Author's Note: Okay, here's 21! Read and Review! I 3 you all for already reviewing!

Not mine

Chapter 21: Scared

The next morning, Ranger left early to help Tank and Bobby catch a skip and I contemplated what I had learned. I couldn't believe what Ranger and his family had gone through. Somehow knowing his deepest, darkest secret it made me love him more.

I walked to the bathroom. It was funny how most of my things just commuted here. I think Ranger secretly moved me in. Not that I minded because I was here so much anyway. My make-up, shampoo, soap, tampons…

Crap.

I counted the days. Oh, dear lord, please don't let me be late. I looked at the birth control.

Suddenly there was a crashing noise.

"Babe."

I looked up.

He must have seen something in my face because he came over to me where I was crashed on the toilet. "What's wrong?"

"I…I…"

"We called up here, but you never answered. I knew you wouldn't be up for a couple of hours, so I panicked." He was babbling. Wow, Ranger babbling. He saw what I was holding.

"Babe, you took all your pills." He looked at me confused.

"Look."

"What am I seeing?" He asked, confused.

"I'm done."

"We'll get you more." He still wasn't getting it.

"Ranger."

He looked at me.

"I'm late."

He pushed curls out of my face and laid his forehead on mine. "It'll be okay, Stephanie."

"What if Grandma Rosa was right?"

"Babe, I was going to get you pregnant anyway. This just speeds everything along."

"How can you be so calm? I don't know if I'm ready to be a mom."

"You'll be fantastic."

"You've already done this."

"No, I haven't. I was away when Rachel was pregnant and Julie was born."

"What if I am, Carlos, what then?"

"Then we handle it."

"It's too early to tell, but I'm going to need a pregnancy test."

"I'll get one from Bobby."

"NO! No one can know if…if…" God, I couldn't even say it.

"Relax, I'll just snitch one when he's out." He rubbed my arms. "You okay?"

I thought about shrugging, shaking my head and nodding. I didn't know which one I wanted to do so I just looked at him. He brought me into his arms and then picked me up.

"But…shower…"

"Later. I just want to hold you." He put me back into the bed and snuggled close to my back with a protective arm thrown over my stomach.

For the next week and a half, Ranger treated me like a glass vase. And with good reason. I was walking around like I was going to break any second. I spent more of my time back in my apartment. I just needed to get out of there. It was slowly suffocating me. Ranger wanted to stay with me, but I needed my space. A girl needs air to breathe. Lula decided that I needed a girl's night.

"Girl, you need outta the cave and your apartment." She said when she came to get me.

"Lula, I can't…"

"Sure you can. Who's gonna stop you?" She looked around the apartment like she was waiting for Ranger to come out and get her. How do you tell someone hellbent on getting you out that you don't think you can't drink because you might be pregnant? "See? No one. Let's go."

She had assembled a crack group. Connie, herself, Mary Lou, and a few of my female skips. By the looks of it, they started early.

"Stephanie! It's so good to see you!" Connie yelled as we met them over at the table.

"Hey, girls."

"Now where's that waiter?"

"What do you want? I'll just go up to the bar." Better to sneak non-alcoholic drinks.

"Shirley Temple." I nodded and headed on my way.

As the night wore on, it became easier and easier to act drunk as they got drunker. Soon I was able to act natural without being suspicious. Connie, Lula and I were dancing off the latest drink when I saw the door crash in.

Ranger.

And he looked mad.

No, that wasn't the right word…

His eyes locked on me and he began pushing through the crowd.

"Ooh, Batman looks mad." Connie said. He stopped right in front of me and fireman carried me out of the bar.

"Carlos! What are you doing?" I screamed.

He put me down outside. "What am I doing? What are you doing?"

"Having a good time, but that was ruined thanks to you."

"Babe," he sighed. "Do you know how I felt when I found out that you were going to a bar with your girlfriends? You, being pregnant with my child, going to a bar? See where I'm going with this?" I looked around. Thankfully Tank was still inside with Lula.

"I'm not drunk."

"I saw Tequila."

"The guy behind me has been drinking mine. I gave him a hundred bucks."

He looked into my eyes.

"Virgin margaritas all night."

"Babe, I…" I held up a hand.

"I'm tired. Take me home?" He nodded.

When we reached my apartment, I got out before he could even turn off the engine.

"Babe…"

"Ranger, I just want to be alone."

"You've been alone for a week. I miss you."

"I miss you too."

"So let me up, please."

"Did you get the test?" He nodded. Then it was my turn to nod.

We sat there on the couch, looking at the bag.

"So I guess I should go…"

"Babe, you got to…I can't do it for you."

"Smartass." I picked up the bag and went to the bathroom. I sat down on the toilet (it was down!)

"Babe, you okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Why?"

"You've been in there over an hour."

Oh.

"I didn't have to pee."

"You could've come back out." He said, opening the door.

"Yeah, but what if I had to go really badly." He shook his head at me and smiled.

"Babe."

"I know." He left me to my business.

When I came out, I put the stick on the coffee table. It was back on the box on top of thousands of napkins and the bag. I'm not disgusting.

Ranger's watch beeped. "Babe, three minutes."

We looked at the stick, then at each other.