After making love and dozing, Stephanie leaned into Ric and asked if he was hungry. "I can make us an omelette and toast."

"That sounds good, Babe." Stephanie smiled at the endearment.

"Does your Abuela know you're home?"

I called her when I got in yesterday and said I would arrive by noon tomorrow. Then I was able to get a seat on a cargo plane and thought I could be with you here until I am due to see her."

"You missed me?" Stephanie was blushing.

"Like I didn't have air to breath. And I knew you were what I needed after… Les." Ric held her close. "I have never said this to a girl before, but I am madly in love with you, Stephanie- I can't imagine spending my days without you."

"Oh Ric, I love you so much."

And omelette waited another couple of hours.

Stephanie woke up with tears running down her cheeks. The dream of that last morning with Ric, just before he found out he was going to be a father, kept haunting her. God, between that and Val's crazy plan- Steph knew her sister. She would want the child- she loved Lester. Sooner or later, she would come to her senses. But until Val was ready to be a mom, Stephanie would step in. This was Val's grief talking. And when Les came back… if he came back, he would be delighted with his child. Stephanie had seen how he looked at Mary Lou and Bobby when he thought nobody was looking. He might be a crazy flirt, but he would be an amazing father.

As for Val's daft plan to marry Steve- Good God! Even months into the planning and the scheme of Val being Stephanie when she went to the maternity clinic, she just couldn't see her typically logical sister marrying that asshole. A cheater. A liar. He would break Val heart. Stephanie knew it. It was only a matter of time.

The alarm was going off- time to get up and go to work…As Valarie Plum. Because she couldn't be seen around not pregnant as herself. And still had bills to pay. Shaking her head she got ready for work. This was going to be a huge mess if anyone found out.

When she arrived home, Ric went straight to his Abuela, hugging her tightly and whispering, "I missed you so much."

Abuela held him a moment then stepped an arm's length away, "What happened to your leg?"

It is a minor injury; I will tell you later. Right now, we have family business to attend to… you remember Rachel? Marion's friend."

Abuela looked to the third person in the room. Rachel was sitting on the sofa holding a pillow in her lap and when she stood, Abuela caught sight of her swollen abdomen and all the blood in her body went cold.

"Ricardo Carlos Manoso, how could you? She is but a child!" She was furious. "And you left her along for months, it would seem."

Ric said quietly, "I was only told this morning."

Abuela looked to Rachel. "Why would you wait so long?" She asked, not unkindly

Rachel answered, "At first, I wasn't sure, and then I wasn't sure I'd keep it. And then Ric was just gone with no way to get in touch with him. But my mom and Step father found my prenatal vitamins and kicked me out and Marion brought me here."

Ric jumped in, "As you know, I was deployed- the Army owns me."

Abuela said absently, "I called Marion after you called, Ricky, to tell her you were coming… "

"It's okay Abuela."

"No matter what, your child cannot be a bastard- Ricky, you must give the baby your name. And somebody needed to take care of Rachel."

"I will marry Rachel, Abuela. We have already discussed it and we will go get the license today and get married after the three-day waiting period."

"Don't be mad at Ric, it isn't his fault." Rachel put a hand on his arm and spoke to him. "I met you and I wanted you and I asked Marion to help me make it happen. And it isn't like I was a virgin. I am sorry I lied to you. I promise I won't ever again."

His heart was heavy. He would do right by her, the baby and would never be unkind. But his heart belonged to someone else and he was in HELL!

Ric's ringing phone intruded on his memory. After answering the caller's inquire, he contemplated the whole fucked-up mess that day had been. How had that been only a couple of months ago? The wedding, the apartment, Rachel going to the clinic to establish care. The ultrasound showing a healthy baby girl.

His Abuela hadn't been angry, she had just been so disappointed in him. Fuck, he was disappointed in himself.

And Rachel- Ric got her enrolled so she could finish high school, and did as much around the house as he could. He took care of laundry and cooking, and was teaching Rachel some easy recipes. He let her decorate the nursery and Mary Lou was able to arrange a shower for Rachel by reaching out to the other wives and girlfriends of the team. Ric and Mary Lou both understood how hard it was to be such a young mother, without friends or family in the area. Mary Lou and Bobby had been a Godsend. If Ric couldn't go, they took Rachel for her check-ups. They picked up groceries if they were shopping. And each week they invited Ric and Rachel to Game Night. Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, and Parcheesi were fan favorites, but Boggle, Scattegories and Yahtzee had their moments in the sun.

But Rachel seemed sad in the quiet moments.

And he still felt only half alive.