AN: Standard Disclaimer, I don't own them nor do I make any money off of them.
I am still working on Coming Home but this was in my head and I figured I'd go ahead and start writing and posting it. It is very AU and the characters are somewhat OOC but they are also younger. They are between 16-18 in this story but it is based in how times are now not when Steph really would have been 16. If that's not for you I understand.
Please drop me a review and let me know what you think! This is a fluffy piece no angst. This is a Babe story; this chapter is just the set up. Ranger/Carlos shows up in the next chapter.
Steph: Thanks for being my sounding board and letting me bounce my ideas off you and asking questions to help me get it in order. Thanks for going through and editing it for me also. You're great Babe!
Chapter 1
I opened the scrapbook that held my favorite memories of the last two years and began to flip through the pages. The first couple of pages was the packing to move, then the move, stops we made, things we saw, next was us arriving at the new house and unpacking. I guess you are wondering who I am and what I'm talking about.
My name is Stephanie Plum, known by my friends as Steph. I'm 17 and live in Miami, Florida. I was born in Trenton, New Jersey and grew up in Chambersburg, the Burg as we call it. I have one sister Valerie, who is off to college and engaged. My parents are Frank and Helen Plum. My dad was a post-man until we moved to Miami and then he became a Private Investigator at an agency with a man he was in the military with. My mom stayed at home until we moved here and now she is in Nursing School.
As for me, well, here's my story. When I was 16, I worked at the Tasty Pastry in Trenton, Joseph Morelli, otherwise known as the Italian Stallion, came in, and kissed me right out of my pants. He was my first, and he left for the Navy two days later, not before writing about tasting my sweet plum all over town. The Burg is very old fashioned and I became the town whore, my parents knew what happened and were livid about it. We moved away a month later.
My Grandma and Grandpa Mazur lived in a retirement village in Miami. When my family decided to move, this is where we had family, and it made sense so we moved to Miami. We have a cute house in a culturally diverse neighborhood. It's a four bedroom, three bath, and two story house. It's yellow with white trim and my mom has it decorated in tropical décor.
When we moved I was free from the Burg as was my family, we all made friends quickly, I have two best friends here Lester and Lula. Lester is a third generation Cuban American, he is a playboy and a jokester, but we get along perfectly. His parents Maria and Ernesto Santos are my parents best friends and I now call them Tia and Tio.
Lula is an African American who has lived in foster homes since she was 14 after her mother overdosed on heroin. Luckily, Lula ages out of the system this year and has a scholarship for college. Lula had a hard life; her mother was a prostitute and was addicted to drugs. Lula took care of herself and when her mom passed away was thrown into state custody where she has been bounced from home to home.
I continued flipping thru the scrapbook and looking at my memories, Lester, Lula, and I at the beach eating snow cones and playing volleyball. Our first day of Junior Year wearing the same colored shirts just because we could. So many memories, I flipped to the next page and the memories came pouring with emotions.
~Flashback~
I walked into school with Lester and Lula on the first day. We all lived on the same block and within a few houses of each other. Lester walked up to one of the most gorgeous guys I had ever seen. He was half Cuban half African American, light brown skin, light brown eyes, hair cut short, muscular, but not overly so. Lester did a complicated handshake with him before introducing us.
"Andres, this is Steph she lives two houses down from us. Steph this is my cousin Andres." He smiled a bright smile showing perfect white teeth, I couldn't help but smile back.
That was the beginning. Andres asked me out two days later, and we went to dinner at a small pizzeria and then to a movie. For three months we just dated, we kissed but nothing more, on our third anniversary he took me to a gorgeous restaurant and that was the night we made love.
"Steph, I love you, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yes, Andres, I'm sure." We made slow sweet love that night.
We continued dating for three months. We continued making love until one night, where I felt like my world fell apart. We got back from another amazing date, and I decided to tell him the news, I was pregnant. We had always used condoms so I couldn't figure out how I got pregnant, but I knew deep down I could pinpoint the night that the condom broke.
