Here's the next installment.

As always, your support and all that is not going unappreciated.

I was planning to try and update sometime next week, but, oh, well.

On with the show...

"Excuse me?" Katherine said.

"What?" Rocky said at the exact same time.

Stacy's eyebrows shot up, then, she burst out laughing. Rocky and Katherine exchanged confused glances. Stacy shook her head and grinned. "Man. It seems like all I do is shock you guys. Wild, huh? But, seriously, I really am great with kids. Ask anybody who knows me. Great rapport with them."

"Uh-" Katherine began.

"Tons of experience. I'm telling you," Stacy said.

That's... good to know, but-" Rocky was saying.

Stacy held up her hands. "Don't give me an answer now. I'll give you my number and address. After you've thought it over, you can call or come over to give me your answer. Now, lemme just find something in my purse to write on and we'll be all set. Well, almost all set." After she'd scribbled a number and an address on a piece of paper, she handed it to Rocky- whom just stared at it.

"Stacy-" Katherine began.

"I'm sorry, Kat, but, I really have to get going. See- or hear- you guys soon. Hopefully!" Stacy said, then, turned and hurried off. Rocky and Katherine stared after her, then, slowly shifted their focus to each other.

Several moments later, Rocky unlocked the door to their apartment and let Katherine enter first. He followed, then, closed and locked the door. The couple headed over to the couch and sat. Both stared straight ahead for a few seconds, then...

"I don't want that woman anywhere near the baby," the couple said in unison. They looked at each other and Katherine sighed.

"We don't even need a nanny," the blonde said. "Your cousin runs that daycare. But, even if she didn't-"

"Cait's look-a-like wouldn't even make it on the list," Rocky finished.

"Exactly," Katherine said.

"We don't even know her and I don't wanna get to know her. She's Cait's twin and something's just not right about her," Rocky said, tossing the piece of paper on the coffee table.

"I'm with you all the way," Katherine said.

"And what's up with this address business? Like we'd really go to her house," he said, shaking his head.

"Just what we need. Stacy and us with no eyewitnesses," Katherine said dryly.

"You said it," Rocky said, then, he sighed. "On a lighter note, you want some tea and cookies or anything?"

"You're gonna spoil me until I hit the delivery room, aren't you?" she said with a soft laugh.

"That's the plan, ma'am," he said, grinning.

"Then, by all means, kind sir, pamper away," she teased. He laughed, they stood and headed towards the kitchen together. Katherine took a seat at the table.

"Aren't those gifts for the baby adorable?" she said. "I know the clothes are gonna be so cute on her."

"Yeah. My princess is gonna be the new meaning of stylish," Rocky said- causing his wife to laugh.

"I can't believe she'll really be here in a few weeks. I'm just so... excited and nervous at the same time," Katherine said, slowly rubbing her belly. "Excited and anxious to see her face. To hold and kiss her. Nervous about parenting."

"Well, that's natural, ballerina. I'm nervous, too. But, we'll always give her what she really needs: our love," he said.

"You're right. Our love and support," his wife said, then, looked down at her belly. "Karina, you're really lucky to have this man as a father." She looked up. "Almost as lucky as I am to have him as a husband." He looked over his shoulder and smiled at her. "I love you so much, Rocky."

"I love you, too," he said.

A week later- Saturday afternoon- Stacy was sitting in Valerie and Rick's kitchen, smoking a cigarette and staring at their telephone. She was house-sitting for the couple for the weekend. Stacy smirked. This was the number and address she'd given the DeSantoses. She was nowhere near surprised that she'd yet to hear from them. She knew they weren't going to take her on as a nanny for their "precious widdle one".

'They passed my "let's see if they're a couple huge idiots" test. Great for them,' she thought, nodding.

But, of course, Stacy saw this as no big deal at all. She'd been resourceful for as long as she could remember. She'd get that baby... whom would be appearing very, very soon. She owed this to Valerie and Rick. They'd saved her butt on countless occasions. They were great people and they deserved this baby. Rocky and Katherine could just go off and have another one.

'Val needs this baby. I'm pretty sure she needs it more than they do,' Stacy thought as she stood and slowly exited the kitchen. 'Val'd be a great mother. She and Rick has a lot to offer a child.'

She found herself in the couple's bedroom several seconds later. She opened Valerie's jewelry box. She picked up Val's diamond bracelet and felt that familiar tingle of excitement. An eager light appeared in her eyes. She loved the rush she got from stealing- especially valuable things. Maybe she'd take this and Valerie could think she'd just misplaced it or something.

'Man! I could get a lot for this bracelet! And that necklace! Maybe I should just talk her into letting me have 'em. I wouldn't feel right taking it. She's too good a person. On the other hand, Val understands that sometimes people have to do what they can to get what they need,' she thought as excitement surged through her. Her eyes were now shining.

Then, she quickly snapped back to reality and put the bracelet back. The jewelry business could wait. There were more significant issues to deal with at the moment. 'Stay focused, Buchanan,' she told herself as she stared longingly into the jewelry box. Too bad, though. She sighed, then, closed the box. She looked around and her eyes landed on the closet.

Her eyes lit up again when she remembered what was in there. She made her way up to it and slid the door back. It was a huge closet. She looked at her friends' wardrobe and whistled. 'They sure would be able to spoil that kid, that's for sure.'

Stacy walked over to a chair and dragged it towards the closet. She kicked off her shoes, then, moved to stand on the chair. She placed her hands on the shelf, stood on the tips of her toes and began slowly looking from left to right. When she spotted a certain shoebox in the corner, she cheered silently and grabbed it.

The brunette hopped off the chair, walked over to the bed, sat and took the top off of the shoebox. She smiled as she lifted Rick's sleek, black nine millimeter out. Rick had several guns and she was pretty fascinated with his collection. Valerie wasn't. She hated guns. Stacy aimed the gun at the closet and pretended to fire. "Bang, bang, bang." She laughed.

"Yeah, don't worry, Val. You'll get your baby. No. matter. what. it. takes," she said in a quiet voice as she stroked the gun.