A/N: JE owns these characters; I am a friggin nut who likes to play a bit with them. Also credit needs to go the late L. Frank Baum for his characters from The Wizard of Oz. There is a place in Beech, NC called Land of Oz; I have changed it using poetic license to fit it in with this story.

Thanks to Jenny for her wonderful beta skills.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road- Chapter 3

Giving a finger wave, I turned on my heel and left. There were a lot of things to do before we left. Mentally, I went through a list of errands I needed to do. See you later, Batman.

I kissed his lips tenderly, leaving a flabbergasted Ranger.

With a well-earned smirk plastered on my face, I thought that it felt great to leave Ranger off kilter like that. It wasnt me left unbalanced and dazed for a change. Ranger was not in control at the moment.

I went off to do what had to be done. I took out my cell to check the time. Shit, I better start moving. There was laundry to be done and I wanted to get a few dress slacks in case they were needed for dinners out befitting my role as chaperone.

First, I went over to my parents to let them know I was going out of town. Great, mom and grandma were waiting on the porch. You had to wonder if they had a built-in radar detector that alerted them when I was in the vicinity.

"Stephanie."

"Hey Mom. Grandma. I am going to be out of town for a few days."

"Are you going with the bounty hunter with the big package? If I were twenty years younger, I could teach that stud a thing or two."

My mother and I simultaneously yelled, "Mother! Grandma!" in indignant tones.

Grandma looked at unashamed and answered, "Well, I could."

Shuddering at the thought of Grandma teaching Ranger anything, I entered the house. A delicious aroma of freshly-baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies wafted to my nose. Instantly, the smell caused my mouth to water in anticipation of eating the delicious cookies. "Are the cookies ready? They smell heavenly."

"Yes, sit down by the kitchen table and Ill give you some. Do you want milk or coffee with them?"

"Milk."

"I'll get them, Helen."

"Thanks. We sat down together to enjoy our cookies and milk."

"Steph, the word is that Joe is bringing his new girlfriend from Philly to meet the family."

"It's okay, Mom. He already called to let me know that the case was wrapped up and that they're coming back to Trenton. I'm happy for him. He deserves to be happy."

"Don't you deserve to be happy too, Stephanie?"

"Yes, of course I do, but I could never be with Joe. I'm sorry its not what I want from life. If that is what he and his new lady want, then I am so happy for them."

"So, does the trip have anything to do with Ranger?"

"MMkay, I see that I won"t be able to eat my cookies in peace until I talk. Ranger and I are acting as chaperons for his daughter Julies class trip. Her parents would have gone but her grandmother has to have an operation, so they are going to Tampa to be with her. Julie has been really looking forward to this trip for a long time and has been through so much turmoil that she could use some happy right now. That is why I am going away with Ranger. Besides, you know Julie has stayed in touch with me since the kidnapping. Let me get some things and then I have to get going.

I ran upstairs to retrieve some things, including my suitcase that I had bought when I married Dickie. I stowed it at my parents because there was no place to put it at my own apartment.

Being that I hardly went anywhere and couldnt even afford a vacation. My luggage wasnt even used that often. Thumping it down the stairs, mom met me in the hallway and gave me a heaping bag of cookies for the trip. Then I said my goodbyes and I was on the move yet again.

After returning to my apartment, I went down to do my laundry. There in the laundry room, I met Mrs. Bestler as she was getting ready to leave.

Before going down, I had discovered a pair of jeans I had neglected to wash. They were dirty beyond belief. I couldnt believe that I had overlooked them till now.

"Well Stephanie, your work clothes certainlyget very dirty."

"Yes, Mrs. Bestler, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it."

With that Mrs. Bestler said goodbye and left. Soon after that, I finished my own load of laundry and came back upstairs.

Once everything was folded and packed, I went to the mall. For once, I got a great parking spot right in front of Macys. I ran in and started to look at the dress slacks. There were two I liked: gray tweed and a black pinstripe. Scanning the price tags, I discovered that they were each on sale, so I bought both. I decided to get a pair of dressy black jeans as well, knowing that since my EE Martin days, I had very little decent conservative dress clothes. If you looked into my closet, you would either find skip chasing clothes, such as jeans and sweats, or you would find the improper smutty clothes that I wore on distractions. Either choice would not be appropriate to wear on Julies class trip. I wanted very much to be an asset, rather an embarrassment, to Julie and Ranger.

Once I was back home, I ate dinner, straightened up the apartment and took Rex to my sisters so they could watch him. All this exhausted me, so I took a nap. I woke up refreshed at 9 PM, then I skedaddled into the shower before I ran out of time and Ranger arrived to take us to the airport.

