AN: This is very much overdue, but I was never going to abandon this story. I love all the characters I created, as well as the ones I borrowed to play with :-) Thank you everyone who has reviewed, or pushed me to finish this. Y'all's support means the world to me! Thanks so much for following along on the Manoso Kids' adventure
Disclaimer: Those you recognize from JE's world are borrowed. Those you don't are mine. I make no profit and only have fun!
One year later...
Stephanie smiled as she looked out the window. Down on the beach, Elise was showing Cami how to throw someone away from her. For the last eight and a half months Elise worked hard with her sister. Shortly after Elise's release from the hospital, Cami announced she wanted to learn more self-defense. She admitted that while she knew she would never be able to take on several attacker at once she wanted to make sure she gave more than she got. And because Billy had named her Baby Manoso, he became the usual sparring partner for her.
"Deep thoughts, Babe?" Ranger's arms slid around her stomach pulling her back to his chest. They had come back to Miami for the Fourth of July, and to help Julie move her things to Trenton so she could be closer to Alan. Ranger had given Alan a job as on site medic after he helped Elise. The rest of Elise's men had joined the ranks of RangeMan as their time in the Rangers ended. Trevor was the only one left.
"Hm, just a few. Have you heard anything?"
"Nothing yet."
Stephanie sighed and rested her head on her husband's shoulder. A month after Elise was released from the hospital Trevor had been called out to a mission. Before he left he added his dog tags to Elise's chain, whispering in her ear, "When I come home, I'm making you my wife."
Ranger knew Trevor planned on marrying his daughter. He had come Ranger and asked his permission to marry Elise. Ranger, feeling very clever with himself, agreed to let Trevor marry Elise after they spent a couple hours on the mats of RangeMan. Ranger gladly gave his permission feeling happy that he had finally gotten to kick one of the asses of the men who claimed the hearts of his daughters.
Once Trevor left for his mission, Ranger did what he could to stay updated on his status. He knew Elise wasn't going to ask because she knew how dangerous things were. Instead she focused her energy on helping Cami with her self-defense and going to therapy.
Cami and Elise both found that despite how smart they were, they couldn't compete with the cleverness of their father. While in the hospital Elise had tried talking to Cami into seeing a therapist. Cami resisted initially, pointing out that Elise had been through some terrible things and never saw someone for it. After a few days of arguing, Elise finally told her sister if she would see a therapist, then she would also go see one. Promptly after Cami left, Elise realized Ranger had managed to maneuver things to go the way he wanted. He wanted Elise to see someone to deal with the issues of Lorraine, and ultimately, she needed to talk to someone about Ortega. Knowing Elise would want to try helping her sister, Ranger knew it was only a matter of time before Elise would compromise with Cami to make her go to therapy.
Stephanie and Ranger watched their daughters on the beach, both happy they were making great strides in their recovery. Cami was doing much better at having her full name used. Things were even stronger with Richard than before, though Ranger refused to let her spend the night in his apartment. Richard moved to Trenton when they went back. Stephanie helped him find an apartment, which was conveniently monitored by RangeMan. Richard was simply happy to be with Cami and agreed to the monitoring. While Cami was not allowed to spend the night at his apartment, they had let Richard spend the night when Cami was having nightmares of her time with Ortega, with the door wide open. He had stayed with them at the beach house while Elise was in the hospital, where CJ had kept a sharp eye on the couple whenever Ranger and Stephanie weren't at the house.
CJ found Richard to be a good sparring partner. Having been punished by his brother for years, Richard knew how to practice carefully, avoiding the injuries. He helped CJ get back to a hundred percent. They had developed a good friendship and whenever JJ came to town the three of them got together for a beer.
They were both currently arguing over the best way to grill meat as Julie and Alan filled the coolers with ice and drinks.
"Carlos, if Trevor doesn't come back..." Stephanie's voice trailed off.
"Our girl is strong." He murmured into her hair, squeezing her tightly. "All our girls." He smiled looking at Julie. As soon as both her sisters were safe and sound, Julie had barely let them out of her sight. She had come with Alan to Trenton to help take care of them. She found herself feeling quite at home in Trenton. Rachel was saddened when Julie told her she was moving, but understood after everything that happened.
