I went a little overboard with Christmas stories this year and made this chapter so long I had to break it up into two again. I'm still editing the second half, but I hope to have ready to post by the weekend. Everyone and everything familiar is Janet's. The mistakes are mine alone.

Chapter 37

I couldn't help but relax in the rocking chair Woody had given me for my birthday as I watched the kid I grow to love more daily crawl on the floor of his room.

"I can't believe he's almost nine-months-old," I said to Ranger. "I remember like it was yesterday, sitting in this chair last year, picturing him playing in his nursery around Christmastime. And now it's happening."

My holidays have improved dramatically since getting together with Ranger. Our Thanksgiving was great, but the weekend following it did hit a slight snag. A little holiday mystery is fine with me ... a dead body I can do without.

"It was bound to happen."

I rolled my eyes at him. "I know, but it feels like time has just flown by since he was born."

"In some ways it has. He's getting closer to walking and talking."

Matthew's speaking in what could be considered sentences, except he's using sounds we're a long way from completely understanding. This morning he was "I-booyah"-ing all over the place. I don't know if I have the military background of the guys to thank for that or if those are just normal baby noises.

"Where's your puppy?" I asked Matty, referring to the black and white stuffed animal Junior had given him last week.

Matthew stopped banging the cups he'd been playing with and looked over at me. I'd really like to believe he knows exactly what I'm saying and asking for, but it's become his favorite toy and I knew he'd go for it again in a few minutes.

"He's not a retriever, Babe."

"I know he's not, but it's okay to test what he can understand on occasion. And look ... he's got a hand on it already," I said smugly, sliding out of my chair and onto the floor. "Can I see it?"

He had started crawling towards his dad, but stopped halfway so he could sit back on his diaper and squeak the foot of his new pet.

I held out my arms. "Don't you want to share the toy with me?" I asked him.

His blue eyes appeared thoughtful and he stuck a single finger into his mouth as he contemplated his next move. He then grabbed the long ear on the toy and changed his direction, heading towards me. I swear my heart was in danger of stalling.

It's scary how one person can completely take over your world. With Ranger it had been expected, which is one reason it took me so long to tell him that I love him. But a kid doing the same ... left me feeling gobsmacked. I tugged on the toy and then squeaked it for him. His diaper crinkled as he sat down again and clapped his hands together.

"Eeeeehhh," he said, an adorable stream of drool escaping his smile.

Ranger was right there with a bib that had the words 'Tough Like Daddy' on it to wipe the little face we created.

"Thank you," I told him. "Our kid's real cute, but I still try hard not to wear what comes out of him."

Matty sat still for as long as he was going to. He got back onto his hands and knees and crawled enough so he could put his hands on each of my legs. I held onto his hands, kneeled, and helped him 'walk' the few steps to reach his dad.

Seeing Matty's excitement whenever Ranger speaks to him could make me jealous, but really I'm so glad and relieved that they love each other so much. I know most unplanned pregnancies don't turn out so well. Our relationship wasn't planned and neither was Matthew, but it seems like the three of us were meant to be together no matter what we may have decided for our lives.

"Are you up for another round of holiday festivities?" I asked my hubby.

"It feels like we just survived a holiday."

"We did, but on the bright side ... Julie's coming back."

"That is a bright side," he said, offering me a hand after picking up Matty and sitting him in the crook of his arm. "And her 'boyfriend' so far has checked out so she won't waste her vacation being upset at me for making him go missing."

"You can't fool me. Rangeman has a different set of rules when it comes to children."

"Not if they harm one of mine."

I'm not going to question that one.

"She seemed to have fun even though our weekend away ended with a visit from a dead guy," I said to partially change the subject.

"A few hours of chaos at my parents' house before heading home replaced anything unpleasant she might have seen."

"Rachel agreed to let her come back, so Julie couldn't have been too traumatized. I think the guys were more upset hearing about it than she was seeing it."

"The shooter could have still been in the area," he reminded me. "They didn't appreciate being an hour away when you and the kids could have been in danger. They've been pacified by being allowed to assist the OCPD in hunting down the person responsible."

"You were there though," I said, wondering if the 'person responsible' will ever make it to trial with my guys tracking him.

"Despite training almost all of my men personally, I still prefer being your immediate backup. They feel the same."

