Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine and I'm making no money.

Thank you all for the reviews! I'm glad that you all agree that Zero is in need of an attitude adjustment and that it exactly what he gets in this chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

No beta so please excuse my mistakes.

Lifetime of Love

Chapter 19

ZPOV

It had always been my dream for Stephanie to meet my family. They had all heard everything about her for years and they all knew that I loved her. I never thought they would get the opportunity to actually meet her. I never thought I would have her in my life. Not only do we have a son together, she loves me and wants to be with me. She was mine. She agreed to marry me...before I even asked. I love her more than my own life. Spending a week with Stephanie and AJ in California was beyond amazing. I didn't know I could love two people so completely like I did them. They quickly became my whole world and I had no idea what I'd do if I lost either of them. I'm not sure I could survive that.

So why did I fuck everything up? I walked away from her, again. I shut off my emotions and left her standing in the hallway with our son. Why did I do that? How stupid could I fucking be? The conversation that I had with Ranger right after I got back from mission came flooding into my mind. We came to some understandings that night and unfortunately I ignored my part of the bargain.

*Flashback*

"Did you two make nice?" Ranger didn't look up from his paperwork as I entered his office. I had just left Stephanie and my son at her new apartment. I wanted to stay the night with her, but I also wanted to take this relationship slow.

"We did and I think we're going to be good. She surprised the shit out of me with AJ." Ranger looked up at me and smiled.

"He's a great kid and she's a great woman, don't fuck it up." His smile faded. "I'm serious. You treat her right and we have no problems. If you hurt her...then you're going to know what pain is." I glared at him. I could see the emotions skim across his face. I could see that he loved her.

"I have no intention of hurting her. I love her and she loves me." He nodded and focused back on his paperwork. I stood to leave and then decided that I needed to say one last thing.

"I won't tolerate your poaching. She belongs to me and I want you to respect that." Ranger looked up at me and glared.

"I won't remove myself from her life. She means too much to me to walk away. I won't kiss her anymore, but I have every intention of being around her. I love her just as much as you do and AJ is my Godson. If you can't handle this, then we have a problem." Ranger's eyes were hard as he stared at me. I knew that I couldn't make him leave her alone and she would be pissed if I even asked that. Their relationship was just something that I had to understand and be okay with.

"I'm not asking you to stay away from her. I'm just asking you to keep your hands and lips to yourself. I remember seeing you two in the ally when she was with Morelli. I'm not as stupid as him and I will not tolerate your shit." Ranger simply nodded and returned to his paperwork. He silently dismissed me. I turned to walk out of his office and was almost through the door when his voice stopped me.

"Zero...treat her good. That's what she deserves." I looked at the man behind the desk and saw the regrets in his eyes. I nodded and walked out the door.

*End Flashback*

Fuck! I didn't treat her good at all. I acted like a fucking pussy. A stupid piece of shit, but I wasn't stupid. I was just a macho asshole. It surprised me to see all the guys waiting for us when we got off the plane. I wasn't expecting that. They weren't there to see me, they all missed Stephanie, which I could understand. She was the heart and soul of RangeMan and they all loved her. I got it and I wasn't mad about it.

What sent me into a blind rage was seeing her ex-fucking-boyfriend hug her like she still belonged to him. Then he had the nerve to kiss her...ON THE FUCKING LIPS. Those lips belonged to me. He lost the right to kiss her there, yet there he was, kissing my lips. I wanted to rearrange his face, and was just about to when Ranger stopped me. His look told me to let it go, but fuck that. He might be able to stand back and watch her kiss Morelli, but I couldn't.

And as if that wasn't bad enough...then I had to watch Steph go to Ranger and melt into his arms. I knew the chemistry they had and I knew that he loved her just as much as I did. I knew that he was the one person that could take her away from me. He whispered in her ear and I saw a familiar look on her face. She still fucking loved him.

I watched her as she hugged and kissed every man standing by that plane. Seeing that didn't bother me so much. Just her interaction with Morelli and Ranger. Steph and I would need to have a serious talk about boundaries with those two, but first I needed to calm down. That was not the time to confront her or them. Someone would end up hurt.

I felt bad when I snapped at her in the SUV, but it was too damn soon to have that conversation. I needed to take out some frustrations on the punching bag in the gym.

