Sorry the update took a few days. I'm back in school for my final semester and it is kicking my butt! Thank you to all the reviewers. The reviews are much appreciated and keep me going! I've started the first chapter of my next story (Ranger/Steph) but not sure when I'll start posting it. But be on the lookout for it!

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Stephanie was dancing around her house with Sophia when there was a knock at her door. Not expecting anyone, she turned down the music, and looked out her window to see a tall gentleman in a suit at her door. Still holding Sophia, she opened the door, "Can I help you?"

"Ms. Plum?"

"Yes."

The gentleman produced a business card for her to take, "I'm Matt Winters. I represent Ricardo Manoso, Ranger. Can I come in?"

"Umm, sure." She stood aside and allowed Matt to enter. He sat down a briefcase, shrugged out of his coat and asked, "Shall I take my shoes off so you aren't walking on wet carpet?"

"Yes, please. You can set them with the others." Stephanie walked away and placed Sophia in her portable crib in the living room and turned on her mobile, so she had something to watch. "What can I do for you, Mr. Winters?"

"Matt, please. I have some paperwork from Ranger that I'd like to go over with you, if you don't mind."

Stephanie showed him to the chair in the living room and she sat on the couch next to the baby. "What paperwork?"

"Well, I have here a document that lays out child support and…"

"No, I told him I wanted nothing to do with child support. He can keep his money. I can raise her without him."

"Ms. Plum, you know…"

"Please, call me Stephanie or Steph. Ms. Plum is my mother and I'd prefer not to be associated with her."

Matt nodded, "Stephanie, you know Ranger and you know he will do what he wants. He wants to set aside money for one Sophia Grace Plum so she has a comfortable life and is able to have what she needs. If you don't want to accept the money at this time, let it sit an account and collect interest for her. She can use it when she's older and wants a house or car."

"What else? You said documents, so I assume there is more."

Matt shuffled through a folder and pulled out another document, "This one absolves Ranger's paternity. I know you didn't put him on the birth certificate, so this isn't really needed, but he felt it would be better in case you ever marry and the guy wants to adopt the baby."

Stephanie took the paper and looked it over, "So, this is Julie and Rachel all over again. Great." Stephanie read the paper and saw it stated Ricardo Carlos Manoso gave up any and all legal rights to one Sophia Grace Plum. Not wanting to think about it, because she knew what Ranger had told her, she reached for the ink pen and signed her name.

"What else do you have for me to sign? He wants this, so let's just get it over with." She was upset, but she wasn't about to let the tears fall in front of Ranger's attorney. She didn't want him reporting back to Ranger how she had taken the news.

Matt showed her the child support paper again, which she took and signed. He then pulled out a piece of paper, "This states that if Sophia needs medical insurance, she will be covered with Rangeman Insurance."

"She won't need it. I have a job and insurance. I don't need him knowing everything she goes to the doctor for. If he wanted that information, he shouldn't have given up his rights to her. Are we done?"

Matt gave Stephanie a copy of the papers and said he'd get Ranger his copy and file the rest with the courts. "I'm sorry to be the one to do this, I hate this part of my job. I have never understood how a parent can give up custody, but it isn't my place to judge."

Stephanie walked Matt to the door and waited for him to get his shoes and coat on. As she opened the door for Matt to leave, she was met with Zip standing there about to insert his key. "Hey, Sweetheart, how'd you'd know I was…"

Zip looked and saw the man in the suit and looked at Steph, "Everything okay?"

Stephanie shook her head a little and waited for Zip to step inside and Matt to leave, "Thank you for your time, Stephanie. If there is anything else that comes up, I'll be in touch."

"I hope to not see you again," she said as she shut the door and walked to Zip's arms.

"I take it that wasn't a good visit, whoever he was?"

"No. That was Ranger's lawyer. He was here to have me sign papers. They are on the coffee table if you want to look at them. I need a minute. Soph is in her portable crib. I'll be back in a moment."

Zip watched Stephanie head to the bedroom and as much as he wanted to comfort her, he knew she needed time to process whatever had just happened. He wanted to look at the papers on the table but didn't want to invade her privacy; she'd share with him when she was ready. So, he did his usual and warmed his hands up at the fireplace before reaching for Sophia. Once she was in his arms, he kissed her forehead and said hello. She looked up, smiled at him, and his heart melted.

"We need to do something for your mommy. She needs a break. How about we go plan something?" Zip sat on the couch with Sophia in his lap and he opened his laptop and began searching.

An hour later, Stephanie came out of the bedroom and saw Zip on his laptop and Sophia in her swing. "Sorry, for abandoning you when you got home," she said as she sat down next to him.

"You didn't abandon me, you needed time to process what happened and I understand that. I'm here if you want to talk about it, but I won't push."

Stephanie looked at Zip and smiled, "Thank you." She leaned into his side, and he wrapped an arm around her. "When did she fall asleep?"

Zip looked at the swing and shrugged, "She was awake about five minutes ago. We were looking somethings up online and then danced. I put her in the swing for a few minutes while I finished up something. She must have just fallen asleep."

After dinner, Zip asked Stephanie to sit with him as he had something to discuss with her. She immediately thought the worst, "When are you moving back to Rangeman?"

Zip looked at her, thinking she was asking him to move back, but when he saw her eyes, he knew she was worried, "Steph, I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me to. I'm here for as long as you'll let me be here." He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. "What I want to discuss is not bad, okay?"

He saw her nod and he continued, "I have some time off saved up at work. I have six weeks that I need to start using. I'd like to use at least one right now and take you and Sophia to South Carolina and spend time with my parents. I know I could use a break from the office, and I have a feeling you could use a mini vacation as well."

Stephanie looked at him with a different worry in her eyes. "Justin, no. You go visit your family, but you don't need to take me and Soph."

"I know I don't need to; I want to. I want you to meet my parents. I want them to meet you and Sophia."

Stephanie looked at Zip and saw the truth in his eyes. "Why? Why would you want them to meet me?"

Zip turned towards her and took both her hands in his, "Steph, I know you aren't ready for a relationship with me yet, but I told you I'm falling in love with you and want a relationship. I want to introduce my parents to the woman who captured my heart."

Stephanie looked at him and felt a tear slip from her eye, "I don't know, Justin. I haven't told my family about Sophia because I know I'd get nothing but criticism about how I'm raising her. I can't take that."

"My family won't do that. They won't think anything about you being a single mother; all they will see is the woman I love who takes care of her child. They will welcome you with open arms. I promise. You can even ask Julie and Junior if you don't want to believe me."

"When would we go if I agree to this?"

"I'd like to leave Saturday morning. It's a nine hour drive without stops. We can drive part way, stop and stretch, or drive some and pick a place to stay for the night and finish the drive on Sunday. I don't mind either way."

"Can I let you know tomorrow? I still need to call Julie and tell her I am taking the extended maternity leave. She offered it to me, but I turned it down originally. I think after all that has happened, I'm going to take it. I'm just not mentally ready to go back to work yet."

"You can let me know Friday night if you want. I just need time to pack and call Mama to get my room ready." Zip took a sip of his beer and asked, "The guys at the office are asking to see you and Sophia again."

"I'm not going back there. The first time I stepped foot in that building in eight months he shows up. I'm not going to risk running into him again if I can help it."

"You won't run into him. He left two days ago."

TBC…