Notes & Disclaimers:
Anything you recognize as familiar belongs to Janet Evanovich. I am just borrowing her characters for fun and am not making anything from the story. Also, I don't have a Beta, so any mistakes you see are mine.

This story is rated M. We are pretty much past the violence part of the story, but it's still a Babe story and not Cupcake friendly. Remember that this is fiction, so I have taken some creative liberties.

Previously:
Lula nodded and spoke up. "That man loves you Steph. More than I've ever seen anybody love anyone in my life. You can see it. You can almost feel it when he's around you. It just oozes out of ya'll. Not many people find that. Lucky, you are. Damn lucky."

I had to agree. Ella surprised me by agreeing with Lula. "He always has dear. Even before you two admitted it and started seeing each other. He always had his men watching out for you, even when he was away. I've never seen him like that. You are his world Stephanie."

"Ella, he's mine too. I love him so much. When I moved in it was supposed to be such a special day. I just hate that it was marred by this …."

"Nonsense dear! He doesn't think of it that way at all. You two already had begun your life together. The day your belongings were moved in here didn't mark the beginning of your future together. That day was marked long ago, in that little diner, when he agreed to meet you. That's when it all started. That was the beginning of your someday."

Everyone was in tears by that point, especially me. "Ella came and hugged me gently, and soon everyone was in on the hug as we wiped tears."

"Thank you all for being here with me today. I needed this. And thanks for being such great friends."

Connie spoke up. "Stephanie, we're all here if you need us. For anything. You've been a wonderful friend to all of us. You can depend on us."

As we finished our spa day and everyone left, I smiled. It had been a good day, and hopefully with time, the good days would outnumber the bad ones.

Carlos POV

I entered the apartment and found Steph curled up on the couch watching television. She looked relaxed and looked like she was about to doze off. When I came in and placed my keys in the dish, she startled and started to get up. "Don't get up because of me, Babe."

"I wasn't asleep. I was just resting."

"How was the get together?'

"It was nice. I enjoyed seeing everyone, and you were right. It felt good to tell them what happened on my terms. Lula was surprisingly subdued, but then again, she was there from the beginning. Ella is always fun and she's become my adopted mother. Mary Lou was in shock and never thought Morelli would do such a thing. And Connie wants to call the Family on him. I told her if anyone got to kill him it'd have to be you."

"Babe." I wasn't sure how to react to that. It wasn't a secret to Steph that I thought the plea she had discussed with our attorneys was too lenient on Morelli. Secretly I hoped that a judge would decide on a harsher sentence. In reality, I wanted to get my hands on him again. But for Steph's sake, I knew that wouldn't happen. I had made a promise to her and I planned on keeping it. But I'd already decided I wanted to pay him one more visit before he's sent away. I still have a few things to say to him.

"I learned something today about you."

I sat down beside her and pulled her legs into my lap as she stretched back out on the sofa. I rubbed her feet and gently ran my fingers over her newly painted pretty red toe nails. "Oh really? What's that?"

"That you fell in love with me when you first met me."

"Babe, I already told you that."

"No, you said you've loved me for a while. I'm talking about back at the diner. Ella said you fell in love with me then. Did you? Back then?"

"Ella's a smart woman Babe. I don't deny that, nor the fact that I did fall hopelessly in love with you that day. There were times when it might have been clouded over by lust," I smiled as I said this, "but yes…I knew that day in the diner that my life would never be the same. And that I needed you to be a part of it. In whatever way you'd let me."

"Why didn't you tell me? I don't mean that day. But it's been years. And we've just recently gotten close. Why not tell me before?"

"The timing wasn't right Babe. You were with Morelli, or I was out of the country, or you were hiding out in my apartment, locked in cabinets, blowing up funeral homes…you name it. And of course, I'm not always the best at discussing my emotions, just in case you haven't already figured that out."

"Really? I'd have never guessed!" Stephanie playfully retorted.

"Steph what matters is now. Us, here, now, and the future. No looking back."

