A/N not mine, I own nothing but the plot.

Hard Knock Life

I woke up in Tank's arms and had to wiggle away from him. Nature was calling and I couldn't deny it any longer. When I got back he was sitting up lost and confused.

"Where did you go?"

"Bathroom. What's wrong?"

"I woke up alone. Afraid you left me."

"Now, why would I do that? I love you."

"Just some old insecurities come back to haunt me."

"Would you rather, I woke you when I get up if you're still sleeping?"

"Yes."

"Then that's what I'll do."

He pulled me down to him and held me close. I had never seen him in such a panic before.

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. Remember, til death do us part. Forever," I whispered to him.

I felt him relax at my words. I knew that he needed the reassurance. I needed it at times too. After a little bit of snuggle time we decided to eat breakfast downstairs.

I had some orange juice along with bacon, eggs and toast. He had an egg white omelet with spinach and turkey bacon, with coffee to drink.

"Back to the healthy stuff?" I asked.

"Just for breakfast today, that way my body won't go in shock tomorrow when I have to go back to it full time."

"Do you think any of the guys would be willing to help me move my things? I plan on leaving most of the furniture and asking Grandma Mazur if she wants it."

"I'm sure they all will be willing to help. You know, you don't have to leave anything behind. We have plenty of room at the house for it."

"Seriously, have you actually looked at that stuff? Not to mention all the bad luck cooties that are there. Nope, the only thing I want to bring besides my clothes and Rex, is my dining room set that's in my storage unit. Grandpa Mazur hand made each piece for me before he died. I've never used it and I think it's time to."

"Why do you say that?"

"When you see it, you'll understand better. Grandpa had his second heart attack the day he finished it and I couldn't face the memories of it until now."

I let the melancholy of the bittersweet memories overtake me. Grandpa Mazur had started making that set the day I found Dickie and Joyce together. He wanted me to have something special. Something that would not remind me of my ex, but would remind me that love does exist and I would find it someday.

"Baby, I'm sure it's beautiful. I can't wait to see it."

He reached across the table and covered my hand with his. I looked up at him and his gentle smile turned mischievous. I soon found out why. A very large, very plush white gloved paw landed on my shoulder. I let out a startled yelp, jumped up and spun around.

"Mickey!" I yelled out. It was him, the mouse that I loved growing up. I was so excited. I knew I looked ridiculous, a grown woman squealing over a costumed character, but I couldn't help myself. I loved watching the old reruns of the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. My Grandma Plumeri use to put it on in the afternoons when it was raining, during the times I would spend with them. Grandpa would gather me up in his lap and watch. I would always fall asleep in his arms.

Tank took a few pictures and his helper took one of the three of us, before they moved onto another table.

"You sneak. You saw them coming up and let them scare me."

"But it's so much fun!" He said with a laugh.

When we arrived at Epcot I was so excited. I always wanted to come here. My Mom had let Valerie come on her senior class trip, but when it was my turn she said no. She never gave me a reason, just no.

I know it took everything in Tank to be here, the security risk would have him on high alert and he held on to my hand tightly. He didn't want us seperated. I had to go to the bathroom at one point and you could see the panic in his eyes. I was able to get in and out quickly, but it took a toll on him. I decided it was time to go, my husband was being overwhelmed by everything. That wasn't fair to him, and I had seen everything that I wanted to.

"Honey, let's go back to the hotel, I'm ready for a nap."

"Are you sure, Baby?"

"Yes, we can watch the fireworks from the balcony in our room. A night to relax before we head back to the real world tomorrow."

I could see the relief flood his eyes. He gently pulled me in for a kiss.

"Thank you, Baby."

"You're welcome."

We made our way to the shuttle. It was almost time for dinner and we ordered room service. We spent the night in our robes just enjoying the last bit of our time together.

We made love several times that night. By the time we checked out the next morning we were tired, but blissfully happy.

On the drive to the airport in Miami I remembered that Tank and his mother had said that my ring had been left to him, by his grandmother.

"Tank?"

"Yeah, Baby?"

"I thought that you said that Grandma Labeau left you this ring in her will."

"She did. The woman you met the other day is Grandpa's second wife. Papa's Mom, Grandmere, passed away from a heart lung disease when I was just a baby. He married Grandma when I was five years old. She meant the world to my Dad. He had a hard time accepting Grandpa's second wife, but after awhile he did."

"I'm sorry if I brought up sad memories."

"Baby, it's alright. Anything you want to know about me, I'll tell you. There are somethings I can't tell you about because it could get me court marshalled, but if that's the case I'll let you know."

I fell asleep on the flight home, barely waking when Tank carried me to the car. He even carried me up to his Rangeman apartment. I was completely spent from the last few days.

"Baby, wake up. It's time for dinner"

I just groaned, I really wasn't feeling to well. I just wanted to sleep. I forced myself to sit up and went out to the table. I picked at my meal, of course Tank noticed.

"Baby, what's wrong? You look really pale."

"I'm just feeling yucky. I'll get some more sleep and be as good as new tomorrow."

He gets up from his seat and puts a cool hand to my forehead. It feels so good that I moan at the sensation. He picks me up and carries me to bed. I hear him call Bobby.

I must have fallen back to sleep. The next thing I know is that I need to use the bathroom, badly. I go to stand up, only to fall back onto the bed with a groan. Tank was instantly by my side.

"Let me help you," he whispers.

"Why do I feel like a truck hit me?"

"Let's get you to the bathroom, then we'll talk."

He puts my arm around him and his around my waist. We make a slow trek to the bathroom. I blush when I realize I need his help there too.

"In sickness and in health. I'm your husband, let me help you."

