Author's Note: Hello everyone! I have been writing since I was a kid and I hope to someday become a published author. So while I was reading some of the fan fiction stories on here I got inspired to write one of my own. In a lot of the story descriptions I see many stories about Stephanie and Ranger, now I need to say this now I love them together. But I also love Steph and Morelli so without further ado is Chapter One. Please let me know what you think, hate it/love it/want more? Please tell me J

Disclaimer: The characters are from the brilliant mind of Janet Evanovich I am simply playing with them.

I sat on the edge of the pink Princess bed I had spent more money on than my own bedroom set. My hand slowly smoothed the hair out of the face of the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen. I'm sure some think I'm biased but I don't think so her face was perfect, like her father's. Her hair was long and light brown curling at the ends into little ringlets. She was sleeping so peacefully and if I could just stop time and sit here forever I would. Her eyelids fluttered open revealing her dark blue eyes and she looked to me and smile.

"Hi mommy." I had many nicknames over the years my name is Stephanie Plum and my nicknames have included; Steph, Plum, Babe, Cupcake… but mommy was my favorite. A few years ago the thought of being called mommy scared me way more than a sadistic killer blowing up my home, my many cars (well Ranger's cars technically). Now though, it was perfect ever since 3 and a half years ago I gave birth to Alyson Isabella. Everything about her reminded me of her father, Joseph Morelli- even her eyes. Although they were closer to my color is was the look in them that reminded me of Joe.

"Good morning Aly. I have your tub ready for you, once we're done we'll have some breakfast then get you off to school." Aly was far to young to actually be in school but a few months ago she decided she wasn't a baby anymore and only babies went to daycare. So even though I still bring her to the same place everyday now we call it school- because big girls go to school. She hopped out of bed and ran to her tub taking off her Princess night gown and undies on the way. Aside from a couple sporadic incidences Aly had potty trained very fast and now was able to say goodbye to pull ups completely. I picked out denim shorts and a flower blue tank top to keep her cool in this summer heat. I helped Aly wash up in the tub and get dressed, while she sat at the table eating her cereal there was a knock at the door.

"Hey darling." My neighbor Mandy said when I opened the door. I lived in a side-by-side duplex and lucked out with Mandy as my neighbor she was fantastic and we had become fast friends. Mandy was a few years older than me 2 inches taller and had short honey colored hair, and she had 3 kids; Caroline (14), McKayla (9) and Peter (4). Mandy was also married to a man that was toxic to her life, in and out all the time doing the same thing to their kids. They didn't want to spend the money to get a divorce so they dealt with it in their own ways.

"Hey Mandy- Hey Peter." I said smiling at her little boy that had a sour expression placed on his face.

"I'm taking Peter to day… uh school today and I'm happy to take Miss Aly too." Mandy was a stay at home mom that lived off child support and also wrote occasion articles for the paper. The only time she brought Peter to daycare was when he was driving her crazy and she needed a break.

"That'd be great, hey Al you finished with your cereal?"

"Yup!" She squealed hopping off her chair and running towards the door.

"Give me a quick second guys." I ran to Aly's room, grabbed her brush and blue headband and went back out to meet them.

"Mom!" Aly sighed when she saw the brush.

"It will only take a minute." I quickly ran the brush through, secured the headband and with a hug and a kiss said goodbye.

Suddenly our little home fell silent, a state in which I have tried to avoid since the move. Silence only made me think, and remember things I had long since tried to push aside because thinking about it only hurt. This time I couldn't help thinking back though, to when it all began…

My best friend Mary Lou was convinced she was pregnant and even though she had been through this experience before she still didn't want to pee on the stick without me there. So in my ugly orange and brown bathroom we agreed that I would pee on one and she would pee on the other. I had nothing to worry about, Mary Lou was scared though she didn't want anymore kids and to make it easier I had agreed to take a test too. I went first, setting the test back in the wrapper on the edge of my tub then she did the same. We checked the tests, one was positive and one was negative- Mine was the one with the plus sign. We told each other we had accidentally switched tests so we ran to the drugstore and she bought another one. After downing a couple cokes we both peed on a new test. The same results- Mary Lou wasn't pregnant, but I was?

