(Chapter 10, enjoy, read and review please!)

Not mine, not making any money, it's just for FUUUUN!

Chapter 10, Starting Over

Heidi let out a sound, rubbing her stomach and opening her eyes. Where in the hell was she? She could hear beeping sounds and smell the sterile smell of hospital. Oh, she went to stop Stephanie from confronting Joe. What good that did, she almost lost her and the baby's life. She really should have bent down some more to get the Glock Carlos had in the Cayenne. Heidi closed her eyes again thinking about the pair of blue eyes she saw. Could that have been Diesel? No, Diesel was dead, he had been dead for about four months, she saw his dead body, she had his ashes in an urn up at the seventh floor penthouse. Diesel was definitely dead.

Heidi turned feeling a large hand covering her. Carlos was beside her sleeping. He looked completely at ease in his sleep, but when he woke up, Heidi knew she would be in for it. it had been around midnight when Mary Lou called her, she didn't want anyone to know where she was, so she scrambled the trackers and the cameras. Next time, she won't do that again.

"You won't," Carlos said, his voice rough with sleep, "If you do, I'll lock you up in a tower, with a moat."

Heidi chuckled and said, "Good morning, sleepy head, how long have I been in the hospital?"

"Two days, you had just been moved down to the general area yesterday," Carlos said, stretching and looking over to Heidi, who looking back at him, "Don't you ever do that again, ever."

Heidi felt lips on hers and Carlos ran his fingers through Heidi's hair, before he pulled up, "I don't know what to do if I had lost you."

Carlos kissed Heidi again and said softly, "The way I feel about you, Heidi, it's real, these past four months, of us being together, I wouldn't trade them away for anything. Being with you, sparked life in me again, Heidi, I love you."

Heidi felt her heart swell, and then she smiled saying, "I love you too, Carlos, I'm sure Diesel approves of us being together. It's still…sore to talk about him, but I'm healing every day."

Carlos smiled and then kissed Heidi's cheek. He got up and then said, 'Everyone wants to see you, but you need to see someone first, his name is Alexander, and he's Diesel's brother."

Heidi felt her heart skip a beat, Diesel had a brother? Maybe she wasn't crazy after all, "Okay, let me see him…."

Carlos kissed Heidi again, walked over to the door and opened it. Heidi heard him say, "Alexander, she wants to see you," and then Carlos was back at her side.

Heidi felt her body go slack as the man walked into the hospital room. There he was, her dead husband. The same face, the same hair, the same everything. When he smiled, he had the same dimples. Heidi let out a loud sob, and said, "Please, tell me you're all joking! Please! Why do you look like my late husband?"

"Heidi," Alexander said going over to the bed, "I am Diesel's twin brother; I was the only family member he had left."

Heidi shook her head, covering her mouth and turning to the side. It was too much for her, she was going to scream. Alexander, sensing her distress said in a low voice, "I am sorry, if I my image has stunned you, but I promise you, this is not a joke, Heidi, I am Diesel's-"

"Get out," Heidi said pulling her hand down her mouth, "Please, get out, now, I can't deal with this, I can't."

"Heidi," Alexander started but Heidi covered her ears and said, "Get out, get out, GET OUT!"

Alexander nodded his head, and gave Carlos his business card, "This is my cell phone number, if you need anything, call me, I'll be in Newark for a bit."

Once Alexander left, Heidi began to cry, tugging at her hair, "No, no, no, no, why do you do this to me now!"

Carlos swept her up in his arms, whispering softly to her, once she was free to leave the hospital, he was taking her to Miami, and who knows, maybe for the rest of the pregnancy.

"We'll go to Miami, just us two," Carlos said, after Heidi stopped crying, "No one will bother us, it'll be me you and Julie."

Heidi nodded her head and said, "That sounds good Carlos, I don't want to deal with anyone, right now."

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Stephanie thanked Lula and Tank before she closed the door to the guest room she was staying in. she placed her duffle bag on the large bed and began to unpack what little clothes she bought with her. she would stay with Lula and Tank until she could get her bearings. She knew one thing, that house on Slate Street had to go. She was well off, money wise, due to the fact that Stephanie got Joe's life insurance, pension and any other property he had. She had sold his SUV and was making plans to go and talk to a real estate agent. Tank and Lula would help her out, in any way they can. It was like she never cut them out of their lives. Those were true friends, even Jeanne offered to help her out. Jeanne hadn't had liked her in the first place, and was stepping up to help. It made Stephanie's mind whirl.

She didn't know what she would do after all of that. She knew that she wouldn't stay in the 'burg anymore. Valarie came to see her at the hospital and told her that her ex-mother had smeared her name all over the place. Stephanie was now the woman with the scarlet letter in the 'burg's eye. For the first time in two years, she really didn't care, what other people thought of her. She was going on 40 damn it; it was time to live her life to the fullest! She had always wanted to go to an island paradise.

