This is my first fanfiction. I don't own any of the characters, don't make money from this, and owe everything to Janet Evanovich. She's absolutely brilliant. This is a Babefic. It's kind to Morelli, though. There is a HEA, though it will probably come long after this chapter. Rated M, just in case. Please R&R!

Sitting here in the park, watching the strollers and proud mothers walk past me has suddenly got me thinking. My name's Stephanie Plum. I'm thirty years old, and watching these people pass me has finally made something click inside my head. My biological clock is ticking. And I'm not getting any younger sitting here staring.

I got up, throwing away the Tastykake wrappers that had previously been on the bench beside me. It was a delicious addiction, but it came with it's drawbacks. I had to really work to button my jeans this morning. Something told me I'd be running with Batman in the near future if I kept eating like this.

Batman is also known as Ranger. He's a man of mystery, only ever wearing black, and my current employer. You see, a few months back a crazy pyro skip decided it'd be funny to set the bonds office on fire, and now all the kings horses and all the kings men can't put the bonds office back together again. Which left me out of a job, and I needed the money to pay my rent and what little food I could afford to buy. Ranger has always been my go-to guy when I had a problem, and since he co-owns Rangeman, a security company on Haywood, it wasn't too much to ask for when I went to him looking for a job.

Ranger is Cuban-American, has skin like a mocha latte, his eyes are the most delicious shade of chocolate brown I'd ever seen, and there isn't an ounce of fat on his perfectlywell-sculpted body. His apartment is the perfect example of who he is. Nestled on the top floor of Rangeman, it's filled with black and subtle earth tones and Bulgari Green body wash. The

few times I'd stayed with Ranger, it was the second best thing I had to look forward to, opposed to sharing a bed with Ranger, of course. I was currently sharing his bed with him and had been for a few weeks now.

Up until a few months ago, I'd had an on-off relationship with a cop named Joe Morelli. We never really saw eye to eye on a lot of things, and that ended up being the reason why we broke up. This time, it was for good. Our relationship had ended quietly; we both agreed things just weren't going where they should have by that point and that they probably wouldn't change anytime soon. He wanted marriage and kids, while I wanted freedom and to sleep in until ten o'clock everyday. There were no hard feelings, and there was the occassional phone call every now and then to check up on one another.

Since Morelli and I broke up, Ranger and I have been at the level where we were friends with benefits. He was opposed to being in a relationship with his job status being what it was, and I was frustrated with the fact that we were never going anywhere, but only in circles. And with my sudden interest in my biological clock, I was extremely frustrated with our relationship being a dead end. He wouldn't be happy when I got home tonight.

I was still standing at the trash can, still in the middle of the park, still staring at the people passing by when I felt my phone start to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at it to see who was calling me. Well if it wasn't the devil himself. Before I could greet him, he started talking.

"Babe? Are you okay? You've been in the park for a really long time."

"Hello to you, too, Ranger. I'm fine. Why do you care? It's not like you're my boyfriend," I retorted, making it obvious I was frustrated with him.

"Babe," he growled on the other end. I heard him sigh. "Just come home. Please."

Ranger new all of my weak spots. He's only ever said please but a few times, and it always works. I don't know how, but then again almost everything about Ranger is quite magical and mysterious.

I blew out a sigh and started walking to the black Ford Explorer Ranger had lent to me since I was working at Rangeman. "Fine. I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Thanks, Babe. Goodbye."

I did a really great impression of a fish as I stood staring at my phone. In all the time I'd known Ranger, he'd never said goodbye. Not once.

Pondering this, I got into the Explorer and drove to Rangeman, thinking that whatever reason why Ranger wanted me home was probably really important. I just couldn't figure out what it may be...

Feel free to let me know if you liked it. Rate please!