Disclaimer--Janet Evanovich characters. I own nothing.

Ranger opened the apartment door. It was quiet. Almost like no one was living here. He walked into the bedroom and found the bed was untouched. Walking into the bathroom, none of her make-up was on the counter. Panicked, he went straight into the dressing room. Stephanie's clothes were gone. What happened. Where was she. Ranger started to jog out of the bedroom when he was met by Tank.

"She's ok. Bombshell's ok, Ranger. Sit down, I need to tell you some things." Tank said to a wide-eyed Ranger.

"What happened, Tank."

"Shortly after you left, we got a call from Miami from Rachel and Ron's attorney. They were killed in a car crash. Julie wasn't with them, but the attorney needed someone to come get her as Julie wanted to come here. Not knowing what to do, I called your attorney and he told me that when you were unavailable, any decisions regarding Julie went to Stephanie because she was a temporary guardian. After the shock wore off, Stephanie and Lester went to Miami and brought Julie back."

Tank stopped a moment, so Ranger could take everything in that Tank told him.

"Julie. How is she doing?'

"It was difficult in the beginning. Julie was upset, crying, not talking to anyone, but Stephanie just gave her some space. There's this bereavement program through the hospital for children who have lost parents, Stephanie and Julie went there. She got her enrolled in school. Before, you go ballistic. Yes, it's public school. Julie is in the same class as one of Stephanie's nieces. Little by little, Julie became Julie again because of Stephanie's tender care. They went everywhere together. The reason Stephanie and Julie aren't here is Stephanie bought a townhouse outside of the "Burg". It was getting crowded here, and Julie needed a room of her own. So, Stephanie used all her money she saved from working here and skip money for a down payment. She said you would not approve of it, but it's in a nice neighborhood. We installed a security system. It's really nice. Stephanie and Julie were having fun decorating."

"Does Julie like it there? And, Stephanie, she's happy."

"Yeah, as happy can be without you. Julie has friends from school that live in the townhouse complex. It's not far from here. About 10 minutes. Julie finished school with all "A's" because Bombshell worked with her on her homework, book reports, school projects. Julie even won first place in an Art show. Stephanie has been worried that when you came back, you'd make Julie move and not stay there with them. Then something happened."

"What, are they ok?" Ranger was now more upset. First the accident. Now something else.

"When Stephanie went after her skips, Lester was her partner while you were away. They went after a young woman arrested on a drug charge. When they found her, she was almost dead from drug overdose. She died in Stephanie's arms. But before she died, she asked Stephanie to make sure her two small children were taken care of. A boy and a girl, as she did not want them separated."

"Tank, that had to be too much for my Babe. The woman dying on her and having kids."

"The girl was only twenty. Stephanie was hysterical. And frantic over the children after Children's and Youth Services took them into custody at the hospital. Don't ask me how these things happen, but a friend of Stephanie's from high school was the case worker, and no foster families wanted both children because of the mother's drug past. The children had no drugs in their system, in good health, but unkept. The boy, Caden, is three and Cassidy, the little girl, about 9 months. The little boy just clung to her at the hospital. So, knowing Stephanie how she likes to help everyone, took in the children until a relative could be found. Her and Julie became mother hens. Her mother wasn't happy, because how could she take care of three children when she could barely take care of herself. But, Stephanie's father and grandmother helped her. Frank Plum was so happy to have a boy in the family.

Ella even helped if the children weren't in the daycare center two blocks from the office."

"My Babe with three children, this I have to see." Ranger chuckled.

"Sorry, Ranger, not going to happen. About 4 or 5 weeks ago, The children were turned over to their grandmother. It took about two months to locate a relative. The girl had run away at 16, so it was hard to track down any family. Stephanie's never said anything about that day when the children left, but from how Julie described it. Stephanie tried not to get upset in front of the children. The little boy, was so cute, he called Stephanie "Mommy". The baby had just gotten a couple of teeth and probably walking by now. Julie called Stephanie's father, who she calls "Grandpa", to come over because the social worker was coming for the children. Stephanie sat in her driveway and just cried in the pouring rain after that car pulled away. She really came to love those kids. Ranger, she was good mother." Tank told him.

Ranger added, "I knew Stephanie would be a good mother, even though she said she never wanted any children. She just cares about everyone. Sometimes, I thought she said that because I never wanted anymore children."