Stephanie smiled, thinking about white sands, warm blue waters and large green palm trees. She didn't need a husband, or a man, all she needed was Stephanie, the Stephanie that once took all the bullshit and let it slide off her shoulders. The Stephanie that was cocky and sure of herself.

Stephanie placed a hand on her flat stomach and sighed. She would miss the life she had carried for a bit, but she now knew who she had gotten pregnant. Her mother, and Joe had sabotaged her birth control, just so that she would have to stay with Joe, for the children's sake. Thanks to Joe, that would have never happened, he was the one who made her lose their child. Karma indeed, but why did she and her child had to pay the horrible price .

Stephanie sat down on the bed, thinking about Carlos and Heidi, they were together now, she was sure of it. The look in Carlos's eyes as he spoke about the woman, confirmed her suspicions. Did he have that look in his eyes when he talked about her? did his face light up, did his whole body seem to inflate with love and devotion? It made Stephanie's heart clench thinking about the what ifs. It was too late now, they had all made their choices in life and Stephanie had chosen wrong.

Stephanie looked up from her thoughts, seeing the door be pushed open, and two year old Chantal came ambling in, looking at Stephanie shyly. Stephanie flashed her a smile and soon she had an armful of the two year old toddler.

"Hi!" Chantal said with a smile, "I'm Chan-tal! Mommy says you my aunt! I have lotsa aunts now!"

Stephanie smiled and said, "Wow, can you tell me all of them?"

"Mhmm! You, Auntie Jeanne and Auntie Heidi!" Chantal said with a smile, "I have lotsa uncles too, but one went to bed, Uncle Diesel…he's never waking up again."

"Diesel?!" Stephanie said stunned, "Diesel's dead! Was Heidi with Diesel, Chantal?"

Chantal nodded her head and said, "Yup, I never seen Diesel afore, but Auntie Jeanne said he would have liked me, I'm just like my mommy, full of herself!"

Stephanie felt numb, Diesel, the one that would pop up every so often, had been married to Heidi, and had died. Oh goodness, poor Heidi! Stephanie paused and thought about the partner Carlos talked about, Diesel had been his partner, and they had been best friends even. No wonder why Carlos and Heidi were so close, Diesel and Carlos had known each other!

"Poor Heidi," Stephanie said, covering her mouth, feeling tears on her cheek, "Poor Heidi! and I wanted to think ill will on her!"

Stephanie got up, holding Chantal in her arms, "Come on Chantal, let's go talk to Mommy and Daddy."

(~~~~~~~~~~)

Stephanie sat at the little kitchen table absorbing what Lula and Tank just told her. She ran a hand over her eyes and said softly, "I never knew about Ranger's other life. I didn't know he and Diesel had been that close that Diesel asked him to watch over Heidi if anything were to happen."

"He asked Diesel to do the same thing with you, if anything were to happen to him," Tank said, patting Stephanie's arm, "Those two always made sure that their loved ones would be protected and watched over."

Stephanie sighed and said, "Is Heidi out the hospital yet? I need to talk to her, I haven't been talking to her, and I wanted to thank her for what she did, that night at the hotel, even if she did fail…"

Tank and Lula gave each other looks and Lula said, "Carlos took her down to Miami, for the remainder of her pregnancy, wanted her some place less hectic. Diesel's brother came and it gave her a shock."

"Diesel had a brother?! The man who shot Joe, he's Diesel's brother," Stephanie said, thinking, "How did he know where Heidi was?"

"Carlos said that Alexander is one of those suits for the part of the Organization that he does missions for, he had been watching over Heidi in secret for a while now." Tank said leaning back in his chair, "Wanted to take her back to Russia with him, but Carlos wouldn't let him. Stephanie, Carlos-"

"Is in love with Heidi, and I wish them both all the happiness," Stephanie said with a soft smile, "It's time I moved on with my life, make something from myself, if Carlos is in my life or if he isn't it doesn't matter, it's time I thought about me, and my future."

Lula smiled and said, "I like your answer, Stephanie, I got this cheesecake I made, we should eat it together, though I used this natural shit, I've been eating healthy since I've lost this weight."

"Sounds wonderful, Lula, I missed you all, you know, I should have never turned my back to you guys. What was I thinking, worrying about the damn 'burg, it's a place full of people, who could give a rat's ass about me, you guys, you guys truly are my family, even after all this time apart, you still take me in and treat me as if we haven't been apart for so long."

Tank smiled and said, "glad to see you back, little girl, now let's enjoy some of that cake."

