They remained wrapped in each other's comfort as the night faded to black. When he heard her breathing slow he gently nudged her awake and guided her into the bedroom. Then he began working on a plan that would ensure she would never again doubt what it was that he treasured most.

Chapter 23

6 days, 8 hours, and 37 minutes passed Stephanie's due date.

"I'm never going to have this babe." Stephanie whined.

"She's just not ready to come out yet." Ranger said as he laid on the bed with his ear to her stomach.

"Weren't you saying just yesterday that it was a boy?"

"Yeah, but today I'm definitely getting the girl vibe."

"Well what about a coming out vibe? Or a I'm ready to meet the world vibe?"

Ranger laughed then leaned up and placed a kiss on Stephanie's forehead. "Don't worry about it babe. She'll come out when she's good and ready."

Stephanie frowned, "Well what about me? I'm ready."

Ranger let his hand roam across her belly and move slowly toward her chest. When he stopped it on her breast to cup it and squeeze her nipple between his fingers he said, "You know. That baby book said that sometimes really great sex can kick start a woman's labor."

Stephanie bit her bottom lip as he worked her nipple into a hard, sensitive nub. "Is that a fact? Well do you think we should give the book a run for it's money and see if that's true?"

"I don't see what it would hurt." Ranger laughed as they both slid further down the bed.

Four hours later, Stephanie was stirred from sleep by a slow rumbling in her belly. She immediately wrote it off as hunger pangs and decided to ignore it. She rolled out of bed as gently as a pregnant woman in her ninth month could and scurried off to the bathroom. By her calculations it was her 26th time peeing that day.

On her way back to the bedroom she paused at the bedroom door and stared at Ranger's sleeping form. His breathing was slow and shallow and the slight smile on his face made him appear almost angelic. Feeling another kind of twinge, Stephanie decided it was time to wake him up and give that great sex theory one more shot.

But before she could say anything her water broke. At first she just froze. But as the words of the baby book slowly crept back into her head she spoke Ranger's name to wake him up.

"Ranger." She said as she remained standing in the puddle of water.

He didn't move.

"Ranger." She said a little louder.

He mumbled something incoherent then rolled over to his side.

"Shit." Stephanie said then reached behind her and grabbed a bar of soap laying on the bathroom cabinet. She chucked it towards the bed and successfully thumped it across Ranger's forehead.

Instinctively he bolted up right in bed. "Babe." He said as he blinked out her form with his still half asleep eyes.

"It's time Ranger."

"Ok." He said then flopped back down on the bed. Ten seconds later he sat up again. "Did you say it was time?"

Stephanie smiled. "Yeah. It's time Ric. My water just broke."

Ranger jumped out of bed and immediately became a blur of activity. He grabbed her pre-packed bag out of the closet and started to dig through the dresser drawer for clothes to help her get dressed. But before he found anything, Stephanie doubled over as the first real contraction hit.

Ranger rushed to her side as she moaned in pain. "Jesus!" She said. "No body said it would be that bad. That's worse than the time I was shot."

"Babe, you were only grazed." Ranger noted.

Stephanie sent him a look that had him running around the room once again. When she was again steady on her feet he leapt across the bed and hit the intercom. "Code pink, code pink! This is not a drill! I repeat, code pink this is not a drill!" He yelled.

Stephanie sat on the bed and watched as he randomly pulled clothes out of the drawers. "Who did you just call? And what is code pink?"

"Everybody."

Stephanie frowned. "What do you mean everybody?"

"Everybody as in the whole building and code pink is the code to let them know you're in labor."

Grabbing the clothes he had tossed her way, she began to dress. "Why would you wake up the entire building?"

Ranger sighed. "Can't you get dressed any faster babe? And I woke them up because they all have jobs to do."

"You gave them jobs for when I go into labor? What kind of jobs?" she asked.

