Disclaimer: The characters of the Stephanie Plum series belong to Janet Evanovich and are used here without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Note: I have no clue where this idea came from. I was reading a fic by someone else and the idea just popped into my head, which would make sense except this idea is completely unrelated to what I was reading.
WARNING: There is one brief mention of a controversial topic. The opinion expressed is one that, given Stephanie's background and the context of this story, seemed appropriate to this story
Summary: People aren’t always what they seem, even our mothers. What happens when Stephanie finally learns a well-kept family secret explaining why, exactly, her mother is so insistent she settle down and have a family.
Family Business
By TT
Stephanie rolled over, stretching her arm out and grunted in displeasure when it came into contact with the sheet on her bed.
Cracking her eyes open the merest slit, she saw that Ranger was, indeed, gone.
After taking a deep breath, a long sigh escaped her.
This was more or less par for the course for her most mornings after spending the night with him. Ranger got the majority of his paperwork done in the early morning, it was his habit and he always made sure to wake her and kiss her before leaving.
Ranger was busy with his business, out of town almost as much as he was in town. Stephanie, now that she was better trained, was busy with skips at Vinnie’s and with helping out as needed with Rangeman.
Ten months ago she and Joe had gone away for a week. They had decided to really try a relationship including going out and doing things as a couple. In preparation for a week in the islands, Joe had been teaching Stephanie about one of his passions – scuba diving. It wasn’t her favorite activity in the world, but it was enjoyable.
Eventually, Joe felt she was ready and they departed to their long awaited island vacation.
The first few days were heavenly. They were comfortable and discovered that even away from the hustle of life back home, they were companionable. But, even as relaxed and happy as she was, Stephanie couldn’t help but feel something was missing. That feeling grew as the week continued. The night before they headed home, she and Joe had gone for a long walk on the beach.
(The beach, ten months ago)
Stephanie stopped in the sand and turned to face the water. It was calm right now with only the gentlest of waves swelling the surface. Moonlight from the low, full moon danced across the surface, sparking with the wave crests. The path across the water beckoned to her, as if asking her to follow its fairy path to another realm.
She felt Joe’s comfortable heat standing beside her and sighed contentedly, resting her head against his shoulder as his arm encircled her waist. That was the problem, though. She was content, comfortable.
Joe leaned his head down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too,” she assured.
Silence stretched as they stared out at the horizon, enraptured as a sailboat appeared over the horizon, its gilded sales luminous in against the midnight blue sky.
“We could be happy together for the rest of our lived,” he whispered. “It’s more than I ever dreamed I’d have.”
Stephanie felt tears well in her eyes. She knew he understood. “We could,” she agreed. “This is comfortable.”
“I know,” Joe replied, hurt adding a deeper underpinning to the tone of his voice. “But we both know we need more than comfortable to really make it work.”
“Joe,” she whispered past the tears clogging her throat. She turned her face into him and struggled for control as her tears found an outward release, rolling down her cheeks. After a moment, she confirmed, “We deserve the fairy tale.”
Reaching with his free hand, Joe tipped her face upward until he could see her tear-glazed eyes. “You’ll always be my Sleeping Beauty,” he whispered, kissing her lips.
Stephanie smiled and choked down a sob. “But you need Snow White,” she murmured. Standing on her toes, she brushed her lips against his. “You’ll always be my Prince Charming,” she admitted.
A teasing gleam entered Joe’s eyes. “But you need the Dread Pirate Roberts,” he advised.
“Hey!” Stephanie protested, backhanding his shoulder lightly as she laughed. “I don’t even know anyone named Westley.”
Joe chuckled too, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tight.
(present)
Somewhere on that beach the two of them had shifted from lovers to friends.
On the flight home, they had seriously talked about their career plans. After listening to Joe, Stephanie felt a little awed by his clear vision of where he wanted to go. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted to be doing five years from now. Joe, despite not wanting her to get hurt on the job, once again suggested she get some training and find out if she could get better and be safer.
They had discussed various plans and, eventually came up with a course of action. At the time they had wondered why they had never done something like this when they were a couple, but soon realized they’d both been unconsciously focused on trying to get the other to meet their romantic ideal rather than accepting who each other was.
They went and announced to both of their families that they would no longer be seeing each other romantically, but would remain friends. It had gone well enough with Mrs. Morelli and Grandma Bella. Surprisingly, now that she wasn’t a potential daughter-in-law, she found she really liked Mrs. Morelli. Grandma Bella still creeped her out a little, but at least the old woman stopped threatening her with visions of children.
