The usual disclaimers, I don't own them, I'm still a poor college student, and I still wish Ranger was all mine…

Chapter 10- A New Beginning

Stephanie's POV

I woke up nestled in the same position that I had fallen asleep in. I slowly removed myself from Ranger's embrace and made my way to the bathroom to answer nature's call. When I was finished I crawled back into Ranger's strong arms, very surprised I hadn't woken him by getting up.

The next time I woke up I found myself alone, but could smell the aroma of breakfast coming from the kitchen. I padded my way there, expecting to see a spread courtesy of Ella since it was 8, but I was surprised to see Ranger standing at the stove cooking breakfast.

He must have sensed my presence because he turned around and smiled at me. "Have a seat Babe, I'm almost done here."

I sat over at the breakfast bar and watched him finish up. I did a mental sigh at the way dinner went last night, and I had really hoped that my family, well my mother, would start to accept Ranger as the man I love and not as just some one night stand street thug.

"Deep thoughts, Babe?" Ranger asked me, sneaking up on me as he laid a plate of bacon, eggs, and hash browns down in front of me.

I sighed, "Just thinking about last night…"

"Stop," Ranger insisted coming around to gather me into his arms, "Eat your breakfast, and begin to wake up and we can talk about it later, okay?"

I nodded and turned back to my breakfast, wandering to myself where Ranger learned to cook.

"When I lived in Miami with my grandmother, she made me stay in the kitchen with her all day long so that she could keep an eye on me. I picked up some of her skills," Ranger said reading my mind with that damn ESP.

"Hmm…so you can make practically anything?" I asked with a mischievous grin on my face.

"Yes, Babe, I can make practically anything. But don't get any ideas about me spending all day in the kitchen for you."

"Only if the same goes for me."

"Always, Babe, always," Ranger replied looking me in the eyes. He had always allowed me to fly, and now was no different. He would never expect me to stay home and raise a bunch of kids and cook his meals. It was one of the reasons that I loved him so much.

We settled into a comfortable silence while we enjoyed our breakfast. Ranger was sure damaging that temple of his, I noticed that he was eating that exact same thing I was. But, knowing Ranger he had disguised our breakfast as something unhealthy when it really was healthy.

After we were finished Ranger and I washed the dishes together. When the last dish had been put away he led me to the couch were we curled up together. The silence was comforting and I was sad when he broke it.

"I've been thinking about what happened last night, Babe," Ranger began. As he began to speak I began to get more and more worried. What if he dumps me? What if my family was too much for him? All these kinds of thoughts began to go through my mind as Ranger continued.

"I began to wonder if everyone views me as a guy who is going to throw you out on the street after I'm done with you. Normally I don't care what people think, Babe, but I want everyone to know that you are mine and I will never do that to you," Ranger continued, each word lessening the dread that had begun to work its way into my chest, "I want you to move in with me."

"Ranger, I'm already living with you," I replied confused by what he was implying.

"No, Babe," Ranger said gently, "I want you to get rid of your apartment and move in with me."

I sat there in silence stunned. Batman was asking me to move in with him. This was unbelievable.

My silence must have unnerved him because he asked in a shaking voice, "Babe?"

I took his face into my hands, an action which seemed to calm him a little, "I'm just surprised Carlos, that you would want me to live with you here. Haven't I begun to get on your nerves yet?"

"Steph, I want nothing more than for you to move in with me. I want everyone to know that we are serious and that I want to be with you for a very very long time."

I could feel tears welling in my eyes. Ranger had been opening up more and more to me, expanding our relationship and deepening the love I had for him. Now he was asking me to move in with him, and had let it spill that he wanted to be with me for a long time.

"Yes, Carlos, I'll move in with you," I said, making my decision without hesitation. It was amazing how I had always been so hesitant and scared to move in with Joe, but the thought of moving in with Ranger filled me with nothing but complete joy.

Ranger smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen and pulled me in for a leave you breathless kiss. He had a look of joy on his face, as though today was Christmas and he had just gotten the greatest present ever.

"You have just made me the happiest man alive, Babe," Ranger said.

"And you have just made me the happiest woman alive, Carlos," I replied giving him a wide smile, "I don't feel anything but joy right now. When I was with Joe all I felt was anxiety and the thought of living with him. It made me feel like I was going to be losing my independence, but you have never once tried to take that away from me."

"Your independence is part of what I love about you. I could never take that away from you."

I smiled and cuddled up to him, feeling safe and secure in his arms. I knew we couldn't stay like that for long, Ranger had work to do and I should probably see if there were any skips for me.

Ranger went to work after a quick shower and I headed in the direction of the bonds office, hoping that there were some skips for me. I wanted to help pitch in even though it was Ranger's apartment, I couldn't even for a second consider living with him and not contributing a cent.

I pulled my POS car in front of the bonds office, and went inside. Connie and Lula were sitting with their ears to Vinnie's door, listening to whatever he was doing in there.

"What kind of animal does he…" I began only to get a shush motion from the girls and a motion over to sit next to them and join in their…creeping.

I figured why not, and grabbed a seat next to them. Connie mouthed Joyce Barnhart before turning her attention back to concentrating on what they were doing.

We all moved away at the sound of mooing, too disturbed to even begin to think of what they were doing in there.

The girls and I spent a good hour catching up before Joyce sauntered out of the office. I gave her a sweet smile before turning my attention back to the girls, intending to just ignore her presence. I wasn't so lucky that she would ignore mine too.

"What is this I hear you have Joe Morelli beating on you?" she started in on me with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"It's none of your business Joyce," I said tersely.

"Ah, it's so sad, you somehow manage to ruin every relationship you are ever in. You couldn't keep Dickie satisfied, and now you have to make up stories about Joe so that you can explain to everyone why he left your sorry ass," Joyce countered with a smirk on her face.

I was about to respond when I heard Joyce's breath catch and her eyes widen and felt my own reaction of a neck tingle. I knew Ranger was nearby, and I saw my opportunity to give her the ultimate blow back.

I turned in my seat and Ranger smiled at me, as though he knew exactly what I wanted to do. I stood up from my seat, never breaking eye contact and walked right up to Ranger. His eyes showed a hint of a smile as I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him down to give him a kiss full of tongue. I felt his hands go around my waist and pull me closer deepening the kiss.

When we finally broke apart I was breathless, and by the looks on everyone's faces, so was the whole room. Connie and Lula were fanning themselves while Joyce stared with a look of disbelief on her face.

"Babe," was all Ranger said as he walked to Connie's desk, his arm still wrapped around my waist, taking me with him.

Connie wordlessly handed Ranger both of our files. I smiled at Joyce in the sweetest way possible before heading out the door with Ranger.

Ranger didn't even bother to pull me into the alley, today he just pushed me against his truck, and grabbed my head for a kiss. I liked the fact that he was being so open, and had allowed me to have my fun in the office with Joyce.

"Thanks, Carlos, for letting me have my fun with Joyce," I told him after we broke apart.

"No problem, Babe. I can't say I didn't enjoy them myself," he replied with a hint of a smile.

Ranger and I divided up our folders and he walked me to my car.

I was pulled backwards when Ranger stopped walking, only to stand there staring at my car. Written in blood red on the windshield was "I'm watching you." I got a sinking feeling in my chest knowing, stupid Stephanie had taken over lately, allowing myself to believe that this stalker of mine would have gotten over his obsession.

I sighed and sat down on the curb, knowing all the events that occurred next, off by heart.

More coming soon!! Let me know what you think…any suggestions are welcome!