Sunday dawned bright and early, clear blue skies and screaming seagulls. Ranger and Steph saw none of it as the swell of the ocean rocked them in slumber.

oo0o0o0o0o

Celia had joined them on the dance floor just as the song was finishing and the four of them did a group hug. Steph had never felt more loved and accepted.

Armed with another bottle of champagne they'd staggered down to the Bombshell and celebrated well into the early hours - Steph had even been persuaded to do some skinny dipping. Celia and Alejandro left as the sun was rising, begging that they be allowed to tell Sophia and Luis the news. Ranger had pulled out his most impressive stare which sent everyone into hysterics and he joined them once he realised he was being teased. He did playfully 'slap' Alejandro on the arm leaving a red mark though...

oo0o0o0o0o

Steph opened a bloodshot eye, blinked in the harsh daylight and hastily shut it again. A few seconds later she tried again – she really needed to answer the call of nature – this time the shock was not so great so she sat up and immediately regretted her sudden movement as the workmen in her head started their machinery. She let out a loud groan and gingerly sidled in the direction of the bathroom. She glanced at Ranger and smirked, he was lying tangled in the sheets looking slightly green round the edges. Wey hey! She thought as she stepped back into the room once more and grabbed her phone off the dressing table to take a quick photo.

"Babe, I'll throw your phone over board with you still attached to it if you send that to anyone" Ranger growled out as he turned over to look at her. He was all mussed from sleep and even with his unhealthy colour scheme was still a delicious sight. Steph licked her lips and slid back under the covers. She kissed his hair, revelling in its silkiness and moved it out of the way so that she could lick the shell of his ear. She felt him still under him and suddenly he was gone in the direction she'd just come back from. She laughed out loud as she heard the sound of him retching. Another horizon expanding moment she thought.

She climbed out of bed and trooped into the bathroom. Bits of the evening were coming back to her, the proposal, the erotic dancing, the drinking, the skinny dipping – eh? Had she really gone skinny dipping? She blushed at the thought.

She reached into the cupboard and found a flannel which she dampened with water and used to wipe her fiancé down. Her fiancé! As she smoothed his now sweating back the huge diamonds from her ring caught the sunlight and splashed vast rainbows of colour round the small space. She grinned to herself as she looked down at Carlos, rinsed the cloth out and returned it to his forehead, she felt him sigh as the coolness calmed his raging stomach. She kissed the back of his neck "I love you so much, even now!" she said giggling. He muttered something incomprehensible in reply which made her giggle even more.

oo0o0o0o0o

"What time did you say they'd be here?" Sophia asked Luis. They were sat on a spacious dark wood covered verandah nursing iced teas. He was stretched out on a dark rattan couch, she lounged opposite him on a large matching recliner, ankles crossed.

"About three. Seems like they might have had a heavy night looking at Alejandro." He replied grinning and plopping his newspaper down on the matching coffee table. He looked poolside to where Celia and her husband were hiding under massive red umbrellas. Neither of them looked to have any bones in their bodies. Whatever they'd been doing last night had left them exhausted.

Luis shifted his attention to the noise coming from further over in the garden, where Marcus and Lily were being occupied by Joseph and Marguerite Sautelle the 'hired help' who were busy chasing them round the palm trees. What were the staff for anyway he thought lazily? They were there to put up with his annoyingly energetic grandchildren who they treated as their own.

He grinned. 'Hired help!' if Sophia heard him call the two of them that he'd be sleeping in the summer house! Granted, they'd worked for the Manoso's for over thirty years but in that time they'd become the best of friends. Hey, he'd even been best man at their wedding!

Perhaps it was time to rescue Joseph and his wife, after all Joseph's team still had things to do to get the garden ready for the afternoon's fun and games. Sophia still needed to get the food finished and Marguerite was her second in command when all was said and done.

He wandered away from the house and redirected his grandchildren towards the pool with strict instructions not to drown.

As he reached Alejandro's lounger he kicked it threatening to throw him in with the kids if he didn't shift himself and make himself useful. He received a grunt in reply. Grinning evilly, Luis beckoned to Joseph who wandered over, grabbing Alejandro's feet as Luis grabbed his arms and they swung him into the pool. Luis watched his son-in-law disappear under the water, dusted his hands off and walked off with Joseph, smirking and discussing their plans for that afternoon's party, leaving a now spluttering Alejandro being attacked by his two kids.

oo0o0o0o0o

At four minutes to three Carlos and Steph turned in through the gates of the Manoso residence. The metal work of the huge gate swung effortlessly and silently behind them. Steph sucked in some air as she looked up the long drive towards her future parent-in-law's house. House! House? More like mansion! Steph groaned loudly. What would they make of her own family in their little three up two down semi? Ranger, seeing her reaction leaned over and took her hand, squeezing it to give her reassurance.

