Hey, everybody! Sorry it's been so long since an update. I want to thank each and every one of you for your wonderful reviews and for your excitement over the sex of the babies! More fun to come in the upcoming chapters. Stay tuned! Hope you all have a good weekend. -Jill

Lester stepped between Ranger and Officer Picky after Ranger had been cuffed. "Gaspick, what the hell? You don't have to take him downtown," he exclaimed angrily, nodding his head toward Ranger.

"Oh, I believe I do, Santos," Picky replied snidely.

"What do we do with Morelli?" Gaspick's partner wanted to know.

Gaspick looked deep in thought for a moment, furrowing his brow. "Uncuff him," he answered finally.

Gaspick's partner immediately unlocked the cuffs from around Morelli's wrists and replaced them on his utility belt.

"C'mon, fellas," Morelli began, slowly rising from his chair and wincing in pain. "Don't do this. His wife's pregnant, for crying out loud!"

"Morelli," boomed Gaspick. "We did you a favor by removing those cuffs. If you want, we can replace them." Picky turned to Les. "And how about a pair for you, Santos?"

Lester and Morelli fell silent. In a weird way, Picky had too much power right now. He was really milking his badge.

"Let's go, Manoso." With that, Officer Picky and his partner hauled Ranger up by the armpits and began frog-marching him towards the Ballroom exit, pushing through masked guests on the way.

I ran after them, throwing caution to the wind as I dodged guests and outstretched feet in my heels. "It was just a minor altercation, that's all! It's over with now!"

Picky dug his heels in and whirled around to face me. "Mrs. Manoso -

Ranger interrupted him. "Babe. Let them take me down to the station. It's their job. Please, don't make this harder than it has to be. I'll be out in a couple of hours." Ranger's eyes looked tired and he appeared to be sobering slightly. He looked behind me to Lester and Bobby. "Santos. Call Vinnie."

"But -

"Babe."

I shut my mouth. The discussion was over. My chin began trembling as Picky and his partner led Ranger out of the Ballroom, into the main hotel lobby. Lula and Dayna came up behind me and each took one of my hands and walked with me as we followed behind them. Ana had all of our purses and masks, bringing up the rear. A small crowd of guests had ambled out to the lobby to watch Ranger duck into Picky's squad car.

"We're here for you, white girl," I heard Lula mutter as we stood huddled together out on the macadam, knees knocking together from being in the chilly Halloween night breeze without our coats. Beside me, Dayna's teeth were chattering.

"Love you, babe," Ranger called to me, just before Picky placed his hand on his head and pushed him into the backseat. Picky slammed the door shut and he and his partner tore away from the curb with Ranger, lights flashing and thankfully no siren.

"Fucking asshole," Tank muttered from behind us, referring to Picky. He, Lester, Bobby, and Morelli had all come up to stand behind us. Lester and Bobby wrapped Dayna and Ana into their arms to keep them warm while Lula held tightly onto my shoulders.

Morelli hobbled up to Big Dog and Eddie Gazzara, who had just joined the group. "What'll they book him for? Public intox? Drunk and disorderly?"

Eddie shook his head. "I have a hard time believing anything like that will hold up in court," he scoffed. "Probably no charges will be filed at all. I think Gaspick just wanted to show his force tonight and prove to the department that he could take down someone as powerful as Carlos Manoso. Drunk and in a vampire costume, nonetheless."

"Think so?" Tank inquired.

"Yeah," Eddie replied. He turned to me. "Don't worry, Steph. I don't even think you need to get your cousin involved."

"I just got off the phone with Vinnie," spoke up Lester. "I think he was in the middle of something that sounded a little like a special Halloween whips and chains session with Barnhardt." Lester shuddered at the thought. "He told me that hell will freeze over before Gaspick books Ranger for anything and gets away with it."

"I'm still going down to the station," I told everyone. "I'm going to try to reason with Picky to get him to let Ranger off the hook without booking any charges."

"Need us to go with you, Steph?" volunteered Tank.

I shook my head. "No. It's all right. Thanks, though."

Lula, Dayna, and Ana walked me down to the parking garage after we'd retrieved our jackets from the coatroom attendant in the hotel lobby. I located the Denali in the section I'd remembered Ranger parking it in and remoted the doors unlocked.

"Lester and I are riding back with Tank and Lula," Dayna told me. "So don't worry about us. Just make sure Ranger's okay."

I nodded and pulled her to me for a hug. "I will. Thank you."

