JE owns them, I'm not making any money…

CHAPTER 17

"You're sure?" asked Mary Lou as she dug through Giovianici's

roasts.

"Yes," I answered, for what felt like the hundredth time since she'd picked me up to go shopping this morning.

"I just can't see you being able to stand not knowing if it's a boy or girl," she said, referring to the fact that because of the position of the baby, Dr. Cooper hadn't been able to tell the sex at my last appointment.

"Mare, I'm more than half way done, and I've made it this long without knowing. Actually, I kinda want it to be a surprise."

"Wow, pregnant Steph is like anti-Steph," said Mare. "You eat health food and you're not dying of curiosity."

"The health food I'll give you," I said, laughing at the anti-Steph comment. "But I'm still curious. I've just always liked the idea of the doctor holding up the baby and saying 'it's a boy' or 'it's a girl'."

"Whatever you say," she said, finally selecting a roast for Sunday dinner at her house and turning to pay.

While waiting, I wandered away to look at some of the novelty items Giovianici's always had. That's when I heard a voice behind me say, "So it is true."

Spinning around I found Mrs. Morelli and Grandma Bella giving me twin looks of disgust.

"Of course it's true," I replied, summoning my courage and not bothering to ask what they were talking about. My baby bump was getting pretty visible these days and with my coat unzipped, it was quite obvious.

"I want you to know, that that child is no grandchild of mine," said Mrs. Morelli coldly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," I replied, in an equally cold voice.

"Good. I just wanted to be sure we're clear. My Joseph is finally happy, and I don't want you and that child interfering in his life."

"Mrs. Morelli, I believe we finally agree on something," I said. "Neither of us wants Joe to have anything to do with this baby."

After and assessing look, she gave me a satisfied nod, before turning to go about her shopping. Grandma Bella however remained fixing me with her stare.

"You deserve to be given the eye," she said, narrowing her eyes at me, and I instinctively stepped back. "But I will spare you. I may not claim the child as my grandbaby, but it is still an innocent life." With that she turned and joined Mrs. Morelli. Talk about creepy.

"Oh My God," said Mare, coming over to me. "You just faced down Mrs. Moreli and Grandma Bella."

"I know," I said, unable to believe it myself.

"What did she say?"

"The Morelli women want nothing to do with my baby," I answered and even I could hear the relief in my voice. "Let's get out of here."

"Good idea," Mare said, giggling a little as we hurried to her van.

Mary Lou hadn't been able to hear the conversation from her position at the cash register, so I gave her a blow by blow breakdown of what was said. We both knew that the encounter between Mrs. Morelli and I would be all over the Burg within an hour, and Mare wanted all the facts for when people called her with rumors. I just hoped that my 'getting smart' with Mrs. Morelli didn't cause my mother to have a relapse into her old ways. She'd been doing very well accepting my life choices lately.

By the time I was done updating Mary Lou, we were pulling up to the Rangeman building. I called control, had them buzz open the gates and said goodbye to Mare before making my way to the elevator.

Walking into the apartment, I found Ranger asleep on the couch. It was Sunday afternoon and I had skipped our usual Sunday day off because it was the only day Mare had free. I could tell Ranger hadn't taken the whole day off either, because his laptop was on the coffee table, so he had obviously been working.

I took my bags back to the bedroom and dropped them on the bed. I'd put my stuff away later, now I have a nap to catch. Grabbing some sweats, I changed quickly before heading back into the living room. I gently lowered myself onto Ranger and he only woke enough to wrap his arms around me.

I came awake some time later, to gentle hands running back and forth across my belly. The baby would kick and the hands would follow the movement. Smiling, I opened my eyes and twisted to press my lips to Ranger's neck.

"Babe, we have to get up," said Ranger in a voice still slightly husky from sleep. He obviously hadn't been awake long.

"Mmkay," I mumbled with no intention of moving.

"Babe," Ranger said, more insistently this time. "We have dinner with my family. Remember?"

"Oh yeah," I yawned, sitting up and rubbing my eyes as I tried to wake up completely.

"It's time to start getting ready if we're going to be on time," he told me, standing us up and pointing us towards the bedroom.

I looked in the mirror above the dresser and decided I should be able to tame my hair without a shower. I decided to wear one of my new pairs of maternity pants that had an adjustable waist, the smallest setting was still a tiny bit loose, but Mary Lou had assured me I'd grow into them in not time. All of my tops still fit, so I started digging through my sweaters for one I felt like wearing. By the time I was pulling it over my head, Ranger was completely ready to go.