I saw the hurt on her face when I gave her a lame excuse and walked away from her. She was my fiancé and I didn't even kiss her goodbye. What an idiot. I was just so angry. Seeing that hurt on her face, and knowing I put it there just made me even more irate.

I drove to the office and parked the SUV in my normal spot. I carried my bags to my apartment and then changed into gym clothes. I honestly hoped no one else was in the gym because I didn't want to be disturbed while I worked out my frustrations. I knew the guys watched me on the monitors as I made my way to the gym, but I didn't give two shits. I stretched to warm up my muscles and then immediately went to the punching bag and got lost in my anger and rage.

I don't know how long I beat the fuck out of that bag before Ranger and Bobby stepped into the gym. I could see them trying to talk to me, but I refused to listen or stop. I hadn't beat all the anger out yet. I was still pissed beyond words.

I noticed Ranger pull out his cell phone and make a call. He talked to whoever he called for a few minutes and then turned back around to me. The look on his face was enough to cause me to falter in my punches. He was beyond pissed so I assumed the person he called was Stephanie. He knew what happened and he wasn't happy about it.

"Zero, get your fucking ass on the mats NOW!" Yep, he was pissed. Good, maybe I could work some of my anger off on him. After all, he was part of the problem. I stopped punching the bag and walked to the mats on the other side of the gym. Les and Tank stepped into the gym and stood beside the mat with Bobby.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Boss?" Tank was curious about why I was mad and why I was about to get the shit beat out of me.

"Dumb-fuck here got his panties in a bunch and instead of talking to his fiancé about it, he left her standing in her hallway with a newborn baby. I just talked to Steph and she's a crying mess. She's already emotional because of the baby, and he goes and does something so fucking stupid and makes her even more emotional. Our standing rule at RangeMan is you don't hurt Stephanie Plum. Dumb-fuck broke that rule." Fuck! I'm going to get my ass beat by four angry men.

"You really do that shit?" Tank looked at me with murder in his eyes. I was pissed and decided to let it all come out.

"Do you know what it's like to see the woman you love in the arms of another man?" The minute that question left my mouth, I regretted it. It was a stupid question and Ranger actually laughed; out loud...and for a long time.

"You dumb piece of shit. Every one of those men tonight love your fiancé and would do AND have done ANYTHING she's asked of them. Yet at the end of the night, she chose YOU. She might love each of us, in her own way, and she'll always love Joe and Ranger, but she agreed to marry you. She has YOUR son. She CHOSE you, you stupid piece of shit." Les was pissed and didn't hide his anger. "I swear to god, if you fuck this up and hurt her more...I will kill you and not one guy here will stop me."

I knew that was true. It didn't make me any less angry though. I knew she chose me but why can't they keep their hands and lips off of her?

"Do you know who took care of her while you were gone?" Ranger was calmer now, but I could still see the anger under the surface. I shook my head. Steph told me a little about where she stayed and the friends she met, but I didn't know who helped her.

"Joe was the one to get her out-of-town when she needed it. He found the house and helped her get settled. She didn't trust anyone from RangeMan, but she needed someone so she asked him." I wondered why she didn't in with him. That would have been the perfect opportunity for him to get her back.

"She and Joe are friends. Have been for years and they ended their romantic relationship because they didn't want to hurt their friendship. Joe is engaged to another woman and she's pregnant. I might not have liked the fucker before, but he's proved himself to be a good friend to Steph and I will not let you belittle that friendship." Ranger's words hurt. I didn't know about Joe's new relationship. I just knew that no matter how much Ranger did, she always went back to the cop and I was scared that it would happen again.

"Fuck!" That was all I could say. My anger at them was subsiding, but the anger toward my stupidity was growing.

"Did Steph tell you what happened to her in Greenville? About the robbery and the guy who saved her and your son?" I nodded. I would forever be thankful for CJ. I knew that's where the Jacob in AJ's name came from.

"Did she tell you what happened after?" I shook my head again. Ranger sighed and dropped his head. He looked uncomfortable.

I heard the gym door open and Joe stepped in, FUCK. Who the hell called him?

"I called Joe because he might want to show you what happens when you hurt our Bombshell." Bobby spoke from behind me. I glared at him, but he just laughed and shrugged.

