Roar

Disclaimer: Not mine, anything you recognize belongs to Janet Evanovich and Katy Perry. I was listing to Roar, and it struck me how well it fit Stephanie. This is my first venture into Plum world. I hope you enjoy it! Fair warning, I'm a Babe! I can't stand Joe or Helen so if that bothers you don't read!


SPOV

Another day, another car on it's way to car heaven.

This time, Jack Weston, my skip decided to throw a molotov cocktail at me, but his aim sucked, he ended up hitting my car parked across the street. Asshole! At least I'd been able to taser and cuff him, while he'd been laughing his ass off. I sat down on the curb to wait for the cops. Unfortunately, I knew this routine by heart. Carl, Eddie, and Big Dog, would pull up laughing, splitting up the latest pot. Next would come the two men in my life. One I'd be happy to see and the other I dreaded seeing, or hearing in this case.

Yup, right on time, Ranger was here. He got out of his car and walked quickly over to me.

"You okay, Babe?"

"Yep, it wasn't my fault!"

That got me a smile, and another "Babe."

We both looked up at the sound of squealing tires.

"Great here he comes." I said to myself, not realizing I had said it out loud until Ranger chuckled.

"Do you want me to take care of Morelli?" he asked.

"No, it's time I took care of this, I've had enough of his crap."

Ranger looked at me closely, he must have seen that I meant it, because he grinned, and said "Proud of you Babe."

Joe interrupted us with his usual "What the hell happened now Cupcake? You're lucky you didn't didn't get killed. When are you going to realize you can't do this stupid job? You need to grow up and marry me already. "

I took a deep breath and remembered the song I'd been listening to on the radio, as drove over here. Between Joe and my mother, I never got a moments peace lately. They both had the same sentiments, it seemed stuck on replay.

"Grow up, marry me, Why me? Why can't you settle down and marry that nice boy? Can't you see how embarrassed I am of you?"

Christ it's like the two of them share the same brain. I'd been avoiding them both for weeks, but it seemed like the time has come to let at least one of them know how I feel for a change.

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath

Scared to rock the boat and make a mess

So I sat quietly, agreed politely

I guess that I forgot I had a choice

I let you push me past the breaking point

I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up

Already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound

Like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up

Get ready cause I've had enough

I see it all, I see it now

[Chorus]

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Louder, louder than a lion

Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You're gonna hear me roar

"Enough! Listen up Morelli, I've had enough of your crap! It's always about you! Get it through your head we're done! Over! Finished! Get it! Christ you don't even bother to see if I'm okay before you start your shit! I'm done listening to you spew your crap, it's always the same anyway. You should really get some new material, or a tape recorder. It would save you a lot time and effort. You disgust me, you egocentric, narrow minded, hairy pig."

I took a deep breath not noticing the dead silence around us. Cops, firemen and spectators standing around with their jaws agape. I did however notice Ranger grinning at me, I could see the pride in his eyes. It gave me the courage to say the rest of what I'd been holding inside.

Now I'm floating like a butterfly

Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes

I went from zero, to my own hero

You held me down, but I got up

Already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, you hear that sound

Like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up

Get ready 'cause I've had enough

I see it all, I see it now

"All you do is put me down, and criticize everything I do. You call me to berate me, and then have nerve to tell me your "Boys" miss me. Well screw you! Don't call me, don't talk to me, hell if you see me turn and walk away. I've had enough!"

By the time I was done shouting at him, his face was almost turning purple in his rage. All of a sudden I heard clapping. I turned to look, and saw Cal, Bobby, Lester, Tank, Hal and Hector all with big grins on their faces. I smiled back and gave them a finger wave, causing Lester to laugh out loud.

I turned back to Joe and said "Good-bye Joe, have a nice life." I followed this up by flipping him the bird. This time there was a lot of laughter from Rangeman, cops, and spectators.

I turned to Ranger, and asked him if he could take me home.

"Sure Babe. I'll even stop for tastycakes. You're incredible." he said showing me his 200 watt smile.

"I'm glad you think so Batman, cause I got a few things to say to you too. But I rather do that in private."

He looked at me and nodded, gently steering me to his car. We managed to get into the car, before Morelli got his voice back. Thank God! I meant it, anymore of his crap, I would lose it. And I really didn't want to go to jail for shooting the prick.

As Ranger drove us toward my apartment, I zoned out a bit. I felt so good I didn't even care about my car anymore. I needed to tell Ranger, I wanted more from him. See awhile back, I realized I loved him, but I let fear keep me from telling him. Well, I was done hiding what I felt for Ranger. He was either going to kiss me breathless, or walk out out of my life.

A touch to my arm made me jump. I didn't notice Ranger parking in front of the store.

Ranger asked "You okay Babe? You're pretty quite over there."

"Yeah, just thinking Batman." I looked out the window and then questioningly back at Ranger.

"You're really going buy me tastycakes? I thought you were kidding."

Ranger smiled, "Babe, you deserve a lot more than tastycakes after that."

I looked at him, and he was quick to add, " Babe, you were amazing, I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks Batman. I'm pretty proud of me too. I just hope I'll feel the same after I have this little talk with my mother." I said wincing.

"Cleaning house Babe?" He asked.

"It's about time, don't you think?" I said in return.

Ranger nodded, he was watching me like he was worried I was going to add him to my list. I reached out and touched his face gently.

"We'll talk about it when we get somewhere more private okay."

"Okay Babe, But I think we should go to Rangeman. We will have more privacy there."

I nodded, thinking about all the calls I was sure I got. I had already turned off my cell. I would deal with them later.

"Be right back Babe," He said getting out of the car. When he came back, he handed me a bag full of tastycakes. I laughed, smiling I turned to him and said the words, I'd been holding in.

"I love you!"

Ranger's eyes shot to mine, reading me as easily as he always had. I held my breath, waiting to see how he would react.

Ranger reached out pulling me from my seat onto his lap, looking to my eyes he said those words I'd only dreamed I'd ever hear from him.

"I love you Stephanie. I was worried you were going to tell me to get out of your life too."

I went to interrupt, but he laid a finger on my lips.

"Babe, I've made a lot of mistakes with you. I don't deserve the chance you're giving me."

I couldn't keep quiet, "Carlos, we've both made mistakes with each other. The question is are we both ready for our someday?"

"Babe, God hearing you call me by name... I'm ready if you are. I want nothing more than a life with you."

He stopped, looking around, shaking his head.

"Jesus Babe, we need to go home. I can't do this right in the parking lot of the Stop & Go."

I laughed, "Lose tack of your surroundings Batman?"

He grinned, "Momentarily, I guarantee you will lose a lot more than that, once I get you home."

"Holy Hot Flash Batman! What are you waiting for?" I said, moving back to my seat, buckling my seatbelt.

Carlos laughed, "It'll be more than a hot flash Babe. I promise."

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Louder, louder than a lion

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You're gonna hear me roar

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You'll hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You're gonna hear me ROAR...

Roar-or, roar-or, roar-or, roar-or, roar-or

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Louder, louder than a lion

'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You're gonna hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You'll hear me ROAR

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

You're gonna hear me ROAR...


Like I said this is my first babe fic, I'm working on chapter 2. Helen's up next. Let me know what you think!