"Here, these should help with the morning sickness." My mother said, placing a plate of salted crackers in front of me. "I used to eat them when I was pregnant with you and your sister."

I offered her a small smile before picking one up. "Thanks."

She let me finished eating before asking, "What's the matter with Joseph? I thought he was eager to be a father."

"I don't know." I sighed. "He just doesn't believe that the baby is his. It's the same tantrum over and over; how do I know it's not Manoso's kid?!"

Mom raised an eyebrow and grimaced. "And you are positive that the baby is Joseph's?"

I nodded. "Definitely. Ranger was in Puerto Rico for 4 months by the time I was 3 months pregnant and Joe knows that. We've got the sonograms to prove it." I ate another cracker. "I thought Joe would be thrilled. I was half expecting him to drop to one knee and propose to me on the spot…or at least have me move in with him."

I leant back in my chair and blew out a puff of air. "Ranger has been more excited about the baby than he has…Well, in comparison anyway."

Mom pressed her lips together. Even though she wasn't exactly head over heels when I told her I was pregnant, she knew I was eager to marry and start a family with Morelli. His lack of commitment and paranoia saved me from her constant nagging that Valerie endured with Albert after she had Baby Lisa.

She changed the subject. "How are you managing to keep up the rent for your apartment?" She glanced down at my stomach. "You can't still be working… are you?"

"I've still got my job at Rangeman, Ranger's security company."

"What do you do at…Rangeman?"

I had to smile at that. It was the first time mom had asked me about my job. "I do searches for high bonded FTAs through a database. It's nothing like I do at Vinnie's." I rub my swollen stomach. "Not like I can do any of that now anyway."

"So you don't do anything…Risky?" Mom asked, looking as though she was itching to do the sign of the cross.

I shook my head. "No. It's the safest job I've ever had. Only employees and clients can get inside the building. And no one can shoot me."

"Are you treated right? I know there is a lot of commotion about pregnant women working."

I laughed. "Yeah, Mom, the guys act like a bunch of big brothers and they keep fussing over me. They'd carry me everywhere if I let them."

Mom smiled but it faded into a thin line. "What are we going to do about Joseph? Are you going to wait until the baby is born to prove it is his child?"

I shrugged lightly. "I was thinking about it, but I found out what the baby is going to be yesterday and I thought about going over to his place tonight and to tell him." I looked at the plate of crackers. "I meant to tell you this earlier; Joe has started to act like his dad lately…a lot."

Mom blinked at me. "What do you mean by that?" Her eyes went wide with rage. "Is he hurting you?! Because if he is-"

"No. He hasn't laid a finger on me, but…he's been a lot more bad-tempered and he's been drinking more than he usually does. He sometimes goes through an entire pack of beer in one night."

Mom pursed her lips and thought for a while. "Maybe it would be nice for him to know what his child is going to be. What is it?"

I felt my hormones beginning to kick in as my eyes began to brim with tears. "A boy."

I laughed again as Mom's mouth dropped. "Our first grandson!" She squealed, her eyes shining. "Your father is going to be thrilled! I've got to get some blue yarn for knitting."

*

It was a little after 7 when I pulled up on to Morelli's drive. I didn't know what his current mood was but I was hoping it would change to the better when I told him about our baby.

I unlocked the door, tossed my bag on the floor and was greeted by Bob. When he realised I didn't have anything edible on me, he climbed onto the sofa and lay down.

"Joe?" I called for him. "Where are you?"

He wasn't in the living room and he wasn't in the kitchen so I went up the stairs where I heard the toilet flushing.

Morelli came out of the bathroom in a white t-shirt and blue boxer shorts. He stunk of beer.

"Stephanie?" He slurred, blinking rapidly. "Why are you here?" He glanced at my stomach. "You…you ought to be resting…"

I mustered up my best smile. "I didn't get the chance to tell you yesterday. I've got some news about our baby."

His brow furrowed. "What?! Is it part Cuban?" He sneered.

I gave him a common Burg glare. "No. We're going to have a baby boy. Mom's already started knitting."

Nothing.

Not even a smirk.

"Great. Now I suppose you're off to tell Manoso…or does he already know?!"

I made a mental eye roll. "Cripes, Joe! You've been pestering me for kids for God-knows how long. Can't you at least pretend to be excited?"

Morelli scowled. "It's hard to be excited when you know your girlfriend has been sleeping around with a Cuban thug!"

I took a deep breath and counted to 10. "For the 100th time, I am carrying your child. I've told you over and over again: Ranger had been in Puerto Rico for four months by the time I was three months pregnant! Why can't you do the math and get that into your head?"

"You go every day to his rent-a-thug corp. How can I be sure you aren't fooling around with the rest of them?"

"Uh, hello…" I gestured to my baby bump. "I work there and since I can't go out catching skips for Vinnie, I have to get an income somehow."