"What did the dumb fuck do?" Joe asked Ranger.

"Got jealous of you and I guess, me. Hell, maybe he's jealous of all the guys too. He thinks he's the only man alive who loves Stephanie." Joe laughed and I heard 'dumb piece of shit' mumbled under his breath.

"So what the fuck happened after the robbery?" I was getting impatient. Joe's eyebrow raised and he looked at Ranger.

"He doesn't know?" Ranger shook his head. "Can I enlighten him?" Ranger nodded and Joe stepped up in front of me.

"When your boss found out where Steph was living, he began monitoring the police bands. He heard about the robbery and realized that Steph was involved. He flew there so he could be there for her. She had a traumatic experience and needed someone familiar. He went to be with her. He stayed with her. He was there for her when you were off in another country." I was pissed now. I would have been there had I known.

"I DIDN'T FUCKING KNOW WHERE SHE WAS. I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS PREGNANT." I yelled and about punched the fucking cop in the face, but held back. I wasn't mad at him anymore. I was mad at myself.

"Doesn't matter. He was there and you weren't. He was there for the delivery of your son. He stayed with her at the hospital and then helped her that first week at home. He found her the apartment here so she could move back. He paid for everything. I took care of the furniture and decorating the nursery, but he paid for it all. He drove her and your son across the country so that she would be here waiting for your stupid ass." Joe looked disgusted and turned away from me.

"After everything we both did for her, and she still chose you." Ranger's words were deathly calm. This was scary Ranger. The Ranger I never wanted to meet.

"I asked her as I watched her nurse your son, if she ever wished that he was mine and that we were together." Ranger paused trying to control the beast that was ready to pound my face.

"Hey, I asked her the same thing." Joe laughed. "What did she tell you?"

"She told me, no. As much as she loves me and I her, she wouldn't have been happy with me. She is right where she belongs and she picked the right man." Joe nodded.

"She told me the same thing." I was shocked. She honestly picked me over those two? She loved them for years and me only a few months so why did she pick me?

"You see. Something you don't know about Stephanie Plum is when she falls in love, it's completely. She never loved me or Ranger that way. She saved that for you and you just broke her heart." Joe stepped in front of me again.

"I called her on the way over here and she honestly thinks that you left her. She thinks SHE pushed YOU away. She's blaming herself and is worried sick that you don't love her anymore and that she'll be alone for the rest of her life." I was beyond sick. I didn't leave her...well, I walked away. I guess she could interpret that as leaving.

"I told her that if you fucked up and threw her away that she would never be alone. There is a whole building full of guys that would love to be in your shoes, but that wouldn't make her happy. You do. So man the fuck up and fix this." Joe stepped away and ran his hand through his hair.

"You don't deserve her, but she loves you and as much as it kills me to admit...you're the one that she wants. So are you going to continue being a pussy or are you going to do what Joe suggested and MAN THE FUCK UP?" I didn't even see Ranger's fist before it smashed me in the face. I felt my nose crunch and then the stars burst from behind my eyes. I guess the talking time was over.

Ranger and Joe spent the next god knows how long teaching me a lesson that I won't soon forget. By the time they were done, I was beyond exhausted. I didn't even fight back, I let them beat my ass because I felt like shit for how I treated Stephanie. I hurt her and I swore that I would never do that. I promised her that I would always take care of her and treat her like she deserves, but I didn't do that. I treated her like shit and I deserved the beating I got. When they were done, Ranger and Joe looked down at me on the mat.

"Get this asshole put back together so he can hopefully fix this shit. If he can't fix it then arrange his funeral." Ranger and Joe stepped off the mat and left me laying there bruised and battered.

"Steph and AJ are in my apartment. Bring him up there when you get him cleaned up." Ranger tossed over his shoulder as he and Joe walked out side by side. I never thought I would see the day that they were friends, but it looks that way now. Maybe not friends, but allies firmly in Stephanie's corner. They would do anything for her and they proved that. I felt like a complete idiot.

"Bet you feel pretty stupid now, don't you?" Les helped me stand and laughed.

"You have no idea." I shook my head which made it throb.

"Let's get you to the infirmary so we can take care of your boo-boo's. Beautiful is going to be pissed that you look like this." Bobby and Tank laughed at Les' phrasing, but they helped me limp to the elevator and up to Bobby's medical suite.

