Disclaimer: Not mine...

A/N: Just a little gift for someone out there. I hope you like it. You know who you are. Also... a reader pointed out that the house would be closer if it was in Robbinsville and not Trenton...so the house is now in Robbinsville..I'm sorry for any confusion.

A Day With Uncle Lester

-Carlos POV-

I could hear the retching noises when I entered the apartment. Now I know why Steph never showed up downstairs. My poor Babe. I walk into the bathroom and Steph is sitting against the wall next to the toilet in a black t-shirt only. Her whole body is pale. She is completely covered in sweat. Her hair is matted to her head and her eyes are swollen and red. My poor Babe.

"Babe. You okay?" Stupid question, Manoso. You can plainly tell she's not okay.

"No, I feel like I've been run over with my own car. Twice." I squat down next to her and reach out to touch her and she flinches. "Babe." I'm crushed.

"I'm sorry I just hurt everywhere."

"I know you do, but let me help you. Jump into the shower and I'm going to go get you some medicine and some juice. You need to rest."

"Carlos, I can't. I have to take care of Gracie."

"Babe, I can do that."

"No you can't. You have meetings back to back today. And Ella isn't here. She left to go visit her sister yesterday."

"Babe, trust me. Get in the shower." I help her off the floor and get her in the shower. I walk into the kitchen my mind moving faster than I can. Shit, I can't cancel these meetings. Steph's mom is out of the question and my family is in Newark. I wonder if Lula could...no she has her hands full. I take the medicine and juice into the bedroom and sit in on the night stand. I take off my shirt and lay it on the bed. I know that when she is feeling bad she likes to have my scent near her. Maybe that will help. I grab a pair of silk boxers from the dresser and lay it next to the shirt on the bed. I grab another shirt for me and go pack a bag for Gracie.

I grabbed plenty of diapers and extra clothes. Gracie is standing in her crib looking at me funny. "Hey Princesa. Ma-Ma is sick. so you are going to spend the day with...someone I don't know who yet." She crinkles her nose like way I like. I love it when she does that. "Da-Da up." I go to her and pick her up. We have such a perfect child. I change her diaper and put on a pair of Tommy Hilfiger overalls with a Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt. Steph has a thing for overalls. She does look cute though. "Sorry Princesa, you are going to have to go natural today. My big fingers ain't going to be able to work a pony tail holder for you." My daughter laughs at me. "Glad I can make you laugh."

I go put Gracie in her high chair and hand her a piece of banana. She stuffs it in her mouth. Glad it was a small piece. I hear the shower turn off and go see to Steph. She's putting on the clothes I left for her.

"This is the shirt you were wearing." It was more of a statement than question, but I nodded. "You always know what I need." She crawls in the bed. "I try, Babe." I tuck the blanket around her. "I love you, Carlos." I kiss her forehead. She's hot. I'm glad she took that medicine. "I love you too, Babe. Now sleep."

"Carlos?" I turn to look at her.

"Yea, Babe."

"Don't get shot."

I smile. "Don't go crazy." She didn't hear me. She's already out.

I walk into the kitchen and Gracie looks mad. Shit. "I'm sorry, Princesa. Here ya go." I hand her another piece of banana. She grabs it and shoves it in her mouth. 8 months old and already she eats like her mother.

"Carlos!" Wasn't she asleep? I walk back into the bedroom.

"Babe?"

"You need to let Tank know that I'm sick so he can tell Lula, so Lula can keep an eye out with Jarrick and Quin." I smile. Thats my Babe. "I'll call him now, Babe. Now go to sleep." I walk back out of the room and into the kitchen. I give Gracie another piece and I grab my phone.

"Yo!"

"Tank."

"Yea, Boss."

"Stephanie is sick. You need to let Lula know."

"What kind of sick?"

"Fever, throwing up, sweaty, aching."

"Will do. Thanks."

"Anytime." I hang up the phone and give Gracie another piece. When she finishes that I start feeding her some cereal. She puts that away in no time. Its now 0830 hours. I got another a hour and a half before my first meeting. I grab my phone once again.

"Yo!"

"Lester?"

"Yea, Cos?"

"What are you doing today?"

"It's my day off so nothing. I told you I would go to the Bonds office this morning, but thats it."