His left eye slanted as he made an empty laugh. "Income. Is that what you call it?"

"You know what my job involves, Joe." I said through gritted teeth. "When I first started working for Vinnie, you've wanted me to quit my job and pop out babies. I have a better job now, I'm 8 months pregnant and yet you can't get your head out of your damn ass and be excited about our first baby!"

Pain struck my cheek and my hands instantly went to my face. It came so suddenly that I saw stars. It took me a while to get over the shock before I realised Morelli held up a clenched fist. He stood closer to me and I could smell the beer reeking off his breath.

I lowered my hands from my face, feeling the tears in my eyes. "You hit me…"

He only gave a grunt in response.

"I can't believe you…" I whispered, shaking my head. "I thought, from all the men in your family, you were actually the one who didn't fuck up his life. You have a job, a house and even a dog! But it turns out, I was wrong. You're no different from the rest of them. You're just like your god damn father!"

Morelli slapped me across the face hard enough so I stumbled backwards. I just managed to catch the banister to support myself but Morelli raised his leg and sent a powerful kick into my side, sending me tumbling head first down the stairs.

I landed on my side with a hard thump on the floor of the hallway. The wind was knocked out of me but my senses were focused on the growing agony coming from my lower back and area. My leg was bent at an unnatural angle.

I clutched my belly, fearing for my baby, but my breathing ragged as the pain grew and grew, like a giant fist pounding into me over and over again while tearing out screams from my throat.

"JOE!" I screeched towards the stairs, gasping for air but only to waste it on shrieks of pain. "Joe!"

He never answered me.

My whole body started to shake, tears were streaming down my cheeks and I could feel something hot and sticky slithering between my legs. I pushed myself up with as much strength I could gather and crawled towards my bag.

I rummaged around until I found my phone. My hands were trembling but I managed to press the number to the only person I knew who would come to my rescue.

"Babe."

"R-R-Ranger!" I whimpered, before gasping at the torment. "R-ranger…h-h-help…m-my baby..."

I let out another scream. Bob came galloping into the room but screeched to a halt when he found me on the floor.

I screamed again. Bob whined and howled before beginning to bark furiously. He ran around me before heading into the kitchen where I heard him scraping at the back door.

"Babe!" Ranger's voice came from my phone. "Babe! Where are you?"

I sucked in a breath. "J-j-joe's h-house-arrrrgh!"

I dropped the phone and clutched at my belly again, noticing the trail of blood from the foot of the stairs that ended in a pool spouting from between my legs.

I don't know how much time had passed. Bob was still barking and the pain only increased. My energy was fading fast and the little I had left was used to fuel my screams.

Yelling and hammering suddenly came from the front door. "Morelli! What the hell is going on in there?! Morelli!"

"H-h-help! Arrrrgh!" I cried. "Arrrrrgh!"

The door flung open off its hinges and smacked against the wall, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Morelli's neighbours, Mr and Mrs. Geary, hurried in but froze when they found me on the floor.

"Lord all mighty!" Mrs. Geary gasped, rushing to my side. "Stephanie, what happened?"

My teeth chattered and I shook uncontrollably. "J-J-J-Joe…st-st-stairs…"

Bob ran back into the living room and sprinted outside, still barking and howling powerfully.

Mr. Geary rushed up the stairs with amazing speed. By the time he went across the hall way, Ranger, Tank, Lester and Bobby rushed inside but all stopped in their tracks at the sight of me.

Tank's eyes looked as though they were going to pop from their sockets while the colour drained from Lester's face.

Bobby joined Mrs. Geary at my side as Ranger and I locked eyes despite my panting and whimpering. We broke the eye contact when Mr. Geary came down the stairs.

"He's lying face down on his bed, dead to the world, and he stinks of beer!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

Ranger picked up my phone and handed it to him. "Call her family and an ambulance. We'll take it from here."

The old couple nodded and hurried into the kitchen as Ranger kneeled by my head. He carefully sat me up half a foot off the floor so I was resting against his lap. He took my hand in his and held it in a firm grip.

"Tank. Lester." He said. "Cuff Morelli and haul his ass back to Rangeman."

They nodded and made their way up the stairs.

I felt Bobby positon my good leg, just hearing him say that the other one needed a cast. He rolled up my skirt and pulled off my blood soaked panties.

He stared at my lower area, shaking his head before looking up at Ranger with a look of remorse.

He looked back at me. "Bombshell, you need to start pushing now. Remember to breathe."

I took a deep breath and did as he said. I couldn't stop the sobs escaping my throat as the searing pains deepened in my lower back and between my legs.

"Almost there, Steph. Just keep on pushing." Bobby encouraged.

I inhaled a lung full of air and groaned at the tension until I was left gasping again.

