Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own any of the character in the Stephanie Plum series. If I did, I probably wouldn't be writing fanfiction and I would be rich (probably). All characters belong to Janet Evanovich. I only own Ricky.

Note: Hello everyone! Yes, I'm not dead. There are a lot of things going on in my life at the moment. It's quite overwhelming. However, you guys asked for more, so here's an update. I hope this chapter is enjoyable. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Thanks to JessicaRenae for making it so much better.

Where's Happiness?

Leticia POV.

The truth is complicated. I held on to my legs as tightly as possible, imagining myself in the safety of my own home. Tears rolled down my face remembering the way my father had looked at me the last time I saw him. He was upset, angry because I refused to follow his instructions. How could I do it? He didn't understand that I'd tried.

Now, I'm here, chasing the monsters that haunt not only my dreams, but my every move. Unfortunately, these monsters are also chasing me.

"The Plum woman is at it again. She met one of the girls at McDonalds."

"Who?"

"Sarah, Sir."

"Did the girl say anything?"

"No, Sir. I prepared her well."

"I've told you; only let the illegal or the addicts out for food. They always come back. They understand exactly what it is they'll lose."

"I'm sorry, Sir. It won't happen again."

"The Plum woman, is she a concern?"

"No, she just likes to find trouble. I heard she's a bounty hunter, nothing exceptional, but she might make things difficult. She has a nag for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. And Sir, she's Ranger's woman."

A chair creaked in the room below as I assumed either Matta or his boss adjusted his position. The silence was deafening, and I waited impatiently for a response. Just when I thought I would gain no more information, he spoke again.

"Watch her. If she causes problems, we'll have to eliminate her. For now, send her a message. Now, where did you send the cutie pie? I should visit her and give her a reward for her silence."

Matta's boss let out a sickening laughed. It made my insides turn. I wish he would choke on his own saliva.

I'll fucking kill you for what you've done. You've destroyed me and my family.

I jerked and hit the metal of the heater with a reflex reaction.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what, sir?"

I stayed still and waited.

I found this space by chance while snooping for information. It turns out all of those gymnastics classes I took at school are finally paying off. It was enough for me to find my way into the ventilation system and listen to every single word of their conversation. Now, if only I could get Sarah out of this place.

The problem is that they keep moving the girls around. This is something I learned quickly. It's hard to keep up with the changes. They move people about day to day and so many times that I lost count.

Sarah had told me that Alonde became fixated on her. It would only make sense that he would try to keep her close to him. At least, until he gets tired and then moves on.

-rs-

The last month hasn't been an easy. I went from sleeping in my nice warm bed to sleeping in an abandoned construction site in Trenton. If it wasn't for the kindness of my boyfriend and his mother, I would already be dead. It's my fault they are now on the run. I ran with them for two weeks before it became apparent that my presence made them more susceptible to danger. Most importantly, I couldn't make any moves to kill Alonde.

My current residence faced Hamilton Avenue. The sound of horns, cars, and people helped me through the night. I've developed cat ears trying to preserve my life, listening for anyone that might come after me. Quickly, I learned to distinguish drug addicts from sellers, staying away from those who might endanger my life expectancy.

I watched the payphone across the street with some interest, trying to discern my next move.

"The Plum woman is at it again."

I couldn't get the words out of my mind as I lay on my customized bed. During the day, I entertain myself by reading newspapers. I've read enough to learn some of the history of this town and of the woman he spoke of, Stephanie Plum.

Unexpectedly, I made a significant discovery in the life of the woman I knew as Michelle Mazur. I glanced down at the paper in my hand again. The woman on the cover had wild curly hair. The man standing next to her resembled Michelle's son in many ways. The title read "Bombshell Bounty Hunter Strikes Again."

It was like discovering Diana Prince's secret identity. Michelle Mazur was in reality Stephanie Plum. I felt little rays of hope surging through me. Stephanie Plum, her name kept running through my head all night.

Ranger POV

I watched Steph walk around the room with cautious steps. I couldn't tell if she was nervous or embarrassed. She looked adorable, though. I listened to my voicemails without shifting my eyes away her. She dropped to her knees, trying to find one of Ricky's toy cars under the sofa. Of course, I enjoyed the sight she was providing me with a little bit of regret for doing it.

"Hey there little bro! I swear, when you decide show a sign of humanity, you go all the way. Do you really have a baby boy? Mom says you seem okay with it, is it true? Call me." Celia.

The next message started with pure silence, some breathing, and ended with one word.

"Puppy," and my dad hung up the phone. I ignored the nickname and listened to the rest. The last message was my mother's.

"Mijo, I would like to talk to Stephanie about her plans for Ricky's birthday party. Do you think she would mind if I help her out a little. I would love to be part of it. Give me a call and give your grandmother a call. She's quite upset that she hasn't heard from you."

