Disclaimer: I do not own the characters created by Janet Evanovich. I just really really wish I did! I am just using them in this story. I only own Carmella, but you can have her if you want her!

Very very very sorry it took so long to update this one, soooo much coursework and such. Ok, hope this chapter is up to scratch and I will try to update as soon as I can!

Carmella looked at her father's inanimate form. She didn't know what had happened. The bullet wound was in his arm, the same arm that had just recovered form the hit and run. But it was only a bullet wound. He should have regained consciousness. He shouldn't be unconscious to start with. They must have stunned him. It was the only option. The paramedics were bustling round and Carmella could tell she was in the way. She didn't really understand why they let people come in the ambulances, it just took up space.

"Are you sure you don't know what happened to him?" One of the paramedics asked her. She looked up, snapping out of her trance.

"Um…no. He was like this when I found him. He was shot with a…a hydro-shock bullet. That's it." She replied. The paramedic sighed and muttered something inaudible. Probably wondering why she couldn't have a relation who actually knew something about the victim's condition. Carmella sighed and looked down at her father. He looked…helpless. She didn't know he could look helpless. It was a state she'd never seen him in before and it was worrying. She wanted him to be ok. He had to be ok. If he wasn't ok, then she'd have to go back to her mother and James. She had no intention of doing that. She'd swim the pacific before she went back to Miami with them. Of course it wouldn't be an issue; she'd be in military school or brat camp the second that her mother re-gained custody. Either that or she'd be in ER as a result of James' actions. Neither thought was comforting.

"Carmella…" Her dad suddenly whispered. She leant forwards and grasped his hand.

"I'm here Papa; you're going to be ok." She assured him, almost crying with relief.

"Are you ok? They shot me…stunned me…I couldn't…"
"I know, it's ok. None of this was your fault." She said, knowing that he'd blame himself if anyone got hurt.

"Stephanie…the triplets…are they ok?" He asked weakly

"Triplets? What are you talking about?" Carmella asked, totally confused.

"She's expecting triplets, that's why we called you sweetie. But then…"

"I know, I'll explain it when you're better. Steph's in the ambulance behind us. She'll be fine. Don't strain yourself, just relax." She said comfortingly.

"Listen to your daughter Mr Mañoso, just try and relax. You'll be fine, you're in good hands." The paramedic said, obviously relieved that she finally knew what had happened to her patient. The ambulance stopped outside the hospital and Ranger was wheeled out.

"Carmella, wait for Steph, she needs you." He told his daughter as he was pushed into the hospital. Carmella nodded and stood in the empty lobby, waiting for Steph.

I felt hot tears sliding down my face as the pain doubled. I whimpered quietly and tried to massage it away.

"Please stay still Ms Plum, everything will be ok." One of the paramedic said in a slightly annoyed voice. The ambulance stopped and I was carried out and set on another stretcher and pushed into the building. I saw Carmella stood by the reception desk looking immensely worried. She looked up, saw me and rushed over.

"Are you ok? Stupid question. Dad told me to wait for you, I'll come with you. He told me about the triplets. It's all going to be ok Steph, it'll be alright." She tried to assure me. Somehow I didn't think it'd be ok. With me, it was rarely if ever ok. We were taken into the lift and up to the third floor where I was rushed into a ward. The doctor I'd seen earlier was waiting.

"Hello Stephanie, I wasn't expecting to see you back so soon. Now can you tell me exactly what happened?" She said softly. I told her about the whole experience, well using selective memory and leaving out the parts where people had been shot and thrown across the room. She nodded and looked to Carmella.

"Can you wait outside? I need to run some tests on Ms Plum. They should be done in about half an hour." She asked. Carmella nodded and looked at me.

"I need to go check on Dad and Tank; I'll come back soon though." She assured me. I nodded and looked to the floor as I was wheeled into the room where I had my scans done earlier.

