All familiar characters and events belong to Janet. I apologize if there are more typos than usual.

"We need to let Mama sleep," I was trying to explain to my baby so she wouldn't immediately run out of her room and into ours. "She's making sure your baby brother gets the rest he needs to grow."

"But Mama play wiv me."

I felt sympathy for the 'Snuggle Saurus' on her pajama top, since the tip of Olivia's thumb nailed it right between its eyes to emphasize the word 'me'.

"Mama will always be here to play with you, Olive," Steph said from the doorway.

"I thought you'd finally fallen asleep, Babe."

"Baby noz seep."

My wife sighed, walked into the room, and laid back beside us on the toddler bed. "Babe and baby are both awake … I guess for the day."

"Or we can tuck you in here and see if this bed works as well on you as it does our toddler."

Our baby climbed off my lap and curled up against Steph's side. Being an opportunist, I snagged the blanket off the rocking chair and draped it over them.

"Olive, why don't you tell Mama a story while I take Gunny and Mo and get started on breakfast."

My baby turned on her side and put herself nose-to-nose with Stephanie. She gently rubbed her Mama's cheek before starting to talk.

"We to go to Gamba Pum. Silly Mo pays with da fishies …"

It was the start of what sounds like a riveting tale, but I left them alone and headed to the kitchen. Pregnancy aside, when Stephanie is tired she's hungrier than usual so I gathered the ingredients to make a Migas breakfast scramble, believing it'd act as a slightly healthier comfort food.

I fed the mutts, Rex, and Mado and then focused on preparing food for the humans. As I was turning off the burner after the eggs were cooked to perfection, my cell buzzed. I read the text from Tank and swore to myself. Apprehending an asshole isn't as important as making sure my pregnant wife is taking care of herself.

I got Tank on the line. "How sure are we that Gappin is there?"

"He's there or I wouldn't have contacted you."

Typically, I wouldn't care where the fuck a skip is because I'll find them and I'll capture them regardless. But in this case, there's a ninety-percent chance he's going to go after the girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend, who's been working with us to locate him. I don't want to leave Stephanie, but I can't let a woman face a violent, possibly homicidal man on her own.

"Alright. I'll let Steph know and meet you in the garage in five."

I went back to Olivia's bedroom to tell my girls that I have to go, but I saw that Stephanie did manage to fall asleep. The added surprise is … tucked under my wife's arm, I noticed that Olivia's eyes are also closed. The steady rise and fall of her purple dinosaur let me know she's asleep as well.

I called Tank back. "Change of plans. Send Lester and Junior to get Gappin. Have Brown and Woody provide backup if they feel it's needed."

"What's going on?"

"Steph hasn't been sleeping well, but Olivia just got them both resting. I don't feel comfortable leaving them."

"I'll get Santos on it. The girlfriend will be okay. Just make sure Stephanie is."

"I plan to."

I disconnected only to lift my cell up again to answer a call from Vince. "The tracker on Mrs. Plum's car says she's heading in our direction."

I try not to show any outside emotion, but our pets won't judge or out me for pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"Alright. I'll take care of it."

I called Tank back. "Another change in plans. I need you up here in case Olivia wakes up before Steph does. My mother-in-law is on her way over here and I want to head her off before Steph realizes what's going on."

"I'll be there in two."

I checked back in on my family and found them still asleep.

"Protect," I ordered Gunny and Mo and then I walked to the front door to let Tank in.

"My ladies are asleep in Olivia's room. I'm hoping to take care of this before they wake up."

"What do I say if Steph asks?"

"Just tell her I had a job to do. I'll fill her in on my meeting with Helen when I get back."

The relief he's feeling is apparent. No one wants to go up against my wife.

I chose the elevator to save a few minutes getting to the lobby. I rethought the wisdom of that decision when I heard Atlas' voice.

"Wait up, Boss!" He called. "Woody told me that Helen hag is flying her broom nearby. I'll pay you whatever you want if you let me shoot her. Amari is hellbent on turning me into a fucking choir boy and I ain't going out like that."

"Most men would be happy as long as their woman is," I pointed out.

"Damn right I want her happy, but man this law-abiding shit is killin' me. I could just shoot out her knee or something."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. No. Fuck … I don't know. I'm used to seeing an obstacle and taking it out. I don't like that this psycho keeps coming back around like she's a fucking bitch-boomerang, trying to screw with your Missus. She's fucking pregnant for fuck's sake! Who messes with a pregnant chick?"

"Let's get one thing straight, my wife is not a chick," I reminded him.

"I know that. She's your Babe, which is soooo much more respectful. But you get what I mean. I saw Steph walking a ladybug out of the office the other day because she felt sorry for it, yet her shrew of a mother-effer gets her rocks off pissing off her own daughter? I don't like it."

"No one likes it, but you can't just go around killing everyone that irritates you."

"Really? There are rumors this Morelli motherfucker was mysteriously offed."

