This is a bit rushed, I know. If I don't push now, it won't be finished until Valentine's Day. Probably will be a Babe story, but we'll see. Thank you JE for the characters.

Stephanie squirmed uncomfortably in her chair. Her clothes weren't binding, her shoes weren't too tight, the people at the table that made her uncomfortable. Joe Morelli sat next to her oblivious to the stares Stephanie was receiving from the woman across the table, Grandma Bella. The woman hated Stephanie and was no more forgiving now that Stephanie and Joe were engaged and moving quickly to marriage. Angie Morelli was being overly attentive to Stephanie, "Now that you and Joe are finally getting married, you'll be having children right away. You've lost at least ten years of child bearing already; you may only have ten years more before you begin the change. Some women start the change in their early 40's."

Stephanie looked at Barbara Morelli, Joe's sister in law and wife of Anthony. She pretended not to be paying attention. She had borne Anthony a half dozen children, the last three after they separated and reconciled, three separate times. Barbara and Anthony did not care for Stephanie and preferred to give her the minimalist treatment; hello and good-bye. Their children sat around the table quiet as church mice as Grandma Bella kept them under control with her death-ray Sicilian stares. No doubt once the children left Angie Morelli's house, they'd explode in pent up energy.

Stephanie dropped her eyes to her dinner plate. This was the Sicilian-American Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes. There wasn't a food on the table, short of the bread, she cared to eat. She had never eaten mussels, clams and oysters and wasn't about to start tonight. The unserved salmon sat on the table, complete as if had just jumped onto the platter snagging parsley and lemon slices along the way.

The cooked green vegetables swam in olive oil like sea weed caught in an oil slick. Adding red peppers for a festive touch only made the vessel remind her of the many garbage dumpsters she had crawled through in her past life as a bond apprehension agent for her cousin Vinnie Plum. Joe had insisted she work a safer job. Currently she was working at Macy's in the lingerie department selling middle age ladies pastel full size briefs.

Peeking at Joe, she saw he remained oblivious to is mother's conversation about children. She looked across the table to Bella, the old harpy would probably live forever, her great mother-in-law. The old lady threw back her head, touched the side of her right eye and in a haunting voice said, "I see you will have boys, but not before you have girls. Joseph will not be happy with only daughters so you will have four girls before you begin to have boys." Great, Stephanie thought, her coming life would be at least five children in the next ten years, Sunday dinners at the Morellis, and Friday dinners at the Plums. It was fortunate she hadn't been able to eat, her developing nausea might have been embarrassing.

Joe's cell phone tweeted quietly. He withdrew the phone from his pants pocket and mumbled something. Addressing the people at the table, "I have to leave. I won't be back tonight and probably not tomorrow until late." Turning to Stephanie, "Cupcake you want to stay here or go to your parent's?"

Stay with the Morellis? No way! Joe was her shield form Bella, without him the evil witch would have free access to her. "Drop me at my parents."

The drive wasn't far, Trenton's Chambersburg district wasn't big. Stephanie kissed Joe, "Merry Christmas. See you tomorrow." and scooted out the door.

The Plum front door was locked so she rang the bell. Her Grandmother Edna answered, "Look who is here, where is Joe? I thought you were at the Morelli's tonight." Grandma was already dressed in a nice burgundy pants suit and was wearing short stacked heels. As usual her hair was recently styled in tight curls and was actually in the natural grey, no dyes for Christmas.

"He caught a case and had to go. I thought I'd go to church with you." She was also hoping there would be something to eat but the kitchen was dark and cold. Her mother came down the stairs dressed in a dark dress for Christmas Eve mass, "Why are you here?"

"Joe caught a case. He'll be gone tonight and most of tomorrow."

"Christmas Day!" Her mother gasped. "He won't be here tomorrow for Christmas dinner?"

"He's a detective. Crime doesn't take off for holidays."