Ana and Lula were next to receive an embrace. Ana kissed my cheek before pulling away. "Call us as soon as you know something."

"I will," I said again. "I don't know what to expect from going down to that station, but I can't let Ranger sit in that holding cell alone, wondering if I'm okay and all. Even if I end up just sitting outside until they let him go, I'll do it. There's no other options for me right now. I have to be there with him as he goes through this. My parents can keep Samantha until Ranger comes home."

"You're a wonderful wife, Steph," Lula said softly. "I'm proud of you. We all are."

The smile I returned to her was wavering as I fought back tears. I looked at each of their beautifully made-up faces and knew that these three women were the best friends I'd probably ever have in my life. We each shared such a special bond. Not only had our husbands all grown from boys into men together, but between the four of us women we were carrying four children who would no doubt grow into little people together, too. It was an amazing thought. We were all so extremely lucky.

Dayna broke me from my thoughts. "You'd better get going, Steph." She handed me my purse and my sparkly mask on a stick.

"You guys go back in and enjoy the rest of the party," I told them. "Please don't let this spoil your evening."

"Actually," Lula began, shifting uncomfortably in her Manolo knock-offs. "I'm more than ready for some Brown Bear Lovin'. I think we might be goin' soon."

Dayna nodded and squirmed in her dress. "Yeah, the Phantom and I have huge plans for this evening that don't include singing at the opera together. I'm ready to rip that cape off of him and let him do me up against the bellhop podium in the lobby."

"Picky'll be back to arrest you and Sexy for public lewd and lascivious," warned Lula.

"I don't give a crap."

Laughing silently to myself, I hoisted my hips up into the Denali and swung my legs under the steering wheel. "Wait until our second trimester starts. Our men will all be walking funny."

"Damn skippy," agreed Lula. "I heard your fourth month begins a pretty horny stage."

I couldn't resist adding, "Yeah. You'll want it at the weirdest times, in the weirdest places. I accompanied Ranger to a dental appointment once while I was pregnant with Samantha and watching him get a cavity filled was, for some reason, the damn near sexiest thing I'd ever seen. I'm telling you, there's nothing you can do to prepare for it. It'll suck you in and you won't be able to do anything about it."

"Awesome," muttered Ana. "I barely have enough time to breathe now, with the studio and school and all. How are Bobby and I going to fit even more sex into our busy schedules?" True to her roots from the Dominican Republic, Ana and her sister Jesenia ran a busy Latin dance studio in Newark for underprivileged teenagers and young adults. She was also studying for her Master's degree in Forensic Psychology at Rutgers.

"Your man looks like L.L. Cool J with cornrows," frowned Lula, huffing and fanning herself. "I wouldn't have a problem with fitting all that hot sex in if I were you."

Ana's light cocoa skin flushed. "Lula," she chided, thoroughly embarrassed.

"Okay, now I really have to get going," I exclaimed. "I'll let you know what happens." I slammed the Denali's driver door shut and rolled down the window.

"Call when you can," Lula instructed me. "And tell Batman not to become anybody's bitch while he's barred up in the clink. That wouldn't be pretty." Lula shivered at the heinous thought.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure," I said, exasperated. "Have fun tonight, you guys." I put the SUV into reverse and slowly backed out of the parking space.

"Bye, Steph," they shouted as I pulled away. "Love you! Good luck!"

I sniveled and snotted nearly the entire way to the downtown TPD precinct. By the time I reached the visitors' parking lot, my face was a mess and I'd soaked through four Kleenexes that were black with mascara and eyeliner. Ranger was no doubt at the station by now, getting processed in. As soon as I was inside, I looked around for a recognizable face and was crushed to see that both the docket lieutenant and the processing clerk were both unfamiliar to me.

"Can I help you?" the lieutenant asked me.

"My husband was just brought here by Officer Gaspick," I told him. "Carlos Manoso."

"Oh, the vampire," sneered the lieutenant, turning to the clerk and sharing an amused chuckle with her. "Cell number nine." He hit a buzzer and the heavy metal door beside him clicked open.

"Thanks," I muttered, hurrying through the door and into a long hallway. I ticked off cell numbers in my head as I travelled down the hall, looking for number nine. Most of the cells I passed were empty but when I reached number nine, three other guys were accompanying Ranger on the benches inside. Ranger was seated with his back up against the far wall, studying the other men intently, looking more pissed off than I'd ever seen him. I caught his eye through the iron bars of the cell and a look of surprise crossed over his features.

