tried to make sense of this whole thing. She'd been completely and utterly amazed when it turned out that she and Pezz hailed form the same state, never mind how she felt when she found that they were both from the same town. That was too much of a coincidence, considering they met while she was still in Paris. Now if they'd met at a local chat room after she'd come back to the States, she could almost believe it, but this?

After she climbed out of the tub and dried off, Sheridan decided to go read some of the old mail she'd received from Pezz. Maybe there would be something in there to shed some light on the situation.

Sheridan sat at her computer reading everything she'd ever received from Pezz. She found her mood lightening some what as she read the words from the man that had become so special to her. Over the past few months, both had shared so much of themselves with each other, they knew things about the other that they'd most likely never tell anyone. She found a passage from Pezz about his break up with his girlfriend that reminded her of something she heard Jay say tonight.

...Like you, I have recently had a break up, not with my fiancée, but rather girlfriend. She and I had been going out for ten years when it occurred. The reason we split wasn't due to one of us cheating, but rather wanting different things out of life. I've told you that I am a small town boy and though I want to travel, living in my small town, the one you don't know the name of yet ;) is my life. My girlfriend had other ideas. She decided she wanted more excitement in her life, so about a week ago, she surprised me at work by announcing she'd taken a job in a big city and was leaving. In one flash, the woman I'd stayed faithful to for the past ten years had walked out of my life for good....

Sheridan read and reread this passage. This about summed up Luis. She knew that Luis had recently broken up with Beth after dating her for many years. Sheridan remembered her talk with Jay clearly, Beth had accepted a job in New York and Luis refused to join her. Jay had also told her that Luis was Mr. Harmony, never wanting to leave his home town.

As she continued to read, Sheridan made two lists. One list with things in common between Luis and Pezz and the other list differences. She hoped the differences list would end up longer than the things in common list.

Sheridan got up from her seat at her computer desk. “This is totally absurd!” She yelled as she began pacing the living room floor. “I've never even met Pezz. He doesn't know my name or what I look like!”

After several more minutes of pacing Sheridan sat down on her couch and pulled her legs up to her chest wrapping her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees as she contemplated this situation.

Her mind flashed back to her first meeting with Luis and remembered how attracted she'd been to him. She recalled her dance with him earlier in the evening and how he'd taken her breath away. In a way, the thought of Luis being Pezz was very appealing. She could see herself falling head over heels in love with him, but there was one small problem. Luis hated her family with a passion, thus he hated her. She'd heard him herself just this evening tell his mother that Sheridan would always be a Crane and in Luis' mind that was a crime punishable by death. Once he found out that KCGirl was a Crane, he'd shout out a few very nasty comments and leave, never turning back.

It was bad enough to have Luis hate her so much, but the thought of Pezz turning on her in the same manner was almost too much to bear. She'd grown to trust him with her most intimate thoughts. They shared so many of the same hopes and dreams and seemingly had many things in common.

Unable to sit still in one place for long, Sheridan walked back over to her computer to reread some more of Pezz's emails. She came across one from a few days ago and felt tears well up in her eyes again as she read it.

I'm home now and will be going to bed shortly, but I promised you I'd write and here I am. Can you believe in three days we'll know what each other looks like, know each other's names and maybe even what the other does for a living? I have so many thoughts in my mind, so many questions I want to ask you, but if the truth be told Angel, the first thing I want to do is hold you in my arms.

Remember the night I gave you the cyber hug? If you only knew how much I wanted to do that in person. I'm not usually the mushy type, but you do something to me KC that no one has ever done before.

With tears streaming down her face, Sheridan lightly fingered the computer screen where Pezz's name was. The sobs were coming fast and furiously as she read his words. She could almost hear Pezz's voice saying this to her. The sad thing was, Pezz's voice was now Luis' voice and as long as the last name wasn't Crane, she could see Luis writing a letter just like this.

Just as she was about to completely lose herself in self-pity, she heard those three little words, “You've Got Mail.” Sheridan sniffled and sat up straight in her chair as she dared to check and see who her mail was from. She gasped slightly when she saw it was from Pezz.

Oh how I missed writing to you today and I missed hearing from you even more. As busy as I was all day, I thought about you constantly and wished you could have been with me. Tomorrow KC. Tomorrow we will finally meet.

I'm sure you are asleep right now, as it's very late. I myself will be headed to bed very shortly. I just got home, but I couldn't go to bed without writing to the woman who makes me smile every time I think of her.

Sheridan lost it again after reading his latest email. She rested her head on the computer table and cried her heart out. All her life she'd had everything she could ever want because her last name was Crane and now it appeared she was going to lose the one man she wanted, Pezz or Luis as she now believed him to be, for the very same reason.