I have to say a quick sorry that my postings have been a little unpredictable lately. Ranger and Stephanie still belong to Janet.

After the waiter quickly took our dinner orders and retreated back to safety, recognizing the same pissed off look on Kane's face that appears on mine whenever I think of anyone who has hurt my wife, Steph went with her most effective distraction ... Olive.

"Another good thing, among many, about men like Ranger and your Kane," she said to Harper, "is all the time Ranger spent convincing me that I'd be a good Mom to Olive, he realized that he's the only Daddy who deserves to have her or that I'd want for her. Your baby is lucky to have you both for parents. Being able to love each other through the horrible stuff life chucks at you is something he or she can only benefit from."

Normally Kane would've rolled his eyes at something sounding even remotely 'sappy', but what Steph said involved his feelings for Harper, so he didn't laugh at her analysis, he took it into consideration instead.

"Our kid is lucky to have such a strong Mama. She ... I mean he or she ... can't be any luckier when it comes to mother figures."

My stomach eased. "You're having a girl?" I asked.

"Don't pay any attention to Kane," Harper told us. "He really wants a little girl, which I think we have Olivia to thank for, and is trying to force that particular outcome before we actually know for sure ... which won't be long now."

"Who the hell wouldn't want another you in the world, Harp?" Her husband asked her. "Plus, I know what I put my parents through, and living through all that shit from their side of the perspective fence ..."

He shuddered at the thought. I understand part of his thinking. I love having two daughters. And Olive turning more into a mini-Stephanie every day makes me celebrate her conception and existence all the more. I'd love a son just as much, but there is something about being your daughter's first love that completely slays you. It makes everything in your life have a specific purpose.

"You're so sweet when you aren't driving me nuts," Harper told Kane.

He looked at us. "Hey, back me up here. Would it drive you nuts if your spouse wants to take care of you and protect you at all times? Some people would kill to have someone love them even just half that much. You can finally sleep peacefully because even sub-consciously, Harp, you know I'm right there watching out for you."

Steph squeezed my hand again and fielded his question with an apologetic look at Harper. "I admit, in the beginning, I wasn't real cooperative when it came to Ranger's over-attention to my safety ... until I realized his round-the-clock protection was for his own peace of mind. I immediately stopped arguing. I would pout, complain, pitch a fit, about him believing I couldn't take care of myself ... even when it was true, but the second it occurred to me that knowing I was safe made him able to relax a little, had me looking at my bugs, assigned partners, and 'random' Batman appearances, differently. Now that we have Olivia, and of course Julie, I literally thank him every single day for those protective instincts of his being so deeply ingrained in him."

Kane gently nudged his wife's shoulder with his own. "Why aren't you taking notes here?"

"Because you'd use them as admissible evidence or 'Exhibit A' in any fight we have."

"We don't fight, we discuss."

She smiled at him and I knew my man is in very good hands. There's no woman like my Babe, but Kane found his own version who'll love him through anything, and appreciate him even more during the tough times. I had a few doubts that I'd ever get there with Stephanie, but once she admitted to herself, and then out loud to me, that she loves me, she held on and never once looked back ... unless it's to check and make sure I'm right there behind her.