Chapter 3

Stephanie rolled over and pushed her face into a hard chest, "Hay." She mumbled looking to the window that had the sun shining through, "You are still in bed."

Ranger pulled her closer to him, arms wrapping tightly, "We didn't get home until 5:20 this morning." He said huskily. "We are going to have a work call at 9."

She rubbed her nose against his chest, "Time is it?" She asked.

"8:20." He said kissing her curls.

"Ummmmm, fine. I will get up and go work out." She said stretching her body, so it slid across his.

Ranger tightened his hands on her hips pulling her up and over him, "We can work out here." He murmured against her lips.

Stephanie grinned as she gave him a small peck, "I am not sure if my heart will get the same kind of work out here that I will downstairs." She murmured.

Ranger raised an eyebrow at her, "Is that a challenge?"

She shook her head at him, "No …... I would never challenge you…... besides, I know your heart will go… but you usually do all of the work." She said grinning.

He gave her his wolf grin that always made her heart stutter, "You can do all the work while I lay here." He said deeply.

She slowly sat up shaking her head at him, "I am not really in the mood." She said grinning.

Ranger gave a bark of laughter, "You are a liar." He said hands sneaking up her sides.

She shook her head at him, "Can't prove it." She said smiling down at him.

Ranger raised his eyebrow again and began to tickle her sides making her laughter peel out and fill the room. "Stop!" she yelled, wiggling on his stomach, back and forth. But it only made Ranger tickle her more.

Suddenly she froze on top of Ranger eyes wide, "Babe?" He asked his concern rising at the way her face paled and turned green. He sat up as she scrambled off of him and ran to the bathroom, following her in time to see her dry heave over the toilet. "Babe." He murmured, grabbing a towel and getting it cool to put on her neck. He pulled her hair back and laid the towel on her. "I think that you need to go see Meg. You have been getting sicker and sicker. You are starting to worry me."

Stephine held up and hand and waved him off, "I am fine, can you go and get me some of the ginger tea…. Diluted?" She asked closing her eyes.

He brushed his lips across her hair, "Of course Babe, I am also going to make you some plain toast." He whispered.

"NO!" She yelled, "Sorry." She said softly closing her eyes. "Lets just start with the tea and then go from there."

Ranger frowned, "I am calling Meg to make you an appointment." He said.

She looked up and gave him a soft smile, "I am actually going to see her this morning. I didn't want to worry you until I saw her." She shook her head, "But I guess I should have realized that all of you would notice me being sick."

Ranger raised an eyebrow, "You should have known better Babe, I am coming with you." He left no room for argument when stood up and walked out of the room to get her tea.

He walked back in a few minutes later with a cup of ginger tea, "Come on Babe. I will drive you to the Doctor."

Stephanie sighed and stood up, "No Ranger…... You have two meetings this morning and then a walk through on new systems with Hector. Not to mention you have four skips that you have to find and pick up by tomorrow." She sipped the tea slowly, "I am just going to drive over and talk to Meg then go shopping with the girls." She stood up and walked over to Ranger, wrapping her arms around him, "I will go talk to Meg and then I will call you and tell you what is going on."

Ranger sighed, "You are going to be the death of me, I swear it…... So ready to always do things on your own." He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, "I will send someone from the core team with you."

She shook her head and kissed his chest, "No I am going to go and I am going to be fine…... and" She cut him off when he went to start talking. "AND if Meg tells me something that I need to be worried about or if I need help, I will call you right away."

"Promise?" He whispered into her hair.

She leaned back to look into his eyes, "I promise…... I know that the only reason that these compromises are working is because we are both always honest and work together. Soooooo, I am going to go and see Meg and if ANYTHING, crazy, or dangerous or if I even need a little help…. I will call you instantly." She pulled him down for a soft kiss, "Otherwise, after I talk to her… I will let you know what she said and go on with the day that I had planned. Shopping for some clothes that fit so I don't have to keep stealing yours."

Ranger kissed the tip of her nose, "I don't mind when you steal my clothes…... I think that you look good in them."

