Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. I hope you lie this next chapter...

o0o0o0o0o0o

Present day...

"Yes, show him in please Lucy" she replied and put the phone down.

A few seconds later a young woman dressed in a smart suit opened the door and showed Ranger in to a large, well appointed, bright and elegant office.

"Stephanie!" he said with a slight smile and walked round the desk to greet her, taking in his surroundings as he did so. "Business doing well?" he asked, but he knew it was - nice offices too. Even after all this time, she's still beautiful he thought and extended his arms to her, feeling something he hadn't felt for so long. She still had that effect on him, even now.

She unravelled her long slim legs which were encased in black tailored trousers and stood up but not moving into his embrace. "Ranger," she smiled carefully "Long time no see, how are you?"

"Better for seeing you, Steph" he replied reaching for her again. Still nothing. Despite his disappointment at her reaction he couldn't help reaching towards her for a kiss on the cheek.

Her Burg manners kicked in and she air kissed him back and pulled quickly away to give him the once over.

"See something you like?" he said with a smile in his eyes that nearly reached his mouth. Nothing changes even after all this time, she thought, smiling back, her heart breaking again even after all these years. Despite their final parting she still loved him, a little. Ok, so a lot.

Apart for a very slight thickening of his waist, a few distinguished grey hairs and a couple of deeper lines around his eyes, he hadn't changed much and Steph felt herself warming in places that hadn't warmed in like forever. She wasn't sure, but somehow he seemed more mellow, less dangerous, less menacing. Perhaps he'd just grown up or achieved all that he had wanted.

How someone hadn't managed to snap this man up she couldn't fathom out – after all he was such a good combination: looks, power, wealth. A powerful magnet for most women. Don't go there Steph, she mentally whispered in warning. You didn't cry then and you sure as hell ain't gonna now.

She mentally squared her shoulders.

Five days with him and the rest of the old gang and then back to reality and her busy yet empty life.

"You haven't changed a bit" she said, evading the question "and it's been, what, 25 years? How's Rangeman?" As if she didn't know – she'd followed his every rise and rise. They'd spoken a couple of times on the phone when their business paths had crossed but they'd not seen each other since Tank and Lula's wedding and even then it had been strained, after all she had been seeing someone else at the time, Greg or Gary or something...

"Tank pretty much runs things now. Which means I can concentrate on a few other projects that I've got planned." He said, breaking into her train of thought.

"Oh yeah?"

"I'm going to travel, this time as a tourist. It's been long enough that I can now go see places I only ever hid in or skirted round before. I'm really looking forward to seeing the nice parts of my old life." The one I wanted to show you... his thoughts trailed off.

"When are you planning to leave?"

"Not sure yet, there are a few things I need to sort out with Tank, but probably in a coupla months."

"Sounds like fun" Steph said wistfully. "How's your sister, Celia?" She continued, changing the subject before he noticed her sigh. They'd got on like a house on fire when they'd met just after the Scrog incident, all those years ago. Steph still thought that if things had been different perhaps they'd have had a chance to really get to know each other – she would have liked that.

"Keeping out of mischief, nearly, just like you used to." He said chuckling almost to himself. "The kids are all grown up and married now, she's going to be a grandma in a month or so. I mentioned that we were meeting up and she said to say hi."

"A Grandmother, wow! Really? That's fab. Say hi back to her please."

Stephanie picked up an invitation that was settled against a picture frame on her desk. He mentioned me, hmmmm. Interesting... Yeah right! Her inner thoughts – hopeful and hopeless – glared at each other then went to sulk in their respective corners.

Ranger noticed the photo behind the invite. It was taken in front of the Bonds office, 26 years three months and two weeks ago. It was also 2 years and one month and four days after their one night together but hey, who's counting. Vinnie was leaning against the door with Connie, Lula, Tank and Morelli. Steph was cutting a ribbon which was attached to the frame of the front door. Next to them, set on a large sign between the window and door frame, were the words 'Stephanie Plum, Bond Agency'. He'd been in the wind at the time, on the mission that stopped him from giving his heart to her so had missed the celebrations.

As he climbed on board the helicopter he tried to text her but didn't know what to say. Before he could come up with anything meaningful all of his electronic gadgets were confiscated and the PoS phone they gave him in return was so old he couldn't get a proper signal. His heart beat frantically against his chest, trying to escape, and he felt sick. Please wait, Babe. I promise I'll explain everything. And then he was off for parts unknown.

His eyes lingered on Morelli and wondered what would have happened if he'd jumped into Steph's bed as soon as Joe left it rather than waiting until it was too late. Would they have ever had their Someday? He wondered if she ever thought about that too.

"Are you ready?" Steph broke into his thoughts again. "Who would have thought it, all those years ago that we would be here, about to see Liana and Todd married. So much has changed." She continued, waving her hand at the picture.

