Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Plum series. Those are copycright of Janet Evanovich.

Chap. 3 Breaking and Entering

Thank you ladyofkeegan, for editing this chapter. Thank you everybody for the amazing comments and reviews. This chapter was particularly hard to write. I thought it was too long. Please tell me what you guys think.

Steph P.O.V

Eat Sofia's mouthwatering pancakes then head to our new house.

Get some money to buy Ricky's birthday present.

Get Rex a new cage.

Beg my mother to forgive me.

Beg my friends to forgive me.

Find Louis F. Kennel and Leticia.

Ask Morelli to forgive me.

Introduce Ranger to his beautiful son with the hope that he will not hate me for the rest of my life.

I don't think I'm normally the 'To Do List' type, but it's definitely stress relieving. When I finished talking to my father last night, I tossed the cell phone in the garbage. If the line were traced, RangeMan would follow a phone on its way to the local dump. Ranger is the last thing on my list, out of pure procrastination.

After eating a hardy breakfast, we packed up, thanked Sofia's cousins, and then headed out. We were on our way out of Newark, when a familiar black truck followed by two black SUVs passed right by us. I hoped it was just a coincidence.

"Why is he still looking for me?" I asked in frustration.

Sofia's eyebrows knitted together, her lips making a thin line, confusion written all over her face. She glimpsed at the rear-mirror. Ricky was fast asleep and resting his head on her soft guitar case.

"Please, explain."

"Did you see those black SUVs and the truck?" She nodded.

"I think they are looking for me," Sofia's mouth formed a 'oh,' but she kept her eyes on the road.

"I have a few theories."

"Amuse me"

"He loves you, and I think he feels alone," she said gently. In my mind, I couldn't see how that was possible. Ranger is mister 'I'm-always-alone-because-my-life-is-too-dangerous-and-I'm happy-this-way.' I grimaced at the thought, no committed relationship. He likes to keep his distance.

"I doubt it," I said, a mixture of feelings playing in my stomach. If he feels lonely, he is not alone on that one.

"Think about it," she insisted. "He knows there's a chance he won't find you when he gets there, but he tries anyways. He might also find out that you have moved on, but he tries anyways. He wants to be with you, he needs you."

"Nice try," I mumbled. She laughed softy and dropped the subject.

"Carlitos, despierta (wake up)," Sofia called my son, looking at him through the mirror. He moaned, fluttered his eyes at his adopted aunt, and went back to sleep.

"Steph, I worry about him," Sofia half whispered to me. "Has he ever seen pictures of his father?"

I froze for a few seconds, thinking. I shook my head.

-rs-

The new house was wonderful. We had a room for each of us. It had a nice living room, a small backyard, one bathroom, and a kitchen in which I hope to finally learn to cook some stuff. Ricky tried to help me unpack his room when the furniture arrived, but something kept bothering me. I told him to stop and had him sit down on my lap. I took a deep breath then I gave him a picture of Ranger.

"This is your father," I told him ruffling his hair; "this is Carlos."

He put the picture against his chest and walked up to the mirror. He looked at his reflection and then he examined the picture. It broke my heart.

"He looks like me," he squealed in delight. "Mom, we're the same."

"I know," I choked. I don't know how Ranger's going to react when he finds out. The last time we spoke, he didn't want any more children. He could go ballistic for all I know. It has been four years, almost five! A few tears started rolling down my cheeks and I quickly wiped them away.

"Listen," I sighed placing my hands on his shoulders. "I know you can't wait to meet your daddy, but it might take a while. Your daddy doesn't know about you yet, and it's complicated. I need to talk to him before anything happens, okay?"

"Do you think he will like me?"

"He'll love you," I told him, and I was sure about it. "What's not to like?"

Ricky looked at me then at his picture of his dad. He kissed me then ran off to go show the picture to Sofia.

I used the quiet to think about the next item on my list, getting money for Ricky's birthday and a new cage for Rex.

I was doing well with my two jobs –full-time private investigator and part-time bounty hunter –but my son's birthday was coming up. I put most of what I had on my account as down payment for the house. I figured I would have to go to the bond's office to find some work, but going to the bond's office requires applying number five on my list, 'beg my friends for forgiveness.' I wasn't ready for that yet.

I figured I could procrastinate a little by finishing the unpacking, so I left going to the office for after dinner when it would be closed. We enjoyed our day in our new home.

I figured I could procrastinate a little, so left for the office after dinner. The office would be closed by now. I told Sofia where I was going, gave Ricky a big wet kiss, and headed out. I drove around Trenton for a while, revisiting familiar streets. I would die for Boston Creams or Tastycakes, but I couldn't risk being seen. My mother would flip if she doesn't get to see me first.

I parked behind the office, and picked the lock. The office looked about the same as when I left. I looked through Connie's records in search of a few easy bonds. I figured I would find the FTA's tonight then bring the receipts back tomorrow and beg for forgiveness. I found a few perfect candidates, but I had one problem. I needed Connie's signature to approve the apprehensions. I thought, for a minute, about faking her signature. I mean, what harm could be done? I looked through her desk for a pen and I saw she had a stack of files on her desk marked, Ranger. I flipped through them out of curiosity. After all, snooping is the child of breaking and entering. Ranger's paperwork was already done. I found it rather surprising to find a few low bonds. I took two, and I left Connie and Lula a message on a sticky note posted on the computer's screen.

