Since these updates usually end up being lengthy, they're taking me longer to write and edit lately. Thanks for continuing to read and review Baby Steps, and for not completely giving up on it. All familiar characters, quotes, and events are Janet's. The mistakes are mine.

"He looks a little like a bottle opener with only two bottom teeth."

I smacked Ramon. "He. Does. Not. He looks adorable, not at all like a kitchen gadget."

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. A bottle opener is one of my favorite tools."

"Speaking of tools," Bobby told him. "Stop acting like one."

I smiled at Bobby. "Matty thanks you."

"He may be pint-sized, but he's one of us. No one's allowed to fuck with him."

Ramon rolled his eyes at both of us.

Bobby took Matthew out of my arms and gently squeezed his cheeks together to get a better look at the matching pair of chompers. My little man retaliated by getting a vise-like grip on Bobby's fingers and trying to redirect them to the teeth he's trying to see. If Matty succeeds, Bobby's in for a surprise. Those things are tiny - and look innocent enough - but they hurt like hell if they sink into something that contains nerve endings.

"What can he eat with these things?"

Matty loves being the center of the guy's attention, so he started kicking his legs into Bobby's midsection and gave off high-frequency squeals only dogs and dolphins can understand. I watched his small sandal-covered foot bounce off Bobby's core muscles. Great, now I probably have to worry about him breaking a toe or something. These guys are built like friggin' Redwoods.

"He eats about the same as he did without them," I answered. "I feel like I'm just taking Ranger's food and grinding it up."

"That should tell you something, Babe."

"Yeah, it tells me that he has your taste buds. I was hoping he'd get your looks, smarts, and determination, not your intense dislike of anything not tasting like it grew in dirt."

"Potatoes grow in dirt," he pointed out, "and you enjoy them."

"That's why people fry them or mash tons of butter into them, so they no longer resemble a vegetable. Now I'm getting hungry."

"You have contraband Tastykakes in your desk drawer."

"I know. So you can find Matty and I in my office."

I kissed Ranger, wrestled Matty away from Bobby, and gave Ramon a small wave as we left. I have a few things to do before twelve o'clock rolls around. Valerie called this morning and said she's coming over for lunch. And me becoming more of a multitasker, I'm hoping to rope her into helping me with the scrapbook I've been trying to put together for Matty. My idea of organizing pictures is to cram them all into a shoebox, but I want something special for him. Unfortunately, wanting to do something doesn't mean you can actually do it.

I cleaned my desk and my inbox in the hours until lunch rolled around and with it ... Valerie. All the girls are in some type of school, so the only person she's leaving to fend for themselves is Albert. Since she's done the kid thing three times, I'm counting on her to give me pointers on what to do with what I have for the months of Matthew's womb stay, to the five-plus ones he's been out of it.

I'm still surprised at the amount of stuff Ranger and I have saved. Matty's footprint/poem print is hung up in his nursery. His coming home outfit is already packed away for posterity. And the father/son Mother's Day gift I was given is being kept on the sideboard right next to the silver dish that holds Ranger's keys. I chose that spot for a reason. I look at it as a subtle reminder of the family he gets to come home to now.

I'm more confident in my mothering abilities, but I definitely don't want to be doing this alone. I need Ranger's guidance and reassurance almost as much as Matthew will as he grows up. I can't even begin to imagine what single mothers go through, I just know that I respect the hell out of them.

Valerie had been one during and after her marriage to Steve. He worked long hours and usually came home only as Angie and Mary Alice were getting ready for bed or were already asleep. That worked well for him, but Val had been running on empty long before he ditched her for a younger, skankier alternative. I never admitted it to anyone, but that's why I was scared of marrying and procreating with Joe. I kept picturing myself living the same kind of life Valerie had just escaped from.

I put Matthew down for a nap in his bedroom bassinet so I wouldn't have to move him when Valerie got here. I'll make up any Rangeman hours I miss when he wakes back up. I made a pot of coffee and then 'accidentally' moved all the pictures, and the baby book I'd like to put them in, to the kitchen table.

"What's all this?" Val asked, placing a bakery box on the kitchen island.

"I thought I could pick your brain over coffee and whatever's in that box."

"It's an Oreo cookie cake. I figure we can eat that for lunch, since it's technically a sandwich cookie and all."

I rolled my eyes at her. Val and I fought over Oreos our entire childhood. Most of our snacks were made by either our mom or Grandma Mazur, so getting store bought cookies was a novelty we never failed to argue over.

"I'll get the plates," I said to her.

"You can cut me a big piece while I go see my nephew."

"He's sleeping ..."

She threw me a 'duh' look over her shoulder. "That's the best time to check on them. All children look angelic when they're asleep. And when they have teeth coming in, sometimes it's the only time they aren't crying." She shuddered as if remembering the teething stages she's lived through.