I don't remember what all they said was injured on me. I know my nose was broken and I had a few bruised ribs. I think that was the worst of the injuries aside from my face being one continuous bruise. My hands were torn up from my time on the bag, but that was my fault.

I spent about 2 hours in the infirmary and then spent about thirty minutes in my apartment cleaning up. I got all the blood off me and changed into some normal clothes. I wasn't working today. I actually had another couple of days off. Maybe I needed to spend it with my family.

I texted Ranger and told him that I was ready to see Steph. I couldn't access the seventh floor without someone on the core team unlocking the elevator. Tank showed up and escorted me to the penthouse apartment where my fiancé and son were waiting. Tank didn't bother knocking, he opened the door and walked with me into the large living room. Swanky place!

I didn't see Steph or AJ, but standing in the living room were two very pissed off men. Ranger and Joe stood side by side glaring at me. They still didn't trust me. Fucking great.

"Where's Steph?" Ranger nodded toward his office on the opposite side of the room. I turned to head the direction but was stopped by Ranger's words.

"She's feeding AJ. Let her finish and then I'll take care of him so you can talk to her." I nodded and turned back toward the living room. I sat awkwardly in a chair across from Ranger and Joe who were sitting on the couch glaring at me. Tank was hanging out in the kitchen. Smart man.

Several very tense minutes later, Stephanie walked out with a sleeping AJ in her arms. She didn't notice me, but I had a perfect view of her.

Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks were tear stained, and she walked with a defeated posture. God, what did I do to her? She stopped when she walked into the room, finally noticing me. Her eyes got big and filled with tears. I guess I looked pretty bad.

"Let me take AJ for you, Babe. You and Zero can go back to my office and talk." Ranger took AJ from her arms and then pulled her into a hug. "Remember to listen to him. Don't close up." She nodded and walked toward the office. I followed a few steps behind her.

Once we were both inside and the door was closed, she turned to me with tears streaming down her face. She looked so broken.

"Just do it fast so I can cry in privacy." I didn't understand what she meant.

"Do what fast?" She let out a sob and hung her head.

"End our relationship. Break up with me, whatever you want to do. Here!" She took off the engagement ring and handed it to me. I was shocked.

"Oh god, Stephanie. I'm so sorry." I took her into my arms as she cried. She was beyond broken and it was my stupidity that did it to her.

She cried for several minutes and then pulled away with a questioning look on her beautiful face.

"Breá, I'm so sorry I was such an ass to you. I didn't know all the details and I misunderstood some of the guys actions and I got jealous. I'm so sorry that I hurt you." She furrowed her brows and looked at me.

"Some of the guys or just two? Ranger and Joe and I are friends. They have both helped me through difficult times and I will not cut them out of my life." She knew exactly who I had the problems with.

"Joe helped me when I was so pissed at RangeMan that I couldn't see. He helped me get away from everyone who hurt me, you and Ranger included. I needed that time to find myself again and I did. Ranger helped me when I lost a very close friend and almost lost my life. He was there for AJ's birth and is actually his Godfather. I refuse to let you tell me that I can't be friends with them. They both will always be in my life and if you can't handle that then we have a serious problem." I nodded my head and let out a long sigh. It was time to grovel.

"I don't have a problem with them anymore. When I first saw them with you today, I admit that I got jealous. I didn't know the whole story. I didn't know everything that they had done for you. I just saw two men who I knew you used to or maybe still do love and I thought they could take you away from me." I wiped some tears off her face. She didn't pull away from me so that was a good sign.

"You saw me running to Joe or Ranger just like Shelly used to run to Michael?" I hadn't thought about like that, but yeah. I guess she was right. I nodded and hung my head.

"I'm so sorry that I jumped to conclusions and I didn't trust you. I let my insecurities and fears lead my actions and I hurt you. I'm so sorry, Breá. I love you more than I ever thought possible. I love you with every breath in my body and I won't survive without you." She sighed and looked into my eyes.