"Come on, Babe. You can do this." Ranger encouraged, giving my hand a squeeze.

I sucked air through my teeth before giving it everything I had. My temples felt as though they were going to burst as I let out a final shriek. When I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I moaned as a relief of release left me limp in Ranger's arms.

Only my panting saved the room from the grave silence. I didn't have to look at either of their faces to know the unimaginable had happened.

Bobby and Ranger looked at each other before looking at me.

"Stephanie…" Bobby whispered with tear filled eyes. "I'm…I'm so sorry…"

For a moment I was bracing myself to breakdown and sob my heart out. But I couldn't. An empty, cold void of nothingness began to spread within me.

Footsteps came from the landing above and Tank appeared with a cuffed and unconscious Morelli over his shoulder as Lester followed behind him.

After Tank walked through the front door, I heard Bobby give some instructions to Lester who went into the kitchen to return with a towel and a pair of scissors.

Bob walked back in. He stopped to look at us before letting out a low pitched whine. Lester went up to him, patted his leg and said C'mon boy before leading him out of the house.

A new type of pain began to form in my chest when Bobby placed down the scissors and wrapped a tiny bundle within the cloth. I could tell by the wounded mien he showed that there was no hope to begin with.

"Let me see him." I said, despite the rock hard lump forming in my throat.

Bobby hesitated, but with a quick nod from Ranger, he gently placed my little boy into my arms.

The air suddenly became thick and hard to breathe. The tears finally began to fall when I took in his perfect little grey face and wisps of black hair that curled around his ears and forehead.

"He looks just like his father…" I croaked before violent sobs wracked my body.

Ranger held me tightly to him as I broke down. I didn't hear the ambulance sirens until the paramedics came in, fixed my leg into a brace and lifted me on to the stretcher.

I clutched his arm. "Don't leave me."

Ranger nodded slowly and took my hand. "I won't, Babe."

Ranger had been true to his word. We were alone in the room, sitting on the hospital bed. I was wearing a grey hospital gown, my leg wrapped in a cast and Ranger's arm tightly around me as I cried into his chest.

When the ambulance arrived at St. Francis, I thought they might have had to sedate me when I was forced to hand over my little Harry so he could be taken to the morgue. Bobby promised me he'd watch over him as I was wheeled off to get x-rayed. My leg had been broken in 2 places and a large bruise began to form on my hip and on my cheek.

"I named him after my Grandpa Mazur," I sniffed, wiping my eyes with the heel of my hand. "I've always wanted to name my first son after him."

Ranger nodded. "Little Harry will be with his great-grandfather, Babe. He's safe now."

I nodded and sniffed again. A bubble of anger evolved within me as a stream of thoughts revolved in my head. "This whole thing happened because Morelli thought Harry was your son, even though I told him, over and over again, that I was three months pregnant by the time you came back from Puerto Rico…"

Ranger tightened his embrace. "I don't understand it either, Babe. Morelli is an idiot."

I went quiet for a minute before looking up at him, letting fresh tears roll down my cheeks. "Ranger…Am I a terrible person for being glad that Harry will never know or be anywhere near his father?"

He shook his head. "Babe, Morelli refused to believe that Harry was his to begin with even though I was 1500 miles away during the time he was conceived. I don't blame you for thinking that. No child deserves a father like him." He rested his cheek against my crown. "If I had to, I would have been a father to Harry."

I blinked at him. "Really?"

Ranger smiled. "Yeah, without a second thought."

The sound of rushing footsteps caught our attention. My mother appeared at the door to my hospital room. Her eyes were blood shot and her face was streaked with tear stains.

Ranger stood up off the bed as she hurried forward and enveloped me into her arms.

"Stephanie…I…I…I…" Mom let out a shaky breath. I felt her arms harden around me and I peeked upward to see her glowering towards Ranger. "Where is he?! Mrs Geary has told everyone! The whole Chambersburg knows what he did and I want that bastard to fry!"

He nodded slowly. "I have him detained in a holding cell at my building. Right now, he's drunk out of his mind."

Ranger looked at me for a heartbeat then back at mom before turning towards the door. I sprung forward out of Mom's arms and grabbed his hand with both of mine.

Our eyes locked again as I felt mine begin to water. "You said you wouldn't leave me…"

He blinked at me in mild surprise as he glanced upward to look at Mom again.

Mom nodded. "It's okay."

Ranger sat back down on the bed with me still clutching his hand.

I looked back up at Mom. "He looks just like him, Mom. Little Harry…"

She mouthed his name. "You named him after your grandfather." Her voice cracked. "Your grandmother would have loved that."

I could feel a mixture of raw emotions stirring in me.