(~~~~~~~~~~)

Heidi leaned against the wooden beam that was on the porch of the beach house Carlos owned. The moment she had been released from the hospital, Carlos had her on the jet and whisked her off to Miami. It was nice and warm and the air around her smelt wonderful. Carlos had even packed Diesel's shirt and Urn for her, so she wouldn't have to return to the penthouse. When the jet landed in sunny Miami, Carlos had a idling black Cayenne waiting for them at the airport. It had been a two hour drive to the private beach house and beach area. The house was a two story home, near the edge of the beach. It was white with black shutters and a black roof. There was a huge porch that wrapped around the house and a stone path that led to the private beach area. It felt like an oasis.

Heidi leaned into the hard chest behind her, letting strong arms wrap around her and large hands rest on her baby bump. The scent of Carlos soothing her.

"Do you like this place?" Carlos asked Heidi, rubbing soothing circles over her baby bump, "we can go somewhere else if this isn't-"

"I love it," Heidi said, kissing Carlos deeply, "Don't make so much of a fuss, no more moving, traveling is bad for the baby, remember?"

"You're right, I just want to make sure you and the baby are happy where we are, I want it to be the place where she grows up." Carlos said, turning Heidi around, "I'm serious, I want you in my life, Heidi, I want you and the baby, in my life, I want raise her as my own daughter."

Heidi shuddered softly, resting her forehead on Carlos's forehead, "I think Diesel would be pleased with what you said."

(~~~~~~~~~~)

Heidi said in the rocking chair that was situated in the living room. She watched as Carlos paced around the area, nervous.

"Come on Carlos, it can't be that bad, Julie is only 16, you can handle a 16 year old girl." Heidi said with amusement, watching Carlos pace with worry.

"Sure you say, I can handle drug lords, terrorist, and assassins, but hormonal 16 year olds…I don't think I can." Carlos said, looking over to Heidi, "And Rachel told me she's been acting real moody, and doesn't talk to anyone, what am I supposed to do with that?"

Heidi shrugged her shoulders and said, "She's 16, she's going to bottle it all in, and not tell anyone, that's what 16 year olds do."

Heidi let out a giggle, watching Carlos groan with horror. She looked up, hearing the doorbell ring, "I think it's our charge, go get it."

Carlos gave Heidi a look, which made her giggle again, and then went to get the door. There standing on the other side, was Julie. She had grown up into a beautiful young woman, looking like her father, with lighter skin tones, and more softer female features, at 5'11, she must be towering over the other girls at her school. She had her hair up in a ponytail, wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top with a band on it. in hands was a duffle bag and on her back was a backpack. She had an I-pod in her hand and ear buds in her ears.

"Julie," Carlos said, hugging his daughter, who gave him a halfhearted hug, "I want you to meet someone, the woman I told you on the phone."

Julie walked into the house and made a sound, "Oh, Heidi, okay, where is she?"

Carlos led Julie into the living room and said, "Julie, this is Heidi, Heidi, this is Julie."

Heidi got up from her spot, saying, "Why, it's a pleasure to meet you, Julie, I've heard so much about you from your father, he's quite proud of you, you know."

Julie gave Heidi a small smile and said, "I wish I could say the same thing about you," making Carlos and Heidi give her a look, "I'm going up to my room, to unpack, and junk."

Carlos turned to Heidi and said, 'See, 16 and hormonal, I don't think I can handle this," running a hand through his hair.

"Give her time, she'll come around." Heidi said with a smile.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Three days into her visit, and Julie had yet to come around. She only came downstairs for meals and then was back in her room. Carlos was at his wits end, and Heidi knew that it was killing him that his daughter wouldn't talk to him. He had made all these plans, and every time he would ask Julie to join, she would shake her head and say no and go back into her room.

Heidi turned to Carlos In the lavish bed. he was fast asleep, one arm thrown over his face, the other arm tucked on his stomach. Heidi looked to the clock, 2:30 in the morning, she knew that Julie would be awake now.

Heidi slid out of the bed, and waddled out of the master bedroom and down the hall to Julie's room, and knocked softly. Heidi was rewarded by the door opening and Julie gave her a look with soft brown eyes that were red with tears.

Heidi made a sound and said, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Julie shook her head, stifling a sob, and then said, "nothing, it's just…nothing."

Heidi peered into the bedroom, seeing the tablet out and Facebook on it and said, "May I come in? I think I know what's going on."

"No you don't, you're an adult, you must be like 40 or something," Julie said letting Heidi in nonetheless, "You have no idea what I'm going through."

Heidi gave Julie a pout and said, "I'm 27, I think I have an inkling about what you're going through.'

"You're 27? My dad is like 35, you two are eight years apart!" Julie said, her eyes wide, "How-"

"My husband," Heidi said, rubbing her stomach, "Carlos was best friends with my husband, who was older than me by about 10 years, might I add."

