Disclaimer: All characters that you recognize belong solely to Janet Evanovich. Unfortunately so does all the money. Everyone that you don't recognized, including characters to be named at a later date, are completely made up by me, myself, and I.

A/N: Hahaha Bet you're all surprised, huh? Didn't think I would get it in, did ya? : P lol I'm a changed woman. Well that and the fact I had it done a while ago. *laughs* Thanks to everyone who reviewed, glad to have you still with me and to those new to this story, welcome and I hope you enjoy the ride.

C/N: Steph heads back to Rangeman. Who will greet her? Will they all be friendly faces?

I hope you like it :)

As Always, Thanks For Reading.
~Sky

Learning To Live:

Chapter 11

I can't wait to get out of here.

After endless days of tests and regaining muscle strength, I was finally going to be released. I'd still be under constant supervision at Rangeman, but I can't really blame them for that. They say it's to make sure that me and the babies are healthy, but I know in the back of their minds they're wondering if I'll try again.

I have no plans to go down that road anymore. I don't need to. I don't want to either. Not relying on my friends was the worst thing I've ever done. I should have trusted them to help carry me on, just like I should have done for them. I have a second chance now – with them, my babies, with life – and I don't plan on wasting it.

I was dragged out of my musing when the door opened. Bobby and Cynthia walked in with grins. I noticed Cynthia had a clipboard in her hands. Bobby had a hand behind his back and was carrying a duffle bag in the other.

"What are you two so happy about?"

Bobby showed me what he was holding behind his back and I think I may have moaned. They both started laughing when my stomach growled. In his hand was a McDonald's bag. I could smell the fries, nuggets, and chicken sandwich when he shook the bag a couple times.

I reached my hands out for it. "You are a God among men Bobby Brown. Now give me it."

As soon as the bag was in reach, I snatched it out of his hand and nearly tore the bag apart as I started wolfing down the food. It has been too many days since I've had real food in me. The stuff they serve here may be better than at regular hospitals, but Blanchard has nothing when it comes to McDonalds.

Bobby rolled his eyes when I finished off the last of the fries. "Glad you have your appetite back, Angel."

I couldn't help the little grimace that took over my lips. "Hospital food isn't exactly the best food out there, you know."

"Well you won't have to worry about our food any longer. I have your release papers right here." Cynthia held up the clipboard in her hand. "All I need is your signature and you're a free woman till you're next ob/gyn appointment. You may have wolfed down that food now, but from what I hear about your eating habits, you'll need to cut back on the sweets and stuff. Just because you're eating for three doesn't mean you can have three times the amount of donuts, got it? The babies need lots of vitamins and proteins." She handed me a piece of paper. "Pick up your prenatal vitamins on your way out. I also heard you hate exercising," I flinched just from the word, "but some exercises actually help when it's time to deliver the babies. I gave the information to Bobby so if you want to do them, he's more than willing to help. Obviously don't strain yourself, it won't do you or the babies any good if you get sick. If you feel sick in any way that you think isn't normal, tell Bobby and he'll contact me if he thinks there's something wrong. Other than that I think you're all set Steph."

I signed the papers and went to the bathroom to change into the clothes Bobby brought in the duffle bag. I slipped on the black sweat pants and loose red scoop neck shirt wondering if Ella picked them out. I turned sideways in front of the mirror looking at my profile. My bump was less noticeable with the shirt. Smiling, I put my hands on my stomach.

"Hang in there, guys. I'll see you again in just a couple of months." I whispered.

Staring at my reflection again, I couldn't help but notice the little glow I had. My eyes seemed a little brighter, my cheeks had a slight pink to them, and I just looked. . . . happy for a moment.

That faded nearly the second I thought of it. What would I face when I went back to Rangeman? I hope the guys would accept me back, but what if some of them can't forgive me? It's not like I could blame them if they didn't anyways.

What about Rangeman in general? Tank told me it was getting harder and harder for them. I didn't want to see all of Rangers hard work be destroyed. Rangeman would be put in my hands if I would just say the words. If Ranger believed in me, then I should believe in myself, right? Ugh. But I don't know the first thing about running a business let alone a multi-location security corporation!

