This wasn't what I was expecting to write for a chapter 2, but it seemed to be what Steph needed. All familiar characters and events belong to Janet. Mistakes are solely mine.

Chapter 2

"Don't make fun of me for this," I told my audience.

"You're forgetting who you're talking to," Julie replied, always smarter and quicker than the average teenager ... and ninety percent of adults.

"So I did. Maybe I should've said 'Don't feel sorry for me' instead."

"Is every birthday request going to be like pulling teeth with you?" Ranger asked.

"Probably. Birthdays aren't my thing. Well, good ones aren't anyway."

"Which is why Dad and I are here. We're gonna change that, but you need to give us a starting point. You have to actually tell us what your bucket list birthday would be."

I tried to buy some time by looking around Ranger's kitchen. I've been here - and slept here - many times, but only recently has it started to feel like a second home to me. Guess Batman didn't get tired of me during our twelve days in Italy. When we got back to Trenton, he always came up with a good reason for me staying with him here rather than dropping me off at my apartment at the end of a day or meal.

Morelli would say that's strictly due to sex, but I don't think that's all of it. Ranger has never been shy about wanting me in his bed and trying at every opportunity to get me back there. But what's changed is him wanting me to pull up a chair whenever he's having a client meeting, and including me in his every-night call to Julie. Since the day I used his own truck against him and backtracked my way to Ranger's building, I've felt included here. Now he's making me feel like I belong here with him and nowhere else. Ranger's been super subtle, but I think he's achieved his goal of maneuvering me exactly where he wanted me.

"Earth to Steph," Julie said. "We're having a conversation that you're supposed to be part of. What do you want to do for your birthday?"

I glanced over her shoulder to where Ranger is standing. "Are you still getting Julie to do your dirty work? I thought we've moved past that."

"You only fix what's broken, Babe. Now tell us what we're doing for the 12th."

"Only if you promise not to do that zero expression-thing when you're mad on my behalf but don't want to show it. That goes for both of you. I'm not looking for sympathy or pity."

The father-daughter duo each raised a brow at the other before turning a double brown-eyed stare on me and just waited … making zero promises I noticed.

"I've never had a birthday party or b-day dinner that didn't turn into an anxiety-stoking nightmare. I wouldn't mind just a quiet family dinner with no fighting or insult-throwing but plenty of joking around and laughing."

They were silent, either communicating telepathically or just stunned speechless that the Queen of Chaos wants the exact opposite to celebrate the day some Intergalactic princess just dropped me here on earth and took off without a backwards glance.

"That can be arranged," Ranger said a beat later. "My family has been wanting to hear your impression of Italy from you personally."

"Wait, what? I was picturing just pizza for three while Julie's here."

"We can do better than that, Steph," Julie assured me. "Grandma has been wanting to get you over to the house, but Dad's been trying to protect you. It's a … busy yet really fun place to visit."

"But …"

This would be the first 'official' meeting of Ranger's parents. That's a huge step! I didn't know how to put the nerves I was feeling into words, so I did what I normally do, I tried to avoid voicing the worst of them.

"Are you sure we're ready for this?" I asked him. "Clearly we're together, but your family …"

"Won't let me into their house again if you aren't with me," he finished for me.

"Dad's not joking," Julie added. "From the second he - and then I - mentioned you, they've wanted to meet you."

That made me relax for about a second before I started worrying that I won't live up to whatever the Manosos now think of me.

"I can see what you're thinking," Ranger told me, "but if one of your bucket list experiences is to have a family that loves you and will celebrate you and the day you were born … you really don't want to pass up dinner with the Manoso crew."

"Grandma is dying to meet the person who has slightly 'domesticated' Dad."

"We've discussed this, Julie," he told her. "I have not been domesticated. I've just discovered a few perks to sticking closer to home."

"In case you didn't get what he's admitting, you're the perk to staying in Trenton," Julie pointed out.

"That one I'd already guessed … just like I knew there's a Rangeman branch in Miami just because you live there."

"Yeah, Dad's a little protective."

I cut my eyes to her. "A little?"

"I take care of what's important to me," was Batman's reply.

"So you'll come?" Julie asked me.

"I guess, if it won't be too much trouble for your grandparents. We could just invite them along for pizza with us."

Again, they exchanged a glance and a conversation that I wasn't able to hear or decipher.

"First thing you need to know about my parents, Babe, is don't suggest eating out when we can have dinner prepared by them. They would take that as one of those insults you're hoping to avoid."

"Alright. Looks like I'm going to be experiencing a birthday Newark-style."

"My mother will want a list of your favorite foods," Ranger told me. "Though she already has plenty to go on thanks to some stories Julie has told them if you don't want to indulge her."

"Truth is, anything served without a side of disappointment, shame, and shade will be a nice change."

