Nap Time For Alex

Previously:

Yawning, Alex softly said to his parents, "That's nice to have someone watching over us, just like Daddy's men do."

Crawling up and putting his head on his daddy's shoulder, everyone was at peace hearing their 'little man' breathing in and out lost in slumber.

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"Hey Grandma," Steph greeted her grandmother with a smile on her face. "I see the guys made it over with what I ordered for you." She took in the freshly baked cookies and what looked like chocolate cream pie resting on the meticulously clean counters. "I'm sure Hector and Manny helped put everything away for you too, since it's your baking day. And who better to spoil than those two, right?" Steph asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Now Baby girl, you really don't need to have groceries delivered in addition to everything else you and Carlos are doing for us, but we do appreciate it as Hector did say the snow is predicted to be heavy tonight. You know I don't like being out in that mess, especially in the car. He also mentioned he and Manny will be checking on us, a little more than usual," Edna said with her traditional eye roll. Stephanie rolled her eyes too, but she was secretly happy the men took it upon themselves to look after her Grandparents. They were getting up there in age and, Stephanie thought, seemed to not be able to get around as well as they used to. She and Edna headed to the living room when they heard Ranger call out to her.

"It's time to head out Babe; I think our little man is tuckered out. And if I know the guys, instead of 'checking' on the house, one or two will be camped out in the spare bedrooms tonight. I'm pretty sure they'll be showing up at the front door any second now."

Ranger turned to Steph's Grandpa to say goodbye. "Harry, it looks like we'll have to postpone our checker game. With the weather coming in, we should hit the road before it gets too bad out there. But, don't forget you're both coming over in a few days for the party we have planned."

Harry flicked the button on his recliner and it slowly helped him into a standing position. Ranger cut his eyes to his wife, knowing it upset her to see her normally strong, capable Grandpa needing assistance for the most basic of things. There was a distinct tightness around her mouth and a slight crinkling of her forehead but she maintained her smile. "We wouldn't miss this celebration for anything, Carlos," Harry told him emphatically. "It will be good to see everyone again and Luis and I can talk about the blueprints you had drawn up. He said he needed our input so I reckon that's where you'll be finding me - that is if the boys don't have that card game going on like they promised me the last time we were at your place."

"And the checker game you owe me," Ranger reminded him again. "I definitely need a shot at a rematch," he added with a twinkle in his eye. Keeping his son tucked close to his body, Ranger made sure the blanket was secure before nodding his thanks to Edna and Harry for the great family night. They all enjoyed spending time with the Grandparents, Alex most of all.

After unlocking the front door and swinging it open to let the little Manoso family out, they discovered Junior and Manny standing on the other side of the glass storm door. They each had a duffle bag slung over their shoulder and a sheepish grin on their face.

Soft laughter came from everyone seeing the two men, as predicted, standing there in their street clothes instead of the usual basic black, and ready to set up camp for the night.

"Uh, hey boss," Manny greeted, slightly embarrassed. "Since we have the night off and everything, we thought since we were in the area, we'd crash here for the night. Hector is working the night shift so Junior got lucky enough to come with me. Edna called us earlier and said it would be okay with both of them."

"I'm sure having a home cooked meal had something to do with that, and what a coincidence...I just made cookies this morning," Edna teased the men as she ushered them inside the warm house.

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"Alex, which book did you choose for us to read before your nap today?" Steph inquired of her son.

Wiping down the counters after lunch, Steph turned on the dishwasher while making sure she flipped off her coffee pot.

The family picture album was what their soon to be three year old little boy insisted on. Not Goodnight Moon or Love you Forever, but pictures that told the stories for him of the family he loved so dearly.

Stubborn, just like his father, insisting on the pictures.

"This one; I want to hear about you and Daddy again. It's my favorite, next to the ones Grandpa Harry has over at their house."

"Okay honey, sit right here and let's begin." Steph patted her lap in invitation to her son. The huge album he chose today was heavily decorated with Batman symbols. Alex had made his own with his Mom and Dad's help, some even said Batcave. Gotham City. Pow! Splat!

Stephanie helped to nurture Alex's imagination just as Edna had with her years before. She still had those Wonder Woman Ked shoes she and Grandma had decorated.

Alex crawled up onto his Mom's lap with the book in hand and dragged his Batman blanket behind him. Stephanie tucked them both inside the warm fleece and settled in with her son on the cold winter afternoon. The sleet had picked up outside, pinging on the windows and making Steph even more grateful for the fire Ranger started before going back downstairs.

Both knew he would be back with them shortly but Alex was impatient- a trait he got from his Mother - and wanted to get started on the story without waiting for Ranger to return.

Looking down into his big brown eyes, Steph smiled and opened the book.

"This picture." Tapping his little index finger, Alex pointed at the picture of Edna, Harry and Steph. All three were smiling and standing in front of the Buick.

