A/N JE owns the characters I am just borrowing them. I hope I still have your interest in this story.
Thank you for all those reading and reviewing. I love reading them and I will reply soon. You would prefer an update first right? Roscommon thanks for pointing out draws/drawers error. Doh! I cannot believe I missed that in proof reading. Of course I know it should be "drawers".
Chapter 09
SPOV
Dad and I have been at our cafe for an hour and a half, discussing and looking over real estate rentals. He also convinced me to look at the sale listings as well, although I am really not in a position to buy, so I don't know why dad wants me to.
This house is beautiful dad but I seriously am in no position at this stage to buy a house". I look down at the picture of a Victorian style home. Even in it run down state it is beautiful and I imagined myself on the circular patio overlooking the green lawn and watching my child with long dark hair, a beautiful complexion that is a shade between mine and Rangers, playing outside. I smile and touch my stomach. It is then I realise that I can do this without the father in our life. Yes, it will be hard and sad at times but I will share my life with this baby. This baby will be my life. Though I am frightened a bit, I can't wait to build memories with my baby.
I look up at daddy, "let's keep this one aside and when I am in a better financial position we will have a look at it. Hopefully, it will be for sale still. I smile and daddy smile back at me.
"Ok, pumpkin. Let's do that. But there is nothing stopping us from looking at it today" he says with a smile.
"Let's call the guys and see who is available to look at these apartments with us and the house".
Hector and Les arrive, "you ready for Baby bomber home searching?" Les questions.
"You do know that it will be my home too, right Les?" I say with a smile.
"Of course Beautiful, but you need to know that Baby Bomber is vying for top place as my favourite person" he smirks. "Sorry beautiful, you can share top place with Baby Bomber". And throws an arm around my shoulders and gives me a tight hug.
"Do you think you can handle two of us Les?" I smile brightly up at him. Dad and Hector let out a small chuckle.
"I am up for the challenge. I will say this however, you will maintain top spot often if I don't have to change stinky diapers" and he shudders and screws up his nose.
Dad claps Les on the back while saying, "A challenge it will be that's for sure. Call me when you get stuck". And daddy chuckles again.
"Hey" I say.
"I wouldn't change you for anything Pumpkin" and he pecks a kiss on my forehead. "Let's go get you a new home".
Hector walks up, kisses my cheek and with an "Angel" he and Les lead me out of the cafe following Daddy and me walking between two men in black.
We are well into our third hour of apartment hunting. "Well Beautiful this is the last apartment on our list. I have a feeling this will be the one."
"I hope so Les."
We look around the apartment. It is lovely, slightly more than I wanted to spend but the three bedrooms will allow for one room to be solely a work at home office. The guys like that idea for security of Rangeman information. They can put a lock on the door and I can lock it when I am not working. I do like the idea of keeping my work separate from the rest of the apartment.
Les and Hector walk off together checking windows and doors, discussing security. I see Hector poke his head out each window and look around.
Dad and I stand watching them for a while then he says, "What do you think, Pumpkin?"
"I like it a lot but it is more than I wanted to spend. I think I will manage it though."
"I am happy to help you where I can, you know that?"
"Thanks Daddy, I love you". I give him a hug.
The guys come back to us and give their approval. Hector then tells me he already got my new alias organised.
"How did you do that? I haven't given you any details."
"I chose a name for you and we already have your details." he shrugged.
"OH, I forget you guys can do anything", I smile. "So what's my new name? It's not something weird is it or embarrassing?"
"We think you will like it Beautiful. We couldn't give you Wonder woman's alter ego because that would be too obvious so we went the next best, Donna Stacey Troy AKA Wonder girl. Hey, did you know Donna was ranked #19 in the 100 sexist women in comics? Man, she is sexy". He smirks with a wink and follows with "you wanna be my wonder girl Beautiful?" I laugh. "You wish Les."
"Ugh!" Les holds a hand to his heart feigning being wounded. "You wound me, Beautiful. Shot through the heart, and you're to blame..." les and I smile at each other and continue together, "Darlin, you give love a bad name" and we bump hips.
We make arrangements with the building manager to finalise the paper work of the apartment lease for the next day and the Merry Men drives us back to our cars. We say goodbye at the cafe car park. The guys let us now they will start with installing security in the apartment as soon as the lease is signed tomorrow. While the guys start that I will see Tank about my new job position.
I arrive home and flop on the bed in my thinking position. The last couple of days have been exhausting, draining my emotions and energy. Rest and sleep sounds good now. I set my alarm because Hector is taking me to visit his boys later. We cannot spar but I can still do some fight training just no contact and lower intensity level.
Hector arrives and hour later and we head out. I woke feeling refreshed mostly and looking forward to spending more time with the street boys, Demon, Striker and Moe. We spend 2 hours training. Hector and I have to let them know about me being pregnant and boy I was not expecting the reaction we received.
Moe is first to react, he breaths out "wow" while looking at my stomach. Then follows with "oh my god, you need to sit down and rest". He quickly retreats walks right into a lawn chair stumbles about trying to maintain his balance. I am giggling and the others have a quirked up smile at Moe's antics. Once his footing is regained he turns back to me "rest right? That's what you need. Oh want a water? Do you need a foot massage? Do you..." Moe's voice trails off as he pales. "Man, we got to get Bombshell to the hospital to make sure the baby ok".
