Pictures 7
Disclaimer: I don't own them; I just have fun with them.
Wow! Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the entries of 'Pictures'. I am still floored. This has turning out to be a sad (emotional) story in the beginning, but I promised it gets happier, and here is some happy. Please let me know what you think of this update as well. This has been an interesting journey for me to take with her and it is finally complete. I hope you like it.
It had been two weeks since my trip to the mall with Mary Lou. My dress was still hanging in the closet, untouched but ready to be worn at any time. Things had gotten very busy at Rangeman and none of us were able to take any time to really enjoy ourselves in a group setting. The number of FTA's had tripled, and there had been a string of break ins, a sign that people were still enduring hard times and were getting desperate. We had all agreed to wait until things slowed down a bit so when we went out to celebrate we could all enjoy ourselves to the fullest.
I had used the last two weeks to my advantage though. I may have been busy, but I still had sometime to spend with my dad to get to know him better. He would meet me at the diner just down the street from Rangeman and we would have lunch, or dessert in the late evening after my shift. I realized a few things about my dad over this time and really thought how sad he must be.
His life had not turned out the way that he had intended it, but he had made do. He had confessed over a few days that my mother, even though he married her, was not the love of his life. When he looked at me and explained that I was I really didn't understand.
After explaining that my mother forced him, after they married, to not resign with the Army once she got pregnant with Valerie, things had changed for him. He felt the need to support his wife and be there, but he still had to finish his contract with the Army at the time. I was floored really. She married him when he was in the Army, so this didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Apparently, she was not very understanding of his desires and commitments, and made things miserable for him until his time was up. Then things started to settle down once he was around more. When she became pregnant with me, for some reason she became even more controlling.
At first, as he explained it, he thought it was the pregnancy hormones, since he wasn't around for much of the pregnancy with Val. Her entire personality had changed, and he didn't know what to do. She was never physically violent with him, but apparently she treated him the way that she has always treated me.
I knew all too well what that treatment felt like. He shut down completely, and from that point on he never really said much. It wasn't like he could get a divorce, or leave, he had two children he was responsible for. He never really saw or heard all the horrible things she said to me, when I was growing up, but he said he knew deep down that she was taking her frustrations and anger out on me. He felt powerless to stop it, because he was constantly reminded by his mother and his wife, that it was a woman's place to raise their girls.
I remembered back to my childhood and thought of the few times I really spent any time with my dad. He taught me how to work on a car, ride a bike, and spit. But along with those few memories I can hear my mother yelling at me and then my father for showing me these things.
My dad thought that by stepping back and allowing her to take over he would be lessening the punishment that I would get from my mother. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. As I got older her words became more and more mean and hurtful, as she became bolder and bolder to say them in front of my dad since he wouldn't say anything. Neither one of us think she ever heard what she said herself, but that didn't excuse her actions.
We had a long talk about the recording that I made of her yelling at me. He knew that I had threatened to play it for the entire burg to hear, but hadn't done it, at least not yet. My mother had changed for a few days, but eventually went right back to her old ways, blaming me for everything that went wrong in her life, regardless of me being around.
Dad had also informed me that he was thinking of leaving my mother finally, 'something I should have done a long time ago kiddo.' When he said that, I was so happy for him, just like I had, he was taking back his life. At one time I think I would have been sad to hear that my parents were splitting up, but now, I was just glad he was willing to take that step for himself. My dad deserved someone who loved him, for who he was, not someone who wanted to change and manipulate the person that they claimed to love. We both deserved that, and I'm glad that I could help my father take that next step. I offered him my apartment if he did leave, explaining that the guys had been trying to talk me into moving in permanently to Haywood. I had agreed to give up my apartment, but hadn't decided where I was going to end up yet. Only Tank knew what I was really thinking.
None of the guys had been pleased with my declaration that I might go away for a time, but when I explained that I needed to know that I could do it on my own for a while, I would eventually come back. I had been saving up money since this whole ordeal happened and had stashed away a good sum so that I could travel and just think. I didn't have a timeframe in mind, or a destination for that matter, but I knew it might be soon. My dad understood where I was coming from, even though he didn't want me to leave, but he would support me in anything that I wanted to do, no matter what. I just had to promise to keep in touch so he knew that I was ok.
