Lester's POV

Tank, Hunter and I stood outside Ric's office waiting for Steph and Bobby to come out. I knew she was in there reading the letter he'd left her, and he had talked with me before he left about some of what he wanted to say in it. I hoped that after this step she could start the long process of healing.

"You think she's going to be okay?" Hunter asked quietly.

"We'll all get her through it," I replied softly. "I don't think anyone has gotten the chance to tell you - she found out she was pregnant just before we got the news. I think the baby and Julie are the best things for her."

The elevator dinged and Julie walked out looking crazy.

"Where's Mom?" she asked frantically.

"She's in your dad's office with Bobby reading a letter. It will be okay, sobrina," I soothed, just assuming she was upset about Ric. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close.

"I know it will be okay, but I need to see her!" Julie exclaimed.

"She'll be out soon; you can hang out with us in the meantime," I offered.

"No, Uncle Les! It's important!" she practically screeched. Heads were starting to poke up over cubicles and a few guys were standing in the hall, obviously concerned about the state Julie was in.

"Whatever you need, I'll take care of it. Just tell me what it is," I said sternly. I wanted Beautiful to be able to focus on the letter and talk with Bobby about what it said.

"You want to know what it is?" she yelled, her arms flailing every which direction. She may not be Steph's biological daughter, but she certainly got that habit from Steph. "Fine, I'll tell you what it is! I became a woman today!"

The floor was quiet and I stared at her disbelievingly.

"You...what the fuck?! I'll kill the little shit who touched you!" I growled, my rage quickly taking over.

"What are you talking about?" Julie asked, giving me a quizzical look. "No one touched me - I started my period!"

I'm pretty sure I quit breathing, and Tank turned as white as I've ever seen a black man.

"You...I don't know what the hell to do with that," I wailed. "Why did you tell me that you started your period?! I don't want to know that!"

"Because you made me, Uncle Les!" Julie replied with a giggle.

"Shit. Let's get your mom," I groaned.

I knocked on the door to the office and entered with Julie behind me. Steph looked up and smiled when she saw Julie.

"Everything okay?" Steph asked.

"No, everything is not okay!" I practically yelled. "Julie got her period!"

"God, Uncle Les, did you have to yell so loud? I'm sure the whole building knows now! By the way, you said three swear words. That's $60," Julie demanded, holding her hand out to me for the cash. Ric had started this when Julie first moved in as an attempt to get us to watch our language around Julie. I growled and took my wallet out.

"I only have a hundred, " I said as I took the bill out. "You'll have to get me change."

She snatched the bill out of my hand and stuffed it in her pocket. "No can do, Uncle Les," she giggled.

Steph walked over and wrapped her arms around Julie, hugging her tightly. "Welcome to the sisterhood, Jules. Did you have everything you needed?" Steph asked.

I covered my ears and began humming out loud. "I don't need to hear this!" I sang loudly.

Steph laughed for the first time in days and Tank smacked me upside the head.

"Quit being a drama queen!" Steph admonished.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just needed to tell you, Mom," Julie said amidst her giggles.

"Good. How about I take you to lunch to celebrate?" Steph asked Julie.

"That would be great, Mom."

"Hey, we want to come, too!" I whined. They both gave me funny looks.

"You want to come celebrate your niece turning into a woman?" Steph asked disbelievingly.

"Sure, why not? You guys in?" I asked, turning toward Bobby, Tank and Hunter. They had migrated their way into the room during the conversation.

"Sure, I'm in," Bobby agreed.

"Me, too," came Tank's deep voice. "Hunter?"

"No, I need to get back to the office, and I think this is a family thing," he chuckled. He then took an envelope out of the folder he was holding and handed it to Bobby. "This is for you, man. Ranger made me promise I'd get it to you."

Bobby nodded and took the envelope and then we all headed toward the elevators to leave for lunch while Hunter gathered his things to leave. For the first time since we got that damned phone call, I felt like there might be hope for laughter and happiness for us again.

Bobby's POV

I sighed and sunk down onto the couch in the penthouse. Steph and Julie were asleep in Steph's bed, and Les had gone downstairs to take a shower and tend to a few things before coming back up for the night. The girls would fall asleep without problems, but they woke up every night upset and needing comfort. Les and I didn't mind being there; I think somehow it helped both of us to know that we were doing something for them. Steph had given all of us so much, and we all wanted to be able to give back to her desperately.

I took a drink of my beer and then pulled the letter from Ric out of my pocket. I honestly couldn't fathom why he'd taken the time to write me a letter when no one else but Steph had gotten one. I took my knife out of my pocket and opened the envelope and then took the letter out and straightened it. I took another pull off of my beer and leaned back as I began to read.

Bobby,

I'm sure that you're wondering why I took the time to write you a letter in case I didn't come back. I've relied on you all to help take care of Steph and Julie and I've always known that I could count on any of you to watch out for them as if they were your woman and daughter. I know you'll all continue that without me there, but I wanted to use this letter to tell you that I know.

I see the way you look at Steph; it's the same way that I look at her. I see the utter panic on your face when she gets into a scuffle with a skip or her car blows up; I know that feeling because I feel the same. I know that you haven't even considered settling down with a woman because you know that no one could ever be as amazing as my Babe. I know that you haven't even spent a night with a woman in two years. I know that you've loved her as long as I have, but out of respect for me you never said anything or made a move. Thank you for that. I know it wasn't easy on you.

Mourning my death and putting herself back together is going to be so hard for Stephanie. Thank you for being there for her as she works through everything. I don't even have to ask if you'll make sure she's okay - I know you'd never even think of leaving her to deal with it on her own. Help her to remember that it will get easier, that she will be happy again. Don't let her close herself off to love.

Show her that you love her by the way you take care of her and Julie. Be the one that she shares the good days and bad days with. Keep her close to you and love her well with your actions and support while she heals. Then one day, when she's ready, tell her how much you love her. She doesn't yet love you like you love her, but she cares for you and values your friendship so much. Let that grow into love and never let her go. You have my blessing, man to man.

I wrote her a letter as well and asked her to keep her heart open and find love again when she's ready. If she ever feels like she's somehow cheating or disrespecting my memory by moving on, remind her of the letter and show her this one as well.

Love her well and treasure her, Bobby.

Ric

Fuck. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. Of course I loved her, but I didn't think anyone else knew, especially not her husband. I took a deep breath and folded the letter back up, securing it inside the envelope and then placing it in the bottom of my medical bag. As I thought about what Ric had said I hoped that he was right and one day I would get to tell her how much I love her.