A/N: Well, here it is, hope you enjoy it! Again, thanks for all of the reviews from the last chapter. It's nice to know what exactly you like about the story.

Ranger and I stayed up late making decisions and making love. He's always made love to me, but sometimes he can get a little carried away, though I've never complained. He's never hurt me. Now, it's different, but not in a bad way. He treats me as if I'm fragile, as if he's afraid to hurt me. I feel cherished.

Ranger decided that I shouldn't be training, so I no longer have to run every morning or spend as much time on self-defense. I won't argue him on that. Instead, he suggested fitness classes for expectant mothers, which I refused to attend until I start to show, since we're not telling many people about the pregnancy right now. For now, I'll stick with power walking and light weights. I remember he once made a comment to me along the lines of nothing being uglier than a fat white woman, and I'll admit, while it pissed me off, it stuck with me. Besides, kids have a lot of energy and I don't want to be out of shape.

Today, we started with the first thing on our to-do list, which was to apply for our marriage license. Then we moved my stuff up to Seven. Ranger wouldn't let me lift a finger, so mostly I delegated to Lester and a few other Merry Men. There wasn't much to move, and Ranger took care of my lingerie drawer, personally guarding my modesty.

Then we stopped at my parents to tell them the good news. Mom was ecstatic when I told her that I'm getting married. She isn't pleased that we won't be having a church wedding, but she realizes we're short on time. Grandma was even more excited, mostly because her granddaughter is marrying the hot bounty hunter with the nice package. Daddy is just thrilled that Ranger and I don't have ridiculous pet names for each other. I called Valerie on the way to Ranger's parents, and she wished me well, but said she wouldn't make it to the wedding. She doesn't trust her husband alone with four kids. I'm not sure I would either.

Maria met us at the door again, and she hugged me and thanked me for making an honest man out of her son. She offered to throw us an engagement party, but we declined, saying that we really didn't have time. We promised her that she could throw us a party once Carlos returned. Ricardo patted his son on the back and welcomed me to the family. Abuela Rosa made a comment to Ranger that made him come as close to blushing as I've ever seen him. We didn't stay long, because we had to head back to Trenton to the bonds office, so I didn't have to wait long to find out what she said.

"She knows you're pregnant. I was supposed to marry you before I knocked you up."

"What? How can she tell?"

"No idea, Babe. She's old and wise."

I hope she's not like Joe's grandma with The Eye. The woman does kind of scare me.

As soon as we enter the bonds office, I notice Connie isn't there, and Lula notices my ring. Her squeal hurts my ears and Ranger steps in front of me to block her as she rushes to me.

"What's your problem? I can't even hug my friend?" Lula asks as she pokes her finger at Ranger's chest.

I have to bite my lip to avoid laughing. I know he was just worried that she'd trip in those ridiculous heels and take me down with her. I step around him and let her admire the ring. "He's just overprotective."

"White girl, this ring looks expensive," she looks at Ranger, "How much did this cost?"

"Lula!" I laughed. "Where's Connie?"

"Right here," Connie says, stepping through the door, "Had to write bail, since Vinnie's out to lunch."

"Stephanie and Ranger are getting married!" Lula tells her.

"What? Let me see that ring," Connie says as she hurries toward me.

"Careful, Ranger's overprotective," Lula tells her.

I feel his hand at my back and smile at him.

"Will you both go dress shopping with me? We're getting married on Friday in Atlantic City and I'd love it if you could come."

"Sure! Let's go right now, just let me switch the answering machine on and lock up," Connie says.

Ranger called Lester and Cal to escort us and waited for them to arrive before he left. I now have to have two body guards with me at all times unless Ranger is with me. One for me and one for the baby, he told me. He's definitely taking this seriously. I'm trying to be patient and just go with it. His intentions are good.

For once, I didn't argue when Ranger told me to use his credit card. I want to look my best for the wedding, and if that means a designer dress, then so be it. We spent the rest of the day looking for the perfect dress. Lester and Cal didn't complain too much while they escorted us from store to store.

