Author's Note: This story should be finished within four chapters. There's a couple more after this and then the into the future Epilogue. I've had a hell of a lot of fun with this story. I expanded my repertoire and met some wonderful people along the way. My next scribble on the Babe wall is already in the embryonic stages and provided that my internet and sanity remains intact, it should be up by the end of next week. Or maybe even the beginning of next week. I don't know yet.
Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"
Stephanie's POV
Val kept shooting me incredulous looks as I expertly sliced and diced an onion for homemade salsa and I couldn't help but grin. Thanks to Caroline and Ella (not to mention a very sexy, shirtless Carlos), I could finally make edible food that wasn't prepackaged. My specialties were more geared toward Latin American dishes but I could make a mean ziti, now. And I had even learned how to make my beloved pineapple upside down cake!
My smile broadened as I remembered eating my sacred pastry from my very willing husband's eight pack. Mmm…naked Carlos…
"Jeez, Steph! He's not even here to drool over!" Val giggled as she pressed corn tortillas at the end of her kitchen island.
"I know that but I was thinking of the time he let me use him as a plate for pineapple upside down cake and you know how weak the filter between my brain and mouth is…" I trailed off as we both cracked up. I'm glad we can do that, now. It's yet another benefit of my decision to finally grow up…
"I love my Albert to death but I tell you, you are one lucky, lucky bitch. Do you want me to start moving things to the dining room?"
"Yes, please. The guacamole goes in the chip platter and the empanadas next to the taco fixings."
A tug at my skirt made me look down to see a shyly smiling Lisa. She was in a kid sized RangeMan t-shirt and Iron Man pajama pants. Wiping my hands clean, I picked her up and put her on my right hip as I stirred the onions into the tomatoes, peaches and cilantro. Reaching over the radio, I turned up the music and unconsciously began to move to the mambo beat, much to Lisa's giggling delight. Her giggles increased as 'Uncle 'Anger' took off his work face and gave me a smacking smooch hello.
"Ewww…Auntie, don't you know that boys gots cooties?" she scolded as she got back on the floor, her hands on her little hips.
"Only the bad boys, dulce." Carlos corrected. "Where are your sisters?"
"M.A.'s drawin' in her horsie books and Angie's foldin' clothes with Daddy. I wanted to watch mommy and Auntie cook but they're already done." she groused with a sigh.
"How about you look out for Big Blue? Grandpa's coming over soon."
"I hope Ms. Jackie's with him! I like her! She's got pretty skin and she makes Grandpa smile a lot!" Lisa enthused while running down the hall to the foyer window.
I like daddy's girlfriend, too. She's just as domestic as Helen was but she still has an identity separate from all that. We bonded over our love of sweets and of yoga. We now have a standing appointment every Saturday morning. She's smart, sassy, and the story of how she and dad met overseas makes me go "Aww…" every time. It was kind of like The Notebook, only with a happy ending. Even though, I gotta admit that it's kinda weird to watch my dad be demonstrative with a woman. I don't remember him and Helen doing that past my pre-teen years. But, he's genuinely happy and thriving away from Helen so I can't really complain…
"I smell smoke, Babe."
"Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about how different Jackie is from Helen and how my dad's changed. It's kinda an 'I didn't know you drank until I saw you sober' thing. He's smiling and laughing and he's even started to do a little yoga. He says it makes him feel like a pansy sometimes but it's great for his back. Anyway, I hope you're hungry. Val and I made a Latin American feast."
"Actually, it was mostly Steph. She can cook without causing Chernobyl now." Val greeted with a finger wave.
"I never caused Chernobyl! Maybe food poisoning but not Chernobyl! Besides, he's been helping me with my cooking too."
"With or without clothes?" Val leered while darting out of the room.
Ugh…I suppose this is one the drawbacks of having a healthy relationship with my sister, now. She can poke fun of me with little hesitation. But, it's in a good way, not harping. Still annoying as fuck, though…stupid older sister…
"Try having four older sisters, Babe. At least you don't get double-teamed."
"Leave it to you to inject rationality into my inner monologue. Well, since you're standing here looking pretty, you can help me clean up with those muscles of yours." I sniffed with a toss of my hair as I made to move away from him. His arm snaked around my waist and he guided us back into the pantry.
His hand slid down to my ass and squeezed fondly, making me blush like a tomato. I don't think I'll ever get used to his touch and being able to touch him whenever I want. Before I took my head out of my ass, our "courtship" was covert. Hot kisses in the alley, eye sex in the RangeMan bullpen, an "accidental" grope as he put a Distraction wire on me…
He hasn't gotten used to it either so he occasionally drags me off to a secluded place to…
His lips were hot and demanding, his tongue plunging into my mouth aggressively. During our honeymoon, I had finally broken through the last of my Burg inhibitions and started matching him immediately. Before I had to be coaxed into letting loose but now, I was zero to sex goddess in five seconds. Even in a frilly apron, I was giving as good as I got, biting at his lower lip, digging my nails into his shoulders…
"Stephanie, Carlos, we're ready to start…oh…oh, my…"
"We'll be there in a minute, Klougn." Carlos said in his flat, no nonsense tone reserved for skips.
"O-okay. Um, while you're in here, be sure to grab some more napkins." he replied before bidding a hasty retreat.
"I'm impressed. He only stuttered once." I remarked, making him laugh and release me.
"Must be something in the water."