Okay, this has probably been done before, but I couldn't get it out of my mind. Since today is Stephanie's birthday, I thought it was the perfect way to combine all the elements I needed to make it work. Anyway, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

Any characters you recognize belong to JE. All mistakes are mine. The song Nothing Else Matters belongs to Metallica, and the lyrics are in Bold Italics. I know they're her favorite band.

"But Carlos, it's my birthday." Okay, I know I was whining a little, but I really wanted it. Carlos, Les, and I were sitting at Shorty's, eating pizza for lunch and discussing my upcoming birthday party. Well, Les and I were eating pizza. Carlos was eating his salad as usual. Who goes to a pizza joint and orders a salad?

"Babe, salads are good for you. That stuff'll kill you." Damn, I guess I was thinking out loud again. "And your party is next weekend. It's short notice to tell everyone that it's a costume party."

Lester added his two cents. "It's close to Halloween, so some people will already have costumes."

"And it will be a great way to combine my two favorite holidays." I crossed my fingers under the table. As soon as Les had said costume party, I knew that it was what I wanted. Now all I have to do is convince Carlos.

He exhaled slowly. For him, that was almost the same as a huge sigh. In that instant, I knew he would give me what I wanted. "I'm not dressing up as Batman this year, Babe. Been there, done that, don't want to go back." Damn. I can't believe it's been a year already since he dressed up as Batman for Halloween and brought me home to the Batcave. He looked so hot in that costume that I kinda wanted a repeat performance. Oh, well. I was trying to figure out what we could do instead when he got a look in his eyes. He's planning something, I can tell. "In fact, the only way I'll agree to this is if you let me pick out our costumes." Hmm, this could be interesting.

Les wiggled his eyebrows. "I still have that cheerleader's outfit if you want to borrow it, Primo."

I punched his arm. "Eww. I'm not going near any outfit that some skank left in your apartment. And if she left her clothes there, what the hell did she go home in?"

He laughed at that. "Beautiful, is it any wonder that I love you almost as much as my cousin here does?" He pulled me to him and kissed the top of my head. "Kelly was a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader that had a stalker. The organization hired Rangeman to guard her and shut him down. I spent a week with her until he tried to break into her house. After he was arrested and the case was closed, we spent one magnificent weekend together and she gave me the outfit to remember her by."

That was almost sweet in a Lester sort of way. "Okay, so she wasn't some random skank. I'm still not wearing it."

Carlos took my hand. "Don't worry, Babe. I already have something in mind."

3 R&S 3

By the end of the week, I was dying to find out what my costume was going to be, but Carlos remained frustratingly silent on the matter. On the day of my party, it seemed like all of Rangeman was on pins and needles. I know that I was anxious because it was my birthday party, and I'd finally find out what my costume was going to be, but the guys were all acting like something big was going to happen.

I spent the last ten minutes of the workday bouncing in my seat and watching the second hand slowly sweep around the clock. Ten minutes seemed more like two hours, but I made it through the day. As soon as the clock hit 5:00, I was out of my chair like a rocket and headed for the elevator. When the doors opened, I looked over my shoulder and yelled, "See you guys at the party." The elevator seemed to be going slowly tonight, but maybe it was just my excitement. I probably should have run up the two flights of stairs. The doors finally opened, and I fobbed my way into our apartment.

I went to the bathroom to take a shower, and I found a single red rose and a note by my sink. The note said:

Babe,

Eat dinner before you shower, Ella has your outfit on six.

I love you,

C.

I guess I won't be seeing him yet. I don't want to eat dinner without him, but I guess he's busy. I went into the kitchen and found a plate of pan seared salmon and vegetables, which I just ate standing at the counter. I showered, shaved excoriated, buffed, and moisturizer in record time. I dressed in a pair of old sweats, and walked downstairs to Ella's apartment.

Ella ushered me towards her sewing room. I gave Luis a finger wave as we went through the living room. She opened the door and stepped aside so that I could get a good look at my costume. I don't know if costume is the right word to describe the most beautiful midnight blue gown I have ever seen.

The top of the gown was a corset that laced up the back, with intricate beadwork at the bust and a small fringe of beads at the waist and on the cap sleeves. The skirt was full length with a large bustle at the back with ruffled layers cascading down into a small train. I'm glad he sent me to Ella's to get dressed, because I'd never be able to put this thing on by myself.

After Ella shoe-horned me into the dress, she produced a small stool and ordered me to sit. She fixed my hair in a complicated updo with beautiful wispy curls framing my face. Then she brought out a stunning necklace of intertwined platinum ropes with sapphires and diamonds woven throughout. She gave me matching earrings to put on, then helped me with my makeup. When she was done, she stood me up and turned me towards the full length mirror. I barely recognized the woman looking back at me.

I hugged Ella. "I really wish I you would adopt me," I told her through the tears in my eyes.

She gave me an extra squeeze. "Stephanie, I already consider you the daughter I never had." I hope she used waterproof makeup, because I was seriously about to cry.

She ushered me out the door and into the elevator. She rode with me sown to the ground floor and out to a waiting limo. She helped me inside, which was a good thing, because I would never have been able to figure out how to sit. Inside the limo, there was a glass of champagne and another rose.

