Author's Note: I don't own anything & not making any money from this. Rating is for language. This story is not friendly toward Joe. I'm not good at writing drunk so excuse my attempt below.

"I know Babe, I was lucky" I said conveying the seriousness of the situation. She took her hand off my arm and said "Now, we have a party to get to and I want to dance tonight. Piece of shit Morelli never took me out dancing."

I smiled at that statement "Anything for you Babe."

CHAPTER 10: The Party

Stephanie's POV:

Ranger pulled from the church parking lot and turned onto Hamilton Street and drove to the VFW hall. Ranger was in his zone while driving and he took my hand and placed it on his thigh and was making small circles with his thumb. It was soothing and I looked out the window and saw the parking lot was full. I saw several shiny black Explorers, it looked like the Merry Men were here. I smiled and broke the silence, "you let the guys out to play?"

Ranger chuckled "well for a little while anyway. I told them they could stay until the start of their shift. The guys on shift will be here later. Are you ready to go in?"

I smiled and said "yeah, I think it's time to have some fun." We got out of the car and walked in and the party had already started. My mother had pre-paid for everything so we only had to have a good time. The music was loud and I saw some of the Merry Men dancing with Connie, Lula and Mary Lou. Val was dancing with Sally Sweet. We walked up to them and I hugged Sally and said "It's been too long since we went out Sally."

Sally laughed, he was dressed in a black silk cocktail dress that came to his knee and he wore four inch platform sandals. He toes and finger were painted black and he wore no wig. "Hey girlfriend, you look smokin' hot. We should do the clubs after the party." He noticed Ranger and put out his hand to shake "Hey Dude, I heard you got shot. You don't look like you spent three weeks in the hospital." Ranger looked like he was thinking about smiling and shook Sally's hand "Thanks man, I'm recovering. What band are you with now?"

Sally smiled "none, Sugar is getting out next week and the Lovelies are getting back together." I just looked at him "What, Sugar tried to kill us both?" Sally laughed "The state feels he has been rehabilitated, he was in a half way house after receiving psychiatric care and said he's not a danger to you or me." I chewed my bottom lip "Ok, if you say so. He better stay away."

Ranger sat at a table with my Dad and they talked while I danced. I danced for a couple of hours with all the Merry Men, Eddie, Carl and Big Dog. I sat with Ranger and Daddy and asked if they were hungry. We went over to the buffet table and Ranger made a plate of salad and chicken. I on the other hand filled my plate with baked ziti, chicken, potatoes, rolls, sausage and peppers. It was all yummy, Marsilio's was the caterer. A waitress came by and brought us glasses of iced tea and pieces of cake. Daddy sat with us and I asked him "Did you ask them to save the top of the cake? I can eat it for breakfast tomorrow." My father looked up from his plate "of course I did, I know you too well." Ranger chuckled and gave his standard reply "that stuff will kill ya, Babe."

I glared at him as Lester walked up with Candy. Les said "Beautiful, Candy wanted to speak with you. Is that ok?" I looked up from my plate and said "sure."

Candy and Les sat. Candy looked nervous and took a deep breath "I wanted to apologize for sleeping with your boyfriend. I never would have done it if I knew he was seeing someone."

I took her hand and said "You have nothing to apologize for. Joe comes from a long line of womanizers and that is one of their better qualities. He lied to you and you are a victim as much as I am in this tale. I hope that you and your baby are happy, but make sure you get child support."

Candy smiled and said "Well about that, my name isn't really Candy. I use it at work to protect myself. My real name is Kayla MacKenzie and I'm a pre-med student at Rutgers. I'm working at Hooters to help pay my way through school. I'm not really pregnant; I just wanted to see the guy squirm. He gave me a fake name and he lied to me so when Lester here saw me at the police station, I couldn't help myself. I had to crash." She eyed me nervously.

I did a fish impression and I looked at Ranger whose eyes had gone wide. He threw his head back and laughed. I mean really laughed, it was a rare treat. I started to laugh as well. We were laughing so hard we both had tears. I looked at Kayla and said "That is priceless. Are you gonna tell him the truth?"

