Stephanie
"so how is this going to work" I ask Ranger.
He give me a smile
"honest, trust, compassion, love"
I nod
"I do love you"
"I never doubted that, but you loved him as well"
"you are right, I know I have to stop with him but"
he pulls his forehead against mine again.
"it's messy and painful but"
I nod
"you're right, always right"
I chuckle and then take a breath
"I will be happier in the long run; Gabby will be better off in the long run"
he nods
"and that is what truly matters. If I am not making you happy you need to tell me. If I do something that upsets you tell me. That way we can have a conversation about it. No more running away from the issue. I will just chase you down anyway"
"I do not doubt that"
he kisses my forehead
"are you ready for that?" he asks and looks me over.
I take a breath
"yes, I am"
"good"
he pulls me in for another kiss.
"now what about this school?" he asks and I give him the details.
"You know"
and I stop him right there
"I know you are more then willing to help us and it is not that I do not appreciate you or what you are willing to do for us but I want to at least try this first. If it fails then I promise I will come to you and we can discuss it first"
he nods
"fair enough, I will respect your decision as her mother"
I smile and give him a hug
"that is all I want"
he rubs my back
"to know you are being a good parent?"
I nod
"I fathered a child but I was never her parent. She is lucky to have her parents and I do like how our relationship as grown. I imagine you felt the same way for Gabriella. You knew she would have good parents and you just wanted the best for you"
I nod
"I am so scared sometimes I cannot sleep. I just want everyone to know I am not going to mess her up. I gave her away because I wanted her to have a good life and now that accident has given me this chance to be a mother, I am just so worried"
"I know, I know you doubt yourself because you have help at Rangemen but babe that doesn't make you a weak parent. Knowing when to ask for help or advice shows strength because you are willing to do anything if it were to help your child"
"I know but I just don't want everything to think I am living off of you"
he pulled back and looked into my eyes
"who would believe that? None of my men would, your parents may object but your mother doesn't control your life, you do"
I nod and look off to the side and then smile
"have you been working on your speeches?"
"babe"
I laugh
"did Tank have to listen to the practice ones?"
"He would never admit to anything under pain of death"
I laugh
"good to know"
I give him a hug again
"I will be honest with you and we both know this is going to be a lot of work"
he nods
"so no more Morelli?"
"I won't be rude to him in public by yelling at him to go away but I will not reach out to him unless it is for professional purposes"
he nods
"alright"
"good"
and I kiss him again
"you better get out of here before they come back. I am going to be grilled"
"good luck with that"
he gives me another kiss and then leaves. I smile and sit on the couch. I can and I want to make this work.