I disconnected and dialed my grandmother's phone.

"Hello"

*"Hello, grandma. How are you?"

*"Ricardo Carlos Manoso. It's about time."

*"I know," I said. "How are you going grandma? How's your health?"

*"I'm alive, that counts for something right? How are you? What is this I hear about you having a little boy? Is it true? Didn't you learn anything from the first time around?"

*"This time it's different," I said, glancing up at Stephanie. She was chasing after Ricky, in hopes of getting him in the shower. She was trying hard not to laugh, but Ricky's mischievous expression wasn't helping.

*"Different how? Because this is Stephanie's child?"

*"Our child, grandma." I corrected. "I assure you Julie isn't any less loved or adored."

*"I know, honey. Rachel and you didn't love each other."

"Catch me, mommy, catch me!" Ricky chanted while running around the sofa before spotting me.

*"Is that your boy I hear?"

*"Yes."

"Daddy, daddy, save me!" Ricky ran to me, sliding between my legs, and settling on my lap. "Daddy, you help me shower?"

I drew him towards me and kissed the top of his head. "Okay."

Steph groaned in defeat, "fine!"

I gave her half a smile and watched her walk up the stairs.

"It's getting late and you should be in bed." I looked down at Ricky, "here, say hello to your great grandma."

*"Carlitos, I'm not a great grandmother. I'm a grandmother."

*"Hello, great grandma…. Okay… Yes… My name is Carlitos too. Yes, I'm going to be four." Ricky made four fingers, showing them to me. "Are you coming to my birthday party? It's like daddy's. Mommy says we were born together… nooooo… You're funny. Daddy is not a baby…Yes! There will be cake and all my friends will come, but not Uncle Cal. Uncle Cal has a mean boss that won't let him eat cake."

Ricky made a face. I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the pulse point in my neck twitch a little.

"*Okay, bye grandma."

"*He speaks so clearly," she gasped. "I didn't know Stephanie could speak Spanish. The papers said she was Italian or Hungarian, something like that."

"*She doesn't, but she made sure he learned."

She waited a beat "wow."

"*I'm going to have to let you go grandma. Somebody needs a shower."

"*Okay, but before you hang up. Please, call Julie soon. She's been asking for you. She knows something is going on. She's a perceptive young lady."

"*I'll give her a call."

"Give my grandson a big kiss. Good night, Carlitos." Before I could respond she hung up, trying to avoid having me hang up without a good bye. I never do it to her on purpose, mostly out of habit. It drove both, grandma and Stephanie a little crazy.

-rs-

I helped Ricky undress and studied his slim frame with familiarity. Ricky is the spiting image of me at this age, in terms of frame and build. My son's hair was growing at an alarming rate. It was uncontrollable. A few inches more and he would look like a little girl.

It happened to me once and there was no way I would put him through the torment I suffered.

"Ricky, you need a hair cut," I told him lifting him and placing in the bathtub. He touched his hair, looking up at me.

"Okay, daddy."

"Okay, what?" Steph asked, as she brought his pajamas into the bathroom.

"He needs a haircut."

"No, he doesn't." She retorted. I scanned her body as she laid his clothes on the vanity. She had changed into a cute pajama set, a knit top, and baby blue shorts that hugged her assets. She turned to face me, and I noticed she was carrying a heavy looking book in her hand.

"Reading?"

"It's for the book club. Virginia Wolf's Orlando, it's Amy's choice." She stood at the door watching me interact with my son, studying my ability to perform my "daddy duties." The phone rang and I watched her turn to go answer it. I couldn't stop the images of my hands under her knit tank, enjoying her feeling of her soft skin.

Concentrate!

I shook my head and looked back a Ricky.

This cohabitation thing was already becoming difficult to handle. How was I supposed to live with the woman of my dreams and not be able to take advantage? God help me. I found my resolve starting to waiver.

"Daddy, look. I'm a fish!"

Yeah, and I'm starting to think I'm a chicken.

"Silly, daddy. You don't have feathers."

"Did I stay that at loud?"

He giggled and nodded. Again, this is cohabitation at its best.

-rs-

Steph's POV

I stared at the house phone for a minute, wondering why I didn't get a phone for caller ID features.

"Is there something wrong?" Ranger asked, walking into the room with Ricky. The phone rang again.

"Hello," I said. "Who's calling? Would you please just talk to me? I don't have time for this… hello?"

Nothing. The person didn't speak. I stabbed the off button in frustration.

"Something's not right," I sighed. The phone rang again.

"I'm going to kill him," the voiced cried. I immediately recognized it. "I have to kill him. I have too."

"Who, honey, who are you talking about?"

