Chapter One:

SPOV

The persistent hammering of a fist on her front door jolted her out of bed.

For a moment, Stephanie panicked. Disorientated and still half asleep, the only thing Steph could think was that Joe was at her door, demanding to know why she and dream Ranger were cuddling in her bed.

And then she heard her niece's whinny from her apartment building's hallway. Struggling against the bedcovers, she tried to shake off the feeling of guilt. There's no need to feel guilty, she reasoned with herself. It was a dream! And Joe Morelli had no right to bang on her door… not anymore. "Christ," she swore under her breath, stumbling over the pile of laundry near her bedroom door. She'd been enjoying her mornings until today.

Because for the past week, she'd had the treat of waking peacefully.

After a raucous and alcohol-fueled night out with the girls, her alarm clock had pierced through the hangover of a lifetime, and been unceremoniously slammed into the wall. What followed was an uncoordinated and shameful attempt to get out of bed, which was eventually aborted. She'd not realized it at the time, but the death of her alarm clock would be one of the greatest gifts she could've given herself.

And so followed said glorious week; each morning waking when she wanted to, stretching luxuriously, and sparing a smug glance at the space on the bedside table where the alarm clock had used to sit.

Not this morning though.

If her niece's horse impression hadn't alerted Stephanie to who was at the door, her sister's frantic voice did. Opening the front door, Steph was met with the disheveled appearance of her older sister Valerie, who was carrying what appeared to be half of Walmart's baby section.

It was a good thing Val hadn't waited for an invitation inside, a dazed Steph thought as her sister breezed past her into the small living room. I wouldn't know what to say to this.

And then she realized Val was speaking to her.

"…with Mary Alice and Angie contagious, I just can't risk…"

And then she realized baby Lisa was strapped to Val's chest.

"…she's too young to get chicken pox, and I couldn't handle three sick kids all at once…"

Stephanie's eyes widened as the reality of what was about to happen sunk in.

"Steph you know I wouldn't ask unless I had no one else, but Mom is taking care of Grandma and…"

Ah jeez, thought Stephanie. She had been prepared to set Val straight – she could barely take care of her hamster! – until she had heard her sister's voice start to tremble. Steph knew Val was right; her sister would never leave Lisa in her care unless she desperately had to. And although she and her sister almost never saw eye to eye, Val was family. She could do this for her. She would.

"…and Albert hasn't had chicken pox before so he's staying with his mother; Steph I just can't – "

Stephanie cut in before the tears in her sister's voice threatened to overwhelm her.

"I can take her, Val. I'll probably have to ring you for instructions but … I can take her."

Kia Ora All, this is my first fanfic so let me know what you think! This fic isn't pre-planned, but I know what direction it's heading so wish me luck! I will aim for longer chapters, but at the moment I just want to gauge a response, see if this fic is worth writing.

Can't wait to hear from y'all,

Sarah