Disclaimer still applies.

~oooOOOooo~

Chapter 10: Saturday, Pt 2
Saturday
Ranger's POV

"So what's the plan for today?"

I smiled. I knew it wouldn't take her long to ask. "How would you like to take a walk down to the park and have a picnic for lunch?"

"Oh! Really? Can we take some bread from the kitchen and feed the ducks?" She had a cute, eager expression on her face that was adorable.

Chuckling, I nodded. Feeding the ducks had become something we did every time we took a walk. "Yeah, Babe, we can do that."

"Okay, good," she said happily. "We have to block out a couple of hours this afternoon for one of my gifts to you. Other than that, I'm good with whatever."

We snuggled on the couch for a couple of hours, just simply relaxing and enjoying being in each other's company without the distraction of work or other people. My hand was rubbing lightly on her stomach, and the thought of the baby made me smile.

Steph must have been reading my mind because she suddenly asked, "Do you want a boy or a girl, Carlos?"

I thought about it for a moment and then replied, "Honestly? I'm not sure it matters, really. A boy would be nice, because we already have Julie, but I would love to have a little girl who is a miniature you."

Steph looked up at me and rolled her eyes. "That's cheating. Seriously, boy or girl?"

"A girl," I admitted with a deep sigh.

She raised her eyebrows in question.

I think I'd surprised her with that answer. "I made a lot of mistakes when Julie was young, Babe. I missed a lot of her early years, especially when she was a baby and toddler. I can't go back and redo those missing years with her, as much as I wish I could. If we have a girl, I'll get to experience what I missed with Julie."

Her face softened as I spoke, and when I finished, she moved her hands to cover mine on her stomach. After leaning in to kiss my cheek, she said softly, "You know Julie doesn't blame you. She loves you, Carlos. She understands why you weren't there and why you allowed Ron to adopt her."

Nodding, I said, "I know. That doesn't change the fact that I wasn't the father I should have been, but it helps." I smiled. "What about you?"

"What about me, what?" she teased.

I laughed. "Boy or girl, Babe?"

She thought seriously about the question for a moment and then replied, "Well, I don't know if the world is ready for a miniature me. I think I'd like to have a boy. He'd be more likely to look like you and less likely to have my hair, for example."

I reached up and tugged a curl. "Babe, I love your curls."

She smiled. "I know. Still, I think I'd love a little miniature Ranger, but as long as the baby's healthy, nothing else matters."

Smirking, I said, "Of course, we could end up having a random-looking baby that takes after my Great Aunt Sophia. She had bright red hair."

"Bite your tongue," she said, laughing. "You know that would be the talk of the 'Burg; Who is that poor child's father? and all that."

"Do you have any names you've thought of yet?" I was curious to see if she would be interested in keeping with traditional Cuban or Hispanic names or if she would rather not.

"Not really, not yet. If it's a boy, I thought about making him Ricardo Carlos, after you and your father, but I'm not sure. I'd kind of like to honor my father, too, if possible. If it's a girl, I don't have any idea."

"Well, we have plenty of time."

She made a sound of agreement and then was quiet a moment before speaking again. "When do we want to tell people?"

"That's totally up to you, Babe. We can tell everyone right away, or we can wait until you reach the second trimester. I do think we need to tell the guys at work, though. We can trust them not to gossip about it. I just think I would feel safer if all my men know."

Steph nodded. "That makes sense. I think aside from them, I'd like to keep it to ourselves for another few weeks, at least. Then we can invite both sets of parents over for dinner one weekend and break the news to everyone at once. What do you think about telling Julie now instead of waiting?" she asked, looking up at me.

I had my phone out and flipped open before she even finished speaking. She laughed as I handed it to her.

"I think she would love knowing she's going to be a big sister. Give her a call." I smiled.

~oooOOOooo~

Stephanie's POV

I hit the speed dial for Julie's cell phone and turned on the speaker phone.

After two rings, she answered with, "Hey, Daddio! What's shakin'?"

I giggled and said, "Hi, Jules. It's Steph."

"Daddio?" Ranger asked dryly, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Oops." Julie laughed. "Uh, hello, father of my birth. How are you today?"

"Smart ass," he grumbled teasingly.

Rolling my eyes at the two children I was now related to, I smiled and said, "We have some news, Jules, but right now, it's only for you, your mom, and your dad to hear, okay?"

She was suddenly all business as she answered, "Yes, of course. Is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing like that." I smiled. I glanced at Ranger and then said, "We just found out a few days ago that we're having a baby. Aside from—"

Her screams drowned out the rest of what I was going to say. "Oh my God! Really? That's awesome! How far along are you? Have you had an ultrasound yet? Boy or gir—"

"Calm down, querida, and we'll tell you." Ranger chuckled and shook his head. As soon as she was quiet, he continued. "Steph surprised me with the news for our anniversary. She's known for about a week, and aside from myself, her doctor, Ella, and the core team, you're the first to know."