The next day we had an appointment with an obstetrician. I'd told Ranger how I'd went out of town to buy the pregnancy tests to avoid running into anyone who knew me, so we'd agreed that, at least until we decided to tell people, that we'd go out of town for anything baby-related. He insisted on a female doctor, and I didn't argue. I'd never been comfortable with a strange man poking around down there anyway. She'd done a sonogram and calculated the date conceived as or close to the day of our one-week anniversary. It had been a special night.

It was far too early for the sonogram to show much of anything, but still it had been nice to confirm that a baby was in fact growing inside of me. Ranger was excited to at least be there for the first sonogram. We left with a list of things to avoid and a prescription for prenatal vitamins, which I immediately transferred into another container, in the event that someone snoops through my purse. Keeping this secret is already a pain. I'm looking forward to telling everyone. I just hope Ranger is back in time for that.

I'd asked about the Batcave, since we're getting married, I figured I had the right to know, and he told me that it didn't exist, at least not anymore. He'd sold it after I found his apartment. He knew he'd never spend another night at the Batcave, once I knew where to find him. He said that a house doesn't allow for the amount of privacy and security that the Rangeman building provides. I wasn't so sure about the privacy, but I agreed about the security. I asked him what we would do when the baby was born. He said the most obvious thing would be to turn his apartment office into a nursery. He told me that could be one of my projects while he was away. Lester, Tank, and Bobby now knew about the pregnancy, for safety precautions, so they would be able to help. Of course they were sworn to secrecy. I think Ranger threatened them with the promise of losing a few favorite body parts, if they told anyone.

We've been so busy the past few days, making plans and running errands that I haven't really had time to worry. Now that I've had time to think about everything, I'm a nervous wreck. My best friend, lover, and soon-to-be husband is leaving to go who-knows-where in less than a week. All I can do is imagine the worst. What if he doesn't come back this time and what if I have to raise our child alone? What if I can't do it? I'm not the best hamster mommy, after all. What if our kid hates me?

I'm crying when I hear the front door open, and I look up to see Ranger.

"Why are you crying, Babe?" he asks as he sits next to me and pulls me into his lap.

I rest my head on his shoulder and take a deep breath, inhaling his scent, "You're leaving."

"Not today."

"But soon."

"It can't be helped, Babe. I have no choice, unless you want to live on the run for the rest of our lives. Personally, I don't like that option, and I don't think you would either."

"I wouldn't, but what if you don't come back?"

"Don't think like that. I will come back. I'll do anything possible, because I know you'll be waiting for me and I've got something else to look forward to now," he says as he rests his hand on my stomach.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"What if…"

He kisses me to shut me up and it works. I forget my worries for now and let him take control.

Some of the Merry Men want to take Ranger out the night before the wedding, but he declines.

"You should go. Just because I can't go out and get drunk with my friends doesn't mean you shouldn't."

"Babe, I don't want to have a hangover tomorrow."

"So go out and don't drink more than two or three. They're your friends. They want you to have a fun night. I'll invite Lula, Connie, and Mary Lou over. We'll watch chick flicks, order pizza, and eat junk food."

He sighs, "Is it too much to ask just to have you all to myself tonight? Tomorrow we'll be busy with family and we don't have much time left before I have to leave."

How can I argue with that?

Wedding Day

Our families met for the first time the morning of the wedding. Mom was so happy that I was finally getting married, that she couldn't find one thing to complain about.

Even though I had every intention of eloping, Ranger talked me into a very informal wedding with our closest friends and family. He promised to take care of all of the details, and because he's Batman, everything fell into place. I had a total of 6 guests, and Ranger had quite a few more with his family and the Merry Men, but it was still a party of under fifty. We chose the Harrah's Resort, for their poolside wedding. With the tropical gardens, it was almost like being married on the beach, just without the blinding sun, noise, smell, and bugs. There was also the added benefit of going directly from the wedding to a banquet room for the reception, and then immediately to the honeymoon suite.