Ranger reached out and pulled me to him, wrapping one arm around me, and curling a hand along the base of my neck, urging me to rest my head on his chest. I took full advantage of the comfort until Julie gave me a piece of advice.

"Wear something comfortable. Grandma's gonna keep you for as long as she possibly can."

I was just about to say that there is no way in hell I'm wearing sweatpants to meet my boyfriend's family for the first time, but my cell ringing interrupted that thought.

Ranger was faster than I was and checked the screen. He hasn't said it outright, but I have a feeling he wants to be sure Morelli isn't bothering me. I haven't talked to Joe since we mutually decided months ago that the other is a total asshole, yet he has a history of lurking in the periphery of my life. Thankfully, that's where he's remained so far.

"It's your mother," Ranger informed me. "Would you like me to answer it for you?"

"Not now that you and Julie gave me an out for what she's probably calling about." I reached out to take my phone from him, and also took a deep breath before I opened the line. "Hi, Mom. Yes, I know it's you … that's why I said 'Hi Mom.'" I rolled my eyes which made Julie laugh. My mother heard her and had to turn nosy. "Yeah, someone's here with me. Two someones, Ranger and Julie."

I wasn't repeating her 'who?' question in regards to Julie. My mother has selective amnesia when it comes to the people in my life she doesn't want in it. And no surprise, she ignored their presence and got down to the reason for this call.

"I'm calling to talk to you about your birthday," she informed me.

"Oh, don't worry. You can skip it this year. I'm actually having dinner in Newark for my birthday."

"Newark? Why on earth would you be eating there?"

Now I'm really sorry I answered, because I'm afraid Julie may get a crash course in Jersey attitude if my mother keeps this up.

"I'm looking forward to doing that because my boyfriend, who is Ranger, has family there. And he and Julie, my boyfriend Ranger's amazing daughter, want me on that day. Since it is my birthday, I get to choose where I'm spending it … and it's Newark. Newark, New Jersey in case you forgot that it's a city in our home state too."

There was absolute silence on the Burg end of the line. Looks like I'm gonna get the freeze-out this time as punishment for not doing what Helen Plum wants. I smiled at my company. I can't help it. Being ignored by my mother is an early birthday present.

"Well, I guess we're done," I told my mom. "Good talk. Bye."

I disconnected, feeling a renewed burst of excitement. I don't need Italy, a break from my family is more than enough.

I felt Ranger's eyes on me. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm actually feeling pretty freakin' good. Don't repeat that, Jules. Your parents probably won't appreciate it. I was nervous about meeting more Manosos, but I think I'm ready for it."

Ranger re-wrapped me in a hug and dropped a kiss on the top of my head. "Good. I just have to get them prepared for you."

I know he's kidding, but also serious. As Julie pointed out, Ranger's extremely protective, but he's the one person who believes I'm stronger, smarter, and more talented than I actually am. I'll be nervous when the day comes, but with these two in my corner, I'll be more than okay. I might even enjoy my birthday for once.

"Oh, Stephanie, how nice it is to finally meet you," Mrs. Manoso said a week later, right before I found myself on the business end of a genuine 'Mom hug'.

I couldn't stop myself from tensing at first, expecting a shoe to drop or a knife in the back, but when I caught Ranger's eyes over her head, the warmth and satisfaction he let me see in his told me that this is exactly what it is … his mom happy to meet the woman her son loves.

When she let me go so Ranger's dad could say hello and take my coat, I started to relax. Julie and I had gone shopping and we'd picked for me to wear … a long-sleeved, black and white fit and flare dress that hit just above my knees, and I found some cute stiletto boots that stopped below my knees to wear with it. Appearance-wise, I fit the 'bring home to Mama' type, I just needed Ranger's family to see the rest of me as a good addition to Ranger and Julie's lives. As I was ushered inside the Manoso homestead, I was given a short tour of the house and its decorations, along with a rundown on what we'll be having for dinner.

The menu was clearly created solely with me in mind … peanut butter and olive nachos and cheeseburger sliders for appetizers. Macaroni and cheese, lasagna with a Cuban twist, and pizza made with homemade crust and freshly made mozzarella cheese for dinner, with oven fries for a side. What surprised me is there was a pineapple upside-down cheesecake along with a Tiramisu birthday cake for dessert, plus hand-cranked peanut butter cup ice cream for anyone who hadn't already slipped into a food coma.

I wanted to pitch a tent in their kitchen and never leave, but I hate camping so that probably isn't going to happen. After a brother and a sister or two arrived, the dreaded part of the night began … dinner table conversation, but Ranger's mom immediately put me at ease.

"We've been dying to ask about you," Mrs. Manoso said, "but Carlos doesn't share much about his personal life. And my dear Julie has been surprisingly close-mouthed when it comes to you … aside from both of them singing your praises."

