3 months later…

Carlos/Ranger Point of View

It's been a little over 3 months since Babe has been in the hospital and has been in a coma. She missed Abby's first birthday. We did record it for her, but I know it's not the same. She is going to be devasted when she finds out.

The doctors state the baby that she is carrying is the full term on Friday and they will be inducing labor then. I just hope that when that happens, nothing severe happens to Steph. I can't lose her. Abby has been with me just about every day. She sits with her momma and talks to her. I make sure she gives her a kiss every day before she leaves and after she gets here.

Tank has pretty much been running Rangeman since the shooting. If there is something pressing that needs my attention, I take care of it. Babe would have a fit if she knew I was putting her first before the business. Truthfully, she will always come first. Her and our children. I can always have a business; I can't always have a wife and children.

I'm not sitting by my Babe's bed holding her hand and talking to her. This is a daily thing. When I get up in the mornings one of my guys usually brings me a cup of coffee from somewhere other than the cafeteria. I gave Babe a sponge bath as much as I can. The nurse taught me how to wash her hair, so I do those 3 times a week.

Every morning I also brush her hair for her and make sure that it's fixed so when she wakes up it isn't all frizzled. Then after that is done, Ella or Lula usually brings Abby to me around 10 and I spend the rest of the day with her. She will sit by Steph and love on her and she is learning to walk, which I really hope that she learns to walk after Babe wakes up.

I'm waiting for the nurses to come so they can wheel Steph in to have the c-section. Our baby will be here soon. I can't wait. I still don't know what we are having, but Steph said that if it's a boy she wants to name him after me. and call him CJ for short. Which would be Carlos Junior. If it's a girl she wants to name, her Rosa Melina. That's the name we had decided on.

Doesn't matter to me what the baby is as long as it's healthy. I want Steph to wake up so she can see our children. I miss her so much. I just want to love her and kiss her and hear her say I love you. What if I never get to hear those words again? I would be lost without her. She is my world, and our children are my world. I can't raise them by myself.

I know I wouldn't have to worry about that because I would have all the help, I needed but I want Steph to be there. I can't make it without her. She is the light in my dark world. She is the breath that I breathe.

I don't want to think about losing Steph. I have to get those thoughts out of my mind. Just then the nurse came in to take Steph. I was going to because there was no way I was not going to be there for the birth of my child.

I had to put on the blue scrubs and the feet things that go over your shoes, of course, I had the hair cover over my hair. I didn't care though I just wanted to make sure I was there.

I sat there while the doctors did the c-section and 20 minutes after 10 am on September 12th our beautiful baby boy was born. He was so precious. He had 10 fingers and 10 toes, and he looked just like me. I got him to open his eyes and I gasped. His eyes are the color of my Babe's eyes. They are that beautiful aquamarine blue.

After they sewed Babe back up and we were back in her room, I was sitting there waiting for them to bring me CJ. Her heart monitor suddenly started beeping and she flatlined. I remember screaming and I pressed the nurse's button. Several nurses and doctors came running into the room.

They pushed me out of the way to get to Steph. I dropped to the floor and cried. I couldn't lose her. They were using the paddles to try to revive her, but it wasn't working. I sat there on my knees praying that God takes me too.

Meanwhile in Heaven…

Stephanie's POV

WOW! Where am I? It's so beautiful here. Everything is white and it seems so peaceful. It looks like I'm walking on clouds but how can that be. I came upon a beautiful golden gate. There was a guy there that had wings on him. Is he an Angel? WAIT! I'm I in Heaven?

"Excuse me, can you tell me where I'm at?" I asked the winged gentleman manning the gate.

"Of course, dear, this is the Pearly Gates. I'm Saint Peter and you are about to enter the gates of Heaven." He said with a huge smile on his face.

"But how can that be? I was just on earth. I am in a hospital room currently in a coma." I truly was dumbfounded as to what was going on.

"My dear child, you have crossed over. It is your choice if you want to walk through the gates or not."

"What do you mean I've crossed over? Did I die? What about Carlos and our babies? What will happen to them?"

If I died, then what is Carlos going through? He would be devastated. Oh NO! this was not good.

"St. Peter, I can't stay I have to go back, as much as I would love to stay I can't. Carlos and the babies need me." I was adamant about this.

"I figured that would be your choice. Would you like to see your Carlos and how he is responding?"

Before I could say anything, he should be an image of Carlos screaming and crying and begging me not to leave him. Tank was holding him while Carlos rocked back and forth. All the other Merry Men there were crying also. Lula had tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Can I go back? Is it too late?"