Men have it way too easy, I thought, as I headed into the bathroom to work on my hair and makeup. All my hair actually needed was a flip and fluff and being a Jersey girl I'm a master of makeup, so less than fifteen minutes later, I was joining Ranger in the kitchen.

"Ready, Babe?"

"Yep, let's go."

We took the Turbo, but I wasn't allowed to drive any or Ranger's cars these days. The truck or any of the SUVs yes, the cars no. I still fit in all of them, but he said my belly was just too close to the steering wheel. A slight bump would press it right into the wheel and he wouldn't risk me or the baby getting hurt. I figured he was right so I didn't fight it.

In no time at all, we were pulling up to Ranger's parents' house. The kids, Tonio, Ben, Connor, Teo and even Manuel were all in the yard having a snowball fight so Ranger wrapped his arms around me, shielding me with his body. I probably would have been safer if he had stayed about five feet away, since as soon as the kids, and a few adults, saw him, they started pelting him with snowballs. He did manage to protect me from the worst of it and get me into the house before going back out to 'avenge' himself.

"They're all a bunch of big kids," said Gloria, greeting me, as she watched out the picture window.

"I guess they are," I said, seeing Tonio drop a glob of snow down the back of Ranger's shirt then scoop up little Nat to prevent immediate revenge.

I'd taken off my jacket by now and tossed it on the couch, where there was already a large pile, indicating the rest of the girls were here. I was smoothing my sweater back over my belly when Gloria turned around.

"Oh, let me look at you!" she exclaimed, turning me sideways. "Ric doesn't bring you around enough. You've gotten quite a bump since last time you were here."

"Yeah, I definitely look pregnant now," I agreed, laughing.

"Yes you do. Why don't you head on into the sitting room. The girls are all in there and I should be in once I check on dinner."

Taking a last look at Ranger horsing around with the kids and the guys, I made my way in to see his sisters. They all greeted me, and then went back to talking at the speed of light. They'd fit right into the Burg, I thought as I settled myself on a couch with Celia and Maria who was feeding baby Alva.

"You three make a nice picture," said Mira, cutting through the chatter.

"Yeah, you do," agreed Elisa.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Celia.

"Well, Steph is just sorta pregnant, you look like a balloon Celia, and Maria has a baby…" explained Mira.

"Oh, you two just wait, one day you'll look like balloons too," said Celia, obviously a little miffed about the balloon comment.

"Uh uh, not me," said Mira. "Mama may not like it, but I'm just not the motherly sort."

"That's what I was saying until a little over four months ago," I told Mira, smiling.

"You didn't want kids, Steph?" asked Adalia, looking like that was a totally foreign concept.

"Not until I realized I was pregnant."

"Okay, we need to change the topic. You guys are starting to scare me that I'm gonna wake up and want kids one day," said Mira. I could relate. That's exactly how I would have felt about five months ago.

She didn't really need to worry about a change of topic, because seconds later we heard Gloria yelling 'Dinner' out the door. Then she joined us, saying we'd eat as soon as the guys and kids came in.

The kids trickled into the room, once they'd been divested of their snow gear and the guys followed them, all of them with rosy cheeks. Before I knew what was happening, Ranger scooped me up off the couch and nuzzled his cold cheek into my neck and I let out a small shriek.

"Ricardo, stop picking on Stephanie," scolded Gloria.

"How did you get my mother on your side?" asked Ranger, pretending to pout.

"I'm sorry, baby," said Gloria, laughing, as she reached up to pinch Ranger's cheek and give him a kiss.

"And you wonder why I waited so long to bring Steph around?" asked Ranger. "You people completely ruin my image."

"Oh, you and your image," teased Elisa, wrapping him in a hug from behind. "Someone has to show her you're not a street thug, but the sweetest big brother in the world." This was said in a sickly sweet voice, and Ranger just shook his head, completely resigned.

"Hey," protested Tonio, "what am I?"

"Not the sweetest," said Mira, joining the Ranger hug. "You used to pick on us and put nasty stuff in our hair. Ric tried to protect us."

I felt myself smiling as I thought of mini-Ranger protecting his little sisters. He was glowering at said sisters now, but eased up when he saw that it was having a good effect on me. It's almost like he really was afraid they'd ruin his image…

"Alright, alright. Now you two stop teasing your brother," said Gloria, unable to keep a straight face. "Everyone into the dining room."

Ranger took my hand and we were almost to our seats when I heard a small splash on the hardwood floor behind me. Turning around, I saw Celia standing in a puddle of water, with her eyes wide with shock. Then she suddenly bent over and started making low sounds of pain.

