I don't own anything, I'm not making any money…

CHAPTER 15

What the Hell? I thought, as something pulled me from sleep. I didn't have to pee and I didn't think I had to throw up, but increasing consciousness told me my tummy was acting very funny. Twisting under the arm Ranger had wrapped around me, I managed to get on my back to access the situation, definite funny feeling in the tummy. I hadn't been sick for weeks, but hurried out of bed in case the flippy-floppy feeling in my stomach was the baby disagreeing with the pot roast I had eaten for dinner tonight at my parents.

Crouched over the toilet, ready to loose yet another meal, I felt the flip-flop feeling again. It didn't feel like any of the other times I had been sick, and I certainly had enough experience for an accurate comparison. Focusing on the sensation, I realized I was finally feeling my baby moving around in my tummy!

A huge smile broke across my face and I laughed in excitement as I felt the movement again. "Hi, baby," I whispered, rubbing my belly as I enjoyed the feeling of the movement inside me.

Hurrying from the bathroom, I climbed back into bed and poked Ranger in the shoulder. No reaction. A few weeks ago, I couldn't roll over without waking him, now I could climb in and out of bed to go to the bathroom or get snacks without disturbing him. I tried poking him again, this time in the stomach, but instead of waking, he just reached out an arm and pulled me on top of him. Rolling my eyes in exasperation, I spotted my fairy-tale book sitting on the bedside table. Suddenly inspired, I stretched up and pressed my lips to Ranger's. It worked for Prince Charming, and it worked for me, too. Seconds after starting to kiss Ranger I felt him kissing back. Once I had his full attention, I pulled away before he had my full attention and I forgot why I was trying to wake him.

"Not that I'm complaining or anything, Babe," he said in a sleep softened voice, as he turned to look at his digital clock, "but it's 3:46 in the morning. Don't you consider that the middle of the night?"

"Normally," I replied, placing another small kiss on his jaw, while practically humming with excitement when I thought about why I was up in the 'middle of the night.'

"So are you going to tell me why you kissed me awake?"

"You didn't wake up when I poked you and I figured if a kiss worked in Sleeping Beauty, I might as well try it," I said nodding at my book.

"Only you, Babe," he laughed, leaning up to press his lips to mine again. "Now are you going to tell me why you needed to wake me up in the first place?"

"Now who's Mr. Curious," I teased. I was incredibly happy and felling playful, so sue me.

"Babe," he growled in a mock-threatening voice.

"Alright, alright," I grumbled, before squirming up and placing a kiss on his nose. "I felt the baby moving!"

Ranger just smiled at me before leaning up and catching my lips once again. While I was distracted he flipped us so he was half beside me and half on top of me with his hand running over my belly. "Is it moving now?" he asked, breaking the kiss.

It took me a minute to come out of the daze he had sent me into, and then another to separate the Ranger induced butterflies from baby movement. "Yes."

"I can't feel anything yet," he said, lying his head down on my chest.

Curious, I grabbed his hand and tried to move it to where I felt the baby. Huh, I thought, when I couldn't find any soft taping to go with my flip-flopping, I guess you can't feel it on that side yet.

"Sorry, I woke you for nothing," I said, feeling bad.

"It wasn't nothing, Babe, you were excited."

I was excited. I'd wanted the man I love to feel the other love of my life. That brought the smile back to my face… I love Ranger.

"Besides, I never thought I'd get to play Sleeping Beauty," teased Ranger, running his hand through my curls.

Sleeping Beauty only wakes with true love's kiss, I mused. This would be a good time to tell him, but the butterflies flocked back and were stronger than ever. We'd watched Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday and a line about 'opportune moments' flashed through my head… Well now or never.

"I love you," I whispered.

"Babe?" asked Ranger, not quite sounding like himself. Huh, guess I threw that at him from nowhere… Oh well.

"I love you," I repeated, a little louder this time, before I lost my courage.

"I love you, too," he whispered, before lowering his lips to mine.

"Thank, God," I said when he drew away. "I've never been able to say that and mean it. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't feel the same way."

"That's definitely not something you have to worry about," replied Ranger, smiling.