"Being cocky and not surfacing when you have trouble getting air while you're diving isn't 'mysterious', it's stupid. But he was a physical threat to my wife and my daughter. As much as she'd hate hearing it, Helen is more of a pest than a threat."

"Cool. Soooo, I can fuck with her a little?"

"To an extent. But if you're seriously feeling restless, I have a group of men who enjoy a more … active … role in rehabilitating people who refuse to see reason."

I couldn't stop a grin at how my men scared the literal shit out of Raphael's attackers. Take a man-boy or boys out of their environment and it can take literal seconds for them to break.

"I'm listening."

"Have you also 'heard' what happened to Raphael a while back?" I asked.

"Yeah, some skinhead wannabes tried to beat him to death. He's got a wife, and now a baby coming, so the 'Fuck You' is on them. Not only didn't he die, he reproduced."

"That's true," I told him, heading towards the door so we can get moving. "But I was referring to how his attackers were punished."

"We can talk about that kinda shit?"

"To a point. The men I brought in would welcome a new member to their 'rehabilitation' team. I'd prefer you work out your issues with them than get your ass arrested by reacting outside of my company."

"I can work with that. I don't wanna fuck things up with Amari now. If she leaves, she'll never come back."

"Remember that. Her love and respect will get you further in life than your criminal urges will."

"You're such a buzzkill."

"Fine. Ignore me and watch Amari find a guy who'll actually appreciate her."

"I'd have to kill him."

"Or you could just be the man she loves and completely bypass the murder charge."

"Save the psychobabble for mommy dearest."

I still have no idea why I like him, but I unfortunately do. The fact that he knew to keep his mouth shut while I drove to the end of Haywood to cut off Helen's route to my building, shows that he's an asset on the job at least.

I parked to block traffic coming onto my street which will cause only minimal irritation, since I chose this property for my home base because it isn't a high traffic area. To show my mother-in-law that I know what's going on before she does, Atlas and I left my truck and stood by the front fender and just waited. Her car appeared five minutes later. Since she has no way to get around my truck unless she drives into the wrong lane, she pulled her vehicle over to the shoulder of the road but didn't get out until we approached the driver's side.

"Before you start, Frank told me I could come for a visit."

"Try again," I told her. "Frank is out on a date with his lady friend and Edna. I was told on their way out that it was a good day for a boat ride."

That shot hit its mark. Helen's body went back an inch as if she'd been physically struck by a bullet.

"Plus, he and Valerie refuse to talk about my family with you."

"Isn't that something?" She said out loud, but it was likely something she intended to keep to herself. "He isn't happy with just divorcing me and stealing my children and grandchildren, Frank wants my mother to himself."

"He didn't steal anyone. You drove your daughters away the same way you alienated Frank. He has a life and a voice now. And he isn't about to give either or his children up."

"Does Stephanie know I'm coming?"

"She won't know you tried to ambush her until after you're on your way back to the Burg."

"I'd suggest you leave now before you make the Boss angry," Atlas said. "I promise you, you don't wanna do that. You see this scar?" He pointed to a pale spot on his neck. "That's a decades-long memento from him."

He's such a baby, it could've been just a mark from an old shaving injury.

"Who are you again?" Helen asked One Shot.

"I would say your worst nightmare, but that answer has been beaten to death. I am the guy who gets to see Stephanie and the Olive-Pit on a daily basis. So that makes me a nobody who's still a whole helluva lot luckier than you are."

She pretended he hadn't spoken and surprisingly chose to look at me. "How is Stephanie doing?"

"Very well … which I continue to see to. She doesn't want to talk to you and we both decided our children aren't safe around you. Frank has moved on. And Valerie has kept her distance for her own reasons. Why don't you spare yourself some added humiliation and leave now."

"I'd like to apologize to my daughter. I've missed little Olivia and would really appreciate a visit with them."

I could feel Atlas' eyes flick to me. "I don't know jack about reading people's body language, but even I'm not buying this shit."

"Excuse me, but this has nothing to do with you," Helen told him.

"You may not think so, but as Steph's reluctant friend … I feel it's my duty to step up and do what I can to defend her."

"I have it under control," I reminded him.

"Yeah, but I ain't winning any points by saying I watched you defend her honor."

He'd be surprised how happy my wife will be to hear how much I love her.

"Why don't you turn the truck around," I suggested. "We're just about done here."

"What? We were just starting to get somewhere."

"Go now. I won't repeat my request."

He started bitching under his breath, but he was smart enough not to let it carry as he walked away.

"I can break this down for you with one word … Morelli," I told my mother-in-law.

"What does Joseph have to do with me seeing my daughter and my grandchildren?"

"He's serving as an example for what happens when someone harasses my wife for their own purposes. You are never going to be part of our family. Stephanie, Olivia, Julie, and our son are off limits to you. Had you been smarter and played nice at first, you may have bought yourself a few more weeks, but Stephanie would still have seen through you eventually. You're not as smart or believable as you like to think you are."