She had a good point. I thought Lisa couldn't be any cuter until she woke up one day and started screaming her head off. I cut into the two-layer cake and poured Val a cup of coffee. My doctor assured me that I can have a cup or two without affecting my breast milk too much, but I've gone so long without it, I decided - unless I'm nearing a potentially homicidal mood - to not resume my caffeine addiction until Matty doesn't need anything from my boobs anymore.

"I do love my kids," Valerie said, when she came back and sat down with me at the kitchen table, "but that one of yours, Steph, is perfect."

I nodded my head in agreement. "I think he only gets cuter and better when he's awake."

"You would. This is weird, isn't it?" She asked.

"Us comparing our kids? Yes!"

"Yeah, that's strange enough on its own, but sitting at the table, eating cake, drinking coffee, while looking at family photos?"

I sighed. "Like someone just sucked us up from Mom's kitchen and spit us out here?"

"Am I wrong?"

"No."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to bring her up."

"It's okay, Val. She's part of us. I would never ask you to pretend she doesn't exist."

"I know, but I don't want to ruin the mood. Between your life here, and mine with Albert and the girls, we don't get many opportunities like this. So ... what are you thinking of doing here?" She ate her bite of cake before pointing at the table with her fork.

"Ranger and I already filled in the info on the pages, but I can use some help narrowing down the pictures while you tell me what's been going on with you."

She looked up from one of Ranger holding Matthew when he'd been small enough to fit the length of his dad's forearm.

"This definitely needs to go somewhere. This, too," she told me, pulling out another father/son one. "You've got a lot of the two of them together."

"Ranger doesn't have many pictures of him and Julie together when she was little. And since I can't change their past relationship, I may have overcompensated here."

"The three of you will be glad to have all of these. You even did the month by month pictures?"

"Yeah. I hadn't thought of doing that, but apparently I do a lot of internet surfing when I'm sleepy and can't sleep. And it seemed like a cute idea to have a visual aide on all the changes he goes through in a month. I guess I'll have to get a frame to put all twelve together after his first birthday, but I've got five months so far."

She put those to the side, and we got busy dividing the rest of them up. There are a ton of Ranger's parents and siblings with Matthew. Some with him and Valerie's family. Grandma and Ella mimicking his expression in a few. Plus, countless ones of Ranger, Julie, and I with him, not to mention various Rangemen who actually allow their images to be captured if Matty's in their vicinity. You'd think they're hiding from the FBI or something.

"I say take a few from each pile for the book that has all his hospital gear, hand and foot prints, and birth information. Then if you want, you can do a couple fun ones, like Matty at work ... and include the ones with the guys. Maybe a holiday/birthday book, one of just you three and Julie. You're taking this 'project' too seriously, Steph. Anything you do, he'll appreciate ... and eventually be embarrassed by."

We both laughed as we remembered the baby pictures our mom would always drag out whenever we were being difficult.

"'Look at that face'," she'd say, pulling out a picture of me when I'd been the age Matthew is now, "who would have ever thought that such a sweet, innocent baby would grow up to have that kind of mouth on her?'"

I suppose it says something about my personality, that instead of being hurt by her saying stuff like that to me and anyone else who'd listen, I was actually feeling proud that I did have a sarcastic mouth on me. It took me years of covert TV and people watching to acquire and perfect it, so why would I be ashamed of it?

When we'd gone through all the photos as Val told me about the recent cases Albert landed and how the girls are doing in school, she noticed the same thing I did. There are no pictures of Matthew with our mom. The only times the two of them had been in the same room, I'd been too worried about something or someone to have snapped photos of them. If he ever flips through his baby books, it's going to be hard to explain why his grandmother aren't in them.

Matty had gotten up after only an hour, and I decided that although the book is still incomplete, thanks to Val, I can finish it when I have more time. My priorities get rearranged daily, but a clean diaper and a full baby belly are always the top ones. Val called dibs on her nephew only after I was done.

"I probably shouldn't bring this up, but I've been wondering about it ..."

"What?" I asked, handing Matty the mirror toy that's currently his favorite.

"Do you honestly think Mom will hurt Matthew?" She asked, letting his free hand wrap around her fingers as she shifted him on her lap.

"No. Not in the way everyone thinks. It's hard to explain to people who haven't been through the things Ranger and I have, but remember when you were kidnapped by Abruzzi to get to me? And when DeChooch fired a shot off near your head?"

She shivered. "Yeah. I still have nightmares about that."

"Well, imagine it was Lisa, Angie, or Mary Alice, with Abruzzi or in front of DeChooch's gun."

"I can't. And I don't want to."

"That's the difference. I can picture it ... all too well. And I can't not think about it in case one slip up results in Matty getting kidnapped or worse."

"I can see you being overprotective ..."