"You wanna watch Gracie?"

"Sure. Steph?"

"Sick."

"Sick or pregnant?"

"Sick. So can you come here to 7 and pick up Gracie. I got her bag packed."

"Sure see ya in 5." I hang up the phone and grab the little cooler thing and put in two bottles of milk and a bottle of juice inside.

"Well Princesa you are going to be spending the day with Uncle Lester." I hand her another piece of banana and she throws it back at me. Yep shes done. As I'm cleaning her up I hear Lester at the door. I grab Gracie and go let Lester in. He takes Gracie from me as soon as he walks inside.

"Okay, look here is her diaper bag. It has diapers, wipes, extra clothes, baby food, toys, and there is a cooler thing with two bottles of milk and one juice. Don't let the milk go to waste."

"Is it breastmilk?"

"Yes. Any more questions?"

"Nope." He popped the p.

"Good. If anything happens to my daughter, I'll kill you." I know it won't but I have to let him know.

"Don't worry Cos, I'll protect her with my life. Can I take her in the Bonds office?"

"Yea, thats fine. Just go before I change my mind. Oh, here." I throw him the keys to Cayenne. He raises his eyebrow.

"Already has a car seat."

"Cool. Later." He grabs Gracie's bag, coat and hat and walks out my door.

-Lester POV-

I walk out of the apartment and down the stairs. I hit the garage and stop. I put on Gracie's coat and hat. I walk onto the garage and open the Cayenne. I put Gracie in her car seat. She's just smiling. She really is a happy baby. I throw her bag in the back and hop in the vehicle. I drive to the Tasty Pastry and park. I get out and grab Gracie. I walk inside the bakery. I feel all eyes on me. This should be interesting. I get a 1/2 dozen Boston creams. I pay, grab my creams and walk out the door. I put the box on top of the vehicle and put Gracie back on her car seat. I grab the box and slide behind the wall. I peel out and head to the Bonds office. I park the Cayenne and get out. I grab Gracie and then the box and then head towards the Bonds office.

"Hey Connie."

"Hey Les. Is that Gracie?"

"Yep." I pop the p.

"Oh she is getting so big. I barely get to see her anymore."

"How come?"

"Oh Steph never brings her by anymore. Not since that bastard took her."

I nod my head and hand her the box. "Oh Thanks."

"No problem. Can I get the Rangeman files?"

"Sure here ya go."

I signed the paper and handed it back. "Thanks. I'll talk to ya later."

"Bye!"

I walk back to the vehicle and stick Gracie back in her car seat. I hop into the driver's side. I look at my watch. It's now 10:00. I peel out and hand towards Toys R Us. I know it drives Steph crazy when I spend money on Gracie, but I can't help it. I love doing it. I park next to the door and get out. I grab Gracie and we head inside. Her little face just lights up at all the toys. I grab a cart and sit Gracie in the front. I buckle her in making sure its tight.

The first thing I see is a Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smilin' Smart Phone. It looks like a regular phone. How cute. I throw 2 of them in the cart. Next thing I see is a Little Tikes Baby Tap-A-Tune Piano. Yep that would drive Carlos crazy. In the cart in goes. After that I throw in a Vtech Push & Learn Pony, a Tiny Love Tiny Princess Electronic Book, a Playskool Step Start Walk N' Ride in pink, and a Vtech Spin N' Learn Top. I grab a few small hand toys. A caterpillar, a frog, and a butterfly. Each one lights up and makes sounds and noises and such. I then head over to Babies R Us.

The first thing I do is go down the safety area. I gave cabinet locks, edge and corner guards, and baby gates in different sizes and styles. The new house is going to need some safety stuff. I see strollers and head down that aisle. Gracie is watching in fascination. I see something called a jogging stroller. Mmmm I wonder what that is. I start reading the paper. Whew, $239.99 oh well. I grab the Baby jogger 2012 City Mini Single Stroller in black. Now Gracie can go running with us. I then see a crib comforter set in butterflies and grab that. I grab the sheets to match and head over to the cribs. I pick a white one that looks just like her one at home. I can put this in my apartment so when I watch her. I have one. Damn, I'm good. I grab a baby mattress. And head to the clothes.