"For about the last three weeks, both her and Julie have been down. They were lost. Julie really liked having a family around. Julie and Caden would fight because he would get on her nerves, but the next thing they were playing like a younger brother and older sister. Then, last Tuesday night, Stephanie left me a message on my phone here at the office, her and Julie had to go out of town. Stephanie turned off the GPS as she left the Trenton city limits. She took money out of the bank last Tuesday and we've had a few hits on bank machine withdrawals, but they have never been in the same area in the South. Talk to Frank Plum, maybe he knows more."

"Not a word or anything, Tank?"

"No, nothing in over a week."

"I'm going to talk to Mr. Plum."

Ranger open his cell phone and dialed the Plum house, hoping her father had some answers.

"Hello" said Ellen Plum.

"Mrs. Plum, this is Carlos. Is your husband there?"

"Yes, have you heard anything from Stephanie and Julie?"

"Hello" said Frank Plum's booming voice.

"Frank, it's Carlos. Have you heard anything from Stephanie?"

"No. She left a note with Rex that her and Julie had to go out of town. Ellen and I all ready where in bed when she was here. We never heard her. I'm going to the townhouse to check on it and put her mail in. Do you want to have a look in case I missed something? I can pick you up in about 10 minutes."

"Yes, so I can start to figure out what is going on. I'll be waiting."

Frank Plum pulled up in front of Rangeman about 10 minutes later and Ranger slipped into the passenger seat, something he very rarely did. But he knew, Frank liked American cars only, so he'd let him drive. And he never thought to ask Tank for the address to Stephanie's house.

Frank handed him Stephanie's handwritten note.

Daddy,

Julie and I have to go out of town for a few days. Be back soon.

Don't worry.

Please take care of Rex.

Love, Stephanie

"Ranger, has Tank told you what's been going on since you left?." Mr. Plum asked.

"Yeah, I'm up to Julie and Stephanie leaving."

"Ranger, I thought they were coming out of the depressed state both of them were in after those children left. They even talked about going to Point Pleasant for a few days. I've been there, they're not in Point Pleasant."

Frank Plum pulled into a driveway of rather new townhouse with a double car garage. It was really nice building in what looked to be a quiet neighborhood.

"Did you find your townhouse keys in the apartment, Ranger. And the security code. I knew Stephanie left those for you."

"No, I didn't really look around. I just knew she wasn't there."

The door opened to a small foyer. Frank Plum took the mail out of the box and went up a few steps, laying the mail on the breakfast bar. Ranger found himself in a large living room decorated with comfortable white furniture. A stone fireplace in a corner. The kitchen was large with new white appliances. Stephanie's favorite coffee mug with a hamster on it was sitting on the counter. French doors, behind the dining room table, led out onto a deck and long narrow backyard that was fenced. A jungle gym was in a corner. Along the deck, was a flower garden in full bloom.

Breaking the silence, Stephanie's father said, "Julie, Stephanie, and Caden planted the flowers. The baby just sat in her swing and we watched them. Ranger, all three of them were covered in dirt. They didn't have the foggiest idea how to plant anything, but look at it know. I had to hose them off, so they didn't track dirt in." He laughed at the memory in his head.

They walked back in as Ranger kept looking around.

Ranger was amazed how comfortable the townhouse was.

"Stephanie did all this herself?" Ranger said.

"Yeah, with Julie's help. Stephanie wanted to make it easy to live in, but she didn't want you to think it was all girly for you. She really liked this place when she saw it with Julie and I, but thought you would object. It felt like home to her. Julie's happy here. She has friends. There's a pool, a large playground, and even have a walking trail in the townhouse complex that connects to the park. Stephanie thought you could jog."

"Frank, Stephanie really wants me to live here with her and Julie?" Ranger was having a hard time comprehending all this. So many things had changed since he was gone and the responsibility of Julie was dumped on her. Then the two small children. Maybe, there was no room for him in her life anymore.

A picture on a shelf caught his eye. There was Stephanie with Julie and a little boy hugging her from behind, a small girl in her lap. Stephanie had her head back, laughing, looking at the two children behind her. She looked happy and relaxed. A picture of motherhood.

Frank spoke, "Don't they look like a family? Ellen started her usual comments one Sunday at dinner. Stephanie blew up at her and told her she would raise her children the way she wanted. Got up from the table, took the children, and hasn't seen her mother in over two months. Edna and I have been coming her for dinner. It's either spaghetti, we grill, or Pino's. Ranger, Stephanie even learned how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch. She has oregano and basil planted in a flower box so she can use fresh herbs. And, this Italian man can tell you it's good! I've been watering them while she's gone."