"No, Dear it's never too late. I can send you back, but before you go is there anything you want to know? You can ask me anything."

Now, was my chance to find out about Carlos's karma. He is always worried about that.

"St Peter, I need to know for Carlos's sake, when he leaves Earth will he come here to Heaven? He is afraid he has done too many bad things in his life to merit him damnation in Hell."

"My precious child, please let Carlos know that he is okay. His karma is good, and he will come to Heaven. The two of you are soul mates. You were created for each other. Both of you will leave the earth together but it will be 50+ years from now. Does that help?"

"Yes, St. Peter, thank you it does. Please send me back now. I'm ready."

The next thing I know, I'm zapped back into my body and the doctors got a pulse again. Carlos had already left the room and he still thought I had died.

Meanwhile back in the hospital room…

A nurse came running out of the room, "Mr. Manoso she came back, your fiancé is alive."

He ran into the room and grabbed my hand. "Babe?"

She moaned and tried to talk but her throat was too sore. He handed her a cup of ice water. "Here Babe, take a sip but drink it slowly."

She slowly sipped the water, then turned her head to look at me. "Carlos, darling. I'm so sorry I worried you. I'm here and I'm not going to leave you. I have some things to tell you." She reached up and put her hand on my face and caressed it. Dios, I love this woman.

"Babe, there are some things I want to tell you. You had the baby by c-section. It was a little boy and I named him after we like you wanted, are you okay with that?"

"Carlos, yes, I'm fine with that. I'm glad he is okay. I love you, Carlos, don't ever forget that. I'm so sorry I had you worried. I have some things to tell you and I want you to listen, okay?"

I grabbed her hand, "I'm here Babe, talk to me." I was smiling because I finally had my Babe back with me and she seemed to be okay.

Stephanie's Point of View

I'm so glad that I finally woke up. I was so glad to see Carlos. He told me about CJ being born and I'm glad that he is okay and healthy.

"Carlos, I know that I died. When I did, I went to Heaven, and I saw St. Peter. I spoke with him as well. He told me that I could come back if I wanted to. He said that it wasn't my time and that you and I are soulmates. I asked him about your karma because I know you always worry about that. Carlos, He told me that you have nothing to worry about that everything that you have done in the military was to get rid of bad people. Your karma is fine. He also said that you and I would not perish for another 50+ years and we would go together."

He was floored by what I told him. Then I told him about the image that St. Peter showed me of him crying and upset. I described verbatim what I saw, so I knew he would believe me.

He looked at me and was speechless. Woah! I made Batman speechless. That doesn't happen every day.

I lay there and watched him. I placed my hand on the side of his face and he leaned into it. He then started crying softly. Tears trickled down his face, but he remained smiling.

"Carlos Darling why are you crying?" I didn't think I'd ever really seen him cry before. I was surprised he allowed me to see that emotion on his face.

"Babe, when they said you died. A part of me died with you. I was planning on how to end it for myself. I can't live without you Steph. You the light in my darkness. You are my soulmate. I want to ask you; did you ask St. Peter about my karma, or did he volunteer that information?" He was holding my hand the whole time he was talking.

"Carlos, I asked. Because I know that is something that you always worry about. I want you to know that you are okay and that your karma is good with the man upstairs." He leaned over and kissed after he found out that I was the one that asked.

I proceeded to tell him about the things I saw in Heaven. The Pearly Gates. St. Peter and Angels. He was in awe. I told him that it was things that you would have to see to honestly believe that you are seeing them.

The doctor came in to check me over and wanted to run some tests to see if I had any brain damage. I had "died" for 3 minutes. It felt like more when I was in Heaven, but I wasn't going to argue with his assessment.

After the test was complete, the doctor couldn't believe that I had no ill effects from dying. He said I should have brain issues, but I don't, which is a good thing if you ask me.

The nurse wheeled me back into the room. I had a wonderful surprise when I came back. Both of my children were there. Ella had Abby and Carlos was holding CJ.

The nurse helped me back in the bed. I reached immediately for Abby. "How's momma's baby girl. I love you."

She smiled and said momma and gave me a big sloppy kiss. I love baby kisses. Then Carlos handed me CJ. He took my breath away. He is gorgeous. He looks just like Carlos. He does have my eyes, but other than that everything else is Carlos.

"Carlos he is a mini-you. Like everything except the eyes. Oh, he is going to be a heartbreaker when he gets older." Carlos agreed with me and just laughed at the heartbreaker statement.

I was one lucky woman to have 2 beautiful children and a man that loves me unconditionally. This is definitely Heaven on Earth.