"Tank's job is to make all the calls, the doctor then Joe, your family, then friends, all down the list in order of importance. Hal and Bobby are checking road conditions and mapping out the best route according to traffic reports. Lester should be downstairs getting the car ready." He paused as he heard their front door open and close. "And that should be Eva and Kat coming to help us here."

And as if on cue, Ranger's ex-wife and daughter paused at the bedroom door.

"Ewwww daddy." Kat squealed as she turned to head back into the living room.

"It's ok baby. Giving birth is natural. She's too old to be grossed out by this Eva." Ranger said harshly.

Eva crossed her arms and said, "That's true. But she's not too old to be grossed out by seeing her daddy naked as the day he was born."

"Huh?" Ranger said before looking down and realizing he wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. "Shit."

Stephanie laughed as Eva grabbed her arm and guided her into the living room. "Glad to see you're calm Steph. We'll just go in here so he can get dressed."

Within a minute later, Ranger rejoined Stephanie, Eva and Kat in the living room. And this time he was dressed.

"What's that on your forehead dad?" Kat said as she noticed a long white smear across his skin.

"We don't have time for games, we've got to get Steph to the hospital." Ranger said a few notches too loud before barking into a walkie-talkie. "Status."

Tank's voice was heard first. "All calls have been made and essential civilians are now in route via Rangeman transportation to hospital."

Lester was next. "Car is gassed, ready and waiting at the elevator doors in garage. Route has been mapped and Hal is programming it into the GSP as we speak."

"Good. Stand by for further instructions." Ranger said before shooing everyone out the door.

As they rushed toward the elevator Stephanie grabbed Ranger's arm. "Aren't you being a little too over-dramatic."

Looking appalled he replied, "There is no such thing as being over-prepared. This is will be the smoothest birth in history thanks to our plans."

Stephanie rolled her eyes and looked at Eva, "Glad it doesn't have thing to do with me." The woman laughed as the elevator slowed to the garage level.

Tank, Hal and Bobby were standing by the open door to the car. They each ushered the birthing party into the vehicle and once secured tapped the roof to signal Lester. Getting the nod, Lester floored the gas and the car speed out of the garage.

Stephanie noted a large, black SUV in front of the car and with a glance realized Tank, Hal and Bobby were in another SUV right behind them.

"Ric I'm not the president. I'm just having a baby."

"That's right and I refuse to let anything hamper that beautiful event."

Kat leaned over and whispered to Eva, "Why is daddy being so weird?"

Eva sent Stephanie a sympathetic smile and said, "Because he's a man and he loves Steph. You'll understand one of these days honey that when a man really loves a woman they start acting kind of dumb."

Ranger sent Eva a glare and tried to ignore their laughter.

Six minutes and 27 seconds later, Lester pulled the vehicle next to the emergency room doors. He jumped from the car and rushed around to grab the door. He held the door firm as he watched the four passengers spill out of the car and head inside.

When the emergency room doors slid open Stephanie didn't try to hide the shock of seeing everyone was already there. The doctor and Joe were waiting with a wheel chair, her parents we smiling and holding a camera. Mary Lou, Lula and Connie were standing to the side holding armfuls of teddy bears.

Before she could speak the doctor order her into the chair and rushed her through a nearby set of curtains.

With Ranger holding one hand and Joe holding her other, Stephanie pushed with all her might. So far she was in her 12th hour of labor and it had finally come down to this… her sheer strength.

"You're doing so good babe." Ranger whispered as he kissed her ear.

"Ok Steph the baby is crowning. Give me two more big pushes." The doctor ordered.

Joe moved around to get a better look as he watched Stephanie push his new baby boy into the world. The room was deathly quiet for the first few seconds, and as if on cue the baby started squealing at the top of its lungs. Joe released Steph's hand and followed the nurses who carried the baby off to get cleaned up.

Ranger kept his eyes on the baby until he felt Stephanie's hand slip from his. When he looked down he knew something was wrong. She was pale, her arm was limp and she didn't appear to be breathing. Suddenly alarms went off as the buzzers blared from the equipment attached to her.