"I thought I'd let him stew for a while and hang out with Lester. Les said that Joe would hate it." Kayla giggled.

"Oh my god, that is good. He's going to have you around with Lester; I publicly dumped him and an IA investigation. He'll flip." I replied. We sat and talked for awhile and I think Kayla felt better when she left.

Ranger's POV

I didn't know anything about the pregnancy or that Kayla was pre-med. Morelli doesn't really like smart women; he likes women he thinks he can control. This should be a great show. I looked around the room and was surprised to see Helen Plum sitting in a corner by herself drinking who knows what. She looked three sheets to the wind. I heard a commotion at the door and in strolls Morelli with his brother Anthony and cousin Mooch. All three were drunk and had begun to yell when confronted by Eddie, Carl and Big Dog.

"Aw..right Cup" with a pop "cake. I need to know when you come to senses." Joe was slurring his words and wasn't even coherent. Mooch jumped in and said "I told ya, man. All, all ya hadda do was knock the bitch up. No one want the slut then."

Ranger and the Merry Men had heard enough. Ranger gave Tank a barely there nod and the Merry Men stood in a straight line in front of our table and the three drunken men tried to get through. They would've had a better chance getting through a brick wall.

Stephanie spoke up and said "let him through." All the music had stopped and Frank Plum stood behind his daughter. Joe Morelli tried to strut up to the table but he could barely walk on his own. He stumbled and knocked a chair over. "Cupcake" he began popping the 'p' again, "you proved, proved your point. Let go home and get naked." He gave her his cocky smile, it turned my stomach.

My Babe looked at Joe with disgust while she icily replied "I told you not to call me that ever again. You have a child on the way with another woman and you think you can show up drunk and you actually think I want you to ever touch me again? You are truly fucking deluded. If you and the other Morelli scum don't leave I'll have you arrested for trespassing. I think we have plenty of cops here." If she spoke to me in that icy tone I think I would've walked away. I never heard her speak to anyone like that.

"But, but Steph. We love each other" he got out. He looked proud everyone could understand him. Babe continued with ice in her voice "I don't love you at all anymore. You stunned me, drugged me and tried to force me to marry you. If that is love I'd rather be alone and single. Now leave." A group of men walked over with Eddie, Carl and Big Dog and they escorted the Morelli's out and one was going to drive them home before someone was killed.

A slow dance started and I asked my Babe to dance. It was amazing to hold in her in my arms and there was barely any air space between us. The song was I Will Always Love You by Whiney Houston. Other people started to pair up and join us on the floor but we barely noticed we just gazed into each other's eyes. The song ended but neither of us noticed until Frank came up and asked to cut in. I went back to the table and watched her dance with her father.

Val's POV

I watched my sister dance with Ranger while I danced with Albert. You could see how much they loved each other and they were so close you couldn't tell where one ended and the other started. It was one of the most erotic sites I've ever seen. They have more passion between them than any couple I've ever seen. Albert whispered in my ear "What do you think will happen with those two?"

I sighed as the song ended and Daddy cut in between them "I don't know. They love each other so much, everyone can see it but they are both too scared to admit their feelings. I hope it all works out."

Stephanie's POV

After I finished dancing with Daddy I went over to Ranger who was sitting at the table. He looked exhausted, he just got out of the hospital and was still recovering but he pushed himself today. I felt guilty. "Ranger, I think you need to go home and get some rest. You look exhausted."

"Babe" was all he said.

"Ranger, I mean it."

"Where are you staying tonight?" was his reply.

"My apartment"

"Babe, I don't think you'll be safe. Morelli could show up and who knows what he'll do in his current condition. Will you stay with me on seven, please?"

What could I do, he was right, Morelli could show up at my apartment. In his current condition Ranger could still seduce me; I mean he is a Sex God. He said please, he asked. That was Ranger - a choice not an order. I chewed my bottom lip and gave him a little smile and giggled "Ok Ranger. You haven't been released for sex so I'll be safe."

"Babe, you should know better than that." We stood up and walked out without a word to anyone.

The entire room watched the pair walk out and everyone knew they were in love with each other. Well everyone but them.