Another person that I had decided to visit would probably surprise most people I was friends with. I borrowed Lula's firebird and left my trackers at home, because I needed to see this person without a shadow. After dinner with Lula one night, I decided to head to a house that I had not been to in quite sometime. It was dark in the neighborhood, but the porch light was on. I had called earlier and let him know that I was coming over.
Parking in the rounded driveway I sat and stared at the house. The last time I had been here he had shot at me. The situation was different then, and I would do it all over again, but we had come to an understanding over a period of time. We would do anything for those we considered our family, end of story.
Walking up to the door I didn't even have to knock. The front door opened as I stepped up the last step and he opened his arms to give me a big hug. I went right into them and smiled into his chest. He released me a second later and returned my smile, closing the door behind me.
"Glad you could come see me." I could hear the happiness in his voice.
"I would have come sooner, but, well, things haven't exactly been going that well these past months." I gave him a sad smile.
He pulled me into the family room and poured us each a drink. He nodded his head in agreement and understanding. "But they are better now, right?"
"Yes, they are. And some of that is because of you." I smiled at him as I accepted the drink. He sat across from me on the couch.
"We take care of our family Steph. And we have looked at you as family since you befriended my father. You took care of him, and helped him when he needed it. Not many people would have done that. Especially when they knew who he was." He laughed.
"Yes, well, your father wouldn't have hurt me. He made me nervous at first, but once you've been asked to marry someone I think the silliness of the situation soothed away any fear." I replied smiling.
"He would still accept you as a wife if you ever changed your mind." He laughed.
"And how would you feel having me for a step mother Hannibal?" I smiled. "You never know, I could turn into the evil step mother."
We both laughed at that. "Never in a million years would I ever see you as evil."
After a few minutes of banter back and forth, I looked up at him and said, "I came to say thank you. I know what happened, and I can never than you enough for protecting me."
Hannibal sobered up immediately, "You are family Steph, and we protect our own, just like I said before. What was done was so far beyond what an honorable man would do that someone had to take a stand. I was only too happy to be that person. My family will always be here for you. You only have to ask for help or protection and it will be given without question. No family should attempt you any harm or otherwise."
"I only know of one other person who has ever done that for me. It's definitely humbling to realize someone has your back like that. And please know that I feel exactly the same way about all of you. I may not have the connections that you do, but if there is anything that I could ever do for you please let me know." I said with all seriousness. "If anything, this entire situation has let me know who I can and can not rely on, and in all honestly, I think that I have a wonderful group of people that I can turn to."
"I'm glad that you have people you can turn to for support. But can I ask you something?" He looked me in the eye, and at my nod he continued. "Do you have someone who you trust to let into your heart as you have let these others into your life. I know that you and Manoso are close, but I haven't heard anything about him being around in quiet a while."
It took a few deep breaths before I could respond. He deserved an answer, but not many people knew what was going on, and if I was truly honest I wasn't sure what was happening myself. "He has always been there for me. I think this is really the first instance that he has been gone while everything happened. I don't know where he is, and I don't know when he will be back, but as far as a relationship with him, he has told me over the years that he doesn't do them. And I can't do the casual thing, especially when there are more feelings involved for me."
"I think there is more than you are letting on Steph." Hannibal softly commented.
I nodded, "With everything that's happened, I guess I wondered if he knew what was going on. No one will tell me whether he is in the wind or just chose to leave town for reasons unknown." I paused to think about it a bit more, "He sent me back to Morelli before, and I guess that part of me is resentful that he sent me back to someone who was trying to destroy me. For all the times that he has saved me from danger, I think I'm angry with him for not seeing it, or saying something to me if he did. I suppose you could say that I kind of feel abandoned by him at the moment."
"I know it's not fair, but at least at the moment I can't help it. Ranger knows everything, you know? So how, out of everything did he not know about this? It's not rational or fair, but I can't help how I feel." I said sadly.