I see all the clothes and about have a heart attack. I grab a handful of everything from sleepers, to what they call rompers, to dresses in every color I see. Yellow, pink, purple, red, green and blue. I throw everything in my cart and then grab some blankets. I head back to the toy section where I grab myself an exersaucer, a high chair, a car seat for my personal vehicle and a few more toys. Steph is going to kill me.

I walk over to the cashier who looks in shock. I laugh at her face. After she rings everything up, my mouth drops. Babies are expensive. Whew! Over $1000 for all this. I hand her my credit card. A sales associate helps take everything to the Cayenne and loads into the back. I hand him a $20 and say thanks. He looks down in shock. I grab Gracie and put her in the car seat. It is now noon and Gracie looks tired. I head to the park down the street from Haywood. Its a nice day for March so I take off Gracie's hat, grab a milk bottle and head towards the nearest bench. I sit down and get situated and give Gracie her bottle. Carlos didn't put her hair up this morning so its all over the place. She looks adorable. I look up and a tall pretty brunette is headed towards me. I smile at her. She smiles back. She sits down next to me and nods at Gracie.

"She's beautiful. She must look like her mom." I'm confused at that statement and I look back at Gracie. Oh duh because I have green eyes and light brown hair and Gracie has dark hair and dark eyes. I shook my head.

"No, she looks her dad." Its her turn to look confused.

"I'm not her dad." She looks slightly pleased at this.

"Oh?"

I nod my head. "Her dad is my cousin and I work for his business. His wife and one of my best friends is sick. It was my day off and he asked and I said yes."

"Wow, that was nice of you." I nodded. She stuck out her hand. "Hi, my name is Linda." I smile at Linda and shook her head.

"Name's Lester."

"It's very nice to meet you, Lester."

I keep on smiling. "Its nice to meet you too, Linda."

She bits her lower lip. Oh she's cute! "Well I have to go back to work."

I nod my head and go for it. "Can I get your number?" Her beautiful smile blinds me. I hand her my phone and she takes it. She programs her number in my phone and hands it back.

"Bye Lester."

"Bye Linda." She walks away and damn what a walk. I look down at Gracie who is pretty much asleep. "Thank you Gracie!"

I pull into the garage at the same time Carlos does. I get out of the vehicle and he is already by my side. He looks horrible.

"How was she?"

"Good. She's asleep right now. You want to help me?"

"Help you do what?"

I open up the back and I hear Carlos. "Holy shit, Steph is going to kill you. You do know she already has a crib, a car seat, and a high chair and she has 4 of these things."

"I know, but this is for my place. I decided if you're going to ask me to keep her I want to have stuff for her. So I got clothes and toys too."

"Well, I do trust you more than anybody besides Steph and Tank, so we're good."

He calls the control room and gets Chase and Ryan down here. New guy grunt work. I take Gracie out of the car seat. Carlos had another meeting so he's gone. I lead the new guys upstairs and tell them to leave everything in the living room. It took them 3 trips each to get everything up here. My living room is packed. I lay Gracie down on my bed and pile pillows around her. I leave my bedroom door open so I can hear her. I have a 2nd bedroom but I have never used it. Now I have a reason to. Don't know why it took me so long.

A hour later the crib is put together and in the spare bedroom all set up with the sheets and comforter on. I need a changing table and a rocking chair. That would make it perfect in here. I sit up the high chair and unwrap all the toys and I leave the clothes alone when I realize I need a dresser to. I hear Gracie in the bedroom and go get her. I get her changed and in the new high chair and start feeding her. I'm almost finished when my phone rings. "It's your daddy, Gracie."

"Yo!"

"Les?"

"Cos, you sound bad."

"Yea, you wanna put that new crib to use?"

"I would be happy to keep her over night if thats what you're asking."

"Thanks, I got the same shit Steph has. I feel like shit."

"No problem. What about milk?"

"She has 4 more bottles in the fridge. Let yourself in whenever you need them."

"Will do."

"And Les?"

"Yea."

"Take tomorrow off."

"Thanks." He hangs up the phone and I turn to Gracie.

"Looks like you and me are going shopping again." I wag my eye brows at her and she giggles. She holds her arms up and says, "Up." I pick her up. "Come on my poco angel. We have more stuff to get!"

A/N: I hope you enjoy that little fluff story...