Mary Lou had immediately called her GYNO and made an appointment. She must have pulled some strings because we were able to get an appointment immediately, and even though I wasn't ready to know the truth about what was going on inside of my body- I also couldn't wait around not knowing. The ultrasound tech turned on the screen and showed us what the little camera was seeing- a blob with a heartbeat. I almost fainted but instead tears filled the brim of my eyes, a mixture of emotions raced through me all at once. But even in the midst of fear, anxiety, anger and denial I felt love- love for this little tiny thing growing inside of me. The heartbeat echoed throughout the room and in that moment I was in love, not that this feeling cancelled out my other ones- not by a long shot. The ultrasound tech congratulated me and told me I was 8 weeks along, she handed me pamphlets of information about more than I could possibly want to know about what was going on with me. The woman took in the tears and fear plastered on my face and told us we could take our time leaving the room, and excused herself.

"Steph… I don't even know what to say. How are you?" How was I? How was I supposed to know, I could hardly take care of myself and the only other life I was responsible for was my hamster, Rex. Which really was kind of a no-brainer, I was a bounty hunter living on practically no money, my cars were blown up weekly it seemed. I sat up putting my head between my knees and sobbed while Mary Lou rubbed my back.

"What are you going to do?"

I knew what she meant- the ultimate question when someone found out they were pregnant, keep it, get rid of it, or let another family raise it and hope they have a better life. A few hours ago my opinion was far different than it was right now, because a few hours ago it hadn't been real. Pregnancy was a thought for the future, maybe, but now I had seen the heartbeat of my child. There was a baby swimming around in my stomach for 8 weeks now and there was only one thing I could do.

"I'm going to keep it." She smiled and hugged me, but there was something reserved about her reaction. I looked into her eyes and saw question after question beating down at me.

"Might as well ask me what you want to ask me."

"Uh… well I don't want this to come off in a terrible way, but… who is the father?" There were two men in my life that I loved but there was only one that could be the father. Ranger and I, while we had many passionate kisses in the alley of the bonds office, hadn't done anything physical in months. Until this moment I had been sour about it but now I was relieved I didn't have to play the, "who's the daddy' game.

"Morelli." I said with confidence she let out a sigh of relief.

"Not that I wouldn't have been happy if it was Ranger's but well, there's no future there." Sometimes I thought that about both of them, Ranger didn't want to be tied down in anyway- even though he sort of had been since he met me. I didn't see Ranger handing out car after car to other women or have his Rangeman employees follow other girls around. But that would be the most committed he would ever get, and although I knew deep in my heart he would make a wonderful father I didn't think Rangeman possibly had enough money, or men to have surveillance on us. I could see him going from cool and understand to overbearing, not allowing me to be driven in anything other than a Military issued tank. With Morelli, I knew he would make a good father and I knew I loved him but I didn't know what in meant in terms of our future. Well until now that is, now he would forever be in my future at least as the father of my baby.

Mary Lou stared at me as I placed my hands over my stomach, my baby bump hadn't even started to form yet.

"With the first baby it takes a little while for the baby to show." Thank God, I'd still have time to digest the news before having people ask why it looked like I had a basketball under my stomach.

"Can you take me home?" I just wanted to curl into a ball, stuff my face with fatty food and watch Ghostbusters until I woke up from this dream. Mary Lou nodded and we headed out towards the lobby the receptionist stopped us holding out an envelope to me.

"The Tech told me she forgot to give these to you, baby's first photos." I stared at her like she was speaking a foreign language,.

"The ultrasound photos." She said staring at me like I had to be mentally insane to not understand her.

"Oh thanks." I mumbled grabbing the envelope from her and shuffling out the door into the bright sun. I almost ran into Mary Lou, as I was about to yell at her I saw what it was she was staring at, Ranger.

