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Stephanie hit the button for the garage door to open. It was good to be home. It started out as an emotional rollercoaster, but the last 6 days have been full of the laughter of a family.
"We're home" came from Julie, sitting in the passenger seat.
"Yeah" came from the backseat.
"Looks like Daddy is here checking on the house" Stephanie said.
As they came into the foyer from the garage, Julie was laughing. "Steph, I've never done so many crazy things. We should have had Grandma Mazur with us. Dad never would have done half that stuff. He should try and loosen up sometimes. Sleeping in the teepee was the awesome. I can't wait to tell my friends."
"Well, Grandma Mazur told me when I was younger "sometimes you need a little bit of crazy". And if she was with us, Jules, we'd still be on the road."
"What wouldn't I have done , Julie, because I can't loosen up", came a very male Ranger voice.
"Dad, you're home!" Julie screamed as she ran up the steps to hug him.
Ranger looked down at his daughter and kissed her on the head. "I'm sorry I was away when you needed me, Julie."
"It's ok. I had Steph" she said looking up at him.
Ranger then looked for Stephanie needing some answers when a little boy came flying up the steps and launched himself at Frank Plum.
"Grandpa, I missed you" as he was caught in mid-air.
"Caden, I'm so happy to see you." Hugging and kissing the little boy.
"Mommy, came and got us. It wasn't a nice place." His head shaking.
All eyes were on Stephanie as she walked into the living room, putting down a little girl in a pink and white shorts set. The baby took a few steps toward Mr. Plum.
"Cassidy, you're walking." He bent down to pick up the little blonde haired girl.
"I missed you both." Tears were brimming his eyes. "Steph, what's going on?"
"Hey, Julie, can you take the kids upstairs. I have some explaining to do."
"Sure." as all three headed up the stairs.
Both Ranger and her father could see Stephanie was battling to control her emotions. Once the children were out of sight, Ranger took her in his arms and the tears started.
"I'm glad you're home." she cried into Ranger's shoulder.
"Daddy, I got a call about the kids last week from a social working asking me if I could still care for them. The grandmother was arrested and they were in a shelter."
"Pumpkin, what happened?"
Stephanie sunk down on the couch as Ranger sat next to her, holding her hand. Her father sat down in the chair opposite her.
"What happened, Babe?"
She covered her face with her hands. "It was awful. The grandmother didn't want the kids. She had them in this run down house. The had to sleep on a mattress on the floor. No clean clothes and I don't think enough food to eat"
"Was she arrested for neglect, Babe?"
Stephanie looked at Ranger and then her father. Anger entered her eyes.
"That and she tried to sell them. Luckily, an undercover officer answered the ad or I may have never seen them again. That's when I got the call on Tuesday. I wanted Julie to stay with you, Dad, but she insisted on coming. After I dropped Rex off, we headed for Mississippi. I drove pretty much through the night while Julie slept. There was gong to be a hearing on Thursday and I had to be there if I wanted them. When I got to this dinky Southern town, I met with the social worker who placed Caden and Cassidy with their grandmother, an assistant district attorney, and a Judge Carter. The grandmother was poor and I guess she thought she could get money for the children. I would have spent every last penny for them!" Tears were sliding down her cheeks again.
After a pause, Stephanie continued. "The assistant district attorney would make a deal with the grandmother if she waived all parental rights to the children. That allowed me to become their legal guardian. Also, no families or other relatives were available so they could be placed in foster care or adoption. She signed the papers and got five years probation."
"Now what, Pumpkin. How long do you have the children?" Frank Plum loved these children, but he didn't want his daughter to go through what she had if the children were going to leave again in a few months. She had become so attached to them. It broke his heart when they were taken away.
She pulled a bunch of papers out of her purse and handed them to him.
"Babe, are you ok." as Ranger brushed the tears off her face.
Mr. Plum glanced up from the papers. "These are what I'm reading?" as a slow smile came across his face. He handed the papers to Ranger.
"The judge down there granted me full legal custody of Caden and Cassidy awaiting the final adoption. I'll have Albert file any papers here to finalize everything if I need too. They're not going anywhere but here, Daddy." Smiling at her father.