"When we met Shelly, I knew that you two shared a past. I saw the love in her eyes for you and it made me jealous too. But instead of jumping to conclusions and walking away from you, I talked to her and then to you. Why couldn't you do that for me? Why did you make me doubt our love, because I did when you left me standing in the hallway? I actually had doubts about how you honestly feel about me and that's wrong. I shouldn't have doubts because I agreed to marry you. I love you, that hasn't changed. But I think maybe you don't love me as much as you claim to." I felt even more like shit. I hated that she doubted my feelings. I hated that I caused her to question me and my feelings.

"I know I caused all of this and I can't even begin to tell you why. I was hurt and angry and I needed to get the anger out before I talked to you. I never want you to see me like that and I couldn't stop it from happening. I had to get away from you before my beast came out to play. I'm so sorry, my love. Please don't question or doubt my feelings. Please don't push me away." I couldn't stop the tears from falling down my face. I was begging and I didn't care.

She was silent for several minutes. She didn't touch me or say anything. I could tell she was thinking so I just let her think. God I hope she wasn't thinking about leaving me.

"I think we need some time apart." I snapped my head up to look at her and saw the tears in her eyes. "Wait, let me explain." She squatted down in front of me and wiped the moisture off my face.

"I love you and I think I always will. You just came back from a long mission and then got thrown into this crazy life with me and a son that you didn't even know existed." She kissed my cheek and stroked her thumb over the spot where her lips just left.

"Ranger said that the standard procedure is two weeks off-line after a mission like what you just did. You haven't had that. You haven't had time to relax and decompress. I think you need that. I think you need time to get your mind wrapped around everything that happened." God she was right. Normally after a mission like that, I would fly to Cali and lock myself in my house for two weeks. I relaxed with Stephanie on our trip, but it wasn't the same.

"Wait here." She stood and kissed me on the lips and then left the office. I could hear muffled voices outside but couldn't make out what they were saying. Steph came back into the room several minutes later.

"Ranger has agreed to give you another two weeks off. I want you to go to Cali and stay at the house. Relax. Do whatever you need to do to get back to your normal self." Was she pushing me away? I tried to speak, but she silenced me with a finger to the lips.

"I'll be waiting here for you when you get back. I love you and you're not going to get rid of me so easily. That is if you still want me." She looked unsure for a second. I pulled her into my lap and kissed her. I let every feeling I had for her be told in that kiss. When we pulled back we were both breathless.

"I guess you still want me." She giggled when she found her voice finally. I nodded.

"Will you go away and do what you need to do? AJ and I need you in our lives, but we need you whole." I couldn't speak so I just nodded. A look of relief crossed her beautiful face.

"Thank you." Steph whispered and kissed me gently on the lips. "Ella has your bag ready and Tank has your plane ticket." Wow, she worked fast. "Call me when you get there and any other time you want to. AJ and I will be waiting for you when you get back to us." I saw the tears streaming down her face and again I felt like shit.

"I'm so sorry, Breá. I love you too, baby, and I'll come back to you." She nodded and kissed me again. I knew I needed to do this but I hated to leave her. Maybe this would be good for us. I stood up and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for loving me so much, Stephanie." I whispered into her hair and I felt her sob.

"I had no choice but to love you, but you're welcome." We kissed once more and I left her standing in the office as I walked into the living room.

Ranger stood with AJ when I entered the room. He handed me my son, so I could say goodbye to him.

"I should have realized something, man. I'm sorry for not paying more attention." Ranger actually looked regretful. I waived him off. It wasn't his fault. I should have realized the same thing.

"My fault. Thanks for the extra time off. I'll use it to get my head straight." He nodded and took AJ back when I was done kissing him goodbye.

"Take care of them while I'm gone." That didn't need to be said. Ranger nodded and I followed Tank out of the door. Before I got fully out the door, I heard Steph's beautiful voice.

"Hey, sexy." I stopped and turned around to her smirking at the office door. "When you get back, I'll be off my restrictions so come prepared." She wasn't embarrassed or ashamed of admitting that in front of the guys. They all groaned right along with me and I ran back into the penthouse to kiss my woman. I slipped the engagement ring back onto her finger while I kissed her and when we pulled away she looked at it and smiled.

"I love you, Noah."

"I love you too, Stephanie." I kissed her again and walked out of the door. I had a plane to catch and I had two weeks to relax. Knowing what was waiting for me when I came back was going to make that the longest two weeks of my life.

A/N - So what did you think? Did Zero get a good enough reality check? Let me know if you loved it or hated it.