Everybody familiar belongs to Janet. Mistakes are mine alone.

"What's going on?" I asked, walking into an apartment full of voices.

Though with my men, just three of them in one place can make any room appear full to capacity.

I kissed my wife and then waited for her to explain.

"Olive wanted to share her lunch with a few Uncles, probably because she made ninety-percent of it and was hoping to show off her kitchen skills. Ella was already praising her pretty heavily twenty minutes ago, when she was fielding my questions, so you'd think she'd be set for awhile."

I looked at the plate of sample food she had in her hand. Grilled cheese 'fingers' with multicolored cheese oozing out from their edges, frozen banana/peanut butter sandwiches half-dipped in chocolate, and rolled bread slices cut into spirals mimicking peanut butter and jelly sushi rolls, are apparently what's on the Manoso lunch menu today.

"I had a feeling this buffet wasn't your style. And if I don't want Connie to ask if I'm pregnant again whenever I see her next, I need to eat what I have a hope of burning off. I decided that the guys deserve a treat and some Olive-time." Her eyes suddenly drifted to my chest. That in itself is a pretty regular occurrence, but I know what she's about to say this time. "I can't believe you actually wore your birthday gift to a meeting."

I glanced down at the black T-shirt that had 'Ranger Dad' written inside the signature 'Army Ranger' banner, which had been a joint birthday gift from Julie and Olive. I'd just slipped a black suit jacket over it and called it casual corporate wear.

"My girls picked it for me, so I'm going to use it. I'm a Ranger and I'm their Dad, it's not news to anyone who knows me ... and my clients know who I am."

"You're the only person who can be sweet and sentimental, but with stone-cold logic behind it."

"I told you that I'm special, Babe. You need to start believing it."

She grinned before kissing me again. "Believe me, I've thought that since day one. It takes a special man to meet my temper and decide to come back for more of me."

"I'll add that you need to start celebrating how unique you are. Your temper is as sexy as the rest of you."

"Daddy!" Olivia screamed, standing in the kitchen's archway and being backlit like a tiny angel thanks to the light fixture over the kitchen table.

A beat later she was down the hall and in my arms. I endured and enjoyed an entire face full of kisses like her Mama subjects her to when they're both feeling especially playful, and I held her tight to me. It was then that I realized just how much I missed having my little desk-buddy right beside me today. Steph managed to get Olivia into overalls and a pink camouflage shirt, but her success ended at our baby's feet, which are again bare aside from the heart nail decals on every toe. I couldn't help but notice our daughter's hands and tried not to wince at her fingers being completely different colors.

"Yeah, I know," Steph said, when she saw what caught my attention. "Her bath is going to be just as colorful, but she really … and I mean REALLY, wanted to sprinkle the cheese we had food-colored onto the bread herself."

As all of my uniforms, and my clothes today, are black … I'm not concerned and am actually looking forward to the splash-bath awaiting us.

As we ventured towards the kitchen, I saw that Tank, Bobby, and Raphael, had stood up from wherever they'd been seated in the kitchen when I'd walked into the apartment … as if bracing for a demand on why they're here. They are welcome anytime, but I still laugh my ass off mentally that they're scared of what I could do to them. I have a reputation based on history, examples, and eyewitnesses, so they're correct in being cautious, but I'm glad to have additional support here for Stephanie this afternoon. She's needed all the love and backup she could get this year.

"We need to talk," I told my wife. "I got a call from my lawyer."

Tank made a move forward as if to pass us, gesturing with a single finger for Bobby and Raphael to do the same. "We should leave."

Steph shook her head at him and then repeated the motion for Bobby and Raphael. "You guys are family, and this is one hell of a family matter. Plus, it's possible I'm going to ask you to squish my mother like a bug for not letting this go. Ranger's probably already told you what's going on, but in case he hasn't ... she wants to use the courts to take Grandma Mazur away from us."

Bobby snorted. "Like that could happen. If Ranger can't block it legally, we'll put a stop to it physically."

Raphael nodded while Tank just narrowed his eyes, waiting to see what news I have today. He's already aware of the situation, that Lester has dubbed "Operation Harpy Head Off", so he knows there's been a new development. I almost don't want to inform my wife of it, since she's had so much to deal with already, but she'll be more pissed about being blindsided by something she could've been warned about ahead of time.

"This isn't about Edna, Babe."

"No? What are you and your lawyer chatting about then? Are you divorcing me?"

"Not on your life. You're mine forever just like we agreed to. But you aren't too far off. Your father used the number I gave him and filed for a divorce from Helen."