"I'm sure it doesn't help that you haven't seen him in months, but it will all work out in the end. Everything happens for a reason you know. You've worked at making yourself stronger the past few months, so don't slide backwards. Trust yourself." Hannibal explained.
After talking a while longer, we said our goodbyes and promises to keep in touch. I felt like a weight had been lifted from me. No one had thought to ask me, or make a comment about Ranger really; it was almost like a taboo topic. Hannibal was right though, I needed to get over my hurt feelings toward Ranger or I might ruin anything that we had, whether that be friendship or anything else.
XXXXXX
The night finally came where I was going to get my night out. All the men from Rangeman Trenton were going out on the town with me, Connie, Lula, Mary Lou and a few other friends. Eddie and Shirley were going to meet us at the club, grandma Mazur was going to be there, Sally Sweet, Mooner and Dougie plus a few others I had not seen in a while, but knew that they would always be my friends.
When Les knocked on the door of the apartment I opened it ready to go and get my groove on. I think I shocked him, his jaw dropped to the floor and he froze in place, not a muscle was twitching in his body, although I could see he was extremely happy to see me by the giant bulge in his pants.
I laughed, "That good huh Les? Thanks." I kissed his cheek and closed the door behind me and started to make my way down the corridor.
"Beautiful," I heard him gulp before continuing, "You're going to start a riot in that dress. Damn, you sure you don't want to just spend the night out with me?" He asked getting a hold of his control.
I looked over my shoulder at him as I stood waiting for the elevator, "Now really Les, you want to take all my fun away? I've wanted to go out dancing with everyone for a while now. You'll just have to wait your turn for an individual dance this evening. I promise it'll be good."
His eyes bugged out and he was quickly at my side. "You look like sin in that dress Beautiful, we are going to have to create a wall of muscle to keep the other guys away from you." He said then cleared his throat as we stepped onto the elevator. He placed his hand on my lower back and walked me to the car when we got to the garage. Everyone was already on their way. Les had said he wanted to walk me through the door and the guys had been more than happy to agree. They said this would be my re-entry to the world, the 'New Stephanie' was being introduced to the world and she deserved to make an entrance.
Arriving to the club, Les grabbed my hand and walked us to the front door where the bouncer moved the rope and allowed us thru to hoots, whistles and catcalls. The bouncer winked at me and gave him a nice smile in return.
Walking in the door and looking around, the place was huge, but our group was easy to find. Who wouldn't be able to find a group of muscular men like my Merry Men. They were all hot and sexy, and had their choice of women, but once they laid eyes on me any and all women were left in the dust. They all moved towards me and placed a kiss on my cheek, or gave me a hug.
Drinks were passed all around and the party started off with a bang. The music was pounding and everyone seemed to be having a good time. It wasn't until Cal was pulling me towards the dance floor that I realized what song had just come on, Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger". The song that Les had told me was my anthem just a few short weeks ago.
It only took a matter of seconds for Cal and I to get into the rhythm and begin to move together to the song. Our bodies moved effortlessly against each other. We were joined only minutes later by all my girls and guys and we took over the majority of the dance floor. I found Les at my back and Cal at my front; both were singing the song to me, pride shining in their eyes. God I loved these guys. They were right, 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller'.* A lesson that I was surely never going to forget.
It felt like hours later that we were walking back to our seats to get refills of our drinks. Everyone had smiles on their faces, but I noticed that Tank and Bobby had their heads together off in the corner. I figured they had some business to talk about so I just focused on what was around me at the moment. We all laughed and joked; it was as if nothing had happened. These were all of my friends and I knew that no matter what, all of these people would have my back. I noticed that I got a few envious and evil looks from other women in the club, but I didn't really care. I was dancing with all my guys tonight and to hell with anyone who had any issues with that.
Towards the end of the evening Tank came up to me hugged me, placed a kiss on my forehead and then grabbed my hand as I heard the DJ coming over the sound system. "We've had a special request and a dedication to a very special lady in attendance this evening. We don't normally do this, but for this woman, we couldn't say no. Stephanie Plum, this one is for you."
