Disclaimer: I do not own JE's characters. I just like playing with them.

A/N: I love the responses I am receiving to this story. I am also glad some of you share my sense of humor. The rating is earned in this chapter in some places. Thank you for your reviews and messages.

Ranger POV

I woke up alone. Where is Nena? Oh, there is a note. It says she took the kids for their portraits and she will meet me at the laser tag place and my breakfast is in the microwave. What time is it? I check and it is 0930. Did she drug me? I think back and I remember drinking a little more than I usually do. With all of the teasing and the laughing and joking, I drank. I was having fun.

Oh, I am supposed to take the pills by the bed. I do so. Wow. My head was hurting. It was worth it. I really enjoyed last night and we came back here and Willis really can do 'Get me Bodied'. Gator loved his soul train dancing ass.

I take a shower and see another note. I am reminded that I promised to wear what she picked today. Dios, it better not be something foolish. I go into the closet and see one outfit by itself. It is not bad.

I look at the tee shirt and glare. I am not wearing a tee shirt that says I am the H.M.I.C. I know it stands for "Head Mexican in Charge". Darnell must have made her buy this shirt! He is the one that calls me a Mexican all the fucking time. I pick up my phone and call her. She answers on the first ring.

"Hello?" She sounds out of breath.

"Babe." I sound deadly serious because I am. I know she knows what I am calling about without me explaining it.

"Carlos, that shirt is a joke from Ray. Now he owes me a dollar. I said you would pay attention to what it said. He thought you would just put it on because I asked. Just wear jeans and do not wear black." Good. No, bad.

"You let him into the bedroom, Stephanie?" I told her I would shoot him and I meant it.

"No, Ricardo. He asked Ella to put it in there. She thought it was like a prank. She said it was nice you have friends that are not afraid of you. The handwriting on the bathroom note is not mine, you secret agent you. I have to get some things done. I love you!" She hung up.

I look at the handwriting on the note and dammit she is right. I sigh. That is okay, I will just plan something for Yusef later. Right now, I am starving.

I eat my pancakes and hash browns with turkey sausage and think about today. We are meeting for laser tag, since they already had their pictures taken, and then we are having lunch at Friendly's. The kids will come back here for a nap and to get changed, then we go to Mama's for her block party. She said it would be a small party at her house, but I know my mother. After that we will come back here.

The phone rang while I was checking my emails.

"Yo." She sounds upset.

"Carlitos! It is horrible. There is street cleaning scheduled for today and I did not see the notices! The nietos cannot have their fiesta here! I promised Estefania. What will I do?!" I am not upset because this will mean less people.

"Mama, calm down and pack up all of the things you need. I will send you a couple of guys to help transport all of the presents. I have another location for the party. I will call you back in a minute."

"Oh, you are my favorite!" No I am not. Isabella is the favorite because she is the baby and that is fine with me. I hang up and call Babe.

"Yes, Carlos? Are you feeling alright? If you still feel poorly, I can let you out of laser tag, but I want you at Friendly's." I wait until she stops guessing.

"Babe, can we have the party at your mini mansion instead of at Mama's? There is street cleaning which means her block party won't be happening." She lets out a breath.

"Sure. The keys are in clock and here is the address. You will need outside chairs. The house is furnished and I am glad I did the kitchen like I did. I will send out messages about the change in location." Wow, she talks fast.

"I have to call Dougie. See you at the laser tag arena in a half hour, Carlos. The pictures are finished and I am changing their clothes now. Thank you, love. See you soon!" She hangs up again. She is starting to sound like Mama.

I make some calls for the guys to take chairs and other supplies to the house. We do not need keys. I am kind of insulted. I leave to get to the laser tag place and I am fucking pulled over two blocks from the place. Dios Mio! I try to stay calm.

I roll down the window a little and put my guns under the seat. I wait for the cop to get to the window and it is fucking Morelli. I send a text to Babe with my location and she texts back that she is on it.

He has the nerve to tap his night stick against my car. "License and registration, please." I want to punch that smug look off his face. What is the worst he can do? He must really be proud of himself, making me late to my kids' birthday event. I hate him.

I hand him the documents and wait while he walks slowly back to his car. It is like he knows I have somewhere to be! Of course he does, that damned Burg Grapevine probably told him! I check my watch and I have been sitting here for twenty minutes already!

I look in the rearview window and see a car park on the other side of the street and Gram and Malcolm get out of the car. Gram has a shopping bag and she drops it and things roll all over the place. She slowly gets all of her groceries and Langston helps her. I notice that her bananas are gone when she finishes. They get back into the car and drive away.

