This isn't a new story, but it's improved. I've been editing it so I could post it again, only better. I've added things to make it better. This chapter is longer than most will be because after this chapter the rest will be in present time, so hopefully my grammar is correct. :) I hope new readers find this as well as readers who are coming back for their second time.

I'm going to try and update every week on either Saturday or Sunday.

Warning: This story is AU with OCs. It's a Babe HEA and it's not particularly fond of Morelli.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you recognize. They belong to Janet Evanovich.

Enjoy!

18 years ago

I watched as he walked out of the Tasty Pastry. I watched as he walked out of my life. He had taken something from me. I wasn't ashamed. My best friend Mary Lou was right. He does turn virgins to slobbering mush with just the brush of his fingers. But, I won't let it happen again. In fact, I planned on it not happening for a long time. I locked up the Tasty Pastry and I knew I was going to make sure I could stand up to anything life had to throw at me. I walked home.

"Stephanie, where were you?" my mom shouted coming over to me. "We were worried sick."

"Sorry Mom. I was just closing up the Tasty Pastry," I apologized unhappily. "I'm beat. Can we do this in the morning?" She nodded. I walked upstairs. I hoped Joe would call. I waited in vain. I worked out everyday after that. I took Karate lessons and learned how to defend myself. I am not going to let it happen again. That became my mantra.

17 years ago

I was driving my father's Buick and I saw Morelli. I floored the gas and jumped the curb. I hit Morelli. When I got out of the car he was on the ground. I knew I could take him in a fist fight but I could do more damage with a car.

"Christ! I think you broke my leg," he told me holding his leg. I smirk. He totally deserved that.

"Good," I said and I flounced back to the car. I reversed and got out of there.

14 years ago

This guy I had been dating turned out to be a fugitive. I was going out to meet with him one night when a mysterious guy came up to me.

"Do you know you are harboring a fugitive? It's my job to catch the SOB. I'm a fugitive apprehension agent," a man asked me in a gruff voice. "In layman's terms a bounty hunter." I shook my head.

"I can get him if you'd like," I told the man. I was twenty years old, an adult in the eyes of the law. If the Mark, the scumbag I had been dating, was a fugitive and I had been harboring him I would turn him in. I saw him get out of his car and he saw me. The man I had just talked to slid into the shadows. Mark walked over.

"Hello beautiful," he said and he sounded drunk. He pushed me over to the alley. He he tried to force himself on me. What nerve! I would not let it happen again. I would gladly hand him over to the police. I had the training, the strength, and the skill so I grabbed his wrist and twisted it. If he made a move it would break.

"Listen up Mark, you weren't straight with me," I breathed through gritted teeth. "Now I'm turning you in." The man I had talked to earlier came up with a pair of cuffs. He slapped them on the guy. This is reminding me of the movies.

"I'm Raphael. I'm a fugitive apprehension agent, like I told you before," he told me as he stuck out his free hand. I shook it.

"Stephanie Plum, student at Rutger's college," I greeted. I was watching him closely. He looked like someone you could trust.

"You were good. You wouldn't mind if I asked for your help from time to time, would you?" he asked with a grin.

"I'm not sure," I hedged. I thought I was good at reading people but I was unsure. I did date Mark.

"I'll pay you," he offered. I could always use the extra cash. I sighed.

"Sure. I might be joining the Army," I told him honestly. I wanted more training.

"I could hook you up. I used to be in the military," he said with a charming grin. I nodded.

"That'd be great. Do you want my number? Or what? If you'll need my help," I asked unsure of how to go about doing this. He pulled out a business card.

"I have other agents as well. All men. If you give me your number I can call and you can get acquainted. They all have been in the military. They all do things for the government now and then. We can start you off with searches and then you can do some field work," he informed me. I smiled. I think I might like this job. I knew my mom would definitely not approve but I had to fly the coop so to speak. I wanted to get away from the Burg grapevine. And, my mother's constant nagging. "When are you going to settle for a nice Italian man? You're not getting any younger, you know." I pulled out a piece of paper and pen from my purse and scribbled down my number.

