Author's Note: Alright so this is my 2nd story- But this isn't a sequel to my first one. This is a story for the Cupcakes, of course- Babes you are more than welcome to read! I haven't decided if Ranger will make an appearance in it or not yet. But- be forewarned there is no Babe HEA here. I love Ranger as well- but I am a Babecake- and well I couldn't leave my cupcakes hanging! So anyways- this is something I have an idea for. Please please let me know what you think. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: JE's characters- my version.

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After a long week at a job I hated there was nothing I wanted more on a Friday night than to kick back watch a movie, order some pizza, have a beer… or three. However I knew well enough that this wasn't going to happen; there was always some sort of function or charity something or other to attend. Don't get me wrong- I'm not against charity fund raisers; but that's not the point of these. The point is to be seen which was so not me. Sure I like getting dolled up from time to time, but these events made the Sesame Street song "One of these things is not like the other" play on a constant cycle in my mind. The reason I put up with it though was for my amazing boyfriend, Austin.

I suppose I should back up a little here; I'm Stephanie Plum; long thick curly brown hair which currently contains blonde highlights, big blue eyes, a decent figure, average height, a bra size that I wouldn't mind being a little bigger- but my good friend Victoria has some amazing push-up bras that ((cost an arm and a leg)) but do great things for my cleavage. In a few months I'll be turning 30 and I am completely dreading it. Not because I'll have hit the big 3-0, but because of the pressure that comes along with it. 6 months into my relationship with Austin my mother was already asking me when we were going to tie the knot. Well now we've been dating for 2 years and every time I see her she tells me I better make sure to snatch him up quick before someone else does. Being in a relationship was not easy for me; I like being independent, having my own space and not having someone dictate certain aspects of my life- that was what my mother was for.

With Austin it was different; in the beginning it was nothing serious simple dates here and there. Even a couple casual hook-ups but as time went on we both realized we liked being together too much. When I first met him- intimidating was the word I would use to describe him. Not only did he come from money and a family where everyone knew his name- he was also working at the biggest law firms in New Jersey. Hamilton and Sons- a company started by his great-great grandfather. There were a few major rules in that family; you had to have a son- and he had to go to law score- receive top scores and then work at Hamilton and Sons. Austin does have a sister, Lacie and while she had access to the family's never-ending bank account; she wasn't exactly accepted. Which of course that made her my favorite one of Austin's family members- not that I minded the others. It was just- I felt so much pressure to never screw up or say the wrong thing. Because sometimes people are simply paranoid and think that everyone is watching them; the Hamilton's really are.

Which brings us here; to the wine aisle of a liquor store. Austin told me to pick up a dry wine as a gift for the family holding this charity dinner at their home tonight. First of all- I don't drink wine. Secondly- what the hell was dry wine; last I checked it was a liquid- making it wet. What I really wanted was to slip over to the beer coolers and pick out a couple of those. Because personally if I were hosting some ridiculously over-the-top party; I wouldn't want someone to bring me wine or champagne- I'd want beer. During my first 20 minutes in the store I could tell the cashier expected me to shove one of these bottles down my pant leg and try to walk out. Now I think he'd prefer for me to steal something- just to get rid of me. At all these parties wine was always served, but of course they were poured in glasses and the bottles were taken away. So there wasn't even one I could grab just as a default; and I knew if I didn't grab the right kind I would get an hour long lecture about how I should know this stuff.

"Well well well…. Who would have thought you would have turned into a wino?" I turned to see who was talking to me- and my dropped open in utter shock. Standing in front of me was a toned and lean hard-bodied Italian man. Dark hair that had a little curl to it and amazing dark eyes- and normally I would reply with some cute remark- if the guy standing in front of me wasn't Joseph Morelli. Joe and I grew up in the same neighborhood and even though he was 2 years older than I was; he was also my best friend… well used to be. We used to spend every day together; through the 'cootie stage', the awkward stage, the puberty stage… everything. We could talk about everything- including the people we were dating. That was until our completely friend-only friendship took a turn one night into a territory we never came back from. The night I graduated from high school at one of the many parties and after a few beers Morelli ended up in my bed. Which wasn't completely crazy since this had happened many nights before- but all the other nights we simply went to sleep. That night was different and I went from being Joe Morelli's best friend- to one of the many that had experienced Joe in the sack. Things became awkward between us and when we finally talked about it- I realized that I was in love with him… and he wasn't in love with me. That was the last time I saw him… until now that is.