He was nervous about telling our families, and so was I for that matter. We figured we'd tell them the next day, together. He was supposed to call when he got home after dropping me off. Except, I never got that call. I had just finished changing clothes and washing my face when I heard the doorbell ring. It was 1:00am and no one should be ringing the doorbell that late.
I ran downstairs, my parents not far behind me, and I knew they were thinking the worst. I told myself that maybe Andres forgot to tell me something or needed something. I wasn't expecting Andres's parents and Lester standing outside the door, all with solemn expressions. I knew, I knew then something bad had happened.
My mom spoke first, "Lucia, Angelo, what's going on?"
"Steph," Lester said as he wrapped an arm around me.
"What's going on?" I asked, beginning to shake.
"Stephanie, honey," Lucia started, tears streaming down her face, "Andres was killed in a car wreck."
I screamed, "No…No…this can't be happening, we had plans for our future." I collapsed in Lester's arms sobbing.
"Beautiful, I'm so sorry." I shook my head.
"No! Tell me what happened, you're lying, he's not dead." I yelled.
"Honey, he was hit head on by a drunk driver. He was already gone when the police and paramedics arrived. I know you had plans and I'm sorry." Angelo said as he wrapped me in his arms.
I hugged him back and walked to the couch, flopping down with my hands protectively over my stomach, sobbing.
"I…I…we…um…we were planning to tell you all tomorrow." I couldn't say it, and instead began to sob even harder.
My mom sat beside me, wrapping an arm around me, "Tell us what Baby?" She asked softly.
"I'm pregnant." I blurted out.
Lucia and Angelo came over and wrapped me in both their arms. "Honey, we will still have a piece of Andres with us. We will love that baby so much." Lucia said as she began sobbing. Angelo wrapped his arms around her.
Three days later was the funeral, most of the school was there, his family, friends. I was holding on by a thread, feeling my life fall apart as we laid him in the ground.
~End Flashback~
I flipped through all the pages of Andres and me, remembering all the good times we had and the love we shared. Many told us it was young love, and maybe it was, but it was love all the same. Some days I still struggle with his death, but I know life must go on.
The next few pages were memories of my pregnancy with Frankie, my son, Andres' son. The pregnancy was rough, losing Andres had torn me apart, I had trouble wanting to eat, but eventually regained my appetite. I was sick during the first months of pregnancy. It was worse than morning sickness, I was sick all the time.
I didn't gain much weight, 20 lbs. I was happy to carry a little piece of Andres. Lester, Lula, my parents, Andres' parents, Tia, and Tio were there for me the whole pregnancy. They supported me, took me shopping, and threw my baby shower. They helped me when I struggled the most and stuck by me through it all.
My labor and delivery was a little on the rough side. I was in labor for 18 hours and my delivery wasn't exactly easy either. After almost two hours of pushing, I gave birth to my sweet baby boy, Frankie Andres Plum. He was 8 lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long. He had brown eyes like his daddy's, and I suspected he was going to have the same hair, and his skin color was a shade between Andres and me.
My heart broke looking at my son, knowing he would never know his daddy, and his daddy wasn't here to see this, to see his birth, or watch him grow up. In many ways, his birth was bittersweet. I wouldn't trade my baby for the world.
I went through an advanced high school program and graduated before my son's birth. I got my diploma two weeks before I went into the hospital. Frankie is six months old now. He's the happiest baby, he doesn't really cry, just whimpers when he's hungry or needs a diaper change.
I started taking online classes to work on a college degree so I could give Frankie a good life. I had never expected to be a mom, and much less a single mom at seventeen, but that's the way it turned out, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
I continued living at my parent's house and my mom was trying to teach me to cook. I wasn't doing well, but I was trying. My plan was to get a house or an apartment for Frankie and me. Lester and Lula both offered to be my roommates, and I considered taking them up on that offer. I just needed to get a job first.