Frank hugged his daughter. Stephanie knew Ranger would have tons of questions for her and knew she would have to face the music about disappearing with Julie.
"Ranger, before you send me off to a third world country. Can I unpack and have dinner with the kids?" as she looked at him.
He chuckled. Looking at those big blue eyes, he could see the happiness behind the tears. What ever she went through to bring that little boy and girl back must have been worth it.
"Babe, you never disappoint." He took Stephanier in his arms and finally, got to properly kiss her. "I missed you. I sorry the thing with Julie got dumped on you, but she seems happy. I'm proud of you." as he leaned his forehead to hers.
"I missed you, too. I love you, Ranger."
"Love you, Babe."
Next there were kids coming down the steps.
"Mommy, my room is still here?" Caden told her with the amazement of a child.
"Of course. It's your room." as she picked him up. "Caden, this is Julie's father, Carlos."
"Hi" said the little boy with wavy brown hair and blue eyes. He opened his hand to Ranger. "Want a marble?"
"Thank you, Caden." as he took one from his hand and gave Stephanie a quizzical look.
"Grandpa, you want a marble?"
"You bet" as Frank Plum took one. He took Caden in his arms from Stephanie. "Where did you get these?"
"Well", Stephanie gave a laugh, "on our adventures discovering America."
Both Frank and Ranger gave her a surprised look. Knowing Stephanie it could be anything.
"Our adventures started after we left Mississippi. First stop was a tour of Graceland!" Stephanie said as she reached into a bag and handed her father a green T-shirt with Elvis on it and a black one to Ranger.
Ranger just shook his head. He wasn't an Elvis fan but his Babe bought it for him and he'd wear it someday.
"That was the most normal part of our trip home. We stopped at a marble museum and saw this cool glass eye from some dead guy." Julie said. "Then we stopped as all these other crazy places on our way back home. Dad, you would have probably sat in the car the whole entire time. It would have been too off the wall for you."
"Oh, really, Julie" and I can't do off the wall?" as Ranger gave Julie an evil look before he started to laugh. "Sounds like you had a good time."
"Dad, unusual for you would be wearing something other than black" Laughing at the look on his face. " We slept in a wig wam. And saw the world's largest alligator-snapping turtle at 249 pounds. A flying saucer house. Took a boat ride on a river in a cave. A drive thru safari park and got attacked by a deranged ostrich which you probably would have shot. And, also saw Foamhenge. We were in a waterfall. Wait till you see the pictures, Dad."
"And, dinosaurs" Caden added.
"Ranger, this is Cassidy" as Stephanie picked up her up. She had the same blue eyes as her brother. Then twirled Cassidy around as the little girl laughed. "How about some dinner?"
"Pino's" Both Julie and Caden chimed.
"Babe, what's Foamhenge and why did you slept in a teepee?" Ranger was stupefied.
"Ranger, it's an exact replica of Stonehenge but made of foam. The teepees were there and we needed somewhere to sleep. They had air conditioning and beds." She said that as if it was a normal, everyday thing, walking into the kitchen. "Well, looking at the cupboards, I'm going to have to go grocery shopping so we don't starve."
"Babe, give me a list and I'll pick up the groceries and pizza from Pino's, so you can unpack. You're probably tired. Frank, you going to stay for dinner?"
"As much as I would like to, I better get home to Ellen and Edna. I'll let them know your home. Your mother has been worried, Stephanie."
"Ok, Dad" as she walked him to the door. "I'm sorry I didn't call you, but I didn't know what to expect in Mississippi. I didn't want to upset you about the kids if nothing worked out. After everything was over, I wanted to forget and enjoy for a couple of days with them."
"Pumpkin, you handled everything your way. If you needed me, I knew you would call. Bye, Steph. I'll see you tomorrow."
While, Stephanie was with her Dad, Julie cornered Ranger.
"Dad, are we going to stay here or are you going to take me back to your apartment?" Julie asked him with pleading brown eyes. "This is home."
Ranger asked, "Julie, do you like it here? You seem to be dealing with everything you have been through."
"Dad, Stephanie made it a home. I like it here because I have friends. There's a pool. Now that Cassidy and Caden are back, and you, it really will be a real home. It's not Miami, but I like it here with Stephanie. She hasn't said anything, but I know Steph is worried you can't deal with three kids since you have the no more children thing."
