None of the characters are mine and I make no profit.

Thank you all for the reviews. I love getting them.

Joy and Pain

Chapter 5: Daddy

Ranger's POV:

"She has an appointment with her doctor at 12. If you hurry, you'll make it. Her name is Doctor Meek and her adress is….."

I stared at Ella, not able to think.

As if in trance I went to the door and into the elevator. While it went to the garage I looked into the mirror.

I looked at my ankle, where a knife was sitting.

I looked at my back, where a gun was sitting.

And I looked at my shoulder holster, where a gun was sitting.

I was wearing two guns and a knife.

And I was going to be a father.

A dad.

The doors opened and I went to the Carrera.

I got in and sped out of the garage and towards the adress Ella told me.

I was going to be a dad.

Through the whole drive there were pictures dancing in front of my eyes.

Pictures of Stephanie with a very pregnant belly, smiling.

Pictures of Stephanie with a very pregnant belly stnading in front of a nice house, smiling.

Pictures of Stephanie holding a little baby with blue eyes, smiling.

Pictures of a little girl with blue eyes taking uneasy steps towards me, smiling.

I smiled.

The woman I loved was going to have my baby.

I was going to be a daddy.

We were going to be a family.

I parked the car in front of Dr. Meek's practice and jumped out.

I went in and asked the medical secretary, where I could find Stephanie Plum.

"She is in room 2, but you cannot go…."

I was already opening the door.

The first thing I saw was Stephanie lying on a bed, tears running down her cheeks. Happy tears.

The first thing I heard was a strong bum, bum, bum, bum, bum.

I looked at the monitor and saw a picture of grey and black lines and forms.

My heartbeat sped up.

The noise was my baby's heart.

The doctor turned to me.

"How did you get in here, mister."

Steph's POV:

I quickly turned and saw Ranger standing in the doorway, looking from me to the monitor and back again.

For a few seconds my heart stood still.

He knew.

And he was looking…..fascinated.

He was looking like I had to be looking.

"It's okay, he's the father."

Dr. Meeks smiled and stood up.

She shook hands with Ranger.

"I'm Dr. Meeks."

"Ricardo Manoso."

Huh, no Ranger?

"It's nice that you came back early enough to make it. Stephanie told me that you had to leave out of business reasons. Sit down, please."

Ranger came towards me and sat down on the chair beside the bed.

He looked into my eyes and took my hand, smiling softly.

"So, Stephanie. As I already told you, everything is wonderful and you're in your in your 8th week now. So the baby is going to be born at 8th Februrary."

She freed me of the equipment and gave me a paper towel to get rid of the gel she used for the ultrasound.

"I talked to Ella after you filled her in as your midwife. She told me that you're going to change your job."

"Yes, I'm back to working at the computer."

She seemed relieved and Ranger gave me a small kiss on my forehead. I guess he was relieved, too.

"Very good."

"But shouldn't she do any sports, so that she has exercise?" Ranger asked.

I glared at him and Dr. Meek had to laugh.

"She doesn't look very excited about that. It's okay as long as she cannot be hurt and you don't train her for a marathon. But you always have to be careful and try if it's okay for her and the baby. You told me that you're easily tired, right?"

I nodded.

"Hmm, then your body is still getting used to the new circumstance. So you should probably take it easy. Long walks are good and you should go swimming."

Ranger nodded.

"Anything else we should consider?"

"Ella will know everything else, but if you have a question you can always call me. Your girlfriend has my number."

I winced when I heard her calling me his girlfriend, but Ranger didn't seem to mind.

Ranger and me thanked Dr. Meek and together we walked to the reception, where we made a new appointment for in two weeks.

We said goodbye and stepped out of the practice.

I turned to Ranger,but I didn't know what to say.

He looked deep into my eyes. Then he bent down and kissed me softly. He deepened the kiss but I leaned back. I had hurt too much during the last days to just forget everything now.

Ranger took my hand.

"Come on, we're going to my appartment, so we can talk."

"But my car…"

"Tank is going to pick it up."

I was tired and so I didn't argue.

Ranger closed my door and went around to his side. He sat down and started the enginge.

"I promised Ella, that I would call her."

Ranger pushed a few buttons and you could hear the phone dial.

"She has helped you very much during the last days, hasn't she?"

I smiled. "Yes she has."

"Yes?"

"Hey Ella. It's me, Stephanie."

"Stephanie, what did Dr. Meek say?"

"Everything is okay. Date of birth will be the 23rd March."

"Wonderful. And how are you feeling?"

"I'm tired."

"Then rest now and sleep a little bit when you're home."

Ranger interfered: "We're driving to RangeMan, Ella."

"Oh, okay then she will just rest here and I will make something to eat. When are you going to be here?"

"I don't know but it will take a while. Traffic is pretty heavy."

"Okay, then I'm just going to start when you're here."

"Bye Ella."

"Bye Stephanie."

I leaned back and closed my eyes.

Seconds later I was asleep.

Ranger's POV:

We have been cought in a traffic jam for about ten minutes now. Stephanie was sleeping peacefully beside me.

I studied her. One of her arms was curled around her belly. I smiled. She was protecting our baby.

My heart still beat faster every time I thought about our baby.

I looked at her face and immediately felt guilty. There were shadows under her eyes indicating that she hadn't slept very good during the las days.

I knew that that was my fault.

She had wanted to tell me about the baby the day I left. I hadn't even noticed that something was wrong and I knew that it hurt her that I hadn't told her why I was going.

Besides, with the crap I had told her about my life not being suitable for a relationship and me not being family material, she had probably wondered how I would react.

It had been right at that time I hadn't been family material. Hell, I still wasn't. But that was going to change and I knew it would be more than worth it.

We were going to be a family.

That would mean changes for both of us but together we could handle everything.

Twenty minutes later we reached the RangeMan building.

Stephanie was still sleeping. I didn't want to wake her up and so I picked her up, took her bag and carried her to the elevator.

The elevator doors opened and Ella was already inside.

She smiled at the sight of us and took Stephanie's bag.

We rode up in silence.

Ella opened the door for me and I carried Stephanie to the bedroom.

I laid her down carefully and covered up.

I sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair out of her face.

She sighed and snuggled into the sheets.

I smiled and kissed her.

Then I bend down and kissed her stomach, where our baby was growing.

I hope you like it. Review, please.