Chapter One

RPOV

Did you ever have one of those days that you think couldn't possibly get worse, yet some how, some way it does. Today has been one of those days. Our "redecorating" job down on Stark Street ended with Zip having to go to the hospital to get stitches. A break in happened in one of our biggest clients house, and the only person that was there was the irrational wife who swears she will take me for all I'm worth because my company is the reason her house got broken into. It couldn't possibly be the fact that the woman was so dense that she left her keys hanging in the door and forgot to turn on the alarm that caused this. Nope, never, it was my fault.

Now as I sift through my mail I see the one thing I was hoping I would never see in my life, an invitation to Stephanie and Joe's wedding. I love Steph with all my heart, but I never felt that I could give her everything that she wanted or needed. I'm not exactly relationship material, I mean what normal guy goes around carrying two guns and a knife on a daily basis? Steph needs to be with someone that can protect her, give her a nice home, a dog, kids, the normalcy that her life seems to lack. That cannot be me, I don't do normal, I'm not domestic.

As I look at the envelope I debate whether I should open it and look at the invitation or just throw it away and try to move on with what I have left in my empty life. Curiosity gets the best of me and I decide that I'm going to open it up. Babe has been avoiding me since she said yes to Joe, so I doubt I should even go to this whole thing. I honestly feel like I would rather eat glass than see my Babe, the other part of my heart, go to someone else.

I open the envelope and instead of an invitation I find a letter with Babe's beautiful handwriting.

Ranger,

I know that I've been avoiding you lately, and for that I am truly sorry. I'm just trying to get everything sorted in my brain so I can move on to the next step in my life. This is probably the hardest thing I have ever done, and I'm scared out of my mind.

As I lay in bed at night I cannot wrap my brain around being married to Joe. I feel like I'm losing my true identity with each day that passes. I've quit working for Vinnie, I don't see the girls anymore, and most of all I don't see you and the guys. I miss my old life, but most of all I miss you.

I know that you think that you are broken, but you're not. You are a kind hearted guy who has decided to close their life off from the things that could potentially make them happy. I know it seems kind of like the pot calling the kettle black, but it's the truth. I've loved you for many years, you have been everything to me from a mentor, teacher, lover, friend, and foe. I wish you happiness in all parts of life, and I hope that you decide to take a chance in life and do something that makes you happy and not worry about the consequences for once.

Love always,

Babe

I read the letter at least twenty times before I decided what I needed to do. I grabbed the keys to the Turbo and headed down to the garage. I drove to Babe's apartment and scanned the parking lot for Morelli's SUV but it's not there. I take the stairs to Steph's apartment and quietly open the door. Babe is laying on her bed in her "thinking position". I sit down my chair and look around the room. I notice that she is not wearing her engagement ring. Maybe she took it off when she laid down. I sit there for a few minutes before I hear movement and Steph holds her up and looks at me.

"Holy crap Batman! What are you doing here?" She says as she sits up fully.

"Taking a chance on happiness, hoping it doesn't backfire on me."

In two short strides I make it to the bed and take her into my arms. I kiss her deeply and just stare at her for the longest time.

"Not that I'm complaining, but kissing me is taking a chance?" she said when she finally finds her voice again.

"No this is," I pull a diamond ring out of my pocket that belonged to my Abulea Rosa. "My Abulea Rosa gave me this ring and told me to give it to the woman that held the other part of my heart when I found her. Well I found the other part of my heart in a diner about 4 years ago, and it changed my life forever. I want to be happy, I want to make you happy, and I want our someday. Babe will you marry me?"

**Next Chapter will be Steph's POV