This time, when I leaned up and caught his lips in a kiss, I pulled his head down to mine. I used one hand to hold him there and let the other take a field trip across his chest, down his abs and lower. Things were heating up and Ranger's hands began to wander making a small moan escaped my mouth into his. I was just starting to loose the ability for conscious thought when Ranger abruptly pulled away.

"Babe, are you sure?" he asked, hungry eyes meeting mine. It took me a minute to come back down, but eventually I remembered the day we decided to try a relationship. We had agreed to take it slowly until we both felt sure we could make this work.

"Yeah," I replied. "You?"

"Me too," he said, leaning his mouth back in to capture mine.

Oh boy!

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"That tickles," I mumbled, half asleep, as I felt something brushing over my face.

"Babe? You alive, Babe?" I heard. Ranger. I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was smiling, so I peeled my eyes open to see. "Morning," Ranger said, when he saw I was awake. And I was right, he's smiling

"Morning, yourself," I said, now also smiling.

"I thought I'd wake you up before I go running. Are you joining me this morning?"

"I'm not even sure if I can walk," I said blushing as I thought back to last nights activities.

"Poor, Babe. I'll wake you for breakfast when I get back. How's that sound?"

"Like a much better idea," I said, yawning.

"Then go back to sleep," Ranger said, climbing out of bed to grab a t-shirt and pair of gym shorts and pull them on. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Have a nice run," I said, already snuggling into his pillow.

"Thanks, Babe," and with a kiss to my forehead, he was gone.

I tried to go back to sleep. I tried really hard, but it just wasn't working. I took a trip to the bathroom and then to the kitchen for a drink before snuggling back into bed. Still no sleep. Tossing and turning, I started thinking back to last night and ran my hand over my tummy, but baby seems to be asleep... Lucky kid. Then I started thinking about Ranger. Last night had been wonderful, magical even. And he was even sticking around this time.

Wait a minute! As soon as he woke up, he took off for the gym. Shit, I thought, as I felt myself starting to freak out. You love him and he told you he love you, remember? Yeah, but that wasn't exactly the first time he's told you he loves you now is it? I reminded myself. My insecurities were building and I don't think my hormones were helping, because by this point there were tears streaming down my face as I sat hugging Ranger's pillow. At least there's no chance of him sending me back to the scum-sucking asshole this time, I consoled myself. That memory caused more tears to stream down my face and as I sobbed, I heard the apartment door open. Cue more tears.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Ranger asked seconds later as he entered the bedroom and saw my tearstained face.

"Dooon't send sniff meee awwaaay agaiinnnn," I sobbed, throwing myself into his open arms once he sat on the bed.

"Sshhh, Babe, I'm not letting you go anywhere," he said rocking me back and forth until the sobbing stopped. "What brought this on?"

"You woke up and left for the gym. Last time you woke up and left, then you sent me back to the asshole." More tears…

"Sshhhh, Babe," Ranger repeated, running his hands up and down my back. "I'm sorry that I hurt you, but I wasn't ready for us back then and I don't think you were either. We are now and I'm keeping you right here. I'm so sorry, Babe."

"Thank you," I said, still clinging to him as I calmed down, "but I don't think you get full credit. I'm pretty sure some of this was hormones."

"I still feel bad. Lets go shower and I'll wash off all those tears."

"Okay," I agreed, smiling a little at the prospect. Pulsating shower heads, Bulgari and Ranger… a surefire way to cheer any girl up. Too bad I don't share.

Twenty minutes later, I was fully recovered and Ranger and I were sitting at the bar waiting for Ella to bring breakfast.

"Since you have a doctor's appointment today, how about we take the morning off, then I'll go with you?" suggested Ranger.

"Ranger, you can't just give both of us the morning off because I had a little crying jag."

"Of course I can. I'm the boss," he reminded me.

"Ranger."

"Babe, please, I still feel bad. We can relax, maybe talk or watch a movie. Then go out for lunch before your appointment."

I had just agreed, when Ella entered the apartment. "Good morning," she greeted us in her cheery voice.

"Hi, Ella," I said. "Breakfast smells wonderful. What is it?"

"Egg white and mushroom omelets."

"Yummm. Guess what."

"What dear?"

"I felt the baby moving last night."

"Oh, congratulations," Ella said, smiling as she came to give me a hug. "It feels a little funny at first doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I thought I was sick again for awhile."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Could you feel it yet dear?" she asked turning to Ranger.