"He raped me! Then, he killed my father, and he rapes them too." Leticia said, her voice wobbly and grave. My hand flew to my mouth to conceal a gasp. I felt the tears rushing out of my eyes and down my face.

"Honey, where are you?" I questioned searching for my jeans.

"No, you'll stop me. I have to kill him. The law will do nothing to help. There's nothing you can do. I need to kill him," she half whispered, crying.

"Honey, please. Let me help you."

"Thank you, Stephanie." She hung up. I looked up to find Ranger glancing my way, while trying to keep our son occupied.

She called me Stephanie.

"Babe?"

I walked out of the room and to the hall. Ranger followed me outside, leaving Ricky to get dressed on his own.

"It was Leticia," I whispered. "She was raped by the man who killed her father. Now she wants to kill him."

The tears kept running down my face. I struggled to rein in my feelings. Ranger pulled me to him.

"We'll find her, Babe. We've got to focus on the goal."

I nodded, unable to reply.

"Did she give you any indication of where she might be?"

"No, but my guess she's calling from a payphone. It took her half a minute to a minute to dial back each time. There was a lot of background noise, people, and traffic."

"I'll have someone run a trace, but for now we have to wait. You should rest."

"I can't go to sleep now. It's impossible."

"I know," Ranger whispered, pulling me onto his chest again. I stood still, enjoying the comfort, drenching his shirt with my tears.

The door to the bathroom opened. Grandma walked out wrapped in a towel. She was humming in a low voice, and smiled once she spotted us. I felt Ranger's arms tightened around me, his body tensing slightly.

"Well, ain't that a pip," Grandma said, water dripping down her hair. The towel barely covered her breasts. "The two of you together like that."

Grandma dried an invisible from her eyes with her hand, "it's so sweet. Can I join the hug?"

Grandma walked towards us with her arms opened. I tensed when I saw her towel starting to slip. Ranger's face became blank. He let go of me and took off down the stairs.

"I have to make a few calls," he said. I figure he needed to erase grandma's image from his head instead of making a phone call in private.

"Next time then," grandma said. "Goodnight sweetheart."

"Good night, grandma."

-rs-

I sat on my bed going over what Leticia told me on the phone. She was raped. He rapes them…as if continuously. I sighed in frustration and laid down pulling Ricky towards into my arms.

"Time to sleep, baby," I whispered showering him with kisses.

"Is daddy sleeping with us, mommy?"

"Yeah… I guess," I answered grimacing a little. Ricky giggled. Leticia's call had erased my worries about Ranger sleeping with us in the same bed, at least for a few minutes.

"Time to sleep."

"Mommy?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you so sad? Daddy makes you sad?"

I looked at my son's face in the dimmed light, his eyes wide, full of concern, and anticipation. He scratched his leg uncertainly, waiting for me to answer. There was so much of Ranger in him, yet so much of me. I contemplated the answer. Ranger didn't make me sad. Quite the opposite, it's the lack of Ranger that made me sad. I shook my head. I miss him. I miss us. I miss what we didn't have, and the things I dreamed we could have become.

"No, my love, daddy doesn't make me sad," I said gently, forcing a smile.

"Do you love daddy?"

"I do," I sighed. "Now, go to sleep."

Ricky settled next to me, his breath warm on my skin.

"Ricky?" I said in the darkness after a few minutes.

"Yes, mommy."

"Don't tell daddy that I love him," I said softly. "It's our little secret, okay?"

"'Kay," he yawned, blinked and laid his head on my chest. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible, moving away pillows. I loved the little person in my arm; his soul and heart too big to fit in his little body. Yet, it worked and I'm the person who brought him to this world.

I can only hope that he lives a happy life, and do my best to help him. The steady rhythm of my son's breathing eased me into sleep.

-rs-

The next morning I woke up with an arm around my waist. I opened my eyes to find that the arm belonged Ranger. Ricky slept between us with a thumb in his mouth.

Ranger always looked younger and relaxed in his sleep. It was as if his troubles washed away when he did. I contemplated the image for a few minutes, Ranger's arm feeling heavier around my waist.

My heart swelled with welcomed emotions rushing through my body. However, the feelings were short lived. I was kidding myself. Our current situation was nothing but temporary. Besides, how could I feel any happiness knowing that Leticia and her friends were suffering?

I had to focus on the goal. I tried to pull myself out of bed, but the arm around me tightened. I stayed still for about five minutes and then tried again. He didn't let go of me.

"Ranger," I whispered hoarsely.

"Stay."

I stayed still for a little longer, my eyes moving from Ranger to Ricky.

"Ranger," I whispered.

"Uhmm"

"I need to pee."

Ranger's arm loosened, but he didn't open his eyes. Instead, he puts his arm around Ricky. I figured he went to sleep just a few hours before I woke up. I hurried to the bathroom and took care of business. I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair before making my way downstairs. It was a sunny day, the light bringing life and warmth into the house.