Stephanie’s father had taken the news as he did most other. He nodded his acknowledgement and asked to have the pot roast passed. Grandma Mazur has asked if she was “going after the bounty hunter with the nice package”. Her mother had been silent.
This reaction so startled Stephanie that she had actually taken a close look at her mother. What she saw surprised her. Her mother looked tired, resigned and almost like a little bit of hope had died inside her. It was an expression she had never seen before in her mother’s eyes. Something inside her seemed to break at the look.
Just as quickly as Stephanie spotted it, though, it disappeared. Mrs. Plum had invited Joe to stop by for dinner whenever he wanted and admonished him to not be a stranger.
That was all.
The following week, Joe had helped Stephanie get started on her training. Some of the classes she would be taking were being taught at the police academy. Joe had spoken to the teachers and she would be allowed to audit the classes. That meant her name wouldn’t appear on the roll, but she could still learn. It would reduce any potential teasing from the guys and, hopefully, curb the gossip mill.
Eddie had found her one day at Sunny’s with Joe and had decided to resume his role as mentor with her gun training, as he had when she first started out.
Two weeks after beginning her new routine, Joe was called out of town on a big case. Before leaving he told her she was doing great and he would expect progress reports when he came back. He made her promise to continue.
That promise to Joe, and Eddie, were enough to keep her going until she began looking forward to the various trainings and would go even without someone encouraging her.
In the first eight weeks, she discovered she was a remarkably accurate shot, despite still hating her gun, seemed to have a gift at profiling and criminal psych, was decent at crime scene investigation and really needed work on the physical aspects including takedowns and self defense.
She was getting better, though. Even Connie and Lula had noticed she was having an easier time with her skips, even the ones that used to give her trouble.
After informing their families, word had quickly spread throughout the Burg about the breakup and that it was final. Many people were still waiting to see when she and Joe would be getting back together, but all anyone had to do was see her and Joe together to understand that something fundamental in their relationship had changed.
Three months after the breakup, Stephanie was done with most of her class work, but had kept up the self-defense, physical training and visits to the gun range. There would be more classes starting up soon and one of her trainers at the Police Academy had suggested several books as well as classes at the community college. Stephanie was actually looking forward to them.
It was then the next change occurred in her life.
(seven months ago)
“Babe,” he greeted, shoving the skip down onto the bench and walking over to the desk.
“Ranger,” she returned, unconsciously leaning a little closer to him, brushing against his arm.
The intensity of emotion and physical craving between them was as intense as ever, but both were holding back. They had actually had less physical contact since the breakup than they did before.
Just as Stephanie was working up the courage to ask Ranger to have lunch with her, Joe came down the hall. They smiled at each other and greeted with a hug. Joe kissed Stephanie’s cheek in a friendly manner.
They stepped away from Ranger and the desk sergeant and chatted for a little.
When Joe went on his way, Stephanie turned back toward Ranger. She was presented with a thoughtful look.
“It’s really over,” he stated.
“Joe’s a really good friend,” was Stephanie’s response. Then, taking a deep breath, she asked, “Do you want to go grab some lunch?”
Ranger smiled at her. “Can’t, Babe,” he replied. “Meeting in half an hour. How about dinner tonight?”
Stephanie rewarded him with a brilliant smile. “Sounds good. Six?”
“Seven,” Ranger countered. He slipped on his sunglasses. “Rossini’s.”
A little cheer escaped Stephanie before she could stop it.
Ranger just chuckled, put his arm around her waist and said, “Babe.”
(present)
That night they had gone to dinner. Never before had they been so open and honest with each other, not about their past or their jobs, but about their emotions and needs.
Ranger had admitted that he did love her, but his life was so full he didn’t think he could offer her what she needed, that his life didn’t lend itself to a relationship.
Stephanie admitted a few truths she’d come to realize as well. She wasn’t ready for marriage and a family. In truth, she couldn’t ever picture herself with kids. What she really wanted was someone who was hers and hers alone, someone who would “forsake all others” to be with her. She wanted to be with a man she could trust and who trusted her, who would support her and love her. She wanted fireworks when they kissed and to find exactly how deep and how high love could go. She wanted someone who completed her and gave her the courage to fly.