Fine he helped me a little. I am still pranking him back. H.M.I.C. indeed. I wait another twenty minutes and Morelli finally brings back my license and paperwork. He swaggers over and tells me to watch my speed and to have a nice day. Great.

I sit there just to watch his car self-destruct. His car jumps around like it is dry heaving, then it seems to collapse. Wow, they got his tires, too? Maybe Darryl is alright after all. I filmed the spectacle and then I leave. That was worth getting pulled over. Poor Morelli will need roadside assistance. Heh heh.

Stephanie POV

"Alex and Fifi, happy birthday, my babies." I kiss them again and they smile.

"We are playing laser tag and you have to wear these helmets and vests."

They nod and stand still so I can put on the vests. I had changed them into jeans and tee shirts. Their portraits were in camo outfits, a suit and a dress, swim wear, and coveralls.

The guy at the photo department at the mall had to sign an agreement from our lawyer not to duplicate the pictures. We only used his sets because he passed Hector's security checks. Brett, one of the Rangemen, is guarding the guy until the pictures are done, then he is getting the negatives and the digital pics, too. Poor Taylor was kind of intimidated by the time we left.

Quan was in the pictures, too. They even had their guns out. Ray asked them if they wanted a bear at Build a bear and they shot him. I laughed all the way to the car. I get a text. Heh heh. They did the banana in the tailpipe to Morelli. Good. The stalking fucker.

I finish putting on Quan's gear and arms hug me from behind. "Hello, Babe."

I turn and kiss Carlos. "Hello, Carlos. Get your gear on and you are on the red team." I hug him and the kids ambush him with hugs and it is cute. I take another picture. This is so much fun! A whole day with the kids. I am more excited than they are.

"Hello, Nee Nee." I look and see Quincy is here. He is dragging a little girl with him. "This is my little cousin Yvonne. She is a little terror. Let your kids shoot her." I laugh and smile at the little scowly two year old. She looks like a miniature Janet Jackson. I show him the gear and he pulls her to get it on. Wow.

"Pumpkin, do you think the kids are too young to go fishing?" My dad has shown a lot of restraint. I was wondering when he would swoop in. He probably did not think they could walk yet. I answer him.

"Daddy, you will have to go slowly with them. If you do not like this type of thing, you can head to my mini mansion and relax there until later. Ana has tons of food and there is a media room. You can watch the game in the recliners or sit outside. Actually, you can watch the puppies. Dougie will drop them off." He smiles and hugs me.

"I love you, Pumpkin. I was not looking forward to chasing anyone around. Give me the address. I will be there waiting for you all." I write out directions for Daddy and he leaves.

"Girl, now I want a kid. This party shit is so much fun." I laugh at Lula.

"Nope, fun was last night when Ranger got drunk!" Gayle giggles and Lula has to hold her up.

"We should get his superhero ass high and see what happens." Lula laughs at her own suggestion.

"Ixnay girls. Let's save that one for Julio for another time. We are ready to kick y'all's buts, Princess. Bring it on!" Ray runs back to the guys. We had rented out this place until 1pm.

We take our positions and then everyone is running around. I am watching Fifi and she is so funny. She acts all clueless, and then she shoots the guys. They fall down like she killed them, too. Alex and Quan are shooting little Yvonne, but she just shoots them back. They run away. Those kids are so silly.

Quincy and Ray ambush Tank and he yells that they are on the same team. "Nope. You are on the Mexican's team, man. You are an honorary Mexican." Ray is so silly!

Tank POV

"I have to ask you something, Lula." She is busy trying to undress me.

"Lu, are you ready to get married? We have only been seeing each other a few months." She stops and glares at me. We are in the manager's office. We came to get the security footage.

"Is that your weak assed proposal, man?" Wow.

"No, this is. Tallulah Ivy Jenkins, I love you and your zest for life. I want you to be with me always. Please marry me and make me happier than I have ever been in my life." She grins at me.

"Nigga please you just want this pussy on lockdown." I nod and kiss her.

"True that."

"Yes, I will marry you now give me my ring and come put that big dick in my mouth baby. My mouth is watering for that tube steak." I hand it to her.

"Here girl, damn you are such a freak." I love every minute of it.

"Fuck my mouth, Tankie." Hell yes.

"Oh god, I love you. Ohhhh girl, suck it for Big Daddy." She is so sexy.

My phone rings. "Hold up, Lu. Yes, Carlos? What? Yes. We will meet you there. I gotta go man unless you want to hear me cum." Huh, he hung up.

