Chapter 58

SPOV

The only person left from the original conspiracy was Morelli. It was time to launch the video. I felt bad from sending the video with dad. Hopefully he's a better actor than me. He was planning to show the video using his phone.

We were able to watch his visit through the CCTV feed. Morelli screamed, "No. She can't be gone."

"This is what your actions did Morelli. You started all of this when you were six. Every moment of her life lead to her demise. Are you proud of yourself? Do you feel like a man?" I heard dad ask.

"I can't live without her," Morelli said while finally showing some emotion. Tears ran down his face as he watched the video again.

"What did you think would happen?" dad shouted.

"Not this," Morelli said as he lowered his head towards the table.

As a final jab, dad said, "Steph and her unborn baby are dead." Dad stood up and motioned for the guard to let him leave.

A few days later we heard Morelli was found dead. His prison jumpsuit was wrapped tightly around his neck. He was dangling from the top bunk. The only thought running through my head was, 'Coward.' Better at his own hands than having my friends pull the trigger.

We laid low for the next few weeks to ensure all threats were handled. When Ranger cleared me, Val and Mal from our confinement at Rangeman, we went shopping. After all the shit that happened around me for the last month, I needed retail therapy.

Our plans were ruined the minute we stepped into the mall. Valerie groaned, "Crap. Sorry guys, we need to take a detour to the hospital."

"You still have another 3 and a half weeks," Mallory stated.

"True, but my little man is impatient to meet his daddy," Valerie confirmed. "If we don't leave soon, I'll be giving birth here."

I wanted to run to get the car, but I'm 5 months pregnant. Running was not one of my doctor's approved activities. Thankfully the parking gods granted us a spot near the entrance. Mal waited with her twin while I got the car. When I pulled into the drop off zone, Mallory helped Valerie into the backseat before sliding in beside her.

Using the hands free option on the Rangeman SUV, I dialled the main number. "Yo," Zero answered. It isn't his typical way of answering while on reception duty, but he would know it was one of us calling.

"Hey Zero, can you pass along a message to Ram?" I asked.

"Sure can sweetie," he quickly replied.

"Tell him Valerie's in labour. We're taking her to St Frances," I stated our destination.

"HUA," he replied before hanging up.

"Doesn't any of them have phone manners?" Val asked.

"Yes, but sometimes saying 'goodbye' is difficult for soldiers to say," Mallory replied.

I added, "They prefer to only say goodbye at funerals."

"That's so morbid…" Valerie started to say before a strong contraction cut her sentence short. "I feel like pushing."

"Not in the car Val. You do not get to ruin my backseat while giving birth to Tucker," I stated while concentrating on the traffic. It was unusually busy today. 'What else can go wrong?' I wondered. I didn't say the words out loud, but someone still heard them. As I pulled up to the hospital ER doors, Valerie screamed.

I put the car in park then removed the keys. Mallory found a blanket in the back and put it under Valerie's butt. When I opened Valerie's door, I saw her leaning against Mallory. Her heels were almost touching her hips and her legs were spread wide open. I grabbed the gloves I tucked into the seat pouch and slipped my fingers into them.

Tucker was definitely impatient. Reluctantly I looked at Valerie's crotch to see my nephew's head was already out. I reached down to stabilize his head as Valerie gave a hard push, causing Tucker to slip into my hands. "It's about time you got here," I told Ram as I showed him the baby.

"He's handsome Val," he crooned. Mallory and I rolled our eyes before giggling. I gently placed Tucker onto Valerie's chest and moved so the interns could load her onto a gurney.

One of them clamped the umbilical cord before cutting the space between the clamps. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped the boy to keep him warm. "Take him daddy," she said while passing the bundle to Ram.

The minute they walked through the doors together, I stepped behind the SUV and emptied my stomach. "Mal, promise me I do not have to deliver your girls," I said in between dry heaves.

"I promise not to go shopping with you when I'm 8 months pregnant before going into labour." She added, "Now you make me the same promise."

"Ditto sis," I stammered.

Lucas arrived as I was changing my clothes. He waited for me outside the washroom doors. "Hey. I hear you're moonlighting as a midwife," he joked.

"Not funny lover. It was both the most beautiful and disgusting thing I have ever done," I admitted. "How's Val and Tucker?"

