Probably just an epilogue after this chapter. In the beginning, I wasn't sure how this story would end up: Babe or Tart. The muse went back and forth, but the more I wrote, the more the muse said Tart. I'm thankful for those of you who stuck around for the entire story and left reviews. They meant the world to me. I hope you will enjoy these last two chapter. I hope to have this finished by next weekend.
Junior and Ram were bundled up in coats, gloves, hats, and scarves while they were outside in the snow building a snow man for Sophia. She wouldn't really know what it was, but they wanted to do that for her. Well … they were trying to build one, but they kept getting into snowball fights.
Zip and Junior worked on hanging the "Happy 1st Birthday" banner in the living room while Stephanie wrapped the final gift. It was Sophia's first birthday, and they were getting ready for the party. Sophia was with Zip's sister, Julie for the day so the couple didn't have to worry about her.
"Hey Steph, does this look even?" Junior asked before he tied off the banner.
Steph looked up, "It's perfect."
There was a knock at the door so Zip went to answer it. Opening the door, he allowed Derrick and Jeffrey came in with their arm loaded with gifts. "Guys, she's only one; she isn't going to need all these gifts," Steph laughed.
"Well, some of these are for as she grows and some of these are for just because," Jeffrey said as he sat the gifts on the table. "And it looks like we aren't the only ones that got a lot of gifts."
"Well, as her parents, we are supposed to spoil her," Zip replied.
Finally, the house was decorated, the food was finished, and the snowman was built. Steph wasn't sure where all the snow went, as the snowman wasn't that big, but there was a huge dent in the front yard snow. When she looked again, she realized that the two dents were actually huge snow angels. Looking over at Ram, she smiled, "Did you two enjoy the snowball fights?" He nodded. "How about making the snowman?" Another nod. "And the snow angels?" she asked with a laugh.
"It was Junior's idea. I had no choice but to join in. I couldn't let him be the only one to make her an angel."
Stephanie put on her coat, gloves, and boots and took her phone outside to get a picture of the snowman and angels. She wanted to print the pictures out and make an album for Sophia's first birthday. She had already started taking pictures of Sophia when she woke up. She had the perfect picture of Sophia dancing with Justin, neither of them looking at her, but looking in each other's eyes and smiling. She wasn't sure how much longer the two would do their morning dancing, but she knew Justin would hate it when it ended.
Pretty soon the house was full of Rangemen. Zero, Ram, Hal, Cal, Junior, Lester, Bobby, Tank, and any Rangemen that weren't on duty. Ella was sick and she didn't want to spread the germs, so she sent her and Luis' gifts with the guys along with the two cakes she made. She made a huge marble sheet cake for the guests and a single chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for Sophia to smash. Stephanie promised to get a lot of pictures for Ella.
The last to arrive before Julie brough Sophia back were Ranger's parents with his other daughter, Julie. Julie and Sophia had met over the summer and Julie begged her mother to allow her to travel to New Jersey in December for the party. When Stephanie saw Julie with her grandparents, she went over and hugged each of them. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"Me too," Julie said as she handed a box to Stephanie. "This is for Sophia."
"Oh sweetie, you didn't have to get her anything, but thank you."
Mr. Manoso sat their gift on the floor as it was too big to set on the table, "She won't be able to use this until summer, but we wanted her to have it."
"So, when does my sister get here?"
As Stephanie was about to answer, the front door opened, and Zip's sister Julie stepped through with the birthday girl. Taking off Sophia's coat, hat, glove, and boots, Stephanie saw that she was wearing a pink dress that said, "It's my first birthday, where's the cake?" Stephanie laughed and hugged her daughter.
Once Sophia was out of her boot and sat on the floor, she looked around, smiled, and immediately crawled over to Zip. Pulling on his pant legs, she pulled herself up to stand and looked up with a smile, "Up Dada."
Zip leaned down, picked her up and kissed her cheek, "Anytime, Princess."
The guests began eating the food as they sat or stood around talking. Stephanie looked around and smiled at everyone who was there to celebrate her daughter's birthday. She knew Sophia was loved and she hoped her baby could feel it. Finally, Jeffrey came over and stood next to her, "She sure is a happy and loved little girl. I don't think anyone could ask for more."
"I agree. I was so scared when I was pregnant for her that I'd screw things up and she'd grow up hating me. But I think I've done a decent job so far. She is happy, healthy, and loved by many." Stephanie looked up at Jeffrey and smiled, "Derrick told me the news last night."
Jeffrey smiled larger than ever, "Yeah, hopefully by this time next year, we will be getting ready to celebrate not only her second birthday, but also our first Christmas as a family of three." Stephanie hugged him and wiped a tear from her eye.
"Okay, gifts or cake first?" Junior asked.
"Gifts! When she gets done with the cake, she's going to need a bath," Steph replied.
Justin sat on the floor and put Sophia on his lap. Little Julie, as Justin took to calling her, sat down next to the gifts so she could hand them out. Sophia wasn't sure what to do at first, but Justin showed her and then helped her open the gifts. She loved the sound of the wrapping paper tearing; she would give the biggest laugh each time.
Stephanie sat there across the room watching her daughter and the love of her life as they opened gifts. She couldn't wait until they got to the last gift; she was sure it would be one of the best gifts. Sophia received many outfits, new toys, new books, a tricycle, and a black corvette for her to drive when summer came.
"One last gift," Little Julie said as she handed the small box from her.
Justin and Sophia tore off the paper then Justin opened the box. Inside was a heart necklace with a picture of Julie and Sophia inside. On the outside, it was engraved Sisters. Justin handed it to Stephanie so she could see. "Oh Jules, it is beautiful. I'll make sure it stays in a safe place until she can wear it."
"I couldn't think of what else to get her, but I hope you are okay with it."
"Oh sweetie, this is perfect!" Steph said as she pulled Julie into a hug.
"Okay, this is actually the last gift," Steph said as she handed it to Justin. "This is actually for you and Sophia."
Justin opened the gift; it was a new birth certificate for one Sophia Grace Ziprowski, listing Justin
Ziprowski as her father. He looked at it, read it four or five times, and then looked up at Steph with wet eyes. "Are you serious?" She nodded at him. He put Sophia on the floor, stood up, and took Steph in his arms. "Thank you. Thank you. I love you both so much. How? I had no idea."
"Well, since she didn't have a father listed on the original, I talked to my Uncle Joe. He said that, as her mother, and only parent listed, I could change her birth certificate with the courts and put any name on there that I wanted. I wanted to ask you, but I figured I knew the answer. I hope you are okay with it."
"Okay with it? Woman, I'm thrilled!" he said as he kissed her again before he felt a tug on his pant leg. Looking down, he smiled and picked Sophia up, "You really are my daughter now. Happy Birthday, Princess. I love you."
Mr. and Mrs. Manoso walked over and gave Zip a hug, "We are happy for you three. We knew what Stephanie was planning; she asked us if we were okay with it and okay with her giving it to you in front of us. We agreed that you are her father. We just hope we can still be part of her family."
"You will always be part of her family, we'll make sure of that," Justin told them. He turned back to Stephanie and smiled, "All I can say is, Thank you for this. This makes me so happy."