"You're right Carlos. I just hate to think that we wasted so much time…"

"Babe, we didn't waste time. Everything that happened led us to where we are. Yes, I would preferred to have had you in my life permanently before now, but I'm not sure that you nor I would have been really ready to give it 100 percent. But now we are. So the road we traveled made the difference, and made us be able to be where we are."

"That's very sage advice Carlos."

"Thanks Babe! Speaking of advice, I spoke with your dad today."

"How did that go?"

"Well, as I told you on the phone I think I've underestimated your dad in years past. He wanted to handle your mother, so I agreed. He's beside himself that he didn't say something before now. He said he wished that he had stepped in before now, and that he never liked Morelli."

"Daddy has always been quiet. He let Mom have her way to keep the peace. But I always knew he loved me. He's always supported me and my decisions, even when they were bad ones. What happened isn't his fault."

"I know Babe. But I can understand his point. As a father he wants what is best for you. And you were hurt. Brutally hurt. And he can't help but feel responsible. I feel the same way."

"Carlos what happened was no one's fault but Joes. You have to stop blaming yourself!"

Stephanie looked as if she were going to get upset, so I tried to calm her down. I dropped the subject and we moved on to other things to talk about. But the truth of the matter was that I had sent her back to Morelli time and time again. And regardless of what she said, a small part of me would always carry the burden and knowledge that she was hurt and I wasn't able to stop it.

The evening progressed and we had dinner together. Stephanie still didn't have her normal appetite back, and I was beginning to wonder if she would. I know it was still early, but I had been thinking of just how much Stephanie would be able to recover from the attack. Her work as a bounty hunter involved bringing in some of the lowest drudges of society. Not all were scumbags, but she'd brought in her fair share. Would she be comfortable and confident enough to do bond enforcement again? I wouldn't stop her, but I'd prefer she didn't. Not that she had to work. I'd take care of her and let her shop all day long if she wants to. But I know Steph enough to know that she needs to be able to make the choice herself.

Stephanie went to take a long hot bath and I worked some in the office. I thought back over the past several days as I opened a file and booted up the computer. Our evenings had fell into a routine since we had returned home after the attack and I have to admit that I liked it. There was something oddly soothing about the comfort of sharing the apartment with Steph and winding down after a busy day.

Stephanie came into the office and gave me a kiss goodnight, and I gave her a quick pat on the butt as she was walking out of the office. "Babe, I'm going to work on a few of these reports before bed."

"Don't worry about me, Carlos. I think I'm going to turn in though. It's been a long day."

Stephanie made her way into the bedroom and snuggled down into the sheets that she loved so much.

I worked on the paperwork that I despised so much for several hours. I had a lot on my mind, but the quarterly report was due to the accountants by Friday, and I didn't want to ask Tank to do it. I felt like he had already covered my absence a lot lately. Not that I thought he minded, and I compensated him well for it. I knew he would do anything for me, but he hated paperwork about as much as I did.

I took a break and went to the kitchen for a bottle of water and stretched as I walked through the living room. I really needed to go down to the gym and work off some of the stress of the day, but I didn't want to leave Stephanie in the apartment alone asleep. Not yet at least. I was afraid she might wake up and be startled, or need something.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a blood curdling scream tore me from my musings and made my blood run cold. The scream was so loud and shrill in the quiet apartment that I dropped the bottle of water to the floor and took off running to the bedroom.

When I entered the room, I could see Stephanie's outline lying in the bed. She had forgotten to turn the night light on, so I could only see her form in relief, instead of being bathed by the soft light. I turned the bedside lamp on and ran to her as she continued to scream. When she didn't wake immediately from me calling her name, I put my arms around her and tried to sit her up in the bed, thinking that it would awaken her from the nightmare.

"Stephanie! Babe! Wake up! It's just a nightmare." As I sat Stephanie up, and tried to pull her to me she continued to lash out and push me away. She fought me tooth and nail, scratching, pushing, and punching until I could hardly hold on to her. The more I tried to comfort her and hold her, the more she fought me until finally she fell from my grip and off the side of the bed.