"Fuck yes, girl. Come sit on my face. We gotta go to Friendly's with them in a few minutes. Give daddy his appetizer. Damn you taste so fucking good." Whew I am having a blast. Lula said we could have extra fun at the laser tag place and then she whipered in my ear what she meant.

"Tankie, yes, yes, fuck yes! Mmm." I know exactly how she feels.

"Let's clean up. Do you think the girls will be mad that we intentionally got killed so we could get our freak on?" Who cares?

"It was on our bucket list so I don't give a fuck. But no, Lu."

Ranger POV

"Babe, maybe they should not have ice cream now." She gives me a shut up look.

"Carlos, they can have a little ice cream. It's not like they eat a lot. They are one. I just want them to have fun today. Do not be a Grinch." She turns to Alex and helps him with his French fries. Fine, I will be nice.

"Problems, Diego?" I want to smack him.

"No problem, Tito. Where is your friend, Quinton?" He smiles at me.

"His name is Quincy. He left to take Vonnie home. She is going through the terrible twos and all like that. What gift did you get the kids?" He looks smug.

"I got them puppies, Carlton." He laughs.

"Good one. I just got them little parachute outfits and backpacks with some gear." That does not sound so bad. He turns back to me."Oh, and I got them Big Wheels since I got Quan one."

I want to shoot him. He is trying to outdo me! I know Babe got them cars and stuff like that, too. Will they like the puppies? I am sure they will love them. I just smile at Jay Jay. He is being nice to my kids after all.

"Thanks, Raymond. I appreciate you doing that for my kids." He blinks at me and checks his food. "What did you do to my burger, man?" I look at him and smile. "Nothing!" He looks skeptical. This is hilarious. I call him his real name and he is suspicious. Gator kisses his cheek and he goes back to ignoring me.

I am trying to relax, but I cannot stop thinking that Mama probably brought the whole neighborhood to Babe's mansion. I sigh. I will just enjoy the kids. They are smiling and Fifi is feeding Alex. I love that they act like a team. I watch them trade chicken strips and hot dogs with Quan. Babe snaps a picture. After they share chocolate ice cream, we leave. It is nap time.

Stephanie POV

I got the kids put down for their naps and then I called to check on Ana and Daddy. He said the puppies are there and he is really enjoying the media room. Apparently Ana is a great cook and she is not nagging him, so he loves her. I hang up and go to take a shower. Lula and Ray said they promise to bring Tank and Gayle to the mansion at 4pm. Lula said she has something to tell me, but it has to wait until the party is over. Fine.

In the bedroom, I am pulled into a tight embrace. I kiss him.

"Come here baby." We move to the bed. We kiss and cuddle. "Carlos, I love you." I hold him and we just lay there for a while. He looks at me and kisses my cheek, my jaw and my neck.

"Te amo Nena. You have made today so special already." He bites my neck and he undresses and we make love slowly. He kisses me all over my face and stares into my eyes. "Carlos, please."

"Si Nena, que quieres?" (Yes, Babe, What do you want?)

I wrap my legs around his back changing the angle of his thrusts. He moans. His hands are gripping my hips, he is so deep. He is going so slowly and I shudder through another orgasm. We roll together and I get on top, working my hips in circles, giving it to him like he gave it to me.

I bite his lip and tell him to let it go, to give it to me. Damn I was almost singing in falsetto. When he is about to cum, I swallow it. I kiss him and he looks so beautiful. I am a lucky woman. I set the alarm for one hour. I need a small nap.

It was not to be. My phone rang like fifteen minutes later and I cursed when I saw who was on the phone. I sighed and answered it.

"Hello." She starts bugging me immediately.

"Stephanie, it's your mother." I just wait her out. She knows about caller id. I cannot believe Carlos gets to sleep while I have to have my afterglow ruined by the queen of nagging. This is not fair.

"I just got off the phone with Shirley and she said Eddie told her that poor Joseph's car had an accident or something after he pulled over that criminal you are dating." I want to yell, but I won't.

"Mother, if Morelli has car problems,that is his fault. My boyfriend is not a criminal. Stop calling me with your gossip updates. You need to tell Shirley to mind her own business. She does not have any kids. I wonder why that is at her age? Did you have a reason for your call or are you just spreading lies?" Wow. I am mellow and assertive after sex.

"You mind your tone when you talk to me! I am your mother. I also heard that you are having a birthday party for that man's children today. Why was I not invited? I am sure that is where Frank is right now. I hear from Joanna Bertucci that you were at Friendly's in Hamilton County with a large group of colored people." Did she just say that? I look at the phone. What year does she think it is?

