AN: Thank you for the lovely reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying this new Stephanie. Someone has mentioned Lula and I'm not sure if I'll introduce her in this world. Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day. We had a small earthquake in southern NM but we slept through it. I usually do unless they are really strong.

Chapter 4: Some Things Never Change

"Oh Stephanie, I'm so glad you're back. You remember Joseph from school. He's a police officer now. I thought you could get reacquainted," my mother giddily said.

"Really mom? We were never friends. We didn't hang out with the same crowd. And he's a pig, remember Joyce," I inquired.

"Awe, come on Cupcake. I've changed," Joe cajoled.

"I'm not a cupcake. I was a lieutenant in the US Army and deserve the same respect as anyone who has served this country. I don't want any man who can't respect me enough to use my name," I fumed.

"Stephanie don't be rude to our guest," my mother exclaimed.

"Seriously ma, he knocked up Joyce and refused to marry her. And now, you want me to what, be his slave? I don't need him or any man to support me. Women work and have careers; it's 2019 for crying out loud," I yelled.

"Maybe I should go," Joe said with a charming smile to my mother.

"Yes," everyone but my mother shouted.

"Oh no, Joseph, I invited you for dinner. You can sit next to Stephanie at the table," mom nervously said as she led him into the dining room.

"What a putz," Grandpa Mazur said, "if you date him, I'll put you over my knee."

"Don't worry grandpa. I won't let him touch me. I do know how to use a gun," I giggled.

"So, Joseph, I heard you were seen sneaking out of Kasey Miller's house. She's had a lot of work done after having four kids with Detective Miller. He was on the night shift for the last month, wasn't he? Keeping her company while the kids were sleeping and her husband was investigating those gang murders? I wonder if he heard about that," Grandma Mazur asked.

"I don't know what you mean Mrs. Mazur. I would never do something like that," Joe replied with a wink to Grandpa Mazur.

"What a putz," Grandpa Mazur said, "a real man finds his own wife. There's an old saying in the animal kingdom, you don't shit where you eat."
"Dad, language at the table and in front of such an important guest," my mother explained.

"Can it Helen, you're not too old to be spanked. I'm still your father and you will treat me with respect," grandpa scolded.

Dinner was a strained affair. My mother talked me up to Morelli like a prize steer at the county fair. "Don't worry Joseph, I'll teach Stephanie how to cook and keep a house up to Burg standards," my mother rambled.

"I'm sure you can Mrs. Plum. I know my mother would be willing to help. We'll have her acting like a demure innocent housewife and soon everyone will forget she joined the Army. You know the rumors will start saying she's improper but as soon as we announce our engagement that will change, I'm thinking a late spring or early summer wedding would be good," Morelli said with that smarmy smile.

They were planning a June wedding while the rest of us sat in stunned silence. Something needed to be done, she was planning a peach and mint green theme. I don't even like peach, it's not really pink and not really orange.

"What the hell are you two plotting? I'm not marrying this piece of trash. He's probably still bangin' Teri Grizzoli and maybe half of Stark Street as well as his coworker's wives. I'm a grown woman and can make up my own mind. I signed a lease today and once again I'll remind you; I have a good job offer, I don't need a husband," I adamantly stated.

I swear steam was coming out of dad's ears, "Helen, what did Stephanie say yesterday and again today? She doesn't want to get married and I will not pay for any wedding to a Morelli scum bag. His father abused his wife. His brother and cousin can't keep their dick in their pants and smack their wives around when they defend themselves or their children. I don't want that for my daughter and neither should you."

"I'm not like them Mr. Plum. I'm a good man and I've changed since high school. I'm not proud of my past but everyone has a past. Besides everyone knows Joyce slept around with anyone she could find," Joe quietly said while trying to look humble.

"I don't care how much you changed; even Joyce didn't deserve what you did. Not only was she pregnant but you wrote about it on the walls of how many men's rooms? I'm not interested and I told my mother not to invite anyone over. I'm not interested in getting married and having children. I want to focus on my career," I firmly stated.

Dinner finished quickly after that and Morelli was on his way with dessert to go. "Good riddance," my father said as the door closed behind the unwanted guest.

"Stephanie, you will not be rude to any guests in the future and you will watch your mouth," my mother hotly demanded.

"I'm a grown woman and I'm moving into my apartment tomorrow; I have furniture being delivered. I'm not going to attend any meal in this house where you invite a man to marry me off like it's Regency England. Did you ask for a dowery too? You and dad didn't have an arranged marriage. Val didn't. Your parents didn't and dad's parents didn't. I refuse to let you arrange a marriage for me. I'm an adult and I have a right to choose the man I want to marry," I forcefully said.

"Helen," grandma said, "she's right. Your obsession with marrying Stephanie off since she was a teenager needs to stop.

