Epilogue

As Bella had predicted, three years after the birth of Carrissa a baby boy by the name of Benino joined the Morelli family.

The four month old baby was the spitting image of his father and very good-natured (which Joe constantly said Ben also inherited from his father along with his looks). Ben was extremely loved by both his parents; but Joe had carved a special place in his heart for Carrissa the day she was born that she would always occupy. She was, without a doubt, a daddy's girl.

Carrissa had her mother's spirit, which meant a penchant for mischief. Although a lot had changed in their lives and Steph had long ago given up bounty hunting, one thing that hadn't changed much was Steph's knack for getting separated from —or in trouble with--her handcuffs, by those whom she was supposed to be in charge of. Carrissa loved emulating her Daddy in a good game of Cops and Robbers, but on more than one occasion she had been able to scam Steph into being ensnared by her own cuffs, which they'd bring out of retirement for their games. Eventually she would let Steph out of the cuffs, when she tired of the game, but she always got a charge out of getting the best of her Mommy.

This was the predicament Steph currently found herself in as the phone rang. Carrissa had been thus far uncooperative about unlocking the cuffs this time around, so Steph had been patiently going along with her, hoping she'd tire out soon. When the phone started ringing, Carrissa helpfully ran to answer it.

"He-wo."

"Hey, Angel. How you doing today?"

"Hi, Daddy!" Carrissa said with childish exuberance. "Me and Mommy are playing."

"Yeah? Whatcha playing, Baby Girl?"

"Cops," Carrissa stated matter-of-factly.

Joe groaned inwardly. He was almost afraid to ask, familiar as he was with the outcome of "Cops" on several previous occasions. Closing his eyes, he answered his daughter. "That sounds fun, Carrissa, but can I talk to Mommy now?"

"Nuh-uh. She can't talk on the phone right now."

Joe had a sneaking suspicion. "Is she with Ben?"

Carrissa's nose scrunched up at the mention of her brother, the troublemaker. "No."

The evasive answer confirmed Joe's suspicion. "Where is she, Carrissa?"

There was a slight hesitation, followed by a low, "Dunno."

"Carrissa." Although not heard often, Carrissa recognized the low rumbly voice as the one that meant Daddy was all business. She wanted happy Daddy back.

"She's in the cuffs, Daddy," she said in a low voice.

Bingo. Just as Joe had thought. He looked at the clock and realized that Ben would be up from his usual afternoon nap very soon. He needed to get Carrissa to unlock the cuffs.

"Angel, will you unlock Mommy from the cuffs now so I can speak with her?"

"Don' wanna, Daddy."

Joe attempted a different tack. The wrong one, as it turned out. "Ben's going to wake up from his nap soon and Mommy's going to have to go upstairs and take care of him."

"I don't wike Ben, Daddy. I want Mommy to stay downstairs and play Cops with me."

Joe understood now. Carrissa's stubborn refusal was a good old-fashioned case of sibling rivalry. He and Steph had been trying what they could to minimize those feelings, but Carrissa did enjoy being the center of attention. He should probably punish Carrissa for this little stunt, but one look into that angelic face and those round innocent eyes and he knew he'd be a goner. He'd never do anything to her. After all, kids will be kids. Right now, he was just going to have to use kid logic with her to gain her cooperation.

"Why don't you go with Mommy to take care of Ben and show her how it's done?"

"She already knows what to do," Carrissa said, pouting. "She took care of me when I was a baby, 'member?"

Damn. Beaten at the kid logic game. Truly pathetic. Nothing left to do now but head home and help Steph out before Ben woke up. "I do remember," Joe said in response to Carrissa, "how silly of me. Well then, how about if I come home now and you and I could play while Mommy took care of Ben. Would that be good?"

Carrissa's eyes widened like saucers. "Could you, Daddy? Weally? I'd super love that."

"Yes, Sweetheart, I can do that. Can you do me a favor first, though, and put your Mommy on the phone?"

"But she's all cuffed up right now Daddy. We was playing cops when you called, 'member?"

Her daddy's low chuckle could be heard across the phone line and Carrissa grinned wildly. She loved making her Daddy laugh and now happy Daddy was back just like she wanted.

"I remember, Sweetie. Why don't you just hold the phone to her ear for me, OK?"

"'kay."

Carrissa held the phone up to Steph. Steph had already gathered from Carrissa's end of the conversation that Joe was on the phone. She could only imagine what he must be thinking. The grin Carrissa wore was the same as Joe's when he laid on the charm, so she figured he understood his daughter well.

"Hey Cupcake," she heard his amused voice say a moment later. "I'm leaving now and heading home. I'll be there in a few minutes, so don't worry."

"I hate that you have to do that, Joe. You'd think I'd learn by now."

"Well, she's usually not this uncooperative about unlocking them. And hey, my kid logic didn't work on her either. Sometimes these things happen." He shrugged it off with a laugh. "It's not a big deal. I have some paperwork I can finish up just as easily at home as I can here. Just sit tight."

"Very funny," Steph said dryly.

Joe laughed again as he hung up the phone. Turning to Eddie, he called out, "I'm heading out for the day, Gazarra. As always, you can page me if something comes up."

"Where you headed so early?"

"Carrissa's got Steph cuffed again and she's refusing to unlock them. Ben's going to be up from his nap soon so I gotta head home and bail Steph out, so to speak."

Eddie threw his head back and laughed heartily. "The apple doesn't fall far from that tree. She's definitely got a lot of Steph in her, and Steph's still getting into trouble with those cuffs. So, what are you going to do to Carrissa when you get home?"

"Once I get Steph unlocked from the cuffs, I'll probably take her for some ice cream.

"What?! Joe demanded a second later to Eddie's disbelieving, shaking head.

"She locks Steph in cuffs, refuses to unlock her or hand her the keys, and you're going to give her ice cream. That girl's got you wrapped around her finger," Eddie admonished, still shaking his head.

Joe gave an unrepentant grin. "Steph said that happened when she was still in the womb. What can I say? I'm hopelessly devoted." At Eddie's continued mocking stare, Joe added, "Look, she's just having a hard time adjusting to Ben's arrival. I want to let her know she's still a special part of the family."

Eddie acquiesced with a nod. Hell, Joe was right. He was hopeless. And it was pure fun to watch. "Have a good one, Morelli."

Morelli thought about his family waiting for him at home and widened his grin. "I plan to," he responded.

It was a perfect day to be home.