"Jesus, Morelli!" Joe had always been attractive, but he was one of those guys that got more attractive with age. A smile beamed across his face; and I couldn't help but return it. He stepped closer to me and pulled me in tight for an unexpected hug. Standing there breathing in the scent of my old best friend made a lump rise in my throat- which thankfully I was able to push back down. He released me from his tight embrace but still held my shoulders; looking me up and down.

"You look great, Plum."

"Yeah you know, eating a healthy diet of TastyKakes can do that to you." The laugh that escaped him was just as I remembered; God have I missed this man.

"Glad to see you haven't changed."

"I sure have!"

"You're right; the old Stephanie never would have been drinking wine."

"The Stephanie you knew was 18 and had never been in a liquor store before." He smiled again releasing my shirt from his grasp.

"I suppose you're right."

"Do you know anything about wine?" One eyebrow rose up at me- and I had my answer.

"You're joking right?"

"I don't drink wine, but I have this thing to go to tonight and I need to pick up something fancy."

"Does it happen to be wine?" I shrugged my shoulders, Austin told me to grab wine; and the only other thing I ever saw him bring was a bottle of champagne…. Not that I knew anything about that either. Except that it was extremely bubbily and gave me a major headache the next day.

"I don't know, I don't think it's a requirement- more of one of those things that everyone does."

"Where are you going that everyone is bringing wine?"

"Some charity fundraiser." When he crossed his arms over his chest the muscles in his arms were accentuated quite nicely.

"You're going to a charity fundraiser?"

"With someone, I mean my name isn't even on the invite. I'm just a plus 1."

"Boyfriend?" His chocolate eyes raised with curiousity; and I wanted nothing more than to stop this conversation. The last time I talked to him it ended in screaming and yelling. Not that it was completely unusual for us to yell- but it was always before over ridiculous stuff. Nothing about our last fight was ridiculous and I hadn't heard from him- my best friend in ten years. But there was still a part of me that wanted to spill my guts to him like I always used to- but he wasn't the same Joe- he wasn't my Morelli anymore. And I certainly wasn't the same Stephanie- meaning I had no right gushing my life to essential this perfect stranger- and he had no right to ask.

"Yeah boyfriend."

"Austin something-or-other, right?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"We may not live in the Burg anymore but our gossipy mothers still do. I just heard it through the grapevine besides I think I've seen a few pictures of you guys together in the paper and stuff." I smiled and nodded; I knew if I opened my mouth more would come out than I was willing to talk about.

"Can I give you a suggestion for what to bring tonight?"

"Sure, I'm obviously not going so hot on choosing on my own."

"If I were going to some fancy-pants charity thing I wouldn't bring wine. I'm sure there is enough wine there to go around; bring something good like a good beer. Personally, I'd bring Heineken- I'm a Bud drinker myself but Heineken is a classy beer."

"I doubt I can bring beer to something like this."

"Why not? I'll bet you anything that someone there will be thankful that you didn't bring another damn bottle of wine." Had to admit- he had a point. Besides if for some reason Austin got really mad at me for bringing beer maybe he wouldn't send me on a wine run for these things anymore. And I know the Heine's wouldn't go to waste in my care.

"Done- I'll get those, how many?"

"Do two 6 packs, you can carry them in easily."

"Have to admit, glad I ran into you today." He laughed as he handed me my beer and grabbed out a case of Bud for himself.

"Good to know after 10 years I can at least make a good impression on you with my knowledge of beer."

"Has it really been 10 years?" I asked; although of course I knew down to the day how long it has been- not that I wanted him to know.

"About that." We carried our supplies to the register and the cashier rang up Joe's purchase first and once he got to me I was surprised to see Joe stay around and wait for me. After the beer was paid for we walked out to the parking lot and we walked to two cars parked next to each other. He put the case in the backseat of his Explorer while I did the same with mine.

"Have fun tonight, Steph, I hope my suggestions didn't get you in too much trouble."

"Nah, I can always play it off as one of my charming quirks." Joe laughed and once again wrapped me into his arms for a hug. My arms wrapped tight around his shoulders and I could already feel a piece of me wanting to hold on for dear life… losing him had been the largest moment of my life. Was I really going to be able to do it again, even if it was only 10 minutes of seeing him out of the last 10 years. This man had meant more to me than anything else but I just needed to remind myself that nothing about our lives were as they used to be. We pulled apart and I walked to the driver's side door to keep myself from latching onto him and never letting go.

"Well Morelli, I guess I'll see you in about 10 years or so." I said with a smile which he returned.

"It's a date."