"I'd have told you sooner, Jules, but I needed help from the guys for the surprise and help from Ella with food and stuff. You're the first person we told after I surprised your father."

"That's cool," she said excitedly. "So? Pictures?"

We both laughed as her excitement spread through the phone line.

"No, sweetheart. No pictures yet. I think I'll probably get an ultrasound in another couple of appointments, though. When we have a picture, we'll be sure and send you a copy, okay?"

She squealed excitedly again, and this time, we heard murmuring in the background before she came back on the phone. "It's okay that I tell Mom, right?"

"Of course, Julie. Your mom and Ron are fine to hear the news. We just don't want it spread around to the rest of our families and friends yet," Ranger explained.

We heard Julie telling Rachel in the background, and then Rachel took the phone from Julie and said, "Congratulations, you two! I'll be sure to remind Julie not to share with her grandparents and cousins over the phone and email until you all break the news first."

"Thanks, Rachel," I told her.

We spent a few more minutes on the phone with Julie, listening to her opinions on wanting a little sister—"I already have brothers, Stephanie!"—and names—"Hannah is a pretty name, isn't it?—before Ranger gently told her we had more celebrating to do.

"Oh! Yeah, happy anniversary! I was going to call earlier, but Mom said to wait until later so I didn't wake you guys up. Send me pictures when you get them!"

We smiled, and I assured her we would.

"We love you, honey," I told her before handing Ranger the phone.

He clicked it off speaker, said his own goodbyes, and then closed the phone and put it back in his pocket.

"Well, that went well," I said with a laugh. "She wasn't a bit excited about becoming an older sister again, was she?"

Ranger smirked. "No, not at all. So, are you ready to take a walk to the park and have a picnic, Babe?"

I nodded. "Let me change clothes, and then I'll be ready." I looked him over. "You aren't wearing that, are you?"

When he looked down at his cargoes and black T-shirt and then raised an eyebrow in question, I laughed.

"What? I can't go to the park in this?" he asked.

I shook my head and said, "Come on, I'll find something for you to wear."

Once we'd made our way to the bedroom, he stood at the foot of the bed, waiting for me to pick out his clothes. I tossed him a pair of worn, faded jeans that I loved seeing him in and a dark red, soft pique polo I'd bought him at the mall the last time I'd gone shopping. It had a relaxed look to it, like it was well-loved and well-used, and was incredibly soft against the skin. Ranger just shook his head and grinned and then began stripping off his clothes to change into the ones I'd picked out.

I grabbed the black drawstring capri pants and coral eyelet flutter-sleeve top I planned to wear and made my way to the bathroom. As I was getting dressed and pulling my hair up, Ranger knocked on the bathroom door.

"I'm going to get the food ready. Come out when you're ready to go, Babe."

I mumbled an agreement around the hair clip I had between my lips and then finished fixing my hair. When I was ready, I grabbed my new black knit wrap cardigan to take with us in case I got a bit chilly and then made my way to the kitchen.

When I walked in, Ranger had a small cooler and a bag in one hand. He held out his other hand to take mine and then led me outside, pausing to lock the front door behind us.

We were quiet as we walked the three blocks to the park. The air was warm from the sun overhead but had a crispness to it as well, hinting at the fall season just around the corner. As soon as we got to the park, Ranger led me to a massive tree and pulled a big blanket out of the bag he'd been carrying. He spread the blanket out so it was half in the sun and half in the shade.

"If you get hot, we can move it all the way under the tree, or go the other way if you get too cold," he explained as he helped me to sit.

My stomach growled quite loudly when he pulled out our lunch. "What'd you bring? It looks delicious!"

"They had great looking Pesto Chicken Rolls with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, grilled chicken cutlets, and pesto." He handed me the two wrapped bundles, along with a cloth napkin and a fork. "I also brought containers of antipasto salad and fruit salad for dessert to share."

"Mmm, what's in this?" I asked as I grabbed the container of antipasti salad.

I could see red onion, artichoke hearts, arugula, and olives right away. Ranger pointed out the chickpeas, fennel, roasted sweet red peppers, and the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese shaved on top.

"The dressing is just garlic, salt, pepper, orange zest, olive oil, and vinegar."

We were quiet again as we ate the wraps and salad.

I moaned after the first bite of the salad. The dressing was so good with all the veggies. "I think the baby has your tastes," I grumbled teasingly. "Fruits and vegetables have never tasted so good."

Ranger laughed along with me.

A few minutes later, when we'd gone through both wraps and all the salad, Ranger asked, "Want dessert now or later?"