"It's hard for you guys to let anyone in, but ... boy ... when you let yourselves love somebody, you don't do it halfway."

"I don't half-ass anything," he said into Matthew's palm, since he was actively trying to cover his dad's mouth with his tiny hand.

Matty's the only one who can get away with doing that. If I try to stop Ranger that way, I wind up with a tongue stroking my palm and his tongue stroking other body parts not long after.

"You definitely don't half-ass fatherhood, now that you've accepted that you can be a damn good one. Matty and Julie can't get enough of you."

"And you?" He asked, over Matthew's head.

"I think it's obvious that I'm a little addicted to you, not that your ego needs to hear it."

"I don't need to hear it, but I always want to."

Damn. He's friggin' irresistible just being who he is, add in anything potentially emotional and I want to tackle him like I did in my old apartment light years ago ... without Grandma Mazur interrupting.

"Consider yourself desired," I told him, moving in close to kiss him just for emphasis. "I don't even need to be off sugar to want you."

"That's reassuring."

I untangled Matty's fingers from my hair and smiled at both of them. "It should be. If given the choice in the past, I'd always pick cake over sex. Now ... I will always choose you and then ask for cake just to rebuild my stamina."

"Babe."

"Baaaa," Matthew added.

I went nose-to-nose with him. "How about Mama instead? Maaa-Maaa is easy."

"Maaaaaaa ..."

I kissed his cheek with an exaggerated smack of my lips. "Good enough. We'd better get downstairs or the guys will come knocking."

"That's something to avoid. They're like vampires ... once you invite them in, they never leave."

I poked him. "They're sweet."

"So you say."

"I do. We have no garlic handy so we're left with going to work. There's a lot of stuff that needs to get done if we want an easy holiday week."

"I have back-to-back meetings this morning, but should be free for lunch. Do you want to go out or eat in?"

"We can have lunch on five. That way Matty won't be stuck on our laps or in a high chair."

"If that's what you want."

Ranger won't face even a meeting unarmed and he got his gun out of the bedroom safe while I gathered mine and Matty's things so we'd be set for the day ahead. I wasn't kidding about being busy. Last Christmas was close to perfect and I have my work cut out for me to make this year's even better.

Within an hour, after a few calls, I'd enlisted the help of Marie and Ella and got Ranger to agree to allow us to have a real Christmas inside the building. Not only will our apartment be lit up and holiday-fied, the control room and gym will also be made a little merry for my Merry Men.

I even roped Mary Lou into a Quaker Bridge run with Matty and I the next day. I wanted to get some Christmas decorations that Matthew can play with - not just look at - and some new ornaments. I also hoped to snag a few of the gifts I'd spotted online when I'd been left awake after Matty had woken up. I'm praying like hell to Santa that they have them in the actual store now that I have my remaining gift-getting all mapped out. Plus. I really want one of those horrible sitting on Santa's lap pictures of Matty.

According to the story my mom used to repeat every year as far back as I can remember, when I was four, I not only screamed until my face turned bright red, I elbowed Santa in his not-so-jolly belly and ran straight back to the safety of my Grandma Mazur. Grandma always broke into the story at that point to say I also glared at my mother for the rest of the day for sitting me on a hairy stranger.

I don't want to miss out on a chance to have a similar story with Matty. I left Mary Lou with the stroller and our bags while I got a picture of what is likely going to be the beginning of a story that will be retold decades from now. He didn't scream, hit anyone, or cry though, as I stood in front of him and the poor guy hired to play a usually happy man. Mary Lou's face was the equivalent of a question mark when she spotted us trying to weave our way back around Mrs. Claus and a ton of hopeful yet scared children.

"How'd he do?" She asked, when we finally reached her. "I've never managed to get a mall Santa picture of any of my kids suitable enough for a Christmas card. One - or all of them - was always pouting, scowling, or trying to flip an elf the bird."

I laughed because I can picture that easily. I also cringed since that's likely in my future.

"He was good. Santa didn't fare as well. He actually looked nervous until I took Matty back. I even saw him heave a sigh of relief just before we walked away."

"He didn't react at all?"

"Not really. He just stared at Santa. Didn't even blink once. That seems to be his thing ... staring down anyone he doesn't recognize."

"I remember you saying the police chief at your new place probably felt like he was under interrogation for a minute."

