They don't belong to me. I am just borrowing them for a while. A sequel to Christmas Eve Visitor and Starting Our Life Together. This story is fiction, any people, places or events that happen are not actually real or factual. Enjoy and please review.

Holy Matrimony, Batman!
By JayCee08

Chapter 1
Engagement Announcement

With the baptism out of the way and our engagement official, we started to make plans for the wedding. We discussed and argued and finally compromised that September looked like a good month to get married. Ricky would be a year old. It would be after his first birthday. I wanted a big party for him. I didn't want this wedding to over shadow his big day. The weather in September was still nice but not sweltering. I would have liked to have an October wedding but Ranger didn't want a Halloween theme. We both said that November and December were not good choices because of the holidays and it would be cold and sloppy. The only problem with having the wedding in September was that school would be back in session. We wanted Julie to be there but didn't want her to miss a lot of school. We would have to work something out.

We decided to get married at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in New Brunswick. It seemed to have worked well for everyone for the baptism. We spoke with Father John. He seemed happy that we were getting married and not living in sin and that our son would now be legitimate. We needed to attend marriage classes and there was a slight problem with both of us having been divorced. With a huge donation to the church that problem became nonexistent.

We picked The Hyatt Regency Hotel for the reception. Ranger would have guards at the entrance and everyone would have to show their invitations to get in. It offered rooms for the guest to stay at a reduced rate. As well as a room for the bride and groom although we agreed that we were not going to stay at the same hotel as our families.

We deliberated on our attendants. We came to a conclusion that not asking family members to be part of the wedding was in our best interest. So, Tank and Lula would be our best man and maid of honor. Bobby and Lester would be groomsmen and Mary Lou and Connie would be bridesmaids. Julie can be a junior bridesmaid. She is too old to be a flower girl. We also agreed on not having a flower girl or ring bearer. It would be too hard to pick between our nieces and his nephews. Of course little Ricky is too little but will be in a miniature tux like his dad.

We got the wedding plans pretty much under control, so my mother will not have as much of an input. I have already found the dresses I want. My dress will be a simple A-line style dress with some beading in the bodice. The train is small and is beaded as well. I decide not to have a veil that covers my face. I want everyone to see how happy I am when I walk down the aisle to my waiting husband-to-be. So, the veil just hangs at the back of my head.

The bridesmaids' dresses are going to be long strapless black satin dress with a side pleat in white satin with a matching shawl. One side is black, and the other side is white. There is beading on the bodice. Black shoes will complete the look. The tuxes will be black with white shirts with black buttons. I didn't know what Julie's dress would look like yet. I don't think my mother is going to like the color I have chosen. But they represent Ranger and me and if she doesn't like it, so be it.

We are having dinner at my parents tonight to tell them of our wedding plans. Tomorrow morning both Ranger and I will ask the guys at the RangeMan morning meeting. Then we will go to the bond office. I will ask Mary Lou to meet us there. We will ask them to be part of the wedding party. We will have dinner with his parent's tomorrow night.

________________

That just leaves Joe. I really haven't talked to him since I became pregnant with Ricky. He knew I was seeing Ranger and that we decided to live together. I saw him a few times after Ranger left for his last mission and I became pregnant. I decide to meet him at his house before heading to my parents for dinner. I called Joe at work to ask if he will be home early.

I got to Joe's before he did. I still have my key so, I let Bob out. He would just bark at me from inside the house if I didn't. I played ball with him while I waited for Joe to come home. I was leaning against my new Crossfire. It wasn't warm enough yet to have the top down.

Joe arrived home. "Nice car, Cupcake" he says. "So what did this set you back?" He is obviously happy to see me unaware of what I am about to tell him.

"Thanks, it is a present from Ranger." I tell him.

Joe frowns. "Should I run the VIN to see if it is stolen?"

I stood up and placed my hands on my hips. "I happen to know that this car is not stolen. I was there to pick it out and I was there when the papers were signed. And Ranger paid for it in cash. But go ahead and run the VIN if it makes you feel better. And you'll find that it is my name."

"He paid cash? The money is probably dirty. Where does some thug like Ranger get cash to pay for a car like this?"