"Yes, but I don't look professional when I am wearing them in meetings." She sighed and took a step back. "Besides, I really do need to get out and see the girls. I haven't had a real break in weeks." She walked over to the closet to pull out some clothes, "Maybe part of my problem is stress. I have been so busy with everything the last few months and now I am pregnant plus the new job." She sighed and walked over to bed to pull on her shoes.

Ranger frowned, "Babe, do we need to pull some of your work hours... Tell me honestly because you and the babies are more important then anything else." Ranger said walking over to squat in front of her, "Even Tank would agree."

Stephanie smiled at him, "No, the work hours are ok and now that we agreed starting later in the day, I think it will help." She laid back, feet dangling down, "I just think with all of the drama before and then starting the new job… and you know that I always think I am not good enough… so I tried to do more and more." She sighed again, "I wanted you guys to think you made the right decision to hire me."

Ranger grinned and crawled up and over her onto the bed, a hand on either side of her head. "We knew that we made the right decision before we even asked you…... you should know that." He said leaning down to kiss her softly. "But to put your mind at ease, all of us think that no one could do the job better then you…. And that includes us." Then he grinned down at her, "Plus none of us are willing to take it back."

She laughed and pulled him down for a deep kiss, pushing her hands into his hair. But when he slowly lowered some of his weight down at her she gasped and push him up. "Nope….." She said closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.

Ranger shook his head, "Babe…. You are killing me here." He said with a small smile. "We need to get you better, because you need to keep food down." He stood up and helped pull her up, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle hug. "You are getting smaller and smaller… when you should be getting bigger."

She rolled her eyes at him, "I don't mind the smaller and smaller…... but I am tiered of the vomiting and hunger."

Ranger chuckled before sinking down to his knees in front of her, "Little ones, I am your Papa and you need to listen to me…" He gave her stomach a gentle kiss, "You need to let your mother eat. She needs to be able to get you guys big and strong." Then he leaned closer and whispered loudly, "Plus I want to make love to her and I can't do that if every time I try to kiss her, she wants to throw up."

Stephanie gave a quick giggle, "Ass." She said pulling him back up for a kiss. "I am going, and I will talk to Meg about your lack of sex."

Ranger gave her a hard kiss, "Good because I in desperate need of my beautiful woman…. but more importantly I am worried about my woman and how sick she has been." He walked over to the closet to get dressed and followed her out to the kitchen a few minutes later strapping on his weapons. He gave her a small smile when he saw her eating oatmeal. "Make sure you text or call me after you talk to Meg. I am going to be in and out all day, but I will drop everything to come if you need me…. got it." He said walking over to pull her close, "Promise."

Stephanie rolled her eyes at him, "I already promised that Ranger, now go to work…. I am going to try and finish this then head over there." She reached up to give him a soft kiss, "I love you." She said softly.

"I love you Babe…Dinner tonight? We can talk about what Meg says and the renovation of the apartment." He said rubbing her back gently.

She gave him a smile, "I thought I got to pick everything out since I am the woman."

He raised an eyebrow, "I think I trust you enough to let you pick everything, but you can be indecisive. If I am there helping, it will get done faster." He said with a grin.

Stephanie rolled her eyes, "You will just pick everything black." She said looking at the cabinets and floor.

Ranger chuckled, "There are different blacks to chose from." He said.

Stephanie burst out laughing, "Of course there are and yes dinner sounds great." She said walking back over to her oatmeal, as Tank walked in the apartment.

"There are what?" Tank asked walking over to Stephanie and taking a bite of her oatmeal, "Eww that is gross." He said spitting it back out, "I took a bite because it was yours and it was supposed to be good."

Stephine rolled her eyes, "Well one of your future nieces or nephew's don't like anything that tastes good." She said taking another bite.

Tank snickered, "So they are already taking after their father."

Stephanie nodded, "Yes they are." She mumbled putting down the oatmeal, "And according to Ranger there are many different blacks we can decorate the apartment with."

Tank did a full-on belly laugh, "Those poor babies will think they are color blind in this house." He said looking at Ranger who looked like he suspiciously like he wanted to roll his eyes.

"It was a joke…" Ranger said, "I will let her choose some grays." He said with a serious face.