Ranger stood leaning against his black Porsche in his traditional black get-up, but there was something unreadable about his expression. How had he found me here? We purposely took Mary Lou's mom van so Rangeman couldn't track me here.

"Where is it?" I asked him, knowing I didn't have to explain what I was talking about.

"Your purse." He replied simply, not giving away any emotion.

"Hey Ranger." Mary Lou said as she was star struck by the image of pure perfection.

"Mary Lou." He said as a greeting. "I'm going to be taking Stephanie home." She nodded and whispered bye to me and practically ran to her car. Ranger opened the passenger door for me but I didn't feel all that welcome in his car. Part of me wanted to turn and bolt off but not only was he stronger and faster than I was, I didn't think my jello legs were going to let me run. So I took a deep breath and slid into the passenger seat and Ranger took his place in the driver's seat and took off. At first I had no idea where it was we were going, but wherever it was we were going there a lot faster than the speed limit asked us to.

I wanted to say something to him, but the tension in the car told me just to wait. Clearly he picked me up so he wants to talk to me, but I didn't know how much longer I could stand the silence. Finally, he pulled into a park overlook but didn't get out of the car.

"What were you doing in there?" Right to the point, no babe, no playful banter.

"How do you know the appointment wasn't for Mary Lou?" His eyes never left the windshield directly in front of him.

"I called, the appointment was under your name." I sighed, I knew I should have given her a fake name. Ranger carefully grabbed the envelope I had forgotten was sitting on my lap and after a moments hesitation looked at the photos.

"Say something please." I whispered after a few minutes.

"It's Morelli's." It was more of a statement but I know he needed to hear me say it.

"Yes." He carefully put the photos back in the envelope and got out of the car, I didn't know if I should follow or just sit here. But a second later he had my door opened and pulled me to my feet and into a tight hug.

I wanted nothing more than just to stand here and let his arms hold me and protect me, but all the tears I were holding back poured down onto his shirt. There was so much I wanted to say but I didn't know where to start. So for the first few minutes at least I just let Ranger hold me and rub his hand up and down my back.

"Are you glad it isn't yours?" I didn't mean to say it aloud but that was something I had been wondering since I first saw him.

"Yes." He answered and a pain in my heart stabbed even harder, making my sobs even louder. I don't know why that made me more upset, it shouldn't- but I loved Ranger, I always would. He took his hands away from my back and framed my face, forcing my to look at him.

"Let me explain, it's not that I would be mad to have you carry my child, you know I love you. It's just a baby wouldn't change who I am, or what my life entails. It is hard enough for me just to think of something bad happening to you, there are times I wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare that you were in danger. I don't know what I would do if I had a child too, other than Julie. I don't think I would be able to function especially if it was our child." I nodded in understanding, I felt the same way. He flashed my his 200 watt smile and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"You are going to be a great mom, Stephanie Plum." I smiled and just like that it felt okay, Ranger wouldn't lie to me and he didn't hate me. I couldn't handle it if he hated me.

"Can you keep it a secret, at least until I tell Joe. He'd lose his shit if he found out you knew about his baby before he did." He smirked.

"That would be a bad thing?" He said with a smile, receiving a playful smack in the arm from me.

"Very bad." He nodded and glanced at his watch.

"I have a meeting in a little bit, where do you want me to bring you?"

"Home, but stop at a bakery quick I need to get a few things for tonight." Ranger raised his eyebrow at me as we buckled back into the car.

"I am an emotional eater, and right now my emotions are all over the place so I need a donut." Or twelve. Despite Ranger trying to get me to eat something healthier he eventually caved, and even paid for my unhealthy indulgences.

"You should be happy that baby isn't mine, because if it was. No way would I let you eat any of this shit." I smiled at him as he pulled into my parking lot.

"Sure you would. I have a way of talking you into things you normally wouldn't agree too."

"Ain't that the truth." I turned to leave the car but he held on tightly to my wrist, I turned back to look at him.