"Call anytime," I told him hoping he would call soon because I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay in the Burg any longer. Technically, we didn't live in the Burg, but we were close and if a few years in the Army meant getting away, the offer was even more appealing. He nodded. Then he walked away. I walked to my car and got in. I drove to the apartment I shared with my best friends, Mary Lou and Lula. Mary Lou was engaged and Lula was...well Lula. Mary Lou was born and bred in the Burg. My best friend since kindergarten when I shared my lunch with her. Lula's a plus sized black women who changes her hair color every week. She puts herself in five sizes too small spandex outfits. I got back and Lula was on the couch eating fried chicken watching TV.

"Where you been girl?" she asked huffing as she lifted herself from the couch.

"I think I just got a job," I told her setting my purse on the counter. Her eyes widened.

"No shit?" she asked. I smiled at her choice of words.

"No shit," I replied grabbing a bowl, spoon, and some ice cream. We lived in an apartment near Point Pleasant. It wasn't that far away from my parents, but it was far enough away so not everybody would see my every move.

"That's great," she said grabbing a spoon and bowl for herself. I scooped her some ice cream as well.

"Yeah... I'm thinking of joining the Army. I think I'm going to," I told her looking at my bowl.

"White girl, say what?" Lula asked and I heard her spoon clank to in her bowl.

"I want- no- I need to be strong. I'm not cut out to be the perfect burg wife and mother. Saint Valerie can do that. She'd be the perfect mother and wife," I remarked swirling my ice cream.

"I understand that. See I got out of my family business. It's kind of the same. I didn't want to be a ho so I booked out of there real quick. That's kind of what you're doing, 'cept for you don't want to be a burg wife or mother," Lula commented eyeing my ice cream. I pushed the bowl to her. She took it.

"I'll have to break this to Mary Lou and my family," I grumbled unhappily. She snorted.

"Good luck," she replied going back to the sofa. I was going to make the drive tonight. I grabbed my purse and made sure I had the essentials or KIM as I called it; keys, ID, and money. I also put my cell phone in. I couldn't break the news to my parents by phone. So, I got in my car and drove. I didn't stop except for once and just to fill up on gas. I got to the house in pretty good time. Luckily I still had clothes here. I was planning on spending the night. Before I got out of the car my mom was standing on the porch. I wanted to scream and that was how I knew I was home. My mom didn't say anything as we walked inside.

"Is something wrong?" she asked me frantically once we were away from prying eyes. I shook my head no.

"I have something to tell you," I started but I was quickly cut off.

"Oh my god! You're pregnant," she squealed jumping to conclusions. My mom, always hopeful. Of course, she'd want a man and ring attached to a pregnancy. I shake my head.

"Mom, I am not pregnant. I'm going to…join the Army." I saw my mom go pale and then crash. She was on the floor out cold. I got a paper towel and soaked it in water. I dabbed my mom's forehead.

"What happened?" she asked looking around her. "Why am I on the floor?"

"You fainted," I told her simply. She gaped at me.

"I did no such thing. I do not faint," she argued struggling to get up. I helped her up easily.

"The Army! How will you raise a family? You'll never meet a respectable guy. Stephanie, you wouldn't make it," she babbled in a high pitched voice. Her voice was grating on my nerves and giving me a headache. Besides, her saying that only made me more determined to do it.

"It's what I want to do," I told her standing firm. She was not going to pressure me into anything ever again. I'm my own person dammit!

"Why don't you go to bed? You're probably tired from the drive. Maybe this nonsense will be out of your head by the time you wake up," mom said looking at me like I was mental. I sighed. I couldn't argue with her now. I trudged upstairs but had no intentions of going to sleep. I went to the bathroom and escaped out the window. I started walking aimlessly. I wasn't paying attention to were I was walking. I was trying to get my mother's voice out of my head. I walked down streets and that's when I noticed the drunks. They were standing outside bars. There was a particularly menacing one staggering towards me. I ran down one alley.