Carmella stepped out of the lift and walked straight into the ward where she'd been told her father and Tank had been assigned to. Tank was lying in the nearest bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Tank, are you ok?" She asked, throwing her arms around him.

"I'm fine Princess, just glad that you're ok." He replied, wrapping one arm around her.

"So are you ok? What did they do?" She asked.

"The bullet was in shallow so it was easy to remove. I have to stay in over night for observation but I should be good to go tomorrow." He said softly. Carmella nodded and pulled away from his grasp.

"How's dad? Is he ok?" She asked

"I don't know. He's in surgery, the bullet was in quite deep and it shattered part of the bone in his arm. He should be ok, he's a fighter." Tank said, trying to comfort the panicked teenager. She nodded and bit her lip. Tank studied her face. A shadow of concern was cast across it. This was more worry then teenager should be given. He looked at her dark eyes, so much like her father's. They had they same knowledgeable look, the same look that suggested they'd seen too much, they'd witnessed things that no one should ever have to witness; they'd been through so much. And yet here she was, she was still standing. She was still alive. Against the odds, her and Ranger were both still alive.

Her expression was not comforting. I knew something was wrong. She sighed and sat opposite me.

"Ms Plum, I'm afraid that…that you've lost one of the babies. The other two are fine; it would seem that the third baby was protecting the other two. I'm so sorry." She said sympathetically. I nodded and struggled to hold back tears. I had lost one of the babies. I still had two babies. I didn't want to sound heartless but it was better then loosing all three. I was going to have twins. I would be ok.

"We're going to keep you in for a couple of days. When you next go to the toilet, there will be blood. You mustn't be alarmed, it is normal." She assured me and showed me to a bed. I lay down and looked up at the ceiling. This was one of the worst days ever. The ward door opened and Carmella walked in. She looked over to me and ran over.

"Stephie, are you ok?" She asked, panic obvious in her voice. I nodded.

"I'm fine, but…I lost one of the babies." I whispered. She threw her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry; I'll understand if you hate me, this is my entire fault." She sobbed. I shook my head.

"None of this is your fault Carmella, you didn't ask for any of this. It's no ones fault but that creepy guy who took us hostage. It's his fault, not ours. I still have two other babies, alive and kicking and loosing a child this early in the pregnancy is quite common. It's all going to be ok." I told her. She nodded and stood up.

"I'm still sorry." She whispered. Her eyes filled with tears and she ran out the ward. I called after her but she just ran out of the ward, the door swinging shut behind her.

Carmella collapsed against the walls; hand in her heads sobbing quietly. Suddenly, a pair of strong arms locked around her, holding her safe. She looked up and saw Harry crouched next to her.

"It's all my fault." She sobbed.

"None of this is your fault. You're Princess Caramel and you can do no wrong." He said softly. Carmella laughed softly but kept her head down. He tipped her chin back and looked at her.

"It will be ok, things always work out. And you still have us."

"But you guys have only known me for, like, a day. You can't really-" She tried to explain but he put a finger to her mouth to silence her.

"Trust me Princess, I know enough." He slowly drew his hand a way and leaned in. Just as their lips were about to touch, there was a shout of.

"Carmella! Thank God you're ok!" A voice shouted. She pulled back quickly and looked up. Lester, Bobby and Junior were walking down the corridor, looking very intimidating. Harry shrunk back slightly so he was less noticeable.

"Hi guys, good to see you. I'll catch up with you, please just go on without me." Carmella said hopefully. Lester grinned and pulled her to her feet.

"We've been to see Tank and he told us to take you home and make sure you're ok. So that is what we're going to do. Say goodbye to your friend." He instructed. Carmella sighed.

"Lester…" She whined. He grinned, stepped forwards and threw Carmella over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. She shrieked and started pounding on his back. Lester just laughed and started to walk down the corridor. Carmella sighed and waved goodbye to Harry, who looked like he was trying not to laugh.