Tank only laughed harder, "Come on man, we have to go." He said to Ranger. Then he walked over to Stephanie, "Make sure you let us know what Meg says." He whispered in her ear and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Stephanie gave him a small smile, "Of course you also noticed something was wrong…. And of course, I will let you guys know what is going on." She said.

Tank gave her a grin, "Of course we noticed." He said.

"And all of you gossiped about it, didn't you?" She said with her eyebrows raised looking back and forth between Ranger and Tank.

The men both gave her blank stares until she rolled her eyes, "I will make sure that I call Ranger right away, and I am sure you will get the news from him." She pointed at the door, "Now go to work and make that money." She said picking her oatmeal back up.

Tank gave her a grin and walked out, while Ranger walked over and gave her a quick kiss, "Don't go crazy today Babe." He said walking to the door after Tank.

"Don't get shot." She called out.

-/-/-

Two hours later she was sitting in Meg's office waiting for her to come in. She and Meg had come up with a plan to keep gossip down, so now she walked right in and waited in Meg's office for her, skipping the waiting room. She had barely managed to keep the oatmeal down this morning and the thought of any lunch was out of the question.

She smiled at Meg when she walked in, "Hay." She said, "How was your date with Bobby?"

Meg gave her a grin, "Well he did tell me you said he smelled like a man whore." She said sitting down and grabbing the file on the desk. "Then you threw up on him again."

Stephanie started laughing, "Well it was his fault, I was fine until I smelled him." She said.

Meg rolled her eyes, "In all seriousness we need to talk about your vitals, nausea and vomiting." She said.

Stephanie looked confused, "Vitals?" She asked.

Meg nodded looking down at the file again, "Yes, you know how Bobby has been taking your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature every day?" When Stephanie nodded, she frowned, "The last few weeks I have noticed that your blood pressure has been low, but your pulse has been consistently high. Pair that with constant nausea and vomiting and weight loss …I am getting worried."

Stephanie bit her lip, "I thought it was normal to be sick…... I was just being a little extra." She said with a small smile.

Meg gave her a small smile back, "Normally in the first trimester I would agree. But we are now in the second and you are getting worse not better. … I think you have a condition that a mother pregnant with multiples for their first pregnancy can have." She handed Stephanie a slip of paper, "It is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum and the good news is that it is not life threatening or dangerous for you or the baby so long as we keep on top of the symptoms. The most important part is making sure that you are getting enough nutrients and staying hydrated."

Stephanie frowned, "Ok so what is the plan?" She said stepping both feet in for a change.

Meg gave a smile, "The first step is to get food in you…. With diet changes and maybe some anti-nausea meds and checking you daily for dehydration. I also want to see some positive weight gain and we will need to keep an eye on your nutrient levels with blood and urine tests weekly."

Stephanie closed her eyes, "Blood tests… needles every week?" She sighed, "OK what else?"

Meg raised an eyebrow, "No argument?"

Stephanie shook her head, "No nothing is more important then the babies…. So I will do whatever I need to." She said with a smile, "Plus it would be nice if I am able to eat and not feel sick."

Meg gave a smile, "That is great to hear…. we are going to start with diet changes before we jump right into meds. So we are going to start with a lot of very small meals with dry and simple items. We are going to add simple broths and teas with ginger. I also want you to start getting some vitamin B shots and if all else fails lots of water…." She paused and looked at Stephanie with a frown, "However if these things do not work, we will have to add the nausea medication."

Stephanie gave a small smile, "Sounds simple enough." When Meg gave her a small smile, she nodded at her, "But its not is it?" She said with a sigh.

Meg shrugged her shoulders, "It could be… these simple changes could make a difference and you could get better." She said.

"But?" Stephanie asked with a frown.

Meg sighed, "If we can not get it under control and get your body to start retaining nutrients and keep you hydrated. We might have to put you in the hospital and get you hooked up to IV's." She said.

Stephanie took a deep breath, "So as long as I can keep some food down and keep the babies healthy, I can stay out of the hospital?" She asked a plan already forming in her mind.

Meg shook her head and smiled, "What is your plan?"

Stephine smiled, "Well all of the guys and Ella are always worrying anyway…. So, I am going to give them all of the information and let them hover and research and help." She shook her head, "If they can't help me…no one can."

