Disclaimer: Not mine

AN: Wow, thank you so much for your reviews. I'm really surprised by how much anger was directed at our man in black. It means a lot that you are all so invested in this story and I hope to do your faith justice. I love all your reviews and appreciate the time you each take to read and leave some love. Enjoy Ranger's POV.

Chapter 9

Ranger's POV

I listened to my Babe explain why she didn't tell me about our daughter. I felt guilty knowing my actions had caused her so much pain. We hadn't planned to have a child while we were in college and she was right, I would've come home and married her if I knew. I only married Rachel because she was pregnant, but I loved Stephanie. It would've been different. Again, I wish Emilio was still alive so I could kill him myself. I know she's hurting, I now understood why she was moody this past week.

I heard her get into her car and drive away. I didn't know what I felt, but angry and hurt were at the top of the list. I walked to the headstone shaped like an angel and knelt down. It was a beautiful headstone, for a beautiful girl. I knew she'd be beautiful with the two of us for parents. I said a prayer for my baby then I began to talk to her. "Hope, it's your daddy. I wish I could have been there when you were born. I wish your mother trusted me enough to tell me about you. I would do anything to change what happened eight years ago. I understand why she named you Hope. She must've hoped you would survive and that we could be a family together. I ruined that. I hope I haven't ruined what we have now with my anger. I have a right to feel betrayed and angry but I will only be happy if I'm with her. I just found out about you baby girl, but I want you to know that I love you and I would've done anything for you."

I realized that I had begun to cry as I spoke to my daughter. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done that; I must've been a child. I quietly wiped my eyes and walked back to my car. My cousin was standing next to the Tahoe and he would never tell anyone that I cried. He spoke softly when I walked up to him "Carlos, I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you. I can't believe Steph never told you."

I looked up at him, "Not your fault Les. She had her reasons and I must have hurt her more than I ever realized or she would've known she could have told me about our daughter."

I got in my car and drove to my parents' house. I told them about Hope and talked about my anger towards Stephanie and Celia. My mother called Celia and they had a short heated discussion. A few minutes later Celia entered the living room and held up her hand before I could speak.

"Ricardo I know you're angry. Eight years ago you broke Stephanie's heart; I didn't think she'd ever recover. She became withdrawn and barely spoke to anyone, she spoke to me more than anyone else, but I rarely saw her. I called her and told her that you got married, seven years ago today. I knew she was devastated. About an hour after I called her, she called me back and told me she thought she was in labor. I didn't even know she was pregnant. I met her at the hospital, coached her through the delivery when they couldn't stop the contractions and held her as she cried when Hope died four hours later. She only got to hold her for a few minutes after she died. I couldn't imagine the pain she felt. She did it all alone. After Hope was buried she cut off almost all contact with me. She took as many classes as they would let her; she graduated and moved on to Princeton. She got her MBA in a year." I watched her as the tears flowed down her cheeks and she took a breath before continuing. "Every year we met in Newark at the cemetery and then had lunch. That was the only contact we had. Every year I told her she should tell you, but she wouldn't let me bring you up. The conversations we had - was like we were polite strangers. You both are more alive together than apart. She married that man to please her mother; she'll never love anyone but you. I couldn't tell you, she made me promise not to. I honestly felt it was something she should tell you."

I blew out a breath, working to calm my emotions before I cried again. "Celia I can't believe you didn't tell me but I understand you gave her your word. I knew I hurt her but I guess I never really knew how much. I had planned to ask her to marry me today, but now I don't think I can. I don't know if I can ever trust her again. Do you have any pictures of Hope?"

Celia shook her head, "No, Stephanie does. She had a 3D ultrasound the day before she was born. I can tell you that Hope looked like you, with Stephanie's eyes. She was beautiful." Celia paused but then started again, "Carlos, don't be a fool again. Go to her. This day is hard on her, you can comfort each other."

I had dinner with my parents after Celia left. We talked and then I decided to go to Stephanie's house. When I arrived the house was dark; I had a bad feeling. I made my way into the house and it was empty. There was an envelope on the bed addressed to me. I opened it and out fell a letter and a photo. It was the ultrasound picture of Hope. I opened the letter and read it through.

Ric,

I'm so sorry I hurt you. I know it was wrong to keep her from you. I hope you think she's as beautiful as I do. I stopped blaming you a long time ago but I never wanted you to feel this pain.

I'm going away for awhile to think about what I've done and only hope that you'll want me back when I return. If you don't, I'll understand. Please forgive me.

Stephanie

P.S. The picture is yours to keep; I have a couple of others.

I stared at the letter and felt like my heart had been ripped from chest. I had to find her. I took the letter and picture and drove to my office. Within an hour I had all my men looking for any sign of her I could find. After two days, we still came up with nothing.