"Babe," he hissed, leaping up from the metal bench and standing in front of me. He kissed me gently through the slats in the cell bars and reached out to caress my cheek. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't let you go through this alone," I blubbered. "I came to convince Picky to let you go."

Ranger chuckled lightly. "You didn't have to come down here," he said to me. "Gaspick's not booking me for anything. He can't, really. He'd get laughed out of the department. He told me to sleep it off and then call you in the morning on the pay phone to come pick me up."

"Why can't you leave now? It's not like you're still bombed," I said. Ranger's eyes were droopy and I knew he had to be exhausted, but otherwise sober. Chatter between the remaining three drunks in the cell behind Ranger ceased and six ears were now listening intently to our conversation. At that point, I really didn't care that we had an audience.

"Can't, babe. Gaspick's orders."

Fresh tears began spilling out of my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. "I'm waiting right here with you, then," I told him. "You're not a criminal. You don't deserve to be here."

"Babe," Ranger sighed. "I just don't want to make any trouble, okay? Where are Tank and Santos and Brown?"

"Right about now?" I glanced at the wall clock behind me. "Getting laid," I replied.

"Fuckers," muttered Ranger under his breath.

I raised an eyebrow and sniffled back some tears. "Jealous, Ranger?"

"Of course," was the menacing reply. "Babe, you look so beautiful tonight. I wanted so badly to show you how much I love you when we got back home from the party."

"Yeah?" I said, smiling through my tears.

"Yes," he said softly. "You were the most beautiful woman in that ballroom tonight. With your gorgeous hair, and your little belly showing through that amazing dress. You can light up an entire room with just your smile alone." He placed his hand on my cheek again and brushed a few rogue tears away with his thumb. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too," I whimpered. "I hate that I can't have your arms around me right now."

Ranger leaned in and gently pressed his lips to mine through the cell's slats. "I know, babe, me too." He took my lips with his again and swept his tongue into my mouth, making me groan softly and squirm against the cell bars.

Several hoots and hollers from Ranger's three drunk cellmates blasted through the room, echoing down the hall. "C'mon, let 'im go!" and "Stop bein' a dickhead, Gaspick!" rang out through the cell.

"Fine, fine," said a resigned voice from behind me. I whirled around and there stood Officer Gaspick, jingling a ring of keys and locating the one that would presumably open Ranger's cell. He approached the cell's lock and twisted the key into it before rolling back the heavy metal bars. "Get out of here, Manoso." He smiled sheepishly at Ranger and I. "Nice speech, by the way. Very touching."

"Thank you so much," I gushed to him, grabbing a hold of my husband's hand and yanking him out of the cell before Picky rolled the door shut again. "Happy Halloween, Officer."

"You too," Picky called after us, but Ranger and I had already disappeared down the hall, eager to get home.

My dress was off and Ranger was sliding his hot, soft lips down over the swell of my belly, in the direction of the promised land. He paused to flick his amazing tongue into my stretched-flat belly button and continued his trail of fire until he reached the dewy curls at the top of my wetness. I was writhing beneath him as his skillful fingers coasted up my thighs and gently probed my folds before parting them, allowing him access to my most intimate locale.

"You are so beautiful," he mumbled against my hip before nipping it with his teeth. He dragged his mouth back up to my chest and focused his attention on one of my hypersensitive nipples, drawing it in between his lips and swirling his tongue around it slowly while two of his long, thick fingers made their way into my tight, wet hole.

"Ranger!" I bucked against his hand and came almost instantaneously, feeling my nipples pucker painfully and my lower half contract. Ranger drew out my orgasm to eternity and a hot, flowing sensation passed through my center.

I still wasn't satisfied. I needed all of him, filling me and stretching me. I had been so on edge all evening and the need to have him buried deep inside me was almost overwhelming. Ranger shucked his pants and boxer-briefs before settling himself between my legs again. His thick head was poised at my slick opening, ready to invade my body and take me to points unknown.

"Thank you for rescuing me tonight, babe." He placed soft, gentle kisses all over my face and neck. His hands threaded themselves into my curls as he held my head back, exposing my throat to his lips. My hands made their way to his delicious bottom and dug in, the soft skin melting into my fingertips as I caressed his luscious cheeks. He pressed against my opening and slipped just the head inside, making me scream out in frustrated anticipation of what was to come. His lips assaulted my collarbone and moved down to my breasts as he repeatedly dipped himself just barely inside of me and retreated, driving me insane.