"What's your point?"

"My point is you were right."

"I was?" She asked before remembering that she supposedly knows everything. "And what exactly was I right about?"

"That I was the one behind a certain detective's accident. When it comes down to my wife's life and anyone else's, I'll do whatever I need to in order to ensure she remains safe. She and my baby girl could've been killed in that car crash fueled by his obsession with Stephanie."

"You murdered Joseph?" Her voice moving well beyond her normal grating screech.

"I choose to say that I protected my wife and daughter. And you see that I'm not in prison. You may want to keep that in mind next time you try to contact my wife or attempt to insert yourself in my children's lives. If I can get away with removing a corrupt cop, covering up your death will be child's play. And feel free to go straight to the police station and repeat what I just told you. I guarantee that all that will get you is the psyche evaluations you clearly need."

I said what I needed to, so I turned towards my truck and left Helen to question how smart it'd be to push me. I feel confident that she understands that I don't just make threats, I follow through with them. She can decide to continue on with her plan, but she'll be trading her life for it. It's not a price many people outside the military are purposely willing to pay up front.

"What'd you tell the old bat?" Atlas asked, popping my door open before settling himself back in the passenger's seat. "She was the color of a vampire when we got here, but I swear she just turned into a walking piece of white chalk."

"I just gave her a brief lesson on what can happen if she chooses to test me."

"Shit. You give warnings? Why didn't I get one?"

"You did. You're still alive, aren't you? I could've easily killed you, but I gave you a chance to change the direction of your life. Now you're almost a member of the family."

"Almost?"

"Yes. Stephanie gets to signal the final approval."

"When she names the kid … Atlas the second … that'll show everyone."

The sheer stupidity of that statement surprised a laugh out of me. I made a point of reverting back to expressionless as we neared the Rangeman security gate.

"You should share that the next time you see my wife. Your ego clearly needs to be checked."

"Her bark is worse than her bite."

I swung into my parking space before answering. "When Stephanie was just a teenager, she ran over a guy with her Dad's Buick. Broke his leg in the process and never regretted it."

He considered that, seeing 'Olive's Mama' in a completely different light. "Did he deserve it?"

"That and much worse."

"She's my new hero."

"She'll be annoyed to hear it," I assured him, turning off my truck and sliding out from behind the wheel. "Mado is missing her human toy if you'd like to come up for coffee."

"I'll pass. That cat's a pain in my ass."

"That's on you. You shouldn't have stood beside her chair where she could easily sink her claws into said ass."

"See ya," he said when he couldn't come up with reply that didn't make him look stupid.

The females in my home definitely keep the men on their toes, whether by cuteness, clever remarks, or sharp claws.

"Your timing is perfect as always," my wife told me after I unlocked the door to our apartment and headed inside. "Kenzie's coming by with baby Remy so I can get used to caring for a tiny man. Olive and I are two peas in a pod, and I don't want our son to feel left out of our club."

"Daddy!" I heard a beat later.

I caught the toddler body coming towards me and brought us both close enough to Steph so I could kiss her.

"Did you wear out GodTank?" I asked my baby. "I don't see him unless he's hiding behind Gunny and Mo."

My daughter laughed and hugged my neck. She still doesn't know her own strength when it comes to jugulars, but I welcome her exuberance.

"Mama sleepeez," I was told.

"Hey, I wasn't the only one sleeping," she told Olivia, gently poking a finger into our baby's ticklish spot.

"No tickles!"

Steph immediately drew her hands back. "Alright. No tickles it is."

While using my forearm as a seat, Olive leaned forward and grabbed her Mama's hand. "Tickle gain!"

My wife sighed in mock exaggeration. "And you wonder why Tank left as soon as I woke up."

"Did you get enough rest?" I asked, managing to keep hold of our daughter while she was alternately trying to move away from Stephanie yet still stay close enough for another tickle attack.

"Enough for now. Tank said you were needed on a job. I'm sorry I conked out on you."

As we made it into the kitchen, Mo came over to get his head scratched which distracted Olive. I set her down and watched Gunny give her a well-check sniff.

"If you need to sleep, I want you to sleep. Even when you're not working, your body is handling a life or death assignment."

"Thank you for saying that … and for making breakfast. I was able to heat it up for us without burning anything. Tank, the big baby, still didn't trust it or me and took off as Olivia and I sat down to eat. I was going to ask his opinion on her clothes for today just to bug him, but he didn't even make it that far."

"He does have a company to run, Babe, when I'm not in the building."

"Yeah, but you're in charge of everything and still manage to say 'No' or roll your eyes when I show you an outfit we put together."

"I do not roll my eyes."

She cupped my jaw in her hand and lifted herself up on her toes to kiss me again. "You don't. But I know you well enough to know when you'd like to. I can also tell when you've talked to my mother. Is she dead?"

"No. But I drove home the point that it could be an option if she doesn't leave you and our family alone."