Meg laughed, "You are not wrong…. Bobby actually already knows…. not because I told him but because he was researching and asked me…. I told him that I had to talk to you and you would let them know what was going on when you are ready."

Stephanie sighed, "Ok so do you have a plan can I get written down? Or sites the guys can read?" She asked.

Meg smiled, "I am sending you a text with a few links that you can forward and the papers I handed you includes a diet plan and steps we are going to take." She said. "I can also recommend lots of sleep, at least 8 hours a day and keep activity to relaxing and strength… so things like yoga, stretching and walking."

Stephanie grinned, "Finally found the silver lining…. I can say my doctor said to sleep and relax!" She said with a laugh.

Meg laughed, "Ok I want get your blood and urine before you leave to create a base line. Then you can go shopping. I also want to give you a B shot." She said standing up and walking her to the door.

Stephanie laughed as she followed Meg down the hall, "See I told the guys that they gossip, Bobby told you that I was going shopping… didn't he?" she asked.

Meg grinned, "According to Bobby it is relaying information…. not gossiping."

Stephanie broke out into side splitting laughter.

-/-

Another hour later she was walking into the mall while talking to Ranger, "Hay." She said into the phone.

"Babe?" Ranger said, "How did it go?"

Stephanie sighed, "Well Meg gave it a name … Hyperemesis Gravidarum, but we have a plan." She said.

Ranger paused, "It sounds serious."

Stephine paused in front of the maternity store, "It can be if its not taken seriously….. according to Meg the biggest concern is the symptoms and managing them." She said carefully.

Ranger didn't say anything, so she continued, "She came up with a plan and diet that she is going to work with me and Bobby closely…... plus I have a plan." She sighed, "It is going to drive me crazy, but it will be worth it to keep the babies safe and all of you sane."

Ranger chuckled, "What is the plan." He asked.

"Tell the guys everything…. In fact, I am sending out a text in a moment." She said. "I have a bunch of stuff for you to look at and go over at dinner." She waved at Lula as she walked up, "But the girls are here so we are going to go shopping, then I will be home."

"Ok Babe, I love you." Ranger said.

"I love you too." She said hanging up on him.

"Girl, did you just hang up on Batman?" Lula said with a grin.

"Yep, he is always doing it to me…. So, I did it first this time." She said with a grin as Mary Lou walked up.

"What did you do?" She asked.

"Hung up on Batman." Lula said with a grin.

Mary Lou shrugged, "I do that all of the time…." She said, "Now we need to go shopping, but you didn't think this through Stephine…. you haven't told anyone you are pregnant, but you are shopping for maternity clothes…. In the mall everyone shops at."

Stephanie smiled, "Yes I did… you are going to try on clothes for me…. You are about my size. I can see what they look like on you AND…"

Mary Lou frowned, "Everyone thinks I am pregnant again…. Smart."

Stephanie frowned, "Is that ok?" She said carefully.

Mary Lou grinned, "I have been meaning to fuck with Lenny… so when he hears the rumors it will be fun."

Stephanie smiled, "Thank you!" She said pulling her in for a tight hug. "I have so much to tell you." She said walking into the store. After getting a nice pile of clothes they shoved Mary Lou into the fitting room and Stephanie and Lula sat down in the back hallway waiting for her to come out.

Stephanie looked down at her phone and forward the links and a quick text to all of the guys telling them that she had hyperemesis gravidarum or HG. That she had a plan and would call a meeting to talk to all of them the next day.

Stephanie looked up from her phone and laughed when Lula yelled out. "Hurry up. I am hungry, and we need to shop!"

Stephanie laughed harder as Mary Lou came out of the dressing room in dress slacks and dress shirt and a scowl.

"This is boring shit." She said looking in the mirror, "But I will say that the panel for the belly is super comfortable." She pulled the panel away from her stomach. "You can really grow with this, plus my ass looks good." She said turning around to look in the mirror.

"Yes, it does." A voice said from inside the fitting room Mary Lou just came out of making all three girls scream.

A head popped out and Stephanie's eyes narrowed, "Diesel?" She asked.

"Sup gorgeous." He said walking out. "I came to hang."

Stephanie bit her lip, "Ranger is not going to like this." She whispered.