A/N – Yeah, Ranger wasn't expecting her to faint. LOL! I think Steph had known that she was going to the Batcave, but was still in a little bit of denial land. Being blindfolded probably didn't help her equilibrium. I hope you enjoy this chapter, as Ranger will finally tell Stephanie everything he feels about her.

This chapter is going to be a little bit different, as I will start off with Ranger and then Steph's POV but after that I will switch between them without specifying. I need that for the full effect of what will happen at dinner. I hope I can make it seamless.

Thanks for all of the reviews and the views at over 7K is amazing to me. Please please please review! I love all the notifications I get when anyone reviews, follows or gulp favorites! It is very exciting to me and helps me write faster!

I haven't written anything in a long time, so it is nice to know that people are reading and enjoying this story. I have been through quite a lot in RL lately and this is therapy to me.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Again, I don't own these characters at all. JE does and I just enjoy having them do the things I know she really wants them to but for some reason they aren't.

Chapter 11

Ranger's POV

"But the Batcave means…"

"Forever, Babe," I finish for her with a huge grin on my face. Then, surprising me as she always does, Babe faints. Luckily, I caught her before she fell face first into the sand.

I pick her up and carry her into the house. I take her upstairs to our bedroom lay her down, and kiss her cheek. I call Cesar to go get the bags from the boat and to send Maritza up. Cesar and Maritza are the Ella and Luis of the Batcave.

Babe is still out for the count when Maritza came in. She is a sweet woman, and a cousin of Ella's. Steph will love her.

"Maritza, are we all set? "

"Yes, Carlos, Tank called while you were in the air and Ella and I discussed the perfect dress. Operation Seal the Deal is a go. Lester came up with the name didn't he?" she giggled. "Carlos, she's beautiful, but is she ok?"

"Yes, Maritza, just a bit overcome. I can't wait for you to meet her properly. Thank you for everything. And yes, Lester came up with the name. Ugh."

"You're welcome, Carlos. I'm glad you've finally brought her here and I'm overjoyed to see the light in your eyes, mijo." She smiled at me as she left.

I turned my attention back to my Babe. She was still out like a light when Cesar brought the bags in. He just smiled at me and put the bags in the closet and winked at me as he left and closed the door behind him.

I looked at Steph and she was starting to come around. I kissed her cheeks and said, "Babe, you ok?"

"I had the strangest dream, it was so real. I dreamed I was kidnapped, sort of and I ended up on a private plane that landed in Miami and then on an island, in San Carlos Bay. Nice name by the way, I like it. Turns out it was the Batcave. Who knew Batman had an island?"

I chuckled and said, "Babe, it wasn't a dream."

Those beautiful and expressive blue eyes suddenly opened and looked right into mine. "No shit?"

"No shit, Babe. I have a special evening planned. There's a dress hanging in the closet. Get ready and I'll meet you downstairs." I grabbed my garment bag and overnight kit and left the room.

I ran downstairs to see that everything was prepared. Maritza had outdone herself. Before getting ready, I had to make an important phone call.

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Stephanie's POV

I looked at the room around me. There were gauzy curtains hanging from the top rails of the canopy bed, and the floor to ceiling sliding glass wall in front of the bed was open and the ocean breeze was coming in. I got up and looked around. The walls were white and there was a large brown ceiling fan over the bed and a brown chest against the wall. I went to the small balcony and looked at the site in front of me. The beautiful ocean and the beach where I fainted were the view.

I went to the en suite bathroom and was amazed. There was a clawed foot tub, a shower with multiple shower heads, and the white and brown theme continued. From what I'd seen so far, this house was definitely not decorated in the typical Ranger style I knew.

I found the closet which was huge! I found the dress and it was magnificent. It was a cream colored halter dress with silver accents and a billowy skirt. There were silver sling back shoes, too! I showered, shaved, buffed, and moisturized.

I looked at myself in the mirror after I'd done my makeup and hair, took a deep breath and got ready to go downstairs.

I got to the stairs and saw Carlos on the 2nd floor landing waiting for me. His hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he was wearing a tux with a silver tie. He took my breath away as I started down the stairs.

"Babe."

I smiled at him and when I reached him, he gave me a sweet kiss.

"You're beautiful, Babe. Don't ever forget it."

I took his arm and he guided me to the pool area on the second floor.

"Maritza, Ella's cousin, has prepared dinner for us," he said was we walked outside.

I gasped at the site awaiting me! The patio was covered with candles and rose petals. There was a table with a lovely setting and tall tapered candles between the place settings. There were twinkling lights strung all along the balcony.

"Carlos, it's beautiful."

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"Not as beautiful as you, Steph. You take my breath away," I smiled at her as I poured her a glass of champagne, trying to hide my slightly quivering hand. My hands don't shake!

"Carlos, you ok?"

Crap she noticed. Alright, now's the time, and I swallow past the lump in my throat, and begin to pour my heart out to her.

"Stephanie, we need to talk. "

"Carlos…" she said gazing down. I could see she was doubting again.

