Oh hi! Remember me? I'm the author that said she'd have her new story out three weeks ago... Sorry about that. I've been having some massive writer's block. I explained it to jenio1 that it felt like I was standing in front of a classroom, mouth open, and nothing coming out. I had the ideas, but they just wouldn't come out the way I wanted them too. So after lots of hair pulling, sleepless nights and thoughtful hours at work, I finally sat down to write. I think that the hardest part to write is the first chapter, so hopefully since that's done, the rest will be easier. I'd like to post once a week, but we'll see how everything goes first. Right now, I'll update when I can. The block doesn't seem to be completely gone.

Umm... I think that's all for now.

None of this is mine. I'm just grateful that JE lets us play with her fantastic characters.

Warning: In case you missed it in the summary, this story is going to be AU. A few things will be the same, but there will be some differences. If you're looking for a story in cannon, you're more than welcome to leave right now and read either one of my other stories or another author. No one is holding a gun to your head and making you read this. Let's all be grown ups about this. You like what you like, and if you don't like this, I won't hold it against you.

It was a typical Monday night here at the Plum house. We were all gathered around the dinner table, sharing a pot roast, taking turns complementing the cook for keeping the roast nice and moist.

However, a "special guest" was sharing the meal.

"So Joe," Helen said with a smile on her face as she cut her meat. "How are things at work?"

Joe Morelli was from the burg. He had swarthy Italian good looks, all dark hair and milk chocolate eyes. His leather jacket was thrown over the couch, so his muscles were showing through his tight blue shirt.

It was a nice view, if I do say so myself.

Currently, he was one of Trenton's finest and had a reputation as a lothario that would put anyone to shame. It was in his genes as well as heavy drinking and fighting, but he didn't seem to share anything other than the need to chase women. It was nice to see that he was turning out better than his father.

Morelli shrugged one of his broad shoulders. "Oh you know, Mrs. Plum. Saving the world, one criminal at a time." He replied, a similar smile crossing his face.

Ugh, I want to throw up.

In my family, there are two things that are important. Number one is food; we love to eat our feelings. Some people yell their anger, or scream out their frustration, but in our family, nothing says you screwed me over like a burned roast, or I'm sorry better than your favorite desert. Thank God for our Hungarian genes or we'd all be morbidly obese.

Of course, that didn't mean I wanted him to ruin my dinner.

"And I heard you moved into you Aunt's house. May she rest in peace." She added with the sign of the cross.

The other was family. We made sure everyone was okay and taken care of. Nothing ever left the family. If you died, all your stuff went to the remaining members. That's how Joe got the house. She was acting as if he bought it for a steal.

"Yes. It's coming along nicely. I'm putting my own stamp on it." He turned his head. "You should come over at see it."

"Uh huh, yep."

I looked across the table at my granddaughter Stephanie and we shared a knowing eye roll. Like that was ever going to happen. I hid my snicker behind my napkin.

"Stephanie…" Helen said in her vaguely threatening tone.

Stephanie brought her head up, eyes wide. Her cheek was puffed out from the food she was shoveling into her mouth. "What?"

Helen eyed her, then Joe with raised eyebrows. It was obvious what he was doing there. Now that Stephanie was single again, my daughter was playing matchmaker.

And not being very subtle about it.

Stephanie eyed Joe and looked back at me. We shared another eye roll. As if we couldn't figure out what she was doing.

Stephanie glanced over at Joe. "That would be nice, but I'm very busy at the store right now."

"Oh yes. How is your little shop?" He asked in his pseudo-nice voice. Stephanie's head flew up and she straightened. My own hackles rose. I was very proud of my baby granddaughter. After being fired from her job at E.E. Martin as a lingerie buyer, she turned around and opened her own boutique called Pretty Lacy Things. She made women feel sexy in their own skin and he made it sound like she was selling porn.

"She's already had some offers to sell." Helen jumped in. ""She's going to be very rich so she will have more time to focus on her life at home."

"Mother, you know I've turned those offers down. I like my job."

I looked over at Frank, my son-in-law and saw he was grinning. There wasn't much that we agreed on, but were proud of our girl.

"Well maybe that'll make them offer more." Helen was trying to salvage any damage she thought Stephanie was creating. My daughter believed that all men just wanted a wife who stayed home and cooked.

And that was true of all of the single men living in the Burg. They're all just looking for their mother.

"Yeah, saying no just makes you that much more desirable." His eyes darkened with lust.

As the teenagers say, gag me.

"Ma, I can't believe you did that!" Stephanie said as we cleaned up the kitchen. She was placing the plates at Helen's elbow and leaned on the counter. I sat at the counter, drying dishes and putting them away, watching the drama.

"You've been divorced for almost a year. I think it's time you started dating again."

She rolled her eyes. "I am dating."

"You've had one date."

"I've been busy getting my store open."

"Ah yes. That store."

Stephanie straightened again. "And what's wrong with it?"

"No man is going to want to marry you if he thinks your career is more important than him."

"Well, right now, I guess it is." She sighed. "Look ma, I appreciate what you were doing, but don't do it again."

"I just want you happy." Helen's voice was small. She felt bad, but I doubt she would stop until her daughter was married. My other granddaughter Valerie was happily married and living in California. She was a true carbon copy of her mother. So Helen felt her life was incomplete unless both of her children were married. That's how things worked in the Burg.

Stephanie smiled softly. "But I am happy."

Helen nodded once, and then went back to her dishes.

The minute Helen's back was turned, the smile on Stephanie's smile faded. I've never seen Stephanie's face fall so fast before. As she stared out the window, I knew she was thinking about the small piece of her that was missing. Sure, she was happy with her career and her friends.

But there was still something missing.

Her face still haunts me.

"Edna, are you okay?" Dotty asked. Concern was written all over her face as our eyes met in the mirror. I was getting my hair done at my weekly appointment.

I shook my head, shaking the memory back. "Just thinking."

"Must be something big. Care to share?"

"Not yet." I knew how this town loved to talk.

"Well if that gleam in your eye, I can tell the wheels of your mind are turning hard."

She was right about that. I figured after all Stephanie's been through, she deserved a little happy.

As I was plotting, the perfect answer walked by. He was Latino; dark eyes, dark hair and I'm sure his personality was full of a fiery passion. He was wearing all black, which showed every hard muscle. He put Joe Morelli to shame.

Stephanie and I had a similar taste in men.

And if I were ten years younger…

He was perfect.

And if he didn't turn out to be perfect, the tall black man walking with the Sex God might work as well.

Now I know what you're thinking. I'm doing the same exact thing as my daughter. And you're right, I am. But I'm going to do one thing differently.

The plan started to form into my head.

Helen wasn't subtle. That was where she went wrong. After her first marriage to the man we now call "the Dick", she likes to be the master of her universe. She likes to make decisions.

So instead of shoving her into that hottie's arms like her mother did (although I'm sure they would be delicious), I'm going to nudge her in. Be Fate's little helper, if you will. If things don't work, they don't work.

But something deep down inside of me knew this was going to work.

I'm going to have to do some recon now.

"Ooh, now I want ringside seats." Dotty said, excitement all over her face.

Yep, this was going to be the show of a lifetime.