Epilogue
Unknown Observer POV
6 years later
Isabella and Karla were turning 6 in two days. Stephanie was having a hard time getting everything ready for their party on her own. She did a lot of things solo in the last year. She was a full time, stay at home mom, and was loving every minute of it. In addition to the twins, she had two other children, 4-year-old Carlos Juan (CJ) Manoso and 2-year-old Marco Stephen Manoso. She had C-sections with each birth, and she and Carlos decided that Marco would be their last. She had her tubes tied when she gave birth. Ten months ago, Carlos was informed that he had to go on one more mission. Even though his contract was done, he had infiltrated a foreign drug cartel years ago and his cover was never blown. He was specifically requested to take care of the problem. The night he left was the hardest night for Stephanie. She wasn't sure if she would ever see Carlos again. They spent their last night making love and the morning as a family. She took a picture of them as a family of six and then a picture with just the two of them. She still loved him just as much as she always had.
They were living in the beach house, SP. The girls were in a private school and the boys were home with Stephanie. She worked for RangeMan once a week, handling the schedules, payroll, and overseeing all contracts. Tank was running RangeMan in Carlos's absence, but both he and Stephanie had to sign off on all major expenses. She hadn't heard from her husband in nine months. She knew this was a long-term operation, but she was starting to worry that he may never return.
"Hey, Steph, what else do you need me to do?" Monica asked. She and Bobby got married five years before and they have a 3-year-old son. She and Stephanie were still partners in crime, just more domesticated.
"Nope, I'm all set. Just wondering about Carlos."
Ellen Plum was convicted of a load of charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. She didn't last six months. Frank Plum was never charged, but he disappeared one morning and was found washed up along the Delaware three days later. Edna Plum died in her sleep two years ago, while living with Valerie. Valerie was all alone. Her two ex-husbands had custody of their respective girls, and Angie Morelli had custody of Joe's baby. She struggled to make ends meet and was living in Lula's old apartment.
Connie spend three years in prison before her Family put a hit on her. She didn't survive a riot, shanked by a fellow inmate. Joe, being an ex-cop, had a hard time in prison. He was constantly beat up and took his own life two days after Ranger departed. Jimmy, it turns out, never raped Ellen. They had a five-year affair, and Stephanie was the result of that affair. He explained to Stephanie that her mother was mentally unstable, and should have been on medication, but stopped taking it when she was pregnant with Stephanie. She never started again, so her reality was altered. He has been helping Stephanie and they have developed a good relationship. Jimmy produced over 200 letters that were written between Ellen and himself, which only proved that he never raped her.
Isabella and Karla get off the school bus as Stephanie watched them from the porch. They come running up to her. "Mommy, I think daddy's back." Isabella said. "I've felt him all day" Karla added. Both girls seemed to have inherited Stephanie's Spidey sense. They had their father's skin tone, but everything else about them was their mother, right down to their blue eyes and unruly brown curls. Stephanie hugged her minis and replied, "I feel him too, mi hijas."
CJ came into the room to see his sisters. They always brought him home a picture that they would make for him in school. He came to claim it. Marco was still napping.
"Girls, are you excited for your party?" Monica asked them.
"Yes, Aunt Monica. We can't wait!" Both girls replied in unison. The girls had the RangeMan ESP that always drove Stephanie nuts. She knows that because they are identical twins, that isn't uncommon, especially between each other. Stephanie ushers the kids into the kitchen for cookies and milk before homework. Just as she finishes putting everything on the table, the hair on the back of her neck stands up. Carlos. She feels him, but it's not the same. The doorbell rings. Stephanie rushes to answer it while Monica stays with the kids. She opens the door to find two men dressed in Army uniforms standing on her porch.
"Carlos, is he…"
"I'm sorry to inform you, Mrs. Manoso, but your husband has passed away. His mission was a success, and we caught the bad guy, but he didn't make it. The United States thanks your husband for his service and would like to present you with this posthumous Purple Heart. Here are his dog tags, Ma'am."
Stephanie's POV
2 weeks later
I awake with a start. I feel myself start to sob. It was only a dream, Stephanie, get a grip! I've had this dream every night for the last two weeks, ever since learning that Joe killed himself. As much as Joe ruined my life and was an asshole, there was still a small part of me that loved him. I glance at the clock, great, three thirty. I'll never get back to sleep. Suddenly, I hear the door open and the alarm chirp on and off. I reach for my Sig and engage the safety. I'm ready to shoot if need be. Then, I feel him, Carlos. He knocks on the door and says "Babe" before opening. I click off the safety, put the gun on the nightstand, and jump out of bed into his waiting arms.
"Carlos, I've missed you so much. I can't believe you're home!" We kiss and start to peel away our clothes when we hear two small voices, "Daddy, you're back!" Isabella and Karla open their door and come running to daddy. They are both daddy's little girls.
"I'm officially discharged. I'm home for good." Carlos bends down and picks up both of his daughters. "Queridas, you should be sleeping."