She admitted that, when they kissed there were fireworks for her, that he did complete her in a way no one else ever had, that he helped her fly and that she both loved him and was in love with him.
Ranger had been silent for several minutes. He had laid out exactly what he could give her now. He could be monogamous with her, continue to love and encourage her, but he couldn’t always tell her his schedule, what he was doing or even where he was going. It wasn’t as much as he wanted to give her, as he knew she deserved, but if she wanted to try, he was willing.
That had been the start.
Now, seven months later, they were still together. She was still having her breath stolen away when they kissed. Each time she saw him, Stephanie felt stunned at the height, depth, breadth and length of her love for him. It was as vast as the ocean and every bit as powerful. She was constantly overawed by the knowledge that he felt the same.
When they were together, they were fully together. There was nothing else around them. They instinctively knew what the other needed. There were some days Stephanie would take one look at Ranger as he walked through the door and immediately go to toast a piece of her worthless white bread before buttering it and adding cinnamon sugar. It was Ranger’s comfort food. There were days when Ranger would take one look at her and start a warm bath running, knowing exactly what would soothe her.
They each still had their own space, but also had necessities at each other’s apartments.
Stephanie now had a gun safe in her closet and an alarm on her doors and windows.
Ranger now had Pop-Tarts in his cupboards as well as olives and white bread in his refrigerator. He blatantly denied the existence of feminine items under his sink.
Stephanie was working part-time for Rangeman again and had started training there after Ranger discovered her training program.
They ate at least one meal a day together when both were in town and, recently, they hadn’t spent a single night apart.
Two months ago, despite her reluctance to mess with her blood chemistry, Stephanie had gone on the pill. After having two condoms break on them, they just didn’t want to take the chance anymore. Once the pills became effective, she was more than grateful for them and the freedom they provided.
She was just contemplating getting up when her phone rang. Pushing herself upright, she sat on the edge of the bed, knowing she’d never make it there on-time. That was fine with her, though. She reached down and snagged her sleep shirt from the floor, keeping an ear tuned her attention to the message.
After the beep she heard, “Stephanie. This is your mother. I’m heading over now. We need to talk.”
Eyes going wide, a flood of adrenaline filled Stephanie. She shot out of bed and had it made within minutes. Quickly, she gathered her clothes from the day before and put them in the laundry basket, stripping off her sleep shirt and adding it to the top of the pile.
She raced into the bathroom and took the fastest shower she could ever remember taking.
Her hair was wrapped in a towel and her skin was still damp as she sprinted to her closet and grabbed the first pants that came to her hand. Fortunately, they were a new pair of jeans. She practically leapt to her dresser. Ripping open her underwear drawer, she quickly grabbed a bra and panty set. After shimmying into her underclothes, she pulled on her jeans, slammed her underwear drawer shut and then yanked open a drawer containing her shirts. She blinked, trying to locate a nice one. She heard a knock on her door just her eyes lighted on a soft pink, lightweight summer sweater. It was something Val had given her for Christmas. She’d never worn it.
She slipped it over her head, working her arms through the holes as she headed toward the door.
Taking a look through the peep hole, she spotted her mother.
She made sure to turn the alarm off before unlocking the door and letting the older woman into the apartment.
“Hi, Mom,” she greeted, wondering when the towel had fallen off her hair.
Mrs. Plum looked Stephanie up and down. “You go put on some socks,” she advised, moving toward the bathroom. She entered and reappeared a moment later with a bottle of detangler and a wide-toothed comb.
Stephanie slipped the second sock on and moved toward the couch where her mother was sitting. She reached for the product and comb, but stopped when her mother scolded her.
“Sit on the floor in front of me,” Mrs. Plum commanded. Waiting for Stephanie to settle before her, much as she had as a little girl, Mrs. Plum applied the detangler and worked it through Stephanie’s hair as she started talking. “I know you often wonder how your grandmother and I know when you’re coming, how we’re always waiting by the front door. You will be finding out soon,” she said, as she lifted the comb and gently worked through Stephanie’s hair, starting at the bottom.
“Many, many years ago, and even not so many years ago, women were frequently left alone by the men in the village. The men would go to hunting or go to war. Sometimes they would leave a guard behind, but not often. In order to keep themselves safe, the women of the village would choose the strongest as their protector,” Helen explained. “Seeing the necessity of it, those women were respected by the men of their band and blessed by the shaman. As each woman aged, she would ensure her daughter married the son of a protector from another band or tribe. That way not just her own blessings would be passed down, but they would be strengthened by the blessings of the other tribe. But those blessings would only manifest in the daughter’s life once she became a mother herself and ensured the blessings would continue for another generation.”
