Chapter 8 Stephanie's Choice.

As Joe was leaving, Tank and Stephanie stopped him in the underground garage.

"Morelli, just to let you know that it was not my original idea to marry Stephanie. Ranger said it was a good idea, in case you ever tried to set either me or her up for arrest." Tank told him.

"What are you talking about. I would never hurt Stephanie like that. Yeah, that creep that got arrested for setting Hal and Lester up. Yes, he was my informant. But I did not do that. I swear. I went to talk to him, and he said that someone paid him to do that. He told his attorney who it was. It was not me. Didn't Patterson call you and talk to you guys." Morelli told him.

"No, we have not heard from anyone," Tank told him

"Internal Affairs cleared me, and they found out who it was. But they would not tell me who did it. I guess Internal Affairs has another snitch to use now." Morelli stated. "Here, I will call Patterson right now. We can clear this up." Morelli got his cell out and called his boss.

"Hey Captain, how come you did not clear everything up with Rangeman and me" Morelli yelled at him

"Shit, I forgot Internal affairs cleared him. They spoke with the perp's lawyer and to him. They said it was someone else that set up your men. But Internal Affairs did not say who. It looks like internal affairs have a new rat on their side." Patterson said and then hung up.

"I am sorry, Morelli, I overreacted, but these guys are my family and my employees, so I protect them," Ranger said as he came up behind Tank and Morelli

"Listen, Ranger. We may not see eye to eye on a lot of things. But you do help Stephanie grow. All of your men do that. In ways, I can't. I appreciate that a lot." Morelli told him.

"I never did trust you with her. But seeing her smile and happy like she is now. Well, that is all that matters to me. Now I have to get to work tomorrow." Morelli said as he left Rangeman.

"Did the three of us come to an understanding just now?" Tank asked Ranger.

"Yes, it would seem that we did," Ranger said. Tank and Ranger walked back into Rangeman without saying a word.

"Okay, little one, we need to talk about who is going to be Chris's godfather?" Pierre asked her.

"Pierre, I know what is going to happen now. My mom will call and ask us if we can have Tim/Paul as Chris's godfather. I don't want that because we don't know anything about him. He grew up as a Morelli, so there is no telling how he will act. So I was thinking Ranger. He is always there for us when we need him." Stephanie told Pierre

"As much as I like Ranger, he has Julie remember," Pierre said, and then added, " He is also gone a lot of the time. So if Chris needs someone to talk to and can't come to us, I would like it to be a neutral party."

"Yeah, I know, so what is your idea," Stephanie asked him

"I was thinking Morelli," Pierre told her. Stephanie put a hand to her mouth and started to laugh.

"Morelli, seriously," Stephanie said in shock

Pierre came and sat down next to Stephanie. "Yeah, hear me out. He wants you to be happy and healthy. He is also always here in Trenton, and he will be here if this little guy has a problem. He also has a way with kids that most of the guys in this building don't."

"You are serious about this." She answered him.

Pierre shook his head yes as he looked at her.

The two of them looked at their son in Steph's arms. "He will protect him if we can't do it ourselves," Pierre said to her.

"Okay, Joseph Morelli, it is then. That is if he will say yes." Stephanie said.

"Let's call him and find out." Pierre took out his phone and dialed Morelli

"What happened now," Morelli said.

"Nothing, we just want you to be Chris's godfather," Pierre told him over the phone.

Just then the was a thugh

"Joe," Stephanie said as she took the phone from her husband's hands.

"Is Steph okay with this?" He asked

"It took some convincing from Pierre, but I agree if you want to be Chris's godfather, then that is fine with me," Stephanie told him.

"Tank, are you sure about this?" Morelli questioned over the phone.

"Yes, I think you would do a great job. Ranger is way too busy. He is always working, and he has Julie too. I like that you are always around and looking out for Stephanie. So if you want to be his godfather, that is okay with me." Pierre told him over the phone.

"Deal," Morelli said, "Great, you can come over to Rangeman tomorrow, and we can work out the details of the christening," Pierre told him. "We can order Pizza, and I will have beer here for you if you are not working." Pierre hung up then.

Morelli looked at his phone in shock, "Holy shit."

Just then, Stephanie's cellphone rang, " Mom" she held it up so Pierre could see the caller ID

"Hey, mom"

"Stephanie, if you have not chosen a godfather for Chris yet, may I make a suggestion. I was thinking about Paul filling that role," Helen said sweetly.

"No, mom were are not having Paul/Tim as Chris's godfather. We know nothing about him other than he was raised a Morelli. I wouldn't say I like that idea, and besides, we have made our choice, we are having Joe as Chris's Godfather. We know Joe and trust him, and he will be a neutral party that Chris can go to if he can't come to us. Sorry, mom, we will see you at dinner soon." Stephanie hung up.

"Well, now we wait for the fireworks to start," Stephanie told her husband. Pierre looked at his wife and knew she was right. "This might backfire on us," Pierre told her.