Before he could protest, the doctor was pushing him to the side. Within seconds, one then two other doctors ran into the room, rushing to save Steph's life.

It came to him like brick to the head. Ranger rushed toward the table. He needed to hold her, be near her, anything to keep the events in front of his face from happening.

"Sir, get out of the way so we can do our job." One of the doctors yelled at him.

He ignored the order but only until he realized he was being dragged from the delivery room by Joe.

They burst through the hospital doors, spilling into the waiting room. Joe yelled first. "Tank, give me a hand." He said as he fought with Ranger to keep him from rushing back in.

Tank went behind Ranger and pulled his arms back. "Easy man. What's going on? What's wrong?"

And just like that the entire waiting room surrounded Joe and Ranger asking questions and demanding answers. Joe relayed the events to the group while Ranger remained focused on the door. "I need in there." He said to Tank.

"I know man. But you got to let the doctors do their job first." Tank reassured.

Later, they would all say they had waited for hours on word of her condition but in reality it had only been a matter of minutes. The doctor rushed out the door looking tired and empty.

Ranger lunged toward her. "How is she?"

The doctor lifted her head slowly to reveal a smile, "She's fine. She gave us quiet a scare, but she's going to be fine. She's asking for Batman, in fact she's quiet insistent about it. Does that mean anything to anyone?"

Ranger smiled and said, "Yeah. That means everything to me."

"Don't ever scare me like that again babe." He whispered as he held her hand in the dark hospital room.

"Sorry." She mumbled.

It had been five hours since she had given birth to Joseph Brandon Morelli and the exhaustion was still visible on her face.

"You should get some sleep." Ranger whispered.

Stephanie shook her head from side to side. "I'm ok but you should get out of her and get some rest."

Ranger laughed. "Are you kidding me? I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

Stephanie grabbed his hand and tangled her fingers with his. "Does this mean you still want to marry me?"

Ranger leaned forward and placed a soft kiss across her lips. "Keep asking babe and I'll go find a Justice of the Peace to make it official right now."

Stephanie laughed. "A simple yes would have been enough."

"Babe, nothing is ever simple with you."

She smiled again then tapped a finger against his forehead. "You still have soap smeared on your head."

"Next time, can you find something softer to throw and maybe something that doesn't leave a streak?" he said as he wiped his palm across his forehead.

"I'll think about it." She grinned as she slowly fell asleep.

Two weeks later…

While Stephanie took a much needed nap, Ranger rocked baby Brandon to sleep in his arms. Born to be as stubborn as his mother, the child was determined to sleep on his own schedule. Last night he had waken 5 times, screaming at the top of his lungs, but after one look into Stephanie's smiling face he had settled immediately. Good for baby, bad for mommy.

Just as the baby drifted into slumber, Joe slid through the front door. Ranger had decided to give him access to the apartment but only until Steph was completely healed.

"Hey. He asleep?" Joe asked quietly.

"Just. Steph's taking a nap. Did you get any sleep?" Ranger asked knowing he had been up just as much as they had. Joe had insisted on keeping one of the receivers of the baby monitor with him downstairs. He was determined to help out as much as he could and so far he had done just that.

"Yeah a little. You?"

"Not much. Steph's taking a nap now. Are you staying or do you have to work?"

Joe smiled. "Staying. I've got a couple days off."

Handing the baby over to Joe, Ranger gave his new, unlikely friend a pat on the back. "Good. You take care of the baby. I'm going to go take care of Steph."

The light in Joe's eyes got a tad brighter when Ranger handed Brandon off to him. Already he could see the strong Morelli chin in his son's face.

Just before Ranger closed the bedroom door Joe stopped him. "Hey Ranger."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for everything."

"Just don't do anything to make me regret it." Ranger said as he closed the door.

Joe walked the baby around the living room, stopping in front of the large balcony doors. Using the softest voice he had, he began speaking to his son.

"Ok Brandon, back to where we left off. The Mets are ok, but the Yankees are the real team for us Morelli's…."

Six Months Later…

"I can't believe this day is finally here." Mary Lou said as she fluffed the back of Stephanie's hair.

"Well I think I've waited long enough don't you?" Stephanie smiled.

"Definitely." Mary Lou sniffed.

"Don't! Don't you cry! Because if you cry, then I'm going to cry and then I'll be a blubbering mess as I walk down the aisle." Stephanie whined.

Mary Lou sniffed again. "I can't help it… I'm just so happy for you." She said before she started wailing.

"Well be happy for me without crying like an idiot….wait a second… you never cry when you're happy. Unless… Oh my god! You're pregnant again!" Stephanie shouted as she jumped up and grabbed her best friend.

Mary Lou shook her head. "Yes! Dammit. Ever since Lenny saw you naked he won't keep his hands off me."

Stephanie snorted. "Don't you blame it on me because you keep getting knocked up." Stephanie took a step toward Mary Lou and grabbed her hands. "Are you happy Lou?"

Mary Lou's eyes cleared as she looked up at Stephanie. "Deliriously. We're hoping this time it's a girl."

Stephanie pulled her friend into her and hugged. "I couldn't be happier for you. Just think, we'll have kids about a year apart in age. Maybe it will be a girl then they can grow up together, fall in love and get married!"

"You think?" Mary Lou smiled.

"Anything's possible. I mean, just look at me. I'm getting ready to marry Ricardo Manaso."

"Speaking of weddings. We need to finish getting you dressed. You don't want to keep your man waiting. I believe he's already waited for you long enough."

The beach had been decorated perfectly for the occasion. Chairs covered with cream fabric had been lined up in two sections facing the ocean. An archway covered with white, pink and peach roses and greenery stood in place of the alter.

The group that had come together to witness the event was small and intimate. Both Ranger and Stephanie's family were there. Most of the employees of Rangeman were there which pleased all of Stephanie's single friends.

When Stephanie stepped onto the beach the sight before her brought tears to her eyes. Everyone she loved was there to support her. Holding one large, white Magnolia she began her walk down the sandy isle. Ranger was waiting for her beneath the archway looking more handsome than she had ever seen him. He wore cream colored linen pants and a black silky shirt that flowed with the wind. As he stood there, barefoot with his hair tossing in the breeze and his hand outstretched to her, Stephanie knew in that instance her dreams had finally come true.

When she took his hand he pulled her towards him close enough to whisper in her ear. "You look like a goddess."

Stephanie smiled and knew instantly that she had picked out the right dress. It had taken her weeks to find the right one. Something that was casual enough for the beach, but yet would still catch Ranger's attention. And then she walked into that one store and the dress practically begged for her to try it on. It was a pale cream color and fell just around her ankles. The fabric was silky and flowed gently against her tan skin. The front dipped low, plunging down her chest and was secured in place by a single sash that wrapped snuggly around her waist. It was brought together by a single broach that had the word "Babe" inscribed on the back. Only her and Ranger knew what the broach said, just as they were the only ones that knew the pocket watch in his pants read,"Batman."

The ceremony was short by most standards. Ranger and Steph had opted for their own vows since nothing else seemed to fit them. They each took turns proclaiming:

"Today I give myself to you completely and without limits. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in good times and in bad. When life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort, I promise to always cherish you. These things I give to you today, and forever. You are my life, my love and my best friend. I look forward to growing old with you and spending the rest of my life as your partner."

As they turned, hand in hand, husband and wife, and walked toward their beautiful Carolina beach home Stephanie found Joe's smiling face in the crowd. He was there, sitting in the front row next to Ranger's sister Celia and proudly holding his baby boy.

A year earlier she would have never imagined the day she would welcome him back into her life. But with Ranger holding her hand and guiding her one step at a time, things had changed. Joe wasn't just a horrible memory of her past. In some weird way her new husband had taught her how to accept and even welcome her old one into their lives.

Joe had moved back into his house but still stopped by their apartment everyday after work to check up on his son. He had even kept little Brandon all by himself a few weekends earlier. Of course, Stephanie had called and worried a dozen times but they both survived it in the end.

And now, she walked back down the aisle with Ranger for the first time as man and wife, knowing that finally everything was right in her life.

The celebration went late into the night. Large round tables had joined the chairs on the beach and several bonfires were lit as night fell upon the party.

Music blasted from large speakers hidden somewhere near the dunes.

Stephanie and Ranger shared their first dance, the split off and danced with their families. Stephanie's heart did a little flip as she watched Ranger lean forward to dance with Kat.

After dinner had been served Ranger and Stephanie watched the couples twirl in the sand. Eva and Daniel, who had returned a month earlier, danced as if they were on their first date. Mary Lou and Lenny held hands and whispered in each other's ears as they kept their good news a secret a little while longer.

And when Ranger spotted his baby sister Celia dancing with Joe he stiffened and then turned to Stephanie. "Is that a good idea?"

Stephanie laughed when she spotted the cause of his concern. "Does it matter what we think? How many people thought you and I were a good idea?"

Ranger frowned then said. "I'll let it go for now, but just because I'm too excited about getting to play Roman Warrior with you later." He fingered the shoulder strap on her dress and added, "If I haven't told you, I really like this dress babe."

Stephanie laughed then kissed her husband for all it was worth.

Two years later…

"You're doing so good babe." Ranger again whispered into his wife's ear.

"Ok Stephanie, give me one more big push." The doctor ordered.

And once again, Stephanie pushed with all her strength. Seconds later the baby's screams filled the room. This time, Ranger kept his eyes and hands on his wife to insure she remained with him, and this time she did. The only thing that parted their touch was the nurse laying the beautiful baby girl on her chest. Ranger stared down at his wife and his new baby and felt his heart fill almost to the point of bursting.

After he was sure that both baby and mom were perfectly healthy he headed out to the waiting area to share the news.

"It's a girl! Her name is Julianna Elizabeth Manaso!" He shouted to the friends and family that had gathered in the waiting room.

It was his sister Celia that stepped up first to offer congratulations. And when they pulled apart from their hug she asked, "Are you deliriously happy right now Carlos?"

He held her hand and smiled. "Yes, happier than I've ever been."

She sighed a breath of relief then added, "Good, now remember that." She turned back and waved someone forward. Slowly, the crowd parted and Joe stepped up, stopping beside Celia. "Joe and I are getting married. Congratulations on the baby!"

Ranger froze in place from shock. Then coming to his senses he pointed to Joe and said. "Remind me to kill you when I'm not in such a good mood."

Joe winked at him and said, "Sure thing pal. Now go take Brandon to see his mom and new baby sister."

Five months later…

Ranger rocked his baby girl gently in his arms. As ceremonies go, this one was lasting forever he thought as he eyed Celia and the man she was about to call her husband.

Somehow Stephanie had managed to keep him from killing Joe Morelli and even stranger, she had convinced him to attend the wedding.

Of course he noted sourly that it wasn't as perfect as their wedding, nor was it as meaningful. But with a punch to the ribs from his wife he offered the married couple his blessings at the reception.

"See this wasn't so bad." Stephanie said as she enjoyed a dance with her husband.

"She's my baby sister." He whined.

"That's true Ric, but she's not a little girl. At some point you have to let them grow up and make their own decisions."

"I suppose." He said as he stared into her eyes.

Stephanie laughed, "If you're this bad just because Celia got married I'm going to hate to see you on Julie's wedding day."

Ranger paled several shades then said, "Over my dead body. Nobody's taking my baby girl."

Stephanie laughed louder then pulled Ranger into a deep kiss. As they parted she said, "I love your crazy ass Ricardo Manaso."

Melting into her, he squeezed back and replied, "It's a good thing babe because you're stuck with me for a long time to come."

The End