"That's not it. I mean, I am being overprotective,but for me, there's a whole other level of it. I went after someone forever ago, and he wound up walking around Trenton with a picture of my son on him. If Tavares had been a little crazier, a little smarter, and Ranger wasn't so good at hunting people down, he could've tried to snatch Matthew to get back at me."

"That sounds a little paranoid, Steph."

"Maybe it is. But I'd rather be paranoid than childless."

She was quiet as she really thought about that. It's not pleasant for any parent to consider.

"I gave Mom grief for going behind your back," she said finally, "but I had been thinking that you were just experiencing what most first time mothers go through."

"Seeing potential danger where there isn't any?"

"Yeah, but now that I put myself in your place, you really need a SWAT team surrounding this little guy," she told me, dropping a kiss on the top of his silky-haired head.

I smiled. "I've got something much better." My Rangeman team. "Do you have plans for the afternoon? Or would you like to watch your nephew for a little while so I can use my mouse without him trying to grab and eat it?"

"I'd love to stay longer, but I have to get a couple things at the store before my brood starts getting home from school. Besides, every time Albert hears that I've been here, he gets a little insecure and wants me to watch him lift his two-pound weights a few times before and after dinner."

I tried to suppress a cringe. That's one more difference between Val and I. She tries to avoid seeing her husband pump iron, whereas I'd spend an exorbitant amount of money to watch Ranger do it ... preferably without a shirt so I can fully appreciate the flex and release of every single muscle.

A baby toy suddenly bounced off my head. Matty's not the one who threw it, either.

"Get your mind out of the gutter," Val ordered me.

"It wasn't in the gutter, it was in the gym," I clarified.

"In this building, those are the same thing."

The Rangeman gym is a very fantasy-friendly place.

Matty and I went down to the lobby with her, and stayed for a few minutes talking to Gene and Cal, who were smart enough not to make any gadget references while we were there. Then we went back to the fifth floor and stopped in to see Ranger.

He kissed me when I got close to his desk. "You taste like cake," he told me. "I heard Valerie didn't come empty-handed."

"She left empty-handed, so you can have a piece if you want," I said, relinquishing our son to him.

Ranger sat back down and stood Matty up on his lap. Our kid is beginning to discover that his legs can do something more than just hold his feet to his body. And he's been finding it fun to bounce himself up and down on them as he continues to snack on his fingers.

"I'll pass on the cake," Ranger said to me. "It's good that you're getting back to the way you were before morning sickness set in."

"Yeah, admitting that cake made me throw up was hard, but it was part of getting him here ... so I can't feel that bad about it."

Matty was amusing himself, inventing his own language and imitating a pogo stick, which left me the one under Ranger's microscope.

"What happened with Valerie?" He asked.

"She helped me get organized."

"Steph ..."

"Nothing bad happened, I swear. We just went over the same 'ol crap. Looking at Matty's entire life so far, laid out there in front of me, had me feeling a little introspective. It'll pass."

He didn't say anything, just continued to stare at me.

"Jeez! Alright, so we may have discussed my mom."

Ranger turned Matty around, letting the little back lean against a much larger front. Great, now both can watch me. That was obviously a calculated move on Ranger's part. It's hard for me to feel anything except good when I see the two of them together. I reached out and ruffled our kid's hair. He flashed his new teeth at me.

"And?" Ranger pushed, not letting a potential problem go undiscussed without trying to solve it.

"And ... I got bummed out for a few seconds. Then I got over it."

"There are things we can do if you really want him to see ..."

"No. This is too important for her to get her way on. I'm fine. I promise."

He nodded, but his eyes didn't leave me. "My meeting for this afternoon had to be rescheduled," he said, changing the subject. "When you're finished whatever needs to be done here, we can both call it a day early."

The smile I gave him was genuine. "Sounds good. We can see what vegetable he swallows or dribbles out next."

"How can anyone not be excited about those kind of plans?" He asked, before kissing the back of his son's hand.

"We do live exciting lives."

"They're still interesting, just in a different way. Would you like me to take him for a while?" He asked.

"No. He keeps me from zoning out when I'm reading academic backgrounds on potential employees. Though I have to say, the prison stays always perk me right back up. This company is the best."

"Some skills have to be learned outside a classroom."

I figured that one out real quick. Those particular skills come in real handy when you need to get inside a locked apartment the police have already told you to stay the hell out of.

Matty and I left Ranger and managed to get another hour of paperwork done before I gave up. I took care of the do or die stuff, but the rest of it came in second now that I have the option to spend the rest of the day with Matty and Ranger.

I locked up my office, collected Ranger from his, and we went up to the seventh floor together. It's the first time in almost two weeks that we all got to hang out together before supper. I pulled Matty's high chair next to the table, sat him down in it, and strapped the largest bib I could find on him. Ranger got out the sweet potatoes that I made this morning before work and a baby spoon.