Billy groaned as he hit the sand again. "Why, Captain? It was all in fun!"
"If you stop calling me Baby Manoso I won't ask Elise to make you my sparring buddy." Cami said cheekily.
"I'll never surrender!" He shouted from his prone position on the sand.
Elise laughed and shook her head. "Get used to a lifetime of ass kicking."
Cami grinned at her sister. Elise laughed much more than she used to. Talking to someone seemed to help her drastically. A few days ago, Ranger and Cami had found Elise taking aspirin for a headache. They knew she would take pain meds as a last resort, which was usually rare, but it was nice seeing her actually use the meds.
"Why can't you use Richard?" Billy moaned.
"Because Dad won't let me play nurse and make him feel better." Cami said looking a little sullen at the thought. Elise burst out laughing. She knew full well that Cami and Richard's sex life was going strong. She knew they were creative until Cami was living on her own, which would be in the fall when she started at Princeton.
"Dad's lawyer thinks he may have found a loophole in the will." Cami said to Elise. Richard had been meeting with the lawyer as often as he could. He wanted none of Christopher's money and was determined to get all of it donated. Richard found several shelters and charities in which he would divide the money amongst them. When he first sat down with the lawyer and discovered how much money his brother had set aside for him, he had to pick his jaw up off the floor. Had Richard had any love for his brother he would have been deeply touched by how well Christopher wanted to take care of him. The fact was the money was Christopher's way of telling him even in death he owned him.
"That's good. It's obvious he wants to cut all ties away from him." Elise replied looking down the beach. Even now, she knew Cami wouldn't go running alone. Someone was always with her. If they were home in Trenton, she usually stayed in the home gym, but it was too nice at their house in Florida for her to do that.
Elise's eyes narrowed as she looked down the way at a figure walking toward them. There was something familiar about the gait of his stride...she let out a cry and went racing down the beach.
"What's going on? I can't move. Do we need to defend the Fortress of Manoso?" Billy asked from his still prone position. "Just give me a gun. I can kill from here."
"You're such a baby." Cami said rolling her eyes. She looked back at her sister who suddenly jumped on the man walking toward them, hugging him for all she was worth. "Oh! Trevor is back!"
Billy was on his feet. "Thank God."
"I'm not going to beat him up instead of you." She informed him.
He laughed and tugged a lock of hair in brotherly way, "Bring it on, little girl. No, Captain is going to heal even more now that Trevor is back."
"You think?" Cami cocked her head to the side watching her sister. She nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
Elise's legs were firmly wrapped around Trevor's waist. "Hi."
He smiled and kissed her again. "Hi."
"Missed you."
"Missed you too."
"Are you mine now?"
"Completely."
Elise's smile was blinding. Trevor told her before he left that Diggory informed him this mission would be his last. He hoped Ranger would be willing to give him a job if any positions in RangeMan were still available.
"You look good." He said setting her down. She took his hand, resting her head on his shoulder.
"There's been a lot going on, but I am doing better." She replied.
Cami raced up and gave Trevor a welcome home hug before running inside to tell her parents the great news. Julie and Alan walked up to greet them. Alan wasted no time demanding to know what injuries Trevor had.
Later on in the evening, Stephanie sat on a beach chair, leaning back against Ranger. She watched her children. CJ had yet to find a woman, but she had a feeling when it happened, it would hit him as hard as it had Ranger. He was much like his father.
"Happy, Babe?" Her husband murmured in her ear.
"Unbelievably happy." She smiled up at him. She was about to say something else when CJ's next words caught her attention.
"So what are we going to do while we're in Miami? It's not like we can top last summer. Besides, who is going to mess with us now?"
"CJ!" His sisters yelled. Alan, Richard and Trevor grabbed their women as they tried to launch themselves at their brother.
Trevor had his arms wrapped securely around Elise. Looking at CJ he said, "Dude, you might want to run."
"You can run, but you have to sleep some time." Cami said with a mischievous grin on her face.
CJ paled.