AN: So, after a quick reread over the story so far, I realized I wanted to give all the kids a little focus of their own, not just Elise. I decided to look at Cami for a bit in this chapter. In a few chapters it will be CJ and Julie separately, but for the moment it was CAmi's turn. Also, in regards to the SAT scores in the chapter, I went with the new scoring which goes to 2400 instead of 1600 the way it used to. Hope everyone enjoys! Thanks for the reviews so far!

Chapter 6

SATs and Quality Time

Cami floated on her back in the pool. Her body ached. The last few days Ranger had kept his children busy with either training or work at RangeMan. She had tried using the fact that he didn't hire anyone under eighteen on him, but he simply informed her that he was the boss and could adjust the rules as he saw fit. What he didn't know was that she finished the work he gave her really fast and spent time spying on others at RangeMan. Computers were just easy to her. She understood their complexity and could maneuver through the codes that locked people out. Realistically, she knew hacking into a system was illegal, but she got bored waiting for the end of the day. She knew Silvio knew what she had done because she had inadvertently locked him out of his computer. He was impressed and promised not to tell Ranger.

Silvio had recommended that she consider studying computer science in college when she went. The thought intrigued her. She was really good at it and most people wouldn't expect her to be so good at something as complex as the inner workings of a computer. Most of the people back home thought she was just a chipper spoiled little princess.

Kicking back lazily across the pool she rolled her eyes. They weren't Carlos Manoso's kids. They didn't know that her parents made sure she could defend herself, that they'd disciplined her. She was raised with a lot of love, but was also very aware of the world around her. She knew her father and sister had seen some horrible things in the Army. She knew her mother had dealt with some bad things when she was younger. She knew Julie had been kidnapped by a psychopath trying to become Ranger.

Tears of frustration hit her eyes and she ducked her head under water to get rid of them. She knew she was a lot like Stephanie and wore her heart on her sleeve, but she knew her mother was really smart. She didn't want to admit to her parents she had a tough time making friends at school. There were a lot of kids who wanted to know what she could do for them. There were a few, a small few, who actually chose to get to know her.

The lump in her throat throbbed so painfully that she was forced to sit on the edge of the pool and give herself a few minutes of a pity party. As far as she knew everyone was still in bed. If anyone asked about the red rimmed eyes she would have in a bit, she could claim it was from the pool.

"Okay." She finally said to herself out loud. "You're done. No reason to give yourself a pity party. You're strong. People who don't like you very much can kiss your ass." With that she thrust herself into the water, very much unaware that her brother was coming up from a run and had heard her.

By the time the house was fully awake, CJ was watching his sister contemplatively. He had seen her crying and watched her shrug it off. Now she was the bouncy carefree self she let everyone see. He wondered how often they missed the pain she was hiding. Perhaps it had been too easy to miss. Their age differences were larger than most siblings. Julie had sixteen years on Cami as the oldest. He got the feeling that Cami's only real friends happened to be the three of them.

"Morning!" Julie called out. "I've got mail! Cami, you've got a letter of high importance according to Grandpa Frank."

Cami took the envelope from her and stared at it. It was her SAT scores. She wasn't sure she wanted to look at them, but if she was going to study computer science in school then surely she'd have to have a good idea of what her scores were, right? She knew her parents could afford to send her to school, but the idea of her getting a scholarship was nice. She hadn't even started her senior year and she was already looking forward to it being over.

Finally, she turned the envelope over and opened it. She picked up a glass of juice and started drinking it as she looked down at the scores.

And promptly started choking on said juice.

CJ reached over and slapped her on the back. Cami didn't seem to notice. Her eyes were glued to the paper, looking at it widely.

"Cami, what is it?" Stephanie asked looking at her concerned. "Bad news?"

"My SAT scores." She whispered, eyes still glued to the paper.

Leaning over her shoulder, CJ looked at the scores. "Holy fuck, Cami!"

"What?" Elise looked over at them. "What'd she get?"

"A 2350." CJ looked blown away.

"Out of…?"

"2400."

"Shit, Cami!" Elise grinned at her. "Way to go!"

"Sweetheart!" Stephanie hugged her tightly. "I am so proud of you!"

Ranger shuffled his wife out of the way to hug her next. "Great job, little girl!" He kissed her on top of her head. He plucked the paper out of her hands. "We have to frame this."

Cami still looked like she was in shock. Julie grinned at her. "Want me to go buy you a brownie?"

Elise started laughing. "I'm not sure that would cure her right now."

"We have to celebrate tonight!" Stephanie decided hugging Cami again. "We'll have a beach party. How's that sound?"

Cami simply nodded. Shock was an understatement as far as she was concerned. CJ noticed and leaned over to whisper, "If people can't like you, they can kiss your ass."