“As centuries passed, many grew jealous of these women, of their abilities and powers. Many were burned as witches; others were beaten by men or otherwise belittled. Some became so worn down; they lost their blessings or fear using them.”
Mrs. Plum paused in her narrative as she worked a particularly tight knot of hair. Once it was smoothed out, she continued. “We come from one such line,” she admitted. “Your grandmother was a protector. She took over the job from her mother once she gave birth to me. She pushed me toward the son of another Hungarian band’s protector, but I was young and headstrong.”
“You rebelled?” Stephanie asked; utter incredulity dripping from her words.
Helen laughed softly. “I rebelled,” she confirmed. “I fell in love with your father and married him. It didn’t stop the blessings of the protectors, it just didn’t add to them and, if too many other generations go without bringing in a blessing, then it will begin to weaken, but for now it’s all right. I knew none of this at the time. I couldn’t understand why my mother was so upset with me. I didn’t find out about all of this until the day I became pregnant with Valerie.”
Stephanie felt a nervous fluttering in her stomach as suspicion began to take root.
“Your grandmother sat me down and explained it all to me,” Mrs. Plum explained, gently running the comb, through Stephanie’s tangle-free hair in a soothing motion. “When Valerie was born, the blessings passed to me. They didn’t leave my mother, not entirely, but she was freed of the primary responsibility of protecting the band. She spent a few years teaching me what to do, how to use the blessings I received. Then she stepped back and I took over. In the time I was learning, you were born.”
“When Valerie got pregnant with Angie, I went out there to speak to her of the blessings, to teach her of her role, but I knew as soon as I saw her it wasn’t right. She wasn’t the one who would be the next protector. That meant it had to be you.”
“That’s when you began pushing me to get married and settle down,” Stephanie murmured.
“Dickie’s mother was a protector. He was acceptable and you seemed to like him,” Mrs. Plum admitted. “I was so focused on getting you settled so I could pass on the blessings that I didn’t look closely at what sort of man he was.” Setting the comb aside, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Stephanie. “I am so very sorry about that,” she whispered.
Surprised by her mother’s actions, Stephanie reached up and placed her hands on her mother’s forearms. She gave them a gentle squeeze and assured, “It’s all right. He’s ancient history.”
Squeezing her daughter once more, Helen patted the cushion next to her. “Sit up here,” she commanded.
Stephanie moved and looked at her mother, seeing her in a new light. She didn’t know what to make of the information. But she forcefully pushed away the thought that she was only being told this because she was pregnant. She couldn’t be; she was on the pill.
“Stephanie,” Helen continued, locking eyes with her daughter. “Though he wasn’t my first choice, Joseph’s Grandma Bella and his mother are both protectors from their family. He, too, would have been a good match. And Joseph, unlike Dickie, is a good, caring man. That was why I encouraged him. Thirty two years is a long time to be the protector and not pass along the blessings. If they don’t get passed, they become lost. That’s why I was pressuring you to settle down and give me grandchildren, or, more specifically, a granddaughter.”
Reaching out, Stephanie squeezed her mother’s hand. “I can understand that, Mom, but…”
Helen smiled and shook her head. “I realized after you and Joe came back that I have no right to criticize who you are with or what you do. I married for love and you deserve that same right. I’ve seen you and Carlos together. You fit. You complete each other, as your father and I do. I may not understand your relationship with him, but that’s for you to figure out.”
Stephanie smiled at the approval, but the fluttering in her stomach had become a knot of tension. The niggling suspicion had become certain knowledge. That knowledge terrified her. She was absolutely not ready for the upcoming change in her life. “And now you’re telling me this because I’m… I’m…”
“Because you’re going to be a mother,” Helen confirmed her voice as gentle as her arms as she drew Stephanie into a hug. “I know you’re scared, but I’ll be there the whole time.”
Stephanie let her tears fall and only nodded her head.
“We have a lot more to talk about and I’ll need to explain everything to you, but would you like to know the gender of your babies?” Helen asked.
“B-babies?” Stephanie squeaked. Babies meant more than one.
Before she could fall into an all-out panic, there was a knock at the door.
