Disclaimer: Everything familiar belongs to JE and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: Adult Situations

Chapter 39: Friday, August 26th, 2800-2100

Stiva's Funeral Home, Trenton

Ellen's POV

I cannot believe that my ungrateful daughter refused to come back to Trenton with poor Joseph. Her fiancé lost his grandmother, and she is staying there taking care of that, that thug's daughter. A daughter that he rarely sees. Why me?

I know that I'm going to have to answer the questions from the other Burg matrons as to why Stephanie isn't taking her rightful place next to Joseph. I don't know how to answer them. I mean, I must look out for Valerie's stance in the Burg. If Stephanie continues to drag down our name, I might be forced to disown her to give Angie, Mary Alice, and Lisa a chance to have respectability in the Burg. I don't know why Stephanie is so selfish that she doesn't even think about her nieces.

I arrive at Stiva's at ten after six, which is a respectful and appropriate time to arrive for a viewing. After all, Angie Morelli is my dear friend. My mother is with me, and I threatened her with a nursing home if she were to do anything to embarrass me here tonight. I'm not sure if my threat worked.

When I arrive, I immediately go over to Angie. "Angie, I'm sorry about Bella. I know that you were close and that she helped you out immensely after your hard time."

"Thank you, Ellen, but she was getting old and wasn't as spry as she once was. I many ways, her death is a blessing in disguise. She would hate to be a burden to me so the fact that she died while still fairly active would make her happy."

"How are your children taking it?"

"Cathy was upset, along with Anthony, but Joseph is taking it the hardest. After all, he was her favorite. I'm glad, though, that her death helped Joseph to see what he wants for his life. He is finally going to evaluate his relationship with Stephanie, and might just let go of Stephanie so he can live the life he wants with a woman who will give him that life. Don't get me wrong, Stephanie is a lovely woman, just not a Burg woman. She could never make my Joseph happy, and he is finally ready to seriously consider if she can ever make him happy."

"Angie, you are wrong. Only a week ago I told Stephanie it was time for her to learn to cook. She agreed to some lessons. She was ready to make herself into the Burg woman I know she is deep down."

Angie shakes her head then continues, "Ellen, I know you only want what you think is best for your daughter, but Stephanie will never be like us. She doesn't want that life. I don't blame her. I wish that I could be something more than what I am. I applaud her courage to do something different, against the grain. She offers hope that maybe someday, all our daughters will be free to choose the life they want for themselves."

I can't believe what Angie told me. Now what? Why me? As Father Chirichella walks over to speak with Angie, I make my way through the crowd, scoping out every eligible bachelor I see. I will have Stephanie marry a Burg man if its the last thing I do. Finally, I see Carmine Risoli. He is a distant cousin of Frank. I approach him with a new idea in my head.

"Carmine, how are you this evening?" I ask after kissing and hugging him.

"I'm fine, Ellen. How is that husband of yours?"

"He's good. Enjoying his time driving the cab and the afternoons in the lodge."

"How are Valerie and Stephanie? I haven't seen Stephanie around this last week. She's okay?"

"Valerie is wonderful. Pregnant with her fourth child. I couldn't be prouder of her. Stephanie, on the other hand, is playing house with that Ranger thug. She is in Miami and refuses to come back home with Joseph when she heard about Bella's untimely death."

"How can I help you?"

I start to formulate a plan. Carmine has the muscle and knows how to get things done. "Could you get Stephanie away from that thug so she can marry a Burg man? I need her to settle down like Valerie. I mean, Valerie is married to a wonderful lawyer. Why can't Steph follow in her sister's footsteps?"

I watch Carmine's expression carefully. He considers what I asked. "Let me think about it, Ellen. I'll get back to you soon." He replies before getting up and leaving.

It is now a quarter to nine, and I am ready to leave. I stayed for the appropriate amount of time and respected Angie Morelli. Now, I head out to the parking lot, looking for my mother.

"Ellen," I hear my voice called. I turn around and see Carmine standing there, with Frank next to him.

"Oh, hello, Carmine. You have an answer for me?"

"Yes, Ellen, I do. My answer is no; I won't help you. Ranger is not a thug. He is a good man, a far better man than Joseph Morelli. Ranger is a decorated military man. He cares for your daughter and has protected her at great harm to his life. Valerie, on the other hand, is the one who needs help. Kloughn barely makes enough money to pay their bills. I have no idea how he is going to support another mouth. If Stephanie were to choose Ranger, and he chose her, she would never want for anything, materialistically or emotionally."

"Ellen, what are you thinking? Stephanie is a grown woman who can make choices to suit her life. I think you need help. I am bringing you to Princeton House Behavioral Health Center. I think you need a psychological evaluation. To even think about hurting your daughter like that, how could you, Ellen?" my husband asks me.

Why me? What would the neighbors think? Those are my thoughts as my husband places me in the car, getting ready to institutionalize me.