A/N: Not making any sort of profit. All recognizable material belongs to Janet Evanovich.

Sorry if any of you have given up on me finishing this story. My life has been so ridiculously crazy that it has been hard to find time to get to this. I did promise that I would finish this story though and I intend to. So without further ado, let Steph's crazy life continue lol:

Chapter 8- The Burg Grapevine

Steph ran to Ranger's bathroom and promptly emptied the contents of her stomach into his toilet. The nice thing was that Ranger was there holding her hair back and handing her a cold washcloth. When she didn't make any effort to take the washcloth from him he laid it on the back of her neck. "Feel better Babe?"

She nodded her head and then proceeded to dry heave, which was worse than actually puking. Once she felt like her body was done hating her she moved to a sitting position with her back against the bathroom wall. "Well, I guess that would be the infamous morning sickness I have heard all about. I wonder how many times that is going to happen because quite frankly I am already not a fan."

"I'm not sure Babe, this isn't really my area of expertise. I'm sure there are some people who would be more than happy to give you their input on it though like your Mom and Grandma Mazur, Mary Lou, or even Valerie."

When she gave him what she thought of as the look of death he added on, "there are also books on the subject if you would rather go that route? Also, I'm sure when you go to your OBGYN they would be more than happy to answer your questions. Do you have an OBGYN that you were planning on going to or do you need to look for one?"

Her mind was spinning with all the things she had no idea about. She was scared absolutely shitless and feeling overwhelmed. She was going to have to get the Having a Baby for Dummies book to make it through this pregnancy. She didn't think she could get any more pathetic even if she tried. As far the doctor went she had no idea who she should go to. She growled and frustration and stood up.

Ranger took her face in his hands and waited for her to meet his eyes. "Babe, I know your feeling overwhelmed right now. The thing is, I'm pretty sure everyone feels overwhelmed the first time they have a kid. It's a new experience that most people know absolutely nothing about until it is happening to them. People don't just know how to be a parent, it is something they learn along the way. Also, your not pathetic. Strong willed, stubborn, and crazy maybe, but definitely not pathetic.

"So I'm guessing my so called internal monologue was actually external?"

In answer to her question Ranger raised his eyebrow and looked like he was thinking about smiling. He also decided to completely ignore her question and responded to her by instead saying, "As far as an OBGYN goes, if you don't have someone in mind, I know someone who I am sure would take you on as a new patient."

"Really? That would be great. I mean, I'm sure if you're recommending them they must be good at their job, and to be honest I have no clue which doctor I should go with."

"I actually have known her for years, she is a friend of the family and Rangeman also provides the security for her office. Her name is Gisele Mendez. I could get you an appointment set up if you would like?"

"Ya, sure that would be great."

"Are you going to call your Mom back? You know she is just going to keep calling until you call her back. Hal is having a fit because she keeps calling in and he is on phone duty at the moment."

Steph giggled, "It serves him right. He hand delivered Morelli to the 4th floor apartment last night and I think him getting Helen Plum phone diversion duty sounds like an excellent punishment. But your right. I have to face the music sometime. I might as well go ahead and get it over with." She blew out a breath and headed to retrieve her phone.

Ranger had followed her out of the bathroom and he stopped her before she could dial. "I have some work I need to get done so I am going to head down to my office on 5. What are your plans for the day?"

"I'm not real sure at the moment. I figured I would make a few phone calls and go from there. At some point I am going to have to tell Vinnie that I can't catch skips for awhile. I guess that also means I need to find a new job and find someplace to live since I no longer have my apartment. I don't think I can handle moving back in with my parents."

"Babe, you can work for me. I know you think that I am doing you a favor but I would actually consider it a personal favor to me if you would work for me. I know you hate desk work so I will try to get you out in the field as much as possible when we are setting up security for new clients. But, there will be absolutely no skip chasing. Also, as far as a place to stay you can stay here either in the 4th floor apartment or here with me, whichever your comfortable with."

"I'm not comfortable with either of those options."

"Well how about for the time being you stay here and after you get on your feet we can find an option that your comfortable with."

Steph let out a dramatic sigh, "fine."

8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8

Steph still felt nauseous as she waited for her Mom to pick up the phone. She didn't think it was morning sickness this time though, she just thought it was nerves.