"Frank, I don't know what to say. I'm amazed at my Babe. I'm proud of her that she's accomplished all this. Stephanie can do anything she wants, but I'm not sure, maybe I'm not who she wants now." Ranger was overwhelmed by his love for new "Stephanie", but would she still have a place for him?.

"Ranger, come look at this. Here's you answer."

There was a small hallway off the living room with stairs leading upstairs. Frank opened a door and waved for Ranger to go in.

The room was painted a warm golden color with the hardwood floor showing. An area rug with colored squares was in the middle of the floor. There was an antique Mission style desk with a dark, brown leather chair. There was a painting on the opposite the wall. A night scene of downtown Havana. Ranger recognized the Cuban artist 's name on the painting. Above the desk, he noticed were big wooden letters "R C M" on the wall stained to match the desk. He pulled out the leather chair and sank down into the soft leather. At the other end of the room was a door leading out to the deck, but standing in the corner is what caught his eye. And he started to chuckle. There was a large cardboard cut-out of Batman. It was from the first movie with Michael Keaton. He got up and walked over to the figure. Still laughing, he was shaking his head. "Only Stephanie" he thought. On the bookcase was a black and white drawing of a Cuban fishing boat in a bay. Signed by J. Manoso. It was framed. A first place ribbon was attached to the frame

Frank Plum stood watching as Ranger looked about the office Stephanie had decorated for him. From the rich wall color to the Cuban art to the Batman cutout. Lastly, on the picture Julie drew for the school art show. For a man who showed very little emotion, you could see the emotions running across his face. Appreciation, tenderness, and love.

"Watch do you think you? I'd say this room is you. Ranger, Stephanie found the desk in antique store in Philadelphia. I didn't know she knew anything about antiques. And , I know that painting is an original."

"Frank, I can't believe Stephanie did all this. I like this better that my Haywood office. Even Miami."

"Ranger, before Stephanie left this townhouse when she toured it with Julie and me, she already had the office designed. The house she had with Dickie, she decorated it. It was perfect. But looking at old her apartment, it was just someplace she lived in, it wasn't really a home. This is home. Let's go upstairs."

Ranger walked into the large master bedroom at the top of the stairs. There was a king size bed with a black metal scrolled headboard and footboard. He chuckled as he could imagine what Stephanie would try and do with handcuffs. It looked like it was overstuffed and he could imagine his Babe all snuggled down in the bed. She did love to sleep. It had a blue and white patched quilt on it. Blue sheers on the large windows. And, blue carpets were scattered around the hardwood floor. Two simple , wooden night stands . Black wrought iron lamps on each stand. The room was large enough that Stephanie placed two white chairs with a small table in front of the windows. It was a restful room, and he could imagine many hours spent in it with her if she ever got back.

A large walk-in closet with her clothes on one side and some of his. He noticed a safe for his weapons.

Ranger walked into the large master bathroom with a double sink, large shower, and Jacuzzi tub. The walls where white walls with blue towels hanging on the racks. A bottle of Bulgari was in the shower.

He went into the next room down the hall. It had a crib in a light wood with a small pink table and chairs sitting under the window. Pink, yellow, blue, green butterflies hung from the ceiling. A white comforter with butterflies was in the crib.

Across the hall was a bedroom decorated for a boy. Blue walls with twin beds in the same light wooden finish. The was a mat on the floor that was designed with train tracks to play on. Blue bedspreads with trains were the beds. The were multi-colored shelves on the wall, cut out in the shape of a train, with pegs on it to hang clothes or toys.

Next was a large second bathroom decorated with fish for the kids to use.

The last room must have been Julie's. There was a white iron bed with white furniture. Just like the one in the master bedroom, large wicker storage baskets were under the bed. On the desk, was a computer with a drawing pad and pencils. Some clothes on the floor. The bed had a multi-color striped patchwork quilt. A fishnet canopy hanging from the ceiling over the top of the bed. A small TV on a stand.

Frank and Ranger were in the hallway, when Stephanie's father asked him,

"What do you think?" Does it seem like a home?"

"My Babe has made it a home. This place is where a family lives."

As they were starting down the steps, the garage door was going up.