"Nope, but not for lack of trying," he said.

"Give it time," she said, before turning back to me. "It didn't keep you up did it dear? Your eyes are looking a little red and puffy."

"No, I had a little crying jag this morning."

"Little?" asked Ranger skeptically.

"From the sounds of things you survived your first mood swing, congratulations," Ella said patting Ranger's shoulder consolingly. "Now you two eat before your breakfast gets cold. Have a nice day."

"You too," we replied as Ella took the tray she had brought breakfast on and left.

"A mood swing," I said. "So this is going to happen again? Now I feel really bad about making fun of Mare and Val for how crazy they got all when they were pregnant."

"It makes me glad I was in a third world jungle when my ex went through it," replied Ranger.

"You were in a third world jungle while your ex-wife was pregnant with your daughter?" I asked incredulous, pausing my fork half way to my mouth.

"Yeah, Babe. Believe it or not, my experience with pregnant women is pretty much limited to my sisters… and my experience with babies isn't much better."

"Huh," I said, continuing with my omelet.

"How about I tell you all about it during our morning off. Then I'll show you some pictures of my daughter."

"Really?" I asked suddenly excited. I'd been curious about his daughter, but never really wanted to ask. That was something he had to share when he was ready.

"Yeah, really," he said smiling at me.

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An hour and a half later, Ranger and I were sitting on the couch flipping through one of the photo albums he had retrieved from his office. His daughter, Isabella or Isa, looked like him, but not like. She had the same coloring, shiny, smooth hair and intense eyes as Ranger, but her features were finer and more delicate. In short, she was going to be a beautiful woman, not that Ranger appreciated me telling him that. Or maybe it was the crack about needing bodyguards to keep the boys away.

He flicked quickly through what I call 'Isa, the lost years.' This was the first few years of her life where he was still very involved in his top-secret military organization and doing the missions that kept him away for long periods of time.

He had said that he and the guys would be gone for months at a time, but he didn't mention that there were about three years, while his ex was pregnant and the first two years of Isa's life, where they were gone almost constantly. Apparently, Eva, Ranger's ex, didn't appreciate the constant absence and had an affair. Which Ranger didn't appreciate, hence divorce. She got custody because of Ranger's job, which led Ranger to take even more missions and miss more of his daughter's life.

Around the time Isa was five, Ranger started staying home more and visiting frequently. You could tell just from pictures of the two of them that they were crazy about each other. I had to laugh at all of the pictures of the two of them on vacation with the guys. From the number of picture of Isa helping Bobby and Lester bury Tank in the sand, you'd think he'd learn to stop falling asleep on the beach…

"Ranger, she's adorable," I said, still laughing, as he flipped to pictures of the two of them walking hand in hand on the beach or with her on his shoulders.

"Yeah, she is," he agreed, smiling.

"Does she get to come visit you very much?" I asked. I noticed that there were very few pictures that I could place as being taken in Trenton and even fewer pictures with Ranger's family.

"Not as often as I'd like," he said.

That was when Ranger confessed he'd been trying to get custody for the last two years. Apparently, Eva could run neck-and-neck with Joyce Barnhart for the 'World's Biggest Bitch' award and Ranger wanted to get Isa away from her.

"If I won a custody battle someday," started Ranger sounding a little insecure, "would you mind if Isa came to live with us."

Whoa, heavy stuff, I thought, at the prospect of us living together into 'someday' and at the idea of his daughter coming to live with us.

"Ranger, she's your daughter, you shouldn't have to ask that. And of course I wouldn't mind. It's not like I asked you about brining a child into this mix," I said flicking my eyes to my stomach.

"I like you living with me, Babe, so I want you to be okay with the possibility."

"Thank you for thinking of me, and for the record I really like living with you too," I said pressing my lips to his quickly. "You know, now that you've come to accept pictures in your apartment, you should really put out some of Isa."

"Good thinking, Babe. Help me pick out a few?"

"Of course," I replied, flipping back to the beginning of the album we were looking at.

Half an hour later we had a small stack of pictures selected to have copies made of. "Where are we going to get the copies done?" I asked leaning into Ranger.

"Most of the computers downstairs have photo editing software, so I'll ask one of the guys to do it. How about I run them downstairs and you go start getting ready for lunch?"