And the rest of the stuff in the will. The money, the house, the box. There's just so much.

The box terrifies me. What's in there? Will it make me cry? Laugh? Get me mad? Probably all of them. I can't even imagine what Ranger would put in there for me. We never even talked about wills. I never even considered one. Of course he did though. He was always prepared.

My biggest worry though is Lester. . . . I know we need to talk but I don't even know how to begin. I know he likes me. How much I don't really know, but I can't ignore it anymore. I don't want to hurt him. I love Lester. He's always been there for me. We were the best of friends. Could I be more than a friend? Would I let myself?

What about Ranger though? My heart skipped a beat as I thought of him again. It's only been a few months and I'm still as in love with him as I was when he was alive. What would he have to say? I might have been oblivious to how Lester felt about me because I was so focused on Ranger, but did Ranger know?

I shook my head trying to get rid of these thoughts.

Stop thinking about it for now, Steph, I mentally scolded myself. You're going home. You should be excited not worrying about things you can't help right now.

I took a deep breath before turning to leave the bathroom.

Cynthia gave me a friendly hug and her number if I ever needed to talk.

I glared at the wheelchair Bobby pulled in from the hallway. "I can walk. I am not sitting in that."

"Hospital procedure," was all he said.

I rolled my eyes. "This isn't exactly a regular hospital. I've been in a bed for weeks. I want to walk. I'm not sitting in it."

He pushed it off to the side. "Fine." I was mentally patting myself on the back when Bobby walked over to me and lifted me carefully in his arms before I even knew what was happening. "Then I'll just have to carry you."

"Bobby!" I screamed. "Put me down!"

"Are you gonna sit in the wheelchair?"

"Ummm, no?"

"Then no." He flashed Cynthia a smile who was trying to hide her laughing with a fake cough. "See you in a few Cyn."

"Bye Bobby. Oh and please don't drop her. I don't want to have to take care of anything else for her except for the delivery, please?"

Bobby rolled his eyes. "I'll see what I can do."

My frustration from not being able to walk quickly disappeared as Bobby started walking though the hospital hallways to the exit. I sunk further into his arms and sighed.

He shifted his arms before saying, "Angel, don't take this the wrong way but you don't weight what you used to. Try not to move too much."

I glared at him and smacked his arm. "I'm pregnant you ass. I'm not that big either! I'm only to get bigger so get used to it."

"Yes ma'am" he winked at me as he opened the door to the Explorer and gently placed me on the seat.

I buckled up as he made his way to the driver's side.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It was late afternoon when we pulled into the underground garage. My heart was pounding the entire car ride. If Bobby said a word to me during the ride, I didn't hear it. My mind was going over all the different ways this could play out.

We took the elevator to the 5th floor. Bobby had his hand on my lower back. It calmed me a little but my heart still felt like it was going to fly out of my chest. I wouldn't be surprised if people could hear it down the street.

The elevator dinged. We were here. The moment of truth.

The doors slid open to. . . . . . . nothing. No one was in their cubicles. No one was in the break room. No one was hanging around the monitors. Except for two people I didn't know. They must be some of the contract workers Tank was talking about.

I looked at Bobby. "Where is everyone?"

He just shrugged. "I don't know Angel. They should be here. especially since we're all a little behind.

We walked towards the two men at the monitors.

Bobby spoke first. "Where is everyone Riley?"

Riley, the guy to my left, was about 5'10", Caucasian, short spiky hair and really muscular. It looked like his muscles had muscles. I bet he could give Cal a run for his money.

"They're all in Conference Room B, sir." He never took his eyes off the monitors while he spoke. I'm not even sure he blinked.

"Meeting? For what?"

"Confidential, sir. Tank said to tell you to bring Mrs. M. . . . Miss Plum down as soon as you arrive though. He wasn't in a good mood either, sir."

Bobby turned us around and walked back towards the elevator.

I was biting my bottom lip in an effort to stop from crying. Did I do something? Tank was with me the other day and didn't seem mad at me. But why was there a meeting? And why am I supposed be in there?