"That's what it looked like from where I was sitting."

"He's definitely Ranger's kid," she told me, while kissing the back of his little hand.

She didn't care at all that seconds ago that same hand had been in his mouth. She's survived germ warfare with her brood so a little teething drool didn't appear to bother her a bit. I couldn't help but be equally grossed out and impressed by her.

"Tell me about it," I said, but she knows I'm not complaining at all.

If I had ever given serious thought to who I'd want to raise a kid with, or who I'd like that kid to take after, it'd be Ranger all the way. So far ... it seems to be working out well.

"In case I haven't said it yet, I'm really happy for you, Steph."

"I'm happy for me, too. I have a husband and a baby boy to take care of and I don't wake up every morning wanting to shoot myself."

She laughed at me. "For you that is something."

It's more like a freakin' miracle. We left the mall and when I dropped her off we promised to see each other right before or right after Christmas, since we both have families and in-laws to visit.

This is Matty's first Christmas so I may have gone a little overboard trying to give him one he'll remember even though he won't actually be able to remember it. Like I told Julie, he'll see pictures and some of the things we made with and for him. He lacks the vocabulary to tell me to bite him when I want his cooperation for something, so with Ella's help I was able to make a few ornaments that used his handprint. Ella, being the domestic goddess she is, went one better and magically turned his tiny fingers into snowmen sitting on top of a tiny palm-shaped hill.

I'm nowhere near as crafty as she is, so I ordered a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament I liked with a teeth-achingly cute firetruck on it. I had it personalized to have Matthew's name written across the windshield of the truck and I used the year as the license plate numbers. I also had a short poem I came up with during one of Matthew's nap time attempts painted onto it. In a circle enclosing the truck it said 'Firetrucks are red. The ocean is blue. If your dad and I had a choice, we would've picked you'.

If Albert would've given Valerie something like that after Lisa was born, I would have immediately turned to Ranger and made gagging sounds. This having to do with how we feel about Matty made it not nearly as nauseating as it probably should've been.

Ella is always ready for an impromptu get together so I asked her and Valerie if they wanted to help me do the preliminary decorating with the stuff I'd picked up while shopping with Mary Lou. Mary Alice, Angie, and Lisa kept Matty mostly amused while we got down to business. I wanted to get everything up within a day or two of being given the okay in case Ranger changes his mind about letting me do whatever I want to our apartment.

Ella went overboard on the snacks again and there were cheese-wedge reindeers, Santa hat brownies, and snowman face cookies arranged on trays on the kitchen table. And she made hot chocolate out of real chocolate that she claims can be warmed up or served cold like chocolate milk. Needless to say, my nieces were happy to hang around until we were done without complaining too much.

An hour and forty-five later, there were lights on the tree, Matty's and the store bought ornaments were all hung up, and a child-friendly Christmas tree with velcro-backed felt ornaments had been attached to the hall closet door. My little guy can practice his hand-to-eye coordination when we're able to keep an eye on him and the ornaments. Ella and I also set up a Christmas village under the tree using festive buildings made out of child-proof plastic to hopefully keep Matty from pulling down the tree that's above it.

In between the standard silver ball ornaments and Matty's white handprint ones - both made with shatter-proof plastic so we don't have to worry about them - were realistic candy ones. I snagged every lollipop, twist candy, candy cane, and gumdrop ornament I could find in the stores since I had no clue how many I'd need.

After everyone had left and Ranger came home, I rolled my eyes and also melted a little when he spotted the lone pink-frosted cupcake on the tree that must have gotten mixed up with the others when Matty started fussing, letting me know he'd reached his shopping limit.

"What's this?" Ranger asked.

"A cupcake," I told him.

If it was anyone other than him, I would've added sarcasm to my answer, but there's a real chance he doesn't know what an actual cupcake is.

"Why is it here?"

I shrugged and brushed Matty's hair away from his face. "I was in a hurry and must have snagged its string when I was reaching for something. Matty was getting impatient and Mary Lou was no help ... she was busy laughing at me since I was only juggling one kid while shopping."

He didn't comment on how unsupportive my best friend had been, though I forgave her when she paid for doughnuts on the way home. Instead, Ranger palmed the cupcake and then walked into the kitchen. Matty and I followed him, and in an impressive move he got the cupcake into the trash bucket in one effortless shot.