"Okay."

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I'd never ordered a salad at Rosini's before, and I had been missing out. I mean, I always got the little side salad with my meal, but it was green so I rarely ate it. Ranger and I both ordered Chef salads and I caught myself hoping my eating habits didn't change back to 'normal' once I had the baby because the healthy food really was making me feel better.

Now, I was checking my teeth for lettuce chunks as Ranger pulled the Porsche into a parking space at the hospital. Looking up, I saw we were just about as close to the door as humanly possible and I wondered yet again how he does it.

Walking into the hospital lobby, I saw women openly staring at Ranger. This is just something I have to get used to, I reminded myself as I saw one nurse trip over a chair. It always amazed me how Mr. Aware-of-His-Surroundings was completely oblivious to the female attention he drew. It didn't get any better in the halls and elevator leading to Dr. Cooper's examining room.

Once in the waiting room, Ranger went to the receptionist window to announce us and the poor woman could barely respond. I remembered Dr. Cooper telling me her secretary and receptionist enjoyed Hal's visits, I hope they didn't mind that I brought Ranger this time…

Before I'd even gotten settled, a nurse was poking her head through the door and calling my name. "You wanna come with?" I asked Ranger. He'd missed all this with his daughter and I just wanted him with me.

"Sure, Babe," he said smiling as he stood.

Walking back the hall, the nurse sent us directly into the examining room. Yay, that means no gown this time!

"Hi, Steph," said, Dr. Cooper, entering the room before stopping at the sight of Ranger. At least she didn't trip. "Please tell me this is another co-worker and not the asshole father…"

"Neither of the above," I said laughing. "This is Ranger Manoso, my…" hmmm, boyfriend sounds a little weak, but what to say… "let's just say, he'll be joining us more often from now on."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Manoso," She said, smiling and nodding approval at Ranger's presence in our appointments.

Dr. Cooper did all of the normal checkup stuff like shining lights at me and listening to my heart and lungs, then came the part I was looking forward to. She got out the cold gel and weird wand.

"Lift your shirt please. Are you comfortable with Mr. Manoso being here for this part?"

"Yes," I said nodding, before smiling at Ranger.

"This is going to be cold again," she warned before squirting the gel on my tummy. At least I didn't shriek or squirm this time.

A few minutes later she had the machine warmed up and was sliding the wand around in the gel. "There it is," she said, indicating a small shape that was flipping this way and that. "Can you feel the movement yet?"

"Yeah, I felt it for the first time last night."

"Well, congratulations. You should start showing soon. Everything looks good. Do you want me to print you a new picture of the baby?"

"Yes, please."

"Alright, while that prints, lets get you cleaned up and I have a few tips for you."

"Okay," I said, and had to stifle a laugh when I noticed Ranger paying closer attention.

"Well, you're going to want to start getting in the habit of lying on your left side when you sleep. That will increase circulation and prevent swelling as you grow. It should also help prevent backaches later if you get in the habit now. Everything is going to start growing quickly, so you need to increase the amount of calories you're eating. Try eating nuts and putting things with fat such as olives and avocado in your salads. Finally, if you feel faint, eat fruit to get your blood sugar levels up. That's about. I have it all on a sheet for you that you can pick up from the receptionist when you schedule your next appointment."

"Thanks," I said, I hadn't caught much of that…

"Well, it was nice meeting you Mr. Manoso, and Steph, I'll see you in about a month." And she was off to do more baby doctor stuff.

"Did you catch all that?" I asked Ranger looking up at him.

"Yeah, Babe," he said smiling as he helped me down from the examining table.

"Good, lets blow this popsicle stand," I said leaning up to kiss him.

"Babe?" Ranger asked doing the eyebrow lift thing.

"It means get out of here," I explained.

"Probably you shouldn't talk about 'blowing things' Babe, it makes people nervous. You've been explosion free for a few months now."

"Ha ha, you're very funny. Now lets get out of here. How was that?"

"Much better," he said, wrapping an arm around my waist as we left.

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A/N: Well, I hope you like it! Also, does anyone remember if I mentioned a month or season for when this was taking place? I read over what I have so far, and couldn't find it, but I could have missed it. If not does anyone know what time of year it was at the end of EoT? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd let me know :P

And as always, Please Review!!