I lifted her chin, so I could gaze in those beautiful blue eyes. "No, Babe, this is a good talk. I promise." Finally, I could see the doubts fading and her eyes shining with love again.

"Steph, I've always been a man of few words," I hear her snort, but I continue. "I've never been good at saying what I feel. But, I'm going to try now, Babe, OK?"

"OK."

"Stephanie Michelle Plum, from the moment you walked into that diner, I've been yours. You turned my life upside down. I had my life under such tight control. I had walls around my heart. I swore never to let anyone in because my life was too dangerous for a relationship. But one look at you and all my defenses came tumbling down. It scared me, Babe. So, I kept you at arm's length. I kept my "blank face" up around you, while I tried to get some kind of control over everything I felt. But, I couldn't stay away either."

I lead Steph over to the table and pull out her chair, I sit down and take her hand into mine. "Babe, I tried to convince myself that all I felt about you was lust. Deep down, I knew I was deluding myself, but I just couldn't allow myself to accept my true feelings, which led to the DeChooch deal. That night, Steph, you ruined me for all other women. I swear it was the best night of my life until last night."

I was amazed at everything Carlos was revealing to me. I couldn't believe his words. My heart leapt with joy at hearing them, but the annoying voice in the back of my head still kept up a stream of doubt. Why me? I'm just a girl from the 'Burg, and he's Carlos "Ranger" Manoso, the best looking and biggest Bad Ass around. I can barely catch a skip without rolling in garbage. Why me?

"Babe, don't doubt yourself." Damn that man and his ESP.

"Stephanie, I mean it. I know I've given you reason to doubt me. I sent you back to Morelli after the best night of my life! I was such a fool. I was convinced that I'd hurt you, either by not being able to be what you need or because of my life and how dangerous it is. I convinced myself that I was saving you the heartbreak and anguish if something happened to me. But, I couldn't bring myself to stay out of your life completely."

"I know now, that would have been the best thing for you if I couldn't bring myself to be with you."

"No, Carlos, please. I can't bear that. Please don't cut me out….."

I bring my finger to her lip to quiet her, "No, Querida, you misunderstand me. I'm trying to apologize for how I kept you on a yo-yo for way too long. It wasn't fair of me. I messed up pretty good, Babe. I kept sending you back to Morelli, but I couldn't stay away from you. I'd kiss you in the alley behind the Bonds Office, I'd cop a feel before a distraction, I'd come to your room and sit in "my" chair before and after a mission. Sometimes, you didn't even wake up and know I was there."

"Maybe not, but I always knew you'd been there. I always felt it. I told you that our connection was strong, Carlos. I always knew that the first words from Tank the next time I talked to him was that you'd gone "in the wind." I always wished you'd have woken me up and told me those times, I wanted you to tell me what was going on. Not Tank, but you."

I sighed and hung my head in shame. I looked up at her and there were tears glistening in those beautiful blue eyes. I gathered my courage to go on. "Babe, do you know why I would come to your room and watch you sleep before my missions?"

She shook her head, "No. I don't."

"Stephanie Michelle Plum, it is because you are my everything, my whole world. You are the oxygen to my soul. You are my peace and my shining light. I sit on "my" chair in your bedroom and watch you absorbing the strength you give me just with your presence. I find my center with you. I get my focus. I see you and I know what I have to come back to, even if I hadn't made you mine in the relationship sense, you were my woman in my heart and soul. This watch, I had it specially made. It has a secret timer, my Babe timer," her eyes are as big as saucers as I continue.

"Before I leave you and go "into the wind," I start the clock. I always know EXACTLY how long I've been away from you. Look, I didn't clear it last night once I got to your apartment. I was gone 5 weeks, 3 days and 5 hours before I returned to you."

"Oh Carlos!" My eyes were swimming with tears. Happy tears. I knew deep in my soul how he felt about me, and I'd felt it in the way he'd made love to me last night and this morning, but to hear him say these words! I think my heart is going to burst with happiness!

"Babe, last night just as I was stopping the timer, you made me the happiest man ever when you called out my given name in your sleep. And the best part, is that those 5 weeks, 3 days and 5 hours are the longest time I will ever be without you again. It was my last mission, Babe. Never again am I going "in the wind." I'm yours, Babe, for as long as you will have me. Which, I hope will be forever."

Deep breath, Manoso, this is it. I get down on one knee and pull out the ring I'd had made for her.

"Steph, I had already come to my senses before I left on my last mission. I was going to come home from it and fight with everything I had to make you mine. Cop or no cop in your life, I was going to fight to make you understand how special you are to me and how special you are as a person. I had this ring made especially for you, after Scrug. I was just too stupid to get over my fear and give it to you before now. Stephanie Michelle Plum, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and allowing me to make you the happiest woman in the world every day for the rest of our lives?"

With a squeal, I sink off my chair to my knees before him. I look in those beautiful chocolaty brown eyes, that are misty and hopeful and so full of love for me! I caress his face and with absolute certainty in my heart, "Yes, Carlos, a bazillion times YES!"