Stephanie helped Tank wrap up the last of the files that he had on his desk. What she didn't know was that Tank had gone through Ranger's filing cabinet and grabbed some old files and yanked out some of the key papers so they would have something to work on. When Steph gave the last file over to Tank, he signed his name to it knowing later he would replace all the ripped out papers and placed it into his outbox.

"Thank you for doing this" Tank told her letting out a big breath

"You're welcome but I really need to go home and get to bed its one a.m." she told him looking at her wrist watch

"Ok thank you again I really do appreciate it, you saved my ass from Ranger" he said even though it didn't need to be done and he'd just spent the last five hours working on something that didn't even exist.

Stephanie walked to her car and got in; starting it she drove up the ramp, and out of the garage. Pulling onto the street in front of RangeMan she began to yawn, turning on her radio Steph blasted Christmas music to keep herself awake. Back at the office Tank called Lester and told him that Stephanie was on her way home so be on the lookout for her, Lester thanked him for all that he had done, disconnected, and waited on Steph to show up. Lester was slick when he unloaded everything; he parked his truck two streets over so Steph wouldn't see him. Stephanie pulled into her lot and parked in her normal parking spot and slowly got out of her car, making it to her door she unlocked it.

"Man I cannot wait to get out of these clothes and go to bed" She said closing her door and locking it

Stephanie dropped her bag at her door and threw her shoes off; Lester could see her from where he was hidden in the dark corner and waited for her to notice. Stephanie looked down at her bare feet and noticed something wasn't right. Whenever she left her apartment she always turned off the lights and looking at her feet there was a light shining on them.

"What the hell? I never leave a light on when I leave" she said. When Stephanie looked up she gasped as she saw her living room. Strung around the entire room were a million white lights and a big beautiful decorated Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

"Oh my God" she said walking in the rest of the way. Going over to the tree, she touched it.

"It's a real tree"

Stephanie looked all around her living room and saw that it had stockings placed up on the wall and even a few presents were put under the tree. Steph began to cry at how beautiful it was, seeing her Lester finally stepped out of his corner and looked at her.

"Surprise" he announced

Stephanie whirled around and saw Lester standing there with his hands in his pockets. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck and cried Lester held her kissed her neck and temple.

"You like it?" he asked her. Stephanie nodded her head and leaned up and kissed hi soundly.

"Oh my God Les it's perfect. It's so beautiful; did you do this all by yourself?"

"Yes Beautiful I did and I did it all for you because I love you, Merry Christmas" he said running his thumbs over her cheeks

Stephanie cried harder and clung to him. She and Ram had spent some wonderful times together and she would always remember them fondly but never had he ever done anything like this for her. Lester led her over to the couch and sat with her in his arms; Stephanie leaned up and kissed him slowly. Lester lay back on the couch and brought her over him, Stephanie made love to him and it was amazing to give herself to him by the glow of the tree and by all of the lights.

As they woke up the next morning, Lester came and brought Stephanie a cup of coffee and sat with her as she woke up and drank it. Lester looked over at the tree and smiled, getting under it he grabbed a box and took it over to Stephanie.

"Here Steph this is from me" he told her handing it to her

Stephanie delicately tore at the paper on the box; Lester sighed and tore the paper off for her. Sitting there with the box, Stephanie slowly opened it gasping at what she found inside.

"LESTER IT'S BEAUTIFUL" she cried bring her present out

"Just like you" he said slipping the diamond Hibiscus flower link bracelet onto her wrist

Kissing Lester for his amazing gift, Steph broke from him and ran into her bedroom, coming back she handed Lester a long slender box.

"I did some last minute shopping and got this for you, I hope you like it" she said watching him tear the paper off the gift

"Oh God Steph thank you" Lester said placing his new watch onto his wrist

"You're very welcome" she told him kissing him

After they exchanged gifts and exchanged kisses and heaving groping, Lester and Stephanie took a shower so they could go over to RangeMan and spend Christmas with their friends.

This year Christmas was a blast spending it at RangeMan. Stephanie was so happy to be included that she hardly thought about not being with her family. Yawing from spending most of the day with her co-workers and her friends, Steph curled up on the couch that was inside Tanks office and fell asleep. Going into his office for something, Tank found Stephanie and came out getting Lester's attention.

"I'll take her down to my apartment, she can bunk there" he whispered to Tank as he carefully picked Stephanie up and carried her to the elevator. Tank watched them; he wasn't a dummy they were definitely together.

Lester removed Stephs shoes when he laid her down onto his bed and pulled his blanket over her, leaning over her he kissed her forehead "Sleep Beautiful I'll come back in a little while" he told her turning off his bedroom light and going back upstairs

Around two in the morning, Stephanie woke up, looked around at where she was, and then saw Lester asleep next to her. Smiling when she figured out that she was In Lester's apartment, she kissed him, and slid out of bed in search of a snack. Seeing that Lester had next to nothing in his fridge or in his cabinets, Steph shuffled over to the elevator and punched the number five knowing the floor kitchen was always stocked.

When the door opened, she walked out expecting it to be dark and was surprised to see a loose staff and the lights on. Looking around, Steph remembered RangeMan operated twenty four seven and then recognized a few of the faces from the early eaters at the Thanksgiving thing at Shorty's. Hurrying off into the kitchen she saw a familiar ass sticking out of the fridge.

"Something's never change do they?" she asked as Ram came out from the fridge and looked over the door at her. He was holding some food and some of the sweets that Ranger had let stay after their get together.

"Nope" he said looking at her knowing she was there doing exactly the same thing he was

"Cut me some of that ham too?" she asked as she went over and found two plates for their goodies

"Glad Boss man let us keep it and didn't toss it all" Ram said bringing over everything and setting it down on the table

"Me too" Steph said as she put together a ham sandwich

Stephanie sat there tearing pieces of her sandwich with her fingers and eating them, she kept noticing that Ram was looking at her. Turning to him, she questioned him on what he was looking at and watched him reach into his pants pocket and slid a wrapped gift over to her.

"Steph this is for you" he told her

"Oh Ram I can't accept that" she told him staring down at the gift

"Yes you can, I went out and got this just for you. I've never stopped loving you Steph, I just wanted to get you something for Christmas" he told her "please … open it"

Stephanie took the red foil present and slid the bow off and tossed it onto the table they were sitting at. She lifted the lid and gasped, inside was one of those diamond necklaces that you saw on TV. Steph felt tears filling her eyes and she blinked rapidly to get rid of them, Ram took the box from her hands, took the necklace, and draped it around her neck kissing her where the clasp came together.

"It's beautiful on you Steph" he told her

"Thank you Ram, I don't know what to say" she said with tears as she saw the man who'd captured her heart a long time ago standing before her

Ram brought Stephanie close to him and told her again how sorry he was for hurting her and that if he could he would turn back the clock and never ever break her heart. Stephanie was openly crying now at the tenderness and the gentleness that Ram was showing. Ram leaned down and slowly kissed Steph. Stephanie felt herself open her mouth to Ram and allow his tongue inside, she knew she didn't love him anymore and that she was in love with Lester but after the gift he'd given her and what he'd just said to her the kiss just seemed the right thing to do.