Disclaimer: not mine
AN: Thank you once again for your wonderful reviews. I hope you enjoy this update. I've started the next chapter but haven't gotten very far; hopefully I'll get it up quicker.
Thanks again to my wonderful beta, Elaine, for her constructive feedback to make this chapter better.
Ranger's POV
I spent the last two days in Key West riding out some tropical storms. Luckily no hurricanes came through. I wasn't sure I would have been able to handle that. I spent the time thinking some more and knew I had to treat Steph with kid gloves. If I was angry with her it would set her off and we'd accomplish nothing. Look what happened on Valentine's Day. I still had the ring I planned to give her, and I knew deep down there was no one else I'd want to spend the rest of my life with. I also realized I wanted to see her belly grow big with my child, I know she'd be beautiful. I'd do everything in my power to get her to agree to both of those things.
Once the storms passed, I had the Rangeman jet fly me back to Newark. I arrived around noon and climbed into the car I had left at the hanger. I drove the speed limit even though I wanted to get to Stephanie as soon as I could. Lester had sent me a text that she was in her office and she had already been crying in Tank's. Again, it was clear that I needed to be careful in how I handled her. I thought it might be best if we went up to the seventh floor apartment or even back to her house for our discussion.
I pulled into the garage after beeping it locked. I made my way up the stairs to the fifth floor. I stepped through the door and into the control room to find Tank standing by the monitors. I stopped to speak with him before moving on to Stephanie's office. He updated me on the business while I was gone; due to the storms, cell service was spotty.
I felt a tingle at the back of my neck and I knew she was near. I looked up and saw her in the doorway to her office. "Babe," I said.
I watched her run to me; throwing herself in my arms, tears streaming down her beautiful face. She buried herself in my neck sobbing, "I'm sorry Ric, I'm so sorry."
I just held her as she cried. When she stopped I pulled her to the elevator, I continued to hold her as we made our way upstairs. I was able to open the door with one hand, pulling her in with me. I led her to the sofa when she quickly stood and ran into the bedroom, "Babe," I called. I followed her into the bathroom where she was hunched over the commode getting sick. I pulled her hair away while slowly rubbed her back.
She was shaky when she finished and I helped her stand. I flushed the sickness away as she leaned against the sink. She slowly rinsed her mouth, then pulled out her toothbrush and began to brush her teeth. I made my way to the kitchen, concerned she got sick from being upset. I filled the teapot with water from the tap and set it on the stove to boil. I thought we might need Bobby to give her a physical if she was getting sick from anxiety or upset. I had never known this to happen but now I knew she'd been through a lot when I was away in the Army. I saw her walk slowly into the kitchen, looking tired and a bit pale. "Babe, why don't you go sit on the couch. I'll bring you some tea. Do you want anything else?"
She shrugged then asked, "Do you have any saltine crackers?"
I shook my head no, "I'll call Ella and see if she has any." I watched her walk toward the living room as I dialed Ella. She stated she had some crackers and would bring them up right away. I heard the kettle whistle and turned off the stove. I grabbed a mug from the cupboard along with a box of peppermint tea. This was an excellent choice for an upset stomach. I made the tea and heard the door open then close a few minutes later as I heard some feminine chatter. I brought the cup out to find Stephanie slowly eating her saltines. I set the cup on the coffee table, then sat on the couch next to her. "Feeling better, Babe?" I asked.
Stephanie's POV
I can't believe how my heart swells when I see him. I felt that the part of me that was missing is now here. He looked amazing, he always does. How could one man be so damn hot? I threw myself at him, crying and apologizing before he took me to his apartment. I then threw up, stupid morning sickness. He was being very sweet after everything I'd put him through. Actually, after everything he'd been through period since that fateful birthday party eight years ago. I know he's seen how truly evil man can be, and he has buried a lot of his true self behind this 'Ranger' persona. I knew I needed to say everything I felt to him, bare myself like I never have before.
He brought me tea after Ella had dropped off saltines. She told had told me not to worry, that everything would work out for the best. Ric sat next to me on the couch as I sipped some tea while he asked if I was okay. I took a deep breath because my whole future depended upon the outcome of this conversation.
"Ric, I know it was wrong to run away and to stay away so long. I was scared and not sure what to do. I'd never seen you so angry and I truly didn't want to hurt you. I thought you'd been through so much already and it wouldn't do any good to tell you about Hope. It would only hurt you, but I know now not telling you was even worse."
I saw him nod as I drank more tea. It was really helping to my stomach calm. I pushed on, "I understand why you were angry. You had every right to be. I should have tried to tell you as soon as I found out. Hope was your daughter too and it was too easy to forget that because I carried her and lost her. You will never understand what that did to me. I really didn't want you to come back to me only because of our child. It wouldn't have helped our relationship and when I found out you married; I was devastated." I took a deep breath and decided to throw it all out there for him. "I love you Ric – more than I've ever loved another person. I need you but if you can't trust me, I'll understand. If you want nothing more to do with me, I'll understand that too. Just be honest with me."
He looked at me with so much emotion flying through his features I wasn't sure what to think or what he felt. "Babe…"