Finally Ranger took mercy on me and plunged deep, stretching my core and filling me to the hilt. I couldn't help the cry of extreme pleasure that escaped my lungs and echoed off of the walls of our bedroom. He dragged out and pushed in again, working us both toward orgasms of an earth-shattering caliber, taking me higher and higher with each thrust of his hips. Finally we came together as one, flying off the cliff in unison as Ranger's moans mingled with my shouts of delight. He sprayed his thick heat across my belly and in between my breasts, my name on his lips as he milked his nuts of come and slid his fingers across my throbbing clit.

"Fucking Christ, babe," Ranger gasped, collapsing onto his elbows, smearing the artwork he'd created on my chest and belly. He dipped his head into the crook of my neck and his hot breaths blasted onto my overheated skin. "Happy Halloween."

I smiled, completely satisfied and purring underneath the weight of his body. "Same to you, Batman."

My desk phone rang and I answered it on my headset. "This is Stephanie," I said into the receiver.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" a voice exclaimed as soon as the connection was made. Ugh, he was too excited at this hour. Eight o'clock was, in my opinion, way too early to be calling people, even people who were already at work. And especially people who were no longer able to have caffeine in order to become Mary Sunshine.

"Hey, Les," I mumbled. "Thanksgiving's not until tomorrow, you know."

"Yeah, I know. But I can't help it, I'm just so excited."

I felt myself smiling widely. "On your way to find out?"

"You know it. We just left. Dayna's got morning sickness again. She's afraid that if she opens her mouth to speak, puke will come out instead." Over the phone, I heard the turbo hiss as Lester upshifted the G35. "I'm calling you because Ranger's not answering his cell. I wanted to let him know what time our flight is this afternoon."

"When is it?"

"Our plane leaves Newark for Miami International at six o' five on the dot. We should be in South Florida by nine-thirty or so. Maybe sooner."

I jotted their flight information onto a sticky note and stuck it onto my purse. "Okay, I'll let Ranger know. How long will you be gone?"

"We're staying with the Marreros until Sunday. I'll be back on duty Monday morning."

"Call me the second Dayna has that ultrasound," I barked to Lester. "I'm dying here!"

Lula dashed into my office. "That Sexy on the phone? Did they find out yet?" she hissed to me.

I shook my head. "They're on their way to Dr. Saunders's office," I told Lula. I moved the mic back in front of my mouth. "All right, Les. Good luck!" Lula and I both squelched hysterical squeals of excitement after I disconnected from Santos.

"What time do you and the boss have your appointment today?" Lula wanted to know. She seated herself in one of my guest chairs.

"Four," I said, removing my phone headset and turning to face Lula. "Honestly, I'm not sure what I'm hoping for this time around. Ranger and I have talked about it, but we both agreed that we didn't care as long as it was healthy."

Lula nodded sagely. "Us, too. Although deep down I think my Tankie wants a boy and, truthfully, I'd like to have a girl. But you're right. Nothing matters as long as he or she is healthy."

"Dayna doesn't really care, either, but Lester's pushing for a boy." Dear Lord, for my daughter's sake I hoped they were having a girl. I quickly envisioned Samantha and Santos's son, on their first date at ages thirteen and fourteen. He'd wear aftershave and take her to the movies and insist they sit in the back row -

Lula interrupted my musings. "You're thinking too far ahead, white girl," Lula said, cockeyed and seemingly reading my mind. "I know what you're thinking. Sexy's son and Sam. For what it's worth, he might not even be her type."

"If she turns out to be anything like me, he will be."

Ranger's knee kept bouncing up and down in the scratchy wool waiting room chair at Dr. Radcliff's office. It was ten minutes until four and neither of us had heard anything from Dayna and Lester. I'd tried calling Dayna's cell, but it rang and rang until it went to voicemail. Lester's cell didn't ring at all; it just went straight to voicemail.

Finally, Ranger's knee bounced one too many times and I turned to face him. "Calm down," I told him. "You're acting like you're waiting to find out if you're dy -

My cell rang and blasted a funky ringtone throughout the waiting room. Several annoyed stares from other patients forced me to lower the volume and I whispered, "Hello?" into the mouthpiece.

"Steph," Dayna exclaimed. "Are you there?"

"I'm here," I hissed. I turned to Ranger and mouthed, "Dayna" to him. "So? Did you find out?" I was practically crackling with excitement. Ranger sat forward in his seat in anticipation and leaned towards me.

"It's a girl," she gushed. I let out a huge breath and squealed, much to the dismay of the already-annoyed waiting room occupants.