I watched the blood drain out of her face and I immediately slipped my free arm around her in case she needed more than just emotional support. Thinking along the same lines, Tank had grabbed a chair, placed it right behind my wife's legs, and added gentle pressure to her shoulders until she sat down safely on it.

"I really need this year to be over," she said into her hands after a minute of silent processing.

"It will be," I promised her. "But in the meantime, we'll get through the remaining months together."

"Thanks. I needed to hear that more than I thought," she said, holding her head high again. "What do I do about my Dad? This is technically between him and my Mom, but I want him to know that I support his decision if this is what he wants."

"You're not being intrusive by being concerned about him, Steph," I reminded her. "Families are supposed to be outwardly supportive of one another. You could invite Frank over for some of Olivia's lunch-junk, and see if he feels like talking about what prompted this move."

"Olive's lunch is delicious, not junk, which you'd know if you'd try it like Tank managed to. Are you sure I should say something before my Dad does?"

"You know him better than I do. Do you believe he needs an outlet in order to deal with this? Or do you feel he'll prefer to go it alone?"

I was proud of how she actually stopped to really consider what her father may need from her. To say she's nothing like Helen would be a gross and uneducated understatement. She puts everyone's wants and needs so far above her own, she barely has time to worry about what she's feeling.

"Last year, I'd say he'd keep this to himself, not acknowledging it at all ... let alone discuss it. Today? I'd guess he'd want to mention the elephant in the room … and then apologize for needing to stay here while things between he and my Mom get settled and finalized."

"So letting him know that he's welcome here for however long he wants his apartment, could help alleviate some of his stress," I pointed out.

"Okay. That makes sense. I'll call him now, since Olive is obviously happy where she is."

I didn't argue. One because Frank, Stephanie, Edna, and Valerie need to really band together right now if they're to withstand what's about to come at them from Helen. I can put an end to all legal fights, the personal wars Helen wages with each of them I'm not in complete control of. Steph is right, though, Olivia is happy to be sitting against my forearm, playing with the personalized bracelet Steph had given me for my birthday.

My wife understands me from the inside out. And she knows the only thing I care about is that my family is safe. She had worked with Hector to create a small leather wrapped-band that matches the larger one on my wrist, with a top of the line tracking system built in so we'll always know where the other is. To make me love her even more than I physically thought I could, she'd extended our family connection by getting matching silver 'LOVE' charms for Olivia and Julie, with our eldest's permission, which is a gift on its own - that synced their location to my wrist-gift. My daughters will always have an unbreakable link to me.

"Hey, Dad," Steph was saying to Frank. "A few of the guys are up here on Seven for an impromptu lunch that Olive wanted to share. Care to join us?" She listened to what he said. "There's nothing too scary. Just rainbow grilled cheese … if Bobby leaves you any." She narrowed her eyes at Brown in warning, leaving him to take only two more pieces instead of four. "Plus there's modified PB&Js, and banana bites for dessert. Since Ranger and the guys don't drink on duty, there's probably even a Corona with your name on it." Another pause. "Hah, I knew that'd get ya! The door's unlocked and we're all in the kitchen."

She felt all of our eyes on her when she'd disconnected. "He's not very adventurous when it comes to food," she told us.

"Guess you don't take after him there," Brown said. "You eat everything."

"No I don't. I refuse to eat Ranger's tasteless twig and unidentifiable berry cereal. Even Gunny and Mo ignore it long enough for Olive to decide it's building material for a new village to house her horses or princesses."

I kissed Olivia one more time before letting her down. "Your insults just mean there's more for me," I told my wife.

"It's all yours."

"Just like you are," I teased.

"We're trying to eat here," Tank muttered, making a banana/chocolate bite disappear faster than a magic trick done by a professional.

"Oooh, kiss me like you did before you left this morning and let's see if that'll get them to hurl," Steph replied.

"Very mature," Raphael noted, toasting her with a grilled cheese finger he'd swiped from Bobby.

She shrugged. "I never claimed to be mature, just annoying or amusing depending on the day."

We were all smiling when Frank called a 'Hello' from the front door.

"Come on in, Dad!" Steph called. "Olive, do you want to go get Grandpa Plum and bring him in here?"

Our baby ran down the hall again and came right back, walking backwards to pull Frank along by a hand with both of hers. Steph fixed him a plate while I got him a beer. As if it were pre-planned, all of Olivia's Uncles migrated from the kitchen towards the living room with her to give us a chance to talk.

Even though they were subtle, Frank sensed something's up. "You know, don't you?" He asked.