When the shower was done, I had washed, shampooed, and conditioned every available part of my body. I dont think I missed an inch. For good measure, I exfoliated and moisturized as well. Every part of my body had some sort of treatment.

I glanced at the clock and noticed that it was 9:45 PM. I would have to make tracks doing my hair, make-up and getting dressed if I wanted to be on time. Usually, Ranger arrived earlier than he said he would.

While putting on my make-up, I decided to go light on the mascara by giving my lashes only one swipe with the brush. Really, who was I going to meet at the airport at this time at night? Once dressed in jeans and cobalt blue t-shirt, I was ready to go.

Promptly at 11:45, the locks in my door tumbled and in strode Ranger. Looking very delectable, he wore faded blue jeans and gray t-shirt that looked like they were painted on him. Yum.

We took the stairs and Ranger was a solicitous gentleman, having carried my bags down. He loaded us in the Cayenne and we were off for the thirty-five minute ride to Newark Airport.

Uncharacteristically talkative, Ranger was anything but in his zone this time. First, he quizzed me about my breakup with Joe. I was honest about everything, certain that Batman had the information already.

"Even though I love Joe, I am in love with someone else and were in this car together right now."

"Babe, in that case, consider a change in my destination. Someday begins now."

At that my face lit up with a 500-watt smile of my own. I had never been so happy.

Then I had to burst the happy bubble by asking, "Suppose something goes wrong?" I couldnt believe that Id just asked that. I had morphed from being the Queen of Denial to Ms. Let's Examine Every Possibility.

Ranger seemed unfazed by the question and thoughtfully answered it. "Life always has risks. Lets go slow," he said as he turned off the highway to the exit for Newark Liberty International Airport.

He turned in to short-term parking and I tried to give him the raised eyebrow. Ranger turned to me, kissed my nose and said, "Babe, Cal and Zip will come retrieve the car later."

Damn ESP, I wished I could do that.

Ranger parked in the short term parking garage right by our terminal. Of course, he got a spot right near the door to the airport. We walked through the glass doors hand in hand. Once wed gone through check-in and past all the security check points, we were on our way to our gate in the terminal.

All-in-all, it went without a hitch for someone who was packing at least one gun, possibly two, and a knife. Luckily, Ranger carried a special military ID card, giving him permission to do so.

Suddenly, a strange feminine voice called out, "Carlos!" Hearing the voice, even at the airport, Ranger was always vigilant and aware of his surroundings.

Pausing slightly and cautiously until he identified the voice and eliminated it as a danger. Ranger lowered his guard as his body visibly relaxed. He went from being on alert to Mr. Debonair in a matter of seconds.

Turning my head to the right, the most beautiful woman I ever saw strode purposely to where we were standing. The woman was everything I wasn't.

She was tall, standing at over six feet tall, with curves in all the right places. Her hair was a light brown with blonde highlights. With the body of a model, an actress or a dancer, she seemed to float through the air.

Even up close as she made her way directly in front of us, I was envious that she didnt have a visible flaw. There on her face, I saw the most startling eyes, which were a light green.

I felt totally inadequate in her presence. What a time to skimp on the mascara, as I felt like a troll compared to her. Involuntarily, I shrank back a step or two.

The woman pulled Ranger in a tight embrace and proceeded to kiss him. Ranger averted his lips and gave her friendly little peck on the cheek, displeasing the stranger.

Carefully and gently extricating himself from her grasp, Batman reached for me as he pulled me in front of him. He held my back to his front possessively with his muscular arms around me.

"Selena Perez, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Stephanie Plum."

I was bombarded with one surprise after another. Not only did the Man in Black have me in a very PDA, but hed called me his girlfriend, too. Frankly, I was dumbfounded. He always told me he did not do relationships. It was evident that Selena and Carlos had previously had a relationship and he was telling her now it was hands off.

At first, Selena pursed her lips as if she had swallowed something sour. To her credit, Selena easily rebounded and turned her attention to me. "So, you're the Bombshell Bounty Hunter," she purred. Her fabulous faced was marred by a plastic smile plastered on it.

Yes, I am, but I prefer to be called Steph, I returned equally as false, but once again my Burg manners kicked in.

Then it dawned on me that Selena Perez was a famous actress and that is why I thought she looked familiar. The people who were in the airport started to flock around us demanding autographs, to Ranger's displeasure. He hated the extra attention and told Selena, we had to go.

"You're just mad, I'm a celebrity and you're not." He just ignored her and looked at her like she was an idiot.