Releasing her daughter, Helen said, “You wait here. I’ll handle this.”
Stephanie watched her mother walk to the door, peek out the peep hole and then open it.
“Mrs. Manoso?” she asked.
“Si,” replied a woman Stephanie couldn’t see.
The two older women were quiet for several seconds before Helen said, “I didn’t know you were also a protector.”
“Nor did I know it of you,” the other lady replied, accepting Helen’s non-verbal invitation to step inside. “It makes things much easier.”
“It does,” Helen agreed walking back toward the couch. “Mrs. Manoso, this is my daughter, Stephanie.”
“Eva,” the woman replied, offering a smile every bit as brilliant as Ranger’s. “Please, both of you, call me Eva.”
Stephanie stood to take her hand, but Eva pulled her into a hug. “Mrs. Manoso,” she whispered, too shocked to return the hug.
Ranger’s mother released her and sat off to the side of the couch, Helen took a seat on the other end and then pulled Stephanie down to sit between them.
“How much have you told her so far,” Eva asked.
“Just the very basics, what we are, a little about how the blessing is passed,” Helen replied. “I was just going to check the sex of the babies.”
Eva beamed. “Excellent,” she declared, rising from the couch once more.
Helen rose too. “Now, Stephanie,” she instructed her daughter, “you just lie back. This won’t hurt a bit.”
Still too stunned to do anything other than obey, Stephanie settled on the couch. Once she was settled, her mother reached down and placed a hand low on her abdomen.
A huge smile crossing her face, she beamed up at Eva and allowed the other woman an opportunity to do the same. A similar smile lit Eva’s face.
“Your father is going to be so happy,” Helen bubbled. “He’s finally going to get the grandson he always wanted and we’re going to get a little girl to carry on the blessing.”
“T-two… two… twins?” Stephanie stammered. She never wanted to have children. She was on the pill. She and Ranger weren’t even really in a relationship, not a traditional one. She felt the blood drain from her face and black dots begin to dance before her eyes.
“Oh, honey!” Mrs. Plum cried, pulling Stephanie into a sitting position and then forcing her head between her knees. “Push up against my hand and breathe.”
Obeying her mother, Stephanie soon felt better. “OK,” she croaked out, sitting upright. Tears quickly gathered in her eyes and began to fall. She dropped her face to her hands and cried, overwhelmed by what she had learned and terrified that Ranger would leave her. Kids weren’t part of their bargain.
She felt two pairs of arms wrap around her and soon was able to get her tears under control.
“In our lifetimes, for our generation,” Eva began, “we had very few options as women. Being a housewife and mother allowed us the freedom we needed to do what we had to.”
Stephanie nodded, her eyes glued to the woman’s face.
“That doesn’t matter so much today, and especially with your current job. In fact, your job can be a huge asset,” Mrs. Manoso observed, a small smile curving her lips.
“But I’ll have to take care of the babies,” Stephanie murmured.
“That’s going to be one of our jobs now,” Helen informed.
Stephanie turned and blinked at her mother in confusion.
“It’s going to take us a while to go over exactly what we do and what will be expected of you, what your blessings are and how to use them, but even if you didn’t have a job, you’ll be busy enough that you’ll need someone to take care of the children. That becomes the job of their grandmother. And when your daughter has children, you’ll do the same for her,” Helen explained.
There was a maelstrom of questions racing through Stephanie’s mind. She was surprised by which one came out. “How did you know I was pregnant?”
Helen smiled. “One of the blessings that all protectors have is knowledge of their family. You know generally where they are and what condition they’re in at all times. At first it can be a little overwhelming or confusing, but it soon becomes background noise, something you can focus on when needed and ignore when you don’t need it. I know approximately where Valerie is, where the girls are, where your father and grandmother are and the fact that your Grandmother’s in a little bit of pain.”
“With the babies, we feel their spark of life the instant the sperm fertilizes the egg. Last night, two new blips appeared on our radar, if you will,” Eva explained.
Stephanie just blinked at them, her hand unconsciously moving toward her abdomen, covering the lower part. Looking down, she was amazed to think that there was life in there. “But what if something happens to them?” she asked softly.
Helen’s smile faded a little. “Then the… blip disappears.” When Stephanie’s eyes widened, Helen just shrugged, her face serious, “It happens. And it’s still a choice you have to make. Obviously we’re going to encourage you to keep these two and, hopefully, when we explain the details of your new role, you’ll keep them.”