We decided to write our own vows, only instead of reading them to each other during the ceremony, we decided to do it privately, before the wedding, and then walk down the aisle together.

Because I'm impatient, I volunteered to go first.

"Ranger, I guess I should call you Carlos now. It took me a while, but I think now that we're getting married, I'm finally starting to see you as Carlos. When I first met you, you scared me a little, but it didn't take me long to decide I could trust you. When I found myself handcuffed naked to my shower rod, you rescued me. Since then, you've rescued me more times than I can count. You're my hero. You're Batman. You're my mentor and best friend. You're the man I want to spend forever with, and even then, it won't be long enough. You truly have ruined me for other men, just like you promised. You take care of me like no one else ever has. It'll be hard when you leave, but you promised to come back to me, and I know you'll keep your promise, because you don't go back on your word. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you and I can't wait to be your wife."

I'm crying again, and he wipes my tears for me, as he's done so many times lately.

"Happy tears," I tell him.

He nods before kissing me.

"Babe, Stephanie, the soon-to-be Mrs. Manoso," he pauses and I can't help but smile. I like the sound of that.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you."

I open my mouth to reply, and he gives me a stern look, reminding me that it's his turn. I shut my mouth and nod. He was so patient when it was my turn.

"You're everything I thought I could never have. I've seen so many awful things in my life, but when I'm with you, I forget about all of them. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be. You are the most important person to me. I've never been good with words, but know this, I will love you forever and I will sacrifice anything for your happiness. Now let's get married."

I was done crying by the time we walked down the aisle together. I was too excited to be nervous. It helped that our wedding was probably the shortest in history. No preachy sermons or people singing out of tune, no reading passages from the Bible, no dramatic "speak now or forever hold your peace" moment, no bridesmaids or groomsmen, no ring bearers to walk before us. Just generic vows and the exchanging of rings. When the justice of peace told Carlos he could kiss his bride, he didn't waste a second. He kissed me like he meant it, and didn't stop when some of the Merry Men started cheering. I had to remind him that we were in public and he should probably let me go. We decided to forgo the normal wedding posed pictures, and instead had disposable cameras for the guests to take pictures for us. Of course, the ceremony was video taped as part of the package, so we'll have our day recorded.

After we've signed the marriage license, with Connie, since she introduced us, and Tank as our witnesses, we make our way to the banquet room. Carlos is so proud that I took his name, as if there was ever any question. I'm his and I want everyone to know it.

"Holy wedding cake," I say as I step inside. Our wedding cake is three tiers and looks like it could serve 300. It's a lot of cake for our small group.

Carlos laughs. "Babe."

"That's a big cake. Can we skip the meal and cut the cake now?"

"It's your day, Babe. You can do anything you want."

He rests his hand across my stomach and I'm reminded of the baby. I have another person to think about now.

"On second thought, I should probably eat some real food first."

We manage to make it out of our reception with only the one dance, our first as Mr. and Mrs. Manoso. I take my huge piece of cake with me, and we make our way to up to the honeymoon suite.

As soon as we're inside and the door is properly locked, Carlos pulls me to him and unzips my dress quickly as his lips meet mine. He steps back and loosens his tie. His eyes run the length of my body and I look down to see that I'm naked, except for my shoes.

"How did that happen?"

"You should be more aware of your surroundings, Babe."

His voice is husky and suddenly my knees feel weak. I continue to watch him undress, and even though I've seen it all before, my mouth waters and I can't believe how perfect his body is. He picks me up and I wrap my legs around him as he carries me to the bed.

There's no foreplay tonight. I can tell he's in a hurry to just claim me as his wife. I feel the same, and really, all he has to do is look at me and I'm ready. It's always been that way with him.

He enters me slowly and waits for me to adjust. I cup his face with my hands and I'm in awe by the love I see in his eyes. It doesn't matter how much he tells me he loves me, with his words or actions, it always surprises me.

"I'm ready, Carlos."

"Mine," he says as he starts to move.

"I'm yours," I tell him as I move against him.

And then he makes me forget my own name.