We all look at Moe completely baffled at what he is talking about. "Why?" demon questions.
"Jeez man, we have been throwing Bombshell around while we are sparring. We could have hurt the baby. Well? Come on" he reaches me picks me up and starts rushing me to the car while I bounce in his arms. "Moe..." I begin then he cuts me off. "Moe the baby..." and I am cut off again. " it's ok Bombshell, don't panic we will make sure the baby is ok". I sigh. Moe is in baby panic mode and nothing is reaching him. I look over his shoulder to the others and call out "help here guys please".
"Shhh Bombshell, I got you, you'll be ok, and baby will be ok. Just rest."
"Moe..." I try again.
By now I am at the car and Moe is trying to get me in. Then Demon, Striker, Hector and I all call out raising our voices. "MOE!" Moe freezes and looks around. "What?"
Strikers starts, "Steph's fine you fool. She has been trying to tell you that". He finishes with shake of his head and adds "we have not been throwing her around. You're over reacting."
I add, "But this was our last contact and high intensity training until after the baby is born. I can still maintain some training but on a much lower scale, no contact stuff."
"Are you sure you should be doing any training?" striker asks.
"Yes. Bobby is adjusting my training schedule now. I will make you guys have a copy as well. Ok?" "Sounds good" Demon says.
Bombshell, I am really worried working with you while you're pregnant. What if we hurt the baby? Moe looks as worried as he sounds.
Hector steps in "no worries we will look out for Angel and the new training is different to what is happening now. Angel will be fine" he says with finality that no one objects to.
Hector and I say our goodbyes with promises to give the street boys the new schedule along with a meeting including Bobby to discuss training and baby further. As requested by Moe who is still in a panic and apparently wants all information available to him. I believe Moe thinks we are all crazy for continuing any sort of training. Hector drops me home exhausted and I call it a day. After a shower, I nurse a chia green tea; I am trying my best to enjoy tea now I can't have coffee. After going shopping for tea I ended up coming home with 8 different types of tea because I couldn't decide and frankly it was a bit overwhelming. Who knew there were so many varieties? Sitting down in living room I make a list of things to do tomorrow.
1. See Vinnie.
2. See tank
3. Finalise the lease on apartment
4. Give notice to Dillon/ask Grandma if she would like my apartment. Rent is paid 6months ahead.
5. Organise boys for security
6. Get training schedule from Bobby.
Looking over the list I decide to kill a couple of birds with one stone and ring Tank.
"Yo Little Girl" he answers happily on the second ring.
I smile, "yo Tank. I am coming to see you tomorrow to discuss work. I also have to see Hector and Les about security on the new apartment and Bobby about my training. How about I bring pizza for lunch and we can do all this organizing in one visit? I wait for Tank's reply.
"Sounds good Little Girl. How's midday that will leave plenty of time for the boys to do the security on the apartment. "
"Great! thanks Tanks. See ya tomorrow."
"No worries. I'll let the boys know. See ya then Little Girl"
"Bye Tank" and hang up relieved to have that arranged.
I let out a big yawn. Baby is making me sleepy, my first sign of pregnancy luckily no morning sickness for now anyway. I call it an early day heading to bed with my new baby book, compliments of Lula, "Up the Duff" by Kaz Cooke.
Hmm... Interesting start to a book; The Pregnancy Quiz.
Question 5. Inducement is:
a) A very large diamond ring and a holiday in the Bahamas
b) An artificial medical process it stimulate labour
c) Holding a Tim Tam at the end of the vagina to coax the baby out (A/N I don't think you can get Tim Tams the US. They are a soft chocolate centred biscuit covered in chocolate. Completely naughty. As Ranger would say "that stuff will kill you Babe". )
d) A technical term for the placement of the placenta
I could get use to reading this pregnancy book I think to myself while letting out a laugh.
Question 8. Placenta is:
a) the most popular girls name after Sarah, Rebecca and Madison
b) The geographical location where you have your baby
c) A big gloppy item that looks like a liver and keeps the baby alive with nutrients and oxygen
d) A terrific marketing opportunity if you put it through a blender, whack it in a moisturiser and give it a French name. (Ewwwww is my first thought)
Question 9. The easiest way of giving birth is by:
a) Taking all the drugs you can get your hands on and shouting a lot at random people (I would add Italian hand gestures with the shouting)
b) imagining you're in a perfectly charming wheat field having sex with Brad Pitt (hmmm... Well I would skip the wheat field and exchange Brad for a Ranger)
c) Having a general anaesthetic and paying someone to look after the baby for the first ten years
d) Whatever means necessary at the time?
e) Just like they do it in the movies
After reading the quiz and having a much needed laugh I decide to skip straight to what is happening with baby now at week 12.
According to Kaz, I may be feeling "very tired - after all, you're not just a fascinating, sophisticated minx anymore; you're a walking host organ." Huh, Good to know. I also find out my baby is about 18 grams in weight and is an average length of about 5cm from head to bum. Wow! So tiny. He/she really is a peanut. I feel my heart swell with love for this little baby and my body fills with happiness while butterflies flutter inside my stomach with excitement and little nerves. I am having a baby. I am growing a little human. Amazing.