"Why didn't you go to church with the Morellis? As a married woman you spend Christmas Eve with your in-laws and Christmas here. That is proper etiquette but then you never bothered to learn your manners. I'll have to apologize for your poor behavior." Once again Helen took every opportunity to belittle her youngest daughter.

"We aren't married yet."

"It is because you haven't set a date. There's no reason for a long engagement, you two have lived together, for years."

Stephanie didn't say it was Joe who kept putting off setting a wedding date, even refusing to talk about it. It was as if the ring was his brand on Stephanie warning others, especially Ranger, to back off. A wedding was a needless addition until children came along.

Looking at Stephanie's short dress Helen scrunched her eyes, "You can't go to Mass dressed like that?

"What's wrong?"

"Your dress is too short. You are nearly a married woman now, you must dress respectfully. Go upstairs, you probably have something in your closet that would be more suitable and modest. You shouldn't be showing so much leg, you aren't a teenager now."

Stephanie thought her closet might contain her high school clothes. It would be interesting to see what was there; pleated plaid skirts, sleeveless prom dress and jeans with torn knees. "I'll keep my coat on."

"No, people will wonder what you are hiding and assume you are pregnant."

What is it with babies and pregnancies tonight? Oh yes, Christmas and baby Jesus. "I'll go home and change." Stephanie turned and walked out the front door. Since she didn't have a car, by the time she walked to either Joe's or her apartment and change clothes, she'd be late for Mass. The choice then became, which location had food. Joe's pantry was empty but she had mac and cheese in her freezer at the apartment. Decision made.

Stephanie knew walking the streets of Trenton alone, at night was not the safest thing to do. She was alert for movement all around her. But it was hard thinking about her safety without reviewing the last few hours. Did she really love Joe enough to be friendly with his family? Her mother was impossible. Since early childhood Stephanie tried to please the woman, but failed. With the engagement Helen was on a rampage that this time Stephanie would remain married, "This is your last chance at being a proper wife." The engagement ring didn't come with a promise to love and cherish. It was given her with about as much enthusiasm as a cold six pack of beer…and probably less.

How will her life be married to Joe? It would be a Burg life, what she was raised to believe was her destiny. Small house, children, housecleaning, cooking or a lot of prepackaged meals, evenings in front of the television with on-demand sex before bed. Socializing hadn't occurred yet and at best it would be with other policeman's wives talking about their children's' projectile vomiting, diaper rash, and breast feeding verses bottles. The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became. She received her college degree in business to be earn her own way. Somewhere in there she fell in love with Dickie Orr, divorced Dickie Orr and lost her job with EE Martin Lingerie. Then she blackmailed her cousin Vinnie into a job. Now she earned just enough money selling underwear to little old ladies at Macy's for a POS car, an apartment and either food or new clothes; no better than working for Vinnie as a bounty hunter and a lot more boring.

Before she realized, she was back at her apartment on St. James. Her feet were numb, her shoes ruined, legs were burning from the cold and her ears were probably near frost bitten.

As she walked down the hall to her apartment, Dillon the manager caught up with her. "The boiler is out; there is no heat or hot water. Repairmen don't want to come out tonight, I'm doing what I can. Bundle up." There would be no hot shower to defrost. Her apartment was frigid; she rushed to her hamster Rex. He was alive, his fat layer was keeping him from freezing.

She shed her dress and stockings opting for heavy socks, sweat pants, t-shirt, sweat shirt with hood and several blankets. With Rex's aquarium next to her thigh on the couch, she wrapped them both in two blankets. Her stomach reminded her she had planned to cook the mac and cheese, but now didn't want to leave the couch's warmth. "Merry Christmas Rex," she uttered. The television movie was "It's a Wonderful Life" which she turned off immediately. There was nothing wonderful about her life right now.

The pounding on the door woke her up. Looking out the peep hole she saw Dillon, the manager. "We have no water. The city water line broke. Red Cross is evacuating everyone to a shelter if they have no other place to go."