We had an important weekend coming up. It was Tia's birthday weekend and her whole family was coming, plus my family, and few of her other friends. Lester was having his "going away" party since he was leaving for the Army. He had just turned eighteen and wanted to join the military. One of his cousins had already joined the Army, and now attended Ranger school. I had yet to meet him, Lester talked well about him, and he wanted to follow his steps.
Lester and Andres' family were excited about the event. They wanted a chance for me to meet more of their family, and to show the new member of the family.
I was excited too. I continued flipping through the pages. There were pictures of Frankie from the day of his birth, with Lula, Lester, his family, my family, Andres' family, everyone that mattered to us.
I got to the end of the scrapbook. The most recent pictures I had taken. I had some of Frankie, Lester signing the papers to join the Army, and Lula at the admissions desk at Miami Dade College. They were all happy pictures, but tears streaked down my cheeks.
The losses I had to face, the family my son would never have. The life I planned with Andres, all those things are now lost because of a drunk driver. The only peace I got was that he would be spending some time in prison. He was charged and convicted of vehicular manslaughter among other charges.
He took someone from his family, from friends, people who cared and depended on him. He deserves every bit of time in prison he gets and then some. If I had it my way he would never step foot outside the prison, but it was time for me to move on with my life. I needed to provide for my son and continue my education. I wanted the best for my son and I would give that to him one way or another.
I wiped a few more stray tears away as I heard Frankie whimpering, waking up from his nap. I closed the scrapbook and put it back up. I walked into Frankie's room and picked him up, moving him to the changing table and getting a clean diaper on him. After he had a fresh diaper, I went to the rocking chair and opened my shirt, letting him latch on to be fed.
I smiled down at him as he suckled. I don't think I would ever get over his beauty and sweetness.
There was a knock on the door and my mom went down the stairs to take a look. I grabbed a blanket and covered Frankie's sweet face and my chest from view.
I heard clomping back up the stairs and in walked Lula and Lester.
"Hey White Girl," came from Lula.
"Hey Beautiful," Lester greeted.
"Hey, what's up?" I asked.
"We're going shopping for Tia's birthday presents. Would you and Little Man want to come?" Lula responded with eagerness, smiling.
"Yeah, after he finishes eating we can go. Will you pick him some clothes out Lester?" He nodded getting up and walking to the dresser.
Lester always dressed Frankie so cute. We only had two more days to find the perfect gifts for Tia. Hopefully, we could find them today. Lester laid out some red, white and blue plaid shorts, a red and blue polo shirt and matching blue flip flops. When Frankie finished I placed him on the changing table and changed his clothes, handing him to Lester when he was ready. Lula had taken it upon herself to get the diaper bag ready.
I changed into jean shorts, a red halter-top, and red flip-flops. I put my hair in a messy ponytail and added lipstick and mascara before going to see if they were ready. We loaded into Lester's extended cab truck and motored to the mall.
Three hours later, each of us had a small gift for Tia. We also decided to get her a gift certificate to the spa. I bought her a digital picture frame. Lester bought her a white gold butterfly necklace. Lula got her three picture frames. Then she had pictures put in them. One of the pictures was of Lester by himself, smiling. The second picture was Lula and I from three weeks ago at the beach. The last one was the same day. It was a picture of us, Lester, Lula, and Frankie and I.
We stopped at Viceroy Spa and bought a gift certificate before heading back to our houses. Lula was still living with her foster parents even though she had aged out of the system. They told her she could stay until she could afford her own place. We stopped at my house and my friends helped me get settled back in the house. Lester left but Lula stayed.
"White Girl, you look like you've been crying, you need to talk?" She asked.
"I'm good, Lula, I just went through the scrapbook today while Frankie was napping and it got me remembering good times and bad." She nodded.
"You know if you ever need to talk, I'm here to listen." I nodded smiling at my best friend.
"Thanks, Lula."
"Hey, that's what best friends are for. Where are your mom and dad?"
"Probably napping, it was a long night last night. Dad worked late and mom stayed up waiting for him."
"Girl, they are one of the cutest older couples I have ever seen." I laughed but agreed they were still very much in love.
About that time, we heard footsteps on the stairs. Looking up mom and dad were both heading down.
"Hey Girls," mom said as she walked into the kitchen.
Dad stopped beside me and unbuckled Frankie from his car seat where he was still hanging out, and took him to their recliner.
"Hey Big Boy," I heard daddy greeting him. Frankie responded by cooing.
"Did you get some rest dad?" I asked.
"Yeah, how's my boy doing so far today?" I smiled.
"Happy as a clam." Lula laughed.
"Well, we went shopping today. Didn't we little man? Tell pa-pa all about it." Lula said to Frankie who cooed in response.
Mom walked into the living room, giving dad a coffee, and giving Frankie a kiss on the forehead, bestowing a smile.
"How has your day been dear?" She asked sitting down beside me.
"Good, we went and got gifts for Tia." Mom nodded.
"She's excited about that party, I for one can't wait. Your dad and I got her a new cookware set that she will just love." I nodded.
Frankie started whimpering. I walked over and took him from dad, "You ready to eat Baby Boy?" I asked him, he whimpered some more.
I walked into the kitchen and fixed him some rice cereal. I set him in his high chair and fed his chunky little self. Lula left to go home, saying I'd see her later. Mom started fixing dinner she was making Tia's enchiladas, Yummy.
Frankie fell asleep after dinner. I went into my room and looked at the necklace Andres had given me the night before his wreck. It wasn't anything large or noticeable but he got it for me. It was a white gold necklace with a heart on it. I smiled remembering that he said he was giving me his heart forever, never did I realize just how short, forever could be.
I knew he would always be in my heart. If I get in another relationship, they would have to understand that Andres would always have a piece of my heart. I looked at the heart one last time and took it with me downstairs to where my parents were sitting on the couch.
"Can you listen for Frankie, I need to go somewhere." Mom looked in my hands, finding necklace she nodded silently understanding.
I grabbed my car keys. It wasn't much, but it was mine. I had a used car, 2002 silver Dodge Neon. I walked into the backyard and picked some flowers before heading to the cemetery. It wasn't a long drive about 15 minutes. I pulled in and parked by his headstone. Walking to the gravesite, I felt the tears fall. I sat down in front of it and ran my fingers across his name.
"Hey Andres, I needed to talk to you. Frankie is doing so well, he's happy and healthy, and I love him so much. I know you would have been a great dad but I guess I'll have to settle for you being a great Angel. I miss you! I went through my scrapbook today and all the memories lying therein. I realized something tonight. I was looking at the necklace you gave me when you told me I would have your heart forever."
"I never realized how short forever could be. I'm grateful for the time I had with you, but for my sake I think it's time to move on. I will always love you and you will always have a piece of my heart, but I can't keep dwelling on your death. I know you wouldn't want me too, but some days I just can't help it. I hope someday I find someone that will love Frankie and I, and that when it happens you will bless us."
"I love you Andres. I'll always love you, but I need to move on. I'll still come and visit that'll never change, I just don't think I'll be coming multiple times a week anymore." I grabbed a picture I had stuck in my back pocket and stuck it up against the headstone it was a picture of Frankie and I. I bring one every time I come to his grave.
I walked away from his headstone tears streaming down my face for the third time that day. I turned one last time and blew a kiss to his headstone and just as I did a strong wind blew through, I may be crazy but it was like he was blowing one back to me. His blessings for me to move on, I put the necklace around the rearview mirror to hang.
It was a reminder that forever isn't always a long time, so love with all you have and make sure the people you love know. I drove home thinking about everything I told Andres at his grave, and it was time. It had been long enough, I knew I'd still hurt and there'd be days I still cried but less frequently.
I drove home on autopilot, not knowing that in two days I'd meet the person that would love Frankie and me unconditionally.
AN: What do you think? Next Chapter will be Carlos coming into the picture. Love it? Hate it? Let me know?