"We'll go to sleep now. We felt you come in and wanted to see you." Isabella replies before saying good night to her father.
"Buenos noches, papa," Karla adds.
Ranger's POV
20 years later
I can't believe it. My Isabella is getting married. To an Army Ranger, like her father. She and Peter have known each other their whole lives. They grew up next to each other. I walk into the bridal suite so I can escort her down the aisle and giver her away. I look at her and my breathe leaves my body. She looks exactly like her mother did on our wedding day. "Mi hija, eres tan Hermosa. You remind me so much of your mother, especially wearing her gown today."
"I feel like Mommy is with us, like she's here in the room with us."
Karla adds "I feel her too."
I take solace in what they say, because they have Stephanie's Spidey sense. I haven't been able to feel her near me since that night six months ago when I got the interruption that would destroy my world.
Tank is calling my office. I'm on DND. I have an important client in my office right now. I pick up the phone "Report, and this better be good."
"Boss, you need to come down to conference room one immediately. It's an emergency." Tank tells me.
"I'll be right there." I excuse myself from the client. I enter the room and see Eddie Gazarra and Carl Costanza in the room. They are both detectives for TPD. "How can I help you, gentlemen?"
"Ranger, you need to sit down." Carl says. He waits for me to sit before continuing, "Stephanie was in an accident. She was crossing the street in front of Tasty Pastry when a drunk driver hit her. She was gone before the EMTs arrived."
No, they're wrong. There's no way that she is gone. I click some buttons on the computer. Her tracker watch is at the morgue. Wait, at the morgue, what is she doing there? It hits me that she is really gone. I let out a scream and collapse onto my knees. My Babe is gone. My phone rings. It's Karla. "Karla?"
"Daddy, she's gone, isn't she?"
"Yes, mi hija."
"We'll be there in ten minutes."
"Isabella, it's time."
I walk her down the aisle in church. I see Karla waiting up front as she is the maid of honor, and CJ and Marco are there, standing parade rest in their Army uniforms. Both were granted leave to be at their sister's wedding. The boys were overseas when their mother died, and took it hard because they couldn't return for the funeral. We had a small memorial service three days ago, which was the first time that my children were together since the holidays. CJ and Marco look mostly like me, except they have my Babe's blue eyes. CJ has one more tour before he is discharged, at which time he will join RangeMan. Marco will follow when his tours are over. Isabella and Karla are researchers for RangeMan, and have taken over their mother's job. I bought out Tank, Lester and Bobby after Stephanie's death so that our children could run the company. They had no complaints and still work there. I hand over my daughter to her fiancé and sit in my seat. As they stand there an exchange their vows, I feel Stephanie once again. That night, after the party is over and the bride and groom have left, I get ready for bed. Before Isabella leaves, she says to me "Daddy, I love you and I will always love you. You are the reason why I found Peter. I will miss you, though, every day and I will miss mommy. Tell her I love her."
I sit on the bed and look at picture from my wedding day and once again feel Stephanie. "Babe, are you there? God, how I miss you. Why did you leave me, mi amor, mi vida? Isabella is your clone and reminds me of you so much. Babe, I love you." I lie down, close my eyes, and I am finally reunited with my Babe.
Karla's POV
Here we are, four days after Isa's wedding and we are saying goodbye to Daddy. He died in his sleep on Isa's wedding night, apparent from a heart attack. He wasn't the same man once Mommy died, but knowing that Isa's wedding was approaching kept his motivated to live. We know that Mommy came for him. Their love was so strong and powerful. I only hope to have that kind of love one day for a man and I hope he loves me like that. Isabella and Peter delayed their honeymoon to say goodbye. All the men who have ever worked for RangeMan are present, including several high ranking military members. After all the speeches and the gravesite ceremony, the masses begin to leave. Our Merry Men, as mom always called them, are waiting for us to say our goodbyes before taking us to the diner when our parents met where we are having the funeral lunch. Isa and I start to walk away with our brothers, but we both stop. We sense our parents. We wait to hear them. Finally, we hear mom "My beautiful girls, never change who you are for anyone. Find a man who loves you for you and who will let you fly. Isabella, you found him in Peter. Karla, you will find him too. Make sure your brothers find the right woman. Use your Spidey sense to guide them. I love you all very much."
Dad then says "Mi hijas, you were a blessing to us, you made us realize how much we really loved each other. You have been so good to me since mommy left, but now, I am with her and we are happy. Until we meet again. I love all of you. Good bye."
Tears are streaming down our faces because we know that we won't feel them ever again. They are together for eternity. May they rest in peace.
The End
Author's Note: Thank you all for following me on this journey. I hope I tied up all the loose ends and you are satisfied with the demise of our villains. I know this was a tear jerker ending, but I believe that their love was so strong that if one died, the other would shortly their after. I didn't plan on this ending, but I hoped it fits.
Thank you for all your review, you help to fuel me to move forward. I already have an idea for another Babe story, but different from this one. I hope to post the first chapter in the next few days. Follow me for update. I don't have a title yet.
Once again, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEWS.