"This doesn't change things, babe. I will still be doing everything I can to keep you safe and anything at Rangeman is still there for you, should you need it." I nodded feeling a knot in my throat that I wanted to go away, but seeing Ranger really hurt me. I could see our lives together, I imagined becoming a bad ass bounty hunter just like him and doing missions together. He wouldn't have to worry about me quite as much cause I could protect myself and together there would be a passion so strong, no one could pull us apart. But that was… only a dream.

"Thank you." I whispered, unable to let me voice get any louder. He pulled me in for a deep kiss, it ignited flames throughout my body but I knew it wasn't the start of something- it was the end.

"I love you, babe."

"In your own way." I said with a smile that he returned with one of his.

"And I always will."

I spent the next few days avoiding just about everything as I sat and sobbed, ate, slept, and sobbed some more. I had turned my cell phone off and unplugged my house phone, I didn't want to talk to anybody until I knew how I even felt. Until one evening when there was a knock on my apartment door, I didn't even have to look through the peep hole to know who it was. I opened the door and Joe Morelli stood there his hand supporting his weight that leaned into my door frame, he looked at least a full day past his 5 o'clock shadow and in his eyes was concern. I'm sure I looked pathetic, my wild curly hair was pulled into a bun and I wore a black oversized sweatshirt and grey sweatpants two sizes too big. He took in my appearance in pulled me into his arms pressing his lips into the top of my head.

"Jeezus, cupcake I thought something happened to you."

"What, why?"

"I've been on surveillance for the last couple days right out of town and haven't been able to go home. Me and another guy just swapped off who slept and who watched. Your house phone wasn't working, your cell phone's off, your mother hadn't heard from you. I called Vinnie's office and they hadn't seen you for a few days either, everyone said you at least hadn't started anymore cars on fire but that didn't mean something else didn't happen." Now I felt terrible, I knew Joe would worry if he didn't talk to me, but I didn't think he'd worry that much. Especially since we were once again in the bizarre stage of our relationship, we weren't technically 'on' or 'off' we just were. He dropped his arms from around my waist and grabbed my hand and pulled me to the couch once again pulling me close. I had seen Joe sentimental before, but nothing like this.

"I really scared you, didn't I?" I could feel him nod into my hair.

"You have no idea." It was then that I realized I had missed Morelli too and laying here on the couch on top of him felt right.

"I have something to tell you." Morelli quickly sat us up and stared into my face trying to figure out what I was keeping from him.

"What'd you blow up?"

"What!"

"Usually you get serious when you've committed a crime that I have to turn a blind eye to." I jumped off the couch.

"I did not blow anything up!"

"Find someone dead, breaking and entering? Come on Steph, I can just keep guessing of shit you do that make me scared shitless."

"I didn't do any of that shit, Morelli!" Now I was pissed- blame it on the hormones.

"Then what is it?" He stood facing me his anger matching mine. I sighed quietly, just a moment ago it felt right he cared for me and I longed for him. In a blink of an eye everything changed and now here we were screaming at each other once again over nothing.

"Maybe it's something that you did, you ever think of that?"

"Christ, what the hell is this about, huh? Did I not hug you right, did someone feed you some bullshit about another woman in my life?"

"Why, is there?" I asked pissed off, my news could wait if there was something he needed to tell me.

"No, Stephanie!" Now he was pissed, "Besides the fact that I am always on call and the only free time I have I don't want to be with any other woman. Because for some insane reason that I have tried to understand I love you. Not knowing if you were okay for the past few days has made me lose my mind, I was so close to quitting my job just to drive here to check on you. If it wasn't for that ridiculous job you have and your uncanny ability to get in trouble every fucking day maybe I would be able to sleep easy at night."

"Oh so now we're going to fight about my job now?" He let out an irritated sigh, I seriously couldn't take this right now, I pointed to the door.

"Get out, I'm not fighting right now."

"You're impossible!" He wasn't about to leave so I pushed him towards the door into the hallway I slammed the door. Then I grabbed the envelope containing the photos of my precious child, opened the door and threw the envelope at him.

"And don't bother asking; it's yours!" I slammed the door again, bolted it, slid the chain in place and ran to my bed to once again cry my eyes out.