"Both are fine," he replied. "She's asking for you."

I followed my husband to the maternity ward. She was sitting in her bed with Tucker in her arms. Lisa was tucked in a small space beside her, touching Tuck's tiny nose. Mary Alice and Angie were sitting at her feet while staring at their brother. "Thanks for helping mom deliver our brother," Angie stated when she saw me.

"You were wanting to see me Val?" I asked.

"Oh… yes. Would you and Lucas be Tucker's godparents?" she asked.

"Absolutely," we replied.

"We're his godparents too," Mallory whispered.

"And if anything happens to me or Mike, you'll raise him and our daughters?" she asked.

Mallory answered for me, "Val, the children are family. Steph and I will raise them if anything happens to you or Ram." I seconded her statement.

"Me too," Craig added. "Can I hold him?"

Valerie placed Tucker into Craig's arms. "He's adorable. Sorry bud," he said to Ram, "But he doesn't look anything like you."

"He's Tucker's legal father, not his biological one. I think he looks like dad," Mallory stated. Tucker has Val's eye shape and cute little nose. His jaw line was the same as dad's down to the small dimple in his chin.

Dad entered the room and removed Tucker from Craig's arms. "Sorry son, I need to hold my first grandson," he mumbled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LPOV

Stephanie must have repeated the story of Tucker's birth at least one hundred times. All the men found it amusing Steph threw up after helping her sister. She's seen so much and lived through a lot too. It just seemed inconceivable that something as simple as childbirth would cause her to vomit.

"Wait until Steph's water breaks," Cal stated. "Make sure you don't stand near her feet." All the men teased Cal after the incident during Lisa's birth.

"We're going to head out now Val," Steph said while hugging her sister. She gave Ram and the girls a hug too.

"You need to ride with me love," I told my wife.

"Why? Where's my car?" she asked.

"Babe, Tucker was born in the backseat. Your car is being detailed," Ranger told her.

"Should pull it out and burn it," she mumbled. "I need to go shopping."

"Go," Ranger said when I caught his eye. "Buy your wife some pretty things."

Stephanie leaned into me to whisper, "I need more bras and panties. If you're a good boy, I'll model them for you." She laughed when I grabbed her hand to drag her to my car.

I was looking forward to our trip to Victoria's Secrets. My wife is a dream come true. Watching her model the sexy lingerie was already making me hard. "If I pick out a lingerie set, would you try it on?" I asked her.

"Sure, but if it doesn't feel nice against my sensitive skin, I won't buy it no matter how sexy you think it looks on me," she replied.

We spent several hours selecting bras and panties. She tried on a blue lacy pair which brought out the gorgeous blue of her eyes. I pushed her back into the change room and locked the door behind us. Her hair fell into her eyes.

Using a very gentle touch, I brushed her hair behind her ear. A small shiver escaped her as I stroked my fingers down her face to her neck. I followed along her shoulder, tracing her collarbone. Goosebumps appeared on her skin as I gently stoked down her chest to the edge of the bra. Tracing the pattern of the bra, I circled her nipple through the soft fabric.

She was very responsive and her nipple pebbled under my touch. Reaching into the bra, I tugged her breast from the confines of the bra. My thumb rubbed across her nipple. Stephanie bit her lip to prevent the moan from escaping. I gently pinched her nipple before leaning down and sucking it into my mouth. She arched her back, pushing her breast further into my mouth. My erection was pressed painfully against my zipper.

When I gave her other nipple the same treatment. I slipped my free hand down her body, smiling when her breath hitched. Slipping my hand into her panties, I applied slight pressure to her clit. Pressing my lips to her lips, I kissed her to swallow her moans as she erupted on my hand. "I guess we're buying these?" she asked.

"Definitely. Will you wear them home?" I said while wagging my eyebrows.

She laughed before slapping my shoulder. "For a minute I thought I was talking to Lester."

I carried all the items, except the panties Stephanie was now wearing, to the cashier. Passing her the tag, I said, "She decided to wear these ones." The cashier smiled knowingly. It probably wasn't the first time this happened on her shift.

"Thank you for shopping at Victoria's Secrets. Please… come again," she said while blushing.

My wife embarrassed her further by asking, "Are you single?" The shy girl nodded. "Over the age of twenty five?" Steph whispered, "I have a shy friend I think you'll like. His youngest cut off age is twenty five."