I grabbed my handbag and left with my mother yelling for me to come back, like I'm an errant child. I went for a drive thinking about what my mother is up to. She is exactly the same, always trying to marry me off. What is her obsession and why with me. Is it because I'm different and want something other than what she has? I decided I needed to stop and get some coffee. Maybe just a place to sit and think. I pulled into Route 1 Diner. I walked in and sucked in a breath as I felt a tingle on my neck. Sitting in a back booth was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen - Ranger. He looked amazing in a grey T-shirt with Army emblazoned across his broad chest. You could see his muscles were straining the fabric.

The diner was empty so I had my choice of booths. I didn't really want to sit by the window, with my luck Morelli would show up. I saw a booth on the opposite side of the restaurant but that wouldn't result in me meeting Ranger. I walked over and sat two booths in front of Ranger, facing him. He had his blank face on but I was still able to read him. He was curious.

The waitress walked over and asked what I wanted. I asked for a coffee with cream. She asked if I wanted anything else and I declined. I wasn't the Stephanie who eats until she can't button her jeans and sweets weren't the base of my food pyramid in this reality. I sat quietly, reviewing the menu for a future stop to eat. I could feel his stare.

I took out my phone and looked at the air tag tracking for my furniture. I was happy to see the driver was already in Pennsylvania, I should get my bedroom furniture in the next day or two depending how many stops he had. I sent a message through the app for the moving company with the new delivery address. Originally, I was going to store my stuff in my godfather's garage so I sent him a text advising I no longer required that option. I sipped my coffee and was surprised to see Ranger staring at me.

Joe's POV

I pulled up to the Plum house excited to get an invite to dinner. I was hoping to date Stephanie Plum and eventually marry her. She's the girl most of the high school dreamed of dating. She was beautiful, sexy and I heard toned after I left. I thought I'd pop her cherry before I left for a stint in the Navy. I was with Ivan when he asked Vanessa out. She said she was asking Stephanie to cover her shift. I was stunned to see Joyce behind the counter when I arrived at closing time. Hell, I wasn't going to turn down what she offered.

My mother was pissed when she found out what had happened. It only got worse when Joyce's grandmother called saying she was pregnant with my kid. Heck, I didn't know at first until my brother spilled the beans. Ma said if the paternity test showed I was the father I would deal with it.

I strutted up to the door, confidence always brings the bitches running over, no matter the age. Mrs. Plum answered the door and fawned all over me. She's good friends with my mother so I was able to score the first night's dinner invitation. Stephanie's father and grandparents ignored me. I told Mrs. Plum the good things about myself, and how I'm looking to settle down. I said I was looking forward to having children, a dog and a house. Then in walks Stephanie. She's so hot and hostile, she's giving a pissed off vibe. I'm sure I can charm her; I can charm anyone. Mrs. Plum had me sit between her and Stephanie.

An hour later I walked out with desert to go. I'm not sure what happened but Stephanie didn't want to marry me. I'm Joe Morelli, the Italian Stallion, the only good Morelli. How dare she treat me like I'm not good enough. I know I charmed Mrs. Plum, she was already planning the Burg wedding of the year. I know my mother will work on Mrs. Plum who will in turn pressure Stephanie. I know she's not fresh out of high school but Burg guilt is powerful.

Stephanie is the only female to join the military from our school since 2001 so I'm not sure how to deal with her. She seems to have confidence other Burg women don't have. They are confident in their home maker skills, ability to raise children and they know how to be attractive to their husband. Stephanie has quiet confidence and strength and thinks she doesn't need a husband. How can I break that down and break her down?

I drove to my mother's house and explained what happened at dinner. "I don't get it ma; I'm a real catch and she was all like I don't need a husband. And she got mad what I called her Cupcake."

"Joseph, I'll talk to Helen and get her to work on Stephanie. I don't know how she could not be enamored with you. You are perfect and any woman would be lucky to have a man with a good reputation like you have," my mother confidently said with an indulgent smile.

"I give her the eye," Grandma Bella dramatically exclaimed. "They are Hungarians, they no deserve a good man like you. That girl has crazy ideas and she could upset the Burg way of life if the young one take after her. She a puttana. You could do so much better than that one."

"I know Grandma Bella but I always wanted her and she tricked me into finding Joyce at Tasty Pastry. If I got ahold of her that night we'd be married with five boys by now. I have to win her and then everyone will know she was wrong to run off and everyone will see how great I am," I ranted.

"Don't worry Joey. Let momma take care of it," my mother said as she pulled out desert.

I had Italian Cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries drizzled with chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar and a cappuccino with my mother and grandmother. They updated me on the local gossip. My phone rang and I told my mother it was work, I was the only one who could get away with a call on my cell at their house. It was Teri Grizzoli-Gilman who was looking for a hook up. I stepped outside on the back porch and set up a meet at Mount's Motel on Route 1 for a half hour.

"Ma I gotta run. That was an informant, they have info that can help me break into being a detective," I said as I kissed my mother then grandmother's cheek.

I saw a grey Subaru with Georgia plates parked outside of the diner but didn't have time to stop. Teri didn't like to be kept waiting and I figured I could find her some other time. There weren't any other Georgia plates in the Burg.