"Stephanie Plum!?"

Gulp, "yes?"

"What in the world were you thinking young lady? How could you embarrass me in front off all of those people like that? Why would you run out on a perfectly good wedding? Just when I thought all of my dreams were going to come true you have to run away? Mary Sewletski's daughter didn't run out on her wedding. Why me? Our phone hasn't stopped ringing! Do you know the things that people are saying?"

"I'm sure you're going to tell me regardless..."

She continued as if Steph hadn't even spoken, "Melinda Thimpkin said that right before the wedding you went to buy pregnancy tests with those big scary men. Regina Moore says she saw you in the bathroom at the church with that guy you call Ranger. She also said that Terry and Joe were making out right outside of that bathroom you were in with Ranger. Are you going to say anything or are you just going to let me continue talking to myself? What am I supposed to tell everyone that keeps calling and asking questions?"

Well, here goes nothing Steph thought, "Mom, I'm going to give you the cliff notes version. Yes, I went to buy a pregnancy test because I panicked when I couldn't fit into my dress. Yes, I went with the Rangemen to buy the test because they were there and ready to offer their assistance just like they always are. Turns out that there was a reason for the weight gain... I am pregnant."

She heard her mom gasp but before she had time to say anything Steph continued, "Before you say anything Mom let me finish or I will hang up."

"Well that's just rude. You just gave me quite the surprise! Go on, I will try not to butt in."

"Thank you. So, yes I am pregnant. No, I don't know how far along I am I haven't went to the doctor yet. Also, if your wondering why I didn't go ahead and marry Joe it's because he was in fact kissing Terry outside the bathroom. It turns out that he knocked her up while we weren't together."

"But he love you! He wants to marry you, plus your having a kid together! Do you want your child to grow up as a bastard? What will everyone say?! Even Valerie went ahead and settled for Albert when he knocked her up"

"Well see that's the other thing Mom, I'm actually not sure if the baby is Morelli's or not."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, see there is a small chance that the baby could belong to Ranger."

...

... thunk...

"Mom?"

Steph heard some shuffling noises and then her Grandma Mazur's voice came on the line, "Stephanie?"

"Yes."

"Your Mom must be hitting the sauce hard again, passed right out standing up with the phone, ain't that something."

"I think she fainted Grandma."

"She always was a drama queen. Say do you think you could give me a ride to the clip and curl sometime this week? The ladies want all the dirty details about your life."

"Sure Grandma. Tell Mom when she wakes up to tell people whatever she wants."

"Sure thing."

8*8*8*8*8*8*8

Steph decided her next phone call would be to Mary Lou.

"...Boys quit screaming! I'm trying to answer the phone here! Um, hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Steph!? OMG! Tell me everything!"

"Look, I'm not too much in the mood for talking at the moment but I decided I needed to call and fill you in. I'm pregnant, I don't know if the baby belongs to Morelli or Ranger and Morelli knocked up Terry during one of our off-phases. I walked out of the bathroom of the church yesterday with Ranger to see her trying to lick Morelli's tonsils. I'm not real sure what I am going to do with my life right now but I don't think it includes marrying Morelli. Will you do damage control for me until I am ready to face the real world?

"WOW!I...don't know what to say to that, I'm still trying to work all of that out in my head. I'm here for you Steph when you want to talk. Let me know if you need anything and of course I will do damage control for you."

"Thanks Mary Lou, look don't try to sugar coat it. Joe is angry and he will let it be known that it might not be his child at some point. I'd rather people hear it come from you then him."

"Sure Steph. I'm here when you need me, you know that right?"

"Yes, I do. Thanks again. I will get a hold of you soon and we will do girl's night. I think I am in desperate need of girl's night. Right now though I think I just need a nap. I'm exhausted and I haven't even done anything."

"Oh hun, your going to get used to feeling exhausted. Welcome to pregnancy."

"Ugh, F my life. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, bye Steph."

With the end of that phone conversation Steph decided she couldn't proceed with her day until she had a nice nap in Ranger's amazing sheets. Her head hit the pillow and she was out like a light, off to the land of denial.

A/N: Hope you guys like this chapter! Please leave reviews and let me know what you think! Hope to get another chapter posted next week!