I bet if a skip came at me now, I could peel and chop him up faster than he could shoot at me. And now that Matty can try a few different fruits and vegetables, I found a mold to make baby-appropriate Popsicles that seem to help in the battle between his gums and the teeth that want to pop through them.

Ranger manned the spoon while I was on cleanup duty. Matthew's trying to be self-sufficient already. And after his initial cereal attempt, I learned that it's better to have him in a contained area when he decides to try feeding himself or a full hazmat suit would be required. Ella's good with stains, but even she tapped out when she got a look at one of my t-shirts.

"You all done, little man?" I asked Matty, when the dish was three-quarters empty and he suddenly looked like he has something better to do.

"I'd take that blank stare as a yes," Ranger told me.

"That is the answer I always assume you're giving me when I get your blank stare."

I'm pretty sure Ranger can sigh internally, and he probably did just now. I took on the dishes while Ranger got our kid. We headed to the living room when everything was cleaned and put away, and Matty's face and hands were no longer orange.

I don't want him to get sick by being on his stomach - which he always seems to end up on now - too soon after eating, so I spread out the large play mat I found at the mall, but I'm the one who sat on it facing the couch. Ranger kept possession of Matty and let him stand between his knees in front of me.

It's a little disconcerting to see a sixteen-plus pound, babbling little ball of energy, being framed by black cargo pants and a pair of big Bates boots that are deadly if they land on a bad guy's head. And Matthew's being carefully held by hands that still have knuckle scabs from a recent bust. The contrast between the two - innocence and experience - is sexy as hell, and made Ranger seem even more addicting and far more lethal, too.

"I guess Matty doesn't need a swing if his dad's around," I said to Ranger.

"He won't need me once he figures out how to keep his legs under him," he said, as our son got a little too exuberant and would've landed on his diaper if Ranger hadn't been holding him.

"He'll always need his dad, especially since he has the best one."

"In your opinion."

"Yup. And mine is the only one that matters when it comes to this particular subject."

I opened my arms and Ranger helped Matty 'walk' over to me. Then I wrapped both around him and let myself fall backwards so his little body was balancing on my chest. That didn't last long. I had put some of his toys around the mat before I sat down on it, and he wanted the one by my shoulder really bad.

I put him down near it and went to sit with Ranger. Matty is big - and strong - enough to hold himself up in a push up stance. And he can do the superhero pose all on his own now, stretching out on his stomach and lifting his arms and legs up off the floor at the same time so he appeared to be flying. He can also sit up with no support for a few seconds before sliding over to one side, which he just did. He then showed us that he has an iron stomach by rolling onto his to go after more toys.

Maybe this is what Ranger was talking about when he made that entertainment comment about me. Because watching Matty figure out his limitations while seeing his determination to try harder to surpass them, is very entertaining to watch, but it also fills me with so much love for him, I find it hard to breathe. My trying to figure out how to be a bounty hunter could be likened to him learning to crawl.

I snuggled into Ranger while we watched Matty move under his own steam, trying to grab whatever toy he felt like playing with at that time. I'd taken off his sandals before we fed him, and his ten tiny fingers and toes are now digging into the mat, and his little diapered butt is sticking straight up in the air, as he attempted to propel himself towards his toy-goal. He then grunted in frustration when he didn't get far and he immediately went back to slithering, ignoring his legs again since they didn't get him where he wanted to go.

I knew that feeling well. I experienced it daily before Ranger implemented a POS ban on my cars.

"He'll be crawling soon," Ranger pointed out.

"Yup. I am happy about that, but he's changed so much in these last couple weeks, they feel like they've flown by."

"He's not leaving for college, Babe," he said, wrapping an arm around me. "He'll just be able to get from point A to point B without you having to put him there."

"Exactly! He's severing the cord."

"It's been severed for months."

"The figurative cord, not his umbilical cord. But I am curious about who he's going to be, so I guess he can't go off and save the world, or discover a cure for cancer, if he can't even crawl."

"That's one way of talking yourself out of having separation anxiety."

That deserved an elbow, so I gave him one to the ribs. He didn't even flinch, just grinned at my pathetic attempt to maim him. I tipped my head to the side and shot him a glare, but then instantly settled back against him as we continued to watch Matty use what Ranger calls his 'army crawl' to reach stuff. I was set to stay like this until dinner, yet the buzzing of my phone had me thinking I won't be that lucky.

I answered it, expecting to hear Grandma's voice since it was my parents' number, but it wasn't Grandma Mazur.

"Stephanie ... this is your mother calling."

I blew a curl off my forehead and snapped my backbone into place.

"I know your voice, Mom. It's been a while, but I still remember what you sound like." I remember too well how she sounds. "Why are you calling?"

She got real quiet, no doubt choosing her words very carefully.

"Valerie stopped by the house with the girls ..."