I thought for a moment. "In a bit, I think."

He poured us some ice tea in little plastic cups he'd brought. I could taste the strong mint flavor, and it settled well on my stomach, which was nice.

He put the trash in the bag, along with the napkins and forks, and then set everything aside and pulled me so I was leaning back against his chest. He was sitting up with his legs spread enough for me to lie between them with my back to his front. I was more comfortable than I would have thought possible about sitting on the ground outside.

When I was settled, he reached into the bag beside us and pulled out the book I'd been reading when he got home a few hours before. I laughed when he opened it up and began flipping through it.

"Let's see," he murmured softly. "One month along..."

"Carlos?" I grinned. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to read to you. Is that okay?"

I snuggled in and nodded. "That's perfect."

"It's implantation time! That ball of cells that you'll soon call baby – though it's now called embryo – has reached your uterus and is snuggling into the uterine lining where it'll stay connected to you until delivery. Once firmly in place, the ball of cells undergoes the great divide—"

I listened as Ranger softly read from What To Expect When You're Expecting. He sounded so serious, it nearly made me giggle, but he was so sincere that it was heartwarming.

A few minutes later, he began reading about the changes my body was already going through, and the air around us got decidedly more electric.

"Let's see... For breast changes, it says they can include fullness, heaviness, tenderness, tingling, darkening of the areolas, which is the—"

"Carlos!" I laughed. "I know what the areolas are, thank you very much!"

I looked up and back until I could see his face. His eyes darkened as they gazed down at me.

"What do you think, Babe?" he asked with a husky voice. He moved his free hand to brush against my breasts through my shirt. "Are they more sensitive yet?"

I whimpered as he brushed my nipples, which tightened immediately. When his hand cupped one of my breasts, my breath hitched and my heart fluttered.

"Carlos," I whined breathily.

He slid his hand down until it was resting against the small curve of my stomach and then leaned his head down to kiss me softly.

Once he'd pulled away, he whispered, "I'm so going to enjoy the changes your body goes through, Babe."

I made a face. "That's one thing I'm not looking forward to," I complained. "I'm really not looking forward to getting fat."

He suddenly tossed the book to the side and then quickly pulled me up and around until I was on his lap, with no choice but to wrap my legs around his waist.

"Stephanie, look at me," he said sternly. He waited until I was looking into his eyes before continuing. "Babe, you are not going to get fat. Your body will gain the weight it needs to help nourish our baby and protect it while it grows. You will be absolutely beautiful rounded with my baby. I can't wait to see you grow with my child inside you." He kissed me once and then continued. "Do you trust me, Babe?"

I nodded, smiling softly. "Of course. With my life, Carlos."

"Then trust me when I tell you that you will have never looked more beautiful."

I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, resting my cheek on the hard plane of his chest. He held me tightly against him for a few minutes, letting us just enjoy the feel of each other.

Finally, the sound of quacking in the background pulled my head away. "Did you bring the bread for the ducks?" I asked, smiling up at him.

He laughed. "I did, yes. It's in the bag. Want to go feed them now?"

"I do!"

Showing off just how strong he was, he stood up with me still plastered around him and then slowly slid me to my feet. I brushed against the ridge of his erection through his jeans and shivered.

"See, Babe? Even thinking about you more pregnant has me hard."

I blushed and then pulled away and reached into the bag for the bread. If I didn't do something to take my mind off him and the thing in his pants, I'd haul him behind the bushes and have my way with him. Somehow, I didn't think my mother would ever forgive me if we were caught having sex in the park.

We spent a few minutes laughing and tossing ripped up pieces of bread to the handful of ducks and geese down near the water's edge. When we ran out of the food, they quickly lost interest in us and swam off to find some other people to scavenge from.

Ranger walked me back to the blanket with a hand on my lower back and helped me down before sitting beside me. "Ready for some dessert? It's got apples, bananas, strawberries, chopped walnuts, vanilla yogurt, and cinnamon."

"Mmm, yes, please."

We wiped our hands with some of the wet wipes Ranger pulled out of the bag first and then he brought out the container of fruit and one spoon. Try as I might, Ranger insisted on feeding me every bite of my half of the dessert. The apples were crisp and tart, the bananas soft and creamy, and the strawberries sweet. Combined with the crunch of the walnuts and smooth creaminess of the yogurt, it was the perfect dessert to end our picnic with.

Once the fruit was all gone, he asked, "Ready to go home, Babe?"

I nodded. "I am. I have another surprise for you when we get home." At his raised eyebrow, I laughed. "Don't worry. This one isn't nearly as big as the first was," I said, brushing my hand across my stomach.

"Babe..." He smiled.

After gathering up everything, I slipped my sweater on to ward off the slight chill of the air, and then hand in hand, we began the short walk home.