"Where is he now?" Julie asked, sitting beside Heidi on the bed, beside Heidi, moving the tablet out the way.

"He died a few months, back,' Heidi sighed, before she rubbed her stomach, "We were married for five years, we worked at the same place with your father."

Julie leaned forward to Heidi and asked, "That would mean you were 22 when you and your husband got married, and he, 32, Dad does military junk, how did you get into military junk too?"

"I was born into, literally," Heidi said softly, "Tell you what, I'll tell you something that no one but a certain people know, if you tell me what has you moody, let me guess, boyfriend problems?"

Julie blushed and said, "Yeah, I like him a lot, we've been together for about 4 months now, and well, he wants it to go farther."

Heidi made a sound and said, leaning back, "so, buttercup, what do your parents think?"

"They just keep telling me that I can't have sex, that if I do start doing it, I'll be kicked out the house, I-I don't think I'm not ready, I'm old enough, it's not like they haven't done it as teenagers! It's not right!"

Heidi nodded her head and said softly, "I was a virgin, when I got married."

"You were a virgin!" Julie gasped, making Heidi flush, "But, you're so beautiful! You mean to tell me that you waited until marriage?"

"I did, I only went out with Diesel, I was scared of men, I was assaulted by a man when I was young, so I kept away from men. Diesel, my husband, stalked me at work, he caught me and I broke his arm. After that we started to go out, all we did was kiss, I wouldn't let it go far."

Julie nodded her head and said softly, "My boyfriend just told me if we don't do it, he'll break up with me, and I love him-"

"You don't love him, "Heidi said, wrapping an arm around Julie's shoulders, "You love the idea of being with him, if he's pressuring you to have sex, then he doesn't deserve you, Diesel never pressured me, in fact, on our wedding night, he freaked out and fainted. When someone loves you, they'll wait for that moment."

Heidi and Julie sat together and then Julie said, "Thanks, Heidi, I'm sorry that I was a bitch earlier this week, it was because of my boyfriend, now that I know it's not the end of the world, because I dump him, I'll be nicer."

Heidi nodded her head and said, "let me tell you a secret, I was born and raised in the building your father and I worked at. I was an experiment, to create superhuman people. Extra chromosomes and gunk. I was the only one to survive out of a group of 100. I'm quite strong, stronger than 6 men, and I'm fast. I've been working at the place, since I was….16."

Julie gasped and said, "No way, no one knows about that but a few people?"

Heidi leaned back in the bed, and said, " Yup, it's a secret, not even your father knows, between us girls, right? Now, let's watch a movie, I like Labyrinth, wanna watch it?"

Carlos found Heidi and Julie, fast asleep, in Julie's room, cuddled with each other, the flat screen TV had the blue screen. Carlos shook his head with a smile and then turned the TV off, and covered the two with a throw. He had freaked out, not finding Heidi . now that he knew where Heidi was, he could go back to sleep.

(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)

Carlo was surprisded when Julie came down with a smile on her face. She kissed his cheek and said, "Morning Dad, what are we doing today? Heidi wants to go shop, I do too!"

Carlos looked to Heidi, who smiled and tucked into the pancakes she made. When Julie left, Carlos turned to Heidi and said, "she did a complete 180, what did you do to her?"

"We talked, she was having personal problems and we talked them out, she'll be more open now, all she needed was someone to talk to her." Heidi said, getting up, but stopping short gripping her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Carlos asked, going over to Heidi. "Is it time, it's too early! I'll go-"

"She kicked, she kicked me, I haven't felt her kick, do you want to feel?!" Heidi said, before she placed Carlos's hand on her stomach.

Carlos chuckled, feeling the baby kick the area where his hand was, "she's going to be a soccer player."

Heidi giggled and said, "She will be," Heidi paused and said, "Carlos, call Alexander, I want him to get to know his niece, I want him in her life, it's only fair if he's in her life."

Carlos didn't want Alexander in Heidi's life or in the baby's life. He knew the look in Alexander's eyes. It was the look of a poacher, and those eyes were on Heidi and the baby, his prey. Like hell he would give Alexander a chance to snatch Heidi and the baby up.

Carlos smiled and said, "I'll call the man up, and see if he can come down this weekend, we'll enjoy this wonderful weather together."

Heidi smiled and kissed Carlos on his lips, "Thank you for being so kind and understanding Carlos, Diesel would have thrown a hissy fit, and then stomp his foot down saying no! I always knew you were so level headed, unlike Diesel…."

Heidi kissed Carlos again and made her way up the back stairs to the master bedroom, to prepare for the day. Carlos sat down at the table and sighed, level headed and kind indeed, he would make sure Alexander kept his distance from Heidi and the baby. They wouldn't be leaving with that man, they were going to stay right in Miami with him.

TBC….