*These characters are the property of Janet Evanovich- I make no money from this, the storyline is mine.*

Immediately sensing the need to protect Julie, I slid my arm around her holding her close to my left side putting myself between her and any potential action. Joe quickly made it to our table gritting out a loud "CUPCAKE, WHAT THE HELL?! Why is that thug's demon spawn here with you? Quit playing house, or whatever you are doing with that murderer, quit pouting, and come home. The boys miss you." Okay... I guess I'm going to be headed into rhino mode quicker than I anticipated. In as calm of a voice that I could muster without looking away from Morelli I said "Julie, sweetie... stay here with Uncle Bobby, and Lester. Uncle Tank, and I have some business to discuss with Detective Morelli outside. After you, Detective."

Unleashing my inner Ranger(ette?) I made sure the calm iciness of my voice was evident. In my head I knew that the one thing to get through to me during my times of Jersey attitude, and Italian hand gestures isn't yelling... yelling made sure no words were comprehended. I am on a mission to show everyone I mean business. I will not let my emotions control me, and I will no longer engage in juvenile screaming contests. I want every single word to sink in, and I want him to know without a shadow of a doubt that the controlling merry-go round ride he has put me on for years is over. Stephanie Plum is about to spread her wings, and unleash a serious Burg beat-down. I will no longer be brow-beaten, and controlled. I will set an example of strength, and love for Julie if it is the last thing I do.

The only reason I am taking Tank is for a witness, and just in case he says something degrading about Julie again, I need someone to pull me off the bastard so I don't get arrested for assaulting a police officer. Baby steps, people...attempting to be calm doesn't mean I don't want to beat the shit out of him. Eventually I may be Ranger calm, and controlled... right now, I'm just hoping I don't slip into hand gestures, and screaming. Control, Stephanie... you can do it.

I squeezed Julie's shoulder, nodded at the guys, and stood up from the table at the same time as Tank. He gave me a smirk, and said "Let's try not to kill the dumb bastard, okay, Little Girl?" I just gave an innocent smile, and a wink. Tank thinks I am going to pull an old Stephanie, and fly off the handle. Tank's mind is about to get blown.

When I made it outside, I couldn't help but notice the crowd that was starting to gather by the outside entrance of Pino's... good, what better way to send a message to the entire Burg than to lay it out on the line in the epicenter of the Burg? Game on. Morelli had already worked up a head of steam, and was yelling unintelligible fragments of degrading sentences by the time I made it in front of him. I used my hand to get as close to his face as I felt comfortable in the universal STOP! sign. I'm pretty sure I surprised him by not running up to him screaming, and still remaining quiet.

He looked up at me with his brow furrowed, veins bulging, pure Italian macho bullshit. Once I knew he was going to stay quiet for a second I looked directly into his eyes with a coldness I never thought possible. In my head, I knew his reaction is partially my fault. How many years did I go back to him after he threw a fit? How many times did I go back to him when "the boys missed me?" I have to take my life back here, and now. I stared at him a second before starting in on him.

"Detective Morelli... the last time we spoke, I told you I have no interest in speaking to you again. I haven't changed my mind. I couldn't give a rat's ass if your disgusting disease riddled Terri Gillman fucking boys miss me. Sorry, the feeling isn't mutual, no part of my body misses you. You come into Pino's, have no regard for the patrons of the restaurant, insult a child, ruin my dinner, and expect me to come home to you? What kind of warped alternative reality to you live in? I'm going to say this one time, that is all the explanation that you are going to receive, and just know; I don't owe you this- it is out of the kindness of my heart. Julie Michelle Manoso is my daughter. Her adoption papers have went through, and she is all mine. The circumstances aren't important, the important thing for you to know is I will protect what is mine with a fierceness you have never seen. If you insult my child ever again, if I hear you have had her name in your nasty ass mouth, I will unleash the kind of hell you have never seen. I will make your life miserable, and you will regret the day that you ever met Stephanie Plum. You have no place in our lives, and if you see us walking down the road, it would be in your best interest to turn and walk the other way. Now, if you excuse me- I was in the middle of dinner with my child and best friends when I was rudely interrupted. Have a good day, Officer."