"There's not much to tell …" I started to say when both Ranger and Julie objected.

"Don't lie to my parents, Babe."

"Yeah, Steph. You're the most interesting person I know outside of Dad and my RangeUncles."

"I'm not. I'm pretty boring except where work is concerned."

"And my granddaughter," Mrs. Manoso said. "I wanted to say this to you in person, now that it's 'allowed'."

"Mama," Ranger warned.

"I need to say this, Carlos, and you're not stopping me," she said, before turning her dark eyes on me and clutching my hands like we were all back waiting on a Scrog-sighting. "Thank you for protecting our sweet Julie. Again, neither have gone into detail about that awful time in our lives, but I do know that you purposely put your life in danger to save my granddaughter's."

"I didn't …" I tried to say, but Ranger cut me off.

"You did, Stephanie. And every single person at this table will never be able to thank you enough for watching out for my daughter and keeping her safe."

To say I was uncomfortable with a compliment or praise of any kind, would be a huge understatement, but Mama Manoso had my back.

"I don't want to bring down this happy occasion we've been waiting for with such a somber subject, I just needed you to know that you will forever be part of our family for what you did. Now, onto a more enjoyable topic … how much did you enjoy your time in Italy?"

My lungs started functioning again. "The country, company, and entire vacation were amazing. I had to warn your son that he may have needed to stun me to get me on a plane to come back to Jersey."

"I would say Stephanie's exaggerating," Ranger added, "but she did in fact say that."

"We had a lot of fun," Julie told the family.

We had too much fun and a thought occurred to me. "Do you think it's safe for hamsters to fly?" I asked Ranger.

"No. Your rat barely survives a cage-cleaning."

"Rex is a hamster, not a rat … and he's really happy once the house-cleaning drama is over until the next time it happens. If I can't take him on a plane, I'm going to always have to go back to him. I knew Italy was a horrible idea."

"I'm pretty sure you're the only person who's ever said that, Steph," Julie told me.

She would be right. The days and the weather while we were there were almost too perfect. We ate mouth-watering pizza up and down the country, sitting beside centuries-old buildings as well as at a Tuscan winery I still have dreams about. The Man of Mystery remained mysterious during our vacation because he ordered some form of vegetable with every order of pizza, pastries, pasta, and Pino we'd sampled.

"Because I'm the only one out of us three who's never been there. I still can't get used to casually strolling down 'cobblestone alleys' instead of dodging bullets and drug addicts as I'm chasing a skip through a back alley on Stark Street."

Julie wrinkled her nose. "Way to bring a sad reality to a perfect vacation."

"Sorry. The downside to not living in Delusionville is adding a dose of real life into any happy moment. And I think Italy may be my happy place after your Dad's penthouse apartment. I'm a sucker for endless hot water and a nice view."

"Babe."

I smiled over at him. "Just telling the truth."

But the expression I caught on Julie's face had me suddenly worried. I recognized the look of a plan being formed, and I braced myself.

"You know, if you married Dad, I bet he'd agree to having your wedding there ... at that vineyard you took tons of pictures of, not Dad's place."

"Julie," Ranger said, in a tone that suggested this isn't the first time the subject's come up.

"I was just saying …"

"We know what you were saying," Ranger told his daughter.

"I don't," I said. "I swear I was just trying to talk my fantasy of living there into existence."

"I know you were, Babe. Don't pay any attention to Julie's train of thought."

"What's so wrong with wanting you and Steph to get married?" She countered, causing me to choke on the sip of 'celebratory' champagne I'd just taken.

"Are you okay?" Ranger asked me.

"Um, yeah. Just surprised to hear that."

"Why?" Julie pressed. "You know Dad loves you, and the fact that you're here with all of us, today of all days … shows that you care too."

"I do. I love both of you. How could anyone not love you guys? But out of all the things I was expecting to come up tonight, marriage-talk wasn't one of them."

"It ends here if it makes you uncomfortable," Ranger told me.

"It's fine. I'm actually flattered that Jules thinks you should marry me or vice versa."

"Please don't humor her. She can go on a lot longer than you'd think."

"I'm not humoring anybody. I'm just enjoying the moment. I've never been someone's first choice before."

"I would like to propose a toast," Ranger's Dad said, cooling off the hot seat by raising his glass and waiting until we all followed suit. Julie has ginger ale in her glass, but it was the first one in the air. "Happy birthday, and welcome to the Manoso family, Stephanie. Whatever happens between you and Carlos, my wife and I want you to know that you are our 'first choice' for our son. You are who we'd trust to be the stepmother our granddaughter deserves. And if it does happen at some point, we'd love having you as another daughter for ourselves."