While talking to Selena, Ranger was most affectionate, like we had been dating for awhile. He was in constant contact with me as he lazily traced circles up and down my arm. Previously, we have only shared kisses and touches privately, not openly at all.

Frankly he was acting more like Carlos than Ranger, which was nothing like the opportunistic mercenary he claimed to be. I am sure he acted like that but he had never done that to me. Ranger never pushed me too far. Sure, he applied pressure but only up to a certain point, just in case I wanted to retreat.

My heart started to race in excitement at this development. It seemed all my hopes and dreams were coming true. Our someday seemed to going full steam ahead.

Initially, I had deep pangs of jealousy seeing Ranger and Selena together since they made such an attractive couple. Now though, I was certain that their dalliance was long over by the way he was lavishing attention on me.

Nevertheless, I gave myself a mental head slap. Even with them not being involved anymore, it was still uncomfortable on a certain level. How had Ranger felt all those times seeing Morelli with me?

So I had a news flash. Wouldn't it be unbearable if whatever these former lovebirds had was still on? I couldn't believe my stupidity, insensitivity, and thoughtlessness. Wasn't what I did thousands of times worse in regards to my handling the love triangle that involved Ranger, Joe, and myself?

I had to stop denying to myself the simple truth, that I was as big of a cheater as Dickie. Sure, I didn't have multiple bed partners, but I cheated all the same.

Actually, mine was worse because I was in love with one man but was with another one. Ranger and I would share stolen moments and I would retreat before things got too hot for me. Every time Ranger ignited a spark of passion in me, I went to Joe to take care of it.

My inability to choose between Ranger and Joe had hurt us all. This realization was like a splash of icy cold water in my face. I felt my stomach start to knot up as I contemplated this fact. What a fool I was!

My body stiffened then trembled and Ranger sensed my unease. His response was just to tighten his grip on me. Once again, his mere presence soothed me.

Another thought jolted into my consciousness. Ranger was not a wordsmith but a man of action. If I ignored his hurtful words, didn't his actions tell me constantly how much he cared about me? Somehow we were both able to penetrate the cocoon we had weaved around our hearts, not allowing anyone to get too close until now. He had always protected and come to my rescue.

"Something burning, Babe?"

"Deep thoughts."

"I've noticed," Ranger said as he kissed the top of my head.

At this time, out of the blue, who' should amble over then none other than Joseph Anthony Morelli, my ex-boyfriend, and a group of other people I didn't know. The airport seemed to be the spot for reunions with ex-lovers. I would have thought that at time of night, it would be deserted.

"Cupcake. Manoso. My this looks cozy. I see there is new member of your triangle, Steph. Mixing it up a bit, aren't you?" Joe said. His expression tightened as he took in Rangers and my embrace.

I will keep calm, I will keep calm I repeated as a mantra in my head.

"What brings you to the airport?" Joe asked us.

"Trip" I relied.

Morelli looked at me expectantly, urging me with his eyes to divulge more information.

Yep. The days were long gone that I had to answer to Joe. Frankly, I didnt owe him any answers. I never really believed I did. It was a giant stumbling block in our relationship. Thats why I always ran away when things became uncomfortable.

"Hey, what's with all these one word answers?" Joe asked as face started to redden in anger.

Just then, the only woman in the group sauntered closer to us and introduced herself.

"Hi, I am Daniela DePiaza. You must be Stephanie I am so glad to meet you. My friends call me Dannie and I hope you will, too."

I extended my hand to her and said, "Danny, it is nice to meet also and my friends call me Steph."

Dannie clasped my hand warmly in return. I checked her out. She was lovely, a petite thing with long brown hair and lively blue-green eyes. There was a no-nonsense quality and unpretentiousness about her Instinctively, I responded to her as a friend that I had known for years.

Our group started dwindle as first Selena was paged on the PA system, Dannie excused herself to go to the restroom leaving Joe, Ranger and me. Then Rangers cell rang and the conversation became interesting in time flat.

"Yo."

"Explain".

"Let me see."

"What happens when you go crazy?"

Ranger quickly excused and then there were two. Joe wasted no time in questioning me.

"So, now you with Manoso. Be careful. There is something about him that isn't right."

"Not that's any of your concern anymore but I know he is right for me. You are wrong about him. The only person who treated me disrespectfully or like a fuck buddy was you."

I felt the hairs of my neck tingle and knew that Ranger was back. He whispered in the shell of my ear," Proud of you, Babe. You never disappoint."

I smiled at him and the PA system announced that our flight was boarding. I gave Joe a finger wave as Ranger and I walked arm in arm to the plane.