When she did, she finally awoke with a gasp. I wasn't sure whether to go to her and hold her or stay where I was. Stephanie looked around the room confused as tears welled up in her eyes. I spoke softly. "Babe, you were having a nightmare. I'm sorry you were startled, but you were fighting me, and I couldn't get you to wake up. Are you okay? Did you hurt your incision when you fell?" I stood to help her up from the floor.

Stephanie was clearly shaken, and muttered a quiet "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Really, I'm fine". I tried to pull her to me, and instead she pulled away from me and went to the bathroom and shut the door. I heard the quiet lock of the door being turned, and knew that this nightmare had really done a number on her. She had such a good day. Why couldn't it last? Why couldn't she just catch a break? I knew she had to be exhausted from not sleeping, and I was beginning to think that Bobby was going to have to give her something to help her sleep. She couldn't continue to go on like this.

I gave her a few minutes and went to the bathroom door. I tapped on it lightly and called out to her. "Steph, Babe, are you okay? Please let me in."

I could hear the quiet sniffle from her crying, but she didn't speak. "Please, Stephanie. Let me in. Please…"

A few seconds passed by and the lock tumbled and the door opened. Stephanie was sitting on the floor of the bathroom with used tissues all around her. I didn't say anything at first, as I simply sat down on the floor with her and pulled her into my lap. I kissed her temple and smoothed her wild curls as I rocked slowly back and forth.

When several minutes had passed, and her cries and sniffles were no more than a stray hitch in her breath here and there I spoke softly to her. "Steph, you will get through this. It's just going to take some time. You have another appointment with the therapist Friday and we'll ask her for more suggestions about helping with the nightmares. Maybe if you took something to help you sleep…"

Stephanie interrupted. "No, Carlos. I don't want something to make me sleep. I don't want pills. I want to be able to lay down at night and go to sleep without worrying about whether or not I'm going to have nightmares. And I want to be able to sleep all night long without waking up and thinking that Joe is going to rape me and kill me. And I want to get past this. It's too much on me and it's too much on you. Christ! You must think I'm crazy! I can't even sleep. I'm needy and clingy and all the things I never wanted to be. I wouldn't be surprised if you never wanted to have anything to do with me again! After what he did, and what happened, you probably never want to touch me again!"

By the time she was finished the words were coming in angry spurts as she spat them out. I knew that it was the emotions from the nightmare talking, but I also knew that these must be real concerns of hers or else she wouldn't have said anything. I want to try to move past this, but each day I hate Morelli more and more. Not only did he hurt her physically, but obviously her self esteem really took a beating too.

"Stephanie, nothing could be further from the truth. I love you and you are the most precious thing in the world to me. Honey, you are going to have to give yourself time to recover. You're not crazy, nor clingy, nor needy. And I can't wait to show you how much I love you and to make love to you. But we have all the time in the world, and I am not going anywhere. I promise. I'm here for you to lean on for as long as you'll have me. Forever and a day."

Stephanie's anger had died down some, and after I spoke she turned and looked into my eyes. She must have found what she was looking for because she threw her arms around my neck and her tears began anew. "I'm so sorry Carlos for doubting you. I'm sorry! It's just that…"

"Ssshh amante. No apologies. It's nothing. I love you Stephanie. And you love me. I know that. Trust me. I know. That's all that matters."

I stood and helped her up from the floor and dried her tears again with a tissue. I pulled her to me and picked her up bridal style and laid her on the bed. I toed off my boots, and dropped my cargos and shirt to the floor. I pulled on the black silk boxers that were on the bench at the foot of the bed and slid between the sheets with Stephanie. I pulled her close to me and held her as her breathing slowed and she fell into peaceful oblivion.

I noticed that when I held her, she seemed at peace. Thinking back, I noticed that most of the nightmares were when she was alone in the bed, or when she went to bed before me. I stored that bit of information away to talk about with the therapist during Stephanie's next session. I hoped that maybe this new revelation would help Stephanie begin to get back to normal.