Please don't hate me.

We'll see each other soon.

I love you both.

Stephanie Plum.

P.S. I took some of Ranger's files. I like the curtains.

Stephen Ballet, a wife beater, has been arrested twice. I silently thanked Vinnie for letting him out, idiot. He owns and rents out the hall of a local senior center, fifteen minutes away from the office. I found an event calendar in the file. He will be there to open for a celebration tonight. I glanced at the time on my dashboard.

-rs-

I pulled up in front of the banquet hall and studied the picture of Stephen Ballet. He is a thin, tall, and wimpy looking man. How could this man be a wife beater? I examined the picture in the file and the man now standing in front of the hall of the senior center, smocking a cigarette.

"Stephen Ballet?" I asked.

"Yes, that's me," he replied. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, I'm a bond enforcement-," and he turned on his heel and started towards the building.

God, I hate running! I started running after him and reached him right at the entrance of the hall. I could see from my vantage point that the room was packed. The center was hosting a baby shower. I felt awful for disturbing. I grabbed Ballet's shirt with both hands and pulled him back, out the door, with my weight. Ballet turned around to face me, and threw a punch at me. I managed to block it while I punched him, then I kicked his nuts. He looked at me startled; surprised I might say that I fought back. He tried to run towards the parking lot next door, but he fell on the ground holding his crotch.

Wow! I can't wait to tell Sofia about this. I'm actually a horrible fighter. Even after all my training with her, I still can't fight. I could probably fight against a punching bag, but hitting other people has almost the same level of discomfort as using my gun. I avoid fights. I'm not even strong enough to carry out a proper fight. Ballet wasn't expecting me to fight back, but he made me angry. It gave me an advantage. I don't like going around ruining someone else's baby showers. Idiot!

I looked up to find a crowd looking at me, even more people coming out of the hall.

"What in the world is going on here?" an angry voice asked behind me.

"Bond enforcement! I'm really, really sorry," I said straightening myself. I briefly glanced at the crowd without recognizing any faces. I turned to apologize and found myself standing right in front of Joseph Morelli.

"Cupcake," Joe whimpered when he saw me.

"Hey Joe," I said softly. He didn't look angry or upset, but he looked like he had seen a ghost. I probably appeared the same way. Joe still looks as handsome as the day I left. I tried to hold myself up, but my knees kept shaking. My skip was still rolling on the floor, now yelling things at me but I couldn't care less. Okay, I told myself, keep it cool. Do something, keep yourself busy and this will be less stressing.

"Give me a second," I said, and I pulled Ballet into a standing position twisting his arm back in the process. Since the fight was over and nothing was happening, the crowed started scattering and going back inside. Morelli stood there watching me closely. I needed more time. He looked like he was about to explode. I cuffed my skip, and pulled and pushed him towards the car. When I was sure he wouldn't be going anywhere, I came back to face Morelli.

"Stephanie Plum," he yelled. "Have you…Did you…?" Silence had fallen. He made a gesture of anger, and grunted exhaling through his teeth. I couldn't help but smile. It has been almost five years; Joseph Morelli was still the same with me as he was before.

"This is not funny, Steph."

"I see you haven't changed much," I told him. I saw hugely pregnant woman came out of the hall. She was blond, about my height, but I didn't recognize her.

"Joe?" she said. "Is everything alright?"

Morelli turned to her and took a deep breath. He took her hand in his and pulled her closer to us.

"Amy, this is Stephanie," he introduced me. "Stephanie, this is Amy, my wife."

I unconsciously flinched at the mention of the word 'wife.' I was supposed to marry Joe four years ago. I stared at her huge belly. I couldn't help feeling a bit jealous, but happy. Joe is a wonderful man, but not the one I really want. I thought about my son.

"Oh my god," I exclaimed a few seconds later. "I'm so sorry. I hope I didn't ruin your shower." I hit my forehead with the ball of my hand. I hope she wouldn't think I have done this on purpose. I could see the rumors in the morning –'Stephanie Plum came back to ruin Amy Morelli's baby shower.' She seemed to take my panic as genuine because she smiled at me.

"Actually," she said relief in her voice, "you saved me from Grandma Bella. She was about to have a vision."

I once again flinched, this time at the mention of Grandma Bella. I gave Amy a quick hug of support.

Amy chuckled, "Joe told me all about you. He really loves you."

I don't know if I liked Amy, but she was starting to get on my good side. She wasn't acting like a jealous wife. I wonder how much he told her about me. I looked up at Morelli, and I could tell he was examining me. I suddenly felt self-conscious. Then, Joe's phone rang. We all watched him pick it up; his eyes darted towards me in the process.

"Manoso," he said. I froze, my eyes widening.

"Really?" he continued. I signaled him not to give me away.

"Well, actually she's standing right in front of me."

I heard from Morelli's phone a very load, clear, and angry "Babe!"

I cringed, and hurried to my car.

"Traitor," I called Joe before starting my car and taking off. So much, I thought, for keeping a low profile.

-rs-

Steph: I have to visit my mother in the next chapter

Sofia: I know, Ricky's excited. You lead such an interesting life.

Morelli: Ranger, you stupid bastard.

Ranger: Babes, I'll be happy to get more of your lovely comments and reviews. Thank you.