That last remark brought a frown to his face. "If this is home for you, then this is where you'll be. Can you take the children outside for a few minutes while I talk to Stephanie?"
"Thanks, Dad. You'll like it ,too." as Julie hugged Ranger and went out the French doors with Caden and Cassidy.
Stephanie came up the few steps in the living room carrying suitcases.
"Babe, I'll get those. What else needs brought in?"
"I emptied out the Explorer. Since I don't see your Porsche, did you come with my Dad? When did you get back?"
"Yeah, your father drove. I got in this morning. Babe, we need to talk."
"I know" as Stephanie looked at her shoes. She hoped Ranger wouldn't take Julie, and that they both were staying, but Ranger didn't want more children. She would understand if he couldn't stay with three kids living with them. It would hurt, but she would be ok with it. She would have to be.
Ranger put his finger under her chin and lifted. "Babe, I'm not taking Julie." He felt Stephanie let out the breath she was holding. "I want to know about this" as he took her hand and led her into the office.
"It's your office." Stephanie looked at him like he was crazy because wasn't it obvious. "Ranger, I know this not your ideal house. But when I brought back Julie after Rachel and Ron's deaths, I knew Julie needed her own space. Not sharing a one bedroom apartment at Rangeman. I did what I felt was best and I had saved money living in your apartment. Not knowing how long you would be gone, I tried to find something where we would feel secure. I didn't need something with a big yard to mow. I liked this. It felt comfortable and didn't need any work to move into it. And, I guess you know how Caden and Cassidy came into the picture".
Ranger nodded when she stopped to see if she had to explain the circumstances of how they entered her life.
"So, I put the money down on this and we started planning to move. Julie and I just moved in when Caden and Cassidy came along. We went to the Philadelphia Zoo on a Saturday and I passed this antique shop. I saw this desk in the window" as she softly rubbed her hand along the edge. "I could see you sitting behind it in my mind, so I haggled the price with the store owner and had it delivered. If you don't like it, I'm sure he would buy it back." Stephanie glanced at Ranger. "I just wanted you to enjoy being in here, even if you were working."
"Babe, this room is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing, not even Batman. How did you do this? This whole house it put together perfectly? I want to try that big fluffy bed up there." as Ranger gave Stephanie an evil grin. "That bed is perfect for handcuffs."
"I knew you would say that " as she jumped into his arms, kissing him. "I also know that you left with no children living under our roof, but now there are three. And I understand if it's too much for you and you can't stay. I couldn't let anything happen to them that's why Julie and I went to get them." Tears were in Stephanie's eyes.
It took them so long to finally get together, and Ranger wasn't going to let anything change that.
"Babe, I never expected you to have to shoulder the full responsibility of Julie, but you've done it. Even dealing with the aftermath of Rachel and Ron dying, you've done that. You are amazing because you have enormous capacity to care. I'm sure Julie has times when she is sad and always will, but she seems happy and relaxed. I could not have asked you to do more. And, I think she really enjoyed this off the wall adventure you've had the last few days. I can see she enjoys the other two children. From what I've been told and seen, you enjoy these two kids and Julie. In the past, I said really stupid stuff, particularly about no more children, I can adapt because I would want to be anywhere that you are. You are my life, so I guess this place is big enough for five of us." Ranger gave her his 1000 watt smile followed a bone melting kiss.
"Your father said there is a trail I could jog on in the morning, right?"
"I tried to cover all the bases, Batman. The trail starts at the end of the road and connects with the park behind the complex. There is a gameroom downstairs that isn't finished. I didn't know what you and the Merry Men would want down there."
"We'll work on it together. Give me your grocery list and I'll stop at Pino's for dinner. I'll call and have my Porsche dropped off and some office equipment. Why don't you go and relax for a while until I get back."
"Carlos, I'll relax in the big Jacuzzi tub tonight with a very sexy, Cuban man. Then, I'm going to sink down into that big, cozy bed upstairs with him." Stephanie gave Ranger a very sexy smile before he took her breath away with a kiss.
"Babe, sounds like a plan."