Disclaimer: I still don't own the characters but I sure wouldn't mind owning a few choice pieces of Ranger...and Lester...I'm a bit of a slut ; )

Ranger's POV

He flipped the lid on the box but didn't return it to his pocket. Instead he set it on the table between him and me. He looked at me for just a second as if unsure how to continue.

"You love Stephanie." It wasn't a question. Morelli told me as if he thought I didn't know yet and needed to be informed.

I didn't see a need to respond so I just waited for him to continue.

"I know you love her because I see the way you look at her and I know she loves you back because I saw the panic in her eyes when you got shot and I see her looking at you the way you look at her. The way I look at her. The way she used to look at me."

He paused again.

"She doesn't know how to be in love with two men at the same time. She thinks she does. She thinks she's still in love with me but she..." His eyes shone with unshed tears. Pussy. "..She loves you now."

I tried to keep my face blank. I knew she loved me but I couldn't help feeling smug at Morelli's little confession. What could he possibly gain in telling me all this?

"IKnowAboutTheAlleyBehindTheBondsOffice. " He blurted it out all at once as if the whole sentence were one word. One syllable. I couldn't have been more shocked if he told me he shit solid gold. He continued at a more normal speed. "I know about the groping and the kisses and the almost-sex and I know that she still holds hope that someday you'll want her."

Since we were being honest, "I DO want her." I growled.

He nodded solemnly. "That may be but you'll never be able to give her a life. I know it and so do you. The only one who won't believe it is Steph. She probably thinks the next mission will be the last and at some point you'll choose her over the business and if that's true than maybe this is all a mistake. If the next one really is the last I won't even risk trying to make her mine forever because I know who she'll choose if push comes to shove. But if you will just step aside like you SHOULD and give her an opportunity to be happy she can have a normal life. She can't be single and childless and doing this dangerous bounty hunter shit forever. She comes within inches of death every fucking day. Can't you see she would move on if it weren't for you? She's holding out for impossibilities and she won't ever let herself be happy with me if she thinks there's a chance she could ever have you. If you love her you will make it clear to her that you and she will never happen. If you really love her you'll give her to me."

"She isn't mine to give away." I muttered but it was like I didn't even believe my own words. How long had I waited for someone to tell me what I had already known deep down? She loved ME. She wanted ME. Who the fuck would have thought it would be Morelli saying the words?

He was being smart for once by just shutting the fuck up to give me some time to think.

I imagined myself in Morelli's position. I imagined cake-walk detective work and a ring in my pocket. I imagined turning the Batcave into a love nest. I would make love to Stephanie at all hours on every surface of our home. I would quit working and let the business run itself. We would travel and when the time was right she would carry my children and we would grow old together just laughing and making love. It would be so good. Just thinking about it felt so right.

But I couldn't just quit. I was contracted and I had so much time left. What once felt like the job of my dreams felt like chains now. Morelli talked about Stephanie endangering herself everyday. That wouldn't even be the beginning. There are a lot of people who wouldn't mind seeing me dead. Openly loving Stephanie would be like a death sentence for her. I refused to be that selfish. Stephanie wasn't the only one, it seemed, still chasing after impossibilities. Somewhere in deep inside I still believed in someday. I loved her so much. I was so in love with her that I had actually fooled myself into thinking I would be able to make her mine someday.

I knew Morelli was right. As much as I fucking hated him. As much as it sickened me to think of him with her I knew what I had to do. I was going "into the wind" in three weeks. That was how long I had to convince her that someday would never come.

I meant what I said earlier. You can't give away what's not yours and since I just realized that she could never be mine I said the only thing I could.

"If you hurt her I'll put a bullet in through in your head."

I walked out of Morelli's house and got into my Porsche where I came as close to crying as I'd come in over twenty years.

A/N: Sorry about all the angsty shit. Totally not my style but after working all day and then a stinky American Lit. essay angsty shit is all I got left. I think I might go with a Steph POV next so its sure to be more light hearted next chapter

Btw...not a Morelli fan. Hope that makes you all feel better about what's to come. Idk how much later though since I haven't really planned everything out. Hope you guys stick with me though

Read and review!!!

Thanks for all the support I've seen so far too. I can't believe how much fun writing this stuff is. Almost as good as reading what you all have written :)