It could have been grief. It could have been hysteria. Whatever it was, it made me shiver in a frenzy as I looked up anxiously at mom before turning to Ranger. "Tell Mom where you were 9 months ago." My breathing started to hitch. "And how you couldn't possibly be Harry's father…"

"Shhh, Stephanie, Shhh." Mom held me closely to her. "Calm down, Honey. I believed you from the beginning. I know I asked a lot of questions but I've never doubted you." She cradled my head in her hand as she gently rocked me. "Even if little Harry was Joseph's son or not, what he did was unforgivable. It was no excuse to do such a thing and now he's going to pay dearly for it for the rest of his life."

Ranger nodded. "Your mother is right, Babe. Morelli doesn't know what he's lost." I peered at him when he lifted my hand to his lips. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you or Julie."

I smiled weakly. Mom let go of me as I pulled him closer so I could be in his strong embrace again.

I caught Mom looking goo-goo eyed at us with her hand over her heart. "Ranger…" She said slowly. "Do you have a Christian name?"

"Call me Carlos, please, Mrs Plum." He replied.

Mom's face brightened. "Carlos, would you like to join us for dinner this Sunday? I promise to keep my mother under control."

Holy cow…

2 years and 6 months later

"They're here, Babe." Ranger said, looking out the window. Little Emma was sitting in his arms, clutching her pink and purple teddy bear which matched her cardigan; both knitted by Grandma Plum.

I had just finished wrestling the boys into their blue and yellow sweaters, also made by Granny Plum. Teeny Tiny Pepe didn't put up much of a fight as Leo did.

I picked them both up just as Ranger opened the door. Mom and Grandma Mazur came hurrying in, stopping to kiss Ranger on the cheek, both beaming.

"There are my boys!" Mom cooed, smothering them in kisses. She turned towards Emma. "And my gorgeous girl!"

Ranger handed Emma over to Mom just as my Dad came in, hefting in a bag. He placed it down and grinned at his grandsons. "There they are! Come to Grandpa!" I handed Leo over to him and gave Pepe to Grandma.

"Not more presents," I said looking at the bag while shaking my head. "You've spoiled them enough on their first birthday."

"Nonsense!" Mom said, flipping her wrist. "I did the same with Valerie's girls and there's no reason why I can't do the same for you. Besides, how many people can say they've had triplets?" She placed a gigantic kiss on Emma's cheek, making her squeal in delight.

"Or that they've got 8 great-grandchildren." Grandma said, bouncing Pepe up and down before looking at Ranger. "Your Julie might not be blood related, but I still love having her as great step-granddaughter. It was a real pip seeing her at the triplets' first birthday. She's the image of you too."

Ranger smiled. "It was. She's still ecstatic about being a sister and having another set of grandparents."

"Oh, speaking of Julie, I sent her a pair of slippers I knitted." Mom said. "Let me know if she gets them, won't you? And if they fit her too."

"Of course," Ranger nodded.

"Anyway," Mom handed Emma back to me, picked up the bag and took out a parcel wrapped in pink paper. "It's so nice to start knitting again."

I sat down with Emma on the couch. I opened the parcel with her to find a knitted pink and white striped blanket.

"Oh Mom…" I whispered, tearing up. "It's beautiful."

Mom was glowing. "There's more inside."

I rested the blanket beside me and unfolded it. I breathed in a gasp. "Look Emma!"

I kind of expected all of the baby gifts from my mother to be made of wool, but I was taken back when I found a gorgeous little pink dress covered in frills with a matching bonnet and a pink and blue butterfly stuff toy.

I picked up the butterfly and held it up for Emma who reached out and clasped it in her left hand, holding it close beside her bear.

I rested her against the couch and placed the bonnet on her head. Combined with her black curls around her forehead and big, bright brown eyes, it made her a thousand times more adorable; making me, Mom and Grandma gaze at her in awe.

Ranger took out his phone and snapped a few pictures of her. "My abuela, mother and sisters are going to love this." He grinned.

"Let's not forget about the boys." Dad said, handing Leo to me with a blue parcel before handing a yellow one to grandma and Pepe.

Inside Leo's parcel was a blue and white striped blanket, a light blue play suit with his name embroidered in yellow and a stuffed blue and green elephant.

In Pepe's was a yellow and white striped blanket, a buttercup yellow play suit with his name in blue and a stuffed yellow and orange giraffe.

I handed Leo back to Dad and handed Emma to Mom. "Mom, you spoil these three rotten."

Mom grinned and nodded towards Dad. "Actually, your father bought everything, including the wrapping paper. I just knitted."

I stared at my father who was prone to penny pinching.

He chuckled whilst shaking his head. "I only spend money when I'm happy- and I've been doing backflips since your wedding." He patted Ranger on the shoulder. "I finally have a great son-in-law who isn't a jackass or looks like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, another beautiful granddaughter and 2 incredibly handsome grandsons- who are the image of me."

"Ha!" Grandma laughed. "You wish!"