Could it get much worse? Well, she did have Joe's house. She quickly redressed adding underwear plus boots, hat, gloves, a personal bag for herself, the frozen mac and cheese, Rex kibbles and of course Rex's abode carefully wrapped in a blanket. Once everything was in the POS car, she turned the key and the engine refused to squeak, moan or make any sound. The only sound was the idling engine of the Red Cross bus filling with fellow tenants waiting to be moved someplace warm. She joined them. As the bus moved through the near empty streets, snowflakes began to fall. Normally she'd be thrilled with a white Christmas, not tonight.

The Red Cross arranged motel had a strict no pet rule. Mrs. Kaminsky's cat, Mrs. Oberson's parrot, Rex as well as several other small service dogs were denied shelter. Red Cross wanted to call the animal shelter for emergency housing for the pets, but the owners refused to be separated from their animals. Another motel said they'd take the pets but their space was limited. Looking at her elderly neighbors and their pets, she decided they needed the rooms, she'd find someplace else. Reluctantly she called Rangeman Security.

"Rangeman, this is Manny, how may I help you?"

"This is Stephanie. I need help. My apartment is frozen, no heat or water. Red Cross has run out of motel space, can Rex and I crash there? I'll sleep on the floor somewhere. I also need a ride, my car is dead."

Manny asked where she was and sent a patrol to pick her up. Before Ranger moved to Miami, he gave strict orders Stephanie's pleas for help would go unanswered, she now had Joe. Fortunately Manny was in the Christmas spirit and didn't really care for Ranger's edict. Since Tank was also away, Manny didn't hesitate to answer her plea.

She walked into Rangeman in her sweats, boots, hat, her messenger bag stuffed with extra underwear and personal items and two blankets thrown over her shoulders, and Rex. She went up to the fifth floor break room. Rex would have water and hopefully she would find a sandwich. It felt strange being here. She didn't belong. When she took Joe's ring, Ranger left without a word. Tonight she seriously began to wonder if she made the right choice. The novelty of the engagement had worn off. Since the engagement Joe had become less charming. There were no more quick peeks down her blouse, no stealing bite of her doughnut, abusive sex, and no laughter. He blamed work stress but she began to think it was something more. Joe beat Ranger, the prize, Stephanie, wasn't important. The two men were in competition, a pissing match, and Ranger lost.

She set Rex onto the counter and ate a turkey sandwich and an apple, giving Rex a chunk as a Christmas present. He wiggled his whiskers in appreciation. Vince walked into the break room, "What are you doing here?" The statement wasn't accusatory but surprised.

"I was going to church with Joe and his family but he got called out. I went to my folks'….. that didn't work out. So I walked back to my apartment. When I got there the boiler is out, no heat and the water lines are broken, so no water. My car died, motels either don't take pets or they are full. No room in the inn for me. This is my last warm shot other than the bus depot.

We have an open apartment, do you want to stay there?

She noticed she wasn't offered Ranger's seventh floor apartment. "No, it wouldn't be right. Here is fine. Rex and I are warm, that's all that matters tonight."

She was slumped over the table with a blanket throw over her shoulder, asleep, when the first shift came in for their first cup of coffee. "Bomber?" Cal asked in disbelief.

"Merry Christmas," she said cheerfully as she was happy to see her friends again.

"What are you doing here?"

Once again she went through the litany of her evenings' problems.

"You walked home? What time? Isn't Joe's closer?"

"His pantry is barer than mine."

"Do you want me to take you to Joe's?" Cal asked.

"If it's no trouble." Her heart sank, she was being shuffled out as quickly as possible.

Cal prewarmed the big SUV so she and Rex wouldn't be cold on the ride. "I appreciate you letting me bunk in the break room."

"You slept in the break room? Why didn't you take an apartment?"

"Seventh floor is Rangers nor did I think is couch would be a suitable alterative." Plus the emotional impact of being back in Ranger's apartment would be overwhelming, especially now."

