I do not own JE's characters, I just like to play with them. This will be my collection of one shots highlighting ways that Stephanie could break free of Morelli and break up with him. I have about twenty chapters already planned, but none of them will be related unless it is by a request. I will take some suggestions. Just let me know what you think.
And now onto the way Steph breaks free of Morelli:
#7 All in the Family
"Babe, why don't you come over for dinner? This was a tough week for you even though you got all of your captures. I can help you to relax."
I smile at Ranger as we talk next to his car in the police station parking lot. He is such a good friend. I do not deserve him. I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed.
"Thank you very much for the offer, but I am headed to Morelli's. We are going to watch the game and veg out. It has been a long week and this heat has not helped. I will talk to you tomorrow, Ranger."
He smiled a little smile and kissed my forehead and got into his car. I watched him drive away wondering if I should have taken his offer. No, Stephanie. You are in an on phase with Morelli and you know what will happen if you let Ranger help you to relax. Boy do I ever know!
I get into my POS car that has no freaking air conditioning and take my receipts to Connie. She gives me my check with minimal fuss because I glare at her. My hair has wilted and my tee shirt is clinging to me. I know I look a hot mess.
At least I am wearing cargo capris. God bless Ella. I stop at the bank and deposit my check and look at my balance. It was too high. I had written a check for my rent. What is going on? I drove over to talk to Dillon and he smiles and hugs me a little.
"Hey, Steph! It is good to see you. Here is your storage key. I figured you would want the furniture donated to the Salvation Army. Here is your receipt from that."
What was he babbling about? I know that I have barely been here for the past two months, but he packed up my apartment?
"Dillon, why did you pack up my apartment?" He looks suddenly scared.
"Um, well, I am not supposed to say, exactly, but your boyfriend came and talked to me and said that you had moved in with him and then he paid me to pack up your things and place them into storage. He said it was a surprise and that you might not even notice. It has been three weeks, Steph."
I saw red. That sneaky fucker! Every time I have been ready to leave lately, he has come up with excuses:
It was too late at night.
I was already comfortable.
His house was closer to the bonds office.
I promised to housesit while he was undercover.
He would get me hot wings and ice cream.
Dammit! He even promised not to complain about me working with Ranger on distractions. I would not be manipulated! I took the storage unit key and the receipt from the Salvation Army and put them into my purse.
When I got to Morelli's house, I started packing. I was homeless, but that was besides the point. He promised not to pressure me and by doing this he thinks that I am not going to leave. I can get a hotel room. He is crazy. I loaded my things into the car and went back for my bathroom items and my cookie jar.
I left Rex on the counter because it was hot in the car. I got a text message and it said: "Do you need help, Babe?" Does he have cameras here?
I look around and another text pops up: "Manny saw you loading up your car, Babe." Does he make them patrol here? I sigh and text him no thank you and sit and wait for Morelli to come home.
He is not the next person in the door. That prize goes to his mother. I had successfully avoided that woman for more than a month and now here she is. This is not my day. Why does she have two casseroles?
"Hello, Stephanie. I brought stuffed shells and lasagna. Carmen is bringing the iced tea and the rolls. You have time if you want to take a shower and maybe run a comb through your hair." What now?
"Time for what, Mrs. Morelli?" She smiles at me.
"The family dinner, Stephanie. Joey invited all of us over tonight. He said that you have an announcement to make."
She stares meaningfully at my abdomen. Oh hell no. I decide to wait for Morelli on the porch. I take Rex outside with me and I sit there with my pocketbook. Where is my car? Have I been robbed?
I get another text: "Babe, we took your car. People are saying that you are pregnant. Do you want to confirm or deny that for me, Babe?" I hold in a scream.
I text him that I am not the Virgin Mary. We have not had sex since I moved in here. Morelli claimed it was because he did not want our relationship to be about sex, but I am not stupid. He was trying to make me want sex so badly that I would agree to anything to get it.
I am a woman. We invented that trick. Besides, I have barely seen him lately. He was undercover for two weeks and then I have been busy and when he made a move, it just did not feel right and I had said that I had a headache.
Ranger texts me back: "Good to know."