The Manoso property was an L-shaped pale blue plantation style property built over two floors. The short side of the 'L' was made up of 3 double garages whilst a bright white veranda ran the entire length of the longer part and continued to wrap round towards the back.

Ranger joined the line of cars already parked up, got out and went round to Steph's side to pull his reluctant fiancée out of the car. "It'll be OK, Babe. They're the same people as you met on Friday, they haven't changed, I promise" She looked to him for courage, pushed her shoulders back and replied "OK, let's go meet the rest of your family."

He gave her a quick kiss and gently pulled her towards the front door.

"They're here everybody!" Celia yelled as she led Ranger and Steph through the large bright kitchen and out onto the veranda where a sea of faces turned to look. Ranger gave Steph's hand a quick squeeze as they stood slightly apart from the rest of the crowd.

"Hi everyone, thanks for coming, I'd like you to meet Steph. My fiancée." The crowd erupted and the couple were pulled in for questioning.

o0o0o0o0o0o

The afternoon went in a blur. Outside caterers had cooked the most amazing full hog roast together with b-b-q'd fillet steak, tiger prawns, red snapper and beef burgers. There were several different salads from a plain green with rocket and iceburg lettuce to complicated pasta dishes with loads of ranch style dressings. Desserts included chocolate mousse, profiteroles and fruit salad.

Carlos ate from the healthy end of the table and Steph did not, but each agreed to eat something off each other's plates so Steph tried the prawns and Ranger was force fed a profiterole, complete with alcoholic chocolate sauce.

As Steph, (who had visibly relaxed after the initial onslaught following their arrival) stood stifling a giggle, Carlos reluctantly chewed on the choux pastry sweet meat he'd been given. A small lady walked over with purpose in her stride and as she got closer she could see what Steph was laughing at so as she reached them both she slapped Carlos upside his head.

"Abuela!" he spluttered out looking both shocked and embarrassed at the same time.

"Pretend you're enjoying the feast your mother put out for you!" she had a stern look on her face but turned and winked at Steph as she continued her tirade "you need to eat more normal food. Twigs and bark will not maintain you now that you are starting a family."

"!"

"You must be! You are so old! Why else would you be settling down? Eh? Answer me, my boy!" Carlos stood in silence which made Steph giggle even more, her curls bouncing in delight at the sight before her.

Carlos' grandmother turned to her "hello, my dear. I'm Carlos' worst nightmare – Abuela Rosa." And with that she put an arm round Steph and led her away. Ranger groaned in despair.

"Knew you'd lose, bro!" whispered Maria smugly as she wrapped herself round the back of her elder brother. The pair of them watched as Abuela Rosa sat down with Steph at her side, deep in conversation. "I just hope she's still my fiancée when they've done talking."

"Nah, not a chance! She's bound to tell her about your teddy bear..."

"Done that myself." Ranger butted in happily.

"Bet she'll tell her about the game of strip pool you played with Chad Bennett..."

"How was I to know he fancied me?" Ranger said, turning to face his sister. She raised an eyebrow and smirked before giving him a big squeeze and letting go.

"She's lovely you know."

"?"

"Steph. She's really funny and bright. I can see why you fell for her. Just helps that she looks as if she'd be at home on a catwalk."

Ranger sighed. "I can't believe it took us so long to hook up and we've already wasted too much time." He replied, blankly.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Maria prodded.

"My time's nearly up and I'll be leaving her to face life without me." He sighed deeply. For some reason he'd always been able to confide in his baby sister. So he did, all of it, from the time they'd first met to the phone call of two days ago.

o0o0o0o0o0o

"You're not mad are you?" said Steph as they loaded themselves back into the Porsche later on that evening.

"No. Why?"

"I just thought that you'd be upset at the stories your Abuela Rosa told me."

"I knew she'd dish the dirt. As she told you, she's my worst nightmare..."

"In the same way Grandma Mazur is mine?"

"Not quite. Abuela isn't a sex starved maniac. Not that Edna is" he added quickly, glancing over.

Steph laughed "

"Don't worry, I'm not going to disagree about my Grandma. So, did you really..."

o0o0o0o0o0o

"Weren't we supposed to home today?" Steph asked sleepily as they pulled up to the marina.

"Yeah, but there's something I want to do tomorrow. Steph, how would you feel if we got married before I left on this mission?"

Steph looked at him in surprise.

"No, even I can't throw money at things and make them happen that quickly." He said laughing gently.

God, she was going to miss that laugh... Focus Steph.

"... so I thought we could go look at commissioning your real engagement ring and our wedding rings. What do you think?"