"You know who that is; Grandpa, Grandma and me. In a few days, we're going to bring them over here for the day, remember?" Steph asked while ruffling his brown hair.

Silky and smooth like Ranger's, but her light brown hue.

"Grandpa Harry and Daddy," Alex said when he tapped another picture.

"That's right, son," Ranger said as he entered the room and joined his family on the couch. "Your Grandpa Harry is a good man, just like you will be when you grow up."

Taking Alex from his Mother's lap, Ranger continued talking. "I met your Grandpa right after I met your Mom. Her car had broken down on the college campus and she was trying to get home for the weekend. Since I was headed that way, I offered to drive her home. That's when I met your Grandma and Grandpa." Ranger's deep voice filled the living room and Stephanie snuggled close to her husband's side. She loved listening to him tell the story of that day.

Noticing the quickly darkening living room, Steph reached over to turn on the lamp. Winter had settled over Trenton, and the days were growing shorter.

"Your Grandpa came outside to meet me, bursting with all kinds of questions about me and my 'intentions', right off the bat. I guess he saw the looks we were giving each other when we got out of the car. After all, I was holding your mom's hand by that time," Ranger finished the story.

"Awww Daddy, that's when you fell in love isn't it? That's what Mommy says anyway, right?" Alex asked his Mom.

Steph nodded her head in agreement. "That was it for me; you are right about that, little man. It was your Daddy who took that picture of the three of us. Grandpa had just said if I'd been driving the Buick, I wouldn't have had car problems in the first place."

"That's also the day I fell in love with your Mom, son. The best day of my life," Ranger told Alex but he was looking at his wife as he said it. Alex had fallen asleep on his Daddy's shoulder and didn't hear that last part. Rubbing his son's back, Ranger stood up from the couch, and carried him out of the room with his wife trailing behind her two Manoso men.

Making his way into Alex's bedroom, Ranger couldn't help observing the space. A toddler bed dominated the area, sleek and modern and of course, black in color, as was the matching dresser.

The walls were painted a warm, soft blue that matched well with the steel gray carpeting. Their son, much like his father, was quite meticulous. Everything was in its proper place, toys had been put away, the bed was neatly made and he'd written his own 'mission' on the white board filling most of one wall.

Nothing On The Floor.

Alex now also had two toy boxes. Apparently he needed one specifically for all of his action figures.

The other one stored his different cases; Thomas the Train, Hot Wheels, nothing he couldn't put away himself. The train mat sat in the corner, ready for the next adventure of his favorite train, Percy.

There was even a toddler - sized bat mobile, a gift from his Aunt, Mary Lou, sitting in the corner and waiting for the next ride.

Such an imagination little Alex had.

The drawers of the dresser were labeled so their son could dress himself and everything was within reach of his little arms.

There was a desk where he colored with markers and crayons, all organized in a cup, and a folder that held his myriad of Batman stickers.

On the corner of the desk sat the stack of Batman and Wonder Woman comic books that Stephanie and Ranger saved for him over the years.

And then there were the photographs.

Edna.

Harry.

Ranger and Alex.

Steph and Alex.

The three Manoso's with Edna and Harry.

All the family he needed right there in front of his brown eyes to see.

The room spoke of family, not to mention love.

Ranger lowered Alex into his bed and tucked his Batman blanket around him. If they were lucky, they'd have at least an hour to themselves and Ranger was looking forward to it. He loved his son more than life itself, but he also loved alone time with his beautiful wife. He led her from the room, guiding her with a hand at the small of her back. "You know, sooner or later we are going to have to tell him the tale of the Buick, and why it's downstairs in the Rangeman garage," he said as they made their way through the kitchen. "Maybe we can have Edna and Harry help with that one when we have them over in a few days?"

"That's a good idea," Steph agreed. "Grandpa will get a kick out of bonding over that car. And I'm sure the men will want to join in as well. I will never understand the fascination with that ugly blue beast," Stephanie added with a shake of her head.

"It's a classic, Babe." Ranger linked their fingers together and tugged her back to the couch where they settled in front of the crackling fireplace. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, pressing his lips to her temple.

"By the way, the guys and I are finished with the restoration of the table and chairs and the new stain should be dry before we need to use them. I'm really glad we got your parent's kitchen set out of storage. Edna was thinking ahead, saving it for you all these years, Steph."

She nodded and snuggled tighter to Ranger's side. "I know, it's almost like Mom and Daddy knew we'd need it; after all, five chairs is the perfect number for our family, and it will fit right in with our plans for the 'Manoso-Mazur' home we're building," Steph remarked.

Ranger gathered his wife onto his lap and brushed a gentle kiss over her lips. "Yes, it will," he said and kissed her again. The happy couple spent the next hour enjoying adult time, before their son woke from his nap.

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a/n not mine. Janet owns everyone but Alex, he's mine.

See you next week.

Thanks to my silent beta.