Slowly, I'd started to love this little hut. It was beginning to feel more like home than just a temporary spot. I started the coffee and looked at the phone with regret. Had Ranger called Samuel? Figuring he left that call to me, I picked up the phone and dialed the familiar number.

"Michelle," he greeted, sorrow in his voice. "Good morning, you're up early."

"I didn't sleep well," I explained.

"I didn't sleep either," he said. "What did she tell you? Ranger wouldn't say anything."

"Could you come to my house around noon? I need to talk to you in person."

"That doesn't sound good." There was some ruffling sound and voices in the background. "I'll be there. I'm staying with a friend in Newark so it won't take me long if you want to meet earlier."

"That's ok. I'll see you then."

"Thank you, Michelle. You're a good friend."

I hung up and grabbed a cup of coffee, staring out at the window. The sun was rising on the horizon, giving the kitchen a morning glow.

Ranger came down the stairs half an hour later. I was working on eggs and pancakes to the best of my abilities. Casually, he approached the kitchen counter, watching my moves. I poured a cup of coffee and offered it to him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay."

"You didn't sleep well," he stated. I looked at him questioningly

"You mumbled a lot during your sleep," he explained, "and you kept tossing around."

"I'm sorry I interrupted your sleep." I took my plate and sat across from him.

-rs-

It was cloudy that afternoon. Samantha, the New York City FBI agent, drove him to the house. I couldn't keep from fidgeting with anticipation. How was I supposed to tell him the news?

"Michelle," he greeted opening his arms. I gave him a tight hug and the tears started to leak. We gathered in the living room. Sofia had taken Ricky to her room to play with her Wii. Ranger gave us some privacy by taking Samantha into the backyard to talk.

"Would you like something to drink?" I asked trying to buy myself some time to gather my thoughts.

"Just tell me, Michelle. What did she say to you?"

"She was raped," I sniffled, "by the man who killed Marco."

Samuel cursed, his breath caught in his chest. No only was his brother killed, but his niece was raped. He ran a hand through his hair, and his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "This is shit. This is some messed up shit."

He stood up and started pacing around the living room. It took him a few minutes to regroup and compose himself.

"She says she has to kill him."

"Not if I get to him first." Samuel's voice was rough and controlled. Samantha and Ranger joined us in the living room. By the look on the agent's face, I could tell that Ranger had filled her in on the latest update.

Our eyes met and held.

"RangeMan traced the call to a payphone on Hamilton. The area around the phone is heavily populated. There are plenty of places for her to hide in the area. Offices, a moteland, an old construction site that hasn't been manned in almost a year. I've got two teams surveying the area, showing pictures, seeing if anyone has spotted her."

As if on cue, Ranger's phone ran. He exchanged a few words with the person on the other line and disconnected.

"They've found something."

-rs-

Less than twenty minutes later, we stood on the sidewalk in front of an old abandoned building. Hal guided us through the site and up to the second floor. In the far corner of the room laid a makeshift bed, a decent amount of newspapers, and a scrap of fabric that could be passed off as a blanket. Food and candy wrappers littered the floor. Ranger looked out the window, then back at the papers on the floor.

"She was here," Samuel said looking around with interest. "We'll have to run some fingerprint and DNA tests to confirm, but she was here. I can feel it."

"She used the payphone across the street," Ranger said, "that's what drew the guys to this place."

Samuel picked up a newspaper and handed it to me. A picture of me decorated the front page. The caption read "Bombshell Bounty Hunter Strikes Again."

"You always looked more like a Stephanie to me," he said, although I'm sure he wasn't unfamiliar to the news.

"Thanks," I replied uncertainly, not sure what else to say.

"It looks like she's took an interest in you," he continued, picking up the rest of the newspapers. All articles about the "Bombshell Bounty Hunter" piled in one corner. I couldn't believe my eyes. Where did she get all of these newspapers? I remembered the mess of papers at Mrs. Kennel's house from my last visit. Was Leti ever in the house with the Kennels? If so, why is she here now?

The most recent paper featured the last case Ranger and I worked together. At the corner of the paper, Leticia had written a message.

Steph,

Alonde… Midnight & Night Buzz… The key is in the box.

~ Leti

I looked up to find everyone's eyes on me. Unfortunately, I had to clue what she meant.

Ricky: "Daddy!"

Ranger: "Hey, son."

Ricky: "I brought you cake."

Ranger: "Thank you." *Puts cake aside and continues typing*

*Ricky stares at the cake and then at Ranger*

Ricky: "Daddy, are you going to find Leti?"

Ranger: "Yes."

Ricky: "You're like...*thinks and gasps* my super hero." *hugs a surprised Ranger*

*Ranger sighs*

Ranger: "I love you, son."

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