In a delightful fit of irony, Lester had rented the VFW hall for my party. I used to think that I was allergic to that hall. It turns out that I was only allergic to the idea of having another overblown wedding reception here. I saw that most of my friends were already here, gleefully taking advantage of the open bar. I still haven't seen Carlos. There were plenty of mummies and pirates, but nothing that would match the sheer beauty of my gown.

I was talking to nurse Connie when I felt the familiar tingling sensation on the back of my neck. I scanned the crowd around us, but still didn't see him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a top hat moving away from me, but it was gone before I could see who was under it.

Les grabbed me around the waist and twirled me. "Damn, Beautiful. You look better than I thought you would." He looked dashing himself dressed up as a pirate. "Dance with me?" He spun me onto the dance floor. As we danced, I spotted Carlos again. He was definitely the one wearing the top hat. He was also wearing a long black tuxedo with a vest and Ascot. Ranger the soldier is hot. Street Ranger is hot. Corporate Ranger is hot. Ranger in a tuxedo set my panties on fire with just a glance.

As I danced with Les, I could feel Carlos watching me. He was as silent as a panther stalking a deer, but I could feel him close to me. When the song ended, Les spun me, and I slid easily into Carlos' arms. The song changed to Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters", and we started to spin around the dance floor. Not only does Carlos know how to dance, but he knows me. The song was perfect for us.

Never opened myself this way

Life is ours, we live it our way

All these words I don't just say

And nothing else matters

Dancing with Carlos is a seduction of the senses. The feel of his arms around me, the sound of the guitars of my favorite band in my ears, the slightly dizzy sensation as we spun around the floor all worked to make me want him in a way that was almost too powerful to deny. I was so focused on Carlos, that everyone else in the room faded away.

3 R&S 3

The party was a huge success by some standards. I'm sure that it will be the talk of the Burg for months to come. The most exciting part of the party came when Les and Cal brought out my birthday cake. Grandma grabbed Les' package as he walked by, and Les jerked in surprise, sending my cake flying into the wall. One of the lit candles flew into someone's tequila shooter. The resulting flash fire hit the bulletin board, and we had to evacuate while the VFW burned. I couldn't help but think that if we had used the fire hall, the trucks would have been right there.

As a result of the mishap, Carlos and I pulled into the garage of the Batcave at 11:00. We walked upstairs to our bedroom and I was again surprised by champagne and rose petals. I'm so glad that I didn't really drink much at the party because I didn't want to miss anything. Carlos poured us each a glass and we toasted my birthday.

After we made love, we laid together in bed, my head on his chest while our heart rates came back down. He kissed the top of my head and tipped my chin up so that he could look into my eyes. "Babe, I know that I once told you that my life didn't lend itself to relationships, but I never told you why."

"It doesn't matter, Carlos. We're together now, and that's all that's important."

He pressed his finger against my lips. "It does matter. I'm not a normal man, Stephanie. There's a reason why the body is a temple. A reason for my need to always be in control of the situation and aware of my surroundings. I want you to accept all of me, babe. Can you do that?"

I rolled over so that I was on top of him. "I love you, Carlos. I feel like you are the other half of my soul."

He rolled us again so that I was beneath him. He slowly slid back inside me and stopped. "I won't ever hurt you, Babe. If you want me to stop, I will. You are the other half of my soul, and I want to be with you forever. I want our someday." He started moving in and out of me in a deliciously slow pace. I closed my eyes so that I could enjoy the sensations I was feeling. "Look at me, Babe. This is who I am. This is who I want you to be."

I opened my eyes. In the few short seconds that they had been closed, his fangs had slid into place. I reached up and touched them. He shuddered and stilled. I was surprised, but not scared. I know that he would never hurt me. "You're a," I trailed off.

"A vampire," he confirmed.

"When?"

"I was on a mission when it happened."

"And you drink blood?"

He closed his eyes. "Yes. I can still eat, just not as much."

"But the sunlight?"

"Bothers my eyes, but it's not fatal. I just have to wear special sunglasses."

"And a stake?"

He grinned. "A stake through the heart will kill anyone, Babe."

"And you want me?" I was still having a little trouble forming complete sentences.

He gave me his full 200 watt smile. "Forever, Babe."

As soon as he said that, I knew what my answer would be. I pulled him to me and kissed him. He started moving again, building towards what I'm sure will be the orgasm to end all orgasms. As the first wave washed over me, he slid his teeth into my neck at the spot just below my ear that always drives me wild. The waves became a tsunami, and I felt like I was drowning in pleasure. He pulled his teeth out of my neck and roared his release. Afterwards, we lay together relearning how to breathe, our foreheads pressed together and Carlos said, "Happy Birthday, Babe."

We spent the weekend making love and exchanging blood. I could feel my body changing, but Carlos was with me, helping me through it. I have a lot to learn about this new life, but the one thing I am sure of is Carlos' love for me. There are no longer any secrets between us.

3 R&S 3

Monday morning, we were in Carlos' office going over some paperwork when Tank knocked. He came in and looked from me to Carlos and back again. A huge grin split his face, and I thought I noticed a flash of fang. As he walked back out the door he said, "It's about fucking time."

If you're pinterested, I pinned Steph's Halloween costume to my page /spiffytgm/plum-diamond. I think I've seen Bram Stoker's Dracula too many times... I love that movie, but Gary Oldman? Seriously?