And I immediately understood what prompted this call. "And now you're upset that you don't appear to be a key player in Matthew's life."

It wasn't a question.

"He's my grandson."

"Yes, he is. If that mattered at all to you, you would've called a long time ago."

"Ranger ..."

"Don't you dare blame Ranger for any of this," I warned her, keeping my voice even so Matty wouldn't be disturbed and could keep playing. "The only reason he said what he did was because he viewed you as a potential threat to his family."

"I wouldn't do anything to harm you or Matthew."

"Maybe not intentionally, but you're very shortsighted when you're after something."

I had moved slightly away from Ranger to answer my phone, and I cut my eyes right back to him. His eyebrow was raised in question. 'Do I want him to take care of this for me?' is what it - and he - was asking. I gave my head a quick shake. I think I left the hospital in April not only with Matthew, but with an indestructible pair of Big Girl panties. And I'm going to use them.

"I admit, I've made a few mistakes ..." she started to say.

I noticed that she didn't say she's sorry for them, though.

"When did you admit that?" I asked. "Because I've been waiting to hear those words and I think I would've remembered them."

Ranger pulled me close again and slid his fingers into my hair. If he can't fight my battles for me, he'll support me as I go off to war. I know that's an exaggeration, but my emotions regarding my mother have felt a little war torn.

"I don't want to fight with you, Stephanie."

"I'm glad to hear it. So why am I hearing from you now?"

"I'm calling to ask if it will be alright to come over and speak to you."

I looked down at the military-style watch wrapped around the wrist next to my hip. It's five thirty-five.

"Shouldn't you be in the middle of basting a chicken or checking a roast for doneness?" I asked her.

"Your grandmother offered to make dinner tonight if I call you and you agree to see me."

I don't know if I should thank Grandma or ground her. If this is just another pointless discussion, I want no part of it. But if my mother is ready to help me fix things for Matthew's sake, I don't want to just slam the door in her face.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked her.

"I'd like to see my grandson ..."

"I know, you've said that. But are you willing to do what we've asked of you in order to make that possible?"

"That's what I'd like to discuss."

I sighed into Ranger's chest, and his hand momentarily fisted in my curls. "Okay," I told her. "I'll let the guys know to open the gate, but I'm not sticking around if this turns out to be a conversation on who's to blame this time, or if this is just a trick to get at my kid."

I could feel her trying to stem what she probably felt like saying, but there were no words other than the ones saying she's leaving the house now.

"That was interesting," I said to Ranger. "I swear I heard her bite right through her tongue, yet she didn't start a fight even when I goaded her."

"Maybe she's starting to see that Matty's life will continue to go on without her if she doesn't do something," he told me, kissing my temple.

"I wonder what gives. It reached ninety-degrees today, so I know hell hasn't frozen over. Can you let Gene know that she's coming so no one sprays her car with bullets when she drives up?"

"That preventive measure is loud and requires too much explanation to authorities. A single shot through the windshield into the driver's eye is more effective and less disruptive if you have some form of silencer on your weapon."

"Have I mentioned lately that I'm really glad you're on my side?"

"Yes. Why do I feel like you're planning on going downstairs alone?"

"Because I think I should. If she jumps on you, I'm going to go off on her. So how about you call Gene, then Ella to hold dinner for us, and stay with Matthew as he does his basic training exercises while I see how this plays out? I don't want to expose him to her unless she's going to act like the proud grandmother she should be."

"If you need me there, it doesn't matter what she says to - or about - me. I can ask Ella to watch him, you don't have to go it alone."

"I think I do. She has to see that I don't need you to protect or speak for me. I don't want her blaming you for what I say to her."

"She'll blame anyone she can if she's feeling defensive. Her opinion on anything isn't important to me."

"I know it isn't, but humor me here. I'll have my cell with me, and I promise I'll send out an SOS if I need help or a restraining order."

I kissed him, enjoying the feel of his lips and tongue moving deliberately against mine. Then I annoyed Matty by interrupting his play briefly to snuggle my face into his neck. He smells as good as his dad since he, his diaper, and everything else on him, is currently clean. I blew a raspberry into the spot where his neck and shoulder join, which made him laugh and drool simultaneously, then put him back down so he could throw punches at his baby mirror again.

On my way out of the room I paused, leaned over the arm of the couch, and kissed Ranger one more time.

"Okay, now I'm ready."

He looked like he wanted to grin at my emotional prep. "I'm not far away, Babe. Remember that."

"That's the reason I can do pretty much anything now," I told him.

I squeezed his bicep and took the elevator down to the first floor. I eyed the men I passed suspiciously. There usually aren't many Rangemen down here except for the ones manning the front desk. This is more of a pass-through for the building. I stopped directly in front of Slick and tried to imitate Ranger's interrogation stare.

"Are you guys here because my mom will be soon?" I asked.

"Yes."

Shit. How can I give them a lecture on me being able to take care of myself, if they're going to flat out admit that they're hanging out down here because of me? I can't say what that means, so I just kissed his cheek. Slick blushed, which instantly put me in a better mood. A good enough mood to speak to my mother without the happy feeling ending.

"I'll be fine. I don't want you guys in trouble for sticking around here instead of being somewhere else doing your jobs."

"Hasn't Ranger said keeping you and M.J. safe is our job?" Zero asked.

"It does sound like something he'd say."

"We'll be out here until she leaves," Vince added.

I glanced at all of them, then nodded. "Thanks, guys."

"No thanks are needed," Slick told me. "Ever."

I gave them what I hope is reassuring smile and went to wait for the woman who strikes fear in the heart of every Burg resident. She was escorted in by Vince, who normally appears like an overgrown frat boy, but at the moment I know exactly why Ranger hired him. He can give Tank a run for his money in the stony expression department.

"You want me to stay?" He asked me.

"I'll be okay."

He hesitated for a beat, but then left us alone. My mom tried not to look around the meeting room, but I know she got the message that she isn't getting an apartment invite yet. I stood up from the room's power seat and gestured to the chair on my right.

"Have a seat, Mom."

She paused in sliding her bag off her shoulder. "I'm not an employee, Stephanie. I'm your mother."

"You keep reminding me of what you are ... my mother, Matthew's grandmother, the current thorn in my side ..."

"That is completely uncalled for."

"Maybe, maybe not. We're both here now, what did you want to say?"

"Where is Matthew?" She asked, as she finally uncracked her spine long enough to sit down.

"He's happily playing upstairs with his dad."

"He must be getting so big."

"Yep. He is. He even has two teeth now. As much as I love talking about my kid, that's not why you're here."

"He is a big part of it. Valerie sat me down and made me see that you were acting in Matthew's best interest, not just to get back at me."

"That's almost word-for-word what I told you," I said, trying to keep my anger to a minimum. "Not every thought I have or decision I make revolves around you. You really needed someone else to say what I've been telling you for months? You can't bring yourself to admit that I can be right about anything?"

"I was hurt."

"Yeah, well you've hurt me for as long as I can remember ... telling me that I'm incapable of keeping a man, a job, a car from exploding. Things have changed. My marriage is solid, my car is immaculate - aside from having a few baby toys on the backseat - and my job description continues to grow."

"You're still mad at me."

"I am, but I wouldn't keep Matthew away from you because I think you don't like me. I was making an informed decision in order to keep my baby safe. If I could trust you to think of him first, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong."

"Then why didn't you tell me or Ranger what you were going to do?" Her mouth shut again. "That's what I thought."

"I shouldn't have done it," she finally said.

"No, you shouldn't, but I would've gotten over it had you just said that at the time. I've been careless in the past with my safety, and in some cases my life, but I can't lose Matthew. I'd cut out my own organs for him, so cutting my ties to the Burg is nothing."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"For letting my anger at Marie's involvement with my grandson ..."

"He's just as much her grandson," I immediately told her.

"This isn't coming out right."

"Why don't you just tell me what was going through your mind when you picked up the phone today."

"I missed you."

"Why? You haven't had anyone to pick apart lately?"

"Have you forgotten that you used to come to the house for lunch whenever you were working nearby? You would drop off laundry and stay for coffee cake and neighborhood gossip. And I could always count on you to keep your grandmother mostly out of trouble."

"If I'm remembering those times correctly, the second I entered the house, you'd jump on the fact that I was getting older, was still single, and would probably remain alone for the rest of my life because no man would put up with me. And that gossip you're referring to was usually about me. Plus, you'd sigh loudly if you saw a bag of laundry come in with me. Why don't we stop rehashing the past and just focus on the current issue, which is ... how can I be sure Matty will be okay around you?"

"I will never put my grandson in danger. I see that what I did could have and I'm sorry for that. I've felt awful ever since."

"Or did you really 'feel awful' only after I found out about it?"

"Your father and I aren't ones to talk about our feelings ..."

"No kidding."

She ignored that. "This isn't easy for me, but I want to make this right."

"How?"

"By promising that I will not go against your wishes when it comes to little Matthew."

"And that means ... what?"

"That if you have adequate childcare, I won't push to have him stay with us."

"Ranger and I have been doing good taking care of him on our own, but have more than adequate babywranglers - a building full of them - if we need them. And your pushing would make no difference when it comes to mine and Ranger's choices for our son. You may not believe this, but my life has never been better. The world didn't stop spinning because you and I weren't speaking."

"I am well aware of that. It was obvious when we didn't receive an invitation to Ranger's birthday dinner."

That surprised me. One, because she knows Ranger's actual birth date. And two, that she'd think we'd just put aside everything that's happened between us over cake and cups of Cuban coffee.

"Why were you expecting one?" I asked. "We haven't really talked to each other in months."

"But birthdays and holidays should always be spent with family."

"We did spend Ranger's birthday with family," I pointed out. "His." She flinched. Okay, so that was a cheap shot, but it's also the truth. "For things to get better between us, you have to stop minimizing the Manosos' role in our lives. They are an incredible family who don't deserve to be downplayed. Neither do the people who work here. They are all Matthew's family as much as you hope to be."

"How do I become more involved?"

"First off, by wanting to be."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Yes. And you did say you're sorry, and that you won't do anything in connection with Matthew without running it by us first, right?"

"Yes."

"The two of us don't have to get along. I like myself, my life, and my little family, so I don't really care if you have an issue with anything I'm doing, but when it comes to Matthew, we have to be in total agreement on a few things."

"Such as?"

"You are not to ever act or speak rudely to Ranger, his family, or our friends, around our kid. I want Matty to know that the people who love him are perfect the way they are." I paused. "Wait, let me rephrase that. Don't say anything bad about them period. If you have a problem with their backgrounds, tattoos, or accents, keep it to yourself. No one needs to hear it."

"All right," she said primly.

I could see it all over her face, she just did a mental run-through of the men who had showed up in her living room not that long ago.

"And all visits with him will be here," I told her.

That got her back going ramrod straight again. "But ..."

"That's non-negotiable."

"Fine. I have no problem coming to you."

I leaned over the side of my chair.

"What are you doing?" She asked, her expression wary.

"Dodging the lightning bolt that outright lie should've produced."

She rolled her eyes heavenward. "Honestly, Stephanie."

"You know, Mom, if you'd stop trying to control everything in your life, you might actually enjoy it more."

She narrowed her eyes a little. Guess she's not interested in a full personality overhaul today. I'm okay with that ... for now. I've discovered that I don't need my mother in the way I always thought I would. I've done pretty good for myself without her, and have actually been happier most of the time. That being said, I don't want to prevent Matthew from knowing her unless it's absolutely necessary. As long as she never hurts him emotionally, physically, or intentionally, I'll gladly put my own relationship with her out of my mind so he can have one with her. Being mature sucks sometimes, but I can do it if it's better for my kid.

"Can I see him?" She asked me.

"You swear on everything church and Burg-related that you will always - and I do mean always - put his well-being before anything else?"

"Yes."

"And you're not just saying that, and agreeing with everything I say, because you know this is the last conversation we're having about this?"

"No. I've been thinking about what's been said ever since Valerie left. I was in the wrong, and I understand why you've been so angry at me."

Lester would say that my mama bear is coming out again. I placed my forearms on the table and bent my upper body forward in an aggressive, don't fuck with me way.

"Just so you know," I said in a quiet tone, "if you put Matthew in any type of dangerous or unhealthy situation, my past reaction to anything you've done will only be the start of it. Are we clear?"

"Yes. I want my grandson to know who I am."

"He knows who you are ... about as much as a baby can anyway. I'm just ensuring that who he sees now matches the woman I've been telling him about. He doesn't need to know that we have issues between us."

"What will it take for you to believe that I don't have a problem with you?"

"Nothing, because you still haven't even admitted to yourself that you have one. But I don't care about that. My son is all that matters. We just need to remain polite to each other around him. Matty's very perceptive and can sense bad vibes a mile away."

"I'm always polite to you."

"No, you dish out back-handed compliments by the truckload, but you did run over a 'rabbit' once for me, so that cancels out a few of them."

"You would have to bring up that."

"Yup," I said to her. "I did. If I didn't say thank you for that before, thank you. But you don't get to run my life just because you may have saved it that day."

"You've made your point, Stephanie."

"I'm just being thorough." I picked my phone up off the table and heard Ranger's voice a beat later. "Yo," I said.

"Yo, back. Do I need to call a cleaning crew to get the blood out of the carpet?"

"No. I think we've finally reached an understanding," I told him, while looking at my mom. She gave me a reluctant nod. "Can you bring Matthew down?"

"You sure?" He asked.

"Yeah. She knows she'll never see him again if I think he's being used at all by her."

"We'll be right there."

Ranger walked in the room a second after I disconnected. I really do love the hell out of him. He gave me the freedom to handle this my way, but he had followed right behind me so he'd be close in case I needed him.

Once again, my mom's attention was all for Matthew. Well, it was until we both stood and she saw the outfit I'd put on him this morning. Her eyes shot to me, and I could see her teeth clamp down hard on her tongue to keep from saying something about what the onesie said.

I saw it at the gift shop in Miami when we'd gone to the Museum of Science with Julie, and I couldn't resist buying it. The material was light and dark blue striped, and on the front of it was a cartoony-looking shark with the words "Teething Bites" coming out of its open mouth. And boy, do I agree with the friggin' shark. Matty's obviously less of a wimp than I am.