"Mother I am having a birthday party for the twins but their grandmother helped me to plan it. You are not invited because you are a bigoted, judgemental, gossip spreading harpy."

No, I did not say that. I wish I did, but not today.

"Mother, you are not invited because I know you do not approve of my relationship with Carlos and basically, I did not want to have any conflict today. It is about the twins, not your pride in getting the scoop first. You don't even know their names." She sputters for a minute, then she rallies.

"I got them a gift, Stephanie. Tell me where the party is and I will bring it to them." Nope, that is not happening.

"Mom, I will have someone pick up the gift in a while. Thank you for the gifts. I will talk to you later."

"If you hang up and do not tell me where the party is, I will not bake you a pineapple upside down cake again!" Wow, she must be really frantic for gossip news.

"Mom, that is unfortunate. Ana made us this delicious Cuban cake with pineapples. It was delicious. You can keep your cake. I said no. Bye, Mom." I hang up and check the time. Dammit. I have twenty minutes left of my nap. I flop down.

Carlos pulls me into his body. "Babe, you were very brave to stand up to your mother like that. Relax, mi amor. I love you and today has been great so far." I lean into him and kiss him. I love this man so much.

Ranger POV

She did bring the whole block. Well, most of them and she has a piñata and she strung up lanterns and everything. I am sitting here with Frank. He just handed me a beer and told me to grin and bear it.

"Let her celebrate her grandkids, Ranger. With all of these people, you will have lots of help to clean up. If you let her go crazy here, she won't bring the crazy to your house." He had a point, except we are going to live here soon.

I watch the kids hit the piñata and squeal when all of the toys and candy come out of it. I can see it now, they will beat any stuffed toys we give them. I go inside and get the puppies from Ella. They are little, but they will grow. They are Havanese puppies. One is brown and the other is silver. Babe said to call them Padfoot and Moony.

I walk outside and set the puppies in front of Fifi and Alex. They pet them softly and tell Quan to pet them too. They look at me and lift their arms for a hug. I pick them up and they squeeze me and kiss my face. I love my kids.

Babe is still taking pictures. She is wearing another miniskirt. We are going to talk about her tiny shorts and skirts soon. All the men have been looking at her in her turquoise peasant blouse and high heels. Her hair is in a bouncy ponytail and she looks so sweet. I looked around. This is a very nice home. I can see us being happy here, and there is space for her entourage.

I put the kids down so they can chase the puppies and Quincy comes over. "Hello, Mexican." I nod at him.

"Quincy. It's nice to see you." I can be pleasant.

"I talked to Nee Nee and she said any time me or Ray Ray want to use the guest house, she is cool with that." I just stare at him. He is not done talking.

"I mean I want to move on up like the Jeffersons, too. I will promise not to have loud parties and of course no drugs. She also said you might let me drive one of your porshes."

I do not know what to say that won't sound mean and or racist. I also don't want Babe mad at me. This is her house.

My cars? What? He breaks down laughing. "Whew! Ray owes me a dollar. You looked like you was gonna take a shit or something. I ain't moving in homie. I might visit because y'all have a pool, but I have a crib and I don't want to drive your cars. That was funny." He walks away and I see him fist bump with Lionel. I am going to have to plan revenge on him soon.

Stephanie POV

Wow, what a day. The kids got so many presents, we had to leave many of them here for them to use as they got older. Some of the toys were too young for them, and we planned to donate them to the Salvation Army along with their next batch of clothes they have outgrown.

Ana and Ella organized the ladies and they cleaned up. The guys were great shuttling people back and forth. My babies passes out after the cake, which they smeared on Carlos' face. I got some very cool pictures today. I really felt like a mom today.

My phone rang so I answered it.

"Hello?" I hear squealing. I look at the time. It is 12:01am.

"Lula?" She is still squealing.

"Girrrl I am engaged! I waited all day to tell you about it because I am considerate and all that. Tankie popped the question today when we was getting our freak on! You can be my maid of honor and when Batman gets up his courage to ask you, I will be your matron of honor! I will meet you at the spa tomorrow with Gayle and I told Connie to come, too. You bring the donuts."

Wow. I am so happy for her and I tell her. She thanks me and we get off the phone. Wow. Lula is engaged. A minute later she sent me a picture of the ring. It is beautiful and I text that to her. If Lula is ready does that mean I am too? I look at Carlos sleeping and at the pictures of the kids on the nightstand. Yes, I am ready. I can't wait.