"Dayna and Lester are having a girl," I exclaimed to Ranger, bopping him happily on the shoulder. I turned back to the phone. "Why did it take you so long to call?"

"Dr. Saunders had to deliver a baby," explained Dayna. "We had to wait a little while. And Les's phone died."

"Is everything okay?" I asked her. "Is she healthy?"

"She's perfect," sighed Dayna. "I'm so happy we found out today. I can't wait to tell my parents in person!"

"Have a safe flight," I told her. "We love you guys."

"Love you too," Dayna gushed. I heard Lester in the background, presumably on the phone to somebody, whooping happily. She disconnected and as soon as I put my phone back into my purse, the office door opened and Dr. Radcliff's nurse called my name.

Here we go, I thought. Ranger helped me up and led me through the door by the hand. After weighing me and taking my blood pressure, the nurse seated us in the ultrasound room and shut the door behind her, leaving Ranger and I alone.

"Santos and a house full of women," laughed Ranger, as soon as I'd made myself comfortable in the stirrups and my paper gown. He grinned at me from the chair across the room. "Our daughter is safe."

"Until they pop out another one," I pointed out. "At the rate they're going, she'll be pregnant again in no time."

Ranger chuckled again. "I've already spoken to him regarding the matter. I think they'll be waiting awhile before doing this again."

I grew serious. "I'm nervous, Ranger," I said to him. Ranger immediately got up and pulled his chair up next to my exam table and took my hand in both of his own before kissing my palm.

"Everything will be fine, babe. It doesn't matter to me what we have, you know that. I just want our new baby to be happy and healthy."

I felt tears spring to my eyes. "But you know what we're both hoping for, right?" I asked him. He nodded. "Do you think it'll happen?"

Ranger shrugged. "There's no telling, babe. Let's leave it in God's hands."

Just then, Dr. Radcliff swung into the room and started setting up the ultrasound machine after greeting Ranger and I. He lubed up the probe and got to work.

"Everything looks very healthy so far, Manosos," Dr. Radcliff said happily after awhile. "Interested in knowing what you're having?"

Ranger and I looked at each other. I nodded to Dr. Radcliff. I squeezed my eyes shut so as to not sneak a look at the ultrasound screen. Ranger leaned over Dr. Radcliff's shoulder as he murmered something to Ranger, both of their eyes presumably glued to the ultrasound screen.

"So that's what it is?" I heard Ranger ask Dr. Radcliff.

"Yep." Dr. Radcliff removed the probe from me and snapped off his gloves. "Congratulations, you two." He shook Ranger's hand and patted my shoulder before exiting the room.

I drew in a deep breath. "So?" I asked Ranger. "Is it what we were hoping for?"

Ranger crushed his lips to mine and when he pulled away, we were both breathless. "Babe," he said, smiling happily.

"I'd like to make a Thanksgiving toast," my grandmother announced to the dinner table. A bit of her Merlot sloshed out of her glass as she raised it and splashed onto the linen tablecloth.

Ella hurried over and attempted to blot the spill with a kitchen towel. "That's all right, Edna," she said quietly. "Carry on."

Poor Ella. "Grandma," I hissed. "Lower your glass!"

Grandma lowered her glass about an inch and proceeded with her toast. "To my granddaughter Stephanie and her husband Ranger," she slurred. "And our new grandchild that's on the way. Well, my new great-grandchild."

"We found out the sex yesterday," I announced, as soon as everyone had sipped from their glasses and set them back onto the table. My mother's fork clattered onto her plate. My dad's head raised up from his turkey. Valerie, Kloughn, and the girls grew quiet. Mr. and Mrs. Manosos' jaws hit the table. Ranger's brother Alex and his wife Sofia gasped. Grandma just kept on smiling. Samantha hit Mary Alice with a carrot.

"And you waited until now to tell us what you're having?" my mother sputtered.

"We wanted it to be a surprise," Ranger said, setting his glass of White Zin back onto the table. "A Thanksgiving surprise."

Mrs. Manoso, Sofia, and Valerie squealed with joy. My mother got over her outrage and smiled tearfully. "Is everything healthy?" she asked me.

I nodded and smiled. "Yeah. Completely okay." Several collective sighs of relief surfaced around the table.

"So what are you having, you guys?" exclaimed Valerie to Ranger and I. "Stop stalling!"

I took a deep breath and got ready to tell them.

So Picky turned out to be a nice guy, after all! It may not be the last we see of him, though. Bummer! What are Steph and Ranger having? Find out in the next chapter! Glad you're all enjoying the story so far!