The entire family was started talking and trying to help, but it was just chaos. Suddenly, Gloria let out a loud whistle and told everyone to shut up and stand still.

"Tonio, go get the car started and warmed up," she ordered. "Ben, Ric, come help get Celia out to the car. Adalia, please make sure everyone gets dinner, the floor gets cleaned up and send someone for Celia's bag she was going to take to the hospital, then call and check in on how the labor is going."

As soon as she was through talking, everyone snapped into action to obey her orders. I just stood out of the way. Ten minutes later, Celia, Ben and Gloria were on their way to the hospital, Adalia and Maria had the floor cleaned up and everyone was sitting down to supper. That was when it all sort of sunk in for me and I turned fear-filled eyes to Ranger.

"I don't want to do that," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

Ranger just looked at me and I think for the first time, he had no idea what to tell me or how to make it better. I was starting to get a bit more panicked, when Adalia, who was on my other side, touched my shoulder and very gently turned me to her.

"Steph, I'm not going to lie and say it doesn't hurt. It hurts like Hell and it's beyond frightening. But when your baby is ready to come out, it comes out. They give you really nice drugs at the hospital and when it's all done and over and you look down into your baby's face it's worth it."

I just nodded, accepting that she was right.

"You'll do fine, Babe," Ranger whispered into my ear, as he pulled me closer to himself. "You're strong and brave. You can do it."

I just nodded again and sent him a weak smile. Everyone around the table was silent and it felt a little awkward. I wanted to say something to make everyone feel better but couldn't think of anything. It was a first.

It was Mira who finally spoke up, saying "And that, is why I have no desire to ever give birth."

"You know you could always adopt," Maria teased her. "I'm sure your mother would love an adopted grandchild if it's just childbirth you don't want to do."

"Ha ha, very funny," replied Mira.

The rest of dinner went without a hitch and once it was cleaned up, Adalia called the hospital and talked to Gloria. Celia was about ready to start pushing, so everyone decided to relocate to the hospital.

Adalia started looking for someone to send to get Celia's bag, but it didn't take long to realize no one had a key or knew where a spare was. Then she swung her eyes to Ranger expectantly.

"What?" he asked.

"You're the only one with advanced lock picking skills, which means you get to go for the bag," answered Adalia.

"I am so glad to be useful," he told her, before turning to me. "You wanna ride along, Babe?"

"Sure. See you all at the hospital," I said, following Ranger to get our coats.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Two hours later, I was dozing on Ranger's lap and he was absentmindedly running a hand up and down on my back. We were still in the waiting room, although Ranger had threatened to take me home when I started yawning. I'd put an end to the argument by falling asleep. I was awake now, sort of, and was passing the time by concentrating on the baby kicking. It had been getting a lot more active lately, much to Ranger's fascination. I was just focusing on an especially strong kick, when I saw Ben come through the delivery room doors.

"It's a boy," he announced. The family flocked to offer congratulations, once again all talking at the same time. Once it was established, Celia was fine, but sleeping and the baby was healthy, everyone moved to watch for him to be brought into the nursery.

Standing there, looking at all the babies, I leaned back against Ranger and felt myself go all mushy. That had never happened before. Pregnancy really messes with your head, I decided.

"How are you holding up, Babe?" Ranger asked, wrapping his arms around me and lacing his finger across my belly. I knew he was checking because of how I'd panicked earlier, but I was fine.

"I feel mushy," I told him, honestly.

"Mushy?"

"Yep, like I just want to say 'Awww' and just melt." Then I let out another jaw splitting yawn, just before we saw the baby be brought in. "Awwwww."

"Babe," Ranger said, shaking his head.

My 'Awwww' had turned into another yawn, but I tried to hide it.

"No arguments this time, Babe," Ranger told me. "We saw the baby, and Celia's not going to be awake for a couple of hours. I'm taking you home."

"Ranger, I wan…" I started to protest, but cut myself off with yet another huge yawn. Probably I should let him take me home.

We told everyone goodbye, and before I knew it, I was bundled into the passenger seat of the Turbo. On a normal day, I have very little resistance to those soft, leather seats, so exhausted, I didn't stand a chance. I was asleep before Ranger made it around to his side of the car.

I woke a little when Ranger lifted me out of the car and gave a half-hearted "I can walk," which, thankfully, he ignored and carried me to the elevator.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

A/N: I love hearing what you all have to say and getting your feed back, so Please Review!! I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading :)