Chapter 33
"What do you mean?" She asked taking a sip of water and trying to act cool.
Joe rolled his eyes at her, "Really how did you not know about Mary?"
Stephanie sat back, "Who's Mary?"
Joe looked at her with narrowed eyes, "The other night you said you had to talk to me about something that you knew?"
Stephanie gave a grin, "Yea, I heard about your job offer with the FBI."
Joe sat back with a frown, "How did you hear about the job offer and not Mary?"
She gave a grin, "I have been stuck in a building with super spies. They know everything about the law, who's breaking it and who is enforcing it. They heard it from a little birdie. However, they do not deal in dating gossip." She said with a laugh.
She said reaching over to grab a fry out of the basket the waiter just brought over to the table. "Is she pretty?"
Joe shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "She's ok." He mumbled.
Stephanie raised her eyebrows and gave a snicker, "Just ok? Have your standards gone down cause I am a solid ten, Cupcake." She said with a grin.
Joe looked at her with narrowed eyes, "Honestly I thought you would be upset to find out I went out on a date... we have only been apart for a few months."
Stephanie rolled her eyes at him, "Seriously Joe, I am living with another man, madly in love. I want the same for you...well it doesn't have to be a guy... or can be a girl." She said finishing with a grin.
Joe snorted, "Yea but we all knew you were in love with him before you left me. Not the same as starting over."
Stephanie's eyes went soft and she reached over to grab his hand in a tight squeeze. "I am sorry Joe, I never wanted to hurt you."
Joe watched as her eyes got watery, "Ohhhh Cupcake, don't cry. I know you didn't. We were never a good match. I can see that now. You made it clear from the beginning that you didn't want to be a stay at home mom with lots of kids. I was the one trying to push you into something you weren't. That's on me. I am just glad that I get to keep you as a friend. You always made one of the best friends I had." He squeezed her hand back and gave her a grin, "You are by far a better friend then girlfriend."
She pulled her hand back and frowned, "Hay I am an awesome girlfriend! Ask my boyfriend!"
Joe gave her a grin, "He also excepts that you are going to drive him nuts and never listen. I want normal... neither one of you are normal!"
She gave him a grin, "You are right about that, and you are also right about you being a better friend than boyfriend... honestly you kind of suck as a boyfriend!" She said laughing.
Joe shook his head at her pulling her sub over to grab a bite out of it, "dido cupcake."
"HAY." She yelled grabbing it back, "So how did the date go with Mary?"
Joe shrugged, "She was nice but I don't want to start anything with anyone until I know if I am taking the job. It won't be fair to get involved then move." He said grabbing a piece of pizza and took a big bite, "Besides I am ready to be alone for a while... nurse my broken heart." He grinned at her chewing with his mouth open.
Stephanie reached over and grabbed a slice of his pizza, "Mary broke it that fast?" She said in a mock innocent voice, eyes wide.
He gave a chuckle, "Yep... she wouldn't put out on the first date!" He finished seriously.
Stephanie snorted on her pizza, "Asshole!"
He wiggles his eyebrows at her, "No, but in all seriousness, I don't think I'm ready to settle down and have babies. I tried to force it on you for so long that I'm coming to realize I don't think I'm ready!"
Stephanie's eyes got wide, "Are you fucking serious?!" She said choking on pizza.
Joe shrugged his shoulders, "What can I say, your honestly made me take a step back and really think about what I wanted. Yeah, I still want to wife and kids, I am just not sure if I'm ready for it right now. This FBI thing looking kind of interesting. I think I want to give that a try for a while." He gave her a grin, "You breaking up with me was the best thing that ever happened!"
Stephanie shook her head slowly at him, "Unbelievable, seriously unbelievable!" She took a couple more bites of pizza chewing slowly and thinking. She tilted her head watching Joe.
"What?" He said after a few moments, "Do I have something to my face?"
She set her pizza down, "Can I ask you a question?"
Joe could sense her mood and set down his pizza, "Sure."
She put her elbows on the table and folded her hands, putting her chin on them. "Can I ask you a theoretical question."
Joe raised an eyebrow at her, "Sure, do I have to answer it theoretical or serious?"
Stephanie bit her lip thinking for a moment, "Either... both... you've been a friend for a really long time. You know me probably better than almost anyone else, other than Ranger."
Joe folded his arms over his chest, "Shoot."
Stephanie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Do you think I would be a good wife and mother?"
Joe choked on his spit for a moment, "Is this something that's going to happen in the future?" He asked gently not wanting to scare her away.
Stephanie looked up, "I'm not sure. I was always afraid of becoming a wife and mother. That's why I fought it for so long with you. But when I'm with Ranger... it's not the same. While I'm still not running down the aisle in excitement, the thought doesn't scare me the way it used to."
Joe just looked at her for a moment, no judgment in his eyes, "What does Ranger think about marriage and babies?"
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders, "I asked him the same question. His response, he's on my train. Whatever I want I get... according to him we can stay fuck buddies the rest of our lives. Or he'll marry me tomorrow."
Joe roared with laughter, "Fuck buddies?"
Stephanie gave him a grin, "Ranger refuses to say boyfriend or girlfriend. Says it's not manly."
Joe laughed even harder at that, after a minute he calm down. "So, you want to know what you should do?"
Stephanie nodded at him, "I'm not sure about anything anymore. I do know that I'm not scared the way I was before. Buttt..." she trailed off looking at him.
Joe gave her a nod, finally understanding where she was going with this, "Stephanie are you afraid that if you get married and have babies with Ranger, I'll be mad at you? Because you didn't want that with me?"
He watched her slowly shake her head yes, "Part of it yes." She said softly, "I don't want to hurt you."
Joe gave her a small understanding smile and reached over to grab her hands, "Stephanie you and I have a great relationship. I wasn't lying when I said that you made a better friend than girlfriend. I'm glad that you said no all of those times I asked you to marry me because we would never have lasted." He said squeezing her hands. "It's different with you and Ranger than it was with you and me. That's why the thought of getting married to Ranger and maybe having babies doesn't scare you the way it scared you when you were with me. We weren't right together. You're right with him."
Stephanie gave him a smile, "I'm still not ready to get married." She said softly.
Joe gave her a smile back, "But you're not running terrified of the possibility either." He said back
She gave a sideways half smile, "I guess I'm not. I broke out in hives every time you asked me. But when he brings it up... it's always hypothetical and it makes me think..." she said slowly... "not afraid...just not ready."
Joe gave her a smile and let go of her hands pointing at her, "That's because you and Ranger have something that you and I never had."
She looked at him with Curiosity, "What's that?"
Joe grabbed another piece of pizza, "Being right for each other..."
She gave a smile and reached for her sub, "Now there is only one thing to do."
Joe raised an eyebrow at her, "What's that?"
She gave a smile, "Find who's perfect for you."
Joes eyes got wide, "I can find her on my own. Thank you."
She shrugged her shoulders, "Well your batting average kind of sucks... Me then Mary who wouldn't even put out... Nope you need help. I have a friend I can put you on a blind date with."
Joe set down his pizza, "I know all your friends and I don't want any of them, thank you."
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders, "That's too bad, Lula has a nice friend I think that would love you." She laughed as she watched Joe pale.
"A friend of Lula's?" He said voice dropping, "I think I will pass."
She gave him a grin, "Fine... your loss."
Joe shook his head at her, "And here I thought we were friends and you liked me."
Stephanie gave him a grin, "This is me liking you sweet pea. I could have said Connie's friend but I am pretty sure she has bigger balls than you."
Joes eyes got wide, "She is more reckless then you?" He asked thinking she meant metaphorically.
Stephanie shook her head at him, "No, I mean literally, I think she has bigger balls than you."
Joe choked on his pizza, "God you are such an ass!" He said wiping his mouth and glaring at her as she grinned at him and chewed.
"But you love me anyway." She said cheerfully, waving another piece of pizza she stole from him.
Joe scowled at her, "I am still trying to figure out why that is."
Stephanie gave another grin, "Because I am freaking awesome! That's why!"
Joe rolled his eyes again, "Did I tell you thank you for breaking up with me yet... I really dodged a bullet with you."
She kicked him under the table, "Ass." She said with a grin.
"Brat." He said back with a grin..."Dessert?" He asked looking at the empty table.
Stephanie gave a laugh, "Seeee that's why I can't give you up... you're my fat friend... Ranger doesn't eat dessert... EVER!"
Joe smiled, "I will always eat dessert with you brat. But I am getting the chocolate cake!"
She gave a grin, "Good I will get the Tiramisu and we can share."
Joe shook his head, "Lier, that means you will get the tiramisu and eat all of yours and half of mine!" She laughed at him, "You never share... so we will get the apple cobbler too. That way I can at least get one bite of each thing before you eat it all."
"You know me so well." she said laughing out loud. "All three it is!"
When the tiramisu got to the table Stephanie took one look and one sniff and almost threw up.
She gave Joe a startled look and a quick excuse as she pushed away from the table to run to the bathroom.
She took deep breaths and tried to give Lester a quick smile as she walked/ran past him by the door. She barely made it to the stall before she started to throw up her entire lunch.
She took deep breaths leaning over the toilet, "Fuck." She mumbled. "These toilets are disgusting." A few more deep breaths and she pushed up to exit the stall. "I can't even have dessert, this is bull shit." She grumbled opening the door to see a woman standing at the sink.
"Sorry." Stephanie said softly, "Sub made my stomach hurt."
The woman nodded at her before leaving the room in a rush.
"Excellent." Stephanie grumbled, "Now everyone is going to hear about how I ate until I threw up at Pino's." She quickly washed her hands and splashed some water on her face and when she was going to leave the room her phone rang from her back pocket.
"Hello." She mumbled into the phone as she walked out back into the restaurant.
"Hello, Stephanie? It's Meg."
Stephanie paused in the middle of restaurant, "Hello, what's up." She said quietly.
"Hay quick question." Meg said, "Can you come back in to see me sometime this week? I wanted to do another ultra sound."
Fear rushed through Stephanie, she looked up to see both Lester and Joe looking at her with questions on their faces. She held up a finger to get a moment and pushed out the front door to walk a few feet away from the door, "Is something wrong?"
She turned to see Lester walking out but staying by the door to give her some privacy. "Do I need to come right now?"
Meg gave a small chuckle, "No, everything is fine. I just got your blood results back and they are extremely high based on the time frame that I gave you. So, I want to double check the growth and fetal count. Nothing to worry about. Everything else looks great."
Stephanie paused and put a hand to her forehead, "Wait time frame... count. What does that mean." She asked a different fear coming to mind.
"Well I estimated you at only 3 weeks but your HGC levels are much higher than they should be at 3 even 4 weeks. So that could mean that either you are further along or there was a hiding extra baby in there."
Stephanie pulled the phone away from her ear to lean over and hyperventilate into her knees. She saw Lester start walking towards her but she held out her arm to make him stop. She pulled the phone back to her ear and growled, "Are you joking, tell me you are joking."
Meg gave a laugh, "It could be you are just a little further along Steph. Another ultrasound will show us."
"How did you miss a baby?" She asked. "It's another baby!"
Meg kept laughing, "Stephanie they are not exactly baby sized currently... they are tiny and we were looking for one. Now I know to look for two. Also, it's a lot harder to look with a vaginal ultrasound. When do you want to come back to see? Maybe next Saturday?" She asked.
Stephanie's eyes nearly bugged out of her head, "You want me to wait a week to find out?" She asked voice cracking.
"Would you like to come in sooner? During the day?" Meg asked.
Stephanie took a breath, "Maybe after work one day or at the end of the day?"
She could hear Meg moving papers around, "Soonest I can do is Friday afternoon."
"Well fuck, great. I guess that could work. Do you think you can get me a photo on the ultrasound? I think I found a way to tell Ranger about the baby."
Meg gave a sigh, "Ok fine, I can do the ultrasound on Wed at 6pm. My last appointment is at 5pm. I know you want to tell Ranger sooner rather than later... but you tell Bobby that you're the reason I am canceling our date."
Stephanie paused for a moment, "You were going out with Bobby again? After the last time?"
Meg gave a giggle, "I was going to give him a second chance. See you on Wednesday."
Stephanie sighed, "See you Wednesday." She hung up and took another breath, "Well fuck me sideways." She turned to see Lester standing their watching her with a question in his eyes.
She walked over to him with a smile, but when he raised an eyebrow at her she sighed again, "My manic smile?" She asked him.
He gave her a grin, "Yep, what's up Bomber?"
She gave a small smile this time, "Nothing I can talk about right now. Just something I have to take care of. Come on let's go back inside."
She walked in front of him and went back over to Joe who was waiting for her with two empty plates. For once in her life she was happy someone ate all of the desert before she got there.
"I ordered you two to go Cupcake." He said setting his credit card on the bill for the waitress.
She gave him a smile, "Thanks Joe. Sorry. I felt sick for a second then I got a phone call I had to take."
Joe gave her a nod and waited for the waitress to leave and her to sit before he said, "Everything ok?"
Stephanie sighed and leaned back in her side of the booth, "Sure... and no... and yes... It's complicated."
Joe tilted his head to the side, "Anything to do with the conversation that we had earlier?"
Stephanie smiled at him, "See that's why you were offered a job with the FBI. You notice everything. I will be fine though... Just figuring out what I am going to do and when, that's all."
She leaned forward on the table, "Any idea if you are taking the job?
Joe shook his head, "It's everything I have been working on. But I am not sure if I am ready to leave here. It may be a cesspool of assholes, murders and drug dealers... but it's my cesspool. I always dreamed of a family in my house. Taking the job means everything changes. Not sure if I am ready for that much change."
Stephanie nodded slowly, "I see... question. When you see a family in the house, who do you see? Me?"
Joe gave her a grin, "I use to... but now I just see a figure, chasing 4/5 kids around a big yard."
Stephanie sat back, "4 or 5? So, for sure not me because one is to many. But you also see it in a big yard. Joe your yard is tiny! I think you are still holding on to a place and a dream... why can't you do the FBI training, and find a girl and have too many kids in a new house." She shook her head looking thoughtful. "Yes, your family is here but that doesn't mean your dream is." She shrugged her shoulders, "Go find your dream and visit here on the weekends."
Joe looked at her for a moment
"You make a valid point, you were the dream for so long. I think I need to refresh all of it. I was so fixated on one thing that was wrong, I pushed everything else to the side." He said softly.
She gave him a small smile, "I am pretty dreamy..."
Joe gave her a grin, "Actually you gave me nightmares most of the time."
She rolled her eyes, "Perspective, jerk." She finished with a smile, "You were not a prince either!"
He laughed out loud, "We really were not right together. We brought to worst out in each other."
She gave him a grin, "I do love you more now than I did when we were always fighting. It's nice to have you as a friend again."
He gave her a genuine smile, "Me to Cupcake. Me too." He stood up to give her a hug, "But some of us have to work, I to go."
She smacked him in the back, "I work!"
"God help me I know." He said with a grin he turned to walk to the door turning when she called his name.
"Joe, think about what I said... ok. Plus, I think you take me up on the offer to set you up." She said with a grin.
Joe's face paled as he slowly shook his head no... "I am good." He said waking out the door.
She laughed and grabbed the to go containers to walk over to Lester, "Ready to go ace?"
Lester shook his head, "Sit." He said firmly.
Stephanie raised her eyebrows and sat across from him, "What's up." She asked, never seeing him this serious.
He tilted his head to the side, "What's going on with you?" He asked her softly.
She just sat there quietly for a moment before asking, " What do you mean?"
Lester narrowed his eyes at her, "I have noticed since last week something is off. You are withdrawn, quiet, worried. So, what's going on?" He asked again.
She sat back and took a breath, "Would you believe me if I said nothing?"
He just raised an eyebrow at her.
"Fine... I had to live with a bunch of military spy's who can see anything." She mumbled.
Lester gave her his trademark grin, "Not spies..." he said leaving the ending open.
"Whatever." She mumbled. She took another deep breath, "I am ok... just processing some stuff." She looked up at him, "I need to talk to Ranger about it first though."
Lester slowly nodded at her, "Ok... if you need anything you will let me know, right."
She gave him a smile, " I will tell you what's going on eventually. Just give me some time ok. And courage to talk to Ranger." She said frowning at the end.
Lester reached over to gently grab her hand, "Beautiful you could tell him anything and he would support you. We all would. Just remember that ok."
She gave him a smile, "I know, that's why I love you all."
Lester sat back, "Ok now I need you to stay in this seat while I go to the bathroom. You should be fine in here. It's 90% cops. Just don't move."
She gave him a sarcastic salute, "Yes sir." She said grinning.
"Smart ass." He said back to her before turning to walk back to the bathrooms.
She gave him a grin before looking at her phone. She had one text from Ranger.
Babe, you alive. You missed your check in.
She looked at her watch and realized she was actually two texts late.
Sorry Ranger, I got distracted by a few things. Did you text Lester?
She smiled at his response,
I will neither confirm or deny checking up on you with a third party. But I will say if you texted like you promised I would not have had to.
You are right, she sent back. I am very sorry and will not miss another time. No excuses. Dinner?
Her head snapped up to see the same woman from the bathroom slide into the booth.
"Hi." She said brightly.
"Hello, can I help you?" Stephanie asked looking around. But everyone seems to be invested in their conversations.
"Your Stephanie Plum, right." She said quietly.
Stephanie gave a slow nod, "Yes." She said quietly.
The lady sat back and gave a cold hard smile, "Good I have a message for you."