Okay, here's the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoy. If it doesn't make sense or it seems like I'm repeating, it's the cold.

Not mine.

Oh, yeah, bit of angst. Tiny.

And jerseygirlinoxford- I keep trying to make Stephanie yell at Ranger, but it just never works. :/

"No, I don't need it in two weeks, I need it now." I heard Ranger demand.

"Ranger? What are you doing?" I asked groggily. I rubbed sleep out of my eyes and focused on him. He was sitting on the couch and looked up at me. "Get it done." He said and snapped his phone shut. He smiled at me. "Hey."

"Hi. How long was I out?"

"About ten hours."

I stretched and groaned. When I looked at Ranger, his eyes were black. I smiled my knowing smile.

"Babe." He said.

"You look tired. Come here."

He got up and walked back to the bed. I opened my arms for him and he climbed into them.

"Is this sexual?" He asked with a wolf grin.

"I don't think you've been cleared for that."

"I think it won't hurt to try…" He kissed the spot behind my ear.

"Uhh, I'm tired. Goodnight."

"Babe, it's almost eleven."

I didn't answer him. I was too busy faking.

"Babe," he whispered in my ear. "I know you're faking."

Drat.

He chuckled.

"Yeah, fine. You caught me. Big deal."

He chuckled some more and I rolled my eyes.

"What were you trying to do?" I asked him, trying to distract him.

"Just work stuff." He said, nuzzling my neck.

"Ranger! You're not supposed to be doing work!"

"Easy stuff, babe. I'm not going out and chasing a skip. I was just trying to get a replacement."

"For what?"

"For Miami."

"What?" I turned and looked at him.

"Did you think I was going to stay down here while you're up in Trenton?"

"I hadn't really thought too far ahead…" I said, and it was true.

"Babe…"

"Well, you shouldn't have to move anywhere you don't want to."

"If you were living in a cardboard box in Antarctica, then that's where I'd be."

"But what about heat?"

He chuckled. "I think we can make our own."

I blushed. "So where are you going to be living?"

"I figure I'd live on seven." He said, eyebrows knitting together.

"Ummm…"

"What?"

"Well…um…I kinda moved in."

"I thought Tank said you went back to your apartment?"

"Chatty Cathy wasn't telling the whole story."

He raised an eyebrow and waited.

I sighed. "I decided that it was my time to give up the apartment and I had no money or anywhere to go, so…"

"So you moved in." He said, smiling.

"I can move back out if you want." I said quietly.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why would you move out? We'd just have to move everything back in."

"Huh?"

"Move in with me, Stephanie."

"No."

"No?" He was shocked.

"Let me explain before you have an aneurism." I sighed, trying to put all of my thoughts together. "You just got divorced. Even if you wanted to be married or not, that doesn't matter. You still got divorced. You're transitioning..."

"But I want to transition with you."

"Are you even listening to me? God, Ranger, how can you be so dense?"

He closed his mouth with a snap. "Why don't you enlighten me?"

"You got married. Do you have any idea what that did to me? I was crushed. Crushed. I thought…no that doesn't matter. But what does matter is that…I'm not sure I can trust you yet."

"Babe, I don't…"

"Don't misinterpret me, that's what got us into this three year marathon. I'm just saying that we should take this slow. Very slow."

"How slow?"

"Slower than molasses."

He raised an eyebrow. "But I love you and you love me, so…"

"I do, God knows I do, but the trust? It's been shot to hell. So I think its better that you and I not rush things." I thought about it for a second. "In fact, I think that we should start over."

"What?"

"Yeah! Get rid of all the baggage for good this time. Just start fresh as if we hadn't been big cowards."

I jumped off the bed, went to the door and opened it. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was looking for my father." I said, in mock surprise.

"Babe…" He said.

"Do you call every stranger that comes into your room Babe? Even those big burly men out there?"

He chuckled.

"Well, my name is Stephanie Plum and I'm from Trenton." I said, sticking out my hand.

He raised an eyebrow and gave a small sigh. "Carlos Manoso, Miami, Trenton and Newark."

"Three places? How do you manage?"

"Airplane."

I laughed. "Eventually you're going to have to choose. Which one would you choose?"

"Trenton." He said instantly.

"Why? Got a girl up there?"

He smiled. "Something like that."

I smiled back at him and blushed a little. "Well, Carlos Manoso, it was a pleasure meeting you."

"Back at you, Stephanie Plum. And for the record, I do call everyone babe."

I laughed and headed for the door.

"Wait." He said.

I turned to look at him.

"I know we just met and all, but do you think you could give me a kiss? For good luck?"

I thought about it. "I think that would be okay." I came back to the bed. He grasped my face gently in his hands and leaned up for a gentle kiss.

"Good night, Batman."

"Good night, Wonder Woman."

And with a finger wave, I was gone.

All the way back to the hotel, I was feeling giddy from the new start Ranger and I were going to get. My phone buzzed.

Are you going to be calling me Carlos more often?

I thought about it for a second then replied. Only if you want me to.

I want.

I will then. Good night, Carlos.

Good night, Babe. I love you.

Love you too.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face and Carlos on my mind.