"Ranger happens to have a very successful business."

"He's a mercenary. He gets paid to be a thug. He has done bad things. Or are you too blind to see that?"

"O.K. so maybe he started out his business by being a paid thug. But RangeMan is a respectable company. He isn't a mercenary anymore. He is concentrating on building his security company." I started to get angry.

"Yeah, so he can provide security to unsuspecting people and then use his company to break in and steal from them."

"Do you have proof of this? Do you have records of any break ins at any of the companies and homes that RangeMan provides security for where there wasn't an apprehension?" Steam started to come out of my ears. I couldn't believe the crap Joe was saying.

"He could have paid to have someone take the rap."

"I am not going to continue this conversation."

We stood there for several minutes not looking at the other. Finally, after several minutes Joe spoke.

"So, are you two going to stay together?", he asks.

"Yes." I say quietly. "Ranger asked me to marry him." I paused. "I am so sorry Joe. I never meant to hurt you. It just wasn't working for us. I fell in love with Ranger. And I know I hurt you. I hope you can forgive me and we can still be friends?"

"It'll never last."

"What is that supposed to mean?" My anger starting to rise again.

"He is only marrying you because of your kid. Both of your track records with relationships indicate that neither of you is good with long term relationships. Look at us. We had more on and off than a light switch."

"Maybe it was because WE weren't right for each other."

"Right, and you and he are PERFECT together," he said sarcastically. "Are you going keep working at your job?"

"I will be working for RangeMan. I will be doing mostly searches, but will help wherever I am needed. I can take Ricky to work until he gets a little older. Who knows, maybe Ranger will have a daycare started on one of the floors."

"How is that son of yours? I wanted to stop by and see you, but you know how the Burg is. I didn't want rumors running around that you and I were getting back together and raising Ranger's kid."

My anger started to subside as I thought of my son. "He is terrific. I didn't think I would like being a mom, but it isn't so bad. Especially when you have people around you that can give you a hand when things get crazy. I can't imagine my life without him in it. And with Ranger back, things are starting to feel comfortable. We are both still adjusting to parenthood, but we are getting into a routine that works for us."

"I can't believe that Ranger is actually doing diaper duty."

"You're the one that wanted to settle down and have a family."

"Yeah, then why is it that you didn't want to have kids with me but you decide to get pregnant with Ranger's kid?"

"I didn't just 'decide' to get pregnant! It just happened!" I started to get angry.

"Then why didn't it 'just happen' when you and I were together?"

"I don't know. I am surprised myself. We didn't always use a condom. Even though I was on birth control, it isn't 100 percent effective. I mean look what happened."

"Yeah, well it is a good thing that you didn't get pregnant while we were together. I wouldn't know if the kid was mine or his."

"I'll have you know Joseph Morelli that I didn't cheat on you. I may have shared a few kisses with Ranger but I only slept with him once. And that was during one of our off phases." My anger starting to boil.

"You expect me to believe that? I happen to know for a fact that you two have slept together more than once. What about when Scrog kidnapped his daughter and stayed at your apartment, or when you stayed in HIS apartment when the Slayers were after you and when you were suspected for Dickie's murder? Huh? You expect me to believe that nothing happened!"

"Yeah, nothing happened! O.K. let me rephrase that. Ranger and I shared a bed during those times, so yes, I slept with him, but I only had sex with him once! Until you and I were officially over for good."

"I don't buy it!"

I bent down to rub Bob one more time. "You be a good boy." I stood up. "I don't know why I bothered to come over to tell you in person. I was trying to be nice. I was hoping that we could be friends, but I guess I was wrong."

I pull the key to his house out of my pocket. "Here. I don't think I need this any more." I said as I tossed the key at him. "And you're wrong. Ranger and I are going to make it work. Good-bye, Joe."

I turned and went to get into my car. I stopped. I needed to get in one more parting shot.

I sneered. "I would go and get checked out. Maybe you're shooting blanks. Ranger's little bullets found their target twice now and he wasn't aiming."

I got into the car and zoomed off for home without looking back. I couldn't wait to get home to Ranger and little Ricky.

TBC Chapter 2 - Dinner At the Plums