"Come on, let's go, it's going to be a long journey" he said, silently offering her his hand hoping she'd finally take it. "Please" he said in his head... She smiled but couldn't touch him. Not going to happen, nah ah. Her body was screaming for her to give in, to reach out and feel his warmth but she couldn't. Not now, not after all this time. His heart belonged elsewhere – '2 outta 3' and all that.

Damn! He thought as he watched her wrestle with her emotions. "Bags?"

"Yeah, Lucy has them" she replied and she gently closed the door behind them.

o0o0o0o0o

"Nice car."

"Thank you, sometimes it's nice to have someone else drive" Ranger said, turning to face her.

They were in a black (of course!) Jaguar which had a pale buttery cream leather interior. The driver was separated from them by a tinted glass window. Steph could smell leather and essence of Ranger, no Bulgari. Wonder if he still used it, she pondered, gazing at the scenery zipping by.

She is still my Babe, he thought, peering out of the opposite window, pretending to focus on the view outside, his body very attuned to the woman at his side. Time had been good to her – she was still the kind of woman who turned heads without realising. The curls were less chaotic now but still mirrored her life and spirit and her eyes were still as bright and magnificent. He longed to get lost in their depths. He noticed she smelled different – obviously a different perfume. She'd changed so much yet remained the same woman. How she intrigued him, even now.

Stop! Too late Manoso, you lost her so many years ago, you can't expect go back to what you once had. Anyway, she's probably got a man somewhere in her very private life he thought with regret.

Stephanie Michelle Plum, sorry Bailey, was an enigma, or so the papers said. She'd married Aiden 19 years ago but divorced 8 years later. Ranger knew nothing more about her private life. She rarely went out except to business functions where she was surrounded by her team. She had no kids. Perhaps she was married to the job that had seen her become New Jersey Business Woman of the year three years on the trot and the Major of Trenton five years' ago. She was reputed to be firm but fair and seemed to be able to connect with people that everyone else had confined to the rubbish heap. She was the 'people's champion'. Successful without selling out. Proud of you Babe, Ranger thought as the car sped on.

He looked at her, realising their hands were almost touching and he couldn't help himself as he gently took her long, graceful fingers in his own large hands. Please let me hold you his eyes said as his met hers. She didn't pull away. A start he thought...

Instinctively they pulled towards each other so that they were shoulder to shoulder, she leaned towards him almost imperceptibly.

Dios! It felt so right.

Moments later the car pulled onto a small airfield parked on some tarmac next to a large hangar. They snapped apart as if stung by the contact, stepped out of the car and walked towards a private jet located a few yards away.

"Haven't bought one of those new fangled pod hoppers then?" Steph teased to ease the tension and nodded towards a smallish Cessnar, knowing what the answer was before he even said it.

"No, I like to be in control, as you well know" he said laughing and pretending to punch her on the shoulder.

"Tank should be here any minute with the bride" he added. "Come on".

Right on cue, another car, a huge black Mercedes pulled onto the tarmac and parked next to Ranger's. Tank climbed out, closely followed by Lula and their three children. Two teenage boys and a beautiful young woman.

"White girl!" called Lula before running towards Steph, picking her up and swinging her round. Squeals of delight could be heard from the mass of arms and curls as the pair were joined by another. Liana.

"Can't believe we're together again. It's been too long, try not to be a stranger in future, eh? The flight'll be a few hours and we've some serious catchin' up to do." Lula managed to push out whilst jumping up and down with Steph and Liana in her arms. "Let's go find us a Morelli or two." She added looking at Liana who blushed.

Tank, Ranger and two teenaged boys looked on, smiling. "Nothing changes, eh Bro?" Tank said, looking at the force of nature that was his wife. They all set off towards the plane.

The teenagers, 19 year old identical twins, were called Ryan and Jake and were a barrel-load of mischief. They physically resembled their dad, but their temperament was definitely that of their mother. They stood out in a crowd, but not just because of their enormous physical appearance. They dashed into the plane, sat down and started pushing the buttons on the arms of the chairs, making them go up and down like a yo-yo.

Ranger just shook his head slightly and went in search of the pilot.

o0o0o0o0o

Just over four hours later the plane landed at its destination, Aruba, at the Reina Beatrix International Airport. The searing heat and white sun hit them as they left the plane, fully fed and watered. Steph squinted and put her hand up to shield her eyes. She quickly donned her sun glasses, linked arms with Lula and Liana and followed the others into the airport building, smiling brightly.

Ranger looked at her longingly.

Tank saw the look before the blank face descended. My friend, the fool. He shook his head sadly, his heart aching for him. He knew how lonely Ranger had been and even though he'd shared his bed with many women since his split from Bomber, he knew she was the only one he'd ever given his heart to.

o0o0o0o0o

Joe Morelli and his wife, Jenni were waiting for them as they came through customs and the party soon swelled further as Lester, Bobby, Carl and Eddie arrived a few minutes later with their families from Miami.