"One thing you need to know about living here," Steph advised, "Ranger always knows everything. If you don't want to talk about this with us, that's fine. But he and I wanted you to know that you don't have to go through this alone if you don't want to."

To his credit, Frank only lifted an eyebrow at the rainbow cheese peeking out from his sandwich before giving it a try, but he stopped chewing momentarily as he considered what to say to his daughter. By the time he'd swallowed, he must have decided to just dive into the shit Helen has stirred up.

"I want you and your sister to know that this wasn't an easy decision," he began. "If I'm being honest, I fully believed there was a way your mother and I could work something out that would work for both of us …"

He seemed to lose his steam and he started fiddling with the mock sushi on his plate instead of resuming his confession or eating the food he was playing with.

"Something happened, didn't it?" My wife asked. "Mom would be happy with anything that got you back into the Burg with her, so she had to have done something to force your hand like this. Again, you don't have to share what that was, just know that I understand that she must've pushed you to make that call."

"When your grandmother told me what your mother was considering, trying to declare Edna in danger here and better off back with her, I called her up to try to talk some sense into her. But instead," he paused, not wanting to share more but he knows it'll all come out eventually, likely with an untruthful Helen-spin to it, so he continued after only a few seconds, "she told me she'd drop the guardianship inquiry if I go back to her."

I had the urge to put my hands above my wife's head to keep her eyebrows from flying clear off in disbelief. "Mom tried to blackmail you home at Grandma's expense?" Her voice rose in volume with each word.

"I'm sorry to say that she did. It was then that I understood that while I've been here trying to get my head on straight and my life sorted out, she's done just the opposite." He stopped, again not wanting to say something he felt he had to, a side effect of being related to Helen Plum. "I'm not saying this to be cruel, but I believe Helen needs more help than I ever did. I know I wasn't completely there even when I was home, but she's become someone I don't recognize anymore."

"I wish I could say the same," my wife said to her father. "She's exactly who I've always been braced for. If this is what you want, we're here for you."

"Your apartment is yours indefinitely," I added.

"I can't go back to that," Frank said after a few beats. "I won't be able to survive it ... survive her ... intact, knowing she's willing to hurt everyone around her ... not just me."

"You aren't expendable, Dad. Being a husband and father requires you make some sacrifices, but that doesn't mean sacrificing your entire life or yourself. Dr. Paice can probably explain this better than I can, but here I go. While I appreciate that you wanted to stay with Mom for Val and I as much as for you, and I am grateful that you didn't just take off and physically leave us with her too, modeling that kind of marriage for us had its drawbacks. Val had the same relationship with Steve that you did with Mom. She signed herself over to him and got screwed in the end. She had to come home and start over from the ground up just like you've been doing here."

She took a breath and smiled up at me when I started to rub the tension out of her shoulders so she could get through everything she wanted to say.

"And I spent years punishing myself for not understanding why I couldn't just be happy with the same kind of life," my wife admitted. "I wanted more for myself ... and I wake up everyday to a new reward for having fought everyone, even myself, for the life I get to live now. I want Olive and Julie to have what their Dad and I have together. I can honestly say I want the same thing for you too, and I know that can't happen with Mom because she's never going to change ... she's only going to get worse. What I'm trying to say is, you only have to think about yourself now. Val and Kloughn are weirdly happy together, and Ranger and I have never been better, we're just backing whatever you decide, so your job as our father these days - aside from helping me keep Grandma from getting bored - is to take care of yourself. We all want you to stay here in the building with us … Olive, Ranger, and I, are happy to have you so close by, but whatever you choose to do, we're alright with."

Our daughter escaped her handlers and ran right up to Steph's chair, grabbing her Mama's hands and crossing them over her little toddler tummy … Olivia's signal that she wants a pitstop cuddle. Steph lifted her up onto her lap and wrapped her arms completely around her.

Olivia grinned when she tipped her head back and got an immediate kiss on her nose. "My Mama," she informed us, when we could see her big brown eyes again.

"Damned if she isn't your kid," Tank said, following behind his goddaughter. "Not willing to share Steph for longer than a minute."

"The Manosos are a possessive people. I'm not about to apologize for something my family is proud of," I told him.

"I'm not complaining about either one wanting my time," Stephanie said. "I have tons of it to share these days."

"Everything okay?" Bobby asked, rejoining us as well.

"They could be better," my wife answered into Olive's neck. "Or maybe they've actually just gotten better. I grew up hearing that nothing is stronger than family ties, and I'm about ready to use those particular ties to wrap a happy bow around all my family here."