Thank you for all the reviews for the first chapter and the welcome back. I really appreciate it. I think I've responded to everyone who was logged in and left a review. If I missed you, I'm so sorry. Just know your review means the world to me.

I forgot in the first chapter to put my disclaimer...NOT mine, all hers!

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It had been two days since Stephanie told Ranger she was pregnant. Two days since Ranger told her to take care of it. Two days since she left her friends at Rangeman. She tried to think of what to do and where to go. She knew what he meant when he said to "take care of this", but she tried not to think about that. She had never really wanted children, but now that she was pregnant and had heard the heartbeat, she knew she was going to keep the baby no matter what.

While reading through some of the material she had been given at the doctor's office regarding pregnancy and birth, she heard a knock at her door. Putting the papers under her couch cushion, she went to the door thinking maybe two days had been enough for Ranger to wrap his mind around what she had told him, and he came to talk.

She opened the door and saw Manny and Junior standing there. "Hey Bomber," Junior said as he handed her a bag from Tasty Pastry. She took the bag, smiled, and let them in her apartment. "Thanks, guys. What brings you by?" she asked hoping she sounded like her normal self.

"We were in the area and hadn't seen you for a few days. Thought we'd stop and see if you were okay," Junior answered as he looked for any signs of what was going on.

"You okay, Wifey?" Manny asked as he could see something in her eyes that wasn't normally there, but he couldn't place it.

"I'm fine. Just been trying to clean my place and give you all a break from me," Steph tried to laugh.

"Steph, we don't need a break from you. We enjoy seeing you every day," was Junior's reply.

"I need my daily dose of you, Wifey," Manny said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple. "How about we go grab some lunch or something?"

"Thanks, guys, but I'm fine. I really need to clean my place and I have some things to go through and get ready for donations. Maybe next time?" She really hoped they'd leave and not push for information. She wasn't sure how much Ranger had told anyone. Most likely, he hadn't told anyone about the bomb she dropped on him.

Manny looked at Junior and nodded toward the door. Junior took the hint; "Okay, we'll, if you need anything, Steph, let us know." He gave her a hug, kissed her temple, and left.

"Steph?"

Looking up at Manny, she tried to smile, "Yeah?"

"I need to leave, but can I come back and check on you later?"

"You can try. I don't know where I'll be when you get here. I have some errands to run."

Manny pulled her in for a hug, kissed the top of her head, and walked out her apartment. He knew she was hiding something but wasn't sure how much to push her. He hoped that when he came back later, she'd talk with him.

Once her door was shut, she locked it and placed the chain across. She opened the bag and took out the Boston Crème donut the guys brought her. Taking a bite of it, she realized it just didn't taste good. "Too much sugar," she said as she spit out the bite and threw the donut away. Suddenly she was exhausted. She realized she'd been needing afternoon naps for the past few weeks. "Guess it makes sense now," she said as she stripped to her t-shirt and panties. Crawling in her bed, she swore to allow herself on last time of crying herself to sleep.

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The next thing Stephanie knew, there was someone in bed with her, caressing her back to wake her up. She tensed for a moment, sniffed the air, and sighed.

"I know you're awake, so you might as well show me your eyes," he chuckled.

Flipping on to her back, Stephanie looked up at Manny. "How'd you get in? I had the chain on." Manny smiled at her and held up a tool, "Should have known you guys would have everything needed to break into my apartment."

She got out of bed and reached for her jeans, but her body had other plans. Quickly, she ran to the bathroom, making it to the toilet just in time. She felt Manny hold her hair to keep it out of the way. After she was done, she rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth.

"What's going on? You have the flu?" Manny asked with a concerned look.

Still not sure if Ranger had said anything to anyone she replied, "Something like that." She walked past him and slipped her jeans on before heading to the living room.

Manny followed her out, "I brought some meatball subs for dinner. I wasn't sure if you'd eaten already."

Stephanie saw the bag on the table and smiled at Manny while internally groaning, "I ate earlier, but thank you. If you want to take it and give it to one of the other guys, go for it. I'd hate for it to go to waste."

"Nah, you can have it for lunch tomorrow." Manny sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to him. As she sat down, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "So, you've not been in the office for the past few days. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just had some stuff to deal with here. I'll be back in there soon. Maybe tomorrow." She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. She had gotten use to seeing the guys every day for the past year. There wasn't really day that she wasn't at Rangeman; either working or just visiting.

Rubbing his hand up and down her arm, Manny asked, "What's going on? Are you and Ranger okay?"

"Why do you ask?" She was trying to figure out a way to find out if Ranger was missing her.

"Well, the other day after you left, he was down in the gym for a few hours. Bobby had to go down and wrap his hands. Then he spent the rest of the evening up on seven. Never came down the next day and then today he said he had business out of town. Not sure how long he'll be gone."

Manny looked at Stephanie as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "So, he's gone?" Deep down, she knew he'd leave.

"He left this morning. Took the jet, not sure where as he didn't say. I thought maybe you knew where he was heading."

"Away from me," is all she said. At least I know where we stand now.

"What do you mean, where you stand? I thought you two were good."

Stephanie looked at Manny and couldn't hold back any longer. The dam broke and the tears poured out. Not able to stand it, Manny pulled Stephanie onto his lap and held her while she cried.

"Was hat er dir getan?" Manny said to himself as he rubbed Stephanie's back.

A few minutes later, Stephanie settled down and looked at Manny. "What did you say?"

"I said, what did he do to you."

"Oh, was that German?" she asked knowing it was but was surprised that Manny knew it.

"Yea, I seem to slip into German when I'm upset or frustrated. Sorry," he said as he kissed her temple.

"It's fine. I was just surprised. Where did you learn German?"

"My grandparents on my mom's side. They live in Germany."

"Wow, that's amazing." Getting up of Manny's lap, Stephanie went to the kitchen for some water bottles. She handed one to Manny, but he reached for both of them. After twisting the cap off one, he handed it back to her and twisted the top off his. "Thanks," she said.

"Are you going to answer my question?"

"Oh," she was hoping Manny had forgotten he'd asked a question and she could avoid it. "He didn't really do anything, it was me."

"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine, but don't lie about it. If it were something you did, you wouldn't have been so upset about him leaving." Manny tucked a curl behind her ear, "I won't push you now, but please, talk to me when you are ready and don't lie to me, okay?"

He watched her nod and take a drink of her water. "Sorry, I just don't know how much to say right now. I promise when I'm ready, I'll talk to you."

"That's all I ask." His phone buzzed and he pulled it off his belt. Looking at the screen, he growled, "I have to go, I'm sorry. Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine. Thanks for coming over. Don't forget the meatball sub." She saw him start to object and she stopped him, "Please, give it to one of the guys. I'm not sure I'd eat it tomorrow."

He wanted to argue and leave it for her, but knew he'd lose. Grabbing the bag, he kissed her on the forehead and nodded, "Lock up after me. Call if you need anything. Will you be in the office tomorrow?"

"Maybe," she replied and watched him walk towards the stairs. Once he entered the stairwell, she shut and locked her apartment door. Making it to the couch, she picked up her phone and hit Ranger's contact. Instead of a ring, she heard the operator saying the number was disconnected. Throwing her phone across the room, she yelled and began crying again.

TBC... you know what I want _