My mouth dropped open as my mind started spinning trying to figure out why he'd throw out something brand new. I know he's not big on decorations, but he's never been openly hostile to them before. Then the reason dawned on me and a smile slowly formed. He hates Joe's nickname for me and he isn't about to have a reminder of it inside his home.

"Guess I'll just have to stick to birthday cake ornaments," I said walking over to him, pointedly looking in the direction of the trash.

"Babe."

I kissed him as Matty kicked his dad's midsection with his little baby toes. I checked all ten to be sure none were harmed as they made contact with the hard as rock abs. I did a thorough scan of the Christmas tree after that. The small flare of jealousy isn't altogether bad. It's nice to know he's still bothered by other guys possibly wanting me.

As for the garlands that I wanted to go around the doorways and the icicle lights I bought for the windows, I recruited two of the tallest RangeMen the next day. And I thoroughly enjoyed watching Tank and Hal hang the pre-lit greenery for me. Ranger isn't into holiday anything, but if he was forced to choose, he'd go with white lights over multi-colored ones. I'm the opposite. I like lots of colors so that's what I picked up.

I'm not stupid. I kept Matty in whichever room the guys were working in so they couldn't curse me out for tricking them into doing something even Ranger thinks will require a bigger bonus. It worked. Matthew was beyond adorable, crawling to and around them in his Christmas-colored plaid long-sleeved onesie and tiny black cargo pants. His chubby little baby feet were left bare so he could get traction on the carpet, and I found it disgustingly cute whenever Tank or Hal took a break to pick him up and play with him.

He smiled, laughed, and blew spit bubbles in sheer happiness of having more people to play with. Hector even stopped by for a few minutes. He probably would've stayed longer, but it only took him a couple minutes to rig all the Christmas lights to one small handheld remote that way I won't have to add twenty minutes of unplugging crap to my before-bed routine.

One image that I know I'll remember for the rest of my life is when Tank sprawled lazily into the corner of the couch after he decided he was done for the day. He never appears completely relaxed, but he had been today. Matty was back to trying to use the pockets on their cargo pants to get himself standing. He got to his feet once with Tank's help and wound up with some unexpected tummy time on the massive chest under him.

That was cute enough on its own, but when he half crawled/half scooted up to get right in Tank's face, I was an internal emotional mess. Tank spread his ginormous hand across Matty's back so he wouldn't slide or fall, and endured all the nose-pulling, mouth-poking, and cheek-tapping with an affectionate tolerance that I swear caused an estrogen release in me. With Tank, Matty is loved, indulged, and completely safe. And it's clear that even at his age he knows it.

I tackled the small-scale projects while the guys were busy ... like putting up the Christmas stockings. I tracked down two, both customized. A blue one with a happy-looking blue/gray camo-wearing Santa for Matthew. And remembering Julie's luggage preference, I found a large purple sequined one and had 'Julie' spelled out in silver sequins across the fluffy white band on the top of it.

Ranger warned me that if he found one with his name on it, it'd be filled with stuff for me so I resisted the urge to pick up new ones for us. Marie has that covered at her house anyway. I don't want Ranger to spend any more on me than he already does by paying the guys overtime and combat pay just to follow me around whenever I leave. Not to mention the amount of money that goes into outfitting me and my car with high-tech security gizmos.

When Ranger came up for lunch, his once serene apartment was rivaling crime scenes in activity and bright lights.

"If I leave and come right back, this place will still look like this, won't it?" He asked.

"Yep. Until at least New Year's."

"You've been talking to my mother again."

"Talked to her this morning as a matter of fact. She said to call her when you have a minute."

He kissed me at the door, taking his time as if he'd been waiting all morning to do it. I saw him two hours ago and had been treated to the same lip action, so he must just really enjoy kissing me. I sighed when he lifted his head.

He followed me down the hall and picked Matty up from where he'd been sitting on the living room carpet playing with a gift box. People aren't kidding when they say babies are happy with just wrapping paper or an empty box. He kissed Matthew's head and brought him over to take a closer look at the newest lights by the Christmas tree. Matty looked completely angelic ... with his big blue eyes and irresistible squishy cheeks absorbing the glow from the lights on the tree. After an awed hesitation, he reached over his dad's arm and got a good grip on a lollipop ornament. Ranger let him take it off the branch and then he brought both back to me.