The drive home was uneventful and boring. Lester drove, while Junior and Bobby sat either side of Carmella in the back, as if they thought she was going to try and escape. They rolled into the underground car park and climbed out. Carmella stretched and looked at her watch. It was only 3.30. That was weird, it seemed like it should be closer to midnight. She sighed and walked into the elevator, hitting the button for the fourth floor. Junior jumped in just as the doors were closing. Carmella looked at him suspiciously.

"Scared I'll try and pop one of the roof panels of the elevator open and escaped?" She asked. Junior just smiled but said nothing. The elevator stopped and They stepped out and walked down the landing to her apartment. She stopped outside the door and she turned to Junior.

"Um, would you mind coming in for a bit. I just don't really want to be alone." She said, feeling her face burn up red. Junior smiled and nodded.

"Sure Princess." He answered. Carmella smiled and unlocked the door. They walked in and Junior sat on the couch while Carmella went to get drinks. She studied him from the kitchen. He was quite good looking really. Tall, well defined muscles, dark hair that fell to his shoulders, curling slightly. She shook her head and pulled the fridge door open, trying to find a drink that wouldn't make her appear to have the mental age of a four year old. Juice? No. Water? Too boring. Milk? Oh yeah, very mature. Then her eyes set on a few bottles of dark amber liquid on the bottom. She grinned and pulled out two bottles.

"Beer?" She offered. Junior grinned.

"Don't you think that's a bit…old?" he replied.

"Hey, if you can't handle your drink then-"

"Give me the bottle." Carmella smiled, flipped the lids off the bottles and walked back into the lounge. She handed him the bottle and sat down next him. He picked up the remote control and turned the television on. 'The Simpsons' came on. They watched TV for the next hour or so. After coming to the conclusion that there was nothing interesting or enlightening on, they switched it off and sat in silence.

"Thanks for staying with me." Carmella said after about half a minute of trying to think up conversation. Junior smiled and kissed her lightly on the top of the head.

"It's no problem Princess. I know what it's like to be lonely." He whispered. She looked up at him. The lighting of the room cast a shadow over his face, making his eyes look dark and mysterious. She blinked away the tears that were filling in her eyes. She couldn't believe everything that had happened today. She leaned closer to him, but he pulled away sharply. He set the empty beer bottle on the coffee table and stood up.

"Um…I should go, I'll see you later." He said and walked out. Carmella sighed and stood up. She walked into the bathroom and took a long shower. She sighed as the water flowed over her. She was stupid some times. Why did she do that? She had almost kissed two guys in a few hours. That was quite impressive even by her standards. She turned the water off and stepped out of the shower cubicle. Her reflection in the mirror stared back at her. Her wet hair cascaded down her back, stopping halfway down her back. She pulled a large towel from the rack by the bath and wrapped it around herself. After brushing her dripping hair, Carmella walked out the bathroom and back into the lounge. She jumped when she noticed Junior stood there, lounging against the door frame and smiling. When she walked in, he walked straight up to her and wrapped his arms around her, lowering his mouth to hers. She draped her arms around his neck and smiled to herself. He ran a hand through her hair affectionately. Just then the door opened and Lester walked in, closely followed by Bobby. Carmella and Junior jumped apart, Carmella clutching her towel and turning red with embarrassment.

"Junior, you're needed in-what the hell is going on here!" Lester exclaimed.

"Les, I think that's a bit obvious." Bobby muttered without smiling. Carmella bit her lip. Junior cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair.

"Um…well we…it was an accident?" He said sheepishly.

"Yeah, total accident. Please don't tell my dad." Carmella agreed quickly. Lester and Bobby simply stared.

"Junior come on, now." Bobby commanded and pulled him out of the apartment, with Lester following. Carmella shut the door behind them, went into her bedroom and screamed into her pillow.

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Many thanks to everyone who read this chapter. Please Please PLEASE review! As always, any suggestions and/or comments are welcome. Thanks to everyone who reviewed to the last chapter! I'll try to update ASAP. Arigato!