Carlos' POV

I knew I was in deep. I needed to get all of them out of here. My brother, Santos, and Tank. We all had to get out of here and I knew they would come. We had all been together since I moved to Miami. My brother of course had been with me since birth. Now we all have 'brothers'. The gang we're apart of. We deserve better.

"Carlos, I'll get you a gift," my drunken 'brother' said. He wasn't really my brother. He was part of gang I had so foolishly joined. Now we were thinking of joining the Army and getting out. But they say once you're in you're in. I wondered what my 'gift' would be.

"You don't have to," I responded. He laughed.

"But I do. I think I see it now," he told me with an evil laugh. He stumbled forward and I could see him going to a figure. He grabbed her. Her eyes were wide. Her eyes were big and blue.

"Here's your gift," Rick told me holding the frightened girl so she couldn't get away.

"Rick!" a voice from behind shouted. Rick was distracted and the girl elbowed him in the ribs and then kneed him where it hurt. Then when he was doubled over, she hit him with her elbow again and he was knocked out. I stared in awe at the girl. I think she was surprised she just did that.

"Please don't hurt me," she pleaded and I could hear the innocence in her voice.

"Don't worry we won't," I whispered coming closer slowly. "So, please don't hurt us." I chuckled to seem less menacing. I had my hands out to show I wasn't going to try anything. She nodded, relaxing a bit. I saw that she looked about the same age as I was. My brother was a year younger but Santos and Tank were the same age as I.

"Tank get out of here. I'll deal with this mess," I called to him. I saw him nod and he got out of there.

"Are you okay?" I asked her as I came closer. I felt this tingling sensation. She was beautiful. She was bathed in moonlight. I saw her full lips, her cute nose, and those big blue eyes. She had brown hair that was a mass of curls. Her lips were absolutely kissable.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I was just a bit surprised when he came at me," she said in a voice that held uncertainty and a hint of trust. I saw her shiver and without hesitation I pulled off my black jacket and handed it to her. In the moonlight I saw her cheeks flush. She pulled it on.

"Thanks," she muttered. "I really should get going." I stepped closer, her blue eyes drawing me in. I saw her suck in a breath. Her tongue darted out and moistened her lips. I stepped forward and kissed her. I felt her melt into me. It was a long kiss and it felt so damn right. When we pulled back her eyes were hooded and she had a lazy smile on her face.

"Wow," she breathed sucking in ragged breaths of air. I nodded in agreement. She was about to slip out of the jacket.

"Keep it. I don't really need it were I'm going," I told her. I was going to join the Army and I wouldn't need it that much. Besides I liked the thought of her keeping my jacket. A way to remember me by.

"Where are you going?" she asked to me. I was staring into her eyes.

"Army," I said feeling like I could tell her anything. She nodded, her eyes guarded. I stepped in and kissed her again.

"Bye," she whispered running a finger down my face. "And, good luck."

"Bye," I whispered back. I watched as she walked away from me in my jacket. I realized I didn't know her name. In fact I knew nothing about her. Only that she could fight, she had my jacket, and she knew I was going to join the Army. I shook my head. You were stupid, I thought. I took out some spare cuffs I keep on me and I handcuffed Rick to a pipe on the side of a building. Then I walked away without a backwards glance. I was going to find my friends and then we would join the Army. I wanted to be a Ranger. Delta Force maybe. I always thought it would be cool. Special forces maybe. Or both. When I got back to the place we had all agreed to meet, we were all sullen faces. We were walking out of one life and into another. We had our duffels packed. We had already signed up all we had to do was wait for the time we would attend BCT, Basic Combat Training. Then we'd go on to AIT, Advanced Individual training.

Steph's POV

I walked back home in the jacket that guy had given me. I was crazy. I had just kissed a guy I barely knew. My mom would have a cow if she ever found out. I could hear her now.

"I just got off the phone with Loretta's mother, she said Loretta saw you kissing some street thug! Stephanie Michelle Plum! I thought I had raised you better."

I had had it engrained into my mind not to talk to strangers. Much less kiss them. But somehow, in someway, I trusted him. The thought made me feel funny. I couldn't explain it. My lips were still tingling from the kiss. I ran my fingers over my swollen lips. It was a toe curling kiss. So right, so perfect. I had a feeling we wouldn't see each other again. I had the most intense feeling when I was near him. It was a tingling trailing up and down my spine. His jacket was soft and smelled good. I couldn't identify the smell but it was a nice one. When I got back home I found everyone asleep. I snuck to my room and crawled into bed. I woke up at six thirty for my morning jog. I had been doing this since the night at the Tasty Pastry. I hated running but I had gotten used to it. But, the worst part was waking up early. When I came back my mom had made coffee and had breakfast ready. I got a mug and got some coffee. Then I started eating breakfast.

"Mom, whether you like it or not I'm joining the Army. You're either behind me on this or not," I told her after I finished the meal. She nodded.

"I guess I'll support you. It's just what is the Burg going to think? My daughter joining the Army?" she asked with a helpless expression on her face. I sighed.

"They'll just have to deal. I need to get going. I'll call sometime," I told her kissing her on the cheek. I headed to my car and headed back to Point Pleasant. It was nice this time of year not many tourists. It was almost the end of summer. I got back and made a call to Raphael.

"Raphael speaking," the man on said.

"Raphael, it's Stephanie Plum from the other night. I'd like it if we could talk. I'd really like to join the Army," I told him.

"Okay. I can sign you up. It doesn't start until September though. You'll have to go through BCT, then AIT. That means Basic Combat Training and then Advanced Individual Training. You can come up to my place and I can start training you some more. You can meet the guys," he explained. I thought that was a great idea.

"Thanks so much. I'd love to. If you give me the address I'll be there in an hour or two. I have stuff I need to do," I told him getting a notepad and pen. I jotted down the address. I said goodbye. I took a shower. Mary Lou walked in the door as I was making a pot of coffee.

"Long night?" I asked her with a smile. She grinned back. Uh-oh. Too much information coming on.

"Yeah. Lenny's a machine," she told me smiling lazily. Ew! Lenny's okay looking but I didn't need that mental image.

"Thanks for the information but I could have done without it," I chuckled. "Lou, I need to tell you something." Her face immediately became serious and she came over to me.

"What is it Steph?" she asked looking over me. She was always good at knowing when I need to talk seriously. I sighed.

"I'm going to join the Army," I told her looking her in the eyes. Her eyes widened in shock.

"That's what you want?" she asked her eyes showing unconditional support and love. I nodded.

"I have to get away from the Burg. And, doing this it'll show myself that I can do anything I want. I'll be serving this country. I'll be doing what I want." She put a hand on my shoulder.

"Okay, Steph. Just don't die." she choked and then she started crying. I wrapped her arms around her.

"Thanks for understanding. I need to go. I meeting with someone. He's going to help me get into the army and he's sort of my boss," I told her as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

"You got a job!" she squealed and she hugged me. I smiled.

"Yeah. I'll see you later," I told her before I grabbed my purse. I also grabbed the piece of paper I wrote the address on.

"I'll see you," she called as I went out the door. I got in my car and drove to an office building close to Newark. When I got there I noticed it was seven stories and had security cameras. It had a gate to enter so you could park your car. I went up to it. I looked around and then the gate opened. I drove in and parked my car. I noticed Raphael was waiting for me when I got out.

"Hello Stephanie," he greeted as I walked up to him. We shook hands.

"Raphael," I replied. In the light I noticed he was handsome. He was about 5' 10''. He had thick, dark, wavy hair. He was toned and he wasn't overly ripped.