"Actually, Lester is living on 7, Tank has moved into the big office. Lester has moved into Tank's office."

The clenching in her stomach was painful. Ranger gave up his apartment. He really wasn't coming back.

A heavy snow storm passed through Trenton sometime after midnight. The streets were still snow-packed. Christmas morning services wouldn't start for several hours. Everything was quiet as the sounds were muffled by the new white blanket.

"Glad the snow held off until later. I wasn't wearing shoes for this much snow," she commented as she watched the winter wonderland pass by the car window. As they turned onto Joe's street, there were no tire tracks on the road. Nobody had yet ventured out. Joe's car was in his driveway. The roof was covered in snow indicating it had been there during the storm. "When did he get back?" she asked quietly. The house door was open, Joe and a blond came outside, turned and embraced in a passionate good bye kiss. They both laughed and the woman proceeded to her silver Mercedes at the curb, also covered with snow. Terry Gilman. The snow didn't lie; she had been parked there since at least midnight. Stephanie slid down in her seat to avoid being seen. Cal wisely kept on driving.

Joe's call-out was to meet with Terry Gilman. Stephanie kept her eyes trained forward but they could no longer see. Her body was rock-like; hard, cold, unseeing, unfeeling and unmoving. There were not words, no tears.

Cal was returning to Haywood where she knew she didn't belong, but she had only a cold apartment building, too cold for Rex. When Cal stopped at a red light, Steph slipped off her seat belt, opened the door and as she slid out she said, "Keep Rex warm."

"Bomber, wait!" Cal cried, but Steph was gone.

She began walking in the opposite direction of Rangeman, her blanket wrapped around her body. Cal quickly found a parking space in the next block, jumped out and ran after her. She found a tire track in the snow and ran down it, avoiding leaving foot prints until she could angle back to the main street, cross it and hopefully throw off her pursuer. Cal realized she knew how to avoid being followed and called for backup while he returned to his car and began driving a grid pattern.

She used her evasive skills wisely but didn't get far. Rangeman were trained trackers. After only a few blocks she turned a corner and walked into a black jacketed chest. "Where are you going?" Bobby asked. He was dressed in a black parka, beanie cap and gloves.

"To get my car. I'm leaving." She had forgotten her car was dead.

"You are going the wrong way."

"Oh," she uttered and tried to start walking in another direction. Bobby didn't grab her but started walking beside her.

"Where will you go when you get your car?"

"Far away where nobody knows me, not Joe, not the Plums, nobody in the Burg."

"Come back to Rangeman with me," he said gently.

"No, it hurts worse there. It was the only place I received acceptance and I turned my back on you."

"You never turned your back on us."

"Joe said I could never see any of you again. I chose Joe over all of you; another of my Stephanie Plum-bombs. Everything has blown up in my face."

Cal's SUV rolled up and stopped next to her. "Come on," Bobby said as he took her arm, "We'll go back to your apartment to get clothes and a jacket."

They never got to her apartment. As they neared St. James, the street was blocked with firetrucks. Her apartment building was totally ablaze. The broken water main was hampering fire-fighting efforts. It no longer mattered the boiler and water line were broken, there was no longer an apartment building.

"We'll take you back to Haywood," Bobby whispered.

"NO! I don't belong there. I don't belong anywhere. I've lost everything; Ranger, my apartment, my job…Let me go, let me go." She tried to leave but was trapped as Cal had overridden the door locks. Pounding on the door and windows, "Let me out!" Bobby tried to contain her, "Bomber, Stephanie, take it easy." The kicking and biting Stephanie fought back. Bobby wrapped his arms around her to keep her from thrashing around and possibly injuring the driver, Cal. Her anger or terror continued until it suddenly stopped. She completely shut down as if her brain and soul quit, only her heart beat.

Bobby tried to talk to her, but she remained unseeing and unresponsive. She was in a near catatonic state.