Stephanie looked horrified and her other arm moved to cover her lower abdomen as well. She had never wanted children, had always believed it was a woman’s choice if she wanted an abortion or not, but with she had also always known that she would never choose to have one, could never live with herself if she did.
“It’s good you have chosen, Stephanie,” Eva said softly, touching the younger woman’s shoulder. “But the choice had to be yours.”
Stephanie looked from one woman to the other and nodded. Accepting that she was going to keep the babies, even if they had only been created a few hours ago, she then froze as another fear reared its head. “Ranger…” she murmured.
“I sent his father to speak with him today,” Eva said. When she saw Stephanie’s confusion, she smiled. “Your husband, or life partner or whatever label you choose for your relationship, will need to understand everything about who you are and your responsibilities. I know my son isn’t ready to settle yet, but among our families we will be able to offer the support all of you will need, whether babysitting or protection. I’m sure he’ll have plans and contingency plans already in the works before he walks through your door tonight.”
Stephanie shook her head. “He’s flying to Boston tonight,” she murmured.
Eva smiled and shared a look with Helen. “He’ll be home,” she said confidently.
A moment of silence fell as the older women allowed Stephanie some time to adjust to what they had told her. When the younger woman’s stomach growled, Helen rose from the couch.
“Why don’t I go make us some breakfast,” she said. “We have a lot to discuss.”
“That sounds lovely,” Eva agree. “If it’s all right with you, I’ll stay here and tell embarrassing stories about Carlos,” she offered, a wicked smile on her face and a mischievous glint in her eye.
Helen returned an identical smile and agreed. “Just talk loudly enough that I can hear too,” she instructed.
Eva laughed in response.
(Later that evening)
Stephanie stood by the window staring out at the dark sky. Eva had insisted on cooking dinner for Stephanie and Ranger before leaving.
The weight of information she had received that day was staggering. There was no doubt in Stephanie’s mind that her life was about to change into something with far more meaning than she’d ever imagined. She may not be Wonder Woman, but she would be a protector and that was more than she ever dreamed.
The three women had discussed things in depth. They figured Stephanie’s job as a Bounty Hunter would provide her with the freedom she needed to fulfill her duties. It was a relief to her that she would be able to continue with her job. As she got better at it, she had begun to enjoy it more and more.
There was a new semester starting soon at the community college. If she signed up now, she would be able to take a full load of classes. Though never a model student, Stephanie had found her recent classes interesting and engaging. Perhaps she’d take a few more criminal justice courses. The school did offer a degree in it. Plus, she should be able to complete most of the classes before the twins were born.
That thought brought a smile to her face as her hand moved to caress her lower abdomen once more.
The thought of children didn’t terrify her nearly as much as it had that morning. Especially when she realized becoming a mother didn’t mean she had to give up being herself.
The thought of childbirth, however, scared her to the core of her being. A shudder ran through her at the mere thought of labor. If possible she’d rather be completely unconscious for the entire event. Pain was not her friend.
The sound of the locks tumbling drew her attention outward to the apartment around her. Glancing around the living room, she hadn’t realized how dark it had gotten.
Before she could move to turn on a light, the door opened and Ranger stepped inside.
He paused in the doorway, meeting Stephanie’s eyes.
It was too dark and he was too far away for Stephanie to be able to read what was in them, but it didn’t really matter. In her heart, she knew it would be all right. He was here, after all, not in Boston.
“Babe,” he said softly before crossing the room and gathering her in his arms. He held her close even as her arms wrapped around him.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was so faithful about taking my pills.”
“It’s OK, Steph,” he assured. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Pulling back, he cupped her face in his hands. “I’m so very proud of you,” he said, brushing a kiss across her lips.
Stephanie felt tears pool in her eyes. “So, we’re OK?” she asked. There were an untold number of questions they would have to ask and as many things to work out, but right now, Stephanie just needed to know that this hadn’t ruined anything.
Ranger smiled at her. She had never seen his smile so bright, nor his face so full of emotion.
“We’re more than OK, Babe,” he said, kissing her again and then wrapping his arms around her.
Stephanie rested her had on his shoulder, letting some of the tension seep from her body. “We are?” she whispered.
“Yeah, Babe,” Ranger assured, one of his hands drifting down to caress her lower abdomen. “We’re a family.”
End