"Shall we get to it? You'll first have to fill out some paperwork," he informed me as he guided me into the building with his hand at the small of my back. We walked in and we got on the elevator and went to the fourth floor. It had a bunch of cubicles and one door. He went in the door and I was greeted with a big office. He had a huge desk and two chairs in front of it. In the corners were two more chairs. There was two long and skinny book shelves that were on either side. The wood was a dark mahogany. The desk was organized but held a lot of stuff. He gestured for me to take a seat. I did and he went around the desk and sat in a big fluffy chair.

"First, you'll have to fill out the Army papers. Then you'll need to fill out the forms for this job," he told me pushing papers towards me.

Three hours and two hundred pieces of paper later I had filled everything out. We walked out of the door and he led me to the cubicles.

"These are where everyone works when they aren't out on a government job or chasing a skip. I'll introduce you since at this moment they're all here. The men are Michael, Seeley, Hank, Charlie, and Micah," he told me and as soon as he said their names everyone came out. All of the men were really good looking and buff. I could see the muscles through their shirts. One came up to me.

"I'm Michael Donovan," he said bringing my hand to his lips. He had short brown hair and blue eyes. He had a scar next to his right eye. Then they all started introducing themselves. Seeley had brown hair and brown eyes. Hank had brown hair and blue eyes. Charlie had reddish/brown hair and light blue eyes. Micah was the only dark skinned person besides Raphael. Micah had the darkest skin, like black coffee. He had short brown curly hair and brown eyes. They were all very attractive. That may prove to be an issue with my Hungarian hormones.

"Guys, this is Stephanie Plum a new recruit. She's going to join the Army and when she's done she'll come back here," he informed the guys. "We're all going downstairs and we will have time on the mats. Stephanie here will fight all of you guys. Just so I can see how much she knows already." I gulped. I would have to fight each one of these buff guys. They all headed downstairs. I followed. The next floor was a wide open space. On one side it was all gym equipment and then there was a bunch of mats placed together. Practically the whole floor was mats.

"Michael and Steph can go first," Raph called so I went out on the mats with Michael. He was grinning. We started circling each other. He was in the fighting stance. I wasn't taught that way. I was taught to be ready in any position. So, he probably wasn't expecting when I threw a kick that nearly hit his ear. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Flexible," he commented. I just smiled. He tried to punch me but I dodged it and grabbed his arm. I then flipped him over. He landed with a thud.

"Ow! You're good for a… girl," he told me with a grin. I stepped away with narrowed eyes..

"For a girl? You think I can't take you?" I asked him, starting to go into rhino mode. He looked at me with devious grin and just shrugged.

"So how old are you?" he asked me as he tried to kick me but I was faster and threw a punch and caught him in the gut.

"Nineteen almost twenty. You?" I asked not even out of breath yet. When he was doubled over I came over him and elbowed him, like I had done to that guy last night.

"Twenty," he huffed as he fell to the floor. He swiped at my foot and I fell to the floor and was on my back. I flipped up and was standing again. I threw a punch and caught him in the face. He fell back to the floor and he was knocked out cold. Raphael came over to check it out.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to do that," I apologized profusely, bending down with Raph.

"It's okay. That was good. You're ready for the next guy," he told me as two guys dragged Michael away. I heard their chuckles and the, 'he got beat by a girl.' I beat Michael and Hank. But I lost to Seeley, Charlie, and Micah. We ate lunch after and I got to know them. They ordered pizza and we all talked and joked. It turned out most of them were in their early twenties. Charlie and Raphael were the oldest. I was the youngest but not by much.

Everyday after that I went over there and we trained and I did searches. Eventually, I went out into the field. When it was time for me to go off to the Army they all had sad faces. They were friends that I called family. They all supported me and we joked around. They were like brothers. Mary Lou and Lula were sad. It was a hard goodbye. But one I knew I had to do. I did the same with my family. I was off to the Army. It was hard work, but I pushed through.