"The candy choice makes sense now," he said to me, acknowledging his men with a slight nod. "You're trying to corrupt him using holiday decorations."

I shrugged. "I just like candy."

"You also like getting men to think like you do," Tank added.

"I do not. I can't help it if Matty inherited the Plum desire for all things sweet."

"The apartment does look good," Hal told me. "It's festive."

"Don't encourage her," Ranger ordered him.

Halosaurus turned beet red and I gave his arm a sympathetic pat. "He's kidding since he knows I don't need any encouragement. I'm motivated to be annoying all on my own."

"Not annoying ... just persistent," Ranger clarified.

"And you love me for it, I know."

"It's a good thing M.J. can't talk yet or I might like him less," Tank said, handing my kid a toy that was supposed to stay in his stocking until Christmas.

"Yeah, right," I told him. "The only way you could love Matthew more is if he was yours."

"He'd be way bigger if he was Tank's," Hal said to us.

"Go," Ranger told them.

Tank messed up Matty's hair on his way out, making some of the baby-soft strands stand straight up. Hal beat him to the door. When Ranger wants a room cleared ... it clears. Matty and I are much harder to shake, but he seems okay with that.

"I changed my mind. I'm not paying them extra for helping you do this," he said to me.

"They offered so you probably don't have to pay them anything."

His eyebrow went up even as he put Matthew down.

"Fine. They offered after I went down to the control room and asked where I could find a ladder."

"We have chairs up here and a step stool in the hall closet."

"Yeah, but they didn't think of that. They were more focused on the thought of me climbing up on something. That appeared to be frightening enough to get them to offer their services."

"What I would do to them if you fell when it could have been prevented may have factored into their volunteering."

"That probably didn't hurt. Are you done for the day?"

"No, but the smile I saw on Ella's face when she passed my office had me concerned."

"She seems happy that our apartment is similar to hers now. It does look good, doesn't it? Tank and Hal could make some extra cash if they wanted to hire themselves out."

"They make more than enough now."

"Marie's coming over tomorrow and she, Ella, and I will tackle the fifth floor and gym. She's bringing your dad and brother, so I guess the guys will only be babysitters if they want to do something to help."

"As if there's a chance of getting Matthew away from my family. Even Diego appears okay around him. "

"Marie mentioned that he called Alani out of the blue last week. That's dangerous ... and not only because we're smack in the middle of a family-based holiday season. According to Valerie and Mary Lou, being exposed to a baby too often makes you want one yourself."

"He can't have a kid. He's still one himself."

"That's exactly what I thought about myself and I ended up with one."

"Because I know what I'm doing."

"Yeah ... a little too well."

His expression remained the same, but I got the distinct impression he's extremely pleased to hear that. He crouched down beside Matty and took in the room.

"You did nail 'festive'."

"We tried. Not only does it take a village to raise a child, it takes one to decorate, too. I was mostly following Ella's lead. If you still have stuff to do ... once this guy's down for a nap I'll get started on wrapping everything I bought so far."

"I should only be another hour, you may want to do mine first."

I crossed the room to where they were. "What makes you think I got you a present?" I asked.

"I told you not to buy me anything and you don't follow orders well. I know there's at least two gifts for me hidden in the apartment."

"You think you know everything ... you don't by the way."

There's actually three things currently hidden in-between my clothes in our walk-in closet. He'd find them if he really wanted to, but curiosity isn't a curse for him like it is for me.

"So you're admitting to there being three things."

"Don't you have to get back to work?" I asked sweetly.

"Yes."

I snagged Matty before he could go after the tree again and held him up to his dad.

"Kiss your son goodbye and let me get back to work, too."

Those delicious lips kicked up slightly. He did kiss Matty's temple and then my mouth before pushing his spectacularly muscled body up to its full height. I enjoyed the view as he walked out and then I took Matty to his room and got busy getting him to sleep one more time.

When his thick lashes were pressed tightly together and his lips were moving a little against my neck as I rocked him, like he was talking to someone in his dream, I put him down in his crib and then started quietly gathering the shopping bags, ribbon, and wrapping paper from the bedroom where I'd stashed them. The countdown to Christmas is on and this is the year I'm going to have every single thing done before time is called.