That snapped her out of it. She shot him a look of pure surprise that he'd heard what she said earlier. Then he winked. He wasn't talking. A small sigh escaped her. Thank goodness.

The beach party was under way in a matter of hours. Cami wasn't sure if she should be pleased or embarrassed with the way her parents were showing off her SAT scores. Maybe pleasantly embarrassed would work, she thought.

She had to laugh and return hugs of congratulations as she passed the members of her extended family. Most of them were Merry Men or Merry Men 2.0 but they were all her uncles. Their wives (with the exception of Alex and RJ who were lovers) were like aunts and their kids like cousins. When she thought about it, her jag this morning was a little off. She got along with all her 'cousins'. Probably because they all had the same problem she did.

"2350 is mighty high." Silvio hugged her with one arm. They stood away from everyone. "Did you give anymore thought to what we talked about?"

"Yes. I think I might." Cami smiled at her uncle. "It does give me an edge people don't expect, you know?"

"And edge of what?" Ranger asked sidling up to them.

Cami let out a surprised screech and glared at her father. He chuckled. "Gotta be more aware of your surroundings, kiddo."

"Ranger, you're not gonna believe this." Silvio smiled at Cami.

"Uncle Silvio! You promised!"

"I know, sweetie, but your SAT scores trumps it."

"Not going to believe what?" Ranger asked suspiciously.

"Your daughter hacked through our system the other day."

"What?"

Silvio nodded, laughing. "She locked me out of my computer. She got through your highest securities on our system. I'm trying to convince her to study computer science when she goes to college."

Ranger's lips tugged upward. "Little girl, I don't recall telling you to do that."

Cami shrugged and grinned. "I got bored when I finished all those searches. They were too easy."

Ranger let out a good laugh and hugged her. "Silvio is right. Computer science would be a good place to put you. Maybe you could build a better security for the system when you're done."

"Really?" Cami seemed to light up at the idea of working at RangeMan in that capacity.

"Yep, but only if you really want to." He chuckled when she gave a delighted shriek and hugged him tightly then bounded off.

"Dad." CJ came up to them. "Does Cami bring friends home?"

"Occasionally, not often though. Why?"

"Just curious."

"Why, CJ?" Ranger turned and gave him his full attention. The look on CJ's face said he wasn't going to betray his sister's confidence. He really had to give his kids credit. When someone asked for their confidence, they gave it and they didn't break it.

CJ wandered off leaving Ranger and Silvio watching the crowd.

"Your kids are all deceptive." Silvio chuckled. "You'd never guess Elise is in the Army just looking at her, just like you'd never guess Cami could hack through a computer's security system. Until I'd seen it for myself, I'd never peg Julie for someone who could calmly shoot someone then go for pizza after."

"And CJ?"

Silvio shook his head. "Ranger, that boy is you all over. People don't know what to expect from you, and they really don't know what to expect from him. The only ones who might are your girls. You and Steph have raised some great kids. You've got to be proud."

"Oh, I am." He grinned watching all four of his kids. The swell of pride in his chest was so big he thought it might just burst out.

…

The next morning Ranger groggily made his way out of bed. He went to the bathroom, did his morning duties and changed into workout clothes. When he went to bedroom door he pulled the handle.

Nothing happened.

He pulled it again. Still nothing. The door wouldn't budge. Not even an inch. He tried yanking it as hard as he could. What the fuck was going on? He wondered.

"Babe."

Stephanie rolled over and mumbled something incoherent, pulling a pillow over his head.

"Babe."

"What?" She finally growled from under a pillow.

"I can't get the door open."

"Did you lock it?"

"No."

"Then turn the handle and pull." He could see her rolling her eyes under the pillow.

"I am!"

Sighing Stephanie dragged herself out of bed and walked over. She smirked at her husband. "See, you just grip it and pull."

Nothing.

Now it was her turn to stare at the door. Ranger smirked at her. "You were saying?"

"Bite me."

"I did. Several times last night if you remember correctly." Even after all these years, he could still make her blush. It was one of the most endearing things he loved about her.

"Maybe one of the windows?" She suggested. They went around the room trying all the windows. Nothing worked. It seemed as though someone had locked them securely in their own bedroom.

Ranger's phone went off. Picking it up his eyebrows rose at the text. "Babe."

"Hm?"

"Your children have grounded us."

"Our children?"

"No, they're yours right now."

"Oh, I don't think so mister!" Stephanie walked over to her phone as it was going off. She read the text and repressed the urge to laugh. "Your children are punishing you for the last few days of slave driving as they call it. My children are just allowing me to have quality time with my husband."

"I'm calling Tank and Lester."

"Carlos."

"What?"

"I think you should take advantage of my quality time with my husband." Stephanie leaned back on the bed and grinned at him. She crooked her finger. His wolf grin came out as he stalked toward her shedding his clothes.