With that, I turned and started to walk away when my shoulder was roughly grabbed by an absolutely furious Joe Morelli. Before I could react, he had spun me around and slapped me across the face hard yelling " .MINE. I will never leave you alone, I will be everywhere you turn you ungrateful whore." I looked up about the time Joe was tackled to the ground, and cuffed by an irate Tank, while everyone from Pino's filed out to see what the hell was going on. I looked up and spotted Eddie Gazarra, my cousin Shirley the Whiner's husband and said "Eddie, I have tons of witnesses, I would like a restraining order for myself, and my daughter against Officer Morelli."

Before Eddie had a chance to answer, Maxie Turnicky, one of Grandma Mazur's Cut'n'Curl friends yelled from the crowd, "Stephanie! Don't worry honey, I got it all on video from my iPhone, and have already uploaded it all to YouTube, sent it out to the entire Burg Grapevine through text message, and used it as my Facebook status! I'll tweet the link in a few minutes! I've got your back, girl!" Jesus... this is embarrassing. Not the fact that it was on video, I'm actually thankful for that, and can't wait to see a copy. I'm embarrassed because she did all that in 5 minutes, and it takes me 20 minutes to send out a single text message. Maxine is like 114 years old. I smiled at Maxine, and relayed my thanks, and asked for a copy to be sent to me. My first ever argument without hand gestures. PROGRESS! Eddie just gave me a nod, and made his way to Morelli.

I turned on my heel, and walked back into Pino's where the only people left inside were Julie, Bobby, and Lester. Tank followed shortly after, ordering me another meatball sub, and giving me a beaming, pearly white smile. It's a pretty good look on him. Lots of high fives from random patrons, and having to put my cell phone on silent from the phone calls, we walked out of Pino's. As we made it to the car, Tank stopped me, and wrapped me in a huge hug. He whispered in my ear so only I could hear "Proud of you, Wonder Woman. Keep flying, and putting these assholes in their places. We are here for you." It didn't feel quite as good as when Ranger says it, but the tears, and warm fuzzies took over my body, and I couldn't help but give a watery smile. No other words were spoken about the subject, in front of Julie isn't the place for that.

We made our way to my now old apartment to get Rex, and some clothes for me before heading to Haywood to our new 4th floor digs in relative silence. When we made it into the new apartment, it was abundantly clear that Ella had been here. Heavenly linens, fluffy robes, junk food in the cabinets, and fridge. Comfort food in little containers in the fridge, and freezer, a pineapple upside down cake on the kitchen table under a cake dome, Beautiful throws on the couch, and loveseat, an amazingly soft rug in the living room. The apartment already felt like home. Ella is a friggin' goddess, I swear.

Once we settled in, the guys left, and Julie, and I got cleaned up for bed. We settled into the couch snuggled up under the comfy throw, and talked about getting settled. Julie was beyond excited to be able to decorate her own room how she wants, and spend some girl time together. We sat together for about an hour before calling it a night, and going to sleep. Julie stayed in my room with me, just because she was still a little scared from her previous situation. I swear, those monsters will pay for psychologically messing with this angel's head. I watched her sleep for a few minutes, before falling asleep myself. I wanted to get some rest in my new comfy bed to calm my nerves from being hit by Joe, and the knowledge that I will have to brave my family tomorrow.

I turned my phone off after seeing there were 84 missed calls, and 30 text messages. One confrontation is enough for today. I will round out tomorrow with a visit to my Parent's house, and a trip to the Bond's office. I can always call Mary Lou when I'm done. After tomorrow, I will be done explaining myself to anyone. After tomorrow, Julie, and I will be settling into our lives together without Burg influence. Whoever wants to join me, and support me on that journey will be welcome to. Anyone against my new life will find themselves on the outside looking in, threats of no pineapple upside down cake be damned.

Clearly I can still get it whenever I want to thanks to Ella- dessert withholding will no longer influence how I live my life, and how much crap I put up with. Strong Stephanie is kinda kicking some ass, and it feels awesome to not be tethered to a life I don't want to lead. For once, it's actually all about what I want.

A/N: Next chapter will be the second part to our Stephanie vs. the Burg. Hopefully the next chapter will be up in the next couple of days. Wonder Woman is going strong, and flying high. Shoot me a message or review, with any mistakes or suggestions. I am editing with a husband that is paralyzed and on dialysis so I am a bit absent minded sometimes & can use all the help I can get lol ;)

xoxo-Brit*