I raised my eyebrows at her, just daring her to comment. It's small in the grand scheme of things, and probably stupid to pick this particular thing to challenge her on, but if she resists the urge to complain about what I dress my kid in, I'll know she's going to attempt to keep her opinions to herself. Maybe she'll even try to be a better person for him, like I've been trying to do. Her lips are pressed together so hard, they're looking a little white, but she refrained from telling me that Matty shouldn't be wearing clothes that promote swearing.

I kissed Ranger and then scooped up our kid. I closed my arms around him, careful not to squeeze him like I really wanted to do. When his vowels hit a higher octave, and the two chubby hands tangled in my hair were close to ripping out a curl or two, I pulled my head back far enough to plant a kiss on his squishy little cheek.

"Matty, look who's here to see you, your Grandma Plum." I glanced at my mom. "Is that what you want to be called?"

"Of course. What else would I be called? I am his grandmother."

I shrugged, which made Matty grab at my hair again. "I've dubbed Ella ... GrandElla, Louis is GrandoLouie. Marie's still trying to decide if Matthew will call her Lita or Aba - versions of abuela or abuelita. She's also considering Mima. Eduardo ..."

I felt the sudden chill in the room. My mother's lips have now completely disappeared. Guess that isn't what she wanted to hear ... just how close Matty is to everyone. Well, tough. I'm not at all sorry that everybody he knows loves him.

"Grandma Plum will be fine," she said, a little too politely in my opinion.

"Ooookay, do you want to hold him?"

That broke through the icy mask. "Yes."

Ranger stopped me with a hand on my arm. "One second, Babe." Then the warmth in his voice went AWOL as he turned to my mother. "You thought I was threatening you before, but I want it to be real clear that a threat is in place now. If Stephanie or Matthew are hurt or upset by something you've done, there is nothing that will stop me from correcting it ... not Stephanie, your husband, or the State of New Jersey."

"Ranger ..." I started to say.

"That night when my parents were visiting, you questioned me about the blood on my uniform, do you want to know who the owner of it was?" He asked me.

"Ummm ..."

I'm not so sure I do now. It can't be good if he's still crackling with anger just thinking about it again.

"I got word that a kidnapping attempt was being tossed around. Care to guess who the intended victim was?"

"Oh, God ... not Matthew?"

"Yes Matthew. And he wasn't the only one. Your name was also brought up."

"Why?" I asked, feeling sick to my stomach.

"My company is known for cleaning up the streets, and the shit we scrape off our boots at the end of the day aren't always happy about it."

"So we were going to be what ... bargaining chips?"

"Yes."

"And I'm to blame?" My mother asked him.

"People who want to, know that I have a wife and child here, so I can't say you're the cause, but that is an example on why we need to take certain precautions. That plan and the group behind it were dismantled that night."

My shoulders drooped. I don't want to know any of this. Being a target of the Slayers was terrifying enough, but to picture my kid being there with me, slowly getting circled and taunted by bloodthirsty gangbangers ...

I closed my eyes and rested my head against Matthew's. That. Can't. Happen.

"So Matty's safe?" I asked Ranger, noticing only now that I'd unconsciously moved us closer to him.

"You both are. There is more at stake here than an immature bout of jealousy," he told us, while no doubt scaring the crap out of my mother with that flat stare and tone.

"I already told Stephanie that I will do whatever the two of you say," my mom said. "You are his parents and I have to respect that."

"This isn't about respect, power, or guilt, Mom. It's about one little boy who doesn't need to know yet that the world is a pretty shitty place most of the time. All I want is for you to agree not to add to it. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

"It isn't, Steph," Ranger told me, pulling me and our son to him.

"I'll do what I can to help you shield him," my mother finally said. "You should never have to keep children away from their own family."

"Finally! You get it. We're supposed to band together to make sure the kids are always taken care of, not implode when a conversation about the best way to accomplish that comes up."

"I have made a few mistakes with you, but I can't change that ..."

"I'm not asking you to. I just want better for Matthew. Can't you see that? This isn't about you, me, or our relationship. "

"I understand."

"Good."

"So I'm allowed to spend some time with him?"

"Yeah, but you both will be inside this building when you do. As it is, it's going to take a week or two after hearing about another threat before I'm willing to take my eyes off him, never mind leave the safety of Rangeman with him."

"You won't be alone if you do," Ranger assured me.

I smiled up at him. I know I'll never be alone again. And I'm surprisingly happy to admit that. I let my mom finally hold Matty, and then grabbed my phone again. When she gave him a hesitant peck to his forehead, I quickly captured the moment. At least there will be one picture of Matthew with his Grandma Plum in his album. Her actions after today will determine how many more will be added after this one.