Chapter 24

Epilogue

Ranger's POV

9 months later

The past year has been the best year of my life, but I know that things are just going to keep getting better. I was an ass for so long, pushing my Babe away from me to try to protect her, but really, I was trying to protect myself. I was so scared she wouldn't choose me and love me the way I loved her that I did and said stupid shit.

Now, she's mine, for real and forever. I look at her, belly rounded with our son, who is due any day now and I smile.

I was there the first time we heard his heartbeat, the ultrasound when we found out he was a boy, my hand on her stomach as he kicked the first time, buying him his going home from the hospital outfit, the shower, decorating his room, everything. All the things I wasn't able to do with Julie because I was deployed. These things also made me love my daughter more and work even harder at our relationship than I had after Scrog.

It was Sunday night and that meant dinner time at the Plums. Lester, Bobby, Tank and Lula were now regular guests at Sunday dinner too. Frank, the guys and I were smoking cigars in the garage sharing war stories when Steph and Lula walked in.

"Carlos, it's time."

"Get off your asses boys, White Girl's water done broke. We're having a BatBaby tonight!" yelled Lula.

The four Special Forces badasses made well, asses of ourselves bumbling around yelling about the best way to the hospital and who was driving and where the suitcase was (in the car already by the way) that Babe and Lula finally just walked over to Frank's Buick. Frank finally yelled at us to get in or out of the way before pulling out of the driveway to take Stephanie to the hospital.

After much yelling, screaming, cursing that was worse than a sailor, and threats to my manhood, 14 hours later, Carlos Francisco "Frankie" Manoso was born. He had black curly hair, blue eyes, his mother's smile, my nose and vanilla latte skin. He was perfect.

"I love you, Babe. Thank you."

"I love you, too, Carlos and thank you."

Cuddling our little bundle of joy, a perfect mix of the two of us, we embarked on the rest of our Someday.

A/N – I had no plan for this story from the very beginning. I just let the characters take me where they did. I hope you really enjoyed it. I have another story brewing and have a beta I'm looking forward to working with. I hope you enjoy this next story too!