"Cupcake!" Joe smiled out as he pulled Steph into a big bear hug. He let go and turned towards the others in the party "Carlos!" he said, patting Manoso on the back and grabbing his outstretched hand between his. "Welcome to the party!" Jenni gave both Steph and Ranger a warm hug before turning to her soon to be relatives by marriage.

"Tank, Lula!" Joe continued, "Where's my daughter- in-law to be?"

Liana stepped out from behind her mother and ran into Jenni's arms. "Hi Jenni, Joe. Where's Todd?" she asked, looking round nervously.

"Bad luck to see your intended on the night before the wedding – you know that!" Jenni said, laughing. "Come on everyone, our carriage awaits."

The ride to their hotel was filled with laughter, love and excitement. Steph felt a little removed but joined in anyway. After all, it was not every day your God Daughter married your God Son was it?

Connie and Hal were waiting in the Hotel's foyer to greet them. Danielle and Ramon, their children, were squealing and splashing in the pool that was just visible from where they'd all collected. Steph smiled and pulled Connie into the first hug for weeks. They saw lots of each other in the office, but only rarely these days did they catch up outside. Everything about my life is work related, Steph thought sadly, before brushing the thoughts away and joining in with the celebrations.

o0o0o0o0o0o

Later, after dinner that evening, Steph needed to get some fresh air away from the banter. She quietly sloped away from the party in the main lounge and went out onto a patio and settled on a low wall which separated the hotel perimeter from the sand. She gazed at the water and the little patterns it made as it rushed onto the beach. The wind gently caressed her curls causing a few tendrils to dance across her face.

It could have been me, she thought briefly before pushing the thought from her mind. All those years ago she'd nearly married Joe. Would things have turned out so well? She doubted it. Much as she was friends with Joe, she was glad to be away from that madness and the heartache of the love triangle that surrounded that chapter in her life. About a year after their split Joe met Jenni who was over from England doing a lawyer's conversion course and now she practiced both here and occasionally in the UK. The Morelli's were right for each other. Somehow they'd managed to be good at their jobs and still have a family. Not quite to the Burg standards as they'd only had Todd, but Angela and Great Aunt Bella had both been very pleased with the match.

A fact they'd regularly reminded her mother about...

She wrapped her arms around her slim shoulders and continued her musings.

Ellen hadn't been too pleased that Steph had "lost Joe" but still fed Steph her weekly pineapple upside down cake until her death 11 years ago. Edna had been dead 9 years by then and Frank succeeded both of them by a further 18 months. None of them had lived to see her fulfil her dreams. They'd seen her buy out Vinnie fully, but they'd never seen what she'd done with the business after that. She'd always wondered if they'd been proud of her achievements. She still missed them terribly.

They'd been really pleased when she'd married Aiden. He was good looking, funny, rich and ambitious. He was everything they'd wanted in a son-in-law.

A fact they'd reminded Angela Morelli and Great Aunt Bella about...

Unfortunately, she married him because he'd asked and she didn't want to be alone anymore. He'd understood and had loved her even though he knew deep down that the feeling wasn't totally reciprocated. Eventually he'd given up hoping that she'd learn to love him as he did her and he left. Whether Ranger knew it or not, his threat to spoil her for all men had worked – did he even know?

After Ranger, somehow she couldn't ever bring herself to feel that way again.

Valerie and Albert were Grandparents now. Angie had 2.5 children, was married to Brad and seemed very happy. Mary Alice was a leading equestrian having won medals internationally. Rangeman had sponsored her throughout her sporting career but Steph had still managed to keep her distance even though Ranger regularly caught up with her neice. She was now living with her partner, Mary, and was a well respected trainer. Lucy was teaching and dating. Matt, the final addition to the family, was still at university and probably sowing his wild oats. She sighed. Life had moved on without her.

She felt the air change and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Ranger.

Turning towards him she smiled and pulled her arms closer about herself, her body language telling him to stay back. Her heart telling her something else.

"Not wanting to join the party?" he asked still facing her.

"No, it's not that" she replied.

He smiled, encouraging her to go on.

She turned to face the sea before continuing "I was just thinking about all that has happened in the last 25 years or so. Wondering what would have happened if I'd married Morelli"

"We'd not be here, for a start" Ranger replied softly. "I'd have lost your friendship forever – Joe would never have allowed us to work together either. Perhaps we could be friends again? I've missed that" he said, moving to stand by her side. The temperature picked up a notch or two.

"There you are!" bellowed a slightly drunk and very mellow Tank, coming up behind them, stepping between them and grabbing them both by the shoulder. "You're missing a great party."

"Be back inside a minute, Big Guy" Ranger smiled and pushed him back into the building.

The moment was gone and neither of them was brave enough to take the conversation any further.

Neither noticed Lester and Lula standing by the patio doors watching them thoughtfully.

Ranger sighed and led them back inside.