Author's Note: Sorry this one's short, but being the unplanner I am, I didn't realize that I could've just added it to 16...oh well...

Not mine

Chapter 17: The Family part 2

I couldn't believe it was Sunday already. Here I was, standing on the front porch of the Batfamily.

"Breathe, Babe. They aren't vultures."

"I know that. Would you just ring the door bell?"

The door swung open revealing a petite looking woman.

"Carlos! You're late."

"Sorry mama. We had some trouble." Yeah, like he wouldn't get out of me.

She turned to me. "You must be Stephanie."

"Hello, Mrs. Manoso."

"Please, call me Maria. You're practically part of the family."

I blushed. We entered the house and immediately everyone turned their attention to us. Ranger had started to introduce everyone, but the only one's I could remember was his grandma, and his sisters Celia, Gloria and Elena, who had started to grill me.

"Girls, don't scare the poor woman, we may never see her again! You come and help me in the kitchen." She said to me.

She gave me the easy task of making the salad. Who could burn that?

"Lester has told me a lot about you."

"What ever it was, it wasn't my fault."

"I know that." She said, patting my hand. "What he has told me is that my Carlos hasn't looked happier. And now I have seen it for myself."

I didn't know what to say. She turned to me. "You know my son to be very quiet and his father and I considered that a blessing from his three sisters. But whenever Lester, Bobby and Pierre would bring up your latest tragedy, that was the only time I had seen him light up, laugh and actually talk. I was so worried that you two would never get together and he would be miserable for the rest of his life. So I prayed every time I went to church that he would finally wise up and sweep you off your feet." She looked down at my ring. "And I suppose he has."

"He has, Maria, more than you know."

"Good. I was really afraid he would never get his head out of his ass."

I snorted, "More like he had to get mine out."

"Well you are together now, and that's all that matters." She motioned me to take the salad out to the table where the rest of the family was sitting down. I noticed Lester and he winked at me.

"Whoa, what are you doing, Stephanie?" He asked me as we were eating. Everyone quieted down.

"I'm eating."

"But you can't have alcohol."

"Lester, I could slap you…" I gritted out.

"She can't? Why not?" Maria asked.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" Celia asked.

"Dear lord, not again." Gloria chimed in. "Carlos, you have to marry her before you get her pregnant."

"Thanks for the lesson, sis." Ranger said sarcastically

"Are you pregnant?"

Now conversation had ceased.

I sighed. "No, I'm not."

The family gave a collective sigh of relief.

"Don't worry, we're much more careful." Ranger said with a wink at me.

Maria crossed herself, Lester and Ranger bumped fists and the rest of the family was either scolding Ranger or laughing.

This is how a family should really be like.

Thank God I'm marrying into it.