Merry Christmas to everyone! Here is Chapter 22. If you know them, they aren't mine. Leave me some reviews and let me know how you're enjoying the story.
"Man, we thought you were Ranger." Les said as they lowered their guns.
Setting his green duffle bag down, Zip shut and locked the front door then turned back around. "Why the hell would Ranger be breaking into our house?"
"Well," Les said as he ran his hand over his face, "he's back in Trenton and has been asking questions about Steph and Sophia. We came over tonight to keep her company and make sure he didn't break in," Lester finished as he placed his gun back on the table.
Junior sat up on the couch, "He also made a scene in Shorty's and now the 'Burg knows about Sophia."
Looking back towards the bedroom, "How's she handling the news?" Zip knew Stephanie didn't want the 'Burg to know about Sophia. It's not that she was ashamed of her, she just didn't want her to grow up around the toxic thoughts of others.
"She seemed okay, but morning will tell," Junior replied as he stood to grab a water.
"I assume you two are still camping out tonight?" He saw them both nod. "I'm going to check on my daughter then take a shower and crawl in bed with my woman."
"Um, both your girls are in the same bed. Steph said she didn't want to sleep without Sophia last night," Les told him. He nodded he'd heard and walked towards the back bedroom.
Quietly dropping his bag just inside the closet, he looked at the bed and saw Stephanie on her left side with her hand on Sophia's back. Both looked sound asleep. As much as he wanted to crawl in bed with them, he needed a shower first.
Seven minutes later, he was crawling under the covers wearing only a pair of grey boxers. He lay on his right side facing his girls and smiled. He was home and for the first time in two months, he felt at ease. Placing his hand on Sophia's back, he closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
/\/\
Stephanie woke up when she felt the bed moving back and forth slightly. Opening her eyes, she saw her daughter, still in her pajamas, propped up on her hands and knees and rocking her body. Looking past Sophia, Steph saw another body in her bed … when her eyes made their way up to the face, she felt her eyes well up with tears. She could see how tired he was and as much as she wanted to wake him up, she knew he needed sleep. Carefully as she could, she stood up out of bed, grabbed Sophia, and snuck out of the room.
As she quietly shut the bedroom door, she hugged Sophia, "He's home Soph. Let's go get you cleaned up and make some breakfast." As she walked down the hall, Les was coming out of the bathroom. "He's home," she told him.
Les smiled and took Sophia from her, "I know. He may have had a small welcome party when he opened the door." Sophia squealed with delight when Uncle Les tickled her belly. "Coffee is done; go get a cup while I change her for you."
Steph smiled and nodded, "Thanks." She walked to the kitchen and was handed a mug of steaming coffee fixed just the way she liked. "Thank you, Junior." After taking a sip, "He's really home."
Junior smiled and turned to the fridge, "He is. He arrived about two hours ago." He pulled eggs, milk, cheese, and diced ham out of the fridge. "Breakfast?"
"That sounds great," Steph said as she sat down at the table. "Any news on Ram? I assume he came back with him?"
Junior nodded, "Got a text from him around oh-four-thirty. He was back in his apartment at Rangeman." Junior pulled out a bowl and cracked six eggs, added a little bit of milk, and whisked them together before pouring them into the heated pan. He looked at Steph and knew she was thinking something, "What's up?"
"Just wondering about the timeline."
"What about it?" he asked as he added some diced ham to the eggs.
"Well, could just be a coincidence, but … they came back the same day as Ranger. Did Ranger know they were getting back? Was their mission to bring Ranger back to the states and he just arrived in New Jersey before they did?"
Junior flipped half the eggs over the other half, topped them with cheese, and put the lid over so the cheese would melt. "I believe Ranger was in Miami this entire time. We never head he was on a mission so I'd say it is just a total coincidence."
Les came in the kitchen with a smiling Sophia on his shoulder with his hand on her back holding her up there, "What is a coincidence?"
Steph stood up and took Sophia off his shoulder and gave her kisses, "I was just wondering about the timing of Ranger, Ram, and Zip getting to Jersey around the same time."
Les grabbed three plates from the cupboard and handed them to Junior. He then took three glasses and grabbed the orange juice and three forks. "Nothing but perfect timing. Ranger has been in Miami since he left here. I speak to him at least once day. I just wasn't informed he was travelling to Trenton. If I had known that I would have talked to him before he found us all at Shorty's."
Junior dished out the omelets and sat them on the table, put the pan in the sink, and sat down to enjoy breakfast. Steph situated Sophia so she could nurse while Steph ate her omelet. "Thank you for breakfast, Junior."
After Steph was done eating and Sophia was done nursing, Junior took Sophia, "Why don't you go rest with Zip. I'm sure he'd love to wake up with you next to him. Les and I have Sophia."
Les agreed as he took out baby banana food and oatmeal from the pantry, "Yep, we will finish feeding her and take care of her while you sleep."
Steph wanted to refuse, but she had a bigger pull to the bedroom and Justin. Sighing, she smiled, "Okay. But if you need anything, come wake me up." She kissed Sophia and waved to the guys.
/\/\
Steph tried to carefully climb back in bed and get close to Zip, but she didn't want to take a chance on waking him up, so she stayed in the middle of the bed. About three minutes after she climbed into bed, she felt Zips arm pull her back into his chest. Once she was in the perfect spot, she heard him let out a sigh and relax to sleep again.
Three hours later, Steph felt lips on her neck and shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she smiled, "You're home."
"I am. And I am so glad to be home."
She turned on her back and looked up at him; she saw the tiredness in his face but also the happiness of being home. Reaching her hand up, she found his neck and pulled his lips to hers, "I've missed doing this."
Zip let his lips show her how much he'd missed her and how much he was glad they had admitted their feelings to each other; no, he didn't have to hold back. He couldn't wait to take their relationship to the next level, but he would wait until she was ready. "I love you, Stephanie."
Pulling back to look in his eyes, she saw the truth. "I love you, too, Justin. More than I ever thought possible. You've taught me that I can open my heart and trust again. I know you'd never do anything to hurt me or my daughter."
"OUR daughter," Justin said with a smile. "I meant what I said before I left. I want you and Sophia with me for the rest of my life." Zip saw a little spark of fear in Steph's eyes, "I don't need the paper. I don't need the rings. I just need you in my life; you and our daughter."
"I don't need the paper either," she replied, "I just need you." Stephanie moaned when Zip placed his body over her and leaned down to kiss her. As their lips met, her hands roamed to his back and he felt her nails scrape him.
Before they could get too carried away, they heard a knock on the door. Justin rolled off her and smiled as the door opened. He had to laugh as Les held Sophia up in the doorway with his hand over her eyes. "Is it safe?" he whispered.
Justin jumped out of bed and was at the door before Les could open it more and he took Sophia out of Les' hands. "There's my Princess," he said as he hugged her to him and was treated to one of her laughs. Les pulled the door shut as he backed out.
Justin sat on the bed with Sophia, "I love you. I missed you. You've gotten so big."
"She's trying to crawl," Steph told him. "I woke up this morning to her on her hands and knees rocking back and forth. I actually have some videos for you to watch of what she's been doing while you were gone."
"I can't wait to watch them," he replied as he sat Sophia on the bed. "Did you guys get my gift?"
"Oh my goodness, she LOVES that bear. She squeals when we press the paw and she hears your voice. She starts looking around for you. She sleeps with him."
Justin was watching Sophia as she lay on her back and tried to get her toes into her mouth. "So, I heard the 'Burg knows about Sophia. How are you doing?" he asked as he brushed some hair off Steph's face.