Anybody and anything familiar belongs to Janet. The rest is mine.

I stretched my arms out further across Ranger's body. "I feel really good this morning."

He slid a hand all the way down my bare back and left it resting on my butt. "You're welcome."

I kissed the spot on his chest closest to my lips. "You are responsible for ninety-nine percent of my good mood," I told him. "I'm no longer shocked at how good you can make me feel."

His hand started wandering again. "If that's how you're thinking, I'm going to have to up my game."

I snorted. "You up your game anymore and I'll be dead."

He gave me a wolf grin. "Can't have that. I like you responsive."

I'd be embarrassed at just how responsive I am to him, but it's one of the things I've come to accept and actually enjoy about myself. I'm liking who I am a lot more lately … a side effect of living my life the way I want to and only allowing the good stuff to penetrate.

"Do you want to expand on why it's five-thirty in the morning and you're awake and happy? Usually, you're threatening to shoot me if I wake you up any time before eleven AM."

Ranger being really naked and in bed beside me is veeeery different than him standing next to my old lumpy mattress wearing gym clothes he expected to make sweaty during a joint workout.

"Or would you prefer to get up and start the day?" He continued when I took too long to answer.

I burrowed into his body a little bit more. "I'm pretty comfy where I am. I'm not ready to move."

"And you don't want to talk either?" He asked.

I thought about that and realized I have no problem sharing how I feel with anyone, but especially him. "I guess what I meant is that I always thought if I stood up to my mother, I'd lose something - someone - I need … that I'd then be jealous of what Mary Lou has with her mom and even what Val had with ours. But all I feel is relief. What I've lost isn't a parent, it was a ton of criticism, blame, shame, and disappointment in a mother-shape."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Yes and no. Sure, I'd love it for my mom to show up and swear that she'll love me the way a mother should love her kid, but I know that's never gonna happen. So really, I only eliminated one more person who was hurting more than helping me." I paused and let my own words sink in. It took a total of four seconds for me to weigh and accept them as the truth before I continued. "It's hard to put into words how sad but happy that makes me."

"You deserve only the best, Babe."

I nodded. "And I got him. Plus, I have Grandma, Mary Lou, Eddie, and Julie and all the Merry Men. It's not always going to be easy, being an emotional orphan, but I'll survive."

"There's no other option in your case," he warned me.

I slid my body all the way on top of his. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I finally found the place I belong and I'm not giving up my spot for anybody. My mom's had more chances than I should've given her, and my dad doesn't seem to care at all about what's going on around him. It was past time to move on before things could get as bad as they did with Morelli."

Ranger's entire body tensed underneath me at the mention of Joe.

"He's no longer your problem. If his own actions don't take him out this time, I will."

"That won't be necessary. I'm starting to think we should start our own tradition as a married couple. Like we take a trip somewhere tropical whenever the walls of Trenton start closing in … if you don't mind delegating more."

"I've worked hard for the day I wouldn't need to anymore."

"Yeah, like you don't work hard every day."

"There's a difference between your career being your life and having a career that supports your life. I do enjoy what I do, but I'll always choose being with you over it."

"That makes us even. You'll give up work for me and I'll happily take a pass on my family for the good of my sanity and our relationship."