I nod and do what I need to do. He helps me to wash up a little when I'm done. I don't feel like a complete scuz ball anymore. Back in our room he starts to tell me what happened.

"You've been in and out of it for the last ten managed to pick up the flu while we were on our honeymoon."

"Wait, did you say ten days?!" I practically shreek at him.

"Yeah, Steph, ten days. I called Joe Juniak and he's good with you starting work in February. He's going to be out of town for the next two weeks anyway. You had us so worried. You should be okay to be up and about a little bit at a time for the next week. I'll be honest with you, you had me terrified."

"I'll be okay."

He nuzzled his head into my neck. After a few minutes of that he sighed and pulled back.

"I need to call Bobby and Jen, they want to look you over, now that your fever has broke and you are coherent."

"Okay, but why Jen?"

"Since we've been trying to have a baby she wants to do some blood work and make sure everything looks alright."

"Wouldn't it be to soon to tell, my period isn't due until next week?"

"She said that the blood test is more sensitive and can tell us more a little sooner. Plus, if I remember you telling me right, it was due two days ago. So, you are officially late and she should be able to find out now."

He calls Bobby and fifteen minutes later, he and Jen and knocking on our apartment door. They don't stay very long. Just long enough to check me over and draw some blood. When Jen, palpated my lower belly she had a small smile on her face.

"I think the rabbit has died, but the blood work will confirm it," she whispered in my ear.

The smile it brought to my face was bright.

"When will the tests be back?" I asked.

"Should only take a few hours. I'll call you tonight."

They left and Tank brought me in some apple juice and chicken broth. We sat on the bed together quietly.

"Have you gotten any sleep?" I asked an exhausted looking Tank.

"A little bit. I was worried about you."

" Why don't we take a nap?"

He crawled under the blanket and pulled me to him. We were both out quickly.

I fought through the fog when my phone rang. I picked it up and realized it was dark in our room.

"Lo?" I answered.

"It's Jen, wanted to let you know that you killed the rabbit."

"I'm sorry. Did I run over it?" I answered very confused.

"Go back to sleep, Steph. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Kay."

I hung up my phone and it dawned on me what she said. I bolted upright and squealed. Tank almost hit the ceiling and was looking around for a threat. That sent me into hysterics.

"What the hell, Steph?! You can't wake me up like that."

"Sorry."

"What has you acting like a ditzy kinda girl?"

"Jen just called."

"And..."

" We killed the rabbit."

He sat there blinking at me. Not quite understanding what I had said. I took his hand and placed on my belly.

"We killed the rabbit," I said again.

The full range of emotions crossed his face all at once. His smile could have lite up the entire east coast and then some.

He gave me a gentle push back into bed and leaned down to kiss my belly.

"Hey, baby. I'm your Daddy, I can't wait to meet you in a few months. I love you and your Mama so much. Now, please don't give her a hard time while you're cooking in there."

He kissed my belly again and then kissed me.

"Thank you, Steph."

"You helped make the baby, so thank you."

He held me and kept a protective hand on my belly. We lay there for a short while, until someone is at our door. Tank groans and goes to open it.

He comes back with a light dinner of soup and sandwiches for both of us.

"So, when do you want to tell people and do we want to still do it the way we talked about?"

"Oh yeah, it's gonna be good. It'll take about a week for us to it all together."

We finish our meal, and Tank helps me to the bathroom again. Then settles me back on the bed.

"Do you have time to help me with a bath tomorrow? I think I'll feel better once I'm completely clean."

"Yeah, I have some meetings after lunch. So, we'll do your bath after breakfast, then you can rest and watch movies til I get back. Sound like a plan?"

"It's a good plan."

He brought back a lap top to show me a few things he discovered about my mom and Lula.

Turns out that my mom had been drinking since I was a year old. She and Daddy had lost a son just before my first birthday. He would've been my little brother. She had to have an emergency hysterectomy to save her life. She had been bleeding out.

Lula, on the other hand, was into a far more sinister things than being a ho. Tank traced her income back to a local drug gang. She would sell them out of the bonds office with Connie getting a cut. He growled when he saw that she had been, and still was, using his street name as her current boyfriend to gain protection. He picked up the phone and spoke to Hector.

He was pissed. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but the tone of his voice did not bode well for Lula. I heard him say bambino, and knew that meant baby.

"Bambino?" I asked when he hung up.

"No worries, Hector won't even tell Vince. He wanted to know why I wanted it put out there that you are my wife and Lula is on her own with no protection. I told him that I needed you and our baby protected."

"Okay, now what are we going about my mom?"

"I'll call your Dad and have him meet us here tomorrow for dinner. She needs help, she needed help thirty two years ago and he failed her by not getting it for her. He failed you by not getting for her. You were probably doted on as a baby, but when she lost your brother she seemed to lose herself as well. Her grief wasn't unwarranted, but it was misplaced and projected on to you. I think she saw Joe as the son she lost and that's why she kept pushing him on you."

"I hope Daddy doesn't get upset with us."

"I think he needs to face it too. He may have gone into denial about the whole thing. They kept it from you and your sister and your Dad basically stopped speaking unless he was forced to."

I stopped to think about what he was saying. It sounded like a good possibility that's what occurred. If that's the case then maybe some family therapy would help as well. I would like my mom to be part of her Grandchilds life.

"Now, what are we going to do about Lula?" I ask him.

"I think when we announce our pregnancy that she will slip up. Once we announce it here, we'll invite everyone from the bonds office, your family and Bobby as mine, plus a few guys from the office here to have dinner with us at Shorty's. Then we'll announce it there as well. I'm sure we can keep you safe when the fireworks from her happen. We all know that she carries, but we'll make sure her bag has to be handed over before she can come in. Just like the rest of the women."

I nod into his chest as I fall asleep.