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"You bought what?" Austin wasn't as enthusiastic about my gift selection as I had been. When I had arrived home Austin was already dressed in one of his custom tailored black suits tonight he wore a deep blue tie over his white button up shirt. He really was gorgeous to look at tall with a nice build; blonde hair that was usually either brushed to the side or gelled up in the front. His eyes were an amazingly deep shade of emerald that if I stared at long enough I started drifting into songs from the Wizard of Oz and Dorothy's trip to the Emerald City. That was normal for me though; take a beautiful moment and find some way to ruin it with my adolescent mind.

"I promise it's going to be great, hun! I'll carry them in and everything."

"They're going to think this is some kind of joke."

"Well I can dress up in a maid costume; at least then it will look like it was supposed to be a joke." He shook his head a smile fighting at the corner of his lips; I knew the irritation stage was over.

"If you have a maid costume- I think you should show me later, but for now go get dressed so we're not late and show up with beer as a gift."

"Babe, it's not just beer; it's Heineken!"

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The sun was setting and the house that could probably contain all of the Burg was surrounded by thousands of candles and beautiful backyard lighting. I always wondered if people realized the amount of money they spent to put together parties like this would probably be more beneficial to the charity they were raising money for. I had asked Austin once in the beginning of our relationship; and his response was simply to shoot me a look that only told me not to ask stuff like that out loud. We pulled up to the front entrance and Austin gave his keys to the valet hired for this event; and decided we were going to leave the beer in the trunk. Fine by me; because then it meant I was going to have them later. The point of being here was to look your best and very rarely did I see anyone that fell short of that. If I were to wear the outfits in my own personal closet I would stand out like a sore thumb. Being with Austin though he constantly provided me with new dresses all of which were 'appropriate' to wear to functions like this. Tonight's selection was a strapless black tight fitting dress with silver heels and my hair was thrown into a loose bun with curls bobby-pinned strategically to make it look like I had spent hours on it; and not just 5 minutes.

There was a lot of the same people at these events but I was horrible at remembering names. I remembered 'landmarks' though; like the woman with the huge ass was married to the world's tallest man. Then there was the woman that laughed like a hyena that was always there with a different man; and was well over 50 years old. Austin though never complained about my lack of memory; he held my hand and guided me successfully through everyone until we reached our table. The others sitting with us were all obnoxious housewives that spent their time simply gossiping about everyone else. I knew they were all married but even their husbands avoided sitting with them as much as possible. These women were unfortunately the women we were always seated with because their husbands were business colleagues of Austin's. They also couldn't stand me- which didn't bother me; until of course Austin excused himself from the table to make the rounds and stop at the bar and retrieve us drinks.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, Stephanie. What would you like me to get you to drink?" He leaned in close letting me breathe in his expensive cologne. It was a delicious scent- but unfortunately it only made me miss the way Morelli smelt.

"I'd like a Heineken." He rolled his eyes at me and nodded at the women staring at us- as if I was some Neanderthal joining the group for the first time.

I sat quietly trying to pick up on what the women were talking about; but after a couple minutes completely gave up. Scanning the crowd of people around the backyard I couldn't see Austin; and I wasn't about to go searching for him on my own. At least I couldn't possibly be viewed as someone that didn't belong anymore than I already was; so I had no problem pulling out my cell phone to make the time go by faster. There was only one text that I had received about 10 minutes earlier; from a number not saved in my phone.

Unknown Number: What did Mr. and Mrs. Fancy-Pants think of the beer?

I couldn't hide my smile; and it was no mystery as to who this random number was.

Me: How'd you get my number, creeper?

I held my phone in my hand so I would feel it vibrate if I got a response- not that I expected one! The women stared at me as if I was doing a topless table dance in front of them. A few moments later my phone vibrated; and my smile was plastered on my face before even looking at the text.

Unknown Number: I have resources… Now answer my question.

Me: Austin refused to give it as a gift so it is still safely secured in my trunk for my future drinking pleasures.

Unknown Number: Well I think you owe me one of them, since you wouldn't even have them in your trunk if it wasn't for my brilliant suggestion.

Me: Shoot… I'm not sure if Heineken with still be good after sitting in my trunk for 10 years.

Unknown Number: Well, guess that means you're going to have to see me sooner than that.

Me: I guess that can be arranged.

I saw Austin approaching the table so I quickly saved the number into my phone book and shoved it back into my purse. The rest of the night went surprisingly well; and I refused to believe that my good mood was there simply because of Joe Morelli.