The Merry Men had followed us down to the dance floor and formed a circle around Tank and I, allowing us enough room to move comfortably to whatever song they had chosen. The opening notes came on and the beat was a Cha Cha. I smiled at Tank and we started to move to the beat effortlessly. "Listen to the words too Steph. We mean everything they say."
You're insecure, don't know what for
You're turning heads when you walk through the do-o-or
Don't need make-up - to cover up
Being the way that you are is eno-o-ough
I was spun out of Tank's dance to Manny. He picked up right where Tank had left off moving to the grove of the song and pulling me close to him. He looked right in my eyes as we moved. They were shining with pride and love for me.
Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you
Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground,
it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
I was then passed to Hector and our hips moved to the beat without missing a beat. He glided me around the circle on the dance floor and spun me out and back to him before doing a cha cha roll. He caressed my body with is as we moved across the floor.
If only you saw what I could see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Oh oh
That's what makes you beautiful!
I was then strutted away by Ram who was moving his hips right to the beat. Looking directly into my eyes and letting me know that he agreed with the song. I smiled up at him and let him see just how I felt about what they were trying to tell me.
So girl come on, you got it wrong
To prove I'm right I put it in a so-o-ong
I don't know why, you're being shy
And turn away when I look in to your eye eye eyes
Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but yo-ou
Bobby stepped up and pulled me away and spun me away and around the circle again. We rocked together and moved with the beat of the song. We could hear the cheers and catcalls around us, but we were in our own little world.
Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground,
it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Kissing my cheek Bobby passed me off to Cal who swept me up into the sexy moves of the Cha Cha. Who knew all these guys would know how to move so well. Their support meant the world to me and I knew by the way these guys were treating me they meant every word of this song. Cal glowed with pride at me when I looked up into his eyes as we moved.
If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Oh oh
That's what makes you beautiful!
Hal, ever bashful, but has the moves of a Don Juan, glided me across the floor, in total control of where we were going and what we were doing. His face was not the red I would have imagined it would normally have been. He was calm and cool and knew what he could do to me and with me on that dance floor. He was agile, but seductive. I felt at home in his arms out there.
Na na na na na na naaaa na na,
Na na na na na na.
Na na na na na na naaaa na na,
Na na na na na na.
Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground,
it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Zero pulled me from Hal's embrace and twirled me around the dance floor some more. There was heat in his eyes and I could see just how much he loved me. All these guys were showing me just what they felt for me, and for once I wasn't scared of what that meant. I loved them all and let them know it with my eyes as well.
Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground,
it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
No Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Binkie moved in behind me and we moved away from Zero. I had to smile at his tactics, he moved us around to the beat without looking at me. I knew he was nervous to dance with me, but he was like the younger brother I never had. Finally spinning me around to look at him he place a light kiss on my lips. I gave him a lazy smile and moved with him.
If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Oh oh
Les grabbed my hand and Binkie spun out of the way. We danced around in each others arms and laughed as we did it. The man knew how to move and wasn't shy to show it. He twirled me out and back, rolled our hips and kissed me on the lips, my arms were around his neck once again.
Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground,
it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
No Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
Before I knew it I was twirled out of Les's arms and on to my next partner. Surprise couldn't have described it any better. We moved to the last few beats of the song effortlessly. Being pulled into his force field, up against all hard muscle was nothing knew, but this person had not been around in a long time.
No Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful!
No Oh oh
That's what makes you beautiful!
Ranger. The song ended and the catcalls were coming from all around of us. The next song started to play and the dance floor started to fill up around all of us. The guys were clapping him on the back offering him a 'welcome home', but his eyes never left mine. He was searching for something I just didn't know what. The only thing he said to me with a small smirk was "Babe."
The End.
* Lyrics from 'Stronger' By Kelly Clarkson
"What Makes You Beautiful"
Performed by One Direction
So let me know what you think? This is where this one ends. Let me know if you think there should be a sequel or not. This one was Steph's journey, Ranger really didn't have anything to do with this one. Based on the responses I get I may do a follow up.
