Oracle 21: Lay by My Side, Fear Not Tonight
When did their friendship truly begin? Ranger looks into Stephanie's uncertain eyes and wonders. The day Professor Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle sat on the curb outside her moron of a skip's house in the chilly rain waiting for the cops, the EMTs and Al to arrive? Or the moment he looked at the check she'd told Connie to give him and smiled? When did it evolve into something deeper and more complicated? How did it grow so strong and so frighteningly demanding that it scared the both of them into making wrong decisions? What does she want in her life? What does she really need? Is he ready to offer the things she wants? Can he give her what she needs? Will he be able to change for her? How long will it take for the lingering invisible barriers lurking between them to finally dissolve and melt away? And what if things don't work out between them?
There is only one way to find out.
Without a word Ranger nods his head and reaches out a hand. Timidly but without hesitation Stephanie takes hold of his hand and sits down beside him on the couch. Ranger locks his intense dark brown eyes with her clear blue ones and softly asks, "Do you still need a dog, a house, a couple kids, and a diamond ring?"
Stephanie blinks, and blinks. She opens her mouth to answer but then closes it again in near-panic. Damn. She's really not ready for that question.