Now I am stranded here with most of the Burg thinking that I am pregnant with Morelli's love child and he made Dillon cancel my lease and his family is coming over and I just want a freaking shower and to relax!
I can feel more sweat pouring down my back. I am starting to hate Joseph Morelli. I ignore the parade of family members that goes into the house. Angie Morelli must have said something because they leave me alone.
Finally, Joe shows up. He is literally bouncing on his feet with glee as he sees his mother's car and his sister's car. He stops short when he sees me.
"Cupcake, why are you out here? You should take a shower. We have important news to tell the family."
I would love to take a shower and relax but the house has turned into grand central station. I glare at him.
"Just what important news is that, Morelli? Your mother thinks I am pregnant! You KNOW that is impossible and besides I use birth control. If you got somebody pregnant, it is not me!" He shushes me.
"Look, Cupcake, you will be pregnant soon anyway. I am not using condoms with you anymore because we are getting married and I want to have a family."
What did this fool just decree to me?
"How are we getting married, Morelli? I did not agree to marry you." He just waves that off.
"You have been living here for more than a month and that is the longest time you have stayed. We have not had any fights in that time and I even kept quiet about you working with Manoso for the past two weeks."
He is an idiot.
"Morelli, the reason that we have not argued is because we are rarely here at the same time and I found out that while you were doing your perfect boyfriend routine, you were moving me out of my apartment! How could you do that to me?! You did not even ask me!" He starts getting mad.
"This is the thanks I get when I do something nice to surprise you, Cupcake?!" I stand up and poke him in the chest.
"This was not something nice! Something nice would have been to actually let me relax today like I told you I wanted to! You invited your whole family over here and their kids and I just wanted some peace and quiet! I am not marrying you or having kids with you, you crazy dumbass!"
"What am I not good enough for you? My family is not good enough for you? This is what your life with me is going to be like, Cupcake. I make the decisions because this is my house. Why would you live somewhere else? You can make some decorating changes, but I have provided a good home for you. Do not be ungrateful."
I look at the sidewalk and see that we have drawn quite a crowd.
"Listen, Morelli. We have not even seen much of each other in the past month and a half. You know that we have not been together during that time. I was paying my own rent and you said that you did not want me to also pay you rent while I stayed here. I am not ungrateful! I have paid for the food this whole time!"
I get up in his face.
"It was supposed to be a test of our relationship, but I see that you just went behind my back and made all of these decisions for me. I am not marrying you, Morelli. This is not the life I want. We are through."
He sputters and yells while I walk away from his house. I have to leave or I will shoot him. Is this what I get for trying to be in a mature relationship? I did not lie to him. I told him that I am not ready for marriage and that kids scare the bejesus out of me. I can barely take care of Rex. Rex! I must have walked three blocks by now. I turn back to get him and run into Ranger.
"Hey Babe. You look a little frazzled. I have the rat in the car. Do you want a ride?"
More than anything, Batman, I think. Out loud I say, "What are you a superhero stalker?" He smiles and guides me to his car which is across the street. How did I not notice him?
"Babe, I was there for your speech to Morelli. I grabbed the rat when you walked off without him. Some mother you are." He smiles when I try to punch him. I sigh.
"That is my point, Ranger. I do not want to be pressured into being a mother or any of that. Instead of being proud of me for doing better with my takedowns, Morelli was just faking it and he had me moved out of my apartment!" Ranger hands me a cold bottle of water and I drink it. Wow. I was really thirsty.
"I am proud of you, Babe." Just hearing those words from him make me feel better.
"Babe, there is an open apartment on four that you can have. I am sure that Ella is unpacking for you right now. Stop worrying and take a shower and relax. If you are good, I will let Ella bake you a cake."
"Thank you, Ranger." He really is the best friend ever.
"What are friends for, Babe?" See what I mean?
I smile at him and lean back into the seat. I may not have a boyfriend or a fiancé or a kid on the way, but I have something better. I have a best friend and he is worth his weight in gold. I wonder if he still wants to help me to relax. My shower massager is on the fritz. He looks over at me and licks his lips and winks. Holy ruined panties, Batman!