Maybe. . . . . Maybe they don't want me to try to help Rangeman after all.

Before I could think about it more the elevator doors opened. We walked down the hall and Bobby pushed open the door.

"Welcome Back Bombshell & Peanuts!" Was on a large banner on the back wall. All the guys were standing in front of it with large grins.

I was tugged into the sea of black. I was hugged, kissed on the cheek, patted on the ass, and had my stomach rubbed.

I didn't even know I was crying until Tank, the last one in line, wiped my cheek.

He hugged me for a long minute before releasing me and whispering in my ear, "Welcome home, Bomber."

I smiled and squeezed his hand.

"Thank you. All of you. You don't know how much this means to be. I'm happy to be back. I'm happy to be home."

I was looking around the room when I realized there were two more faces in the back that didn't come up to me. Lester stood in the corner just staring at me. His eyes were soft and kind but I could see his body was tense. I gave him a small smile and he nodded back.

The other face was one I wasn't as familiar with. Dan Beaton, Rangers lawyer, walked up to me when everyone ate and drank at the table stationed against the left wall.

He smiled wide when he got to me. "Hello Stephanie. It's a pleasure to see you again. I heard about what happened, and if you ever need someone to talk to I'd be happy to help in any way I can." He took my hand and kept a firm grip on it. I subtly tried to take my hand back but his grip was too strong. "We still need to meet to finalize the wishes of Mr. Manoso. I understand now is not the best time of course. Is sometime next week good for you?" I nodded my head in hope he'd leave me alone. "Terrific. I'll get my secretary to call you with a day and time."

My hand was starting to hurt. "That would be fine Dan." His eyes turned a little dark when I said his name. I bit my cheek to keep from grimacing. "Do you mind if I get my hand back? I want to get a drink." I wanted to tell him to get his filthy hands away from me but I thought that was safer.

His eyes widened a bit and he smiled. "Of course!" He released me hand slowly. "Sorry about that Stephanie. Please go get a drink. I have a meeting in an hour, so I have to get back to real life. I'll see you next week though?" When I nodded he squeezed my hand once and winked. "I'll be seeing you Steph."

As soon as he was out the door I stretched my hand out and grimaced. I forgot how much he weirded me out.

I shook my head and tried to find Lester but he wasn't in the room anymore.

I stayed and talked to a couple of the guys for a while. It was all small talk, which I was grateful for. I still wasn't ready to deal with the whole owning Rangeman thing quite yet.

After a while though I told Tank I was getting a little tired. He gave me a key to a fifth floor apartment that Ella had done up for me. Tank offered to walk me up but I told him to get back to work. It was his turn to grimace and he reluctantly agreed.

"Back to work guys." Tank boomed out to the room.

I got hugged and kissed again by everyone as they slunk out of the room back to their cubicles.

Tank was the last one and I asked if he knew where Lester went.

"He went up to his apartment. We're rotating days off and today is his day." He gave me a small smile. "Take it easy on him, Steph."

Instead of taking the elevator, I walked up the stairs behind the guys. I was stalling and I knew it but I just needed to think for a minute.

When I opened the stairway door, I paused and took a deep breath before walking straight to Lester's room. I raised my hand to knock but it wouldn't move. I tried again but it wasn't cooperating. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and rubbed my melon of a stomach for comfort.

The next thing I knew my fist was lightly rapping against the door.

A moment later Lester opened the door wearing sweats. His chest was bare and water dripped from his hair on to it, making it sparkle slightly. I struggled to look into his eyes. They were slightly dark. Guarded. He was wondering what I was doing.

"We need to talk, Lester."

He looked slightly surprised that I was making the first move but he nodded and opened the door wider to let me in.

I took another deep breath before walking into his apartment and closing the door behind me.

A/N: I changed the ending just for Kate *winks and grins*

Hope you all liked it. Reviews make Ranger happy. A happy Ranger won't murder me in my sleep for killing him and attempting to get Steph with Lester. *grin*

Next Chapter: Steph and Lester finally talk it out.