"I'm twenty seven. How old is your shy friend?" she asked.

"Hal's thirty. He's tall… taller than my husband here," Steph motioned towards me. "Single, little experience with… you know. Would you be interested to meet him?"

"Um… sure," she smiled.

Stephanie leaned out of the store and waved someone towards her. "What are you doing?" I whispered.

"Security detail," she easily replied. When Hal entered the shop, his face turned bright red. "Hal, this is Mia. She's twenty seven, single and wanted to meet you. Mia, this is my friend Hal."

They muttered a quiet 'hi' to each other. Hal asked, "Have you seen the new Avengers movie? It's been out for several months, but the old theatre is still showing it."

"I love the Avengers movies," she gushed. "I haven't seen it yet. None of my friends would go with me."

"When are you finished your shift?" Hal asked.

"Eight. Is that too late?" Mia asked.

"No. The theatre down the road has a showing at 2100 hours. Would it be too late for you?" he asked. Stephanie was smiling brightly as she listened to her friend plan a date.

They quickly exchanged phone numbers so Mia could serve the next customer. "Thanks Steph," Hal said while giving her a hug.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Ranger you picked up a girl while you're supposed to be guarding us," she gave his cheek a small kiss before grabbing my hand. "I expect to hear all the details," Stephanie called over her shoulder.

"Is it your goal to set up all your Merry Men?" I asked.

"You bet it is. I wonder if Zip will ask out Craig," she wondered.

"What makes you think they're gay?"

"Trust me… they are," she replied.

Stephanie was so sure of herself. I've seen Zip on dates with women. He gets very cozy with them on the dance floor too.

I must have spoken my last thought out loud. "Zip loves to dance. It's just not so easy to find another men willing to press their body against his. He's an attractive man, the women practically fall at his feet. Not many people know he's gay, so don't let on that you know," she explained.

"Nobody will care," I stated.

"True, but he hasn't come out to his family yet. They live in Philadelphia and would disown him if they knew."

"Do they visit Trenton often?" I wondered.

"He meets with his parents once a week," she answered. "I'm very happy and I want all my Merry Men to be happy too. When I first met them, they felt getting married and having children was beyond hope. Seeing us together is giving them the courage to let someone in."

"Every day I fall more in love with you. I'm madly, deeply, truly and passionately in love with you," I told her.

"Lucas, I'm madly, deeply, truly and passionately in love with you too," she reciprocated.

I held the passenger door open for my beautiful wife after we loaded our purchases in the back of the car. When I reached over her to buckle her in, I rested my hand on her stomach, hoping to feel our son or daughter kick. "Did you feel it that time?" Steph asked.

"The small movement under my hand?" She nodded. "Yes my love. I felt our son move," I confirmed.

"You know the guys are going to want a feel too," Steph joked.

"It's fine my love. I don't mind as long as you don't mind."

I quickly realized she didn't mind at all. While we were on the elevator, I moved behind her to wrap my arms around her waist. My hands were firmly on her stomach. One hand high, the other low. I smiled as I felt our babies move.

Hector was waiting for us outside our apartment door. He followed us into he room and asked if he could feel the babies move. Stephanie let him place his hands to feel the babies. I noticed he had a second teardrop under his eye.

"I'm sorry hermano," Stephanie whispered as she stroked his cheek.

"Anything for you hermana," he stated. "Roger knows," he added.

"Oh sweetie. You shouldn't have done that for me."

"I protect you hermana. I protect babies," he simply replied.

"Thank you hermano. I love you," Stephanie quietly told her close friend.

"I love you too hermana." He kissed her forehead before leaving us alone.

Stephanie grabbed her bags to put away her lingerie. I captured her hips in my hands and slowly stripped her, leaving her in just the blue panties.

"Lucas, don't make me beg," she said, her voice sounding husky.

I continued my motions from earlier. Stephanie was responsive. This time I pulled her panties off and kissed my way up her body. I entered her as I kissed the spot under her ear. "Steph," I moaned as I felt her body squeezing me dry.

"Oh… Luke," she said on a moan before her body shook from release.

My wife fell asleep in my arms. I let her nap until I heard her stomach rumble. After dinner, I massaged her legs and feet. She fell asleep before I could finish the massage.